Document	Document Title
US09231591B1	Dynamic voltage scaling in programmable integrated circuits An apparatus includes a first programmable circuit block including a plurality of programmable circuit elements. The plurality of programmable circuit elements include a hardwired, instrumented memory element. The instrumented memory element includes a first flip-flop configured to receive a data signal, a delay circuit configured to generate a delayed version of the data signal, and a second flip-flop identical to the first flip-flop and configured to receive the delayed version of the data signal. The instrumented memory element also may include a comparator configured to compare an output signal from the first flip-flop and an output signal from the second flip-flop and an error signal generator. The error signal generator is configured to generate an error signal responsive to a mismatch of bits between the output signal from the first flip-flop and the output signal from the second flip-flop.
US09231580B2	Semicondutor apparatus for controlling back bias A semiconductor apparatus includes a back bias control block, a first back bias switching block and second back bias switching block. The back bias control block is configured to generate a first P channel control signal and a second N channel control signal. The first back bias switching block is configured to provide one of first and second high voltages as a first P channel back bias of a first circuit in response to the first P channel control signal, and to provide one of first and second low voltages as a first N channel back bias of the first circuit in response to the first N channel control signal. The second back bias switching block is configured to provide one of the first and second high voltages as a second P channel back bias of a second circuit in response to the second P channel control signal, and to provide one of the first and second low voltages as a second N channel back bias of the second circuit in response to the second N channel control signal.
US09231573B2	Delay controlling circuit for driving circuit, driving circuit having delay controlling circuit, and method of operating driving circuit A driving circuit includes first and second switches coupled in series, a delay generating circuit and a delay controlling circuit. The delay generating circuit and the delay controlling circuit are coupled to first and second control terminals of the first and second switches. The delay generating circuit is configured to alternately turn ON the first switch and the second switch in accordance with an input signal and with a delay between successive ON times of the first switch and the second switch. The delay controlling circuit is configured to store a setting of the delay, and control the delay generating circuit to generate the delay in accordance with the stored setting, a first voltage on the first control terminal and a second voltage on the second control terminal.
US09231566B2	Semiconductor device and driving method thereof The circuit includes a first wiring for supplying a power supply potential to a signal processing circuit, a transistor for controlling electrical connection between the first wiring and a second wiring for supplying the a power supply potential, and a transistor for determining whether or not the first wiring is grounded. At least one of the two transistors is a transistor whose channel is formed in the oxide semiconductor layer. This makes it possible to reduce power consumption due to cutoff current of at least one of the two transistors.
US09231565B2	Circuit with a plurality of bipolar transistors and method for controlling such a circuit A circuit includes a bipolar transistor circuit including a first node, a second node, and a plurality of bipolar transistors coupled in parallel between the first node and the second node. The circuit further includes a drive circuit configured to switch on a first group of the plurality of bipolar transistors, the first group including a first subgroup and a second subgroup and each of the first subgroup and the second subgroup including one or more of the bipolar transistors. The drive circuit is further configured to switch off the first subgroup at the end of a first time period and switch off the second subgroup at a time instant before the end of the first time period.
US09231564B2	Gate on array driver unit, gate on array driver circuit, and display device A gate on array driver unit, a gate on array driver circuit, and a display device. The gate on array driver unit comprises an input sampling unit, an output unit, a reset unit, and a storage capacitor. The storage capacitor is connected at a first end thereof to a gate electrode driving signal output end of the present stage. The input sampling unit is connected to a second end of the storage capacitor, and, under the control of a gate electrode driving signal of a previous stage of the gate on array driver unit, precharges the storage capacitor and allows the gate driving signal of the present stage to sample the input signal. The output unit is connected to the second end of the storage capacitor, and, when the input sampling unit completes the precharging of the storage capacitor, controls the output of the gate electrode driving signal of the present stage. The reset unit, under the control of the gate electrode driving signal of the gate on array driver unit of a next stage, resets the gate electrode driving signal of the present stage. Employment of the gate on array driver unit allows for reduced circuit layout area for the gate on array driver circuit.
US09231563B2	Radio preset key assignment method and apparatus A system and method for assigning received channels to preset tuning keys of a receiver. A series of preset keys are sequentially labeled and one preset key, such as the preset key marked “0,” is a pre-defined preset key. An elongated pressing of the pre-defined key causes the currently tuned channel, if it is not assigned to a preset key, to be assigned to an unassigned preset key. If the currently tuned channel is already assigned to a preset key, pressing the pre-defined key instead causes the currently selected channel to be un-assigned from that preset key. Radios with two tuners that each process different sets of radio signals assign channels for a particular tuner to alternating preset keys, allowing acceleration of sequentially selecting channels assigned to pre-set keys by pre-tuning another tuner to the next channel in the sequence.
US09231558B2	High frequency power amplifier A high frequency power amplifier includes an amplification element amplifying a high frequency signal; a duplexer to which an output signal of the amplification element is inputted, the duplexer allowing a signal of a certain frequency band to pass and attenuating signals of other frequency bands; a matching circuit connected between the amplification element and the duplexer; an external terminal connected to the matching circuit; and a passive element connected between the external terminal and a grounding point. The amplification element, the matching circuit, and the duplexer are integrally mounted on a single substrate. The passive element is located outside the substrate.
US09231551B2	Common mode filter with multi-spiral layer structure and method of manufacturing the same A common mode filter with a multi-spiral layer structure includes a first coil, a first insulating layer, a second coil, a second insulating layer, a third coil, a third insulating layer, and a fourth coil, wherein the first coil serially connects with the fourth coil, and the second coil serially connects with the third coil. A first conductive pillar is configured to connect the first coil and the fourth coil, and a second conductive pillar is configured to connect the second coil and the third coil, wherein the first conductive pillar and the second conductive pillar are internally diagonally disposed relatively within a corner or the same side of corners of the rectangular spiral.
US09231547B2	Filter for removing noise and method of manufacturing the same The present invention discloses a filter for removing noise, which includes: a lower magnetic body; an insulating layer disposed on the lower magnetic body and including at least one conductor pattern; input and output stud terminals electrically connected to the conductor pattern for electrical input and output of the conductor pattern; and an upper magnetic body consisting of an inner upper magnetic body including ferrite powder with a size corresponding to the interval between the input and output stud terminals and an outer upper magnetic body including ferrite powder with a size corresponding to the interval between the input and output stud terminals and an outer surface of the lower magnetic body.According to the present invention, it is possible to implement a coil part with high performance and characteristics by increasing permeability and improving impedance characteristics through simple structure and process.
US09231544B2	AGC circuit for an echo cancelling circuit An amplifier circuit and a method of amplification using automatic gain control (AGC) are disclosed. A method for reducing distortions incurred by an audio signal when being rendered by an electronic device is described. The method comprises receiving an input signal; determining signal strength; determining a frequency-dependent AGC filter; wherein the frequency-dependent AGC filter is adapted to selectively attenuate the input signal within a number N of predetermined frequency ranges, according to corresponding N degrees of attenuation; wherein N predetermined frequency ranges depend upon a rendering characteristic of the electronic device; and wherein the N-degrees of attenuation depend upon the signal strength; and attenuating the input signal using the frequency-dependent AGC filter to obtain an output signal for rendering by the electronic device.
US09231537B1	High power and high linearity cascode amplifier An apparatus having a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to generate an output signal in response to an intermediate signal. The first circuit may be implemented using a first transistor type. The second circuit may be configured to generate the intermediate signal in response to (i) an input signal and (ii) a feedback of the output signal. The second circuit may be implemented using a second transistor type. The output signal is an amplified version of the input signal while maintaining linearity.
US09231534B2	Optimal envelope tracking reference waveform generation A method and apparatus is provided to improve upon the efficiency of a power amplifier. Suitable hardware/software in the form of circuitry, logic gates, and/or code functions to construct an envelope tracking waveform of an input communications signal and modulate the input supply voltage based on power amplifier circuitry operational parameters such as slew rates.
US09231530B1	System for calibrating power amplifier A system for calibrating a power amplifier (PA) includes a memory, a processor, a digital pre-distorter (DPD), and a data converter. The DPD includes a programming interface module, a pattern generator, a multiplier, and a pre-distorter module. The multiplier multiplies reference baseband stream data from the memory with pattern coefficient data generated by the pattern generator to generate shaped reference baseband stream data. The pre-distorter module generates pre-distorted shaped reference baseband stream data. The PA receives a low-power reference radio frequency (RF) signal corresponding to the pre-distorted shaped reference baseband stream data and generates a high-power reference RF signal. The processor receives and compares the pre-distorted shaped reference baseband stream data with amplified shaped reference baseband stream data corresponding to the high-power reference RF signal, and adjusts pre-distortion parameters in the pre-distorter module based on the comparison such that the PA generates a linear high-power RF signal.
US09231517B2	Photovoltaic array mounting apparatus, systems, and methods A photovoltaic array, including: (a) supports laid out on a surface in rows and columns; (b) photovoltaic modules positioned on top of the supports; and (c) fasteners connecting the photovoltaic modules to the supports, wherein the supports have an upper pedestal surface and a lower pedestal surface such that the photovoltaic modules are positioned at a non-horizontal angle when edges of the photovoltaic modules are positioned on top of the upper and lower pedestal surfaces, and wherein a portion of the fasteners rotate to lock the photovoltaic modules onto the supports.
US09231513B2	Electric motor system An electric motor system including: a rotor (9); a stator (8); the rotor and the stator being mounted for movement relative to one another; the rotor having multiple magnetic poles (11); the stator having multiple salient poles (12) facing the magnetic poles; a first coil set (1A) and a second coil set (1B); the first coil set having three phases, each of the phases comprising a first coil (u1, v1, w1) and a second coil (u1 v1′, w1′) connected in series and wrapped around different of the salient poles in different directions relative to the rotor; the second coil set having three phases, each of the phases comprising a first coil (u2, v2, w2) and a second coil (u2′, v2′, w2′) connected in series and wrapped around different of the salient poles in different directions relative to the rotor; a driver (2) configured to drive the first coil set with a first three-phase voltage (U1, V1, W1) and to drive the second coil set with a second three-phase voltage (U2, V2, W2); the driver configured to drive the first phase of the first three-phase voltage and the first phase of the second three-phase voltage with a relative phase shift.
US09231508B2	Motor driver apparatus and method of controlling the same A motor driver apparatus that is formed of a semiconductor integrated circuit which is supplied with an electric power and drives a direct current motor includes a signal generating part that generates an indication signal for indicating a back electromotive force generation period while the direct current motor generates a back electromotive force, a removing part that detects a voltage variation generated in a power-supply voltage by the back electromotive force generated by the direct-current motor during the back electromotive force generation period indicated by the indication signal, and removes the detected voltage variation, and a limiting part that limits the power-supply voltage so as to be less than a predetermined voltage at a speed higher than that in the removing part.
US09231498B2	Gel actuator and gel used therein A gel actuator includes: a gel having a projected part made of an inductive high-polymer material; a positive electrode disposed so as to be in contact with a top of the projected part; and a negative electrode disposed in a position sandwiching the projected part in a height direction in cooperation with the positive electrode. When voltage is applied between the positive and negative electrodes, creep deformation occurs so that the projected parts adhere to the positive electrode side, and the gel contracts in the thickness direction.
US09231494B2	Power supply device with a resonant bridge circuit control unit In a power supply device, the bridge circuit including a plurality of switching arms which is an inverse-parallel circuit of a semiconductor switch and a diode. The power supply device includes a control unit. The control unit switches the semiconductor switch such that a voltage v between AC terminals becomes a positive-negative voltage whose peak value is the voltage Vo between the DC terminals only during prescribed time periods before and after a point that has deviated from each zero crossing point ZCP of a current i by a prescribed compensation period φ and such that the voltage v between the AC terminals becomes a zero voltage during the other time periods, and sets the compensation period φ such that a time period during which the voltage v between the AC terminals becomes a zero voltage is the shortest.
US09231487B2	DC power source device and power conversion method using a single drive power supply FETs disposed in a DC/DC converter are each driven by a drive transformer. A voltage from a single drive power supply disposed in common for the FETs is divided into positive and negative biases to be applied to the FETs, and an operational state of the FETs is detected based on voltage signals. A sequence circuit turns on an input from a three-phase AC power supply by driving a relay circuit at a time point when it is confirmed that the FETs have normally started stable ON/OFF operation, and drives a power factor improvement circuit, which converts AC voltage from the three-phase AC power supply into a DC voltage by simultaneously performing full-wave rectification and power factor improvement.
US09231485B2	Power supply A power supply may include a driving power supply unit converting input power to supply driving power to a load, and a power supply control unit performing a control to detect a change in a voltage level of the driving power and cut off the input power when the detected voltage level of the driving power is equal to or more than a preset voltage level, in a preset standby mode.
US09231483B2	DC/DC converter A pulse modulator generates a pulse modulation signal SPM having a duty ratio which is adjusted according to a feedback voltage Vfb that corresponds to the output voltage VOUT of a DC/DC converter. A second oscillator generates a second cyclic signal which is asserted with each of a predetermined second period. A light load detection circuit generates a light load detection signal which is asserted when the feedback voltage Vfb becomes lower than a first threshold voltage. A driving circuit drives a switching transistor according to the pulse modulation signal SPM. Furthermore, the driving circuit suspends the driving of the switching transistor during a period until the second cyclic signal is next asserted after the light load detection signal is asserted.
US09231473B2	Increasing EAP conversion efficiency by continuous current An electromechanical energy conversion system includes a variable capacitor, an electronic charging/discharging unit and a power source/sink; the power source/sink being coupled to the electronic charging/discharging unit which is coupled to the variable capacitor; the variable capacitor including first and second electrodes that are separated by an intermediate medium providing a gap distance therebetween; the gap distance being adjustable between a minimal distance and a maximal distance as a function of an externally applied mechanical force; the electronic charging/discharging unit being arranged for charging the variable capacitor from the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is minimal and the area of the elastically deformed body maximal, and for discharging the variable capacitor to the power source/sink at substantially a state of the variable capacitor when the gap distance is maximal and the area of the elastically deformed body minimal.
US09231472B2	System and method for a switched-mode power supply In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a switched-mode power supply includes receiving power from an input node via a first transistor, providing a first portion of the received power to a load via a switching transistor having a first terminal coupled to the first transistor and a second terminal coupled to the load via a series resistor and a series inductor, measuring a current through the load, measuring comprising monitoring a voltage across the series resistor; and controlling an average current through the load by switching on and switching off the switching transistor according to the measured current.
US09231468B2	Interleaved converter with inter-inductor switch An interleaved converter configured by connecting a plurality of switching converter circuits in parallel includes an inter-inductor switch that selects whether inductors are connected in series, an input side switch that is connected to a connection point of the inductor and the inter-inductor switch and selects whether electric power is supplied from a rectifier circuit to the inductor side, an output side switch that is connected to a connection point of the inductor and the inter-inductor switch and selects whether electric power is supplied from the inductor to the diode side, and a control circuit that controls the inter-inductor switch, the input side switch, and the output side switch.
US09231466B2	Electronic circuit The invention provides an electronic circuit capable of reducing surge voltage while reducing switching loss when a MOSFET is turned off. A capacitor (91) is connected between apart closer to a first power source terminal (31) of a U-phase module (3) in a bus bar (61a) and a part closer to a second power source terminal (32) of the U-phase module (3) in a bus bar (64a). A capacitor (92) is connected between apart closer to a first power source terminal (41) of a V-phase module (4) in a bus bar (62) and a part closer to a second power source terminal (42) of the V-phase module (4) in a bus bar (65). A capacitor (93) is connected between a part closer to a first power source terminal (51) of a W-phase module (5) in a bus bar (63) and a part closer to a second power source terminal (52) of the W-phase module (5) in a bus bar (66).
US09231455B2	Electrical machine having a contact element for electrically connecting electrical components An electrical machine, in particular a generator, preferably a claw pole generator, having a contact element for electrically connecting electrical components, which is made up of a generally arc-shaped, electrically non-conductive substrate having arc end areas, including electrical conductors for connecting the components. At least one of the electrical conductors is designed as an external connection conductor, which runs outside the substrate from one arc end area to the other arc end area.
US09231453B2	Electric actuator An electric actuator includes a motor, an electricity storing body, a manual operating unit, a switch and a resetting unit. In a state wherein a controlled element has arrived at a first opening and a supply of power to the motor from the electricity storing body is cut off, the motor and the controlled element are in a non-linked state only while a button is pushed. The switch keeps a supply path of electric power open when the button has been pressed once. The resetting unit closes the switch at a point in time that the controlled element that is driven by the motor arrives at a specific second opening at a time of restoration of the external power supply in a state wherein the non-linked state of the motor and the controlled element by the button has been undone.
US09231452B2	Electrical engine junction box adapter A device to facilitate the assembly and fixation of a junction box to an electrical engine, where the attachment requirements of the junction box are different from the attachment requirements of the electrical engine, is disclosed. The device comprises an adapting plate which includes vertexes, bores and a traverse opening.
US09231448B2	Motor A motor includes a base, a stator, and a rotor. The base includes a shaft tube having an open end and receiving an inner assembly. The stator is mounted to an outer periphery of the shaft tube. The rotor is rotatably coupled to the inner assembly. The stator includes an insulating bobbin unit having an extension extending in a radial direction to the open end of the shaft tube. The extension includes an engagement hole. The shaft tube includes a positioning member having an engaging section engaged in the engagement hole. The insulating bobbin unit is fixed by an end of the engaging section. The engagement stability of the stator is enhanced by engagement of the positioning member of the base and the insulating bobbin unit.
US09231447B2	Stator winding of an electric generator Apparatus for producing electrical power from mechanical power, includes an electric generator with a rotor and with a stator. The electric generator is configured for conversion of mechanical power into a polyphase alternating current. The polyphase alternating current has more than three phases. The stator has a stator core with a stator bore. The stator core provides a plurality of stator slots arranged at a distance from one another. A plurality of coil portions are inserted in the stator slots, and the coil portions are connected to form coils. The coils include a plurality of Z-shaped portions and are laid out in a wave pattern.
US09231446B2	Motor drive device and vehicle A motor drive device includes a motor including a high-speed drive winding and a low-speed drive winding, a winding switching portion switching the connection states of the high-speed drive winding and the low-speed drive winding of the motor, a power conversion portion connected to the motor, and a plurality of case portions housing at least the motor, the winding switching portion, and the power conversion portion, while the plurality of case portions are coupled to each other.
US09231444B2	Superconductor winding This invention relates to a superconducting electrical machine, comprising: a superconducting winding at least partially surrounded by a magnetic flux guide, wherein the magnetic flux guide includes a binder loaded with a magnetic material.
US09231435B2	Methods and apparatuses for operating devices with solar power Solar power tracking techniques are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, a solar power tracking apparatus includes, but is not limited to, a voltage converter and a controller coupled to the voltage converter. The voltage converter includes an input capable of being coupled to a solar power source and an output capable of being coupled to an electronic load, such as, for example, a portable electronic device. The voltage converter is configured to monitor or detect an amount of power drawn by the electronic load at the output of the voltage converter. In response to the monitored power drawn, the controller is configured to control the voltage converter to reduce amount of power to be drawn subsequently if the monitored amount of power exceeds a predetermined threshold. As a result, the output voltage from the solar power source is maintained within a predetermined range. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US09231433B2	Apparatus and method for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source Apparatus for charging an electrical energy store from an AC voltage source. The apparatus includes a rectifier device with a capacitor interconnected in parallel with the rectifier device A current controller device is interconnected with the rectifier device. A converter device is interconnected with the current controller device. The converter device includes at least one first half-bridge having two switches connected in series, An inductor is interconnected with a connection point of the switches of the first half-bridge Depending on the voltage of the AC voltage source and a current through the inductor a switch of the current controller device and one of the switches of the first half-bridge of the converter device are switchable by means of a controller in such a manner that a current for charging the electrical energy store drawn from the AC voltage source and a voltage of the AC voltage source are substantially in phase.
US09231423B2	Electric vehicle supply equipment and control method thereof A voltage at an output end of a switch of an electric vehicle supply equipment is detected before charging an electric vehicle. An earth leakage circuit breaker is tripped for cutting off power inputted to the switch and preventing the output end from outputting the power when the voltage is higher than a first predetermined value. The switch is turned on for outputting the power from the output end to charge the electric vehicle when the voltage is lower than the first predetermined value. A current is detected at the output end. Power inputted to the switch is cut off for preventing the output end from outputting the power when the current is higher than a second predetermined value.
US09231418B2	Method for monitoring a charging process of a battery A method is described for monitoring a charging process of a battery, in which cell voltages of a plurality of battery cells are measured at regular time intervals, and loading of the battery by a process of switching on an additional electrical load is prevented if the measured cell voltage of one battery cell exceeds a predetermined cell voltage threshold value. A motor vehicle is also described, which is configured to carry out the method according to the disclosure during a battery charging process. In addition, a battery system is described, in which a controller is configured to determine an estimated value as a function of measured battery parameters during a charging process of the battery. The estimated value corresponds to the maximum temperature in the battery if the charging process is continued without interruption.
US09231408B2	Matrix connection device for photovoltaic panels and/or wind turbines A matrix connection device disposed between n unidirectional energy sources (PV1, PV2, PVn) and n power converters (C1, C2, Cn) for the purpose of powering a common load (10), said device comprising: n matrix switch units (I1, I2 to In), each of which comprises n link switches (Ki1, Ki2 to Kin) having their outlets connected together and having their n inlets connected to the n outlets of said photovoltaic panels and/or wind turbines; at least one additional switch unit (In+1) comprising n switches (Kn+11, Kn+12 to Kn+1n) having their outlets connected together and their n inlets connected to respective ones of the n outlets of the unidirectional energy sources; and a monitoring and control circuit (14) for starting up or not starting up said power converters as a function of the power available at each of said unidirectional energy sources, and then for keeping them switched on or for deactivating them as a function of the power consumed by each of them.
US09231394B2	Cementitious fibre reinforced composite cross arm A cross arm is provided, for use in a support structure for conductors within an electrical grid. The cross arm is made of a cementitious composite and has a rough “C” cross sectional shape. Pairs of the cross arms are attached to utility poles in a parallel position on opposite sides of the utility pole. Alternatively, a single cross arm may be attached to a utility pole. Embedded metal or glass fiber reinforced polymer bars extend along the length of the cross arms.
US09231390B2	Electrical enclosure expandable in the Z direction An expandable electrical enclosure system is presented where expansion collars can be serially added to an existing base box to increase the dimension of the enclosure in only the Z direction. A removable cover can be disconnected and connected as each expansion collar is added.
US09231381B2	Ceramic electrode including a perovskite or spinel structure for an ignition device and method of manufacturing A spark plug and method of construction is provided. The spark plug has a generally annular ceramic insulator extending between a terminal end and a nose end. A conductive shell surrounds at least a portion of the ceramic insulator and a ground electrode having a ground electrode sparking surface is operatively attached to the shell. An elongate center electrode has a body extending between opposite ends. The body of the center electrode is formed of a compacted and sintered conductive or semi-conductive ceramic material. The ceramic material of the body comprises at least one oxide. For example, the body of the center electrode can be formed of a perovskite structure or a spinel structure.
US09231378B2	Spark plug for internal combustion engine A spark plug for an internal combustion engine includes a center electrode, a tubular insulator, a tubular metal shell, a ground electrode and an overvoltage preventer. The insulator has the center electrode inserted and held therein. The metal shell has the insulator inserted and held therein such that a proximal part of the insulator is exposed from the metal shell. The ground electrode is joined to a distal end of the metal shell and faces the center electrode through a spark gap formed between the center and ground electrodes. The overvoltage preventer prevents a voltage higher than or equal to a threshold voltage from being applied across the spark gap. The overvoltage preventer is arranged in the proximal part of the insulator so as to be positioned outside the metal shell and farther than the metal shell from the spark gap.
US09231370B2	Group III nitride semiconductor light emitting device A group III nitride semiconductor laser device includes a laser structure, an insulating layer, an electrode and dielectric multilayers. The laser structure includes a semiconductor region on a semi-polar primary surface of a hexagonal group III nitride semiconductor support base. The dielectric multilayers are on first and second end-faces for the laser cavity. The c-axis of the group III nitride tilts by an angle ALPHA from the normal axis of the primary surface in the waveguide axis direction from the first end-face to the second end-faces. A pad electrode has first to third portions provided on the first to third regions of the semiconductor regions, respectively. An ohmic electrode is in contact with the third region through an opening of the insulating layer. The first portion has a first arm, which extends to the first end-face edge. The third portion is away from the first end-face edge.
US09231366B2	Optical transmitting device and optical transmission system An optical transmitting device includes: a laser diode to which a first or second driving current is provided; a controller to provide the laser diode with the first driving current to transmit an optical signal and with a plurality of second driving currents, to emit light, different from each other in magnitude during a stop of providing the first driving current; a measuring unit to measure an intensity of the light emitted by the laser diode; a calculator to calculate a threshold current of the laser diode, based on the intensities corresponding to the plurality of second driving currents measured by the measuring unit and magnitudes of the plurality of second driving currents; and a determination unit to determine a precursor of a sudden-death of the laser diode, based on an amount of variation in the threshold current calculated by the calculator during a specific period.
US09231360B2	Crimper tool A portable crimper tool is disclosed having a frame, a crimper anvil and a bolt adapted to engage the frame and connected to the crimper anvil for actuation of the crimper tool.
US09231358B1	Captive cable holder for power distribution unit serviceability A power cable holder includes a holder body and power cable-holding portions. The power cable-holding portions couple with one or more cables. The cable-holding portions hold power plugs on the cables in a predetermined spacing and order with respect to one another. A power connector plug extraction mechanism may be operable by a user to extract the power connector plugs from corresponding power connector receptacles in a power distribution unit.
US09231355B2	USB connector having signal processing IC and USB cable having the USB connector A USB cable includes two USB connectors and a plurality of cable lines. Each USB connector includes a circuit board, a tongue board, a plurality of connection terminals, a signal processing IC, an isolated housing and a metal housing. The tongue board is connected with the circuit board. One end of the connection terminals are connected to the circuit board, and the other end of the connection terminals are set in the tongue board. The signal processing IC is electrically connected to the circuit board and further connected to the connection terminals. The isolated housing encapsulates the circuit board and the signal processing IC. The metal housing encapsulates the tongue board and the connection terminals. The signal processing IC encrypts data for transmitting externally through the connection terminals, and decrypts data received by the connection terminals to transmit to other end of the USB cable to be used.
US09231351B2	Smart plugs, smart sockets and smart adaptors A smart socket is provided. The smart socket has a set of power sockets, configured for a set of power pins of a smart plug to plug into, a driving pin and a set of detection pins, configured for forming a circuit with a set of feedback pins of a smart plug when the set of power pins is plugged into the power sockets, and an identification code module, configured for obtaining an identification code of an electric appliance, from the circuit, to which the smart plug belongs.
US09231350B2	Connector A connector includes a cylindrical-shaped housing inserting therein a wire, a shield shell disposed on an outer side of the housing, and a mounting member assembled with the housing and the shield shell. The mounting member includes a tubular portion inserted into a gap between the housing and the shield shell in a diameter direction of the housing and contacted with an end face of the housing. The shield shell includes a fixing portion fixed to the housing and a movable portion rotatably connected to the fixing portion. A fixing mechanism is provided between the movable portion and the tubular portion, moves the end face toward the tubular portion when the movable portion is rotated, and fixes the housing and the shield shell to the mounting member when the tubular portion and the end face closely contacted with each other.
US09231349B2	Electrical Connector An electrical connector is provided, including a main body, first terminals installed at a seat of the main body, second terminals embedded in the seat, and a housing. The housing has a bottom wall, two side walls, and a top wall, and defines an accommodating space having a first opening and a second opening. A plurality of first spring plates are disposed on the top wall and bottom wall. A second spring plate is disposed near the second opening of the top wall. Third spring plates are disposed near the second opening of the bottom wall. When a connector plug is plugged into the electrically connector, the first, second and third spring plates make contact with an iron housing of the connector plug to increase the contact area between the connector plug and the electrical connector, and reduce electromagnetic interference to peripheral devices.
US09231343B2	Inlet An inlet is an inlet to which a charging connector is connected when charging a power storage device mounted in a hybrid vehicle from an external power supply. The inlet includes a cylindrical guide wall that guides the charging connector to be connected to the inlet; a flange portion that is provided in a plate shape on an outer periphery of the guide wall, and is fixed to the vehicle; a lever retaining portion that is provided on the outer periphery of the guide wall, and retains the charging connector; and a recessed portion that is provided in a position overlapping with the lever retaining portion when viewed from a connecting direction of the charging connector, and is recessed toward the connecting direction of the charging connector from the flange portion. This kind of structure provides an inlet in which a protruding length from the vehicle side is reduced.
US09231339B1	Electrical couplers and methods of using them Certain embodiments described herein are directed to couplers configured to provide an electrical connection between two or more separate electrical wires. In certain embodiments, the coupler is configured to provide the electrical connection without the two electrical wires physically contacting each other. In other instances, the coupler can be configured to provide an electrical connection between the wires without the use of an electrical box or wiring nuts.
US09231335B2	Connection structure for solar power generation module A main object of the present invention is to provide a connection structure for a solar power generation module that has much better impact resistance at low temperature and flame retardancy even when made thinner and more compact. A connection structure for a solar power generation module according to the present invention is a connection structure for a solar power generation module, which links a solar power generation module with a cable for connecting to the solar power generation module, and includes a specific thermoplastic resin composition.
US09231333B2	Electric connector having a lance supported by a resilient support with a slit and disengageable by a jig An electric connector includes an electrically insulative housing, and a terminal having an engagement section and inserted into a terminal space formed in the housing in a direction from a rear towards a front of the housing. The housing includes a lance protruding in the housing towards an axis of the terminal space, and is able to engage to and disengage from the engagement section of the terminal. A resilient support resiliently supports the lance such that the lance is able to move away from the axis, and a path is provided through which a jig for disengaging the lance from the engagement section is inserted into the housing through a front of the housing towards the lance along the engagement section. The resilient support is formed with a slit communicating with the path and extending towards the lance from an entrance of the path.
US09231326B2	High-current plug-in connector for automotive vehicle applications A high-current (HC) plug-in connector for currents exceeding 100 A, in particular 200 A, is provided. The high-current (HC) plug-in connector may include a first connecting element having a first contact section, and a second connecting element having a second contact section. Furthermore, a spring element is provided for establishing an electrical connection between the first and the second connecting element. The spring element may include at least two clamping elements which are interconnected via at least one web, the web and respective first sections of the clamping elements being arranged on a first outer surface of the connection formed by the first and the second contact section, and second sections of the clamping elements being arranged at least in part on a second outer surface opposite the first outer surface. At least one contact spring is arranged on the at least one web, the at least one contact spring generating, on the first outer surface, a contact force oriented in the direction of the second outer surface, whereby mutually facing contact surfaces of the first and the second contact section are pressed against each other, the second sections of the clamping elements serving as abutments.
US09231319B2	Electrical connector assembly with a supporting plate and assembly method of the same An electrical connector assembly includes an electrical connector and a complementary connector mated with the electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a shell and a terminal module received in the shell. The shell defining a mating portion extending forwardly and a receiving room recessed from the rear face thereof. The mating portion defines a mating face at a side surface thereof. The terminal module includes an insulator and a plurality of first terminals retained in the insulator. The insulator defines a first face and a second face opposite to the first face. The first terminals includes contacting portions protruding from the first face of the insulator. A supporting plate is inserted between the second face of the insulator and an inner surface of the receiving room and pushing the contacting portions of the first terminals exposed to the mating face.
US09231313B2	Finger friendly twist-on wire connector A finger friendly twist-on wire connector having a spiral coil and an open end rigid shell secured to the spiral coil with the rigid shell having an outer surface with a circumferential band and a closed end supporting a finger cushion material integral to at least a portion of the outer surface of the rigid shell with the finger cushion material including a plurality of circumferentially spaced elongated ribs resiliently deformable in response to radially and tangential finger forces thereon as rotational finger forces are transmitted to the rigid shell through the finger cushion material to thereby inhibit finger fatigue and finger injury while allowing the user to maintain a feel of the wire engagement within the wire connector.
US09231311B2	Method and apparatus for a compact modular phased array element In various embodiments, a radiating cell of an antenna array can comprise a compacted hybrid as part of a stripline feed network, a radiating element having slots rotated with respect to the compacted hybrid, and a feed circuit layer in communication with the stripline feed network. The radiating cell radius can be a ½ wavelength or less. Furthermore, the compacted hybrid has two input ports and two output ports, where the input and output ports of the compacted hybrid are non-orthogonal and non-parallel to the slots of the radiating element. A radiating cell can comprise a ground plane with a first side and a second side, where the ground plane comprises a slot. The slot can be non-orthogonal and non-parallel to the two output ports of the feed network.
US09231305B2	Wireless IC device A wireless IC device has a resonant frequency that is hardly altered or affected by external influences and reliably communicates with a reader/writer. The wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip arranged to process a radio signal, a feeder circuit board coupled to the wireless IC chip and including a feeder circuit, and a radiation electrode arranged at least one principal surface of the feeder circuit board. The feeder circuit board includes a magnetic material and has the feeder circuit disposed therein. The radiation electrode is disposed on at least one principal surface of the feeder circuit board so as to be electromagnetically coupled to the feeder circuit and includes at least two open ends. The wireless IC chip is coupled to the radiation electrode through the feeder circuit and communicates with a reader/writer using HF band frequency.
US09231304B2	Wideband loop antenna and an electronic device including the same Provided is an antenna. In one aspect, the antenna includes a feed element having a first feed element end and a second feed element end, the first feed element end configured to electrically connect to a positive terminal of a transmission line. The antenna, in this aspect, further includes a loop antenna element having a first loop antenna element end and a second loop antenna element end, wherein the first loop antenna element end is coupled to the second feed element end and the second loop antenna element end is configured to electrically connect to a negative terminal of the transmission line. The antenna, of this aspect, further includes a monopole antenna element having a first monopole antenna element end and a second monopole antenna element end, wherein the first monopole antenna element end is coupled to the second feed element end.
US09231303B2	Compressive beamforming A method of antenna array processing. Digitized time-series data from a plurality of antenna elements are divided into a plurality of time windows. A Fourier Transform is performed on a time window of the plurality of time windows for each antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements to generate a plurality of frequency domain vectors. The plurality of antenna elements is divided into a plurality of largest aperture sub-arrays. The frequency domain vectors are compressive beamformed tor the each sub-array to generate a plurality of bearing estimates corresponding to the plurality of sub-arrays. The plurality of bearing estimates from the plurality of sub-arrays are sparsely combined to generate a plurality of frequency-specific bearing estimates. The plurality of frequency-specific bearing estimates are incoherently averaged over a range of frequencies to generate a bearing for a bearing-timing record. A plurality of bearings for the bearing-timing record is generated.
US09231294B2	Method and apparatus for compensating frequency shifting of antenna The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for compensating frequency shifting of an antenna, applicable to a wireless communication device having at least one frequency shifted operating mode, in which a frequency shifting exists due to a variation of a device use mode or an environmental condition, wherein the method comprises setting in the antenna at least one compensation matching circuit corresponding to the at least one frequency shifted operating mode; detecting the use mode, in which the wireless communication device operates; when the wireless communication device is in the frequency shifted operating mode, switching to a compensation matching circuit corresponding to the frequency shifted operating mode as detected. In the present invention, the difficulty in the bandwidth design of the antenna is reduced, and the effect of the variation of the use mode or environmental condition on the performance of the antenna is compensated adaptively.
US09231290B2	Method for making short run radio frequency identification tags and labels The present invention is a method for producing ready to use RFID devices in a convenient and economical manner. The method in one embodiment includes a substrate having a first a second face and applying a pattern of adhesive to the first face of the substrate. A conductive foil is then laminated to the pattern of adhesive, and the conductive foil is cut to form a plurality of antenna patterns. A chip is applied to each of the antenna patterns. Printing is applied on the second face of the substrate to create distinct printed areas. Each of the printed areas is then read and the information is matched with each of the distinct printed areas to information encoded in each of the chips. Finally, each distinct printed area is separated from the substrate.
US09231278B2	Electrolyte solution for magnesium battery and magnesium battery containing this electrolyte solution Provided is an electrolyte solution for a magnesium battery, containing a mesoionic compound represented by the following general formula (1): (in general formula (1), R1 and R2 are each independently a C1-7 hydrocarbyl group or oxygen-containing hydrocarbyl group and X is O or S).
US09231271B2	Merged battery cell with interleaved electrodes A battery having the electrodes of multiple cell types interleaved to prevent thermal runaway by cooling a shorted region between electrodes. The battery includes multiple cell types where each cell type has multiple electrodes a first polarity. The electrodes of each of the cell types share a pair of the common electrodes having a second polarity. The electrodes of the multiple cell types and the multiple common electrodes are interleaved such that if the electrodes of the multiple cell types and the adjacent common electrodes of one or more cell types short together, the current within the shorted cells is sufficiently small to prevent thermal runaway and the electrodes of the adjacent cells of the other cell types of the first polarity and the common electrodes of the second polarity not having short circuits provide heat sinking for the heat generated by the short circuit to prevent thermal runaway.
US09231263B2	Selectively reacting to the minimum cell voltage drop rate in a fuel cell system A system and method that monitor the rate of a voltage drop of fuel cells in a fuel cell stack to determine whether the voltage drop is a result of cathode reactant starvation or anode reactant starvation. The method looks at a falling voltage of a fuel cell to determine whether the rate of the fall in voltage indicates that hydrogen starvation of the anode of the fuel cell is occurring. The method also looks at the actual voltage of the fuel cell that is falling to determine whether it is a below a predetermined minimum voltage threshold also indicating that hydrogen starvation of the anode of the fuel cell is occurring. If hydrogen starvation is occurring, the method performs power limiting of the fuel cell stack either based on the rate or the voltage level.
US09231256B2	Flat and high-density cathodes for use in electrochemical cells The traditional method of pressing CFx, screen and SVO sheet assembly results in an electrode that is cupped and not flat. This results in the reduction of the effective volumetric energy density of the electrode or the addition of a process step of flattening of the cathode if at all possible. The new method of assembly effectively eliminates the cupping behavior and produces a flat electrode. In addition, the physical density of the cathode is also increased.
US09231255B2	Lithium-ion secondary battery According to one embodiment, a lithium-ion secondary battery includes a first current collector, a first layer, and a separator. The first current collector has a plurality of first recesses on a surface of the first current collector. The first layer is provided on the first current collector. The layer includes a first active material body, a first binder, and a first conductive body. The separator is provided in the first recesses via the first layer and including a fiber.
US09231250B2	Nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide and method for manufacturing same The present invention provides nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide and a method for manufacturing same, the nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide as a precursor allowing a positive electrode active material having excellent battery characteristics and a high-density to be manufactured. The nickel-cobalt-manganese composite hydroxide is represented by a general formula: Ni1-x-y-zCoxMnyMz(OH)2 (wherein 0
US09231248B2	Electrode, nonaqueous electrolyte battery, and battery pack According to one embodiment, an electrode includes a current collector, an active material-containing layer, a first peak, a second peak and a pore volume. The active material-containing layer contains an active material having a lithium absorption potential of 0.4 V (vs. Li/Li+) or more. The first peak has a mode diameter of 0.01 to 0.1 μm in a diameter distribution of pores detected by mercury porosimetry. The second peak has a mode diameter of 0.2 μm (exclusive) to 1 μm (inclusive) in the diameter distribution of pores. The pore volume detected by the mercury porosimetry is within a range of 0.1 to 0.3 mL per gram of a weight of the electrode excluding a weight of the current collector.
US09231246B2	Carbon-FeF2 and carbon-Fe203 nanocomposites, their preparation and use as electrochemical storage material A method is provided to synthesize nanocomposites containing intercalated FeF2— or Fe2O3— nanoparticles in a graphitic carbon matrix by reaction of a volatile iron compound with a graphite fluoride (CFx) or a graphite oxide (COx). Additionally provided is a nanocomposite material containing intercalated FeF2— or Fe2O3— nanoparticles in a graphitic carbon matrix and its use as an electrochemically active material in particular for use in electrochemical storage cells.
US09231242B2	Method for producing non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and method for producing negative electrode paste A method for producing a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: subjecting a mixture of a negative-electrode active material on which oil has been adsorbed, CMC and water to hard kneading to prepare a primary kneaded mixture; diluting the primary kneaded mixture with water to prepare a slurry; and adding a binder to the slurry. The method further includes defining an amount of the oil to a value equal to or more than 50 ml/100 g and equal to or less than 62 ml/100 g, wherein the amount of the oil is an amount at the time when the viscosity characteristics of the negative-electrode active material exhibits 70% of the maximum torque that is generated when the oil is titrated onto the negative-electrode active material. The 1% aqueous solution viscosity of the CMC is defined to a value equal to or more than 6000 mPa·s and equal to or less than 8000 mPa·s.
US09231240B2	Battery unit and battery module using the same A battery unit includes a case accommodating an electrode assembly, the case having an opening and a cap plate for covering the opening, the cap plate having a terminal insertion portion. The battery unit further includes a terminal member inserted into the case through the terminal insertion portion from an outside of the case and coupled to the electrode assembly, the terminal member including a current collector electrically coupled to the electrode assembly; a terminal portion extending parallel to an upper surface of the cap plate to an outside of the cap plate; and a connection portion electrically coupled to the current collector and to the terminal portion. The battery unit further includes a fixing member in the terminal insertion portion and fixing the terminal member to the cap plate, the fixing member including injection-molded plastic resin in the terminal insertion portion and surrounding the terminal member.
US09231238B2	Electric storage device In an electric storage device, lithium electrodes are disposed on respective outermost portions of an electrode laminated unit in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated alternately via positive/negative electrode separators. The lithium electrode includes lithium metal serving as a lithium ion supply source, and a lithium electrode separator (a non-woven fabric separator) constituted by a non-woven fabric that satisfies the following conditions: (a) an average fiber diameter of 0.1 μm to 10 μm; and (b) a thickness of 5 μm to 500 μm is provided. By forming the lithium electrode separator that contacts the lithium electrode including the lithium ion supply source from a non-woven fabric in this manner, a dramatic improvement can be achieved in the cycle characteristic of the electric storage device.
US09231227B2	OLED display architecture A first device is provided. The first device comprises an integrated OLED structure disposed over a single substrate. The integrated OLED structure includes a blue-emitting OLED, a green emitting OLED, and a red emitting OLED. The blue emitting OLED has a first active area defined by a first electrode of the blue emitting OLED disposed in a first plane. The green emitting OLED has a second active area. The red emitting OLED has a third active area. The second and third active areas are disposed in a second plane different from and parallel to the first plane. Each of the second and third active areas are at least partially superposed with the first active area.
US09231225B2	Organic light-emitting device An organic light-emitting device may include a substrate; an anode on the substrate; a hole transport region on the anode; an emission layer on the hole transport region; an electron transport region on the emission layer; and a cathode on the electron transport region. The electron transport region may include an electron injection layer including a first component which is a salt chloride and a second component which is at least one metal selected from ytterbium (Yb), scandium (Sc), vanadium (V), yttrium (Y), indium (In), cerium (Ce), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), and terbium (Tb). In addition, the cathode may contacts the electron injection layer and may include an alloy of a first cathode metal including at least one of Ag, Au, Pt, Cu, Mn, Ti, Co, Ni, and W, and a second cathode metal including least one of Yb, Sc, V, Y, In, Ce, Sm, Eu, and Tb.
US09231224B2	Organic light emitting diode display An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is provided. An OLED display in accordance with an exemplary embodiment may include a substrate including a first subpixel, a second subpixel, and a third subpixel, a first electrode disposed on each of the first subpixel, the second subpixel, and the third subpixel, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a first common layer disposed on the first subpixel and the second subpixel, a first emission layer and a second emission layer disposed on the first common layer, a second common layer disposed on the third subpixel, and a third emission layer disposed on the second common layer. The first common layer may include a first doping layer and a second doping layer disposed on the first doping layer. Each of the doping layers may including a p-type dopant, and the second common layer may be formed as a single layer.
US09231217B2	Synthesis method of organometallic complex, synthesis method of pyrazine derivative, 5,6-diaryl-2-pyrazyl triflate, light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device Provided is a 5,6-diaryl-2-pyrazyl triflate, its synthetic method, and a method for synthesizing an organometallic complex having a triarylpyrazine ligand from the 5,6-diaryl-2-pyrazyl triflate. The triflate is readily obtained from the corresponding 5,6-diarylpyrazin-2-ol, and the palladium-catalyzed coupling of the 5,6-diaryl-2-pyrazyl triflate with an arylboronic acid derivative leads to a high yield of a triarylpyrazine derivative having high purity. The use of the triarylpyrazine derivative in the reaction with a metal compound such as a metal chloride results in an ortho-metallated organometallic complex with high purity. The high purity of the organometallic complex contributes to the extremely high durability of a light-emitting element.
US09231216B2	Carborane compound, organic light-emitting diode including the same and flat display device including organic light-emitting diode A compound represented by Formula 1 below: (R1)a—CB—[Ar]n—CB—(R2)b wherein CB denotes carborane, Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group, and a detailed description of R1, R2, a, b, and n is provided in the detailed description. An organic light-emitting diode including an organic layer including the compound has high luminous efficiency.
US09231212B2	Fabrication apparatus for fabricating a layer structure The invention relates to a fabrication apparatus for fabricating a layer structure comprising at least a patterned first layer on a substrate. A layer structure (6) with an unpatterned first layer is provided on the substrate. A protective material application unit (8) applies protective material at least on parts of the provided layer structure for protecting at least the parts of the provided layer structure (6), an ablation unit (12) ablates the unpatterned first layer through the protective material such that the patterned first layer is generated, and the protective material removing unit (15) removes the protective material (9). This allows fabricating a layer structure for, for example, an OLED without necessarily using a technically complex and costly photolithography process. Moreover, ablation debris can be removed with removing the protective material, thereby reducing the probability of unwanted effects like unwanted shortcuts in the OLED caused by unwanted debris.
US09231208B2	Method for forming memory device A method includes forming a resistance-switching layer and a second electrode over a first electrode. The method includes applying a forming voltage to the resistance-switching layer such that the resistance of the resistance-switching layer is decreased. The method includes applying an initial reset voltage to the first electrode or the second electrode such that the resistance of the resistance-switching layer is increased. The method includes applying a first set voltage to the first electrode or the second electrode such that the resistance of the resistance-switching layer is decreased. The method includes applying a second reset voltage to first electrode or the second electrode such that the resistance of the resistance-switching layer is increased. The method includes applying a second set voltage to first electrode or the second electrode such that the resistance of the resistance-switching layer is decreased. The second set voltage is lower than the first set voltage.
US09231204B2	Low voltage embedded memory having conductive oxide and electrode stacks Embodiments include low voltage embedded memory having conductive oxide and electrode stacks. A material layer stack for a memory element includes a first conductive electrode. A conductive oxide layer is disposed on the first conductive electrode. The conductive oxide layer has a plurality of oxygen vacancies therein. A second electrode is disposed on the conductive oxide layer.
US09231202B2	Thermal-disturb mitigation in dual-deck cross-point memories A thermal isolation layer is formed between the bit line (BL) layers or word line (WL) layers of the decks of a multi-deck phase-change cross-point memory to mitigate thermal problem disturb of memory cells that tends to increase as memory sizes are scaled smaller. Embodiments of the subject matter disclosed herein are suitable for, but are not limited to, solid-state memory arrays and solid-state drives.
US09231201B2	Electric device with a layer of conductive material contacted by nanowires The electric device (100) according to the invention comprises a layer (107) of a memory material which has an electrical resistivity switchable between a first value and a second value. The memory material may be a phase change material. The electric device (100) further comprises a set of nanowires (NW) electrically connecting a first terminal (172) of the electric device and the layer (107) of memory material thereby enabling conduction of an electric current from the first terminal via the nanowires (NW) and the layer (107) of memory material to a second terminal (272) of the electric device. Each nanowire (NW) electrically contacts the layer (107) of memory material in a respective contact area. All contact areas are substantially identical. The method according to the invention is suited to manufacture the electric device (100) according to the invention.
US09231193B2	Magnetic memory and manufacturing method thereof According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory includes a magnetoresistive effect element provided in a memory cell, the magnetoresistive effect element including a multilayer structure including a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic layer between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, a first electrode provided on an upper portion of the multilayer structure and including a first material, and a first film provided on a side surface of the first electrode and including a second material which is different from the first material of the first electrode.
US09231186B2	Electro-switchable polymer film assembly and use thereof The invention relates to an electro-switchable polymer film assembly having a first and a second surface side, comprising at least one pair of electrodes (3, 4) and a polymer matrix (2), wherein structuring particles (5) can be embedded in the polymer matrix and the polymer matrix or the structuring particles consist of an electro-active polymer, wherein furthermore, the first and/or the second surface sides can be transferred from a plane condition into a structured condition by electric switching of the electro-active polymer.
US09231184B2	Piezoelectric resonator element and piezoelectric resonator A piezoelectric resonator element includes a piezoelectric substrate formed of an AT-cut quartz crystal substrate in which the thickness direction thereof is a direction parallel to the Y′ axis; and excitation electrodes disposed so as to face vibrating regions on both front and rear principal surfaces of the piezoelectric substrate. The piezoelectric substrate includes a rectangular excitation portion in which sides parallel to the X axis are long sides thereof, and sides parallel to the Z′ axis are short sides thereof; and a peripheral portion having a smaller thickness than the excitation portion and formed around the excitation portion. Each of side surfaces of the excitation portion extending in a direction parallel to the X axis is present in one plane, and each of side surfaces of the excitation portion extending in a direction parallel to the Z′ axis has a step.
US09231183B2	Resonator element, resonator, electronic device and electronic apparatus When a length along a vibrating direction of the thickness shear vibration of a multi-stage type mesa substrate of A resonator element is x, a thickness of the vibration section is t, and a distance between the vibration section and the bonding region is y, y is in a range of −0.0151×(x/t)+0.3471≦y≦−0.0121×(x/t)+0.3471.
US09231177B2	Light emitting device Provided is a light emitting device in which deterioration of the substrate member can be reduced. The light emitting device includes a base member mainly made of a resin, a plurality of wiring portions and arranged on the base member via an adhesive agent, a groove portion defined between adjacent wiring portions, and at least one light emitting element which is disposed straddling at least a part of the groove portion. The adhesive agent is applied covering the base member from the groove portion, and contains a light-shielding member. The light-shielding member shields the base member from light, for example at a specific wavelength, emitted from the at least one light emitting element.
US09231172B2	Screen printing method of LED module with phosphor A screen printing method of LED module with phosphor includes: board preparation providing an LED module board with a substrate and a plurality of LED sources fixed on the substrate. The LED sources are flip chip structural and the metal electrodes thereof are fixed to the bonding pads of the substrate. A screen board is provided with meshes corresponding to the shiny sides of the LED sources of the substrate one by one. A projection of each mesh to the shiny side of the corresponding LED source has similar shape with the shiny side of the LED source. The top of the screen board is printed with allocated colloidal phosphor until each mesh is coated fully. The printed substrates are baked to solidify the phosphor. The periphery of the shiny side is fully coated.
US09231167B2	Insulation structure for high temperature conditions and manufacturing method thereof An insulation structure for high temperature conditions and a manufacturing method thereof. In the insulation structure, a substrate has a conductive pattern formed on at least one surface thereof for electrical connection of a device. A metal oxide layer pattern is formed on a predetermined portion of the conductive pattern by anodization, the metal oxide layer pattern made of one selected from a group consisting of Al, Ti and Mg.
US09231165B2	Light-emitting diode chip A light-emitting diode (LED) chip is disclosed. The LED chip includes a substrate and a LED stack on the substrate. The LED stack includes a first-type semiconductor layer, an active layer covering a portion and exposing another portion of the first-type semiconductor layer, and a second-type semiconductor layer on the active layer. A current spreading layer is formed on the second-type semiconductor layer. A first electrode is formed on the exposed portion of the first-type semiconductor layer, and a second electrode is formed on the current spreading layer. The current spreading layer includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness. A vertical projection of the second portion onto the first-type semiconductor layer surrounds a vertical projection of a portion of the first electrode onto the first-type semiconductor layer. The first thickness is greater than the second thickness.
US09231163B2	Semiconductor light emitting apparatus A semiconductor light emitting apparatus includes semiconductor lamination of n-type layer, active layer, and p-type layer; recess penetrating the lamination from the p-type layer and exposing the n-type layer; n-side electrode formed on the n-type layer at the bottom of the recess and extending upward above the p-type layer; a p-side electrode formed on the p-type layer and having an opening surrounding the recess in plan view, the n-side electrode extending from inside to above the recess; and an insulating layer disposed between the p-side and the n-side electrodes on the p-type layer, the p-side electrode constituting a reflective electrode reflecting light incident from the active layer, the n-side electrode including a reflective electrode layer covering the opening in plan view and reflects light incident from the emission layer side, the reflective electrode layer having peripheral portion overlapping peripheral portion of the p-side electrode in plan view.
US09231158B2	Light-emitting diode structure with electrode pads of similar surface roughness and method for manufacturing the same A light-emitting diode (LED) structure and a method for manufacturing the LED structure are disclosed for promoting the recognition rate of LED chips, wherein a roughness degree of the surface under a first electrode pad of a first conductivity type is made similar to that of the surface under a second electrode pad of a second conductivity type, so that the luster shown from the first electrode pad can be similar to that from the second electrode pad, thus resolving the poor recognition problem of wire-bonding machines caused by different lusters from the first and second electrode pads.
US09231156B2	Method for manufacturing light emitting device, and light emitting device A method for manufacturing a light-emitting device, comprising: forming, over a substrate, a plurality of multilayered light-emitting structures each including a first electrode, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode; forming, in the substrate, a plurality of grooves that surround the multilayered light-emitting structures individually; forming, over the substrate, a sealing film that covers the multilayered light-emitting structures and the grooves; and separating the multilayered light-emitting structures from one another after forming the sealing film, by cutting the substrate such that, in each groove, part of the sealing film covering a given inner side surface of the groove remains, the given inner side surface being adjacent to any of the multilayered light-emitting structures.
US09231151B2	Light-emitting device A light-emitting device comprises a textured substrate comprising a boundary and a plurality of textured structures within the boundary, wherein the textured structures and the textured substrate are both composed of sapphire; and a light-emitting stack overlaying the textured substrate, comprising a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, wherein each of the plurality of textured structures comprises a top portion having a first top-view shape and a bottom portion parallel to the top portion, the bottom portion having a second top-view shape, wherein the first top-view shape comprises a circle or ellipse and the second top-view shape comprises a polygon, wherein the first top-view shape and the second top-view shape overlap each other, and the textured structures are spaced apart from each other from a top view of the light-emitting device.
US09231147B2	Heterojunction subcells in inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells Inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cells having a heterojunction middle subcell and a graded interlayer, and methods of making same, are disclosed herein. The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a solar cell using an MOCVD process, wherein the graded interlayer is composed of (InxGa1-x)y Al1-yAs, and is formed in the MOCVD reactor so that it is compositionally graded to lattice match the middle second subcell on one side and the lower third subcell on the other side, with the values for x and y computed and the composition of the graded interlayer determined so that as the layer is grown in the MOCVD reactor, the band gap of the graded interlayer remains constant at 1.5 eV throughout the thickness of the graded interlayer.
US09231140B2	Venting assembly for concentrating photovoltaic system module Solar cell modules for converting solar energy into electrical energy, such as used in a concentrating photovoltaic system. The modules have a first ventilating opening in the module housing; and a ventilating subassembly mounted on the module housing and disposed over the ventilating opening in the module housing. The ventilating subassembly has a housing having a first chamber adjacent to and in communication with the first ventilating opening in the module housing; a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber, the second chamber having a second ventilating opening to the external environment; and a filter membrane separating the first chamber from the second chamber to allow air to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber through the filter membrane.
US09231138B2	Method of producing barrier film exhibiting excellent gas barrier property, and barrier film Provided are a barrier film production method and a barrier film comprising at least one organic layer and two or more inorganic layers on a surface of a plastic film, wherein, under an atmosphere of at least 0.3 atmospheric pressure and at most 1.1 atmospheric pressure (1 atmospheric pressure is 1.01325×105 Pa), an organic layer coating liquid is applied on at least one surface of the plastic film, and dried to form the organic layer, thereafter, an inorganic layer coating liquid containing an inorganic compound is applied and dried on the organic layer to laminate at least 2 to 6 inorganic layers, and thereafter, at least two layers of the laminated inorganic layers are subjected to a conversion process.
US09231135B2	Low-bandgap, monolithic, multi-bandgap, optoelectronic devices Low bandgap, monolithic, multi-bandgap, optoelectronic devices (10), including PV converters, photodetectors, and LED's, have lattice-matched (LM), double-heterostructure (DH), low-bandgap GaInAs(P) subcells (22, 24) including those that are lattice-mismatched (LMM) to InP, grown on an InP substrate (26) by use of at least one graded lattice constant transition layer (20) of InAsP positioned somewhere between the InP substrate (26) and the LMM subcell(s) (22, 24). These devices are monofacial (10) or bifacial (80) and include monolithic, integrated, modules (MIMs) (190) with a plurality of voltage-matched subcell circuits (262, 264, 266, 270, 272) as well as other variations and embodiments.
US09231134B2	Photovoltaic devices Photovoltaic devices are presented. A photovoltaic device includes a window layer and a semiconductor layer including a semiconductor material disposed on window layer. The semiconductor layer includes a first region and a second region, the first region disposed proximate to the window layer, and the second region including a chalcogen-rich region, wherein the first region and the second region include a dopant, and an average atomic concentration of the dopant in the second region is greater than an average atomic concentration of the dopant in the first region.
US09231133B2	Nanowires formed by employing solder nanodots A photovoltaic device and method include depositing a metal film on a substrate layer. The metal film is annealed to form islands of the metal film on the substrate layer. The substrate layer is etched using the islands as an etch mask to form pillars in the substrate layer.
US09231130B2	Photoelectric conversion element and solar cell Provided is a photoelectric conversion element that has an nip structure formed of amorphous silicon and that is improved in energy conversion efficiency by a structure in which an n+-type a-Si layer is in contact with a transparent electrode formed by an n+-type ZnO layer. This makes it possible to realize photoelectric conversion elements and a solar cell module or facility with large area and high power with an influence on the global resources minimized.
US09231129B2	Foil-based metallization of solar cells Approaches for the foil-based metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate. A plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions is disposed in or above the substrate. A conductive contact structure is disposed above the plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The conductive contact structure includes a plurality of metal seed material regions providing a metal seed material region disposed on each of the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. A metal foil is disposed on the plurality of metal seed material regions, the metal foil having anodized portions isolating metal regions of the metal foil corresponding to the alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions.
US09231121B2	High voltage circuit layout structure A high voltage circuit layout structure has a P-type substrate; a first N-type tub, a second N-type tub, a third N-type tub, a first P-type tub with a first width and a second P-type tub with a second width formed on the P-type substrate; wherein the first P-type tub is formed between the first N-type tub and the second N-type tub; and the second P-type tub is formed between the second N-type tub and the third N-type tub.
US09231119B2	Sensor A sensor includes a circuit board, a wiring connection layer, a sensor element, and a conductive post. The circuit board has a first electrode. The wiring connection layer has second and third electrodes. The second electrode is connected to the first electrode. The sensor element has a fourth electrode. The conductive post connects the third electrode electrically with the fourth electrode. This sensor can be driven efficiently.
US09231104B2	Semiconductor devices including bit line contact plug and peripheral transistor A semiconductor device having a cell area and a peripheral area includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell insulating isolation region delimiting a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a word line disposed within the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a bit line contact plug disposed on the cell active region, a bit line disposed on the bit line contact plug, a peripheral insulating isolation region delimiting a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral area, and a peripheral transistor including a peripheral transistor lower electrode and a peripheral transistor upper electrode. The bit line contact plug is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor lower electrode, and the bit line electrode is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor upper electrode.
US09231098B2	Mechanism for forming metal gate structure Embodiments of mechanisms for forming a semiconductor device are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate. A source region and a drain region are formed in the semiconductor substrate, and metal silicide regions are formed in the source region and the drain region, respectively. The semiconductor device further includes a metal gate stack formed over the semiconductor substrate and between the source region and the drain region. The semiconductor device also includes an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the metal gate stack, wherein the insulating layer has contact openings exposing the metal silicide regions, respectively. The semiconductor device includes a dielectric spacer liner layer formed over inner walls of the contact openings, wherein the whole of the dielectric spacer liner layer is right above the metal silicide regions. The semiconductor device includes contact plugs formed in the contact openings.
US09231095B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer disposed above a substrate; an insulating film formed by oxidizing a portion of the semiconductor layer; and an electrode disposed on the insulating film, wherein the insulating film includes gallium oxide, or gallium oxide and indium oxide.
US09231087B2	Bipolar junction transistors with self-aligned terminals Device structures, design structures, and fabrication methods for a bipolar junction transistor. A first layer comprised of a first semiconductor material and a second layer comprised of a second semiconductor material are disposed on a substrate containing a first terminal of the bipolar junction transistor. The second layer is disposed on the first layer and a patterned etch mask is formed on the second layer. A trench extends through the pattern hardmask layer, the first layer, and the second layer and into the substrate. The trench defines a section of the first layer stacked with a section of the second layer. A selective etching process is used to narrow the section of the second layer relative to the section of the first layer to define a second terminal and to widen a portion of the trench in the substrate to undercut the section of the first layer.
US09231074B2	Bipolar junction transistors with an air gap in the shallow trench isolation Device structures, fabrication methods, and design structures for a bipolar junction transistor. A trench isolation region is formed in a substrate. The trench isolation region is coextensive with a collector in the substrate. A base layer is formed on the collector and on a first portion of the trench isolation region. A dielectric layer is formed on the base layer and on a second portion of the trench isolation region peripheral to the base layer. After the dielectric layer is formed, the trench isolation region is at least partially removed to define an air gap beneath the dielectric layer and the base layer.
US09231073B2	Diode-based devices and methods for making the same In accordance with an embodiment, a diode comprises a substrate, a dielectric material including an opening that exposes a portion of the substrate, the opening having an aspect ratio of at least 1, a bottom diode material including a lower region disposed at least partly in the opening and an upper region extending above the opening, the bottom diode material comprising a semiconductor material that is lattice mismatched to the substrate, a top diode material proximate the upper region of the bottom diode material, and an active diode region between the top and bottom diode materials, the active diode region including a surface extending away from the top surface of the substrate.
US09231070B2	Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device and manufacturing method thereof, semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof, and manufacturing method of insulating film An object is to provide a technique to manufacture an insulating film having excellent film characteristics. In particular, an object is to provide a technique to manufacture a dense insulating film with a high withstand voltage. Moreover, an object is to provide a technique to manufacture an insulating film with few electron traps. An insulating film including oxygen is subjected to plasma treatment using a high frequency under the conditions where the electron density is 1×1011 cm−3 or more and the electron temperature is 1.5 eV or less in an atmosphere including oxygen.
US09231068B2	Methods of stress balancing in gallium arsenide wafer processing Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to the design, fabrication, and manufacture of gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuits are disclosed. Copper can be used as the contact material for a GaAs integrated circuit. Metallization of the wafer and through-wafer vias can be achieved through copper plating processes disclosed herein. To avoid warpage, the tensile stress of a conductive layer deposited onto a GaAs substrate can be offset by depositing a compensating layer having negative stress over the GaAs substrate. GaAs integrated circuits can be singulated, packaged, and incorporated into various electronic devices.
US09231065B2	Semiconductor device and method for forming the same A semiconductor device in which a gettering layer is formed in a semiconductor substrate, and a method for forming the same are disclosed, resulting in increased reliability of the semiconductor substrate including the gettering layer. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a gettering layer formed of a first-type impurity and a second-type impurity in the semiconductor substrate so as to perform gettering of metal ion; and a deep-well region formed over the gettering layer in the semiconductor substrate.
US09231064B1	Double heterojunction group III-nitride structures A semiconductor structure having: a Group III-N channel layer, a Group III-N top-barrier polarization-generating layer forming a heterojunction with an upper surface of the channel layer; and a Group III-N back-barrier polarization-generating layer forming a heterojunction with a lower surface of the channel layer. The channel layer has disposed therein a predetermined n-type conductive dopant.
US09231059B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the device A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a carrier traveling layer formed on the substrate, made of first group III nitride semiconductor, and containing carriers traveling in a direction along a principal surface of the substrate; a barrier layer formed on the carrier traveling layer and made of second group III nitride semiconductor having a wider band gap than the first group III nitride semiconductor; and an electrode formed on the barrier layer. The device further includes a cap layer formed on the barrier layer at a side of the electrode, and made of third group III nitride semiconductor containing a mixture of single crystals and polycrystals.
US09231057B2	Power switching device and method of manufacturing the same A power switching device includes a channel forming layer on a substrate which includes a 2-dimensional electron gas (2DEG), and a channel supply layer which corresponds to the 2DEG at the channel forming layer. A cathode is coupled to a first end of the channel supply layer and an anode is coupled to a second end of the channel supply layer. The channel forming layer further includes a plurality of depletion areas arranged in a pattern, and portions of the channel forming layer between the plurality of depletion areas are non-depletion areas.
US09231044B2	Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same There is provided a light emitting device in which low power consumption can be realized even in the case of a large screen. The surface of a source signal line or a power supply line in a pixel portion is plated to reduce a resistance of a wiring. The source signal line in the pixel portion is manufactured by a step different from a source signal line in a driver circuit portion. The power supply line in the pixel portion is manufactured by a step different from a power supply line led on a substrate. A terminal is similarly plated to made the resistance reduction. It is desirable that a wiring before plating is made of the same material as a gate electrode and the surface of the wiring is plated to form the source signal line or the power supply line.
US09231042B2	Light-emitting device Occurrence of a crosstalk phenomenon in a light-emitting device is inhibited. A light-emitting device including an insulating layer 416; a first lower electrode 421a formed over the insulating layer; a second lower electrode 421b formed over the insulating layer; a partition 418 formed over the insulating layer and positioned between the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode; a stacked-layer film 423 which is formed over the first lower electrode, the partition, and the second lower electrode and includes a light-emitting layer containing a light-emitting substance and a layer having higher conductivity than that of the light-emitting layer; an upper electrode 422 formed over the stacked-layer film; and a shield electrode 419 which is formed under the partition and does not overlap with the first lower electrode and the second lower electrode.
US09231041B2	Organic light emitting diode display device and method of manufacturing the same Disclosed is an OLED display device. The OLED display device includes a metal line and a thin film transistor that are formed on a substrate, a first insulating layer formed on the metal line and the thin film transistor, a storage electrode formed on the first insulating layer, and connected to the metal line, a second insulating layer formed on the storage electrode, and an anode electrode formed on the second insulating layer to be connected to the thin film transistor and overlapping the storage electrode with the second insulating layer therebetween.
US09231035B2	Organic light emitting diode display device having improved effective emitting area An organic light emitting diode display device includes a substrate including a display region, wherein a plurality of pixel regions are defined in the display region; a first electrode over the substrate and in each of the plurality of pixel regions; a first bank on edges of the first electrode; a second bank on an upper surface of the first bank and covering only a portion of the first bank; an organic emitting layer on the first electrode and a portion of the first bank; and a second electrode on the organic emitting layer and covering an entire surface of the display region.
US09231033B2	Display panel and method of manufacturing the same A display panel includes a plurality of unit pixels, where each of the unit pixels has a hexagonal-shape and includes: a first sub-pixel configured to emit a first color light, where the first sub-pixel has a rhombus-shape; a second sub-pixel configured to emit a second color light, where the second sub-pixel has the rhombus-shape; and a third sub-pixel configured to emit a third color light, where the third sub-pixel has the rhombus-shape, where first sub-pixels, second sub-pixels or third sub-pixels of neighboring unit pixels in a same row are arranged to adjoin each other.
US09231029B2	Semiconductor memory device and method for manufacturing same According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of global bit lines, a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of resistance change films, a plurality of semiconductor layers, a gate insulating film, and a plurality of gate electrodes. Spacing in the first direction between the plurality of semiconductor layers is larger than spacing in the second direction between the plurality of semiconductor layers. The plurality of gate electrodes is separated in the first direction.
US09231027B2	Magnetic random access memory having perpendicular enhancement layer and interfacial anisotropic free layer The present invention is directed to a spin transfer torque (STT) MRAM device having a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) memory element. The memory element includes a perpendicular MTJ structure in between a non-magnetic seed layer and a non-magnetic cap layer. The MTJ structure comprises a magnetic free layer structure and a magnetic reference layer structure with an insulating tunnel junction layer interposed therebetween, an anti-ferromagnetic coupling layer formed adjacent to the magnetic reference layer structure, and a magnetic fixed layer formed adjacent to the anti-ferromagnetic coupling layer. At least one of the magnetic free and reference layer structures includes a non-magnetic perpendicular enhancement layer, which improves the perpendicular anisotropy of magnetic layers adjacent thereto.
US09231021B2	Image pickup apparatus, image pickup system, and image pickup apparatus manufacturing method An image pickup apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, and multiple pixels. Each of the multiple pixels includes a photoelectric-conversion unit disposed in the semiconductor substrate, a first conductive first semiconductor region disposed in the semiconductor substrate, which holds charge generated by the photoelectric-conversion unit at a place different from the photoelectric-conversion unit, a first transfer unit which transfers charge to the first semiconductor region, and a second transfer unit which transfers charge held at the first semiconductor region. The first semiconductor region includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. At the depth where the third portion is disposed, the first portion is disposed between the third portion and first transfer unit, and the second portion is disposed between the third portion and second transfer unit. Impurity concentration of the third portion is lower than that of the first and second portions.
US09231016B2	Method of manufacturing a solid-state image pickup apparatus improved spectral balance A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a substrate, a wiring layer, and a waveguide. The substrate is provided with a pixel array portion constituted of a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into an electrical signal. The wiring layer includes a plurality of wirings and an insulating layer that covers the plurality of wirings that are laminated above the substrate. The waveguide guides light to each of the photoelectric converters of the plurality of pixels, the waveguide being formed in the wiring layer. The waveguide is formed to have a waveguide exit end from which light exits the waveguide so that a distance between the waveguide exit end and a surface of the photoelectric converter that receives light from the waveguide become shorter, as wavelengths of light guided by the waveguide are longer.
US09231014B2	Back side illumination photodiode of high quantum efficiency A back side illumination photodiode includes a light-receiving back side surface of a semiconductor material substrate. An area of the light-receiving back side surface includes a recess. The recess is filled with a material having an optical index that is lower than an optical index of the semiconductor material substrate. Both the substrate and the filling material are transparent to an operating wavelength of the photodiode. The recess may be formed to have a ring shape.
US09231006B2	Semiconductor element and solid-state imaging device A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor region of p-type; a buried region of n-type, configured to serve as a photodiode together with the semiconductor region; a extraction region of n-type, configured to extract charges generated by the photodiode from the buried region, having higher impurity concentration than the buried region; a read-out region of n-type, configured to accumulate charges, which are transferred from the buried region having higher impurity concentration than the buried region; and a potential gradient changing mechanism, configured to control a potential of the channel, and to change a potential gradient of a potential profile from the buried region to the read-out region and a potential gradient of a potential profile from the buried region to the extraction region, so as to control the transferring/extraction of charges.
US09231005B2	Pixel array A pixel array for imaging comprises an array of pixels of a first pixel type and a second pixel type. Each pixel of the first pixel type comprises a first photo-sensitive element having a first area. Each pixel of the second pixel type comprises a second photo-sensitive element and a third photo-sensitive element. The second photo-sensitive element has a second area, which is smaller than the first area. Only the second photo-sensitive element in the pixel of the second pixel type is connected to a readout circuit. The third photo-sensitive element is connected to a charge drain via a permanent connection or a switchable connection. Outputs of the second photo-sensitive elements can be used to perform phase detect autofocussing.
US09230996B2	Light-emitting device A light-emitting device capable of suppressing variation in luminance among pixels is provided. A light-emitting device includes a pixel and first and second circuits. The first circuit has a function of generating a signal including a value of current extracted from the pixel. The second circuit has a function of correcting an image signal by the signal. The pixel includes at least a light-emitting element and first and second transistors. The first transistor has a function of controlling supply of the current to the light-emitting element by the image signal. The second transistor has a function of controlling extraction of the current from the pixel. A semiconductor film of each of the first and second transistors includes a first semiconductor region overlapping with a gate, a second semiconductor region in contact with a source or a drain, and a third semiconductor region between the first and second semiconductor regions.
US09230995B2	Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and display device Embodiments of the present application relate to an array substrate, the manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The array substrate comprises: a substrate, of gate lines and of data lines, a plurality of pixel units, defined by the gate lines and the data lines, each of the pixel units comprising a thin film transistor and a pixel electrode, wherein the thin film transistor comprises a source electrode, a drain electrode, an active layer, a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode, and the source electrode and the drain electrode are provided on the substrate opposing to each other with a channel of the thin film transistor provided therebetween, and the pixel electrode is positioned in a region outside the thin film transistor within the pixel unit, and is extended to a position above the drain electrode to be partly lapped over and directly connected to the drain electrode.
US09230992B2	Semiconductor device including gate channel having adjusted threshold voltage A semiconductor device includes at least one first semiconductor fin formed on an nFET region of a semiconductor device and at least one second semiconductor fin formed on a pFET region. The at least one first semiconductor fin has an nFET channel region interposed between a pair of nFET source/drain regions. The at least one second semiconductor fin has a pFET channel region interposed between a pair of pFET source/drain regions. The an epitaxial liner is formed on only the pFET channel region of the at least one second semiconductor fin such that a first threshold voltage of the nFET channel region is different than a second threshold voltage of the pFET channel.
US09230990B2	Silicon-on-insulator integrated circuit devices with body contact structures Silicon-on-insulator integrated circuits including body contact structures and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. A method for fabricating a silicon-on-insulator integrated circuit includes filling a plurality of first and second shallow isolation trenches with an insulating material to form plurality of first and second shallow trench isolation (STI) structures, and forming a gate structure over the semiconductor layer that includes a first portion disposed over and parallel to at least two of the plurality of second STI structures and a second portion disposed in between the at least two of the plurality of second STI structures. The method further includes forming contact plugs to a body contact region of the semiconductor layer. The body contact region comprises a portion of the semiconductor layer between at least one of the plurality of first STI structures and at least one of the plurality of second STI structures.
US09230987B2	Multilevel memory stack structure and methods of manufacturing the same A first stack of alternating layers including first electrically conductive layers and first electrically insulating layers is formed with first stepped surfaces and a first dielectric material portion thereupon. Dielectric pillar structures including a dielectric metal oxide can be formed through the first stepped surfaces. Lower memory openings can be formed, and filled with a disposable material or a lower memory opening structure including a lower semiconductor channel and a doped semiconductor region. At least one dielectric material layer and a second stack of alternating layers including second electrically conductive layers and second electrically insulating layers can be sequentially formed. Upper memory openings can be formed through the second stack and the at least one dielectric material layer. A memory film and a semiconductor channel can be formed after removal of the disposable material, or an upper semiconductor channel can be formed on the doped semiconductor region.
US09230980B2	Single-semiconductor-layer channel in a memory opening for a three-dimensional non-volatile memory device A memory film layer is formed in a memory opening through an alternating stack of first material layers and second material layers. A sacrificial material layer is deposited on the memory film layer. Horizontal portions of the sacrificial material layer and the memory film layer at the bottom of the memory opening is removed by an anisotropic etch to expose a substrate underlying the memory opening, while vertical portions of the sacrificial material layer protect vertical portions of the memory film layer. After removal of the sacrificial material layer selective to the memory film, a doped semiconductor material layer can be formed directly on the exposed material in the memory opening and on the memory film as a single material layer to form a semiconductor channel of a memory device.
US09230978B2	Semiconductor constructions and NAND unit cells Some embodiments include methods of forming semiconductor constructions. Alternating layers of n-type doped material and p-type doped material may be formed. The alternating layers may be patterned into a plurality of vertical columns that are spaced from one another by openings. The openings may be lined with tunnel dielectric, charge-storage material and blocking dielectric. Alternating layers of insulative material and conductive control gate material may be formed within the lined openings. Some embodiments include methods of forming NAND unit cells. Columns of alternating n-type material and p-type material may be formed. The columns may be lined with a layer of tunnel dielectric, a layer of charge-storage material, and a layer of blocking dielectric. Alternating layers of insulative material and conductive control gate material may be formed between the lined columns. Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions, and some embodiments include NAND unit cells.
US09230972B1	Three dimensional memory device having well contact pillar and method of making thereof A monolithic three dimensional memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a major surface and a doped well region of a first conductivity type extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of NAND memory strings extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of substantially pillar-shaped support members extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate, each support member including an electrically insulating outer material surrounding an electrically conductive core material that extends substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the semiconductor substrate and electrically contacting the doped well region.
US09230970B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device with a novel structure is provided in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied and the number of writing is not limited. The semiconductor includes a second transistor and a capacitor over a first transistor. The capacitor includes a source or drain electrode and a gate insulating layer of the second transistor and a capacitor electrode over an insulating layer which covers the second transistor. The gate electrode of the second transistor and the capacitor electrode overlap at least partly with each other with the insulating layer interposed therebetween. By forming the gate electrode of the second transistor and the capacitor electrode using different layers, an integration degree of the semiconductor device can be improved.
US09230969B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device in which wirings are formed adequately and electrical couplings are made properly in an SRAM memory cell. In the SRAM memory cell of the semiconductor device, a via to be electrically coupled to a third wiring as a word line is directly coupled to a contact plug electrically coupled to the gate wiring part of an access transistor. Also, another via to be electrically coupled to the third wiring as the word line is directly coupled to a contact plug electrically coupled to the gate wiring part of another access transistor.
US09230966B2	Capacitor and method of manufacturing the same A capacitor includes a substrate, a multilayer over the substrate, a plurality of container-shaped storage node structures on the semiconductor substrate and surrounded by the multilayer, the storage node structure has a sidewall extending upwardly from the base to the top, where the sidewall includes an upper segment and a lower segment thinner than the upper segment, a capacitor dielectric material along a surface of each storage node structure, and a capacitor electrode material over the capacitor dielectric material.
US09230963B2	Semiconductor device with dual work function gate stacks and method for fabricating the same A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate; forming a metal containing layer, containing an effective work function adjust species, over the gate dielectric layer; forming an anti-reaction layer over the metal containing layer; increasing an amount of the effective work function adjust species contained in the metal containing layer; and forming, on the substrate, a gate stack by etching the anti-reaction layer, the metal containing layer, and the gate dielectric layer.
US09230959B2	FinFETs having dielectric punch-through stoppers A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a planar transistor on a first portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the first portion of the semiconductor substrate has a first top surface; and a multiple-gate transistor on a second portion of the semiconductor substrate. The second portion of the semiconductor substrate is recessed from the first top surface to form a fin of the multiple-gate transistor. The fin is electrically isolated from the semiconductor substrate by an insulator.
US09230939B2	Method for producing image pickup apparatus, method for producing semiconductor apparatus, and joined wafer A method for producing an image pickup apparatus includes: a process of fabricating a plurality of image pickup chips by cutting an image pickup chip substrate where light receiving sections and electrode pads are formed; a process of fabricating a joined wafer by bonding the image pickup chips to a glass wafer; a process of filling a gap between the plurality of image pickup chips with a sealing member made of a BCB resin or polyimide; a process of machining the joined wafer to reduce a thickness; a process of forming through-hole vias; a process of forming an insulating layer that covers the image pickup chips; a process of forming through-hole interconnections; a process of forming external connection electrodes, each of which is connected to each of the through-hole interconnections; and a process of cutting the joined wafer.
US09230937B2	Semiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof There is provided a technology capable of suppressing the damage applied to a pad. When the divergence angle of an inner chamfer part is smaller than 90 degrees, the ultrasonic conversion load in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the pad is very small in magnitude. In other words, the ultrasonic conversion load in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the pad is sufficiently smaller in magnitude than the ultrasonic conversion load in a direction in parallel with the surface of the pad. Consequently, when the divergence angle of the inner chamfer part is smaller than 90 degrees, the ultrasonic conversion load in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the pad can be sufficiently reduced in magnitude, which can prevent pad peeling.
US09230935B2	Package on package structure and method of manufacturing the same A package on package structure includes a first substrate having a first region and a second region, a bump formed on the first region of the first substrate, a first semiconductor die bonded to the second region of the first substrate, and a semiconductor die package bonded to the first substrate. The bump includes a metallic structure and a plurality of minor elements dispersed in the metallic structure. The semiconductor die package includes a connector bonded to the bump, and the first semiconductor die is between the semiconductor die package and the first substrate.
US09230931B2	Semiconductor device and method for forming the same A semiconductor device includes an active region tilted at an angle with respect to a buried bit line. The buried bit line includes a metal silicide pattern and a metal pattern. The metal silicide pattern has a plurality of metal silicide films each disposed at a lower portion of the active region and corresponding to a bit line contact region. The metal pattern has a plurality of metal films. The metal silicide films and the metal films are alternately arranged and electrically coupled to each other.
US09230929B2	Semiconductor structures and methods of manufacture Wire-bonded semiconductor structures using organic insulating material and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a metal wiring layer in an organic insulator layer. The method further includes forming a protective layer over the organic insulator layer. The method further includes forming a via in the organic insulator layer over the metal wiring layer. The method further includes depositing a metal layer in the via and on the protective layer. The method further includes patterning the metal layer with an etch chemistry that is damaging to the organic insulator layer.
US09230927B2	Method of fabricating wafer-level chip package A method of fabricating a wafer-level chip package is provided. First, a wafer with two adjacent chips is provided, the wafer having an upper surface and a lower surface, and one side of each chip includes a conducting pad on the lower surface. A recess and an isolation layer extend from the upper surface to the lower surface, which the recess exposes the conducting pad. A part of the isolation layer is disposed in the recess with an opening to expose the conducting pad. A conductive layer is formed on the isolation layer and the conductive pad, and a photo-resist layer is spray coated on the conductive layer. The photo-resist layer is exposed and developed to expose the conductive layer, and the conductive layer is etched to form a redistribution layer. After stripping the photo-resist layer, a solder layer is formed on the isolation layer and the redistribution layer.
US09230926B2	Functionalised redistribution layer An electronic device which comprises at least one interconnect, a semiconductor chip comprising at least one electric chip pad, an encapsulant structure packaging at least a part of the semiconductor chip, and an electrically conductive redistribution layer arranged between and electrically coupled with the at least one interconnect and the at least one chip pad, wherein the redistribution layer comprises at least one adjustment structure configured for adjusting radio frequency properties of a transition between the semiconductor chip and its periphery.
US09230921B2	Self-healing crack stop structure A self-healing crack stop structure and methods of manufacture are disclosed herein. The structure comprises a crack stop structure formed in one or more dielectric layers and surrounding an active region of an integrated circuit chip. The crack stop comprises self healing material which, upon propagation of a crack, is structured to seal the crack and prevent further propagation of the crack.
US09230919B2	Rigid wave pattern design on chip carrier substrate and printed circuit board for semiconductor and electronic sub-system packaging A rigid wave pattern formed on a first side of a substrate in a semiconductor die package. The rigid wave pattern aligns with and overlies the contact fingers formed on the second side of the substrate. The rigid wave pattern includes a first pattern with an etched portion and an unetched portion around the etched portion. When the substrate and dice are encased during the molding process, the rigid wave pattern effectively reduces deformation of and stresses on the dice, therefore substantially alleviating die cracking.
US09230905B2	Trench multilevel contact to a 3D memory array and method of making thereof A multilevel device includes: at least one device region and at least one contact region having a stack of alternating plurality of continuous electrically conductive layers and plurality of electrically insulating layers located over a base. Each electrically conductive layer in the stack is electrically insulated from the other electrically conductive layers in the stack. The base may include a raised portion and a plurality of recesses in the raised portion, each recess in the plurality of recesses having a different lateral size from the other recesses in the plurality of recesses. The electrically conductive layers in the stack may be substantially conformal to the plurality of recesses in the base and expose one or more top surfaces of the raised portion of the base. A first electrically conductive layer in the stack may be a topmost layer in a laterally central portion of a first one of the plurality of recesses. A second electrically conductive layer in the stack different from the first electrically conductive layer may be a topmost layer in a laterally central portion of a second one of the plurality of recesses.
US09230903B2	Multi-die, high current wafer level package Wafer-level package semiconductor devices for high-current applications are described that have pillars for providing electrical interconnectivity. In an implementation, the wafer-level package devices include an integrated circuit chip having at least one pillar formed over the integrated circuit chip. The pillar is configured to provide electrical interconnectivity with the integrated circuit chip. The wafer-level package device also includes an encapsulation structure configured to support the pillar. The wafer-level package device also includes an integrated circuit chip device (e.g., small die) configured upon the integrated circuit chip (e.g., large die). In the wafer-level package device, the height of the integrated circuit chip device is less than the height of the pillar and/or less than the combined height of the pillar and the one or more solder contacts.
US09230895B2	Package substrate and fabrication method thereof A package substrate includes: a dielectric layer having two opposite surfaces; a wiring layer embedded in the dielectric layer and exposed from the two opposite surfaces of the dielectric layer, wherein the wiring layer has solder pads, conductive pads and circuit wires electrically connecting the solder pads and the conductive pads; and a first insulating protection layer disposed on one of the two opposite surfaces of the dielectric layer to cover the dielectric layer and the wiring layer and having a plurality of openings for exposing the conductive pads, respectively. The package substrate, by directly using the dielectric layer as a base, provides a package substrate having reduced thickness and lower fabrication costs compared to the prior art.
US09230888B2	Wafer back side coating as dicing tape adhesive A semiconductor assembly comprises a semiconductor wafer, an adhesive coating disposed on the back side of the wafer, and a bare dicing tape, preferably UV radiation transparent. The assembly is prepared by the method comprising (a) providing a semiconductor wafer, (b) disposing a wafer back side coating on the semiconductor wafer, (c) partially curing the wafer back side coating to the extent that it adheres to the back side of the wafer and remains tacky, and (d) contacting the bare dicing tape to the partially cured and tacky wafer back side coating, optionally with heat and pressure.
US09230875B2	Interposer package structure for wireless communication element, thermal enhancement, and EMI shielding Embodiments of provide an integrated circuit (IC) device. The IC device can include a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, an IC die electrically coupled to the first surface of the substrate, a plurality of contact members coupled to the first surface of the substrate, and an interposer. The interposer can include a plurality of contact elements located on a first surface thereof, each conductive element being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of contact members, and an antenna formed using a conductive layer of the interposer, the antenna being electrically coupled to the IC die through at least one of the plurality of contact elements and at least one of the plurality of contact members.
US09230870B2	Integrated test circuit and method for manufacturing an integrated test circuit An integrated test circuit, including a plurality of test structure elements, wherein each test structure element includes at least a supply line and a test line; a plurality of select transistors, wherein each select transistor is assigned to one corresponding test structure element, and wherein each select transistor includes a first controlled region, a second controlled region, and a control region, wherein the second controlled region of each select transistor is respectively connected to the supply line of the corresponding test structure element, so that each select transistor is unambiguously assigned to the corresponding test structure element; and a plurality of contact pads, connected to respective first controlled regions and control regions of the plurality of select transistors, such that each test structure element of the plurality of test structure elements can be individually addressed by the plurality of contact pads.
US09230866B2	Fabricating method of customized mask and fabricating method of semiconductor device using customized mask A fabricating method of a customized mask includes forming first patterns in a mold structure, forming second patterns in the mold structure using initial masks, the mold structure having the first patterns formed therein, measuring overlap failure between the first patterns and the second patterns, and fabricating customized masks by compensating for pattern positions of the initial masks based on the measuring results, wherein compensating for the pattern positions of the initial masks includes shifting positions of at least some patterns of the initial masks according to shift directions and sizes of at least some of the first patterns.
US09230864B1	Method of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate A method of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate includes the following steps. First of all, a first gate trench is formed in a dielectric layer. Next, a first work function layer is formed, covering the first gate trench. Then, a protection layer is formed in the first gate trench, also on the first work function layer. Then, a patterned sacrificial mask layer is formed in the first gate trench to expose a portion of the protection layer. After that, the exposed protection layer is removed, to form a U-shaped protection layer in the first gate trench. As following, a portion of the first work function layer under the exposed protection layer is removed, to form a U-shaped first work function layer in the first gate trench. Finally, the patterned sacrificial mask layer and the U-shaped protection layer are completely removed.
US09230863B2	Method for producing integrated circuit with smaller grains of tungsten Integrated circuits with tungsten components having a smooth surface and methods for producing such integrated circuits are provided. A method of producing the integrated circuits includes forming a nucleation layer overlying a substrate and within a cavity, where the nucleation layer includes tungsten. A nucleation layer thickness is reduced, and a fill layer if formed overlying the nucleation layer.
US09230861B2	Method of forming a backside contact structure having selective side-wall isolation A backside contact structure is created using the following sequence of steps: etching a deep trench from the front surface of the semiconductor wafer to the buried layer to be contacted; depositing an isolation layer into the trench which covers the surfaces of the trench; performing an ion beam anisotropic etch in order to selectively etch the isolation layer at the bottom of the trench; filling the trench with a conductive material in order to create an electrical connection to the backside layer. The process can either be performed at a front-end stage of wafer processing following the formation of shallow trench isolation structures, or at a back-end stage after device transistors are formed. The backside contact structure so fabricated is used to electrically isolate circuit structures constructed on the wafer's upper surface, so that the various components of an integrated circuit can operate at different reference voltages.
US09230854B2	Semiconductor device and method A system and method for a semiconductor device are provided. An embodiment comprises a dielectric layer, a hard mask layer over the dielectric layer, and a capping layer over the hard mask layer. A multi-patterning process is performed to form an interconnect using the capping layer as a mask to form an opening for the interconnect.
US09230853B2	Semiconductor devices having bit line contact plugs and methods of manufacturing the same A semiconductor device including active regions defined in a semiconductor substrate to be non-parallel with a first direction and a second direction which are perpendicular to each other, word lines intersecting active regions and extending in first directions to be spaced apart from each other in the second direction, bit lines crossing over word lines and extending in second directions to be spaced apart from each other in the first direction, first impurity regions disposed in respective ones of central portions of active regions to non-overlap with the word lines, second impurity regions disposed in both ends of each of the active regions to non-overlap with the word lines, and bit line contact plugs disposed between the first impurity regions and the bit lines. The bit line contact plugs having longish shapes including major axes substantially parallel with the second direction and minor axes substantially parallel with the first direction.
US09230852B2	Integrated circuit (IC) having electrically conductive corrosion protecting cap over bond pads An integrated circuit (IC) die has a top side surface providing circuitry including active circuitry configured to provide a function, including at least one bond pad formed from a bond pad metal coupled to a node in the circuitry. A dielectric passivation layer is over a top side surface of a substrate providing a contact area which exposes the bond pad. A metal capping layer includes an electrically conductive metal or an electrically conductive metal compound over at least the contact area to provide corrosion protection to the bond pad metal, which is in electrical contact with the bond pad metal. The metal capping layer can extend over structures other than the bond pads, such as to cover at least 80% of the area of the IC die to provide structures on the IC die protection from incident radiation.
US09230850B2	Method for manufacturing a multilayer structure on a substrate The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a multilayer structure on a first substrate made of a material having a first Young's modulus. The method includes: providing a second substrate covered with the multilayer structure, the multilayer structure having a planar surface opposite the second substrate, the second substrate being made of a material having a second Young's modulus; applying first deformations to said surface; molecularly boding the first substrate to said surface, the molecular bonding resulting in the appearance of second deformation in said surface in the absence of the first deformations, the first deformations being opposite the second deformations; and removing the second substrate, the resulting deformations in said surface being less than 5 ppm.
US09230840B2	Substrate transfer device for substrate processing system In one embodiment, a substrate transfer device is equipped with a chamber wall, a table, a linear motor transfer mechanism, an optical window, and a laser measuring instrument. The chamber wall defines a transfer space. The table is housed within the transfer space. It is possible for a substrate to be loaded on the table. The linear motor transfer mechanism moves the table within the transfer space, by a linear motor. The optical window is installed between the transfer space and the space to the outside of the transfer space. For example, the optical window is disposed so as to seal off an opening defined in the chamber wall. The laser measuring instrument irradiates a laser light through the optical window and towards the table, receives reflected light from the table, and measures the position of the table.
US09230838B2	Apparatus for storage of objects from the field of manufacture of electronic components A storage apparatus for objects in the manufacture of substrates, in particular of substrates for electronic components, is provided with a housing which forms at least one closed area for storage of the objects. The storage apparatus also has a pure air device by which a pure air atmosphere can be produced at least within a section of the housing. Using at least one input/output device for the storage apparatus, objects can be passed into the interior of the housing or removed from the interior, in which case the objects can be handled by at least one handling device in the interior of the housing, and object receptacles are provided within the housing, in which objects can be temporarily stored outside transport containers. In order to require a position area which is as small as possible for a storage apparatus such as this, despite it having a high storage capacity, the invention provides that two areas which are arranged at least partially one above the other are formed in the same housing of the storage apparatus, with a first area for an object storage device, and a second area for a transport container storage device.
US09230828B2	Source and drain dislocation fabrication in FinFETs A device includes a semiconductor fin over a substrate, a gate dielectric on sidewalls of the semiconductor fin, and a gate electrode over the gate dielectric. A source/drain region is on a side of the gate electrode. A dislocation plane is in the source/drain region.
US09230823B1	Method of photoresist strip A method of photoresist strip includes providing a semiconductor substrate and performing an immerse step and a strip step, wherein the semiconductor substrate comprises a base, a bonding pad, a protective layer, an under bump metallurgy layer, a patterned photoresist layer and a bump. The patterned photoresist layer covers the under bump metallurgy layer and a lateral surface of the bump, wherein a first connection interface is formed between the patterned photoresist layer and the lateral surface of the bump, and a second connection interface is formed between the patterned photoresist layer and the under bump metallurgy layer. In the immerse step, the patterned photoresist layer contacts with a chemical solution which degrades the bond strength of the first connection interface. Therefore, in the strip step, the semiconductor substrate is scoured by a flow with appropriate force of impact, which strips the patterned photoresist layer from the base.
US09230822B1	Uniform gate height for mixed-type non-planar semiconductor devices A semiconductor structure with mixed n-type and p-type non-planar transistors includes a residual overlapping mask bump on one or more of the dummy gates. A dielectric layer is created over the structure having a top surface above the residual bump, for example, using a blanket deposition and chemical-mechanical underpolish (i.e., stopping before exposing the gate cap). The residual bump is then transformed into a same material as the dielectric, either in its entirety and then removing the combined dielectric, or by removing the dielectric first and partly removing the residual bump, the remainder of which is then transformed and the dielectric removed. In either case, the structure is planarized for further processing.
US09230809B2	Self-aligned double patterning A system and method for a semiconductor device are provided. An embodiment comprises a dielectric layer and masking layers over the dielectric layer. A thin spacer layer is used to form spacers alongside a pattern. A reverse image of the spacer pattern is formed and an enlargement process is used to slightly widen the pattern. The widened pattern is subsequently used to pattern an underlying layer. This process may be used to form a pattern in a dielectric layer, which openings may then be filled with a conductive material.
US09230806B2	Method for preparing a coarse-grain crystallized silicon layer The present invention relates to a method for forming a crystallized silicon layer made up of grains having an average size of no less than 20 μm, including at least the steps that comprise: (1) providing a layer of silicon to be (re)crystallized, the average grain size of which is less than 10 μm; (2) placing said layer of silicon to be (re)crystallized in contact with a liquid composition at least partially made up of a metal solvent; and (3) exposing the assembly to a thermal treatment suitable for (re)crystallizing said layer of silicon with the expected grain size, characterized in that said thermal treatment includes heating the assembly made up of the layer of silicon in contact with said liquid composition to a temperature that is lower than 1410° C. and at least equal to the eutectic temperature in the solvent-silicon phase diagram.
US09230798B2	Semiconductor wafer composed of silicon and method for producing same Monocrystalline silicon semiconductor wafers have a front side and a rear side, and a denuded zone which extends from the front side to the rear side as far as a depth which between a center and an edge of the semiconductor wafer on average is not less than 8 μm and not more than 18 μm, and having a region adjoining the denuded zone having BMDs whose density at a distance of 30 μm from the front side is not less than 2×109 cm−3. The semiconductor wafers are produced by a method comprising providing a substrate wafer of monocrystalline silicon and an RTA treating the substrate wafer, the treatment subdivided into a first thermal treatment of the substrate wafer in an atmosphere consisting of argon and into a second thermal treatment of the substrate wafer in an atmosphere consisting of argon and ammonia.
US09230794B2	Process for cleaning, drying and hydrophilizing a semiconductor wafer Semiconductor wafers are cleaned, dried, and hydrophilized the following steps in the order stated: a) treating the semiconductor wafer with a liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride, the semiconductor wafer rotating about its center axis at least occasionally, and b) drying the semiconductor wafer by rotation of the semiconductor wafer about its center axis at a rotational speed of 1000 to 5000 revolutions per minute in an ozone-containing atmosphere, the liquid aqueous solution containing hydrogen fluoride flowing away from the semiconductor wafer on account of the centrifugal force generated by the rotation, and the surface of the semiconductor wafer being hydrophilized by ozone.
US09230793B2	Semiconductor device and method for forming the same A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate including a cell region and a peripheral region and includes: a Silicon-Metal-Silicon (SMS)-structured wafer formed in the cell region, which includes a stacked structure of a first silicon substrate, a metal layer, and a second silicon substrate; and a Silicon On Insulator (SOI)-structured wafer formed in the peripheral region, which includes a stacked structure of the first silicon substrate, a silicon insulation film, and the second silicon substrate.
US09230788B2	Mass spectrograph apparatus and method of driving ion guide In eight electrodes arranged at an interval of a rotational angle of 45° around an ion optical axis, two neighboring electrodes are electrically connected together as one group, and electrodes in alternate groups are also electrically connected together. A voltage VDC+v cos ωt is applied to electrodes in alternate groups around the optical axis, and a voltage VDC−v cos ωt is applied to the other electrodes. Then, while an ion guide has the same electrode structure as that of an octupole-type ion guide, a radio-frequency electric field mainly having a quadrupole field component is formed, and the ion guide can be used as a quadrupole-type ion guide. Accordingly, only by changing the wiring for applying a voltage by using the electrodes having the same structure, ion guides of, for example, a quadrupole type and an octupole type, having different properties such as ion receiving properties and ion passing properties can be achieved.
US09230787B2	Ionization apparatus, mass spectrometer including ionization apparatus, and image forming system Provided is an ionization apparatus including: a holder configured to hold a sample; a probe configured to determine a part to be ionized of the sample held by the holder; an extract electrode configured to extract ionized ions of the sample; a liquid supply unit configured to supply liquid to a part of a region of the sample; and a unit configured to apply a first voltage between the probe and the extract electrode, in which the first voltage is pulse-modulated.
US09230781B2	Capacitive-coupled plasma processing apparatus and method for processing substrate The present invention relates to a capacitive-coupled plasma processing apparatus, wherein an electric field regulating element, i.e., an “electric field lens”, is arranged in the reaction chamber to generate a regenerated electric field in a direction opposite to that of the original radio frequency electric field in the reaction chamber, so that the non-uniformity of etching rate on the surface of the substrate of the plasma incurred by the original radio frequency electric field is decreased; and the electric field regulating element, i.e., the “electric field lens”, further decreases the equivalent quality factor Q value of the reaction chamber, expands the radio frequency band, and prevents high-voltage electric arcing. The present invention further provides a method for processing the substrate using the processing apparatus.
US09230773B1	Ion beam uniformity control A plasma chamber having improved controllability of the ion density of the extracted ribbon ion beam is disclosed. A plurality of pairs of RF biased electrodes is disposed on opposite sides of the extraction aperture in a plasma chamber. In some embodiments, one of each pair of RF biased electrodes is biased at the extraction voltage, while the other of each pair is coupled to a RF bias power supply, which provides a RF voltage having a DC component and an AC component. In another embodiment, both of the electrodes in each pair are coupled to a RF biased power supply. A blocker may be disposed in the plasma chamber near the extraction aperture. In some embodiments, RF biased electrodes are disposed on the blocker.
US09230763B2	Relay assembly with fastening clip A relay assembly comprises a relay mounted on a board. The relay may be a single or individual relay or a polyphasic relay. The relay has a housing and at least one dip solder pin extending from the housing and soldered to a circuit board. The relay is mounted on the circuit board via at least one fastening clip having a fitting part fitted into a hole in the housing, a latching part latched to a bore in the board, and a central flange between the fitting part and the latching part.
US09230754B2	Pointing stick cursor key and illuminated keyboard therewith The illuminated keyboard includes a base plate, a backlight module, a plurality of input keys and a mask layer. The backlight module and the plurality of input keys are disposed on opposite sides of the base plate. The mask layer is disposed between the base plate and the backlight module. A pointing stick cursor key includes a holding structure, an opening and a masking portion. The holding structure with a hole is disposed on the base plate. The opening is formed on the mask layer in a position corresponding to the holding structure. The holding structure is extended into the backlight module via the opening. The at least one masking portion is connected to a periphery of the opening for bendably attaching against the holding structure for covering the hole when the holding structure is extended into the backlight module via the opening.
US09230752B2	Seat switch assembly A seat switch assembly can maintain a reliable switching operation due to enhanced durability. A pressing plate has guides which are fastened to guide holes of a base. A seat switch housing is fastened to an assembly hole of the base. An actuation rod is received inside a through-hole of the seat switch housing, and moves in the top-bottom direction in response to a pressure from the pressing plate. A V-shaped contact pin is fixed to a fixing guide of the actuation rod. One portion of a terminal pin is buried inside the seat switch housing, and the other portion of the terminal pin is exposed to the outside. A return spring is received in the lower portion of the actuation rod. A cover closes the lower portion of the through-hole. The inner surfaces of the through-hole and the terminal pin are coplanar without a stepped portion.
US09230750B2	Gas circuit breaker An outer peripheral wall surrounds a heating chamber that communicates with an arc chamber through an opening that separates fixed contacts from each other in a circumferential direction. The outer peripheral wall includes a heat-resistive cylindrical heat-flow receiving wall portion that is arranged at a position opposed to the opening in a radial direction, and a cylindrical wall portion that is connected to the heat-flow receiving wall portion in a direction of a center axis and also connected to a fixed-side energizing member at its one end on the opposite side to where the wall portion is connected to the heat-flow receiving wall portion, and is made of an insulating material. With this configuration, the outer peripheral wall surrounding the heating chamber can be protected from damage and heat deterioration due to the influence of hot gas.
US09230741B2	High energy density storage device A device and method for providing electrical energy storage of high specific energy density. The device contains a plurality of layers of high dielectric constant material, such as Barium Titanate or Hexagonal Barium Titanate, sandwiched between electrode layers made up of a variety of possible conducting materials. The device includes additional insulating layers, such as Diamond Like Carbon Coating, between the electrodes that provide for very high breakdown voltages. Layers are created by a variety of methods and assembled to form the device that is the High Energy Density Storage Device.
US09230728B2	Magnetic device with high saturation current and low core loss A magnetic device includes a T-shaped magnetic core, a wire coil and a magnetic body. The T-shaped magnetic core includes a base and a pillar, and is made of an annealed soft magnetic metal material, a core loss PCL (mW/cm3) of the T-shaped magnetic core satisfying: 0.64×f0.95×Bm2.20≦PCL≦7.26×f1.41×Bm1.08, where f (kHz) represents a frequency of a magnetic field applied to the T-shaped magnetic core, and Bm (kGauss) represents the operating magnetic flux density of the magnetic field at the frequency. The magnetic body fully covers the pillar, any part of the base that is located above the bottom surface of the base, and any part of the wire coil that is located directly above the top surface of the base.
US09230725B2	Methods of designing an inductor having opening enclosed within conductive line Embodiments are provided that include methods of designing an inductor. The inductor can include a conductive line including at least one turn and an opening positioned within an interior of a region of the conductive line. Embodiments of forming the inductor can include: providing an inductor design including a conductive line having at least one turn; determining a region of the conductive line that has current density below a threshold; and forming an opening in the region, the opening enclosed within the conductive line.
US09230723B2	Laminated common mode choke coil and high frequency component A primary coil is configured by series connection of a first coil element (L1a), a second coil element (L1b) and a fifth coil element (L1c), and a secondary coil is configured by series connection of a third coil element (L2a), a fourth coil element (L2b) and a sixth coil element (L2c). The coil elements (L1a, L2b, L1c) are disposed coaxially and the coil elements (L2a, L1b, L2c) are also disposed coaxially. The respective coil elements (L1a, L1b, L1c) of the primary coil and the respective coil elements (L2a, L2b, L2c) of the secondary coil are disposed adjacently in a layer direction of a base material layer, respectively. The coil elements (L1a, L1b, L1c, L2a, L2b, L2c) are connected in such a manner that a magnetic field in the same direction is generated in all of the coil elements (L1a, L1b, L1c, L2a, L2b, L2c) when common mode current flows.
US09230718B2	Chip thermistor A chip thermistor includes a thermistor element body and a pair of outer electrodes. The thermistor element body has a pair of end faces opposing each other and a main face connecting the end faces to each other. The pair of outer electrodes are arranged on the pair of end faces, respectively. The pair of outer electrodes have a width in a direction intersecting the opposing direction of the pair of end faces made narrower with distance from the thermistor element body.
US09230714B2	High strength windable electromechanical tether with low fluid dynamic drag and system using same A tether, and system using such a tether, adapted to provide mechanical and electrical coupling of an airborne flying platform to the ground. The tether may have a center structural core with electrical conductors on or near the outer diameter of the tether. The tether may utilize exterior configurations adapted to reduce drag.
US09230713B2	Conductive path structure and wire harness A conductive path structure includes a conductor that includes a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion which are connected to each other through a cut-off facilitating portion, and an insulation member that covers the cut-off facilitating portion directly or indirectly. When the cut-off facilitating portion is cut off so as to separate the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion to each other due to an impact applied to the cut-off facilitating portion, the insulation member is configured so as to cover the separated first conductive portion and the separated second conductive portion.
US09230711B2	Composition for wire protective member, wire protective member, and wiring harness A composition for a wire protective member with heat resistance, flame retardancy, and resistance against both a calcium chloride and a braided wire; a wire protective member and a wire harness using the composition. The composition for a wire protective member is produced by including a polypropylene having a propylene monomer constituting 50 to 95 percent by mass of monomers forming a polymer, a melt flow rate of 0.5 to 5 g/10 min, and a melting point of 150 degrees C. or more; a bromine-based flame retardant and an antimony trioxide as a flame retarder; a phenol-based antioxidant as a heat resistance life improving agent; and a metal deactivator, wherein the propylene has a tensile strength of 20 to 35 MPa and a Charpy impact strength of 10 kJ/m2 or more at 23 degrees C.
US09230706B1	Process for forming wire harnesses An improved process for wire harness assembly using air pressure to seat and manufacture wiring harnesses.
US09230700B2	Radon removal from gas Radon is removed from a gas in an apparatus comprising: (a) a liquid-contacting apparatus having a shielded reservoir containing a fresh working liquid in which radon is soluble; and (b) a means for causing a stream of gas containing radon to pass through the liquid-contacting apparatus. When the radon level in the working liquid reaches a certain level, the working liquid is either taken out of service and stored until the radon level is reduced or the working liquid is diluted with additional working liquid having no radon.
US09230687B2	Implementing ECC redundancy using reconfigurable logic blocks A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing ECC (Error Correction Codes) redundancy using reconfigurable logic blocks in a computer system. When a fail is detected when reading from memory, it is determined if the incorrect data is in the data or the ECC component of the data. When incorrect data is found in the ECC component of the data, and an actionable threshold is not reached, a predetermined Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) action is taken. When the actionable threshold is reached with incorrect data identified in the ECC component of the data, an analysis process is performed to determine if the ECC logic is faulty. When a fail in the ECC logic is detected, the identified ECC failed logic is replaced with a spare block of logic.
US09230680B2	Applications for inter-word-line programming A method includes, in an array of analog memory cells that are arranged in rows associated with respective word lines, reading a first group of the memory cells in a selected word line, including one or more memory cells that store a status of at least one word line in the array other than the selected word line. A readout configuration for a second group of the memory cells is set responsively to the read status. The second group of the memory cells is read using the readout configuration.
US09230674B1	Non-volatile memory with negative bias A memory system with improved power consumption and operation speed. A memory system performs a data read operation in a low power read mode to improve operation speed and reduce power consumption by biasing bit cells in the memory system at a negative voltage. The use of the negative voltage minimizes changing of voltages of the bit cells. Additionally, the memory system performs data read operation in a margin read mode to improve accuracy of the reading by biasing the bit cells at a positive voltage.
US09230671B2	Output circuit and semiconductor storage device According to one embodiment, there is provided an output circuit including a driver transistor and a pre-driver circuit. The driver transistor is connected to an output terminal. The pre-driver circuit is configured to turn ON/OFF the driver transistor. The pre-driver circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor. The first transistor is configured to control ON speed of the driver transistor. The second transistor is connected in parallel with the first transistor. The second transistor is configured to control ON speed of the driver transistor. The third transistor is connected in parallel with the first transistor and in series with the second transistor. The third transistor is configured to activate or deactivate the second transistor.
US09230669B2	Memory system and method of operation thereof A method of operating a memory system including a non-volatile memory device and a memory controller controlling the non-volatile memory device, includes reading data from a memory cell array in a unit of a page which includes a plurality of sectors; performing error correction decoding on the read data in a unit of a sector of the page; selecting at least one target sector which includes at least one uncorrectable error and selecting at least one pass sector wherein all errors of the pass sector are correctable by the error correction decoding; inhibiting precharging of bit-lines connected to the at least one pass sector while precharging target bit lines connected to the at least one target sector; and performing a read retry operation for data in the at least one target sector.
US09230662B2	Eprom cell The present invention relates to a register cell comprising one output node, at least two power supply nodes, and a first flash transistor and a second flash transistor, wherein the register cell is configured so that the output node can be driven by at least one of the power supply nodes as a function of the value stored in at least one of the flash transistors. The invention further relates to an FPGA comprising the register cell.
US09230661B2	Determining soft data for combinations of memory cells The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for determining soft data for combinations of memory cells. A number of embodiments include an array of memory cells, wherein the array includes a first memory cell and a second memory cell, wherein the first and second memory cells are each programmable to one of a number of program states, and wherein a combination of the program states of the first and second memory cells corresponds to one of a number of data states. A number of embodiments also include a buffer and/or a controller coupled to the array and configured to determine soft data associated with the program states of the first and second memory cells and determine soft data associated with the data state that corresponds to the combination of the program states of the first and second memory cells based, at least in part, on the soft data associated with the program state of the first memory cell and the soft data associated with the program state of the second memory cell.
US09230659B2	Nonvolatile memory device capable of reducing a setup/precharge speed of a bitline for reducing peak current and related programming method A method of programming a memory cell of a nonvolatile memory device by executing a plurality of program loops comprises detecting whether a loop count or a level of a program pulse to be applied to the memory cell is within a specific range, wherein the specific range is an operation section in which a level of a current peak flowing into the bitline increases up to a reference value or more, charging a bitline of the memory cell at a first charging speed or a second charging speed slower than the first charging speed according to a result of the detection, and applying the program pulse to a wordline of the memory cell.
US09230650B2	Semiconductor device and method for operating the same A semiconductor device employs a technology for improving data retention characteristics of a cell array storing data regarding conditions for controlling internal operations of the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a content addressable memory (CAM) cell array configured to store CAM data regarding conditions for controlling the internal operations, a control logic configured to store the CAM data read out of the CAM cell array, and a microprocessor configured to perform a reprogramming operation on the CAM cell array using the CAM data stored in the control logic.
US09230644B2	Electronic device An electronic device includes semiconductor memory, which includes a memory cell block including first and second cell arrays and a column control block. The first cell array includes a word line, a first bit line, and a first variable resistance layer disposed between the word line and the first bit line. The second cell array includes the word line, a second bit line crossing the word line and the first bit line, and a second variable resistance layer disposed between the word line and the second bit line. The first and second variable resistance layers include different materials. The column control block supplies a first write bias for switching a resistance state of the first variable resistance layer to the first bit line and a second write bias for switching a resistance state of the second variable resistance layer to the second bit line.
US09230641B2	Fast read speed memory device A memory device includes an array of resistive memory cells. Each resistive memory cell in the array includes a first resistive memory element, a second resistive memory element electrically coupled with the first resistive memory element at a common node between a first terminal of the first resistive memory element and a first terminal of the second resistive memory element, and a transistor comprising a gate electrically coupled with the common node.
US09230635B1	Memory parametric improvements A method for manufacturing a dynamic random access memory device is provided. The method includes fabricating a dynamic random access memory device having a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells has a refresh characteristic that meets or exceeds a refresh specification provided for a DDR3 SDRAM device or a DDR4 SDRAM device. The method includes testing the dynamic random access memory device. The testing includes determining the refresh characteristic for each of the memory cells, classifying each of the memory cells as a good memory cell or a bad memory cell based upon the refresh characteristic, identifying each of the bad memory cells, and storing an address location for each of the bad memory cells. The method then includes transferring the address location for each of the bad memory cells into an address match table.
US09230624B2	Magnetic shift register memory device In one embodiment, the invention is a magnetic shift register memory device. One embodiment of a memory cell includes a magnetic column including a plurality of magnetic domains, a reader coupled to the magnetic column, for reading data from the magnetic domains, a temporary memory for storing data read from the magnetic domains, and a writer coupled to the magnetic column, for writing data in the temporary memory to the magnetic domains.
US09230623B2	Magnetic memory devices and methods of operating the same Magnetic memory devices, and methods of operating the same, include a magnetoresistive element including a free layer, a pinned layer, and a separation layer between the free layer and the pinned layer. The devices, and methods, further include a first conductive line connected to the free layer and configured to apply a Rashba field to, or induce the Rashba field in, the free layer, and a second conductive line spaced apart from the free layer and configured to apply an external magnetic field to the free layer. A magnetization direction of the free layer is switchable by application of the Rashba field and the external magnetic field to the free layer.
US09230619B2	Semiconductor device A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first penetrating electrode penetrating through the semiconductor substrate, a first test pad, and a first tri-state buffer coupled between the first penetrating electrode and the first test pad. The first tri-state buffer receives a buffer control signal at a control terminal thereof. The device further includes a buffer control circuit supplying the buffer control signal to the first tri-state buffer.
US09230615B2	Semiconductor memory device and method for driving the same In a conventional DRAM, data read errors are more likely to occur along with miniaturization of DRAM A small change in the potential of a first bit line is inverted by a first inverter constituted by an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor, and is output to a second bit line through a first selection transistor, which is a first switch. Since the potential of the second bit line is the inverse of the potential of the first bit line, the potential difference between the first bit line and the second bit line is increased. The increased potential difference is amplified by a known sense amplifier, a flip-flop circuit composed of the first inverter and a second inverter (constituted by an n-channel transistor and a p-channel transistor), or the like.
US09230613B2	Power up detecting system A power up detecting system for generating one of a first power up detecting signal and a second power up detecting signal as the final power up detecting signal, according to power provided by a power supplier. The power up detecting system comprises: a power up detecting module, controlled by a control signal to generate the first power up detecting signal in a first mode and to generate the second power up detecting signal in a second mode, wherein a voltage level of the first power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a first predetermined voltage value, and the voltage level of the second power up detecting signal is transited when the power reaches a second predetermined voltage value; where the first predetermined voltage value is higher than the second predetermined voltage value.
US09230611B2	Structure of a switching device in an array A switching device has a bottom conductor, a top conductor, and a device body formed between the top and bottom conductors. The device body has a switching layer that is switchable by means of current passed through the device body and between the top and bottom conductors. A lower via connects the bottom conductor to the device body. The width of the lower via is smaller than a width of the device body.
US09230605B1	Data storage device maximizing areal density based on a target quality metric A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk. Data is written to the disk and read from the disk to measure a quality metric. A recording parameter is repeatedly adjusted and the quality metric is measured for each adjustment of the recording parameter. An operating value for the recording parameter is selected that corresponds to a substantially maximum areal density for the disk when the measured quality metric substantially matches a target quality metric.
US09230604B2	Video indexing method, video indexing apparatus and computer readable medium A video indexing method, a video indexing apparatus, and a computer readable medium are disclosed. The video indexing apparatus comprises a generation module, a calculation module and a construction module. The generation module generates a frame movement analysis graphics according to a plurality of analysis points corresponding to a plurality of video frames of a video record. The calculation module calculates a plurality of frame movement velocities corresponding to the video frames according to the frame movement analysis graphics. The construction module constructs an indexing graphics of the video record according to the frame movement velocities.
US09230600B2	Data recording method for storing first data and second data into a tape medium Provided is a method for recording data to a tape medium in such a manner as to achieve the easy management of mutually related multiple data pieces. First data and second data continuously received as a file from a higher level apparatus are accumulated in multiple buffer segments in the form of multiple successive data sets. A data structure is determined for each of the accumulated data sets. Management information indicating a result of the determination is added to the data sets, and the data sets and the management information thereof are stored into the tape medium.
US09230598B1	Methods and devices for mitigating gas leakage through an adhesive In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes a basedeck for a hard disc drive. The basedeck includes an interior surface for supporting disc drive components and an exterior surface. The basedeck includes a cavity in either the exterior surface or interior surface. The cavity includes at least two pads for supporting an electrical connector.
US09230597B2	Magnetic head having a spin torque oscillator (STO) with a hybrid heusler field generation layer (FGL) In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole configured to write data to a magnetic medium, a trailing shield positioned on a trailing side of the main pole, and a STO between the main pole and the trailing shield, wherein the STO includes a laminated structure having a FGL, a spun polarization layer (SPL), and a non-magnetic spacer positioned between the FGL and the SPL, wherein the FGL includes a laminated structure having one or more layers of a CoFe alloy and a Heusler alloy alternately laminated in this order from an end of the FGL closest to the non-magnetic spacer. In another embodiment, a method is presented for forming such a magnetic head utilizing a FGL that includes a laminated structure baying layers of a CoFe alloy and a Heusler alloy alternately laminated in this order from an end of the FGL closest to the non-magnetic spacer.
US09230590B1	Dynamic adjustments of tape head wrap angles Embodiments of the present invention provide tape drives and methods for operating a tape drive. In one embodiment, tape head wrap angles are dynamically adjusted to increase or decrease contact pressure of magnetic tape on modules of a tape head. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to extend the lifespan of tape drives and components, and enable usage of tape media having increased smoothness and areal density.
US09230583B1	Disc device and controlling method According to an embodiment, there is provided a disc device that execute a filtering process to remove one or more resonances from the first signal by the sum of transfer functions, the one or more resonances being included in first transfer characteristics from the first signal transmitted via the first control line to response of the first head, the transfer functions being indicative of resonances included in second transfer characteristics from the first signal transmitted via the second control line to response of the first head.
US09230578B2	Multiple readers for high resolution and SNR for high areal density application The present invention generally relates to a read head in a magnetic recording head. The read head utilizes two reader elements that are stacked in the down track direction within the same read gap to improve resolution and SNR by combining the signals from the two reader elements. The output waveform from each read element is asymmetric in the down track direction; however, by use of equalizer settings and waveform combining the algorithm in signal processing, the combined waveform has a similar or better resolution and higher SNR compared to a single read element in a smaller read gap.
US09230569B1	Low Bs spin-polarizer for spin torque oscillator In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole positioned configured to generate a writing magnetic field when current is applied to a write coil, and a spin torque oscillator (STO) located adjacent the main magnetic pole, the STO being configured to generate a high frequency magnetic field when current is applied thereto, wherein the high frequency magnetic field is generated simultaneously to the writing magnetic field to assist in reversing magnetization of a magnetic recording medium. The STO includes: a spin polarization layer (SPL), a field generation layer (FGL) positioned adjacent the SPL, and one or more interlayers positioned between the SPL and the FGL, and a magnetization easy axis of the SPL is positioned in an in-plane direction such that the SPL has no perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.
US09230557B2	Apparatus, method and computer program for manipulating an audio signal comprising a transient event An apparatus for manipulating an audio signal comprising a transient event has a transient signal replacer configured to replace a transient signal portion, comprising the transient event of the audio signal, with a replacement signal portion adapted to signal energy characteristics of one or more transient signal portions of the audio signal, or to signal energy characteristics of the transient signal portion, to obtain a transient-reduced audio signal. The apparatus also has a signal processor configured to process the transient-reduced audio signal to obtain a processed version of the transient-reduced audio signal. The apparatus also has a transient-signal-re-inserter configured to combine the processed version of the transient-reduced audio signal with a transient signal representing, in an original or processed form, a transient content of the transient signal portion.
US09230555B2	Apparatus and method for generating an output audio data signal An apparatus receives an input encoded audio data signal comprising a base layer and at least one enhancement layer. A reference unit (103) generates reference audio data corresponding to audio data of a reference set of layers. A layer unit (105) divides the layers of the input signal into a first subset and a second subset. A sample unit (107) generates sample audio data corresponding to the audio data of the first subset. A comparison unit (109) generates a difference measure by comparing the sample audio data to the reference audio data based on a perceptual model. An output unit (111) then determines if the difference measure meets a similarity criterion and generates an output signal without audio data from a layer of the second subset if the similarity criterion is met and including the audio data of the layer otherwise. The invention may provide reduced data rates without an unacceptable degradation of quality.
US09230550B2	Speaker verification and identification using artificial neural network-based sub-phonetic unit discrimination In one embodiment, a computer system stores speech data for a plurality of speakers, where the speech data includes a plurality of feature vectors and, for each feature vector, an associated sub-phonetic class. The computer system then builds, based on the speech data, an artificial neural network (ANN) for modeling speech of a target speaker in the plurality of speakers, where the ANN is configured to discriminate between instances of sub-phonetic classes uttered by the target speaker and instances of sub-phonetic classes uttered by other speakers in the plurality of speakers.
US09230542B2	Language-independent, non-semantic speech analytics A method for language-independent, non-semantic speech analytics that may analyze spoken utterances without regard for the language or speakers, comprising the steps of receiving an audio input containing human speech, analyzing the audio to identify the waveform pattern, and analyzing the waveform to identify periods of silence, and additional methods for alternative non-speech-based speech analysis, and a system for non-speech-based analysis comprising a media server that receives audio input, an analytics server that processes the audio input, and a management server that configures operation of the analytics server.
US09230532B1	Power management of adaptive noise cancellation (ANC) in a personal audio device A personal audio device, such as a wireless telephone, includes an adaptive noise canceling (ANC) circuit that adaptively generates an anti-noise signal from an output of a microphone that measures ambient audio. The anti-noise signal is combined with source audio to provide an output for a speaker. The anti-noise signal causes cancellation of ambient audio sounds that appear at the microphone. A processing circuit estimates a level of background noise from the microphone output and sets a power conservation mode of the personal audio device in response to detecting that the background noise level is lower than a predetermined threshold.
US09230530B2	Rolling element bell A bell that rings when the entire rolling element bell is shaken, includes a base section having a recess, and a bell section that is supported directly or indirectly by the base section, a rolling element that is adapted to roll in the recess, the rolling element hitting the base section when the entire rolling element bell has been shaken, and the rolling element has rolled to reach an edge of the recess of the base section, and the rolling element bell being configured so that sound produced by the rolling element bell is adjusted by adjusting a contact angle or a contact height of the rolling element with an inner wall of the bell section.
US09230519B1	Instrument string lighting device An instrument string lighting device lights the strings of an instrument for enhanced visibility in low light conditions. The device includes a clip configured for coupling to a stringed instrument adjacent to strings of the stringed instrument. A housing is coupled to the clip and a light is coupled to the housing. The light directs illumination outwardly from the housing wherein the strings of the stringed instrument are illuminated by the light.
US09230517B2	Virtual surface gutters Virtual surface techniques are described. These techniques support the use of initialization and batching of updates, use of updates and lookaside lists, use of gutters, blending and BLT operations, use of surface optimization techniques such as push down as well as enumeration and clumping, mesh usage, and use of occlusion management techniques.
US09230514B1	Simulating variances in human writing with digital typography Methods and systems for rendering text to simulate human penmanship are described. A text rendering engine converts a text string into an image that can be displayed on a string using one or more seed numbers to influence the rendering and appearance of the text. The text rendering engine may render each character of the text string using a size, weight, slope, or Bezier curve control point selected based on the seed numbers.
US09230512B2	LED backlight driving circuit and liquid crystal device A LED backlight driving circuit is disclosed. The LED backlight driving circuit includes a boost circuit for converting an input voltage to an output voltage for a LED unit, a driving IC for controlling the boost circuit such that the boost circuit converts the input voltage to the output voltage for the LED unit, a discharging module for releasing charges stored within the boost circuit after the driving circuit is turned off, and a detecting module for detecting a voltage at an output end of the boost circuit and then for generating enable signals for controlling the operations of the driving IC. The LED backlight driving circuit is capable of detecting a discharging state of the boost circuit after being quickly rebooted. The driving circuit can be rebooted only if the output voltage is smaller than a reference voltage as the charges stored within the boost circuit is released. As such, the flashing issue is avoided. In addition, the liquid crystal device including the above LED backlight driving circuit is also disclosed.
US09230510B1	Double-sided display devices Certain aspects direct to a double-sided display device, which includes a backlight module; two display panels respectively disposed at two light-emitting sides of the backlight module, two input ports; and a controller. When the controller receives video signals from only one of the two input ports, the controller generates display signals according to the video signals, and sends the display signals to the two display panels to control the pixels of the two display panels to simultaneously display the same video signals. When the controller receives the video signals from both of the two input ports, the controller generates two separate streams of display signals respectively according to the video signals received from the two input ports, and send the two separate streams of display signals respectively to the two display panels to control the two display panels to respectively display the video signals received from the two input ports.
US09230507B2	System and method for transitioning an electronic device from a first power mode to a second power mode A system and method for reducing power consumption in an electronic device by controlling the transition of the electronic device from a sleep mode to a full power mode. The electronic device comprises a main processor a touch-sensitive overlay, and an overlay controller. A sequence of touch inputs on the touch-sensitive overlay are detected and captured using the overlay controller while the main processor is in the sleep mode. A subset of the sequence of touch inputs is processed using the overlay controller to determine that the sequence of touch inputs corresponds to a coarse model of a pre-determined wake-up gesture prior to transitioning the electronic device from the sleep mode to the full power mode.
US09230499B2	Source driving apparatus with power saving mechanism and flat panel display using the same A source driving apparatus with power saving mechanism and a flat panel display using the same are provided. The source driving apparatus includes an output buffer stage and a power-saving circuit. The output buffer stage operates under a dual power, and has a positive and negative output channels respectively coupled to two adjacent data lines in a display panel. Moreover, the power-saving circuit is coupled between the output buffer stage and the display panel. The power-saving circuit collects charges from an equivalent load capacitor of each data line, before the output buffer stage drives the two adjacent data lines through the positive and negative output channels. The power-saving circuit charges one of a positive supply and a negative supply of the dual power in response to the collected charges, during the output buffer stage drives the two adjacent data lines through the positive and negative output channels.
US09230492B2	Methods for driving electro-optic displays An electro-optic display uses first and second drive schemes differing from each other, for example a slow gray scale drive scheme and a fast monochrome drive scheme. The display is first driven to a pre-determined transition image using the first drive scheme, then driven to a second image, different from the transition image, using the second drive scheme. The display is thereafter driven to the same transition image using the second drive scheme; and from then to a third image, different from both the transition image and the second image, using the first drive scheme.
US09230489B2	Liquid crystal display device and method for driving liquid crystal display device An object of the invention is to suppress degradation in image quality of a liquid crystal display device which performs display by field sequential method and to reduce power consumption of a backlight. The highest brightness of a first color light in a pixel region is detected. Gamma correction is performed so that transmittance of a pixel of the region displaying the highest brightness of the first color light is set to maximum and transmittance of other pixel of the region is decreased in accordance with lowering of the first color light intensity, and the region is irradiated with the highest brightness of the first color light. Similarly, a second color light is irradiated in another region concurrently with irradiation of the first color, whereby input of an image signal and lighting of the backlight are performed simultaneously in every region of the pixel portion.
US09230474B2	Array testing method and device A method for testing an array, by using an array testing device for detecting a voltage distribution formed on an array substrate, includes resetting pixel voltages of a plurality of pixel circuits formed on the array substrate with a predetermined voltage, detecting the voltage distribution of the array substrate, generating a correction value for correcting the voltage distribution of the array substrate, and measuring a threshold voltage of a driving transistor included in the plurality of pixel circuits formed on the array substrate by applying the correction value.
US09230468B2	Display device A display device includes: a flexible display panel including a recognition pattern; a housing for holding the flexible display panel, wherein varying amounts of a display area of the flexible display panel are exposable to the outside to display an image; and a sensor in the housing for sensing an amount of the exposed display area corresponding to the recognition pattern.
US09230466B2	Display device and image displaying method thereof A display device is provided and includes a display panel and a lens board. The lens board is stacked with the display panel. A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate of the display panel includes a first scan line and a second scan line. A first strip bar electrode in a first pixel portion and a second strip bar electrode in a second pixel portion are arranged in an array along a direction parallel to the first scan line. The first straight line of the first strip bar electrode is intersected with the second straight line of the second strip bar electrode.
US09230465B2	Stereoscopic display apparatus and adjustment method A 3D display system for displaying a 3D image includes a tracking unit, a pixel panel, a grating array, and a control unit. The tracking unit is configured to determine a spatial position of a viewer of the 3D display system. The pixel panel contains alternatingly arranged display units from two or more view images of the 3D image, and the grating array is coupled to the pixel panel to separate light from the view images from the pixel panel. The control unit is configured to adjust certain parameters of the grating array such that a maximum width of horizontal projection of edges of adjacent display units through the grating array is less than or equal to a inner-eye distance, and a minimum width of horizontal projection of two edges of a single display unit through the grating array is greater than or equal to an outer-eye distance.
US09230459B2	Ambience reflective display frame An information handling system display frame disposed at the periphery of a display blends display and ambient light to provide a transitional zone for viewing of the display in ambient lighting conditions. A semi-scattering material absorbs light from the display and the ambient environment and scatters the light through the frame. A semi-reflective material directs at least some of the scattered light out of the frame so provide an appearance of the frame that transitions between displayed visual images of the display and the ambient light environment.
US09230458B2	Compound structural frame with integrally formed thermal cooling channels and method of using same A support for plural display modules each including a rearwardly extending heat sink includes a compound structural frame that defines a frame frontside, a frame backside, and a vertical cooling conduit, the frame backside for mounting the structural frame to a mounting structure, the frame frontside defining a bay member, the bay member defining an opening that couples to the vertical cooling conduit, the bay member configured to receive and support one of the display modules with the heat sink extending through the opening and into the vertical cooling conduit whereby the display module is convectively cooled by the vertical motion of air through the cooling conduit.
US09230451B2	Tactile display device Actuators are disposed between a lower wiring substrate and an upper wiring substrate. The actuators, the lower wiring substrate, and the upper wiring substrate are interposed between a lower frame and an upper frame. The end of each actuator is held between pushing parts of the lower frame and upper frame. The free ends of the actuators move projections upward that are displayed in a tactile display.
US09230450B1	Systems and methods for distributed adaptive simulator training Simulation equipment can be integrated into courseware presented to a student using technology which, based on the native output of a system running the courseware, can generate control signals for the simulation equipment. Such signals could then be sent to the simulation equipment without requiring the designer of the courseware to create low level programming code to communicate directly with the simulation equipment itself.
US09230445B2	Systems and methods of a test taker virtual waiting room Event driven/service oriented online testing facilitates the configuration, development, delivery, and management of educational tests with interactive participation by students, teachers, proctors, and administrators even when some or all of them are remotely located. Event driven/service oriented online testing may include a module for an online testing platform that may include an installation protocol to configure a computing facility and prevent other applications from executing during an exam, administrator interfaces, test proctor interfaces, and test taker (e.g. student) interfaces to allow each participant to view, navigate, and interact with aspects of the online test platform that are intended to meet their needs.
US09230439B2	Method and system for monitoring interactions with a vehicle A method and system for monitoring interactions with a vehicle are disclosed, the method comprising associating a mobile device of a user allowed for operating the vehicle with a device capable of providing an indication of a position of the vehicle; obtaining position data from the device capable of providing an indication of a position of the vehicle; obtaining position data from the mobile device associated with the device; comparing the obtained position data from the device with the obtained position data from the mobile device and using the comparison of the position data of the device with the position data of the mobile device to thereby monitor interactions with the vehicle.
US09230431B2	Method and apparatus for determining traffic conditions A system includes a vehicle processor configured to detect one or more brake presses. The processor is also configured to detect one or more accelerator presses. Further, the processor is configured to add values related to the brake presses and accelerator presses to aggregate an index value based on detected brake and acceleration presses. The processor is additionally configured to enact a safety and convenience related measure based on the index value passing at least a first predetermined threshold.
US09230420B2	Method and system for implementing alarms for medical device through mobile device Provided are a method and system for implementing alarms for a medical device through a mobile device. The method includes: storing details of examination of a specimen (hereinafter, referred to as examination details) in the medical device, wherein the storing is performed by the medical device; accessing the medical device and establishing a connection with the medical device, wherein the accessing and the establishing of the connection is performed by the mobile device; reading the examination details stored in the medical device, wherein the reading is performed by the mobile device; analyzing the read examination details, wherein the analyzing is performed by the mobile device; and implementing an alarm if the result of analysis satisfies a predetermined criterion, wherein the implementing is performed by the mobile device.
US09230419B2	Methods and apparatus to detect and warn proximate entities of interest Systems and methods to detect and warn proximate entities of interest are described herein. An example signal generation system for a vehicle capable of different modes of movement includes a detector to determine at least one property of vehicle movement and an output representative of that at least one property and a selectively variable signal generator includes an input to receive the at least one output representative of the at least one property of vehicle movement and, responsively, generates a selected signal based on the received output. In some examples, a detector on a pedestrian detects the selected signal from the signal generator and, responsively, provides an output indicative of a vehicle in proximity to the pedestrian. In some examples, a trajectory vector is generated for at least two entities of interest based on at least one characteristic of movement of each entity. Each entity's trajectory vector is expanded and each entity's expanded trajectory vector is analyzed for overlap with the other entity's expanded trajectory vector to assess the possibility of a collision between them.
US09230417B2	Alert devices and systems Wireless communication devices and systems are disclosed which provides for simple yet effective communications between co-workers in areas of high ambient noise. Devices are provided which are operable to use vibration to provide an alert to a wearer of the device, the device including a transmitter/receiver unit, a transmit button operably connected to the transmitter/receiver unit and at least one vibration device operably connected to the transmitter/receiver unit. The device may be positioned inside or on a hard hat or other headgear of a worker.
US09230412B2	Gaming machine and control method thereof In a gaming machine, a symbol display device variably displays a plurality of symbols, and an input device inputs an instruction related to a game. A controller executes a normal game in which the symbol display device variably displays and then stop-displays symbols, triggers a bonus game when a plurality of specific symbols are stop-displayed in the normal game, selects any one of a plurality of options by an operation of the input device by a user in the bonus game, and awards a benefit according to the selected option. Further, when the selected option selected in the processing is a specific option, the controller selects another one of the plurality of options by the operation of the input device by the user, and awards a benefit according to the selected another option.
US09230407B2	System and method for wagering based on multiple financial market indicators A method for wagering, comprises receiving a bet regarding a spin of the reels of a slot machine. The method continues by determining a first symbol for a first reel of the slot machine based at least in part upon a first value and a second value. The first value is associated with a value of a digit of a first financial market indicator at a first point in time, and the second value is associated with the value of a digit of a second financial market indicator at the first point in time. The method continues by determining a second symbol for a second reel of the slot machine, and by determining a third symbol for a third reel of the slot machine. The method concludes by determining an outcome of the bet based at least in part upon the first symbol, the second symbol, and the third symbol.
US09230386B2	Product providing apparatus, display apparatus, and method for providing GUI using the same A product providing apparatus and display apparatus, and a method for providing a GUI using the same are provided. The product providing apparatus includes a display unit, a collecting unit and a control unit which controls an image based on user characteristic information to be displayed.
US09230384B2	Device for inserting bank notes into a bill acceptor A device for inserting bank notes into a bank note processing device. The bank note processing device has a main body, a support surface for supporting a bank note to be inserted on a flat side, and at least one lateral positioning edge for laterally positioning the slot on the bank note processing device and/or for connecting the slot to the bank processing device in an accurately fitting manner. The device for inserting bank notes into a bank note processing device is characterized by a setting mechanism for variably setting the position of the positioning edge transversely to the insertion direction of the bank note through the slot.
US09230380B2	Lockable enclosure having improved access system A biometric security system, including a biometric validation module for receiving a biometric profile (such as a fingerprint scan) and asserting a control signal responsive to a biometric evaluation of the biometric profile for securing access to a physical locking storage unit, such as a cabinet. Disclosed is a system that not only provides secured mechanical locking devices for security and access control, it further augments such a system with a computer controlled biometric access control and access monitoring system. The system is managed by central management software which may encompass a standalone configuration or a networked configuration. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a solution that provides a software platform and firmware that provides a control signal controls an electromechanical locking assembly for an electrical physical locking unit, such as a server cabinet having at least one locking/unlocking door panel for gaining entry thereof.
US09230357B2	Prioritized rendering of objects in a virtual universe Approaches for prioritized rendering of objects in a virtual universe are provided. In one embodiment, there is a prioritization tool containing a plurality of components configured to: determine a priority of each of a set of objects in a commercial area of the virtual universe, the commercial area having a plurality of virtual retail stores; assign a priority to each of the plurality of virtual stores in the commercial area based on the priority of each of the set of objects in the virtual universe; and download and cache each of the objects from the set of virtual stores from the plurality of virtual stores in the virtual universe, that are outside a rendering radius of the avatar, based on the relative priorities of each of the set of the plurality of virtual stores in the virtual universe.
US09230353B2	Method and apparatus for encoding/decoding image data The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for encoding images, more particularly to an encoding unit in conjunction with a library of pictorial entities and image qualifiers. The method and apparatus provide encoding an image by using a code factor table in conjunction with a set of element codes. The resulting image code allows the set pictorial elements of an image and their associated image, qualifiers to be represented by a compact code uniquely representing a given configuration of pictorial elements. The use of the resulting image code facilitates the transmission and storage of images requiring only the code to be sent or stored. The invention further provides a computer readable medium comprising a program element that direct a computer to implement the encoding process.
US09230349B2	Electronic device and control method therefor An electronic device and a control method enable easily inputted characters or numbers to be converted and used in an application. When characters are inputted via input keys and the inputted characters are determined to match at least part of prescribed characters stored in a memory, a control unit keeps the inputted characters displayed on a display unit while also displaying, on the display unit, prescribed numbers associated with the prescribed characters. Then, with the inputted characters and prescribed numbers displayed on the display unit, if an instruction is given to start up an application related to the inputted characters and prescribed numbers, the control unit starts up the application, inputting either the inputted characters or the prescribed numbers.
US09230347B2	Transparency-based image processing method, device, and terminal The present disclosure discloses a transparency-based image processing method, device, and terminal. The method includes steps of: acquiring first simulated pixel information representing a first pixel, and acquiring first transparency information; acquiring second simulated pixel information representing a second pixel, and acquiring second transparency information; calculating third simulated pixel information representing a third pixel as a sum of a product of the first simulated pixel information times the first transparency information and a product of the second simulated pixel information times the second transparency information; and acquiring a third actual pixel by narrowing the third simulated pixel information. Compared with an existing fixed-point-number method, the present disclosure reduces prior six integer multiplications and three integer additions to two integer multiplications and one integer addition, such that efficiency in operating the method may be enhanced; compared with an existing method by looking up a table, the transparency-based image processing method provided by the present disclosure does not require traversing any 2D-array table or occupying more memory.
US09230345B2	Display apparatus configured for display of lower resolution composite color subfields Systems, methods and apparatus for image formation improve power efficiency of display devices by displaying low resolution composite color subfields. In some implementations, a display controller receives data indicative of a plurality of pixel values included in an image frame and derives a plurality of initial component color subfields. The display controller then derives a composite color subfield including a plurality of common composite color intensity values assigned to respective pixel blocks. Each pixel block is associated with a plurality of pixels. The display controller derives a plurality of updated component color subfields based on the initial component color subfields and the composite color subfield.
US09230344B2	Software, system, and method of changing colors in a video A method of changing colors in a video comprises providing a paint map image video comprising multidimensional location information of spatial points of an animated object, providing a rendered replacement image video comprising visual colors, each visual color comprising a transparency and shades of multiple linearly independent colors, identifying a first replacement image location on the animated object in a frame of the replacement image video, the first replacement image location having a first visual color, identifying a first paint map image location corresponding to the first replacement image location in a corresponding frame of the paint map image video, the first paint map image location represented by a first spatial color, creating a color mapping function that maps the first spatial color to a different visual color, and providing an altered rendered replacement image video that has been rendered according to the color mapping function.
US09230336B2	Video surveillance A video surveillance system comprises two or more video cameras each providing a video signal, the cameras each being positioned at a respective known location; a motion detector to detect image motion of an image feature within the field of view of one of the video cameras and for deriving a corresponding physical motion of an object represented by the image feature; and a motion predictor to predict the physical motion of the object with respect to the known locations of the cameras so as to derive an expected time when the object may be observed in the field of view of another one of the video cameras, in which the motion predictor is responsive to routing data defining possible routes from the observed location of the object to the field of view of another of the cameras.
US09230334B2	X-ray CT apparatus and image processing method An X-ray CT apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment includes: a specifying unit that specifies the position of a lesion and the position of a surrounding site positioned in a surrounding of the lesion, from pieces of image data of the inside of the patient corresponding to the mutually-different temporal phases; a movement information calculating unit that calculates movement information related to movements of the lesion and the surrounding site, based on the positions of the lesion and the surrounding site specified by the specifying unit; and a relative relationship calculating unit that calculates a relative relationship between the movement information of the lesion and the movement information of the surrounding site calculated by the movement information calculating unit.
US09230331B2	Systems and methods for registration of ultrasound and CT images A computerized method for model-less segmentation and registration of ultrasound (US) with computed tomography (CT) images of an organ with a fluid filled chamber. The method is based on correlating between the US image(s) and the CT image(s) by processing the US image(s) by iteratively expanding the CT image segment so that the expanded CT image segment is correlated with the visual boundaries of the US image segment; transforming the CT image(s) according to an estimated US transducer position and estimated US beam direction related to the US image(s) so that at least one of shape and volume of the organ in the CT image is adapted with at least one of shape and volume of the organ of the US image, to form a CT image representation which is correlated with US image(s).
US09230329B2	Method, computer program and apparatus for determining a gripping location According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising: obtaining at least one image comprising at least one object; analyzing the at least one image to determine at least one gripping location to grip an object; selecting a gripping location from the at least one gripping location based on a predetermined criterion; and issuing at least one instruction to a gripper to grip the object at the selected gripping location.
US09230326B1	System, method and calibration plate employing embedded 2D data codes as self-positioning fiducials This invention provides a system and method for automatic (non-manual) calibration of one or more cameras employs a tessellating calibration plate having a checkerboard tile pattern and a plurality of 2D codes embedded within the checkerboard pattern. Each 2D code encodes the (X,Y) coordinates that identify tile calibration feature locations in the pattern, and the remaining, surrounding tiles allow measurement of the corner positions as calibration features. One or more vision system camera(s) can be calibrated to a single coordinate system automatically. During calibration, an image of at least a portion of a calibration plate is acquired, the encoded data is decoded for at least one 2D code within the field of view of each camera and then the position of the field of view is determined on the calibration plate for each camera using the 2D code data and the checkerboard tile pattern.
US09230320B2	Computer aided diagnostic system incorporating shape analysis for diagnosing malignant lung nodules A computer aided diagnostic system and automated method diagnose lung cancer through modeling and analyzing the shape of pulmonary nodules. A model used in such analysis describes the shape of pulmonary nodules in terms of spherical harmonics required to delineate a unit sphere corresponding to the pulmonary nodule to a model of the pulmonary nodule.
US09230318B2	Analysis of the digital image of the external surface of a tyre and processing of false measurement points A method for processing an image of a surface of a tire to be inspected is described. A three-dimensional digital image is captured of the surface, and each pixel of a plane of the image is assigned an item of information relating to an elevation of the pixel with respect to the surface. By utilizing of a morphological operator that uses a structuring element, a first transformation of the image of the surface is performed with aid of an opening and then of a closing, so as to tailor a grey level of pixels situated abnormally above or below the surface.
US09230315B2	Complexity estimation of a 2D/3D conversion Automatic determination of the complexity associated with converting image content from 2-dimensions to 3-dimensions commences by first determining how many different scenes exist within the image content. Each scene then undergoes analysis to determine its complexity based on the motion, texture and occlusion within the scene. The scene complexities are added to the scene transition complexity and the total gets weighted to yield an overall indication of the complexity of converting of image content from 2-dimensions to 3-dimensions.
US09230303B2	Multi-frame super-resolution of image sequence with arbitrary motion patterns A computer implemented method is provided for computing a two-way optical flow between a reference frame and one or more associated frames in an optical flow module. A forward warping operator and a backward warping operator can be generated between the reference frame and each of the one or more associated frames in a warping module. The forward warping operator and the backward warping operator provide motion compensation between the frames. Weights for each of the forward warping operators and the backward warping operators can be computed in a weight module. The weights correspond to uncertainty of motion estimation. A super resolution iteration algorithm can be calculated in a super-resolution iteration module.
US09230287B2	Real-time notifications and sharing of photos among users of a social network A system and method for sending a notification to a user in a social network is disclosed. A controller receives a first photo from a first user. The first user is associated with a social network. A identification module determines a first location of the first photo. The identification module determines a second location of a second user. The second user has a connection with the first user in the social network. The identification module determines that the first location matches the second location. A notification module sends a first notification to the second user. The first notification identifies the first photo. The controller receives a second photo taken at the second location. A determining engine determines to share the second photo with the first user.
US09230286B2	Methods and systems for associating users through network societies A method is provided for associating a first user using a first device and a second user using a second device. The method may include receiving an invitation request from the first user; verifying, by a verification server, the invitation request; sending an invitation to the second user after verifying the invitation request; and receiving an acknowledgement from the second user to acknowledge an association between the first user and the second user. The invitation request may be identified as directed to the second user and may include at least a device token associated with at least one of the first and second devices and an identification associated with at least one of the second device and the second user.
US09230284B2	Centrally managed and accessed system and method for performing data processing on multiple independent servers and datasets A method of data processing between a hub computer and a plurality of spoke computers is disclosed. The hub computer is arranged to communicate with each of the spoke computers. Furthermore, each spoke computer is remote from the hub computer and remote from each other. The method comprises: (a) receiving at the hub computer from a user a request for the spoke computer to run a data processing operation on accounting data of an organization hosting the spoke computer, the accounting data locally accessible by the spoke computer; (b) the hub computer communicating the request to the spoke computer; (c) in response to receiving the request, the spoke computer running the data processing operation on the accounting data; and (d) the spoke computer returning results of the data processing operation to the hub computer.
US09230277B2	Presentation of product recommendations based on social informatics A method, system, and/or computer program product presents product recommendations based on input derived from a user's social network. A description of a product selected for purchase by a user is received. A social networking site is searched for information relevant to a characterization the product. The relevant information is characterized according to a social relationship between the user and an other member of the social networking site, a product family of the product, and a product expertise of the other member about the product. Characterized information about the product is then presented to the user.
US09230249B1	Interactive shopping system and method An interactive shopping system and method for use in a retail store. The system can include a removable sleeve which can be attached to a shopping cart or basket. The system can have a scanner for reading product codes and retrieving information on specific products and an onboard scale to match the product weight as products are placed in the cart or basket. A processor can be in communication with a network and configured to match products codes in real time to a store library of products. A display can be used to market products that might interest the user based on the user's shopping list and shopping history at the store. A light array and alarm system can be mounted to the removable sleeve to provide a visual or audible alarm to indicate the status of payment or nonpayment of products in the cart or basket.
US09230247B2	Card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method An automated banking machine system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system is operative to read a financial card bearing account indicia with a card reader. A user is enabled to perform at least one banking operation responsive to account indicia read from the card. Such banking operations may include dispensing cash and accessing financial accounts. A user is also enabled to perform at least one banking operation responsive to financial account data communicated to the automated banking machine from a mobile phone.
US09230239B2	Method and system for providing performance metrics Systems and methods to facilitate the collection and processing of content generated by users are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, user generated content may be aggregated from multiple retailers. This user generated content may be processed to obtain a variety of statistical data associated with the user generated content, including an importance metric. This importance metric may be utilized to rank the products of the manufacturer such that statistical, or other, data related to the manufacturer's products may be presented to a user in the order of product importance.
US09230238B2	Favorites list sharing Techniques are described to share items from a favorites list. In an implementation, a list entry for a favorites list may be associated with content from a third party source by a first user. The favorites list may be presented in a webpage to display the list entry and the associated content to another user. A control operable to share the list entry with the other user may be exposed with the list entry. Responsive to operation of the control, the content and/or related data may be obtained from the third party source and data may be stored to associate the list entry including the obtained content with the other user. In at least some embodiments, the control is operable by a single-click to cause the sharing of the list entry.
US09230230B2	Pickup location monitoring A pickup location that includes a control station and one or more storage compartment modules provides the ability for items to be ordered and delivered for pickup by a user without having to pack those items in a shipping package prior to shipping from a materials handling facility. Delivering items for pickup by a user without having to package the items prior to shipping, may provide a better experience for the customer, reduce waste in packaging material and a lower cost of delivering the ordered items to the customer.
US09230227B2	Pallet A material handling apparatus including pallets developed to operate in radio frequency rich environments. Pallets are provided having at least one large compartment capable of enclosing at least one electronic device or a package populated with a plurality of devices. The devices include RFID pallet tags that communicate with RFID item tags and RFID beacon tags positioned within distributed RFID networks. The devices include sensors to monitor pallet conditions to which a pallet management system is responsive. The devices include wireless transceivers for communicating indicative information through LAN, WLAN and Cellular communications networks. An antenna array operating on different radio frequency signals is provided. The apparatus includes a power resource in order to facilitate long term autonomous operation.
US09230226B2	Capacity expansion planning with production resource management In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, systems and methods are provided for capacity planning management by generating a capacity expansion plan for a plurality of production resources used to produce one or more products relative to one or more time intervals. The systems and methods may include evaluating production patterns for each production resource to determine a production capacity within each time interval, evaluating budget patterns for each production resource to determine a production cash flow within each time interval, generating one or more potential capacity expansion forecasting schemes for each production resource and production budget based on the production patterns for each production resource and the budget patterns for each production budget, and generating the capacity expansion plan within each time interval based on the one or more potential capacity expansion forecasting schemes for each production resource and production budget.
US09230224B2	Providing a timeline control in a multi-tenant database environment A system and method for providing a timeline control in a multi-tenant database system. In one embodiment, a method includes determining a plurality of entitlement processes and milestones that are to be enforced, where each entitlement process includes one or more actions, and where each action is associated with a corresponding milestone. The method further includes displaying a timeline control window that shows one or more milestones for an entitlement process, and updating the timeline control window as the status of the entitlement process changes.
US09230220B2	Situation-dependent libraries of affective response Generating a situation-dependent library comprising a user's expected response to tokens representing stimuli that influence the user's affective state, including: receiving samples comprising temporal windows of token instances to which the user was exposed, wherein the token instances have overlapping instantiation periods and are spread over a long period of time that spans different situations; wherein at least one token is expected to elicit from the user a noticeably different affective response in the different situations; receiving target values corresponding to the temporal windows of token instances; the target values represent the user's responses to the token instances from the temporal windows of token instances; training a machine learning-based user response model using the samples and the corresponding target values; and analyzing the machine learning-based user response model to generate the situation-dependent library comprising the user's expected response to tokens, which accounts for the variations in the user's affective response in the different situations.
US09230214B1	Personalizing auto-completion results based on user intent Some embodiments provide a system that facilitates use of an auto-completion system. During operation, the system receives an input text string entered by a user. The system determines a set of text strings, wherein each of the text strings in the set can replace the input text string entered by the user. Next, the system calculates a commercial intent score for each text string in the set. Following this, the system selects a replacement text string from the set of text strings based on commercial intent scores computed for each text string in the set. Finally, the system displays the selected replacement text string in the place of the input text string to the user.
US09230206B2	Image forming with save mode for reducing color material cost An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a save mode setting unit, a reference cost obtaining unit, a minimum monetary-sum extraction unit, and a usage volume setting unit. The minimum monetary-sum extraction unit is configured to extract a minimum monetary sum for each tone from reference costs for a plurality of image forming modes. The usage volume setting unit is configured to: obtain a post-reduction cost where a reduced monetary sum by the save mode is subtracted from the minimum monetary sum; and set reference usage volume as usage volumes for the dark color material and the light color material in the save mode, the reference usage volume being obtained based on the reference costs for the image forming modes corresponding to the post-reduction cost.
US09230204B2	Image forming apparatus and method of reducing power consumption of communication module An image forming apparatus and an image forming method include a communication interface to communicate with a terminal device, an image former to form an image of data provided from the terminal device through the communication, and a controller to determine whether there is an image forming job of the data during a preset time, and, when determining that no image forming job is received, changing a transmission cycle of a beacon signal sent to synchronize with the terminal device or to provide device information.
US09230190B2	Image recognition to support shelf auditing for consumer research Image recognition methods, apparatus and articles or manufacture to support shelf auditing for consumer research are disclosed herein. Example methods disclosed herein include comparing a first image signature associated with an input image with a plurality of reference signatures associated with a plurality of reference images to identify a first reference image matching the input image. Such disclosed example methods also include identifying a first group of items depicted in the input image as corresponding to a first group of reference items registered with the first reference image. Such disclosed example methods further include determining a first region of the input image that differs from a corresponding first region of the first reference image, and processing the first region of the input image based on a template to identify a second item depicted in the input image.
US09230188B2	Objective metric relating to perceptual color differences between images Techniques described herein may determine an objective metric that relates to the color difference that may be perceived by humans viewing two images of the same visual scene. In one implementation, a method may include receiving first and second images; determining a first histogram based on hue values associated with pixels in the first image; and determining a second histogram based on hue values associated with pixels in the second image. A color difference metric may be determined based on a comparison between the first and second histograms. The color difference metric may relate to an objective measure of color differences between the first and second images.
US09230187B2	System and method for robust estimation of color dependent measurements Methods, devices, and computer program products for robust estimation of color-dependent measurements are described herein. In one aspect, a method for generating a reference color grid that may be placed beside a color-dependent measuring device is disclosed. The reference color grid may contain a number of colors which enable a mapping from the color space of a testing device to a reference color space. This mapping may allow a function that is able to determine an estimate of a color-dependent measurement based on a color in the reference color space to be used. In another aspect, a method for robust estimation of color-dependent measurement using a reference color guide is disclosed.
US09230185B1	Analysis of electrophoretic bands in a substrate A method and system to enhance analysis of electrophoretic bands by overlaying only the pixels of interest. The overlaid pixels are superimposed as a layer above, i.e., in the foreground of, the overlaid image, i.e., in the background. A user employs the superimposed pixels for molecular weight determination and is still able to generate densitometry analysis of the remaining pixels in the overlaid image.
US09230177B2	Apparatus, systems, and methods for determining the location of a roadway mark or portion thereof not meeting standards An apparatus, system, and method for determining the geographical location of a roadway mark or portion thereof not meeting roadway mark standards data. The system includes a GPS antenna; a GPS receiver responsive to the GPS antenna for determining the geographical location of the GPS antenna; and a system responsive to the GPS receiver. The system (a) determines the GPS geographical location of the roadway mark or portion thereof, (b) determines characteristic data of the roadway mark or portion thereof, (c) inputs roadway mark standards data, (d) compares the roadway characteristic data with the roadway mark standards data, and (e) determines the geographical location of the roadway mark or portion thereof based upon the comparison of the roadway characteristic and standards data.
US09230174B2	Attribute-based alert ranking for alert adjudication Alerts to object behaviors are prioritized for adjudication as a function of relative values of abandonment, foregroundness and staticness attributes. The attributes are determined from feature data extracted from video frame image data. The abandonment attribute indicates a level of likelihood of abandonment of an object. The foregroundness attribute quantifies a level of separation of foreground image data of the object from a background model of the image scene. The staticness attribute quantifies a level of stability of dimensions of a bounding box of the object over time. Alerts are also prioritized according to an importance or relevance value that is learned and generated from the relative abandonment, foregroundness and staticness attribute strengths.
US09230168B2	Automatic generation of built-up layers from high resolution satellite image data A system for automatically extracting interesting structures or areas (e.g., built-up structures such as buildings, tents, etc.) from HR/VHR satellite imagery data using corresponding LR satellite imagery data. The system breaks down HR/VHR input satellite images into a plurality of components (e.g., groups of pixels), organizes the components into a first hierarchical data structure (e.g., a Max-Tree), generates a second hierarchical data structure (e.g., a KD-Tree) from feature elements (e.g., spectral and shape characteristics) of the components, uses LR satellite imagery data to categorize components as being of interest or not, uses the feature elements of the categorized components to train the second data structure to be able to classify all components of the first data structure as being of interest or not, classifies the components of the first data structure with the trained second data structure, and then maps components classified as being of interest into a resultant image.
US09230158B1	Fraud detection for facial recognition systems Approaches are described which enable a computing device (e.g., mobile phone, tablet computer) to utilize one or more facial recognition techniques to control access to the device and to detect when artificial representations of a user, such as a picture or photograph, are being used in an attempt to gain access to the device. Evidence indicative of artificial representations may include lack of changes in facial skin color between multiple images captured by a camera, ability to track one or more features of the human face while the camera is rotated or moved, presence of secular reflections caused by an illumination device, absence of shadows in the image, and others.
US09230155B2	Extraction of keyframes at regular intervals by finding nearby high-quality frames An image processing apparatus according to the present invention can specify, among a plurality of frames, a plurality of frame groups having at least one frame included between the plurality of frame groups that are extraction target candidates in an array of the plurality of frames in the moving image according to a predetermined frame interval, analyze each of the plurality of specified frame groups, and extract a frame to be output from each of the plurality of frame groups based on a result of the analysis.
US09230152B2	Electronic device for processing composite finger matching biometric data and related methods A device may include a finger biometric sensor and a processor coupled thereto. The processor may acquire first and second finger matching biometric data based upon first and second finger placements adjacent the sensor. The processor may also perform a matching between the first and second finger matching data to generate composite finger matching data having an associated composite match score, perform another matching between the composite matching data and finger enrollment data when the composite match score exceeds a match threshold to generate an enrollment match score, and update the finger enrollment data with the composite matching data when the enrollment match score exceeds an enrollment threshold. In other embodiments, where the second finger matching data is acquired based upon a removal and replacement of the finger from adjacent the finger sensor, instead of or in addition to updating the finger enrollment data, a device function may be performed.
US09230149B2	Biometric image sensing An novel sensor is provided having a plurality of substantially parallel drive lines configured to transmit a signal into a surface of a proximally located object, and also a plurality of substantially parallel pickup lines oriented proximate the drive lines and electrically separated from the pickup lines to form intrinsic electrode pairs that are impedance sensitive at each of the drive and pickup proximal locations.
US09230146B1	System, device and method employing machine-readable symbol reader and shield Machine-readable symbol reader systems including one or more shields are provided. One example machine-readable symbol reader system includes a conveyor system to convey objects bearing one or more machine-readable symbols past a first region that is transmissive to light. The system includes a machine-readable symbol reader having a housing, a window formed in the housing, and at least one optical sensor received in the housing and having a field of view that extends outward of the window, at least the window of the machine-readable symbol reader positioned relatively below the conveyor system with the field of view aligned with the first region of the conveyor system. The system can further include a shield having a frame with a plurality of apertures that are transmissive to light, the shield positioned relatively below the first region and positioned relatively above the window of the machine-readable symbol reader.
US09230137B2	Secure original equipment manufacturer (OEM) identifier for OEM devices An authorized information handling system (IHS) generates unique identifier codes for an OEM (programmable) device designed as a component for an IHS. An identifier generation and validation (IGV) controller in the authorized IHS generates a unique encrypted sequence by encrypting identification (ID) data read from the OEM device. The IGV controller generates a unique OEM identifier code by further encrypting the encrypted sequence using a first OEM proprietary code. The IGV controller writes the first identifier code to a pre-specified storage location of the OEM device. According to one embodiment, the IGV controller generates the unique OEM identifier code using a second reversible encryption-decryption component that comprises an Exclusive-OR (XOR) scrambler engine and generates the unique encrypted sequence using a first reversible encryption-decryption component that comprises an LFSR based scrambler, which utilizes polynomial coefficients that are securely generated and maintained.
US09230136B2	Tokenization column replacement A tokenization system includes a vector table and one or more token tables. The tokenization system accesses sensitive data and a vector from a vector table column, and modifies the sensitive data based on the accessed vector. The tokenization system then queries the one or more token tables using a portion of the modified data to identify a token mapped to the portion of the modified data. The portion of the modified data is replaced with the token to create tokenized data. The vector table can be updated by replacing a vector table column with an updated vector table column. The tokenization system can modify subsequent data using the updated vector column prior to tokenization.
US09230134B1	Privacy setting metadata for application developers Privacy setting metadata for application developers is described, including receiving, from a user, a request to submit an application; requesting, from the user, identification of one or more permissions and information associated with the one or more permissions; receiving the application, the one or more permissions, and the information associated with the one or more permissions, wherein the one or more permissions are associated with one or more functions of the application; storing the application, the permissions, and the information associated with the permissions; receiving a request to install the application to a device of another user; providing the application, the one or more permissions, and the information associated with the one or more permissions to the device; and receiving, from the device, one or more consents to the one or more permissions, the one or more consents indicate activation of the one or more functions of the application.
US09230128B2	Assignment of security contexts to define access permissions for file system objects A system and method are provided for restricting various operations in a file system based on security contexts. An object security context including permissible roles and defining a set of access permissions associated with each of the permissible roles is assigned to a file system object. A user security context is assigned to a user based on authentication information from the user, and the user security context identifies a user role for the user. An executable security context is assigned to an executable program. When the user has launched the executable program, a process is created and assigned the user security context and the executable security context. Responsive to the process attempting to access the file system object, at least one of the user security context and executable security context is verified against the object security context to determine if the attempted access should be allowed.
US09230120B2	Architecture and instruction set for implementing advanced encryption standard (AES) A flexible aes instruction for a general purpose processor is provided that performs aes encryption or decryption using n rounds, where n includes the standard aes set of rounds {10, 12, 14}. A parameter is provided to allow the type of aes round to be selected, that is, whether it is a “last round”. In addition to standard aes, the flexible aes instruction allows an AES-like cipher with 20 rounds to be specified or a “one round” pass.
US09230117B2	Approval of content updates A method, computer program product, and system is described. An indication of a problem regarding a content item is received, the content item being subject to a workflow including an approval protocol. A request for an emergency exception to the workflow with respect to an update to the content item is received, the update being associated with the problem. Permission for circumvention of one or more aspects of the approval protocol with respect to the update is provided, in response to receiving the request for the emergency exception.
US09230115B1	Educating computer users concerning security threats Attacks are simulated to a user, by performing the steps of the attacks without actually performing any malicious activity. Educational security information is displayed to the user, based on the user's response to simulated attacks. If the user responds to a simulated attack in a manner indicating that the user is vulnerable, educational security information can be displayed that educates the user as to how to avoid being victimized. One or more security settings for protecting the user's computer from malware can be adjusted, based on the user's response to the simulating of attacks. Additionally, other factors can be adjusted based on the user's response to the simulating of attacks, such as a security hygiene rating and/or a level of monitoring activity concerning the user.
US09230110B2	Accessing privileged objects in a server environment Accessing privileged objects in a server environment. A privileged object is associated with an application comprising at least one process resource and a corresponding semi-privileged instruction. The association is filed in an entity of an operating system kernel. A central processing unit (CPU) performs an authorization check if the semi-privileged instruction is issued and attempts to access the privileged object. The CPU executes the semi-privileged instruction and grants access to the privileged object if the operating system kernel has issued the semi-privileged instruction; or accesses the entity if a process resource of the application has issued the semi-privileged instruction to determine authorization of the process resource to access the privileged object. Upon positive authorization the CPU executes the semi-privileged instruction and grants access to the privileged object, and upon authorization failure denies execution of the semi-privileged instruction and performs a corresponding authorization check failure handling.
US09230108B2	Contextual alert of an invasion of a computer system Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for providing contextual feedback to a user of a computer system upon detection of an invasion of the computer system are provided herein. An invasion of the computer system is detected and a contextually appropriate alert is selected from a set of alerts. The alert is played immediately upon detection of the invasion so that the user is alerted to the invasion within close temporal proximity to the user's action that resulted in the invasion of the computer system. In addition, details of the invasion are logged to a diagnostic log file for later use by support personnel in repairing the computer system.
US09230107B2	Security devices and methods for detection of malware by detecting data modification Disclosed is a portable security device and method for detection and treatment of computer malware. An example method includes performing a malware detection experiment by the security device on the computer by simulating a connection to the computer of a simulated data storage device containing a predefined set of data. The method further includes determining if there are any modifications in the set of data contained in the simulated data storage device after termination of the malware detection experiment. The method further includes, based on whether there are any modifications in the set of data, determining whether to perform one or more subsequent malware detection experiments by the security device on the computer. In one example aspect, each of the one or more subsequent malware detection experiments are configured to simulate a different connection to the computer of a different simulated data storage device containing the predefined set of data.
US09230102B2	Apparatus and method for detecting traffic flooding attack and conducting in-depth analysis using data mining Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting a traffic flooding attack and conducting an in-depth analysis using data mining that may rapidly detect a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, for example, a traffic flooding attack, developed more variously and firmly from a denial of service (DoS) attack, perform an attack type classification, and conduct a semantic analysis with respect to the attack. The apparatus and method may support a system operation and provide a more stable service, by rapidly detecting a traffic flooding attack, classifying a type of the attack, and conducting a semantic analysis based on a prediction and analysis scheme of data mining.
US09230101B2	Providing alerts based on unstructured information methods and apparatus A system, method, and apparatus for providing alerts based on unstructured information are disclosed. An example method includes receiving a data item from a remotely located information source, the data item including unstructured information. The method also includes determining a threat score for the data item by matching information associated with the data item to pre-identified information associated with a numerical value. The method further includes responsive to the threat score exceeding a predetermined threshold, creating a Common Alerting Protocol data structure that includes at least a portion of the information associated with the data item and transmitting the Common Alerting Protocol data structure.
US09230097B2	Method and system for detecting data modification within computing device A method and apparatus for detecting data modification in a layered operating system is disclosed. Outbound content indicators at different layers are compared to detect potential outbound data modifications. Likewise, inbound content indicators at different layers are compared to detect potential inbound data modifications. Content indicators include checksum, cryptographic hash, signature, and fingerprint indicators. Embodiments of the present invention enable detection of data modifications across an operating system's kernel and user mode spaces, prevention of modified outbound data from reaching a network, prevention of modified input data from reaching a user application, and detection of malware and faults within an operating system.
US09230096B2	System and method for data loss prevention in a virtualized environment A data loss prevention (DLP) manager running on a security virtual machine manages DLP policies for a plurality of guest virtual machines. The DLP manager identifies a startup event of a guest virtual machine, and installs a DLP component in the guest virtual machine. The DLP component communicates with the DLP manager operating within the security virtual machine. The DLP manager also receives file system events from the DLP component, and enforces a response rule associated with the guest virtual machine if the file system event violates a DLP policy.
US09230088B2	Device, method, and graphical user interface for accessing an application in a locked device A device with a touch sensitive display and a plurality of applications, including a camera application, while the device is in a locked, passcode-protected state: displays a lock screen interface, the lock screen interface including a camera access indicia; detects a gesture; in response to a determination that the gesture starts on the camera access indicia: ceases to display the lock screen interface; starts a restricted session for the camera application; displays an interface for the camera application, without displaying a passcode entry interface; and maintains the device in the locked, passcode-protected state for the applications other than the camera application; and in response to a determination that the gesture starts at a location other than the camera access indicia: displays a passcode entry interface, wherein in response to entry of a correct passcode in the passcode entry interface, the device enters an unlocked state.
US09230075B1	Multi-server authentication using proactivization journaling Secret values used in a multi-server authentication scheme are updated. Information is authenticated in a system comprising a plurality of processing devices each adaptable for communication with one or more other devices. The information is authenticated by generating at least first and second shares of a first password associated with a first device (such as a client device); storing the first and second shares in respective second and third devices (such as authentication server devices); updating the first and second shares using a secret value T; assigning a version number to the updated first and second shares; and upon submission of additional information associated with the first device to at least one of the second and third devices, the second and third devices utilizing the respective updated first and second shares for a given version number to collectively determine a correspondence of the additional information with the first password.
US09230074B2	Method for switching wallpaper in screen lock state, mobile electronic device thereof, and storage medium thereof A method for switching wallpaper in screen lock state, a mobile electronic device thereof, and a storage medium thereof are provided. In the present method, an input signal is received by a touch screen when a mobile electronic device enters a screen lock state. Then, whether the input signal is located in a specific area of the touch screen is determined. A moving track of the input signal is detected if the input signal is located in the specific area. Finally, wallpaper of the screen lock state is switched according to the moving track. As a result, a user can switch wallpaper arbitrarily even if the mobile electronic device is in the screen lock state, so as to increase convenience of switching wallpaper.
US09230059B2	Medical imaging apparatus and medical image management method A medical imaging apparatus and a medical image management method provide information regarding image deletion to a user upon deleting stored images, thus allowing the user to intuitively recognize a storage capacity and to select a data capacity to be deleted. The medical imaging apparatus includes a storage unit storing images, a controller calculating a residual capacity among the storage capacity of the storage unit and determining whether or the residual capacity is less than a predetermined reference value, and a display unit displaying an auto deletion popup window receiving setting regarding a reference date for deletion of the stored images, if the residual capacity is less than the predetermined reference value.
US09230048B1	Integrated circuits with interconnect selection circuitry Integrated circuits such as programmable integrated circuits may include programmable logic regions that can be configured to perform custom user functions. The programmable logic regions may produce output signals. The integrated circuit may include interconnects that route selected output signals throughout the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit may include output selection circuitry having output selection and interconnect selection stages. The output selection circuitry may be configured to select which of the output signals produced by the programmable logic regions are provided to the interconnects for routing. The interconnect selection stage may be formed using multiplexing circuits or tristate drivers. Logic design system computing equipment may be used to generate configuration data that can be used to program the output selection circuitry to reduce crosstalk by routing signals away from critical interconnects or by double-driving critical interconnects.
US09230043B2	Computer-aided modeling To enable the utilization of a definition or definitions once made as the definitions of a similar object, a set of conditions for similarity including one or more conditions is defined and a set of definitions, which explicitly or inexplicitly indicates one or more definitions, of which at least one will be applied, and a similar object is searched for. If the set of definitions is related to an object which was used as the basis for defining the set of conditions for similarity, the set of definitions is applied to the object found. If the set of definitions is related to an object to be found, the set of definitions of the object found is applied to the object which was used as the basis for defining the set of conditions for similarity.
US09230041B2	Search suggestions of related entities based on co-occurrence and/or fuzzy-score matching A method for generating search suggestions of related entities based on co-occurrence and/or fuzzy score matching is disclosed. The method may be employed in a search system that may include a client/server type architecture. The search system may include a user interface for a search engine in communication with one or more server devices over a network connection. The server device may include an entity extraction module, a fuzzy-score matching module, and an entity co-occurrence knowledge base database. In one embodiment, the search system may process a partial search query from a user and present search suggestions to complete the partial query. In another embodiment, the complete search query may be used as a new search query. The search system may process the new search query, run an entity extraction, find related entities from the entity co-occurrence knowledge base, and present said related entities in a drop down list.
US09230032B2	Poll-based networking system Described is a poll-based networking system. The system provides an on-line network of friends that are determined through polling each of the users. This system polls a user with a variety of questions. After providing an answer to each question, the system compares, in real-time, the current user's responses with all other users' responses to identify those users that most similarly answered the questions to that of the current user. As the current user progressively answers additional questions, the system progressively updates the matching and presentation of similar users. As such, as the current user navigates the website by answering polling questions, the selected answers are compared against the selected answers of other users to generate a likelihood of match between the user and each of the other users. The user profiles of other users that have a likelihood of match within a predetermined threshold are then presented.
US09230026B2	Persistent search object in a method and apparatus for keeping and finding information A find engine provides a user with access to information via a find interface and a keep interface. The find interface accesses both a content search index and a personal search index; the keep interface accesses personal search index. The content search index lists document content, user generated content, and semantic vectors; the personal search index lists user generated content, user explicit gestures, and user implicit gestures. The user explicit gestures comprise keeps that are captured via the keep interface and that consist of any of one or more documents and sites from among the search results to which the user ascribes significance by affirmatively keeping the document or site. The keeps are preserved as one or more persistent search objects and the search results returned to the user are ranked and/or returned in response to the query at least in part in accordance with the keeps.
US09230019B2	Semantic information processing A system for exchanging various forms of information between computer-executable agents. A computing device is configured to determine semantic data associated with each data object (DO) of a plurality of DOs. Each DO is associated with a location, and the semantic data describes the content of the associated DO. The computing device receives, from a first user computing device, a request for DO information and, in response to the request, provides DO information including the locations and the semantic data associated with the retrieved DOs to the user computing device by (a) transmitting the locations and the semantic data to the first user computing device, and/or (b) instructing the first user computing device to request the DO information from a second user computing device to which the locations and the semantic data were previously transmitted.
US09230014B1	Method and apparatus for recommending work artifacts based on collaboration events A method and apparatus for recommending artifacts based on collaboration events in a collaborative environment comprising inferring, based on dynamic interaction, a group of close collaborators for a current user from at least one collaboration event, suggesting relevant artifacts based on one or more interaction patterns of the inferred group of close collaborators and grouping the suggested relevant artifacts into one or more high-level explanations for the current user based on the at least one collaboration event.
US09230011B1	Index-based querying of archived data sets Methods and systems for index-based querying of archived data sets are disclosed. A plurality of indices are generated, each comprising a plurality of pointers to storage locations of a plurality of updates to a document. A query request is received after generating the plurality of indices. The query request comprises an identifier of the document and a specified time range. A subset of the indices that comprise the identifier of the document within the specified time range are determined. From the subset of the indices are retrieved a subset of the pointers to the storage locations for one or more of the updates to the document within the specified time range. The one or more updates to the document within the specified time range are retrieved using the subset of the plurality of pointers.
US09230010B2	Task history user interface using a clustering algorithm The aspects of the disclosed embodiments include clustering a set of discrete user interface states into groups; presenting the groups on a display of a device; and enabling selection of any state within a presented group, wherein selection of a state returns the user interface to the selected state.
US09230008B2	System and method for automated online reorganization of sequential access databases Various systems, non-transitory computer readable media, and methods reorganize data records of a database in response to an efficiency parameter. A system may use an efficiency parameter that indicates a satisfactory level of organizational efficiency of at least a portion of a database table having a group of rows stored using a plurality of data blocks. The system may determine an efficiency of the group of rows based on a number of data block changes that occur during a sequential access of the group of rows. When the determined efficiency is less than the efficiency indicated by the efficiency parameter, the server may generate a control card to reorganize the group of rows when the efficiency is not satisfactory. The control card is used by an online reorganization process that reorganizes the group of rows.
US09230006B2	Remote access to tracking system contact information In the context of tracking systems, it is difficult to ensure that an organization has a complete, accurate database of contacts stored in its tracking system. When tracking systems users are required to manage exporting and importing of contacts from their desktop mail clients and handheld devices, it is almost certain that contact information will not be kept up-to-date and that confidence in the accuracy of the contact information will not be high. By enabling a remote directory access portal in the tracking system, all users can be assured that they have available the latest contact information for the organizations' contacts. In addition to providing directory access, the tracking system can authenticate users and, based on the users' entitlements, authorize users' access to specific contacts.
US09230002B2	High performant information sharing and replication for single-publisher and multiple-subscriber configuration A method for sharing information between a publisher and multiple subscribers is provided. The publisher uses a latch-free, single publisher, multiple subscriber shared queue to share information. Logical change records representing changes made to a database are enqueued in the shared queue as messages in a stream of messages, and subscribers read the logical change records. Subscribers may filter logical change records before sending to apply processes for processing. An identifying property of the source instance of a change encapsulated in a logical change record may be included with each message enqueued.
US09229995B2	Extracting data from business intelligence files A system and method for managing business intelligence data is described. In some example embodiments, the system extracts data and metadata from a business intelligence file, generates a data bundle of the data and metadata, generates an application bundle based on the data bundle, and generates an interactive document using the data bundle and application bundle.
US09229983B2	System-wide query optimization A locally optimized plan for executing a command using a sequence of steps can be determined for a single computing node. However, the locally optimized sequence of steps may not be optimized for a combined system comprising multiple computing nodes, any one of which may be tasked with executing the command. A plan that is optimized for the combined system may be determined by comparing the predicted cost of locally optimized plans for computing nodes in the combined system.
US09229979B2	Optimizing parallel queries using interesting distributions The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing parallel queries using interesting distributions. For each logical operator in an SQL server MEMO, in a top down manner from a root operator to the leaf operators, interesting distributions for the operators can be identified based on the properties of the operators. Identified interesting distributions can be propagated down to lower operators by annotating the lower operators with the interesting distributions. Thus, a SQL server MEMO can be annotated with interesting distributions propagated top down from root to leaf logical operators to generate an annotated SQL server MEMO. Parallel query plans can then be generated from the annotated SQL server MEMO in a bottom up manner from leaf operators to a root operator. Annotated interesting properties can be used to prune operators, thereby facilitating a more tractable search space for a parallel query plan.
US09229977B2	Real-time and adaptive data mining A method of analyzing data is presented. The method includes generating a query based on a topic of interest, expanding search terms of the query, executing the query on one or more data sources, monitoring a specific data source selected from the one or more data sources. The monitoring is performed to monitor for matches to the query.
US09229976B2	Identifying entities based on interactivity models An interactivity system is provided that tracks interactivity between a target entity and participant entities and identifies entities whose interactions satisfy an interactivity criterion. The interactivity system maintains for the target entity interactivity models between the target entity and each participant entity, with each interactivity model modeling the interactions between the target entity and that participant entity. The interactivity system dynamically updates the interactivity models as notification of interactions are received. Upon receiving a query that specifies an interactivity criterion, the interactivity system analyzes the interactivity models to determine whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied. When an interactivity criterion is satisfied, the interactivity system sends a response to the query indicating that the interactivity criterion is satisfied along with the identity of the entity that satisfies the interactivity criterion.
US09229973B2	Apparatus and method for search and retrieval of documents A system for the support and management of search for documents is presented. The system includes knowledge-database, query interface and communication to a database of documents to be searched. Information generated during a search session is collected by the system and is added to the knowledge-database. The information is ranked automatically according to the usage of that information by the user. During successive search session, or during search made by other users, the system uses the knowledge-database to support the users with keywords, queries and reference to documents.
US09229971B2	Matching data based on numeric difference Systems and methods for matching data based on numeric difference are described herein. Input data elements are parsed to identify a first number and a second number. A difference between the first number and the second number is calculated based on a predefined formula. Based on the difference, a matching score between the input data elements is evaluated. The matching score is proportional to a base matching score corresponding to a threshold difference, and a maximum score corresponding to a match between the first number and the second number. A similarity between the input data elements is reported based on the evaluated matching score.
US09229969B2	Management of searches in a database system A method, system, and computer program product to efficiently search a database is disclosed. The method, system, and computer program product may include structuring the database to have a table, an index associated with the table, and a log associated with the index, the log adapted to include an entry. The method, system, and computer program product may include receiving a search request related to the index. The method, system, and computer program product may include searching the index when the search request is not associated with the entry. The method, system, and computer program product may include accounting for the entry and searching the index when the search request is associated with the entry.
US09229968B2	Management of searches in a database system A method, system, and computer program product to efficiently search a database is disclosed. The method, system, and computer program product may include structuring the database to have a table, an index associated with the table, and a log associated with the index, the log adapted to include an entry. The method, system, and computer program product may include receiving a search request related to the index. The method, system, and computer program product may include searching the index when the search request is not associated with the entry. The method, system, and computer program product may include accounting for the entry and searching the index when the search request is associated with the entry.
US09229965B2	Managing attributes in stream processing using a cache A method and system for managing attributes in a streaming application is disclosed. The system may contain a receiving stream operator that is communicatively coupled with a stream manager. The receiving stream operator may have a capability of storing a selected attribute and creating one or more unique identifiers. The system may contain a cache communicatively coupled with one or more stream operators. The cache may have a capability of storing the selected attributes. The system may also have a retrieving stream operator communicatively coupled with the stream manager. The retrieving stream operator may have a capability of using the unique identifier to access the selected attribute.
US09229956B2	Image retrieval using discriminative visual features Image search results are obtained by providing weights to visual features to emphasize features corresponding to objects of interest while simultaneously deemphasizing irrelevant or inconsistent features that lead to poor search results. In order to minimize the impact of visual features that are unreliable or irrelevant with respect to the objects of interest in the image, context-dependent weights are provided to detect visual features such that those visual features pertaining to the objects of interest are more heavily weighted than those visual features that pertain to irrelevant or unreliable portions of the image. Visual features may be weighted for images in a searchable database. Training data may be obtained and used in weighting visual features in a query image and, alternatively, in searchable database images.
US09229950B2	Method and device for processing files of distributed file system A method and device for processing files of distributed file system are disclosed, in which the method involves dividing the file into at least one data group according to the size of the file, and determining first mapping information from the file to the at least one data group, in which each of the at least one data group includes content blocks and verification block of file, and determining second mapping information from each of the at least one data group to data storage servers storing the each of the at least one data group (102), and providing the first mapping information and the second mapping information to a client for executing a writing operation of files (103). The technical solution can improve availability of memory space and decrease costs of constructing a distributed file system.
US09229949B2	Extensible and generic framework for managing resources for data warehousing loads Methods, systems, and computer program products are provided for managing resources. A request is received for a plurality of resources from a requester. A ticket is generated for the request that indicates the resources. For each resource, a resource provider for the resource is queried to determine whether the resource can be acquired. The ticket is queued if any of the resources cannot be acquired. The ticket is granted if all of the resources can be acquired.
US09229948B2	Self-governed contention-aware approach to scheduling file defragmentation A method, system, and computer program product for file storage defragmentation on a cluster of nodes. The method for self-governed, contention-aware scheduling of file defragmentation operations commences by calculating a score for candidate files of a storage volume, where the score is based on a fragmentation severity value. The process proceeds to determine an amount of contention for access to a candidate file (e.g., by accessing the candidate file to record the amount of time it takes to obtain access). If the fragmentation severity value and the amount of contention suggestion a benefit from defragmentation, then the method initiating defragmentation operations on the candidate file. The method delays for a calculated wait time before performing a second defragmentation operation. Real-time monitors are used to determine when the contention is too high or when system utilization is too high. Only files that have ever been opened are considered candidates for defragmentation.
US09229946B2	Method and apparatus for processing search request for a partitioned index Techniques for enhanced processing of search requests directed to a partitioned index include receiving a request for a search of an index. The index is partitioned across a plurality of nodes in communication. The method also comprises determining whether the request is deterministic. The method further comprises determining a number of responses to request from at least one of the plurality of nodes based on whether the request is deterministic.
US09229939B2	System and method for arranging items for display A system for arranging searchable items, such as digital images or multimedia icons for presentation on a graphical user interface. The system has an optimizer module which minimizes a cost function for arranging items in a layout space and is applied to one or more predetermined characteristics of the items. The optimizer module also creates a mixture distribution by considering each item as having a spatial distribution in the layout space and controls the entropy of the mixture distribution in order to maximize the extent to which each item occupies a separate position in the layout space. A Renderer module then renders the layouts to generate a display.
US09229934B2	Method and system for document integration A method for integrating a document from a first document repository to another document repository in a cloud computing environment is disclosed. The method embodiment includes receiving by a server a configuration setup file including information identifying a source document repository, a destination document repository located in a cloud computing environment, and at least one web portal. When an indication to upload a document from the source document repository to the destination document repository is received by the server, the server is configured to retrieve automatically the document from the source document repository, to convert automatically the document from a first format to a second format, and to transmit the converted document to the destination document repository, whereby the converted document is accessed via the at least one web portal.
US09229926B2	Determining similarity of unfielded names using feature assignments Provided are techniques for comparing names. A first phrase score is obtained by comparing a name phrase in a first name to a name phrase in a second name. A second phrase score is obtained by comparing another name phrase in the first name to another name phrase in the second name. An overall score is generated based on the obtained first phrase score and the obtained second phrase score. The overall score is updated based on comparing features of the first name with features of the second name.
US09229917B2	Electronic form user interfaces A system and method validating entry of data into a structured data file in real-time is described. The system and method also described a real-time validation tool that enables a developer to create custom validation rules. These custom validation rules can include preset validation rules, which the real-time validation tool enables a developer to create in an easy-to-use way.
US09229916B2	Rendering sections of content in a document Systems, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for rendering a document having collapsible sections of content. In one embodiment, the document may be received and rendered for display. Rendering the document for display may include collapsing all but a first section of the collapsible sections of content. Rendering the document for display may also include collapsing all but a second section of the collapsible sections of content, upon determining that a period of time has elapsed since collapsing all but the first section of the collapsible sections of content.
US09229912B2	Previewing prominent features of remote documents A document previewing system includes a display device including a user interface and a document previewing engine coupled to the display device. The document previewing engine is configured to download an outline of a document including outline features and filler content in between the outline features. The filler content replaces secondary content of the document. The document previewing engine is further configured to display the outline on the display device, and download the secondary content corresponding to an outline feature in response to a user navigating to the outline feature and the outline feature displaying on the display device for a period of time.
US09229907B2	System, method, and computer program product for evaluating an integral utilizing a low discrepancy sequence A system, method, and computer program product are provided for evaluating an integral utilizing a low discrepancy sequence. In use, a low discrepancy sequence that includes at least one component that is a (0,1)-sequence in base b is determined. Additionally, an integral is evaluated, utilizing the low discrepancy sequence.
US09229906B2	Method and apparatus for matching vehicle ECU programming to current vehicle operating conditions Disclosed herein are techniques for implementing vehicle ECU reprogramming, so the ECU programming, which plays a large role in vehicle performance characteristics, is tailored to current operational requirements, which may be different than the operational characteristics selected by the manufacturer when initially programming the vehicle ECU (or ECUs) with specific instruction sets, such as fuel maps. In one embodiment, a controller monitors the current operational characteristics of the vehicle, determines the current ECU programming, and determines if a different programming set would better suited to the current operating conditions. In the event that the current programming set should be replaced, the controller implements the ECU reprogramming. In a related embodiment, users are enabled to specify the ECU programming to change, such as changing speed limiter settings.
US09229897B2	Embedded control channel for high speed serial interconnect Methods and apparatus for embedding a control channel in a high speed serial interconnect having multiple data lanes. Operational aspects of the interconnect are controlled via use of control channel data that is sent over one or more of the data lanes on a periodic basis. A link state cycle is employed that includes a link control period during which control information is transferred over the interconnect and a link control interval between link control periods during which other links states are implemented, such as for transferring data or operating the link in a low power state. The link state cycles at transmitter and receiver ports are synchronized to account for link transmit latencies, and the timing of link state cycles corresponding to a bidirectional exchange of link control information may be configured to support an overlapping implementation or to facilitate a request/response link control protocol.
US09229887B2	Memory device with network on chip methods, apparatus, and systems Apparatus, method and systems are provided such as those that can include a processor module, an interface device disposed above or below the processor module, the interface device including a plurality of routing elements, at least one memory device disposed above or below the interface device and including a plurality of memory arrays, the plurality of memory arrays coupled to the interface device using a plurality of interconnects provided in vias provided in at least one of the memory device and the interface device. In addition, the interface device communicatively can couple the plurality of memory arrays to the processor module using the plurality of routing elements and the interconnects.
US09229883B2	Extended input/output measurement word facility for obtaining measurement data in an emulated environment An Extended Input/output (I/O) measurement word facility is provided. Provision is made for emulation of the Extended I/O measurement word facility. The facility provides for storing measurement data associated with a single I/O operation in an extended measurement word associated with an I/O response block. In a further aspect, the stored data may have a resolution of approximately one-half microsecond.
US09229882B2	System for backing up and restoring the functionalities of an information technology system A system for backing up and restoring the functionalities of an information technology system which comprises an electronic computer, the electronic computer comprising elements for accessing the data communications network, a first hard disk, a removable slider which is adapted to contain the first hard disk, a first data bank; an operations center being adapted to retrieve instructions from the data bank which are adapted to be processed by the computer on the basis of a unique identifier associated with the electronic computer, the computer being further adapted to perform operations for backing up a restore point on elements for backing up data which are present on the first hard disk, on the basis of the instructions, and operations for restoring the data on the first hard disk on the basis of a choice made by a user.
US09229881B2	Security in virtualized computer programs In an embodiment, a data processing method comprises implementing a memory event interface to a hypercall interface of a hypervisor or virtual machine operating system to intercept page faults associated with writing pages of memory that contain a computer program; receiving a page fault resulting from a guest domain attempting to write a memory page that is marked as not executable in a memory page permissions system; determining a first set of memory page permissions for the memory page that are maintained by the hypervisor or virtual machine operating system; determining a second set of memory page permissions for the memory page that are maintained independent of the hypervisor or virtual machine operating system; determining a particular memory page permission for the memory page based on the first set and the second set; processing the page fault based on the particular memory page permission, including performing at least one security function associated with regulating access of the guest domain to the memory page.
US09229880B2	Location sensitive solid state drive A data storage system including a SSD includes a capability to detect whether its location is acceptable for function, and a capability to self-disable in the event the location of the device is unacceptable, or to self-enable only while the location of the device is acceptable.
US09229878B2	Memory page offloading in multi-node computer systems Systems and methods for memory page offloading in multi-processor computer systems. An example method may comprise: detecting, by a computer system, a memory pressure condition on a first node; invalidating a page table entry for a memory page residing on the first node; copying the memory page to a second node; and updating the page table entry for the memory page to reference the second node.
US09229875B2	Method and system for extending virtual address space of process performed in operating system A method of extending a virtual address space of a process executed in an operating system includes selecting a virtual address range included in a virtual address space corresponding to the process and the number of a plurality of extended virtual address ranges, extending and thereby setting the virtual address space to a multi-virtual address space based on the selected virtual address range and the selected number of the plurality of extended virtual address ranges, and providing the multi-virtual address space to the process.
US09229874B2	Apparatus and method for compressing a memory address An apparatus and method for converting between a full memory address and a compressed memory address. For example, one embodiment comprises one or more translation tables having a plurality of translation entries, each translation entry identifiable with a pointer value and storing a portion of a full memory address usable within the processor to address data and instructions; and address translation logic to use the translation tables to convert between the full address and a compressed version of the full address, the compressed version of the full address having the pointer value substituted for the portion of the full memory address, wherein a first portion of the processor performs operations using the compressed version of the full address and a second portion of the processor performs operations using the full address.
US09229872B2	Semiconductor chip with adaptive BIST cache testing during runtime A method is described that includes during runtime of a semiconductor die, determining that a next BIST test sequence of a storage component embedded on the die is appropriate. The method further includes applying a BIST test sequence to each valid entry in the storage component. The method also includes marking any newly invalid entries in the storage component as invalid and configuring a respective replacement entry for each of the newly invalid entries.
US09229871B2	Cache device, communication apparatus, and computer program product A cache device may include a first storage unit configured to store first cache data, a second storage unit configured to store a cache file that stores copy of the first cache data as second cache data; a reading unit configured to select and read out one of the first cache data, which has been stored in the first storage unit, and the second cache data, which has been stored in the cache file stored in the second storage unit, in response to a reference request from outside, and an instructing unit configured to determine probability of expecting future referencing request based on the frequency of past referencing requests, the instructing unit being configured to instruct that either the first cache data or the second cache data is to be selected and read out based on the probability.
US09229870B1	Managing cache systems of storage systems A method is used in managing cache systems of storage systems. Information is gathered from a storage system to determine an estimated amount of time required to flush data of a nonvolatile cache of the storage system to storage devices. The data cached in the nonvolatile cache is associated with a set of logical objects configured to cache the data in the nonvolatile cache. Based on the information gathered from the storage system, the estimated amount of time required to flush the data of the nonvolatile cache is determined.
US09229866B2	Delaying cache data array updates Systems, methods, and apparatuses for reducing writes to the data array of a cache. A cache hierarchy includes one or more L1 caches and a L2 cache inclusive of the L2 cache(s). When a request from the L1 cache misses in the L2 cache, the L2 cache sends a fill request to memory. When the fill data returns from memory, the L2 cache delays writing the fill data to its data array. Instead, this cache line is written to the L1 cache and a clean-evict bit corresponding to the cache line is set in the L1 cache. When the L1 cache evicts this cache line, the L1 cache will write back the cache line to the L2 cache even if the cache line has not been modified.
US09229864B1	Managing metadata synchronization for reducing host system latency in a storage system Flushing cache memory of dirty metadata in a plurality of file systems without either letting the caches reach their maximum capacity, or using so much of the total system IO process bandwidth that host system IO process requests are unreasonably delayed, may include determining the length of an interval between sync operations for each individual one of the plurality of file system, and how to divide a system wide maximum sync process IO operation bandwidth fairly between various ones of the plurality of file systems. A computer dynamically measures overall system operation rates, and calculates an available portion of a current calculated sync operation bandwidth for each file system. The computer also measures file system operation rates and determines how long a time period should be between sync operations in each file system.
US09229853B2	Method and system for data de-duplication An apparatus may comprise a non-volatile random access memory to store data and a processor coupled to the non-volatile random access memory. The apparatus may further include a data de-duplication module operable on the processor to read a signature of incoming data, compare the signature to first data in the non-volatile random access memory, and flag the incoming data for discard when the signature indicates a match to the first data. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09229851B2	Memory controller, semiconductor memory device and control method thereof A memory controller includes logical-physical address conversion table, an access number storing section configured to store the number of accesses to read out data from a memory cell in association with a logical address, a storage state checking section configured to check a storage state of data stored in the memory cell at every predetermined number of accesses, and a refresh processing section configured to perform refresh processing to restore the data stored in the memory cell if the storage state of the data is in a predetermined degraded state.
US09229848B2	Determining soft data for fractional digit memory cells Apparatuses and methods for determining soft data for fractional digit memory cells are provided. One example apparatus can include a controller to determine states of memory cells of a group of memory cells operated as fractional digit memory cells, and determine soft data based, at least partially, on dimensions to which particular memory cells correspond with respect to the group of memory cells, determined states of the memory cells with respect to a state adjacent a state corresponding to a swapping shell, and whether a particular memory cell is a candidate for swapping.
US09229819B2	Enhanced reliability in deduplication technology over storage clouds Methods and systems for enhancing reliability in deduplication over storage clouds are provided. A method includes: determining a weight for each of a plurality of duplicate files based on parameters associated with a respective storage device of each of the plurality of duplicate files; and designating one of the plurality of duplicate files as a master copy based on the determined weight.
US09229818B2	Adaptive retention for backup data Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to adaptive retention for backup data. In aspects, space may be needed on a backup storage in order to store additional backup data. In response, an indication that space is needed provided to a retention manager. The retention manager attempts to prune data on the backup storage to free up space on the backup storage. Before deleting a version on the backup storage, the retention manager determines whether deletion conditions are met. The retention manager may apply one or more retention policies in its efforts to free space. The retention manager may manage and free the space such that versions of files already stored are preserved for the longest possible time.
US09229817B2	Control method of data storage system for restarting expander The present disclosure discloses a data storage system and a control method thereof. The data storage system includes a plurality of data storage devices, a temporary memory device and an expander. The control method includes: detecting, by the expander, if a flag is in a first status after the expander is restarted; sending, by the expander, a first command to all the data storage devices if the first status is detected. The first status indicates that all the data storage devices are ready for linking and operation.
US09229812B2	Layered failure protection scheme for protecting destaged data units A method that includes calculating multiple set parity units for multiple sets of data units that are cached in a storage system thereby providing a group of units that includes multiple sets of units. Each set of units includes a set of data units and at least one associated set parity unit that facilitate a reconstruction of the set of units when a first number of units of the set of units is lost. Calculating at least one group parity unit for the group of units. A combination of the at least one group parity unit and at least one associated set parity unit facilitate a reconstruction of the set of units upon a failure of a second number of units of the set of units. The second number of units of the set of units exceeds the first number of units of the set of units. Destaging the group of units and the at least one group parity unit to multiple disks of the storage system.
US09229811B2	Folded codes for correction of latent media errors Data is obtained at a data storage system. Codewords are generated from the obtained data. The codewords are computed using a folded code and each codeword comprises symbols. The codewords are stored on an array of disks associated with the data storage system in accordance with a codeword symbol mapping that is specified by at least one parameter of the folded code used to generate each codeword.
US09229802B2	Non-systematic coded error correction Methods are described that facilitate the detection and correction of data in memory systems or devices by encoding the data bits of a memory row or block in a non-systematic ECC code. This allows memory embodiments of the present invention to utilize reduced complexity error detection and correction hardware and/or routines to efficiently detect and correct corrupted user data in a segment of memory, such as a sector, word line row, or erase block. User data is not stored in a plaintext format in the memory array, allowing for an increased level of data security. The ECC code is distributed throughout the stored data in the memory segment, increasing the robustness of the ECC code and its resistance to damage or data corruption.
US09229799B2	Information handling system swappable boot storage device A storage device actuator on an information handling system accepts an end user input to eject a first non-volatile storage device that stores the operating system running on the information handling system. Boot logic running on firmware of the information handling system initiates a shutdown of the operating system at the information handling system in response to an eject actuation and then permits ejection of the first non-volatile storage device. The storage device actuator detects insertion of a second non-volatile storage device into the information handling system and in response to the detection of the insertion initiates a boot by the boot logic of an operating system stored on the second non-volatile storage device.
US09229798B2	Error handling method, memory storage device and memory controlling circuit unit An error handling method, a memory storage device and a memory controlling circuit unit are provided. The method includes obtaining a finished event corresponding to a channel; determining whether the finished event is a failed event, if the finished event is the failed event; stopping an operation of the channel and performing a first update operation on a counting value corresponding to the channel; and if the finished event is not the failed event, keeping the counting value corresponding to the channel unchanged and processing the finished event. The step of the processing the finished event includes performing a second update operation on the counting value corresponding to the channel if the finished event is the failed event, and recovering the operation of the channel if the counting value matches a threshold criterion. Accordingly, it can improve the accessing performance.
US09229787B2	Method and system for propagating modification operations in service-oriented architecture Certain example embodiments relate to techniques for propagating modification operations for Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) objects in a SOA. The SOA includes at least two SOA objects that are connected by at least one relationship that defines one SOA object as referencing SOA object and another SOA object as referenced SOA object. Steps of an appropriate may include: receiving a request for propagating a modification operation from the referencing SOA object to the referenced SOA object; evaluating at least one propagation rule to determine whether the requested modification can be performed on the referenced SOA object; and if it is determined that the requested modification cannot be performed in accordance with the at least one propagation rule, evaluating at least one approval rule to determine whether the requested modification can be performed on the referenced SOA object.
US09229785B2	Policy-based workload performance optimization for dynamically distributed OSGi application A method for scheduling execution of an application is provided. The method comprises monitoring a usage state of resources of a first virtual machine that executes the application, so as to determine whether the usage state reaches a predetermined state. The method further comprises migrating an application module consuming the resources to a second virtual machine having corresponding resources, if the usage state reaches a predetermined state.
US09229783B2	Methods and apparatus for resource capacity evaluation in a system of virtual containers Methods and apparatus are provided for evaluating potential resource capacity in a system where there is elasticity and competition between a plurality of containers. A dynamic potential capacity is determined for at least one container in a plurality of containers competing for a total capacity of a larger container. A current utilization by each of the plurality of competing containers is obtained, and an equilibrium capacity is determined for each of the competing containers. The equilibrium capacity indicates a capacity that the corresponding container is entitled to. The dynamic potential capacity is determined based on the total capacity, a comparison of one or more of the current utilizations to one or more of the corresponding equilibrium capacities and a relative resource weight of each of the plurality of competing containers. The dynamic potential capacity is optionally recalculated when the set of plurality of containers is changed or after the assignment of each work element.
US09229782B2	Collectively loading an application in a parallel computer Collectively loading an application in a parallel computer, the parallel computer comprising a plurality of compute nodes, including: identifying, by a parallel computer control system, a subset of compute nodes in the parallel computer to execute a job; selecting, by the parallel computer control system, one of the subset of compute nodes in the parallel computer as a job leader compute node; retrieving, by the job leader compute node from computer memory, an application for executing the job; and broadcasting, by the job leader to the subset of compute nodes in the parallel computer, the application for executing the job.
US09229775B2	Dynamically adjusting global heap allocation in multi-thread environment Global heap allocation technologies in a multi-thread environment, and particularly to a system for dynamically adjusting global heap allocation in the multi-thread environment, and more particularly to a method and system for dynamically adjusting global heap allocation by monitoring conflict parameters of the global heap allocation method. The present invention provides a system for dynamically adjusting global heap allocation in multi-thread environment, comprising: identifying a global heap allocation method in an application program; judging whether the global heap allocation method is a multi-thread conflict hot point; and using a local stack to allocate memory space requested by the global heap allocation method in response to a “yes” judging result. The system according to the present invention is adapted to purposefully dynamically adjust the intrinsic global heap allocation method in the program according to a real-time running state, reduce the lock contention on the global heap, and effectively improve a resource allocating efficiency and a resource utilization rate.
US09229755B2	User datagram protocol (UDP) packet migration in a virtual machine (VM) migration Embodiments of the invention relate to receiving, by a first processor comprising a processing device, an indication that a migration of a virtual machine from the first processor to a second processor is to occur. The first processor transmits user datagram protocol (UDP) packets intended for the virtual machine to the second processor based on the indication. A signal is transmitted to the virtual machine to enter an offline state, wherein the offline states comprises a transfer of at least one of a central processing unit (CPU) state and a memory state, and wherein the virtual machine is configured to halt a processing of the UDP packets in response to receiving the signal. The virtual machine is reactivated once the migration of the virtual machine from the first processor to the second processor is complete. The virtual machine is instructed to resume the processing of the UDP packets.
US09229732B2	System and method for on-demand delivery of operating system and/or applications A system includes a module to determine a dependency between at least one operating system and at least one application, an interface module to permit an independent selection of an operating system image and an application image, a service to stream a first portion of the application image, and to stream, on-demand, a second portion of the application image, and a memory to store at least one of the operating system image and the application image. The at least one application is compatible with the at least one operating system. Methods and machine-readable medium, and hardware apparatus are provided.
US09229731B2	System and method for facilitating booting using a plurality of boot methods Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with multiple boot methods are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an information handling system comprises a processor and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The information handling system also comprises an access controller communicatively coupled to the processor. The access controller is configured to retrieve non-bootable executable instructions and combine the non-bootable executable instructions with a boot loader associated with a boot method to generate a bootable image associated with the boot method. The access controller is further configured to present the bootable image to the information handling system such that the bootable image is configured to be booted by the information handling system using the boot method.
US09229729B2	Initializing processor cores in a multiprocessor system A system and computer program product for initializing processor cores in a multiprocessor system. The system includes a microcontroller that initializes a first processor utilizing a common initialization image for all processor cores within the first processor. The first processor detects and executes system firmware. All remaining processors are initialized utilizing the common initialization image. The executing firmware detects a system configuration of the multiprocessor system. A customized processor initialization image for each of the processor cores in the multiprocessor system is generated and stored to a storage device. The processor cores are triggered to enter a power save state in which all initialization settings of the processor cores are lost. In response to all the processor cores entering the power save state, the first processor core of the first processor is re-initialized using a first customized initialization image generated for the first processor core.
US09229722B2	Major branch instructions with transactional memory Major branch instructions are provided that enable execution of a computer program to branch from one segment of code to another segment of code. These instructions also create a new stream of processing at the other segment of code enabling execution of the other segment of code to be performed in parallel with the segment of code from which the branch was taken. In one example, the other stream of processing starts a transaction for processing instructions of the other stream of processing.
US09229716B2	Time-based task priority boost management using boost register values According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for task priority boost management is disclosed. The method includes: responsive to a thread executing in user mode an instruction to boost a priority of the thread, accessing a boost register, the boost register accessible in kernel mode; determining a value of the boost register; and responsive to determining that the boost register holds a non-zero value, boosting the priority of the thread.
US09229712B2	Bicycle component control apparatus A bicycle component control apparatus is basically provided with a communication interface and a controller. The communication interface is configured to communicate with at least one electric bicycle component and at least one manually operated input member. The controller is electrically coupled to the communication interface, and programmed to control the at least one electric bicycle component based on operation of the at least one manually operated input member. The controller is programmed to decide an operation mode of the at least one electric bicycle component differently based on a number of manually operated input member coupled to the controller via the communication interface.
US09229710B2	Optimizing on demand allocation of virtual machines using a stateless preallocation pool A method, computer system, and computer program product for allocating virtual machines in a stateless preallocation pool on a computing device is provided. In response to determining that a virtual machine is to be removed from an active pool in a computing device, it is determined whether the virtual machine is to be moved to a preallocation pool of the computing device. In response to determining that the virtual machine is to be moved to the preallocation pool, the virtual machine is cleansed of stateful data by removing unique information about the virtual machine's prior allocation while in the active pool. The virtual machine is moved to the preallocation pool. In response to determining that the virtual machine is needed in the active pool, the virtual machine is moved from the preallocation pool to the active pool.
US09229705B2	In-band hypervisor-managed firmware updates A software update manager running on an information handling system over a type 1 hypervisor operating system retrieves a virtual firmware update through a primary network interface. The virtual firmware update executes over the hypervisor to initiate a download of a firmware update to a management processor of the information handling system through a management network interface. The firmware update executes to update the firmware of the information handling system with an update process managed by an end user through the primary network interface and the software update manager.
US09229696B2	Common intermediate representation for data scripting language A common intermediate representation for a data scripting language is provided for efficient representation and direct specification of programming constructs in memory. The common intermediate representation of data scripts allows data intensive applications to be created and analyzed in a machine accessible format, and the elements of the common intermediate representation can be stored independent of underlying storage specifics. Stored elements of the common intermediate representation of code are thus available for fast loading in memory when desired by other applications and programs by mapping the stored elements to the in memory intermediate representation.
US09229693B1	Build service for software development projects A computing resource service provider may provide developers with access to a build service configured to generate compilation artifacts associated with software development projects. The build service may obtain a build description and source code suitable for generating the compilation artifact. The build service may then cause one or more build resources to be provisioned and included in a build instantiation using computing resources of the service provider. The build instantiation may generate the compilation artifact, using the one or more build resources, based at least in part on the obtained source code. The developer may then be provided with access to the compilation artifact generated by the build instantiation.
US09229691B2	Method and apparatus for programming assistance A programming assistance technical solution for a framework-based application program. The application program contains program files and configuration files, including: processing configuration files of an application program history base into a configuration file classification base according to types of frameworks; constructing a Closed Frequent Subtree Set according to the configuration file classification base and determining a support of the Closed Frequent Subtree; and providing the Closed Frequent Subtree Set and the support for programming assistance. The technical solution of the present invention can be employed to assist in programming of a framework-based application program.
US09229690B2	Automatic computer code parallelization A method for computer code parallelization, comprising: providing sequential computer code by a user; defining structure of the sequential computer code, the structure comprises a plurality of code processes; generating automatically a plurality of parallelized computer codes corresponding to the sequential computer code, each having different configuration of parallelizing the plurality of code processes; running the plurality of parallelized computer codes on a multi-core processing platform; evaluating performance of the processing platform during running of each of the parallelized computer codes; and ranking each of the parallelized computer codes according to the performance evaluation.
US09229688B2	Automated latency management and cross-communication exchange conversion A system and method for performing functional decomposition of a software design to generate a computer-executable FSM and a graphical representation of the design in a decomposition diagram stored in a program database with source code, test code, and other program data. The method includes searching for pre-existing software modules that meet program design requirements. Modules needing work are displayed on Gantt or PERT charts as tasks, and may be annotated with start dates, and completion dates. Percent complete of the design is automatically generated and updated, and may be displayed on the charts. The decomposition is automatically used to introduce error detection states into the FSM for recognizing invalid states and saving checkpoints, and for recognizing and repairing both race conditions and deadlock conditions in the design.
US09229684B2	Automated corruption analysis of service designs Methods and arrangements for conducting corruption analysis of service designs. A service design is accepted. Corrupting factors within the service design are assessed, and a corruption susceptibility score is generated. An alternative service design is generated responsive to a corruption susceptibility score fulfilling predetermined criteria.
US09229683B2	Communication device ingress information management system and method The components of communication network device ingress systems and methods cooperate to manage information ingress and prevent denial of service attempts. A classifier classifies incoming information. A classification filter filters the information on a classification basis to prevent denial of service. The classification filter includes a classification filter counter for tracking the flow of information associated with the classification filter. A zero value in the classification filter counter indicates that a buffer capacity limit associated with the classification is reached. The counter permits information to flow to a packet buffer if the classification filter counter value is not zero and discards information if the classification filter counter value is zero. In one exemplary implementation the classification filter counter decrements a classification filter counter value when the information is placed in the buffer. The classification filter counter value is incremented when the information is processed out of the buffer.
US09229676B2	Display device and display method thereof A display device and display method thereof is provided. The display device comprises: a Micro Control Unit (MCU) for obtaining display control information for at least two sub-screens, updating display data format information for the display device based on the display control information, and transmitting the updated display data format information to a display adaptor of an intelligent device connected to the display device; a video interface supporting multi-channel signal transmission, for receiving video signals each corresponding to one of the at least two sub-screens, the video signals being output by the display adapter based on the updated display data format formation; and a display information processing chip for obtaining the video signals and the display control information for the at least two sub-screens received by the MCU, and outputting the video signals onto the respective sub-screens on the display panel based on the display control information for the sub-screens. With the present invention, it is possible to achieve a split-screen display on a single display device based on one video data line.
US09229674B2	3D printing: marketplace with federated access to printers Systems, methods, and media for optimizing and facilitating 3D printing services in a marketplace environment are provided. In one example, a system comprises a memory and at least one module, executing on one or more computer processors, to host or participate in a 3D printing service marketplace environment including marketplace participants and a federated network of 3D printing service providers. The at least one module receives a 3D printing request from a marketplace participant to print a 3D object at a 3D printing service provider, and communicates with at least some of the federated network of 3D printer service providers within the marketplace environment. In response to the received request, the at least one module lists at least some of the 3D printing service providers based on a 3D printer identifier metric.
US09229649B2	Device for remote defragmentation of an embedded device An embedded device (1) having a memory (2) that is organized to store both data objects (DO1-DOx) and meta data (MD) which describes the locations at which the data objects are stored in the memory (2), the embedded device (1) which is connectable to a remote defragmentation device (3) is disclosed. The embedded device (1) is adapted to transmit, at the request of the defragmentation device (3), the meta data (MD) and optionally the data objects (DO1-DOx) stored in the memory (2) to the defragmentation device (3) and, in accordance with instructions and data received from the defragmentation device (3), to update in its memory (2) the meta data (MD) and to store the data objects (DO1-DOx) at locations as defined in the updated meta data (MD).
US09229646B2	Methods and apparatus for increasing data storage capacity A environment and method are provided for increasing the storage capacity of a data storage environment. Additional storage clusters may be added to the storage environment without affecting the performance of each individual storage cluster. When data is written to the storage environment, a selection may be made as to which storage cluster is to store the data. When data is read from the storage environment, it may be determined which storage cluster stores the data and the data may be retrieved from that storage cluster.
US09229632B2	Animation sequence associated with image In one embodiment, an image may be displayed in one of several display modes. When an image is displayed in a first display mode on the screen of an electronic device, a user input may cause the image to transition to a second display mode. An animation sequence is displayed while the image transitions from the first display mode to the second display mode.
US09229629B2	Device identification method, communicative connection method between multiple devices, and interface controlling method A device identification method, a communicative connection method between multiple devices, and an interface controlling method are disclosed herein. The devices include a first device and at least one second device. The first device includes a touch-sensing interface and a first wireless communication module. Each second device comprising a second wireless communication module and physical contacts arranged with a distinct pattern. The communicative connection method includes steps of: sensing a multi-touch input by the touch-sensing interface when one of the second devices is currently placed upon the touch-sensing interface of the first device; identifying the second device currently placed upon the first device by matching the multi-touch input with the distinct pattern; and, forming a wireless communicative connection between the first wireless communication module of the first device and the second wireless communication module of the matched second device.
US09229625B2	System and method for providing a circular computer desktop environment Systems and methods for providing a circular computer desktop. In accordance with an embodiment, one or more computer monitors are used with a closed-path configuration, in which there are no, e.g., natural left and right desktop boundaries. When an object is moved or resized such that a portion or all of the object moves outside an expected boundary of the desktop, then that portion of the object is rendered and made visible at the opposite side of the desktop. The effect is one of a continuous or circular desktop. In accordance with an embodiment, the system can determine the position of objects within the desktop, taking into account the width of monitor bezels. In accordance with various embodiments, the system can be used with a single, e.g., flat or circular monitor, or with a plurality of monitors, and can accommodate left-right and/or up-down circular desktop behavior.
US09229624B2	Method and electronic device for changing coordinates of icons according to sensing signal An embodiment of the invention provides a method for changing a coordinate of an icon according to a sensing signal. The method comprises: outputting the sensing signal via a sensor according to an interactive operation of a user; displaying a plurality of the icons of an operating system via a display device, wherein each icon corresponds to a data element; when receiving the sensing signal and a trigger signal by a processor, by the processor, acquiring the icons currently shown on the display device, generating an updated coordinate of each icon according to the sensing signal output by the sensor, changing the coordinates of the icons of the operating system, and displaying the icons on the display device according to the updated coordinates.
US09229620B2	System and method for managing user e-book collections Examples described herein enable a user to organize and manage e-books on a computing device that utilizes a network-based e-book service. According to some examples, a user e-book collection can be organized so that it can be displayed when archived, as well as in accordance with user-defined lists.
US09229617B2	Software user interface using H-grid navigation A hierarchical grid (H-Grid) is used to select a customer name after preliminary navigation has been performed. The preliminary navigation serves to identify an action, category or type of page to process or display data associated with the selected customer name. The H-Grid can be used in various ways as a replacement for, enhancement or addition to, key or query-based searching to retrieve a page or perform an action. In a particular example, the H-Grid includes customer names that have data available for display according to a form associated with a selected action or category. When the user clicks a customer name in the H-Grid a current form is populated with the customer's data. Subsequent navigation to other pages of data are populated with the currently selected customer name. This approach can replace the requirement of having the user to perform a search or query to identify the customer name or record.
US09229615B2	Method and apparatus for displaying additional information items An apparatus, that may include a processor configured to receive a touch input associated with a first information item, determine a first set of at least one additional information item associated with said first information item, based at least in part on said touch input, generate a first visual representation based at least in part on said first set, and display said first visual representation is disclosed. A corresponding method and computer-readable medium are also disclosed.
US09229607B2	Guided page navigation Configuring a set of guided documents for operation of a business activity based on a workflow for the activity, industry expertise, and a plurality of models of source data that is relevant to the business activity, wherein points of entry to access the guided documents are organized around one or more industry-specific data dimensions.
US09229606B2	System and method for rendering widget A method and a system for rendering a widget are provided. The method is used in an electronic device and includes: receiving a display size of a display unit; comparing the display size of the display unit with a lookup table and obtaining the display size of the widget and a user interface; determining whether the display size of the display unit needs to be adjusted to the display size of the widget; re-adjusting the display size of the display to the display size of the widget according to the obtained display size of the widget when determining that the display size of the display unit needs to be adjusted to the display size of the widget; and rendering the widget.
US09229601B2	Touch panel A touch panel includes a first electrode substrate including a first substrate and a first conductive film formed on the first substrate, and a second electrode substrate including a second substrate and a second conductive film formed on the second substrate to face the first conductive film. A part or the entirety of the first conductive film is divided into plural conductive areas.
US09229595B2	Touch detection apparatus and method of driving the same A touch signal scan apparatus and a touch signal scan method are disclosed. The apparatus includes: a drive signal supply unit electrically connected with M drive lines in one-to-one correspondence, an electrode layer in which the M drive lines and N sense lines are arranged, and N amplifiers electrically connected with different output ends of the N sense lines in one-to-one correspondence. The drive signal supply unit is configured to supply drive signals with at least two different frequencies to the M drive lines in a period of one frame, and the frequencies of the drive signals supplied to two adjacent drive lines are different. The apparatus further includes a bandwidth filter electrically connected with the N amplifiers and configured to separate sense signals output from the N amplifiers so as to obtain the sense signals corresponding to the respective drive signals with the at least two different frequencies.
US09229592B2	Shear force detection using capacitive sensors An input device having a sensing region overlapping an input surface includes a first substrate, a second substrate physically coupled to the first substrate, and a sensor electrode disposed on the first substrate and configured to detect input objects in the sensing region. A first force sensor includes a first electrode disposed on the first substrate and a first conductive portion of the second substrate capacitively coupled with the first electrode. The first conductive portion is configured to move relative to the first electrode such that a first variable capacitance of the first force sensor changes in response to force applied to the input surface in a first direction parallel to the touch surface.
US09229591B2	Touch panel Disclosed is a touch panel. The touch panel includes a sensing electrode pattern layer on a transparent substrate; a wire connected to the sensing electrode pattern layer; a bonding pad formed at an end of the wire and connected to a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB); and an adhesive insulating layer on one surface of the sensing electrode pattern layer and on a region except for the bonding pad, wherein the adhesive insulating layer comprises a first adhesive insulating layer and a second adhesive insulating layer, and an area of the first adhesive insulating layer is different from an area of the second adhesive insulating layer.
US09229579B2	Optical touch system An optical touch system includes an image sensor for detecting at least one object and a processor coupled to the image sensor. The processor is configured to determine the number of pixel clusters created by the at least one object on an image generated from the image sensor and to generate gesture information when the number of pixel clusters is greater than a predetermined pixel cluster number.
US09229567B2	Electronic device including touch-sensitive display A method includes detecting a touch on a touch-sensitive display, determining a time of a display update of the touch-sensitive display, and adjusting a scanning rate of scanning electrodes of the touch-sensitive display based on the time of the display update.
US09229557B2	Interactive and 3-D multi-sensor touch selection interface for an automated retail store, vending machine, digital sign, or retail display Vending machines, automated retail stores, and retail displays with a computer controlled, activation system that senses either the gesture of a customer proximate product display tubes or a touch-screen selection on a computer screen. Item-based lighting produces variable visual effects in conjunction with actual or potential vends to provide an enhanced vending experience. Offered products are stored within display tubes that are arranged in orderly geometric arrays. RGB lighting through a plurality of LED banks associated with each display tube are controlled by the activation system Combinations of differently colored LED's are computer controlled on a per product basis to artistically illuminate available products and assist customers. Pre-programmed lighting sequences can switch LEDs off and on, vary their intensity, and alter resultant colors.
US09229552B2	System and method for synchronized operation of touch device A system and method for synchronized operation of touch device has a mobile touch device which includes a USB transmission interface and a touch screen and an electronic facility host. The USB transmission interface connects to the USB interface of the electronic facility host and synchronizes image displaying, synchronized keyboard operation, and cursor operation so an image of the touch screen of the mobile touch device synchronously opens an image displaying zone on the display device of the electronic facility host and the keyboard and the cursor device directly simulate and synchronously operate touch display operation functions of the mobile touch device in the image displaying zone, operation of file duplication, writing, deletion, and edition between the facility host and the mobile touch device with at least one window of the operation platform of the electronic facility host.
US09229545B2	Optical navigation apparatus and optical navigation method An optical navigation apparatus and an optical navigation method are provided. The optical navigation apparatus includes a light source unit, an image sensing unit, and a processing unit, wherein the processing unit is electrically connected to the light source unit and the image sensing unit. The light source unit generates a beam of light. The image sensing unit captures a plurality of images within a time interval. The processing unit determines that the beam of light is projected onto a touch object according to the images, calculates a piece of displacement information related to the touch object according to the images, generates a comparison result by comparing the piece of displacement information with a threshold, and sets a displacement resolution of the optical navigation apparatus according to the comparison result.
US09229535B2	Haptic automated communication system A haptic communication system having a range of sensors embedded with an operator's attire. Data collected by the sensors is processed by a computing device local to the operator and is communicated via a haptic modality in real-time to other team members and robotic assets in the system.
US09229531B2	Haptic control device including a seal Haptic control device that includes a tactile panel mounted movably relative to a support including a peripheral wall, characterized by the fact that a seal is arranged on the periphery of the tactile panel in an annular space situated between the tactile panel and the peripheral wall of the support, the seal including: an inner portion in tight contact with the tactile panel, an outer portion in tight contact with the peripheral wall of the support, and a connecting portion that extends between the inner portion and the outer portion and is elastically deformable so as to absorb the relative displacements of the tactile panel relative to the peripheral wall of the support without removing the haptic effect produced by the movements of the tactile panel.
US09229529B2	Apparatus and control method based on motion A device includes a display panel configured to display an interface. The device includes a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the device and to output a detection signal in response to the detection of the motion. The device includes circuitry configured to control, based on the detection signal, the display panel such that at least one of a display position and a display size of an element displayed in the interface changes, wherein when the motion includes a physical shock on the device, the detection signal includes an indication of a hitting position corresponding to a position on the device where the physical shock is detected by the motion sensor, and the circuitry controls the display panel such that the at least one of the display position and the display size of the element changes based on the hitting position.
US09229527B2	Image display device, image display method, and program An image display device includes: a display unit that displays images; an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject that faces the display unit; a detection unit that detects motion with respect to the image display device by the user of the image display device; an estimation unit that, when predetermined motion has been detected by the detection unit, estimates the inclination with respect to the display unit of a person's face that was captured by the imaging unit; and a display orientation alteration unit that alters the orientation of images displayed on the display unit according to the inclination that was estimated.
US09229525B2	Adaptive latency tolerance for power management of memory bus interfaces A method includes, in a memory system that includes a host and a storage device connected by a bus interface, assessing in the storage device a power supply state of the memory system. In the storage device a latency tolerance is selected for the bus interface based on the assessed power supply state. The selected latency tolerance is indicated from the storage device to the host, for application to the bus interface.
US09229524B2	Performing local power gating in a processor In an embodiment, the present invention includes an execution unit to execute instructions of a first type, a local power gate circuit coupled to the execution unit to power gate the execution unit while a second execution unit is to execute instructions of a second type, and a controller coupled to the local power gate circuit to cause it to power gate the execution unit when an instruction stream does not include the first type of instructions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09229522B1	Mobile battery performance by identifying apps that disproportionally run background tasks that prevent mobile devices from sleeping Power consumption on a mobile computing device is reduced, by identifying and managing apps that prevent the mobile device from sleeping while the screen is off. It is detected when the screen is turned off and when it is subsequently turned back on. During the ensuing period of time, it is determined which specific apps prevent the mobile device from sleeping. This can take the form of identifying each specific app on the mobile device that has an unreleased wake lock at any point during the given period of time while the screen is off. The prevention of the device from sleeping while the screen was off is quantified by app according to power consumption, based on factors such as duration. Any apps for which the quantified prevention of the mobile device from sleeping while the screen was off meets a specific threshold are identified and managed.
US09229517B2	Computer input device power savings In some embodiments a computing device includes a holder to hold an input device, a detector to detect whether the input device is held by the holder, and a controller to manage power of the device in response to the detection. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09229506B1	Dynamic power regulation Aspects of the disclosure provide an integrated circuit (IC) chip. The IC chip includes a power demand determination unit upstream of a command execution circuit. The power demand determination unit is configured to determine, before command execution, an expected power demand of the IC chip for executing a command that is input to the command execution circuit.
US09229503B2	Thermal power budget allocation for maximum user experience A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for allocating a total power budget among a plurality of components of a user device are provided. The apparatus prioritizes the plurality of components based on a user experience model (performance/power model) for each of the plurality of components. The user experience model (performance/power model) of a component includes a measure of component attribute as a function of component power consumption. The apparatus allocates portions of the total power budget among the user-device components based on priority established by the user experience model. The apparatus may further prioritize the components based on weights assigned to the components.
US09229498B2	Electronic device with heat dissipation equipment An electronic device includes a chassis, a partition plate mounted in the chassis, a semiconductor refrigeration piece, a first heat sink, a second heat sink, a heat dissipation shell, and a fan. A space of the chassis is partitioned to a first space and a second space by the partition plate. The first heat sink is received in the first space, and engaged with a heating surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece. The second heat sink is received in the second space, and engaged with a cooling surface of the semiconductor refrigeration piece. The heat dissipation shell is received in the second space, and the second heat sink is received in the heat dissipation shell. The first fan is mounted on a first end of the heat dissipation shell, and a second end of the heat dissipation pipe defines an air outlet.
US09229494B2	Accessories for use with housing for an electronic device This disclosure relates generally to a device for retaining an electronic device as well as for methods for using the device for the purpose of doing the same. In various instances, the electronic device includes a housing and the retaining device is adapted for interfacing with the housing of the electronic device. The housing may be a separate unit from the electronic device or part of the electronic device itself. In various instances, the housing is a separate unit from the electronic device, within which the electronic device is fitted. In certain instances, the housing for the electronic device is adapted for protecting the device from one or more of shock, liquid, dust, snow, and the like. The electronic device may be any suitable electronic device, such as a computer, mobile computer, notebook computer, tablet computer, telephone, personal digital assistant, or the like.
US09229493B2	Display device A display device is provided which includes a display panel having pixels, each pixel having a pixel electrode, a common electrode, an image line to supply an image signal to the plurality of pixels, and a transparent conductive film disposed at a surface on a viewer side. The display device display panel, also includes a voltage generation unit to supply a voltage having an AC component superposed on a DC component to the transparent conductive film. The AC component is a voltage with reverse polarity with respect to a spike-shaped voltage occurring at the transparent conductive film to thereby cancel out effects of the spike-shaped voltage on the transparent conductive film.
US09229490B2	Information processing device Provided is an information processing device that includes a first component, including a display unit and a first antenna of the information processing device; a second component, including an arithmetic unit and a radio frequency circuit; the arithmetic unit used for providing a display signal to the display unit; a first connecting means used for connecting the first component and the second component and enabling the first component to rotate relative to the second component; and a second antenna disposed on the first connecting means.
US09229488B2	Organic light emitting display devices and methods of manufacturing organic light emitting display devices An organic light emitting display device and a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device are disclosed. The organic light emitting display device includes a first substrate, on which a display region and a non-display region surrounding the display region are defined, a second substrate disposed opposite to the first substrate, an organic light emitting element disposed in the display region between the first substrate and the second substrate, a third substrate disposed opposite to the second substrate, and a microphone disposed between the second substrate and the third substrate.
US09229487B2	Dock with compliant connector mount Docking stations having a connector with a compliant mount to provide improved durability and flexibility are provided herein. The compliant mount may couple a connector to a base of a docking station and may include at least a first and second flexure disposed there between. The first and second flexure may be configured to have flexural movement in along transverse direction so that, in combination, the flexural movement pivots the connector about a virtual pivot point a distance away from the flexures. The first and second flexures may be configured to project the virtual pivot point to a location on the connector where the connector protrudes from an opening in a docking housing, thereby minimizing the clearance required between the connector and docking housing, while providing controlled movement of the connector relative the dock.
US09229486B2	Portable computer housing and assembly methods A portable computer includes a first housing having a first wall defining a first opening and a surface surrounding the opening and having an inside periphery. A first component is removably received within the opening and defines a body with an outer periphery that is inset with respect to the inner periphery of the opening. A first locking member is removably attached within the opening. The first locking member defines an outer periphery extending along the inner periphery of the first opening of the housing. The first locking member also defines a second opening having an inner periphery that is inset with respect to the outer periphery of the first component body such that a portion of the first locking member overlies a first portion of the first component body. A second portion of the first component is exposed within the opening of the first locking member.
US09229479B2	Electronic apparatus and docking station The present invention provides an electronic apparatus and a docking station, thereby solving the conventional technical problem that the electronic apparatus is damaged because it cannot sustain the excessive force applied by the user to the auxiliary device during separating the electronic apparatus from the auxiliary device since the electronic apparatus is coupled to the auxiliary device by the spring and the engagement mechanism. The electronic apparatus comprises a first body including N first coupling members; a second body including N second coupling members mated with the first coupling members, wherein when the first body and the second body are kept in contact with each other, the first body is coupled to the second body by cooperation of the N first coupling members and the N second coupling members if the first body and the second body are in a first relative position, and the first body is decoupled from the second body so that the first body is separable from the second body by cooperation of the N first coupling members and the N second coupling members if the first body and the second body are in a second relative position different from the first relative position.
US09229476B2	Personal handheld electronic device with a touchscreen on a peripheral surface This disclosure relates to a personal handheld electronic device with a touchscreen on a peripheral surface. In some implementations, the device may comprise one or more of a primary interface, a touchscreen, a processor, one or more information collection systems, electronic storage, a power supply, and/or other components. One or more components of the device may be disposed in or on a first housing body. In some implementations, one or more components of the device may be disposed in or on one or more housing bodies. The device may be configured such that the touchscreen is disposed on a peripheral surface of a housing body. The touchscreen being disposed on a peripheral surface may enable the device to receive information from a user and/or display information to the user when the device is in an open configuration and/or in a closed configuration.
US09229474B2	Window stack modification in response to orientation change A multi-screen user device and methods for controlling data displayed thereby are disclosed. Specifically, the control of data displayed by at least one of the multiple screens of the multi-screen user device is conditioned upon the relative orientation of the multiple screens, whether the device orientation is changed from a first state to a second state, and user input received.
US09229472B2	Method for supplying electric power to a timekeeping circuit within a portable electronic device An apparatus for providing electric power to a portable computer is disclosed. The apparatus includes a timekeeping circuit, a voltage regulator, a set of battery cells and a controller. The timekeeping circuit includes a clock circuit and a memory for storing a calendar time that is updated based on time information generated by the clock circuit. The battery cells can supply electric power to the voltage regulator, and the voltage regulator is capable of supplying electric power to the timekeeping circuit. When the output voltage from the battery cells exceeds a first voltage threshold, the controller directs the voltage regulator to supply electric power to the timekeeping circuit. When the output voltage from the battery cells drops below the first voltage threshold, the controller directs one of the battery cells to supply electric power to the timekeeping circuit.
US09229468B2	Maximum power point tracking A method and an arrangement of tracking a selected (e.g., maximum) power point of a photovoltaic system is disclosed, in which method an operation point of the photovoltaic system is changed based on the change of operation point and a change of power generated by the photovoltaic system. The method can include repeatedly determining a current or voltage of the photovoltaic system, determining a power of the photovoltaic system, determining a change of power of the photovoltaic system with respect to a previous determined power, and changing the operation point of the photovoltaic system by changing a current or voltage reference of the system stepwise depending on the change of power and a direction of a previous change of the current or voltage reference.
US09229461B2	Integrated circuit and semiconductor device An integrated circuit in which a voltage divider circuit is integrated comprises a first resistor, second resistor, control portion, switch, and switching portion. The first resistor and second resistor form a resistive voltage divider element for dividing a voltage obtained by rectifying an alternating-current voltage, or a direct-current voltage, supplied to a control portion. The switch is provided in series with the resistive voltage divider element, and passes or cuts off current passing through the resistive voltage divider element. The switching portion switches the switch so as to pass current during driving of the control portion, and cut off current during standby of the control portion.
US09229459B2	Saturation control of magnetic cores of bidirectional devices A system for controlling saturation of a magnetic core of a transformer includes a transformer control circuit, a Hall sensor, and a processor. The transformer control circuit is configured to provide cycles of bidirectional excitation to the transformer at a first frequency and a first duty cycle. The Hall sensor is configured to output a first field value of the magnetic core during a first half-cycle of each of the cycles of bidirectional excitation and a second field value during a second half-cycle of each of the cycles of bidirectional excitation. The processor is configured to increase the first duty cycle to a second duty cycle in response to a magnitude of the first field value exceeding a first threshold magnitude. The processor is further configured to increase the first frequency to a second frequency in response to both the magnitude of the first field value exceeding the first threshold magnitude and the magnitude of the second field value exceeding a second threshold magnitude.
US09229452B2	Detection of and counter-measures for jackknife enabling conditions during trailer backup assist A vehicle comprises a trailer angle detection apparatus and a trailer backup control system coupled to the trailer angle detection apparatus. The trailer angle detection apparatus is configured for outputting a signal generated as a function of an angle between the vehicle and a trailer towably attached to the vehicle. The trailer backup control system includes a jackknife enabling condition detector and a jackknife counter-measures controller. The jackknife counter-measures controller alters a setting of at least one vehicle operating parameter for alleviating an adverse jackknife condition during backing of the trailer by the vehicle when the jackknife enabling condition detector determines that a jackknife enabling condition has been attained at a particular point in time during backing of the trailer by the vehicle.
US09229449B2	Method for aiding the formulation of the speed strategy of an aircraft with a view to adhering to a time constraint The invention relates to a method for formulating the strategy of an aircraft, with a view to favouring adherence to a time constraint.With this aim, the method according to the invention consists in optimizing the margin available for the formulation of the aircraft's speed strategy, by calculating a first target required time of arrival (RTAtarget) which is higher, respectively lower, than the required time of arrival (RTA), in the case where said required time of arrival (RTA) is greater, respectively less, than the mean estimated time of arrival (ETAmean). According to the invention, the first target required time of arrival (RTAtarget) is used for the formulation of the aircraft's speed strategy. According to the invention, a second target required time of arrival (RTAtarget2) can be determined subsequently, and used for the formulation of the speed strategy, with the aim of utilizing the margin, previously optimized, available for the formulation of the aircraft's speed strategy.
US09229448B1	Energy management system and method for vehicle systems An energy management system and method for a vehicle system operate the vehicle system according to a current trip plan as the vehicle system travels along a route during a trip. The current trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system. The system and method also revise the current trip plan into a revised trip plan responsive to current, actual operation of the vehicle system differing from the current trip plan by at least a designated threshold amount. The revised trip plan designates operational settings of the vehicle system and includes an initial designated operational setting that matches the current, actual operation of the vehicle system.
US09229444B2	Numerical control (NC) program and process for simplified reproduction on a machine tool A computer-implemented method is described, comprising receiving data that represents a workpiece part type to be produced on a machine tool for machining flat starting materials. The method includes preparing a first numerical control program which is adapted for producing the workpiece part type from a flat starting material on the machine tool, and attaching one or more extractable data sets prepared from the received data to the first numerical control program, wherein the extractable data sets represent one or more parameters including the tools, tool steps and associated machining parameters for producing a single workpiece the workpiece part type on the machine tool. The method further includes extracting the extractable data sets from the attached first numerical control program for adjusting the one or more parameters, integrating the adjusted one or more parameters into a second numerical control program; and providing the second numerical control program to the machine tool.
US09229442B2	In-process compensation of machining operation and machine arrangement The present invention relates to a method for performing in-process compensating a machining operation on a workpiece, wherein the compensation process includes generating a control signal representative of magnitude of a contact force exerted on a cutting tool in a normal direction in relation to a machining surface of the workpiece, determining a compensation parameter value based on the control signal, and compensating the machining operation based on the compensation parameter value. The present invention also relates to corresponding machine arrangement for performing a machining operation on a workpiece, such as a hard turning process.
US09229441B2	System construction supporting tool and system construction supporting device A system construction supporting tool that supports construction of a programmable controller system, the system construction supporting tool including: a product-specification storage unit that stores therein information related to product specifications of units to be used as elements for constructing the programmable controller system; an arranged-unit-information storage unit that stores therein information related to arrangements of units already arranged in an edition operation on a display screen; a unit-list-display control unit that extracts arrangeable units based on the information stored in the arranged-unit-information storage unit and the information stored in the product-specification storage unit; and a unit-list display unit that displays a list of the units extracted by the unit-list-display control unit on the display screen.
US09229433B1	System and method for synchronizing local oscillators Provided is a method and apparatus for aligning a first local oscillator (LO) clock generated by a controllable LO clock generator in a first radio frequency (RF) path with a second LO clock in a second RF path. The apparatus includes a synchronization channel configured to exchange a synchronization clock between the first and second RF paths, a phase detector configured to measure a phase alignment between the first and second LO clocks, and a loop filter configured to drive the controllable LO clock generators using the phase alignment. Also provided is a time to digital converter. The time to digital converter includes a D flip-flop for sampling first and second input clocks with a third clock, and a counter configured to synchronously increment the resulting samples and create a digital proportional value representing the delay between the first and second clocks.
US09229432B2	Fast correction mechanism for timepieces A lever for transmitting motion from an input wheel set pivoting about a first axis on a pivoting plate of the lever, to a receiver wheel set, the input wheel set permanently transmitting its motion to an output wheel set carried by the plate and pivoting under the action of the input wheel set about a second axis whose angular position is variable relative to the first axis, and the lever includes a first friction connection between a first friction surface of the input wheel set and a second friction surface of the plate, this first friction connection is weaker or stronger than a second friction connection between a third friction surface of the output wheel set and a fourth friction surface of the plate included in the lever.
US09229430B2	Device for recording and reproducing holographic 3D image, and method for recording and reproducing holographic 3D image Devices and methods for recording and reproducing a holographic 3D image are provided. The devices for recording the holographic 3D image comprising: a laser generation unit for emitting a laser beam; a beam splitter unit configured to receive the laser beam from the laser generation unit and split the laser beam into a reference beam and an object beam directed to an object to be photographed; a photorefractive crystal configured to receive the reference beam from the beam splitter and the object beam diffused from the object to form a holographic 3D image; and a rotation unit configured to rotate the photorefractive crystal once every time one holographic 3D image is recorded. The holographic 3D image can be recorded and reproduced by the rotate the photorefractive crystal in light paths of recording and reproduction light beams, respectively.
US09229423B2	Image forming apparatus equipped with toner container An image forming apparatus detecting container's dismounting. A drive unit rotates the container for replenishing toner to a development unit. An output unit outputs a first signal while a predetermined portion of the container is detected, and outputs a second signal while the predetermined portion is not detected. A decision unit decides a count of changes from the second signal to the first signal based on a toner replenishing amount. A detection unit detects dismounting of the container in a case where the first signal is changed to the second signal during not rotating. The controller stops the rotation in a case where the count of changes reaches the count decided, controls the drive unit to output the first signal in a case where containers should be exchanged, and does not control the drive unit to output the first signal in a case where containers should not be exchanged.
US09229422B2	Developer supplying apparatus A developer receiving apparatus includes a receiving portion displacably provided and configured to receive developer supplied from a supply container. The receiving portion including a receiving port configured to receive the developer and a first engaging portion engageable with the supply container to displace the receiving portion toward the supply container so as to connect the receiving portion with the supply container in a mounting operation. A covering member is displaceably provided in the receiving apparatus and covers an upper part of the receiving port. The covering member takes a closing position closing the upper part of the receiving port when the supply container is not mounted, and includes a second engaging portion engageable with the receiving portion to displace the covering member to a retracted position retracted from the closing position to permit the receiving portion to connect with the supply container in the mounting operation.
US09229420B2	Cover open/close mechanism and image forming apparatus incorporating same A cover open/close mechanism, which is included in an image forming apparatus, includes a cover having a free end and disposed movable between a closed state that a part of the apparatus body is covered and an open state that the covered part is exposed, a cover rotating shaft about which the cover rotates in a receding direction when the cover moves from the closed state to the open state, a support member rotating shaft disposed parallel to the cover rotating shaft, a cover rotating shaft support member to support the cover rotating shaft and to change a position of the cover rotating shaft with respect to the apparatus body by rotating about the support member rotating shaft, and a biasing member to bias the cover rotating shaft support member in a manner in which the cover rotating shaft support member rotates in an approaching direction.
US09229412B2	Gloss applier and image forming apparatus incorporating same A gloss applier includes a heating roller disposed inside a loop formed by an endless belt to heat the endless belt; a pressing rotary body pressed against the heating roller via the endless belt; a cooler disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt and downstream from the heating roller in a direction of rotation of the endless belt, the cooler to cool the endless belt as a recording medium in contact with the endless belt is conveyed by the endless belt; a separation roller disposed inside the loop formed by the endless belt and downstream from the cooler in the direction of rotation of the endless belt, the separation roller to separate the recording medium from the endless belt; and a cooler shifter contacting the cooler to move the cooler bidirectionally to cause the cooler to contact and separate from the endless belt.
US09229411B2	Sheet curl correction apparatus and image forming apparatus The present invention includes a supporting member that supports a first roller and a second roller, a first actuator that rotates the supporting member, a first gear that is connected to an end of second roller on the first actuator side, a second gear that is threadably engaged with the first gear, a third gear that rotates coaxially with the second gear, an input gear that threadably engages with the third gear, and a second actuator that transmits a rotational force to the input gear. The third rotation shaft extends in parallel in a first plane that includes the leading edge and the trailing edge of the nip, the first actuator rotates the supporting member between a first position at which the sheet is received from the leading edge of the nip and a second position at which the sheet is received from the trailing edge of the nip.
US09229409B2	Cleaning blade failure prediction processor and image forming apparatus incorporating same A cleaning blade failure prediction processor for an image forming apparatus includes a pixel count acquisition circuit to acquire pixel count data of a cleaning target of a cleaning blade. The cleaning target is divided into a plurality of areas in a main scanning direction of the cleaning target. The pixel count acquisition circuit acquires a pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target. The cleaning blade failure prediction processor also includes a first cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count for each of the plurality of areas of the cleaning target, a second cumulative pixel count calculation circuit to calculate a cumulative pixel count per distance traveled of the cleaning target, and a deformation identification circuit to determine whether or not the cleaning blade shows signs of deformation according to the cumulative pixel count per distance traveled.
US09229408B2	Toner Estimation Mechanism A method is disclosed. The method includes estimating a quantity of toner to be used to print a job at a printer by calculating a buildup of toner at edges of data on each page of the print job.
US09229405B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a feeding unit configured to feed a sheet, an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on the sheet fed by the feeding unit, a measuring unit configured to measure the measurement image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit, and an adjustment unit configured to perform an adjustment operation on basis of a measurement result of the measurement image. In this case, the image forming unit forms the measurement image of a first side of the sheet and forms a setting aid image on a second side that is different from the first side, and the setting aid image shows information describing the direction of the sheet for setting in the feeding unit and information for prompting to set the sheet with the second side up in the feeding unit.
US09229404B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member, a controller controls a first and the second image forming unit to form a measurement image on the image bearing member, wherein the measurement image is composed with a first measurement image having a first color, and a second measurement image having a second color with a lower reflectance than the first color, a radiation unit emits a irradiation light to the measurement image, a light receiving unit receives a reflected light from the measurement image, a comparison unit compares a light amount of the reflected light from the measurement image with a threshold value, and a changing unit increases the threshold value, if a measurement time period during which a light amount of the reflected light from the measurement image is equal to or greater than the threshold value is longer than a predetermined time period.
US09229399B2	Image forming apparatus and method having a forcible toner consumption process An image forming apparatus includes multiple image forming units each including a latent image bearer and a developing device, a transfer device to transfer toner images from the latent image bearers onto a surface of endless rotary member, a cleaner to clean the surface of the endless rotary member, and a control unit to execute a forcible toner consumption process to forcibly consume degraded toner stored in applicable one or more developing devices. The forcible toner consumption process includes a step of forming a toner image formed for forced consumption in a non-image region of the latent image bearer with an amount of toner corresponding to a difference between an image area ratio of a developed image and a prescribed threshold when the image area ratio of the developed image is lower than the prescribed threshold.
US09229394B2	Fixing device A fixing device includes an endless belt, a nip member having a contact surface that is in contact with the inner surface of the endless belt, a backup member configured to pinch the endless belt in conjunction with the nip member, an upstream guide disposed upstream of the nip portion in the rotating direction, and a regulating portion. The upstream guide and the nip member are disposed while a first gap is provided, in a conveying direction of the recording sheet, between a middle portion of the upstream guide and a middle portion of the nip member. The regulating portion and one of the upstream guide and the nip member are disposed while a second gap is provided therebetween in the conveying direction of the recording sheet. The second gap is smaller than the first gap in the conveying direction of the recording sheet.
US09229392B2	Fixing device fixing a toner image on a recording medium and image forming apparatus including the same A fixing device includes a fixing belt, a pressuring member, a nip forming member, a supporting member, a heating source, a heat conducting member, and a reflecting member. The pressuring member comes into pressure contact with the fixing belt to form a fixing nip. The nip forming member presses the fixing belt toward the pressuring member. The heat conducting member comes into contact with an inner circumference face of the fixing belt and absorbs a radiant heat emitted from the heating source. The reflecting member includes a reflecting part and a regulating part. The reflecting part reflects the radiant heat emitted to the supporting member toward the heat conducting member. The regulating part is unified with the reflecting part and comes into contact with the inner circumference face of the fixing belt to regulate looseness of the fixing belt.
US09229386B2	Image forming apparatus, control method for image forming apparatus, and program In an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit configured to transfer a developing agent to a sheet for image forming and a plurality of fixing units each configured to perform a heat-fixing process on the developing agent transferred to the sheet by the image forming unit, whether the sheet is of a type for which a plurality of fixing units are to be used for performing a heat-fixing process is determined. It is controlled so as to electrify one fixing unit of the fixing units and not to electrify the other fixing units not to be used until the number of sheets having undergone the heat-fixing process by using the one fixing unit is equal to a predetermined number if the determining determines that the sheet is of a type for which a plurality of fixing units are to be used for performing a heat-fixing process.
US09229384B2	Image forming apparatus and safety circuit mounted on the same apparatus An image forming apparatus includes a fixing unit having a heater and fixing a toner image formed on a recording material onto this recording material. The heater includes a first heat-generating member and a second heat-generating member, a first driving element provided on a power supply path to the first heat-generating member; a second driving element provided on a power supply path to the second heat-generating member, a control unit controlling the first driving element and the second driving element respectively, first detection unit for detecting current flowing through the first heat-generating member, a second detection unit of detecting current flowing through the second heat-generating member, and a safety circuit receiving a first output of the first detection unit and a second output of the second detection unit.
US09229381B2	Cleaning device, fixing device including the cleaning device, and image forming apparatus including the fixing device A cleaning device includes a web sheet, a holding member, a reel member, a drive device, a pressing member, and a rotational load-applying device. The web sheet slides against and cleans a surface of a cleaning target object. The holding member holds the web sheet wound around the holding member to be reeled out. The reel member has the web sheet wound around the reel member to be reeled in. The drive device drives the reel member to rotate. The pressing member presses the web sheet against the cleaning target object. The rotational load-applying device applies a load to rotation of the holding member. The load is changeable depending on an amount of the web sheet held by the holding member.
US09229377B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transfer member and a cleaning member. The image forming apparatus: determines whether the electric resistance of a recording medium is low or high; applies a first transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is low; applies a second transfer bias to the transfer member if the electric resistance is high; applies a first cleaning bias to the cleaning member if the electric resistance is low; and applies a second cleaning bias to the cleaning member so that a potential difference between a portion of a surface of the image carrier against which the cleaning member is rubbed and the cleaning member becomes smaller than that in a case of applying the first cleaning bias if the electric resistance is high.
US09229375B2	Intermediate transfer belt and method of preparing the same, and image forming apparatus An intermediate transfer belt includes a polyimide resin or a polyamideimide resin including only γ-butyrolactone of from 5 to 5,000 ppm as a residual solvent.
US09229360B2	Electrophotographic image forming apparatus to control the supply of toner to the developer An eletrophotographic image forming apparatus may include a developing unit; a toner buffer unit which feeds a toner to the developing unit, and includes an agitating member agitating the toner contained inside the toner buffer unit and a first carrying member carrying the toner contained inside the toner buffer unit to the developing unit; a toner cartridge which feeds the toner to the toner buffer unit, and includes a second carrying member carrying the toner contained inside the toner cartridge to the toner buffer unit; and a control unit which controls a first driving unit driving the second carrying member and a second driving unit driving the agitating member and the first carrying member, and the control unit includes a first feed mode, a second feed mode and a toner supplement mode.
US09229354B2	Luminous flux limit device, optical scanning unit employing the same, and electrophotographic image forming apparatus A luminous flux limit device, an optical scanning unit employing the luminous flux limit device, and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus are provided. The luminous flux limit device limits a luminous flux of the optical scanning unit and includes a light-blocking portion, a light transmissive region around the light blocking region, and a light blocking outer region around the light transmissive region.
US09229348B2	System for optimizing ink usage on a 5 colorant capable printer A system and method for optimizing toner usage on an output device capable of rendering in five or more colorants includes receiving a print job for rendering a print job. The method includes generating at least one candidate colorant combination using multiple colorants. The method includes determining at least one factor including (i) a toner usage, (ii) a toner cost, and (iii) an accuracy of the at least one candidate colorant combination for rendering a select object of the print job. The method further includes selecting an ideal candidate colorant combination based on a comparison of the at least one factor with one of a second candidate colorant combination and an original CMYK colorant combination.
US09229344B2	Toner resins and processes for making the same Unsaturated polyester resins and processes for making the same are disclosed herein. In particular, the process for making the resin provides resins with improved properties. The unsaturated polyester resins have substantially reduced free fumaric acid as compared to that made from conventional processes. The toner resins are used to prepare toner compositions that have improved performance.
US09229339B2	Positioning system, a lithographic apparatus and a method for positional control A positioning system for controlling a relative position between a first component and a second component of a lithographic apparatus, wherein a position of each component is defined by a set of orthogonal coordinates, the positioning system including: a measuring device configured to determine an error in the momentary position of one of the components with respect to a setpoint position in a measurement coordinate; and a controller configured to control movement of the other component in a control coordinate based on the determined error; wherein the measurement coordinate is different from the control coordinate.
US09229336B2	Lithographic apparatus and methods for determining an improved configuration of a lithographic apparatus A method to determine an improved configuration for a lithography apparatus, a computer-readable medium for use in carrying out the method, and a lithography apparatus are disclosed. In an example, the method involves intelligent selection of one or more device features to measure and use in a routine to optimize the configuration of the lithography apparatus. According to an example, the method comprises imposing a target error profile to one or more device features for which measurement data is not sufficient, for example in a regions where a selected device feature is sparsely distributed.
US09229332B2	Systems and methods for high-throughput and small-footprint scanning exposure for lithography The present disclosure provides a lithography system comprising a radiation source and an exposure tool including a plurality of exposure columns densely packed in a first direction. Each exposure column includes an exposure area configured to pass the radiation source. The system also includes a wafer carrier configured to secure and move one or more wafers along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, so that the one or more wafers are exposed by the exposure tool to form patterns along the second direction. The one or more wafers are covered with resist layer and aligned in the second direction on the wafer carrier.
US09229329B2	Peeling liquid for a resist The invention discloses a peeling liquid for a resist, which relates to an optical element and is used for removing the color resist and the protective layer on a color filter rapidly and efficiently. The peeling liquid for a color resist on a color filter comprises an alkali metal alkoxide with a mass percentage of 10-45%, an organic amine with a mass percentage of 10-30%, a surfactant with a mass percentage of 5-30%, a solvent with a mass percentage of 20-60%, and an alcohol with a mass percentage of 1-55% in terms of the peeling liquid for a resist with a mass percentage of 100%. The peeling liquid for a resist in invention is used for removing the color resist and the protective layer of the substandard product in a color filter.
US09229327B2	Electron beam exposure apparatus and method of detecting error using the same An electron beam exposure apparatus includes an electron beam source, a stage, and an error detection device. The electron beam source radiates a first electron beam corresponding to first input data and a second electron beam corresponding to second input data. The stage includes a mask on which the first electron beam is radiated. The stage may be configured to move the mask. The error detection device detects an error of the second electron beam and outputs error detection information.
US09229326B2	Method for integrated circuit patterning Provided is a method of forming a pattern for an integrated circuit. The method includes forming a first layer over a substrate, wherein the first layer's etch rate is sensitive to a radiation, such as an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation or an electron beam (e-beam). The method further includes forming a resist layer over the first layer and exposing the resist layer to the radiation for patterning. During the exposure, various portions of the first layer change their etch rate in response to an energy dose of the radiation received therein. The method further includes developing the resist layer, etching the first layer, and etching the substrate to form a pattern. The radiation-sensitivity of the first layer serves to reduce critical dimension variance of the pattern.
US09229324B2	Methods of providing patterned templates for self-assemblable block copolymers for use in device lithography A method is disclosed to form a patterned template on a substrate, to direct orientation of a self-assemblable block copolymer. The method involves providing a resist layer of a positive tone resist on the substrate and overexposing the resist with actinic (e.g. UV) radiation by photolithography to expose a continuous region of the resist layer with a sub-resolution unexposed resist portion at the interface between the resist and the substrate. The resist portion remaining at the interface, after removal of the exposed region, provides a basis for a chemical epitaxy template. The method may allow for simple, direct photolithography to form a patterned chemical epitaxy template and optionally include an accurately co-aligned graphoepitaxy feature and/or a substrate alignment feature.
US09229318B2	Circuit apparatus having a rounded trace In various embodiments of the present invention a circuit apparatus having a rounded trace, a method to manufacture the circuit apparatus, and a design structure used in the design, testing, or manufacturing of the circuit apparatus are described. An artwork layer having an adaptable-mask section allows a graded amount of light to pass into an underlying photoresist layer. Subsequent to developing the photoresist layer, the graded amount of light creates a rounded geometric void used as a mold or sidewall for the creation of at least a portion of a rounded trace. The photoresist layer is removed resulting in a circuit apparatus having a rounded trace.
US09229309B2	Projection apparatus The invention provides a projection apparatus having an image source, a projection lens, and a beam-splitting module. The image source provides an image beam, and the image beam includes a first sub image beam and at least one second sub image beam. The projection lens is disposed on a transmission path of the image beam. The beam-splitting module projects the first sub image beam passing through the beam-splitting module onto a first imaging plane, and projects the second sub image beam reflected by the beam-splitting module onto at least one second imaging plane. The first imaging plane is not coplanar with the at least one second imaging plane. The projection lens is disposed on the transmission path of the image beam between the beam-splitting module and the image source.
US09229302B2	Projector having heat dissipation element disposed on a case with optical elements therein The projection apparatus includes a light source, optical elements and a heat dissipation assembly. The heat dissipation assembly includes a case, a heat dissipation element, a fan and a temperature controlling unit. The optical elements transmit a light beam generated by the light source, and thereby generate heat. The heat dissipation assembly is adapted for heat dissipation correspondingly. In the heat dissipation assembly, the case protects the optical elements from being polluted by the dust during heat dissipation. The temperature controlling unit senses the surrounding temperature to control the fan for cooling the heat dissipation element, and the durability of the optical elements are thereby enhanced.
US09229293B2	Semiconductor optical device and method for manufacturing semiconductor optical device A method for manufacturing a semiconductor optical device includes the steps of growing a stacked layer including lower and upper core layers, a first upper region including a non-doped layer, a second upper region including a p-type layer, and a cap layer; forming an upper mesa by etching the stacked layer; selectively etching the cap layer in the upper mesa on the first and second regions; forming a mask on the upper mesa in the second and third regions; and etching the upper mesa using the mask so as to form first to fourth mesa portions. The first and fourth mesa portions are formed by etching the first and second upper regions, and the second upper region and the cap layer, respectively. The second and third mesa portions are formed by etching the first and second upper regions, and the second upper region and the cap layer, respectively.
US09229290B2	Pixel structure, array substrate and display device A pixel structure, an array substrate and a display device are provided. The invention relates to the field of liquid crystal display technology, and can solve the problem of large shadow zones formed between slit electrodes in the existing pixel structure. The pixel structure of the invention comprises a slit electrode and a plate electrode. The slit electrode includes at least two layers, each of which includes a plurality of strip-shaped electrode sections and a plurality of slits located between the adjacent electrode sections, the electrode sections in an upper layer are positioned over the slits in a lower layer, projections of the electrode sections in the layers on a substrate are not overlapped with each other, and the layers are separated from each other by a first insulation layer. The plate electrode is provided under the slit electrode and separated from the slit electrode by a second insulation layer.
US09229277B2	Display substrate, display panel having the same, method of manufacturing the same and method of manufacturing the display panel A display substrate includes a first electrode and a first alignment layer disposed on the first electrode. The first alignment layer includes first and second alignment parts. The first electrode has a first opening portion formed therethrough. The first and second alignment parts are disposed at two sides of the first opening portion. The first and second alignment parts have the different alignment directions from each other.
US09229272B2	Liquid crystal display device A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, and a backlight of an edge light system. The backlight includes a light source, and a light guide plate that has a light emitting surface for emitting a light input from the light source into a planar shape, and is placed on the liquid crystal display panel. The light source is located to face an end surface of the light guide plate on a side of the liquid crystal display panel so as not to overlap with the liquid crystal display panel.
US09229265B2	Method of preparing monodisperse particle, monodisperse particle prepared by using the method, and tunable photonic crystal device using the monodisperse particle A method of preparing a monodisperse particle may include mixing at least two types of monomers in a solvent, placing an initiator in the solvent, and forming a particle having a copolymer shape by polymerizing the at least two types of monomers. The particle may have a size controlled by a content of the at least two types of monomers.
US09229262B2	Three-dimensional display apparatus A display device includes; a display panel, a lens substrate facing the display panel, an air layer disposed between the display panel and the lens substrate, and a light refraction portion disposed on a surface of the lens substrate facing the display panel, wherein an average refractive index of the light refraction portion taken along a plane substantially parallel to the display panel increases in a direction substantially parallel to a path of light from the display panel to the lens substrate.
US09229260B2	Imprinted bi-layer micro-structure An imprinted micro-structure includes a substrate having an edge area and a central area separate from the edge area. A cured bottom-layer, connecting layer, and top layer are formed over the substrate, each with a corresponding imprinted micro-channel having a cured micro-wire. The bottom micro-wire is in the central area and the edge area. The connecting-layer micro-wire contacts at least a portion of the bottom-layer micro-wire in the edge area. A cured edge micro-wire in the top layer contacts at least a portion of the connecting-layer micro-wire in the edge area. A top-layer micro-wire is located in a top-layer micro-channel and is separate from the edge micro-wire and bottom micro-wire. The bottom-layer micro-wire in the central area is electrically connected to the edge micro-wire in the edge area and is electrically isolated from the top-layer micro-wire.
US09229254B2	Electro-optical devices using dynamic reconfiguration of effective electrode structures Variable liquid crystal devices for controlling the propagation of light through a liquid crystal layer use a frequency dependent material to dynamically reconfigure effective electrode structures in the device. The drive signal source uses pulse-width modulation to set a frequency and an amplitude of the drive signal.
US09229250B2	Electro-optical modulator interface A relatively high-speed, high-efficiency CMOS two branch driver core that may operate under relatively low supply voltage may include thin oxide CMOS transistors configured to generate rail-to-rail output swings larger than twice a supply voltage and without exceeding safe operating area limits. Each of the two branches may include two stacked CMOS inverter pairs configured to drive a respective load capacitance coupled between respective CMOS inverter outputs, in phase opposition to the other branch. A pre-driver circuit input with a differential modulating signal may output two synchronous differential voltage drive signals of a swing of half of the supply voltage and DC-shifted by half of the supply voltage with respect to each other and that may be applied to the respective CMOS inverter inputs of the two branches.
US09229246B2	Attachable/detachable covering lens An attachable/detachable covering lens for covering eyeglass lenses is disclosed. A transparent optical material is suitably shaped to cover at least a portion of an eyeglass lens. The transparent optical material is coupled to the eyeglass lens by adhering means. The adhering means may comprise a viscosity of the transparent optical material. Embodiments of the disclosure provide mechanisms to easily provide attachable/detachable temporary lenses such as a sun-shield, temporary eyesight correction to the prescription lenses for applications such as reading, watching TV, or 3-D movie viewing. Embodiments of the disclosure also provide mechanisms for providing an easily attachable/detachable temporary prescription lens over special purpose glasses.
US09229245B2	Earpiece-less eyeglass apparatus and strap attachment mechanism An earpiece-less eyeglass apparatus and retainer-strap attachment mechanism. First and second attachment mechanisms are mounted on each side of a lenticular frame. Each attachment mechanism includes a stemball assembly, a socket housing, and a spring. The stemball assembly includes a shaft, a narrow neck, and a ball. The socket housing includes a primary socket, a secondary socket, and a narrow slot joining the primary and secondary sockets. The spring is mounted within the primary socket and the slot, and is shaped to form a rounded portion within the primary socket and a narrow restriction portion within the slot for receiving, respectively, the ball and the neck of the stemball assembly. The narrow restriction portion locks the ball into the secondary socket without placing stress on the housing when the neck of the stemball assembly is slid through the slot, moving the ball into the secondary socket.
US09229243B2	Two-dimensional/three-dimensional switchable display apparatus A new 2D/3D switchable display apparatus matches a polarization direction of light output from a 2D image display panel with a rubbing direction of a lower alignment layer of a liquid crystal lens, and tilts a rubbing direction of an upper alignment layer of the liquid crystal lens and a direction of a polarization axis of a polarizer at a predetermined angle, thereby reducing a loss of light passing through the liquid crystal lens, making it possible to improve luminance of images, improve the quality of 3D images in the horizontal direction, prevent or reduce color separation and moire phenomena, and reduce the manufacturing cost.
US09229237B2	Helmet mounted display system adjustable for bright ambient light conditions A Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) system, to be mounted on a helmet of a user, includes a tinted visor, coupled with the helmet, located in front of the face of the user when the tinted visor is in an operative position. The tinted visor further includes a patch, which is located in front of an eye of the user. The patch has greater light transmission than the rest of the tinted visor. The HMD system includes an image generator, coupled with the helmet, generating an image to be displayed to the user. The HMD system further includes an optical combiner, coupled with the helmet, and located substantially on the optical axis of the user's eye. The combiner reflects the generated image toward the eye, and transfers light rays of an outside scene toward the eye.
US09229232B2	Display system for torque tools A display system for a torque tool which is provided for measuring or applying torque comprises a housing having a handle at one end. A measuring arrangement for detecting torque is arranged in the housing. At the other end of the housing a connection element is provided for transmitting torque to a workpiece. Furthermore, a processor-controlled control digitally processes set or measured data and a display cooperates with the control and displays graphic display contents or data, such as the applied or set torque. A transmission device and a separate display device for transmitting and displaying the graphical display contents or data are provided.
US09229225B2	Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus An optical scanning device includes a plurality of scanning optical systems that focus light beams deflected by an optical deflector onto corresponding scanning surfaces. The systems include a first scanning optical system and a second scanning optical system. The first scanning optical system and the second scanning optical system are disposed respectively at each side of a plane including a rotation axis of a polygonal-mirror optical deflector. Each of the scanning optical systems includes a synchronous detection optical system that determines a timing to start scanning the scanning surfaces with the light beams. When a time from the end of an effective scanning area in the second scanning optical system to synchronous detection in the first scanning optical system is Ta, and a time from the end of an effective scanning area in the first scanning optical system to synchronous detection in the second scanning optical system is Tb, Ta>Tb.
US09229221B1	Electrode configurations for an electrowetting display device An electrowetting display device has first and second fluids which are immiscible with each other and a first and a second support plate, a surface of the second support plate being located for being adjoined by the second fluid. An electrode which contacts the second fluid forms part of a protrusion and is separated from the surface of the second support plate.
US09229220B2	Variable wavelength interference filter, optical module, and optical analysis device An etalon is provided with a fixed substrate and a movable substrate opposed to the fixed substrate. The fixed substrate is provided with a first bonding surface to be bonded to the movable substrate via a bonding film and a first electrode surface on which a part of the first electrode is formed. The movable substrate is provided with a second bonding surface to be bonded to the first bonding surface via the bonding film and a second electrode surface on which a part of the second electrode is formed. In the state in which the fixed substrate and the movable substrate are bonded to each other with the bonding film, the first electrode formed on the first electrode surface and the second electrode formed on the second electrode surface have contact with each other.

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