最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US09350097B2 Electrical connector
An electrical connector is to be connected to a mating connector. The electrical connector includes a plurality of terminals; a housing for holing the terminals in a terminal arrangement direction; and a guide member for guiding the mating connector. The housing includes a sidewall portion and an edge wall portion connected to the sidewall portion. The guide member includes a first attaching portion, a second attaching portion, and a connecting portion connecting the first attaching portion and the second attaching portion. The first attaching portion is attached to the sidewall portion. The second attaching portion is attached to the edge wall portion.
US09350090B2 Coaxial cable assembly
A coaxial cable assembly including a plurality of first and second wires of different diameters and a grounding member. Each wire defines a central conductor, an inner insulative layer, a shielding layer, and an outer insulative layer. The grounding member surrounds the plurality of wires and electrically connect with the shielding layers of the wires. The grounding member includes a first grounding piece and a second grounding piece having opposing first and second grooves, respectively.
US09350081B2 Switchable multi-radiator high band antenna apparatus
Switchable multi-radiator high band antenna apparatus, and methods of tuning and utilizing the same. In one embodiment, the antenna apparatus is configured to operate in lower and upper frequency bands, for use within a handheld mobile device (e.g., cellular telephone or smartphone). In one variant, the antenna apparatus includes a metal cup, two feeding elements, and a ground element. One feeding element is used to tune the antenna in both the lower and the upper bands. The other feed element is used to tune the antenna in the upper band. A switching element is configured to change the signal routing for the feed elements. During device operation, a user's body (e.g., hand) may cover or obstruct one of the antenna elements. Responsive to a determination of reduced performance associated with covered/obstructed antenna element, the signal route may be automatically switched to the other element, thereby improving robustness of mobile device communications.
US09350080B2 Compact circular polarization antenna system with reduced cross-polarization component
A compact GNSS antenna system reduces directional diagram level in the rear hemisphere primarily for LHCP component. It can be used for reducing multipath reception. A dual-band antenna system for receiving radio signals includes an active Microstrip Patch (MP) High Frequency (HF) circularly-polarized radiator disposed directly on a radiating patch of an active MP low-frequency (LF) radiator. The radiating patch of the active MP LF radiator serves as a ground plane of the MP HF radiator. A loop HF radiator is coaxially arranged around the ground plane of the MP HF radiator. A passive LF radiator is under the ground plane of the active MP LF radiator. A loop LF radiator is axially located around the ground plane of the active MP LF radiator. The loop HF radiator and the loop LF radiator are each excited by a transmission line and a power circuit to generate RHCP waves.
US09350077B1 Low SAR folded loop-shaped antenna
A low Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) gamma-folded loop-shaped antenna has a resonant structure including two arms connected to an elongated loop and has dual resonant elements in the 5 GHz WiFi band, dividing emissions in the 5 GHz bands between two emission hotspots. The elongated loop folds back upon itself 180 degrees. The antenna also may include a discontinuous transition in cross-sectional area tuned to boost emissions in the 2.4 GHz WiFi band. The antenna is designed for compact handheld devices that may be held close to a person's body, reducing the intensity of energy irradiated into the body in the 5 GHz band by distributing the energy across spatially-separated dual resonant elements.
US09350058B2 Air cell and assembled battery using the same
An air cell includes a positive electrode layer, an electrolyte layer stacked on the positive electrode layer, a negative electrode layer stacked on the electrolyte layer and an electroconductive liquid-tight ventilation layer stacked on the positive electrode layer, the electroconductive liquid-tight ventilation layer being positioned on the opposite side of the positive electrode from the electrolyte layer. The assembled battery is provided with a plurality of the air cells described above. The assembled battery is provided with a flow path through which oxygen-containing gas flows interposed between the electrically-conductive liquid-tight ventilation layer of a first air cell and the negative electrode layer of a second air cell adjacent to the first air cell. The first air cell is electrically connected to the negative electrode layer of the second air cell via the electrically-conductive liquid-tight ventilation layer.
US09350050B2 Current collector, negative electrode and battery
A current collector includes a first principal plane and a second principal plane. In the current collector, the roughness of the first principal plane and second principal plane being mutually different.
US09350049B2 Electric storage device and electric storage apparatus
The electric storage device includes: an electrode assembly; and an electrolytic solution at least part of which is impregnated into the electrode assembly, wherein the electrode assembly includes, as electrode assembly forming members, at least a positive electrode and a negative electrode that face each other, and contains lithium carbonate, the electrolytic solution contains at least lithium hexafluorophosphate, at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode includes an active material layer containing a metal compound, the active material layer includes a peripheral area and an inner area inside the peripheral area, the electrode assembly includes a high-content part the ratio of lithium carbonate content of which is higher than that of the inner area.
US09350042B2 Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
The nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a wound electrode body in which a positive and a negative electrode plates are wound with a separator therebetween and an air gap portion is formed at the winding axis center. A negative electrode collector tab is joined to a negative electrode exposed portion on the winding start side. This collector tab is bent so as to be touched and joined to the inside bottom portion of a battery exterior can at the position corresponding to the air gap portion. In a plan view, the air gap portion of is formed in a shape having an arc portion and a chord portion. In a plan view, the negative electrode collector tab is made to be linear along the chord portion of the negative electrode exposed portion on the winding start side, and is joined to the negative electrode exposed portion at this chord portion.
US09350039B2 Flow battery with two-phase storage
A flow battery includes at least one cell that has a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and an electrolyte separator layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. A reactant material is stored within a storage portion and selectively delivered to the at last one cell. At least one reactant material is present in a solid phase in the storage portion and is present in a liquid phase in the at least one cell.
US09350035B2 Cross-linked polymer electrolyte membranes
Crosslinked polymers are produced by polymerizing a styrene-based comonomer with a bifunctional styrenated crosslinkable monomer comprising the following straight chain formula: CH2═CH—C6H4—CH2—(OCH2CH2)n—O—CH2—C6H4—CH═CH2. The styrenated crosslinkable monomer can be produced from a two arm polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight between 200 g/mol and 35,000 g/mol. The styrenated crosslinkable monomer can also be produced from a two arm polyethylene oxide having a molecular weight between 100 kg/mol and 800 kg/mol. The styrenated crosslinkable monomer can also be produced from a four arm polyethylene glycol. Polymer electrolyte membranes are produced from the crosslinked polymers.
US09350033B2 Fuel cell system
A fuel cell system includes a cathode gas supply unit, a cathode pressure detection unit, a fuel cell temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the fuel cell, an internal resistance detection unit configured to detect an internal resistance of the fuel cell, a target cathode flow rate calculation unit configured to calculate a target cathode flow rate necessary for supply to the fuel cell based on an operating state of the fuel cell system, a cathode flow rate estimation unit configured to estimate a flow rate of the cathode gas according to the pressure of the cathode gas, the temperature of the fuel cell and the internal resistance of the fuel cell, and a cathode flow rate control unit configured to control the cathode gas supply unit based on the target cathode flow rate and the estimated flow rate of the cathode gas.
US09350032B2 Method and system for stable direct methanol fuel cell operation at varying loads and sub-zero temperatures
Methods and systems for operation of direct methanol fuel cell (DFMC) systems with enhanced flexibility within a wide range of electrical loads as well as no external load are provided. With these methods and systems, the fuel cell operates at low power in a non shut-down state in a fully controlled manner thus allowing the fuel cell to withstand frost conditions and to maintain optimal ancillary battery capacity.
US09350030B2 Fuel cell module
Provided is a solid oxide fuel cell module that is small in size and is capable of stably generating power. A plurality of power generation units and are located such that a first fuel cell and an oxidant gas preheater connected to a second fuel cell adjacent to the first fuel cell are adjacent to each other. A solid oxide fuel cell module includes a partition member. The partition member partitions a combustion chamber into a region including the first fuel cell and a region including the second fuel cell as well as into the region including the first fuel cell and a region including the oxidant gas preheater connected to the second fuel cell.
US09350023B2 Negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell, method of manufacturing the same, and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell
A negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary cell, includes: a negative electrode active material layer containing a negative electrode active material, a polyvinylidene fluoride component including polyvinylidene fluoride and/or a derivative having polyvinylidene fluoride as a main chain, a styrene-butadiene component including a styrene-butadiene polymer and/or a derivative having a styrene-butadiene polymer as a main chain, a nonionic surfactant having an HLB of 10 to 15, and N-methylpyrrolidone; and a foil-shaped negative electrode current collector provided with the negative electrode active material layer on at least one principal surface of the collector.
US09350021B2 Cathode active material, cathode, and nonaqueous secondary battery
Provided is a cathode active material which is superior in safety and cost and makes it possible to provide a nonaqueous secondary battery having a long life. The cathode active material has a composition represented by the following formula (1): LiMn1-xMxP1-yAlyO4  (1) (wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Zr, Sn and Y, x is in a range of 0
US09350020B2 Metal phosphate containing manganese and method for its production
A manganese(Mn)-bearing monometal phosphate of the type Mn3(PO4)2.3H2O or mixed-metal phosphate of the type (Mnx, Mety)3(PO4)2.3H2O, wherein x+y=1 and Met represents one or more metals selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr, Hf, Re, Ru, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, characterized in that in the X-ray powder diffraction diagram the phosphate has peaks at 10.96±0.05, 12.78±0.17, 14.96±0.13, 17.34±0.15, 18.98±0.18, 21.75±0.21, 22.07±0.11, 22.97±0.10, 25.93±0.25, 26.95±0.30, 27.56±0.10, 29.19±0.12, 29.84±0.21, 30.27±0.12, 34.86±0.21, 35.00±0.20, 35.33±0.30, 35.58±0.10, 35.73±0.12, 42.79±0.45, 43.37±0.45, 44.70±0.15 and 44.93±0.20 degrees two-theta, based on CuKα-radiation.
US09350015B2 Anode active material, anode and lithium battery including the material, and method of preparing the material
In one aspect, an anode active material is provided. The anode active material may include a crystalline carbon-based material that includes a core having a lattice spacing d002 of about 0.35 nm or more, and titanium-based oxide particles.
US09350011B2 Secondary battery negative electrode material, secondary battery negative electrode, method for manufacturing secondary battery negative electrode material, and method for manufacturing secondary battery negative electrode
This secondary battery negative electrode material constitutes an active material layer formed on a current collector layer of a secondary battery negative electrode and includes a Si particle and a coating material containing Ni and P, formed to cover a surface of the Si particle.
US09350004B2 Cylindrical secondary battery
A cylindrical secondary battery including: an electrode assembly including first and second electrode tabs; a can to house the electrode assembly; a cap assembly to seal an opening of the can; and an integrated assembly including a gasket, an insulation plate, and a central pin. An outer edge of the gasket is bent by the can, around an outer edge of the cap assembly. The insulation plate extends from the gasket, to cover a surface of the electrode assembly. The central pin extends from the center of the insulation plate, into the electrode assembly.
US09349991B2 Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, and lighting device
Described is a solid-state light-emitting element, a light-emitting device using the solid-state light-emitting element, and a lighting device using the light-emitting device. The solid-state light-emitting element comprises a member with a low refractive index which has a hemispherical structure on a first surface and an uneven structure on a second surface, a bonding layer with a high refractive index which planarizes the uneven structure, and a light-emitting body whose light-emitting surface is in contact with a flat surface of the bonding layer. The uneven structure of the member with a low refractive index is provided inside at least an outside shape of the hemispherical structure formed on the first surface; and the light-emitting body is provided such that an outside shape of the light-emitting region of the light-emitting body is smaller than the outside shape of the hemispherical structure and overlaps with the hemispherical structure.
US09349990B2 Light emitting unit, light emitting device, and lighting device
The light-emitting unit has at least a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting element, and a separation layer. The separation layer has a leg portion and a stage portion which protrudes outside of a bottom surface of the leg portion over the leg portion. An upper electrode of the first light-emitting element is electrically connected to a lower electrode of the second light-emitting element in a region where the upper electrode and the lower electrode overlap with the stage portion of the separation layer. By providing the separation layer, the light-emitting unit can be formed without using a metal mask. The upper electrode can be a composite material including an organic compound and a metal oxide or a stacked layer of the composite material and a metal material or a light-transmitting conductive material.
US09349988B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display device, and more particularly, to an organic light emitting display device that reduces (or prevents) penetration of moisture into ends of inorganic layers and a lifting phenomenon between inorganic layers, by increasing areas of a plurality of inorganic layers included in a thin film encapsulation layer in sequence.
US09349983B2 Display panel and organic light emitting display device comprising the same
A display panel including: a first substrate; a second substrate opposing the first substrate; a sealing substructure on the first substrate, the sealing substructure surrounding a display unit having a plurality of pixels, the sealing substructure including a metal mesh layer having a mesh shape; and a sealing member between the sealing substructure and the second substrate to seal between the first substrate and the second substrate.
US09349976B2 Process for preparing nanoparticle embedded electronic device
The present invention relates to a process for preparing an electronic device comprising at least one layer selected from the group consisting of a upper electrode layer, a lower electrode layer, an organic layer and an inorganic layer, which comprises a step of introducing a nanoparticle layer or a nano/micro structure layer by adhering charged nanoparticles, before, after or during forming the layer.
US09349974B2 Organic display device and manufacturing method
An organic display device and a manufacturing method are disclosed. The organic display device comprises: an organic light-emitting layer (15) located between an anode layer (13) and a cathode layer (14), and the organic light-emitting layer (15) comprises a plurality of pore-walls (16) formed of an organic material and a plurality of pores (17) to be filled with an organic light-emitting material (18). By delimiting the space of an organic light-emitting layer (15) into a plurality of pores (17), with each pore (17) occupying a smaller area of a pixel, the method reduces the inkjet-printing area, and increases the process tolerance of an inkjet-printing process, and further the method makes the inkjet-printing technology less dependent on the pixel size, shape, and other design factors, and thus the freedom degree of position-alignment becomes greater.
US09349969B2 Electronic devices with flexible display and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments of the present disclosure can significantly reduce the non-display area of a flexible OLED display, which would otherwise be covered by a cosmetic trim such as a bezel or an opaque. As such, an electronic device with a display having minimized border area can be provided. This makes it possible to reduce the overall size of the electronic device without sacrificing the size of the display therein. Such a reduction in size of the bezel was achieved by bending the flexible substrate near its edge using an insert member.
US09349968B2 Organic metal complex and organic electroluminescence device using the complex
To provide an organic electroluminescence device that emits blue light and is excellent in luminescence properties (in particular, external quantum yield), and provide an organic metal complex including xanthone in a ligand of the following formula (1).
US09349966B2 Heterocyclic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
A heterocyclic compound is represented by Formula 1. An organic light emitting device includes a first electrode, a second electrode and an organic layer between the first and second electrodes. The organic layer includes the heterocyclic compound. An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes the organic light-emitting device and a transistor including a source, a drain, a gate and an active layer. The source or the drain is electrically connected to the first electrode of the organic light-emitting device.
US09349951B2 Phase change memory cell
A phase change memory cell includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a first electrode, a carbon nanotube wire and a second electrode electrically connected in series; wherein the first circuit is adapted to write data into the phase change memory cell or reset the phase change memory cell. The second circuit includes a third electrode, a phase change layer, the carbon nanotube wire, and the first electrode or the second electrode electrically connected in series, wherein the second circuit is adapted to read data from the phase change memory cell or reset the phase change memory cell, the carbon nanotube wire includes a bending portion, the third electrode is spaced from the bending portion, and the phase change layer covers the bending portion of the carbon nanotube wire.
US09349947B2 Methods of using a two terminal multi-layer thin film resistance switching device with a diffusion barrier
An electric-pulse-induced-resistance change device (EPIR device) is provided which is a resistance switching device. It has a buffer layer inserted between a first active resistance switching layer and a second active resistance switching layer, with both active switching layers connected to electrode layers directly or through additional buffer layers between the active resistance switching layers and the electrodes. This device in its simplest form has the structure: electrode-active layer-buffer layer-active layer-electrode. The second active resistance switching layer may, in the alternative, be an ion donating layer, such that the structure becomes: electrode-active layer-buffer layer-ion donating layer-electrode. The EPIR device is constructed to mitigate the retention challenge.
US09349946B2 Method for generating quantized anomalous hall effect
A method for generating quantum anomalous Hall effect is provided. A topological insulator quantum well film in 3QL to 5QL is formed on an insulating substrate. The topological insulator quantum well film is doped with a first element and a second element to form the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film. The doping of the first element and the second element respectively introduce hole type charge carriers and electron type charge carriers in the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film, to decrease the carrier density of the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film to be smaller than or equal to 1×1013 cm−2. One of the first element and the second element magnetically dopes the topological insulator quantum well film. An electric field is applied to the magnetically doped topological insulator quantum well film to decrease the carrier density.
US09349944B2 Magnetic tunnel junction device
A magnetic tunnel junction device includes: a first magnetic layer that has an easy axis vertical to a surface; a non-magnetic layer on the first magnetic layer; and a second magnetic layer that has an easy axis vertical to a surface on the non-magnetic layer, and an interface layer formed of a Heussler alloy between the non-magnetic layer and at least one of the first and second magnetic layers. The at least one of the first and second magnetic layers is formed of MnGa. A lattice constant of the interface layer parallel to a major surface thereof in a bulk state thereof is between a lattice constant of the non-magnetic layer parallel to a major surface thereof in a bulk state thereof and a lattice constant of the at least one of the first and second magnetic layers parallel to a major surface thereof in a bulk state thereof.
US09349935B2 High temperature superconductive films and methods of making them
Described is a superconductive layered structure and an article including this superconductive layered structure on a substrate structure. The superconductive layered structure comprises a stack including at least one bi-layered assembly formed by first and second layers of similar superconducting material compositions, the second layer being superconductive at predetermined temperature condition, the first layer being a substantially thin layer and having a c lattice parameter selected in accordance with those of the substrate structure and the second layer, such that said first layer is non-superconductive at said predetermined temperature condition thereby allowing the second superconductive layer to be desirably thick to provide high critical current density of the superconductive layer.
US09349934B2 Method for manufacturing a thermoelectric device, especially intended to generate an electrical current in an automotive vehicle
The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a thermoelectric device, comprising a first circuit (1), called hot circuit, through which a first fluid can flow, and a second circuit (2), called cold circuit, through which a second fluid can flow at a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, elements (3p, 3n), called thermoelectric elements, that can be used to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient, fins (5) in a heat exchange relationship with said hot circuit (1) and/or said cold circuit (2), the thermoelectric elements (3p, 3n) being in contact at least with said fins (5). According to the method according to the invention, said fins (5) are compressed in order to ensure that said thermoelectric elements (3p, 3n) are held against said fins (5).
US09349927B2 Encapsulating sheet and optical semiconductor element device
An encapsulating sheet is formed from an encapsulating resin composition which contains an encapsulating resin and silicone microparticles, and the mixing ratio of the silicone microparticles with respect to the encapsulating resin composition is 20 to 50 mass %.
US09349926B2 Light emitting module
There are provided a light emitting module including a luminescent material layer (15) which is disposed so as to cover a light emitting surface (13a) of a semiconductor light emitting element (13) and which changes a wavelength of at least part of light emitted from the semiconductor light emitting element, and a light shielding wall (16) which surrounds the semiconductor light emitting element and the luminescent material layer from the circumference thereof, and the luminescent material layer is bonded to the semiconductor light emitting element and the light shielding wall with a bonding resin (23) having a light transmittivity, a distal end portion of the light shielding wall is caused to project further forwards than the luminescent material layer, and a transparent resin (24) is applied so as to cover an exposed surface (20a) of a distal end portion (21) of the light shielding wall.
US09349922B2 Mask, mask group, manufacturing method of pixels and pixel structure
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a mask, a mask group, a manufacturing method of pixels and a pixel structure. The mask includes a shielding region and an opening region which are alternately arranged. A width of the opening region is twice of a width of one sub pixel, and a width of the shielding region between two adjacent opening regions is four times of the width of one sub pixel.
US09349921B2 Index matched composite materials and light sources incorporating the same
Disclosed are composites that include a matrix and at least one filler. The matrix may be a core-shell particle assembly that includes an inorganic core and a polymeric shell. The refractive index of the core may be adjusted by adjusting the volume fraction of the core, such that the refractive index of the core-shell particle assembly matches or substantially matches the refractive index of the filler. Optically transparent composites that exhibit properties of the filler may therefore be achieved. Methods of making such composites and light sources including such composites are also disclosed.
US09349919B2 Light emitting device and light emitting device package having the same
Disclosed are a light emitting device. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive type semiconductor layer, a first electrode disposed in an opening portion of the light emitting structure and contacted with a portion of the first conductive type semiconductor layer, an insulating layer covering the first electrode, a second electrode disposed connected to the second conductive type semiconductor layer and first electrode layer is connected to the second conductive type semiconductor layer and the second electrode. The first electrode layer is disposed on a top surface of the second conductive type semiconductor layer and a top surface of the insulating layer. The second electrode is not vertically overlapped with the first electrode.
US09349910B2 Staggered composition quantum well method and device
A light emitting device comprising a staggered composition quantum well (QW) has a step-function-like profile in the QW, which provides higher radiative efficiency and optical gain by providing improved electron-hole wavefunction overlap. The staggered QW includes adjacent layers having distinctly different compositions. The staggered QW has adjacent layers Xn, wherein X is a quantum well component and in one quantum well layer n is a material composition selected for emission at a first target light regime, and in at least one other quantum well layer n is a distinctly different composition for emission at a different target light regime. X may be an In-content layer and the multiple Xn-containing layers provide a step function In-content profile.
US09349904B2 Photodetector with integrated microfluidic channel and manufacturing process thereof
A photodetector including: a photodiode having a body made of semiconductor material delimited by a first surface, the body forming a first electrode region; a dielectric region, set on top of the first surface and delimited by a second surface; at least one channel extending within the dielectric region, starting from the second surface; and a first metallization, which is set on top of the second surface and is in electrical contact with the first electrode region.
US09349903B2 Image sensing module and method of manufacturing the same
An image sensing module includes an image sensing unit, a light transmitting unit, a substrate unit and lens unit. The image sensing unit includes an image sensing element having an image sensing area on the top side of the image sensing element. The light transmitting unit includes a light transmitting element supported above the image sensing element by a plurality of support members. The substrate unit includes a flexible substrate disposed on the image sensing element and electrically connected to the image sensing element through a plurality of electrical conductors, and the flexible substrate has at least one through opening for receiving the light transmitting element. The lens unit includes an opaque holder disposed on the flexible substrate to cover the light transmitting element and a lens assembly connected to the opaque holder and disposed above the light transmitting element.
US09349900B2 Release strategies for making transferable semiconductor structures, devices and device components
Provided are methods for making a device or device component by providing a multi layer structure having a plurality of functional layers and a plurality of release layers and releasing the functional layers from the multilayer structure by separating one or more of the release layers to generate a plurality of transferable structures. The transferable structures are printed onto a device substrate or device component supported by a device substrate. The methods and systems provide means for making high-quality and low-cost photovoltaic devices, transferable semiconductor structures, (opto-)electronic devices and device components.
US09349896B2 Solar battery, method for manufacturing solar battery, method for manufacturing solar cell module, and solar cell module
The present invention provides a solar battery including a solar cell; a wiring substrate having a wire to be electrically connected to an electrode provided in the solar cell; and an adhesive agent for adhering the solar cell and the wiring substrate to each other. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the solar battery, a method for manufacturing a solar cell module using the solar battery, and the solar cell module.
US09349893B2 Photovoltaic module ground mount
A photovoltaic module ground mounting system can include a collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework.
US09349886B2 Solar substrate with high fracture strength
The invention discloses a solar substrate with high fracture strength. The solar substrate according to the invention comprises an upper surface, a plurality of first protrusions and a plurality of first recess regions. The first protrusions are formed on the upper surface and each of the plurality of first recess regions being formed on the surrounding of the plurality of first protrusions, such that the deflection required to crack the solar substrate by bending thereto being increased in comparison with the solar substrate without the plurality of first protrusions and first recess regions formed thereon. By the combination of the protrusions and the recess regions, the fracture strength of the solar substrate is enhanced for enduring a high tension.
US09349882B2 Silicon solar cell module using conductive npaste as electrode and method for manufacturing same
The present invention relates to a silicon solar cell module comprising electrodes formed from conductive paste. In the invention, front electrode finger lines and front electrode bus bars are separately formed. The front electrode finger lines are formed by printing a silver paste and calcining the printed silver paste at high temperature, and rear electrode bus bars and front electrode bus bars are formed from an inexpensive lower-temperature conductive paste including a buffer and a curing agent having reducing power, whereby the expensive silver paste is replaced with the inexpensive low-temperature conductive paste, thereby reducing the production cost. Because the front electrode bus bars formed from the conductive paste do not come into contact with the silicon substrate, the area of contact between the silicon substrate and the front electrode is reduced, and thus the decrease in electric current caused by the recombination of electrons and holes resulting from this contact is inhibited, thereby increasing the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the cell. Also, when the conductive paste is used, the rear electrode and front electrode bus bars are calcined at low temperature, and thus the occurrence of cracks in the silicon substrate is reduced, thereby preventing a decrease in the photovoltaic conversion efficiency of the silicon solar cell and increasing the yield of the cell.
US09349876B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor region; a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor region; a charge storage film formed on the first insulating film; a hydrogen diffusion preventing film formed on the charge storage film; a second insulating film formed on the hydrogen diffusion preventing film; a control gate electrode formed on the second insulating film; a hydrogen discharge film formed on the control gate electrode; and a sidewall formed on a side surface of a multilayer structure including the first insulating film, the charge storage film, the hydrogen diffusion preventing film, the second insulating film, and the control gate electrode, the sidewall containing a material for preventing hydrogen from diffusing.
US09349867B2 Semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing the same
Provided are semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing the same. An example method may include: forming a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer sequentially on a substrate; patterning the second semiconductor layer and the first semiconductor layer to form a fin; forming an isolation layer on the substrate, wherein the isolation layer exposes a portion of the first semiconductor layer; implanting ions into a portion of the substrate beneath the fin, to form a punch-through stopper; forming a gate stack crossing over the fin on the isolation layer; selectively etching the second semiconductor layer with the gate stack as a mask, to expose the first semiconductor layer; selectively etching the first semiconductor layer, to form a void beneath the second semiconductor layer; and forming a third semiconductor layer on the substrate, to form source/drain regions.
US09349854B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a vertical IGFET in a first area of a semiconductor body, the vertical IGFET having a drift zone between a body zone and a drain electrode, the drift zone having a vertical dopant profile of a first conductivity type being a superposition of a first dopant profile declining with increasing distance from the drain electrode and dominating the vertical dopant profile in a first zone next to the drain electrode and a second dopant profile being a broadened peak dopant profile and dominating the vertical dopant profile in a second zone next to the body zone.
US09349852B2 Method, structure and design structure for customizing history effects of SOI circuits
A design structure is embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing a design. The design structure includes a high-leakage dielectric formed over an active region of a FET and a low-leakage dielectric formed on the active region and adjacent the high-leakage dielectric. The low-leakage dielectric has a lower leakage than the high-leakage dielectric. Also provided is a structure and method of fabricating the structure.
US09349850B2 Thermally tuning strain in semiconductor devices
A method includes performing a first epitaxy to grow a silicon germanium layer over a semiconductor substrate, performing a second epitaxy to grow a silicon layer over the silicon germanium layer, and performing a first oxidation to oxidize the silicon germanium layer, wherein first silicon germanium oxide regions are generated. A strain releasing operation is performed to release a strain caused by the first silicon germanium oxide regions. A gate dielectric is formed on a top surface and a sidewall of the silicon layer. A gate electrode is formed over the gate dielectric.
US09349846B1 Lateral bipolar junction transistors having high current-driving capability
A bipolar junction transistor includes a common base region, a plurality of emitter regions disposed in the common base region and arrayed to be spaced apart from each other in a first diagonal direction, and a plurality of collector regions disposed in the common base region and arrayed to be spaced apart from each other in the first diagonal direction. The plurality of emitter regions and the plurality of collector regions are alternately arrayed in a second diagonal direction.
US09349835B2 Methods for replacing gate sidewall materials with a low-k spacer
A semiconductor device includes gates and a low-k spacer. The low-k spacer includes low-k spacer portions formed upon the gate sidewalls and a low-k spacer portion formed upon a top surface of an underlying substrate adjacent to the gates. When a structure has previously undergone a gate processing fabrication stage, the gates and at least a portion of the top surface of the substrate may be exposed thereby allowing the formation of the low-k spacer. This exposure may include removing any original gate spacers, removing an original liner formed upon the original spacers, and removing any original fill material formed upon the liner.
US09349834B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor in a semiconductor substrate having a first main surface. The transistor is formed by forming a source region, forming a drain region, forming a channel region, forming a drift zone, and forming a gate electrode adjacent to at least two sides of the channel region. The channel region and the drift zone are disposed along a first direction parallel to the first main surface, between the source region and the drain region. Forming the semiconductor device further includes forming a conductive layer, a portion of the conductive layer being disposed beneath the gate electrode and insulated from the gate electrode.
US09349830B2 Semiconductor element and manufacturing method and operating method of the same
A semiconductor element and a manufacturing method and an operating method of the same are provided. The semiconductor element includes a substrate, a first well, a first heavily doping region, at least a second heavily doping region, a gate layer, a third heavily doping region, and a fourth heavily doping region. The first well and the third heavily doping region are disposed on the substrate. The first and fourth heavily doping regions are disposed in the first well. The second heavily doping region is disposed in the first heavily doping region. The gate layer is disposed on the first well. The first, third, and fourth heavily doping regions having a first type doping are separated from one another. The first well and the second heavily doping region have a second type doping complementary to the first type doping.
US09349827B2 IGBT and diode
In an IGBT, defects generated by ion implantation for introduction of the P-type collector region or N-type buffer region into the N−-type drift region near the N-type buffer region remain to improve the switching speed, however the leak current increases by bringing a depletion layer into contact with the crystal defects at the off time. To avoid this, an IGBT is provided which includes an N-type buffer region having a higher concentration than that of an N−-type drift region and being in contact with a P-type on its backside, and a defect remaining region provided near the boundary between the N-type buffer region and the N−-type drift region. The N−-type drift region located on the front surface side with respect to the defect remaining region is provided with an N-type field stopping region having a higher concentration than that of the N−-type drift region.
US09349814B2 Gate height uniformity in semiconductor devices
Methods of facilitating gate height uniformity by controlling recessing of dielectric material and semiconductor devices formed from the methods are provided. The methods include, for instance, forming a transistor of the semiconductor device with an n-type transistor and a p-type transistor, the n-type transistor and the p-type transistor including plurality of sacrificial gate structures and protective masks at upper surfaces of the plurality of sacrificial gate structures; providing a dielectric material over and between the plurality of sacrificial gate structures; partially densifying the dielectric material to form a partially densified dielectric material; further densifying the partially densified dielectric material to create a modified dielectric material; and creating substantially planar surface on the modified dielectric material, to control dielectric material recess and gate height.
US09349813B2 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming at least two gate patterns on a substrate, forming sidewalls surrounding the gate patterns, wherein the sidewalls extend above an upper surface of the gate patterns, and forming a first conducting material in a first space and a second space, wherein the first space is provided above the gate patterns and between the sidewalls that extend above the upper surface of the gate patterns and the second space is provided between the gate patterns.
US09349810B2 Selective germanium P-contact metalization through trench
Techniques are disclosed for forming transistor devices having reduced parasitic contact resistance relative to conventional devices. The techniques can be implemented, for example, using a standard contact stack such as a series of metals on, for example, silicon or silicon germanium (SiGe) source/drain regions. In accordance with one example such embodiment, an intermediate boron doped germanium layer is provided between the source/drain and contact metals to significantly reduce contact resistance. Numerous transistor configurations and suitable fabrication processes will be apparent in light of this disclosure, including both planar and non-planar transistor structures (e.g., FinFETs), as well as strained and unstrained channel structures. Graded buffering can be used to reduce misfit dislocation. The techniques are particularly well-suited for implementing p-type devices, but can be used for n-type devices if so desired.
US09349796B2 Nanotube semiconductor devices
Semiconductor devices includes a thin epitaxial layer (nanotube) formed on sidewalls of mesas formed in a semiconductor layer. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first epitaxial layer and a second epitaxial layer formed on mesas of the semiconductor layer. The thicknesses and doping concentrations of the first and second epitaxial layers and the mesa are selected to achieve charge balance in operation. In another embodiment, the semiconductor body is lightly doped and the thicknesses and doping concentrations of the first and second epitaxial layers are selected to achieve charge balance in operation.
US09349783B2 Display device
A display device includes at least two subpixels arranged in a first direction, a first data line connected to a first subpixel of the two subpixels, and a second data line connected to a second subpixel of the two subpixels. The first data line is arranged at a first side of the two subpixels and the second data line is arranged at a second side of the two subpixels. The first and second sides are opposing sides relative to the first and second subpixels.
US09349779B2 Organic light emitting display device
An organic light emitting display (OLED) device is disclosed. The OLED device includes a substrate configured to include a sub-pixel defined into an emission region and a driving region. A first bank pattern configured to define the emission region of the sub-pixel is formed on the substrate. A second bank pattern configured to include an opening, which exposes the emission region and a part of the driving region, is formed on a part of an upper surface of the first bank pattern. An organic emission layer is formed in the opening. As such, the occupied area of the organic emission layer becomes wider. Therefore, the thickness deviation of the organic emission layer is prevented or minimized.
US09349765B2 Suspended lens system having a non-zero optical transmission substrate facing the concave surface of a single-piece lens and wafer-level method for manufacturing the same
A suspended lens system, for imaging a scene, includes (a) a single-piece lens for receiving light from the scene, wherein the single-piece lens includes a concave surface, and (b) a substrate including a side that faces the concave surface, for holding the single-piece lens, wherein the substrate has non-zero optical transmission and contacts only portions of the single-piece lens that are away from the concave surface. A wafer-level method for manufacturing a suspended lens system includes molding a lens array, wherein each lens of the lens array includes a concave surface, and bonding the lens array to a surface of a substrate that has non-zero optical transmission, such that the concave surfaces face the substrate, to form a suspended lens wafer.
US09349763B1 Curved image sensor systems and methods for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing one or more curved image sensor systems includes (a) at elevated pressure relative to atmospheric pressure, bonding a light-transmitting substrate to an image sensor wafer having at least one pixel array, to form a composite wafer with a respective hermetically sealed cavity between the light-transmitting substrate and each pixel array, and (b) thinning the image sensor wafer of the composite wafer to induce deformation of the image sensor wafer to form a concavely curved pixel array from each pixel array. A curved image sensor system includes (a) an image sensor substrate having a concave light-receiving surface and a pixel array located along the concave light-receiving surface, (b) a light-transmitting substrate bonded to the image sensor substrate by a bonding layer, and (c) a hermetically sealed cavity, bounded at least by the concave light-receiving surface, the light-transmitting substrate, and the bonding layer.
US09349762B2 Pixel array, image sensor including the same, and method of compensating for local dark current
A pixel array for an image sensor is provided. The pixel array includes a dark pixel which is configured to detect a local dark current in an active pixel block. The dark pixel is distinguished from an optical black pixel block which is arranged around the active pixel block and is configured to detect a global dark current. The pixel array is configured to compensate for dark shading, which is not compensated through global dark current compensation, using the local dark current output from the dark pixel which is arranged within the active pixel block.
US09349754B2 Display device and method for manufacturing the same
A display device including a substrate including a display area and a non-display area, wherein the non-display area comprises a gate metal line positioned on the substrate, a gate insulating layer insulating the gate metal layer, a data metal line positioned on the gate insulating layer, and two or more protective layers positioned in a region in which the gate metal line and the data metal line overlap above the data metal line.
US09349752B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A first oxide insulating film is formed over a substrate. After a first oxide semiconductor film is formed over the first oxide insulating film, heat treatment is performed, so that hydrogen contained in the first oxide semiconductor film is released and part of oxygen contained in the first oxide insulating film is diffused into the first oxide semiconductor film. Thus, a second oxide semiconductor film with reduced hydrogen concentration and reduced oxygen defect is formed. Then, the second oxide semiconductor film is selectively etched to form a third oxide semiconductor film, and a second oxide insulating film is formed. The second oxide insulating film is selectively etched and a protective film covering an end portion of the third oxide semiconductor film is formed. Then, a pair of electrodes, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode are formed over the third oxide semiconductor film and the protective film.
US09349746B1 Method of fabricating deep trench semiconductor devices, and deep trench semiconductor devices
Present example embodiments relate generally to methods for fabricating semiconductor devices comprising forming an initial stack of alternating insulative and conductive layers over a substrate, identifying a plurality of bit line locations and word line locations for the initial stack, including a first bit line location and a first word line location, and forming, from the initial stack, a vertical arrangement of bit lines in the first bit line location, the vertical arrangement of bit lines having opposing sidewalls. The method further comprises forming a word line by forming a thin conductive layer over selected sections of the opposing sidewalls, the selected sections of the opposing sidewalls being sections within the first word line location. The forming the word line further comprises depositing conductive material adjacent to each thin conductive layer, the deposited conductive material in direct contact with the thin conductive layer.
US09349742B2 Embedded memory and methods of forming the same
An embedded flash memory device includes a gate stack, and source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate. The first source and drain regions are on opposite sides of the gate stack. The gate stack includes a bottom dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, a charge trapping layer over the bottom dielectric layer, a top dielectric layer over the charge trapping layer, a high-k dielectric layer over the top dielectric layer, and a metal gate over the high-k dielectric layer.
US09349739B2 OTP memory
The present invention provides an OTP memory having higher confidentiality. A memory cell has a memory transistor forming a current path between first and second nodes, a selection transistor forming a current path between third and fourth nodes, the third node being coupled to the gate of the memory transistor via a line, and a capacitor coupled to the first node. By applying high voltage which does not break but deteriorates a gate oxide film and increases gate leak current to a memory transistor, data is written. Data can be read by the presence/absence of leak of charges accumulated in the capacitor. Since the position of deterioration in the gate oxide film cannot be discriminated by a physical analysis, confidentiality is high.
US09349733B2 Gate structure having spacer with flat top surface and method for forming the same
A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first gate structure formed over a substrate. The semiconductor structure includes a first spacer formed on a sidewall of the first gate structure. In addition, a top surface of the first spacer is parallel to a top surface of the substrate.
US09349705B2 Method of fabricating a semiconductor structure having conductive bumps with a plurality of metal layers
A conductive bump structure used to be formed on a substrate having a plurality of bonding pads. The conductive bump structure includes a first metal layer formed on the bonding pads, a second metal layer formed on the first metal layer, and a third metal layer formed on the second metal layer. The second metal layer has a second melting point higher than a third melting point of the third metal layer. Therefore, a thermal compression bonding process is allowed to be performed to the third metal layer first so as to bond the substrate to another substrate, and then a reflow process can be performed to melt the second metal layer and the third metal layer into each other so as to form an alloy portion, thus avoiding cracking of the substrate.
US09349694B2 Method of manufacturing a semiconductor device
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a substrate. A semiconductor chip is disposed on a first surface of the substrate. The semiconductor chip is covered with a sealing material. A front surface and a side surface of the sealing material are covered with a conductive film. On an outer edge of a substrate-side of the semiconductor device, a step or a trench is formed.
US09349693B2 Semiconductor device with an isolation structure coupled to a cover of the semiconductor device
A system and method for packaging a semiconductor device that includes a structure to reduce electromagnetic coupling are presented. The semiconductor device is formed on a substrate. A cover is affixed to the substrate so as to extend over the semiconductor device. An isolation structure of electrically conductive material is coupled to the cover in between components of the semiconductor device, with the isolation structure being configured to reduce inductive coupling between those components during an operation of the semiconductor device. In one version, the isolation structure includes a first leg extending from a ground connection along a side wall of the cover to a cross member contiguous with a primary cover wall that extends over the semiconductor device between the components to be isolated electromagnetically.
US09349691B2 Semiconductor device with reduced via resistance
A semiconductor interconnect structure having a first electrically conductive structure having a plurality of bottom portions; a dielectric capping layer, at least a portion of the dielectric capping layer being in contact with a first bottom portion of the plurality of bottom portions; and a second electrically conductive structure in electrical contact with a second bottom portion of the plurality of bottom portions. A method of forming the interconnect structure is also provided.
US09349689B2 Semiconductor devices including conductive features with capping layers and methods of forming the same
Semiconductor devices, methods of manufacture thereof, and methods of forming conductive features thereof are disclosed. A semiconductor device includes an insulating material layer disposed over a workpiece. The insulating material layer includes a silicon-containing material comprising about 13% or greater of carbon (C). A conductive feature is disposed within the insulating material layer. The conductive feature includes a capping layer disposed on a top surface thereof.
US09349685B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first insulating film formed above a semiconductor substrate, a fuse formed above the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed above the first insulating film and the fuse and including an opening reaching the fuse, and a third insulating film formed above the second insulating film and in the opening.
US09349682B2 Semiconductor chip and semiconductor chip package each having signal paths that balance clock skews
A semiconductor chip is provided. The semiconductor chip includes a first circuit, a second circuit, a third circuit, a first signal path and a second signal path. The first circuit provides a reference signal. The first signal path includes a first conductive trace and transmits the reference signal from the first circuit to the second circuit. The second signal path transmits the reference signal from the first circuit to the third circuit. Timing skews of the first and second signal paths are balanced and the first and second signal paths are routed globally.
US09349678B2 Chip having a pillar electrode offset from the bonding pad
The reliability of a semiconductor device is improved. A probe mark is formed on a probe region of a pad covered with a protective insulating film. And, a pillar-shaped electrode has a first portion formed on an opening region and a second portion that is extended over the probe region from the upper portion of the opening region. At this time, a center position of the opening region is shifted from a center position of the pillar-shaped electrode that is opposed to a bonding finger.
US09349671B2 Integrated circuit chip comprising electronic device and electronic system
An electronic device includes a substrate wafer made of many layers of an insulating material and including an electrical connection network. An integrated circuit chip is mounted to a top side of the substrate wafer. The substrate wafer further includes a metal plate that is integrated into the substrate wafer and thermally coupled to the integrated circuit chip. The metal plate may have a thickness in excess of several layers of the substrate wafer. The metal plate may include a duct through which a thermally conductive fluid flows.
US09349670B2 Semiconductor die assemblies with heat sink and associated systems and methods
Semiconductor die assemblies with heat sinks are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor die assembly includes a stack of semiconductor dies and a mold material surrounding at least a portion of the stack of semiconductor dies. A heat sink is disposed on the stack of semiconductor dies and adjacent the mold material. The heat sink includes an exposed surface and a plurality of heat transfer features along the exposed surface that are configured to increase an exposed surface area compared to a planar surface.
US09349667B2 Method of manufacturing stacked package
A method of manufacturing a stacked package includes a first process of stacking a semiconductor chip on an upper surface of a PCB having a wiring pattern and a via-hole pad, a second process of forming a photoresist (PR) layer on the upper surface of the PCB having the semiconductor chip and the via-hole pad, a third process of removing the photoresist layer of a remaining region except for an upper portion of the via-hole pad so that a photoresist layer of a via-hole region remains only at the upper portion of the via-hole pad, a fourth process of forming a molding layer by molding the upper surface of the PCB having the semiconductor chip to expose an upper surface of the photoresist layer of the via-hole region, and a fifth process of removing the photoresist layer of the via-hole region to form a via-hole on the via-hole pad.
US09349658B1 Methods of forming fin isolation regions on finFET semiconductor devices using an oxidation-blocking layer of material
One illustrative embodiment involves forming a plurality of trenches in a substrate so as to define a fin, forming a first oxidation-blocking layer of insulating material in the trenches so as to cover a portion, but not all, of the sidewalls of the lower portion of the fin, forming a second layer of insulating material above the first oxidation-blocking layer of insulating material, and performing a thermal anneal process to convert part, but not all, of the lower portion of the fin positioned above the first oxidation-blocking layer of insulating material into an oxide fin isolation region positioned under the fin.
US09349648B2 Hybrid wafer dicing approach using a rectangular shaped two-dimensional top hat laser beam profile or a linear shaped one-dimensional top hat laser beam profile laser scribing process and plasma etch process
Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits involves forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is then patterned with a top hat laser beam profile laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09349645B2 Apparatus, device and method for wafer dicing
An apparatus, device and method for wafer dicing is disclosed. In one example, the apparatus discloses: a wafer holding device having a first temperature; a die separation bar moveably coupled to the wafer holding device; and a cooling device coupled to the apparatus and having a second temperature which enables the die separation bar to fracture an attachment material in response to movement with respect to the wafer holding device. In another example, the method discloses: receiving a wafer having an attachment material applied to one side of the wafer; placing the wafer in a holding device having a first temperature; urging a die separation bar toward the wafer; and cooling the attachment material to a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature, until the attachment material fractures in response to the urging.
US09349639B2 Method for manufacturing a contact structure used to electrically connect a semiconductor device
A method for manufacturing contact structure includes the steps of: providing a substrate having the semiconductor device and an interlayer dielectric thereon, wherein the semiconductor device includes a gate structure and a source/drain region; forming a patterned mask layer with a stripe hole on the substrate, and concurrently forming a stripe-shaped mask layer on the substrate; forming a patterned photoresist layer with a plurality of slot holes on the substrate, wherein at least one of the slot holes is disposed right above the source/drain region; and forming a contact hole in the interlayer dielectric by using the patterned mask layer, the stripe-shaped mask layer and the patterned photoresist layer as an etch mask, and the source/drain region is exposed from the bottom of the contact hole when the step of forming the contact hole is completed.
US09349636B2 Interconnect wires including relatively low resistivity cores
A dielectric layer and a method of forming thereof. An opening defined in a dielectric layer and a wire deposited within the opening, wherein the wire includes a core material surrounded by a jacket material, wherein the jacket material exhibits a first resistivity ρ1 and the core material exhibits a second resistivity ρ2 and ρ2 is less than ρ1.
US09349635B2 Integrated circuits and methods of forming the same with multi-level electrical connection
Integrated circuits and methods of forming integrated circuits are provided. A method of forming an integrated circuit includes providing a substrate that includes an electrical contact disposed therein. A first dielectric layer is formed over the substrate and electrical contact. A metal-containing layer is patterned over the first dielectric layer, with at least a first portion of the patterned metal-containing layer disposed over the first dielectric layer. The patterned metal-containing layer is absent in regions of the first dielectric layer over the electrical contact. A second dielectric layer is formed over the patterned metal-containing layer. A first via is etched in the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer over the electrical contact, and a second via is etched in the second dielectric layer over the patterned metal-containing layer. The first via and the second via are filled with an electrically-conductive material.
US09349628B2 Method and an alignment plate for engaging a stiffener frame and a circuit board
Methods and apparatus for coupling a stiffener frame to a circuit board are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for engaging a stiffener frame and a circuit board positioned in a fixture is provided. The method includes positioning an alignment plate on the stiffener frame, such that a downwardly facing shoulder of a bottom opening of the alignment plate is seated on a setback of the stiffener frame, wherein the bottom opening of the alignment plate is larger than the a top opening of the alignment plate. The circuit board is positioned on the stiffener frame. The alignment plate restrains movement of the circuit board relative to the stiffener frame with a peripheral wall of a the top opening of the alignment plate.
US09349619B2 Plasma etching method and plasma etching apparatus
A plasma etching apparatus includes a processing chamber; a holding unit for holding the substrate within the processing chamber; an electrode plate facing the holding unit; a plurality of supply parts arranged at different radial positions with respect to the substrate for supplying processing gas to a space between the holding unit and the electrode plate; a high frequency power supply that supplies high frequency power to the holding unit and/or the electrode plate to convert the processing gas supplied to the space into plasma; an adjustment unit that adjusts a supply condition for each of the supply parts; and a control unit that controls the adjustment unit to vary the supply condition between a position where an effect of diffusion of processing gas on an active species concentration distribution at the substrate is dominant and a position where an effect of flow of the processing gas is dominant.
US09349615B2 SiP system-integration IC chip package and manufacturing method thereof
A system-in-package (SiP) system-integration integrated circuit (IC) chip package and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The package includes a substrate, a passive device and two IC chips are provided on the substrate, an adhesive film is disposed between each of the two IC chips and the substrate, the IC chips are connected to first pads on the substrate through bonding wires, and the substrate is covered by a mold cap. A third IC chip may be further disposed on one of the IC chips, and the third IC chip is connected to the first pad and the IC chip under the third IC chip respectively through a bonding wire. A substrate adopting a surface mount technology (SMT) PAD window-opening manner is used, chip mounting is performed on the substrate, and the substrate undergoes reflow soldering, cleaning, die bonding, plasma cleaning, bonding, marking, cutting, and packing, so that the SiP system-integration IC chip package is manufactured. The package of the present invention integrates devices of different types, has a complete system function, and can be used as a middle stage of further development of system on chip (SoC).
US09349614B2 Device and method for localized underfill
A device and method for localizing underfill includes a substrate, a plurality of dies, and underfill material. The substrate includes a plurality of contacts and a plurality of cavities separated by a plurality of mesas. The plurality of dies is mounted to the substrate using the plurality of contacts. The underfill material is located between the substrate and the dies. The underfill material is localized into a plurality of regions using the mesas. Each of the contacts is located in a respective one of the cavities. In some embodiments, the substrate further includes a plurality of channels interconnecting the cavities. In some embodiments, the substrate further includes a plurality of intra-cavity mesas for further localizing the underfill material. In some embodiments, outer edges of a first one of the dies rest on first mesas located on edges of a first one of the cavities.
US09349610B2 Assembly structure for connecting multiple dies into a system-in-package chip and the method thereof
A method for assembling multiple integrated circuit dies into a system-in-package chip is disclosed, the method comprising: providing a plurality of integrated circuit dies; disposing at least one redistribution layer on at least one of the plurality of integrated circuit dies for making wire connections among the plurality of integrated circuit dies without using a substrate underneath the plurality of integrated circuit dies; establishing wire connections among the plurality of integrated circuit dies and verifying the plurality of wire connections; and packaging the plurality of integrated circuit dies and the verified wire connections into a system-in-package chip.
US09349609B2 Semiconductor process temperature optimization
A method including forming a structure including a plurality of semiconductor devices surrounded by a dielectric layer such that a top surface of the dielectric layer is substantially flush with a top surface of the plurality of semiconductor devices, depositing a thermal optimization layer above the structure, patterning the thermal optimization layer such that a portion of the thermal optimization layer is removed from a above first region of the structure and another portion of the thermal optimization layer remains above a second region of the structure, the first region having a different thermal conductivity than the second region, and heating the structure, the patterned thermal optimization layer causing substantially uniform thermal absorption of the structure.
US09349608B2 Methods of protecting a dielectric mask layer and related semiconductor devices
Devices and methods for forming semiconductor devices with a protection layer for a dielectric mask layer are provided. One method includes, for instance; obtaining a substrate having at least one of a dielectric layer and a metal layer; forming a first SiCN dielectric mask layer on a top surface of at least one of the dielectric layer and a metal layer; and forming a silicon nitride (SiNx) cap layer on a top surface of the first SiCN dielectric mask layer. One intermediate semiconductor device includes, for instance: a substrate having at least one of a dielectric layer and a metal layer; a first SiCN dielectric mask layer on a top surface of at least one of the dielectric layer and a metal layer; and a silicon nitride (SiNx) cap layer on a top surface of the first SiCN dielectric mask layer.
US09349607B1 Method of forming line pattern
A method of forming a line pattern including following steps. First of all, a substrate having a first region and a second region is provided. Next, a directed self-assembly (DSA) material layer is formed on the substrate, covering the first region and the second region. Then, the DSA material layer in the second region is removed, to form a patterned DSA material layer. After these, an annealing process is performed to enable only the DSA material layer in the first region and to form a plurality of first stripe structures and a plurality of second stripe structures arranged alternately in a first direction.
US09349603B2 Plasma processing method
A plasma processing method in which a stable process region can be ensured in a wide range, from low microwave power to high microwave power. The plasma processing method includes making production of plasma easy in a region in which production of plasma by continuous discharge is difficult, and plasma-processing an object to be processed, with the generated plasma, wherein the plasma is produced by pulsed discharge in which ON and OFF are repeated, radio-frequency power for producing the pulsed discharge, during an ON period, is a power to facilitate production of plasma by continuous discharge, and a duty ratio of the pulsed discharge is controlled so that an average power of the radio-frequency power per cycle is power in the region in which production of plasma by continuous discharge is difficult.
US09349599B1 Method for fabricating semiconductor device
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate having gate structure thereon, wherein the gate structure comprises a high-k dielectric layer; increasing an ambient pressure around the gate structure to a predetermined pressure by injecting a first gas; reducing the ambient pressure to a base pressure; and forming a spacer around the gate structure.
US09349598B2 Gate contact with vertical isolation from source-drain
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a gate structure having a first conductive material above a semiconductor substrate, gate spacers on opposing sides of the first conductive material, and a first interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer surrounding the gate spacers and the first conductive material. An upper portion of the first conductive material is recessed. The gate spacers are recessed until a height of the gate spacers is less than a height of the gate structure. An isolation liner is deposited above the gate spacers and the first conductive material. A portion of the isolation liner is removed so that a top surface of the first conductive material is exposed. A second conductive material is deposited in a contact hole created above the first conductive material and the gate spacers to form a gate contact.
US09349574B2 Plasma etching method and plasma etching apparatus
A plasma etching method includes a plasma process of plasma-processing a surface of a photoresist, which has a predetermined pattern with plasma generated from a hydrogen-containing gas. Further, the plasma etching method includes an etching process of etching a silicon-containing film with plasma generated from a CF-based gas and a gas containing a CHF-based gas by using the plasma-processed photoresist as a mask. Furthermore, in the plasma etching method, the plasma process and the etching process are repeated at least two or more times.
US09349568B2 Sample introduction device and charged particle beam instrument
A sample introduction device (100) is adapted to introduce a sample (S) into the sample chamber (1) of a charged particle beam instrument. The device includes: a pre-evacuation chamber (2) for performing a pre-evacuation; a sample holder (10) having a sample holding portion (12) capable of holding the sample (S); a support portion (20) for supporting the sample holder (10); mechanical drives (30); and goniometer (50) for moving and rotating the support portion (20) such that the sample holding portion (12) moves from inside the pre-evacuation chamber (2) into the sample chamber (1). Partition valve (70) can be activated by the action of the goniometer.
US09349567B2 Charged particle beam device
An evacuation structure of a charged particle beam device includes: a vacuum chamber provided with a charged particle source; vacuum piping connected to the vacuum chamber; a main vacuum pump which is connected via the vacuum piping and evacuates the inside of the vacuum chamber; a non-evaporable getter pump disposed at a position between the vacuum chamber and the main vacuum pump in the vacuum piping; and a coarse evacuation port connected at a position between the vacuum chamber and the non-evaporable getter pump in the vacuum piping The coarse evacuation port includes: a coarse evacuation valve that opens and closes the coarse evacuation port; and a leak valve to open the vacuum chamber to the atmosphere.
US09349566B1 Charged particle beam device, beam deflector device and methods of operating thereof
A charged particle beam device (100) is described. The charged particle beam device includes a beam source (150) for generating a charged particle beam (101); a lens device (160); and a beam deflector device (110) for deflecting the charged particle beam with respect to a direction of incidence (A). The beam deflector device includes: a first deflector (112) providing a first magnetic deflection field (B1) for deflecting the charged particle beam by a first half of a deflection angle (α); a second deflector (114) providing a second magnetic deflection field (B2) for deflecting the charged particle beam by a second half of the deflection angle (α); and a rotation-free lens arranged between the first deflector (112) and the second deflector (114) for at least partially compensating for a dispersion introduced by at least one of the first deflector and the second deflector, wherein the lens device (160) is configured for creating a crossover (X) of the charged particle beam at the position of the rotation-free lens.
US09349565B2 Multipole lens, aberration corrector, and electron microscope
A multipole lens (100) which can produce static magnetic fields showing different strengths in the direction of travel of an electron beam has lens subasssemblies (10a, 10b, 10c) stacked on top of each other. The lens subassemblies (10a, 10b, 10c) have yokes (14a, 14b, 14c), respectively, and polar elements (12a, 12b, 12c), respectively. The polar elements (12a, 12b, 12c) have base portions (13a, 13b, 13c), respectively, magnetically coupled to the yokes (14a, 14b, 14c), respectively, and front end portions (11a, 11b, 11c), respectively, magnetically coupled to the base portions (13a, 13b, 13c), respectively. Magnetic field separators (20, 22) made of a nonmagnetic material are mounted between the front end portions (11a, 11b, 11c) which are successively adjacent to each other in the direction of stacking of the lens subassemblies (10a, 10b, 10c).
US09349553B2 Slide switch
A slide switch includes a case forming an accommodation space, a first contact disposed in the accommodation space, a second contact disposed in the accommodation space, a third contact disposed in the accommodation space, and a slider fixed to the third contact. The slider is movable between a first position in which the first contact and the second contact are electrically insulated from each other and a second position in which the first contact and the second contact are electrically connected to each other via the third contact. The case includes a projection supporting the third contact in a normal direction of a plane which includes a moving path of the slider in the accommodation space.
US09349546B2 Industrial automation emergency stop with state indictor
The embodiments described herein include a system and a method. One embodiment provides an industrial automation system an emergency stop system configured to interrupt power to at least a portion of an industrial control system. The industrial automation system further includes a user perceptible indicator associated with the emergency stop system that in use provides an indication to a user of an operative state of the emergency stop system.
US09349545B2 Method for producing microcarriers
The present invention relates to a method for producing microcarriers comprising the following steps: (a) providing a wafer having a sandwich structure comprising a bottom layer, a top layer and an insulating layer located between said bottom and top layers, (b) etching away the top layer to delineate lateral walls of bodies of the microcarriers, (c) depositing a first active layer at least on a top surface of the bodies, (d) applying a continuous polymer layer over the first active layer, (e) etching away the bottom layer and the insulating layer, (f) removing the polymer layer to release the microcarriers.
US09349544B2 Hybrid energy storage devices including support filaments
A novel hybrid lithium-ion anode material based on coaxially coated Si shells on vertically aligned carbon nanofiber (CNF) arrays. The unique cup-stacking graphitic microstructure makes the bare vertically aligned CNF array an effective Li+ intercalation medium. Highly reversible Li+ intercalation and extraction were observed at high power rates. More importantly, the highly conductive and mechanically stable CNF core optionally supports a coaxially coated amorphous Si shell which has much higher theoretical specific capacity by forming fully lithiated alloy. Addition of surface effect dominant sites in close proximity to the intercalation medium results in a hybrid device that includes advantages of both batteries and capacitors.
US09349543B2 Nano tri-carbon composite systems and manufacture
Nano-carbon material is described that combines the common and unique properties of spherical fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and graphene carbon allotropes to create an architecture that has unique mechanical and electrical properties. The combined tensile strength of graphene with the compressive strength of fullerenes attached to nanotubes creates a high strength material. By attaching fullerenes to nanotubes, the surface area of the material is greatly enhanced beyond the high surface area normally associated with vertically aligned nanotube arrays. Fabrication can be performed via several complementary methods including catalyst deposition, hydrocarbon chemical vapor deposition, and surface functionalization. The fabrication of the NTC is based on its sub-composites: graphene-nanotubes and nanotubes-fullerenes and their respective fabrication processes.
US09349541B2 Method for producing three-dimensional mesoporous titanium dioxide electrode using organic/inorganic hybrid support and dye-sensitized solar cell using the same
Disclosed is a method for producing a mesoporous titanium dioxide thin film from a titanium precursor by using a polymer-grafted alumina composite as a support. The porous titanium dioxide thin film is obtained by using the polymer-grafted hybrid alumina composite as a support for sol-gel reaction, and thus it has a mesoporous structure and high surface area, thereby providing a high dye adsorption ratio. Therefore, a dye-sensitized solar cell using the mesoporous titanium dioxide thin film as a photoelectrode material has high energy conversion efficiency. In addition, it is possible to improve the long-term stability of a dye-sensitized solar cell through efficient infiltration of high-viscosity polymer and solid electrolyte as well as liquid electrolyte.
US09349540B2 Method for manufacturing platinum nanoparticle solution and self-assembled platinum counter electrode thereof
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing platinum nanoparticle solution and a self-assembled platinum counter electrode thereof. The present invention adopts a polyol reduction method and controls the reduction reaction periods under various pH conditions. After the platinum nanoparticle dispersion solution of uniformly distributed platinum nanoparticles having small sizes is produced, the self-assembled platinum nanoparticles are adsorbed on a functionalized surface of a conductive substrate by dip coating at the normal temperature. Therefore, the structure of a platinum nanoparticle monolayer is formed, to obtain the self-assembled platinum counter electrode with a homogeneous single layer on the surface. This process is much simpler without adding any stabilizers or surfactants, without involving any subsequent heat treatments, and it consumes less amount of the platinum material. By employing the present invention for commercialization, the cost of mass production for the dye-sensitized solar cell application is thus reduced.
US09349521B2 Primary side module and transformer with same
A transformer includes a primary side module, a secondary winding structure, and a magnetic core assembly. The primary side module includes a primary winding structure, a first covering structure and a second covering structure. The primary winding structure has a first opening. The first covering structure includes a second opening corresponding to the first opening and a first receiving recess for accommodating the primary winding structure. The first receiving recess is covered and sealed by the second covering structure. The second covering structure includes a third opening corresponding to the first opening. The first opening, the second opening and the third opening are in communication with each other to be defined as a channel. The secondary winding structure includes a fourth opening, which is in communication with the channel. The magnetic core assembly is partially embedded within the channel and the fourth opening.
US09349520B2 Ferromagnetic cores of amorphous ferromagnetic metal alloys and electronic devices having the same
Ferromagnetic cores made from amorphous glasses and methods of forming ferromagnetic cores from metallic glasses are provided. The method forms a magnetic core from a section of a series of concentrically nested ferromagnetic tubes formed of an amorphous metallic material having a Curie-point temperature above room temperature and demonstrating soft ferromagnetic properties, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and improving the electrical and mechanical performance of the core itself.
US09349519B2 Multilayer chip electronic component and board having the same
A multilayer chip electronic component may include: a ceramic body including a plurality of dielectric layers; an inductor part disposed within the ceramic body and including first and second internal electrodes; a capacitor part disposed within the ceramic body and including third to fifth internal electrodes; and first and second external electrodes disposed on first and second end surfaces of the ceramic body, a third external electrode extended from a second main surface of the ceramic body to first and second side surfaces, and a fourth external electrode extended from a first main surface of the ceramic body to the first and second side surfaces. The capacitor part may be composed of first and second capacitor parts, and the inductor part and the capacitor part may be connected in parallel to each other.
US09349513B2 Method of reducing multipole content in a conductor assembly during manufacture
A method for manufacture of a conductor assembly. The assembly is of the type which, when conducting current, generates a magnetic field or in which, in the presence of a changing magnetic field, a voltage is induced. In an example embodiment one or more first coil rows are formed. The assembly has multiple coil rows about an axis with outer coil rows formed about inner coil rows. A determination is made of deviations from specifications associated with the formed one or more first coil rows. One or more deviations correspond to a magnitude of a multipole field component which departs from a field specification. Based on the deviations, one or more wiring patterns are generated for one or more second coil rows to be formed about the one or more first coil rows. The one or more second coil rows are formed in the assembly. The magnitude of each multipole field component that departs from the field specification is offset.
US09349512B2 Multi-layered chip electronic component
There is provided a multi-layered chip electronic component including: a multi-layered body including a 2016-sized or less and a plurality of magnetic layers; conductive patterns electrically connected in a stacking direction to form coil patterns, within the multi-layered body; and non-magnetic gap layers formed over a laminated surface of the multi-layered body between the multi-layered magnetic layers and having a thickness Tg in a range of 1 μm≦Tg≦7 μm, wherein the number of non-magnetic gap layers may have the number of gap layers in a range between at least four layers among the magnetic layers and a turns amount of the coil pattern.
US09349505B2 Electric cable
An electric cable for improving flexibility of an insulating resin portion of the electric cable expressed by a secant modulus value is provided. In an electric cable 10a in which an outer periphery of a conductor 11 made of wires with diameters from 0.15 to 0.5 mm and having a cross-sectional area of 20 mm2 or more is covered with an insulating resin 12 including a flame retardant, a ratio of an electric cable diameter to a conductor diameter is from 1.15 to 1.40, and a secant modulus of the insulating resin 12 is from 10 to 50 MPa.
US09349491B1 Repair of memory devices using volatile and non-volatile memory
Apparatus and methods for hybrid post package repair are disclosed. One such apparatus may include a package including memory cells and volatile memory. The volatile memory may be configured to store defective address data corresponding to a first portion of the memory cells that are deemed defective post-packaging. The apparatus may also include a decoder configured to select a second portion of the memory cells instead of the first portion of the memory cells when received current address data corresponding to an address to be accessed matches the defective address data stored in the volatile memory. The apparatus may also include non-volatile memory in the package. The apparatus may also include a mapping logic circuit in the package. The mapping logic circuit may be configured to program the replacement address data to the non-volatile memory subsequent to the defective address data being stored to the volatile memory.
US09349489B2 Systems and methods to update reference voltages in response to data retention in non-volatile memory
A data storage device includes non-volatile memory and a controller. The controller is configured to, at a first time, determine a first count of storage elements having threshold voltages within a voltage range that corresponds to a first reference voltage. The controller is further configured to, at a second time, determine a second count of storage elements having threshold voltages within the voltage range. The controller is further configured to calculate an updated first reference voltage at least partially based on the first reference voltage, the first count, and the second count.
US09349488B2 Semiconductor memory apparatus
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a plurality of data storage regions; a first internal circuit configured to input a plurality of control signals to the plurality of data storage regions; and a second internal circuit configured to control input timing of a test control signal, and input the test control signal to the plurality of data storage regions according to the controlled input timing in response to a test mode signal.
US09349481B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A method of operating a semiconductor memory device includes performing a first program operation in order to raise threshold voltages of memory cells, performing a program verification operation for detecting fast program memory cells, each having a threshold voltage risen higher than a first sub-verification voltage from a second sub-verification voltage or lower, by using a target verification voltage and the first sub-verification voltage and the second sub-verification voltage which are sequentially lower than the target verification voltage, and performing a second program operation under a condition that an increment of each of threshold voltages of memory cells, which is lower than the target verification voltage, is greater than an increment of the threshold voltage of each of the fast program memory cells.
US09349480B2 Erase techniques and circuits therefor for non-volatile memory devices
Disclosed herein is a method that comprises applying a first voltage to a memory cell, applying again the first voltage to the memory cell when the memory cell have not been shifted to an erased condition, and applying a second voltage to the memory cell when the memory cell have not still been shifted to an erased condition, the second voltage being higher than the first voltage.
US09349472B2 Flash memory device with sense-amplifier-bypassed trim data read
A non-volatile memory device includes a two-dimensional array of non-volatile memory cells where a first portion of memory cells being configured as an one-time-programmable memory area; a bypass read-out circuit configured to sense a signal level on a bit line in response to a memory cell in the one-time-programmable memory area being selected and to generate a first signal indicative of the signal level on the bit line; and a trim data latch circuit having an input terminal configured to receive the first signal. The trim data latch circuit is configured to store a signal related to the first signal as a trim data value and to provide trim data value to circuitry of the non-volatile memory device. The trim data value may be applied to adjust a signal level of the circuitry of the non-volatile memory device.
US09349460B2 Semiconductor memory device and data write method thereof
A semiconductor memory device includes a control circuit. The control circuit executes control to perform a verify operation with respect to only a lowest threshold voltage level of a memory cell at a time of a data write operation, and to skip the verify operation with respect to the other threshold voltage levels. The control circuit determines whether a verify pass bit number of the lowest threshold voltage level, which is counted by a bit scan circuit, is a prescribed bit number or more, and the control circuit further executes control, if the verify pass bit number is the prescribed bit number or more, to perform the verify operation with respect to only the lowest threshold voltage level and a threshold voltage level that is higher than the lowest threshold voltage level, and to skip the verify operation with respect to the other threshold voltage levels.
US09349457B2 High voltage switch, nonvolatile memory device comprising same, and related method of operation
A high voltage switch operates in response to a first drive voltage and a second drive voltage higher than the first drive voltage. The high voltage switch includes a PMOS transistor transmitting the second drive voltage to an output terminal according to a voltage applied to its gate, a first depletion mode transistor providing the second drive voltage to the PMOS transistor according to an output signal fed back from the output terminal, a second depletion mode transistor receiving the second drive voltage through one end and providing a switching voltage to another end according to a switching control signal, and a level shifter providing the switching voltage to a gate of the PMOS transistor according to an enable signal and a reverse enable signal.
US09349455B2 Nonvolatile memory devices and driving methods thereof
Nonvolatile memory devices including memory cell arrays with a plurality of cell strings connected between a substrate and a plurality of bit lines and selected by selection lines, and a gating circuit configured to drive the selection lines in at least two directions.
US09349454B2 Semiconductor device and electronic device
A semiconductor device capable of generating a signal (e.g., a potential signal or a current signal) suitable for usage environment or a purpose. The semiconductor device includes a first memory circuit, a first circuit, and a second memory circuit. The first circuit converts a digital signal input from the first memory circuit into an analog signal. The first memory circuit includes an input node, an output node, a transistor, and a capacitor. The capacitor is electrically connected to the output node. The transistor can control a conduction state between the input node and the output node. An analog signal is input to the input node from the first circuit. The transistor includes an oxide semiconductor layer where a channel formation region is formed.
US09349452B2 Hybrid non-volatile memory cells for shared bit line
A non-volatile storage system includes a plurality of groups of connected non-volatile storage elements. Each group comprises multiple connected data non-volatile storage elements and multiple select gates on a common side of the data non-volatile storage elements. The multiple select gates comprise a first select gate and a second select gate. The first select gate has a first threshold voltage for a first subset of the groups and a second threshold voltage for a second subset of the groups due to active area implantation for the second subset of groups that causes the second threshold voltage to be lower than the first threshold voltage. The second select gate of each group has a programmable threshold voltage. Each of the plurality of bit lines are connected to multiple groups of connected non-volatile storage elements.
US09349451B1 Resistive memory and repairing method thereof
A resistive memory and a repairing method of the resistive memory are provided. Steps of the repairing method includes: operating a plurality of set-reset cycles on the resistive memory; detecting whether the resistive memory encounters an over-set issue after the set-reset cycles are operated; if the resistive memory encounters the over-set issue, executing an enhanced reset programming on the resistive memory. Here, the enhanced reset programming is executed by applying an enhanced reset voltage on the resistive memory during an enhanced reset time period. A product of the enhanced reset voltage and the enhanced reset time period is larger than a product of a reset voltage and a reset time period.
US09349449B2 Resistance change type memory
A resistance change type memory includes a memory cell including a first resistance change element as a memory element; a reference cell including a second resistance change element and a first element having a resistance value which is not higher than a resistance range of the first and second resistance change elements; and a read circuit including a first input terminal connected to the memory cell, and a second input terminal connected to the reference cell.
US09349439B2 Semiconductor device
An intermediate mode is set between the active mode in which a threshold voltage is low and a standby mode in which a threshold voltage is high. When a mode is shifted from the active mode to the standby mode, the threshold voltage for the active mode is raised temporarily to a threshold voltage for the intermediate mode and then the threshold voltage for the intermediate mode is raised to the threshold voltage for the standby mode. When a mode is shifted from the standby mode to the active mode, the threshold voltage for the standby mode is lowered temporarily to the threshold voltage for the intermediate mode and then the threshold voltage for the intermediate mode is lowered to the threshold voltage for the active mode.
US09349435B2 Memory device and semiconductor device
Provided is a memory device with a reduced layout area. The memory device includes a sense amplifier electrically connected to first and second wirings and positioned in a first layer, and first and second circuits positioned in a second layer over the first layer. The first circuit includes a first switch being turned on and off in accordance with a potential of a third wiring, and a first capacitor electrically connected to the first wiring via the first switch. The second circuit includes a second switch being turned on and off in accordance with a potential of a fourth wiring, and a second capacitor electrically connected to the second wiring via the second switch. The first wiring intersects the third wiring and does not intersect the fourth wiring in the second layer. The second wiring intersects the fourth wiring and does not intersect the third wiring in the second layer.
US09349431B1 Systems and methods to refresh storage elements
A method of performing refresh operations on a storage device includes identifying word lines coupled to weak storage elements. The method also includes grouping a plurality of word lines having distinct bank offsets onto a single refresh address. Each of the plurality of word lines is coupled to a corresponding weak storage element. The method further includes performing a refresh of the single refresh address.
US09349418B2 Semiconductor device and method for driving the same
A novel semiconductor device where multilevel data can be written and read. The semiconductor device includes first to fifth transistors, a capacitor, a bit line, and a power supply line. Write operation is performed in such a manner that first data is supplied to a gate of the fifth transistor through the first transistor; the first transistor is turned off; second data is supplied to a second electrode of the capacitor through the second transistor to convert the first data into third data; and the second electrode of the capacitor are made electrically floating. The second electrode of the capacitor is initialized to GND through the third transistor. Read operation is performed by charging or discharging the bit line through the fourth transistor and the fifth transistor. The first to third transistors are preferably oxide semiconductor transistors.
US09349407B2 Data storage medium surface smoothing method and associated apparatus
A method for smoothing a medium includes depositing a magnetic layer onto a base, depositing an overcoat layer onto an outer surface of the magnetic layer, and burnishing an outer surface of the overcoat layer. Further, the method includes at least one of (i) directing a first ion beam comprised of first energetic ions toward the outer surface of the magnetic layer at a first shallow grazing angle and smoothing the outer surface of the magnetic layer via etching engagement between the first ion beam and the outer surface of the magnetic layer; and (ii) directing a second ion beam comprised of second energetic ions toward the outer surface of the overcoat layer at a second shallow grazing angle and smoothing the outer surface of the overcoat layer via etching engagement between the second angled ion beam and the outer surface of the overcoat layer.
US09349404B2 Perpendicular magnetic recording disc
[Problem] A perpendicular magnetic disk with an improved SNR and an increased recording density by further improving crystal orientation of a preliminary ground layer formed of an Ni-base alloy is provided.[Solution] A typical structure of the perpendicular magnetic disk according to the present invention includes, on a base 110, a soft magnetic layer 130, a Ta alloy layer 140 provided on the soft magnetic layer 130, an Ni alloy layer 142 provided on the Ta alloy layer 140, a ground layer 150 provided on the Ni alloy layer 142 and having Ru as a main component, and a granular magnetic layer 160 provided on the ground layer 150. The Ta alloy layer 140 is a layer containing 10 atomic percent or more and 45 atomic percent or less Ta and having amorphous and soft magnetic properties.
US09349402B2 Apparatus including temperature-dependent exchange spring mechanism
Provided herein is an apparatus comprising a substrate; a continuous layer over the substrate comprising a first heat sink layer; and a plurality of features over the continuous layer comprising a second heat sink layer, a first magnetic layer over the second heat sink layer, and a second magnetic layer, wherein the first and second magnetic layers are configured to provide a temperature-dependent, exchange spring mechanism.
US09349400B1 Magnetic recording disk drive with adjustable data track pitch and compensation for repeatable runout (RRO)
A hard disk drive with adjustable data track pitch has repeatable runout (RRO) fields stored in he servo sectors for each servo sector of each servo track, and thus without the need to store the RRO fields in the data tracks. The RRO fields for each servo sector have a radial length of at least two servo tracks (i.e., equal to or greater than twice the servo track pitch). The RRO fields in each servo track are shifted radially from RRO fields in adjacent servo tracks and circumferentially spaced from RRO fields in adjacent servo tracks. The read head reads two different RRO fields from the two servo tracks closest to the data track and the servo electronics interpolates a RRO value from these two RRO values. Thus even if the data track pitch is changed, RRO values can be obtained.
US09349398B1 Microactuator bonding having increased adhesive exposure for more thorough adhesive cure
In a dual stage actuated suspension, conductive adhesive is both sandwiched between a microactuator and a grounded stainless steel layer of the suspension, and also extends at least partially onto a wrap-around portion of the microactuator's ground electrode. The conductive adhesive that extends onto the wrap-around portion of the electrode has an exposed edge for more complete exposure and curing during the cure step.
US09349393B2 Magnetic writer having an asymmetric gap and shields
A method and system provide a magnetic transducer. An intermediate layer including multiple sublayers is provided. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer. A main pole having a bottom, a top wider than the bottom, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side is provided in the trench. An asymmetric gap is provided along the first and second sides of the main pole. The asymmetric gap terminates closer to the top of the main pole along the first side than on the second side. The asymmetric gap has a first thickness along the first side and a second thickness different from the first thickness along the second side. An asymmetric shield is provided on the asymmetric gap. The asymmetric shield includes a half side shield having a bottom between the top and the bottom of the main pole and terminating on the asymmetric gap.
US09349385B2 Electronic device and gain controlling method
An electronic device and a corresponding gain controlling method are provided. The gain controlling method includes the steps of receiving a sound signal, calculating a sound level according to each value of the sound signal in a past period, determining a gain value according to the sound level, using the gain value to amplify the sound signal, and then storing the sound signal.
US09349380B2 Apparatus and method for generating bandwidth extension signal
An apparatus for generating a bandwidth extended signal includes an anti-sparseness processing unit to perform anti-sparseness processing on a low-frequency spectrum; and a frequency domain high-frequency extension decoding unit to perform high-frequency extension encoding in the frequency domain on the low-frequency spectrum on which the anti-sparseness processing is performed.
US09349369B2 User speech interfaces for interactive media guidance applications
A user speech interface for interactive media guidance applications, such as television program guides, guides for audio services, guides for video-on-demand (VOD) services, guides for personal video recorders (PVRs), or other suitable guidance applications is provided. Voice commands may be received from a user and guidance activities may be performed in response to the voice commands.
US09349361B2 Movable sensing device for stringed musical instruments
Apparatuses and systems are disclosed for movable sensing for stringed instruments. A string selector module selects one or more strings of a stringed instrument in response to a user of the stringed instrument positioning at least a portion of the string selector module over the one or more selected strings. The stringed instrument includes a plurality of strings, and the plurality of strings includes the one or more selected strings and one or more unselected strings. A sensor module produces an electrical signal in response to vibration of the one or more selected strings.
US09349360B2 Accelerometer and gyroscope controlled tone effects for use with electric instruments
A movement actuated tone effects system is provided for manipulating the electrical signal of an electric instrument by moving the electrical instrument in relation to a set of reference axes. A movement actuated tone effects unit is positioned within the electric instrument or within an effects cartridge attached to the electric instrument via a cartridge receiver. The movement actuated tone effects unit includes a motion sensor unit, a processor, a tone effects circuit, and a power source, wherein the motion sensor unit measures the motion of the electric instrument and generates electrical signals directed to the processor. The processor analyzes the electrical signals, determines the appropriate tone effect to apply, and then directs the tone effects circuit to produce the desired tone effect. The movement actuated tone effects unit may further include an integrated speaker, a signal converter, a transmitter, and a device terminal.
US09349359B2 Electronic keyboard instrument
The present invention provides an electronic keyboard instrument capable of strongly supporting an upper panel covering the rear of a key while suppressing shaking of the key and an increase in device size. An electronic keyboard instrument (1) of the present invention includes: a key (3), rotating about a rotating shaft (24); an upper panel (4), covering the rear of the key (3) from above; a chassis (2), disposed in a position to interpose the rear of the key (3) between the chassis (2) and the upper panel (4); a through hole (32a), passing through the rear of the key (3) to communicate a side toward the chassis (2) with a side toward the upper panel (4); and a rear guide (25), passing from the chassis (2) through the through hole (32a) to extend toward the upper panel (4) and supporting the upper panel (4).
US09349357B2 Knee-rest for use with indian classical violin
A violin knee-rest comprising a support with a connecting member attached. A rigid having an elongated opening member is attached to the connecting member. A sliding member is attached to a screw with a U shaped head and a screw thread. The sliding member is configured to slide across the rigid member through the first elongated opening. The sliding member having an elongated opening is configured to be fastened at a desired location on the sliding member by a first wing nut and a first washer arrangement. The violin receiving member has a first end which is threaded. The violin receiving member has a second end which is concave shaped to hold a base of the violin. The receiving member is configured to slide across the second elongated opening of the sliding member. The violin receiving member is configured to be fastened at a desired location on the sliding member.
US09349344B2 Flat panel display device
A flat panel display device, which can reduce manufacturing costs is disclosed. The flat panel display device includes a display panel for displaying images and a plurality of driving integrated circuits for driving the display panel. Each of the plurality of driving integrated circuits includes a timing controller for arranging input image data such that the image data is suitable for driving of the display panel and generating a plurality of data control signals and a data driver for converting the image data provided from the timing controller into data voltages in response to the plurality of data control signals. Intervals during which the timing controllers of the driving integrated circuits supply clock signals to the data drivers of the corresponding driving integrated circuits are different.
US09349343B2 Vehicular apparatus and external device screen image display system
A vehicular apparatus connected to an external device having a display unit and obtaining picture cell information of each picture cell of the display unit includes: a vehicular display unit for displaying a screen image, which is displayed on the display unit, according to the picture cell information; a control content memory device for storing a control content in connection with picture cell related screen image information, which is determined by the picture cell information; a picture cell related screen image information determination device for determining the picture cell related screen image information based on the picture cell information; and a control device for determining the control content based on the picture cell related screen image information determined by the picture cell related screen image information determination device and a stored content in the control content memory device, and for executing a determined control.
US09349342B2 Display method and electronic device
A display method and an electronic device are provided. The display method is applied to the electronic device, and includes: displaying each display object of the display unit according to a first display parameter, monitoring the operation state of the electronic device to obtain a monitored result; acquiring a display adjusting command if the monitored result indicates that a fold or unfold operation is performed on the electronic device; adjusting the first display parameter of at least one display object of the display unit according to the display adjusting command to generate a second display parameter, and displaying the at least one display object according to the second display parameter.
US09349328B2 Backlight apparatus, method for controlling the same, and image display apparatus
Disclosed is a backlight apparatus comprising a plurality of light sources; and a control unit which drives the plurality of light sources at an identical driving frequency and which performs pulse-width modulation control for a turned-on period and a turned-off period of each of the light sources; wherein the control unit is capable of setting a duty ratio for each of the light sources and each of driving cycles; and the control unit sets the duty ratio for at least two of the light sources respectively so that a condition, in which one cycle period composed of one turned-on period and one turned-off period is N times the driving cycle, is fulfilled, and the duty ratio is 0 or 1 in at least one driving cycle of N pieces of the driving cycles for constructing the one cycle period if N is not less than 2.
US09349323B2 Display device and method for driving same
In a pixel circuit, during a period during which an organic EL element is not emitting light, transistors are in an “on” state and the organic EL element is reversed-biased by a low-level power-supply potential and a reverse-biasing power-supply potential. A reverse-direction voltage determined by a reverse-direction current that depends on the degree to which degradation of the organic EL element has progressed is thus written to a capacitor. A data voltage is then supplied to the capacitor via another capacitor, bringing the drive voltage of a transistor that controls the current that drives the organic EL element to Vsig+Voledr. This makes it possible to minimize decreases in the emission luminance of an electrooptical element such as an organic EL element due to degradation thereof over time.
US09349321B2 Pixel circuit and display
A pixel circuit and a display are configured to reduce a size of the pixel circuit, so as to further reduce pixel pitch, increase the number of the pixels contained in per unit area and improve picture display quality. The pixel circuit includes: a first pixel sub-circuit and a second pixel sub-circuit, as well as an initialization module (31) and a data voltage writing module (32) connected to the first pixel sub-circuit and the second pixel sub-circuit; wherein the initialization module (31) is connected to a reset signal terminal and a low potential terminal, and is configured to initialize the first pixel sub-circuit and the second pixel sub-circuit under the control of a reset signal inputted from the reset signal terminal; the data voltage writing module (32) is connected to a data voltage terminal and a gate signal terminal, and is configured, under the control of a signal inputted from the gate signal terminal, to firstly write a first data voltage to the first pixel sub-circuit and the second pixel sub-circuit and perform compensation on a driving module (332) of the second pixel sub-circuit, and then to write a second data voltage to the first pixel sub-circuit and perform compensation on a driving module (331) of the first pixel sub-circuit.
US09349319B2 AMOLED driving circuit, AMOLED driving method, and AMOLED display device
In embodiments of the present disclosure, there are provided an AMOLED driving circuit, an AMOLED driving method and an AMOLED display device. The AMOLED driving circuit includes a light emitting device, a first switching transistor, a voltage regulator, a driving transistor and a capacitor. The driving transistor in the AMOLED driving circuit drives the light emitting device to emit light under the control of the voltage regulator, a driving current provided by the driving transistor is independent of Vth of the driving transistor, so that the driving current flowing through the light emitting device is prevented from being affected by the poor uniformity and drift of Vth, the uniformity in the driving currents flowing through the light emitting devices is enhanced, and thus the uniformity in the brightness of the AMOLED is improved.
US09349313B2 Display device and driving method thereof
A display device includes a light emitting diode that emits a light in response to a current supplied thereto, a constant current circuit that includes a first transistor to control an amount of the current supplied to the light emitting diode, and a pixel circuit that includes a switching circuit including a second transistor to switch the supply of the current to the light emitting diode and a capacitor including a first terminal connected to a gate terminal of the second transistor and a second terminal connected to a signal line that changes a voltage of the other terminal. The first transistor and the second transistor are connected between a first power supply line and an anode of the light emitting diode including a cathode connected to a second power supply line in series.
US09349307B1 Forty-eight by fourteen foot outdoor billboard to be illuminated using only two lighting assemblies
A forty-eight foot wide outdoor billboard can be illuminated at night using only two lighting assemblies. First and second areas of a display surface of the billboard are simultaneously illuminated by emitting light from a number of LEDs mounted in a common plane and redirecting the light toward the display surface using a plurality of optical elements. Each optical element is disposed over only one associated LED and includes a first portion, a second portion and a third portion arranged to direct the light toward the first area of the display surface so that visual media content of the display surface is visible without any additional light.
US09349300B2 Senior driver training
A driver training system comprising computerized means for presenting a user of the system with simultaneous footage of a driving environment recorded from cameras directed to four active visual zones comprising a driver's forward view, rear mirror view, and respective left and right side mirror views; computerized means for tracking the driving environment found within the two visual neutral zones comprising a driver's respective left and right blind spots; computerized means for presenting a user with questions regarding events in the footage occurring within the four active visual zones and the two visual neutral zones; and a database for recording responses and response times to the questions or driving challenges requiring a response to the questions; where the forward view comprises a view comprising a view from a camera depicting the view from the windshield combined with a camera depicting the view from the driver's window.
US09349294B2 Vehicle safety arrangement and method
Embodiments herein relate to a vehicle safety arrangement and method for preventing or mitigating accidents when turning across lanes with oncoming traffic in a vehicle including an Electrical Power Assisted Steering (EPAS). Oncoming traffic in one or more adjacent lanes and other vehicles approaching from behind are detected by forward and rearward looking detection systems respectively. An intention to turn across an adjacent lane is determined. Standstill of the host vehicle is determined. A control unit is arranged to, during determined standstill and a determined intention to turn across a lane containing oncoming traffic, determine if a risk of the host vehicle being hit from behind is high, and if so determined, generate and send a control signal to an EPAS control unit, which, in response to receiving such a control signal, is arranged to cause the EPAS to align the steerable wheels of the host vehicle.
US09349286B2 Traffic analysis system using wireless networking devices
A traffic monitoring system (400) includes a network of geographically distributed sensors (401-403). The sensors (401-403) provide raw or preprocessed data to a processing system (405) based on received long range wireless signals (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, or 5.9 GHz spectrum). The processing system (405) can then implement any of various algorithms to calculate traffic parameters taking into account the range of communication between the source and the sensor. The inputs to these algorithms include a first contacts, last contacts, maximum range, minimum range, median of contacts, average of contacts, maximum strength, and combinations thereof.
US09349284B2 Regional driving trend modification using autonomous vehicles
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and a computer system for modifying regional driving habits. A computer determines a first value associated with a regional driving habit for a region. The computer determines a second value associated with a target driving habit, wherein the second value is not substantially equivalent to the first value. The computer determines that a number of at least semi-autonomous vehicles in an area is above a threshold value. The computer transmits information instructing the number of at least semi-autonomous vehicles to operate based on the second value.
US09349267B2 Hygiene monitoring system
A system and method is provided for monitoring hygiene compliance.
US09349266B2 Security cable for a mobile platform with electronically controlled lock
Generally, this disclosure provides devices, systems and methods for securing a mobile platform with a security cable, employing an electronically controlled locking mechanism which may be in communication with the platform. A device may include a lock to mate with a lock receiver of the platform, and the lock is coupled to the cable; a locking mechanism driver module to controllably engage and release the lock from the lock receiver; and a communication interface module to receive a signal from the platform and to control the locking mechanism driver module based on the signal.
US09349257B2 Gaming system, gaming device and method for draw poker game (dream card)
A gaming system, a gaming machine and a method is provided having a Five Card Video Draw poker game with a single hand or multiple hands. The gaming system or gaming machine first determines whether a dream card is going to be used in a particular round of play or a dream card is used on every hand. If the dream card is going to be used, then the last card of the initial hand is chosen so that, when the last card is combined with the other randomly selected cards of the initial hand, the initial starting hand will have the highest possible expected value.
US09349254B1 No dealer hand 21 / propositions and jackpots
The Applicants provide a process for playing “NDH/21.” Their inventive processes utilize both Standard decks of Fifty-two cards or any of several types of acceptably configured decks, such as; over Fifty-two cards (Jokers included) as well as under Fifty-two cards (a.k.a., Carnival or Spanish decks, etc., with or without Joker-cards) and/or the electronic simulation of all the like. This process is inclusive to an encompassing video gaming apparatus or a live action table gaming environment, as accommodated for. In play action, the Dealer's Hand is replaced, with the application of a triggering thread of numbers, ranging from Twelve up to Twenty-One. Through such a design, the Applicants present Housemasters with uniquely exploitable degrees of volatility; meaning a tolerable Player vigorish is in store, one that Players won't quickly shy away from. In so doing, the Applicants' triggering means solution replacing the Dealer's Hand in play action proffers a whole new frontier for their “Blackjack/21” gaming procedure. Indeed, this procedure directly features significantly fatter core margin payoffs for winning hands while still providing for all the necessary elements of a sustainable alternative to the classic Blackjack workhorse for which both Housemasters, and the public, can enthusiastically embrace.
US09349235B2 Preauthorized wearable biometric device, system and method for use thereof
Embodiments are directed towards authenticating users using biometric devices. The biometric device may be arranged to capture one or more biometric feature of a user that may be wearing the biometric device such as biometric features that correspond to an electrocardiogram of the user. The user of the biometric device may be authenticated based on one or more biometric features, or a combination thereof. Authenticating the user of the biometric device, may include communicating information that includes biometric features to an authorized authentication device (AAD). When the user is authenticated, the biometric device may be preauthorized for the user. When the preauthorized biometric device senses at least one access point, an authorization signal may be provided to the access point. If the preauthorized biometric device is removed from the user, the biometric device is deauthorized, disabling access to access points by the user.
US09349226B2 Systems and methods for detecting faults within operative sub-systems of a vehicle
A vehicle may include at least one operative sub-system that includes at least one sensor configured to output one or more sensor signals related to the at least one operative sub-system. A fault detection system may be in communication with the operative sub-system(s). The fault detection system is configured to generate at least one early warning signal based on the one more sensor signals, and determine at least one derivative of the early warning signal(s).
US09349222B2 Focused illuminated guide for clearly identifying where a user should position a time card in a time clock to assure that the time clock provides a properly positioned printing on the time card
A time clock clearly identifies where a user should position a time card therein. The clock and a printer platen are fixed relative to a base, and has the time card rests thereon. A printing mechanism moves relative to the base and has a target area, it is traversable between a print position and an idle position, and it impresses the time indicia onto the time card while in the print position. A ribbon shield is fixed relative to the base. A focused illuminated guide is fixed relative to the base, and in combination with the ribbon shield, guides the time card with respect to the printing mechanism to clearly identify where the user should position the time card in the time clock.
US09349216B2 Sketch-based generation and editing of quad meshes
System, method, and computer program product to perform an operation, comprising sampling a plurality of points and a plurality of segments of a curve on a surface of a three-dimensional model, storing each sampled point as a respective vertex of a plurality of vertices and each sampled segment as a respective half-edge in a curve network of the model surface, upon determining that a first half-edge and a second half-edge connect two of the plurality of vertices, generating a first halfchain connecting the first half-edge and the second half-edge, wherein each connected vertex comprises either a corner or an open endpoint, and upon determining that three consecutive halfchains form a loop comprising at least three corners, generating a first patch for a space enclosed by the loop, wherein the first patch is represented as a quad mesh with a respective set of vertices, faces, and half-edges.
US09349208B2 Viewing three dimensional digital slides
Systems, methods, and media for providing a view of a digital slide image. In an embodiment, a digital slide image file is accessed. The digital slide image file may comprise a plurality of first image planes representing an image of at least a portion of a slide specimen at varying focal depths. Then, a three-dimensional object is constructed from the digital slide image file. The three-dimensional image object is constructed by determining a surface that crosses two or more of the plurality of first image planes, and determining image data that are interior to the determined surface, based on one or more of the plurality of first image planes. A view is generated from the three-dimensional image object.
US09349207B2 Apparatus and method for parsing human body image
An apparatus and method for parsing a human body image may be implemented by acquiring a depth image including a human body, and detecting a plurality of points in the acquired depth image by conducting a minimum energy skeleton scan on the depth image.
US09349205B2 Systems and methods for animating between collection views
Techniques, systems, and methods for allowing a user to select amongst different collection views and to animate the transition from one collection view to another. To select a different collection view, the user may provide a certain gesture on the display screen which causes the items displayed in the current collection view to transition in an animated fashion to a new collection view selected by the particular gesture. The particular type of animation between different collection views depends upon the manner in which the items in each collection view are defined in their respective layouts and the manner that facilitates a relatively seamless transition of the items from one layout to another layout.
US09349202B1 Digital conversion of imaged content
A method of generating a reflowable content file from a physical text source is described. An image of the physical text source is segmented into a plurality of glyphs and a character and font is determined for each of the glyphs. The font for each of the plurality of glyphs is determined based on two or more of the glyphs.
US09349201B1 Command sentinel
A video server is configured to provide streaming video to players of computer games over a computing network. The video server can provided video of different games to different players simultaneously. This is accomplished by rendering several video streams in parallel using a single GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The output of the GPU is provided to graphics processing pipelines that are each associated with a specific client/player and are dynamically allocated as needed. A client qualifier may be used to assure that only clients capable of presenting the streaming video to a player at a minimum level of quality receive the video stream. Video frames provided by the video server optionally include overlays added to the output of the GPU. These overlays can include voice data received from another game player. These overlays may be used to prevent presentation of non-allowed input controls.
US09349200B2 System and method of identifying and visually representing adjustable data
In a data visualization system, a method of creating a visual representation of data, the method including the steps of providing instructions to an end user on a display device to assist the end user in: constructing multiple graphical representations of data retrieved from a data storage module in communication with the data visualization system, where each graphical representation is one of a predefined type and includes multiple layers of elements that contribute to the end user's understanding of the data; arranging multiple graphical representations of different types within the visual representation in a manner that enables the end user to understand and focus on the data being represented; and a display module displaying the visual representation on the display device; the method further including the steps of a determination module determining one or more data elements within the graphical representations that are based on variable data, the display module displaying the determined data element on the display device in a form that enables the end user to adjust the associated variable data using an input device, an adjustment detection module detecting the adjustment of the variable data, and the display module refreshing the graphical representation on the display device based on the detected adjustment of the variable data.
US09349196B2 Merging and splitting data blocks
A first set of discrete cosine transform (DCT) blocks is obtained. Each DCT block from the first set of DCT blocks has a first block size. When performing a split operation on the first set of DCT blocks, a filter is applied to the first set of DCT blocks. A second set of data blocks is generated based on the first set of DC blocks using a transform function. Each block in the second set of data blocks has a second block size. When performing a merge operation, the filter is applied to the second set of data blocks.
US09349195B2 Apparatus and method for spatially referencing images
Provided is a method of spatially referencing a plurality of images captured from a plurality of different locations within an indoor space by determining the location from which the plurality of images were captured. The method may include obtaining a plurality of distance-referenced panoramas of an indoor space. The distance-referenced panoramas may each include a plurality of distance-referenced images each captured from one position in the indoor space and at a different azimuth from the other distance-referenced images, a plurality of distance measurements, and orientation indicators each indicative of the azimuth of the corresponding one of the distance-referenced images. The method may further include determining the location of each of the distance-referenced panoramas based on the plurality of distance measurements and the orientation indicators and associating in memory the determined locations with the plurality of distance-referenced images captured from the determined location.
US09349192B2 Method and apparatus for processing video signal
A method for processing a video signal according to the present invention comprises the steps of: determining a motion vector list comprising at least one of a spatial motion vector, a temporal motion vector, and a mutation vector as a motion vector candidate of a target block; extracting motion vector identification information for specifying the motion vector candidate to be used as a predicted motion vector of the target block; setting the motion vector candidate corresponding to the motion vector identification information as the predicted motion vector of the target block; and performing motion compensation based on the predicted motion vector. The present invention forms the motion vector candidate and derives the motion vector of the target and derives the motion vector of the target block therefrom, thus enabling a more accurate prediction of the motion vector, and thereby reduces the amount of transmitted residual data and improves coding efficiency.
US09349187B2 Visual segmentation of lawn grass
Disclosed is a method for identifying lawn grass which includes capturing an image of the terrain in front of a mower, segmenting the image into neighborhoods, calculating at least two image statistics for each of the neighborhoods, generating a binary representation of each image statistic. The binary representation of each image statistic is generated by comparing the calculated image statistic values to predetermined image statistic values for grass. The method further includes weighting each of the binary representations of each image statistic, and summing corresponding neighborhoods for all image statistics. A binary threshold is applied to each of the summed neighborhoods to generate a binary map representing grass containing areas and non-grass containing areas.
US09349176B2 Computer-aided detection (CAD) of intracranial aneurysms
A computer-aided system identifies aneurysm suspects in 3D image datasets. The system takes the raw image dataset as input and assigns one or more points of interest (POIs) in the image data. The system determines one or more features for each POI and identifies one or more aneurysm suspects from among the assigned POIs based on the determined features.
US09349172B2 Image processing method to perform image morphing
An image processing device and an image processing method thereof are provided. The image processing device uses feature points of an image to calculate weights of endpoints of straight lines in the image, and determines coordinates of the endpoints of the straight lines after image morphing. The image processing device further uses the transformed coordinates of the endpoints of the straight lines to calculate corresponding coordinates of points of the straight lines. The image processing device further uses orthogonal relation between coordinates of image points and the coordinates of points of the straight lines to add feature points, and calculates coordinates of the image points after image morphing.
US09349167B2 Image processing method and image processing apparatus
An image processing method includes: (a) reducing an original image to a reduced image; (b) generating a first correction value for each of pixels in the reduced image; (c) generating a second correction value for each of pixels in an intermediate image, using information on the pixel and the first correction value; (d) generating a third correction value for each of pixels in the original image, using the second correction value for the pixel in the intermediate image; and (e) correcting the original image, using the third correction value for each of the pixels in the original image. In step (d), the third correction value is generated with an amount of calculation for each of the pixels in the original image smaller than an amount of calculation for each of the pixels in the intermediate image in generating the second correction value.
US09349166B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for generating images of scenes having high dynamic range
In an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating receipt of two or more images of a scene, where the two or more images are associated with different capture parameters. The method includes determining intensity gains at corresponding pixel locations of at least one image pair of the two or more images. The method further includes generating a blended image by blending pixels of images of the at least one image pair based at least on the intensity gains. A pixel associated with a pixel location of the blended image is generated by blending pixels associated with the pixel location of the images of the at least one image pair.
US09349164B2 De-noising image content using directional filters for image deblurring
Systems and methods are provided for providing improved de-noising image content by using directional noise filters to accurately estimate a blur kernel from a noisy blurry image. In one embodiment, an image manipulation application applies multiple directional noise filters to an input image to generate multiple filtered images. Each of the directional noise filters has a different orientation with respect to the input image. The image manipulation application determines multiple two-dimensional blur kernels from the respective filtered images. The image manipulation application generates a two- two-dimensional blur kernel for the input image from the two-dimensional blur kernels for the filtered images. The image manipulation application generates a de-blurred version of the input image by executing a de-blurring algorithm based on the two-dimensional blur kernel for the input image.
US09349134B1 Detecting illegitimate network traffic
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method that includes emulating a user web browsing session including directing a web browser installed on a computer system to visit one or more websites. The method also includes logging network traffic delivered to the computer system in response to the web browser visiting the one or more websites. In addition, the method includes identifying network traffic requested by an application installed on the computer system and delivered to the web browser in response to the web browser visiting the one or more websites.
US09349133B2 System for providing coupon service using receipts and method for providing coupon service using the same
Disclosed is a system for providing a coupon service using receipts and a method for providing a coupon service using the same. More specifically, the invention relates to the system and the method that extract coupon information from the image of a receipt provided by a customer or a distribution store in order to accumulate points for a corresponding coupon given to the customer, wherein the consumer and the distribution store are respectively regestered as a member and a member store of the coupon service provider.
US09349132B2 Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a group command with a predictive query interface
Disclosed herein are systems and methods for implementing a GROUP command with a predictive query interface including means for generating indices from a dataset of columns and rows, the indices representing probabilistic relationships between the rows and the columns of the dataset; storing the indices within a database of a host organization; exposing the database of the host organization via a request interface; receiving, at the request interface, a query for the database specifying a GROUP command term and a specified column as a parameter for the GROUP command term; querying the database using the GROUP command term and passing the specified column to generate a predictive record set; and returning the predictive record set responsive to the query, the predictive record set having a plurality of groups specified therein, each of the returned groups of the predictive record set including a group of one or more rows of the dataset. Other related embodiments are further disclosed.
US09349127B2 Serial number and payment data based payment card processing
A server is operable to receive a media device identifying number (ID) and establish an association between a media device and a payment account and, in one embodiment, supports at least one of payment authorization and payment clearing based at least in part on the media device ID and the payment account. A network and system includes a payment card processor server that is operable to receive a payment authorization request and to determine if an authorized media device generated a purchase selection message and to determine to approve a received payment authorization request based, in part, if the media device was authorized for the purchase selection based upon a received media device ID.
US09349125B2 System and method of loading a transaction card and processing repayment on a mobile device
The embodiments described herein provide in one aspect, a method of loading a transaction card account onto a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a memory and a contactless reader, the method comprising: reading, via the contactless reader, transaction card information from a physical contactless transaction card corresponding to the transaction card account; sending a retrieval message, to an issuer server, to retrieve a card security credential for the transaction card account, the retrieval message comprising the transaction card information for identifying the transaction card account at the issuer server; receiving, from the issuer server, a card security credential for the transaction card account; and storing, the transaction card information and the card security credential as a transaction card corresponding to the transaction account, on the memory of the mobile device.
US09349112B2 Computerized apparatus for transfer between locations
A computerized apparatus useful for causing transfer of items (tangible or otherwise) from at least one location to another. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a portable user-operated apparatus having at least one input device enabled to receive input identifying the item(s) to be transferred, and a wireless interface to interface with a nearby computer system (e.g., desktop computer, kiosk, or other device) to cause the computer system to invoke the transfer via a remote entity. In one variant, the transfer involves inputting barcode data via the portable device, and resultant shipment of consumable items to the user's location. In another variant, the transfer is an electronic transfer of a data structure such as an MP3 music file.
US09349109B2 Media generation and management
Techniques for media generation and management are described, including retrieving data associated with an asset, processing the data to identify an asset type, the asset type and the data being used to configure an application framework, wherein one or more panels are dynamically determined by evaluating the asset type, the one or more panels being presented in the application framework and at least one of the one or more panels are configured to receive an input initiating an action performed on the asset, and presenting the asset and the one or more panels in an interface coupled to the application framework.
US09349106B2 Boundary graph machine learning algorithm for regression and classification
There is provided a system and method for training and utilizing a boundary graph machine learning algorithm. The system including a processor configured to receive a plurality of entry nodes, each of the plurality of entry nodes including an entry node input and an entry node output, add each of the plurality of entry nodes to a graph using the entry node input and the entry node output, receiving a plurality of training nodes, each of the plurality of training nodes including a training node input and a training node output, add each of the plurality of training nodes to the graph when the training node input for each of the plurality of training nodes is similar to the training node output of a closest node and the training node output of each of the plurality of training nodes is different than the training node output of the closest node.
US09349100B2 Method for providing a prompt for real-time cognitive assistance
Techniques for providing a prompt for real-time cognitive assistance. A method includes analyzing input from at least one environmental sensor to identify context information pertaining to a user situation, identifying a likely subsequent cognitive task of the user in the user situation based on the context information and use of a learned model, determining an action with respect to information to be suggested to the user via a corresponding prompt, wherein the determining is based on the likely subsequent cognitive task, the context information and information learned from at least one previous user situation, computing a confidence value to represent a level of certainty in the action, and providing the prompt to the user if the action has a confidence value greater than a threshold value corresponding to the action.
US09349088B2 Systems, devices, and methods for displaying a barcode at a computing device
Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate the display of a barcode at a computing device for capture by another computing device. In accordance with one example embodiment, a barcode is generated at a first computing device, the barcode is displayed on a display screen associated with the first computing device, and one or more display properties of the barcode are dynamically modified while it is displayed at the first computing device until the barcode is successfully captured (e.g. by a camera) at a second computing device.
US09349086B2 System and method for improved quality management in a product logistic chain
A quality management system for products including a multiplicity of product unit specific indicators, each operative to provide a machine-readable indication of exceedence of at least one threshold by at least one product quality determining parameter, an indicator reader operative to read the product unit specific indicators and to provide output indications and a product type specific indication interpreter operative to receive the output indications and to provide human sensible, product unit specific, product quality status outputs.
US09349083B2 Image halftone processing by dithering or error diffusion based on pixel value or times of printing
An image processing apparatus that generates image data for forming an image by performing printing a plurality of times on the same area of a printing medium. The image processing apparatus includes: a division unit configured to divide the image data into first image data and second image data by comparing a pixel value indicating a density of a pixel with a predetermined threshold value for each pixel constituting the image data so that the first image data includes pixels whose pixel value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value and the second image data includes pixels whose pixel value is less than the threshold value; a first halftone processing unit configured to perform dither processing on the first image data; and a second halftone processing unit configured to perform error diffusion processing on the second image data.
US09349082B2 Recording data generation apparatus, recording system, program, recording data generation method and image data display method
Included are a display portion that displays image data; a selection portion that allows selection of a partial pixel from amongst the pixels of image data; a color range setting portion that allows setting a color range on the basis of a color of the partial pixel; a determination portion that determines whether or not an image pixel constituting falls within the color range; a determination practice portion that sequentially performs this determination until the pixel adjacent to a determination-completed pixel becomes a pixel not falling within the color range; a pixel designation portion that designates at least one pixel as falling within the color range; a color conversion portion that converts a color of each pixel designated by the pixel designation portion; and a recording data generation portion that generates recording data on the basis of image data resulting from the color conversion.
US09349080B2 Printing system and printing control program
A host computer (100), wherein the computer is equipped with a font availability determination unit (6) for determining whether or not the font and glyph image specified for characters to be printed are available in a printer (200) and an outline image transmission unit (9) for transmitting an outline image of the specified font to the printer (200) in cases in which it is determined that the font and the like are not available in the printer, and by transmitting the outline image to the printer (200) to print, it is possible to print using a character format which is infinitely close to the font specified by the host computer (100) even in cases in which the specified font and the like are not available in the printer (200).
US09349072B2 Local feature based image compression
The use of local feature descriptors of an image to generate compressed image data and reconstruct the image using image patches that are external to the image based on the compressed image data may increase image compression efficiency. A down-sampled version of the image is initially compressed to produce an encoded visual descriptor. The local feature descriptors of the image and the encoded visual descriptor are then obtained. A set of differential feature descriptors are subsequently determined based on the differences between the local feature descriptors of the input image and the encoded visual descriptor. At least some of the differential feature descriptors are compressed to produce encoded feature descriptors, which are then combined with the encoded visual feature descriptor produce image data. The image data may be used to select image patches from an image database to reconstruct the image.
US09349069B2 Dynamic line-detection system for processors having limited internal memory
A line-detection system computes, using a local memory, a result of a partial conversion of image-space pixel data from image space to Hough space. The result is analyzed for edges corresponding to a line present in the partial conversion. The line is compared against other lines detected in previously computed partial results to identify a longest line in the image.
US09349067B2 Method and apparatus for correcting medical imaging data
In a method and apparatus for correcting image data from a medical imaging scan of a subject, into which subject a specified amount of an imaging substance has been introduced, a region of the image data, containing an anomalous proportion of the imaging substance introduced, is identified. For the identified region a regional value of a variable in the image data associated with the imaging substance is determined. The regional value is used to determine the proportion of the substance in the region, and the proportion is subtracted from the specified amount of the imaging substance.
US09349060B2 Biometric authentication apparatus and biometric authentication method
The present invention is a biometric authentication apparatus comprising, a fingertip sensor mounted on a tip placement surface of a tip placement section for placing a tip of a finger cushion said fingertip sensor detecting displacement of an arrangement position of a finger on the tip placement surface of the tip placement section, wherein the biometric authentication apparatus detects the displacement of a position of the tip of the finger cushion.
US09349055B1 Real-time image-based vehicle detection based on a multi-stage classification
The present disclosure is directed to an autonomous vehicle having a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system includes a vehicle detection system. The vehicle detection system includes receiving an image of a field of view of the vehicle and identifying a region-pair in the image with a sliding-window filter. The region-pair is made up of a first region and a second region. Each region is determined based on a color of pixels within the sliding-window filter. The vehicle detection system also determines a potential second vehicle in the image based on the region-pair. In response to determining the potential second vehicle in the image, the vehicle detection system performs a multi-stage classification of the image to determine whether the second vehicle is present in the image. Additionally, the vehicle detection system provides instructions to control the first vehicle based at least on the determined second vehicle.
US09349043B2 Apparatus and method for detecting pedestrians
Provided is an image processing apparatus for detecting pedestrians. The image processing apparatus includes a lane detecting module configured to extract a lane coordinate value from an input image and a pedestrian detecting module configured to set, as a pedestrian region of interest (ROI), a region between a first line passing through ends of first left and right lanes and a second line passing through ends of second left and right lanes which are respectively disposed above the left and right lanes, and search for the pedestrian ROI by using a predetermined window to detect a pedestrian region having a pedestrian feature.
US09349041B2 Information processing device, specifying method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium
An information processing device includes an acquiring unit that acquires target information representing a shooting target shown in an image shot by a user and biological information acquired from the user when the image is shot for each plurality of images shot by the user. The information processing device includes an extracting unit that extracts biological information corresponding to target information representing the shooting target from the biological information acquired by the acquiring unit for each shooting target. The information processing device includes a specifying unit that specifies the user's emotion for the shooting target using the biological information extracted by the extracting unit.
US09349039B2 Gesture recognition device and control method for the same
A gesture recognition device configured to detect a gesture from acquired image and generate command issued to a control target instrument according to the gesture, the gesture recognition device comprising: an image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image; a gesture acquisition unit configured to detect a target region performing a gesture from the acquired image, and acquire the gesture based on motion or a shape of the detected target region; a face detection unit configured to detect a face comprised in the acquired image; a correlation unit configured to correlate the detected target region with the detected face using a human body model representing a shape of a human body; a personal identification unit configured to identify a user corresponding to the detected face; and a command generation unit configured to generate a command issued to the control target instrument based on the identified user and the acquired gesture.
US09349025B2 Utilizing a gateway for brokering and/or arbitrating service consumption options
A broadband gateway may provision services requested in a home network managed and/or serviced by the broadband gateway by a user associated with the broadband gateway, based on determination of criteria related to the requested service. The requested service may comprise obtaining and/or delivering content for consumption by one or more of a plurality of devices serviced by the broadband gateway in the home network. The criteria may comprise device related data, user preference related information, service performance related parameters, payment related information, and/or energy use related information. The broadband gateway may store information associated with the determined criteria. Provisioning requested services may comprise negotiating with at least one remote resource that may support at least a portion of the requested service. The negotiation may comprise brokering and/or arbitrating a plurality of options of remote resources utilized for providing the at least a portion of the requested service.
US09349022B2 Providing integrated role-based access control
An example method includes, identifying a request from a user associated with a user role. The request corresponds to: an application request to access a first module in an enterprise application; and a data request to access a first portion of a database through the first module. The method also includes: responsive to a first determination that, based on the user role, the application request by the user is permissible: granting the application request; and responsive to a second determination that, based on the user role, the data request by the user is permissible: granting the data request to access the first portion of the database through the first module. The user role is associated with a plurality of access permissions, each specifies: an exhaustive set of application requests permitted to the user role; and an exhaustive set of data requests permitted to the user role.
US09349018B1 Preventing content data leak on mobile devices
Preventing enterprise or other protected content data from “leaking” from being under secure management on a device, for example by virtue of being viewed using an untrusted app on the device, is disclosed. An indication is received that a content to be provided to a first mobile application on a mobile device is to be protected against unauthorized access at the mobile device using unauthorized applications other than the first mobile application. The content is encrypted while in transit to the mobile device, using a key associated with a second mobile application authorized to be used to access the content at the mobile device.
US09349014B1 Determining an indicator of aggregate, online security fitness
A computer-implemented method comprising: accessing, by one or more computer systems, internal security information indicative of customer account activity of a customer of an online resource; receiving, by one or more computer systems, external security information; calculating an online security fitness attribute that is indicative of an overall security level of the customer for accessing the online resource; generating, by the one or more computers systems, information indicative of one or more suggested actions to increase the online security fitness attribute, with a suggested action comprising information specifying an amount by which the online security fitness attribute increases following performance of the suggested action; receiving, from the client device, information indicative of performance of one of the one or more suggested actions; and re-calculating by the one or more computer systems the online security fitness attribute by increasing the online security fitness attribute in accordance with the performed, suggested action.
US09349011B2 Methods and apparatus to identify a degradation of integrity of a process control system
Methods and apparatus to identify a degradation of integrity of a process control system are disclosed. An example method includes identifying a file on a file system of the process control system. The example method further includes determining if the file is identified in a system profile, the system profile identifying files expected to be present. A degradation of integrity of the process control system is identified when the file is not identified in the system profile.
US09348998B2 System and methods for detecting harmful files of different formats in virtual environments
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program products for detection of harmful files of different formats. An example method includes: receiving a suspicious file; determining a file format of the suspicious file; determining, using antivirus software, if the suspicious file is clean or harmful; and when the antivirus software fails to determine whether the suspicious file is clean or harmful, selecting, based on at least the file format of the suspicious file, a configuration of a virtual machine for analyzing a maliciousness of the suspicious file by at least: selecting a program associated with the file format of the suspicious file, opening the suspicious file using the associated program in the virtual machine, collecting data of at least one activity on the virtual machine, and analyzing the data to determine the maliciousness of the suspicious file.
US09348996B2 Method and device for the authentication of at least two agricultural devices coupled via a data bus
A method for the authentication of at least two agricultural devices coupled via a data bus includes subjecting the each of the agricultural devices to authentication, automatically and independently of every of the agricultural device by use of an authentication device, which is also coupled to the data bus. The method also includes allowing a direct data exchange or indirect data exchange between the successfully authenticated agricultural devices, automatically. If authentication of the at least two data devices is unsuccessful, data exchange between the unsuccessfully authenticated agricultural devices is disallowed.
US09348994B2 Information processor and system that associate job and user information based on job identifier
An information processor is connected via a network to an output apparatus and configured to control a job outputting process of the output apparatus. The information processor includes a job identifier generation part configured to generate a job identifier for uniquely identifying a job input from a terminal apparatus connected via the network to the information processor, an information storage part configured to store information that correlates the job identifier and the input job, a job identifier transmission part configured to transmit the job identifier correlated with the input job to the terminal apparatus, and a job association part configured to associate user information for uniquely identifying an authenticated user received from the output apparatus with the input job based on a job association request including the user information and the job identifier and on the information stored in the information storage part.
US09348993B2 Segment authentication for dynamic adaptive streaming
A method comprising generating a segment signature for a segment of a media content based on the segment, trusted information contained in a media presentation description (MPD), and a signature signing key, wherein the MPD describes the media content. An apparatus comprising a processor configured to compute a segment signature for a segment of a media content based on the segment, a signature signing key, and trusted information contained in a media presentation description (MPD), wherein the MPD describes the media content.
US09348991B2 User management of authentication tokens
A computer implemented method, a computer program product, and a data processing system manage a set of federated log-in authentications at secure web sites. A client logs into a security context using a first alias from a list of existing federated single sign-on authentication aliases associated with an account. Responsive to logging into the security context, the client can receive the list of existing federated single sign-on authentication aliases. The client can then manage the list of authentication aliases.
US09348983B2 Method for controlling the access to a specific type of services and authentication device for controlling the access to such type of services
A method and device for controlling access to a specific type of services among a plurality of type of services proposed by a service supplier. The method includes entering, into an authentication device of the user, a personal identification code specific to the user, the personal identification code being identical for at least two different types of services proposed by the service supplier; and indicating, by said user, said specific type of services for which the access is required, the indication being made in the authentication device. The method further comprises transforming said personal identification code, in a way depending on a cryptographic function specific to said user and to said required specific type of services, the cryptographic function being memorized in the authentication device; transmitting the result of the transformation of said personal identification code to the service supplier; authenticating the user by the service supplier by means of the transmitted result of said transformation, and assigning an access right according to the result of the authentication. The device implements the record.
US09348978B2 Universal content traceability
Techniques for universal content traceability are presented. A piece of content is tagged with one or more content identifiers and with a unique instance identifier. The content also is tagged with content and instance-level metadata. The tagged information is maintained with the document and separately from the document in a centralized or distributed database system or table. As operations are performed on the content, the tagged information may be updated as necessary. The content can then use the tagged information in connection with the database to trace its origins and history during its lifecycle.
US09348971B2 Two way short message service (SMS)-enabled blood glucose meter and related communications systems and methods
A system and method for two way short message service (SMS)-enabled BGM and related communications is presented. The method includes receiving, by a processing device integrated with a blood glucose meter (BGM), a first short message service (SMS) message comprising a question, presenting the question at the BGM, receiving a response to the question, translating the response to the question into a second SMS message, translating blood glucose measurement information into a third SMS message, the blood glucose measurement information received from a test of a user by the BGM, and transmitting the second and third SMS messages to a receiver.
US09348969B2 System and method for personalized biomedical information research analytics and knowledge discovery
A Health Information Virtual Exchange (HIVE) BIOMED SYSTEM includes an originating exchange unit including circuitry configured to transmit, to a receiving exchange unit, a query request including predetermined query criteria, and receive, from the receiving exchange unit, patient metadata corresponding to a patient. The system also includes a receiving exchange unit including circuitry configured to aggregate protein-protein interaction data from a first service unit, wherein the aggregation includes determining corresponding data standards managed by the first service unit and receiving the protein-protein interaction data from the first service unit in the determined corresponding data standards. The receiving exchange unit can generate, in response to receiving the query request, the patient metadata corresponding to the patient, and transmit the patient metadata to the originating exchange unit.
US09348966B2 Blend behavior in a variational system
Methods for product data management and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving a CAD model in the data processing system, the CAD model including at least a first blend that has an axis, a radius measured from the axis, and a plurality of unders. The method includes receiving a change to the radius of the first blend and selectively designating either the axis as fixed or the unders as fixed according to a property of the blend. The method includes modifying the CAD model by changing the radius according to the received change and the designated fixed axis or designated fixed unders, and storing the modified CAD model.
US09348960B1 Method, system, and computer program product for probing or netlisting a multi-fabric electronic design spanning across multiple design fabrics
Described are methods and systems for netlisting or probing multi-fabric designs that identify a request for process at least a portion of a multi-fabric electronic design and determine a first partial listing of one or more first circuit components in response to the request by at least identifying first design data in a first design fabric of the one or more first circuit components using a first session of a first electronic design automation (EDA) tool. The methods and systems further automatically transmit a request for action related to the one or more first circuit components from the first session to a second session of a second EDA tool and determine a second partial listing of one or more second circuit components by at least identifying second design data in a second design fabric of the one or more second circuit components using the second session.
US09348956B2 Generating a simulated fluid flow over a surface using anisotropic diffusion
A fluid-flow simulation over a computer-generated surface is generated using a diffusion technique. The surface is comprised of a surface mesh of polygons. A boundary-layer fluid property is obtained for a subset of the polygons of the surface mesh. A gradient vector is determined for a selected polygon, the selected polygon belonging to the surface mesh but not one of the subset of polygons. A maximum and minimum diffusion rate is determined along directions determined using the gradient vector corresponding to the selected polygon. A diffusion-path vector is defined between a point in the selected polygon and a neighboring point in a neighboring polygon. An updated fluid property is determined for the selected polygon using a variable diffusion rate, the variable diffusion rate based on the minimum diffusion rate, maximum diffusion rate, and the gradient vector.
US09348952B2 Method for predicting HVAC energy consumption
A method for predicting energy consumption of an HVAC system is provided. The method includes providing a model for an indoor temperature of a building, a model for an operating state of the HVAC system, and predicted future outdoor temperatures. Utilizing at least the models for the indoor temperature and the operating state of the HVAC system and the predicted future outdoor temperatures, a predicted future energy consumption of the HVAC can be estimated.
US09348951B2 Robust design method for a textile-manufacturing-dedicated, high-efficient, energy-saving, multiphase asynchronous motor
Robust design method for a textile-manufacturing-dedicated multiphase asynchronous motor, including the steps: designing a motor with design variables for a high-efficient, energy-saving, multiphase asynchronous motor; selecting a number of controllable variables and their level values to build an inner orthogonal table; selecting a number of noise factors and their level values to build an outer orthogonal table; using a Taguchi method, determining the optimal combination of level values of the controllable variables and corresponding values ranges for a tolerance design, resulting in an optimal design scheme; producing technical drawings for each parts of the motor according to the optimal design scheme and producing a physical motor; comparing the performance of the physical motor with the predetermined performance target and repeating the above steps as many times as necessary until the performance target is met and the motor achieves the optimal balance between the quality and cost.
US09348948B2 Method of part verification
An automated method of verifying a part includes scanning the part to create a three-dimensional computer-based model of the part, indexing the computer-based model of the part to a three-dimensional nominal part design, and adjusting the shape of the model to generate an adjusted model with a shape corresponding to the shape of the nominal part design. The adjusted model is compared to the nominal part design to identify variations between the size and configuration of the adjusted model and the target part design are determined. Furthermore, it is determined whether adjusting the part to conform to the nominal part design would compromise the structure of the part.
US09348938B2 Methods for manipulating web pages
A method of filtering a web page or other computer file is provided. A web page is analyzed and segmented into regions or segments. At least one of the regions is selected for display. Selected regions are manipulated to enhance the visibility of preferred regions of the web page. In one embodiment, the manipulation comprises presenting the image of the page in accordance with a selected mathematical transform.
US09348937B2 Fisheye viewer and wiggly icon
Users scanning listings of items are able to easily and quickly read each item in a list without actually leaving the list, as would be the case when following a regular hypertext link. The contents of each link are displayed in a separate, smaller viewing window that maintains a stable position and is of a size appropriate for viewing both the contents of the window and the list of items at the same time. The viewing window is activated via selection of an icon associated with an item in the list (each item preferably has at least one associated icon). This icon also is used to navigate the content of each link.
US09348930B2 Web-based application or system for managing and coordinating review-enabled content
A network based review management system and method for managing a plurality of enrolled websites and a plurality of review content items includes a network, a first database of enrolled websites connected to the network, and a second database of review content items connected to the network. Each of the enrolled websites of the first database is associated with one or more review content items of the second database. When one of the enrolled websites is accessed over the network, the one or more review content items from the second database are delivered over the network to the accessed one of the enrolled websites for viewing thereof and/or one or more review content items is added over the network to the second database through the accessed one of the enrolled websites.
US09348929B2 Mobile mapping of quick response (QR) codes to web resources
A method includes receiving a target Uniform Resource Locator (URL), receiving a scan of a Quick Response (QR) code, where the QR code includes an alias URL, and mapping the alias URL encoded on the QR code to the target URL.
US09348927B2 Systems and methods for detecting, identifying and categorizing intermediate nodes
A system and method for obtaining node information from a variety of potential sources and storing the information in a logical repository, and a system and method for identifying and categorizing Intermediate Nodes using a combination of requesting and responding node information.
US09348925B2 Locally significant search queries
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for servicing search queries. In one aspect, a method includes determining that a general search query is a locally significant query for a user location that is associated with the user general search query. In turn, a local search query is generated using the general search query and a location phrase representing the user location. A set of set of general search results responsive to the general search query and a set of local search results responsive to the local search query are requested. A final set of search results responsive to the search query are selected. The final set of search results include at least one search result that is included in the set of local search results, and is not included in a pre-specified quantity of highest ranking search results from the set of general search results. Data that cause presentation of the final set of search results are provided.
US09348918B2 Searching content in distributed computing networks
A distributed search system includes a central server having an index of data, wherein the index of data is also available on a plurality of computing devices in a distributed computing network, the plurality of computing devices being distinct from the central server, each the computing device having a cache in which the computing device automatically stores data generated during the course of the computing device's access to another computing network distinct from the distributed computing network.
US09348911B2 Method for searching from a plurality of data sources
A method of searching for information on a computer information network comprises providing a searchbase comprising a plurality of descriptive packets, wherein each packet is associated with one of a plurality of information sources published on a computer information network and includes a query language and template usable therewith, a sending protocol usable therewith and a receiving protocol usable therewith. A search request is received over the computer information network from a user for retrieving information from the plurality of information sources in accordance with given search criteria. The search request is transformed into an inquiry capable of searching the searchbase and the searchbase is searched with the inquiry to identify any of the plurality of information sources which potentially meet the given search criteria. The search request is transformed into queries for the identified information sources, wherein each query is in accordance with the query language and query template in the descriptive packet for the corresponding information source and the queries are sent over the computer information network to the identified information sources in accordance with the sending protocol in the descriptive packet for the corresponding information source. Information is received over the computer information network from the identified information sources in response to the queries in accordance with the receiving protocol in the descriptive packet for the corresponding information source.
US09348908B2 Multimodal portable communication interface for accessing video content
A portable communication device has a touch screen display that receives tactile input and a microphone that receives audio input. The portable communication device initiates a query for media based at least in part on tactile input and audio input. The touch screen display is a multi-touch screen. The portable communication device sends an initiated query and receives a text response indicative of a speech to text conversion of the query. The portable communication device then displays video in response to tactile input and audio input.
US09348897B2 Method and system for providing scheduling suggestions
A system, computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and computer-implemented method for providing scheduling suggestions to a user. A collection of intention objects is accessed. Each of the intention objects is a data structure comprising a plurality of activity attributes of an intention of a user to undertake an activity. Calendar data from a calendar of the user is accessed and an available time slot on the calendar is determined. In response to determining the available time slot, a suggested intention object is selected from the collection of intention objects based on a plurality of activity attributes of the suggested intention object. A scheduling suggestion is then presented to the user. The scheduling suggestion may include a suggestion to schedule an activity associated with the suggested intention object in the available time slot.
US09348896B2 Dynamic network analytics system
Embodiments of the invention is directed to a dynamic network analytics system capable of receiving and analyzing queries sent in data messages from data requesters. The queries contain a request from the data requester as to a risk level associated with an interaction conducted by a user. The dynamic network analytics system can determine an optimized process for determining the risk level of the interaction, based on an analysis of past interactions by the user and past interactions by users similar to the user. The dynamic network analytics system can retrieve data from internal and external data sources to generate a response to the query. The dynamic network analytics system conducts the optimized process and uses the retrieved data to generate risk assessments and risk scores in response to the query from the data requester.
US09348887B2 Decision tree insight discovery
Techniques for presenting insight into classification trees may include performing a grouping analysis to group leaf nodes of a classification tree into a significant group and an insignificant group, performing influential target category analysis to identify one or more influential target categories for the leaf nodes of the classification tree in the significant group, and presenting one or more insights into the classification tree based on the grouping analysis and the influential target category analysis. Techniques for presenting insight into regression trees may include performing a grouping analysis to group leaf nodes of a regression tree into a high group and a low group, performing unusual node detection analysis to detect one or more outlier nodes in the high group and in the low group, and presenting one or more insights into the regression tree based on the grouping analysis and the unusual node detection analysis.
US09348877B2 Methods, systems, and data structures for performing searches on three dimensional objects
Techniques are provided for searching on three dimensional (3D) objects across large, distributed repositories of 3D models. 3D shapes are created for input to a search system; optionally user-defined similarity criterion is used, and search results are interactively navigated and feedback received for modifying the accuracy of the search results. Search input can also be given by picking 3D models from a cluster map or by providing the orthographic views for the 3D model. Feedback can be given by a searcher as to which models are similar and which are not. Various techniques adjust the search results according to the feedback given by the searcher and present the new search results to the searcher.
US09348876B1 Organizing analytically relevant information contextually for efficient presentation
Processing information relevant analytically to a user's endeavor is described. Data, gathered in relation to the analytically relevant information, is organized into a first result that is sensitive to an endeavor-related context. A synoptic representation of the contextually sensitive first result is presented, with which the user may interact. The first synoptic representation is expanded into a second result, which has a graphical or numerical data attribute. The expansion includes determining a format that best, or most efficiently, represents the second result in relation to the context sensitivity and the graphical or numerical data attribute. A representation of the second result is presented according to the determined best or more efficient format. The first results second results presentations are linkable to underlying data sets that correspond to the organized data for access and presentation upon the user's request.
US09348871B2 Method and system for assessing relevant properties of work contexts for use by information services
An information retrieval system for automatically retrieving information related to the context of an active task being manipulated by a user. The system observes the operation of the active task and user interactions, and utilizes predetermined criteria to generate context representation of the active task that are relevant to the context of the active task. The information retrieval system then processes the context representation to generate queries or search terms for conducting an information search. The information retrieval system determines the relevance of a word to the context by utilizing an adaptive weighting system. The information retrieval system assigns varying weights to different attributes of a word and calculates an accumulated weight of the word by accumulating all weights assigned to the word. The attributes may include word size, style, location of the word, etc. The system then ranks the importance of words based on their respective accumulated weight, and chooses words that rank within a predetermined number from the top to form search terms to conduct an information search using various data sources.
US09348866B2 Database processing method, database processing system and database server
It is provided a database processing method including: a first step of receiving a query request instructing to output the requested data as query results in a designated order; a second step of generating a query execution plan including an order of accessing tables for storing the data based on the received query request; a third step of acquiring the data requested based on the query request from the database based on the generated query execution plan; a fourth step of generating intermediate results including the acquired data; a fifth step of sorting the generated intermediate results in the designated order; a sixth step of judging, for each of the intermediate results, whether an order of the sorted intermediate results has been determined; and a seventh step of outputting the intermediate results whose order has been determined as the query results in order from a head thereof.
US09348863B1 Attribute category enhanced search
Performing a user initiated search query is disclosed and comprises receiving user input comprising description details of at least one desired object, retrieving a plurality of objects from a database sharing one or more of the description details of the user input, constructing a tree data structure based on the description details of the plurality of objects, the tree data structure comprising one or more attributes related to each of the plurality of objects retrieved, displaying visual images associated with the retrieved plurality of objects, the visual images matching at least one of the attributes related to the plurality of objects, and receiving a user selection of one or more of the visual images.
US09348862B2 Systems and methods for enhancing user data derived from digital communications
A computer-implemented method for enhancing and utilizing user data derived from digital interactions includes receiving a submission generated by input into a client side application interface by a first user on a first computing device, and determining, based on attributes of the submission, that the submission is in response to an issue-specific communication advertising information concerning a first issue, the issue-specific communication indicating a request for a financial transaction, and that that the financial transaction related to the issue-specific communication is requested. The method includes generating a first dataset associated with the first user, searching one or more additional datasets for additional data to be associated with data elements of the first dataset, associating the additional data from the one or more additional datasets with the first user, and generating a data model corresponding to the first user.
US09348861B2 Capturing change data of deferred updates
The capturing of change data of deferred updates begins with the receipt of an update request call for one or more changes to a database. A processing of the update request call is deferred until a commit point is issued, where call information associated with the update request call is determined, and the call information is stored and associated with the update request call. During a processing of the commit point, data information for the one or more changes to the database is determined. The data information for the one or more changes is combined with the stored call information associated with the update request call.
US09348860B2 Method for encoding a mesh model, encoded mesh model and method for decoding a mesh model
Many 3D mesh models have a large number of small connected components that are repeated in various positions, scales and orientations. The respective positions are defined by the position of at least one reference point per component. For an enhanced encoding of the positions of the respective reference points, a given space is divided into segments and the number of points lying in each particular segment is determined. When a cell with at least n points is subdivided into child cells, an indication is added indicating if all points of a parent are in only one child cell. If so, the index of the only non-empty child node is encoded, while otherwise the number of points in one of the two child cells is decremented and encoded. The invention avoids non-effective subdivisions of a cell, and therefore improves the compression efficiency.
US09348854B1 Systems and methods for automated taxonomy migration in an XBRL document
An XBRL taxonomy migration system includes: a processor having a memory on which a program executable by the processor is stored for performing a method of XBRL taxonomy migration; an XBRL taxonomy module including a first version of an XBRL taxonomy having XBRL concepts and a second version of the XBRL taxonomy having related XBRL concepts; and an automated taxonomy migration module that facilitates migrating XBRL concepts of an XBRL document having XBRL tags by replacing XBRL concepts of the first version of the XBRL taxonomy with XBRL concepts of the second version of the XBRL taxonomy.
US09348848B2 Methods and apparatus for identifying tables in digital files
A method for identifying a table in a digital file includes extracting lines from a layout of the digital file, wherein the lines comprise horizontal lines and vertical lines. The method also includes identifying intersected line groups, wherein each intersected line group comprises a horizontal line of the extracted horizontal lines and a vertical line of the extracted vertical lines, the horizontal line and the vertical line intersecting with each other. The method further includes determining whether the number of intersected lines in each intersected line group is larger than a first threshold. If yes, the method further includes identifying an area in which the intersected line groups are located as a table area. If no, the method further includes performing vertical projection on characters in the area, and identifying the area as a table area based on results of the vertical projection.
US09348844B2 System and method for normalization and codification of colors for dynamic analysis
A system and method for normalizing and codifying divergent color systems into a single universal color system. The middleware engine receives a data feed comprising a plurality of color swatches or images from one or more merchant system and normalizes the data feed into a common format. The dominant processor extracts the product images from the normalized data, segments each product image into segments, determines a dominant color for each segment, and determines the dominant product color for each product image based on prevalence of the dominant product color in each segment. The matched color processor converts the determined dominant product color into a digital value of the universal color system based on the color component intensity values.
US09348842B2 Virtualized data storage system optimizations
Virtual storage arrays consolidate branch data storage at data centers connected via wide area networks. Virtual storage arrays appear to storage clients as local data storage; however, virtual storage arrays actually store data at the data center. Virtual storage arrays overcome bandwidth and latency limitations of the wide area network by predicting and prefetching storage blocks, which are then cached at the branch location. Virtual storage arrays leverage an understanding of the semantics and structure of high-level data structures associated with storage blocks to predict which storage blocks are likely to be requested by a storage client. Virtual storage arrays may use proximity-based, heuristic-based, and access time-based prefetching to predict high-level data structure entities that are likely to be accessed by the storage client. Virtual storage arrays then identify and prefetch storage blocks corresponding with the predicted high-level data structure entities.
US09348835B2 Stopping functions for grouping and differentiating files based on content
Methods and apparatus teach a digital spectrum of a data file. The digital spectrum is used to map a file's position in multi-dimensional space. This position relative to another file's position reveals closest neighbors. Certain of the closest neighbors are grouped together, while others are differentiated. Grouping ceases upon application of a stopping function so that rightly sized, optimum numbers of file groups are obtained. Embodiments of stopping functions relate to curve types in a mapping of numbers of groups per sequential rounds of grouping, recognizing whether groups have overlapping file members or not, and/or determining whether groups meet predetermined numbers of members, to name a few. Properly grouped files can then be further acted upon.
US09348833B2 Consolidation for updated/deleted records in old fragments
A plurality of data records of a data set can be stored in a plurality of main part fragments, at least one of which is an old fragment stored on-disk. A number of one or more data records in the old fragment that have been marked for deletion can be determined to be greater than a threshold number, and the old fragment can be loaded into main system memory. A merge of the old fragment can be performed to remove the one or more data records marked for deletion.
US09348828B1 System and method of enhanced backup and recovery configuration
This disclosure relates to a method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for backing up data. In some embodiments, this includes a backup server locating one or more instances of data associated with a list of identifiers, wherein each instance of data comprises one or more target volumes and associated journal volume; the enablement of replication; and replication.
US09348817B2 Automatic generation of question-answer pairs from conversational text
A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for identifying question-answer pair associations within a dialog. Natural language processing (NLP) is used to process a target dialog to identify questions and answers within the dialog. The relative positions of the identified questions and answers in the dialog are determined and then correlated to one another to generate question-answer pair associations. Sub-questions and their associated main questions are identified within the dialog, followed by the elimination of redundant question-answer pairs. Local cues contained in the dialog are then used in scoring and filtering processes to differentiate fact-based questions and answers from those that are opinionated.
US09348814B2 System and method for meaning driven process and information management to improve efficiency, quality of work and overall customer satisfaction
A customer service system for providing enhanced guidance and resources to service agents and providing an enhance ability to select service agents that are best suited to address specific customers and specific customer needs, and methods for manufacturing and using same. The customer service system includes a system server with a semantic engine configured to analyze customer contact events and customize service agent interfaces based on determined customer needs.
US09348811B2 Obtaining data from electronic documents
Techniques for obtaining information from an electronic document include accessing a set of related electronic documents; identifying a product page associated with the set of related electronic documents using a page recognition model, the product page comprising a plurality of terms; filtering the plurality of terms into a first set of terms and a second set of terms, the first set of terms and the second set of terms including different terms of the plurality of terms, each term in the first set of terms identified as potentially being associated with a product name, and each term in the second set of terms identified as not being associated with a product name; and identifying each term in the first set of terms as being associated with a product name or not being associated with a product name with a name recognition model.
US09348810B2 Model learning method
A present method includes first updating, based on a weight of each training sample (TS), a first score for each of features, which is a cue when extracting a correct structure from each TS, to calculate a model defined by first scores; performing, for each TS, a processing including identifying a maximum score among second scores, each of which is assigned, by the model, to either of candidate structures other than the correct structure among candidate structures derived from the TS; and first calculating a difference between the identified maximum score and a second score assigned by the model to the correct structure; and second calculating a confidence degree based on an upper limit value of errors, which is defined by the differences; second updating the weight of each TS based on the confidence degree and the differences; and repeating the first updating, performing, second calculating and second updating.
US09348799B2 Forming a master page for an electronic document
Embodiments of methods, apparatuses, systems and/or devices for forming a master page for an electronic document are disclosed.
US09348795B1 Programmable device using fixed and configurable logic to implement floating-point rounding
A configurable specialized processing block includes a first floating-point arithmetic operator stage, a second floating-point arithmetic operator stage, and configurable interconnect within the configurable specialized processing block for routing signals into and out of each of the first and second floating-point arithmetic operator stages. In some embodiments, the configurable interconnect may be configurable to route a plurality of block inputs to inputs of the first floating-point arithmetic operator stage, at least one of the block inputs to an input of the second floating-point arithmetic operator stage, output of the first floating-point arithmetic operator stage to an input of the second floating-point arithmetic operator stage, at least one of the block inputs to a direct-connect output to another such block, output of the first floating-point arithmetic operator stage to the direct-connect output, and a direct-connect input from another such block to an input of the second floating-point arithmetic operator stage.
US09348790B2 Method for efficient use of content stored in a cache memory of a mobile device
A method for cache management of a mobile device communicatively connected to a network component via a network is provided. The method comprises receiving by the network component a request from the mobile device for a data item, the request accompanied by a unique identifier associated thereto, the data item residing in the cache; fetching the data item from at least a server communicatively connected to the network component; generating a unique identifier respective of the fetched data item; and comparing the generated unique identifier and the received unique identifier to determine whether the data item in the cache is the same as the data item fetched from the at least a server.
US09348786B2 Semiconductor memory device with plural memory die and controller die
A semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory die and a controller die. The controller die is connected to an internal control bus. The controller die is configured to provide to a selected one of the memory die an internal read command responsive to an external read command. The selected memory die is configured to provide read data to the controller in response to the internal read command; wherein latency between receipt by the controller die of the external read command and receipt of the read data from the selected memory die differs for at least two of the memory die when selected as the selected memory die.
US09348785B2 Flexible and expandable memory architectures
Memory system architectures, memory modules, processing systems and methods are disclosed. In various embodiments, a memory system architecture includes a source configured to communicate signals to a memory device. At least one memory cube may coupled to the source by a communications link having more than one communications path. The memory cube may include a memory device operably coupled to a routing switch that selectively communicates the signals between the source and the memory device.
US09348780B2 Circuit and methods to use an audio interface to program a device within an audio stream
Method and apparatus for controlling a digitized analog audio device from a control circuit communicating with the digitized analog audio device with a serial digital analog audio protocol on a serial communication medium multiplexes command data words within digitized analog audio data frames. The digitized analog audio device extracts the command data words from the digitized analog audio data frames. The command data word includes a keyword packet, a command packet, an optional address packet, and an optional data packet. The keyword packet, a command packet, an optional address packet, and an optional data packet are each inserted into a separate number of truncated digitized analog audio data frames for iterative and successive transmission. The iterative transmission of the packets of the command word decreases the likelihood that digitized analog audio frames would contain packets of the command word.
US09348778B2 Transactional memory that performs an ALUT 32-bit lookup operation
A transactional memory (TM) receives a lookup command across a bus from a processor. The command includes a memory address, a starting bit position, and a mask size. In response to the command, the TM pulls an input value (IV). The memory address is used to read a word containing multiple result values (RVs) and multiple key values from memory. Each key value indicates a single RV to be output by the TM. A selecting circuit within the TM uses the starting bit position and mask size to select a portion of the IV. The portion of the IV is a key selector value. A key value is selected based upon the key selector value. A RV is selected based upon the key value. The key value is selected by a key selection circuit. The RV is selected by a result value selection circuit.
US09348775B2 Out-of-order execution of bus transactions
A slave-interface unit for use with a system-on-a-chip bus (such as an AXI bus) executes received transactions out-of-order while accounting for groups of in-order transactions.
US09348771B1 Cloud-based instrument driver system
A cloud-based instrument driver system enables a user device to interact with one or more instruments through a remotely located driver cloud. The driver cloud may store drivers and ancillary software. The user device may be connected to each instrument either directly or indirectly, for example, over one or more computer networks, and may be connected to and communicate directly with the driver cloud over the computer network. However, the driver cloud and the instrument may not be in direct communication. The user device relays commands and responses to and from the instrument to the driver cloud for translation into a format suitable for processing by the user device. Utilization of the driver cloud obviates the need to obtain, install and maintain any drivers and/or ancillary software on the user device in order to enable the device to interact with the instrument.
US09348761B1 Weighted-value consistent hashing for balancing device wear
Described are techniques that select a physical storage device for storing data. Device weights for physical storage devices are determined in accordance with factor(s) including a storage capacity each physical storage device and an amount of remaining write capacity of each physical storage device representing an amount of remaining writes for an expected lifetime of each physical storage device. A replica set is determined for each physical storage device in accordance with a device weight. Hash value sets are determined for the physical storage devices using a hash function. A first hash value for a first data item is determined using the hash function. The first hash value is mapped to a second hash value included in one of hash value sets associated with a corresponding one of the physical storage devices. The corresponding one of the physical storage devices is selected to store the first data item.
US09348753B2 Controlling prefetch aggressiveness based on thrash events
A method and apparatus for controlling the aggressiveness of a prefetcher based on thrash events is presented. An aggressiveness of a prefetcher for a cache is controlled based upon a number of thrashed cache lines that are replaced by a prefetched cache line and subsequently written back into the cache before the prefetched cache line has been accessed.
US09348752B1 Cached data replication for cache recovery
Processes are disclosed for embodiments of a caching system to utilize a snapshot file or other limited size data structure to store a portion of the data stored in a cache. The snapshot file can be stored on persistent or otherwise non-transitory storage so that, even in case of a restart, crash or power loss event, the data stored in the snapshot file persists and can be used by the caching system after starting up. The snapshot file can then be used to restore at least some data into the cache in cases where the cached data in the cache is lost. For example, in cases of a cold-start or restart, the caching system can load data from the snapshot file into the empty cache. This can increase the number of cache hits since the cache is repopulated with useful data at startup.
US09348748B2 Heal leveling
Technology is described that increases endurance of memory devices through heal leveling. Heal leveling is a lightweight solution to distribute healing cycles among memory blocks. Approaches described herein can accomplish heal leveling without introducing a large amount of overhead. Heal leveling significantly improves the access performance and the effective lifetime of memory blocks. By more evenly distributing the heal count it may not be necessary to directly apply wear leveling based on access counts of each block because each block will be more evenly accessed in the long run. Heal leveling may be performed by moving data that is seldom or never modified after creation, such as read-only files, to blocks having suffered the greatest number, or a high number, of healing cycles.
US09348747B2 Solid state memory command queue in hybrid device
Systems and methods are disclosed for improving performance in of storage device latency. In an embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a controller configured to receive a first data access command at a device including a nonvolatile solid state memory and a disc memory, and when the first data access command is directed to the nonvolatile solid state memory, store the first data access command to a first command queue for the nonvolatile solid state memory. In another embodiment, a method may comprise receiving, at a data storage device, a first data access command, storing the first data access command in a first command queue, determining whether the data access command is directed to a Flash memory or a disc memory, and storing the first data access command in a second command queue when the first data access command is directed to the Flash memory.
US09348743B2 Inter-set wear-leveling for caches with limited write endurance
A cache controller includes a first register that updates after every memory location swap operation on a number of cache sets in a cache memory and resets every N−1 memory location swap operations. N is a number of the cache sets in the cache memory. The memory controller also has a second register that updates after every N−1 memory location swap operations, and resets every (N2−N) memory location swap operations. The first and second registers track a relationship between logical locations and physical locations of the cache sets.
US09348741B1 Systems and methods for handling write data access requests in data storage devices
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for optimizing handling of data access requests. In one embodiment, a data storage device including non-volatile memory and magnetic media includes a controller that defers writing data to the magnetic media by first writing to the non-volatile memory and reporting to the host a write complete status. However, in cases where the non-volatile memory includes Multi-Level Cell (MLC) memory, if the write data is to be written to an upper page of an MLC cell, a backup power source such as a capacitor may be needed to avoid the paired page corruption problem. Embodiments of the invention avoid the problem without the use of a backup power source by writing deferred write data to a portion of the MLC memory that is operating in Single-Level Cell (SLC) mode, i.e., only the lower pages of the memory cells are written.
US09348740B2 Memory access controller, multi-core processor system, memory access control method, and computer product
A memory access controller includes a semiconductor circuit configured to classify into a first group of cores having made an exclusive access request to shared memory and a second group of cores not having made an exclusive access request to the shared memory, multiple cores capable of accessing the shared memory; detect a core having completed the exclusive access among the first group of cores; and send to a core among the first group of cores and standing by for the exclusive access, a notification of release from a standby state, when detecting a core having completed the exclusive access.
US09348737B2 Query-based generation of data records
A method and apparatus for generating at least one data record in respect to a database query comprising a fetch command. A database may be updated according to the at least one data record. In an exemplary embodiment, a database management system may be tested by performing the database query against the database. In another exemplary embodiment, a data record that satisfies the database query is generated in order to increase coverage when testing a database management system.
US09348733B1 Method and system for coverage determination
A method, system and non-transitory computer readable storage medium for coverage determination of DUT tests. The method may include obtaining via an input device a selection of a subset of interest of coverage reports included in one or a plurality of saved merged coverage reports. The method may further include using a processing unit, finding a saved merged coverage report of said one or a plurality of saved merged coverage reports that has the smallest number of unwanted coverage reports. The method may also include using the found saved merged coverage report to obtain a merged coverage report that corresponds to the subset and merging the merged coverage report with the newly gathered coverage reports into a new merged coverage report.
US09348729B2 Secured management of traces in a mail processing device
Method for activation and storing traces generated by a mail processing device, comprising the following steps: connection of a storage apparatus on the mail processing device, activation of a traces generation module in the mail processing, temporary storage of selected traces in a circular buffer of the mail processing device, continuous transfer of the selected traces from the circular buffer to the storage apparatus, and when the traces generation is completed, deactivation of the traces generation module in the mail processing device.
US09348723B2 Method, system, and computer program product
A method for retrieving trace data from a target device is proposed. The target device comprises a program memory, a processor, a trace unit, and a trace buffer. The processor is operable to retrieve instructions from the program memory and to execute them. The trace buffer may contain trace data generated by the trace unit in response to the processor retrieving or executing instructions from the program memory. One or more patch instructions are written to the program memory. The processor executes said one or more patch instructions. The target device, in response to the processor executing said one or more patch instructions, performs a data transfer operation for copying the trace data from the trace buffer to a second memory outside the target device.
US09348710B2 Proactive failure recovery model for distributed computing using a checkpoint frequency determined by a MTBF threshold
This disclosure generally describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer-program products, and computer systems, for providing a proactive failure recovery model for distributed computing. One computer-implemented method includes building a virtual tree-like computing structure of a plurality of computing nodes, for each computing node of the virtual tree-like computing structure, performing, by a hardware processor, a node failure prediction model to calculate a mean time between failure (MTBF) associated with the computing node, determining whether to perform a checkpoint of the computing node based on a comparison between the calculated MTBF and a maximum and minimum threshold, migrating a process from the computing node to a different computing node acting as a recovery node, and resuming execution of the process on the different computing node.
US09348700B2 Rollback counters for step records of a database
A rollback record may be created for each step identifier (ID). The rollback record indicates how many times the step record identified by the step ID has been rolled back during operation of the database. The rollback record may be stored in a periodic save record (PSR), separate from or stored in an audit trail containing the step records. By processing the rollback records in the periodic save record during a recovery, a database may identify a time on an audit trail for initiating a recovery prior to the last resume point for a step without going back in the audit trail to a time before the initial start of the step.
US09348689B2 Backup-instructing broadcast to network devices responsive to detection of failure risk
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for detecting failure-risk events at devices and facilitating local and/or remote data back-up and/or device operations. In some instances, a device characterizes a stimulus sensed at the device or an operation of a component of the device. A determination is made that a failure-risk condition is satisfied based on the characterization. In response to determining that the failure-risk condition is satisfied, the device initiates a data backing up of data in a non-volatile reserved memory or facilitates transmission of an alert communication from the device to another device.
US09348687B2 Determining a number of unique incidents in a plurality of incidents for incident processing in a distributed processing system
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for determining a number of unique incidents in a plurality of incidents for incident processing in a distributed processing system are provided. Embodiments include an incident analyzer identifying within the plurality of incidents, attribute combination entries of location identifications and incident types and analyzing each location identification in each attribute combination entry according to a sequence of the attribute combination entries including creating attribute pairs. The incident analyzer is also configured to count the attribute pairs. The number of attribute pairs is the number of unique incidents in the plurality of incidents.
US09348683B2 In-vehicle electronic control device
An in-vehicle electronic control device for diagnosing the details of an abnormality of a microcomputer appropriately is provided. A monitoring function for detecting a malfunction by monitoring input/output of a main function of a hardware part and a monitoring function for detecting an abnormality by monitoring the calculating result of a main function in a software part are provided in a microcomputer. The main function to be monitored is implemented with a different structure than the malfunction/abnormality monitoring function. Furthermore, a malfunction processing circuit for monitoring an abnormality of the microcomputer is provided outside the microcomputer.
US09348681B2 Apparatus and method for detecting fault of processor
An apparatus and method for detecting the fault of a processor are disclosed. The apparatus includes a fetch fault control unit, a decoding fault control unit, and an execution fault control unit. The fetch fault control unit detects the fault of each of fetch units of a plurality of processor cores connected to memory. The decoding fault control unit detects the fault of each of decoding units of the plurality of processor cores connected to the memory. The execution fault control unit detects the fault of each of execution units of the plurality of processor cores connected to the memory, executes the same instruction in the plurality of processor cores, determines a processor core where a fault has occurred, and provides notification of the determined processor to the fetch fault control unit and the decoding fault control unit.
US09348673B2 Information processing device and control method of sharing image data to plural applications
An information processing device of this disclosure has: a data sharing unit capable of sharing, the sharing being a process of causing an application, selected as data output destination from a plurality of applications, to process data output from a data output source application; a display unit; an operation unit; and a processor that, when executing instructions, performs: acquiring image data; displaying identification images for identifying the plurality of applications on the display unit; and receiving an input designating N identification images of the plurality of identification images displayed on the display unit from the operation unit, N being natural number greater than 1; and causing the data sharing unit to perform sharing the acquired image data to each of N data output destination application, each of N data output destination application respectively corresponding to each of the N identification images.
US09348672B1 Singleton coordination in an actor-based system
Techniques for singleton coordination in an actor-based system are described herein. In some examples, one or more actors within an actor based system may be designated as singleton actors. Each singleton actor is permitted to have only a single associated instance in the actor-based system. In some cases, when multiple executing instances (i.e., duplicates) of a singleton actor are detected, the duplicates may be resolved, for example, such that no more than a single instance of the singleton actor is retained. In some examples, one or more singleton coordinators may be responsible for selecting one or more hubs on which to generate new or re-generated singletons, monitoring existing singletons to ensure that they continue to execute, and re-generating existing singletons after termination.
US09348665B2 Mapping messages between web services
Techniques for mapping of messages includes receiving, from a first web service, a message comprising one or more operations in a first format; identifying a mapping interface that is based on the first web service, the mapping interface comprising one or more mappings for each of the operations of the message; identifying a second web service that is associated with the identified mapping interface; mapping the message to the second web service such that the one or more operations are in a second format associated with the second web service; and assigning a logical port connection to the second web service.
US09348660B2 Apparatus and method for serializing process instance access to information stored redundantly in at least two datastores
Method and system for serializing access to datasets, suitable for use in a workflow management system which executes multiple business processes, wherein a single process instance is enabled to invoke web services which may update datasets of different storages holding redundant information. Business Process Execution Language for Web Services allows defining business processes that make use of web services and business processes that externalize their functionality as web services. As the business process has no knowledge about data that is accessed by invoked web services, concurrent process instances may update the same pieces of information within a database. Unless access to the data is carried out as a transaction, parallel execution of the process instances may cause data inconsistencies, which may be avoided by serializing the execution of process instances based on correlation information associated with messages consumed by the process instances.
US09348656B2 Apparatus and method for managing power among a plurality of processors sharing a thermal platform
A method and apparatus includes a multi-processor apparatus including a plurality of integrated circuit processors having a shared thermal platform. Each processor has at least one subsystem operable at a plurality of different power settings, at least one internal thermal parameter detector providing power data related to the processor, and a power management unit. The method and apparatus illustratively shares power data from the at least one internal thermal parameter detector of each processor between the power management units of the plurality of processors; compares the shared power data from the plurality of processors to a thermal design power limit for the shared thermal platform; and controls a power setting of the at least one subsystem of the plurality of processors within the shared thermal platform based on the comparison of the shared power data to the thermal design power limit for the shared thermal platform.
US09348655B1 Migrating a VM in response to an access attempt by the VM to a shared memory page that has been migrated
A hypervisor of a source host receives a request to migrate a group of virtual machines from the source host to a destination host. The hypervisor of the source host determines that a first virtual machine being migrated to the destination host shares a memory space on the source host with a second virtual machine on the source host. Upon receiving a request from the second virtual machine on the source host to access a first memory page of the shared memory space on the source host that has been migrated to the destination host, the hypervisor of the source host initiates migration of the second virtual machine to the destination host.
US09348652B2 Multi-tenant-cloud-aggregation and application-support system
The present application is directed to a distributed system that provides multi-cloud aggregation and that includes a cloud-connector server, cloud-connector nodes, and one or more service-provider nodes that cooperate to provide services that are distributed across multiple clouds. A service-provider node obtains tenant-associated information from a virtual data center in which the service-provider node is installed and provides the tenant-associated information to the cloud-connector server.
US09348646B1 Reboot-initiated virtual machine instance migration
A method for migrating a virtual machine instance within a service provider environment may include determining to migrate an instance running on a source server computer, the source server computer associated with a plurality of hardware resource settings. A target server computer may be identified based at least in part on the plurality of hardware resource settings. A local data volume of the target server computer may be synchronized with a local data volume of the source server computer. A notification may be sent to the user, indicating migration of the instance can be initiated. Upon receiving a reboot request, disconnecting at least one network interface attached to the instance. The instance may be terminated from running on the source server computer, and may be launched on the target server computer using the synchronized local data volume and instance state data.
US09348642B2 Transaction begin/end instructions
A TRANSACTION BEGIN instruction and a TRANSACTION END instruction are provided. The TRANSACTION BEGIN instruction causes either a constrained or nonconstrained transaction to be initiated, depending on a field of the instruction. A constrained transaction has one or more restrictions associated therewith, while a nonconstrained transaction is not limited in the manner of a constrained transaction. The TRANSACTION END instruction ends the transaction started by the TRANSACTION BEGIN instruction.
US09348640B2 Transaction processing system, method and program
A system and method of implementing distributed transactions on a KVS having a simple configuration without unnecessarily causing rollbacks. The method includes providing a management map including a global transaction ID as a key and {a state of global transaction, a waiting global transaction ID list} as a value, starting a management local transaction on one of the plurality of servers, inserting a key-value pair including an ID of the global transaction to be processed as a key and {a state “working”, null} as a value into the management map in the management local transaction, and updating a value having the ID of the global transaction to be processed as a key to {a state “waiting”, a waiting global transaction ID list for the global transaction to be processed} on the management map in the management local transaction and committing the management local transaction.
US09348639B2 J2EE application versioning strategy
The present invention is a method, system, and computer program product enabling multiple versions/releases of a J2EE application to be served to clients from a single application server. One or more JNDI proxies are situated between each client and the application server. The JNDI proxies allow a same public “service name” to be utilized by different clients to access different programs/services on the application server. The JNDI proxies do this by translating the service name into a non-public “alias name” on behalf of the client. The alias name is a private name that the service provider who administers the application server understands and uses to locate the specific version of programs/services that the clients need.
US09348634B2 Fast-booting application image using variation points in application source code
Application boot images are generated for later instantiation of computer system images. A computer system partially executes executable code of an application source. A snapshot of the computer system is taken and the snapshot is used to build a repository of application boot images that can be accessed for computer system instantiation.
US09348608B2 System and method for registering application and application transforms on a radiofrequency digitization and collection device
An RF digitization and collection system (RFDCS) and methods for implementing the RF digitization and collection system to manage an application storage and retrieval space (App Space), wherein the App Space includes apps that may perform various offline and/or real-time transforms of RF signals received, stored, or played back on the RFDCS. Also, in the various embodiments, the RFDCS may govern the system resources available to these apps while ensuring that the RFDCS's core system functions are not impacted by the execution of one or more of these apps in the App Space. Thus, the RFDCS may enable users to utilize real-time signal processing by running various specialized apps without compromising the RFDCS's core system function, thereby promoting dynamic “on-the-fly” transformation of raw RF signals without compromising the user's overall experience.
US09348604B2 System and method for inventory collection optimization by selective binding of the pre-boot drivers
A solution to optimize system boot-up time by selectively collecting device inventory for only the devices that have configuration changes and for skipping for all other devices. More specifically, the solution includes a selective driver binding operation which in certain embodiments executes within an inventory application. After the selective driver binding operation gathers data for a certain device, the selective driver binding operation gathers data for that certain device again only when data relating to the particular device has changed. Instead of binding to every device, the selective driver binding operation selectively binds only to devices with changes, thus executing system management code only for specific devices and saving boot time.
US09348597B2 Device and method for bypassing a first program code portion with a replacement program code portion
A device comprises a processor configured to execute a sequence of program instructions, a first storage configured to store a first memory address, a second storage configured to store a second memory address, a program counter configured to determine a memory address of program instructions to be executed, and a program counter manipulator configured to set the program counter to a value corresponding to a content of the second storage in response to the program counter reaching a value corresponding to a content of the first storage.
US09348595B1 Run-time code parallelization with continuous monitoring of repetitive instruction sequences
A method includes, in a processor that executes instructions of program code, monitoring instructions of a repetitive sequence of the instructions that traverses a flow-control trace so as to construct a specification of register access by the monitored instructions. Based on the specification, multiple hardware threads are invoked to execute respective segments of the repetitive instruction sequence at least partially in parallel. Monitoring of the instructions continues in at least one of the segments during execution.
US09348590B1 Digital signal processor prefetch buffer and method
A prefetch buffer and prefetch method. In one embodiment, the prefetch buffer has a main buffer embodied as a direct-mapped cache, and the prefetch buffer includes: (1) an alias buffer associated with the main buffer and (2) a prefetch controller associated with the main buffer and the alias buffer and operable to cause the alias buffer to store potentially aliasing cachelines of a loop body instead of the main buffer.
US09348589B2 Enhanced predicate registers having predicates corresponding to element widths
Systems, apparatuses and methods for utilizing enhanced predicate registers which specify the element width and which elements are to be processed. The predicate size is dynamic, depending on the contents of the enhanced predicate register used for an instruction rather than being a static quality of a specific instruction. Specifying the element size in the enhanced predicate registers results in fewer instructions in an instruction set.
US09348585B2 System and method for estimating impact of software updates
A system and method of estimating impact of software updates includes obtaining usage measures for an instance of a software application, analyzing the software update of the software application by comparing base code for the software application to updated code for the software application, identifying one or more lines of interest from the base code based on the comparing, and aggregating the usage measures for the instance associated with the lines of interest to determine an impact factor. The base code corresponds to source code for the instance. The updated code corresponds to source code for the software application after the software update is applied to the base code. In some examples, the system and method further include normalizing the impact factor based on a length of time used to collect the usage measures, a number of lines of code in the base code, and a number of lines of code in the updated code.
US09348584B1 Hierarchical, self-describing function objects
A self-describing function object may be dynamically created based on a set of user provided parameters. In an implementation, a device may receive a request to create the function object based on one or more parameters and determine a number of ordered and hierarchical operations that correspond to the function object. The device may determine textual descriptions corresponding to what is performed by at least one of the ordered and hierarchical operations. The device may output documentation of the ordered and hierarchical operations included in the function object, the documentation including the textual descriptions arranged based on the determined order of the plurality of ordered and hierarchical operations.
US09348577B2 Module updating device
An automobile, vehicle, vessel or other device may include a plurality of modules, software applications, computer program products, controllers or other logically executing entities to facilitate controlling, implementing or otherwise enabling various operations according to computer-readable instructions, code or other information stored within a memory, such as within a file or other memory construct. A controller having capabilities sufficient to facilitate updating, modifying, creating or otherwise manipulating such stored files and/or corresponding instructions is contemplated.
US09348575B2 Update of a data-carrier application
In a method for updating or installing a data storage medium application which can be executed on a secure data storage medium, the data storage medium is used in a telecommunications terminal. Updating data for the data storage medium application are first integrated into a terminal application certificate of a terminal application to be installed on the telecommunications terminal. Next the terminal application is installed in the telecommunications terminal and the data storage medium application in the data storage medium is configured according to the updating data. The terminal application certificate functions as a data container for the transparent updating data to be forwarded to the data storage medium. The updating data may relate to access rights of the terminal application to a data storage medium application already installed in the data storage medium or to a data storage medium application to be newly installed in the data storage medium.
US09348573B2 Installation and fault handling in a distributed system utilizing supervisor and dependency manager nodes
The present disclosure relates to in-memory databases or search engines using a dependency manager or configuration manager for maintaining configuration in the database system. The system may include a supervisor that may request and receive data from dependency manager, where the supervisor may be linked to other components in the system. The dependency manager may be used as a container for data metadata, and software components, which may be used in the system configuration. The configuration may be developed through a dependency system, where the dependency manager may keep an entire dependency tree for all software and data in the system. Similarly, dependency manager may create a deployable package to guarantee deployment integrity and to ensure a successful execution of any suitable software and data in the system.
US09348571B2 Method, device, and program storage device for autonomous software life cycle management
A method of searching for and installing a software product on a device is provided. One or more capabilities needed by the device to be served by a software product are determined. The one or more capabilities needed by the device are communicated from a software life cycle management agent on the device to a yellow pages agent outside the device, the communicating comprising formulating a request comprising a list of the capabilities encoded in a description language that defines the capabilities semantically. Then locations of one or more software products matching the one or more capabilities needed by the device may be received from the yellow pages agent. One of the one or more software products to install may be selected based on automatically evaluated criteria. Then the selected software product may be downloaded using its received location, and the selected software product may be installed on the device.
US09348557B1 Fused floating point datapath with correct rounding
In accordance with some embodiments, a floating point number datapath circuitry, e.g., within an integrated circuit programmable logic device is provided. The datapath circuitry may be used for computing a rounded absolute value of a mantissa of a floating point number. The floating point datapath circuitry may have only a single adder stage for computing a rounded absolute value of a mantissa of the floating point number based on one or more bits of an unrounded mantissa of the floating point number. The unrounded and rounded mantissas may include a sign bit, a sticky bit, a round bit, and/or a least significant bit, and/or other bits. The unrounded mantissa may be in a format that includes negative numbers (e.g., 2's complement) and the rounded mantissa may be in a format that may include a portion of the floating point number represented as a positive number, (e.g., signed magnitude).
US09348551B2 Mobile terminal device, and method and computer readable medium for the same
A mobile terminal device is provided, which includes a control device configured to acquire contents data, output screen data for controlling a display unit to display thereon images based on the acquired contents data, acquire, in response to an accepting unit accepting a selecting operation of selecting one or more images from among the images displayed on the display unit based on the screen data, image selection data for identifying specific contents data, of the acquired contents data, corresponding to the one or more images selected by the selecting operation, and transmit, in response to a near field wireless communication unit establishing near field wireless communication with a printer, a print instruction to print the specific contents data corresponding to the one or more images selected by the selecting operation, based on the acquired image selection data.
US09348550B2 Non-transitory machine-readable medium and communication relay apparatus
A process, machine-readable instructions, and a system are described in which two communication sessions are attempted to be established between a client application and an image processing apparatus. In some examples, the first communication session is permitted while delaying the operation of the second communication session until the first communication session has completed.
US09348548B2 Print control system
A print control system 1 includes a control server 10 that opens a communication path for asynchronous duplex communication, generates print data, and outputs the generated print data by the opened communication path; and a printer 12 that opens a communication path, receives the print data by the opened communication path, and prints based on the received print data.
US09348546B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming system with rewritable print and permanent print function
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming job created and transmitted by an job creation unit including an image to be printed, a receiving unit that receives a request of print setting to the image, a display unit that displays a setting screen having a setting unit to designate a setting of rewritable print or permanent print per page in response to receive the request of print setting, a memory unit that stores the setting of rewritable print or permanent print per page set by operating the setting screen, in addition to the image as the image forming job, and an image forming unit that receives the image forming job from the job creation unit and forms images on a sheet based on the setting in the image forming job.
US09348541B2 Image processing apparatus and method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
An image processing apparatus includes an identifier that calculates, between multiple items of first document data and multiple items of second document data, a first degree of similarity of a pair of each page of the first document data and each page of the second document data, based on a page order of the first and second document data, extracting a pair of pages of which a second degree of similarity is calculated based on the first degree of similarity, calculating the second degree of similarity of the extracted pair of pages based on images of the first and second document data, and identifies a page of the second document data that corresponds to a page of the first document data, based on the second degree of similarity.
US09348540B2 Output management device, output management system, and output management method
An output management device including: an acquiring unit that acquires a list of output data; a storage unit that stores sharing information of the data storage device; a first judgment unit that judges a state of a first output control device; a second judgment unit that judges the state of the second output control devices, when judged that the first output control device is not working and the data storage device is shared with the first and second output control device, and a setting unit that sets the output data possible to output when the first judgment unit judged that the first output control device is working or the second judgment unit judged that at least one of the second output control devices is working, and sets the output data impossible to output when the second judgment unit judged that all the second output control devices are not working.
US09348535B1 Compression format designed for a very fast decompressor
A processor-implemented method of decoding computer-readable data from a tag-based data format having a big tag size and a small tag size is provided. Decoding includes: reading the next tag in the received input, the tag including information about a tag size, a literal length, a literal, a copy length, and a copy offset; processing the read tag to determine whether the tag size; and reading the information about the literal length, copy length, and copy offset from the tag based on the determined tag size. Decoding includes processing the literal by writing information representing the literal to output representing the decoded computer-readable data. Decoding also includes processing copy data included in the tag based on the copy length and the copy offset. A data read point for the input and a data write point for the output may be advanced appropriately during or after literal and copy processing.
US09348534B2 Backup method and computer system thereof
A backup method for a computer system includes a backup module, a storage device, a south bridge circuit and a serial-advanced-technology-attachment to universal-serial-bus (SATA-to-USB) transmission line. The backup method includes when the computer system is operated in a turned off status, determining whether the backup module is coupled to a stable voltage source; when the backup module is coupled to the stable voltage source, determining a voltage level of a detection point; and when the voltage level of the detection point is a low level, initiating a backup operation of the backup module to read a plurality of data in the storage device via the SATA-to-USB transmission line.
US09348531B1 Negative pool management for deduplication
A method may comprise caching a portion of a pool of unique data blocks in a memory, the pool of unique data blocks comprising a plurality of unique blocks, at least some of the plurality of blocks in the pool of unique data blocks being referred to in at least one reference file. A list of blocks may be updated with any block in the cached portion of the pool of unique data blocks that is not referred to by at least one reference in the reference file(s). Different portions of the pool of unique data blocks may then continue to be cached and the list of blocks not referred to by at least one reference may be updated until the remaining portions of the pool of unique data blocks are cached. The blocks in the list of blocks may then be deleted from the pool of unique data blocks.
US09348528B2 Data integrity protection in storage volumes
A plurality of logical volumes are stored at a plurality of sites. A command to execute an operation on a logical volume is received. A determination is made as to whether a rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume. In response to determining that the rule associated with the logical volume permits execution of the operation on the logical volume, the operation is executed on the logical volume.
US09348522B2 Software indications and hints for coalescing memory transactions
A transactional memory system that utilizes indications for the coalescing of outermost memory transactions, the coalescing causing committing of memory store data to memory for a first transaction to be done at transaction execution (TX) end of a second transaction a processor of the transactional memory system executes one or more coalescing instructions for controlling coalescing of a plurality of outermost transactions. Based on the execution of the one or more coalescing instructions, the processor determines whether two outermost transactions are to be coalesced. Based on determining that two outermost transactions are to be coalesced, the processor coalesces at least two outermost transactions included in the plurality of outermost transactions.
US09348516B2 Storage controller, storage system, method of controlling storage controller, and computer-readable storage medium having storage control program stored therein
A storage system includes: a first storage unit; a second storage unit that has an access speed higher than an access speed of the first storage unit; and a storage controller that collects load information about respective loads in a plurality of areas in the first storage unit, selects a candidate area in the first storage unit which is to be migrated, based on the collected load information, and migrates data in the selected candidate area, to the second storage unit.
US09348514B2 Efficiency sets in a distributed system
Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for efficiency sets in a distributed system. A first efficiency set is determined for a first volume of data. Determining the first efficiency set includes selecting block identifiers for data blocks of the first volume, where each block identifier is used to access a particular data block corresponding to the first volume. Determining the first efficiency set further includes applying a mask to the selected block identifiers to mask at least one bit of each selected block identifier. The first efficiency set is compared to a second efficiency set for a second data store, and based on the comparison, an amount of unique data blocks of the first volume is approximated.
US09348508B2 Automatic detection of user preferences for alternate user interface model
A method for automatic detection of user preferences for alternate user interface model includes operating a digital device with an active user interface model and receiving one or more input signals from a user of the digital device. The method includes comparing the one or more input signals with one or more latent user interface models and determining if one of the latent user interface models has a higher likelihood given the one or more input signals than the active user interface models. The method also includes responsively substituting the latent user interface with the highest likelihood given the one or more input signals for the active user interface model.
US09348507B2 Controlling electronic equipment with a touching-type signal input device
Electronic equipment is controlled with a touching-type signal input device. An inputted navigator-calling request is received. A request mode of the inputted navigator-calling request is compared with a predefined request mode. It is determined whether the request mode of the inputted navigator-calling request matches with the predefined request mode. A navigator is displayed in response to determining there is a match. The navigator has a set of tabs distributed on at least part of a closed structure.
US09348505B2 Dynamic image presentation
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for efficiently organizing images in a display. A size of an image is scaled by an image scale factor, while an aspect ratio for the image is maintained, where the image scale factor comprises a combination of a first scale distance and a second scale distance. The scaled image is filled into a first display line, if the size of the scaled image is not greater than an amount of display space remaining in the first display line; otherwise the scaled image is filled into a second display line. The image is expanded to mitigate white space in the display after the scaling, while maintaining the image's aspect ratio. This can be performed for a collection of images presented on a display to provide an enhanced user experience.
US09348504B2 Multi-display apparatus and method of controlling the same
A multi-display apparatus includes a first body on which a first display is provided, a second body on which a second display is provided, a hinge configured to connect the first body and the second body, a storage configured to store control operation information which is matched with a rotated state of the first body and the second body, a sensor configured to sense a folding gesture to rotate at least one of the first body and the second body on a basis of the hinge, and a controller configured to perform, when the folding gesture is sensed, an operation corresponding to the folding gesture using the control operation information corresponding to the rotated state of a rotated body from among the first body and the second body.
US09348503B2 Information input device, information input method, information input control program, and electronic device
The present invention provides an information input device, in which information is inputted by easy operations, even if a display unit size is limited. An information input device of the present invention has: a display unit displaying a plurality of figures; a detecting unit arranged in front of the display unit or behind the display unit, and detecting whether a physical contact from an outside exists or not and a contacted position at which the physical contact exists; and a control unit deciding a figure displayed on the display unit and a position at which the figure is displayed, and inputting information based on a signal from the detecting unit, and when the detecting unit detects the physical contact exists, the control unit determines a first figure displayed at a nearest position to the contacted position in the plurality of figures based on the contacted position and decides a second figure displayed at a position surrounding the contacted position based on a kind of the first figure.
US09348499B2 Sharing objects that rely on local resources with outside servers
To prevent potential confusion when referencing an object by name, a party may supplementary or alternatively include referential metadata, other than the name by which the object is known to the party, that describes the referenced object. A party receiving information that includes such referential metadata for an object may utilize the referential metadata to identify a local object that matches or may substitute for the object referenced by the sending party. For example, a broker operating a financial system may generate a chart based on a first named object. The broker may wish to send the chart to another broker operating a different financial system. Since the first name object may be known by a different name in the different financial system, the financial system may replace the name of the object with referential metadata prior to sending the chart.
US09348497B2 Electronic device, and handwriting processing method
There is provided an electronic device, handwriting processing method, and handwriting processing program, that allows a user to more conveniently and less cumbersomely input an instruction for scrolling. An electronic device includes a touchscreen panel and a processor for receiving a handwritten character input via the touchscreen panel, and causing the touchscreen panel to display the handwritten character thereon. When a predetermined shape is input via the touchscreen panel the processor causes the touchscreen panel to scroll a screen.
US09348493B2 Automated subscriber-based customization of electronic channels for content presentation
Methods and systems can provide custom electronic-channel content items to display when a device is in display state. It can be determined that a user device is subscribed to receive content items corresponding to a channel and to present one or more of the content items when the user device is in a display state. Data corresponding to the user device can be identified. The data can correspond to a physical or electronic action (e.g., an interaction with a presented content item or a purchase at a channel-associated virtual or physical store). A customization rule for the channel can be identified. A content item can be generated or selected using the customization rule and the data. It can be enabled for the content item to be presented on the user device when the user device is in the display state.
US09348491B2 Method and system to layout applications on multiple platforms
A method and apparatus for providing applications to computing devices, where each application is provided with a user interface which is suited for the display characteristics of the computing device. The user interface data is correlated with an identifier associated to the display characteristics of the computing device. The user interface data is provided such that the same executable file may have different user interfaces.
US09348479B2 Sentiment aware user interface customization
The customization of an application user interface with a skin package based on context data that includes the emotional states of a user may strengthen the emotional attachment for the application by the user. The customization includes determining an emotional state of a user that is inputting content into an application. A skin package for the user interface of the application is selected based on the emotional state of the user. The selected skin package is further applied to the user interface of the application.
US09348477B2 Methods and systems for detecting a position-based attribute of an object using digital codes
Methods, systems and devices are described for detecting a position-based attribute of a finger, stylus or other object with a touchpad or other sensor having a touch-sensitive region that includes a plurality of electrodes. Modulation signals for one or more electrodes are produced as a function of any number of distinct digital codes. The modulation signals are applied to an associated at least one of the plurality of electrodes to obtain a resultant signal that is electrically affected by the position of the object. The resultant signal is demodulated using the plurality of distinct digital codes to discriminate electrical effects produced by the object. The position-based attribute of the object is then determined with respect to the plurality of electrodes from the electrical effects.
US09348476B2 Display device with integrated touch screen and driving method thereof
A display device with integrated touch screen is provided. The display device includes a panel configured to include a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes and a display driver IC configured to apply a common voltage to the plurality of driving electrodes and the plurality of sensing electrodes when the panel operates in a display driving mode, and when the panel operates in a touch driving mode, generate a pulse-modulated driving pulse according to a timing pulse and a pulse modulation control signal to apply the pulse-modulated driving pulse to the plurality of driving electrodes, and respectively receive a plurality of sensing signals from the plurality of sensing electrodes.
US09348475B2 Integrated in-plane switching
This relates to adding multi-touch functionality to a display without the need of a separate multi-touch panel or layer overlaying the display. Instead, embodiments of the invention can advantageously utilize existing display circuitry to provide multi-touch functionality while adding relatively little circuitry that is specific to the multi-touch functionality. Thus, by sharing circuitry for the display and the multi-touch functionalities, embodiments of the invention can be implemented at a lower cost than the alternative of superimposing additional multi-touch related layers onto an existing display panel. Furthermore, since the display and multi-touch functionality can be implemented on the same circuit, they can be synchronized so that noise resulting from the display functionality does not detrimentally affect the multi-touch functionality and vice versa.
US09348474B2 Display device integrated with touch screen panel
A display device integrated with a touch screen panel includes upper and lower substrates; the upper substrate comprising a major surface; a display area and a non-display area next to the display area when viewed in a viewing direction perpendicular to the major surface; and a sealing material formed between the upper and lower substrates and in the non-display area when viewed in the viewing direction. The display further includes a sensing cell structure formed over the upper substrate and in the display area; conductive lines formed over the upper substrate and in the non-display area, and connected to the sensing cell structure. The conductive lines overlap with the sealing material; and an optical layer is formed between two immediately neighboring conductive lines among the conductive lines.
US09348473B2 Touch panel
A touch panel that includes a flat membrane-like piezoelectric film provided with a first principal surface and a second principal surface which are opposed to each other. The touch panel includes first and second capacitance detection sub-electrodes on the first principal surface and the second principal surface of the piezoelectric film. The first and second capacitance detection sub-electrodes detect a touched position. The touch panel includes first and second piezoelectric voltage detection sub-electrodes on the first principal surface and the second principal surface of the piezoelectric film. The first and second piezoelectric voltage detection sub-electrodes detect a piezoelectric voltage according to an amount pressed into the piezoelectric film.
US09348470B2 Projected capacitance touch panel with reference and guard electrode
A mutual capacitance touch panel device includes a substrate, and an array of electrode elements formed on the substrate. Each electrode element includes a drive electrode, a sense electrode and a reference electrode, the reference electrode arranged between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. A first mutual coupling capacitance is formed between the drive electrode and the reference electrode of each electrode element, wherein the drive electrode and reference electrode are configured such that the first mutual coupling capacitance is substantially insensitive to an object touching the surface of the touch panel.
US09348467B2 Radial layout for acoustic wave touch sensor
Surface acoustic waves in a radial pattern are used to detect touch. Different radial transducer arrangements may allow for locating multiple simultaneous touches without ambiguity. Instead of transmitting along a line to be reflected at multiple points, the surface acoustic waves are transmitted radially. The surface acoustic waves are transmitted along different angles in an angular span spread out over at least part of the touch region. Using acoustic waves traveling along intersecting paths, a point location of a touch may be determined by detection, in part, of at least one angle.
US09348466B2 Touch discrimination using fisheye lens
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a system and method of touch discrimination using a fisheye lens. According to one embodiment, touch discrimination is provided using a touch-enabled display and an imaging device equipped with a fisheye lens and housed within the display. Furthermore, image data captured using the fisheye lens of the imaging device is utilized to detect a touch on a surface of the display along with the user associated with said touch.
US09348465B2 Input method, input device, and storage medium
An input method that is executed by a computer includes obtaining a first image of an object using an imaging device, detecting a first feature point of the object based on a shape of the object in the first image, calculating a first angle of the object with respect to a plane on which a pressing operation is performed based on the first feature point and information on a first area of the object in the first image, and selecting a first input item from a plurality of input items based on the first angle.
US09348460B2 Touch sensor integrated type display device
Touch sensor integrated type display device improving touch sensibility. The touch sensor integrated type display device includes a plurality of gate lines and data lines configured to cross over each other, a plurality of thin film transistors disposed at crossings of the gate lines and the data lines, a plurality of pixel electrodes configured to be respectively connected to the thin film transistors and disposed between the data lines so that each of the gate lines crosses over pixel electrodes disposed on a same line, a plurality of touch electrodes configured to overlap the gate lines and the data lines without contacting and overlapping the pixel electrodes, a plurality of touch routing wires configured to be respectively connected to the touch electrodes and arranged in parallel with each other, and a common electrode configured to overlap the data lines, the gate lines, the pixel electrodes and the touch electrodes.
US09348453B2 Touch sensing arrangement with first and second shield electrodes
An apparatus including a sensing arrangement including a plurality of distinct capacitive sensor electrodes distributed over a sensing area; conductive traces connected to the plurality of distinct capacitive sensor electrodes; a first shield electrode overlying at least the conductive traces; a second shield electrode underlying the conductive traces and the capacitive sensor electrodes; a display arrangement including a transparent cover; a polarizer, underlying the transparent cover; an intermediary layer, underlying the polarizer; an optical control layer, underlying the intermediary layer; wherein the sensing arrangement and the display arrangement are integrated, the first shield electrode being positioned beneath the transparent cover and above the polarizer; the capacitive sensor electrodes being positioned beneath the transparent cover and beneath the first shield electrode and above the optical control layer; and the second shield electrode being positioned beneath the transparent cover and beneath the capacitive sensor electrodes and above the optical control layer.
US09348452B2 Writing using a touch sensor
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
US09348451B2 Channel scan architecture for multiple stimulus multi-touch sensor panels
A channel scan architecture for detecting touch events on a touch sensor panel is disclosed. The channel scan architecture can combine drive logic, sense channels and channel scan logic on a single monolithic chip. The channel scan logic can be configured to implement a sequence of scanning processes in a panel subsystem without intervention from a panel processor. The channel scan architecture can provide scan sequence control to enable the panel processor to control the sequence in which individual scans are implemented in the panel subsystem. Type of scans that can be implemented in the panel subsystem can include a spectral analysis scan, touch scan, phantom touch scan, ambient light level scan, proximity scan and temperature scan.
US09348431B2 Display device for controlling auto-rotation of content and method for controlling auto-rotation of content displayed on display device
There is provided a display device for controlling rotation of content displayed on a display panel, including: a display panel on which the content is displayed; a sensor configured to measure a pitch θ and a roll Φ of the display device, wherein the pitch θ is a degree to which the display device is tilted with respect to a horizontal plane by an up-down rotation, and the roll Φ is a degree to which the display device is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane by a left-right rotation; and a control processor configured to determine whether or not to rotate the content or to control a rotation speed of the content displayed on the display panel, according to at least one of the pitch θ and the roll Φ.
US09348430B2 Method and apparatus for transitioning in-process applications to remote devices
A method and apparatus that incorporate teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, receiving at a mobile communication device a video stream from a computing device. The video stream is associated with images generated by a software application and is transmitted by the computing device responsive to a request to redirect control of the software application to the mobile communication device. The method may also include presenting the streamed video at the mobile communication device and transmitting to the computing device a stimulation of a remote user input function associated with the mobile communication device, where the transmitted stimulation corresponds to at least one action of a plurality of associable actions that can be executed by the software application. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09348425B2 Glass keyboard
A glass keyboard includes a patterned glass sheet having a plurality of glass keys arranged in a keyboard layout. Each of the glass keys includes one or more cantilevered glass tabs integrally formed in the patterned glass sheet. Each glass tab is deflectable from a plane of the patterned glass sheet. A conductive layer is arranged in opposing and spaced-apart relation to the patterned glass sheet. The conductive layer has a plurality of contact pads in positions corresponding to the glass tabs. A plurality of pressure pads is disposed between the cantilevered glass tabs and the contact pads and configured to selectively transfer contact pressure from the cantilevered glass tabs to the contact pads when the cantilevered glass tabs are selectively deflected from the plane of the patterned glass sheet.
US09348415B2 Control device with haptic feedback
The present invention relates to a control device (1) with haptic feedback; comprising a sensitive control surface (3) on which an actuator (9) is fixed, said control surface (3) being connected to a support (5) in the area of at least two connection zones (7), each connection zone (7) comprising at least one damper (70) placed between the control surface (3) and the support (5), said connection zones (7) defining a proximal suspension of said control surface (3) with respect to said support (5) in the area of a connection zone (7) near the actuator (9) and a distal suspension of said control surface (3) with respect to the support (5) in the area of a connection zone (7) distant from the actuator, the stiffness of the proximal suspension being less than the stillness of the distal suspension.
US09348406B2 Apparatus and method for activating and shutting down enhanced modules within an activated pipeline stage based on performance requirements and module priority
The present invention discloses a method of processing instructions in a pipeline-based central processing unit, wherein the pipeline is partitioned into base pipeline stages and enhanced pipeline stages according to functions, the base pipeline stages being activated all the while, and the enhanced pipeline stages being activated or shutdown according to requirements for performance of a workload. The present invention further discloses a method of processing instructions in a pipeline-based central processing unit, wherein the pipeline is partitioned into base pipeline stages and enhanced pipeline stages according to functions, each pipeline stage being partitioned into a base module and at least one enhanced module, the base module being activated all the while, and the enhanced module being activated or shutdown according to requirements for performance of a workload.
US09348403B2 Semiconductor device and automobile control system
Even after power-down, distinction between a transition from a PLL normal-oscillation state and a transition from a PLL self-oscillation is allowed.A semiconductor device includes a first region which, after having transited from a power-supply state to a power-down state, returns to the power-supply state again, a second region which holds a power source voltage regardless of power-down of the first region, and an oscillator which generates a first clock signal supplied to the first region. The first region includes a PLL circuit. The second region includes an information holding unit capable of holding information which can distinguish whether the operation mode of the PLL circuit is a PLL normal-oscillation mode or a PLL self-oscillation mode, and determines the operation mode of the PLL circuit when the first region has returned from the power-down state to the power-supply state, according to the information held in the information holding unit.
US09348397B2 Method of power management, portable system and portable power bank
A method of power management is to be implemented by a portable electronic device coupled to a portable power bank. The portable power bank is further coupled to an electrical appliance. In the method, the portable electronic device receives power information from the portable power bank, and controls the portable power bank to operate in one of a first mode, in which electrical power is provided to the electrical appliance, and a second mode, in which electrical power is not provided to the electrical appliance, based on whether or not the portable power bank has sufficient amount of power.
US09348396B2 Computer system, connection device, power supply control method, and power supply control program recording medium
A host monitoring unit in a host connection device (301) detects a change in a connection status between a host device (101) and the host connection device (301) based on a change in power status of the host device (101), and notifies a host connection controller. The host connection controller notifies an I/O connection controller in an I/O connection device (401) connected with an I/O device (201) having a power linking permitted of the change in the connection status, and sets or cancels an interconnection. After the completion of the setting or cancellation of the interconnection, the I/O connection controller notifies an I/O power supply controller of the change in the connection status, and the I/O power supply controller controls an I/O power supply (20).
US09348387B2 Providing per core voltage and frequency control
In one embodiment, the present invention includes a processor having a plurality of cores and a control logic to control provision of a voltage/frequency to a first core of the plurality of cores independently of provision of a voltage/frequency to at least a second core of the plurality of cores. In some embodiments, the voltages may be provided from one or more internal voltage regulators of the processor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09348370B2 Flexible display device having guide member
A flexible display device having a guide member is disclosed. The flexible display device having a guide member according to the present invention includes a first plate and a second plate for attaching a flexible display screen having bending capability on the front side; a hinge member B for connecting the first plate and the second plate and performing a folding operation while being bent or spread; and a variable means formed at each of the first plate and the second plate, configured of movable plates connected to the hinge member and the guide members combined with the movable plates to guide forward and backward movement of the movable plates, and associated with the folding operation of the first plate and the second plate.
US09348367B1 Tablet computer handle
The tablet computer handle includes a handle from which an expandable frame extends. The expandable frame is further defined with a left armature that telescopes with respect to a right armature. The left armature and the right armature are adapted to support a tablet computer therein. The handle is manually grasped in order to adaptively support the tablet computer. The handle includes at least one button that when depressed communicates a function with the tablet computer via a transmitter integrated in the handle.
US09348363B2 Counterbalance system for computer assembly
A computer assembly comprising a computer assembly base for the computer assembly, a rotatable display screen support coupled to the computer assembly base configured to receive a display screen and an base stabilizer of the computer assembly base configured to extend from a back side of the computer assembly base, wherein upon extension is configured to provide counterbalance support to the computer assembly base to inhibit tipping.
US09348359B2 Updating a desired tick rate for a kernel
A system and a method are disclosed for providing a variable tick rate for the kernel of an operating system. In one example, the method includes receiving, by a processing device, a desired tick rate for a kernel of an operating system, comparing the desired tick rate with a default tick rate, and updating a tick rate parameter of the kernel with the desired tick rate when the desired tick rate is different from the default tick rate.
US09348357B2 Stitchable global clock for 3D chips
A stitchable clock mesh, a dual operation mode method, and a master clock stratum are provided for a 3D chip stack. The stitchable clock mesh includes at least one clock mesh, on each of the two or more strata, having a plurality of sectors for providing a global clock signal. The stitchable clock mesh further includes mesh data sensors, on each of the two or more strata, for collecting mesh data for the at least one mesh. The mesh data includes measured functional data and measured performance data for a current system configuration. The stitchable clock mesh further includes mesh segmentation and joining circuitry for selectively performing a segmentation operation or a joining operation on the least one mesh or one or more portions thereof responsive to the mesh data and the current system configuration selectable from a plurality of system target configurations.
US09348354B2 Systems and methods for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices without a voltage controlled crystal oscillator
Example systems, apparatus, and methods receive audio information including a plurality of frames from a source device, wherein each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more audio samples and a time stamp indicating when to play the one or more audio samples of the respective frame. In an example, the time stamp is updated for each of the plurality of frames using a time differential value determined between clock information received from the source device and clock information associated with the device. The updated time stamp is stored for each of the plurality of frames, and the audio information is output based on the plurality of frames and associated updated time stamps. A number of samples per frame to be output is adjusted based on a comparison between the updated time stamp for the frame and a predicted time value for play back of the frame.
US09348349B2 Control for voltage regulators
A mixed signal approach is applied to detect an output voltage condition as applied to a load. A current mode monitoring approach can be adopted and applied in discrete time using a mixed analog and digital approach. For application to various low drop-out voltage regulator situations, a sensing transistor can be connected in parallel with a feedback loop transistor of the low drop-out voltage regulator circuit to create a sensing current that is proportional to the current passing through the feedback loop transistor and thus the output current provided to the load. This sensing approach can be adapted to sense both overload and light load conditions to allow dynamic power control of the device.
US09348340B2 Liquid processing apparatus
A liquid processing apparatus includes a first line to which a processing liquid pressurized by a pump is sent from a processing liquid supply source; a plurality of second lines into which the pressurized processing liquid flowing through the first line flows; a branch line connected to a branch point on each of the second lines; a liquid processing unit configured to process a substrate with the processing liquid; an orifice provided at an upstream side of the branch point; and a first control valve provided at a downstream side of the branch point. The first control valve changes an amount of the processing liquid flowing to a downstream side of the first control valve to control a pressure of the processing liquid in a section between the orifice of the second line and the first control valve, and to control a flow rate of the processing liquid.
US09348330B2 Method of adjusting the position of origin of a machine and a machine having a function for adjusting the position of origin
A machine having a function for adjusting the position of mechanical origin of a moving part (10) that is driven by a servo motor equipped with a position detector, comprising a reference counter (16) for counting the value detected by the position detector, a storage unit (17) for storing the capacity of the reference counter of when the moving part is moved in a predetermined direction and is positioned at the position of mechanical origin, a reference counter reading unit (18) for reading the value of the reference counter of when the moving part is positioned, a counter capacity reading unit (19) for reading the counter capacity of the reference counter, and an adjustment amount calculation unit (20) for calculating the amount of adjusting the position of mechanical origin based on the value of the reference counter and on the capacity of the reference counter.
US09348329B2 Multiple Boolean inputs and outputs for device function blocks
The present invention provides techniques for splitting bundled inputs and outputs into separated Boolean inputs and outputs for function blocks of automation devices. More specifically, previously-defined bundled inputs and outputs may be used, whereas separated Boolean inputs and outputs may be used as well. In other words, the newly added Boolean inputs and outputs do not replace, but rather compliment, the previously defined bundled inputs and outputs.
US09348328B2 Building management system with active building skin, an environmental resource collector for use in such a system and a method of managing resources used in a building
A building management system comprises a measurement system for measuring a demand for resources inside the building and a collecting system for harvesting natural resources available outside the building. The building management system is further provided with a storage system for storing surplus resources and a sensor system for measuring resource availability outside the building and/or resources stored in the storage system. Further, a controller arranged to receive data from the measurement system, the sensor system and the storage system is provided. The controller controls the collecting system based on said data to tune the collection of resources by the collection system to a present and/or an expected demand for resources.
US09348327B2 Work machine
To provide a work machine with high stability in which a dynamic balance can be evaluated easily while the influence of a sudden stop of an travel base, an upperstructure and a work front is taken into consideration.A stabilization control calculation unit (60a) and a command value generating unit (60i) are provided in a control device (60) of the work machine. The stabilization control calculation unit (60a) uses a sudden stop model and position information of each movable portion of the travel base and a machine body including the work front (6) to predict a change of stability until reaching a complete stop when a control lever (50) in an operating state is instantaneously brought back to a stop command position, and calculates a motion limit needed to prevent destabilization from occurring at any time instant until reaching the stop. The command value generating unit (60i) corrects the command information to a drive actuator on the basis of the calculation result of the stabilization control calculation unit (60a).
US09348316B2 Movement for mechanical chronograph with quartz regulator
Movement for chronograph watch comprising: a barrel (1); a main gear train (RH) for driving one or more current time indicators (43); a regulator member comprising a generator (8) driven by the main gear train (RH), the generator powering an electronic regulation circuit (80) to control the speed of rotation of the main gear train as a function of a quartz oscillator (81); a chronograph gear train (Rc) that can be brought into mesh with the main gear train (RH) to drive a timer indicator (152). The chronograph gear train can be brought into mesh with a wheel (8) that performs more than one revolution per minute.
US09348315B2 Watch case rotating bezel
Rotary bezel device (11L) for a timepiece (110), the device comprising a first rotary ring (B1), a second rotary ring (B2) and a first mechanical-connection element (C1) allowing the first rotary ring and the second rotary ring to be kinematically connected.
US09348309B2 Image forming apparatus and driving method for driving image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a latent image bearer, a charging roller, a first cleaner, a second cleaner, and a rotation controller. The latent image bearer bears a latent image on a surface thereof. The charging roller charges the latent image bearer. The first cleaner cleans the surface of the latent image bearer. The second cleaner cleans a surface of the charging roller. The rotation controller controls the latent image bearer to execute a set of backward rotation and first forward rotation at least once during a non-image formation time period, and either temporarily stop and start second forward rotation or continuously execute the second forward rotation by a rotation distance corresponding to at least one rotation of the charging roller.
US09348301B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes an LED unit capable of being in an exposing position or a retracted position, and a cartridge capable of being inserted into or pulled out with the LED unit in the retracted position.
US09348299B2 Developing cartridge and process cartridge for stably rotating developing roller
A developing cartridge includes: a housing having first and second sidewalls through which respective end portions of a developing roller shaft are rotatably inserted; a developing gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which is fixed to the end portion of the developing roller shaft; a transmission gear, which is arranged outside of the first sidewall, and which transmits driving force to the developing gear; a first cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the transmission gear; and a second cover member, which is attached to the first sidewall, and which covers the developing gear from an outer side in the axis line direction. The second cover member is formed separately from the first cover member and is arranged side by side with the first cover member outside of the first sidewall.
US09348294B2 Image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image forming method
An image forming apparatus that forms an image to which a plurality of various surface gloss effects are given by overlaying clear toner to be fixed for a plurality of times on a recording material on which color toner has been transferred, the image processing apparatus comprises a determining unit that determines number of times of fixing clear toner onto the recording material for each image region, according to a surface gloss effect of an image region that is indicated by input image data; and a clear-image forming unit that generates a clear toner plane for each image region having been determined that the number of times of fixing clear toner is same by the determining unit, and forms a clear image.
US09348293B2 Image forming apparatus that corrects sheet curl by printing on the edges of the reverse side of the sheet
An image forming apparatus comprises a printer configured to print the display image on a first surface of paper in a case of simplex printing; a curl suppression image determination section configured to determine, in simplex printing case, a printing position and a printing pattern of a curl suppression image for suppressing the curl of the paper caused by the display image based on an analysis result of a display image analysis section which analyzes the printing range and the density of the display image for each page; and a curl-preventive image addition setting section configured to set image information of the printing position and the printing pattern of the curl suppression image which is determined by the curl suppression image determination section and is supposed to be printed on a second surface of the paper with color erasable material by the printer section.
US09348281B2 Electrophotographic fixing member having cured silicone rubber layer with unsaturated aliphatic group and anatase type titanium oxide crystal, fixing apparatus and electrophotographic image forming apparatus
An electrophotographic fixing member includes a substrate, a cured silicone rubber layer and a fluorine resin layer bonded onto the cured silicone rubber layer, wherein a micro hardness of a cured silicone rubber constituting the cured silicone rubber layer is designated as Hμ0, and a micro hardness of a rubber obtained by soaking the cured silicone rubber in a methyl hydrogen silicone oil for 24 hours and then further curing the cured silicone rubber, is designated as Hμ1, Hμ1/Hμ0 is 1.5 or more and 5.0 or less, and the cured silicone rubber layer comprises a titanium oxide crystal having an anatase type structure.
US09348280B2 Heating composite, and heating apparatus and fusing apparatus including the same
A heating composite, including a polymer matrix; and a carbon nanotube structure including a plurality of carbon nanotubes continuously connected to each other and integrated with the polymer matrix.
US09348267B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes: an intermediary transfer member; an image forming unit; a transfer member; a cleaning member; and a setting portion for setting an absolute value of the first cleaning voltage applied to the cleaning member when a region of the intermediary transfer member, passed through the transfer portion where a higher transfer voltage is applied to the transfer member during passing of the recording material through the transfer portion, passes through the cleaning portion and for setting an absolute value of the second cleaning voltage applied to the cleaning member when a region of the intermediary transfer member, passed through the transfer portion where a lower transfer voltage is applied to the transfer member during passing of the recording material through the transfer portion, passes through the cleaning portion. The absolute value of the second cleaning voltage is higher than that of the first cleaning voltage.
US09348265B2 Image forming apparatus using at least one screen to form a toner image
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming portion that forms a toner image using a screen; a first transfer member that transfers the toner image formed by the image forming portion to a rotating transfer belt; a second transfer member that transfers the toner image transferred to the transfer belt by the first transfer member to a recording medium; and a controller that differentiates between, in a transfer area of the transfer belt to which the toner image is transferred by the first transfer member a screen that is used to form a toner image to be transferred to the transfer area in a preceding print cycle and a screen that is used to form a toner image to be transferred to this transfer area for the first time after the transfer belt has been rotated and the toner image has been second-transferred to a recording medium.
US09348263B2 Developing device and image forming apparatus comprising downstream inclined conveyance fin
A developing device includes a developer container, a developer bearing member, and a plurality of stirring conveyance members. The developer container includes a plurality of developer conveyance paths and communication sections. At least one of the stirring conveyance members includes a conveyance fin configured to convey the developer toward one of the communication portions. The conveyance fin protrudes from a portion of the stirring conveyance member, the portion being located at a downstream end of the developer conveyance path in terms of a developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path. The conveyance fin is inclined at a specified angle to a direction of a rotational shaft of the at least one of the stirring conveyance members so that the developer being conveyed is turned by the conveyance fin in a direction at an acute angle to the developer conveyance direction in the developer conveyance path.
US09348254B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus includes a developer bearing body and first and second supplying members. An image bearing body and the first and second supplying members are disposed around the developer bearing body in this order. The developer bearing member rotates, and supplies a developer material to the image bearing body. The first and second supplying members rotate in contact with the developer bearing body and supply the developer material to the developer bearing body. The image bearing body is upstream of the second supplying member with respect to rotation of the developer bearing body, and the second supplying member is upstream of the first supplying member. The ratio of the circumferential speed of the first supplying member to that of the developer bearing body is larger than that of the circumferential speed of the second supplying member to circumferential speed of the developer bearing body.
US09348251B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus including the same
An optical scanning device includes two cleaning holders. The two cleaning holders each include two cleaning members. The two cleaning holders are connected to a wire-shaped member. In accompaniment of circulation of the wire-shaped member, the two cleaning holders travel to cause the cleaning members to slide on corresponding transmissive members. Upon one of the two cleaning holders coming into contact with a first stopper at one end of its travel path, a circulating direction of the wire-shaped member is reversed. Upon the other of the two cleaning holders coming into contact with a second stopper at one end of its travel path, the wire-shaped member stops circulating.
US09348250B2 Charging roller, process cartridge, and manufacturing method of charging roller
A charging roller includes a conductive base material, a conductive adhesive layer that has a gel fraction equal to or greater than 50% on an outer circumferential surface of the base material, and a conductive elastic layer on the adhesive layer.
US09348247B2 Toner and method of producing toner
An object of the present invention is to provide a toner that produces an excellent bending resistance in the output image and that also exhibits an excellent low-temperature fixability and an excellent storage stability. This toner includes a binder resin and a thermoplastic elastomer having a crystalline part, wherein the binder resin and the thermoplastic elastomer in the toner are compatible with each other and the toner has a crystalline part originating from the thermoplastic elastomer.
US09348241B2 Exposure apparatus and device manufacturing method
An exposure apparatus comprises an original stage which holds an original, a substrate stage which holds a substrate, and a control unit which controls a measurement process of measuring a relative position between the original and substrate stages, wherein original-side measurement marks including an original-side rough-measurement mark and an original-side fine-measurement mark are formed on the original stage, substrate-side measurement marks including a substrate-side rough-measurement mark and a substrate-side fine-measurement mark are formed on the substrate stage, and the control unit controls the measurement process to perform rough measurement of the relative position between the original and substrate stages using the original-side and the substrate-side rough-measurement marks, correct the relative position between the original and substrate stages based on the result of the rough measurement, and then perform fine measurement of the relative position between the original and substrate stages using the original-side and substrate-side fine-measurement marks.
US09348239B2 Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and method for producing device
An exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a final element that projects exposure light to an upper surface of a substrate through liquid between the final element and the substrate. A liquid confinement member has a recovery outlet, via which the liquid is removed along with gas, arranged such that the upper surface of the substrate faces the recovery outlet, and the recovery outlet surrounds a path of the exposure light. The liquid confinement member confines the liquid to an area smaller than an area of the upper surface of the substrate by removing the liquid via the recovery outlet from a gap between the liquid confinement member and the upper surface of the substrate. A first support member supports the projection system, and a second support member supports the liquid confinement member, wherein the projection system is isolated from vibrations of the liquid confinement member.
US09348233B2 Laser device, and exposure device and inspection device provided with laser device
A laser device includes: a laser light output unit that outputs a fundamental wave laser light; a wavelength conversion unit that performs wavelength conversion of the fundamental wave laser light and outputs a converted laser light; an output detector that detects a power of the converted laser light; a power feedback circuit that controls the power of the fundamental wave laser light such that the power of the converted laser light is in constant; a phase matching adjustment configuration that adjusts a quantity of state at the wavelength conversion optical element; and a phase matching control circuit that controls an operation the phase matching adjustment configuration, wherein in a state that the power of the converted laser light is controlled in constant, the phase matching control circuit adjust the quantity of state in a predetermined range such that the power of the fundamental wave laser light is minimized.
US09348231B2 Continuously producing digital micro-scale patterns on a thin polymer film
A coating mechanism disposes a liquid (e.g., polymer) thin film onto a conveyor surface (e.g., roller or belt) that is moved by a suitable motor to convey the thin film into a precisely controlled gap (or nip) region where applied potentials generate an electric field that causes the liquid to undergo Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) patterning deformation, whereby the liquid forms patterned micro-scale features. A curing mechanism (e.g., a UV laser) is used to solidify (e.g., cross-link) the patterned liquid features inside or immediately after exiting the gap region, thereby forming micro-scale patterned structures that are either connected by an intervening web as part of a sheet, or separated into discrete micro-scale structures. Nanostructures (e.g., nanotubes or nanowires) disposed in the liquid become vertically oriented during the EHD patterning process. Segmented electrodes and patterned charges are utilized to provide digital patterning control.
US09348230B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming an etching mask layer on a semiconductor substrate having an etching target layer, patterning the etching mask layer to form a plurality of etching mask patterns, and forming a subsidiary layer surrounding the etching mask patterns having a uniform critical dimension and gap to form hard mask patterns including the subsidiary layer and the etching mask patterns.
US09348228B2 Acid-strippable silicon-containing antireflective coating
A silicon-containing antireflective coating formulation comprising: (i) an aqueous base insoluble organosilicon component having a multiplicity of hydrocarbon groups derivatized with hydroxy groups in the absence of Si—O—C and Si—O—H moieties; (ii) a vinylether component having a multiplicity of vinylether groups; and (iii) a casting solvent. Also disclosed is a method for converting the silicon-containing antireflective coating formulation into a crosslinked silicon-containing antireflective film comprising organosilicon units interconnected by acetal or ketal groups. The method entails (a) coating a substrate with the silicon-containing antireflective coating formulation and (b) heating the coated substrate to a temperature at which crosslinking between the organosilicon silicon component and vinylether component occurs. Further disclosed is a method for patterning an antireflective coating on a substrate using the crosslinked silicon-containing antireflective film in a lithographic patterning process wherein the crosslinked silicon-containing antireflective film is situated between the substrate and a photoresist.
US09348227B2 Chemically amplified resist composition and pattern forming process
A resist composition is provided comprising (A) a carboxylic acid sulfonium salt whose anion moiety has a bulky structure of arenecarboxylate in which secondary or tertiary carbon atoms bond at both ortho-positions relative to the carbon atom in bond with carboxylate, as an acid diffusion regulator and (B) a polymer which is decomposed under the action of acid to increase its solubility in alkaline developer. When processed by EB or EUV lithography, the resist composition exhibits a very high resolution and forms a pattern with minimal LER.
US09348222B2 Positive resist composition and method for production of microlens
There is provided a positive resist composition excellent in transparency, heat resistance, and refractive index particularly for forming a microlens and for forming a planarization film; and a microlens and a planarization film formed from the positive resist composition. A positive resist composition comprising a component (A): an alkali-soluble polymer comprising a unit structure having a biphenyl structure; a component (B): a compound having an organic group to be photolyzed to generate an alkali-soluble group; and a component (C): a solvent. The positive resist composition wherein the alkali-soluble polymer as the component (A) is a polymer comprising a unit structure of Formula (1): where when the total number of unit structures constituting the polymer (A) is assumed to be 1.0, the ratio n1 of the unit structure of Formula (1) constituting the polymer (A) satisfies 0.3≦n1≦1.0.
US09348217B2 Mask blank substrate, substrate with multilayer reflection film, transmissive mask blank, reflective mask blank, transmissive mask, reflective mask, and semiconductor device fabrication method
Disclosed is a mask blank substrate for use in lithography, wherein a main surface of the substrate satisfies a relational equation of (BA70−BA30)/(BD70−BD30)≧350 (%/nm), and has a maximum height (Rmax)≦1.2 nm in a relation between a bearing area (%) and a bearing depth (nm) obtained by measuring, with an atomic force microscope, an area of 1 μm×1 μm in the main surface on the side of the substrate where a transfer pattern is formed, wherein BA30 is defined as a bearing area of 30%, BA70 is defined as a bearing area of 70%, and BD70 and BD30 are defined to respectively represent bearing depths for the bearing area of 30% and the bearing area of 70%.
US09348211B2 Camera module and portable device using the same
An embodiment of the invention provides a 3D camera module. The 3D camera module comprise a first lens, a second lens, a shutter control device, a first mirror, a second mirror and an image sensor. The first lens receives a first light beam. The second lens receives a second light beam. The shutter control device to control the first lens and the second camera and only one of the first shutter and the second shutter is turned on in one time period. The first mirror reflects the first light beam to the image sensor. The second mirror reflects the second light beam to the image sensor. The image sensor receives the first light beam and the second light beam to capture a first image and a second image and a 3D image is generated according to the first image and the second image.
US09348207B2 Illuminating optical system and projection display apparatus
An illuminating optical system suppresses deterioration in utilization efficiency of illuminating light and generation of fluctuations in light emission without increasing apparatus size. The illuminating optical system includes a plurality of light sources of different types, a light combining optical system that combines light beams output from each of the light sources such that they converge at a single position, and a rod integrator that uniformizes the light intensity distributions of the light beams which are converged at the single position that enter a first end thereof and outputs the light beams, of which the light intensity distribution has been uniformized, from a second end thereof. The light combining optical system includes relay optical component sets corresponding to each of the light sources, and the relay optical component sets have relay magnification ratios different from each other.
US09348203B2 Lighting device comprising pump light source, phosphor arrangement and filter arrangement
A lighting device (1) comprising a pump light source, wherein the spectral composition of the useful light of the lighting device can be controlled by the control of the phase relationship between a rotating phosphor wheel and a filter wheel rotating synchronously therewith. The control of the phase relationship controls the temporal overlap of the conversion light coming from a phosphor element of the phosphor wheel with a filter element of the filter wheel, i.e. the extent of the spectral filtering of the conversion light by the filter element.
US09348200B2 Light source unit and projector incorporating the same
A light source unit emitting a light on an optical axis includes a first light emitter to emit a light in a certain wavelength band, a second light emitter to emit a light in a wavelength band different from that of the first light emitter, a third light emitter to emit a light in a wavelength band different from those of the first and second light emitters, a lighting path through which the lights from the first, second, and third light emitters are guided to propagate on the optical axis and into which the light from the third light emitter is joined at a hindmost position in a traveling direction on the optical axis, and an optical adjuster to exert an optical effect on the light from the third light emitter and not to exert an optical effect on the light rays from the first and second light emitters.
US09348199B2 Optical device, projector, and method of manufacturing optical device
An optical device includes a plurality of light modulators modulating a plurality of incident color lights with respect to each color light, a light combining optical unit having a plurality of light incident surfaces that the plurality of modulated color lights respectively enter, and combining the plurality of entering color lights, a holding part holding the light modulator, and a supporting part loosely fitting and supporting the holding part, and disposed in a location facing the light incident surface of the light combining optical unit, wherein the supporting part has an extending part extending in a direction away from the light incident surface, and a locking part having a first slope is provided in an end part in an extension direction of the extending part.
US09348186B2 LCD panel and method for forming the same
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and method for forming the same. In the LCD panel, the TFT includes a source and a drain formed by a transparent conducting layer, and a gate formed by a metal layer. The source is electrically connected with a data line through a via hole over the data line. The source connects to the drain via an active layer. Whatever the number of data lines are, each pixel corresponds to an associated via hole, so the number of via holes does not increase, and not reduce the aperture ratio. Therefore, the present invention is very proper to a design using more data lines and working in a high frequency. Moreover, the matrix circuitry of LCD of the present invention is well applied in a display which not only increases a density of data lines to raise the frame rate, but also maintains the aperture ratio and brightness.
US09348180B2 Method for fabricating LCD panel
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating an LCD panel. The method includes the steps of: (A) forming a black matrix layer on a color filter substrate; and (B) attaching the color filter substrate to a corresponding array substrate for forming a liquid crystal cell, and applying a voltage on the black matrix layer for liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal cell being arranged at a pretilt angle. The fabricating method of the present invention can realize photo alignments on multiple partitions without demand in shapes of the pixel electrodes.
US09348176B2 Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that is excellent in production efficiency, achieves a high CR, and significantly improves the viewing angle characteristics (reduces the gamma shift), while suppressing an image blur. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device at least including: an anisotropic collimating backlight; a lower polarizing plate; a liquid crystal panel; an upper polarizing plate; and an anisotropic diffusion element, the anisotropic collimating backlight having a light distribution anisotropy of a specific angle being combined with the anisotropic diffusion element having a diffusion anisotropy of a specific angle.
US09348170B2 Color filter substrate and display device
A color filter substrate and a display device are provided, and the color filter substrate comprises a base substrate; a color filter layer, disposed on the base substrate and comprising a plurality of sub-pixels; and a touch electrode, disposed on a side of the color filter layer away from the base substrate. A plurality of first concave portions are disposed in the color filter layer on the side away from the base substrate, and the touch electrode covers surfaces of the plurality of the first concave portions.
US09348166B2 Liquid crystal display panel
The present disclosure provides a liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel comprises an array substrate and a color filter substrate. Liquid crystal is filled between the array substrate and the color filter substrate, the array substrate includes a pixel electrode, and the color filter substrate includes a common electrode corresponding to the pixel electrode. The common electrode stores charges when an external object carrying static electricity touches a display region of the liquid crystal display panel, and thus a potential difference is formed between the pixel electrode of the array substrate and respective touch points, contacting with the external object, in the display region of the liquid crystal display panel, so that the liquid crystal between the touch point and the pixel electrode is deflected according to the formed potential difference. With such liquid crystal display panel, a process for displaying dynamically depicted graphs is simplified.
US09348160B2 Display backlights with adjustable narrow viewing angle
Display components (e.g., liquid crystal displays (LCDs)) are viewable at different viewing angles, for example, by a first user positioned directly in front of the display and by a second user positioned to one side of the display. Many displays present a consistent display across a wide range of viewing angles, but these displays may consume energy and/or compromise user privacy. Presented herein are configurations of backlights for display devices featuring an adjustable viewing angle, such that a user may select a narrower viewing angle in usage scenarios involving power consumption or privacy, and may select a wider viewing angle in usage scenarios involving plentiful power and fewer privacy concerns. Such configurations may include multiple banks of backlight lamps generating backlight at different viewing angles; an electrowetting electrode as an adjustable collimator; adjustable diffusers that may adjustably scatter light passing therethrough; and/or a combination of such adjustable elements.
US09348156B2 Optical waveguide element and method for manufacturing optical waveguide element
A method according to an aspect of the present invention, is a method for manufacturing an optical waveguide element, including: an optical waveguide forming step of forming an optical waveguide extending in a first direction in a substrate by doping the substrate with an impurity for reducing a coercive electric field of the substrate, a ridge forming step of forming a first ridge part including the optical waveguide and a second ridge part intersecting the first ridge part, and a poling step of reversing a polarization direction of a region of the substrate divided by the second ridge part by applying voltage to the region.
US09348155B2 Tunable photonic crystal color filters and color image display devices
Tunable photonic crystal color filters, and color image display devices including the same, include a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, a medium between the first electrode and the second electrode, nano particles distributed in the medium in a lattice structure and charged, and an ion spread preventing layer over a surface of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09348149B2 Image display module
A laser beam (L50) generated by a laser light source (50) is reflected by a light beam scanning device (60) and irradiated onto a hologram recording medium. (45). On the hologram, recording medium (45), an image (35) of a scatter plate is recorded as a hologram by using reference light that converges on a scanning origin (B). The light beam scanning device (60) bends the laser beam (L50) at the scanning origin (B) and irradiates the laser beam onto the hologram recording medium (45). At this time, scanning is carried out by changing a bending mode of the laser beam with time so that an irradiation position of the bent laser beam (L60) on the hologram recording medium (45) changes with time. Regardless of an irradiation position of the beam, diffracted light (L45) from the hologram recording medium (45) produces a reproduction image (35) of the scatter plate.
US09348140B2 Virtual image display device
A virtual image display device includes: an image projection device that projects an image light; a diverging element on which the image light emitted from the image projection device is incident, spreading the image light out over a range of a predetermined angle; and a light branching element that reflects the image light emitted from the diverging element, while transmitting the incident light from the surface other than the reflecting surface. The image light from the image projection device is formed into an image on the diverging element. A virtual image of the image formed on the diverging element is generated on an extension line in the opposite direction to the emission direction of the image light reflected from the light branching element. Further, an optical axis converting element is provided to convert the optical axis of the image light emitted from the image projection device, into a predetermined direction.
US09348139B2 Open-type head mount display device and display method thereof
The present invention provides an open-type head mount display device and a display method thereof. The open-type head mount display device according to the present invention comprises a display unit for generating display images; a focusing lens unit for adjusting the object distance of a display image from a user's eye; an image acquisition unit for acquiring the image of the two eyes of the user; a focal distance analyzing unit for obtaining the focal distance of the user's eye according to the image of the two eyes of the user; and a lens adjusting unit for adjusting the position of the focusing lens unit in the light ray propagation direction of the display image according to a control command from the analyzing unit, so that the object distance of the display image is matched with the current focal distance of the user's eye.
US09348134B2 Optical scanning unit, and apparatus including the optical scanning unit
An optical scanning unit includes a light source, an optical deflector that includes a light transmission window disposed on a light path from the light source and a rotatable mirror that includes a reflecting surface to reflect light that goes through the light transmission window into the light transmission window and to deflect the light from the light source toward a surface, and a light shield disposed on a light path of reflected light of the light from the light source reflected by a surface of the light transmission window.
US09348133B2 Image projection method and MEMS image projection apparatus
An image projection method and a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) image projection apparatus are provided. The image projection method controls a MEMS scanning mirror swinging around a first swing axis to project an image light beam. The image projection method includes following steps. A resonance frequency and a damping coefficient of the MEMS scanning mirror at swinging are measured to calculate a first amplitude scale and a first maintaining period, and a periodic wave signal is generated accordingly. The periodic wave signal is output to the MEMS scanning mirror for controlling the MEMS scanning mirror to swing, and a swing speed error thereof is recorded. By adjusting the first amplitude scale and the first maintaining period, the periodic wave signal is also adjusted, and the corresponding swing speed error is recorded. According to the recorded swing speed errors, the corrected periodic wave signal is generated for controlling the MEMS scanning mirror.
US09348131B2 Image acquisition apparatus
High-definition images are acquired at low cost while achieving a reduction in apparatus size and a reduction in the incident light level. Provided is an image acquisition apparatus that includes a light-path setting member for making incident light enter two or more light paths; two or more different-characteristics imaging devices that acquire images of light entering the light paths set by the light-path setting member; and a moving part to which at least one of the two or more imaging devices is attached and that minutely moves the imaging device in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis.
US09348130B2 Device for holding filters for microscopes
A device for holding filters for a microscope includes a filter wheel (20) rotatable about an axis of rotation (16) and a drive unit (14) for rotating the filter wheel (20). The filter wheel (20) comprises a basic body (44) rotatable about the axis of rotation (16) and at least one segment (46-54) selectively connectable to the basic body. The segment (46-54) comprises at least two housing areas (58, 59) each holding at least one filter (11). Another housing area may provide a transmission range (36, 59) for unfiltered transmission of light. A second rotatable filter wheel may be arranged at a location displaced along the axis of rotation relative to the filter wheel, and may have its own respective transmission range for unfiltered transmission of light, whereby a filter on either filter wheel may be aligned with the transmission range on the other filter wheel.
US09348123B2 Image correction using individual manipulation of microlenses in a microlens array
A system constructs a composite image using focus assessment information of image regions.
US09348120B2 LWIR imaging lens, image capturing system having the same, and associated method
An imaging lens for use with an operational waveband over any subset of 7.5-13.5 μm may include a first optical element of a first high-index material and a second optical element of a second high-index material. At least two surfaces of the first and second optical elements may be optically powered surfaces. A largest clear aperture of all optically powered surfaces may not exceed a diameter of an image circle of the imaging lens corresponding to a field of view of 55 degrees or greater by more than 30%. The first and second high-index materials may have a refractive index greater than 2.2 in the operational waveband, an absorption per mm of less than 75% in the operational waveband, and an absorption per mm of greater than 75% in a visible waveband of 400-650 nm.
US09348119B2 Imaging systems
An imaging system comprising one or more imaging devices wherein each device comprises a lens or lenses which together form an array of lens wherein the array includes two lenses; the two lenses face in opposing directions; the axes of the two lenses are substantially parallel; and the system is adapted to simultaneously capture and record images from the two lenses.
US09348113B2 Optical image capturing system
The invention discloses a seven-piece optical lens for capturing image and a seven-piece optical system for capturing image. In order from an object side to an image side, the optical lens along the optical axis comprises a first lens with refractive power having a convex object-side surface; a second lens with refractive power, a third lens with refractive power; a fourth lens with refractive power; a fifth lens with refractive power, a sixth lens with refractive power, and a seventh lens with negative refractive power; and at least one of the image-side surface and object-side surface of each of the seven lens elements is aspheric. The optical lens can increase the aperture value and improve the imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
US09348109B2 Optical device
An optical device includes a first lens frame bearing a first lens set and having a plurality of rods, a first cam barrel rotating to move the first lens frame along a first axis, a second lens frame bearing a second lens set and having a plurality of holes corresponding to the rods, and a second cam barrel rotatably disposed around the first cam barrel to rotate the first cam barrel and move the second lens frame along a second axis parallel to the first axis, wherein the first axis is substantially coincident with the second axis with the rods inserted into the holes.
US09348103B2 Low profile fiber distribution hub
Certain embodiments of a fiber distribution hub include a swing frame pivotally mounted within an enclosure having a low profile. For example, the enclosure can have a depth of less than about nine inches. Termination modules can be mounted to the swing frame and oriented to slide at least partially in a front-to-rear direction to facilitate access to connectors plugged into the termination modules. Splitter modules and connector storage regions can be provided within the enclosure.
US09348101B2 Latch mechanisms for modules
Latch mechanisms for modules are disclosed. A module includes a housing and a release slide. The housing includes a first rib located on a first side of the housing and a second rib located on a second side of the housing. The release slide is slidingly positioned on the housing. The release slide includes a release slide base, a first release slide arm extending from the release slide base, and a second release slide arm extending from the release slide base. A first flange extending from the first release slide arm is positioned at least partially over the first rib. A second flange extending from the second release slide arm is positioned at least partially over the second rib.
US09348095B2 Cable and dual inner diameter ferrule device with smooth internal contours and method
A fiber optic ferrule includes a body extending from a first end to a second opposite end, with the body including an axial passage extending between the first and the second ends. The axial passage includes a first diameter portion having a diameter of at least 125 microns, a second diameter portion having a diameter of at least 250 microns and less than a diameter of a buffer, and a smooth and continuous transition between the first and the second diameter portions. The second diameter portion is positioned between the first diameter portion and the second end. The axial passage further defines a tapered shape at the second end extending inward from the second end toward the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, another smooth and continuous transition can be provided between the taper shape and the second diameter portion. In certain embodiments, the axial passage is smooth and continuous between the first and the second ends of the body. A hub holds the ferrule. A method of assembling a terminated fiber optic cable is also provided.
US09348094B1 Axial alignment of a lensed fiber in a silica v-groove
A v-groove assembly is used to edge couple a lensed fiber (e.g., an optical fiber made of silica) with a waveguide in a photonic chip. The v-groove assembly is made from fused silica. Fused silica is used to so that an adhesive (e.g., epoxy resin) used in bonding the lensed fiber to the v-groove assembly and/or bonding the v-groove assembly to the photonic chip can be cured, at least partially, by light.
US09348084B2 Backlight unit
A backlight unit including a bottom sash, a light guide plate received by the bottom sash, a substrate on which a light emitting device is mounted, the light emitting device irradiating light to the light guide plate, a fixing member fixing the substrate, and a sliding moving part fixing the fixing member in such a manner that the fixing member moves with respect to the bottom sash, wherein the sliding moving part includes a sliding bar and a sliding guide which are formed in the bottom sash and the fixing member respectively.
US09348080B1 Wall wash luminaire with light guide and optical element therefore
A light shaping article includes a solid optic having a cross-sectional profile including an input interface; a convex output surface opposite the input interface; a concave first side surface extending between the input interface and the convex output surface; and a second side surface opposite the concave first side surface extending from between input interface to the convex output surface. The concave first side surface and the convex output surface are configured such that, when the solid optic receives input light having an input angular range in a plane of the cross-sectional profile, the solid optic guides the light to and emits the light from the output surface in an output angular range in the plane. A prevalent propagation direction of output light in the output angular range is tilted toward the second side surface relative to a prevalent propagation direction of input light in the input angular range.
US09348077B2 Method of manufacturing retarder
A method of manufacturing a patterned retarder includes forming a retarder material layer by applying a retarder material to a substrate; drying the retarder material layer at a first temperature; exposing the retarder material layer to linearly-polarized UV, wherein the retarder material layer has an optical anisotropic property; and heat treating the retarder material layer at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to increase the optical anisotropic property of the retarder material layer.
US09348076B2 Polarizer with variable inter-wire distance
A wire grid polarizer comprising an array of parallel, elongated nano-structures disposed over a surface of a substrate. Each of the nano-structures can include a pair of parallel, elongated wires (or top ribs), each oriented laterally with respect to one another. There can be a first gap disposed between the pair of wires (or top ribs). Each of the nano-structures can be separated from an adjacent nano-structure by a second gap disposed between adjacent nanostructures, and thus between adjacent pairs of wires. A first gap width of the first gap can be different than a second gap width of the second gap. Also included are methods of making wire grid polarizers.
US09348072B2 Optical filter device and electronic apparatus
An interference filter is fixed with respect to a base substrate by a fixing member which is disposed on one portion which is on the outer side of a filter region. Accordingly, since the periphery end of the interference filter, other than a portion (end portion) in which the fixing member is disposed, becomes a floated state (free end), it is possible to suppress the warping of the interference filter even when there is the difference in coefficients of thermal expansion with the base substrate. Further, spacer portions which are lower than the height of the fixing member are formed outside the filter region and on the portion separated from the fixing member. At the time of the impact, since the spacer portions come in contact with the base substrate to function as stoppers, it is possible to suppress occurrence of peeling-off or cracks on the fixing member.
US09348071B2 Miniaturized optical system, light source module and portable electronic device
There is provided a miniaturized optical system including a protection cover, a light source, an image sensor and at least one interference film. The protection cover has a first surface and a second surface. The light source and the image sensor are disposed opposite to the first surface of the protection cover. The interference film is disposed between the light source and the protection cover to allow the light source to form a predetermined light shape in front of the second surface of the protection cover and/or disposed between the image sensor and the protection cover to allow the image sensor to receive light of a predetermined range in front of the second surface of the protection cover.
US09348068B2 Energy generating transparent film
An energy-generating transparent (EGT) structure is provided, in addition to a method for generating energy from light incident to an EGT structure. The EGT structure is made up of a window pane with an interior surface adjacent a reflective structure. The method accepts light incident to an exterior surface of the window pane, and transmits light in the visible spectrum through the window pane and reflective structure. However, light in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum is reflected back from the reflective structure into the window pane, so that reflected NIR, spectrum light is supplied to an edge of the window pane. For example, reflected NIR spectrum light is supplied to the window pane edge if the light has an angle greater than or equal to an angle TIR occurring between the window pane exterior surface and air. This reflected NIR spectrum light can be converted to electrical or thermal energy.
US09348066B2 Film for improving color display and method of manufacturing the same
Provided are a color display film and a method for manufacturing the same, and a display apparatus. The color display film includes a base material layer, a high-refractive resin layer on which an optical pattern is formed, and a low-refractive light diffusion layer including a light diffuser in a stacked configuration. The optical pattern is formed in one surface of the high-refractive resin layer facing the low-refractive light diffusion layer. The method of manufacturing a color display film includes forming a high-refractive resin layer by coating a high-refractive transparent resin on one surface of a base material layer and forming an imprinted optical pattern on the coated high-refractive transparent resin, forming a low-refractive light diffusion layer by dispersing a light diffuser into a low-refractive transparent resin, and bonding one surface of the low-refractive light diffusion layer on a surface on which the optical pattern is formed.
US09348062B2 Image display device
A method for manufacturing an image display device includes the step of forming a cured resin layer by interposing a photo-curable resin composition between a protection member and a display-side panel including an image display unit and a frame member and then photo-curing the photo-curable resin composition, with the photo-curable resin composition being disposed across between the image display unit and the frame member. In the manufacturing method, a high-viscosity resin composition having a viscosity of 3000 mPa·s or more and 12000 mPa·s or less is used as the photo-curable resin composition. Alternatively, after a gap between the image display unit and the frame member is sealed with a sealing film, a photo-curable resin composition is interposed between the display-side panel and the protection member.
US09348051B2 Device and method for deblending simultaneous shooting data using annihilation filter
A device, medium and method for deblending seismic data associated with a subsurface of the earth. The method includes receiving an input dataset generated by first and second sources S1 and S2 that are operating as simultaneous sources; arranging the input dataset based on the firing times of source S1; applying with a computing system an annihilation filter to the arranged input dataset to estimate cross-talk noise; convolving the cross-talk noise estimate with an operator to form a signal estimate using the firing times of S1 and S2; and generating an image of the subsurface based on the signal estimate.
US09348049B2 Simultaneous joint estimation of the P-P and P-S residual statics
Methods and systems for estimating the residual static terms for multi-component land datasets are described. A one-pass estimation simultaneously using P-P pre-stack data and P-S pre-stack data for generating common source residual statics for the P-P data and the P-S data and separate receiver residual statics for the P-P data and the P-S data. A series of iterations are performed using either a linear or a non-linear simulation to converge on acceptable residual statics.
US09348046B2 Managing microseismic data for fracture matching
Systems, methods, and software can be used to analyze microseismic data from a fracture treatment. In some aspects, stored data associate a fracture plane with a first plurality of microseismic events from a fracture treatment of a subterranean region. Additional stored data indicate an ordering of a second, different plurality of microseismic events from the fracture treatment. One of the second plurality of microseismic events is selected based on the ordering, and the fracture plane is updated based on the selected microseismic event.
US09348044B2 Vectorization of fast fourier transform for elastic wave propogation for use in seismic underwater exploration of geographical areas of interest
Numerical simulations of elastic wave propagation algorithms are critical components for seismic imaging and inversion. Finite-difference schemes yield good efficiency but cannot ensure the accuracy of the high frequency component. Pseudo-spectral algorithms are accurate up to the Nyquist frequency, but its efficiency depends on the optimization of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm. The conventional FFT algorithms are optimized for signal processing, in which problems are generally one dimensional time series. For 3D wave propagation, FFT algorithms have the potential to be further optimized. Under current computer hardware architecture, a vectorization scheme for high dimensional FFTs is presented. Compared to conventional numerical scheme implementations, the systems and methods disclose herein has the best performance on the slowest or higher dimensions of data. For elastic wave propagation, vectorization improves the efficiency by more than a factor of two when compared to standard FFT algorithms.
US09348039B2 Direction-position sensing fast neutron detector
A directional-position sensing fast neutron sensor system is disclosed. The system includes one or more acoustically tensioned metastable fluid detector (ATMFD) for determining the direction of the source of incident neutron radiation. The system has been used to detect the position of a 1 Ci Pu—Be neutron radiation source. The ATMFD detector is comparable in technical performance with directional fast neutron detector-bank technologies but is significantly more economical, smaller, and has little to no interference from nonneutron background radiation. The ATMFD detector can be used to locate hidden neutron sources and has been used in blind tests to do so. Specifically an ATMFD system (with a 6×10 cm cross-sectional area) provides directional information for incoming neutron radiation from an 8 kg Pu source from a distance of 25 m with a resolution of 11.2° at a 68% confidence within 60 seconds. Position and neutron source image sensing were also demonstrated using two ATMFDs.
US09348038B2 Systems and methods for resetting photoconductive x-ray imaging detectors
Systems and methods of resetting a blocking-type photoconductive imaging detector are provided. In one embodiment, after having obtained an image, the imaging detector may be reset by applying a reversed bias potential difference and illuminating the imaging radiation detector with photoexcitation radiation. The photoexcitation radiation has a wavelength selected to excite mobile charges within the photoconductive layer and a spatial intensity profile related to the measured image for neutralizing the trapped charges in a spatially compensated manner. In another embodiment, a photoionizing beam is directed onto an x-ray light valve having a liquid crystal layer in contact with a photoconductive layer. The beam passes through an optically transmissive surface of the x-ray light valve and photoionizes a species within the liquid crystal layer, generating mobile charged entities that at least partially neutralize charges trapped at the interface, improving the performance of the x-ray light valve when performing subsequent x-ray imaging.
US09348034B2 Indirect radiographic imaging systems including integrated beam detect
A wireless X-ray detector for a digital radiography system with remote detection of impinging radiation from the system X-ray source onto a sensor panel having amorphous or crystalline silicon photodiodes or metal insulated semiconductor (MIS) sensors. Certain exemplary embodiments described herein can provide a digital radiography detector including a housing having first and second spaced members and side walls defining a cavity; a radiographic image detector assembly mounted within the cavity for converting a radiographic image to an electronic radiographic image, wherein the detector assembly includes a scintillator screen and a detector imaging array; and a light guiding element positioned proximate the radiographic image detector assembly to detect a start of exposure, a termination of the exposure, dose for the exposure or rate of dose for the exposure using light generated by the scintillator screen.
US09348032B2 Database update method and apparatus for locating a pCell
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a database update method and apparatus for locating a pCell. An embodiment of the present invention provides a database update apparatus for locating a pCell, comprising: a database storing grid cells that are sorted by pCell ID; a DB collection unit collecting log data for a WLAN signal from a mobile communication terminal which performs communication using the WLAN signal; an information extraction unit extracting a WLAN parameter from the log data of the WLAN signal; and a DB update unit updating the grid cells by matching and storing the information based on the extracted WLAN parameter in the corresponding grid cell. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the data-based information for AP locations and its application to the determination of a location can enhance the location performance.
US09348028B2 Sonar module using multiple receiving elements
A sonar module using multiple receiving elements. A sonar module for use with a vessel may include a housing positioned on the vessel. The sonar module may also include one or more transmitting elements positioned inside the housing and configured to send at least one transmit signal to a transducer array. The sonar module may further include a first receiving element, a second receiving element, a third receiving element, and a fourth receiving element positioned inside the housing, where the first receiving element is configured to receive a first sonar data from the transducer array, the second receiving element is configured to receive a second sonar data from the transducer array, the third receiving element is configured to receive a third sonar data from the transducer array, and the fourth receiving element is configured to receive a fourth sonar data from the transducer array.
US09348024B2 Active sonar apparatus, active sonar signal processing method, and recording medium storing signal processing program thereof
An active sonar apparatus which emits a sound wave and detects a target object based on a sound reflected by this target object including an FFT part which performs the fast Fourier transform of the received sound wave to derive a frequency spectrum and outputs this as an FFT signal, a normalization part which normalizes the FFT signal and outputs this signal as a normalized signal, and a noise elimination unit which performs a plurality of smoothing processes to the normalized signal, combines the signals to which the smoothing processes are performed to generate a combined signal, and outputs the combined signal in which a noise received together with the reflected sound is suppressed.
US09348010B1 Acoustic survey methods in weapons location system
A survey method giving improvements in weapons fire location systems is disclosed. In an urban system with a distributed array in the midst of many buildings that block signal paths or create echoes, methods are provided to measure signal propagation. A survey or tour of the covered region uses a moving signal source to probe propagation inside the region. Survey results may indicate where more or fewer sensors are needed. Survey results plus current measured noise gives prediction of instantaneous system sensitivity. In addition, multipath propagation may be used to determine a location even when only one or two sensors detect the signal. In such exemplary cases, triangulation may be replaced or augmented by pattern recognition. Further, signals of the survey need not be acoustic impulses such as gunfire, but may be RF signals, or coded continuous signals so that gunfire-like sounds would not disturb citizens in the area.
US09348000B1 Magneto optic kerr effect magnetometer for ultra-high anisotropy magnetic measurements
A resistive electromagnet assembly comprises a pair of coils with a gap defined between the coils. The resistive electromagnet assembly is configured to generate a field having a magnetic flux density of at least about 4 Tesla and at a sweep rate to complete a hysteresis loop in less than about 1 minute. A support assembly is configured to support a sample of magnetic material within the gap. An optics module is configured to expose a test region of the magnetic material sample to an optical beam probe while the test region is subjected to the field and to receive a reflected beam from the test region. A processor is coupled to the optics module and configured to measure one or more properties of the magnetic material using the received reflected beam.
US09347994B2 Boundary scan with coarse and fine delay register clock circuitry
A Propagation Test instruction, a Decay Test instruction and a Cycle Test instruction provide testing of DC and AC interconnect circuits between circuits including JTAG boundary scan cells. A few additions to the Test Access Port circuitry, including gating producing a Capture Test Strobe (CTS) signal, and the boundary scan cells are required to implement the additional instructions. The instructions are extensions of the conventional JTAG operating structure.
US09347992B2 IC and core taps with input and linking module circuitry
IEEE 1149.1 Test Access Ports (TAPs) may be utilized at both IC and intellectual property core design levels. TAPs serve as serial communication ports for accessing a variety of embedded circuitry within ICs and cores including; IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan circuitry, built in test circuitry, internal scan circuitry, IEEE 1149.4 mixed signal test circuitry, IEEE P5001 in-circuit emulation circuitry, and IEEE P1532 in-system programming circuitry. Selectable access to TAPs within ICs is desirable since in many instances being able to access only the desired TAP(s) leads to improvements in the way testing, emulation, and programming may be performed within an IC. A TAP linking module is described that allows TAPs embedded within an IC to be selectively accessed using 1149.1 instruction scan operations.
US09347988B2 Semiconductor testing jig and semiconductor testing method performed by using the same
A semiconductor testing jig fixes a measurement target while it is held between a chuck stage and the measurement target. The semiconductor testing jig includes a base on which the measurement target is to be installed and which can be attached to the chuck stage. The base includes: a first main surface to become an installation surface for the measurement target; a second main surface opposite the first main surface and which is to contact the chuck stage; and a porous region containing a porous member. The porous region is provided selectively as seen in plan view, and penetrates through the base from the first main surface toward the second main surface.
US09347984B2 Method to improve strain rate control of small lead free printed circuit board assembly during in circuit test process
An apparatus includes a top plate and an extension card surrounding a space for a small electronic assembly. The extension card and small electronic assembly are mounted to the top plate. The apparatus includes a plurality of test probes extending through the top plate and moving relative to the top plate. A portion of the test probes are positioned to contact the extension card and a portion are positioned to contact the small electronic assembly when the test probes move with respect to the top plate. The apparatus includes a vacuum box in contact with the top plate and surrounding the extension card and small electronic assembly. The top plate moves relative to the test probes so the test probes contact the extension card and the small electronic assembly in response to a vacuum force evacuating an area under the top plate and within the vacuum box.
US09347980B2 Radio frequency characteristics measurement jig device
A radio frequency characteristics measurement jig device includes: a ground conductor part; a first coplanar line; a connection substrate; and a holding part. The first coplanar line includes a first dielectric layer, a first center conductive layer and first ground conductive layers. The connection substrate includes a second dielectric layer, a second center conductive layer, second ground conductive layers, and a third ground conductive layer. The holding part is configured to press the connection substrate to the first coplanar line and the signal terminal so as to allow electrical continuity between the first center conductive layer and the second center conductive layer on the first region, to allow electrical continuity between the first ground conductive layer and the second ground conductive layer, and to allow electrical continuity between the second center conductive layer on the second region and the signal terminal.
US09347976B2 Hot stick power analyzer
A hot stick power analyzer includes a housing mounted on a pole and a channel for a power line. A ground line extends from the housing and there is a power line conductive contact. A voltage sensor includes voltage sensing circuitry connected to the power line conductive contact and the ground line. There is a high voltage capacitance between the ground line and the voltage sensing circuitry. A current sensor includes windings about and spaced from the power line. A processing subsystem is responsive to the voltage sensing circuitry and to the current sensor and is configured to compute power analysis metrics.
US09347975B2 Auto-numbering of measurements in digital multimeter
A digital multimeter stores multiple sequential measurements of physical or electrical parameters. Each of the sequential measurements has a name including an automatically generated descriptor. The descriptor for each sequential measurement may indicate a relative position of the measurement within the sequence. For instance, the descriptor may indicate whether the measurement was obtained before or after other measurements in the sequence.
US09347967B2 Sensor device and manufacturing method thereof
A sensor device and a manufacturing method thereof are provided in which no resin seal is used when a sensor is packaged, a change in connection relation according to a change in specifications of the control IC and others is facilitated when a control IC is packaged together with the sensor and high reliability is kept. The sensor device of the present invention includes a substrate containing an organic material and being formed a wiring, a sensor arranged on the substrate and electrically connected to the wiring, and a package cap arranged on the substrate and containing an organic material and covering the sensor, and the inside of the package cap is hollow.
US09347966B2 Automatic analyzer
In the field of automatic analyzers, as items to be analyzed are increase, various reagents differing in such properties as liquid viscosity and contact angle are being used more frequently, and this trend is expected to continue. Also, reagents now take various forms (e.g., a concentrated reagent to be diluted by the water of an automatic analyzer), and so does dilution water. Such being the case, the invention provides an automatic analyzer capable of sufficient stirring regardless of items to be analyzed. To sufficiently stir a substance to which a reagent has been added, the automatic analyzer is designed to alter stirring conditions after a given amount of time has passed since the addition of that reagent.
US09347962B2 Handheld diagnostic system with chip-scale microscope and automated image capture mechanism
A handheld diagnostic system may include a disposable sample holder for receiving and containing a biological sample and an analysis module having a chip-scale microscope. The sample holder may include a plurality of uniformly spaced tick marks. The analysis module may include a sensor for detecting the tick marks as the sample holder is inserted into the analysis module. The chip-scale microscope may include an image sensor for capturing images of the sample. Each time the sensor detects a tick mark, control circuitry may issue a control signal to the image sensor to capture an image of the biological sample. This type of automated image capture mechanism ensures that images are captured at a uniform spatial distribution even when the sample holder is inserted into the analysis module at variable speed. The analysis module may transmit sample imaging data to a portable electronic device.
US09347961B2 Test kit for the quantitative determination of narcotic drugs
A test kit for the quantitative determination of narcotic drugs comprising (A) series of sealed vessels, each vessel containing a deuterium free isotopologue of a narcotic drug in exactly defined concentrations and quantities, wherein the isotopologue differs from vessel to vessel and—wherein the quantities of the isotopologue differ from vessel to vessel or are the same for all vessels; and/or (B) series of sealed vessels, each vessel containing in exactly defined concentrations and quantities the same isotopologue in quantities which differ from vessel to vessel; wherein the free isotopologues are selected from narcotic drugs; prodrugs, salts, solvates, hydrates and polymorphs and contain at least three stable isotopes selected from the group consisting of 13C, 15N and 18O in the molecule with a degree of labeling of at least 95 mol-%; the use of the test kit and a method for quantitatively determining narcotic drugs.
US09347960B2 Ceramides and their use in diagnosing CVD
The present invention inter alia provides a method, and use thereof, of predicting CV complications such as AMI, ACS, stroke, and CV death by determining the concentrations of at least one ceramide of Group A and at least one ceramide of Group B in a biological sample and comparing those concentrations to a control. Finding a decreased concentration of at least one Group A ceramide and an increased concentration of at least one Group B ceramide indicates that the subject has an increased risk of developing one or more CV complications. Also provided are a newly identified subset of ceramide molecules, labelled versions thereof, and kits and compositions comprising the same for use in predicting and/or diagnosing CV complications.
US09347954B2 Antibody capable of binding to specific region of periostin, and method of measuring periostin using the same
The present invention provides a method and a reagent for measuring periostin contained in a sample with improved accuracy, a method for improving accuracy in measurement of periostin, and a method of testing for pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial pneumonia with improved accuracy. The antibody of the present invention binds to at least one region selected from the group consisting of an EMI region, an R1 region, an R2 region, and an R3 region of periostin or a cleavage product thereof. The method and the reagent for measuring periostin and the method for improving accuracy in periostin measurement of the present invention is characterized by detecting at least one region selected from the group consisting of an EMI region, an R1 region, an R2 region, and an R3 region of periostin. The method of testing for pulmonary fibrosis or interstitial pneumonia of the present invention includes the steps of a) measuring the amount or concentration of periostin in a sample derived from a subject, which measuring includes detecting at least one region selected from the group consisting of an EMI region, an R1 region, an R2 region, and an R3 region of periostin and b) comparing the amount or concentration of the periostin in the sample derived from the subject with an amount or concentration of periostin in a sample derived from a living body not suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and interstitial pneumonia.
US09347953B2 Method for the diagnosis of a carcinoma and uses thereof
The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing a carcinoma or a residual disease associated thereto, or for the prognosis of a carcinoma, or for monitoring the effectiveness of an anti-tumour therapy directed against a carcinoma, or for monitoring the follow-up of an individual affected by a carcinoma, in particular colorectal carcinoma, carcinoma of the stomach, mammary carcinoma, pulmonary carcinoma or carcinoma of the prostate, carcinoma of the liver, carcinoma of the ovary, carcinoma of the kidney, carcinoma of the thyroid, carcinoma of the bladder or carcinoma of the pancreas. The method of the invention consists in placing adult stem cells in contact with a sample of a haemo-derivative of the individual to be analyzed and in verifying the expression of at least an epithelial marker in the stem cells by means of immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, ELISA or RT-PCR.
US09347952B2 Soluble VEGFR-1 variants for diagnosis of preeclampsia
Novel splice variants, amino acid sequences and nucleotide sequences thereof, and methods of using same.
US09347947B2 Immunoassays employing non-particulate chemiluminescent reagent
Methods and reagents are disclosed for conducting assays. Embodiments of the present methods and reagents are concerned with chemiluminescent reagents for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte in a sample suspected of containing the analyte. The reagent is non-particulate and comprises a binding partner for the analyte and a chemiluminescent composition comprising an olefinic compound and a metal chelate. In embodiments of an assay, a combination is provided that comprises a sample suspected of containing the analyte, a chemiluminescent reagent as described above and a sensitizer reagent capable of generating singlet oxygen. The combination is subjected to conditions for binding of the analyte to the binding partner for the analyte. The sensitizer is activated and the amount of luminescence generated by the chemiluminescent composition is detected wherein the amount of luminescence is related to the amount of the analyte in the sample.
US09347945B2 Methods and marker combinations for screening for predisposition to lung cancer
The present invention relates to rapid, sensitive methods for determining whether a subject is at risk of developing lung cancer or has lung cancer based on certain combinations or biomarkers or biomarkers and biometric parameters.
US09347937B2 Vaccine comprising Amb a 1 peptides for use in the treatment of ragweed allergy
The present invention relates to compositions for preventing or treating allergy to ragweed by tolerization. The compositions are based on combinations of peptide fragments derived from the major allergen in ragweed pollen, Amb a 1. The invention also relates to products, vectors and formulations which may be used to provide polypeptides of the invention in combination. The invention further relates to in vitro methods for determining whether T cells recognize a polypeptide of the invention, and for determining whether an individual has or is at risk of a condition characterized by allergic symptoms in response to a ragweed allergen.
US09347933B2 System and method to improve yield of sorted particles
Provided herein are systems and methods for improving yield of sorted particles. In one embodiment, for example, there is provided a system including: (a) a flow cytometer to analyze a sample, wherein the flow cytometer provides a parameter plot based on the analysis of the sample; (b) a user-interface, wherein a user can define a coincidence acceptance gate in the parameter plot, and wherein the coincidence acceptance gate identities a non-target particle population in the sample that may be accepted with a target particle in a subsequent sort analysis; and (c) a sort analysis system to sort particles within the sample, while accepting particles defined by coincidence acceptance gate.
US09347926B2 Exhaust sampling system and method for synchronizing time alignment and dilation
A system and method is provided for synchronizing a first and second signal of an exhaust sampling system. The first signal is generated by a first instrument and includes an exhaust flow rate component and a first instrument time stamp component. The second signal is generated by a second instrument and includes a pollutant concentration component and a second instrument time stamp component. The second instrument also generates a tertiary signal that has been influenced by the first signal and includes a second instrument time stamp component. A synchronization module determines a time relationship for synchronizing the first signal and the second signal by comparing the first flow rate component and the first instrument time stamp component of the first signal to the tertiary signal and the second instrument time stamp component of the tertiary signal. The synchronization provides accurate calculation of a pollutant mass flow rate.
US09347923B1 Colorometric detection of water using MOF-polymer films and composites
A method including exposing a mixture of a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer to a predetermined molecular species, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for the predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species; and detecting a color change of the MOF in the presence of the predetermined molecular species. A method including combining a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for a predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species. An article of manufacture including a mixture of a porous metal organic framework (MOF) and a polymer, wherein the MOF has an open metal site for a predetermined molecular species and the polymer has a porosity for the predetermined molecular species.
US09347920B2 Analytical instruments, assemblies, and methods
Person-portable mass analysis instrumentation configured to perform multidimensional mass analysis is provided. Mass analysis instrumentation can include a housing encompassing components of the instrumentation with the housing of the instrumentation defining a space having a volume of equal to or less than about 100,000 cm3. Instrument assemblies are also provided that can include a housing coupled to an instrument component isolation assembly, wherein the component isolation assembly is isolated from an environment exterior to the housing. Exemplary instrument assemblies can include at least first and second components configured to provide analysis with a housing of the instrument at least partially encompassing the first and second components and the first component being rigidly affixed to the housing. An isolation assembly can also be provided that is rigidly affixed to the second component with the isolation assembly being isolated from received inputs of the housing.
US09347919B2 Gas-liquid contact extraction method and apparatus
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for rapidly extracting the analyte existing in the liquid phase in analyzing an analyte “having a large partition coefficient in gas-liquid equilibrium”, “having a high water solubility”, or “having a low olfactory threshold” by a gas-liquid contact extraction method, and further provides, a method and apparatus for unmanned continuous sample introduction of the analyte to a GC or the like for a long time. In the present invention, using a gas-liquid contact extractor to which a sample liquid is continuously introduced from above and a purge gas from beneath, the analyte in the sample liquid is extracted by gas-liquid contact between the sample liquid and the purge gas. A discharge pipe is connected to the bottom of the gas-liquid contact extractor, the pipe having a liquid sump through which the sample liquid is discharged, while blocking the outflow of the purge gas from the liquid sump.
US09347907B2 Device for providing a means for internal calibration in an electrochemical sensor
Internally calibrated pH and other analyte sensors based on redox agents provide more accurate results when the redox active reference agent is in a constant chemical environment, yet separated from the solution being analyzed in such a way as to maintain electrical contact with the sample. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) can be used to achieve these results when used as a salt bridge between the reference material and the sample being analyzed. The RTIL provides the constant chemical environment and ionic strength for the redox active material (RAM) and provides an electrolytic layer that limits or eliminates direct chemical interaction with the sample. A broad range of RAMs can be employed in a variety of configurations in such “Analyte Insensitive Electrode” devices.
US09347906B2 Sensor apparatus for detecting properties of liquid
The invention relates to a sensor device for detecting properties of fluid media in a container, comprising at least one base plate (42) made of an insulating material and having a first surface (42a) exposed to the medium (3), at least two sensor elements (41) having at least a first and a second electrode (41a, 41b) arranged insulated from one another on the first surface of the base plate and around which the medium flows, the at least two sensor elements being arranged in a predetermined spatial position relative to each other.
US09347895B2 X-RAY diffraction apparatus, X-RAY diffraction measuring method, and control program
The X-ray diffraction apparatus irradiates a sample with an X-ray and performs frame photographing in each X-ray diffraction angle, and includes a control section (141) controlling the frame photographing by scanning without closing a shutter, a data acquisition section (142) acquiring detection data of each frame which has been detected by a semiconductor pixel detector in the frame photographing, a frame integration section (146) integrating the detection data which has been acquired in each scanning for each frame, and a determination section (147) determining whether the integrated detection data has a sufficient intensity or not, and the control section (141) controls so as to finish measurement when the integrated detection data has a sufficient intensity and so as to perform the scanning again when the integrated detection data does not have a sufficient intensity.
US09347881B2 Device and method for detecting state of discharged liquid droplet and image forming device incorporating such device
A device for detecting a state of a liquid droplet discharged from each of nozzles placed in one or more rows, includes a light emitting element to emit a light beam to the liquid droplet from a nozzle in question, and a pair of light receiving elements disposed on both sides of a beam diameter of the light beam via an optical axis to receive scattered light occurring from the liquid droplet for detecting a state of the discharged liquid droplet on the basis of the scattered light. Either of the pair of the light receiving elements is selected for receiving the scattered light from the liquid droplet discharged from the nozzle according to a positional relation between the nozzle and the pair of light receiving elements.
US09347880B2 Method and apparatus for imaging of semi-transparent matter
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for measuring the spatial and velocity distribution of scattering structures of a sample in semi-transparent matter. The acquired spectral data I(k, t) are transformed in two steps to image data I(z, v). A Doppler shift is imposed on the light to a separate real and mirror images in the v space to suppress the complex ambiguity artifact.
US09347879B2 Apparatus and methods for detecting overlay errors using scatterometry
Disclosed is a scatterometry mark for determining an overlay error, critical dimension, or profile of the mark. The mark includes a first plurality of periodic structures on a first layer, a second plurality of periodic structures on a second layer, and a third plurality of periodic structures on a third layer that is underneath the first and second layer. The third periodic structures are perpendicular to the first and second structures, and the third periodic structures have one or more characteristics so as to result in a plurality of lower structures beneath the third periodic structures being screened from significantly affecting at least part of a spectrum of a plurality of scattered signals detected from the first and second periodic structures for determining an overlay error, critical dimension, or profile of the first and second periodic structures or at least one of such detected scattered signals.
US09347878B2 Method and apparatus for external cavity laser absorption spectroscopy
Method and apparatus for external cavity laser absorption spectroscopy There is disclosed an apparatus, and corresponding methods, for determining one or more characteristics of a sample in an absorption cell using laser absorption spectroscopy. For example, the characteristic may be concentration of a species in the sample. The apparatus comprises an external cavity semiconductor laser comprising a semiconductor gain medium within an optical resonator. The absorption cell is located within the optical resonator of the external cavity semiconductor laser so as to be optically coupled with the gain medium. A controller is arranged to provide a varied injection current to the semiconductor gain medium. A photodetector is arranged to detect laser light output by the external cavity semiconductor laser. An analyzer is arranged to determine one or more characteristics of the sample from behavior of the detected laser light output as a function of the varied injection current.
US09347874B2 Calculating the spectral characteristics of the color resulting from overlaying colorants
A method of spectrally characterising an ink printed over another ink, and of calculating a spectral measure of reflectance of an overprint of a plurality of inks thus characterized. The method uses spectral measurements of a substrate. For an order of printing an overprint, for each ink, for a respective amount of printing of the ink, the method accepts or determines a respective interaction of absorption and reflection function (“IAR function”) indicative of how the ink interacts with a printed background and includes determining the spectral reflectance by repeatedly multiplying, in the order, for each additional ink added to a current background the spectral measure of the current background by exponentiation of the ratio of the spectral measure of the additional ink on the substrate to the spectral measure of the substrate, by the TAR function of the additional ink.
US09347858B2 Dispensing device and dispensing system
A dispensing device includes: a syringe including a nozzle; a first pump configured to generate a pressure to discharge a liquid in the syringe through the nozzle; and a control unit configured to, when discharging the liquid in the syringe, discharge a part of the liquid in the syringe with the pressure generated by the first pump and then cause the liquid in the syringe to run out under its own weight.
US09347853B2 Method and device of measuring wavefront aberration, method of manufacturing optical system, and recording medium
A wavefront aberration measuring method forms a plurality of spot images by causing light, which is transmitted through a test optical system, to be incident on a lenslet array, and measures positions of the spot images. Based on the measured positions of the spot images, a wavefront aberration of the test optical system is calculated. When the positions of the spot images are measured, at least one lenslet forming the lenslet array is shielded from light, and the spot images are measured.
US09347852B1 Microscope illumination diagnostic cube
Modern implementations of Kohler illuminated epi illumination microscope systems provide state of the art performance in various scientific fields such as clinical practice and biological research. While modern microscope performance has increased by use of high performance components, modern microscopes now degrade over time and exhibit inconstant performance. New systems comprise new illumination cubes that replace existing components and contain optical components that provide users with a diagnostic image of the epi illumination.
US09347851B2 Signal processing of lamb wave data for pipe inspection
The invention relates to systems and methods for conducting an ultrasonic, nondestructive evaluation and inspection of a pipe using Lamb-type wave transducers to detect the presence of defects, flaws, discontinuities and the like. The transducers are positioned within the interior space of the pipe. Two transducers are positioned facing each other such that the ultrasonic beam emitted from each of the transducers is directed toward the other transducer and the portion of pipe to be inspected. The coverage of the transducers is verified and the results are processed using a combination of a cross correlation filter and a signal processing tool.
US09347847B2 Pressure transmitter with impulse line plugging diagnostic
A pressure transmitter includes at least one impulse line for coupling a fluid pipe or tank to a pressure sensor that measures a process pressure of a process fluid, a temperature sensor measuring an ambient temperature, and a processor accessing baseline data for the process pressure and ambient temperature. The processor implements an automatic impulse line plugging diagnostic (ILPD) algorithm stored in memory. The processor runs the ILPD algorithm implementing utilizing process measurements including a process pressure from the pressure sensor and an ambient temperature from the temperature sensor, comparing a magnitude of the process pressure to a baseline pressure predicted from the baseline data corresponding to the ambient temperature, and uses results of the comparing to determine whether the impulse line is plugged. The comparing can involve comparing a process pressure change to a baseline pressure change predicted corresponding to an ambient temperature change.
US09347844B2 Three point hitch draft sensing system
A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.
US09347843B2 Low-height sensor for measuring torque angle
A sensor for measuring a torque angle. The sensor includes a magnet, a first stator, a second stator, a first collector, a second collector, and a magnetic sensing element. The first stator includes a first horizontal ring section located on a first plane, and a plurality of first teeth extended from the first horizontal ring section, the plurality of teeth located on a second plane. The second stator includes a second horizontal ring section located on the second plane, and a plurality of second teeth extended from the second horizontal ring section, the plurality of second teeth located on the second plane. The first collector is located proximate the first horizontal ring section and the second collector is located proximate the second horizontal ring section. The magnetic sensing element is magnetically coupled to the first collector the second collector.
US09347842B2 Well conductor strain monitoring
A well conductor strain monitoring system is provided which includes a plurality of fiber optic Bragg grating sensors written onto a single optical fiber. Cable strands are wound around the optical fiber to form an armored cable protecting the fiber. The armored cable is further integrated into a strength cable to provide robustness. This strength cable is then wrapped around the conductor under tension and anchored at both ends. The cable is wound at a prescribed angle so as to have multiple wraps around the conductor. Once tensioned, the cable remains stationary against the conductor and holds a position. The strain gages are spaced along the optical fiber, such that the strain gages are oriented 90 degrees apart when the cable is wrapped about the conductor. This orientation supports the estimation of bending in any direction.
US09347836B2 Dynamic voltage reference for sampling delta based temperature sensor
A system and method for measuring integrated circuit (IC) temperature. An integrated circuit (IC) includes a thermal sensor and data processing circuitry. The thermal sensor utilizes switched currents provided to a reference diode and a thermal diode. The ratios of the currents provided to each of these diodes may be chosen to provide a given delta value between the resulting sampled diode voltages. At a later time, a different ratio of currents may be provided to each of these diodes to provide a second given delta value between the resulting sampled diode voltages. A differential amplifier within the data processing circuitry may receive the analog sampled voltages and determine the delta values. Other components within the data processing circuitry may at least digitize and store one or both of the delta values. A difference between the digitized delta values may calculated and used to determine an IC temperature digitized code.
US09347834B2 Infrared sensor array based temperature monitoring systems for data centers and related methods
Temperature monitoring systems for data centers include a plurality of ceiling-mounted infrared sensor arrays. Each infrared sensor array includes a two-dimensional array of infrared emission sensors, and at least some of the infrared emission sensors have field of view patterns that project onto aisle faces of equipment racks that are mounted in rows in the data center. These systems may further include a controller that is remote from at least some of the infrared sensor arrays and that is in communications with the infrared sensor arrays, the controller configured to provide a two-dimensional thermal map of the aisle faces of the equipment racks based at least in part on temperature data received from the infrared sensor arrays.
US09347830B2 Apparatus and method for obtaining spectral image
An apparatus for obtaining spectral image includes a variable spectral element capable of changing its spectral characteristics, a transmission wavelength setting unit for setting a wavelength of light to be transmitted by the variable spectral element, a variable spectral element control unit changing a first control of the variable spectral element and a second control of the variable spectral element for controlling spectral characteristics of the variable spectral element to each other, an image capturing unit capturing an image that is formed by light transmitted by the variable spectral element, and an image correction unit acquiring a difference image between a first image captured in the first control and a second image captured in the second control.
US09347829B2 Integrated nanobeam cavity array spectrometer
An on-chip integrated nanobeam cavity array spectrometer (INAS) having an array of waveguide-coupled nanobeam cavities. Waveguide splitters are used to bring the signal from the input waveguide into each cavity. The spectrum of unknown input signal is obtained by collecting signal from each nanobeam cavity in the array.
US09347827B2 System for field measurement and calibration of photovoltaic reference devices
A system for field measurement and calibration of photovoltaic reference devices, including a reference device electronics unit that measures the electrical output of a photovoltaic reference module and provides data to determine the solar irradiance received by the reference module as a function of its electrical output; and a calibrator unit that is used to routinely recalibrate the reference device electronics unit and the reference module, wherein the calibrator unit contains one or more calibrated photovoltaic reference cell(s).
US09347824B2 Light collection optics for measuring flux and spectrum from light-emitting devices
Systems and methods for accurately measuring the luminous flux and color (spectra) from light-emitting devices are disclosed. An integrating sphere may be utilized to directly receive a first portion of light emitted by a light-emitting device through an opening defined on the integrating sphere. A light collector may be utilized to collect a second portion of light emitted by the light-emitting device and direct the second portion of light into the integrating sphere through the opening defined on the integrating sphere. A spectrometer may be utilized to measure at least one property of the first portion and the second portion of light received by the integrating sphere.
US09347808B2 Flush mounted ultrasonic transducer arrays for flow measurement
A flow meter system includes a first ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to a pipe. The system also includes a second ultrasonic transducer array to be flush-mounted to the pipe. The system further includes a controller coupled to the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays and configured to cause bidirectional beam steering between the first and second ultrasonic transducer arrays.
US09347803B2 Abnormality detection system and abnormality detection method
An abnormality detection system includes an optical fiber, a backscattered light detection unit, and a data processing unit. The detection unit is connected to one end and the other end of the optical fiber and configured to acquire a first intensity distribution of backscattered light by causing light to enter the optical fiber from the one end, and to acquire a second intensity distribution of backscattered light by causing light to enter the optical fiber from the other end. The processing unit is configured to calculate the product of a value obtained by applying a first FIR filter to the first intensity distribution, and a value obtained by applying a second FIR filter to the second intensity distribution, for each of locations on the optical fiber in the length direction thereof, and to determine whether or not abnormality is present based on the result of the calculation.
US09347801B2 Motor driving system for electric vehicle
To provide a motor driving system for an electrically powered automotive vehicle, in which the drive motor is rotationally controlled to increase the reliability, the use is made of an angle sensor for detecting the relative rotational angle between a stator and a rotor of a drive motor for driving the electric vehicle and a controller for controlling the rotation of the drive motor on the basis of the relative rotational angle detected by the angle sensor. The angle sensor is provided in a plural number. The controller includes an angle sensor switching unit operable to select and activate one of the plurality of the angle sensors and then to switch over to an activation of another one of the angle sensors in the event that the one of the angle sensors is determined abnormal.
US09347789B2 Application and device to memorialize and share events geographically
A method and device of sharing an event or experience by capturing a geographic location of the and at least one detail of the experience or event in the form of data such as video, text, sound, or pictures, with an electronic device, storing the geographic location plus the data on a database accessible to a plurality of users. The application further alerts a user or a plurality of users of the details of the experience when the user is near the geographic location where the at least one detail of the experience was captured and guiding the user to the geographic location where the experience was captured.
US09347784B2 Vehicle information providing device
A vehicle information providing device provides route information to vehicles. The vehicle information providing device has a history information accumulation unit that sequentially acquires at least one of driving location information, power consumption information and charging location information from vehicle-mounted devices of a plurality of vehicle, and accumulates this as driving history information. The vehicle information providing device has a presentation information provision unit that provides information regarding a presentation route in which the information regarding the presentation route is presented in a form such that routes in a vicinity of the private location cannot be identified, when the presentation route is determined to include at least one private location.
US09347780B2 Intelligent route navigation
Embodiments relate to providing navigation instructions to a user for reaching a destination via a route planned on a map of a navigation system, said map comprising a plurality of road segments, at least a subset of said road segments comprising an assigned familiarity score. An aspect includes tracking a route taken by a user. Another aspect includes calculating an updated familiarity score of the one or more road segments of the tracked route using at least one of a user-defined updating variable and an updating variable based on at least one dynamically obtained actual travelling condition. Yet another aspect includes storing the updated familiarity score in a data storage of the navigation system.
US09347776B2 Vibrating element and manufacturing method for the same, gyro sensor, electronic apparatus and moving object
A vibrating element includes a vibrating arm for detection. An electrode is provided on the vibrating arm for detection. A wiring line is connected to the electrode. The wiring line is arranged on a piezoelectric body of a base portion. At least a part of the wiring line is an electrode for adjustment. The electrode for adjustment generates an electrical signal with an opposite phase to an output signal of leak vibration of the vibrating arm for detection.
US09347773B2 Highly accurate distance measurement device
Highly accurate electro-optical time of flight distance measuring device for determining a distance to a target, including a transmitter for sending out a pulse shaped optical radiation to the target as well as a receiver for an optical signal built for turning the optical signal to an electrical signal, and a filter with a transfer function for filtering the electrical signal whereby the filter is built in such a way that its transfer-function is of at least 4th order, in particular 5th or 7th or higher order, so that aliasing is suppressed. Further a waveform-sampler, as an analog-to-digital-converter, for digitalizing the pulse shape from the filtered electrical signal as time- and value-quantized digital data, and a computation means for a numerical evaluation of the distance according to the pulse shape or a pulse shape representing numerical signature from the digital data.
US09347762B2 Near-surface object sensing device and sensing method
Disclosed is a near-surface object sensing device, including a printed circuit board, a plurality of magnetic sensors arrayed on the printed circuit board to sense the magnetic field of an external magnetic object and generate a magnetic sensing signal, a multiplexer connected to the magnetic sensors for selecting and outputting the magnetic sensing signal, and a microprocessor connected to the multiplexer for receiving the magnetic sensing signal, wherein the microprocessor includes a sampling algorithm module for converting the magnetic sensing signal into a magnetic field distribution image, and a six-dimensional coordinate-calculating module for calculating six-dimensional coordinates of the external magnetic object. The sensing device of the invention is compact, low energy consuming and can accurately provide users with a convenient and intuitive user interface with three dimensional locations and position information in a near-surface space.
US09347760B2 Combination gauge tool
A combination gauge tool and a method of measuring are provided. The combination gauge tool includes a processing module having a sensor. The combination gauge tool includes at least two of a brake pad thickness gauge, a tire treads depth gauge, and a rotor thickness gauge each coupled to the processing module at one or more inputs of the sensor and configured to provide measurement data to the sensor.
US09347757B2 Wheel assembly for moving caliper jaw with repeatable force
A compliant wheel assembly is provided for moving a caliper jaw relative to a caliper spar. The wheel assembly includes a rotary bearing member, a rotary actuation member and a compliant coupling element. The rotary bearing member is coupled to the caliper jaw and may engage the caliper spar. The rotary actuation member is actuated by a user to apply a measuring force. The compliant coupling element is configured to compliantly couple the rotary actuation member to the rotary bearing member. Using the compliant wheel assembly, a user is able to apply a more consistent amount of measurement force than could typically be achieved with a conventional rigid thumb wheel in caliper. In one implementation, a displacement indicator may also be provided that is responsive to the rotational displacement between the rotary bearing and actuation members for indicating an amount of measurement force that is being applied.
US09347756B2 Non explosive process and device for triggering an avalanche
The invention comprises a device and method of using said device(s) including but not limited to; Long Range Acoustical Devices (LRAD), Hyper Sonic Sound (HSS), Cascaded Linear Array Systems (Clas and BClas) and or HyperSpike devices currently and typically used for sonar, acoustic hailing, crowd control, mass notification, and sonic boom simulation—to initiate avalanche release in or in proximity to avalanche corridors and starting zone(s) as a non-explosive control alternative. The invention is an integration of technologies incorporating an infrasound generator, on board power supply and amplification, inverter, digital signal processor, GPS, and RF receiver all housed in a rugged weather resistant enclosure with necessary gantry and rigging. The combination of these technologies allows control personnel to safely operate the equipment from a remote location. The invention is deployed remotely via a cable or network of cables to predetermined avalanche starting zone(s). The device can be rotated, panned the full length or range of the cable(s), and tilted offering users comprehensive coverage of any topography. The invention can readily be integrated with equipment and infrastructures already in use such as bomb trams, cable and pylon networks, helicopters, chairlifts, and sensing and notification systems. New infrastructures can be built to tailor fit any and all topographies and avalanche control programs for ski resorts, Departments of Transportation, transportation entities, and national parks.
US09347738B1 Folding stock attachment with modified bolt carrier for automatic recoil rifles and pistols
A modified bolt carrier for automatic recoil rifles and pistols preferably includes a modified bolt carrier, a folding stock member, a shortened buffer tube, an end cap, a butt stock threaded tube and a bolt carrier sleeve. A sleeve bore is formed in the modified carrier bolt to receive the bolt carrier sleeve. The folding stock member includes a swing base and a swing arm. A tube bore is formed through the swing base to receive the shortened buffer tube. Upper and lower flanges extend from the swing base to retain a pivot pin. The swing arm includes a butt pivot arm, which extends from the stock ring. The pivot arm is pivotally retained on the swing base with the pivot pin. The butt stock threaded tube is threaded into the stock ring. The end cap includes an end cap portion and a guide rod.