Document Document Title
US09380736B2 Electromagnetic interference suppressor
According to the present invention, there are provided an electromagnetic interference suppression material capable of exhibiting a good low-pass filter characteristic in an extensive frequency band ranging from a low frequency to a high frequency, and an electromagnetic interference suppression sheet using the electromagnetic interference suppression material. When laminating a conductive layer having a surface electrical resistance of 100 to 5000Ω/□ in which 5 to 25% by volume of a conductive carbon is mixed, and a magnetic layer having a magnetic permeability with an actual number portion of 3 to 45 in which a magnetic material is mixed, to each other, it is possible to obtain an electromagnetic interference suppression sheet suitable for high-density packaging of electronic equipments which is excellent in low-pass filter characteristic in a near electromagnetic field.
US09380731B2 System for air-conditioning the interior of a data processing center
Environment conditioning system of the inner space of a data center (2) is provided with electronic equipment (3). The system (1) includes a passive air-to-air heat exchanger (4), configured to enable heat exchange, without air cross-contamination, between an outer air flow (5) and a recirculation air flow (6). The recirculation air flow (6) comes from the inner space of a data center (2) and it is intended to condition it after passing through the air-to-air heat exchanger (4).
US09380711B2 Substrate manufacturing method
A substrate manufacturing method includes an inner layer circuit forming step for partially removing metal films from an insulating base material (2), on both surfaces of which the metal films are stuck, and forming an inner layer circuit (3); and an insulating layer forming step for applying first insulating resin (4) to each of both the surfaces of the insulating base material (2) with an inkjet system and forming an insulating layer (5). In the insulating layer forming step, a via hole (6) from which the inner layer circuit (3) is partially exposed is formed simultaneously with the application of the first insulating resin (4). Consequently, a step of separately forming a via hole with a laser or the like is unnecessary, expenses are relatively low, and it is possible to simplify a manufacturing process.
US09380706B2 Method of manufacturing a substrate strip with wiring
A substrate strip with wiring is provided. The substrate strip includes a plurality of wiring blocks, a carrying substrate, and an adhesive layer. Each of the wiring blocks includes at least one wiring board unit, and each of the wiring board unit includes an insulating layer and a wiring layer disposed on the insulating layer. The carrying substrate has a carrying surface. The adhesive layer is disposed between the carrying surface and the wiring layers, and adheres to the wiring blocks and the carrying substrate. When the adhesive layer is separated from the wiring blocks, the wiring layers are kept on the insulating layers. Further, a manufacturing method for the substrate is provided.
US09380705B2 Laterally coupled isolator devices
A laterally coupled isolator includes a pair of isolator traces provided in a common dielectric layer and separated by a distance that defines the isolation strength of the system. Circuit designers can vary the lateral distance to tailor isolation rating to suit individual design needs. A second embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate, provided below the isolator traces that includes a communication circuit electrically coupled to one of the isolator devices.
US09380699B2 Ceramic multilayer substrate and method for manufacturing the same
A ceramic multilayer substrate includes stacked ceramic layers; internal conductors which are stacked with one of the ceramic layers therebetween, and are arranged such that at least a portion of the internal conductors overlap each other in a stacking direction; and a constraining layer which is arranged on a layer different from layers on which the internal conductors are located. The constraining layer overlaps, in the stacking direction, an internal conductor-overlapping region where at least two of the internal conductors overlapping each other in the stacking direction, has a planar area not more than twice the planar area of the internal conductor-overlapping region, and contains an unsintered inorganic material powder. The constraining layer has a planar area not more than one-half the planar area of the ceramic layers. The constraining layer is arranged so as to entirely cover the internal conductor-overlapping region.
US09380695B2 Traveling wave linear accelerator with RF power flow outside of accelerating cavities
A high power RF traveling wave accelerator structure includes a symmetric RF feed, an input matching cell coupled to the symmetric RF feed, a sequence of regular accelerating cavities coupled to the input matching cell at an input beam pipe end of the sequence, one or more waveguides parallel to and coupled to the sequence of regular accelerating cavities, an output matching cell coupled to the sequence of regular accelerating cavities at an output beam pipe end of the sequence, and output waveguide circuit or RF loads coupled to the output matching cell. Each of the regular accelerating cavities has a nose cone that cuts off field propagating into the beam pipe and therefore all power flows in a traveling wave along the structure in the waveguide.
US09380694B2 Plasma torch having an externally adjustable anode and cathode
A plasma torch is provided and adapted to generate very high operating temperatures to gasify various types of materials, such as biomass materials and various carbonaceous materials. The plasma torch is composed of a ceramic body that has first, second, and third intersecting bores. Each of the first, second, and third intersecting bores defines a threaded portion therein. A first and second tungsten carbide electrode is adjustably disposed in the first and second intersecting bores and operative to be adjustable to establish a controlled gap size therebetween. A compressed gas connection is threadably disposed in the threaded portion of the third bore and is operative to introduce a flow of compressed gas through the controlled gap. The first and second tungsten carbide electrodes are connectable to a source of electrical energy and functions to produce an electrical arc across the controlled gap. The resulting flame produced by the electrical arc burns at an extreme temperature.
US09380692B2 Apparatus and arrangements of magnetic field generators to facilitate physical vapor deposition to form semiconductor films
Embodiments relate generally to semiconductor device fabrication and processes, and more particularly, to an apparatus and arrangements of magnetic field generators configured to generate rotating magnetic fields to facilitate physical vapor deposition (“PVD”). In one embodiment, a magnetic field generator apparatus can include a rotatable magnetic field and a counterbalance magnetic field generator that rotates about the axis of rotation in opposition to the rotatable magnetic field generator. The rotatable magnetic field generator generates a first magnitude of a magnetic field adjacent to a first circumferential portion of a circular region. The counterbalance magnetic field generator generates a second magnitude of the magnetic field adjacent to a second circumferential portion. The rotatable and counterbalance magnetic field generators can be configured to generate the magnetic field between the first and a second plane along a diameter extending from the first circumferential portion to the second circumferential portion.
US09380689B2 Silicon based charge neutralization systems
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for low emission charge neutralization, comprising: generating a high frequency alternating current (AC) voltage; transmitting the high frequency AC voltage to at least one non-metallic emitter; wherein the at least one non-metallic emitter comprises at least 70% silicon by weight and less than 99.99% silicon by weight; wherein the at least one emitter comprises at least one treated surface section with a destroyed oxidation layer; and generating ions from the at least one non-metallic emitter in response to the high frequency AC voltage. Another embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for low emission charge neutralization wherein the apparatus can perform the above-described operations.
US09380688B1 Air gap electrostatic discharge structure for high speed circuits
Aspects relate to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) system for ESD protection and a method of manufacturing. The ESD system includes a lower substrate, an underfill layer that is disposed on the lower substrate that includes a plurality of cavities, and an upper substrate disposed on the underfill layer. The upper substrate includes a plurality of air ventilation shafts. The ESD system also includes a plurality of air gap metal tip structures disposed within one or more of the plurality of cavities in the underfill, wherein the plurality of ventilation shafts line up with the plurality of air gap metal tip structures. At least one air gap tip structure includes an upper metallic tip and a lower metallic tip that are placed along a vertical axis that is perpendicular to the substrates. An air cavity is provided between the upper metallic tip and the lower metallic tip forming an air chamber.
US09380684B2 Method and system for an electronically adaptive photometry for roadway lighting
Provided is an outdoor lighting assembly including at least one lighting arrays having one or more light sources configured for lighting a plurality of zones. At least one controller is operatively coupled to the at least one lighting array. The controller is configured to independently change optical outputs of the one or more light sources in each of the zones.
US09380672B2 Methods and apparatus for improving backlight driver efficiency
An electronic device may be provided with display circuitry that includes a display timing controller, a backlight driver, a light source, and other associated backlight structures. The backlight control circuitry may generate a control signal having an adjustable duty cycle to the backlight driver. The backlight driver may include a boost converter, a current driver, and backlight control circuitry. The current driver may only be activated when the control signal is high. The backlight control circuitry may output an enable signal to the boost converter. The backlight control circuitry may activate the boost converter a predetermined amount of time before each rising clock edge in the control signal by asserting the enable signal for a longer period of time than when the control signal is high. The control signal and the enable signal may be deasserted at around the same times.
US09380645B2 Communication pathway supporting an advanced split microwave backhaul architecture
An advanced split ODU architecture is provided. The advanced architecture includes an indoor communication unit including a digital modem assembly configured to modulate and demodulate digital data, and also includes a digital interface module configured to transmit and/or receive the digital data, over a digital communication pathway, between the indoor communication unit and an external outdoor communication unit. The advanced architecture further includes an outdoor communication unit having a digital interface module configured to transmit and/or receive the digital data, over the digital communication pathway, between the outdoor communication unit and an external indoor communication unit, and also includes a digital to analog converter configured to convert the digital data to analog data and an analog to digital converter configured to convert the analog data to the digital data, and further includes an RF module configured to convert the analog data between a baseband and a radio frequency.
US09380620B2 Methods and apparatus relating to connection and/or session establishment decisions
Wireless communications devices with existing peer to peer links transmit, e.g., in accordance with a recurring schedule, quality of service related information corresponding to the existing links. The transmitted quality of service related information is, e.g., information indicating an obtained quality of service for the existing link. In some embodiments, quality of service related information is communicated in one of: a peer discovery signal, a connection ID broadcast signal and a contention resolution signal. A wireless communications device seeking to establish a new peer to peer link receives quality of service related information corresponding to existing links and estimates a quality a service achievable on the new desired potential link based on the received quality of service related information. The wireless communications device decides whether or not to establish the new peer to peer link based on its quality of service estimate.
US09380611B2 Communication system including a femtocell and communication method thereof
The communication system comprises a base station (BS), a femtocell and a core network. The femtocell deployed within the signal coverage of the BS establishes a first wired connection with an internet service provider (ISP) network and a first wireless connection with a user equipment (UE). The core network establishes a second wired connection with the ISP network and a third wired connection with the BS. The core network is configured to determine that a voice data transmission service is about to be provided to the UE, and transmit a first radio access bearer (RAB) setup request message to the BS to enable the BS to establish a second wireless connection with the femtocell according to the first RAB setup request message so that the UE performs a voice data transmission with the core network via the first wireless connection, the second wireless connection and the third wired connection.
US09380600B2 Semi-persistent scheduled resource release procedure in a mobile communication network
A semi-persistent resource scheduling (SPS) allocation of a user equipment is deactivated in an LTE-based mobile communication system without requiring changes to the Physical layer-to-MAC layer interface and/or changes to PDCCH formats agreed by the 3GPP. A combination of NDI value and MCS index is defined that commands release of SPS resources. An alternative solution proposed defines a special transport block size that when signaled in a PDCCH commands release of SPS resources.
US09380584B2 Method to control reconfiguration of multiple radio access bearers in a wireless device
Methods to control reconfiguration of multiple radio access bearers in a mobile wireless device connected to a wireless network are described. The mobile wireless device is connected to the wireless network through a voice connection and a data connection simultaneously. The data connection is concurrently active with the voice connection. Transmission of one or more signaling messages for the data connection is delayed until the voice connection terminates. Representative signaling messages include messages that reconfigure a radio access bearer supporting the data connection and messages estimated to exceed a pre-determined transmission time interval.
US09380576B2 Stochastic radio source allocation for shared radio access network
An apparatus for allocating radio resources shared among a plurality of network operators is provided. Each network operator has at least one scheduling entity, SE, and a respective resource allocation, RA, probability for being selected for radio resource allocation during a transmission time interval, TTI. The apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processor that are configured to cause the apparatus, within a TTI, to select a network operator of the plurality of network operators for resource allocation within the TTI based at least in part on the RA probability of the network operator, allocate radio resources to an SE of the selected network operator within the TTI and update the RA probability of selecting each of the plurality of network operators for a next selection of resource allocation.
US09380571B2 Method and apparatus for transreceiving downlink signal by considering antenna port relationship in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically, disclosed are a method and an apparatus for transmitting or receiving a downlink signal by considering an antenna port relationship. A method for user equipment decoding an enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH) in the wireless communication system, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises the steps of: determining from a downlink subframe a reference element (RE) on which the EPDCCH is mapped; and decoding the EPDCCH based on the RE on which the EPDCCH is mapped. At least one EPDCCH-physical resource block (PRB)-set for monitoring the EPDCCH can be established for the user equipment, wherein a parameter set for each of the at least one EPDCCH-PRB-set is indicated by an upper layer, and the RE on which the EPDCCH is mapped can be determined based on the parameter set indicated by the upper layer.
US09380565B2 Method and apparatus for allocating resources of a control channel in a mobile communication system using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing
Methods and apparatuses are provided for wireless communication. Control symbols are mapped to a plurality of resource element groups (REGs) which is not assigned to a physical channel format indication channel (PCFICH) or a physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (PHICH). The REGs are allocated based on a time first manner. The mapped control symbols are transmitted on a packet dedicated control channel (PDCCH). A number of the REGs in a physical resource block (PRB) on an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol depends on an index of the OFDM symbol and a number of configured reference signals.
US09380550B2 Method for checking availability or state of peer entity
A method for checking availability of one of Television White Space (TVWS) devices by a management device for managing the TVWS devices to co-exist in a TVWS according to one embodiment of the present invention can comprise the following steps: receiving a registration request message for registering the TVWS device or updating the registration of the TVWS device from the TVWS device; registering the TVWS device or updating the registration of the TVWS device; transmitting a check request message for checking the availability of the TVWS device to the TVWS device after registering the TVWS device or updating the registration of the TVWS device, the check request message including a time parameter; and determining the availability of the TVWS device on the basis of the time parameter.
US09380539B2 Techniques for reducing transmission delays in multi-carrier wireless communications
Aspects related to performing power control over a secondary carrier are described. At least one parameter can be received for performing power control over a carrier with a cell. Based on the at least one parameter, at least one alternative parameter can be determined for performing a power control procedure for a secondary carrier with the cell, and the power control procedure for the secondary carrier with the cell can be performed based at least in part on the at least one alternative parameter. The at least one alternative parameter may result in a power control procedure for the secondary carrier that takes less time than a power control procedure for the primary carrier with the cell.
US09380538B2 Interactively cooperative mobile communication device power management
Mobile communication devices, like smartphones, cooperatively interact with one another and with a communication provider, like a cellular telephone provider, to manage power usage by the mobile devices, where the communication capabilities of the devices are still retained. For example, for two mobile devices, the first device may be placed into a reduced-power mode, while the second device remains in a non-reduced-power mode. The second device at least partially assumes the communication capability of the first device so that the communication capability of the first device is retained.
US09380534B2 System and method for selecting a power efficient network interface
A system and method for selecting a power efficient network interface are provided. One or more network interfaces for data transfer are detected on an electronic device. An active network interface from the one or more network interfaces, where the active network interface is active for data transfer, is identified. One or more power profiles corresponding to the one or more network interfaces are obtained. A power efficient network interface for data transfer from the one or more network interfaces based on the one or more obtained power profiles is determined. In a case where the determined power efficient network interface is not the active network interface, the power efficient network interface is activated for data transfer; data transfer by the active network interface is suspended after the power efficient network interface has been activated.
US09380531B1 Systems and methods for providing wireless sensor networks with an asymmetric network architecture
Systems and methods for implementing power management features while providing a wireless asymmetric network are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system includes a hub having a wireless control device that is configured to control communications and power consumption in the wireless asymmetric network architecture. The system also includes a plurality of nodes each having a wireless device with a transmitter and a receiver (or transmitter and receiver functionality of a transceiver) to enable bi-directional communications with the wireless control device of the hub in the wireless asymmetric network architecture. The wireless control device can be configured to determine a scheduled timing of causing the transmitter to be operable to transmit and causing the receiver to be operable to receive for each wireless device to reduce power consumption of the wireless devices of the plurality of nodes.
US09380529B2 Wireless access point terminal and connection control method
A wireless access point terminal capable of reducing power consumption even if housed terminals are present is provided. The wireless access point terminal individually connects a plurality of housed terminals to a network using a wireless communications unit capable of individual wireless communications with the plurality of housed terminals. The wireless access point terminal has: a housed terminal management unit that determines whether or not to continue connection for each connected housed terminal; and a connection control unit that controls the wireless communications unit such that the wireless communication is disconnected for a housed terminal for which a determination has been made to not continue the connection.
US09380527B2 Method for reducing the energy consumption in a wireless communication terminal and communication terminal implementing said method
The invention relates to a wireless communication terminal able to transmit and/or receive video, audio or data signals in a first and a second frequency band comprising a first MIMO circuit of N paths (N≧1) operating in the first frequency band and a second MIMO circuit of M paths (M≧1) operating in the second frequency band, the first and second MIMO circuits each being coupled to front-end modules comprising respectively N and M power amplifiers, the front-end modules being connected to an antenna system.
US09380526B2 Method, apparatus and computer program product for reducing outage probability for mobile devices
An apparatus for enabling dual mode communication may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive (102), via a source cell, an indication of service availability for a particular service in a target cell, determine (104) whether a current transmission format of the target cell is indicative of the particular service being available at a region proximate to an edge of the target cell, switch to communication with the target cell from communication with the source cell in response to a determination that the current transmission format of the target cell indicates that the particular service is available’ at the region proximate to the edge of the target cell, and trigger (110, 112, 130) the target cell to make an adjustment (120, 132) to the transmission format to cover cell edge area in response to a determination that the current transmission format of the target cell indicates that the particular service is not available at the region proximate to the edge of the target cell. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.
US09380524B2 Enhanced call recording for dual-SIM dual-active wireless communication devices
A multi-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) wireless communication device includes: a first communications unit; a second communications unit; a recording unit; and a control unit configured to cause the first communications unit to interrupt output of a first audio output signal to a sound reproduction device and conduct a first decoded audio signal to the recording unit; and the control unit configured to cause the second communications unit to output a second audio output signal to the sound reproduction device.
US09380515B2 Wireless communications apparatus, a method and a communication system for performing relay selection
The embodiments relate to a wireless communications apparatus configured to operate as one of a source node, a relay node or a destination node in a network comprising a plurality of source nodes, relay nodes and destination nodes configured to support dual-hop communication using one of said relay nodes to intercede between one of said source nodes and one of said destination nodes, and a method for selecting a relay node. The wireless apparatus is configured to collect channel characteristics between the intended source node and each relay node, and between each relay node and the intended destination node, and select a relay node for relaying a signal emitted by the intended source node by determining a mode of operation for performing the selection on the basis of collected channel characteristics. The wireless communication apparatus is further configured to change the mode of operation to a different one if the channel characteristics change. The mode of operation of performing the relay node selection is one of a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode; the relay node is selected on the basis of said channel characteristics between the intended source node and each relay node and in the second mode; the relay is selected on the basis of said channel characteristics between each relay node and the intended destination node.
US09380513B2 Reducing broadcast duplication in hybrid wireless mesh protocol routing
Methods, systems, and devices related to wireless communication via a mesh network are described. In particular, the disclosure is directed to selecting a path between two nodes in a wireless mesh network based on consideration of type of data requested and a determination whether an intermediate node, within a predetermined range of the requesting node, is actively broadcasting the requested data. Such opportunistic consideration in selecting a path between two nodes may avoid unnecessary activation of additional broadcasting nodes and reduce the risk of triggering interference between multiple nodes broadcasting duplicate data.
US09380508B2 System, apparatus and method for managing network device connectivity on heterogenous networks
According to one embodiment of the disclosure, a network device is described that includes at least one hardware processor and is configured to perform a number of operations. Some of these operations include receiving information associated with a level of connectivity by a client device to a first network, and receiving information associated with a level of connectivity by the client device to a second network. Based on the level of connectivity with the first network and the level of connectivity with the second network, the second network is selecting for the client device to access one or more resources, and thereafter, causing the client device to connect to the second network.
US09380506B2 System, method, and computer-readable medium for provisioning dual-homed voice call continuity
A system, method and computer-readable medium for concurrent support of Voice Call Continuity (VCC) capabilities in both the enterprise space and the carrier space are provided. The enterprise VCC functionality is used when the user is located in the enterprise domain which does not impact the carrier's network while the carrier VCC capability is used when the user is located in the carrier domain to support seamless handover between the wireless networks that the carrier may offer. The carrier VCC anchoring point and the enterprise VCC anchoring point may communicate with each other to confirm and inform the other anchoring point that a call handover is occurring or will occur.
US09380498B2 Method and device for handling handover of a communications service
The embodiments herein relate to method in a mobile management entity, referred to as MME, for enabling handover of a communication service between a circuit switched (CS) network and a packet switched (PS) network. The user equipment is located in the CS network and having a communications service in the CS network. Handling is improved by providing communication between the MME and a mobile switching center server.
US09380488B2 Enhanced performance service-based profiling for transport networks
A method is presented of transporting data packets over a telecommunications transport network. The data packets are carried by a plurality of bearers. For each of the bearers, independently of the other bearers, bandwidth profiling is applied to the data packets of the bearer to designate as ‘green’ data packets that are conformant with a predetermined maximum Information Rate for the bearer. One or more data packets is buffered for up to a predetermined maximum ‘green’ buffer time, during which if transporting the data packet would not cause the maximum information rate of the bearer to be exceeded, the data packet is designated as a ‘green’ data packet. The data packets are forwarded for transporting over the transport network. If there is insufficient bandwidth available in the transport network to transport all data packets, data packets that are not designated as ‘green’ data packets are discarded, so as not to be transported through the transport network.
US09380484B2 Method and apparatus to prevent radio access network (RAN) overload in a wireless communication system
A method and apparatus are disclosed to prevent RAN (Radio Access Network) overload. In one embodiment, the method comprises initiating, at a User Equipment (UE), a RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection establishment procedure to establish a RRC connection to a cell. The method also comprises initiating, at the User Equipment (UE), a Random Access procedure due to a transmission of a RRCConnectionRequest message for the RRC connection establishment procedure, wherein an establishment cause in the RRCConnectionRequest message is set to delay tolerant access, and the UE stops the Random Access procedure if the UE considers access to the cell as barred based on barring information for delay tolerant access of the cell.
US09380472B2 Method and apparatus for updating access point information for location measurement
A method and apparatus for updating information of an access point for a wireless local area network service in measuring a location of a communication terminal using the access point are provided. The method includes: storing information of access points in a storage unit; receiving information of nearby access points from a specific communication terminal to be measured for location; checking whether there exists an access point of which information is not stored in the storage unit among the nearby access points; performing a global positioning system (GPS) location measurement for the specific communication terminal when there exists the access point of which the information is not stored; and storing the GPS location measurement result and the information of the nearby access points in the storage unit.
US09380470B2 Determining a receiving quality in a radio communication device
A radio communication device including a receiver configured to receive radio signals, a measurement circuit configured to measure the receiving quality of received radio signals, and a controller configured to control the measurement circuit such that a first measurement is carried out using a first frequency bandwidth, thereby determining a first receiving quality, and if the determined first receiving quality fulfills a first receiving quality criterion, a second measurement is carried out using a second frequency bandwidth, wherein the second frequency bandwidth is larger than the first frequency bandwidth, thereby determining a second receiving quality.
US09380469B2 Measurement method, apparatus, and system for minimization of drive tests
The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for minimization of drive tests, and relates to the field of communications technologies. In the technical solutions, by obtaining a mapping relationship between a TCE address and a TCE identifier, and according to a TCE identifier included in the MDT report reported by the UE, a corresponding TCE address is obtained and the MDT report is sent to a TCE corresponding to the TCE address. And it is unnecessary to send an actual TCE network address to the user equipment, which improves security and solves the insecurity problem of the MDT measurement. The present invention is simple, convenient and easy to implement, and reduces the complexity of network signaling interaction and network processing.
US09380465B2 Network design in wireless communications
A system and method are provided for generating a network design based on existing network assets. One or more parameters regarding a plurality of existing wireless network assets used to provide support for a wireless communication technology can be determined. The plurality of existing wireless network assets are automatically analyzed for supporting equipment of a new wireless communication technology at least in part by comparing a set of specified criteria to the one or more parameters to determine a subset of the plurality of existing wireless network assets. An indication of the subset of the plurality of existing wireless network assets for supporting the equipment of the new wireless communication technology can accordingly be generated.
US09380464B2 Method and device for determining and assisting in determining back-up frequency in cognitive radio system
Disclosed are a method and device for determining and assisting in determining a back-up frequency in a cognitive radio system. A first cognitive system shares the wireless communication spectrum resources of an incumbent system, and the method thereof for determining a back-up frequency comprises: through a terminal, a first cognitive system obtaining a back-up frequency of a second cognitive system which has overlapping coverage in a target area in an overlapping coverage area; and according to the back-up frequency of the second cognitive system in the overlapping coverage area, selecting from the wireless communication spectrum resources at least one frequency as a back-up frequency in the target area. When determining the back-up frequency, the first cognitive system can refer to the back-up frequency of the second cognitive system to conduct determination, thereby optimizing the system performance.
US09380463B2 Method for displaying lock screen and electronic device thereof
A display method in an electronic device and the electronic device thereof are provided. The display method in the electronic device comprises storing a lock screen message received through a network; and, when time for displaying a lock screen arrives, displaying, as a lock screen, contents within the lock screen message.
US09380460B2 Method and system for correlating authentication, authorization and accounting sessions
The present invention handles Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) applications in an efficient manner. The present invention is a session aware Diameter relay agent that correlates sessions that require binding and relay sessions to the same AAA server, such as a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF) server. In one embodiment, the relay agent may be arranged to select a Diameter server and forward the user equipment (UE) request to the respective server while registering the server selection. The Diameter server may be a PCRF server.
US09380455B2 Method and apparatus for supporting machine-type communications with a mobile-originated-only mode
A method and apparatus for supporting machine-type communications (MTC) are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may configure itself to operate in a mobile-originated-only mode. The WTRU may perform no, or a subset of, radio resource control (RRC) idle and/or non-access stratum (NAS) idle/standby state procedures in the mobile-originated-only mode. For example, the WTRU may perform cell reselection but not paging monitoring in the mobile-originated-only mode. Alternatively, the WTRU may perform paging monitoring but not cell reselection and location update. The operation in the mobile-originated-only mode may be triggered explicitly or implicitly. For example, the WTRU may operate in the mobile-originated-only mode if an inactivity timer expires. The WTRU may switch the mode in accordance with a pre-configured schedule. After transition of the operation mode, the WTRU may send a message to the network indicating such mode switch.
US09380449B2 Closed Subscriber Group measurement reporting
A system and method for mobility in a wireless network are presented. A user equipment with a processor configured to inform a network component of a closed subscriber group (CSG) capability of the UE. The processor informs the network component during capability exchange signaling. The processor informs the network component whether the UE is capable of detecting a CSG cell and whether the UE is a member of at least one CSG.
US09380440B2 Method to implement E911 services in IMS (IP multimedia subsystem)
Efficient processing and/or routing of emergency calls in an IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) for VoIP (Voice over IP) subscribers can be enabled. In one aspect, an E911 profile is generated, for example, by an application server, for each VoIP subscriber based in part on current location information associated with the subscriber, such as, the subscriber's IP address. The E911 profile is pushed to the HSS (Home Subscriber Server) of the IMS. The E911 profile can then be stored in the HSS and can be queried by an E-CSCF (Emergency Call Session Control Function) during emergency call processing. Moreover, when an emergency call is received from the subscriber, the E-CSCF can retrieve the E911 profile associated with the subscriber from the HSS and route the call to an appropriate PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) based on an analysis of the information in the E911 profile.
US09380433B2 Mobile terminal and control method thereof
Disclosed is a mobile terminal for receiving a message and a control method thereof. The mobile terminal includes: a wireless communication unit for receiving a message; a display unit for displaying a received message; and a controller for detecting a sensor related to an emoticon when the emoticon is included in the message displayed on the display unit, and controlling the detected sensor to perform a function corresponding to the emoticon.
US09380428B1 Location-based services onboard aircraft
Embodiments described herein provide location-based services onboard an aircraft for users having mobile devices utilizing wireless beacons dispersed at fixed locations within a passenger cabin of the aircraft. One embodiment comprises a system that includes a plurality of wireless beacons and a location server. Each of the wireless beacons broadcast a unique ID in a broadcast area for receipt by the mobile devices. The location server receives a message from a mobile device that indicates at least one of the IDs received by the mobile device, and identifies location information for the mobile device within the passenger cabin based on the at least one ID. The location server provides the location information to the mobile device for display to a user.
US09380427B2 Localized network service
A method for providing a network service to a plurality of mobile terminals inside a service area. The mobile terminals are arranged to communicate with a cellular communication network and the service area is a part of a geographical area that is covered by the cellular communication network. The method includes defining a grid with grid lines, where the grid covers the service area with one or more tiles framed by the grid lines. A determination is made whether there is at least one split tile that results from splitting the one or more tiles along closer grid lines and that does not overlap with the service area. The one or more tiles are split along the closer grid lines based on the determining, and the network service is provided in the split tiles that cover the service area.
US09380423B2 Managing access to mobile content using location-based and presence services
Methods for selectively filtering message content received at a mobile device based upon a current location of the mobile device and/or a user's presence status and devices configured to selectively filter message content based upon a location of the mobile device and/or a user's presence status.
US09380422B1 Method for capturing and serving content based on user location
A mobile device includes a location module that determines a location of the mobile device. A controller receives the location of the mobile device as determined by the location module, compares the location of the mobile device to a plurality of stored locations, and provides a notification to a user of the mobile device in response to a determination that the location of the mobile device is within a predetermined range of a first stored location of the plurality of stored locations. The plurality of stored locations correspond to contact devices associated with respective content, and the notification includes information about the respective content associated with a first contact device of the contact devices in the first stored location.
US09380418B2 Preemptive offer and rewards caching on device to minimize network round trips
A mobile client device or the like stores a library of potential points of interest that are pre-transferred to the mobile device by the system. The system identifies a normal commerce range and transfers information relating to potential points of interest based on the normal commerce range of the user. By accessing the library of points of interest stored on the mobile client device, network roundtrips between the device and server can be minimized, thereby enhancing performance characteristics of the mobile client device.
US09380417B1 Method and system for wayfinding at a venue
A system and method for wayfinding at a venue is disclosed herein. The system includes a mobile communication device and a venue. The mobile communication device includes an application for wayfinding at the venue and a plurality of sensors. The mobile communication device is configured to track a path of the mobile communication device from the first fixed geographical location utilizing a plurality of sensors of the mobile communication device.
US09380415B2 Portable computing device with data encryption and destruction
A device and software utilizing Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technologies for monitoring and recovering portable computing devices and, a method and system for acquiring such devices, protecting data on such devices, and for compensating owners of devices. A GPS mechanism of the invention provides real time tracking of missing devices that may be coordinated with security agencies to intercept and recover missing computing devices. When a stolen device is unrecoverable, the invention may receive a signal to initiate data recovery where a wireless network is available to recover data for the owner. Alternatively, the GPS mechanism instructs the device to encrypt or destroy stored data files to prevent commercial espionage or privacy violations. The invention discloses a software system and method for computing a purchase price of the GPS mechanism, computing compensation for loss of the device and lost data.
US09380414B2 Systems, methods and apparatuses for brokering data between wireless devices, servers and data rendering devices
Provide dare methods, systems and apparatuses for data brokering between hand held wireless devices (WDs) and data rendering devices (DRDs). DRDs in the form of multimedia devices used for rendering data by printing (e.g. to a networked printer) or displaying video data (e.g., televisions, video monitors, and projectors) are provided with data for rendering at the DRD at the request of WDs. DRDs are capable of receiving data data from a network at the request of a WD and/or directly from a WD as the host and then rendering or displaying the data on devices capable of receiving and processing the data. DRD (e.g. printers and multimedia video devices) can also be controlled by the WD during display of the data and to control display of the data.
US09380411B2 Proximity detection
Disclosed are various embodiments of a wireless access point. An 802.11 probe request frame is obtained from a wireless device in a wireless access point. Identifying information about the wireless device is extracted from the 802.11 probe request frame. The identifying information and an access point identifier corresponding to the wireless access point to at least one server via a network, from which location and/or proximity to the wireless access point can be determined.
US09380406B2 Method and apparatus for proximity-based service
The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for use in a wireless communication system. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a method of performing a ProSe communication by a UE in a cellular communication system and an apparatus therefore, in which the method comprises: receiving, from a BS, a first PDCCH signal including scheduling information and a CRC, wherein the CRC is masked with a ProSe-related ID; receiving, from the BS, a PDSCH signal using the scheduling information, wherein the PDSCH signal includes WLAN resources and information available for the ProSe communication; establishing a ProSe connection with a peer UE by using the WLAN resources and information; and exchanging WLAN radio signals with the peer UE in accordance with the ProSe connection, wherein the UE is configured to keep monitoring a second PDCCH signal during the WLAN radio signals are exchanged.
US09380398B2 Sound processing apparatus, method, and program
Disclosed is a sound processing apparatus including a factorization unit and an extraction unit. The factorization unit is configured to factorize frequency information obtained by performing time-frequency transformation on sound signals of a plurality of channels into a channel matrix expressing properties in a channel direction, a frequency matrix expressing properties in a frequency direction, and a time matrix expressing properties in a time direction. The extraction unit is configured to compare the channel matrix with a threshold and extract components specified by a result of the comparison from the channel matrix, the frequency matrix, and the time matrix to generate the frequency information on a sound from a desired sound source.
US09380394B2 Smart hearing aid
A method for controlling a hearing aid based on an adjustable policy including receiving an input signal; receiving an indication signal from a user identifying the input signal; receiving an adjustment to the hearing aid with the indication signal; and utilizing a processor to store the input signal in memory with the adjustment to the hearing aid as an adjustable policy corresponding to the input signal.
US09380372B2 Waterproof controller for audio headsets
Disclosed herein are inline waterproof controllers for electronic devices. The waterproof inline controllers can house and protect a remote controller from damage. The waterproof inline controllers can allow for a user to remotely operate an audio device while the user is exercising or engaged in watersports. The waterproof inline controllers may further include a microphone or speaker. A method of making the waterproof inline controllers provides a cost effective and efficient means of manufacture.
US09380371B2 Apparatus and method for recognizing earphone mounting in portable terminal
An apparatus and method for improving the performance of a determination of whether an earphone is mounted to a portable terminal, such as a portable terminal supporting a 3.5 mm earphone plug, are provided. An apparatus for recognizing whether the earphone is mounted to the portable terminal includes a common ground terminal and a switching terminal of an earphone plug receptacle for electrically connecting to each other and the same pole of an earphone plug when the earphone plug is mounted in the earphone plug receptacle, and an external output managing unit for generating an earphone mounting notification signal through a detector.
US09380340B2 Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic environments
Systems and methods for providing blackout support in video mosaic environments are disclosed. In response to receiving a request for a video mosaic page, screen data, which may include blackout information, is received. The screen data identifies the video assets in the video mosaic page. A determination is made, based at least in part on the screen data, whether any video assets in the video mosaic page should be blacked out. Blacked out assets may be masked and their associated audio blocked. In addition, an overlay of options associated with the blacked out asset may be presented. The overlay may include options to substitute the blacked out asset with replacement content, search for similar content, or retrieve more information about the blackout.
US09380325B1 Overlay content and aggregation of viewing data
A method of enhancing a content feed is disclosed. The method can receiving first viewing data associated with a first automatic content recognition (ACR) event and second viewing data associated with a second ACR event, where the first ACR event is received from a first client device that employs a first ACR technology, and the second ACR event is received from a second client device that employs a second ACR technology that is different than the first ACR technology. The method can also include normalizing the first viewing data and the second viewing data into a common format. The method can further include aggregating the first viewing data and the second viewing data to obtain an aggregated viewing data report. The method can further include storing, in a viewing database, the aggregated viewing data report.
US09380323B2 Cache eviction
A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.
US09380316B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing system and image processing method
An image processing apparatus includes a computer configured to execute a program to perform an image processing including: creating difference data between first encoded form data and a form format corresponding to the form data, the first encoded form data being acquired by encoding form data according to a first compression parameter; decoding the created difference data; performing character recognition on each of the form data and the decoded difference data; comparing a first result of the character recognition performed on the form data and a second result of the character recognition performed on the decoded difference data, and determining whether the first result and the second result coincide with each other; and outputting the difference data based on a result of the determination of coincidence/noncoincidence of the first result and the second result.
US09380315B2 Method of reproducing a still picture from a recording medium, method of decoding the still picture and the recording medium
In the method, video data is reproduced from the recording medium, and an I-picture and a number of P-pictures are output as a still picture based on the reproduced video data. The output data may then be received and decoded for display.
US09380310B2 Method of removing a blocking artifact using quantization information in a filtering system
In one embodiment, the method includes obtaining quantization information related to at least one of a first block and an adjacent second block, comparing the quantization information with a predefined constant value, and performing a filtering process based on a result from the comparing step. The filtering process includes calculating a value of at least one pixel in the first block based on pixel values of at least two pixels in the first block, and calculating a value of at least one pixel in the second block based on pixel values of at least two pixels in the second block.
US09380309B2 Motion analysis method and code stream conversion method based on video compression code stream and apparatus thereof
The present invention relates to security video monitoring for and discloses a motion analysis method and a code stream conversion method based on video compression code stream and apparatus thereof. In the invention, a total number of bits or a residual bit number of a macro block in a video I frame is extracted from the video compression code stream; weighted average is performed to the total number of bits or a residual bit number of the macro block whose position corresponds with the current macro block in the latest M frames and a background value is obtained through calculating; a difference value between the total number of bits or the residual bit number of the current macro block and the background value is calculated, and if the difference value is greater than a predetermined first threshold, then a moving object is determined to be detected. Weighted average background modeling is performed to macro block information, such as the total numbers of bits or the residual bit number of the macro block corresponds with the current macro block in latest M frames. Threshold determination is performed to a background difference value matching result and motion analysis is performed. Coding picture of the macro block between the frames does not need to be calculated. Calculated quantity is small and the adaptability to the code stream and a scene is strong.
US09380308B2 Method of coding and decoding images, coding and decoding device and computer programs corresponding thereto
A method for coding includes; segmenting an image into blocks; grouping blocks into a number of subsets; coding, using an entropy coding module, each subset, by associating digital information with symbols of each block of a subset, including, for the first block of the image, initializing state variables of the coding module; and generating a data sub-stream representative of at least one of the coded subsets of blocks. Where a current block is the first block to be coded of a subset, symbol occurrence probabilities for the first current block are determined based on those for a coded and decoded predetermined block of at least one other subset. Where the current block is the last coded block of the subset; writing, in the sub-stream representative of the subset, the entire the digital information associated with the symbols during coding of the blocks of the subset, and implementing the initializing sub-step.
US09380306B2 Moving image coding apparatus and moving image decoding apparatus
A moving image decoding apparatus and method for decoding an encoded bit stream. The encoded bit stream is obtained by dividing a moving image into rectangular regions and coding the rectangular regions as units. The apparatus includes a rectangular region size decoder, a rectangular region size determiner, a coding mode decoder, and a rectangular region decoder.
US09380303B1 Adding run-mode to block-based DPCM codec
Embedded differential pulse code modulation (DPCM) is performed in response to coding locations of DPCM non-zero residuals during entropy coding utilizing adaptive run-length (ARL) coding. In this manner the need to code zero residuals is eliminated. After adaptive run-length coding, the non-zero residuals are coded in the regular mode, such as utilizing exponential Golomb coding. Overall compression is improved for blocks containing any significant number of zeros.
US09380300B1 Encoding location information in alpha channels for HTML remote control
A method for sending a screen image by a computing device is described. A modification image representing a modified region of the screen image is determined. The modification image has a lossless format. Location information is encoded in one or more alpha channels of the modification image. The modification image is sent.
US09380298B1 Object-based intra-prediction
A method and apparatus for performing object-based intra-prediction encoding and decoding is disclosed. Implementations of object-based intra-prediction encoding and decoding include segmenting a current block into a first portion and at least a second portion; generating, for at least some of a plurality of pixels in the first portion, corresponding predicted values according to at least a first intra-prediction mode; generating, for at least some of a plurality of pixels in the second portion, corresponding predicted values according to at least a second intra-prediction mode; and encoding the current block using the predicted values of the first portion and the predicted values of the second portion.
US09380295B2 Non-linear navigation of a three dimensional stereoscopic display
Systems and methods for navigating a 3D stereoscopic scene displayed via a 3D stereoscopic display system using user head tracking. A reference POV including a reference user head position and a reference user head orientation may be established. The user head POV may be tracked, including monitoring user head positional displacements and user head angular rotations relative to the reference POV. In response to the tracking, a camera POV used to render the 3D stereoscopic scene may be adjusted based on a non-linear mapping between changes in the camera POV and the user head positional displacements and user head angular rotations relative to the reference POV. The non-linear mapping may include a mapping of user head positional displacements relative to the reference POV to translational movements in the camera POV and a mapping of user head angular rotations relative to the reference POV to rotations in the camera POV.
US09380293B2 Method for generating a model of a flat object from views of the object
A method for generating a model of a flat object from views taken by at least two calibrated cameras, which is capable of generating two-dimensional and volumetric representations of the object, where the representations can be a depth map, a volumetric representation or a mesh representation, method including the following basic steps: calibrating at least two cameras, calculating several 3D coordinates of at least three points belonging to the same plane of the flat object, calculating the equation of the plane of the flat object, selecting at least one region representing the surface of the flat object, in at least one view provided by at least one camera, and calculating the intersection between the selected region representing the surface of the object and the equation of the plane.
US09380288B2 System and method for transmitting/receiving three dimensional video based on digital broadcasting
Provided is a system and method for transmitting and receiving 3D video based on digital broadcasting. The system includes: an encoder for generating 2D ES and 3D supplementary ES by encoding 2D video and 3D supplementary data; a packetizer for generating 2D video PES and 3D supplementary PES by packetizing the 2D video ES and the 3D supplementary ES; a PSI generator for generating a PSI; a TS generator for generating 2D video TS and 3D supplementary TS for the 2D video PES and the 3D supplementary PES; a multiplexer for multiplexing the transport streams to transmit the 2D video TS as a normal stream and transmit the 3D supplementary TS, the PSI TS and 3D video synch data TS as robust stream; and a modulator for modulating the multiplexed TS according to a DTV specification and transmitting the modulated TS.
US09380286B2 Stereoscopic target region filling
Stereoscopic target region filling techniques are described. Techniques are described in which stereo consistency is promoted between target regions, such as by sharing information during computation. Techniques are also described in which target regions of respective disparity maps are completed to promote consistency between the disparity maps. This estimated disparity may then be used as a guide to completion of a missing texture in the target region. Techniques are further described in which cross-image searching and matching is employed by leveraging a plurality of images. This may including giving preference to matches with cross-image consistency to promote consistency, thereby enforcing stereo consistency between stereo images when applicable.
US09380285B2 Stereo image processing method, stereo image processing device and display device
A stereo image device includes a representative point selection unit for selecting a plurality of representative points in a first image of a stereo-pair image; a corresponding point control unit detecting a plurality of corresponding points corresponding to the plurality of representative points in a second image of the stereo-pair image and excluding any corresponding point(s) judged to be a deviating point; a deviation value calculation unit for judging whether corresponding points are the deviating points or not; an approximation curve calculation unit performing a curve approximation on all the corresponding points except the excluded corresponding points; a height correction value calculation unit calculating a height correction value from a plurality of approximation curves drawn up by the curve approximation; a parallelization execution unit performing parallelization of the second image on the basis of the height correction value.
US09380282B2 Providing item information during video playing
An apparatus capable of, and a method comprising, the steps of: receiving, from a user during a playing of a feature-length movie, a request for item information relating to a product placement depicted within the feature-length movie; identifying a request location that is responsive to the request for item information; searching a plurality of segment definitions to identify a segment definition that is responsive to the request location, a segment definition defines, responsive to a depiction of a product placement, a beginning and an ending of a video segment within the feature-length movie; displaying item information associated with a segment definition that is responsive to the request location; receiving from the user a request for additional item information relating to a displayed item information; and enabling a display of product placement purchase information in response to the request for additional item information.
US09380274B1 Methods and systems for presenting alert event indicators
A method at an electronic device includes: displaying a video feed from a camera or a frame from the video feed; and concurrently with displaying the video feed or the frame, displaying a camera history timeline, including: displaying a representation of a camera event associated with one or more alert events in the camera history timeline as a bar overlaid on the event history timeline, the event bar having a length reflecting a duration of the camera event; and displaying, proximate to the event bar, one or more alert event indicators, each of the alert event indicators corresponding to a respective alert event of the alert events associated with the camera event, where each respective alert event indicator has a respective visually distinctive display characteristic associated with the corresponding respective alert event.
US09380273B1 Multiple aperture video image enhancement system
Disclosed is a helmet mounted enhanced vision system which includes at least one camera, having a circuit board therein with an array thereon of closely spaced apertures, where each aperture includes an electronic light sensor and a computer die coupled to and associated therewith, such that each aperture behaves much like a digital camera coupled via to the other apertures by a network. The array of apertures each including varied sensor types such sensors having: different resolutions, distance to optimal focus point, and light sensitivity, so as to enable foveal displays, multi-focal point images and dynamic range enhancement, respectively.
US09380271B2 Coding scheme for identifying spatial locations of events within video image data
An approach for generating a coding schema for identifying a spatial location of an event within video image data is provided. In one embodiment, there is a spatial representation tool, including a compression component configured to receive trajectory data of a trajectory of an object for an event within video image data; generate a lossless compressed contour-coded blob to encode the trajectory data of the trajectory of the object for the event within video image data; generate a lossy searchable code of the trajectory of the object for the event within the video image data; convert a region of interest within the video image data to a lossy query code, the region of interest corresponding to a sub-section of a visual display output of the video image data; and compare the lossy query code to the lossy searchable code within a relational database to identify a corresponding lossless trajectory data of the trajectory of the object for the event within the video image data.
US09380267B2 Bandwidth modulation system and method
A method and computing system for monitoring an AV synchronous communication session of a user. The AV synchronous communication session includes an audio channel and a video channel. A performance characteristic is determined for the audio channel. The performance characteristic is compared to a defined audio performance threshold. If the performance characteristic does not meet the defined audio performance threshold, the video channel is adjusted to reduce the bandwidth requirements of the video channel.
US09380264B1 System and method for video communication
The present invention is a method and system for establishing a video call between two or more persons through two or more computer devices and/or mobile devices. The present invention can be utilized to enable any website to be video call enabled, so that a video call can be initiated from any website. During the call the present invention may recognize words, phrases, key topics or other content of the video call discussion in real time or virtually real time, and disseminate such information to the participants in the call as well as to other followers, friends or other affiliates of persons engaged in the video call.
US09380258B2 Clothing accessory
A clothing accessory has at least one element of clothing accessory wearable by a user, and a recording camera associated with the element of clothing accessory and carrying out a recording process while being associated with the element of clothing accessory, said recording camera including a touch sensor for tapping to perform photo or video recording, and said recording camera operating wirelessly with remote controlling devices for wireless data transfer, controlling and previewing recordings.
US09380257B2 Portable electronic equipment and method of recording media using a portable electronic equipment
A portable electronic equipment comprises a first sensor to record media and at least one second sensor to capture data representing a physical condition of a user of the portable electronic equipment, the at least one second sensor being configured to capture the data in response to the first sensor recording the media. A processing device is interfaced with the at least one second sensor. The processing device is configured to retrieve the data captured by the at least one second sensor, to generate metadata for the recorded media based on the data, the metadata being indicative of the physical condition, and to cause the metadata to be stored in association with the recorded media.
US09380256B2 Method and apparatus for segmented video compression
An archival video system uses profile images as a background for an image and delta images to indicate the difference between a current image and a profile image. An image may be segmented into multiple sectors, with each sector compared to a profile sector. The resulting image may be constructed using references to previously stored sectors from different images.
US09380237B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit, current control method, ad converter, solid-state imaging device, and electronic system
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a plurality of current sources including a first transistor individually connected to a power source line and a bias line; and a plurality of bias blocks including a second transistor configured to constitute a current mirror circuit together with the first transistor, and to divide a reference current to be a reference of the current sources so that the reference current flows through the bias line.
US09380236B2 Imaging sensor, imaging apparatus, electronic device, and imaging method
There is provided an image sensor including at least three pixel transfer control signal lines, on a per line basis, configured to control exposure start and end timings of a pixel in order for exposure timings of a plurality of the pixels constituting one line in a specific direction to have at least three patterns.
US09380229B2 Digital imaging systems including image sensors having logarithmic response ranges and methods of determining motion
In at least one example embodiment, a method of determining motion in an image includes acquiring pixel data from a plurality of pixels in an image sensor, the plurality of pixels having respective response ranges, the response range of at least a first pixel of the pixels including a linear response range and a logarithmic response range, the plurality of pixels configured to produce pixel data according to light of the image in a scene and the response ranges and determining the motion based on the pixel data generated across the response ranges including the logarithmic response range of the at least first pixel.
US09380226B2 System and method for extraction of a dynamic range zone image
Optimization of image acquisition relative resource usage, particularly power, is accomplished by use of a beehive algorithm, inspired by observation of the way that bees communicate foraging information by a dance. Analysis of relative gain associated with captured pixels facilitates isolation of one or more areas of particular interest for focusing one or more subsequent image capture operations. Selective enablement of picture acquisition elements targeting each isolated area facilitates obtaining images containing needed or useful information while minimizing resource use.
US09380221B2 Methods and apparatus for light field photography
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a light field camera uses a light field dictionary to reconstruct a 4D light field from a single photograph. The light field includes both angular and spatial information and has a spatial resolution equal to the spatial resolution of the imaging sensor. Light from a scene passes through a coded spatial light modulator (SLM) before reaching an imaging sensor. Computer processors reconstruct a light field. This reconstruction includes computing a sparse or compressible coefficient vector using a light field dictionary matrix. Each column vector of the dictionary matrix is a light field atom. These light field atoms each, respectively, comprise information about a small 4D region of a light field. Reconstruction quality may be improved by using an SLM that is as orthogonal as possible to the dictionary.
US09380216B2 Image capturing apparatus and method of controlling the apparatus
An image capturing apparatus and its control method for capturing a moving image. Plural movie capturing modes with different control parameters are set in accordance with an instruction from a user. One of selectable frame rates is selected in accordance with video output setting by the user. Moving image frames are generated based on the selected frame rate and a control parameter corresponding to the frame rate, and recorded as a moving image on a recording medium.
US09380208B1 Image sensor power supply rejection ratio noise reduction through ramp generator
A ramp generator includes a supply voltage sampling circuit coupled to sample a black signal supply voltage during a black signal readout, and an image signal supply voltage of the pixel cell during an image signal readout of a pixel cell. A first integrator circuit receives a buffered reference voltage, and an output of the supply voltage sampling circuit. First and second switches are coupled between the first integrator circuit and a first capacitor to transfer a signal representative of a difference between the image signal supply voltage and the black signal supply voltage to the first capacitor. A second integrator circuit is coupled to the first capacitor to generate an output ramp signal coupled to be received by an analog to digital converter. A starting value of the output ramp signal is adjusted in response to the difference between the image signal and the black signal supply voltage.
US09380202B2 Focus detection apparatus, image pickup apparatus, image pickup system, focus detection method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
A focus detection apparatus performs focus detection by a phase difference method using an image pickup element including first and second pixels, the focus detection apparatus includes a correlation data calculator which calculates correlation data between pixel data obtained from the first pixels and the second pixels in ranges of image data, a detector which detects a saturated pixel having a level of at least a predetermined value in each of the ranges, an adding processor which performs an addition processing of the correlation data calculated in each of the ranges based on a detection result, and a defocus amount calculator which calculates a defocus amount based on a result of the addition processing, and the adding processor performs the addition processing using correlation data obtained from a first range in which the number of the saturated pixels is less than a predetermined number.
US09380200B2 Image pickup apparatus and control method in which object searching based on an image depends on pixel combining on the image
Image pickup apparatus 201 generates the optical image formed with light from the image pickup optical system and the second image is generated by using the output from taking picture system 303 and the 2nd image-pickup element with which the first for display and record image is generated by using the output from the 1st image-pickup element 211 that converts the photoelectron respectively and the 2nd image-pickup element 208 and the 1st image-pickup element. Detection system 303 that searches for photometry and the object by using the second image is possessed. The detection system searches for the object when it can be selected whether to add the pixel of the output from the second image-pickup element in photometry, and doesn't add the pixel, and limits the object searching when the pixel is added.
US09380199B2 Recording medium and control method thereof
A recording medium removable from a host device includes a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication with an external device different from the host device. The recording medium includes an image transmission control unit which transmits image data to the external device via the wireless communication established by the wireless communication unit by using an image transmission protocol. The recording medium switches which of the image transmission control unit of the recording medium and an image transmission control unit of the host device is used to communicate with the external device via the wireless communication unit.
US09380198B2 Photographing system, photographing method, light emitting apparatus, photographing apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium
A photographing system of the present invention includes a light emitting apparatus which emits visible light including arbitrary information and a photographing apparatus which has a plurality of photographing functions, in which the light emitting apparatus includes a light emitting section which emits visible light including command information respectively corresponding to the plurality of photographing functions of the photographing apparatus, and the photographing apparatus includes a photographing section, a visible light information acquisition section which receives the visible light emitted by the light emitting section by the photographing section, and acquires the command information included in the visible light, and a photographing instruction section which instructs to perform at least one of the plurality of photographing functions based on the command information acquired by the visible light information acquisition section.
US09380192B2 Component assembly for simplified installation on a vehicle
The invention relates to a device, particularly for a tailgate (1) of a vehicle, comprising a camera unit (10) which is used to capture images of the outer region (4) of a vehicle, and a drive (20) by means of which the camera unit (10) can be transferred between a rest mode (2) and an operational mode (3), the camera unit (10) being protected from the outer region (4) by means of a cover element (11) when in the rest mode (2), an image being able to be captured by means of the camera unit (10) when in the operational mode (3), a control unit (30) being provided which is used to control a part of the vehicle, a carrier (40) being provided in which the camera unit (10) is arranged and which simultaneously acts as a housing for said camera unit (10), and the carrier (40) having such mounting interfaces (41) that the drive (20) and the control unit (30) are held on the carrier (40) in a reliable manner to form a common installation assembly which can be fixed to the vehicle.
US09380184B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus therewith
An optical scanning device has a rotary multiple-face mirror, a lens, a housing, and a cover member. The housing has a housing space in which the rotary multiple-face mirror and the lens are housed. The cover member covers the housing space in the housing. The housing has a light emission opening through which a light beam is emitted, and outside the light emission opening in the housing, a light transmitting member which transmits the light beam is provided to close the light emission opening. The cover member has a body part which covers the housing space and a fastening part which fastens the light transmitting member by pressing it toward the light emission opening.
US09380182B2 Image reading device, and image forming apparatus including the same
An image reading device includes a slide member, a guide rail, an engagement mechanism, a link member, and a link mechanism. The slide member abuts on and separates from a bottom portion of the reading unit, and when abutting on the bottom portion, supports the bottom portion of the reading unit. The guide rail is provided on a scanner frame and supports the slide member. The engagement mechanism changes in attitude between an engagement attitude to make an engagement between the engagement mechanism and a drive belt of a reading unit, and a release attitude to release the engagement. The link member links the slide member with the engagement member. When the slide member approaches the reading unit, the link mechanism causes the engagement mechanism to be in the engagement attitude, and when the slide member separates, the link mechanism causes the engagement mechanism to be in the release attitude.
US09380178B2 Display input apparatus, image forming apparatus having the same, and method for controlling the display input apparatus
Upon accepting a region dividing operation, a display input apparatus sets a line, which passes through a predetermined region, as a first reference line; sets an end edge of the predetermined region, which is opposite to the first reference line, as a second reference line; obtains a ratio for input numerical value calculation, namely, a ratio of a distance from the first reference line to the second reference line and a distance from the first reference line to a division line of the predetermined region divided by the region dividing operation; obtains a numerical value by multiplying a maximum value or minimum value in a numerical value input range by the ratio for input numerical value calculation, and displays the obtained numerical value in a numerical value input screen.
US09380160B2 Systems and methods to customize interactive voice response (IVR) prompts based on information about a caller
A smart interactive voice response (IVR) system of the connection server configured to allow customized customer handling based on information known/gathered about individual customers. For example, based on matching the parameters of the current call from a mobile device with previous calls from the mobile device, the system may identify the identity of the caller, the identity of the callee, the language preference of the caller, the payment information for settling the cost of the current call, etc. IVR prompts can be customized based on the preference of the caller and known information about the call.
US09380157B1 Independent source recording
Systems and methods for recording multiple channels of incoming data. A system and method can receive data streams from a number of sources and distribute the data streams to a number of users. The plurality of data streams are stored in a storage device for later redistribution.
US09380152B2 Systems and methods for providing back power to a service unit
A combination of algorithms and circuits are used to combine POTS, high-speed bi-directional data, and back-powering onto the drop connection for fiber to the distribution point architectures. A telephone adapter device can be utilized to prevent damage from back-powering occurring at POTS telephones connected to the drop connection. In addition, circuits are used to prevent damage from back-powering occurring at POTS telephones directly connected to the drop connection. A circuit is used to provide more consistent power to the electronics at the distribution point even when the input back-power to the distribution point may fluctuate.
US09380150B1 Methods and devices for automatic volume control of a far-end voice signal provided to a captioning communication service
Apparatuses and methods are disclosed for automatic volume control of an audio stream reproduced by a captioning communication service for use by a call assistant in generating a text transcription of a communication session between a hearing-impaired user and a far-end user. The automatic volume control automatically adjusts a volume of the audio stream reproduced by the captioning communication service responsive to a volume control command identifying which of the far-end voice signal and the near-end voice signal is active at a given time. The system further includes an echo modifier configured to add distortion to an echo portion of the far-end voice signal when generating the audio stream.
US09380147B2 Method and device for unlocking mobile terminal
A method and apparatus for unlocking a mobile terminal. The method comprises acquiring file names of a plurality of user files on an online hard drive; a mobile terminal placing the file names and a search box on a lock-screen page of the mobile terminal; the mobile terminal determining whether to unlock the mobile terminal based on the user's operation on one file name among the plurality of file names and the search box; and if so, the mobile terminal performing unlocking and opening a file corresponding to the file name on the online hard drive. The present invention enables users to implement functions such as unlocking of a mobile terminal and opening of an online hard drive file, which require several complicated operations in the prior art, through simple operations such as dragging, thereby saving users' time and enhancing user experience.
US09380131B2 Communication apparatus, communication method and program
A communication apparatus receives a communication request from a communication partner and determines whether itself functions as a server or a client. If a first parameter for communication for causing the communication partner to function as the client is included in the communication request and the communication apparatus functions as the server, the communication apparatus determines a second parameter for communication for causing the communication apparatus to function as the server based on the first communication parameter. If the communication apparatus offers the communication partner to function as the client in response to the communication request, the communication apparatus determines a third parameter for communication for causing the communication apparatus to function as the client. The communication apparatus transmits data indicating whether the communication apparatus functions as the server or the client, and the second or the third parameter for communication with the communication partner.
US09380128B2 Combining user profile information maintained by various social networking systems
A social networking system generates an augmented user profile for a user. The augmented user profile includes information from user profiles maintained by additional social networking systems that correspond to the user of the social networking system. For example, user profiles maintained by additional social networking systems having a threshold similarity to a user profile maintained by the social networking system are identified, and characteristics of the user in the identified user profiles are included in the augmented user profile along with characteristics from the user profile maintained by the social networking system. Characteristics of the user from the augmented user profile are used to identify content, such as advertisements, for presentation to the user.
US09380127B2 Distributed caching and cache analysis
In a distributed caching system, a Web server may receive, from a user device, a request for a Web service. The Web server may parse the request to identify a cookie included in the request and determine whether the cookie includes allocation information. The allocation information may indicate multiple cache servers temporally store certain data associated with the Web service. The Web server may request for the certain data from the cache servers and then transmit the certain data to the user device. If one of the cache servers fails to respond to the request, the Web server may reallocate the cached data and update the cookie by overwriting the allocation information stored in the cookie.
US09380119B2 Method, apparatus, and computer program product for network discovery
Embodiments enable discovery of networks in a wireless communications medium. In example embodiments, a method comprises inserting, by an apparatus, an indication associated with a neighbor awareness network to be advertised to an apparatus address field of a wireless advertisement packet; and transmitting, by the apparatus, the wireless advertisement packet including the inserted indication associated with the neighbor awareness network to be advertised. The packet may be a Bluetooth Low Energy ADV_IND PDU packet or a Bluetooth Low Energy ADV_SCAN_IND PDU packet. The apparatus's address field may be a non-resolvable private address format in an AdvA field of either the Bluetooth Low Energy ADV_IND PDU packet or the Bluetooth Low Energy ADV_SCAN_IND PDU packet. The apparatus may be operating in a Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) network or intending to operate in a NAN network.
US09380115B2 Event processing system and event processing method
An event processing system includes a first event unit which causes an application 107 to obtain a list of event processing servers from an event processing distributor 103, select an event processing server 105 where the distance on a network with respect to the application 107 is shortest, from the list, and transmit a request where information thereof is added to the event processing distributor 103, and a second event unit which causes an event generation source 106 to obtain a list of information of an event distributor 104 from the event processing distributor 103, select the event distributor 104 where the distance on the network with respect to the event generation source is shortest, from the list, and transmit an event to the selected event distributor 104.
US09380110B2 Adaptive data synchronization based on data plan or network usage
A method and apparatus for modifying data synchronization of a portable computing device responsive to a data plan associated with an account associated with the portable computing device are disclosed. If the data plan specifies a data quota identifying a maximum amount of data for communication by the portable computing device, a data synchronization setting determines whether to minimize the frequency of synchronization between the portable computing device and a server or to dynamically modify the frequency of synchronization based on data usage. If data synchronization is dynamically modified, the data synchronization frequency is modified based on an estimated data usage of the portable computing device over a time interval. The data synchronization frequency is modified based on the difference between estimated data usage and the data quota and is reduced if the estimated data usage equals or exceeds the data quota.
US09380106B2 System and method for transmission of data
A system and method for data communication connecting on-line networks with on-line and off-line computers. The present system provides for broadcast of up to the minute notification centric information thereby providing an instant call to action for users who are provided with the ability to instantaneously retrieve further detailed information. The notification centric portions of information is wirelessly broadcast to wireless receiving devices which are attached to computing devices. Upon receipt of the information at the personal computer, the user is notified through different multimedia alerts that there is an incoming message. Wirelessly broadcasted URL's, associated with the data, are embedded in data packets and provide an automated wired or wireless connection back to the information source for obtaining detailed data.
US09380104B2 Media player web service
Methods for configuring playback for local or remote rendering in an HTML5 UI. The methods include determining a client type, transmitting a request to a content management server (CMS) for Get media metadata, receiving Get media metadata from the CMS, determining video format for a client, constructing a media URL, and constructing the HTML 5 page.
US09380093B2 Mobile device application streaming
Technology for decomposing an application into fragments and streaming the application in fragments is disclosed herein. According to at least one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes steps of determining multiple application fragments of a computer application, wherein each application fragment of the application fragments includes a code to present at least one interface of the computer application; storing the application fragments at a storage device; generating a resource dependency data structure, wherein for each specific application fragment of the application fragments, the resource dependency data structure includes identifications of resources that are needed for running the specific application fragment; and streaming, via a network component, at least one application fragment of the application fragments to a computing device.
US09380087B2 Tagging users of a social networking system in content outside of social networking system domain
Users of a social networking system can tag other users in content items that are provided outside of the social networking system, such as pictures that are viewable on a website that is external to the social networking system. To enable a user to tag another user in a content item, an external system provides a user interface that enables the user to tag another user, optionally define a portion of the content item in which the tagged user appears, and provide an identity of the tagged user. The external system communicates with the social networking system to provide the tagging information to the social networking system. The tagging information is received by the social networking system, which imports the content item and displays the content item with the tagging information to other users in the social networking system.
US09380074B2 Unified generation of policy updates
User input mechanisms are displayed for defining a compliance policy update. A unified compliance policy update is generated according to a unified schema that is consistent across different workloads. The unified compliance policy update is sent to a workload where it is deployed.
US09380071B2 Method for detection of persistent malware on a network node
The present invention relates to methods and devices for detecting persistency of a first network node (12). In a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided comprising the steps of monitoring (S101), during a specified observation period, whether the first network node has established a connection to a second network node (13), and determining (S102) a total number of sessions of connectivity occurring during said specified observation period in which the first network node connects to the second network node. Further, the method comprises the steps of determining (S103), from the total number of sessions, a number of sessions comprising at least one communication flow between the first network node and the second network node, and determining (S104) inter-session persistence of the first network node on the basis of the total number of sessions and the number of sessions comprising at least one communication flow.
US09380070B1 Intrusion detection mechanism
In one embodiment, a method implemented on a node connected to a network bus includes: storing one or more message identifiers, the one or more identifiers comprising at least one message identifier identifying the node, the at least one message identifier being included in a message at a time when the message is sent by the node onto the network bus; monitoring network bus traffic, the network bus traffic comprising messages transmitted by the node and by other nodes connected to the network bus; and alerting a processor of the node if a message transmitted on the network bus by at least one of the other nodes is identified as having a message identifier corresponding to the at least one message identifier.
US09380064B2 System and method for improving the resiliency of websites and web services
A system is disclosed for monitoring the status of a website operating on a host and for remedying any identified problems. A first platform is coupled to the host for monitoring the website and periodically transmits status information about the website. A second platform is coupled to the first platform for periodically receiving the status information about the at least one feature. The second platform is configured to compare the received status information with a copy of the website and based thereon determine if the website has been compromised. The second platform is further configured to output an alert signal after determining that the website has been compromised. A third platform is coupled to the second platform and separately coupled to the host computer. The third platform is configured to receive the alert signal from the second platform and to forward the alert signal to the host computer.
US09380060B2 Machine-to-machine service based on common data format
A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium having instructions to establish a connection with the simple sensor device; receive sensor data from the simple sensor device via the connection; convert the sensor data into common data of a common data format, wherein the common data includes metadata that supports an ontology; store the common data; and transmit the common data to a network device of a network.
US09380059B2 Systems and methods for configuring an electronic device
A method for configuring a device is performed at a target device with a processor and memory storing instructions for execution by the processor. In some implementations, the target device is a media presentation device, such as a WiFi enabled speaker system. Connection information is received from a configuration device, such as a laptop computer or mobile telephone, via an analog audio interface. The connection information includes first account credentials. In some implementations, the connection information also includes network configuration data such as a name of wireless network and a security key. The target device connects to a server system remote from the target device using the first account credentials.
US09380056B2 Multiple input based passwords
A computer-implemented method, carried out by one or more processors, for utilizing one or more input methods for passwords. In an embodiment, the method comprises the steps of determining, by one or more processors, one or more input methods supported for a password entry, wherein the password entry verifies a user's credentials; receiving, by one or more processors, a candidate password through the one or more input methods, wherein each character of the candidate password has an associated input method; and storing, by one or more processors, the candidate password as the password entry, along with the associated input method for each character of the candidate password.
US09380055B2 Device control method, device management system, and in-house server apparatus connected to device management system
A method in the disclosure includes: receiving, from an information device, a device password which is used for controlling a target device via an in-house server apparatus and which is input on the information device using a setting screen; managing a device ID of the in-house server apparatus, a user ID, and the device password in association with one another; transmitting the device password to the in-house server apparatus to cause the in-house server apparatus to manage the device ID and the device password; transmitting, when login to an out-of-house server apparatus is authenticated, an authentication screen to the information device; receiving, from the information device, an input password that is input on the information device using the authentication screen; and when the received input password is identical to the device password that is associated with the user ID, approving a control of a target device by the information device.
US09380050B2 Scan image authentication
Methods and systems receive an electronic scanned image generated by activity of an application running on a portable computerized device, and calculate a cryptographic digest from data of the electronic scanned image using a second computerized device. Also, such methods and systems encrypt the cryptographic digest using an encryption key stored on the portable computerized device to create a content signature of the cryptographic digest, and send the content signature to the second computerized device. The authenticity of a copy of the electronic scanned image provided by the second computerized device is verified by recalculating the content signature (based on the copy of the electronic scanned image) using the encryption key from the portable device.
US09380045B2 Method and apparatus for providing authentication
A method and apparatus for providing authentication are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a customer to access a service via a first user endpoint device, and sends a first authentication request to the customer for first authentication information. The method then sends a second authentication request to the customer for second authentication information via a second user endpoint device if the first authentication information is received, wherein the first user endpoint device is different from the second user endpoint device. The method then enables the customer to proceed with accessing the service if the second authentication information is received.
US09380016B2 Social network information system and method
The present invention is embodied in methods and system for obtaining information about a category of interest from a computer network, the computer network including a plurality of user networks with each user network including a plurality of users. The network further including an electronic database of information associated with the plurality of users.
US09380015B2 Electronic message organization via social groups
A mechanism for automatically organizing electronic messages is described herein. Social groups of a particular user that may be representative of topics, people, projects, and the like can be automatically learned based at least in part upon historical correspondence of the user. Moreover, messages can be automatically prioritized based at least in part upon historical correspondence patterns. Electronic messages may be presented to the user in accordance with group information and how important the messages are to the user.
US09380014B2 Electronic camera and server device
A server device that includes a receiving unit, a browse page creation unit, a mail creation unit, and a mail transmission unit. The receiving unit receives an image transmitted from an electronic camera via a wireless network. The browse page creation unit creates a browse page for browsing the transmitted image from the electronic camera, the image having been received by the receiving unit. The mail creation unit creates a notification mail for introducing the browse page that has been created by the browse page creation unit to a person other than a user of the electronic camera. Furthermore, the mail transmission unit transmits the notification mail that has been created by the mail creation unit to a specified mail address.
US09380013B1 Identifying a second media content to go viral based on a velocity threshold of a first media content
Systems and techniques are disclosed for transmitting a message via one or more platforms, the messages being associated with media content and/or related media content. A related media content may be identified based on the media content and a platform may be selected based on a platform selection criteria. The message may correspond to the related media content and may be transmitted to the platform.
US09380012B2 Rescinding messages in a messaging system with multiple messaging channels
A messaging system facilitates communication between users through various messaging channels. The messaging system supports multiple communication channels and includes a messaging module that automatically selects one or more of the messaging channels for delivering a message to a recipient of the message using, for example, a set of policy rules or a trained model. The messaging module may also provide, in a user interface for sending and receiving messages, a visual indication of the selected messaging channel to the sender of the message to provide the user with transparency about how the message will be delivered. Additionally, the message may be delivered via multiple messaging channels, where the messaging module may rescind messages from some of the messaging channels upon receiving a reply from the recipient of the message or other confirmation that the recipient has seen the message via one of the communication channels.
US09380011B2 Participant-specific markup
A conversation server hosts a conversation having a plurality of participants, the conversation server enables a first client to display at least a portion of a conversation to a first participant. The conversation server receives a notification the portion of the conversation was viewed by the first participant at a first time while in a first state. After receiving a notification that the portion of the conversation has ceased to be viewed by the first participant, the conversation is edited to a second state at a second time. At a third time that is after the second time, the conversation server sends, to the first client, information enabling the first client to display a markup of the portion of the conversation that is indicative of one or more edits that transition the portion of the conversation from the first state to the second state.
US09380010B2 Conversation branching for more efficient resolution
A method for conversation branching may include storing a plurality of messages communicated in an online conversation and generating a fingerprint for each message. The fingerprint for each message may be stored in a lookup table. The method may also include detecting a new message from one of the users and processing the new message to generate an artifact that correlates to the new message. The lookup table may be queried using the artifact to determine a similarity between the new message and each of the stored messages. One or more proposed reply messages to the new message may be generated for branching the online conversation to a new conversation point that corresponds to a selected one of the one or more proposed reply messages. The one or more proposed reply messages are based on one of the stored messages that has a closest similarity to the new message.
US09380002B2 Pre-sorter systems and methods for distributing GTP packets
Pre-sorter systems and methods are disclosed for distributing GTP packets. The pre-sorter forwards GTP packets based upon entries within one or more pre-sort tables, and the entries associate F-TEIDs with output ports that can be coupled to GTP sessions controllers and/or other external systems. The F-TEIDs represent a combination of a destination IP address and a tunnel endpoint identifier (TEID) for each GTP packet. For some embodiments, GTP session controllers analyze the GTP packets and determine F-TEIDs that are created, modified, and/or dropped for user sessions, and the GTP session controllers send control messages to the pre-sorter to determine the entries stored within the pre-sort table(s). For other embodiments, other external systems such as network monitoring tools are coupled to the GTP packet pre-sorter rather than GTP session controllers. Pre-sorters having multiple pre-sort modules with local pre-sort tables, as well as two-stage pre-sort architectures, can also be used.
US09379998B2 Symmetric coherent request/response policy enforcement
A set of service level agreement (SLA) policies and service level definition (SLD) policies that are applied to a request message of a correlated request/response message pair are tracked. A response message of the correlated request/response message pair is detected. A corresponding set of platform-specific policy enforcement processing rules that are used to enforce the set of SLA policies and SLD policies on the response message are identified using the tracked set of SLA policies and SLD policies applied to the request message. The set of SLA policies and SLD policies are enforced on the response message using the identified corresponding set of platform-specific policy enforcement processing rules.
US09379990B2 System and method for streaming a media file from a server to a client device
A method for streaming a media file from a server to a client device is provided. The method provides for streaming requested chunks of the media file from the server to the client device. The method determines a rate for streaming the requested chunk to the client device by using relationships between the requested chunk, the media file, current chunks, and current streaming rates. Provided a seek operation is determined, the requested chunk is streamed at a burst rate or a throttle rate. The method is especially useful for reducing latency and saving bandwidth. A corresponding system for streaming the media file from the server to the client device is also provided.
US09379988B2 Multi-rate MAC to PHY interface
A method and system for a multi-rate Media Access Control layer (MAC) to Physical layer (PHY) interface is provided. The method to provide a multi-rate Media Access Control layer (MAC) interface comprises receiving a first set of signals, sampling the first set of signals to determine a type of interface to be used to transmit or receive the first set of signals or a subset of the first set of signals, generating a select signal indicating type of interface to be used based on the sampling step and transmitting the first set of signals or a subset of the first set of signals using the interface indicated by the select signal. The method to provide a multi-rate Physical layer (PHY) interface comprises receiving a select signal from a Physical layer (PHY) layer indicating data rate of a first set of signals, selecting a first interface and turning off the second interface if the select signal indicates the first interface is to be used, selecting the second interface and turning off the first interface if the select signal indicates the second interface is to be used and transmitting the first set of signals using the second interface or a subset of the first set of signals using the first interface based on the select signal.
US09379987B2 Media rate adaption using a median filter
In an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, a computer-implemented method includes encoding a first portion of media at an encoding rate. The first portion of the media is streamed over a network from a sending device to a receiving device. Feedback is received related to packet events occurring during transmission of the first portion of the media over the network. Adjusted feedback is generated, by a computer processor, by applying a median filter to the feedback data. The encoding rate of the media is adjusted based on the adjusted feedback data. An additional portion of the media is encoded at the adjusted encoding rate.
US09379986B2 Network relay device
When a first line card receives a frame at a port, the line card refers to monitoring results by internal communicability monitoring units of other second to fourth line cards and a monitoring result by an internal communicability monitoring unit of its own, determines a first of a transmission destination from band limiting units of other line cards based on the monitoring results, and transmits the frame. The second line card limits the communication band of the frame by the first band limiting unit of its own, and transmits the frame to a predetermined port. If any fault is detected in the communicability in the internal communicability monitoring table to/from the second line card as the communication counterpart, and, if the communicability to/from the third line card as the communication counterpart is normal, the first line card changes the transmission destination into the second band limiting unit.
US09379975B2 Communication control system, control server, forwarding node, communication control method, and communication control program
A communication control system includes a control server for controlling a process rule held in a forwarding node. The control server includes a network information storage unit for storing a logical network identifier which is an identifier of a logical network defined by setting of the forwarding node, and a correspondence relation between a device connected to the forwarding node and the logical network; and an address resolution unit for, upon receiving from the forwarding node an address resolution request for a destination communication device which is a destination of the packet or a communication device for forwarding the packet received from a source communication device which is a source of the packet to another device, performing interlayer address resolution for the destination communication device or the communication device, and setting the logical network identifier of the logical network to which the source communication device belongs.
US09379973B2 Binary compatible extension architecture in an openflow compliant network environment
An example method for a binary compatible extension architecture in an OpenFlow compliant network environment is provided and includes receiving a packet on an extension port from an Open vSwitch (OVS) component of a virtual switch configured for an OpenFlow protocol, performing fast path processing on the packet in a kernel space under control of a switch data path in a user space; and sending the packet on the extension port for a subsequent delivery to its destination from an output port of the virtual switch.
US09379955B2 Method for queuing data packets and node
A method for queuing data packets is described. Upon receipt of a data packet, e.g., at an egress buffer of a node, a position within an output queue at which to place the data packet is determined. The queue position for the data packet can be determined based on various criteria, e.g., the type of the data packet and a time associated with its subsequent transmission, and timing aspects associated with the data packets which are already stored in the queue.
US09379950B2 Using cloud resources to improve performance of a streaming application
A streams manager monitors performance of a streaming application, and when the performance needs to be improved, the streams manager automatically requests virtual machines from a cloud manager. The streams manager specifies to the cloud manager streams infrastructure and one or more streams application components for the virtual machines. The cloud manager provisions one or more virtual machines in a cloud with the specified streams infrastructure and streams application components. The streams manager then modifies the flow graph so one or more portions of the streaming application are hosted by the virtual machines in the cloud.
US09379936B2 IP address managing method, program thereof, network communication device
A method of managing IP addresses in a device performing communication using the IP address includes acquiring IP addresses by a plurality of methods; storing the plurality of IP addresses such that the methods are discernable when the plurality of acquired IP addresses are the same, determining an effective IP address used in the communication from the plurality of IP addresses according to predetermined priority in the methods, and setting the IP address to be used in the communication; and determining the valid IP address according to the priority from the stored IP addresses except for the disappearing IP address when the set IP address disappears, and setting the IP address to be used in the communication.
US09379933B1 Dynamically adjusting media content cache size
Disclosed are various embodiments for dynamically adjusting the amount of media content to transmit to a client for caching during a media streaming event. To begin, the location of the user may be determined. Based on the location of the user, a route may be predicted if the user is moving. A future connectivity interruption in the network coverage may be identified by comparing known areas of network coverage with the location of the user and/or the predicted route. Based on the likelihood of a future connectivity interruption, the amount of media content to transmit to a client for caching may be dynamically adjusted so that the user have a seamless media experience even in times of network coverage disconnect.
US09379925B2 Transpositional modulation systems and methods
Systems and methods for transpositional modulation and demodulation are provided. One such method for generating a signal includes the steps of providing a look-up table having a plurality of quarter-cycle waveforms, each of said quarter-cycle waveforms associated with a respective input level; receiving an input signal; and outputting quarter-cycle waveforms associated with levels of the received input signal. Systems for transpositional modulation are also provided. One such system for generating a signal includes a look-up table having a plurality of quarter-cycle waveforms. Each of the quarter-cycle waveforms are associated with a respective input level, and the look-up table is configured to receive an input signal, and output quarter-cycle waveforms associated with levels of the received input signal.
US09379921B2 Method for performing data sampling control in an electronic device, and associated apparatus
A method for performing data sampling control in an electronic device and an associated apparatus are provided, where the method includes the steps of: detecting whether a data pattern of a received signal of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) receiver in the electronic device matches a predetermined data pattern, to selectively trigger a data sampling time shift configuration of the DFE receiver; and when the data sampling time shift configuration is triggered, utilizing a phase shift clock, rather than a normal clock corresponding to a normal configuration of the DFE receiver, as an edge sampler clock of an edge sampler in the DFE receiver, to lock onto edge timing of the received signal, and controlling the phase shift clock and the normal clock to have different phases, respectively, to shift data sampling time of the DFE receiver, for performing data sampling in the DFE receiver.
US09379917B2 System and method for channel estimation for generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM)
Embodiments are provided for pre-cancelling signal interference in Generalized Frequency Division Multiplexing (GFDM). Signal interference is pre-cancelled, at a transmitter, so that clean pilots are observed at a receiver and hence used for channel estimation. Using a Pilot-Interference Cancellation (Pilot-IC) method, interference is pre-cancelled at only pilot symbols. Alternatively, interference is simultaneously pre-cancelled at all symbols using a Transmitter IC (Tx-IC) method. The embodiments also include scattering the pilots over frequency and time resources to estimate channels which are frequency selective and time-variant. The channel estimates at the receiver are then used for single-tap channel equalization at time-frequency grid data points, where no assumption of time-invariant channels is required.
US09379912B2 Mitigating email SPAM attacks
The present disclosure relates to mitigating email spam attacks. A gateway is configured to receive mail from one or more mail systems. If mail is intended for delivery to an invalid address, the gateway can generate status messages for delivery to the mail systems or determine if a threshold for delivery attempts to the invalid address has been met. If the threshold has been met, the gateway can request creation of a honeypot email address, and future mail intended for delivery to the invalid address are delivered to a mailbox associated with the honeypot email address. Various actions can be taken with respect to the mail delivered to the honeypot email address including analysis, blacklisting of senders, and/or other actions.
US09379905B2 Supporting a wireless network protocol on a mobile device using a wired interface
The disclosed mobile communication device, system and method permit the process of integration and/or testing of one or more new and/or evolving wireless technologies on a mobile device without complete hardware integration. To achieve this, the mobile communication device includes a wired interface configured to communicate with a separate device via a wired connection using a wired network protocol. The mobile device also includes a data plane bridge that translates data packets between the wired network protocol of the wired interface and a wireless network protocol. The wireless network protocol is used by a mobile application executing on the mobile communication device to transfer the data packets over a wireless link. The data plane bridge and wired interface permit the data packet to be transferred over the wired interface, instead of the wireless link.
US09379902B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting multimedia broadcast data in wireless communication system
A core network node and method for use in a wireless system are provided. The method includes transmitting, by a core network node, one or more service data unit (SDUs) to a base station; and transmitting, by the core network node, a control message including respective length information of the one or more SDUs to the base station. The length information included in the control message is used by the base station for processing the one or more SDUs, and the control message is transmitted after the one or more SDUs are transmitted.
US09379901B2 Communication method using multi-radio and communication apparatus
Provided is a communication method and apparatus using a multi-radio. The communication method includes establishing a link via at least one node included in a group that uses a low data-rate radio (LDR); transmitting a data frame to the at least one node included in the group; and receiving, using a multi-radio based on an availability of the LDR, an acknowledgement (ACK) with respect to the transmitted data frame.
US09379886B2 Sample rate converter and method of converting sample rate
A sample rate converter and a method of converting a sample rate are disclosed herein. The sample rate converter includes a data delay unit, a clock rate conversion unit, a Lagrange polynomial filter unit, a resample position calculation unit, and a resample position compensation unit. The data delay unit delays signals in response to an input clock signal. The clock rate conversion unit converts the sample rate of the signals. The Lagrange polynomial filter unit performs a filtering function on the signals whose rate has been converted. The resample position calculation unit outputs the value (Dint, dfrac) of the resample position of the signals based on a set resample ratio value. The resample position compensation unit corrects the error value of the signals by applying the value (Dint, dfrac) to the signals, and outputs a final signal.
US09379861B2 Radio base station apparatus, radio terminal apparatus and wireless communication method
A radio base station apparatus wherein even when a single-base-station transmission and a plural-base-station cooperative transmission are implemented at the same time, the terminal-to-base-station feedback information amount and the inter-cell interference (ICI) can be reduced. A base station uses a first transmission mode, in which only the base station implements a signal transmission, and a second transmission mode, in which the base station implements a cooperative signal transmission together with another radio base station apparatus, to communicate with one or more radio terminal apparatuses. A setting unit sets, as a particular frequency band whose reception quality is to be measured, one of first and second frequency bands that are parts of a band used for communication with the terminals. A deciding unit decides, as the transmission mode for the terminals, one of the first and second transmissions based on the reception quality of the particular frequency band.
US09379860B2 Method and system for transferring wireless transmit/receive unit-specific information
The present invention is related to a method and system for transferring wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU)-specific information to support enhanced uplink (EU) operation in a wireless communication system. A radio network controller (RNC) obtains WTRU-specific information, and transfers the WTRU-specific information to the Node-Bs. Each Node-B is configured to schedule uplink transmissions from a WTRU and utilizes the WTRU-specific information in operation of EU transmissions.
US09379859B2 Downclocking and/or adaptive sub-carriers for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Downclocking and/or adaptive sub-carriers for single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Communication device operation within a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi) is effectuated in the frequency spectra typically associated with television broadcast channels. Operation is made on a secondary non-interfering basis to such television broadcast channels. Any desired channel bandwidth (e.g., 6 MHz, 7 MHz, 8 MHz, etc.) may be employed. Adaptation with respect to the number of data sub-carriers within different respective packets may be made in accordance with two or more respective operational modes. For example, modification of the number of data sub-carriers in different respective packets may be made to increase the signal bandwidth from a first band was to a second bandwidth. Also, appropriate frequency down-clocking of a first channel bandwidth may be performed to generate the desired channel bandwidth to be employed within an available television broadcast channel bandwidth.
US09379858B2 Transmission coordination within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications
Transmission coordination within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. Within wireless communication systems, there can be various wireless communication devices therein that are not all compliant with a common capability set, communication protocol, communication standard, recommended practice, etc. For example, some communication systems may have some wireless communication devices characterized as ‘legacy’ wireless communication devices, and other wireless communication devices therein may be newer and compliant with newer capability sets, communication protocols, communication standards, recommended practices, etc. In such instances, coordination of transmissions among the various wireless communication devices may be made, when performing simultaneous transmissions, by ensuring that transmissions of devices on different channels is made when aligned on a common boundary of an OFDM symbol. Alternatively, such simultaneous transmissions may be made when offset by some multiple of OFDM symbol duration. When performing non-simultaneous transmissions, transmissions may be made based on channel availability.
US09379854B2 Signaling with noise cancellation using echoes
Signal transport with noise cancellation is contemplated. The noise cancellation may be facilitated with a transmitter configured to induce echoes in a signal desired for transport in order to facilitate subsequently retrieving signal components associated with noise influenced portions of the transported signal from non-noise influence portions of the transported signal.
US09379852B2 Packet recovery method, communication system, information processing device, and program
A packet recovery method of the present invention is a packet recovery method upon loss of a plurality of packets transmitted from a first node 111 to second node 112 through a network in the order of sequence numbers assigned to each of said packets, wherein second node 112, upon detection of a loss of a packet transmitted from first node 111, transmits an acknowledgement message, including a sequence number of a packet whose receipt has been confirmed or whose loss has been detected and including information on the lost packet, to first node 111 through the network. Then, first node 111, upon receipt of the acknowledgement message from second node 112, assigns a sequence number that is different from that of any of the plurality of packets to a retransmission packet which is a packet to be retransmitted, and subsequently, transmits an acknowledgement-to-acknowledgement message attached to the retransmission packet through the network for notifying that the acknowledgement message has been received to second node 112.
US09379851B2 Method and apparatus for transmitting acknowledgement in wireless communication system
Provided is a method for transmitting an acknowledgment through a base station in a multi-carrier system. The method for transmitting the acknowledgment through the base station in the multi-carrier system comprises the steps of receiving a plurality of uplink transmission blocks through at least one uplink carrier; determining a downlink channel for transmitting a plurality of ACK/NACK signals corresponding to the transmission blocks on the basis of the at least one uplink carrier; and transmitting the ACK/NACK signals on the determined downlink channel.
US09379850B2 Controlling retransmissions
A method and apparatus for controlling retransmissions in multipoint reception is disclosed. In the method it is determined that additional information is needed for decoding of at least one received information block. A procedure is selected for obtaining the additional information from a plurality of options to proceed based on information about predicted result of at least one of the options. In accordance with an aspect an indication of one of a positive acknowledgement of the information block, a negative acknowledgement of the information block and suspension of retransmission of the information block is generated and communicated on a retransmission control channel.
US09379829B2 Detecting signal leakage in cable networks
A signal leakage in a cable network may be detected by using a test device to obtain a spectrum of an electromagnetic wave propagating in vicinity of the cable network, and automatically detecting QAM channels in the obtained spectrum by detecting characteristic spectral roll-offs at boundary frequencies between QAM channels of the cable network. A test device may be used to determine which QAM channels are currently active on the cable network, thereby facilitating automatic QAM signal leakage detection.
US09379825B2 Trigger synchronized event for channel characterization within communication systems
A new protocol uses a trigger message to identify one or more symbols transmitted between a first and a second communication device. The first device generates and transmits a trigger message to the second device. This process may be initiated based on the first device receiving a measurement initiation message from another device (e.g., such as the second device or another device within the system). Then, the first device transmits a signal that includes those one or more symbols to the second device. Before or during transmission, the first device generates a first capture of those one or more symbols. After receipt of the transmission from the first device, the second device performs a second capture of those one or more symbols identified within the trigger message. Then, any device having the first and second captures can determine a characterization of the communication pathway between the first and second devices.
US09379801B2 Method and device for transmitting and receiving multi-input multi-output (MIMO) signal in wireless communication system in which plural communication systems are present
A device for transmitting and receiving multi-input multi-output (MIMO) signal in a wireless communication system in which a plurality of communication systems is present includes a plurality of antenna modules and a recognition module for recognizing at least one of network information or antenna information of a source device. The recognition module compares a measurement result of the plurality of antenna modules with pre-stored information to recognize the network information or antenna information of the source device.
US09379794B2 Scheduling transmission for multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output data
An access point determines the buffered data for each station of a plurality of stations in a BSS and groups the stations with similar station characteristics. The transmission time to the stations in a group can be apportioned. The groups can be ordered based on station characteristics and a transmission history. A sounding for a group can be performed based on the order. The MU-MIMO transmission for the group can be performed until a first condition is met. If the first condition is met, then the sounding and the MU-MIMO transmission for a next group can be performed, according to the order, until a second condition is met. The first condition can include an apportioned transmission time having expired and/or the buffers for the group being flushed. The second condition can include new data having been buffered by the AP and/or all buffered data having been transmitted.
US09379793B2 Radio communication system, radio base station apparatus, user terminal and radio communication method
The present invention is designed to reduce the space to install antennas and still increase the system capacity despite the state of the distribution of user terminals in cells. According to the radio communication method of the present invention, a radio base station apparatus selects precoding vectors from a codebook that is set in advance to be uneven with respect to the direction of the arrangement of antenna elements, based on communication quality information of the user terminals in the cell, multiplies signals to supply to each antenna element by the selected precoding vectors, and transmits the signals multiplied by the precoding vectors to the user terminals, and the user terminal receives a signal from the radio base station apparatus, extracts a reference signal from the received signal and measures channel quality; and feeds back a communication quality feedback signal, including the measured channel quality, to the radio base station apparatus, via the uplink.
US09379790B2 Cross cell beam persistence in a massive multiple-input, multiple output (MIMO) environment
In wireless operating environments, wireless user devices are often within the coverage area of multiple base stations. The base station providing the best uplink for the user device may be different than the base station providing the best downlink for the user device. Systems and techniques for asymmetric uplink and downlink communications for a user device are provided. In embodiments, the user device initially synchronizes with a base station. Both the uplink and downlink are initially served by this base station. A determination is then made whether to handoff the downlink for the user device to another base station. When a determination is indicated, the downlink is handed off to the second base station. Thereafter, periodic measurements are made. The determinations whether to handoff the uplink and downlink for the user device are made independently.
US09379783B2 Transmission system
A transmission system includes a transmission management system including: a first receiving unit that receives user identification information from transmission terminals; a user identification information management unit that stores user identification information in association with transmission terminal identification information of transmission terminals serving as transmission sources of the user identification information in the first storage unit; a first extracting unit that refers to, when the first receiving unit receives request for presentation from a certain transmission terminal, the first storage unit and extracts transmission terminal identification information of transmission terminals in transmission and user identification information associated with the transmission terminal identification information; and a second transmitting unit that transmits the extracted transmission terminal identification information and the extracted user identification information in association with each other to the transmission terminal serving as the transmission source of the request for presentation.
US09379782B2 Method of adjusting a card emulation mode and an electronic device therefor
A method monitors near field communication (NFC) modes performed by a user and automatically adjusts the periods of the NFC modes according to a frequency of use of each of the NFC modes, and an electronic operates using the method. The method includes determining whether NFC is performed within a set time, monitoring a frequency of use of the performed NFC mode when it is determined that the NFC is performed, and adjusting a period of a card emulation mode according to the frequency of use of the NFC mode.
US09379778B2 Near field communication circuit and operating method of the same
The near field communication (NFC) circuit includes an NFC reader circuit configured to communicate with an outside through an antenna, a resonant and matching circuit connected between the NFC reader circuit and the antenna, an NFC card circuit connected to nodes and configured to communicate with the outside through the antenna, and a processor configured to output a plurality of control signals when the NFC reader circuit is enabled, wherein the NFC card circuit is configured to control a resonant frequency of the antenna in response to the plurality of control signals.
US09379776B2 System and method for low data-rate communication over a carrier current
The invention relates to a system for low data-rate communication over a modulated direct carrier current, having one or more communication transmitters (6, 8), a communication receiver (10), and a wire bus (12) forming a shared transmission channel. Each communication transmitter (6, 8) is configured to form a first raw staggered transmission frame according to a second staggered transmission frame, said staggered transmission frames using a set of separate basic chip-encoding sequences. The basic encoding sequences or staggering the symbols used by all the communication transmitters (4, 6) are identical, and the times of the initial transmission of the second staggered frames produced by each transmitter (6, 8) are autonomously and freely determined by each transmitter (6, 8), without taking into account any synchronization signal external to the transmitter (6, 8).
US09379773B2 Phase detection in power line communication systems
Phase detection between service nodes in a as “PRIME” (“PoweRline Intelligent Metering Evolution”) communications network, in which the service nodes are connected to one phase of a three-phase power distribution network. A service node joining a sub-network receives packet data units from other service nodes in the sub-network, including those that can potentially serve as a switch node to which the joining service node can register. The joining service node measures an elapsed time between a zero crossing of the AC power waveform at its phase and the start of a frame in the received packet data units. This elapsed time is compared with a similar zero crossing gap communicated by other service nodes in the packet data units, to identify the relative phases to which the two service nodes are connected.
US09379770B2 Methods and systems for activating and deactivating communication paths
At least one example embodiment discloses a method of initializing a plurality of communication paths in a system. The method includes obtaining a first matrix from a storage medium, the first matrix including at least one channel sub-matrix of the system associated with a subset of the plurality of communication paths, obtaining an indication of which communication paths are to become active and determining, after the obtaining the indication, new compensation coefficients based on the at least one channel sub-matrix and active compensation coefficients, the active compensation coefficients for compensating for crosstalk between the active communication paths prior to the number of active communication paths changing.
US09379763B2 Wireless device and wireless network system
Provided is a wireless device and a wireless network capable of readily communicating wirelessly using different frequency bands and wireless formats to match the state of wireless communication at the installation location of the facility being monitored. A wireless device for performing wireless communication using a wireless module suited to the state of communication, the wireless device being provided with a plurality of wireless modules on a base substrate, wherein the wireless modules are a plurality of wireless modules between which the frequency and/or the wireless format differ. The wireless device is characterized in being provided with: a device controller for selecting a wireless module suited to the state of communication, the device controller being detachably mounted on the base substrate and connected to the plurality of wireless modules by signal wires; and a terminal block for external connection and a communication interface, which are connected to the device controller. The wireless device performs wireless data communication using a wireless module selected by the device controller, the data being acquired from the terminal block or the communication interface.
US09379755B2 Scored smart card
The invention relates to a SIM (2) card in a first format, with an electronic module (4). The card body comprises a score line (6) surrounding the electronic module (4) in order to define the second card format (3). The said score line (6), comprises residual matter thickness that is smaller than the thickness of the card body. The thickness of the residual matter comprises a first thickness (9) over a first part of the score line (6), at least one second thickness (10) smaller than the first thickness (9) over a second part of the score line and at least one residual thickness change zone (11, 17), where the said thickness change zone is a gradual thickness change zone (11, 17) that goes from the first thickness to the second thickness.
US09379752B2 Compensation scheme for MHL common mode clock swing
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to compensation for common mode signal swing. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a connector for the transfer of the data, the connector including connections for a first set of one or more conductors; a receiver for the reception of data via the connector, the received data including a first signal and a second signal transmitted via the set of one or more conductors, the second signal being a common mode signal modulating the first signal, the receiver including an amplifier to amplify the received data with a positive gain; and a common mode compensation circuit to compensate for a voltage swing of the common mode signal in the amplified received data. The common mode compensation circuit is to sense the common mode signal, amplify the sensed common mode signal with a negative gain, and feed back the amplified common mode to output nodes of the receiver.
US09379751B2 Noise canceling system and method, smart control method and device and communication equipment
The present invention discloses a noise canceling system and method, a smart control method and device and a communication equipment. Said smart control method includes: when it is detected there is no voice signal output at a receiving end of a communication equipment, receiving an outside noise signal from a reference microphone away from ears and a detection signal from a monitoring microphone near ears; implementing performance analysis on said received outside noise signal and said detection signal to estimate a noise reduction performance curve after said feed-forward active noise cancellation; and regulating parameters of the control circuit in said feed-forward active noise cancellation according to said estimated noise reduction performance curve and the preset noise reduction performance curve to make a difference between said estimated noise reduction performance curve and said preset noise reduction performance curve within a preset range.
US09379745B2 Multi-band wide band power amplifier digital predistortion system
A high performance and cost effective method of RF-digital hybrid mode power amplifier systems with high linearity and high efficiency for multi-frequency band wideband communication system applications is disclosed. The present disclosure enables a power amplifier system to be field reconfigurable and support multiple operating frequency bands on the same PA system over a very wide bandwidth. In addition, the present invention supports multi-modulation schemes (modulation agnostic), multi-carriers and multi-channels.
US09379739B2 Devices and methods for data recovery of control channels in wireless communications
Aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus and methods for recovering data from a control channel in wireless communications. An apparatus decodes a CRC appended codeword to obtain a decoded codeword, and computes a first syndrome of the decoded codeword utilizing a parity check matrix. If the first syndrome is non-zero, The apparatus determines a location S and a length K of an error pattern in bits of the decoded codeword, an index set ε based on the values of S and K. A linear system is formed based on the parity check matrix and the error pattern in accordance with the index set ε. The apparatus determines a solution of the linear system, wherein the solution includes an estimated error pattern. A recovered codeword can be determined by removing the estimated error pattern from the decoded codeword.
US09379736B2 Context-adaptive coding video data
In an example, aspects of this disclosure relate to a method of coding data that includes coding a sequence of bins according to a context adaptive entropy coding process. A current coding cycle used to code at least one bin of the sequence of bins includes determining a context for the bin; selecting a probability model based on the context, wherein the probability model is updated based on a value of a previous bin coded with the context and coded at least two coding cycles prior to the current coding cycle; applying the probability model to code the bin; and updating the probability model based on a value of the bin.
US09379719B1 Phase locked loop device
A device is disclosed that includes a control module and a gain estimation module. The control module is configured to superimpose two non-zero values on a frequency control word to respectively generate a first and a second modified fractional reference phase signals, under a condition that a fractional part of the frequency control word is smaller than a predetermined value. The gain estimation module is configured to calculate a first and a second estimated gain values respectively based on the first and the second modified fractional reference phase signals. The control module is further configured to calculate an estimated digital-to-time converter gain value based on an interpolation of the first and the second estimated gain values.
US09379713B2 Data processing device and driving method thereof
In a processor or the like including a reconfigurable (RC) circuit, the RC circuit is used to form a test circuit to test a core, a cache memory, or the like, and then part of the RC circuit is used as an auxiliary cache memory. When a memory can store data after stop of power supply, a startup routine program (SRP) of the processor can be stored therein. For example, after the test, an SRP is loaded to a memory in the RC circuit from an external ROM or the like, and when power is resupplied to the processor, a startup operation is performed using the loaded SRP. When the processor is in a normal operation state, this memory is used as an auxiliary cache memory and the SRP is overwritten. The SRP is loaded to the memory again at the end of use of the processor.
US09379711B2 Programmable logic device and semiconductor device
A programmable logic device includes a plurality of programmable logic elements (PLE) whose electrical connection is controlled by first configuration data. Each of The PLEs includes an LUT in which a relationship between a logic level of an input signal and a logic level of an output signal is determined by second configuration data, an FF to which the output signal of the LUT is input, and an MUX. The MUX includes at least two switches each including first and second transistor. A signal including third configuration data is input to a gate of the second transistor through the first transistor. The output signal of the LUT or an output signal of the FF is input to one of a source and a drain of the second transistor.
US09379706B2 Programmable logic device
Disclosed is a programmable logic device (PLD) which can undergo dynamic configuration at a high speed. The PLD includes a plurality of programmable logic elements (PLEs) and a switch for selecting electrical connection between the PLEs. The switch includes a plurality of circuit groups each of which includes first and second transistors. The second transistors of the circuit groups are electrically connected in parallel with one another. In each of the circuit groups, the electrical conduction between a source and a drain of the second transistor is determined based on configuration data held at a node between the gate of the second transistor and a drain of the first transistor, which allows the selection of the electrical connection and disconnection between the programmable logic elements by the selection of one of the circuit groups.
US09379699B2 Switch driver with a low-cost cross-conduction-preventing circuit
A driver for a power transistor switch comprising a FET complementary output stage which is driven by another FET complementary pre-driver stage which is further driven by an input-buffer and level-shifter stage. The pre-driver stage includes a current-limiting and cross-delaying circuit which is inserted in between drains terminals of a complementary FET pair. The current-limiting and cross-delaying circuit limits shoot-current at the pre-driver stage; and in conjunction with the FET pair and the input-buffer and level-shifter stage, it is adapted to delay turning on one complementary output FET until after the other complementary output FET is turned off, thereby preventing cross conduction at the output stage.
US09379690B2 Duty cycle controller
In one aspect, a duty cycle controller includes a first port configured to receive a voltage bias signal, a second port configured to receive an input voltage signal, a third port configured to provide an output signal of the duty cycle controller having a duty cycle and a n-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to receive the voltage bias signal and to provide a DAC output signal to a comparator. The DAC output signal has a peak value. The duty cycle controller also includes the comparator configured to compare the DAC output signal from the n-bit DAC with the input voltage signal to provide a comparator output signal. The comparator output signal is used to provide the output signal of the duty cycle controller and the duty cycle changes with changes to the input voltage signal.
US09379688B2 Aircraft radio with improved standby performance
An aircraft radio comprises a receiver, an audio output, and a processing element. The receiver is tuned to a first radio frequency which provides a first audio signal and a second radio frequency which provides a second audio signal. The audio output provides an audio signal to a listening device. The processing element is coupled to a memory element and is configured to tune the receiver to the first radio frequency for a first time period, present the first audio signal to the audio output during the first time period, tune the receiver to the second radio frequency for a second time period to detect presence of the second audio signal, and present audio derived from the first audio signal to the audio output during at least a portion of the second time period.
US09379684B2 Recorder
The recorder includes: a converter acquiring external sound and converting the sound into a first signal; an amplifier amplifying the first signal to generate a second signal; a recording unit recording the second signal; a display unit displaying a level of the second signal; and a controller controlling the amplifier and the display unit. The amplifier includes an ALC (automatic level control) unit adjusting an amplification degree for amplifying the first signal according to the level of the second signal. The controller allows a choice of whether or not to cause the ALC unit to operate, allows a choice of whether to display or hide the level of the second signal on the display unit when the automatic level control unit operates, and keeps the level of the second signal displayed on the display unit when the automatic level control unit does not operate.
US09379680B1 Systems, methods, and apparatus for a power amplifier module
Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for wideband power amplification in a platform, such as an airplane. An amplifier module may include a first amplification stage. The first amplification stage may comprise a first plurality of amplification circuits. The amplifier module may also include a first plurality of couplers configured to couple an input port to each amplification circuit of the first amplification stage. The amplifier module may include a second amplification stage comprising a second plurality of amplification circuits. The amplifier module may also include a second plurality of couplers configured to couple the first amplification stage to the second amplification stage. The amplifier module may include a third plurality of couplers configured to combine an output of each amplification circuit of the second plurality of amplification circuits into an output signal. The third plurality of couplers may comprise one or more Lange couplers.
US09379661B2 Method and device for fully automatically selecting and packing photovoltaic modules
The disclosure relates to a method and to a device for fully automatically selecting and packing photovoltaic solar modules, for example, produced in mass production. The device may include the following characteristics: a production line, b) a quality checking device having devices for mechanical final testing and electrical final testing, c) an assembly device for module carriers, d) a device for distributing and stacking the solar modules in the horizontal and vertical direction according to particular selection criteria at acceptance locations corresponding to said selection criteria, e) devices for placing strips as spacers between stacked modules, wherein different types of strips can be taken from a magazine, f) devices for collating packages of a plurality of solar modules at each acceptance location, wherein aid devices each comprise a film wrapper, a protective cap applicator, and a strapping device.
US09379660B2 Solar panel truss mounting systems and methods
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a solar panel truss mounting system comprising a base and a truss assembly coupled to the base. The truss assembly comprises a first panel rail mount, second panel rail mount parallel to the first panel rail mount, base rail mount parallel to the first and second panel rail mounts, and a plurality of support members. A first portion of the plurality of support members extends between the first and second panel rail mounts. A second portion of the plurality of support members extends between the first panel rail mount and the base rail mount. A third portion of the plurality of support members extends between the second panel rail mount and the base rail mount. The system can further comprise a plurality of connectors for coupling a plurality of photovoltaic solar panels to the truss assembly.
US09379649B2 Linear motor system
A linear motor system includes a stator, a mover, and a controller. The stator includes a plurality of armature coil units arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another at certain intervals. The mover includes a permanent magnet. The controller is configured to sequentially select, as a power-feeding target, an armature coil unit opposing the mover from among the plurality of armature coil units, perform, for the power-feeding target, computation for power-feeding control on the basis of a speed command, and sequentially feed power to the armature coil unit. The controller includes a power-feeding-switching compensation function of performing switching compensation when the power-feeding target is switched to a next armature coil unit.
US09379647B2 Motor driving control device and control method of motor driving control device
There is provided a motor driving control device including a state determining unit which determines whether a motor can perform a slow start operation based on a rotating state and a driving state of the motor, a control unit which generates command information corresponding to a speed at which the motor is to be rotated, based on a determination result of the state determining unit, and a motor driving unit which outputs a driving signal corresponding to the command information generated by the control unit to the motor so as to drive the motor. When it is determined that the motor can perform the slow start operation, the control unit generates the command information such that the motor performs the slow start operation.
US09379646B2 Method and assembly for operating synchronous motors
A method is disclosed for operating a synchronous machine via a three-phase power controller including three semiconductor controllers and connected to a three-phase network. The method includes determining the phase difference between the magnet-wheel voltage of the synchronous machine and the network voltage of the three-phase network; determining the rotational speed of the rotor of the synchronous machine; determining the phase position of the three-phase network; determining at least some of the stator currents of the synchronous machine; determining a decision characteristic number based upon an advance calculation of the torque curve in the event of activation of at least two of the semiconductor controllers while taking into account the current values for phase difference, rotational speed, stator current, and phase position; and determining at least one switching time point based upon the decision characteristic number, wherein the at least two semiconductor controllers are activated at the switching time point.
US09379644B2 Electroactive polymer (EAP)-based rotary motion devices
Rotary motion devices (10) are provided. In one embodiment, the rotary motion devices (10) may comprise: a mass (12); a circumferential component (14); a plurality of spokes (16) connecting the mass (12) to the circumferential component (14), at least one of the spokes (16) comprising an electroactive polymer, wherein: the at least one spoke (16) has at least one input electrode and is configured to deflect upon application of an electrical potential across the at least one input electrode, and the rotary motion device (10) is configured such that deflection of the at least one spoke (16) causes the mass (12) to move, thereby causing the rotary motion device (10) to become off balance with respect to gravity, and rotate.
US09379642B2 Switched-mode power supply system and aircraft comprising such a system
An electric power supply system, comprising: a main switching cell (6) comprising a first main branch (14) and a second main branch (16) each including a main switch (T1, T2), and an auxiliary switching cell (10) connected to the main switching cell (6) and comprising a first secondary branch (20) and a second secondary branch (22) on the one hand, each including a secondary switch (T3, T4) and a connection branch (24) for connecting the auxiliary switching cell (10) to the main switching cell (6) on the other hand, the connection branch (24) including a switching inductor (L1), the main switching cell (6) and the auxiliary switching cell (10) being connected, cascaded from each other. The auxiliary switching cell (10) comprises at least two switching capacitors (C1, C2) positioned parallel to one of the secondary switches (T3, T4) for one of them and parallel to one of the main switches (T1, T2) for the other one.An aircraft comprising at least such a power supply system.
US09379636B2 Current generator and method for generating current pulses
A method for generating current pulses and a current generator having a plurality of secondary stages. Each secondary stage has a DC voltage source and a switching circuit having four switches, connected together so as to form a line. One secondary stage being designated as a regulator stage has a regulator circuit having a smoothing inductor, a switch arranged between a terminal of the smoothing inductor and the DC voltage source, and a circuit for connecting the terminal of the smoothing inductor to the switching circuit when the switch of the regulator circuit is in a locked state. A control circuit of the current generator controls the switches of the switching circuits and the switch of the regulator circuit.
US09379633B2 HVDC system and method to control a voltage source converter in a HVDC system
A method to control a voltage source converter (CON1; CON2) in a HVDC system comprises the step of controlling a frequency and a voltage amplitude of an AC voltage (UV1; UV2) generated by the voltage source converter (CON1; CON2) independently of the conditions in an AC network (N1; N2) connected to the voltage source converter (CON1; CON2). This method is performed by a control unit of a HVDC system. In a special embodiment, the method forms the basis of a method to black start an AC network, where the AC network comprises transmission lines and is connected to at least two AC power stations, where one of the at least two AC power stations is connected via a HVDC system to the AC network.
US09379632B2 Power converter and method for controlling same
A power converter 100 includes a DC capacitor C, semiconductor switch groups each of which includes semiconductor switches connected in series to each other, bridge-cells 11u-j, 11v-j, and 11w-j each of which includes the DC capacitor C and two semiconductor switch groups connected in parallel to the DC capacitor C, a delta connection unit 10 including delta-connected bridge-cells and a integrated control unit 1 for controlling a circulating current flowing in the delta connection unit such that each of DC-capacitor by-phase average values follows a DC-capacitor three-phase average value, each of the DC-capacitor by-phase average values being obtained by averaging voltage values of the DC capacitors at a corresponding phase of three phases, and the DC-capacitor three-phase average value being obtained by averaging voltage values of the DC capacitors at all of the three phases.
US09379626B2 Power supply circuit for a PFC converter
A PFC converter (100) is disclosed that includes a voltage rectifier circuit (126, 127, 153) and a voltage regulator circuit (81, 90, 33, 54). The PFC converter (100) also includes an inductor (140) having a plurality of auxiliary windings (141, 142) coupled to the voltage rectifier circuit (126, 27, 153) and the voltage regulator circuit (81, 90,33, 54). One of the auxiliary windings (142) is arranged to supply a start up voltage (V1), during a start up stage, using the voltage rectifier circuit (126, 127, 153) to the voltage regulator circuit (81, 90, 33, 54). Another of the auxiliary windings (141) is arranged to supply a voltage (V1), during a steady-state stage, using the voltage rectifier circuit (126, 127, 153) to the voltage regulator circuit (81, 90, 33, 54).
US09379625B2 Current meter for load modulation communication receiver architecture
A load device on a secondary side of an isolated switching power converter communicates a digital message to a primary side controller by modulating the load current in accordance with certain predefined timing patterns. The load current modulation is detected by the primary side controller and the digital message is decoded based on the predefined timing patterns. The load device may encode the digital message in order to control the primary side controller to operate in a particular mode compatible with the load device.
US09379622B2 Power converter and method for controlling power converter
A control circuit and a method for controlling a power converter are provided. The method for controlling the power converter includes the following steps. A detection signal is received from the secondary side of the power transformer and a first switching signal is generated in accordance with the detection signal. A second switching signal is generated in accordance with the first switching signal. A voltage signal is generated in accordance with the second switching signal. A comparison signal is generated in accordance with the first switching signal and the second switching signal. The voltage signal and the comparison signal are compared for outputting a comparison result. A gate signal is generated in accordance with the detection signal and the comparison result to control on and off states of a synchronization switch.
US09379615B2 High-efficiency energy harvesting interface and corresponding energy harvesting system
An electrical-energy harvesting system envisages a transducer for converting energy from an environmental energy source into a transduced signal, an electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the transduced signal and for supplying a harvesting signal, and an energy storage element coupled to the electrical energy harvesting interface for receiving the harvesting signal. The electrical-energy harvesting system also includes a voltage converter connected to the electrical energy harvesting interface for generating a regulated voltage. The harvesting interface samples an open-circuit voltage value of the transduced signal, generates an optimized voltage value starting from the open-circuit voltage value, and generates an upper threshold voltage and a lower threshold voltage on the basis of the optimized voltage value. The harvesting interface controls the voltage converter in switching mode so that the harvesting signal has a value between the upper and lower threshold voltages in at least one operating condition.
US09379612B2 Output current monitor circuit for switching regulator
A circuit and method for providing switching regulation with an improved current monitor comprising a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller configured to provide an output signal voltage, an output stage configured to provide switching comprising a first and second transistor, and first inverter, a sense circuit configured to provide signal sensing from said output stage, a sampling switch circuit configured to provide sample signals from said sense circuit, a differential integrator circuit configured to provide sample signals from said sampling switch circuit, a comparator configured to provide signals from said integrator circuit, a control logic circuit configured to provide signals from said comparator, a current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) configured to provide feedback signal from said control logic circuit, and, a digital filter configured to provide output current information.
US09379608B2 Communication system with variable output supply current
A system including a bus and a plurality of devices coupled thereto and configured to communicate with each other via the bus. The system further includes a power supply coupled to the bus, to power to the plurality of devices via the bus and to detect an event, and in response, alternately supply power to the plurality of devices via the bus at a first current level or at a lesser second current level. This allows additional devices to be used on a bus, even where the total power consumption of the devices would normally exceed a maximum defined by a bus architecture. This also helps allow a single gauge of wire to be used throughout a bus network (even where long lengths of wire are required) while still providing sufficient power to the devices connected to the bus.
US09379605B2 Clocking circuit, charge pumps, and related methods of operation
A charge pump includes a voltage multiplier core and a clocking circuit. The voltage multiplier core includes first and second cross-coupled CMOS devices, first and second output CMOS devices, a first capacitive node coupled between the first cross-coupled CMOS device and the first output CMOS device, and a second capacitive node coupled between the second cross-couple CMOS device and the second output CMOS device. The clocking circuit configured to control the first and second output CMOS devices to inhibit a drop in respective output voltages there from, while simultaneously controlling the first and second cross-coupled CMOS device and input voltages applied to the first and second capacitive nodes to minimize leakage from the first and second capacitive nodes.
US09379603B2 Electrical supply apparatus with current waveform signal and method for operating the electrical supply apparatus
An electrical supply apparatus is provided. The apparatus has an input for connecting the electrical supply apparatus to a power supply system, an output for connecting the electrical supply apparatus to a load, a rectifier for rectifying the input voltage into a rectified input voltage, and a PFC module for smoothing the rectified input voltage. The PFC module also has an active power factor correction device for shaping a time-dependent supply current, such that a time-dependent input current into the PFC module is matched to a time-dependent current waveform signal. A control module is provided for generating the current waveform signal. The control module generates the current waveform signal during the operation of the electrical supply apparatus independently of the input voltage and temporally synchronizes the current waveform signal with the input voltage or a derivative of the input voltage.
US09379597B2 System for driving electromagnetic appliance and motor driven vehicle
In one embodiment, system for driving an electromagnetic appliance includes an electromagnetic appliance, a main-drive unit and a sub-drive unit. The electromagnetic appliance includes coils for n number of phases, the coils for each of the n phases being arranged in a pair and wound so as to be excited in a predetermined direction by being energized with opposite-phase currents. The main drive unit is connected to each of the coils and energizes the paired coils with opposite-phase currents. The sub-drive unit is provided parallel with the main-drive unit and is configured to suppress a short-circuit current occurring at the main-drive unit when switching energization of the coils.
US09379593B2 Vehicle drive device
A vehicle drive device that has a stator and a rotor disposed on the inside of the vehicle wheel and drives the wheel, wherein the whole stator can be intensively cooled without causing an increase in production costs. The vehicle drive device comprises: the stator that has a stator core (20) and a hollow stator coil (30), is arranged on the inside of the rotating vehicle wheel (10), and electrically generates magnetic force; the rotor that has permanent magnets (11) connected to the wheel (10), and applies rotational force to the wheel (10) using the magnetic force of the stator; a cooling medium that flows through the hollow section of the stator coil (20); and a first radiator unit (50) that releases heat from the cooling medium.
US09379591B2 Motor with integrated coupler
Couplings between driven shafts of an actuator and a motor of an actuator are provided. The coupling may be directly integrated into a rotor of the motor. The coupling may be provided by an adaptor that includes a shaft that extends into a central bore of the rotor of the motor. The adaptor can include a collar that defines a coupling recess that receives a distal end of the driven shaft of the actuator. The collar may take the form of a clamp.
US09379588B2 Stator of rotating electrical machine and rotating electrical machine
A stator of a rotating electrical machine includes a stator core, plural stator coil groups constituting plural phases, plural pieces of interphase insulation paper for insulation of coils belonging to different phases, and plural connecting strips formed integrally with the interphase insulation paper pieces. Each interphase insulation paper piece has ends inserted between coil ends of unit coils belonging to an identical phase thereby to function as interphase insulation paper for insulation of coils belonging to the identical phase. Each interphase insulation paper piece for insulation of coils belonging to the different phases, functioning as the interphase insulation paper piece for insulation of coils of the identical phase, insulates between coil ends of the first unit coils of respective first and second series circuits constituting the inner circumference side phase and a coil end of the unit coil constituting the outer circumference side phase.
US09379587B2 Coil for a rotating electrical machine
A gas treatment machine includes a main gas treatment circuit, connected to a gas compression chamber, a gas compressor, mounted in the compression chamber, a rotating electrical machine, for driving the gas compressor, including at least one coil for the flow of electric current for generating a magnetic flux, and a secondary cooling circuit, transporting gas from the compression chamber to the rotating electrical machine, for cooling this rotating electrical machine. The coil includes at least one toroidal core formed from a rolling of a plurality of turns (20) each consisting of at least one conductor (22) insulated over the length thereof by a primary insulator (24), the rolling which forms the toroidal core in turn being covered with a secondary insulator (26), the primary insulator (24) and the secondary insulator (26) including PolyEtherEtherKetone.
US09379586B2 Bar wound stator winding layout with long-pitched and short-pitched coils
A stator assembly includes a plurality of stator slots defining a plurality of slot layers. The assembly includes a plurality of hairpins each having respective first and second legs positioned in respective ones of the slot layers. Each of the hairpins is one of a short-pitched coil, a long-pitched coil and a full-pitched coil. The short-pitched, long-pitched and full-pitched coils are configured to extend over a first, second and third number of the stator slots, respectively. The hairpins may be divided into first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth hairpin layers. One of the hairpin layers includes at least one short-pitched coil, and another of the hairpin layers includes at least one long-pitched coil. The first, third and fifth hairpin layers each may include at least two short-pitched coils while the second, fourth and sixth hairpin layers each may include at least two long-pitched coils.
US09379585B2 Winding construction for high efficiency machine
A permanent magnet motor, generator or the like that is constructed with a concentrated winding and edge form wound stator coils. This achieves less eddy current losses in the windings as well as a much higher power density than conventional techniques.
US09379578B2 Systems and methods for multi-state power management
The present disclosure is directed to a solution providing multi-state power management. In some aspects, the design of the multi-state power management system (MPMS) facilitates switching to battery back up power upon identifying a power outage and further controlling the intensity level of a load (e.g., a light source) such that the light run time meets a minimum required run time. The MPMS may be designed and configured to identify a power outage and a battery status based on the voltage at a voltage input of the lighting device. The design may also include controlling the intensity level of the light source responsive to temperature measurements, e.g., ambient temperature or the temperature of one or more components, to maintain the health of the system.
US09379561B2 Hand tool accumulator charging device
A hand tool accumulator charging device is proposed having a charging device housing and a charging coil, provided for the purpose of charging a hand tool accumulator situated in an accumulator charging region, and having only one mounting device that is provided for the purpose of coupling with a hand tool case situated in a case receptacle region, the accumulator charging region and the case receptacle region being situated on sides of the charging device housing facing away from one another.
US09379560B2 Method and device to monitor the current of a battery-operated handheld power tool
A method to monitor the current of a handheld power tool (3) operated by a battery (2), by at least one counter (5), includes the following steps: measuring (S1) the electric current (I) drawn from the battery during the operation of the electric tool; incrementing (S2) a reading (Z, Z1, Z2) of the counter (5) by a certain increment (IN) whenever the measured current (I) is higher than a specified upper limit value (G1, G2) during a given counting interval; decrementing (S3) the reading of the counter by a certain decrement (DE) whenever the measured current is lower than the specified upper limit value during the given counting interval; and switching off (S4) the electric tool when the reading (Z, Z1, Z2) of the counter is higher than a specified limit value (T1, T2) for the counter.
US09379559B2 System and method of charging a vehicle using a dynamic power grid, and system and method of managing power consumption in the vehicle
A system for charging a vehicle includes a forward model for modeling vehicle charging data for a plurality of vehicles, and a charge exchange market which, based on the forward model, facilitates an agreement for transmitting power to a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles via a dynamic power grid including a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles. A system of managing power consumption in the vehicle includes, an optimizing unit for optimizing a plurality of parameters to determine a power to be consumed by the vehicle based on a plurality of power source signatures for a plurality of power sources, and an operating mode setting unit for setting an operating mode for powering the vehicle based on the determined power.
US09379548B2 Multilevel reactive power compensator
A reactive power compensator according to an embodiment comprises: multilevel inverter circuits respectively constituting each of the three phases; a filter circuit for reducing harmonics connected between the output terminals of each of the multilevel inverter circuits and a power system interconnection terminal; and a control section for causing prescribed three-phase AC voltage to be output by controlling each of said multilevel inverter circuits. Each of the multilevel inverter circuits is constituted by connecting in series one or more single-phase full-bridge single-pulse inverters and is arranged to convert DC voltage to respective positive and negative single-pulse voltages once per cycle of the fundamental wave of the voltage instruction value.
US09379545B2 Systems and methods for battery assemblies
A system including a plurality of battery assemblies. Each battery assembly includes power storage and control electronics, and a communication device. Each battery assembly acts as a local hub for local direct current (DC) power demand monitoring and a local DC power supply for DC loads. Each battery assembly also charges the power storage. The plurality of battery assemblies are configured to be managed as a collective resource in aggregate via the communication device.
US09379542B2 System for multiple inverter-driven loads
A system for controlling multiple inverter-driven loads includes a controller that is configured to be coupled with an inverter that receives direct current and converts the direct current into an alternating current in order to supply the alternating current to plural loads that are connected to the inverter by plural respective contactors. The controller also is configured to control operations of the inverter and of the contactors in order to individually control which of the loads remain connected to and powered by the inverter and which of the loads are disconnected from the inverter.
US09379541B2 EOS protection circuit with FET-based trigger diodes
An integrated circuit is disclosed, including a circuit with a first type of FET having a first breakdown voltage (VBD), resulting from a first set of design and manufacturing process parameters and having VBD tracking characteristics resulting from a second set of design and manufacturing process parameters. The IC may include a trigger device circuit a having a trigger FET that may generate, in response to the supply voltage exceeding a specified maximum, a signal on a trigger device output, causing a clamping device to couple the supply voltage node to the ground, to reduce the supply voltage. The trigger FET may be of a second type having a second VBD less than the first VBD, resulting from modifications to the first set of design and manufacturing process parameters, and VBD tracking characteristics resulting from the second set of design and manufacturing process parameters.
US09379540B2 Controllable circuits, processes and systems for functional ESD tolerance
An electronic circuit (100) includes a first circuit (140) having an output and operable to give a warning but that has a sensitivity to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) event, a second circuit (120) that is operationally at least sometimes coupled with the output of said first circuit (140), whereby subject to some of the sensitivity, and a third circuit (240) interposed between said first circuit (140) and said second circuit (120) and operable to filter out at least one instance of an unnecessary warning so as to reduce the sensitivity to the ESD event.
US09379539B2 Protection circuit, circuit protection method using the same and display device
A protection circuit includes: a temperature measuring unit which compares a voltage corresponding to a temperature at each of a plurality of sense points with a reference voltage, and generates a measurement result based on a result of comparison; a controller which generates a plurality of current control signals, which controls currents of a plurality of channels corresponding to the plurality of sense points, respectively, based on the measurement result from the temperature measuring unit; and a plurality of phase converter which outputs the currents of the plurality of channels based on the plurality of current control signals, wherein the controller generates the plurality of current control signals until the voltage corresponding to the temperature of each of the plurality of sense points is substantially equal to the reference voltage.
US09379538B2 Output over-voltage protection circuit for power factor correction
An output over-voltage protection circuit for power factor correction, which includes a chip external compensation network, a chip external resistor divider network, a static over-voltage detection circuit, a dynamic over-voltage detection circuit and a compare circuit; The chip external compensation network is connected between the chip external resistor divider network and the dynamic over-voltage detection circuit, the chip external compensation network converts the dynamic over-voltage signal conversion to the dynamic current signal and conveys it to the dynamic over-voltage detection circuit, the dynamic over-voltage detection circuit detects the dynamic current signal and ultimately produces the dynamic over-voltage signal (DYOVP); The dynamic over-voltage signal (DYOVP) is inputted into the compare circuit, which converts the dynamic over-voltage signal (DYOVP) into a voltage compared with a reference voltage and outputs a over-voltage control signal (OVP), so as to achieve a dynamic over-voltage protection function.
US09379537B2 Power system including a circuit providing smart zone selective interlocking communication
A power system includes main circuit interrupters each having a load output, feeder circuit interrupters, a number of tie circuit interrupters, and a circuit. The circuit is structured to block communication, at least when at least one of the tie circuit interrupters has an open state between a first and a second of the main circuit interrupters, of a zone selective interlocking output of one of the feeder circuit interrupters having a line input electrically connected to the load output of the first main circuit interrupter to a zone selective interlocking input of the second main circuit interrupter, and of a zone selective interlocking output of a different one of the feeder circuit interrupters having a line input electrically connected to the load output of the second main circuit interrupter to a zone selective interlocking input of the first main circuit interrupter.
US09379533B1 Input surge protection circuit and method for an LED load
A light fixture includes a surge protection circuit for a non-isolated DC-DC converter. The converter is coupled to a circuit ground and further provides output power to a light source chassis configured to house a light source. The chassis is coupled to earth ground. The surge protection circuit includes a voltage triggering device having a breakdown voltage value and coupled to either the circuit ground or an output of the converter. A first capacitor is coupled in series between the voltage triggering device and the earth ground, and a second capacitor is coupled in parallel with the voltage triggering device. The first capacitor is configured with a sufficiently large capacitance wherein a voltage across the first capacitor, and likewise a voltage between the chassis and the earth ground, is effectively clamped to a light source threshold value during a surge condition.
US09379532B2 Protecting electronic devices from electrical supply disturbances
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for monitoring electrical disturbance (e.g., surges, outages, etc.) possibilities, and then automatically isolating electronic devices (also referred to herein as electronics) for the duration of the disturbance (or threat thereof). In a typical embodiment, a probability of an electrical disturbance occurring at a specified location will be determined. Then, a set of device protection profiles will be accessed. The set of device protection profiles comprises a set of thresholds and a corresponding set of device topologies associated with a set of electronic devices positioned. The set of thresholds in the set of device protection profiles will then be compared to the probability to identify a matching device topology from the set of device topologies. According to the matching device topology, at least one electronic device will be isolated from an electrical power source.
US09379531B2 Device for joining hybrid electrical transmission cables
A device is provided for connecting two hybrid electrical transmission cables each having stranded first conductive wires made of a first metal in the central zone of the cable and second conductive wires that are made of a second metal of higher hardness than that of the first metal and wound on and outside this central zone, the second conductive wires of the cables being connected by an external conductive sleeve. The central first wires of the cables are connected by a weld made of the first metal and connecting their end, this weld and this end being covered by a tube of metal of hardness equal to or higher than that of the second wires, at least partially in line with the sleeve, the end of the second wires being re-formed on the first wires and on the tube under the external conductive sleeve.
US09379529B2 Electrical junction box
An electrical junction box for connecting a power supply and a load, includes a terminal block that holds a conductor to which a first electric wire and a second electric wire are commonly connected, wherein first electric wire is connected to the power supply and the second electric wire is connected to the load, a conductive case that accommodates the terminal block, and a resin insulative member that is attached along an inner wall surface of the case. Crimped terminals which are connected respectively to ends of the first and second electric wires are fastened to the conductor with fastening members.
US09379519B2 Laser oscillation device
A laser oscillation device comprises a light emitting unit for projecting a pump laser beam, a laser medium for absorbing the pump laser beam and for emitting a spontaneous emission light, a saturable absorber for absorbing the spontaneous emission light and for emitting a pulsed light, and a holder for holding the laser medium in a close contact state, wherein a portion of the holder as appressed against at least one surface of the laser medium is made of a metal and the pump laser beam is projected to an edge portion of the laser medium as appressed against the holder.
US09379516B2 Multiple wavelength Raman laser
A pulsed laser system may include a Raman fiber that is configured to act as multiple wavelength Raman laser. The fiber is configured to receive a pulsed input beam from an input source and convert the input beam to an output beam having narrow band outputs at first and second frequencies v1 and v2.
US09379514B2 High-power, phased-locked, laser arrays
High-power, phased-locked, laser arrays as disclosed herein utilize a system of optical elements that may be external to the laser oscillator array. Such an external optical system may achieve mutually coherent operation of all the emitters in a laser array, and coherent combination of the output of all the lasers in the array into a single beam. Such an “external gain harness” system may include: an optical lens/mirror system that mixes the output of all the emitters in the array; a holographic optical element that combines the output of all the lasers in the array, and an output coupler that selects a single path for the combined output and also selects a common operating frequency for all the coupled gain regions.
US09379512B2 Arrayed optical fiber amplifier using ribbonized erbium-doped fiber
Systems and methods for reducing cost and amplifier module size are disclosed. One system comprises an arrayed optical fiber amplifier that uses a ribbonized fiber that permits reduction of amplifier module size and also reduction in the cost of manufacturing that are not readily achievable in other currently-available systems.
US09379504B2 Track having a backing plate with a plurality of slots and electrical contacts adjacent to each other
A modular equipment mount to enable quick relocation of the piece of equipment. The piece of equipment is secured to a mount. A track system is secured to multiple locations where the piece of equipment may be secured. Power and data connections are included with the track system to provide power and data to the piece of equipment through connectors on the mount.
US09379503B2 Electrified rail for powering metal shelving units and method for manufacturing the same
An electrified rail for metal shelving units, the rail comprising a body of electrically insulating material, provided with longitudinal slots. Each slot having a wire of electrically conducting metal surrounded for more than 180° of its cross section by the walls of the respective slot, the remaining section of the wires being exposed for electric contact. The body of the rail being formed to allow transversal elastic deformation of the rail itself after the surrounding and holding of the wires the slots are open on a visible planar side of the rail body with longitudinal mouths having a width always inferior to the diameter of wires, the wires being held in slots by the monolithic body of the rail itself, while through the narrow mouths of said slots every electric wire can be reached by the devices mounted on the rail.
US09379502B2 Tool-less busway take-off device for electrical busway and method of installing
A take-off device for use with an electrical busway includes a housing having a number of electrical components disposed therein; a number of stabs electrically coupled to the electrical components, each stab of the number of stabs being structured to engage a busbar of an electrical busway; and a securement mechanism moveably coupled to the housing and structured to tightly secure the take-off device to the electrical busway without the use of any tools.
US09379493B2 Ferrite core built-in connector
A connector includes ferrite cores (30A, 30B) with through holes (30H). A terminal fitting (20) has tab terminals (22A, 22B) inserted into the respective through holes (30H) to define input and output portions and a base (23) couples end parts of the respective tab terminals (22A, 22B) to each other. A connector housing (11) is molded to surround the ferrite cores (30A, 30B) and the terminal fitting (20) and is connectable to a mating connector housing. The ferrite cores (30A, 30B) include long sides LL and short sides SL. Clearances S are defined between side surfaces M located on the opposite short sides SL of the ferrite cores (30A, 30B) and facing surfaces of the connector housing (11), thereby separating the side surfaces M from the facing surfaces.
US09379487B2 Card connector
A card connector is disclosed having a housing. An eject lever extends transversely to a card inserting direction, and has a first end, a second end, and a central portion pivotally mounted to the housing to pivot when a card is inserted into the card connector or ejected therefrom. A slider extends along the inserting direction and is in contact with the first end of the eject lever. The slider is pushed in the ejection direction by the eject lever when a card is inserted and pushes the first end of the eject lever in the inserting direction to pivot the second end of the eject lever in the ejecting direction to eject the card. A friction member is in direct contact with the eject lever throughout the pivotable range of the eject lever.
US09379485B2 Lever-type connector
A lever-type connector has a housing (20) and a linking wall (25) projects from the housing (20) to define a stop for a mating housing (90). A seal ring (70) is mounted adjacent to the linking wall (25) to provide sealing between the housing (20) and the mating housing (90). A lever (60) includes a coupling (61) and arm plates (62) to define a U-shape. The lever (60) is mounted from an outer side to straddle the housing (20). The linking wall (25) is arranged at a position facing the arm plates (62) from inner sides of the arm plates (62). Cam grooves (64) are provided in the arm plates (62) and function as confirmation windows through which the seal ring (70) is visible to confirm whether sealing is ensured.
US09379480B2 Connector and injection method for filler material
A connector includes a connector housing, an inner plate that supports a terminal connected to a one end portion of an electric wire and that is accommodated in an inside of the connector housing, and filler material that fills the inside of the connector housing which has accommodated the inner plate and that is then hardened so as to cover a connection part of the electric wire and the terminal. The filler material adheres to a first portion within an inner surface of the connector housing and to an outer surface of the inner plate. A release layer is provided between a second portion within the inner surface of the connector housing and an outer surface of the filler material opposite to the second portion.
US09379476B2 Connector
A connector includes a plurality of metal terminal fittings connected to terminals of electric wires, a plurality of molded housings molded to connection parts of the electric wires and the metal terminal fittings to cover the connection parts, and an overmolded housing which accommodates and holds the plurality of molded housings. The plurality of molded housings are molded in a structure integrated by carrier portions that connect the adjacent molded housings to each other and are collectively integrated into the overmolded housing. The carrier portions have cross-section dimensions set to be smaller than those of the molded housing and have flexibility. An arrangement pitch between the adjacent molded housings are adjusted when the plurality of molded housings are collectively integrated into the overmolded housing.
US09379474B1 Safety electrical outlet device
A safety electrical outlet device provides obstruction preventing insertion of objects into an electric outlet. The device includes a housing for coupling to a structure. Electrical contacts on the housing are provided for electrical coupling to electrical supply wiring of the structure. Slots extend through a front face of the housing. The electrical contacts provide electrical current to an electrical plug inserted into the slots. Each of a pair of panels is coupled to the housing and slides between an extended position wherein the panel obstructs an associated one of the slots and a retracted position wherein the associated slot is unobstructed by the panel. Each panel is biased into the extended position. Each of a pair of tabs is coupled to an associated one of the panels and extends from the housing such that manipulation of the tabs moves the panels into the retracted position.
US09379470B2 Female electrical connector with terminal arm extension protection
A female electric connector includes a terminal body with a plurality of terminal arms. The terminal arms extend from the terminal body around a terminal axis. The female electric connector includes an over-deflection protection that limits deflection of the terminal arms in an inward direction generally toward the terminal axis.
US09379458B2 Electrical connector element
The invention relates to an electrical connector element for creating a contact to a conductive structure, the same being located on a flat support, by means of a thermal bonding material, wherein means for fixing a conductor, the same being preferably flexible, are arranged on the side of said support which faces away from the conductive structure. According to the invention, the connector element is designed as a soldering foot which has the shape of a single circular ring, or of multiple circular rings arranged laterally.
US09379452B2 Antenna apparatus having four inverted F antenna elements and ground plane
An antenna apparatus includes a ground plane having a rectangular shape in plan view, and four inverted F antenna elements configured to be placed on a surface of the ground plane and to be arranged in a symmetrical manner with respect to the central point of the ground plane in plan view, wherein each of the four inverted F antenna elements includes a short strip extending from one end of a main strip to the short end, a feeding strip, an open strip configured to extend toward the open end from the other end of the main strip to a position placed at a second height lower than the first height, and an end strip configured to extend from a distal end of the open strip to the open end and placed parallel to the ground plane at the second height.
US09379449B2 Reconfigurable antennas utilizing parasitic pixel layers
Reconfigurable antennas utilizing parasitic layers are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, a reconfigurable antenna may include an active driven antenna element. The active driven antenna may be a patch antenna element. A parasitic element may be disposed over the active antenna element and be configured to couple with electromagnetic energy emitted from the active antenna element via electromagnetic mutual coupling. The parasitic element may include an array of selectively reconfigurable pixels interconnected via microelectromechanical switches. By selectively reconfiguring the geometry of the array, the reconfigurable antenna may be configured to operate in multiple operating modes.
US09379447B2 Coaxially-fed slot array antenna and vehicle radar apparatus
In a coaxially-fed slot array antenna including a coaxial line unit configured with a coaxial inner conductor and a coaxial outer conductor that incorporates the coaxial inner conductor; a feeding waveguide for feeding an electromagnetic wave to the coaxial line unit by way of a feeding slot; and a sub-array configured, corresponding to the coaxial line unit, with a plurality of emission slots formed on the external wall surface of the coaxial outer conductor, the space enclosed by the coaxial inner conductor and the coaxial outer conductor is filled with a foamed dielectric having a predetermined foaming rate. As a result, provision is made for a coaxially-fed slot array antenna that can enhance the flexibility in arranging the emission slots, change the width and the gradient of the main beam, and suppress a grating lobe.
US09379443B2 Concentrated wireless device providing operability in multiple frequency regions
A radiating system for transmitting and receiving signals in first and second frequency regions includes a radiating structure, a radiofrequency system, and an external port. The radiating structure has first and second isolated radiation boosters coupled to a ground plane layer. A first internal port of the radiating structure is between the first radiation booster and the ground plane layer, and a second internal port is between the second radiation booster and the ground plane layer. A distance between the two internal ports is less than 0.06 times a wavelength of the lowest frequency. The maximum size of the first and second radiation boosters is smaller than 1/30 times the wavelength of the lowest frequency. The radiofrequency system includes two ports connected respectively to the first and the second internal ports of the radiating structure, and a port connected to the external port of the radiating system.
US09379437B1 Continuous horn circular array antenna system
A continuous horn or flared radiator antenna system is provided. The antenna system provides for steering a beam within at least a first plane (e.g., in azimuth). Steering a beam includes selecting an operative portion or segment of a circular array of elements or probe feeds. Steering can also include electronically steering the resulting beam within a coverage area provided by the selected segment of probe feeds. The electronic steering within the coverage area can be performed through the selective operation of phase shifters. Multiple continuous horn radiator structures can be provided to support pointing or steering of a beam in a second plane (e.g., in elevation), operation in multiple frequency bands, and/or simultaneous transmission and reception of signals.
US09379435B2 Antenna of mobile communication base station and method for controlling same
The present invention relates to an antenna of a mobile communication base station, comprising; an RET driving unit, an RAS driving unit, and an RAB driving unit, each comprising a driving motor, for driving electrical and mechanical devices for respectively adjusting RET, RAS and RAB; and multi-function equipment for controlling the driving of the RET driving unit, the RAS driving unit and the RAB driving unit by communicating with a main system of a base station such that at least a control signal for controlling the RET, the RAS, and the RAB is received.
US09379432B2 Antenna device, electronic apparatus, and wireless communication method
An antenna device, includes: a ground plate to which first and second antennas, each including a radiating element and a ground terminal, are connected, with one of the first and second antennas being powered, the ground plate including: a first slit extending from a portion where the ground terminal of one antenna of the first and second antennas is connected to the ground plate, in a direction along to the ground terminal, and a second slit extending from the tip of the first slit in a direction along to the radiating element.
US09379427B2 Methods for manufacturing an antenna tuning element in an electronic device
Custom antenna structures may be used to improve antenna performance and to compensate for manufacturing variations in electronic device antennas. An electronic device antenna may include an antenna tuning element and conductive structures formed from portions of a peripheral conductive housing member and other conductive antenna structures. The antenna tuning element may be connected across a gap in the peripheral conductive housing member. The custom antenna structures may be used to couple the antenna tuning element to a fixed custom location on the peripheral conductive housing member to help satisfy design criteria and to compensate for manufacturing variations in the conductive antenna structures that could potentially lead to undesired variations in antenna performance. Custom antenna structures may include springs and custom paths on dielectric supports.
US09379424B2 Compensation for length differences in vias associated with differential signaling
A circuit may include a differential via that may include a first via having a first-via length and a second via having a second-via length longer than the first-via length. The circuit may also include a differential stripline coupled to the differential via. The differential stripline may include a first trace and a second trace that are broadside coupled to each other over at least a portion of the differential stripline to form a broadside coupled portion of the differential stripline. The first trace may be coupled to the first via and may have a first-trace length. The second trace may be coupled to the second via and may have a second-trace length. The broadside coupled portion of the differential stripline may be offset from a plane intersecting substantially half-way between the first via and the second via such that the second-trace length is shorter than the first-trace length.
US09379420B2 Battery system and method for cooling the battery system
A battery system having a cooling plate with a conduit therein is provided. The system further includes a battery module having first and second battery cells. The system further includes a compressor, and a condenser coupled between the compressor and the conduit of the cooling plate. The system further includes a microprocessor that determines a maximum temperature level of the first and second battery cells, and determines a target temperature level for the cooling plate based on the maximum temperature level. The microprocessor determines a temperature error value based on a difference between a temperature level and the target temperature level of the cooling plate, and determines a desired RPM value for the compressor based on the temperature error value.
US09379414B2 Entire solid lithium secondary battery
The present invention provides an entire solid lithium secondary battery comprising: a cathode; an anode; and a solid electrolyte layer interposed between the cathode and the anode. The solid electrolyte layer is formed of a Li(1-x)NbO3 crystal (where 0.10≦x≦0.35) having a trigonal ilmenite crystal structure. This entire solid lithium secondary battery has a high charge-discharge property.
US09379411B2 Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a negative electrode containing graphite particles as a negative electrode active material, a positive electrode containing a lithium-containing oxide of a transition metal or a lithium-containing phosphate of a transition metal as a positive electrode active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte in which a lithium salt is dissolved in an organic solvent. The graphite particles have an exposed crystal face and are bonded with each other to be parallel to the orientation plane of each other, and the non-aqueous electrolyte contains a phosphate ester compound represented by the following general formula (1) to which an alkynyl group is bonded and/or an unsaturated phosphate ester compound represented by the following general formula (2):
US09379406B2 Method for making anion electrolyte membrane
In a method for making anion electrolyte membrane a fluorinated poly(aryl ether) ionomer is dissolved in a solvent to form a ionomer solution. A crosslink component is added to the ionomer solution, to achieve a transparent solution. An inorganic component precursor and water are introduced to the transparent solution, to form a sol-gel mixture. A crosslink catalyst is mixed with the sol-gel mixture to form a membrane casting solution. The membrane casting solution is coated on a substrate to form a membrane, and heated. The membrane is removed from the substrate.
US09379405B2 Polymer electrolyte membrane having alkylether graft chain
An electrolyte membrane having alkylether graft chains for use in a fuel cell produced by a method of producing an electrolyte membrane for use in a fuel cell, including: performing radiation-induced graft polymerization of a vinyl monomer having nucleophilic functional groups, the vinyl monomer selected from an acylvinyl ether derivative, a styrene derivative, and a methacrylic acid derivative, with a polymer substrate comprising a polymer selected from a fluorine-containing polymer, an olefinic polymer, and an aromatic polymer; deprotecting the nucleophilic functional group, which is protected by an ester bond, of a graft chain on the polymer substrate introduced by the radiation-induced graft polymerization; and introducing an alkylethersulfonic acid structure into the deprotected nucleophilic functional group of the graft chain, by use of an electrophilic reagent selected from cyclic sulfonic acid ester and alkylhalide-sulfonate.
US09379391B2 Air electrode material powder for solid oxide fuel cell and its production process
To provide an air electrode material powder for a solid oxide fuel cell, comprising a novel LSCF powder having a highly uniform composition suitable as an air electrode material for a solid oxide fuel cell, and its production process.A composite oxide having a perovskite structure and containing lanthanum, strontium, cobalt, iron and oxide, wherein the dispersion point determined by the peak intensity [La] of the Lα1 characteristic X-ray of lanthanum and the peak intensity [Sr] of the Lα1 characteristic X-ray of strontium as obtained by EPMA measurement, is present within a range of the formula (1) and the dispersion point determined by the peak intensity [Co] of the Kα1 characteristic X-ray of cobalt and the peak intensity [Fe] of the Kα1 characteristic X-ray of iron is present within a range of the formula (2): a[La]−150≦[Sr]≦a[La]+150  (1) b[Co]−300≦[Fe]≦b[Co]+300  (2) wherein 0.2≦a≦1.0 and 0.1≦b≦4.0.
US09379386B2 Electrode body
An electrode body includes a laminated body and an insulating fixing member. The laminated body includes a positive-electrode active material layer, a negative-electrode active material layer, a negative-electrode current collector layer, and a solid electrolyte layer. The negative-electrode current collector layer includes a current-collector extension portion that extends outward further than the negative-electrode active material layer. The solid electrolyte layer includes an electrolyte extension portion that integrally covers an end surface of the negative-electrode active material layer and a base end portion of the current-collector extension portion. The insulating fixing member covers at least front and back surfaces of a distal end portion exposed from the second electrolyte extension portion.
US09379382B2 Positive electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries and method for preparing the same
A method for modifying a positive electrode material for a lithium-ion battery. The method includes: a) grinding a mixture of manganese dioxide and lithium carbonate, and calcining the mixture at no less than a temperature of 600° C. for no less than 20 hrs in the presence of air, to yield a powdery lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4); b) adding a precursor for forming a graphene-like structure to the powdery LiMn2O4, mixing, curing at a constant temperature of no less than 180° C. for between 2 and 4 hrs, grinding, and calcining at no less than a temperature of 500° C. for between 1 and 50 hrs in the presence of an inert gas, to yield a composite powder comprising a graphene-like structure and LiMn2O4; and c) collecting and sintering the composite powder at a temperature of between 300 and 500° C. for between 1 and 10 hrs in the presence of air.
US09379374B2 Methods for forming negative electrode active materials for lithium-based batteries
In an example method, a transition metal precursor is selected so its transition metal has a diffusion rate that is slower than a diffusion rate of silicon. An aqueous mixture is formed by dissolving the precursor in an aqueous medium, and adding silicon particles to the medium. The mixture is exposed to a hydroxide, which forms a product including the silicon particles and a transition metal hydroxide precipitate. The product is dried. In an inert or reducing environment, silicon atoms of the silicon particles in the dried product are caused to diffuse out of, and form voids in and/or at a surface of, the particles. At least some silicon atoms react with the transition metal hydroxide in the dried product to form i) a SiOx (0
US09379373B2 Nickel-zinc flow battery
A nickel-zinc battery includes a battery housing, a nickel oxide positive electrode supported in the battery housing, a metal substrate negative electrode supported in the battery housing, a spacer disposed between the positive and negative electrodes, an electrolyte contained within the battery housing and a means for circulating electrolyte in fluid communication with the housing for circulating the electrolyte between the positive and negative electrodes. The electrolyte contains zinc and the metal substrate is adapted for deposition of the zinc during charging of the battery. The spacer maintains the positive electrode in a spaced relationship apart from the negative electrode.
US09379372B2 Battery and method of manufacturing the same
A battery includes a battery container containing a power generating element, a lid plate covering a top opening of the battery container, and including a baffling portion, whose upper surface includes at least one of a first projecting portion and a first recessed portion, and an external terminal including a base portion and a second projecting portion that projects upward from the base portion. The base portion is engaged with the baffling portion of the lid plate.
US09379360B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus including lower and upper auxiliary electrodes
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a plurality of first electrodes disposed in each of a plurality of pixels on a substrate, a plurality of lower auxiliary electrodes insulated from the first electrodes and in which the lower auxiliary electrodes are disposed in a first direction, an organic layer disposed on the first electrodes, and a second electrode facing the first electrodes and covering the organic layer. The second electrode is disposed on substantially an entire surface of the substrate. The organic light emitting display apparatus further includes a plurality of upper auxiliary electrodes disposed on the second electrode in a second direction.
US09379354B2 Display devices and methods of manufacturing display devices
A display device includes a display panel having a first substrate having a display region and a peripheral region surrounding the display region, a light emitting structure in the display region, a sealant in the peripheral region, the sealant including a first portion having a first width, and a second portion adjacent to the first portion and having a second width smaller than the first width, and a second substrate on the light emitting structure and the sealant, a body including an upper frame and a lower frame, the body receiving the display panel, and at least one function button at a first portion of the display device, at least a portion of the function button protruding out of the body, and the first portion of the sealant being disposed adjacent to the at least one the function button at the first portion of the display device.
US09379351B2 Display element and method for producing the same
Disclosed are a production process of a display device, which can prevent the oxidation of a lower electrode and can maintain luminescence efficiency, high contract, and durability, and a display element. The display element comprises a first electrode, a luminescent layer, a second electrode, and a transparent substrate. The first electrode comprises a metal layer and a corrosion-resistant charge injection accelerating layer. The corrosion-resistant charge injection accelerating layer has been formed by subjecting a surface layer in the metal layer to plasma treatment using an oxygen atom-containing gas.
US09379347B2 Organic electroluminescence element
An organic electroluminescence element includes at least one intermediate metal layer and at least two light emitting units between an anode and a cathode. The intermediate metal layer is located between the two light emitting units. Further, the intermediate metal layer is made of a metal with a work function of 3.0 eV or lower, and has a thickness of 0.6 to 5 nm.
US09379345B2 Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, electronic device, and lighting device
A light-emitting element with high reliability that can keep favorable characteristics after long-time driving is provided. In addition, a light-emitting device having a long lifetime including the light-emitting element is provided. Moreover, an electronic device and a lighting device having a long lifetime are provided. In a light-emitting element including an EL layer between a pair of electrodes, a light-emitting layer included in the EL layer has a stacked-layer structure which is different from the conventional structure, whereby the light-emitting element can keep favorable characteristics after long-time driving even in the case where carrier balance is changed over time due to driving of the light-emitting element or a light-emitting region is shifted due to the change.
US09379342B1 Semi-conductor device with programmable response
An apparatus with a programmable response includes a semiconductor device with a junction formed thereon, the junction having a built-in potential, a quantum well element proximate to the junction that provides an energy well within a depletion region of the junction. The energy well comprises one or more donor energy states that support electron trapping, and/or one or more acceptor energy states that support hole trapping; thereby modulating the built-in potential of the junction. The semiconductor device may be a diode, a bipolar diode, a transistor, or the like. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.
US09379340B1 Semiconductor device with programmable response
An apparatus with a programmable response includes a semiconductor device with a junction formed thereon, the junction having a built-in potential, a quantum well element proximate to the junction that provides an energy well within a depletion region of the junction. The energy well comprises one or more donor energy states that support electron trapping, and/or one or more acceptor energy states that support hole trapping; thereby modulating the built-in potential of the junction. The semiconductor device may be a diode, a bipolar diode, a transistor, or the like. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.
US09379337B2 Organic electroluminescent element material, organic electroluminescent element, display device, and lighting device
This invention provides an organic EL element, which can control luminescence wavelength, exhibits high luminescence efficiency, and has a prolonged emission life, and a lighting equipment and a display device. They can be realized by an organic electroluminescent element material characterized by a metal complex having a structure represented by the following general formula (A) as a partial structure.
US09379336B2 Compounds for use in light emitting devices
Optionally substituted ambipolar naphthalene compounds useful in light-emitting devices are described, including without limitation 9-(3-(10-(3-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)anthracen-9-yl)phenyl)-9H-carbazole and 9-(3-(10-(3-(1-phenyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)phenyl)anthracen-9-yl)phenyl)-9H-carbazole.
US09379332B2 Electro-luminescence display panel and fabrication method thereof, display device
Embodiments of the disclosure provide an electro-luminescence display panel and a fabrication method thereof, and a display device. The electro-luminescence display panel comprises a plurality of light-emitting units. Each light-emitting unit comprises a plurality of sub light-emitting units for displaying different colors, an electro-luminescence structure is provided in each of the sub light-emitting units, and the electro-luminescence structure comprises a quantum dot light-emitting layer.
US09379330B2 Materials for electronic devices
The present invention relates to an electronic device comprising anode, cathode and at least one organic layer which comprises a compound of the formula (I) to (IV). The invention furthermore encompasses the use of compounds of the formula (I) to (IV) in an electronic device and to a compound of the formula (Ic) to (IVc).
US09379328B1 Thin-film electro devices based on derivatized poly (benzo-isimidazobenzophenanthroline) ladder polymers
A method for making electronic devices based on derivatized ladder polymer poly(benzo-isimidazobenzophenanthroline) (BBL) including photovoltaic modules and simple thin film transistors in planar and mechanically flexible and stretchable constructs.
US09379324B2 Method for producing vapor deposition mask, and method for producing organic semiconductor element
A method for producing a vapor deposition mask capable of satisfying both enhancement in definition and reduction in weight even when a size is increased, and a method for producing an organic semiconductor element capable of producing an organic semiconductor element with high definition are provided. A vapor deposition mask is produced by the steps of preparing a metal plate with a resin layer in which a resin layer is provided on one surface of a metal plate, forming a metal mask with a resin layer by forming a slit that penetrates through only the metal plate, for the metal plate in the metal plate with a resin layer, and thereafter, forming a resin mask by forming openings corresponding to a pattern to be produced by vapor deposition in a plurality of rows lengthwise and crosswise in the resin layer by emitting a laser from the metal mask side.
US09379322B2 Highly reliable nonvolatile memory and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a highly reliable nonvolatile memory and a manufacturing method thereof. The nonvolatile memory comprises top electrodes, bottom electrodes and a resistive material layer disposed therebetween, wherein the top electrodes are positioned on top in the memory; the bottom electrodes are positioned on a substrate; metal oxide for forming the resistive material layer is doped with metal; and a metal oxygen storage layer is further disposed between the top electrodes and the resistive material layer. The manufacturing method adopts a method in which a doping method and a double-layer forming method are combined, so that the highly reliable and highly uniform resistive random access memory can be fabricated and accordingly the performance of the memory can be increased.
US09379320B2 Nonvolatile memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a memory section. The memory section includes a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer and a pair of electrodes. The second insulating layer is formed on and in contact with the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer has at least one of a composition different from a composition of the first insulating layer and a phase state different from a phase state of the first insulating layer. The pair of electrodes is capable of passing a current through a current path along a boundary portion between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer. An electrical resistance of the current path is changed by a voltage applied between the pair of electrodes.
US09379319B2 Nonvolatile memory transistor and device including the same
Provided are nonvolatile memory transistors and devices including the nonvolatile memory transistors. A nonvolatile memory transistor may include a channel element, a gate electrode corresponding to the channel element, a gate insulation layer between the channel element and the gate electrode, an ionic species moving layer between the gate insulation layer and the gate electrode, and a source and a drain separated from each other with respect to the channel element. A motion of an ionic species at the ionic species moving layer occurs according to a voltage applied to the gate electrode. A threshold voltage changes according to the motion of the ionic species. The nonvolatile memory transistor has a multi-level characteristic.
US09379310B2 Piezoelectric material, piezoelectric device, and electronic apparatus
A piezoelectric material that does not use lead and potassium and has a high piezoelectric constant and good insulating properties and a piezoelectric element that uses the piezoelectric material are provided. The piezoelectric material contains a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by general formula (1): (NaxBa1-y)(NbyTi1-y)O3 (1) (where 0.80≦x≦0.95 and 0.85≦y≦0.95), and an auxiliary component containing at least one selected from the group consisting of Si and B. A content of the auxiliary component on a metal basis is 0.001 parts by weight or more and 4.000 parts by weight or less relative to 100 parts by weight of the perovskite-type metal oxide.
US09379308B2 Piezoelectric component
A piezoelectric component comprises a parallelepipedal basic body made of piezoelectric material which has an input region and an output region at opposite longitudinal ends of the basic body. Furthermore, the piezoelectric component comprises first and second primary electrodes which are arranged inside the input region and first and second secondary electrodes which are arranged inside the output region. The primary electrodes are at a greater interval from longitudinal lateral faces of the basic body in a subregion which faces the output region than in the subregion which is remote from the output region. Likewise, the secondary electrodes are at a greater interval from the longitudinal lateral faces of the basic body in a subregion which faces the input region than in a subregion which is remote from the input region.
US09379306B2 Piezoelectric device and method for manufacturing same
A resin is provided so as to cover four side faces of a piezoelectric multilayer body integrally and thus is effectively prevented from peeling from the piezoelectric multilayer body, whereby high adhesion is attained between the piezoelectric multilayer body and the resin. At the same time, the resin covers dicing surfaces in the side faces of the piezoelectric multilayer body, thereby effectively restraining the piezoelectric body and the electrodes from producing particles.
US09379298B2 Laminate sub-mounts for LED surface mount package
An LED package is described that acts as a sub-mount between a printed circuit board and an LED. The sub-mount includes a laminate to thermally isolate the LED from the PCB while providing a thermal heat dissipative sink for the LED.
US09379295B2 Method for manufacturing LED module, and LED module
A method for manufacturing an LED module is provided that includes the steps of mounting an LED chip 2 on an obverse surface of leads 1A′, 1B′, and after the step of mounting the LED chip 2, providing a case 6 that covers part of the leads 1A′, 1B′ and includes a reflective surface 61 surrounding the LED chip 2 in an in-plane direction of the leads 1A′, 1B′. With this arrangement, there is no risk that the arm for handling the LED chip 2 interferes with the case 6. This allows the distance between the reflective surface 61 and the LED chip 2 to be reduced, and hence allows making the LED module more compact.
US09379293B2 LED with ceramic green phosphor and protected red phosphor layer
A ceramic green wavelength conversion element (120) is coated with a red wavelength conversion material (330) and placed above a blue light emitting element (110) such that the ceramic element (120) is attached to the light emitting element (110), thereby providing an efficient thermal coupling from the red and green converters (330, 120) to the light emitting element (110) and its associated heat sink. To protect the red converter coating (330) from the effects of subsequent processes, a sacrificial clear coating (340) is created above the red converter element (330). This clear coating (340) may be provided as a discrete layer of clear material, or it may be produced by allowing the red converters to settle to the bottom of its suspension material, thereby forming a converter-free upper layer that can be subjected to the subsequent fabrication processes.
US09379282B1 Light emitting diode and method of fabricating the same
A light emitting diode including a first light emitting cell and a second light emitting cell disposed on a substrate and spaced apart from each other to expose a surface of the substrate, a first transparent layer disposed on and electrically connected to the first light emitting cell, first connection section disposed on a portion of the first light emitting cell, a second connection section disposed on a portion of the second light emitting cell, a first interconnection and a second interconnection electrically connecting the first light emitting cell and the second light emitting cell, and an insulation layer disposed between the first and second interconnections and a side surface of the first light emitting cell.
US09379280B2 Contacts for an N-type gallium and nitrogen substrate for optical devices
A method for fabricating LED devices. The method includes providing a gallium and nitrogen containing substrate member (e.g., GaN) comprising a backside surface and a front side surface. The method includes subjecting the backside surface to a polishing process, causing a backside surface to be characterized by a surface roughness, subjecting the backside surface to an anisotropic etching process exposing various crystal planes to form a plurality of pyramid-like structures distributed spatially in a non-periodic manner on the backside surface, treating the backside surface comprising the plurality of pyramid-like structures, to a plasma species, and subjecting the backside surface to a surface treatment. The method further includes forming a contact material comprising an aluminum bearing species or a titanium bearing species overlying the surface-treated backside to form a plurality of LED devices with the contact material.
US09379279B2 Epitaxial film forming method, sputtering apparatus, manufacturing method of semiconductor light-emitting element, semiconductor light-emitting element, and illumination device
The present invention has an object to provide an epitaxial film forming method of epitaxially growing a high-quality group III nitride semiconductor thin film on an α-Al2O3 substrate by a sputtering method. An epitaxial film forming method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes forming an epitaxial film of a group III nitride semiconductor thin film on an α-Al2O3 substrate placed on a substrate holder (111) including a heater electrode (104) and a bias electrode (103) in a sputtering apparatus (1) by applying high-frequency power to a target electrode (102) and applying high-frequency bias power to the bias electrode (103) while the heater electrode (104) maintains the α-Al2O3 substrate at a predetermined temperature. In this process, the high-frequency power and the high-frequency bias power are applied so that frequency interference therebetween may not occur.
US09379271B2 Variable range photodetector and method thereof
A method of making and a photodetector comprising a substrate; a p-type or n-type layer; first and second region each having polarizations, a first interface therebetween, the magnitudes and directions of the first and second polarizations being such that a scalar projection of second polarization on the growth direction relative to the scalar projection of the first polarization projected onto the growth direction is sufficient to create a first interface charge; and a third region suitable for forming one of an n-metal or p-metal contact thereon having a third polarization, a second interface between the second and third regions, the third polarization having a scalar projection on the growth direction that, relative to scalar projection of the second polarization onto the growth direction, is sufficient to create a second interface charge; the first and second interface charges creating an electrostatic potential barrier to carriers defining a predetermined wavelength range.
US09379263B2 Durable polyolefin adhesive material for solar modules
This disclosure generally relates to films capable of use in electronic device modules and to electronic device modules including such films. The disclosure also generally relates to materials for use in such films.
US09379262B2 Wafer with high rupture resistance
A wafer with high rupture resistance includes a plurality of surfaces, wherein the surfaces include a largest surface having a largest area than others and a side surface connected to the fringe of the largest surface. The side surface forms a nanostructured layer thereon to assist the stress dispersion of the wafer. Accordingly, the wafer is provided with a high rupture resistance so as to prevent the wafer from damages during semiconductor or other processes.
US09379257B2 Electrical device and method for manufacturing same
An electrical device includes a first layer, a second layer and an intrinsic layer. The first layer is of a first conductivity type, wherein the second layer is of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type. The intrinsic layer is arranged between the first and the second layer and has a reduced thickness at at least one portion. An area of the at least one portion is less than 50% of an active area in which the first and second layer face each other.
US09379256B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a charge storage layer on a first insulating film, a second insulating film which is provided on the charge storage layer, formed of layers, and a control gate electrode on the second insulating film. The second insulating film includes a bottom layer (A) provided just above the charge storage layer, a top layer (C) provided just below the control gate electrode, and a middle layer (B) provided between the bottom layer (A) and the top layer (C). The middle layer (B) has higher barrier height and lower dielectric constant than both the bottom layer (A) and the top layer (C). The average coordination number of the middle layer (B) is smaller than both the average coordination number of the top layer (C) and the average coordination number of the bottom layer (A).
US09379248B2 Thin-film transistor structure, as well as thin-film transistor and display device each having said structure
There is provided an oxide semiconductor layer capable of making stable the electric characteristics of a thin-film transistor without requiring an oxidatively-treated layer when depositing a passivation layer or the like in display devices such as organic EL displays depositing and liquid crystal displays. The thin-film transistor structure of the present invention at least having, on a substrate, an oxide semiconductor layer, a source-drain electrode, and a passivation layer in order from the substrate side, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is a stacked product of a first oxide semiconductor layer and a second oxide semiconductor layer; the first oxide semiconductor layer has a Zn content of 50 atomic % or more as a percentage of all metal elements contained therein, and the first oxide semiconductor layer is formed on the source-drain electrode and passivation layer side; the second oxide semiconductor layer contains at least one element selected from the group consisting of In, Ga, and Zn, and the second oxide semiconductor layer is formed on the substrate side; and the first oxide semiconductor layer is in direct contact both with the source-drain electrode and with the passivation layer.
US09379242B1 Method of fabricating fin field effect transistor
A method of fabricating a fin field effect transistor including providing a substrate having at least one fin structure, a dummy gate, and an internal dielectric layer thereon, removing the dummy gate to form a gate trench on the fin structure, blanketly forming a stress film on the substrate to cover a surface of the gate trench, performing a thermal annealing process, removing the stress film, and forming a metal gate is in the gate trench.
US09379230B2 Semiconductor crystal substrate, manufacturing method of semiconductor crystal substrate, manufacturing method of semiconductor device, power unit, and amplifier
A semiconductor crystal substrate includes a substrate; and a protection layer formed by applying nitride on a surface of the substrate. The protection layer is in an amorphous state in a peripheral area at an outer peripheral part of the substrate, and the protection layer is crystallized in an internal area of the protection layer that is inside the peripheral area of the protection layer.
US09379226B2 Semiconductor wafer and insulated gate field effect transistor
Provided is a technique capable of realizing an insulated gate (MIS-type) P-HEMT structure with good transistor characteristics such as an improved carrier mobility of a channel layer and a reduced influence from interface states. A semiconductor wafer includes a base wafer, a first crystalline layer, and an insulating layer. The base wafer, the first crystalline layer, and the insulating layer are stacked in the order of the base wafer, the first crystalline layer, and the insulating layer. The first crystalline layer is made of InxGa1-xAs (0.35≦x≦0.43) that can pseudo-lattice-match with GaAs or AlGaAs. The first crystalline layer is usable as a channel layer of a field effect transistor, and the insulating layer is usable as a gate insulating layer of the field effect transistor.
US09379219B1 SiGe finFET with improved junction doping control
A semiconductor device and a method for fabricating the device. The method includes: providing a FinFET having a source/drain region, at least one SiGe fin, a silicon substrate, a local oxide layer is formed on the silicon substrate, a gate structure is formed on the at least one SiGe fin and the local oxide layer, the gate structure is encapsulated by a gate hard mask and sidewall spacer layers; recessing the at least one SiGe fin in the source/drain region to the sidewall spacer layers and the silicon substrate layer; recessing the local oxide layer in the source/drain region to the sidewall spacer layer and the silicon substrate; growing a n-doped silicon layer on the silicon substrate; growing a p-doped silicon layer or p-doped SiGe layer on the n-doped silicon layer; and forming a silicide layer on the p-doped silicon layer or p-doped SiGe layer.
US09379216B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing same
According to an embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a gate trench extending into a first semiconductor layer; forming a gate insulating film on an internal wall of the gate trench; forming a polysilicon in the gate trench; etching the polysilicon into the gate trench; forming an interlayer insulating film on the polysilicon; etching the first semiconductor layer so as to project the interlayer insulating film from the first semiconductor layer; forming a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer; forming a third semiconductor layer on the second semiconductor layer; forming a sidewall contacting a side face of the interlayer insulating film; forming a fourth semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type in the second semiconductor layer; and forming a first electrode electrically connected to the third semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer.
US09379213B2 Method for forming doped areas under transistor spacers
Method for fabricating a transistor comprising the steps consisting of: forming sacrificial zones in a semi-conductor layer, either side of a transistor channel zone, forming insulating spacers on said sacrificial zones against the sides of the gate of said transistor, removing said sacrificial zones so as to form cavities, with the cavities extending on either side of said channel zone and penetrating under said spacers, forming doped semi-conductor material in said cavities, with said semi-conductor material penetrating under said spacers.
US09379212B1 Extended-drain transistor using inner spacer
An MOS device with increased drain-source voltage (Vds) includes a source region and a drain region deposited on a substrate. A gate region includes an inner spacer that extends the drain region. The inner spacer is formed attached to an isolation spacer that isolates the drain region from the gate region. The inner spacer is configured to extend the drain region to modify an electric field in a portion of a conductive band of the MOS device.
US09379204B2 Lattice matched aspect ratio trapping to reduce defects in III-V layer directly grown on silicon
A structure having application to electronic devices includes a III-V layer having high crystal quality and a low defect density on a lattice mismatched substrate. Trenches are formed in a layer of III-V semiconductor material grown on a substrate having a different lattice constant. Dielectric material is deposited within the trenches, forming dielectric regions. A portion of the layer of III-V material is removed, leaving new trenches defined by the dielectric regions. A new layer of III-V semiconductor material having reduced defect density is grown on the remaining portion of the originally deposited III-V semiconductor layer and within the trenches defined by the dielectric regions.
US09379185B2 Method of forming channel region dopant control in fin field effect transistor
A dummy gate structure straddling at least one semiconductor fin is formed on a substrate. Active semiconductor regions and raised active semiconductor regions may be formed. A planarization dielectric layer is formed over the at least one semiconductor fin, and the dummy gate structure is removed to provide a gate cavity. Electrical dopants in the channel region can be removed by outgassing during an anneal, thereby lowering the concentration of the electrical dopants in the channel region. Alternately or additionally, carbon can be implanted into the channel region to deactivate remaining electrical dopants in the channel region. The threshold voltage of the field effect transistor can be effectively controlled by the reduction of active electrical dopants in the channel region. A replacement gate electrode can be subsequently formed in the gate cavity.
US09379179B2 Ultra high voltage electrostatic discharge protection device with current gain
A semiconductor device configured to provide increased current gain comprises a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type. The device also comprises a first semiconductor region having a second conductivity type. The device further comprises a second semiconductor region in the first semiconductor region to having the first conductivity type. The device additionally comprises a third semiconductor region in the first semiconductor region having the second conductivity type. The device also comprises a fourth semiconductor region outside the first semiconductor region having the first conductivity type. The device further comprises a fifth semiconductor region outside the first semiconductor region adjacent the fourth semiconductor region and having the second conductivity type. The device additionally comprises a first electrode electrically connected to the third semiconductor region. The device further comprises a second electrode electrically connected to the fourth semiconductor region and to the fifth semiconductor region.
US09379178B2 Manufacturing method of semiconductor device comprising a capacitor element
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes a capacitor element in which a capacitance dielectric film is provided between an upper electrode film and a lower electrode film, includes forming the lower electrode film over the semiconductor substrate, forming the capacitance dielectric film over the lower electrode film, and forming the upper electrode film over the capacitance dielectric film, wherein, an entire surface layer of the lower electrode film is formed of a polycrystalline titanium nitride. At the portion of the capacitance dielectric film where directly contacting the entire surface layer of the lower electrode is formed of a polycrystalline metal oxide, and the polycrystalline metal oxide is formed by an ALD method and inherits a crystallinity of the polycrystalline titanium nitride.
US09379175B2 Integrated circuits and fabrication methods thereof
An integrated circuit includes a first polysilicon region having a first grain size formed on a substrate. The integrated circuit also includes a second polysilicon region, having a second grain size different from the first grain size, formed on the substrate. Furthermore, a method of fabricating an integrated circuit is also provided. The method includes forming a first polysilicon region having an initial grain size on a substrate. The first polysilicon region is implanted with a first dopant of a first conductivity type and a second dopant. After the implantation, the first polysilicon region has a first grain size larger than the initial grain size. Then, a laser rapid thermal annealing process is performed to the first polysilicon region.
US09379174B2 Composite reconstituted wafer structures
A reconstituted electronic device comprising at least one die and at least one passive component. A functional material is incorporated in the substrate of the device to modify the electrical behavior of the passive component. The passive component may be formed in redistribution layers of the device. Composite functional materials may be used in the substrate to forms part of or all of the passive component. A metal carrier may form part of the substrate and part of the at least one passive component.
US09379163B1 Variable resistance memory device
A resistance variable memory includes a plurality of first wires, a plurality of second wires, a controller, a memory cell array, a second current rectifying element and a second variable resistance element, an access controller, a first contact plug, and a second contact plug. The access controller switches the second variable resistance element to a low resistance state or a high resistance state in accordance with a voltage applied to the memory cell connected in series. The first contact plug is connected to the even-numbered first wire in the second direction from the substrate via the corresponding access controller. The second contact plug is connected to the odd-numbered first wire in the second direction from the substrate via the corresponding access controller.
US09379162B2 Magneto-elastic non-volatile multiferroic logic and memory with ultralow energy dissipation
Memory cells, non-volatile logic gates, and combinations thereof have magneto-tunneling junctions (MTJs) which are switched using potential differences across a piezoelectric layer in elastic contact with a magnetostrictive nanomagnet of an MTJ. One or more pairs of electrodes are arranged about the MTJ for supplying voltage across the piezoelectric layer for switching. A permanent magnetic field may be employed to change the positions of the stable magnetic orientations of the magnetostrictive nanomagnet. Exemplary memory cells and universal non-volatile logic gates show dramatically improved performance characteristics, particularly with respect to energy dissipation and error-resilience, over existing methods and architectures for switching MTJs such as spin transfer torque (STT) techniques.
US09379155B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate having oppositely facing first and second surfaces, the first surface being an active surface and provided with an electronic element thereon, a pad electrode to be connected to the electronic element in a peripheral portion of the electronic element on the active surface, a first opening extending from the second surface toward the pad electrode so as not to reach the first surface of the semiconductor substrate, a second opening formed to reach the pad electrode from a bottom surface of the first opening and having a diameter smaller than that of the first opening, an insulating layer formed to cover sidewall surfaces of the first opening and the second opening, and a conductive layer formed, inside of the insulating layer, to cover at least an inner wall surface of the insulating layer and a bottom surface of the second opening.
US09379154B2 Solid-state image pickup apparatus
A solid-state image pickup apparatus including a substrate and a solid-state image pickup device. The substrate includes an opening portion. The solid-state image pickup device is mounted as a flip chip on a lower surface of the substrate on a circumference of the opening portion and receives and photo-electrically converts light that is taken in by a lens set on an upper surface of the substrate and enters from the opening portion. The circumference of the opening portion of the substrate is thinner than other portions of the substrate.
US09379143B2 Active matrix substrate, display device, and active matrix substrate manufacturing method
An active matrix substrate (1) includes a source electrode (32), a drain electrode (33), and a semiconductor layer (31) of oxide semiconductor. A gate insulating layer (42) of silicon oxide is formed on the gate electrode (12a); a source electrode (32), a drain electrode (33), and a semiconductor layer (31) are formed on the gate insulating layer (42); a first protection layer (44) of silicon nitride is formed on the gate insulating layer (42) without covering the semiconductor layer (31); and a second protection layer (46) of silicon oxide is formed on the semiconductor layer (31). The first protection layer (44) covers the signal line (14) and the source connection line (36).
US09379140B2 Array substrate for liquid crystal display devices and method of manufacturing the same
An array substrate for LCD devices and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. By using a structure where an empty space is secured in a data line area as in a DRD structure in which the number of data lines is reduced by half, a capacitance is sufficiently secured by forming a sub storage capacitor in the data line area of the empty space, and thus, an area of a main storage capacitor can be reduced. Accordingly, the cost can be reduced, and moreover, an aperture ratio can be enhanced.
US09379137B2 Array substrate for display panel and method for manufacturing thereof
Disclosed are an array substrate and a method of fabricating the same. The array substrate includes an active area including a plurality of pixels defined at an intersection area of a gate line and a data line, a gate driving circuit formed at one side of a non-active area and a signal line extending in parallel with the data line in the non-active area to transfer a signal to the gate driving circuit. The signal line includes a first line with a plurality of segmental lines, and at least one additional line formed of a different material and formed at a different layer than the first line. The at least one additional line electrically connects two segmental lines of the first line adjacent to each other.
US09379127B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method of semiconductor device
A semiconductor device with a nonvolatile memory is provided which has improved characteristics. The semiconductor device includes a control gate electrode, a memory gate electrode disposed adjacent to the control gate electrode, a first insulating film, and a second insulating film including therein a charge storing portion. Among these components, the memory gate electrode is formed of a silicon film including a first silicon region positioned over the second insulating film, and a second silicon region positioned above the first silicon region. The second silicon region contains p-type impurities, and the concentration of p-type impurities of the first silicon region is lower than that of the p-type impurities of the second silicon region.
US09379124B2 Vertical floating gate NAND with selectively deposited ALD metal films
A method of making a monolithic three dimensional NAND string which contains a semiconductor channel and a plurality of control gate electrodes, includes selectively forming a plurality of discrete charge storage regions using atomic layer deposition. The plurality of discrete charge storage regions includes at least one of a metal or an electrically conductive metal oxide.
US09379120B2 Metal control gate structures and air gap isolation in non-volatile memory
High-density semiconductor memory utilizing metal control gate structures and air gap electrical isolation between discrete devices in these types of structures are provided. During gate formation and definition, etching the metal control gate layer(s) is separated from etching the charge storage layer to form protective sidewall spacers along the vertical sidewalls of the metal control gate layer(s). The sidewall spacers encapsulate the metal control gate layer(s) while etching the charge storage material to avoid contamination of the charge storage and tunnel dielectric materials. Electrical isolation is provided, at least in part, by air gaps that are formed in the row direction and/or air gaps that are formed in the column direction.
US09379119B1 Static random access memory
A static random access memory (SRAM) is disclosed. The SRAM includes a plurality of SRAM cells on a substrate, in which each of the SRAM cells further includes: a gate structure on the substrate, a plurality of fin structures disposed on the substrate, where each fin structure is arranged perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the gate structure, a first interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer around the gate structure, a first contact plug in the first ILD layer, where the first contact plug is strip-shaped and contacts two different fin structures; and a second ILD layer on the first ILD layer.
US09379113B2 Programmable logic device and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
To provide a programmable logic device in which the number of elements per bit in a memory array can be reduced and with which power consumption or operation frequency can be estimated accurately at a testing stage. Provided is a programmable logic device including a plurality of programmable logic elements and a memory array which stores configuration data that determines logic operation executed in the plurality of programmable logic elements. The memory array includes a plurality of memory elements. The memory element includes a node which establishes electrical connection between the programmable logic element and the memory array, a switch for supplying charge whose amount is determined by the configuration data to the node, holding the charge in the node, or releasing the charge from the node, and a plurality of wirings. Capacitance is formed between the node and the wiring.
US09379109B1 Integrated circuit having improved radiation immunity
An integrated circuit device having improved radiation immunity is described. The integrated circuit device comprises an n-type wafer having a first surface and a second surface; a p-type epitaxial layer formed on the first surface of the n-type wafer, the p-type epitaxial wafer having first elements storing charge; and an n-well formed in the p-type epitaxial layer, the n-well having second elements storing charge; wherein the n-type wafer is positively biased to attract excess minority carriers in the p-type epitaxial layer. A method of improving radiation immunity in an integrated circuit is also described.
US09379104B1 Method to make gate-to-body contact to release plasma induced charging
Methods for preparing a FinFET device with a protection diode formed prior to M1 formation and resulting devices are disclosed. Embodiments include forming plural fins on a substrate, with a STI region between adjacent fins; forming a dummy gate stack over and perpendicular to the fins, the gate stack including a dummy gate over a dummy gate insulating layer; forming sidewall spacers on opposite sides of the dummy gate stack; forming source/drain regions at opposite sides of the dummy gate stack; forming an ILD over the STI regions between fins; removing the dummy gate stack forming a gate cavity; forming a gate dielectric in the gate cavity; removing the gate dielectric from the gate cavity in a protection diode area, exposing an underlying fin; implanting a dopant into the exposed fin; and forming a RMG in the gate cavity, wherein a protection diode is formed in the protection diode area.
US09379099B2 ESD protection circuit and integrated circuit
An ESD protection circuit is cooperated with a high-frequency circuit and includes a silicon-controlled rectifier element and an inductive element. The silicon-controlled rectifier element is formed by the sequential connection of a first P-type semiconductor material, a first N-type semiconductor material, a second P-type semiconductor material and a second N-type semiconductor material. The silicon-controlled rectifier element has a first end and a second end, and the first end is electrically coupled with the first P-type semiconductor material while the second end is electrically coupled with the second N-type semiconductor material. One end of the inductive element is electrically coupled with the first end and the other end thereof is electrically coupled with the first N-type semiconductor material, or one end of the inductive element is electrically coupled with the second end and the other end thereof is electrically coupled with the second P-type semiconductor material.
US09379096B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of semiconductor elements; first semiconductor chips including first semiconductor elements, the first semiconductor elements being defined as semiconductor elements in the plurality of semiconductor elements and having a current flowing greater than that of the other semiconductor elements; second semiconductor chips having second semiconductor elements, the second semiconductor elements being defined as semiconductor elements in the plurality of semiconductor elements for controlling the first semiconductor elements; an insulating substrate having a first wiring pattern bonded with the first semiconductor chips; and an insulating member having a second wiring pattern mounted with the second semiconductor chips.
US09379092B2 Micro device with stabilization post
A method and structure for stabilizing an array of micro devices is disclosed. A stabilization layer includes an array of stabilization cavities and array of stabilization posts. Each stabilization cavity includes sidewalls surrounding a stabilization post. The array of micro devices is on the array of stabilization posts. Each micro device in the array of micro devices includes a bottom surface that is wider than a corresponding stabilization post directly underneath the bottom surface.
US09379091B2 Semiconductor die assemblies and semiconductor devices including same
Methods of fabricating multi-die assemblies including a wafer segment having no integrated circuitry thereon and having a plurality of vertically stacked dice thereon electrically interconnected by conductive through vias, resulting multi-die assemblies, and semiconductor devices comprising such multi-die assemblies. The wafer segment may function as a heat sink to enhance heat transfer from the stacked dice in the resulting multi-die assembly. The die stacks are fabricated at the wafer level on a base wafer, from which the wafer segment and die stacks are singulated after at least peripheral encapsulation.
US09379084B2 Semiconductor device and method of self-confinement of conductive bump material during reflow without solder mask
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a die bump pad. A substrate has a conductive trace with an interconnect site. A conductive bump material is deposited on the interconnect site or die bump pad. The semiconductor die is mounted over the substrate so that the bump material is disposed between the die bump pad and interconnect site. The bump material is reflowed without a solder mask around the die bump pad or interconnect site to form an interconnect structure between the die and substrate. The bump material is self-confined within the die bump pad or interconnect site. The volume of bump material is selected so that a surface tension maintains self-confinement of the bump material substantially within a footprint of the die bump pad and interconnect site. The interconnect structure can have a fusible portion and non-fusible portion. An encapsulant is deposited between the die and substrate.
US09379077B2 Metal contact for semiconductor device
A semiconductor device package and packaging method, the semiconductor device packaging method comprising: providing a chip with a bonding pad formed on the chip surface; forming a passivation layer and a bump on the chip surface, wherein the passivation layer has an opening exposing part of the pad, the bump is located in the opening and the size of the bump is less than the size of the opening; forming a solder ball covering the top surface and the side wall of the bump, and the bottom surface of the opening. The formed semiconductor device package is not easy to form a short circuit. The bonding strength between the solder ball and the bump is high and the performance of the semiconductor device is stable.
US09379072B2 Chip package and method for forming the same
A chip package including a first substrate is provided. A plurality of first conductive pads is disposed on a first side of the first substrate. A second substrate is attached onto a second side opposite to the first side of the first substrate. The second substrate includes a micro-electric element and has a plurality of second conductive pads corresponding to the plurality of first conductive pads, disposed on a first side of the second substrate and between the first substrate and the second substrate. A redistribution layer is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side of the second substrate. The redistribution layer penetrates the second substrate, second conductive pads and the first substrate and extends into the first conductive pads to electrically connect the first and second conductive pads.
US09379068B2 ESD protection semiconductor device
A semiconductor substrate (1) is provided with a source region (2) and a drain region (3) of a first type of electrical conductivity arranged at a surface (10) at a distance from one another, a channel region (4) of a second type of electrical conductivity, which is opposite to the first type of electrical conductivity, arranged between the source region (2) and the drain region (3), and a gate electrode (6) arranged above the channel region (4). A substrate well (7) of the first type of electrical conductivity is arranged in the substrate (1) at a distance from the source region (2). The substrate well (7) is contiguous with the drain region (3), and the distance between the source region (2) and the substrate well (7) is larger than the distance between the source region (2) and the drain region (3).
US09379066B2 Device for detecting a laser attack in an integrated circuit chip
A device for detecting a laser attack made on an integrated circuit chip comprises a bipolar transistor of a first type formed in a semiconductor substrate, that bipolar transistor comprising a parasitic bipolar transistor of a second type. A buried region, forming the base of the parasitic bipolar transistor, operates as a detector of the variations in current flowing caused by impingement of laser light on the substrate.
US09379055B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device in which misalignment does not cause short-circuiting and inter-wiring capacitance is decreased. Plural wirings are provided in a first interlayer insulating layer. An air gap is made between at least one pair of wirings in the layer. A second interlayer insulating layer lies over the wirings and first interlayer insulating layer. The first bottom face of the second interlayer insulating layer is exposed to the air gap. When a pair of adjacent wirings whose distance is shortest are first wirings, the upper ends of the first interlayer insulating layer between the first wirings are in contact with the first wirings' side faces. The first bottom face is below the first wirings' upper faces. b/a≦0.5 holds where a represents the distance between the first wirings and b represents the width of the portion of the first interlayer insulating layer in contact with the first bottom face.
US09379051B2 Semiconductor device
According to the present invention, a semiconductor having excellent yield is provided. The semiconductor device (10) of the present invention includes: a base material (die pad) (2), a semiconductor element (3), and an adhesive layer (1) intervening the space between the base material and the semiconductor element (3) to adhere the base material and the semiconductor element. Thermal conductive filler (8) is contained in the adhesive layer (1), and when the content of the thermal conductive filler dispersed in the whole of the adhesive layer is expressed as C, the content of the thermal conductive filler in the region 1 ranging from the interface of the adhesive layer at the side of the semiconductor element to the depth by 2 μm is expressed as C1, and the content of the thermal conductive filler in the region 2 ranging from the interface of the adhesive layer at the side of the base material to the depth by 2 μm is expressed as C2, the following formulae are satisfied: C1
US09379049B2 Semiconductor apparatus
The semiconductor apparatus includes: the first lead frame; the second lead frame; the second insulation resin which is disposed between the first lead frame and the second lead frame; the sealing resin which seals the semiconductor elements, the first lead frame and the second lead frame; the electric wiring part which electrically connects the semiconductor elements and the first lead frame; and the interlayer connecting part which electrically connects the first lead frame and the second lead frame.
US09379046B2 Module comprising a semiconductor chip
A module includes a semiconductor chip having at least a first terminal contact surface and a second terminal contact surface. A first bond element made of a material on the basis of Cu is attached to the first terminal contact surface, and a second bond element is attached to the second terminal contact surface. The second bond element is made of a material different from the material of the first bond element or is made of a type of bond element different from the type of the first bond element.
US09379043B1 TSV structure having insulating layers with embedded voids
Disclosed is a TSV structure having insulating layers with embedded voids, including a chip layer, a dielectric liner and a conductive filler. There is at least a via reentrant from one surface of the semiconductor body of the chip layer. A plurality of air-gap cavities are formed on the sidewall of the via where the cavities have a depth-to-width ratio not less than one. The dielectric liner covers the sidewall of the via without filling into the air-gap cavities. The conductive filler is disposed in the via without filling into the air-gap cavities due to the isolation of the dielectric liner so as to form an air insulating layer with a plurality of enclosed voids embedded between the semiconductor body and the dielectric liner. Accordingly, RC Delay of the TSV structure can be improved.
US09379031B2 Display panel for display device
Disclosed is a display panel in which a jumping wiring made of a heterogeneous material for the prevention of static electricity connects a signal pad with a test wiring of an array substrate, or a display panel, and induces a discharge of the static electricity when the static electricity generated in an array test process flows into the display panel, thereby preventing damage to the display panel.
US09379030B2 Ion implantation method and ion implantation apparatus
Provided is an ion implantation method of transporting ions generated by an ion source to a wafer and implanting the ions into the wafer by irradiating an ion beam on the wafer, including, during the ion implantation into the wafer, using a plurality of detection units which can detect an event having a possibility of discharge and determining a state of the ion beam based on existence of detected event having a possibility of discharge and a degree of influence of the event on the ion beam.
US09379019B2 Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device
In a method, an isolation layer pattern is formed on a substrate to define first and second active fins. An ARC layer is formed on the isolation layer pattern to at least partially cover sidewalls of the first and second active fins. A level of a top surface of the ARC layer is equal to or less than, and equal to or greater than half of, those of the first and second active fins. A photoresist layer is formed on the first and second active fins and the ARC layer. A portion of the photoresist layer is removed to form a photoresist pattern covering the first active fin and exposing the second active fin. A portion of the ARC layer under the removed portion of the photoresist layer is removed to form an ARC layer pattern. Impurities are implanted into the exposed second active fin to form an impurity region.
US09379017B1 Method of forming a semiconductor structure including a plurality of fins and an alignment/overlay mark
A method includes providing a semiconductor structure including a substrate that includes a material to be patterned. First and second mandrels are formed over the substrate using a common photolithography process that defines a position of the first mandrel relative to the substrate and a position of the second mandrel relative to the substrate. A first sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the first mandrel and a second sidewall spacer is formed adjacent the second mandrel. After the formation of the first and the second sidewall spacers, the first mandrel is removed. The second mandrel remains in the semiconductor structure. A first mask element is provided on the basis of the first sidewall spacer. A second mask element is provided on the basis of the second mandrel and the second sidewall spacer. The material to be patterned is patterned on the basis of the first and the second mask elements.
US09379016B2 Wafer processing method
A wafer processing method including a wafer supporting step of attaching a front side of a dicing tape formed of synthetic resin to a back side of a wafer and supporting a peripheral portion of the dicing tape to an annular frame, a dicing tape heating step of heating a back side of the dicing tape attached to the wafer to soften the dicing tape, thereby flattening the back side of the dicing tape, and a modified layer forming step of applying a laser beam having a transmission wavelength to the wafer through the dicing tape from the back side thereof along the division lines in the condition where the focal point of the laser beam is set inside the wafer, thereby forming a modified layer inside the wafer along each division line.
US09379015B2 Wafer processing method
A wafer processing method divides a wafer into individual devices along crossing streets formed on the front side of the wafer. The wafer has a substrate and a functional layer formed on the front side of the substrate. The individual devices are formed from the functional layer and are partitioned by the streets. A laser beam is applied along the streets from the front side of the functional layer to thereby remove the functional layer along the streets. A resist film is formed on the front side of the functional layer except on each street. The substrate of the wafer is plasma-etched along each street where the functional layer is absent to the depth corresponding to the finished thickness of each device, thereby forming a division groove along each street and also etching off a modified layer formed on the opposite sides of each street.
US09379012B2 Oxide mediated epitaxial nickel disilicide alloy contact formation
Contact openings are formed into a dielectric material exposing a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate. An interfacial oxide layer is then formed in each contact opening and on an exposed surface portion of the interfacial oxide layer. A NiPt alloy layer is formed within each opening and on the exposed surface portion of each interfacial oxide layer. An anneal is then performed that forms a contact structure of, from bottom to top, a nickel disilicide alloy body having an inverted pyramidal shape, a Pt rich silicide cap region and an oxygen rich region. A metal contact is then formed within each contact opening and atop the oxygen rich region of each contact structure.
US09379010B2 Methods for forming interconnect layers having tight pitch interconnect structures
Processes for forming interconnection layers having tight pitch interconnect structures within a dielectric layer, wherein trenches and vias used to form interconnect structures have relatively low aspect ratios prior to metallization. The low aspect ratios may reduce or substantially eliminate the potential of voids forming within the metallization material when it is deposited. Embodiments herein may achieve such relatively low aspect ratios through processes that allow for the removal of structures, which are utilized to form the trenches and the vias, prior to metallization.
US09378989B2 Method and apparatus for cleaning semiconductor substrates
The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for cleaning a substrate, in particular a semiconductor substrate such as a silicon wafer. The substrate is placed in a tank containing a cleaning liquid, at an angle with respect to acoustic waves produced in said liquid. The angle corresponds to the angle of transmission, i.e. the angle at which waves are not reflected off the substrate surface. A damping material is provided in the tank, arranged to absorb substantially all waves thus transmitted through the substrate. A significant improvement in terms of cleaning efficiency is obtained by the method of the invention.
US09378984B2 Packaging a semiconductor device having wires with polymerized insulator skin
A chip is attached to a substrate with wires spanning from the chip to the substrate is loaded in a heated cavity of a mold. The wire surfaces are coated with an adsorbed layer of molecules of a heterocyclic compound. A pressure chamber of the mold is loaded with a solid pellet of a packaging material including a polymerizable resin. The chamber is connected to the cavity. The vapor of resin molecules is allowed to spread from the chamber to the assembly inside the cavity during the time interval needed to heat the solid pellet for rendering it semi-liquid and to pressurize it through runners before filling the mold cavity, wherein the resin molecules arriving in the cavity are cross-linked by the adsorbed heterocyclic compound molecules into an electrically insulating at least one monolayer of polymeric structures on the wire surfaces.
US09378983B2 Semiconductor device and method of mounting cover to semiconductor die and interposer with adhesive material
A semiconductor device has an interposer with a die attach area interior to the interposer and cover attach area outside the die attach area. A channel is formed into a surface of the interposer within the cover attach area. A dam material is formed over the surface of the interposer within the cover attach area between the channel and edge of the interposer. A semiconductor die is mounted to the die attach area of the interposer. An adhesive material is deposited in the cover attach area away from the channel and dam material. A cover, such as a heat spreader or shielding layer, is mounted to the die and interposer within the cover attach area. The cover presses the adhesive material into the channel and against the dam material to control outward flow of the adhesive material. Alternatively, ACF can be formed over the interposer to mount the cover.
US09378978B2 Integrated oxide recess and floating gate fin trimming
Methods of etching back shallow trench isolation (STI) dielectric and trimming the exposed floating gate without breaking vacuum are described. The methods include recessing silicon oxide dielectric gapfill to expose vertical sidewalls of polysilicon floating gates. The exposed vertical sidewalls are then isotropically etched to evenly thin the polysilicon floating gates on the same substrate processing mainframe. Both recessing silicon oxide and isotropically etching polysilicon use remotely excited fluorine-containing apparatuses attached to the same mainframe to facilitate performing both operations without an intervening atmospheric exposure. An inter-poly dielectric may then be conformally deposited either on the same mainframe or outside the mainframe.
US09378976B2 Method for forming interconnects
A conductive interconnect including trenches (110) and (186) and vias (202) are formed in a workpiece (100) by applying a dielectric film stack (120) over the workpiece, and thereafter applying photoresist (140) over the film stack. Trenches (142) are patterned in the photoresist, wherein the trenches are in segments disposed end-to-end to each other. The segments are longitudinally spaced apart from each other at locations where the vias (202) are to be located. The trenches are etched into the dielectric film stack, and then filled with conductive material to form metal line segments (186). Vias (192) are patterned in the gaps separating the adjacent ends of the longitudinally-related lines (186). The patterned vias are etched and then filled with a conductive material, with the ends of the adjacent line segments (186) serving to accurately locate the vias, in a direction along the lengths of the trenches.
US09378971B1 Technique to deposit sidewall passivation for high aspect ratio cylinder etch
Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants having low sticking coefficients in some embodiments. The protective coating may also be deposited using particular reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating. In some cases the protective coating is deposited using plasma assisted atomic layer deposition or plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition.
US09378969B2 Low temperature gas-phase carbon removal
A method of etching carbon films on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a gas phase etch using remote plasma excitation. The remote plasma excites a fluorine-containing precursor and an oxygen-containing precursor, the plasma effluents created are flowed into a substrate processing region. The plasma effluents etch the carbon film more rapidly than silicon, silicon nitride, silicon carbide, silicon carbon nitride and silicon oxide.
US09378966B2 Selective etching of silicon wafer
A method of preparing an etch solution and thinning semiconductor wafers using the etch solution is proposed. The method includes steps of creating a mixture of hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, and acetic acid in a solution container in an approximate 1:3:5 ratio; causing the mixture to react with portions of one or more silicon wafers, the portions of the one or more silicon wafers are doped with boron in a level no less than 1×1019 atoms/cm3; collecting the mixture after reacting with the boron doped portions of the one or more silicon wafers; and adding collected mixture back into the solution container to create the etch solution.
US09378962B2 Nonvolatile semiconductor storage device having a charge storage layer that includes metal grains
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a semiconductor layer, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer formed on the first insulating film and having fine metal grains, a second insulating film formed on the charge storage layer, and a gate electrode formed on the second insulating film. During a write operation, a differential voltage is applied across the gate electrode and the semiconductor layer to place the gate electrode at a lower voltage than the semiconductor layer and cause a positive electric charge to be stored in the charge storage layer.
US09378960B2 Method and structure for improved floating gate oxide integrity in floating gate semiconductor devices
Methods for forming floating gate transistors provide for using a self-aligned plug formed over a floating gate electrode without use of an additional photolithography operation. The plug is centrally disposed and is formed and aligned using spacers. The spacers are formed alongside edges of a patterned sacrificial, oxidation resistant layer that includes an opening that defines the floating gate region. The plug may be formed of a silicon material and which becomes oxidized along with the floating gate such that the plug eventually forms part of the floating gate electrode or the plug may be formed of a nitride or other oxidation resistant material to retard or prevent oxidation in the central portion of the floating gate in which the plug is aligned.
US09378958B2 Electrostatic discharge protection structure and fabricating method thereof
A method of fabricating an electrostatic discharge protection structure includes the following steps. Firstly, a semiconductor substrate is provided. Plural isolation structures, a well region, a first conductive region and a second conductive region are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The well region contains first type conducting carriers. The first conductive region and the second conductive region contain second type conducting carriers. Then, a mask layer is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein a part of the first conductive region is exposed. Then, a first implantation process is performed to implant the second type conducting carriers into the well region by using the mask layer as an implantation mask, so that a portion of the first type conducting carriers of the well region is electrically neutralized and a first doped region is formed under the exposed part of the first conductive region.
US09378952B1 Tall relaxed high percentage silicon germanium fins on insulator
A method is provided for forming tall silicon germanium alloy fin structures on a surface of an insulator layer. The silicon germanium alloy fin structures have a high germanium content (i.e., 50 atomic percent or greater), a low defect density (i.e., 1E2 or less defects per square cm) and a high relaxation value (i.e., 80% or greater).
US09378925B2 TEM sample preparation
An improved method of preparing ultra-thin TEM samples that combines backside thinning with an additional cleaning step to remove surface defects on the FIB-facing substrate surface. This additional step results in the creation of a cleaned, uniform “hardmask” that controls the ultimate results of the sample thinning, and allows for reliable and robust preparation of samples having thicknesses down to the 10 nm range.
US09378923B2 Three-dimensional mapping using scanning electron microscope images
A method includes irradiating a surface of a sample, which is made-up of multiple types of materials, with a beam of primary electrons. Emitted electrons emitted from the irradiated sample are detected using multiple detectors that are positioned at respective different positions relative to the sample, so as to produce respective detector outputs. Calibration factors are computed to compensate for variations in emitted electron yield among the types of the materials, by identifying, for each material type, one or more horizontal regions on the surface that are made-up of the material type, and computing a calibration factor for the material type based on at least one of the detector outputs at the identified horizontal regions. The calibration factors are applied to the detector outputs. A three-dimensional topographical model of the surface is calculated based on the detector outputs to which the calibration factors are applied.
US09378916B2 Heater apparatus, circuit interrupter, and related method
A heater apparatus is structured for use in a circuit interrupter having a thermal trip and includes a conductive device having a terminal and a heater that are co-formed with one another. The terminal includes a base and a support. The conductive device is formed from an individual metallic plate that is bent to form a number of plate elements. The base includes at least one plate element, and the heater includes at least another plate element, with the base and the heater being co-formed. A compression element is threadably receivable on the terminal and is structured to compressively retain an electrical conductor between the compression element and the base.
US09378911B2 Fuse and fuse attachment structure
A fuse includes: a conductive fuse element having a pair of connection terminals formed by bending two ends of a conductive wire rod in such a manner that the ends extend parallel with each other, and a meltable portion provided between the pair of connection terminals and formed to have a smaller cross-sectional area than the remainder of the fuse element; and an insulative shape retaining member fixed to the fuse element and retaining the shape of the fuse element.
US09378899B2 Photoelectric conversion element
A photoelectric conversion element is provided. The photoelectric conversion element includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is covered with an electron transport layer. The electron transport layer is covered with a material represented by the following formula (1): wherein R represents a straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group, each of X1 and X2 independently represents a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, each of Y1 and Y2 independently represents an acidic group or hydrogen atom but at least one of Y1 and Y2 represents an acidic group, and n represents an integer of from 1 to 3. The second electrode is facing the electron transport layer.
US09378893B2 Capacitor with multiple elements for multiple replacement applications
A capacitor provides a plurality of selectable capacitance values, by selective connection of six capacitor sections of a capacitive element each having a capacitance value. The capacitor sections are provided in a plurality of wound cylindrical capacitive elements. Two vertically stacked wound cylindrical capacitance elements may each provide three capacitor sections. There may be six separately wound cylindrical capacitive elements each providing a capacitor section. The capacitor sections have a common element terminal.
US09378886B2 Electronic power transformer
A multi-phase electronic power transformer includes a set of primary windings, wherein each primary winding is configured to couple with an input voltage. The transformer includes a pair of primary switching devices that includes a first primary switching device coupled to a first end of each primary winding and a second primary switching device coupled to a second end of each primary winding distinct from the first end of each primary winding. The transformer includes a set of secondary windings, wherein each secondary winding is configured to inductively couple with a respective primary winding and to output a voltage. The transformer includes a pair of secondary switching devices that includes a first secondary switching device coupled to a first end of each secondary winding and a second secondary switching device coupled to a second end of each secondary winding distinct from the first end of the each secondary winding.
US09378874B2 Ceramic electronic component
A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic base, first and second internal electrodes, and first and second external electrodes. The first external electrode is disposed at a first end portion of a first major surface in the longitudinal direction. The second external electrode is disposed at a second end portion of the first major surface in the longitudinal direction. A portion of each of the first and second external electrodes is opposed in the thickness direction to a region where the first and second internal electrodes are opposed to each other in the thickness direction. A condition ( 1/10)t0≦t1 ≦(⅖)t0 is satisfied, where to is the thickness of each of the first and second external electrodes and t1 is the thickness of a portion in which each of the first and second external electrodes is embedded in the first major surface.
US09378868B2 Low-smoke, non-halogenated flame retardant composition and related power cable jackets
A low-smoke, non-halogenated flame retardant composition made from and/or containing polypropylene, magnesium dihydroxide, and aluminum magnesium layered double hydroxide modified with a hydrogenated fatty acid is disclosed. A composition containing and/or made from (a) a polypropylene, (b) a first distribution of magnesium dihydroxide particles having a d50 in the range of about 0.75 microns to about 1.25 microns, (c) a second distribution of magnesium dihydroxide particles having a d50 in the range of about 1.50 microns to about 3.50 microns, and (d) aluminum magnesium layered double hydroxide modified with a hydrogenated fatty acid is disclosed. A power cable having a jacket made from and/or containing a low-smoke non-halogenated flame retardant composition is also disclosed.
US09378856B2 Mobile system for intervention in an atmosphere of radioactive gas, notably tritium
A mobile system for intervention in an atmosphere of radioactive gas, notably tritium, which includes: a dynamic confinement device, including a removable confinement barrier to surround an intervention zone and a device for controlled extraction of air to keep the zone at a lower pressure than the exterior; a device for monitoring the radioactive gas concentration in the air of the zone; a device to detect and signal the exceedance of a predefined threshold by this concentration to the persons present in the zone.
US09378855B2 Floating nuclear power reactor with a self-cooling multiple component containment structure and an automatic radiation scrubbing containment structure
A floating nuclear power reactor includes a self-cooling containment structure and an emergency heat exchange system. The containment structure of the reactor may be flooded upon the temperature or pressure in the containment structure reaching a certain level. The reactor vessel may also be flooded upon the temperature or pressure in the reactor vessel reaching a predetermined level. The reactor includes a heat exchange system and a filtered containment venting system. The reactor also includes a multi-compartment containment structure. Multiple steam by-pass pipes extend to the filtered containment vent chamber.
US09378854B2 Core catcher
A core catcher includes a holding surface that catches and holds corium and that introduces a surrounding coolant into the core catcher and cool the core catcher by heat exchange with the introduced coolant. The holding surface and the cooling unit are constructed by arranging blocks which each include a polyhedron having at least one pair of parallel surfaces and having an opening portion formed in a surface located in a lateral direction when a first surface that is one of the parallel surfaces is arranged as a bottom surface and are configured such that the polyhedrons communicate with each other via the opening portion when the polyhedrons are arranged adjacent in the lateral direction. The core catcher can achieve easier installation of the blocks without an increase in installation cost.
US09378849B2 Controller to detect malfunctioning address of memory device
A controller includes an internal memory to store an address and a memory control unit operatively coupled with the internal memory. The memory control unit includes logic to identify a malfunctioning address of primary data storage elements within an external memory device, the external memory device being another semiconductor device separate from the controller, store the malfunctioning address in the internal memory, and transmit, to the external memory device, a command to initiate a repair of the malfunctioning address using redundant data storage elements and an indication of an address associated with the malfunctioning address.
US09378842B2 Bidirectional shift register
Disclosed herein is a bidirectional shift register which is capable of preventing multi-outputs from both end stages. The shift register includes a plurality of stages for outputting scan pulses forward or reversely based on a start pulse and a plurality of clock pulses with a phase difference. A last one of the stages includes a forward scan controller for making a set node active and a reset node inactive based on any one of the clock pulses and a scan pulse from an upstream stage, a reverse scan controller for making the set node active and the reset node inactive based on any one of the clock pulses and the start pulse, and an output unit for outputting any one of a corresponding scan pulse and a deactivation voltage based on a voltage at the set node, a voltage at the reset node and any one of the clock pulses.
US09378840B2 Systems and methods for sub-zero threshold characterization in a memory cell
Systems and methods relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for characterizing a solid state memory. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include programming a first cell of a solid state memory device to a negative voltage, programming a second cell of the solid state memory device to a positive voltage, wherein the second cell is adjacent to the first cell, calculating a voltage shift on the negative voltage programmed to the first cell, characterizing a shifted voltage level on the first cell as an interim voltage, and subtracting the voltage shift from the interim voltage to yield an actual voltage on the first cell.
US09378839B2 Apparatus and methods including source gates
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as an apparatus that includes a string of charge storage devices associated with a pillar (e.g., of semiconductor material), a source gate device, and a source select device coupled between the source gate device and the string. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
US09378834B2 Bitline regulator for high speed flash memory system
A bitline regulator for use in a high speed flash memory system is disclosed. The bitline regulator is responsive to a set of trim bits that are generated by comparing the bias voltage of a bitline to a reference voltage.
US09378831B2 Nonvolatile memory devices, operating methods thereof and memory systems including the same
Nonvolatile memory device, operating methods thereof, and memory systems including the same. In the operating method, a ground select line of a first string connected to a bit line may be floated. An erase prohibition voltage may be applied to a ground select line of a second string connected to the bit line. An erase operation voltage may be applied to the first and second strings.
US09378825B2 Buffering systems for accessing multiple layers of memory in integrated circuits
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to data storage and computer memory, and more particularly, to systems, integrated circuits and methods for accessing memory in multiple layers of memory implementing, for example, third dimension memory technology. In a specific embodiment, an integrated circuit is configured to implement write buffers to access multiple layers of memory. For example, the integrated circuit can include memory cells disposed in multiple layers of memory. In one embodiment, the memory cells can be third dimension memory cells. The integrated circuit can also include read buffers that can be sized differently than the write buffers. In at least one embodiment, write buffers can be sized as a function of a write cycle. Each layer of memory can include a plurality of two-terminal memory elements that retain stored data in the absence of power and store data as a plurality of conductivity profiles.
US09378822B2 Method for programming selected memory cells in nonvolatile memory device and nonvolatile memory device thereof
A method for programming memory cells of a selected word line has steps of: providing a first word line programming signal being at plurality of voltage levels in different programming slots of a current programming operation to the memory cells of the selected word line, wherein the first word line programming signal is a ramping voltage signal; and providing a second line programming signal being at plurality of voltage levels in different programming slots of a next programming operation to the memory cells of the selected word line, wherein the second word line programming signal is another one ramping voltage signal; wherein the highest voltage levels of the first and second word line programming signals are identical to each other, and a number of the voltage levels of the first word line programming signal is larger than that of the second word line programming signal.
US09378812B2 Non-volatile memory using bi-directional resistive elements
A memory cell includes a first bidirectional resistive memory element (BRME), and a second BRME, a first storage node, and a second storage node. A resistive memory write to the cell includes placing the first BRME and the second BRME in complementary resistive states indicative of the value being written. During a subsequent restoration operation, the value as written in the first BRME and second BRME is written to the first storage node and the second storage node while a wordline connected to the memory cell is deasserted.
US09378808B2 Pulse width modulation device
A pulse width modulation device for use in an N-ports random access memory having a plurality of word line sets, wherein a specified word line set comprises N port word lines. The pulse width modulation device comprises a status detecting device and a clock signal generator. The status detecting device is coupled to the N port word lines having a first and a second port word line, and outputs a first control signal when both the voltage values of the first and second port word lines are within a first level range. The clock signal generator is coupled to the status detecting device and the specified word line set, and generates and outputs a first clock signal to the specified word line set, wherein a duration of the first clock signal kept within the first level range is variable in response to the first control signal.
US09378806B2 Boosting voltage level
A circuit comprises a driver, a first capacitive device, and a second capacitive device. The driver has an input node, an output node, and a driver supply voltage node. The first capacitive device has a first terminal and a second terminal. The second capacitive device has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the first capacitive device is configured to receive a first signal. The second terminal of the first capacitive device is coupled with the driver supply voltage node. The output of the driver is coupled with a first end of the second capacitive device.
US09378802B2 Oscillator and memory device including the same
An oscillator includes a comparison means suitable for generating a comparison signal by comparing an internal voltage of an internal node with a reference voltage; an inverting unit suitable for inverting the comparison signal and transmitting the inverted comparison signal to an output node; a pull-up driving unit suitable for pull-up driving the internal node in response to the voltage of the output node; a discharge unit suitable for discharging the internal node; and a gate coupled between the internal node and the discharge unit, and turned on/off in response to the voltage of the output node, wherein at least part of a capacitive load included in the oscillator is electrically coupled to the internal node.
US09378796B2 Method for writing to a magnetic tunnel junction device
A method of applying a write current to a magnetic tunnel junction device minimizes sub-threshold leakage. NMOS- and PMOS-follower circuits are used in applying the write current, and bias signals for the follower circuits are isolated from global bias signals before the write current is applied.
US09378788B2 Negative bitline write assist circuit and method for operating the same
A negative bitline write assist circuit includes a bias capacitor configured to facilitate driving the capacitance of a bitline. The negative bitline write assist circuit may be modularly replicated within a circuit to change the amount of negative voltage on the bitline during write operations. The bitline write assist circuit may be coupled directly to the bitline, removing the need to add a pull-down transistor to the write driver.
US09378784B1 Security device using high latency memory to implement high update rate statistics for large number of events
A security device includes a controller configured to determine a flow identifier and an event counter associated with a received data packet and a counter memory including multiple memory banks where each memory bank stores a partial counter value for one or more event counters. The counter memory is indexed by a counter identifier associated with the event counter. A memory controller selects a memory bank in the counter memory that was not the memory bank last selected and the partial counter value associated with the counter identifier in the selected memory bank is updated, the updated partial counter value being written back to the selected memory bank. In one embodiment, the partial counter value is updated and written back within the latency window of the memory bank last selected.
US09378783B2 I/O circuit with phase mixer for slew rate control
An apparatus includes a terminal, a first plurality of driver lines, and a first phase mixer. The driver lines drive the terminal to a first logic state responsive to a first enable signal. The first phase mixer is coupled to a first one of the first plurality of driver lines. The first phase mixer is operable to receive the first enable signal and a first delayed enable signal derived from the first enable signal and generate a first signal on the first driver line having a first configurable delay with respect to the first enable signal by mixing the first enable signal and the first delayed enable signal.
US09378782B1 Apparatus with write-back buffer and associated methods
An apparatus comprises a source to communicate data, and a storage circuit to store data communicated by the source. The apparatus further comprises a write-back buffer to store data communicated by the source in a misaligned write operation in order to improve throughput between the source and the storage circuit.
US09378772B2 Systems and methods for visualizing storage availability of a DVR
Systems and methods for visualizing storage availability are provided. Storage usage activity on a recording device is analyzed and used to determine storage availability over time. Change in storage availability is visualized using a graphic. A user may select a portion of the graphic corresponding to storage availability of the recording device at a particular time in the future. Upon selection of the graphic, the user may be presented with media assets which are associated with the storage availability of the recording device at the particular future time. These media assets may be assets that are stored, scheduled to be recorded, and/or scheduled to be deleted at the particular future time.
US09378769B2 System and method for storing data with host configuration of storage media
Systems and methods for storing and retrieving data on a magnetic tape accessed by a tape drive having an associated tape drive processor in communication with a host computer having an associated host processor include writing data to at least one partition within a logical volume having an associated number of sections designated by the host computer from a predetermined number of sections associated with the magnetic tape, wherein each partition extends across one section.
US09378766B2 Card recognition system, card handling device, and method for tuning a card handling device
A card recognition system comprises an imaging device configured to capture a raw image of at least a portion of a card, and a processor operably coupled with the imaging device. The processor is configured to perform an image processing analysis of the raw image to identify measurements of at least one of a rank area around a rank of the card, and a suit area around a suit of the card, and automatically generate a calibration file based, at least in part, on the image processing analysis. A card handling device comprises a card infeed, a card output, and a card recognition system. A method for tuning a card handling device comprises capturing a plurality of images from a deck of cards, storing the images in memory, analyzing the plurality of images for card identification information, and generating a calibration file including parameters associated with the card identification information.
US09378765B2 Systems and methods for differential message scaling in a decoding process
Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for scaling messages in a data decoding circuit. In one embodiment, the systems and methods include applying a variable node algorithm, applying a check node algorithm, calculating a first number of errors, calculating a second number of errors, calculating a difference between the first and second number of errors, multiplying by scalar values to yield a scaled set of messages, and re-applying the variable node algorithm to the scaled set of messages.
US09378761B1 System for adjusting bias of relative magnetizations of ferromagnetic layers in a magnetoresistive sensor
A magnetoresistive sensing system includes a current-perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetoresistive (CPP-MR) read head and adjustable biasing circuitry connected to the read head for adjusting the relative magnetizations of one or more of the ferromagnetic layers in the read head. The biasing circuitry generates a bias current in the read head that generates a bias-adjusting magnetic field that acts on one or more of the ferromagnetic layers. For a conventional read head, the bias-adjusting field acts orthogonal to the field from the reference layer to change the angle between the magnetization of the free layer and the magnetization of the reference layer. For a scissoring-type read head, the bias-adjusting field acts parallel to the transverse bias field to change the angle between the magnetizations of the two free layers. This results in an improvement in the sensitivity of the read head to bring the soft error rate (SER) below an acceptable level.
US09378760B2 Data reader with tuned microstructure
A data reader may be configured with a tuned microstructure by initially cooling a substrate to a temperature of 100K or lower and subsequently depositing at least one layer of a data reader on the substrate while the substrate is maintained at the temperature. The tuned microstructure may consist of at least a grain size, grain size distribution, interface quality between multiple layers of the data reader, resistance-area product, and magnetoresistance.
US09378758B2 Plasma etching method
The present invention provides, in a plasma etching method for plasma-etching a magnetic film, a plasma etching method that allows a desired etching depth to be obtained regardless of the opening size of a mask. The present invention is, in a plasma etching method for plasma-etching a magnetic film by using a tantalum film as a mask, characterized by including: a first process to plasma-etch the magnetic film to a desired depth by using a mixed gas of an ammonia gas and a helium gas; and a second process, after the first process, to plasma-etch the magnetic film etched to the prescribed depth by using a mixed gas of an ammonia gas and a gas containing the oxygen element or a mixed gas of an ammonia gas and a gas containing a hydroxyl group.
US09378756B2 Magnetic recording head, magnetic head assembly, magnetic recording apparatus, and magnetic recording method
An example magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic recording head and a signal processor. The magnetic recording head includes a first magnetic pole to apply a recording magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium; a spin torque oscillator arranged parallel to the first magnetic pole; and a first coil to magnetize the first magnetic pole. The signal processor writes and reads a signal on the magnetic recording medium by using the magnetic recording head and includes a first current circuit to supply a recording current to the first coil, the recording current including a recording signal to be recorded on the magnetic recording medium. The recording current includes either one of a signal changing at a frequency higher than that of the recording signal, and a signal having the same frequency as the recording signal and changing an absolute value thereof in one cycle.
US09378745B2 MDCT-based complex prediction stereo coding
The invention provides methods and devices for stereo encoding and decoding using complex prediction in the frequency domain. In one embodiment, a decoding method, for obtaining an output stereo signal from an input stereo signal encoded by complex prediction coding and comprising first frequency-domain representations of two input channels, comprises the upmixing steps of: (i) computing a second frequency-domain representation of a first input channel; and (ii) computing an output channel on the basis of the first and second frequency-domain representations of the first input channel, the first frequency-domain representation of the second input channel and a complex prediction coefficient. The method comprises applying independent bandwidth limits for the input channels.
US09378738B2 System and method for advanced turn-taking for interactive spoken dialog systems
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for advanced turn-taking in an interactive spoken dialog system. A system configured according to this disclosure can incrementally process speech prior to completion of the speech utterance, and can communicate partial speech recognition results upon finding particular conditions. A first condition which, if found, allows the system to communicate partial speech recognition results, is that the most recent word found in the partial results is statistically likely to be the termination of the utterance, also known as a terminal node. A second condition is the determination that all search paths within a speech lattice converge to a common node, also known as a pinch node, before branching out again. Upon finding either condition, the system can communicate the partial speech recognition results. Stability and correctness probabilities can also determine which partial results are communicated.
US09378735B1 Estimating speaker-specific affine transforms for neural network based speech recognition systems
Features are disclosed for estimating affine transforms in Log Filter-Bank Energy Space (“LFBE” space) in order to adapt artificial neural network-based acoustic models to a new speaker or environment. Neural network-based acoustic models may be trained using concatenated LFBEs as input features. The affine transform may be estimated by minimizing the least squares error between corresponding linear and bias transform parts for the resultant neural network feature vector and some standard speaker-specific feature vector obtained for a GMM-based acoustic model using constrained Maximum Likelihood Linear Regression (“cMLLR”) techniques. Alternatively, the affine transform may be estimated by minimizing the least squares error between the resultant transformed neural network feature and some standard speaker-specific feature obtained for a GMM-based acoustic model.
US09378734B2 Detecting potential medically-significant errors in speech recognition results
In some embodiments, the recognition results produced by a speech processing system (which may include two or more recognition results, including a top recognition result and one or more alternative recognition results) based on an analysis of a speech input, are evaluated for indications of potential significant errors. In some embodiments, the recognition results may be evaluated to determine whether a meaning of any of the alternative recognition results differs from a meaning of the top recognition result in a manner that is significant for a domain, such as the medical domain. In some embodiments, words and/or phrases that may be confused by an ASR system may be determined and associated in sets of words and/or phrases. Words and/or phrases that may be determined include those that change a meaning of a phrase or sentence when included in the phrase/sentence.
US09378727B2 Method and apparatus for audio playing
A method and apparatus for audio playing is provided. The method includes receiving an audio conversion request carrying a first text identifier, and obtaining a first electronic text corresponding to the first text identifier; obtaining the audio data corresponding to the characters in the first electronic text according to a correspondence between characters and audio data which is stored in advance; and playing the audio data in the order of corresponding characters in the first electronic text. By applying the present disclosure, it is possible to improve the efficiency of obtaining information from electronic text.
US09378725B2 Ultrasonic transducer and ultrasonic flow meter including ultrasonic transducer
An ultrasonic transducer comprises a metal plate; an acoustic matching member fastened to one of surfaces of the metal plate, a piezoelectric substrate which is fastened to the other surface of the metal plate and generates a vibration; and an insulating damping member covering a surface of the piezoelectric substrate which surface is on an opposite side of a surface fastened to the metal plate; wherein a thickness of the insulating damping member is set to a length which is n/2 of a wavelength of the vibration propagating through the insulating damping member.
US09378724B2 Method and system for implementing near field communication
Disclosed are a method and a system for implementing near field communication (NFC). The method includes: modulating a digital signal to generate an audio signal with a transmitting device by utilizing a binary frequency shift keying modulation scheme; playing the generated audio signal with the transmitting device; receiving the audio signal by a receiving device; sampling the audio signal by the receiving device; and demodulating the sampled audio signal for obtaining the digital signal by the receiving device. The present disclosure is capable of implementing NFC between mobile communication devices not having NFC chips equipped, thereby solving the problems that hardware requirements which utilize schemes of the NFC standard are higher, and current application ranges are narrow.
US09378721B2 Low frequency acoustic attenuator and process for making same
A method of manufacturing an acoustic attenuation device includes three-dimensionally printing a pair of sheets and webs that cooperate with the sheets to define attenuation chambers. Each chamber has at least one opening through which excited air resonates.
US09378718B1 Methods and system for composing
Methods and system for creating and editing a composition. A composition model encodes the structure and the content of the composition. The composition model also encodes patterns. Patterns may be used for temporarily add content to the composition. The system generates a presentation representative of the composition model.
US09378707B2 Gamma voltage generation unit and display device using the same
A gamma voltage generation unit is discussed which includes: a voltage booster to boost a first maximum reference voltage into at least one second maximum reference voltage; a mode selector configured to select one of the maximum reference voltage and the at least one second maximum reference voltage as a selected maximum reference voltage; and a plurality of gamma voltage adjusters. The selected maximum reference voltage selected by the mode selector is provided as a 255th gray-scale gamma voltage. A first gamma voltage adjuster among the gamma voltage adjusters can generate the 255th gray-scale gamma voltage and another gray-scale gamma voltage based on the selected maximum reference voltage. The remaining gamma voltage adjusters are connected to one another in a cascade.
US09378680B2 Pixel driving circuit, driving method thereof and display panel
A pixel driving circuit includes a first switch, a capacitor, a second switch and at least one organic light emitting diode. The first switch includes a first end for receiving data voltage, a control end for receiving a first scan signal, and a second end for outputting the data voltage. The capacitor includes a first end coupled to the second end of the first switch, and a second end. The second switch includes a first end coupled to the second end of the first switch, a control end for receiving a second scan signal, and a second end. The at least one organic light emitting diode includes a first end coupled to the second end of the second switch, and a second end coupled to the second end of the capacitor.
US09378676B2 Display device and electronic apparatus
Provided is an active matrix display device using an organic EL panel including: a plurality of pixel circuits each including an organic light emitting diode arranged in a pixel region of the organic EL panel and a plurality of transistors configured to drive the organic light emitting diode; a plurality of scanning lines arranged along a first direction in the organic EL panel; and a plurality of data lines arranged along a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. In at least one set of pixel circuits that are adjacent in the first direction, gate electrodes and impurity diffusion regions of the plurality of transistors have an axisymmetric layout. Gate electrodes of at least one set of transistors that are symmetrically arranged in the at least one set of pixel circuits are integrated.
US09378674B2 Organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and method of driving the same
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a scan driver for supplying first scan signals to first scan lines and supplying second scan signals to second scan lines and a data driver for supplying voltage data signals to first data lines in synchronization with the second scan signals. The OLED display also includes a current sink unit for supplying current data signals to second data lines in synchronization with the first scan signals, and pixels coupled to the first scan lines, the second scan lines, the first data lines, and the second data lines, having amounts of currents controlled to correspond to the current data signals, and having emission times controlled to correspond to the voltage data signals.
US09378663B2 Method and system for mapping terrain using machine parameters
A system for mapping terrain using at least one machine traveling along the terrain includes at least one controller. The at least one controller is configured to determine a plurality of machine parameters of the at least one machine as the at least one machine travels along the terrain. The plurality of machine parameters include a steering parameter and a speed of a component of the at least one machine. The at least one controller is also configured to determine, based on the determined machine parameters, a geometry and a grade of at least one path on the terrain along which the at least one machine travels. The at least one controller is further configured to create, based on the determined geometry and grade, a map indicating the at least one path.
US09378646B2 System and method for dynamically determining runway stopping distance
A ground-based system for determining a stopping point of an aircraft on a runway includes a plurality of transceivers located along the runway for gathering data regarding incremental positions of the aircraft along to the runway, a calculating means for dynamically computing the projected stopping point of the aircraft based on the data gathered by the plurality of transceivers, and a display means located on the ground along the runway for communicating information representing the projected stopping point of the aircraft to a flight crew.
US09378642B2 Vehicle control apparatus, target lead-vehicle designating apparatus, and vehicle control method
In a target lead-vehicle designating apparatus, a vehicle tracking ECU compares surrounding vehicle information acquired through an inter-vehicle communication unit and vehicle information on preceding vehicles detected by a radar device to designate a target lead-vehicle. The communicated speed of the other vehicles and the detected speed of the preceding vehicles are compared in terms of velocity component in the travel direction of a host vehicle to identify the target lead-vehicle. Accordingly, the target lead-vehicle may be accurately identified even if the target lead-vehicle is close to other vehicles.
US09378622B2 Gaming devices with dedicated player RNG and time share features
Gaming machines or devices utilize the output of random number generators (RNGs) in the presentation of games, wherein one or more of the RNGs are each assigned to a single player. Each uniquely assigned RNG is used to determine the outcome of the games played only by the assigned player, such as a casino gaming machine or a game board devices accessed via a remote presentation device such as a phone or computer. An RNG may also be stopped or paused and then restarted, whereby a sequence of random data remains continuous or contiguous relative to a number of games played, such as by the single player to which the RNG is assigned. Multiple players may also time-share a gaming machine in a manner whereby the gaming machine acts as a unique device to each player.
US09378620B2 Gaming device, system and method for awarding a progressive prize through free plays of a game feature
A gaming device, system and method are set forth which includes a progressive jackpot pool. Based upon a trigger condition at least a portion of the pool value PV is awarded to a player by providing free plays of a feature where each free play has an expected value EV. The number of free plays awarded is substantially PV/EV and where PV/EV includes a non-integer remainder R a remainder game having odds R/EV is played and if won an additional free play is awarded. The progressive trigger may be a mystery trigger. The free plays may be free spins of the gaming machine base game or one or more different games.
US09378618B2 Gaming system and method for accumulating and redeeming community game tokens
A gaming system which displays a community game to one or more participating players. During the community game, the gaming system accumulates one or more community game tokens for one or more participating players. The gaming system subsequently assigns a value to each community game token redeemed by each participating player.
US09378610B2 System and method for using scrip in a gaming environment
The present disclosure describes exemplary systems and methods for using gaming scrips in a gaming environment. The gaming scrips have pre-printed face values and machine-readable unique identifiers located thereon, and are loaded into any of various currency-handling devices. The gaming scrips may be activated either before being loaded into a currency-handling device or at the time of dispensing therefrom. Once validated in the gaming environment, the gaming scrips may be collected, sorted, reactivated, and reused in the gaming environment.
US09378609B2 Wagering game establishment offer tailoring
A system determines that current wagering game establishment activity data of a user satisfies wagering game establishment offer evaluation criteria (401). The system accesses, over a network, past activity data of the user at least partially in response to determining that the current wagering game establishment activity data of the user satisfies the wagering game establishment offer evaluation criteria (403). The system analyzes the past activity data based, at least in part, on a desired effect and the current wagering game establishment activity data (405). The system computes likelihood that at least one of a set of offers can achieve the desired effect based on the analysis result (407). The system selects a first of the set of offers based, at least in part, on determining the likelihood that at least one of the set of offers can achieve the desired effect (409). The system presents the selected first offer to the user (413).
US09378603B2 Keyless entry system
A keyless entry system includes an on-vehicle unit which is mounted in a vehicle, and a mobile device which is able to perform radio communication with the on-vehicle unit. The keyless entry system controls on-vehicle equipment mounted in the vehicle through radio communication between the on-vehicle unit and the mobile device. The on-vehicle unit has a plurality of LF transmission antennas (transmission antennas) for radio-transmitting a signal to the mobile device, and at least one of the plurality of LF transmission antennas is arranged in the vehicle interior of a door of the vehicle and is attached such that radiating magnetic flux passes through the window of the vehicle.
US09378595B2 Instantaneous status to target gauge for vehicle application
A vehicle includes a display and a controller that operates the display. A first icon representing a reference energy consumption value based on a predetermined target energy consumption rate is displayed. A second icon representing a present energy consumption value is displayed. The icons are positioned relative to one another based on a difference between the reference energy consumption value and the present energy consumption value. A numerical scale may be displayed having values associated with the first and second icons. A vehicle having a hybrid powertrain including a traction battery may display an effective electric distance traveled that is based on a ratio of power supplied by the traction battery to total power supplied by the powertrain.
US09378591B2 Method and apparatus for detecting occlusion in an augmented reality display
A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to display objects in an augmented reality interface. In this regard, the method, apparatus, and computer program product may determine a location of a mobile terminal, receive object meshes for one or more objects in geographic proximity to the mobile terminal, remove, using a processor, one or more polygons from the object meshes, and determine occlusion between the location of the mobile terminal and at least one point of interest. The at least one point of interest may be identified as occluded if a line segment between the location and the at least one point of interest intersects with at least one of the object meshes. The method, apparatus, and computer program product may also include causing the at least one point of interest to not be displayed by an augmented reality interface.
US09378590B2 Augmented reality auction platform
An augmented reality submission includes a hologram to virtually augment a world space object and a compensation offer for presenting the hologram to a viewer of the world space object. The augmented reality submission is selected as a winning submission if the submission satisfies a selection criteria.
US09378572B2 Shared virtual memory
A method and system for shared virtual memory between a central processing unit (CPU) and a graphics processing unit (GPU) of a computing device are disclosed herein. The method includes allocating a surface within a system memory. A CPU virtual address space may be created, and the surface may be mapped to the CPU virtual address space within a CPU page table. The method also includes creating a GPU virtual address space equivalent to the CPU virtual address space, mapping the surface to the GPU virtual address space within a GPU page table, and pinning the surface.
US09378570B2 Information processing device, information processing method and program
An information processing system that acquires image data corresponding to an object; acquires content based on a determination of whether the image data is direct image data that is directly acquired or indirect image data that is indirectly acquired; and outputs the acquired content.
US09378568B2 Electronic apparatus and displaying method
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus is capable of drawing a line corresponding to contact on a sensor surface of a display. The apparatus includes a display processor. The display processor displays a plurality of lines in accordance with a locus of a single contact point on the sensor surface, and displays an object in a region near a position of the single contact point, at least part of the object overlapped with the plurality of lines, a color of the object corresponding to a color of the plurality of lines, wherein widths of the plurality of lines are varied in accordance with a pressure on the single contact point.
US09378546B2 Image defect visibility predictor
In at least some examples, a system comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores an image defect visibility predictor that, when executed by the processor, compares an original image with a defect image and outputs a predicted defect visibility image (PDVI) that accounts for defect masking by the original image.
US09378531B2 Clinical outcome tracking and analysis
The described invention provides a system and method for clinical outcome tracking and analysis. The clinical outcome tracking and analysis comprises sorting, outcome tracking, quality of life metrics, toxicity to therapy and cost of care. The system and method includes receiving one or more parameters. Exemplary parameters for sorting include sex, age, ethnicity, comorbidities, tobacco use, source of insurance, medical record number, primary care physician, referring physician, hospital, approved service vendors, disease-specific clinical molecular phenotype, therapy intent, stage of therapy, biomarkers, and cost of care. A plurality of patient medical records are sorted, by a clinical outcome tracking and analysis module executed by a processor, to provide a set of patient medical records satisfying the one or more parameters. A nodal address, indicating one or more variables, is applied to the sorted set of patient medical records to determine a clinically relevant set of patient medical records as the sorted set of patient medical records satisfying the one or more variables. The clinically relevant set of patient medical records is analyzed. A communication is transmitted based on the analyzing to a user to effect treatment, to monitor performance, or to reduce at least one of treatment variability, waste or inefficiency while delivering on intended outcome.
US09378529B2 Arranging stories on newsfeeds based on expected value scoring on a social networking system
A social networking system generates a newsfeed for a user to view when accessing the social networking system. Candidate stories associated with users of the social networking system are selected and an expected value score for each candidate story is determined. An expected value score is based on the probability of a user performing various types of interactions with a candidate story and a numerical value for each type of interaction. The numerical value for a type of interaction represents a value to the social networking system of the type of interaction. Based on the expected value scores, the candidate stories are ranked and the ranking used to select candidate stories for the newsfeed.
US09378528B2 Method and apparatus for improved cognitive connectivity based on group datasets
An approach is provided for allocating radio resources based on social distance information for one or more social groups. The coexistence platform determines social distance information for at least one group of a plurality of one or more users, one or more devices associated with the one or more users, or a combination thereof. The coexistence platform causes, at least in part, at least one allocation of the one or more radio resources to the one or more devices based, at least in part, on the social distance information for the at least one group or a subset of the at least one group. The coexistence client causes an initiation of a request for at least one allocation of one or more radio resources. The coexistence client determines the one or more radio resources based, at least in part, on social distance information.
US09378522B2 Methods and systems for the nonintrusive identification and ordering of component parts
A noninstrusive system and method of scanning an object having component parts includes a vendor based data repository of component parts and a matching processor to receive a scanned image representative of the assembled object and to provide suggested and/or matched component parts for purchase from the vendor.
US09378499B2 Software PIN entry
A card reader configured to read a smart card can be detachably connected to a mobile computing device. When the card reader is attached to the mobile device, an application installed on the mobile computing device permits the mobile device to communicate with the card reader in order to process transactions.Security measures can be used on the mobile device to prevent theft of a PIN during software PIN entry of a payment transaction. The mobile device can prevent the keypad or other input interface from displaying feedback. The mobile device can also prevent passcodes from being stolen by displaying media encoded with digital rights management (DRM) and by managing the media and user inputs at a secure server.A mobile device can securely communicate with a card reader for a payment transaction using asymmetric or symmetric encryption.
US09378495B1 System and method for providing contactless payment with a near field communications attachment
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include an attachment with a near field communication antenna, a secure element, a plug capable of connecting the attachment to an audio jack on a mobile device. Further, a system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving a payment initiation instruction from a customer, using a near field communication antenna, sending payment information to a point of sale device, using one or more computer processors, encoding data related to the payment as audio data, and transmitting the data related to the payment through an audio jack.
US09378492B1 System, method, and computer program for automatically resolving non-sufficient funds (NSF) errors in a network
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for automatically resolving non-sufficient funds (NSF) errors in a network. In use, it is automatically detected that a non-sufficient funds (NSF) error has occurred in a network, the NSF error being associated with a transaction of a consumer of the network while attempting to charge a first account. Additionally, it is automatically determined that the consumer has designated at least one alternative second account. Further, it is automatically determined that at least one of the at least one alternative second account has sufficient funds to complete the transaction. Furthermore, the at least one of the at least one alternative second account is automatically charged to complete the transaction.
US09378491B1 Payment transfer by sending E-mail
Described is a technology for seamless initiation of a transfer of payment from a sender to a recipient by sending email, without requiring any account creation and/or login procedure. The technology can involve sending payment from one mobile device to another. In one aspect, the technology includes receiving a payment amount from a sender via the sender's mobile device, causing an email with pre-populated information to be generated using a native email application on the mobile device, and initiating the process to transfer the payment amount upon sending of the email. The technology enables a simplified payment transaction system for ordinary consumers without the hassle of having to sign up, to remember a user account and a password, and to login for sending or receiving every payment transaction, while not sacrificing the essential security feature of authenticating the user for every payment transaction.
US09378481B2 System and methods for inventory management of data center equipment contained in server racks
Implementations described and claimed herein provide a system and method for inventory management of data center equipment contained in server racks. In one implementation, the system and method include generating an identifying code that includes location information, hardware specific information, and equipment history of the equipment to be managed. The ID code is applied to the equipment or a portion thereof. A code scanner or reader is positioned within scanning range of the ID code when the equipment is positioned in the server rack. The code reader scans for ID codes and communicates the information associated with the codes to a communication device, which communicates the codes to a user or network device in a network environment. The information may then be analyzed, sorted, and displayed in a graphical user interface such that a user may evaluate, locate, and track the equipment.
US09378477B2 Framework for internal quality analysis
An apparatus for assessing and controlling the quality of a project in a production environment is provided. The apparatus comprises a memory, a processor, and a module stored in memory, executable by the processor, and configured to: receive a deliverable; process the deliverable, wherein processing the deliverable comprises assigning a quality score to the deliverable; compare the quality score value to a threshold value; and determine if the deliverable requires an action in response to comparing the quality score to the threshold value.
US09378466B2 Data reduction in nearest neighbor classification
A set S is initialized. Initially, S is empty; but, as the disclosed process is performed, items are added to it. It may contain one or more samples (e.g., items) from each class. One or more labeled samples for one or more classes may be obtained. A series of operations may be performed, iteratively, until a stopping criterion is reach to obtain the reduced set. For each class of the one or more classes, a point may be generated based on at least one sample in the class having a nearest neighbor in a set S with a different class label than the sample. The point may be added to the set S. The process may be repeated unless a stopping criterion is reached. A nearest neighbor for a submitted point in the set S may be identified and a candidate nearest neighbor may be output for the submitted point.
US09378461B1 Rule based continuous drift and consistency management for complex systems
Techniques are for rule-based continuous drift and consistency management for target systems. In one embodiment, a set of rules is stored in volatile or non-volatile store. The set of rules may include one or more drift rules and/or one or more consistency rules. A rule may be applied to one or more associated targets to detect drift or inconsistency. A drift rule identifies a set of one or more attributes and a source and may be applied by comparing a first configuration of the set of one or more attributes on an associated target with a second configuration of the set of one or more attributes on the source. A consistency rule may be applied to a composite target by comparing member targets that are grouped by target type. Notification data may be output if target drift or inconsistency is detected to alert a user.
US09378453B2 Card and method for manufacturing a card
A card, comprises an electrically non-conductive substrate; a first predetermined pattern of electrically conductive material applied on said electrically non-conductive substrate; and an electrically non-conductive covering layer applied on said electrically conductive material arranged on said substrate such that said first predetermined pattern of electrically conductive material is covered; said card further comprises a second predetermined pattern in a predetermined grey percentage applied on said electrically non-conductive substrate, said predetermined second pattern being the negative of said first predetermined pattern, and said electrically non-conductive covering layer is also applied on said second predetermined pattern such that said second predetermined pattern is covered, and the greyness of said second predetermined pattern has been determined such that the colour of the electrically non-conductive covering layer is uniform.
US09378449B2 In-line gift card personalization and packaging process
A machine that processes gift cards in an in-line process where the gift cards travel along a generally straight transport path from a card feed mechanism to a delivery end where the cards and carrier combinations are discharged. During the in-line processing, a magnetic stripe, integrated circuit chip or RFID tag on the gift cards can be encoded with account information, a serial number or other information. In addition, the cards are transported to a print mechanism that personalizes the cards with a bar code, account information, serial number or other information. After printing, the cards are transported to a gluing system which applies adhesive to one side of the cards. The cards are then transported to a feeding mechanism that feeds and applies a carrier to one or more cards.
US09378448B2 RFID sensor tag and system for small output transducers, and related methods
A battery-free wireless sensor system enables high resolution and very accurate measurements of strain or other transducers with small signal outputs. The system may comprise a sensor tag, associated readers and data processing. The sensor tag may be based on passive RFID, or other passive devices that are powered by RF energy and that communicate with the powering source by backscatter, inductive coupling or reflected energy. The system may include a reader that powers the sensor tags with RF energy and that also wirelessly reads data from and writes data to the sensor tag. The reader software or host software may perform operations on the data that enable more accurate and useable information from the sensor tag. The invention may also include methods for data processes that improve the functionality and performance of the sensor system.
US09378447B2 Circuit device, electronic apparatus, and IC card
A circuit device includes: a first storage control unit which receives power from a power receiving unit which receives power by electromagnetic induction, to perform control of storing charge in a first charge storage unit; a second storage control unit which performs control of storing charge in a second charge storage unit; and a power source supply unit which supplies power source to a system device based on charges stored in the first charge storage unit and the second charge storage unit. The second charge storage unit is a charge storage unit whose charge storage capacitance is smaller than that of the first charge storage unit. The power source supply unit supplies, at the time of system start-up after the start of power reception, power source based on the stored charge of the second charge storage unit to the system device.
US09378440B1 System and method for reducing toner contamination on roll pair of an image forming apparatus
A method of printing a half tone image on an image forming apparatus using toner that is fused to a substrate is provided. The method includes generating a dot design that represents the half tone image, the dot design being made up of a plurality of dots; analyzing the dot design using an algorithm; matching the dot design to an equivalent alternate design that represents the half tone image, the matching being based on results of the analyzing, the equivalent alternate design being made up substantially entirely of a plurality of non-dot shapes; forming the half tone image on the substrate using the equivalent alternate design; and fusing the half tone image on the substrate with a fuser device.
US09378437B2 Sending print jobs using trigger distances
In one example, a printer address for a network-connected printer, a printer location, and an identifier for a mobile computing device are received. Responsive to receiving a message that is sent to the printer address and that includes a print job, the print job is stored. The identifier is sent to a tracker computing device. A mobile device location is received from the tracker device. Responsive to determining a calculated distance between the mobile device and the printer is less than or equal to a trigger distance, the print job is sent to the printer.
US09378434B2 Image analysis method and image analysis device
An image analysis method includes acquiring fluorescent images of frames in time-series. Each fluorescent image comprises pixels in which pixel data are acquired in the time-series. The method further includes setting analysis areas to the acquired fluorescent images, calculating a classification value of the analysis areas, classifying the images into one or more groups on the basis of the classification value, calculating an average image of the analysis area every group, subtracting the average image from each image of the analysis area every group to calculate a new image of the analysis area, and calculating a correlation value on the basis of the new images every group.
US09378432B2 Hierarchy similarity measure
Hierarchy similarity measure techniques are described. In one or more implementations, categories in a hierarchy of categories are assigned to each of at least two objects. A similarity score may be calculated for the at least two objects that takes into account the categories assigned to the objects. To compute the similarity score for the objects, a distance in the hierarchy between the categories assigned to the objects may be used. Further, a number of siblings in the hierarchy of the categories assigned to the at least two objects may be used to compute the similarity score for the objects.
US09378430B2 Image processing device, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for extracting note image
An image processing device includes a color extractor, an area cutout unit, a receiver, and a sticky image cutout unit. The color extractor extracts, from image information that includes multiple sticky notes, pixels of a color used for the sticky notes. The area cutout unit cuts out an area that is a set of pixels extracted by the color extractor. The receiver receives input of a dividing line with respect to an area to be cut out by the area cutout unit. The sticky image cutout unit splits an area cut out by the area extractor along a dividing line received by the receiver, and cuts out an area having a surface area within a predetermined range from among the split area as a sticky image.
US09378420B1 System for detecting an object of interest in a scene
The present invention relates to a system for detecting an object of interest in a scene. The system operates by receiving an image frame of a scene and extracting features from the image frame, the features being descriptors. The descriptors are quantized to generate PHOW features. A sliding window protocol is implemented to slide a window over the image and analyze the PHOW features that fall inside the window. Finally, the system determines if the PHOW features represent the object of interest and, if so, then designates the window as a location in the image with a detected object of interest.
US09378419B2 Classifying images
Methods, and apparatus for performing methods, for classifying an image. Methods include determining a corresponding set of metrics for each region of two or more regions of a pattern of regions of an image, and classifying the image in response to at least the corresponding set of metrics for each of the two or more regions of the pattern of regions.
US09378418B2 Methods and system for classifying, processing, and/or generating automatic responses to mail items
A computerized method of classifying a received mail item in real time. The computerized method comprises identifying a unique identifier (ID) by analyzing a new mail item from a certain sender, identifying, according to the unique ID, a matching correspondence session which is held with the certain sender, the matching correspondence session comprises a sequence of previously sent mail items, selecting a mail class from a plurality of mail classes, using a processor, the mail class is selected according to an analysis of the sequence of previously sent mail items and as a mail item that continues the sequence of previously sent mail items, and forwarding the new mail item or a visualization thereof according to the mail class.
US09378408B2 Assisted photo-tagging with facial recognition models
Embodiments of the invention perform assisted tagging of images, including tagging of people, locations, and activities depicted in those images. A batch of images is received comprising images of faces, including at least some faces that have not yet been tagged. A facial recognition algorithm is applied to the faces to determine matching data comprising possible tags for each untagged face. A logic engine applies logic rules to reduce the likelihood that certain matches are correct. The most likely match from among the possible matches is selected for suggestion to the user for verification. Once verified, the metadata of the image indicating the recognized people within the image is updated.
US09378406B2 System for estimating gender from fingerprints
A method for detecting the gender only from a person's fingerprint data in real time. Testing consists of determining if the fingerprint is taken from the right hand or the left hand, taking a core point as reference from a selected fingerprint, analyzing the size of an obtained fingerprint part, drawing a diagonal line, then automatically determining ridge lines crossed by the diagonal line, calculating the ridge counts, determining ridge thicknesses, determining the numbers of black and white pixel from the obtained values, determining average fingerprint ridge counts for men and women, combining these parameters for applying them to intelligent system, preparing the structure of the system, training and testing the system, and performing these processes automatically on a computer or a web-based intelligent system which consists of different modules.
US09378397B2 Portal data reader indicator light control
An automated checkout system and method including a conveyor system that automatically transports objects along an item path through a read zone of a data reader (such as a portal data reader, tunnel scanner or other type of automated reader) and to an exit zone, an indicator system disposed in or along the exit zone that provides indication as to whether an item has been identified by the portal data reader. In one example, the indicator system includes lights at an indicator location that are selectively alighted a given color for the duration of the item passing the indicator location depending upon whether the reader successfully read the item (e.g., color green) or unsuccessfully read the item (e.g., color red).
US09378392B2 Methods and systems for controlling access to custom objects in a database
In embodiments, methods and systems for controlling access to custom objects are provided. These techniques for controlling access to custom objects can enable embodiments to utilize a key for the protection of the security of data that is to remain private while not compromising efficiency of a query. The key for a requested custom object is identified and then used so that only an appropriate portion of a custom entity share table is searched to locate access information. It is then determined whether the user can access at least a portion of the custom object, and the appropriate and allowed data is sent to the user.
US09378369B1 Detection of file modifications performed by malicious codes
File modifications performed by malicious codes are detected by detecting a file modification for an original file before the file modification is performed on the original file. In response to detecting the file modification, a corresponding shadow file is created. The shadow file represents the original file as modified by the file modification. Before allowing the file modification to be performed on the original file, the original file is compared to the shadow file to determine if the file modification is being performed by malicious codes. The file modification may be deemed to be performed by malicious codes when the file modification involves, for example, entry point append, entry point prepend, entry point obfuscation, cavity, overwriting, or mal-tattoo.
US09378360B2 Secure if antecedent
Hostile attacks against a computer program are prevented when the program is executed in a computing environment that is controlled by the attacker. A preposition is run in a secure computing environment instead of the original call site, i.e. the IF antecedent, which has a TRUE consequence and a FALSE consequence are run in a secure computing environment. Embodiments of the invention also allow an insecure call site to detect modifications by a hostile attacker surreptitiously. In embodiments of the invention, a script is generated by a script generator from the IF antecedent and TRUE and FALSE consequence source code, for example relative to a call site. The original source code is modified to call the script engine, rather than the preposition. At run-time a script engine executes this script.
US09378358B2 Password management system
A password management system includes a character string conversion unit that converts an input character string to a character string different from the input character string using a predetermined arithmetic expression, the predetermined arithmetic expression being capable of giving a same converted result for a same character string and capable of converting a character string such that a plurality of original character string candidates exist for a converted character string; a password data storage unit that stores, for each user, a converted past password character string CPP that is a converted state of a past password character string PP of the user using the predetermined arithmetic expression and is different from the past password character string PP; and a strength determining unit that determines strength of a password.
US09378355B2 Electronic device and access controlling method
A method for controlling access to an electronic device, the electronic device displays an image on a display device of the electronic device, when the electronic device is locked. The electronic device obtains a pattern according to touch signals on the displayed image using an image-recognition algorithm. Once a similarity degree between the obtained pattern and a predetermined pattern is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the electronic device is unlocked.
US09378354B2 Systems and methods for assessing security risk
Systems and methods for providing identification tests. In some embodiments, a system and a method are provided for generating and serving to a user an animated challenge graphic comprising a challenge character set whose appearance may change over time. In some embodiments, marketing content may be incorporated into a challenge message for use in an identification test. The marketing content may be accompanied by randomly selected content to increase a level of security of the identification test, hi some embodiments, a challenge message for use in an identification test may be provided based on information regarding a transaction for which the identification test is administered. For example, the transaction information may include a user identifier such as an IP address. In some embodiments, identification test results may be tracked and analyzed to identify a pattern of behavior associated with a user identifier. A score indicative of a level of trustworthiness may be computed for the user identifier.
US09378351B1 System and method for enrolling in a biometric system
The present invention is a system and method of enrolling potential system users for a biometric system for identity verification. Potential system user information is entered into the system, either by the user or a system operator, and is stored as a partially-enabled user record. The user of a partially-enabled user record fully enables the record by presenting information previously stored in the user record and presenting the remainder of user information necessary to complete record activation. Enrollment data is used to authenticate the system user's identity and authorize related transaction accesses in a biometric system for identity verification.
US09378350B2 Facial capture managing access to resources by a device
Disclosed are various embodiments for controlling access to resources by a client device. Methods may include receiving a user request to access a resource on the device and determining whether the resource requires a facial capture. If the resource requires a facial capture, a camera of the device may be automatically activated to capture an image and the resource may be rendered on the device. In some cases, access to the resource may be limited based on whether the image includes a face or not. A record associating the image and the requested resource may be stored, for example, on the device or on a remote server.
US09378348B2 Adding biometric identification to the server security infrastructure for an enterprise service bus system
An enterprise service bus server receives a user's biometric information from a client. The enterprise service bus server requests authentication of the user by sending the user's biometric information to a trusted third party authenticator. Furthermore, the enterprise service bus server establishes a connection with the enterprise service bus client if the trusted third party authenticator indicates that the user is authenticated. In addition, the enterprise service bus server allows access to an enterprise service bus service for the enterprise service client.
US09378347B2 Computer terminals biometrically enabled for network functions and voice communication
The invention provides a handset that includes a finger-image sensor that provides finger-image-related signals or data for authentication purposes and functions as a telephone handset for use with a computer terminal. A system, including handsets and computer terminals, enables the terminal and/or the handset to access or otherwise participate in at least one network-related function and voice communication in response to authentication of finger-image data provided by the handset. The handset includes an elongated housing having opposed major sides and opposed ends. A speaker is positioned in the vicinity of a first end of the handset to transmit sound from a first major side of the handset, and a microphone is positioned in the vicinity of a second end of the handset to receive sound from a first major side of the handset. A finger-image sensor is positioned in the vicinity of and spaced from the second end of the handset to sense a finger-image from a second major side of the handset, and a contoured surface is provided leading to the finger-image sensor. Circuitry for performing voice functions and finger-image functions are associated with separate USB ports, which are coupled to a USB hub of the handset.
US09378339B2 System, method, and device for delivering communications and storing and delivering data
A system, method, and device includes a platform data storage that stores a wrap that secures an executable controller and executable sensors. The wrap is verified, optionally through a downloaded authentication driver. After verifying the wrap, the wrap is opened and a sister of the executable controller is installed into the platform memory to cooperate with the executable controller. Additionally or alternatively, the authentication driver may cooperate with the executable controller. The executable controller allows the platform processor to access data secured in a vault and/or verify the platform to create a connection to a connection server.
US09378337B2 Data item deletion in a database system
Example systems and methods of deleting data stored in a database system are presented. In one example, a plurality of data items is received from an application and stored at the database system. Also received from the application and stored at the database system is deletion timing information for each of the data items. The deletion timing information for a data item may indicate when the data item is to be deleted from the database system. At least one of the data items may be deleted at the database system at a time indicated by its corresponding deletion timing information without assistance from the application.
US09378334B2 Medical pump providing customizable programming permissions
A method and apparatus for delivering intravenous drugs to a patient provides for remote loading and programming of IV pumps that may be shipped in a loaded and programmed configuration to a remote site for use with the patient. A special carrier may be provided for pneumatic delivery of the preloaded pump. Password enabled customizing of pump features according to specific user's need may be provided to prevent undesired changing of the pump parameters at the remote site.
US09378327B2 Canonical forms of layout patterns
Aspects of the disclosed technology relate to techniques for determining canonical forms of layout patterns. Coordinates of vertices of geometric elements in a window of a layout design are first transformed into new coordinates of the vertices, wherein the coordinates of vertices do not comprise clipped coordinates and the transforming comprises: performing a translation on the coordinates of vertices based on differences between maximum and minimum X/Y coordinate values of the vertices. Based on sums of X/Y coordinate values of the new coordinates of the vertices, a canonical form of the geometric elements is determined. The canonical form coordinates of the vertices may then be determined and sorted. The sorted canonical form coordinates may be employed for pattern matching.
US09378321B2 Apparatus and methods for partitioning an integrated circuit design into multiple programmable devices
Methods and systems for partitioning a design across a plurality of programmable logic devices such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are provided. The systems include SerDes (SERializer DESerializer) interfaces, such as PCIe, (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) in the programmable logic devices operably connecting logic blocks of the design. Embodiments include a bridge in each programmable logic device for providing synchronization and deterministic latency of packets sent between the programmable devices.
US09378317B2 Method for detecting damage to a semiconductor chip
A semiconductor chip having a current source coupled between a first potential and an electrical node, a detection circuit having an input coupled to the electrical node, and a first active component coupled in series with the current source and further coupled between the electrical node and a second potential, wherein the first active component is coupled to the electrical node via a first conductive interconnect.
US09378311B2 Multi-level solution of large-scale linear systems in simulation of porous media in giant reservoirs
In solving linear systems of billions of equations resulting from reservoir simulator pressure equations for giant reservoirs organized into fine-grid models, a multi-level methodology acquires a fast and coarser grid solution to be used as a more accurate initial estimate for the fine grid problem. Solver iterations performed on the coarser grid in reduced processing time generate a better initial estimate, resulting in fewer of the more expensive iterations at the fine-grid level.
US09378305B1 Selecting pages implementing leaf nodes and internal nodes of a data set index for reuse
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for selecting pages implementing leaf nodes and internal nodes of a data set index for reuse in memory. Pages in the memory are allocated to internal nodes and leaf nodes of a tree data structure representing all or a portion of a data set index for the data set. At least at least one duration parameter indicates an amount of time after which an unused page implement one of the internal nodes or leaf nodes is eligible for reuse. Selection is made of at least one selected page allocated to at least one of the leaf nodes and the internal nodes that has not been used for one of the at least one duration parameter for reuse.
US09378303B1 Representing compound relationships in a graph database
In order to facilitate efficient storage and extraction of data, a system may represent a compound relationship in a graph stored in a graph database. In particular, the system (or a user) may define the compound relationship based on two or more predicates associated with two or more edges between two or more nodes in the graph. Then, the system may generate, in the graph, a hub node that corresponds to the compound relationship and that has an identifier that is hidden from users of the graph so that the identifier of the hub node is not visible external to the graph database. Moreover, the identifier of the hub node may be specified in a query using the two or more predicates, thereby allowing data associated with the compound relationship to be readily identified, modified and/or extracted.
US09378302B2 Adjusting ranges of directed graph ontologies across multiple dimensions
A method, system, and/or computer program product constructs and utilizes an ontological graph. A seed term and an expansion signal are received from a user. An ontological graph is constructed based on the expansion signal as applied to the seed term. The ontological graph includes nodes representing the seed term plus other terms that are located in accordance with instructions derived from the first expansion signal, such that the seed term and the other terms share a common trait. Terms from the ontological graph are displayed as string literals in a dictionary, wherein the dictionary contains related other terms at a resolution level that is controlled by the first expansion signal from the user and the seed term.
US09378299B1 Browsing pages in an electronic document
A user's request for a page to be provided in response to a browse request is fulfilled by determining a candidate set of pages based on the page displayed on the client when the browse request is sent. Scores for those candidate pages are used to rank the candidate pages and a page is provided to the client based on the ranking of the candidate pages.
US09378295B1 Clustering content based on anticipated content trend topics
A computer-implemented method includes identifying a content trend topic that is anticipated to occur at a future time, wherein the content trend topic is associated with a future event. The method also includes analyzing web content to determine whether the web content meets a predetermined relevance threshold for the identified content trend topic, associating the identified content trend topic with each piece of web content that meets the relevance threshold, and clustering web content associated with the identified content trend topic for provisioning when the content trend topic that is anticipated to occur at the future time does occur. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.
US09378293B2 Method and apparatus to author and manage pages of a website
Systems and methods provide a mechanism to create and maintain web pages and other types of output pages. The system and methods use an author markup language (AML) to define output pages. Additionally, a Component Markup Language (CML) may be used to define components that may be referenced by the AML. The AML and CML may be translated to an intermediate format, which may then be further processed at runtime to combine dynamic data with the intermediate format to produce the output page.
US09378292B2 Support for multiple component editions
A system and method for generating an object request comprising an absolute address from a relative address in a system comprising a plurality of editions of components for processing said object, said object request being generated by a request building component is described. To generate the object request, an edition of a component associated with processing the object is determined. The component edition is used to determine a specified address which is used in constructing the absolute address of the generated object request.
US09378282B2 System and method for dynamic and real-time categorization of webpages
A system and method for categorizing content on a webpage is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a request for a webpage from a user's computer. Next, the system determines whether there is dynamic content on the webpage by analyzing the address, links, reputation, type, style and other indicators of being able to easily change the webpage. If the webpage contains content that can be changed, then the webpage is analyzed to determine a current categorization thereof. If the webpage does not have dynamic content then the categorization of the webpage will remain the same thereby freeing system resources by only analyzing dynamic webpages.
US09378277B1 Search query segmentation
Disclosed are various embodiments for a search query segmentation application. Search queries are broken into segments. Each of the segments is assigned a taxonomy node from a catalog of items. Search results are generated as those items included in the taxonomy nodes assigned to the search query segments.
US09378276B1 Systems and methods for generating navigation filters
Systems and methods for generating navigation filters are provided. A target resource is parsed and occurrences of data entries representing archetypal headings and/or archetypal items for a navigation filter are identified in the content of the target resource. A path to each of the identified occurrences is determined and used to construct a query for additional navigation filter headings and/or navigation filter items that have the same path as an identified occurrence. Identified occurrences of archetypal data entries in the target resource and the additional content having the same path as an identified occurrence are used as potential navigation filter headings and/or potential navigation filter items. Navigation filters are generated by associating one or more of the potential navigation filter items with one of the potential navigation filter headings.
US09378273B2 System and method for question answering by reformulating word problems
A computer-implemented method of answering questions. A word problem is received into a user interface of a question-answering (QA) system operating on a computerized device having a processor. The word problem comprises a question and contextual phrases providing context for the question. The question is parsed from the word problem, using a parsing function of the processor. The contextual phrases are parsed from the word problem, using the parsing function of the processor. A type is identified for the question, using a typing function of the processor. A phrase is identified in the question having the same type as the question. A reformulated question is produced by replacing the phrase in the question having the same type as the question with a contextual phrase. The reformulated question is input to the QA system. Answers to the reformulated question are received from the QA system.
US09378272B1 Determining correction of queries with potentially inaccurate terms
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for correcting potentially inaccurate terms in queries. In an aspect, a search system determines that an original query includes a potentially inaccurate term. The determination is made on the basis that the term of the original query meets an inaccuracy criterion. Derivative queries are generated from the original query. Each derivative query does not include the potentially inaccurate term. For each derivative query resources that are determined to be responsive to the derivative query are determined, and from the resources, a corrected term is determined. The corrected term is substituted for the potentially inaccurate term, and a search operation that uses the corrected query as input is performed.
US09378271B2 Database system for analysis of longitudinal data sets
A database system performs analytics on longitudinal data, such as medical histories with events occurring to patients over time. Input data is processed into streams of events. A set of indexes of event characteristics is generated. A set of patient event histories, partitioned by patient, is generated. Several copies of event data are stored, each copy being structured to support a specific analytical task. Data is partitioned and distributed over several hardware nodes to allow parallel queries. Definitions of sets of candidate patients are translated into sets of filters applied to the set of indexes. Data for these candidates are input to analytical modules. Reports from analysis are automatically generated to be compatible with standard guidelines for reporting. Workflows support one task or a set of closely related tasks by offering the user a defined sequence of query options and analytic choices specifically arranged for the task.
US09378270B2 Systems and methods for generating natural language insights about sets of data
Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for generating natural language insights about a set of data. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems that transform data into insights or actionable information. The output generated by embodiments of the present invention would be equivalent to that of an observation made or insights gathered by a qualified data scientist presented with the same data. Embodiments as described herein can include an insight engine that can analyze both structured and unstructured data and generate information in a natural language of the user's choice. Insights provided by embodiments described herein can be supported by an ability to drilldown to graphs/tables and atomic data and provide a good starting point for further analysis.
US09378266B2 System and method for supporting cluster analysis and apparatus supporting the same
Disclosed is a cluster analysis supporting system, with respect to providing a cluster analysis function, including a cluster analysis service apparatus configured to request a distributed processing service apparatus to perform a k-means clustering based on k values within a predetermined range and a preset iteration frequency until a predefined converge condition is satisfied, and if center values of the k values are calculated from the distributed processing service apparatus, select an optimum center value among the center values, and control calculation and application of an optimum k value through an index calculation with respect to applying clustered indexes assigned based on the selected optimum center value to data, and the distributed processing service apparatus configured to perform the k-means clustering based on the k values and the preset iteration frequency provided from the cluster analysis service apparatus upon the request by the cluster analysis service apparatus.
US09378260B2 Methods and apparatus for synchronizing closed heterogenous systems
Methods, systems, and computer program products for synchronizing a first closed system with a second closed system are disclosed. A first transaction synchronization function on a first computing device receives a first plurality of user transactions and stores corresponding transaction records in a first synchronization file in a common format. The first transaction synchronization function submits the first plurality of user transactions to the first closed system via a first vendor interface for application to a first database. A second computing device accesses the first synchronization file, translates the transaction records in accordance with a second vendor interface, and submits the translated transaction records to a second closed system via a second vendor interface for application to a second closed system.
US09378253B2 Database interface creation system and method
A computer-implemented system and method for creating a user-defined database interface. A Launch Form module constructs a call comprising user definitions of an identifier for the database, a target data object (database table), approach filters (table fields), and results lines (table fields). An Orbit Form module uses the call constructs to access and query the identified database. Approach boxes corresponding to the approach filters may receive target input values which the Orbit Form module matches, in combination, to records in the database. The Orbit Form module may then retrieve values present in the fields corresponding to each user-specified results line. The Launch form module may also adorn the call with parameters that the Orbit Form module uses to govern retrieval of data from the target database, presentation of filter values, and/or formatting of results pages.
US09378251B2 Systems and methods for categorizing and presenting performance assessment data
The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for data mining and processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for automating content from performance assessment data. In one embodiment, an automated notes and categorization system may include a primary database comprising performance assessment data. The primary database is operatively coupled to a computer program product having a computer-usable medium having a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes said processor to execute a process that analyzes and converts raw performance data into automated content that presents data in readable user friendly form to facilitate human understanding.
US09378248B2 Retrieval apparatus, retrieval method, and computer-readable recording medium
A similar document is retrieved by performing a search using diagram information within documents, without being influenced by the description language within documents or the wording of complex sentences. First, feature data (feature amounts) of images is extracted from diagrams that are dotted throughout a document, with respect to a designated document that is designated by a person doing the search. Thereafter, the similarity between documents is evaluated, by comparing the feature amounts of diagrams in the designated document with the feature amounts of diagrams in a document group serving as a search target that are extracted in advance. Ranking of similar documents to the designated document is realized, based on the evaluation result.
US09378237B2 Methods for in-place access of serialized data
Methods and apparatus are provided for serializing data. A computing device can generate a serialization buffer (SB). The SB can specify fields storing data and corresponding offsets, with an offset referring to a location in the SB storing the corresponding field. The SB can access a designated field in the SB by determining a designated offset for the designated field, determining a starting location based on the designated offset, and accessing data at the starting location. A distinct copy of the SB can be stored on a storage device.
US09378231B2 Accessing data in column store database based on hardware compatible data structures
Embodiments of the present invention provide one or more hardware-friendly data structures that enable efficient hardware acceleration of database operations. In particular, the present invention employs a column-store format for the database. In the database, column-groups are stored with implicit row ids (RIDs) and a RID-to-primary key column having both column-store and row-store benefits via column hopping and a heap structure for adding new data. Fixed-width column compression allow for easy hardware database processing directly on the compressed data. A global database virtual address space is utilized that allows for arithmetic derivation of any physical address of the data regardless of its location. A word compression dictionary with token compare and sort index is also provided to allow for efficient hardware-based searching of text. A tuple reconstruction process is provided as well that allows hardware to reconstruct a row by stitching together data from multiple column groups.
US09378220B2 Bonding contents on separate storage media
Local storage on player instruments provides the ability for adding further amendments and most recent supplements to the optical disc content. A problem arising with this technically applicable possibility is the protection of copyrights bound to disc and supplement data. The present invention describes a technique to ensure a security framework that is able to handle this, by creating a virtual file system (VFS) by merging optical disc data and local storage data based upon a common identifier.
US09378213B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and storage medium
An information processing apparatus includes an inquiry unit configured to inquire, if a drag and drop operation or a copy and paste operation of a file path is performed from a file management unit “A” to a file management unit “B”, what data is dropped of an operating system, a file object acquisition unit configured to acquire, if data is a character string indicating a file path, a file object of the file path, an intra-folder file object acquisition unit configured to acquire, if the data is a character string indicating a folder, a file object in the folder, and an addition unit configured to add the file object acquired by the file object acquisition unit or the file object acquired by the intra-folder file object acquisition unit to a file of a management target of the file management unit “B”.
US09378212B2 Methods and systems for providing file data and metadata
The Shared Internet Storage Resource provides Internet-based file storage, retrieval, access, control, and manipulation for a user. Additionally, an easy-to-use user interface is provided both for a browser or stand-alone application. The entire method provides means by which users can establish, use, and maintain files on the Internet in a manner remote from their local computers yet in a manner that is similar to the file manipulation used on their local computers. A high capacity or other storage system is attached to the Internet via an optional internal network that also serves to generate and direct metadata regarding the stored files. A web server using a CGI, Java®-based, or other interface transmits and retrieves TCP/IP packets or other Internet information through a load balancer/firewall by using XML to wrap the data packets. File instructions may be transmitted over the Internet to the Shared Resource System. The user's account may be password protected so that only the user may access his or her files. On the user's side, a stand-alone client application or JavaScript object interpreted through a browser provide two means by which the XML or other markup language data stream may be received and put to use by the user. Internet-to-Internet file transfers may be effected by directly downloading to the user's account space.
US09378211B2 Systems and methods for efficient data searching, storage and reduction
Systems and methods enabling search of a repository for the location of data that is similar to input data, using a defined measure of similarity, in a time that is independent of the size of the repository and linear in a size of the input data, and a space that is proportional to a small fraction of the size of the repository. The similar data segments thus located are further analyzed to determine their common (identical) data sections, regardless of the order and position of the common data sections in the repository and input, and in a time that is linear in the segment size and in constant space.
US09378210B2 Managing the writing of a dataset to a data storage device
Managing the writing of a dataset by initiating a first computer-implemented process to write a plurality of portions of a dataset to a corresponding plurality of data storage locations on at least one data storage device, identifying a request made by a second computer-implemented process to write data to one of the data storage locations before the first computer-implemented process has finished writing all of the portions of the dataset to all of the data storage locations, and excluding the data storage location associated with the request from future writes by the first computer-implemented process of any portion of the dataset.
US09378209B2 Audio and/or video scene detection and retrieval
Video trailers for a video quote may be created and provided to a user. The Internet may be searched to identify documents that likely include references to a video. A reference to the video within an identified document may be detected and determined to be a video quote. The video quote and related information may be extracted from the identified document. A location of the video quote within the video may be determined. A video trailer that includes the video quote may be created based on the location of the video quote. A request for a video trailer that includes a video quote or a partial video quote, specified by the user, may be received from the user. A video trailer that includes the video quote or the partial video quote may be identified and provided to the user.
US09378207B2 Methods and apparatus for multimedia creation
Systems and techniques for selecting content elements for multimedia. Information relating to contributors to content elements, such as association with previous content elements, roles in relation to content elements, ratings, interest, social friends, and the like, is stored and analyzed as needed to assist in selection of content elements for direct use or for assembly into a compilation. In situations in which a contributor declines to allow use of his or her content or likeness, substitute content may be selected based at least in part on an analysis of information relating to the declining contributor as it relates to a potential replacement contributor. For example, a replacement may be based on similarity of a replacement contributor to a declining contributor.
US09378203B2 Methods and apparatus for providing information of interest to one or more users
Methods and system for providing information selected from a large set of digital content to a user. Techniques include receiving user context information associated with the user and identifying or generating a first concept in a semantic network, the first concept representing at least a portion of the user context information. The method further comprises obtaining at least one concept, including a second concept, semantically relevant to the first concept at least in part, by synthesizing the second concept based on the first concept and at least one other concept in the semantic network; and providing information to the user, wherein the information is selected by using the first concept and the at least one obtained concept semantically relevant to the first concept, wherein the first concept in a semantic network is represented by a data structure storing any data associated with a node in the semantic network.
US09378202B2 Semantic clustering
Semantic clustering techniques are described. In various implementations, a conversational agent is configured to perform semantic clustering of a corpus of user utterances. Semantic clustering may be used to provide a variety of functionality, such as to group a corpus of utterances into semantic clusters in which each cluster pertains to a similar topic. These clusters may then be leveraged to identify topics and assess their relative importance, as for example to prioritize topics whose handling by the conversation agent should be improved. A variety of utterances may be processed using these techniques, such as spoken words, textual descriptions entered via live chat, instant messaging, a website interface, email, SMS, a social network, a blogging or micro-blogging interface, and so on.
US09378195B2 Logical contingency analysis for domain-specific languages
Embodiments relate to validating logical statements in code for domain specific languages. An aspect includes parsing logical statements and annotating constraint type logical statements with specific constraint annotations from the logical grammar of the domain specific language. A non-contradiction graph is built using specific constraint annotations constrained to represent cases satisfying the logical statements and is solved to find a case that satisfies the logical statement or prove that no such case exists, thus locating a contradiction. The non-contradiction graph is negated to form a non-tautology graph constrained to represent cases violating the logical statements and the non-tautology graph is solved to find a case that violates the logical statement or prove that no such case exists, thus locating a tautology. A report is provided regarding at least one case satisfying the logical statement and at least one case violating the logical statement whereby the logical statement is validated.