Document	Document Title
US09425410B2	Organic light-emitting diode An organic light-emitting diode includes a substrate, a first electrode on the substrate, a second electrode facing the first electrode, an emission layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, a hole transfer region between the first electrode and the emission layer, and an electron transfer region between the emission layer and the second electrode. The hole transfer region includes a first compound represented by Formula 1, and the emission layer includes a second compound represented by Formula 100.
US09425406B2	Gas-phase functionalization of surfaces of microelectronic structures There are provided methods for functionalizing a planar surface of a microelectronic structure, by exposing the surface to at least one vapor including at least one functionalization species, such as NO2 or CH3ONO, that non-covalently bonds to the surface while providing a functionalization layer of chemically functional groups, to produce a functionalized surface. The functionalized surface is exposed to at least one vapor stabilization species that reacts with the functionalization layer to form a stabilization layer that stabilizes the functionalization layer against desorption from the planar microelectronic surface while providing chemically functional groups. The stabilized surface is exposed to at least one material layer precursor species that deposits a material layer on the stabilized planar microelectronic surface. The stabilized planar microelectronic surface can be annealed at a peak annealing temperature that is less than about 700° C.
US09425404B2	Thermo-oxidatively stable, side chain polyether functionalized polynorbornenes for microelectronic and optoelectronic devices and assemblies thereof The present invention relates to polynorbornene (PNB) composition embodiments that are useful for forming microelectronic and/or optoelectronic devices and assemblies thereof, and more specifically to compositions encompassing PNBs having norbornene-type repeating units that are polyether functionalized and an additive package containing a phenolic antioxidant and a synergist, and the microelectronic and/or optoelectronic devices made therefrom are resistant to thermo-oxidative chain degradation of said polyether functionalization.
US09425400B2	Apparatus and method for coating organic film An apparatus and method for coating an organic film are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an evaporation device, an electron emission device and a spray device; wherein the evaporation device comprises an evaporation container, the evaporation container is a linear evaporation container, in which a uniform organic gas is generated; the electron emission device is horizontally arranged over the evaporation container such that the organic gas evaporated in the evaporation container is uniformly charged and becomes charged organic gas; the spray device is provided with an electric field, under which the charged organic gas is moved toward a substrate so as to deposit the organic film on the substrate.
US09425396B2	Perovskite material layer processing A method for processing a perovskite photoactive layer. The method comprises depositing a lead salt precursor onto a substrate to form a lead salt thin film, depositing a second salt precursor onto the lead salt thin film, annealing the substrate to form a perovskite material.
US09425395B2	Method of fabricating a variable resistance memory device A method of fabricating a variable resistance memory device includes preparing a substrate having a lower electrode, forming a mold layer on the substrate, patterning the mold layer to form an opening, forming a variable resistance layer having a first portion in the opening and a second portion disposed on a top surface of the mold layer, and separating the second portion of the variable resistance layer from the first portion by irradiating the variable resistance layer to form a variable resistance element in the opening.
US09425386B2	Electronic device with ring-connected hall effect regions An electronic device includes a number of n Hall effect regions with n>1, wherein the n Hall effect regions are isolated from each other. The electronic device also includes at least eight contacts in or on surfaces of the n Hall effect regions, wherein the contacts include: a first and a second contact of each Hall effect region. A first contact of the (k+1)-th Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the k-th Hall effect region for k=1 to n−1, and the first contact of the first Hall effect region is connected to the second contact of the n-th Hall effect region. The at least eight contacts include at least two supply contacts and at least two sense contacts. Each Hall effect region includes at most one of the at least two supply contacts and at most one of the at least two sense contacts.
US09425382B2	Sensor protective coating A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensor device includes a substrate, a support structure supported by the substrate, a membrane supported by the support structure and spaced from the substrate, and a polymer layer covering the membrane.
US09425375B2	Method for making high-temperature superconducting film A method for making a high-temperature superconducting film includes loading a SrTiO3 substrate in an ultra-high vacuum system. A single crystalline FeSe layer is grown on a surface of the SrTiO3 substrate by molecular beam epitaxy. A protective layer with a layered crystal structure is grown by molecular beam epitaxy and covering the single crystalline FeSe layer.
US09425374B2	Electronic apparatus and protective cover of mobile device An electronic apparatus and a protective cover for a mobile device are disclosed. The protective cover is removably attached on an outer surface of a mobile device. The protective cover comprises an outer protective layer, a thermo-conductive layer and a thermoelectric material layer. The thermo-conductive layer is attached on the outer surface of the mobile device. The thermoelectric material layer has a first side adjacent to the thermo-conductive layer and a second side adjacent to the outer protective layer. The thermoelectric material layer generates a current according to a temperature difference between the first side and the second side.
US09425370B2	Method for producing a striplight and striplight A method for producing a striplight is disclosed. Said method utilizing at least the following steps: (a) providing a strip-shaped carrier, which is populated on at least one side with a plurality of semiconductor light sources; (b) arranging at least one electrical line on the carrier; and (c) casting the at least one electrical line on the carrier. A striplight which has: a strip-shaped carrier, populated on at least one side with a plurality of semiconductor light sources; at least one electrical line, which is arranged on the carrier; and joint casting of the carrier and the at least one electrical line, is likewise disclosed.
US09425369B2	Array substrate, display panel and preparing method thereof An array substrate, a display panel and a preparing method thereof are disclosed. The array substrate comprises: a substrate, a gate line and a data line disposed on the substrate, a protective layer covering the gate line and/or data line; a light converging structure is disposed on the protective layer over the gate line and/or the data line.
US09425356B2	Light emitting device A light emitting device includes a light emitting structure having a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer under the first conductive semiconductor layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer under the active layer; a first electrode disposed on the light emitting structure, configured as a plurality of dots and electrically connected to the first conductive semiconductor layer; an electrode pad electrically connected to the first electrode; and a second electrode electrically connected to the second conductive semiconductor layer.
US09425355B2	Semiconductor light emitting device A semiconductor light emitting device including a first conductive semiconductor base layer on a substrate; an insulating layer on the first conductive semiconductor base layer, the insulating layer including a plurality of openings through which the first conductive semiconductor base layer is exposed; and a plurality of nanoscale light emitting structures on the first conductive semiconductor base layer, the nanoscale light emitting structures respectively including a first conductive semiconductor core on an exposed region of the first conductive semiconductor base layer, and an active layer, and a second conductive semiconductor layer sequentially disposed on a surface of the first conductive semiconductor core, wherein a lower edge of a side portion of each nanoscale light emitting structure is on an inner side wall of the opening in the insulating layer.
US09425351B2	Hybrid heterostructure light emitting devices Light-emitting devices having a multiple quantum well (MQW) pin diode structure and methods of making and using the devices are provided. The devices are composed of multilayered semiconductor heterostructures. The devices include one or more interfacial layers of a material that allows current tunneling through lattice mismatched heterogeneous junctions at the interfaces between the intrinsic active region and the p-type and/or n-type doped charge injection layers.
US09425349B2	Lift-off method A lift-off method transfers an optical device layer of an optical device wafer onto a transfer substrate. The optical device layer is stacked on a front face of an epitaxy substrate with a buffer layer provided therebetween. A complex substrate formation step forms a complex substrate by joining the transfer substrate to a front face of the optical device layer of the optical device wafer with an adhesive. A buffer layer destruction step irradiates a laser beam at a wavelength that penetrates the epitaxy substrate and is absorbed by the buffer layer from a rear side of the epitaxy substrate of the complex substrate so as to destroy the buffer layer. An optical device layer transfer step peels off the epitaxy substrate and transfers the optical device layer onto the transfer substrate.
US09425343B2	Mechanisms for forming image sensor device Embodiments of mechanisms for forming an image sensor device are provided. The image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate and one photodetector formed in the semiconductor substrate. The image sensor device also includes one gate stack formed over the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes multiple polysilicon layers.
US09425341B2	P-I-N photodiode with dopant diffusion barrier layer According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a pin photodetector comprising a dopant diffusion barrier layer disposed within an active light absorbing region of the pin photodetector.
US09425339B2	Thin film solar module and method for production of the same A thin film solar module including at least one first sub module including a plurality of first thin film solar cells connected with one another in series; and a second sub module connected with the first sub module in parallel, the second sub module including a plurality of second thin film solar cells connected with one another in series. The sub modules are formed on a shared substrate in a monolithic manner, wherein a first connecting cell including the first thin film solar cells and a second connecting cell including the second thin film solar cells are arranged adjacent to one another, spaced apart from each other through an insulation trench and electrically connected with one another through a shared contact. The invention further relates to a method for producing a thin film solar module.
US09425330B2	Metal oxide metal capacitor with slot vias A capacitor includes a first electrode including a plurality of first conductive lines, at least one first via, and at least one second via. The first conductive lines are parallel and connected to a first periphery conductive line. The first conductor lines in adjacent layers are coupled by the at least one first and second via. The at least one first via has a first length, and the at least one second via has a second length. The capacitor includes a second electrode opposite to the first electrode. The second electrode includes a plurality of second conductive lines and at least one third via. The second conductive lines are parallel and connected to a second periphery conductive line. The second conductor lines in adjacent layers are coupled by the at least one third via. The capacitor includes at least one oxide layer between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09425323B2	Thin film, method of forming thin film, semiconductor device including thin film, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device A thin film, a method of forming the thin film, a semiconductor device including the thin film, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor device include forming a thin film including a metal oxynitride, and treating the thin film with inert gas ions so as to stabilize properties of the thin film. The metal oxynitride may include zinc oxynitride (ZnOxNy). The inert gas ions may include at least one of Ar ions and Ne ions. The treating of the thin film with the inert gas ions may be performed by a sputtering process, a plasma treatment process, or the like.
US09425315B2	FinFET semiconductor device with isolated fins made of alternative channel materials One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, oxidizing a lower portion of an initial fin structure to thereby define an isolation region that vertically separates an upper portion of the initial fin structure from a semiconducting substrate, performing a recess etching process to remove a portion of the upper portion of the initial fin structure so as to define a recessed fin portion, forming a replacement fin on the recessed fin portion so as to define a final fin structure comprised of the replacement fin and the recessed fin portion, and forming a gate structure around at least a portion of the replacement fin.
US09425313B1	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a fin structure including a first semiconductor layer, an oxide layer disposed over the first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer disposed over the oxide layer is formed. An isolation insulating layer is formed so that the second semiconductor layer of the fin structure protrudes from the isolation insulating layer while the oxide layer and the first semiconductor layer are embedded in the isolation insulating layer. A third semiconductor layer is formed on the exposed second semiconductor layer so as to form a channel.
US09425309B2	Method for forming metal semiconductor alloys in contact holes and trenches A semiconductor device is provided that includes a gate structure on a channel region of a substrate. A source region and a drain region are present on opposing sides of the channel region. A first metal semiconductor alloy is present on an upper surface of at least one of the source and drain regions. The first metal semiconductor alloy extends to a sidewall of the gate structure. A dielectric layer is present over the gate structure and the first metal semiconductor alloy. An opening is present through the dielectric layer to a portion of the first metal semiconductor alloy that is separated from the gate structure. A second metal semiconductor alloy is present in the opening, is in direct contact with the first metal semiconductor alloy, and has an upper surface that is vertically offset and is located above the upper surface of the first metal semiconductor alloy.
US09425304B2	Transistor structure with improved unclamped inductive switching immunity A laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor structure with improved unclamped inductive switching immunity. The LDMOS includes a substrate and an adjacent epitaxial layer both of a first conductivity type. A gate structure is above the epitaxial layer. A drain region and a source region, both of a second conductivity type, are within the epitaxial layer. A channel is formed between the source and drain region and arranged below the gate structure. A body structure of the first conductivity type is at least partially formed under the gate structure and extends laterally under the source region, wherein the epitaxial layer is less doped than the body structure. A conductive trench-like feed-through element passes through the epitaxial layer and contacts the substrate and the source region. The LDMOS includes a tub region of the first conductivity type formed under the source region, and adjacent laterally to and in contact with said body structure and said trench-like feed-through element.
US09425294B2	Display array substrate and manufacturing method thereof A manufacturing method of display array substrate is provided. The method includes depositing a first metal layer on a substrate and defining a peripheral area and a display area, coating a photo-resist layer on the first metal layer located in the peripheral area, anodizing the first metal layer to a first metal oxide layer with the photo-resist layer as a mask, patterning the first metal oxide layer located in the display area to a gate insulator, removing the photo-resist layer to expose the first metal layer in the peripheral area, forming a channel layer on the gate insulator, and depositing a second metal layer and patterning the second metal layer located in the display area to form a source electrode and a drain electrode.
US09425282B2	Semiconductor integrated circuit device having vertical channel and method of manufacturing the same A semiconductor integrated circuit device having a vertical channel and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A plurality of active lines are formed in a semiconductor substrate. A gate electrode having a lower height than each active line is formed on a sidewall of the active line. A first insulating layer having a height lower than that of the active line and higher than that of the gate electrode is buried between active lines, and a silicide layer is formed on an exposed upper surface and a lateral surface of the active line.
US09425278B2	Segregated FinFET structure and manufacturing method A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor fin on a substrate. The semiconductor fin includes a stack of alternating layers of first and second materials that induce stress or strain to the channel of the semiconductor device for implementing a strained FinFET. The first and second materials are different. The second material layers include lateral recesses filled with an insulating layer to form an isolated FinFET structure to further induce stress in the channel region to improve the performance of the semiconductor device.
US09425272B2	Semiconductor chip including integrated circuit including four transistors of first transistor type and four transistors of second transistor type with electrical connections between various transistors and methods for manufacturing the same A semiconductor chip region includes a first conductive structure (CS) that forms a gate electrode (GE) of a first transistor of a first transistor type (TT) and a GE of a first transistor of a second TT, a second CS that forms a GE of a second transistor of the first TT, a third CS that forms a GE of a second transistor of the second TT, a fourth CS that forms a GE of a third transistor of the first TT, a fifth CS that forms a GE of a third transistor of the second TT, another CS that forms a GE of a fourth transistor of the first TT, and another CS that forms a GE of a fourth transistor of the second TT. The second and third transistors of the first and second TT's have a common diffusion terminal electrical connection and specified gate electrode electrical connections.
US09425271B2	Insulated-gate bipolar transistor In an IGBT, a trench extending in a bent shape to have a corner is formed in an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate. The inside of the trench is covered with an insulating film. A gate is placed inside the trench. An emitter and a collector are formed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the semiconductor substrate, respectively. An emitter region, a body region, a drift region, and a collector region are formed in the semiconductor substrate. The emitter region is formed of an n-type semiconductor, is in contact with the insulating film, and is in ohmic contact with the emitter electrode. The body region is formed of a p-type semiconductor, is in contact with the insulating film below the emitter region, is in contact with the insulating film of an inner corner portion of the trench, and is in ohmic contact with the emitter electrode.
US09425260B2	Application of super lattice films on insulator to lateral bipolar transistors A lateral bipolar junction transistor including a base region on a dielectric substrate layer. The base region includes a layered stack of alternating material layers of a first lattice dimension semiconductor material and a second lattice dimension semiconductor material. The first lattice dimension semiconductor material is different from the second lattice dimension semiconductor material to provide a strained base region. A collector region is present on the dielectric substrate layer in contact with a first side of the base region. An emitter region is present on the dielectric substrate in contact with a second side of the base region that is opposite the first side of the base region.
US09425248B2	Composite substrate Disclosed is a composite substrate, which is provided with an inorganic insulating sintered substrate, which has a heat conductivity of 5 W/m·K or more, and a volume resistivity of 1×108 Ω·cm or more, and a single crystal semiconductor film, or a composite substrate, which is provided with the inorganic insulating sintered substrate, a single crystal semiconductor film, and a thin layer configured of at least one kind of material selected from among an oxide, a nitride, and an oxynitride, said thin layer being provided between the inorganic insulating sintered substrate and the single crystal semiconductor film. According to the present invention, a low-cost composite substrate with suppressed metal impurity contamination can be provided using an inorganic insulating sintered body, which is opaque to visible light, and which has excellent heat conductivity, and furthermore, a small loss in a high frequency region.
US09425238B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes a memory block including a transistor region and a memory region. A variable resistance layer of the memory region acts as a gate insulating layer in the transistor region.
US09425234B2	Quantum dot digital radiographic detection system A digital quantum dot radiographic detection system described herein includes: a scintillation subsystem 202 and a semiconductor visible light detection subsystem 200, 200′ (including a plurality of quantum dot image sensors 200a, 200b). In a first preferred digital quantum dot radiographic detection system, the plurality of quantum dot image sensors 200 is in substantially direct contact with the scintillation subsystem 202. In a second preferred digital quantum dot radiographic detection system, the scintillation subsystem has a plurality of discrete scintillation packets 212a, 212b, at least one of the discrete scintillation packets communicating with at least one of the quantum dot image sensors. The quantum dot image sensors 200 may be associated with semiconductor substrate 210 made from materials such as silicon (and variations thereof) or graphene.
US09425228B2	Image sensor with reduced optical path Among other things, one or more image sensors and techniques for forming image sensors are provided. An image sensor comprises a photodiode array configured to detect light. The image sensor comprises an oxide grid comprising a first oxide grid portion and a second oxide grid portion. A metal grid is formed between the first oxide grid portion and the second oxide grid portion. The oxide grid and the metal grid define a filler grid. The filler grid comprises a filler grid portion, such as a color filter, that allows light to propagate through the filler gird portion to an underlying photodiode. The oxide grid and the metal grid confine or channel the light within the filler gird portion. The oxide grid and the metal grid are formed such that the filler grid provides a relatively shorter propagation path for the light, which improves light detection performance of the image sensor.
US09425218B2	Pixel structure and display panel A pixel structure disposed on a first substrate is provided. The pixel structure includes a scan line, a data line, an active component, a pixel electrode, a first dielectric layer, a common electrode, and a protrusion. The scan line and the data line are disposed on the first substrate. The pixel electrode is disposed on the first substrate. The first dielectric layer is disposed on the first substrate and covers the pixel electrode. The common electrode is disposed on the first dielectric layer, and the common electrode has at least two first branched electrodes and a first opening between the first branched electrodes. The first branched electrodes and the first opening on the first substrate overlap with the pixel electrode in a projection direction. The protrusion is disposed on the first dielectric layer, and the protrusion is disposed in the first opening between the first branched electrodes.
US09425213B1	Stacked short and long channel FinFETs An analog integrated circuit is disclosed in which short channel transistors are stacked on top of long channel transistors, vertically separated by an insulating layer. With such a design, it is possible to produce a high density, high power, and high performance analog integrated circuit chip including both short and long channel devices that are spaced far enough apart from one another to avoid crosstalk. In one embodiment, the transistors are FinFETs and the long channel devices are multi-gate FinFETs. In one embodiment, single and dual damascene devices are combined in a multi-layer integrated circuit cell. The cell may contain various combinations and configurations of the short and long-channel devices. A high density cell can be made by simply shrinking the dimensions of the cells and replicating two or more cells in the same size footprint as the original cell.
US09425210B2	Double-source semiconductor device A semiconductor device may include a first source layer, a first insulating layer located over the first source layer, and a first stacked structure located over the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include first channel layers passing through the first stacked structure and the first insulating layer. The semiconductor device may include a second source layer including a first region interposed between the first source layer and the first insulating layer and second regions interposed between the first channel layers and the first insulating layer, wherein the second regions of the second source layer directly contact each other.
US09425207B2	Memory device with different memory film diameters in the same laminate level According to one embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes first electrodes, at least one first semiconductor layer, a first memory film, second electrodes, at least one second semiconductor layer, and a second memory film. The first electrodes are stacked in a first direction. The one first semiconductor layer extends in the first direction through the first electrodes. The first memory film is provided between each of the first electrodes and the one first semiconductor layer. The second electrodes are stacked in the first direction and provided together with the first electrodes in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The one second semiconductor layer extends in the first direction through the second electrodes. The second memory film is provided between each of the second electrodes and the one second semiconductor layer. An outer diameter of the first memory film is larger than that of the second memory film.
US09425206B2	Boundary scheme for embedded poly-SiON CMOS or NVM in HKMG CMOS technology The present disclosure relates to a structure and method for reducing CMP dishing in integrated circuits. In some embodiments, the structure has a semiconductor substrate with an embedded memory region and a periphery region. one or more dummy structures are formed between the memory region and the periphery region. Placement of the dummy structures between the embedded memory region and the periphery region causes the surface of a deposition layer therebetween to become more planar after being polished without resulting in a dishing effect. The reduced recess reduces metal residue formation and thus leakage and shorting of current due to metal residue. Further, less dishing will reduce the polysilicon loss of active devices. In some embodiments, one of the dummy structures is formed with an angled sidewall which eliminates the need for a boundary cut etch process.
US09425202B2	Split page 3D memory array A semiconductor device includes active strips. Active strip stack selection structures electrically couple to the active strip stacks at positions between the first and second ends, and select particular ones of the active strip stacks for operations. In one embodiment, different pads coupled to opposite pads have a higher voltage, depending on the memory cell selected for read. The same active strip stack selection structure can act as a pair of side gates for opposite sides of a first active strip stack, and as one side gate for each of the adjacent active strip stacks. Each active strip stack can have: a first structure from a first set acting as first and second side gates on a first side of word lines; and a second structure and a third structure from a second set respectively acting as third and fourth side gates on the second side of word lines.
US09425201B2	Cell layout for SRAM FinFET transistors An SRAM array and method of making is disclosed. Each SRAM cell comprises two pull-up (PU), two pass-gate (PG), and two pull-down (PD) FinFETs. The PU transistors are adjacent to each other and include one active fin having a first fin width. Each PG transistor shares at least one active fin with a PD transistor. The active fin shared by a PG and a PD transistor has a second fin width smaller than the first fin width. The method includes patterning a plurality of fins including active fins and dummy fins and patterning and removing at least a portion of the dummy fins. No dummy fin is disposed between PU FinFETs in a memory cell. One dummy fin is disposed between a PU FinFET and the at least one active fin shared by a PG and a PD transistor. At least one dummy fin is disposed between adjacent memory cells.
US09425191B2	Memory device and manufacturing method of the same A memory device and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The memory device includes a substrate, a 3D memory array, a periphery circuit, and a conductive connection structure. The 3D memory array and the periphery circuit are stacked on the substrate. The periphery circuit includes a patterned metal layer and a contact structure electrically connected to the patterned metal layer. The conductive connection structure is electrically connected to the patterned metal layer. The 3D memory array is electrically connected to the periphery circuit via the conductive connection structure.
US09425186B2	Electrostatic discharge protection circuit The present invention discloses an electrostatic discharge protection circuit, comprising a diode and a N-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (NMOS) transistor. The diode locating on a N-well comprises an high P-doping concentration region and an nonadjacent high N-doping concentration region. The NMOS transistor, locating on a P-well, comprises a drain, a source and a gate, and the drain and the source are formed by the high N-doping concentration region. Wherein the P-well further comprises a high P-doping concentration region near the source, the drain of the NMOS is electrically connected to the high N-doping concentration region of the diode, the source of the NMOS and the adjacent high P-doping concentration region are electrically connected to a ground, the gate of the NMOS transistor electrically connected to a trigger point. Accordingly, the electrostatic discharge protection circuit has a low parasitic capacitance, wide operating voltage range and high electrostatic discharge (ESD) capability for resolving the problems about the ESD of the RX pins.
US09425182B2	Low noise and high performance LSI device In semiconductor devices in which both NMOS devices and PMOS devices are used to perform in different modes such as analog and digital modes, stress engineering is selectively applied to particular devices depending on their required operational modes. That is, the appropriate mechanical stress, i.e., tensile or compressive, can be applied to and/or removed from devices, i.e., NMOS and/or PMOS devices, based not only on their conductivity type, i.e., n-type or p-type, but also on their intended operational application, for example, analog/digital, low-voltage/high-voltage, high-speed/low-speed, noise-sensitive/noise-insensitive, etc. The result is that performance of individual devices is optimized based on the mode in which they operate. For example, mechanical stress can be applied to devices that operate in high-speed digital settings, while devices that operate in analog or RF signal settings, in which electrical noise such as flicker noise that may be introduced by applied stress may degrade performance, have no stress applied.
US09425181B2	Method of hybrid packaging a lead frame based multi-chip semiconductor device with multiple interconnecting structures A hybrid packaging multi-chip semiconductor device comprises a lead frame unit, a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip, a first interconnecting structure and a second interconnecting structure, wherein the first semiconductor chip is attached on a first die paddle and the second semiconductor chip is flipped and attached on a third pin and a second die paddle, the first interconnecting structure electrically connecting a first electrode at a front surface of the first semiconductor chip and a third electrode at a back surface of the second semiconductor chip and a second electrode at the front surface of the first semiconductor chip is electrically connected by second interconnecting structure.
US09425180B2	Treating copper surfaces for packaging A die has a top surface, and a metal pillar having a portion protruding over the top surface of the die. A sidewall of the metal pillar has nano-wires. The die is bonded to a package substrate. An underfill is filled into the gap between the die and the package substrate.
US09425164B1	Low alpha tin A non alpha controlled Tin including Tin and a trace amount of Polonium may be converted to a low alpha emission Tin by concentrating and removing at least some of the Polonium. The non alpha controlled Tin may be a raw material or a solder bump upon a semiconductor wafer, chip, or carrier. The Polonium may be concentrated by oxidizing an exterior portion of the non alpha controlled Tin. If the non alpha controlled Tin is a raw material, the oxidized exterior portion of the non alpha controlled Tin may be stripped. If the non alpha controlled Tin is a solder bump, the oxidized exterior portion of the solder bump may be removed by applying flux to the solder bump, reflowing the solder bump to dissolve the oxidized exterior portion and the concentrated Po into the flux, and cleaning the flux from the solder bump.
US09425162B2	Bond heads for thermocompression bonders, thermocompression bonders, and methods of operating the same A bond head for a thermocompression bonder is provided. The bond head includes a tool configured to hold a workpiece to be bonded, a heater configured to heat the workpiece to be bonded, and a chamber proximate the heater. The chamber is configured to receive a cooling fluid for cooling the heater.
US09425159B2	Wiring board and method for manufacturing the same A wiring board includes a first insulation layer, first conductive patterns formed on the first insulation layer and including first mounting pads positioned to mount a semiconductor element, a wiring structure positioned in the first insulation layer and including a second insulation layer, second conductive patterns formed on the second insulation layer, and second mounting pads connected to the second conductive patterns, and third mounting pads formed on the first insulation layer above the second mounting pads and connected to the second mounting pads such that the third mounting pads are positioned to mount the semiconductor element and are set off from the second mounting pads toward the semiconductor element.
US09425155B2	Wafer bonding process and structure A semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same are introduced. In an embodiment, one or more passivation layers are formed over a first substrate. Recesses are formed in the passivation layers and one or more conductive pads are formed in the recesses. One or more barrier layers are formed between the passivation layers and the conductive pads. The conductive pads of the first substrate are aligned to the conductive pads of a second substrate and are bonded using a direct bonding method.
US09425141B2	Integrated circuit with elongated coupling An integrated circuit comprises a first layer on a first level. The first layer comprises a set of first lines. The first lines each have a length and a width. The length of each of the first lines is greater than the width. The integrated circuit also comprises a second layer on a second level different from the first level. The second layer comprises a set of second lines. The second lines each have a length and a width. The length of each of the second lines is greater than the width. The integrated circuit further comprises a coupling configured to connect at least one first line of the set of first lines with at least one second line of the set of second lines. The coupling has a length and a width. The set of second lines has a pitch measured between the lines of the set of second lines in the first direction. The length of the first coupling is greater than or equal to the pitch.
US09425138B2	Semiconductor device having through-electrode A semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a surface electrode provided on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate through an insulating film, a via, passing through the semiconductor substrate from a rear surface thereof up to the front surface to reach the surface electrode, having a wall including a flange portion inwardly projecting on a front surface portion of the semiconductor substrate, a via insulating film formed on the wall of the via, and a through-electrode embedded inside the via insulating film and electrically connected to the surface electrode, while the via insulating film has portions having different thickness compensating for a step between the flange portion and the remaining portion of the wall, to planarize a contact surface with the through-electrode.
US09425132B2	Stacked synchronous buck converter having chip embedded in outside recess of leadframe A system has a leadframe with leads and a pad. The pad surface having a portion recessed with a depth and an outline suitable for attaching a semiconductor chip. A first chip is vertically stacked to the opposite pad surface. A clip is vertically stacked on the first chip and tied to a lead. A second chip has a terminal attached to the recessed portion and terminals co-planar with the un-recessed portion. A second chip is attached to the clip.
US09425118B2	Electronic component having a corrosion-protected bonding connection and method for producing the component The invention relates to an electronic component (1) having a corrosion-protected bonding connection and a method for producing said component. For this purpose the electronic component (1) has at least one semiconductor chip (3) on a substrate (4). Moreover, a bonding connection at risk of corrosion is provided on the semiconductor chip (3). For encapsulation of the at least one semiconductor chip (3) and the at least one bonding connection at risk of corrosion, said semiconductor chip and bonding connection are surrounded by a hermetically sealing housing (5). The hermetically sealed bonding connection is a bonding wire connection (2) which is fully enclosed in the housing (5), in which the substrate (4) is at least partially enclosed. The substrate (4) has at least one surface-mounted hydrolysis-sensitive component (6) in the housing (5).
US09425112B2	Calibration kits for RF passive devices A method includes measuring a first calibration kit in a wafer to obtain a first performance data. The wafer includes a substrate, and a plurality of dielectric layers over the substrate. The first calibration kit includes a first passive device over the plurality of dielectric layers, wherein substantially no metal feature is disposed in the plurality of dielectric layers and overlapped by the first passive device. The method further includes measuring a second calibration kit in the wafer to obtain a second performance data. The second calibration kit includes a second passive device identical to the first device and over the plurality of dielectric layers, and dummy patterns in the plurality of dielectric layers and overlapped by the second passive device. The first performance data and the second performance data are de-embedded to determine an effect of metal patterns in the plurality of dielectric layers to overlying passive devices.
US09425102B2	FinFETs with different fin heights An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a first portion in a first device region, and a second portion in a second device region. A first semiconductor fin is over the semiconductor substrate and has a first fin height. A second semiconductor fin is over the semiconductor substrate and has a second fin height. The first fin height is greater than the second fin height.
US09425100B1	Methods of facilitating fabricating transistors Methods and transistors for circuit structures are provided. The methods include, for instance: defining a channel region in a substrate, the channel region having at least one channel region sidewall adjoining an isolation material; recessing the isolation material to expose an upper portion of the at least one channel region sidewall; and providing a gate structure over a gate interface area with the channel region. The gate interface area includes at least the upper portion of the at least one channel region sidewall and an upper surface of the channel region so that a threshold voltage of the gate structure may be reduced. The methods may also include etching an elongate notch in the upper portion of the at least one channel region sidewall to increase a size of the gate interface area and further reduce the threshold voltage of the gate structure.
US09425098B2	Radio-frequency device package and method for fabricating the same A method for fabricating a electronic device package provides a electronic device chip, wherein the electronic device chip includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a back side, wherein the semiconductor substrate has a first thickness, an electronic component disposed on the front side of the semiconductor substrate, and an interconnect structure disposed on the electronic component. The method further performs a thinning process to remove a portion of the semiconductor substrate from the back side thereof. The method then removes a portion of the thinned semiconductor substrate and a portion of a dielectric layer of the interconnect structure from a back side of the thinned semiconductor substrate until a first metal layer pattern of the interconnect structure is exposed, thereby forming a through hole. Finally, the method forms a TSV structure in the through hole, and mounts the electronic device chip on a base.
US09425097B1	Cut first alternative for 2D self-aligned via A method of lithographically cutting a Mx line before the Mx line is lithographically defined by patterning and the resulting 2DSAV device are provided. Embodiments include forming an a-Si dummy metal layer over a SiO2 layer; forming a first softmask stack over the a-Si dummy metal layer; patterning a plurality of vias through the first softmask stack down to the SiO2 layer; removing the first soft mask stack; forming first and second etch stop layers over the a-Si dummy metal layer, the first etch stop layer formed in the plurality of vias; forming a-Si mandrels on the second etch stop layer; forming oxide spacers on opposite sides of each a-Si mandrel; removing the a-Si mandrels; forming a-Si dummy metal lines in the a-Si dummy metal layer below the oxide spacers; and forming a SiOC layer between the a-Si dummy metal lines.
US09425094B2	Mechanisms for forming semiconductor device structure with feature opening A method for forming a semiconductor device structure is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric layer over a semiconductor substrate and forming a hard mask layer over the dielectric layer. The method also includes performing a plasma etching process to etch the hard mask layer to form an opening, and a gas mixture used in the plasma etching process includes a nitrogen-containing gas, a halogen-containing gas, and a carbon-containing gas. The gas mixture has a volumetric concentration of the nitrogen-containing gas in a range from about 20% to about 30%. A volumetric concentration ratio of the carbon-containing gas to the halogen-containing gas in the gas mixture is equal to about 0.3. The method further includes etching the dielectric layer through the opening in the hard mask layer to form a feature opening in the dielectric layer. The method includes forming a conductive material in the feature opening.
US09425093B2	Copper wiring forming method, film forming system, and storage medium A Cu wiring forming method of forming Cu wiring that is to be arranged in contact with tungsten wiring, by filling Cu into a recess formed in a substrate, includes: removing a tungsten oxide formed on a surface of the tungsten wiring; forming a nitriding preventing film at least on the surface of the tungsten wiring in the recess; forming a barrier film that prevents diffusion of Cu, on a surface in the recess from above the nitriding preventing film; forming a liner film on the barrier film; and filling a Cu film on the liner film.
US09425092B2	Methods for producing interconnects in semiconductor devices A method for producing interconnects on a workpiece includes obtaining a workpiece substrate having a feature, depositing a conductive layer in the feature, to partially or fully fill the feature, depositing a copper fill to completely fill the feature if the feature is partially filled by the conductive layer, applying a copper overburden, thermally treating the workpiece, and removing the overburden to expose the substrate and the metalized feature.
US09425090B2	Method of electrodepositing gold on a copper seed layer to form a gold metallization structure An electrically conductive barrier layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate such that the barrier layer covers a first device terminal. A seed layer is formed on the barrier layer. The seed includes a noble metal other than gold. The substrate is masked so that a first mask opening is laterally aligned with the first terminal. An unmasked portion of the seed layer is electroplated using a gold electrolyte solution so as to form a first gold metallization structure in the first mask opening. The mask, the masked portions of the seed layer, and the barrier layer are removed. The noble metal from the unmasked portion of the seed layer is diffused into the first gold metallization structure. The first gold metallization structure is electrically connected to the first terminal via the barrier layer.
US09425088B2	Manufacturing method of semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a semiconductor element installed on the substrate so that a surface formed with an electrode is directed to the substrate; a chip capacitor installed on the substrate; and a conductive material covering a rear surface opposite to the surface of the semiconductor element and joining to one terminal electrode of the chip capacitor.
US09425084B2	Mechanisms for forming protection layer on back side of wafer Embodiments of mechanisms of forming a semiconductor device structure are provided. The semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a substrate having a front side and a back side. The semiconductor device structure also includes devices formed on the front side of the substrate and interconnect structures formed on the devices. The semiconductor device structure further includes a protection layer formed on the back side of the substrate, and the protection layer has a thickness over about 10 A.
US09425065B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacture thereof A semiconductor device includes an insulating substrate, a wiring pattern formed on the insulating substrate, a semiconductor chip secured to the wiring pattern, a junction terminal formed of the same material as the wiring pattern and electrically connected to the semiconductor chip, one end of the junction terminal being secured to the insulating substrate, the other end of the junction terminal extending upward away from the insulating substrate, and a control circuit for transmitting a control signal for the semiconductor chip, the control circuit being electrically connected to the junction terminal.
US09425062B2	Method for improving CD micro-loading in photomask plasma etching Embodiments of the present invention provides methods to etching a mask layer, e.g., an absorber layer, disposed in a film stack for manufacturing a photomask in EUV applications and phase shift and binary photomask applications. In one embodiment, a method of etching an absorber layer disposed on a photomask includes transferring a film stack into an etching chamber, the film stack having a chromium containing layer partially exposed through a patterned photoresist layer, providing an etching gas mixture including Cl2, O2 and at least one hydrocarbon gas in to a processing chamber, wherein the Cl2 and O2 is supplied at a Cl2:O2 ratio greater than about 9, supplying a RF source power to form a plasma from the etching gas mixture, and etching the chromium containing layer through the patterned photoresist layer in the presence of the plasma.
US09425059B2	Methods of forming a pattern and methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device using the same A method of forming a pattern includes forming an underlayer on an etching target layer by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, the underlayer including a silicon compound combined with a photoacid generator (PAG), forming a photoresist layer on the underlayer, irradiating extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light on the photoresist layer to form a photoresist pattern, and etching the etching target layer using the photoresist pattern as an etching mask.
US09425054B2	Method for fabricating semiconductor device A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: preparing a substrate; performing a pre-treatment including a first hydrogen annealing on a surface of the substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer over the substrate; performing a post-treatment including a second hydrogen annealing on the substrate including the gate dielectric layer; and forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer.
US09425047B1	Self-aligned process using variable-fluidity material A method of forming a wide line includes forming a portion of variable-fluidity material between opposing inner walls of a pair of adjacent line portions, the portion of variable-fluidity material patterned to have a lateral dimension that is smaller than a distance between the opposing inner walls of the pair of adjacent line portions, and subsequently applying process conditions that increase the fluidity of the portion of variable-fluidity material sufficiently to cause the portion of variable-fluidity material to extend to the opposing inner walls of the pair of adjacent line portions.
US09425019B1	Integrated field emission array for ion desorption An integrated field emission array for ion desorption includes an electrically conductive substrate; a dielectric layer lying over the electrically conductive substrate comprising a plurality of laterally separated cavities extending through the dielectric layer; a like plurality of conically-shaped emitter tips on posts, each emitter tip/post disposed concentrically within a laterally separated cavity and electrically contacting the substrate; and a gate electrode structure lying over the dielectric layer, including a like plurality of circular gate apertures, each gate aperture disposed concentrically above an emitter tip/post to provide a like plurality of annular gate electrodes and wherein the lower edge of each annular gate electrode proximate the like emitter tip/post is rounded. Also disclosed herein are methods for fabricating an integrated field emission array.
US09425014B2	Circuit interruption device employing shape memory alloy element A circuit interruption device includes a support, a set of separable contacts, a first member movable between an OFF position and an ON position, a second member, and a transport mechanism that includes a shape memory alloy element. When the first member is in the OFF position, the second member is in an extended position, the shape memory alloy element is in its first shape, and the first surface and the another first surface are engaged with one another and resist movement of the first member away from the OFF position. Responsive to an electrical pulse, the shape memory alloy element transforms into its second shape and moves the first member toward the ON position. When the second member is in the extended position, the another second surface engages with the second surface to resist movement of the first member away from the ON position.
US09425011B2	Method and system for soft switching of a relay Provided is a system for soft switching of an electromechanical relay in a lighting control system using a sensor to detect a specified non-zero position in the electrical input waveform. Following this non-zero position, an adaptive time delay is applied before activation of the relay coil. An error detection circuit measures a time error between relay operation and the zero electrical input condition. This error signal is used to update the adaptive time delay for future relay operations. Using such a procedure has been shown to limit electrical stress on the relay, and therefore lengthen its life.
US09425007B2	Pressure-type contact switch for use in operation of pressure pump A pressure-type contact switch includes a bourdon tube which expands and contracts depending on water pressure in a discharge conduit applied by a pressure pump; a link having an end connected to a free end of the bourdon tube; a first actuating lever having an end connected to the other end of the link and rotatably installed about a first rotation axis; a first semi-circle gear formed at the other end of the first actuating lever; a first link gear engaged with the first semi-circle gear and fitted to a central rotation axis to thereby cause the central rotation axis to rotate in normal and reverse directions; a rotation member fitted to the central rotation axis; a second actuating lever which is installed to the rotation member to be rotatable about a second rotation axis; and an extension lever fitted to an end of the second actuating lever.
US09425002B2	Circuit breaker A circuit breaker includes: a housing; a stator accommodated in the housing and connected to a terminal unit; a mover selectively brought into contact with the stator; an opening and closing unit manipulating the mover such that the mover is selectively brought into contact with the stator; and an insulating cover provided in the housing and shielding the mover and the stator from the exterior of the housing, wherein the housing or the insulating cover is made by molding an electrical insulating material.
US09425001B2	Method of making super capacitor with fibers An electrical cell apparatus includes a first current collector made of a multiplicity of fibers, a second current collector spaced from the first current collector; and a separator disposed between the first current collector and the second current collector. The fibers are contained in a foam.
US09424997B2	Systems and methods to connect sintered aluminum electrodes of an energy storage device This document provides an apparatus including a sintered electrode, a second electrode and a separator material arranged in a capacitive stack. A conductive interconnect couples the sintered electrode and the second electrode. Embodiments include a clip interconnect. In some embodiments, the interconnect includes a comb-shaped connector. In some embodiments, the interconnect includes a wire snaked between adjacent sintered substrates.
US09424994B2	Tunable interdigitated capacitor A tunable capacitor implemented as interdigitated arrays of finger elements arranged so that the spacing between finger arrays may be adjusted. The design has a number of advantages including high capacitance for a given circuit area, small area for a given desired capacitance, mechanical stability, high self resonance frequency, and high quality factor.
US09424988B2	Common mode filter and method of manufacturing the same The present invention relates to a common mode filter and a method of manufacturing the same. In order to implement a common mode filter with low shrinkage, high substrate sintered density, and high strength, the present invention provides a common mode filter including: a lower substrate; an insulating layer having a conductor pattern inside and provided on the lower substrate; an upper substrate provided on the insulating layer; and a ferrite core made of ferrite and provided in the center of the insulating layer, the lower substrate, and the upper substrate by penetrating the insulating layer, the lower substrate, and the upper substrate, and a method of manufacturing the same.
US09424983B2	Thin film coil, shield part including the same, and contactless power transmission device having the shield part There is provided a thin film coil, including a thin type coil pattern, and a coil lead-out portion including a lead-out line traversing the coil pattern from a central portion thereof and electrically connecting the central portion of the coil pattern to the outside thereof and a conductive adhesive layer electrically connecting the central portion of the coil pattern to the lead-out line.
US09424980B2	Electronic component and method of producing same A laminate in which plural insulator layers are stacked includes an external electrode that is exposed to the exterior of the laminate and includes a plurality of conductive layers stacked in a staking direction and passing through some of the plural insulator layers in the stacking direction. At least one side of the external electrode facing in the stacking direction is overlaid with rest of the plural insulator layers. At least one side surface of the external electrode facing in the stacking direction is uneven with another portion of the side surface.
US09424975B2	Split core transformer with self-aligning cores A first housing portion of a split core sensing transformer includes a guide element arranged to engage a guide surface of a separable second housing portion and to control rotation and translation of the housing portions to align the housing portions during joining.
US09424973B2	Coil and method for producing a coil A coil is specified which has at least four electrical conductors, wherein the electrical conductors are wound around a common winding center. Each of the at least four electrical conductors is at a constant distance from the winding center of the coil over the entire length of the coil.
US09424971B2	Magnetic trap for cylindrical diamagnetic materials A method for self-aligning diamagnetic materials includes contacting first and second magnets together other along a contact line so as to generate a diametric magnetization that is perpendicular to the contact line. A diamagnetic rod is positioned with respect to the first and second magnets to levitate above the contact line of the first and second magnets.
US09424970B2	High-k transformers extending into multiple dielectric layers A device includes a first plurality of dielectric layers over a substrate and a second plurality of dielectric layers over the first plurality of dielectric layers. A metal inductor includes a first metal portion, a second metal portion, a third metal portion, and a fourth metal portion, wherein each of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth metal portions extends into the first and the second plurality of dielectric layers. A first metal bridge connects the first metal portion to the second metal portion, wherein the first metal bridge extends into the first plurality of dielectric layers and not into the second plurality of dielectric layers. A second metal bridge connects the third metal portion to the fourth metal portion, wherein the second metal bridge extends into the second plurality of dielectric layers and not into the first plurality of dielectric layers.
US09424964B1	Shields containing microcuts for use in communications cables Shielding elements for use in communication cables are described. A shielding element may include a dielectric material, and electrically conductive material may be formed on the dielectric material. Additionally, a plurality of microcuts may be formed in the electrically conductive material, for example, with one or more lasers. The plurality of microcuts may be spaced apart from one another such that electrically conductive material between the plurality of microcuts will fuse together if an electrical current is applied to the shielding element.
US09424962B2	Flexible electrical cable with resistance to external chemical agents A flexible electrical cable that is resistant to external chemical agents includes a sheathing assembly and a core assembly. From interior to exterior, the core assembly has at least two conductors and a two-part filler material with an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner portion has discrete, non-continuous elements, and the outer portion is a solid, continuous material surrounding the inner portion and at least partially embedding the at least two conductors. The outer portion has a circular cross-section. The sheathing assembly has a foamed polymeric material formed around and shaped by the outer portion of the filler material, a metal tape positioned around and shaped by the foamed polymeric material, a polymeric coating surrounding the metal tape, and an outer sheath.
US09424954B2	Semiconductor package including stacked chips and method of fabricating the same A semiconductor package includes first and second slave chips stacked vertically; and a master chip connected to the first and second slave chips, each of the slave chips including, a plurality of memory blocks, and a redundancy block, and the master chip including, a fuse block configured to repair a defective memory block detected from the first slave chip and a defective memory block detected from the second slave chip by using the redundancy block of the first slave chip and the redundancy block of the second slave chip, respectively, and a block selection circuit configured to, connect the redundancy blocks of the first and second slave chips, one or more non-defective ones of the plurality of memory blocks of the first slave chip, and one or more non-defective ones of the plurality of memory blocks of the second slave chip to an input/output circuit.
US09424950B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes first and second transistors having the same conductivity type and a circuit. One of a source and a drain of the first transistor is electrically connected to that of the second transistor. First and third potentials are supplied to the circuit through respective wirings. A second potential and a first clock signal are supplied to the others of the sources and the drains of the first and second transistors, respectively. A second clock signal is supplied to the circuit. The third potential is higher than the second potential which is higher than the first potential. A fourth potential is equal to or higher than the third potential. The first clock signal alternates the second and fourth potentials and the second clock signal alternates the first and third potentials. The circuit controls electrical connections between gates of the first and second transistors and the wirings.
US09424946B2	Non-volatile buffering to enable sloppy writes and fast write verification Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory. In accordance with some embodiments, input write data having a selected logical address are stored in a rewriteable non-volatile (NV) buffer. A copy of the input write data is transferred to an NV main memory using a sloppy write process. A verify operation is subsequently performed to verify successful transfer of the copy of the input write data to the NV main memory using a hash value generated responsive to the input write data in the NV buffer.
US09424941B2	Semiconductor memory device with sense amplifyer groups and method of operation the same A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell unit including a plurality of memory banks each including a pair of a first memory bank and a second memory bank, a sense amplifier group including a plurality of sense amplifier units each including a first sense amplifier and a second sense amplifier coupled to the first memory bank and the second memory bank, respectively, and a control logic block generating a first column selection signal to transfer data of the first memory bank to the first sense amplifier and a second column selection signal to transfer data of the second memory bank to the second sense amplifier, wherein an active section of the first column selection signal overlaps an active section of the second column selection signal.
US09424938B2	Reduced voltage nonvolatile flash memory Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to nonvolatile memory. The nonvolatile memory may include a memory cell array having memory cell units that have at least one memory cell and select transistors sandwiching the at least one memory cell. At least one programmed threshold voltage of the memory cell units is less than an operating voltage of the memory cell array.
US09424936B1	Current leakage reduction in 3D NAND memory Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards techniques and configurations for providing an apparatus comprising a memory array, to which bias voltage may be provided to reduce leakage current. In one embodiment, the apparatus may comprise a three-dimensional (3D) memory array having at least first and second blocks; and circuitry coupled with the 3D memory array to access the 3D memory array. The circuitry may include circuit to deselect the first block and select the second block, and supply a first bias voltage to the deselected first block and a second bias voltage to the selected second block, to reduce leakage current in the 3D memory array. The first bias voltage may be different than the second bias voltage. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09424922B2	Semiconductor memory device, operating method thereof, and data storage device including the same A semiconductor memory device includes a setting information area suitable for storing setting information necessary for driving of memory cells, a control logic suitable for loading the setting information stored in the setting information area on a content-addressable memory (CAM) block, a CAM state information storage block suitable for storing information on whether the setting information loaded on the CAM block is changed, wherein when a reloading operation of the setting information stored in the setting information area on the CAM block is requested, the control logic selectively performs the reloading operation based on the information stored in the CAM state information storage block.
US09424918B2	Ionic storage unit and driving method There is provided a storage unit including: a storage device configured to store a resistance state, the resistance state being changeable between a first state and a second state; and a driving section, when setting the resistance state to the first state, applying a first pulse having a first polarity to the storage device, the driving section, when setting the resistance state to the second state, applying a second pulse having a second polarity to the storage device, then temporarily applying a third pulse having the first polarity, and applying the second pulse again, the first polarity and the second polarity differing from each other.
US09424910B2	Semiconductor device There is provided, for example, a write assist circuit for controlling the voltage level of a memory cell power supply line coupled to an SRAM memory cell to be written in the write operation. The write assist circuit reduces the voltage level of the memory cell power supply line to a predetermined voltage level, in response to a write assist enable signal that is enabled in the write operation. At the same time, the write assist circuit controls the reduction speed of the voltage level of the memory cell power supply line, according to the pulse width of a write assist pulse signal. The pulse width of the write assist pulse signal is defined in such a way that the greater the number of rows (or the longer the length of the memory cell power supply line), the greater the pulse width.
US09424909B1	Static random access memory (SRAM) arrays having substantially constant operational yields across multiple modes of operation Aspects disclosed include static random access memory (SRAM) arrays having substantially constant operational yields across multiple modes of operation. In one aspect, a method of designing SRAM arrays with multiple modes operation is provided. The method includes determining performance characteristics associated with each mode of operation. SRAM bit cells configured to operate in each mode of operation are provided to the SRAM array. SRAM bit cells are biased to operate in a mode of operation using dynamic adaptive assist techniques, wherein the SRAM bit cells achieve a substantially constant operational yield across the modes. The SRAM bit cells have a corresponding type, wherein the number of SRAM bit cell types in the method is less than the number of modes of operation. Thus, each SRAM array may achieve a particular mode of operation without requiring a separate SRAM bit cell type for each mode, thereby reducing costs.
US09424898B2	Data storage device A data storage device includes a first memory device suitable for performing an internal operation in response to a first internal operation command; and a state checking block suitable for performing a state read operation by transmitting a state read command one or more times to the first memory device during one of an initial mode and a repeat mode which is set based on a type of the internal operation.
US09424897B2	Equalizer and semiconductor memory device including the same Provided are an equalizer and a semiconductor memory device including the same. The equalizer includes a delay circuit and an inverting circuit. The delay circuit is configured to output, in response to a select signal, one of a delay signal delaying an input signal applied to an input/output node and an inverted signal inverting the input signal. The inverting circuit is configured to invert a signal provided from the delay circuit and output the inverted signal to the input/output node. The equalizer is configured such that when the delay circuit outputs the delay signal, the equalizer operates as an inductive bias circuit amplifying the input signal and outputting the amplified input signal, and when the delay circuit outputs the inverted signal, the equalizer operates as a latch circuit storing and outputting the input signal.
US09424894B2	Signal transfer circuit and operating method thereof A signal transfer circuit includes a signal input unit suitable for generating an input signal corresponding to a first voltage level and a second voltage level, a transfer control unit suitable for controlling a driving path of a transfer node in response to a control signal and selectively driving the transfer node to the second voltage level or a third voltage level, which is higher than the first voltage level, based on the driving path in response to the input signal, and an output control unit suitable for outputting an output signal by driving an output node based on a voltage level of the transfer node or maintaining a previous voltage level of the output node in response to the control signal.
US09424892B2	Storage device to which memory device are connectable in multiple stages A storage device includes a controller device and a memory device. The controller device transmits communication information to which route information is added, the route information indicating a route to a destination of the communication information and including an address of a relay point that the communication information passes through before reaching the destination of the communication information. The memory device receives the communication information, and to transmit the communication information to a next relay point, when the destination of the communication information is not the local memory device, by using the address of the relay point included in the route information of the communication information.
US09424888B2	Signal timing alignment based on a common data strobe in memory devices configured for stacked arrangements Disclosed are various embodiments related to stacked memory devices, such as DRAMs, SRAMs, EEPROMs, ReRAMs, and CAMs. For example, stack position identifiers (SPIDs) are assigned or otherwise determined, and are used by each memory device to make a number of adjustments. In one embodiment, a self-refresh rate of a DRAM is adjusted based on the SPID of that device. In another embodiment, a latency of a DRAM or SRAM is adjusted based on the SPID. In another embodiment, internal regulation signals are shared with other devices via TSVs. In another embodiment, adjustments to internally regulated signals are made based on the SPID of a particular device. In another embodiment, serially connected signals can be controlled based on a chip SPID (e.g., an even or odd stack position), and whether the signal is an upstream or a downstream type of signal.
US09424885B2	Pre-processing method for video data playback and playback interface apparatus A pre-processing method for video data playback and a playback interface apparatus are provided, wherein a video receiver module receives a video data with clips, the clips corresponding to numbers in first and second time-sequences, and wherein a display module creates a corresponding GUI component for each clip and arranges the GUI components in the playback interface. When two clips consecutive in the first time-sequence are not consecutive in the second, the display module places their corresponding GUI components separately or distinguishably. By discerning the several time-sequences of the video data, this invention ensures random access of data while being visually intuitive and uniform design-wise.
US09424882B2	System and method for semantic trick play A semantic based trick play method and system in a media player is provided in which a semantic trick play command is received from a user while the user is experiencing a current content of a media item. Metadata is detected with respect to a current playback position of the media item, and at least one further playback position is determined in the current content of the media item or a related content in another media item. The further playback position is semantically related to the metadata of the current playback position. Playback is then moved to the at least one further playback position, so that the user experiences a media content of the at least one further playback position.
US09424880B2	Method and apparatus for determining read-head deviation using orthogonal preambles A storage device includes read circuitry having a read head having a detector that outputs signals representing data from a first track and an adjacent track. The read head is subject to off-track excursions during which the read head detects signals from both the first track and an adjacent track. Data on each track includes a preamble including a repeating pattern. The repeating pattern in any first track is orthogonal to the repeating pattern in any track adjacent to the first track. The read circuitry also includes respective Discrete Fourier Transform circuits to identify components in the signals corresponding to respective frequencies characteristic of the repeating pattern on the first track and the repeating pattern on the second track, and computation circuitry to determine from the components a ratio by which the read head is off-track. Corresponding methods are provided for operating such a storage device and for reading data.
US09424878B1	Two dimensional magnetic recording head separation calculator A method for calculating an average phase offset in a two dimensional magnetic recording system includes calculating a phase offset as a difference between a phase of a first signal derived from a first read head and a second phase of a second signal derived from a second read head, correcting for phase wrapping differences between the phase offset and a previous phase offset, determining whether the phase offset is consistent with the previous phase offset, and calculating an average phase offset which includes the phase offset only if it is consistent with the previous phase offset.
US09424869B2	Device and method for controlling the position of a head relative to a tape within a tape transport system Controlling the position of a head within a tape transport system. A track-follow control system (TFCS) includes a controller device for generating a control signal as a function of a position error signal (PES), wherein the PES indicates a difference between the actual and target positions of the head relative to the tape, and an actuator for changing the actual position. The TFCS is adapted to select a controller device configuration from a plurality of configurations dependent on an operating tape speed. The configurations are predetermined depending on a vibration frequency domain profile indicative of environmental vibrations induced to the head and tape to determine the control signal for adjusting an actuator output signal relative to a lateral tape motion signal. The TFCS is also adapted to feed-back a signal depending on a difference of the actuator output signal and the lateral tape motion signal to generate the PES.
US09424858B1	Acoustic receiver for underwater digital communications A system and method and system for receiving communications signals coded at transmission in a frequency hopping waveform includes a sensor that receives acoustic data. A detector joined to the sensor receives the data and separates signals from background noise. Logic determines when the signal ends. Clusters of signals are processed and grouped into combinations of symbols. A computer translates these symbols into messages using a codebook. When multiple possibilities exist, the message is selected from the codebook that maximizes a similarity score. Additional logic is provided to handle situations where unwanted signals are mixed into an otherwise valid symbol sequence, to find the best subset of signals forming a valid message. Selected messages are provided as output to users. In further details, the detector filters the acoustic data and transforms it to the frequency domain. A power spectrum is calculated for detecting signals in specific frequency bands. Integrations are performed over groups of frequencies. A detection is indicated when one integrator has a large variation from the expected background level.
US09424853B2	Apparatus and method for synchronizing multichannel extension data with an audio signal and for processing the audio signal For synchronizing multichannel extension data with an audio signal, wherein the audio signal includes block division information and the multichannel extension data include reference audio signal fingerprint information, the block division information in the audio signal is detected by means of a block detector. Thereupon, block division of the audio signal is performed by a fingerprint calculator according to the block division information in order to obtain a sequence of test audio signal fingerprints. In addition to that, a sequence of reference audio signal fingerprints is extracted from the reference audio signal fingerprint information of the multichannel extension data. Both sequences of fingerprints are correlated in order to obtain a correlation result, by which a compensator is controlled in order to reduce or eliminate a time offset between the multichannel extension data and the audio signal.
US09424851B2	Frame error concealment method and apparatus and decoding method and apparatus using the same A frame error concealment method and apparatus and a decoding method and apparatus using the same. The frame error concealment method includes setting a concealment method to conceal an error based on one or more signal characteristics of an error frame having the error and concealing the error using the set concealment method.
US09424843B2	Methods and apparatus for signal sharing to improve speech understanding Methods and devices are described for allowing users to use portable computer devices such as smart phones to share microphone signals and/or closed captioning text generated by speech recognition processing of the microphone signals. Under user direction, the portable devices exchange messages to form a signal sharing group to facilitate their conversation.
US09424838B2	Pattern processing system specific to a user group Methods and apparatus for identifying a user group in connection with user group-based speech recognition. An exemplary method comprises receiving, from a user, a user group identifier that identifies a user group to which the user was previously assigned based on training data. The user group comprises a plurality of individuals including the user. The method further comprises using the user group identifier, identifying a pattern processing data set corresponding to the user group, and receiving speech input from the user to be recognized using the pattern processing data set.
US09424828B2	System and method of microphone placement for noise attenuation A method and system for attenuating noise comprises identifying a location in an area at which sound emitted from one or more speakers has acoustic characteristics that are substantially similar in measure to corresponding acoustic characteristics of the emitted sound at a location approximated to be near an ear of an occupant of the area. A microphone, which may be a virtual microphone, is disposed at the identified location. The microphone detects sound at the identified location. In response to the sound detected by the microphone, the one or more speakers emit a noise-canceling audio signal adapted to attenuate one or more frequencies in the sound detected by the microphone.
US09424826B2	Method for representing musical scales and electronic musical device A method represents musical scales by means of tiles, including pentatonic scales (arbitrary scales with five notes per octave), heptatonic scales (arbitrary scales with seven notes per octave), Major blues and Minor blues scales (specific scales with six notes per octave). An electronic musical device has an interface that uses this representation. The device uses a multi-touch interface with or without strings, which allows the musician to concentrate on the melodic line only, making it easier to improvise and perform music composed in one of the scales. The representation differs from the traditional interfaces on string instruments (such as a guitar) in that only the notes of a given scale (with five, six or seven notes per octave) can be played.
US09424822B2	Musical score display device and accessory therefor An electronic device adapted to display musical scores. The musical score display device includes a display for displaying a musical score, i.e. sheet music, to a user and a foot actuator accessory operatively connectable to the musical score display device that users can use to manually scroll through the displayed musical score in a hands-free manner. Alternatively, the display device comprises a microphone and is adapted to detect the playing of musical notes and automatically scroll through the displayed musical score without action by the user. Furthermore, the display device indicates to the user as to whether each note was played correctly or incorrectly via an on-screen prompt. The musical score display device is attachable to a variety of different support articles, such as a music stand or an instrument-attachable support.
US09424820B2	Transformable stand with an improved foot operated pitch changing mechanism for stringed instruments Disclosed are apparatus and related methods for changing the pitch of a stringed instrument, such as an standard, fixed-pitch, resonating or Dobro-type guitar, by attaching the stringed instrument onto a transformable stand comprising a foot pedal assembly and string pitch changing mechanism. In one embodiment, the apparatus and related methods involve affixing the strings from an existing guitar to an improved pitch-changing mechanism, such as disclosed string pitch changer housing, that does not require the deconstruction of the guitar body. Rather, the existing guitar is securely placed on its back on a transformable stand with the use of specially designed plates that hold the instrument with screws, securing the body of the instrument to the stand.
US09424799B2	On-screen image adjustments Methods and systems are described to adjust colors of digital images by using color control tools overlaid on the digital images to be adjusted. In one aspect, a method includes displaying, within a graphical user interface (GUI) and superimposed on a digital image being manipulated, a color control tool configured to cause change of a selected color within the digital image in accordance with user input specifying movement within the GUI. The color control tool includes a plurality of new color indicators, each indicating a new color to which the selected color will change in response to an associated predetermined movement within the GUI. The method also includes receiving via the color control tool user input specifying a direction of movement within the GUI relative to the plurality of new color indicators, and changing the selected color to match the new color indicator associated with the specified direction of movement.
US09424798B2	Mobile terminal and control method thereof A mobile terminal for outputting an image and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal includes a terminal main body, a display unit disposed on a front surface of the main body and configured to display an image, a movement sensor mounted in the main body and configured to sense a movement of the main body, a camera sensor activated in response to a movement of the main body, and a controller configured to control a display direction of the image according to a user location sensed by the camera sensor.
US09424795B2	Display device, and driving method A display device (1) includes: a scan line drive circuit (4) which line-sequentially selects from among a plurality of scan signal lines; at least one signal line drive circuit (3) which has a receiving circuit that receives a data signal, and which sequentially supplies the data signal to pixels linked to a scan signal line (6) selected by the scan line drive circuit (4); a timing controller (10) which defines, in accordance with sync signals received from an outside source, a non-scan period during which none of the scan signal lines is selected, and which transmits, to the at least one signal line drive circuit (3), an operation discriminant signal that causes the receiving circuit to be underrun during at least part of the non-scan period thus defined. The at least one signal line drive circuit (3) and the timing controller (10) are provided as separate entities.
US09424791B2	Reflective display device A reflective display device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels; a data driver connected to each of the plurality of pixels and configured to transmit a target voltage to each of the plurality of pixels; and a scan driver connected to each of the plurality of pixels and configured to transmit a switching signal for determining whether the data driver transmits the target voltage to some of the plurality of pixels, wherein each of the plurality of pixels is configured to receive the target voltage for single data information, receive the target voltage in a first time period when the target voltage transmitted to each of the plurality of pixels is between a first voltage level and a second voltage level, and receive the target voltage in a second time period when the target voltage is between the second voltage level and a third voltage level.
US09424789B2	Electronic imaging device and driving method therefor An electronic imaging device includes a display unit and a barrier layer. The display unit includes scan lines for transferring select signals, data lines for transferring data signals corresponding to first and second images formed according to one or more input signals, and pixels connected with the scan and data lines. The barrier layer includes first barriers and second barriers corresponding to the first barriers. The first image is displayed during a first period of a unit period during which an image of a single frame is displayed. The second image is displayed during a second period different from the first period. The first barriers are driven according to the first image, the second barriers are driven according to the second image, and a region of the barrier layer corresponding to a mixed region in which the first and second images coexist is a non-transmission region.
US09424787B2	Liquid crystal display device and driving method thereof Discussed is an LCD device. The LCD device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a liquid crystal panel in which a plurality of pixels are respectively formed in a plurality of areas defined by intersections between a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines, and a driving unit configured to switch inversion systems for driving the liquid crystal panel at predetermined periods.
US09424782B2	Organic light emitting display An organic light emitting display including a display panel having pixels coupled to data lines and first power voltage lines. Each of the pixels includes an organic light emitting diode; a driving transistor coupled to the organic light emitting diode and the first power voltage lines; a first transistor coupled to the data lines and a gate electrode of the driving transistor; a second transistor configured to supply a reference voltage of the data lines to a source electrode of the driving transistor; and a capacitor coupled to the gate and source electrodes of the driving transistor.
US09424780B2	Pixel circuit of active matrix organic light emitting diode, driving method of the same, and display apparatus A pixel circuit, a driving method, and a display apparatus, wherein the pixel circuit includes: a first switch transistor having a source connected to a data signal terminal, and a gate connected to a first control signal terminal; a first capacitor having a first terminal connected to a drain of the first switch transistor; a second capacitor having a first terminal connected to a second voltage signal terminal, and a second terminal connected to a second terminal of the first capacitor; a third capacitor having a first terminal connected to the first control signal terminal, and a second terminal connected to a gate of a driving transistor; a second switch transistor having a source connected to the gate of the driving transistor, a drain connected to a drain of the driving transistor, and a gate connected to the first control signal terminal; and a third, fourth, fifth and sixth switch transistors.
US09424769B2	Display and brightness adjusting method thereof A display and a brightness adjusting method thereof are provided. In the method, an object located in front of a touch screen of the display is detected and a distance between the object and the touch screen is estimated and determined whether to be less than a first preset value. When the distance is less than the first preset value, the brightness of the touch screen is adjusted according to a light adjusting ratio in a brightness distribution curve. Then, time is accumulated after the brightness adjustment and when the accumulated time is over a second preset value, the brightness of the touch screen is resumed to original brightness.
US09424765B2	Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program An information processing apparatus that includes a memory that stores a plurality of images, and a controller that obtains a template having attributes applied to each of a plurality of display areas, selects images matching the attributes of the respective display areas from among the plurality of images stored in the memory, disposes the selected images matching the attributes of the respective display areas in the respective display areas, and controls a display to display the template including the selected images disposed in the respective display areas.
US09424745B1	Predicting traffic patterns Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for predicting traffic patterns. One of the methods includes receiving a velocity distribution for a road segment, wherein the velocity distribution includes, for each velocity interval, a count of how many velocity observations have a velocity measurement within the velocity interval, wherein each velocity observation has one or more features describing conditions under which the velocity observation was made. A mixture model having K component distributions is generated for the velocity distribution. A decision tree is generated from the K component distributions and a rule is generated from a particular leaf of the decision tree, wherein the rule maps one or more features for the road segment to one of the K component distributions according to a path from the root of the decision tree to the particular leaf.
US09424743B2	Real-time traffic detection Systems and methods for real-time traffic detection are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises capturing ambient sounds as an audio sample in a user device, and segmenting the audio sample into a plurality of audio frames. Further, the method comprises identifying periodic frames amongst the plurality of audio frames. Spectral features of the identified periodic frames are extracted, and horn sounds are identified based on the spectral features. The identified horn sounds are then used for real-time traffic detection.
US09424734B1	Device to monitor distance between people The device to monitor distance between people measures a pre-defined distance between a first person and other persons, and alerts the user when the pre-defined distance has been breached or violated for more than a pre-determined time. Intended to protect a first human from the deleterious effects of radiation (nuclear) associated with a second human, but useful in other circumstances, the device is designed to detect the presence of a first person within a protective radius of one to two meters of a second person by pairing the combination of one heat sensor with one distance sensor. In the event the first person is within that radius for the predetermined time, the device will alert the user of that circumstance. Alert feedback mechanisms can include an acoustic audible signal, a visible signal, a vibratory signal, or phone notification.
US09424725B1	School perimeter security system A school perimeter security system includes a registry database. The registry database includes: registered student mobile device identifiers, registered non-student mobile device identifiers, and a matching of students with authorized non-students with whom the students are permitted to be paired with near the perimeter. At least three beacon devices are located within the school perimeter, positioned to establish a boundary area near the perimeter, detect and establish communication with mobile devices entering the boundary area, obtain an identifier from each mobile device that enters the boundary area, and facilitate trilateration of all mobile devices within the boundary area. The processor and beacon devices cooperatively interact to identify every mobile device entering the boundary area, track the location of every mobile device within the boundary area, compare the identified mobile devices with identifiers in the registry database and, transmit an alert notice when a condition is satisfied.
US09424721B2	Point-of-sale system A point-of-sale system includes a stand that supports a tablet computer. The tablet computer can run a merchant application to provide the typical functionality for a point-of-sale system. The stand can be rotatable to face either the merchant or the customer. The stand can incorporate a card reader. The tablet computer can be connected through a hub to other peripheral components, such as a controllable cash drawer, a printer and/or a bar code reader. The cash drawer can include a slidable drawer having sliding rails that are hidden from a top view of the drawer.
US09424720B2	Gaming machine and methods of allowing a player to play gaming machines having modifiable reel features A gaming machine is described herein. The gaming machine includes a display device for displaying a game and a controller connected to the display device. The game includes a plurality of reels, each reel having a reel strip including a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of game symbols displayed in each of the symbol positions in a predetermined order. The controller is configured to determine an outcome of the primary game, responsively spin and stop the reels to display the outcome of the primary game, and provide a first award to the player based on the primary game outcome. The controller detects if a triggering graphic is being displayed with the primary game outcome and is associated with at least one reel, modifies a reel feature of a reel strip associated with the reel, and generates an outcome of a secondary game including the modified reel strip.
US09424716B2	Wagering apparatus, methods and systems A system, method and apparatus provides a unique betting product where players make selections in one or more different events. Players who are in contention to win may be offered an opportunity to sell their tickets, in whole or in part, in response to a full or partial buy-out offer made at any time prior to completion of a wagering event.
US09424712B2	Authenticating components in wagering game systems In some embodiments, a processor includes a plurality of local stores configured to store wagering game assets and at least part of a wagering game controller, and to store authentication keys for use in authenticating the wagering game controller and the wagering game assets; a plurality of processing elements, wherein each processing element is coupled to one of the local stores, each processing element configured to present wagering games by executing the wagering game controller; at least one authentication controller including hardware configured to authenticate, using the authentication keys, the wagering game controller and wagering game assets; a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device configured to store the wagering game controller and wagering game assets, wherein the wagering game assets include audio and video content for use in presenting the wagering games.
US09424698B2	Keyless entry system In a keyless entry system including an in-vehicle device, and a portable device operated by a built-in battery, a request signal is transmitted from the in-vehicle device to the portable device so that wireless communication is performed between the in-vehicle device and the portable device, the portable device can set first sensitivity that is predetermined sensitivity and second sensitivity that is higher sensitivity than the first sensitivity and at which a detection area for the request signal is wide, as detection sensitivity for detecting the request signal, sets the detection sensitivity to the second sensitivity when determining that the portable device is in the vehicle's interior or within the predetermined distance from the vehicle, and sets the detection sensitivity to the first sensitivity when determining that the portable device is not in or comes to be not in the vehicle's interior or within the predetermined distance from the vehicle.
US09424694B2	Assessing performance of a system A method of generating probability data for use in assessing performance of a system and a mission involving the system. The method includes receiving (302) a combined model describing a system diagnosis model describing symptoms, failures and link strengths (conditionals) of components/subsystems of the system, and a mission impact model, the mission impact model describing effects of the system on an ability to perform the mission. Observation data regarding a state of the system is also received (306) The observation data is used (308) in combination with the combined model to generate probability data for use in assessing performance of the system and the mission.
US09424687B2	Method, apparatus and computer program product for modelling the non-linear structural response of a component A method, apparatus and computer program product for modeling the non-linear structural response of a component. The non-linear structural response is modeled using a two-step global-local finite element analysis method, which employs a linear global analysis step, a linear intermediate analysis step and a non-linear local analysis step. The boundary conditions applied in the intermediate step are derived in part from the linear global analysis and the boundary conditions applied in the local analysis are derived in part from the global and intermediate analyses.
US09424676B2	Transitioning between top-down maps and local navigation of reconstructed 3-D scenes Technologies are described herein for transitioning between a top-down map display of a reconstructed structure within a 3-D scene and an associated local-navigation display. An application transitions between the top-down map display and the local-navigation display by animating a view in a display window over a period of time while interpolating camera parameters from values representing a starting camera view to values representing an ending camera view. In one embodiment, the starting camera view is the top-down map display view and the ending camera view is the camera view associated with a target photograph. In another embodiment, the starting camera view is the camera view associated with a currently-viewed photograph in the local-navigation display and the ending camera view is the top-down map display.
US09424663B2	Apparatus and method for coding a three dimensional mesh Disclosed is a three-dimensional (3D) mesh compression apparatus and method. The 3D mesh compression apparatus may generate a base mesh through a mesh simplification, may separately compress the base mesh and vertices eliminated by the simplification, and may compress 3D mesh data based on the covariance matrix.
US09424661B2	Method and an apparatus for facilitating efficient information coding A method and an apparatus for producing a coded graphic representation. The method includes providing a graphic array and processing at least a portion of the graphic array. A graphic array can be provided such that an array of graphic indications which includes a plurality of graphic indication pairs can be provided. Each of the plurality of graphic indication pair can have at least a first graphic element and a second graphic element. The first and second graphic element can be spaced apart such that each of the plurality of graphic indication pairs can be associated with an element pitch. The element pitches of the plurality of graphic indication pairs can be substantially similar. At least a portion of the graphic array can be processed by displacing at least one graphic indication pair in the plurality of graphic indication pairs such that at least one element pitch is deviated.
US09424659B2	Real time processing of video frames A method and system for real time processing of a sequence of video frames. A current frame in the sequence and at least one frame in the sequence occurring prior to the current frame is analyzed. Each frame includes a two-dimensional array of pixels. The sequence of video frames is received in synchronization with a recording of the video frames in real time. The analyzing includes performing a background subtraction on the at least one frame, which determines a background image and a static region mask associated with a static region consisting of a contiguous distribution of pixels in the current frame. The static region mask identifies each pixel in the static region upon the static region mask being superimposed on the current frame. A determination is made that a persistence requirement, both a non-persistence duration requirement and a persistence duration requirement, or a combination thereof have been satisfied.
US09424658B2	Moving object detection method A moving object detection method according to an embodiment includes evaluating an average value, instead of a median value, of pixel values at the same pixel positions across multiple superposed images. A threshold value obtained by multiplying the average value by a predetermined number is employed to distinguish space debris from an object which emits light at a higher luminance than the space debris. In order to detect the space debris accurately, an average value of the pixel values that are equal to or less than the threshold is employed as an evaluation value for the space debris detection.
US09424656B2	Computer vision based method and system for evaluating and grading surgical procedures To increase the timeliness, objectivity, and efficiency in evaluating surgical procedures such as those performed by ophthalmology residents' learning of cataract surgery, an automatic analysis system for surgeries such as cataract surgery is provided to assess performance, particularly in the capsulorrhexis step on the Kitaro simulator. Computer vision technologies are employed to measure performance of this critical step including duration, centrality, circularity, size, as well as motion stability during the capsulorrhexis procedure. Consequently, a grading mechanism is established based on either linear regression or non-linear classification via Support Vector Machine (SVM) of those computed measures. Comparisons of expert graders to the computer vision based approach have demonstrated the accuracy and consistency of the computerized technique.
US09424652B2	Adaptive background estimation Various methods and systems are provided for adaptive background estimation. In one embodiment, among others, a signal processing device includes at least one processing unit and a memory storing a background estimation system executable in the at least one processing unit. The background estimation system, when executed, causes the signal processing device to separate foreground objects from at least one image frame in a sequence of image frames based at least in part upon a correntropy cost function. In another embodiment, a method includes obtaining an image frame from a sequence of image frames; performing correntropy filtering on the image frame to separate foreground objects from the image frame; and providing the foreground objects for rendering. The correntropy filtering may adapt to compensate for diffusion effects in the image frame.
US09424645B2	Calibration device and calibration method for a stereo camera without placing physical markers Provided is a calibration device that can calculate the mounting state of a stereo camera without the placing of a physical marker. In this device, an area setting processor (113) preliminarily sets, for an integrated image in which a road surface image region and a setting-prohibited region are integrated, an arrangement pattern having a plurality of area setting frames, and adjusts the arrangement pattern so that the plurality of area setting frames recede from each other. An extraction processor (114) extracts from distance images a plurality of partial images corresponding to the plurality of area setting frames. A mounting-state calculation unit (104) calculates a mounting-state parameter on the basis of a plurality of partial images, such parameter relating to the mounting state of a stereo camera used to pick up stereo images.
US09424643B2	Image display device, image display method, and computer-readable recording medium An image display device includes: a display unit; an image extraction unit that extracts a main image group from an image group; an image association unit that associates sub images included in a sub image group not extracted from the image group with main images included in the main image group; and a display control unit that generates a display screen in which the main image group is arranged in a first area along a first direction and the sub images are aligned with each of the main images in a second area along a second direction, and causes the display unit to display the display screen. The display control unit changes the display screen in a mode in which the main image group is moved along the first direction and in a mode in which the main image group and the sub image group are moved along the second direction.
US09424640B2	Pathological diagnosis support apparatus and pathological diagnosis support method A pathological diagnosis support apparatus outputs a diagnostic region that is to be used as a target for diagnosis in a specimen image representing a specimen that is a target for pathological diagnosis, and includes: a target obtainment unit which obtains the specimen image and specimen information related to a scheme for preparing the specimen; a criterion obtainment unit which obtains a criterion corresponding to the specimen information from a database associating, for each of a plurality of specimens, specimen information related to a scheme for preparing each of the plurality of specimens with a criterion indicating a condition of a positive rate which is to be satisfied by the diagnostic region in a specimen image; and an output unit which outputs, as the diagnostic region, each of one or more regions in the specimen image having the positive rate determined to satisfy a condition indicated by the criterion obtained by the criterion obtainment unit.
US09424629B2	Image pickup apparatus, image processing apparatus, image processing method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element which obtains an original image, a storage unit which stores a first optical transfer function different depending on an image pickup condition and on a position in the original image and an image restoration filter or a function designed to generate a second optical transfer function, a data obtaining unit which obtains the first optical transfer function when the aperture value is less than a predetermined value, and the image restoration filter or the second optical transfer function generated based on the function designed to generate the second optical transfer function when the aperture value is not less than the predetermined value, a filter generating unit which generates an image restoration filter based on the first or second optical transfer function, and an image processing unit which generates the restored image by using the image restoration filter.
US09424627B2	System and method for high-performance client-side in-browser scaling of digital images According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a system and method for high-performance client-side in-browser scaling of digital images. The instant invention processes large digital images in a client-based web browser, prior to upload to a server. The system provides a tremendous decrease in time required for uploading of digital images for online use. The instant invention that is carried out on the client device is therewith decreasing processing time and bandwidth.
US09424618B2	Smartphone-based methods and systems Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09424617B2	Graphics command generation device and graphics command generation method An intermediate command generation unit generates intermediate commands, which are intermediate rendering commands having model data for rendering an object. A graphics command conversion unit converts the generated intermediate commands into a graphic command sequence for execution by a graphics processor. An identity determination unit determines whether a state of a graphics command to be generated from an intermediate command is the same as a state of the graphics command generated previously. A graphics command generation unit generates a graphics command determined by the identity determination unit as not having the same state, and does not generate a graphics command determined as having the same state, defining the command as a redundant command.
US09424616B2	Customer identity verification Customer identity verification. Receiving a request for verification of a customer's identity. The request includes fields of customer identity data. Requesting, from a first verification resource, verification of the customer's identity using the customer identity data. Receiving from the first verification resource, first verification results including at least one new field of customer identity data. The first verification results being insufficient to verify the customer's identity. Requesting, from a second verification resource, verification of the customer's identity using the at least one new field of customer identity data. Receiving, from the second verification resource, second verification results. For second verification results sufficient to verify the customer's identity, communicating to the customer a successful verification of the customer's identity.
US09424613B2	Method, system and apparatus for load shaving of a power grid and a tangible computer readable medium The present disclosure provides a system, method and apparatus for load shaving of a power grid, and a tangible computer readable medium. The system may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing computer executable instructions. The at least one memory and computer executable instructions may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the system to profile behavior data for power customers to divide the power customers into at least one group; define, based on usage characteristic of each of the at least one group, a possible load shaving strategy for each of the at least one group; and perform load shaving analysis at least under constraint of the possible load shaving strategy for each of the at least one group, to provide a recommended load shaving strategy for each of the power customers.
US09424601B2	Method, computer program product, and system for providing a sensor-based environment Method, computer program product, and system to facilitate a checkout transaction for a person within an environment having a plurality of items. The method includes determining, using a visual sensor disposed within the environment, image information associated with the person. The method further includes analyzing the image information to identify one or more of the plurality of items that are selected by the person to be presented during the checkout transaction. In some cases, the method also includes determining whether the identified items belong to a predetermined class of items deemed to be “difficult.” The method further includes determining, based on the one or more identified items, a level of assistance to provide to the person during the checkout transaction.
US09424600B2	System and method for providing a portable and interactive storefront In an example embodiment, a method for providing a portable and interactive storefront is provided. The method may comprise receiving information associated with a product to be placed in electronic commerce. Content is therefore generated based on the received information, in which the content may provide an interactive storefront. A link to the content is generated and then provided.
US09424595B2	Customized content delivery based on geographic area Methods and systems are disclosed for providing customized content to users based on their location. In one embodiment, for each of one or more content providers, a customized content delivery function receives information from the content provider defining a number of geographic shapes selecting corresponding geographic areas. Preferably, each of the geographic shapes overlaps at least one other of the geographic shapes and is assigned an importance level. For each geographic shape, the content provider defines one or more tags for the geographic shape and assigns a weight to each of the one or more tags. Thereafter, when a request is received from a requestor, one or more content items are selected for delivery to the requestor based on the geographic shapes, the tags and corresponding weights for the geographic shapes, and the location of the requestor.
US09424592B2	First party advertisement serving Adservers with the ability to access advertiser cookies and vice versa when both are serving from the advertiser's domain are provided, thereby avoiding the overhead and delay in backend cookie synchronization efforts. Further, advertising cookie data can be gathered regardless of whether a user is browsing a publisher's web site with an advertisement served by an adserver, or browsing the advertiser's web site, because the cookies were previously set when the user visited the advertiser's web site in the context of a first-party cookie. Even if the user has configured his or her browser to limit the setting of third-party cookies, the cookies can still be read by the adserver. By making cookie and advertising data immediately available in real time to both the advertiser and the adserver, the solution also provides for instantaneous and accurate targeting of web advertising to allow an educated ad selection process by either party.
US09424585B2	Coupon copy protection A data distribution system which includes business groups, a client system and a main database system is described. Coupons and coupon data may be exchanged between the business groups, the client system and the main database system. Each coupon being exchanged may include one or more fraud protection features that can neither be altered nor tampered by users, consumers or retailers.
US09424584B2	Systems and methods for generating and displaying user preference tag clouds Systems and methods for generating and displaying user preferences in a tag cloud are provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. A user preference tag cloud may be of any shape and size and may be generated using a stencil selected by a user. A user preference tag cloud may thus present a user's media preferences in an attractive and compelling visual arrangement that, in some embodiments, also functions as an intuitive interface which allows users to indicate and/or modify their preferences.
US09424577B2	Systems and methods for processing payment transactions at fuel dispensing stations The methods and systems described herein provide for processing electronic payments at a retail location. Secure payment information for use in processing future payment transactions initiated by a mobile device may be stored at a secure location remote from retail locations. A mobile device of a user may be detected and location determined based at least in part on the strength of a signal via a wireless antennas at the retail location. A determination is made that the mobile device is associated with a user who previously provided payment information for use in processing payment transactions. The mobile device may receive incentives based at least in part on the determined location. A user may complete a payment transaction at the retail location without providing the secure payment information at the retail location.
US09424570B2	On-screen code stabilization Methods and systems for stabilizing an on-screen code on a display of a mobile device are described. A code is displayed on a mobile device as an on-screen code. The user holds the mobile device in front of a code scanner so that the on-screen code can be scanned. A code stabilization application on the mobile device assists in stabilizing and/or centering the on-screen code through changing its position, shape, and/or size based on data and/or measurements from sensors. The code stabilization application stabilizes the on-screen code for easy scan-ability to speed up the scanning process.
US09424565B2	System and method for preparing and delivering informational content At least one content publishing server having a memory storing a map data structure configured by a content author which defines relationships among plural resources and thereby define an informational item of higher granularity content. Each of the plural resources are associated with a first electronic file linked to said map data structure and configured to store information about the usage of the associated resource. Higher granularity content is associated with a second electronic file linked to said map data structure configured to store information about the usage of the higher granularity content. The server which delivers the informational item to a computer gathers feedback usage information reflecting how the higher granularity content and individual ones of the plural resources are used by users. The server updates the electronic files in accordance with the feedback usage information.
US09424563B2	Accessing medial context information using contextual links The systems and methods described herein are directed toward launching a third party application in a media center module using a contextual link. The media center module is configured to enable the third party application to register with the module and to associate a contextual link corresponding to the third party application with a context provided by the media center module. In response to a request for information related to the context, the media center module is configured to direct to a location associated with the contextual link. The media center module is further configured to provide to the location data that identifies the context. In response to the provided data, the location is populated with the requested information. Thus, the use of conditional link enables a third party application to register to be a context handler for a media center module.
US09424560B2	Time indicators for calendars In a multiday view of a calendar, a time indicator is shown adjacent to a graphical element for the current day. In the multiday view, such a time indicator accurately indicates the current time on the current day, but not on other days of the week. If the current day is not viewable, the time indicator is not shown. By being adjacent to the graphical element for the current day, the time indicator does not obscure information, such as events, for the current day.
US09424559B2	Annotation of communications A calendar event that is addressed to a plurality of recipients is generated. At least one of the plurality of recipients is designated as a first annotation recipient. A first annotation is associated with the calendar event, the first annotation addressed to the first annotation recipient.
US09424549B2	System and method for facilitating user-generated content relating to social networks A system and method for facilitating user-generated content relating to social networks are provided. The system provides an online environment which poses questions to users, and which allows the users to answer such questions by identifying appropriate contacts of the user. The system automatically identifies the user's contacts by consulting one or more electronic accounts of the user on one or more social networking sites/services, and/or one or more e-mail accounts. The user can respond to questions posed by clicking on appropriate contacts, dragging them, and dropping them in an answer area in the online environment. The user can manage his/her contacts by creating one or more groups and/or tags associated with each contact. The grouped/tagged contacts can be imported into a contact management system, and can be used by researchers to conduct social network visualizations or to achieve other research objectives.
US09424535B2	Systems and methods for managing staging and choreography Systems and methods for managing choreography in a simple and efficient manner are disclosed. The disclosed systems and methods allow a user, such as a choreographer, director, or producer, to document the movement of each performer in a performance or other choreography. Choreography of each performer can be documented in as much detail as desired and coordinated with a beat of music, a timeline of a dialog, and/or the movements of other performers. The disclosed systems and methods provide for creation of precise spacing charts. The documentation and charts can be linked or otherwise associated together and/or linked or otherwise associated with a section of a script of the performance.
US09424514B2	Synapse maintenance in the developmental networks The developmental neural network is trained using a synaptic maintenance process. Synaptogenic trimming is first performed on the neuron inputs using a synaptogenic factor for each neuron based on standard deviation of a measured match between the input and synaptic weight value. A top-k competition among all neurons then selects a subset of said neurons as winning neurons. Neuronal learning is applied only to these winning neurons, updating their synaptic weights and updating their synaptogenic factors.
US09424509B2	System for application personalization for a mobile device A system for controlling applications of a wireless mobile device includes a server for receiving data related to an adaptive user profile and for controlling operations of applications within the wireless mobile device. An adaptive neural/fuzzy logic control application implemented within the network server generates the adaptive user profile responsive to the received data. The adaptive user profile controls operations of the applications within the wireless mobile device and changes in real time responsive to the received data.
US09424501B2	Information processing device capable of outputting print data to print device, and control method thereof In case of searching and outputting output information stored in a memory, it enables a user of the host computer to select the device of storing the output information, whereby the load in searching and outputting the information is reduced. To do so, when the host computer causes the printer to print the image based on the print data, the hard disk of the multifunctional device is selected from among the plural hard disks, as the storage destination to which the print data is stored and from which the stored print data can be searched and output. Then, the information representing the storage destination and the print data are transmitted to the printer so as to be printed, and the print data is also transmitted to the multifunctional device to be stored.
US09424495B1	Digital food imaging analysis: system and method to analyze food consumption A method for identifying and analyzing amounts and nutritional values of food consumption, utilizing digital image processing and linked nutritional information. A recipe generator is utilized to provide a component analysis of food preparations based on identification of subcomponents.
US09424493B2	Generic object detection in images Neural networks for object detection in images are used with a spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) layer. Using the SPP network structure, a fixed-length representation is generated regardless of image size and scale. The feature maps are computed from the entire image once, and the features are pooled in arbitrary regions (sub-images) to generate fixed-length representations for training the detectors. Thus, repeated computation of the convolutional features is avoided while accuracy is enhanced.
US09424488B2	Applying a segmentation engine to different mappings of a digital image An image processing method includes applying a segmentation engine to different mappings of a digital image, and generating primitives by tessellating non-congruent segments of the different mappings, where the primitives are defined by boundaries of the non-congruent segments in the different mappings. The method further includes classifying the primitives. Classifying the primitives is accomplished by assessing, using a plurality of classifiers, a quality of each segment of each mapping, and assigning a classification to each primitive based upon the assessing. Each of applying, generating and classifying is performed by a processor programmed by machine memory encoded with data.
US09424485B2	Grid data processing method and apparatus The present invention discloses a grid data record processing method and apparatus. The method comprising: acquiring influence parameters of lag time of an insulator on which flashover is occurred, the lag time being a time interval from the insulator flashover to tripping of a corresponding breaker in a substation is caused; determining the lag time according to the acquired influence parameters of the lag time and a lag time evaluation model; and determining trip-up records caused by the insulator flashover from grid data records according to the lag time. With the method and apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, trip-up records caused by insulator flashover can be efficiently determined from grid data records.
US09424477B2	Handwritten character retrieval apparatus and method According to one embodiment, a handwritten character retrieval apparatus is provided with an acquisition unit, a feature extraction unit, an segmentation unit, a attribute append unit and a retrieval unit. The acquisition unit acquires a handwritten character string in units of a stroke. The feature extraction unit extracts a first feature value unique to each of the strokes from the handwritten character string. The segmentation unit segments the strokes into a plurality of sets. The attribute append unit appends a second feature value based on the sets to each of the strokes. The retrieval unit executes retrieval based on the first feature value and the second feature value.
US09424475B1	Construction object detection Aspects of the disclosure relate to identifying construction objects. As an example, an image captured by a camera associated with a vehicle as the vehicle is driven along a roadway may be received. This image may be converted into a first channel corresponding to an average brightness contribution from red, blue and green channels of the image. The image may also be converted into a second channel corresponding to a contribution of a color from the red and the green channels of the image. A template may then be used to identify a region of the image corresponding to a potential construction object from the first channel and the second channel.
US09424471B2	Enhanced information for viewer-selected video object The user of an Internet-enabled CE device such as a TV can select an object in a video presented on the display of the CE device by either touch sensitive screen or input device. The processor of the CE device can then determine the boundaries of the object, identify it using face/image recognition software, search for information/websites related to the object, and present those information/websites to the viewer on the display screen.
US09424459B1	Computerized methods for cell-based pattern recognition Systems and methods relating to a cell-based pattern recognition tool for microscopy images from tissue sections are described, wherein cell features are extracted and a classifier is built in accordance with a particular application using an interactive training tied to a computerized platform, the result is an application-specific classifier that further processes images in accordance with the specific application, thereby tuning an automated process for cell based pattern recognition.
US09424456B1	Ultrasonic fingerprint authentication based on beam forming An ultrasonic finger print authentication system that generates a three-dimensional representation of a fingerprint. High frequency sound waves are used as a medium for imaging finer details of the patterns on a fingertip, including the ridge and valley formations. Multiple frequencies and beam-forming are used to quickly map the ridges. Acoustic resonance is used to determine the depths of the intervening valleys.
US09424449B2	RFID system and a method for manipulating passive RFID tags A method, comprising: sending, by a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, an identification request to an RFID tag; wherein the RFID tag is positioned within a coverage area of the RFID tag; searching, by the RFID reader, a lack of response from the RFID tag to the identification request during a silent period that ranges between a fraction of a second and a minute; and controlling, by the RFID reader and in response to a detection of the lack of response, a circuit that differs from the RFID reader and the RFID tag.
US09424446B2	Point of sale inductive systems and methods Systems and methods for the identification, powering and control of products and product packaging. The systems can include a point of sale display having a contactless power supply. The contactless power supply can provide a source of wireless power for products and product packaging. The products and product packaging can include light emitting diodes, e-ink displays and printed speaker circuits that activate as the operating frequency of the contactless power supply varies. Other embodiments include product level sensors, inductive reader networks, printed temperature sensors, product alignment systems, passive identification circuits and methods for controlling operation of the same.
US09424437B1	Systems and methods for providing file access in a hybrid cloud storage system A method for providing access to objects associated with a particular client in a cloud storage system is disclosed. The method includes the steps of establishing a connection with a user, providing a client namespace associated with the client to the user, where the client namespace represents objects stored on the cloud storage system and objects stored on a private storage system apart from the cloud storage system, receiving a request from the user to access an object stored on the private storage system, and providing information to the user to facilitate access to the object stored on the private storage system by said user. Other systems and methods are also disclosed. Important advantages of the present invention are facilitated by separating the logic for user access (control plane) from the actual storage (Storage plane). Private file system access can still be managed from the cloud, while keeping the client data private.
US09424430B2	Method and system for defending security application in a user's computer Protecting the integrity and the effectiveness of a security agent that is installed in a user's device while the user's device operates online or offline. The security agent may be used for enforcing a security policy required by an organization or network to which the user's computer belongs. One aspect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is to associate the content of one or more storage devices of the user's computer with the security agent and with a boot-loader program used by the user's computer.
US09424427B1	Anti-rootkit systems and methods According to one aspect, a dynamic binary instrumentation (DBI) framework is used to identify rootkits and disable their malicious functionality. A user-mode or kernel-mode anti-rootkit (ARK) engine monitors the execution of a program running on a host machine in user more or kernel mode. Upon encountering calls to certain functions that may be used by rootkits to subvert system functionality (e.g. system calls used to manage the system registry, storage/disk, processes/threads, and/or network communications), the anti-rootkit engine executes translated versions of the functions in an isolated environment and continues execution of the program under analysis using the results of the translated code execution. The translated code execution replaces the execution of original code which may or may not have been subverted by a rootkit. Isolating the stack and registers of the isolated environment impedes detection of the monitoring process by rootkits.
US09424426B2	Detection of malicious code insertion in trusted environments Methods and computer program products which facilitate detection of malicious code insertion by an insider during the software development lifecycle are disclosed Aspects focus on behavioral characteristics associated with the introduction of malcode during the software development process. Injection of malcode by an insider threat, and the malcode itself, may leave behind behavioral signatures in the source code repository and source code that can be detected by a multi-dimensional combination of sensors. By detecting the behavioral signatures of malcode within artifacts generated by the software development process, instances of malcode can be isolated and prevented before release.
US09424415B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and non-transitory computer readable medium for determining whether authenticated state is maintained An information processing apparatus is provided. The processing apparatus includes a first acquiring unit that acquires information for specifying an operator, an operator authenticating unit that authenticates the operator, a first determining unit that determines whether information on the operator is continuously acquired, a second acquiring unit that acquires information for specifying a checker, a checker authenticating unit that authenticates a checker corresponding to the operator, a second determining unit that determines whether information on the checker is continuously acquired, and a controller that controls a processing apparatus to execute processing, on the condition that the operator is authenticated and the checker is authenticated. The controller controls the processing apparatus to continue the processing, on a condition that, after execution of the processing by the processing apparatus, the information on the operator is determined to be continuously acquired, or the information on the checker is determined to be continuously acquired.
US09424413B2	Integration of payment capability into secure elements of computers Methods, secure elements, validation entities, and computer program products for effecting secure communication of payment information to merchants for Internet-based purchases. Payment information for a user's real payment information is installed in a secure element of a computer, the payment information may comprise a pseudo PAN number for the portable consumer device provided by a validation entity. The secure element is shielded from the computer's operating system to thwart hacker attacks. The user accesses the secure element to make a purchase. In response, the secure element contacts the validation entity with the pseudo account number, and in response obtains dynamic payment information that the secure element can used to effect the payment. The dynamic payment information comprises an account number that is different from the pseudo PAN, and which has at least one difference which respect to the user's real payment information.
US09424404B2	Software revalidation Software revalidation. In one example embodiment, a method for software revalidation may include various steps. For example, the method may include receiving, at a machine on which a software application has been installed and activated, activation rules, from an activation server, that have been updated since the release of the software application to account for new or updated software or hardware with which the software application is configured to be employed. The method may also include periodically applying, at the machine, the updated activation rules to newly-collected machine configuration information from the machine to determine whether a product key remains valid for the newly-collected machine configuration information and, if the product key remains valid for the newly-collected machine configuration information, revalidating, at the machine, the software application to authorize continued access to the software application.
US09424402B2	Blocking of unlicensed audio content in video files on a video hosting website A system, method and various software tools enable a video hosting website to automatically identified unlicensed audio content in video files uploaded by users, and initiate a process by which the user can replace the unlicensed content with licensed audio content. An audio replacement tool is provided that enables the user to permanently mute the original, unlicensed audio content of a video file, or select a licensed audio file from a collection of licensed audio, and insert the selected in place of the original audio. Where a video file includes unlicensed audio, the video hosting website provides access to video files to a client device, along with an indication to the client device to mute the audio during playback of the video.
US09424399B2	Availability of permission models in roaming environments A request for a digital license associated with a software product is received from a device. The request includes a user ID of a user of the device, with the digital license having been generated in response to a request to activate the software product with a product key. A check is made as to whether a digital license bound to the user ID is available, and also whether the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license. The digital license is returned if the digital license can be returned to the device in accordance with the terms (regardless of whether the device is a same device from which the product key was activated), and otherwise is not returned. The digital license can be removed from the device in accordance with the terms of the digital license.
US09424394B2	Method and system for generating personalized health information display An approach for providing personalized information regarding one or more physiological conditions associated with a user is described. A personal health platform calculates a minimum value, a maximum value, or a combination thereof for a physiological condition of a user. The personal health platform senses a measured value for the physiological condition from the user. The personal health platform further presents a user interface depicting the measured value relative to the minimum value, the maximum value, a historical measured value for the user, or a combination thereof, wherein the user interface depicts the measured value, the minimum value, the maximum value, or a combination thereof on one or more ring-based graphical elements, and wherein the one or more ring-based graphical elements correspond to a measurement range for the physiological condition.
US09424391B2	Installation optimisation A computer-implemented method for determining a configuration of a plurality of components in a systems installation which satisfies one or more constraints.
US09424387B2	Methods for cell phasing and placement in dynamic array architecture and implementation of the same A semiconductor chip is defined to include a logic block area having a first chip level in which layout features are placed according to a first virtual grate, and a second chip level in which layout features are placed according to a second virtual grate. A rational spatial relationship exists between the first and second virtual grates. A number of cells are placed within the logic block area. Each of the number of cells is defined according to an appropriate one of a number of cell phases. The appropriate one of the number of cell phases causes layout features in the first and second chip levels of a given placed cell to be aligned with the first and second virtual grates as positioned within the given placed cell.
US09424384B2	Method of density-controlled floorplan design for integrated circuits and integrated circuits A method of density-controlled floorplan design for integrated circuits having a plurality of blocks includes positioning decoupling capacitor (DCAP) cells at least partially around a pattern density sensitive block. The method also includes changing at least a portion of a pattern density insensitive block adjacent to the pattern density sensitive block according to at least one pattern density rule.
US09424369B2	Method and system for storing and retrieving tags Storing and retrieving tags can include determining a quantitative weighting factor for each tag, determining a reputation weighting factor for each tag, determining a context weighing factor for each tag, determining an expiry weighting factor for each tag, and determining, using a server, an overall weighting factor for each tag by calculating an average of the weighting factors. The relevance of each tag can be visually reflected in the tag cloud based on the overall weighting factor.
US09424368B2	Storing and retrieving tags Storing and retrieving tags can include determining a quantitative weighting factor for each tag, determining a reputation weighting factor for each tag, determining a context weighing factor for each tag, determining an expiry weighting factor for each tag, and determining, using a server, an overall weighting factor for each tag by calculating an average of the weighting factors. The relevance of each tag can be visually reflected in a tag cloud based on the overall weighting factor.
US09424367B2	Interactive visualization of trending data In embodiments of interactive visualization of trending data, a data visualization interface includes a charting region to display data in one of multiple chart formats, and the data visualization interface further includes data cards, each selectable to initiate a display of the data in one of the multiple chart formats. A data charting application is implemented to receive a request to display the data visualization interface at a client device, receive a user input selecting a data card to chart the data in a chart format associated with the data card, obtain the data that correlates to the selected data card from a database, and initiate a display of the data in the charting region of the data visualization interface in the chart format based on the selected data card.
US09424353B2	Related entities Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for receiving a first search query from a user device; receiving search results for the first search query provided by a search engine, wherein each of the search results identifies a respective resource; determining from the search results that the first search query relates to a first entity of a first entity type; determining that one or more entities of a second entity type have a predetermined relationship with the first entity; and transmitting information identifying the one or more entities of the second type to the user device as part of a response to the first search query.
US09424352B2	View item related searches A system and method of providing related search queries are disclosed. A new item listing is identified based on a determination that the new item listing lacks a predetermined minimum amount of clickstream data. Similar item listings for the new item listing is determined from a plurality of old item listings based on at least one item feature of the new item listing and the plurality of old item listings. The plurality of old item listings comprises live item listings and completed item listings. Each old item listing has at least the predetermined minimum amount of clickstream data. Related search queries of the similar item listings are associated with the new item listing. The related search queries for the new item listing are provided along with the new item listing to a user on a client device.
US09424346B2	Web query classification A query phrase may be automatically classified to one or more topics of interest (e.g., categories) to assist in routing the query phrase to one or more appropriate backend databases. A selectional preference query classification technique may be used to classify the query phrase based on a comparison between the query phrase and patterns of query phrases. Additionally, or alternatively, a combination of query classification techniques may be used to classify the query phrase. Topical classification of a query phrase also may be used to assist a search system in delivering auxiliary information to a user who entered the query phrase. Advertisements, for instance, may be tailored based on classification rather than query keywords.
US09424337B2	Number of clusters estimation A method of determining a number of clusters for a dataset is provided. Centroid locations for a defined number of clusters are determined using a clustering algorithm. Boundaries for each of the defined clusters are defined. A reference distribution that includes a plurality of data points is created. The plurality of data points are within the defined boundary of at least one cluster of the defined clusters. Second centroid locations for the defined number of clusters are determined using the clustering algorithm and the reference distribution. A gap statistic for the defined number of clusters based on a comparison between a first residual sum of squares and a second residual sum of squares is computed. The processing is repeated for a next number of clusters to create. An estimated best number of clusters for the received data is determined by comparing the gap statistic computed for each iteration of the number of clusters.
US09424335B2	Multiple phase content ingest Content ingest can comprise the storage of content and the logging of the descriptive and technical metadata necessary to identify and locate the content. The methods and systems provided herein relate to content ingest utilizing multiple phase processing to account for both standard and non-standard metadata.
US09424330B2	Database sharding by shard levels A system and a method are disclosed for identifying a particular database shard associated with a given user. Each user is assigned a shard level that corresponds to a set of database shards that were active within a database management system when the user first joined the data management system. When a data request associated with a given user is received, the shard level assigned to the user identifies the database shard in the database management system that stores data associated with the user. The data request is thus processed using the identified database shard.
US09424327B2	Instruction execution that broadcasts and masks data values at different levels of granularity An apparatus is described that includes an execution unit to execute a first instruction and a second instruction. The execution unit includes input register space to store a first data structure to be replicated when executing the first instruction and to store a second data structure to be replicated when executing the second instruction. The first and second data structures are both packed data structures. Data values of the first packed data structure are twice as large as data values of the second packed data structure. The execution unit also includes replication logic circuitry to replicate the first data structure when executing the first instruction to create a first replication data structure, and, to replicate the second data structure when executing the second data instruction to create a second replication data structure. The execution unit also includes masking logic circuitry to mask the first replication data structure at a first granularity and mask the second replication data structure at a second granularity. The second granularity is twice as fine as the first granularity.
US09424325B2	Recording medium, distribution controlling method, and information processing device A computer acquires a particular entry(ies) from a database that includes plural entries for each of which a key is determined; stores the particular entry(ies) into a memory provided in the computer and used as one of memories that store the database in a distributed manner; and associates a particular piece of communication endpoint information with a network interface of the computer. Each key for each particular entry belongs to a particular subset among mutually disjoint subsets of a domain of keys. The particular piece of the communication endpoint information is one of a predetermined number of pieces of the communication endpoint information and is associated with the particular subset. Each piece of the communication endpoint information logically identifies one communication endpoint, is dynamically associated with one network interface which provides access to one of the memories, and is statically associated with one of the subsets.
US09424318B2	Systems and methods for ranking data visualizations A method of ranking data visualizations is performed at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs for execution by the processors. A user selects a plurality of data fields from a set of data, and the computing device generates a plurality of data visualization options. Each data visualization option associates each of the user-selected data fields with a respective predefined visual specification feature. For each of the generated data visualization options, the device calculates a score based on a set of ranking criteria. A first ranking criterion of the set of ranking criteria is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the set of data. A ranked list of the data visualization options is then created, where the ranked list is ordered according to the computed scores of the data visualization options.
US09424316B2	Controlling mirroring of tables based on access prediction A system for managing a plurality of storage devices that are configured to store a database. The system includes an access instruction acquiring unit configured for acquiring an access instruction to access the database. The system also includes a predicting unit configured for predicting a table to be accessed in response to the acquired access instruction. The system further includes a relocation unit configured for mirroring the table predicted by the predicting unit, the mirroring between the plurality of storage devices.
US09424313B2	Many-core algorithms for in-memory column store databases A pattern can be identified in at least part of a query whose definition is received in a query request. The identified pattern can be matched with a set of pre-defined patterns, each of which has associated therewith at least one pre-compiled query execution sub-component of a plurality of pre-compiled query execution sub-components retained in a library. A plan for executing the query can be generated, for example by incorporating the pre-compiled query execution sub-component associated with the matched pattern into the plan based on a pseudo code representation of the plan derived from the definition.
US09424308B2	Hierarchical in-memory sort engine A local sorting module includes a set of storage elements storing binary vectors configured in a one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) array structure and separated by respective comparators configured to conditionally compare and sort the binary vectors. The comparators may perform a sort using a compare-and-flip or a compare-and-swap operation. Local sorting modules may be coupled with a global sorting module for enabling a tournament sort algorithm to output values stored in storage elements one at a time until all data is outputted in a predetermined sorting order.
US09424304B2	Maintenance of active database queries An aspect includes a method for maintaining active queries. The method includes executing a query based on data items in at least two relations in a database. The executing includes outputting a query result and control information associated with the query. The query result and the control information are recorded. A notification that at least one of the data items has been updated subsequent to the executing is received. The query result is modified, responsive to the control information, to reflect the data items that were updated subsequent to the executing.
US09424299B2	Method for preserving conceptual distance within unstructured documents A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for preserving conceptual distance within unstructured documents by characterizing conceptual relationships. Natural language processing is applied to content in a plurality of documents to identify topics and subjects. Analytic analysis is then applied to the identified topics and subjects to identify concepts. The content in each of the plurality of documents is partitioned into a first structured hierarchy, preserving at least one structure in each document inherent in the each document. Access is then provided to the content through a first index based upon utilizing the first structured hierarchy and through a second index utilizing a second structured hierarchy. The conceptual relationship criteria are based upon a directed graph with weights based upon a similarity and a distance based upon concepts.
US09424298B2	Preserving conceptual distance within unstructured documents A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for preserving conceptual distance within unstructured documents by characterizing conceptual relationships. Natural language processing is applied to content in a plurality of documents to identify topics and subjects. Analytic analysis is then applied to the identified topics and subjects to identify concepts. The content in each of the plurality of documents is partitioned into a first structured hierarchy, preserving at least one structure in each document inherent in the each document. Access is then provided to the content through a first index based upon utilizing the first structured hierarchy and through a second index utilizing a second structured hierarchy. The conceptual relationship criteria are based upon a directed graph with weights based upon a similarity and a distance based upon concepts.
US09424297B2	Index building concurrent with table modifications and supporting long values Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for constructing an index for a database table. An index that comprises a data structure may be created. The index can then be populated with data from the database table. When a request to modify the database table is received, the method may determine that the request to modify the database table relates to a portion of the database table corresponding to a portion of the index that has yet to be populated. An entry indicating the requested modification can be inserted into the portion of the index that has yet to be populated.
US09424292B2	Method of ranking and displaying certified content A method of displaying and ranking certified and user-generated content from an individual user against content from other users. The user is prompted to input user-generated information and various related information and at least one visual recording is received and associated to create a user single trophy entry in a remote database. The user single trophy entry is ranked relative to other trophy entries in the remote database, and is displayed with a determined rank. Overlay data may be automatically received and associated based on the user-generated information and the related information. To create certified user single trophy entries a list of certification partners may be displayed and used.
US09424289B2	Conforming data structure instances to schema versions In a method for managing versions of a schema, a processor receives a first version of a schema. A processor generates an annotated version of the first version of the schema, wherein one or more fields of the annotated version of the first version of the schema each correspond to a distinct identifier. A processor receives a first instance conforming to the first version of the schema. A processor identifies one or more values of the first instance, wherein each value of the one or more values corresponds to a field of the one or more fields. A processor assigns an identifier to at least one value of the one or more values based on the distinct identifier corresponding to the field of the at least one value. A processor stores the at least one value, such that the at least one value is associated with the assigned identifier.
US09424286B2	Managing database recovery time Managing database recovery time. A method includes receiving user input specifying a target recovery time for a database. The method further includes determining an amount of time to read a data page of the database from persistent storage. The method further includes determining an amount of time to process a log record of the database to apply changes specified in the log record to a data page. The method further includes determining a number of dirty pages that presently would be read in recovery if a database failure occurred. The method further includes determining a number of log records that would be processed in recovery if a database failure occurred. The method further includes adjusting at least one of the number of dirty pages that presently would be read in recovery or the number of log records that would be processed in recovery to meet the specified target recovery time.
US09424285B1	Content-based sampling for deduplication estimation The techniques introduced herein provide for systems and methods for estimating the effectiveness of utilizing a data deduplication process. More specifically, a content-based sampling approach for data deduplication estimation is described in which a subset of the scanned fingerprints of a dataset are included in a content-based sample that is used to determine an accurate deduplication estimate for a dataset (or volume).
US09424282B2	Online reorganization of hybrid in-memory databases A system and method that dynamically adapts to workload changes and adopts the best possible physical layout on the fly—while allowing simultaneous updates to the table. A process continuously and incrementally computes the optimal physical layout based on workload changes and determines whether or not switching to this new layout would be beneficial. The system can perform online reorganization of hybrid main memory databases with a negligible overheard, leading up to three orders of magnitude performance gains when determining the optimal layout of dynamic workloads and providing guarantees on the worst case performance of our system.
US09424274B2	Management of intermediate data spills during the shuffle phase of a map-reduce job A system and a method for spill management during the shuffle phase of a map-reduce job performed in a distributed computer system on distributed files. A spilling protocol is provided for handling the spilling of intermediate data based on at least one popularity attribute of key-value pairs of the input data on which the map-reduce job is performed. The spilling protocol includes an assignment order to storage resources belonging to the computer system based on the at least one popularity attribute. The protocol can be deployed in computer systems with heterogeneous storage resources. Additionally, pointers or tags can be assigned to improve shuffle phase performance. The distributed file systems that are most suitable are ones usable by Hadoop, e.g., Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS).
US09424269B1	Systems and methods for deduplicating archive objects A computer-implemented method for deduplicating archive objects may include (1) tagging, using an archiving service, archive objects to indicate data related to the archive objects, (2) assigning an archive object and an additional archive object to be processed by a deduplication engine, (3) determining a degree of overlap between the archive object and the additional archive object based on tags assigned to the archive object and the additional archive object by the archiving service, and (4) adjusting, using the deduplication engine, deduplication between the archive object and the additional archive object using the degree of overlap determined to exist between the archive object and the additional archive object based on the tags assigned by the archiving service. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09424262B2	Computing system and data management method thereof A data management method of a computing system includes dividing a storage device into a first area and a second area, storing data and nodes related to the data in the second area, and storing a node address table in the first area. The node address table includes node identifiers corresponding to the nodes and physical addresses corresponding to the node identifiers.
US09424261B2	Techniques to take clean database file snapshot in an online database Techniques are described herein for making a clean file snapshot of a target file. The techniques may be applied to a single target file, to a set of target files, or to an entire database The techniques involve transitioning the target file through a series of states. During each state, particular actions are performed and/or prevented. In the final state of each approach, a clean file snapshot of the target file exists. Transitioning through the states, only one of which does not allow new changes to be made to the target file, allows the database to remain online and available to a greater extent than is possible with an approach that prevents database changes for the duration of the clean file snapshot creation operation.
US09424258B2	Assigning tags to media files There is described a device and method for assigning a tag to a media file associated with metadata describing features of the media file. The metadata is converted into a query feature vector associated with the media file. A weighted distance is calculated between the query vector and each of a plurality of tag feature vectors, where each tag feature vector is included in a tag instance stored in a database, each tag instance further comprising a tag and a weight vector. The weighted distance is determined by comparing each feature of the query vector with the corresponding feature in the tag feature vector to obtain an initial distance value for that feature, modifying the initial distance value by a weight for that feature obtained from the weight vector in the tag instance to obtain a comparison value for that feature, and combining the comparison values of all of the features to obtain the weighted distance. Those tag instances whose tag feature vectors have the smallest weighted distance from the query vector are selected. The user chooses one or more of the selected tags, which are then associated with the media file. The weight for each feature in the weight vectors in the tag instances selected by the tag selection unit is updated on the basis of whether or not the tag in each tag instance was chosen by the user, and the distance between the feature of the tag feature vector and the corresponding feature in the query vector.
US09424254B2	Systems and methods for natural language generation A method includes receiving a corpus comprising a set of pre-segmented texts. The method further includes creating a plurality of modified pre-segmented texts for the set of pre-segmented texts by extracting a set of semantic terms for each pre-segmented text within the set of pre-segmented texts and applying at least one domain tag for each pre-segmented text within the set of pre-segmented texts. The method further includes clustering the plurality of modified pre-segmented texts into one or more conceptual units, wherein each of the one or more conceptual units is associated with one or more templates, wherein each of the one or more templates corresponds to one of the plurality of modified pre-segmented texts.
US09424241B2	Annotation mode including multiple note types for paginated digital content Features and techniques are disclosed for interacting with paginated digital content, including a multi-purpose tool and an annotation mode. The multi-purpose tool, which may be represented by a graphic (e.g., a movable interactive graphic), can provide access to multiple modes (e.g., copy, define, note, and/or highlight modes) that a user can invoke. The mode invoked determines the functions performed by the tool when interacting with the paginated digital content. The annotation mode, which may be invoked using the multi-purpose tool or independently thereof, can allow a user to create and edit annotations, such as highlights and notes (e.g., sticky notes, margin notes, and/or highlight notes), for paginated digital content. Editing the annotations may include selecting a desired color for the annotation, for example. The annotation mode may also allow a user to intuitively merge and delete annotations previously added to paginated digital content.
US09424236B2	Filtered Stylesheets In one set of embodiments, a web document is associated with a style sheet that can include style rules, which provide details about how the document is to be presented and formatted by, for example, a web browser. A reduced set of style rules is determined based upon contents of the web document and style sheet. Reducing the size of the style sheet is desirable, e.g., to increase communication and processing efficiency when the style sheet is sent with the document in an e-mail message. The reduced set of style rules can include rules that are referenced by user interface components present in the document, and can exclude rules that are not referenced by the document, or are incompatible with or not applicable to e-mail. The reduced set of style rules can be embedded in an e-mail message or other communication in place of the original style sheet.
US09424235B2	Variable formatting of values Variable formatting for cells in computer spreadsheets, tables, and other documents is provided. For a selected range of cells, cell formats vary with the value in each cell (or an associated value). Formats can include color-scale backgrounds, in-cell elements (e.g., icons and data bars), and other cell formats that can be varied with a value.
US09424226B1	Method and system for signal equalization in communication between computing devices Method and system for performing an equalization process between a remote PCI (Peripheral Component Interface)-Express device and a local PCI-Express device are provided. The use of a forced coefficient in a third phase of the equalization process is enabled. When the remote PCI-Express has made a preset request, then the local PCI-Express device sends the preset request back to the remote PCI-Express device with the forced coefficient.
US09424207B2	Information processing device, program, information processing method, and information processing system Consistent with embodiments of this disclosure, an information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus comprises an input terminal configured to receive a plurality of Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) descriptions from a plurality of external devices. The UPnP descriptions comprise grouping information indicating one or more groups to which the external devices belong. The information processing apparatus further comprises a processing unit configured to process the UPnP descriptions and assign the external devices to the one or more groups based on the grouping information.
US09424202B2	Database search facility A database cache manager for controlling a composition of a plurality of cache entries in a data cache is described. Each cache entry is a result of a query carried out on a database of data records, the cache manager being arranged to remove cache entries from the cache based on a cost of removal factor which is comprised of a time cost, the time cost being calculated from the amount of time taken to obtain a query result to which that cache entry is related.
US09424192B1	Private memory table for reduced memory coherence traffic A mechanism is provided for memory coherence in a multiple processor system. Responsive to a memory operation from a processing core of the multiple processor system resulting in a cache miss, the mechanism checks a private region table associated with the processing core. The memory operation attempts to access a memory region. Responsive to determining the memory region corresponds to an entry in the private region table, the mechanism performs a remote memory controller snoop of a remote memory controller without snooping the multiple processor system.
US09424191B2	Scalable coherence for multi-core processors An apparatus of an aspect includes a plurality of cores. The plurality of cores are logically grouped into a plurality of clusters. A cluster sharing map-based coherence directory is coupled with the plurality of cores and is to track sharing of data among the plurality of cores. The cluster sharing map-based coherence directory includes a tag array to store corresponding pairs of addresses and cluster identifiers. Each of the addresses is to identify data. Each of the cluster identifiers is to identify one of the clusters. The cluster sharing map-based coherence directory also includes a cluster sharing map array to store cluster sharing maps. Each of the cluster sharing maps corresponds to one of the pairs of addresses and cluster identifiers. Each of the cluster sharing maps is to indicate intra-cluster sharing of data identified by the corresponding address within a cluster identified by the corresponding cluster identifier.
US09424177B2	Clock switching method, memory controller and memory storage apparatus A clock switching method for a memory storage apparatus is provided. The method includes: setting a value of the clock as a first operation frequency when an operation mode is switched to an initial state; determining whether a first continuous accessing time of accessing continuously a rewritable non-volatile memory module is larger than a first setting value during a period in which the operation mode is at the initial state; re-setting the value of the clock as a second operation frequency, which is smaller than the first operation frequency, to switch the operation mode to a power saving state if the first continuously access time is larger than the first setting value; and re-setting the value of the clock as the first operation frequency to switch the operation mode to a general state during a period in which the operation mode is at the power saving state.
US09424174B2	Control apparatus and method for controlling a memory having a plurality of banks A control apparatus which controls a memory having a plurality of banks, allocates the plurality of banks to a first region and a second region, wherein data transfer is performed by interleaving access in a plurality of banks in the first region, and data transfer is performed by non-interleaving access in at least one bank in the second region. The control apparatus sets a bank in the first region and a bank in the second region independently to a low-power state.
US09424173B2	Performing secure address relocation within a multi-processor system sharing a same physical memory channel to external memory In response to receiving a selection to override an existing memory allocation of one or more regions of an external memory device within a memory register for a particular bridge from among multiple bridges within an integrated circuit, wherein the multiple bridges connect to a shared physical memory channel to the external memory device, a remap controller of the particular bridge reads, from a super rank register, one or more super rank values specifying one or more relocation regions of the external memory device connected to an interface of the integrated circuit. The remap controller remaps the memory register for the particular bridge with the one or more super rank values specified in the super rank register to relocate memory accesses by the bridge to the one or more relocation regions of the external memory device.
US09424171B1	Resource-constrained test automation Automating testing of a software product under system resource constraints. One or more SQAs are received and, for each SQA, a confidence level and an importance are received. For one or more system resources, an amount of each system resource available for testing is received. Each amount of system resource available for testing is apportioned to the SQAs, based on the confidence level and the importance of each SQA. Each test in a set of tests is prioritized, based on the number of SQAs associated with the test and any previous results of the test. For each SQA, a subset of the set of tests is selected, based on the test priorities, an expected consumption of system resources by each test, and the apportionment of the system resources to the SQA; the selected subset of tests is executed; and the test results for the selected subset of tests is updated.
US09424170B2	Second failure data capture in co-operating multi-image systems A method captures diagnostic trace information in a computer system having a plurality of software images. Information is received that is associated with a first failure in a first one of the plurality of software images. The received information is distributed to others of the plurality of software images. Further information is captured that is associated with a second failure in another one of the plurality of software images. The information associated with a first failure in a first one of said plurality of software images is combined with the information associated with a second failure in another of said plurality of software images, and the combined information is analyzed in order to determine a cause of the first failure.
US09424164B2	Memory error tracking in a multiple-user development environment A method for identifying code segments and associated software developers in a software development environment is disclosed. A software development tool detects a memory error in a first code segment. The software development tool associates the memory error with a first software developer that is associated with the first code segment. The software development tool identifies a second code segment related to the first code segment. The software development tool associates the memory error with a second software developer that is associated with the second code segment.
US09424158B2	Server system with signal matching functionality A server system includes at least one server and a server cabinet. The at least one server includes a first connection port and a baseboard management controller which detects a connection state of the first connection port and according to the connection state, outputs a data signal or a warning signal. The server cabinet includes chambers for containing the at least one server, and the chamber includes a second connection port and a storage unit. The storage unit stores data. When the connection state specifies that the first connection port couples to the second connection port, the baseboard management controller reads the data stored in the storage unit, to output the data signal. When the connection state specifies that the first connection port does not couple to the second connection port, the baseboard management controller outputs the warning signal.
US09424153B2	Storage device and operating method of the same An operating method is disclosed for a storage device configured to receive a command from an external device through a command pad, transmit a response to the external device through the command pad, and exchange data with the external device through a plurality of data pads. The operating method includes receiving a debug command through the command pad by the storage device and outputting internal information through the command pad in response to the debug command as the response by the storage device.
US09424150B2	Fault tolerance based query execution Various embodiments of systems and methods for a fault tolerance based query execution are described herein. Queries are received from users, the queries including operators. A multi-query optimization is performed on the operators included in the queries to obtain a query plan. A fault tolerance degree is determined for the operators included in the query plan. Based on the fault tolerance degree of the operators, nodes are assigned to the operators included in the query plan. The assigned nodes execute the operators included in the query plan to execute the queries. In one aspect, the nodes simultaneously execute the operators included in the query plan.
US09424149B2	Systems and methods for fault tolerant communications Apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed for tolerating fault in a communications grid. Specifically, various techniques and systems are provided for detecting a fault or failure by a node in a network of computer nodes in a communications grid, adjusting the grid to avoid grid failure, and taking action based on the failure. In an example, a system may include receiving grid status information at a backup control node, the grid status information including a project status, storing the grid status information within the backup control node, receiving a failure communication including an indication that a primary control node has failed, designating the backup control node as a new primary control node, receiving updated grid status information based on the indication that the primary control node has failed, and transmitting a set of instructions based on the updated grid status information.
US09424143B2	Method and system for providing high availability to distributed computer applications Method, system, apparatus and/or computer program for achieving transparent integration of high-availability services for distributed application programs. Loss-less migration of sub-programs from their respective primary nodes to backup nodes is performed transparently to a client which is connected to the primary node. Migration is performed by high-availability services which are configured for injecting registration codes, registering distributed applications, detecting execution failures, executing from backup nodes in response to failure, and other services. High-availability application services can be utilized by distributed applications having any desired number of sub-programs without the need of modifying or recompiling the application program and without the need of a custom loader. In one example embodiment, a transport driver is responsible for receiving messages, halting and flushing of messages, and for issuing messages directing sub-programs to continue after checkpointing.
US09424138B2	Checkpointing a computer hardware architecture state using a stack or queue Various embodiments relating to saving and recovering a hardware architecture state are provided. In one embodiment, during a first mode of operation, entries in a first portion of a random-access memory (RAM) are manipulated. A current version of less than all of the entries of the first portion is saved to a checkpointed version in response to a checkpoint event that triggers operation in a second mode of operation. During the second mode of operation, entries in a second portion of the RAM are manipulated. The checkpointed version of less than all of the entries of the first portion is recovered as the current version in response to a restore event that triggers resumption of operation in the first mode.
US09424136B1	Systems and methods for creating optimized synthetic backup images A computer-implemented method for creating optimized synthetic backup images may include (1) transferring a backup image that represents a virtual machine at a specific point in time to a server that stores the backup image, (2) identifying a subsequent backup image that represents at least a portion of the virtual machine at a subsequent point in time, (3) creating a data stream that includes (i) at least one changed data block captured in the subsequent backup image and (ii) at least one reference that identifies where at least one unchanged data block is located within the backup image stored on the server, and then (4) transferring the data stream to the server to enable the server to create an optimized synthetic backup image of the virtual machine. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09424125B2	Consistent, disk-backed arrays Disk-backed array techniques can, in some implementations, help ensure that the arrays contain consistent data. An alert can be provided if it is determined that the data in the array is, or may be, corrupted.
US09424121B2	Root cause analysis for service degradation in computer networks Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method of determining the root cause of service degradation in a network, the method including determining a window of time; determining one or more abnormal Key Quality Indicators (KQIs) in the window; determining one or more abnormal Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the window; calculating a conditional probability that each of one or more KPIs is abnormal when a Key Quality Indicator (KQI) is normal; calculating a conditional probability that the each of one or more KPIs is abnormal when the KQI is abnormal; calculating a score for each KPI based upon a divergence of a Beta distribution for the conditional probability that each of one or more KPIs is abnormal when a KQI is normal and a Beta distribution for the conditional probability that the each of one or more KPIs is abnormal when the KQI is abnormal; and generating a representative root-cause list based upon the score for each KPI.
US09424120B1	Prioritizing first failure data capture (FFDC) data for analysis A computer program product for prioritizing First Failure Data Capture (FFDC) data for analysis. A processor configured to: identify, by the processor, FFDC data in response to receiving an error message, the FFDC data comprising at least one of: a computer system event which may lead to system failure; a computer system event led to system failure; a computer system condition which may lead to system failure; a computer system condition which led to system failure; determine, by the processor, a relevancy rank for each data value in the FFDC data based on the error message received and a probability a given data value is relevant in resolving a cause of the error message; and send, by the processor, in order of relevancy, the data values of the FFDC data to a second server.
US09424119B2	Query rewrites for data-intensive applications in presence of run-time errors An aspect of error handling includes a parsing block for pre-processing a document indexing application, a filtering block for discarding irrelevant documents, a transformation block to clean up and annotate input data by identifying a document language, and a processor configured for grouping inputs to collect documents for a same entity in a single spot. The processor processes a query operation. An aspect of error handling also includes a data package including a data result component that includes data generated based on successful completion of at least a portion of the query operation. The data package also includes an error information data component based on one or more errors encountered during processing of the query operation. An indicator separates the error information data from the data result. The system also includes a memory associated with a distributed file system for storing a final write output relating to the query operation.
US09424116B2	Program development in a distributed server environment According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system for processing a computer program for a distributed server environment executes the computer program in the distributed server environment in accordance with a configuration for the computer program. The computer program is generated within a development environment. The configuration indicates a type of server environment and is associated with one or more data sets for processing by the computer program. The system monitors execution of the computer program within the distributed server environment and provides a program status to the development environment. The system displays results produced by the computer program within the distributed server environment via the development environment. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for processing a computer program in substantially the same manners described above.
US09424114B2	Input/output (I/O) processing via a page fault doorbell mechanism Systems and methods are disclosed for processing an input/output (I/O) operation. An example system includes a kernel interface that receives a notification of a page fault. The page fault is responsive to an application attempting to perform an operation on a memory region that is set to a first access mode. When the memory region is set to the first access mode, the application does not have permission to perform the operation on the memory region. The system also includes a handler that responsive to the notification (i) sets the memory region to a second access mode and (ii) spawns a kernel thread to drain data from the memory region. When the memory region is set to the second access mode, the application has permission to perform the operation on the memory region. The system further includes an I/O module that stores the data in the memory region for processing.
US09424111B2	Method for simulating screen sharing for multiple applications running concurrently on a mobile platform A system for sharing a physical display screen among multiple applications on a mobile platform includes an Internet-connected client device and software executing on the client device from a non-transitory physical medium, the software providing a first function assigning dominancy to one of the multiple running applications, a second function mitigating application background transparency among the multiple running applications, a third function establishing a messaging mechanism and protocol between the multiple running applications, and a fourth function enabling the dominant application to intercept digital input directed toward individual ones of the multiple running applications and to dispatch the input to the appropriate application.
US09424110B2	Providing a recovery placeholder within an application Embodiments described herein provide recovery placeholders within an application. Specifically, one approach includes providing an application operating on a client device, and generating a recovery placeholder that defines a current state of the application by analyzing a queue containing a set of messages, and identifying one or more selected events corresponding to the application from the queue. In one approach, the current state defines, at the time the recovery placeholder is generated, at least one of: a position within a window of the application, a current activity of the application, a position of the window within a display of a display device, and a placement order of the window of the application in relation to a stack of other cascaded windows. At a later point in time, the application may then be restored to the current state by accessing the recovery placeholder to replay the one or more selected events.
US09424103B2	Adaptive lock for a computing system having multiple runtime environments and multiple processing units A method for operating a lock in a computing system having plural processing units and running under multiple runtime environments is provided. When a requester thread attempts to acquire the lock while the lock is held by a holder thread, determine whether the holder thread is suspendable or non-suspendable. If the holder thread is non-suspendable, put the requester thread in a spin state regardless of whether the requester thread is suspendable or non-suspendable; otherwise determines whether the requester thread is suspendable or non-suspendable unless the requester thread quits acquiring the lock. If the requester thread is non-suspendable, arrange the requester thread to attempt acquiring the lock again; otherwise add the requester thread to a wait queue as an additional suspended thread. Suspended threads stored in the wait queue are allowable to be resumed later for lock acquisition. The method is applicable for the computing system with a multicore processor.
US09424100B2	Monitoring and validating the coordinated execution of sequenced tasks by an electronic card with two processors synchronized to different clocks A method for monitoring the coordinated execution of sequenced tasks by an electronic device including a main electronic card including at least one main processor synchronized to a main clock and at least one auxiliary electronic card including at least one auxiliary processor synchronized to an auxiliary clock, includes emitting by the main processor of a coordination marker to the auxiliary processor at the start of each main time period; emitting by the auxiliary processor of a response word formed on the basis of the last coordination marker received to the main processor at the end of each auxiliary time period; validating by the main processor of the response word received with respect to the first coordination marker emitted; and signaling by the main processor if the response word received is not valid so as to signal a defect of coordination of the auxiliary processor.
US09424099B2	Method and system for synchronization of workitems with divergent control flow Disclosed methods, systems, and computer program products embodiments include synchronizing a group of workitems on a processor by storing a respective program counter associated with each of the workitems, selecting at least one first workitem from the group for execution, and executing the selected at least one first workitem on the processor. The selecting is based upon the respective stored program counter associated with the at least one first workitem.
US09424098B2	Dynamic resource scheduling Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and method for dynamically scheduling resources using policies to self-optimize resource workloads in a data center. The object of the invention is to allocate resources in the data center dynamically corresponding to a set of policies that are configured by an administrator. Operational parametrics that correlate to the cost of ownership of the data center are monitored and compared to the set of policies configured by the administrator. When the operational parametrics approach or exceed levels that correspond to the set of policies, workloads in the data center are adjusted with the goal of minimizing the cost of ownership of the data center. Such parametrics include yet are not limited to those that relate to resiliency, power balancing, power consumption, power management, error rate, maintenance, and performance.
US09424094B2	Server consolidation using virtual machine resource tradeoffs Server consolidation using virtual machine resource tradeoffs, is provided. One implementation involves assigning a virtual machine to a target physical server based on a plurality of virtualization parameters for maximizing utility of a plurality of virtual machines and physical servers. The assigning performs resource allocation for the virtual machine based on capabilities of the target physical server and a plurality of virtual machine resource requirements. Virtualization parameters include a reservation parameter (min) representing a minimum resources required for a VM, a limit parameter (max) representing a maximum resources allowable for the VM, and a weight parameter (shares) representing a share of spare resources for the VM.
US09424088B1	Multi-level deficit weighted round robin scheduler acting as a flat single scheduler Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques and mechanisms for providing a fast multi-level scheduler, implemented using a plurality of smaller schedulers, the plurality of smaller schedulers together performing the functions of a single conventional scheduler.
US09424085B2	Recognizing a process group that is related to an application A terminal device includes first storage, second storage, and a processor. The first storage is configured to store used resource information which indicates a set of one or more resources to be used by an application installed in the terminal device. The second storage is configured to store association information which associates each particular resource for which access is provided by a particular process, with the particular process. The processor is configured to recognize a process group which is related to the application, and includes a set of one or more particular processes each of which is associated by the association information with a resource included in the set of one or more resources indicated by the used resource information.
US09424077B2	Throttle control on cloud-based computing tasks utilizing enqueue and dequeue counters Systems and methods for throttle control on cloud-based computing tasks are provided. An example method includes, obtaining a service request from a first user, in a plurality of users, of the computer system; in accordance with a first determination that placing the service request in a service queue associated with the first user would not cause an enqueue counter associated with the first user to be exceeded, causing the service request to be placed in the service quest to await execution. The method also includes, after the service request is placed in the service queue, in accordance with a second determination that executing the service request would not cause a dequeue counter associated with the first user to be exceeded, causing the service request to be executed.
US09424068B2	Automatic batching of GUI-based tasks Described herein are techniques for automatically batching GUI-based (Graphical User Interface) tasks. The described techniques include automatically determining whether a user is performing batchable tasks in a GUI-based environment. Once detected, the described techniques include predicting the next tasks of a batch based upon those detected batchable tasks. With the described techniques, the user may be asked to verify and/or correct the predicted next tasks. Furthermore, the described techniques may include performing a batch and doing so without user interaction.
US09424055B2	Multi-function instruction that determines whether functions are installed on a system A method, system and program product for executing a multi-function instruction in an emulated computer system by specifying, via the multi-function instruction, either a capability query or execution of a selected function of one or more optional functions, wherein the selected function is an installed optional function, wherein the capability query determines which optional functions of the one or more optional functions are installed on the computer system.
US09424050B2	Parallelization and instrumentation in a producer graph oriented programming framework Embodiments of parallelization and/or instrumentation in a producer graph oriented programming framework have been presented. In one embodiment, a request to run an application program is received, wherein object-oriented source code of the application program includes methods and producer dependency declarations, wherein the producer dependency declaration for a given method identifies a set of zero or more producers with outputs that are an input to the given method, wherein a producer is at least an instance and a method associated with that instance. Further, execution of the application program may be parallelized based on dependency between producers of the application program using the runtime. In some embodiments, the application program is instrumented using the runtime.
US09424048B2	Inductive peripheral retention device Inductive peripheral retention device techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an apparatus includes a plug configured to removably engage a communication port of a device to form a communicative coupling with the device. The plug is securable to and removable from the device using one or more hands of a user. The apparatus also includes a peripheral securing portion connected to the plug and configured to removably engage a peripheral device via an inductive element formed as a flexible loop and configured to form a communicative coupling between the peripheral device and the device, which may be used to support charging of the apparatus.
US09424046B2	Systems and methods for load canceling in a processor that is connected to an external interconnect fabric Systems and methods for load canceling in a processor that is connected to an external interconnect fabric are disclosed. As a part of a method for load canceling in a processor that is connected to an external bus, and responsive to a flush request and a corresponding cancellation of pending speculative loads from a load queue, a type of one or more of the pending speculative loads that are positioned in the instruction pipeline external to the processor, is converted from load to prefetch. Data corresponding to one or more of the pending speculative loads that are positioned in the instruction pipeline external to the processor is accessed and returned to cache as prefetch data. The prefetch data is retired in a cache location of the processor.
US09424038B2	Compiler-controlled region scheduling for SIMD execution of threads A compiler-controlled technique for scheduling threads to execute different regions of a program. A compiler analyzes program code to determine a control flow graph for the program code. The control flow graph contains regions and directed edges between regions. The regions have associated execution priorities. The directed edges indicate the direction of program control flow. Each region has a thread frontier which contains one or more regions. The compiler inserts one or more update predicate mask variable instructions at the end of a region. The compiler also inserts one or more conditional branch instructions at the end of the region. The conditional branch instructions are arranged in order of execution priority of the regions in the thread frontier of the region, to enforce execution priority of the regions at runtime.
US09424037B2	Instructions and functions for evaluating program defined conditions A compare instruction of an instruction set architecture (ISA), when executed tests one or more operands for an instruction defined condition. The result of the test is stored as an operand, with leading zeros, in a general register of the ISA. The general register is identified (explicitly or implicitly) by the compare instruction. Thus, the result of the test can be manipulated by standard register operations of the computer system. In a superscalar processor, no special “condition code” renaming is required, as the standard register renaming takes care of out-of-order processing of the conditions.
US09424033B2	Modified balanced throughput data-path architecture for special correlation applications Apparatus and method for a modified, balanced throughput data-path architecture is given for efficiently implementing the digital signal processing algorithms of filtering, convolution and correlation in computer hardware, in which both data and coefficient buffers can be implemented as sliding windows. This architecture uses a multiplexer and a data path branch from the Address Generator unit to the multiply-accumulate execution unit. By selecting between the data path of Address Generator to execution unit and the data path of register to execution unit, the unbalanced throughput and multiply-accumulate bubble cycles caused by misaligned addressing on coefficients can be overcome. The modified balanced throughput data-path architecture can achieve a high multiply-accumulate operation rate per cycle in implementing digital signal processing algorithms.
US09424030B2	Trailing or leading zero counter having parallel and combinational logic A trailing/leading zero counter includes a plurality of hardware logic blocks, each of which calculates one bit of the output value (i.e. the number of trailing/leading zeros depending on whether it is a trailing/leading zero counter). Each hardware logic block includes two blocks of section hardware logic which each receive a section of an input string and generate one or two outputs from this section of bits. Combining logic then combines the outputs of the section hardware logic to generate the bit of the output value. For hardware logic blocks which calculate bits other than the least significant bit of the output, the hardware logic blocks also include one or more OR reduction stages which reduces the length of the input string by pairwise combining of bits using OR gates before the resultant string is divided into two sections and input to the section hardware logic.
US09424018B2	Filtering and promoting application store applications Techniques for filtering and promoting application store applications are described that can be employed to provide filtered application information and/or application promotions to client devices. The filtering and promoting can be based at least in part upon system information that describes configurations and capabilities of the client devices. In one or more embodiments, various system information for a client device is detected. The detected system information for the client device is used to filter application data in an application catalog. Page information to be provided to the client device for interaction with the application catalog is then ascertained using the filtered application data. The page information is sufficient to enable the client device to render targeted application store pages having filtered application information and/or promotions that are selected based on the detected system information.
US09424017B2	Live operating system installation for Universal Serial Bus devices A method and apparatus for the installation of a live operating system includes an installation module that automatically detects available portable removable storage devices. The installation module also automatically determines available operating systems for installation on the portable removable storage devices. The determination of available operating systems can include checking for available operating systems on remote servers. The installation module provides a user interface that is populated with the available installation options including the options to select a size of a persistent overlay and the use of encryption. The installation process installs the user selected operating system on the user designated portable removable storage device and validates the installation. The installation can be performed without generating a new partition on the portable removable storage device and without reformatting the device.
US09424009B2	Handling pointers in program code in a system that supports multiple address spaces Some embodiments include a processing subsystem that compiles program code to generate compiled program code. In these embodiments, while compiling the program code, the processing subsystem first identifies a pointer in the program code that points to an unspecified address space. The processing subsystem then analyzes at least a portion of the program code to determine one or more address spaces to which the pointer may point. Next, the processor updates metadata for the pointer to indicate the one or more address spaces to which the pointer may point, the metadata enabling a determination of an address space to which the pointer points during subsequent execution of the compiled program code.
US09424002B2	Meta-application framework The present disclosure describes a meta-application framework that enables data to be associated with a class of applications called a meta-application. A meta-application entity may store attributes in common across multiple platforms. A platform entity may store attributes in common across multiple devices and/or operating systems. A device entity may be comprised by a particular set of hardware features and an operating system entity may be comprised of a particular set of software feature. Data associated with the meta-application framework may be accessed directly via data manipulation operations or alternatively by application operations via an application programming interface or via the aforementioned data manipulation operations. Applications may then identify application specific behavior at the appropriate level of detail.
US09423999B1	Block floating-point representation of data samples A method for representing a plurality of data samples is disclosed. The method generally includes steps (A) and (B). Step (A) may generate an exponent common to all of the data samples using a circuit. Step (B) may generate a plurality of mantissae based on the exponent. Each of the mantissae generally corresponds to a different one of the data samples.
US09423993B2	Non-transitory computer-readable medium storing communication program including external device type judging and communication device including external device type judging There is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a communication program. The communication program is configured to cause a communication device to perform: judging a type of the external device based on information received from the external device by the near field communication protocol; generating the printing data, in a case that it is judged that the type of the external device is a first external device configured to execute printing; transmitting the generated printing data to the first external device by a communication protocol; and transmitting, in a case that it is judged that the type of the external device is a second external device to which the to-be processed data or an image data corresponding to the to-be processed data is transmitted, the to-be processed data or the image data corresponding to the to-be processed data to the second external device by the communication protocol.
US09423991B2	Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method An information processing apparatus includes a process control unit that executes one or more process units with respect to input data in an order defined by definition information, an output unit that causes information to be output in a form changeable by a user when a first process unit of the process units is stopped, and an accepting unit that accepts changed information corresponding to the information output by the output unit that is changed by the user. The information output by the output unit includes output information of a process unit executed before the first process unit and/or input information set up in the definition information with respect to a process unit to be executed after the first process unit. The process control unit controls execution of the process unit to be executed after the first process unit based on the changed information accepted by the accepting unit.
US09423983B2	Intelligent storage controller An intelligent storage controller operating in conjunction with a computer running an application that uses the data managed by the intelligent storage controller, and requires data transformation operations to be performed on the data. The intelligent storage controller is adapted to directly perform the data transformation operations on the data controlled by the controller, under the direction of the computer running the application, thereby offloading this processing entirely to the intelligent storage controller. The intelligent storage controller may also provide an application programming interface for the computer running the application to use in directing commands to the intelligent storage controller. To accommodate varying workloads on the intelligent storage controller, data transformation tasks may be load balanced between the intelligent storage controller, the computer running the application, and/or other hosts.
US09423973B2	Asynchronous tape backup and restore from tape backup in a disk storage environment A metadata object identifying a set of disk locations which have been written to during a consistency group is maintained. Backup data for the consistency group is written. Writing backup data for the consistency group includes identifying a disk location from the set of disk locations, generating a record containing the disk location, data stored at the disk location, and a consistency group value identifying the consistency group, and writing the record to tape storage. Records written to tape storage can be used to restore data to disk storage for a given consistency group.
US09423969B2	Sensing operations in a memory device Methods for sensing, method for programming, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method for sensing, a counting circuit generates a count output and a translated count output. The count output is converted into a time varying voltage that biases a word line coupled to memory cells being sensed. Target data for each memory cell is stored in a data cache associated with that particular memory cell. When it is detected that a memory cell has turned on, the translated count output associated with the count output that is indicative of the voltage level that turned on the memory cell is compared to the target data. The comparison determines the state of the memory cell.
US09423968B2	Using host transfer rates to select a recording medium transfer rate for transferring data to a recording medium Provided are a storage device, controller, and method for using host transfer rates to select a recording medium transfer rate for transferring data to a recording medium. A host transfer rate of data with respect to a buffer is measured. Provided are a plurality of recording medium transfer rates at which data is transferred between the buffer and the recording medium. A determination is made of an amount of decrease in the host transfer rate. The recording medium transfer rate is selected based on the amount of decrease in the host transfer rate. A transfer rate at which the storage device transfers data is set to the selected recording medium transfer rate.
US09423966B2	Computer system, storage management computer, and storage management method A memory stores first configuration information indicating a plurality of logical storage areas and a first condition defining a state of a storage apparatus as a trigger for the storage apparatus to move data. A CPU acquires: a second condition defining a state of a computer as a trigger for the computer to move a first object, which is stored in a first logical storage area among the plurality of logical storage areas and performed by the computer, to another one of the plurality of logical storage areas; second configuration information associating the first object and the first logical storage area; first state information indicating a state of the plurality of logical storage areas; and second state information indicating a state of the first object. If a state of performing data movement is set, the CPU identifies a cause of the state of performing the data movement.
US09423963B2	Generalized storage allocation for multiple architectures Embodiments of the invention relate to storage allocation in a storage system. One embodiment includes adaptively determining, by a storage device processor, a region height across disk spaces of a group of storage devices that is proportional to a number of connected storage devices. The storage device processor adaptively determines a region width across the disk spaces for the group of storage devices that is inversely proportional to a number of nodes sharing a particular storage device.
US09423961B2	Method to enhance programming performance in multilevel NVM devices An apparatus includes an interface and a processor. The interface is configured to communicate with a memory device. The processor is configured to send to the memory device, via the interface, a sequence of write commands that program multiple types of memory pages that incur respective different programming durations in the memory device, while inserting in the sequence suspension periods for permitting execution of storage commands that are not part of the sequence, such that at least some of the suspension periods are followed by write commands of types that do not have a shortest programming duration among the programming durations.
US09423959B2	Method and apparatus for store durability and ordering in a persistent memory architecture An apparatus and method are described for store durability and ordering in a persistent memory architecture. For example, one embodiment of a method comprises: performing at least one store operation to one or more addresses identifying at least one persistent memory device, the store operations causing one or more memory controllers to store data in the at least one persistent memory device; sending a request message to the one or more memory controllers instructing the memory controllers to confirm that the store operations are successfully committed to the at least one persistent memory device; ensuring at the one or more memory controllers that at least all pending store operations received at the time of the request message will be committed to the persistent memory device; and sending a response message from the one or more memory controllers indicating that the store operations are successfully committed to the persistent memory device.
US09423953B2	Emulating pressure sensitivity on multi-touch devices A method, device, and/or computer program product operates a touch-screen device. A first touch at a location on a touch-screen is detected. A second touch on the touch-screen, which occurs simultaneously with the first touch on the touch-screen, is detected. A pressure of the detected second touch is calculated and assigned to the detected first touch. A specific touch-screen output is generated according to the location and assigned calculated pressure of the detected first touch.
US09423951B2	Content-based snap point This document describes content-based snap points and techniques that use these snap points. In some embodiments, multiple content-based snap points are used to stop at points in content that are convenient, prevent overshooting of important parts in the content, and/or aid user's in manipulating and consuming the content.
US09423948B2	Information processing device, control method for information processing device, program, and information storage medium for determining collision between objects on a display screen To provide an information processing device capable of ensuring not to execute processing not intended by a user in a case of stopping the ongoing operation after selecting an object (for example, in selecting again an object other than the object already selected, or the like). In a case where one of a user's designated position is included in a determination area based on the position of one of the plurality of objects displayed in a screen, an object moving unit (56) moves the one object based on the one designated position. In a case where the object moving unit (56) moves first and second objects, a collision determination unit (58) determines whether or not the first and second objects have collided. A processing executing unit (60) executes processing relevant to the first and second objects based on a result of determination by the collision determination unit (58).
US09423944B2	Optimized volume adjustment A method for adjusting the sound volume of media clips using volume adjuster lines is provided. The volume adjuster lines are individually set for each clip based on the intrinsic, or absolute, volume values of the clip. In some embodiments, the volume adjuster lines are set for each clip based on the peak value or a calculated loudness equivalent of the clip. A user can move the volume adjuster line to set the absolute sound level of a clip. The volume adjuster lines can be hidden in some embodiments. In these embodiments, dragging on any portion of a clip is treated as dragging on the volume adjuster line. Some embodiments provide a deformable volume adjuster line, or curve. In these embodiments, a single audio clip can have several different volume adjuster lines for different sections of the clip where the volume adjuster line for each section is individually adjustable.
US09423938B1	Methods, systems, and computer program products for navigating between visual components Methods and systems are described for navigating between visual components. A first visual component, of a first application in a plurality of applications, is detected in a first application region of a presentation space of a display device. A first navigation area is presented, in a first navigation region determined based on the first application region, for navigating to a second visual component, of a second application in the plurality, in a second application region in the presentation space. A user input corresponding to the first navigation area is detected. In response to the detected user input, navigation information is sent to navigate to the second visual component.
US09423921B2	System for providing information to a user A system for providing information to a user includes a screen for showing the information to the user, receiving means for receiving one or more values from a source of values on which values the information shown to the user is based, generating means for generating two or more data lines wherein each of said data lines comprises at least one data set, wherein the data sets comprise data which are based on said values and wherein the data sets are assigned to at least two data lines by predetermined or changeable criteria displaying means for simultaneously showing said two or more data lines to the user on said screen, and highlighting means for visually highlighting at least one data set out of said two or more data lines according to at least one criterion.
US09423916B2	In-cell touch panel and display device An in-cell touch panel and a display device are configured to address mutual interference between touch signals and image display signals and increase opening ratio of the in-cell touch panel at the same time. The in-cell touch panel includes a color filter substrate and an array substrate disposed opposite to form a cell, a plurality of sub-pixel units arranged in matrix are disposed on said array substrate, and further includes: a plurality of touch sensing electrodes distributed in a column direction of said sub-pixel units on said color filter substrate, and a plurality of touch driving electrodes distributed in a row direction of said sub-pixel units on said array substrate, every two adjacent rows of sub-pixel units constituting a sub-pixel unit group and gate lines for providing gate signals to these two rows of sub-pixel units being disposed between these two rows of sub-pixel units; wherein said touch driving electrodes are located in non-display areas between said sub-pixel unit groups.
US09423910B2	Display device having pattern and method of detecting pixel position therein A display device and method having a pattern are provided. The display device includes a plurality of color filters which correspond to one or more sub-pixels constituting a pixel of the display device; and a black matrix formed between the plurality of color filters, wherein the one or more sub-pixels include one or more position marks indicating an absolute position of each pixel of the display device and one or more error correction marks for correcting an error when the one or more position marks are detected.
US09423909B2	Method, apparatus and computer program product for user input interpretation and input error mitigation Provided herein are a method, apparatus and computer program product for interpreting user input and mitigating erroneous inputs on a device. In particular, methods may include receiving an indication of a first touch event, determining, by a touch mediation function, if the first touch event is an erroneous touch event, causing the first touch event to be sent to an application in response to the touch mediation function determining that the touch event is not erroneous; and causing the first touch event to not be sent to the application in response to the touch mediation function determining that the first touch event is erroneous. The first touch event may occur proximate a first capture area for the user interface and the method may further include causing the first capture area for the user interface to be adjusted in response to the first touch event.
US09423899B2	Display device A display device includes a first pixel electrode corresponding to a first pixel area. The display device further includes a transistor electrically connected to the first pixel electrode. The display device further includes a plurality of gate lines extending in a first direction and including a first gate line, the first gate line being electrically connected to the transistor and being configured to transmit a first gate signal for controlling the transistor. The display device further includes a plurality of first-type sensors including a first first-type sensor, the first first-type sensor being configured to provide a first output signal according to at least the first gate signal. The display device further includes a processing part electrically connected to the first first-type sensor and configured to use the first output signal for determining a first coordinate value associated with a touch applied on the display device.
US09423897B2	Electronic device display with shielding layer A display may have a color filter layer and a thin-film transistor layer. A layer of liquid crystal material may be located between the color filter layer and the thin-film transistor layer. A transparent conductive shielding layer may be formed on the lower surface of the thin-film transistor layer. Grounding structures may ground the transparent conductive shielding layer to a ground. The ground may be formed form metal traces on a flexible printed circuit. The display may have a backlight unit. Light-emitting diodes may be used to provide backlight for the backlight unit. The light-emitting diodes may be mounted on the flexible printed circuit. The grounding structures may be formed from a rectangular ring-shaped conductive tape or other conductive structures.
US09423890B2	Stylus lexicon sharing An aspect provides a method including: identifying one or more symbols input to a surface of a first device; determining, using at least one processor, an association for the one or more symbols; executing an action corresponding to the determined association for the one or more symbols; and storing the one or more symbols identified and the determined association therefor in a lexicon accessible to other devices. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09423889B2	Ergonomic computer mouse An ergonomic computer mouse includes a mouse body, left and right lug members, a palm resting body having a height-adjusting member, an actuator configured to be manually operable to deliver a rotational force, and a cam assembly. The height-adjusting member has a pivot portion pivoted to the mouse body and a liftable portion opposite to the pivot portion. The cam assembly is disposed to convert the rotational force to a translational force, and is configured to couple the actuator to the liftable portion such that the translational force is imparted on the liftable portion, to thereby move the liftable portion between upper and lower positions.
US09423888B2	Object navigating apparatus and object navigating method An object navigating apparatus, which comprises: a sensing apparatus, for sensing an object; and a control unit, for computing at least one displacement that the object is relative to the sensing apparatus. The control unit increases the sensing resolution if the control unit detects the displacement is larger than a first predetermined value for continuous N times, or if the control unit detects the displacement is larger than the first predetermined time for at least N times in a first sensing time interval. The N is a positive integer larger or equals to 2.
US09423883B2	Electronic apparatus and method for determining validity of touch key input used for the electronic apparatus Provided are an electronic apparatus for determining validity of touch key input and a method and apparatus for determining validity of touch key input for the electronic apparatus. The method includes determining whether a touch key is input to perform a preset function, determining whether a dummy key used to determine validity of input of the touch key is input, if determining that the touch key is input, and determining validity of input of the touch key based on whether the dummy key is input. According to the present invention, by determining whether touch key input is intended by a user, it is possible to prevent a function undesired by the user from being performed.
US09423880B2	Head-mountable apparatus and systems A head mountable display (HMD) comprises an infrared light source operable to illuminate foreground objects but not background objects greater than a threshold distance from the HMD; one or more cameras operable to capture infrared illuminated images and visible light illuminated images; and an image processor operable to detect, from the infrared illuminated images, foreground objects in the visible light illuminated images.
US09423879B2	Systems and methods for controlling device operation according to hand gestures Provided is a non-contact sensing device that comprises a sensor comprising a plurality of function key sensors. A function key sensor of the plurality of function key sensors has a field of view. The function key sensor is constructed and arranged to detect a hand gesture at the field of view and to generate a function key control signal in response to detecting the hand gesture at the field of view. A processor processes the function key control signal from the function key sensor and outputs a command to a remote apparatus in response to the processed control signal.
US09423878B2	Electronic device and method of displaying information in response to a gesture A method includes displaying, on a display of an electronic device, an information element associated with an application and detecting a first gesture. In response to detecting the first gesture, at least a first part of a first image is displayed, including information associated with the application, while reducing display of the information element.
US09423877B2	Navigation approaches for multi-dimensional input Multi-dimensional gesture input to a computing device can be improved by providing a mechanism to lock or reduce the effects of motion in unintended directions. In one example, a user can navigate in two dimensions, then provide a selection action through motion in a third dimension. If a computing device analyzing the gesture is able to detect the selection action, the device can limit motion outside the corresponding third dimension in order to ensure that the proper selection action is performed. Various thresholds, values, or motions can be used to limit motion in one or more axes for any appropriate purpose as discussed herein.
US09423874B2	Gaming accessory with sensory feedback device A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a device comprising a processor, a first signal from a motion-sensitive component of the device; receiving, by the device, a second signal from a touch-sensitive interface of the device, detecting, by the device, from a combined signal comprising the first signal and the second signal, a selection of a portion of the device; and causing, by the device, a sensory feedback generator to provide a feedback signal in accordance with the combined signal. The feedback signal may comprise an audible sound, a visual effect, a tactile effect, or any combination thereof. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09423869B2	Operation support device An operation support device includes an operation part in which the operation input is performed by an operator, an action part to which a surgical tool is attached and which is driven by the operation input, a drive source that is provided in the operation part, and generates a driving force which adjusts the manipulation resistance at the time of the operation input, and a control unit that sets the magnitude and direction of the driving force, wherein the control unit sets the magnitude and direction of the driving force based on the operation input to the operation part.
US09423866B2	Asynchronous processor that adjusts a respective operating voltage for causing a task to consume substantially all of a respective allocated time interval for the task There are disclosed asynchronous computing devices and methods of operating asynchronous computing devices. An asynchronous computing device may include an asynchronous processor and a voltage regulator circuit that outputs an operating voltage to the asynchronous processor in response to a voltage request received from the asynchronous processor.
US09423861B2	USB peripheral apparatus and transmission power reduction method thereof Disclosed are a USB peripheral apparatus capable of reducing transmission power of a transmission terminal circuit by significantly increasing resistance values of terminations provided at the transmission terminal circuit and a reception terminal circuit as compared with a specific impedance value of a transmission line, and a transmission power reduction method thereof.
US09423857B2	Apparatus and method for extending life of a storage unit by delaying transitioning to a hibernation state for a predetermined time calculated based on a number of writing times of the storage unit The present invention relates to a job processing apparatus including an instruction unit configured to provide an instruction to shift a power supply to an OFF state, a setting unit configured to variably set a suspended time for shifting from a suspended state to the OFF state based on a threshold of the number of rewritable times calculated by a calculation unit and a number of writing times, and a control unit configured to shift the power supply to the OFF state after the suspended time set by the setting unit has lapsed.
US09423855B2	Electronic apparatus with write-protection functionality An electronic apparatus includes a chip, a memory and a switch unit. The chip works in a boot state. The memory coupled to the chip stores firmware and has a write-protection control end connected to the chip through a write-protection control path. In a standby state, when receiving an electric potential signal through the write-protection control end, the memory disables a write-protection function, so as to update the firmware. The switch unit is located on the write-protection control path and is controlled by a power-on signal related to the boot state. In the standby state, the switch unit is turned-off and the delivery of the electric potential signal to the chip through the write-protection control path is disabled. In the boot state, the switch unit is turned-on and the write-protection control way is conducted by the power-on signal so that the chip controls the write-protection function.
US09423853B2	System and method for balanced user experience in a multimedia conferencing community Various embodiments of methods and systems for balancing user experience in a multimedia conferencing community are disclosed. An exemplary embodiment envisions a portable computing device (“PCD”) receiving data indicative of one or more visual multimedia parameter settings in a companion PCD of the community. Based on the received data, the PCD may determine an adjustment to the settings of one or more of its own visual multimedia parameters such that a multimedia output in the form of a data packet stream is adjusted. In this way, the PCD may conserve power consumption by avoiding unnecessary multimedia workload processing for encoding a multimedia output that would not benefit the quality of service (“QoS”) delivered by the companion PCD. Additionally, by optimizing the quality of the multimedia output in view of the companion device parameter settings, the PCD may allocate more of its power budget to improving its own QoS level.
US09423852B2	Selecting a startup condition of an electronic device corresponding to available power According to an embodiment, a power control device includes a storage unit, a monitor, a determining unit, and a controller. The storage device stores a look-up table, which includes relationship between needed power consumptions and start-up conditions of an electronic device including a plurality of modules. The start-up condition of the electronic device is determined from the needed power consumption in the look-up table and specifies a power on/off status of the modules in the electronic device. The monitor monitors a voltage or available power supplied by a power source when the electronic device is activated. The determining unit determines a start-up condition corresponding to needed power consumption, which corresponds to the voltage or available power monitored by the monitor, with reference to the table. The controller sets a start-up condition of the electronic device to start up the electronic device in the start-up condition determined by the determining unit.
US09423844B2	Cradles having hinged back walls A consumer electronic system for holding and providing power to any number of consumer electronic devices has cradles and each of the cradles has a pair of folding support walls. The pair of folding support walls are separated by a gap, allowing for a device cable to be routed between the two sections so that, when a consumer electronic device is within the cradle and connected to a power port for charging or use (by the cable) the consumer electronic device sits properly. Since the device cable, passes through this gap, the device cable doesn't perturb the consumer electronic device (e.g., allowing for a stable containment of the consumer electronic device at a proper viewing angle).
US09423838B2	Flash drive shaped to utilize space behind a mobile device A flash drive that can utilize space behind a mobile device is disclosed. In some embodiments, a body of the flash drive has three portions, a front portion, a back portion, and an intermediate portion that runs from the front portion to the back portion. A mobile device connector extends from a first end of the front portion, and a second connector extends from a second end of the back portion. The intermediate portion is configured to cause, when the mobile device connector is connected to the mobile device, the second connector and part of the back portion of the body to be located behind and, in some embodiments, adjacent to the back of the mobile device. This can enable part of the body to fit in a gap that can form between the back of the mobile device and a user's palm when the user holds the mobile device.
US09423834B2	Electronic device with electrical connection device An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a bezel area disposed on an edge of a display area, a first component, a second component which is spaced apart from the first component, and an electrical connection device electrically connecting the first and second components, wherein the electrical connection device is disposed through the bezel area. Therefore, the electrical connection device may be embodied in an existing space without a separate installation space, may be assembled easily, may prevent performance deterioration of other components due to interference and also may contribute to slimming and performance improvement of the electronic device.
US09423828B2	Self-leveling system with auto feedback control A leveling system includes a chassis and a first foot protruding from the chassis. The leveling system also includes a plurality of pressure sensors to measure pressure at a first location at the first foot and a second location separated from the first foot. In addition, the leveling system includes a processor that retracts or extends the first foot using an electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator to balance pressures at the first location and the second location.
US09423816B2	Switching converter to operate in pulse width modulation mode or pulse skipping mode An electronic device may include a switching converter configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, and being selectively operable in a pulse skipping mode based upon a control signal. The switching converter may include a comparator having a first input configured to receive an error signal, a second input configured to receive a skipping mode reference signal, and an output configured to generate the control signal. A reference generator may be configured to generate the skipping mode reference signal as a function of a difference between the output voltage and the input voltage.
US09423803B2	Methods, systems, and apparatus providing temperature-controlled process fluid Disclosed are systems and apparatus adapted to control a temperature of a process fluid in an instrument. In one aspect, the systems and apparatus are adapted to control fluid temperature provided to a feed tank. The feed tank may feed a metering system and metering line of an instrument such as a clinical analyzer. The fluid temperature control system includes a process fluid inflow, a process fluid outflow, a first fluid path fluidly coupled to the process fluid inflow and outflow, and at least one heat exchanger thermally coupled to the first fluid path, wherein the heat exchanger is adapted to extract heat for at least one heat-generating component of the instrument. Controlling a temperature of the process fluid at the feed tank improves metering accuracy. Methods of operating the system are provided, as are other aspects.
US09423795B2	Inverted pendulum type vehicle An inverted pendulum type vehicle configured to enable a user to control the vehicle by selecting a single control mode, even while other control modes are not selected. One control mode out of plural control modes of the vehicle is selected based on a detection result of an inclination state of an occupant riding section by an inclination sensor that is a fundamental constituent of the vehicle. Motion of a first actuator device and a second actuator device is controlled according to the one control mode selected.
US09423794B2	Control system for travel in a platoon The present invention relates to a control system for travel in a platoon (1), the platoon comprising a lead vehicle (L) and one or more following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) automatically following the lead vehicle, the lead vehicle controlling the movement of the following vehicles, each of the following vehicles and the lead vehicle comprising communication means (10, 12), wherein the control system comprises a common time base, which allows a control command proposing an action to be communicated from the lead vehicle (L) to at least one of the following vehicles (F1, F2, . . . , Fi-1, Fi, . . . , Fn) in advance of a control point (tc). The invention further relates to the use of a common time base in a platoon and to a method to control travelling in a platoon.
US09423779B2	Dynamically adaptive personalized smart energy profiles A facility employing systems, methods, and/or techniques for dynamically and adaptively configuring configurable energy consuming and producing devices (e.g., smart energy devices) based on user profiles and user presence information is disclosed. In some embodiments, the facility periodically detects the presence of users, and retrieves preference information for those users. For each of one or more configurable energy devices in the area, the facility generates a combined setting based on the preferences of each user present and adjusts the devices based on the combined settings. For example, if User A, User B, and User C are present in a room and User A's preferred temperature setting is 75° F., User B's preferred temperature setting is 68° F., and User C's preferred temperature setting is 70° F., the facility may generate a combined setting for a thermostat by taking the average value of the users in the room.
US09423776B2	Method for managing an operation for a watch having a digital display to exit standby mode A method for managing an operation for a watch to exit standby mode, the watch being provided with a dial having a digital display, and placed into a standby mode, in which the dial is off, includes storing, in a memory of the watch, an algorithm for detecting a transition sequence, the algorithm parameterized from a set of predetermined, fixed data indicative of a transition sequence; acquiring a set of variable data using a sensor including an accelerometer for measuring variable data on the acceleration of the watch in three directions, and/or a gyroscope for measuring variable data on the position of the watch in three directions; processing the variable data using the algorithm to obtain a concordance value of the set of processed variable data; and, if the resulting concordance value is higher than a threshold, triggering the exit of the dial having the digital display from standby mode.
US09423765B2	Developing cartridge having electrode A developing cartridge includes a casing, a developer-carrying member, a supply member, a developing electrode, a supply electrode, and an insulating member. The casing is configured to accommodate therein developer. The developer-carrying member is configured to rotate about a rotational axis and carry the developer thereon. The supply member is configured to supply the developer to the developer-carrying member. The developing electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the developer-carrying member. The supply electrode is configured to be electrically connected to the supply member. The insulating member insulates the developing electrode and the supply electrode with each other. The developing electrode, the insulating member, and the supply electrode are overlapped in this order in an axial direction of the rotational axis.
US09423760B2	Developer accommodating container and image forming apparatus A developer accommodating container, comprising: an accommodating portion provided with a falling inlet; an optical portion which forms a light path inside the accommodating portion; a space portion which is provided in the middle of the light path and capable of accumulating the developer accommodated in the accommodating portion; a casing portion which has a cover portion covering the space portion not to flow in the developer to the space portion except a surface of the opposite side which is formed the falling inlet seeing from the space portion, and that has a introducing inlet which can introduce the developer to the space portion from upper position than at least a bottom of the space portion, and that has a discharge outlet which can discharge the developer at a lower position than the space portion.
US09423759B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus, including a body with an aperture, a processing unit movable between an inside position and an outside position, and a transfer unit, is provided. The processing unit includes first and second drum cleaners to remove waste toner from first and second photosensitive drums respectively; and a waste toner conveyer including a conveyer tube longitudinally extending in a movable direction of the processing unit, a port, a conveyer screw located inside the conveyer tube, and a shutter movable between an opening position and a closed position to open and close the port. The transfer unit includes a belt unit with a belt arranged to contact the first photosensitive drum and the second photosensitive drum, and a belt cleaner including a container with an opening which communicates with the port of the conveyer tube when the processing unit is in the inside position.
US09423758B2	Power supply apparatus and image forming apparatus The power supply apparatus includes a transformer that generates an AC voltage; a driving unit that drives a primary side of the transformer to set an output on a secondary side of the transformer to a predetermined value; a rectifying and smoothing unit connected to one end on the secondary side and adapted to rectify and smooth the AC voltage and output a DC voltage of a positive potential; a voltage generation unit connected to another end on the secondary side and adapted to generate a DC voltage to be superposed with the AC voltage; a control unit connected to the rectifying and smoothing unit and the voltage generation unit and adapted to control a current value according to the DC voltage output by the rectifying and smoothing unit and control the DC voltage generated by the voltage generation unit.
US09423755B2	Printing apparatus, printing system, printing method and non-transitory recording medium A printing apparatus prints an image on a recording medium unwound by an unwinder. The recording medium is wound around a first winding shaft in order from a beginning edge to an ending edge of the recording medium. The wound recording medium is rewound, and the rewound recording medium is wound around a second winding shaft in order from the ending edge to the beginning edge of the recording medium.
US09423747B1	Image forming apparatus having unit specifying which image forming section attaches developer An image forming apparatus includes image forming sections each including a developing section having a developer bearing member and a developer supply unit and a transfer unit that transfers an image developed on a photoconductor by the developing unit onto a transfer body, a controller that controls a driving time of the developer bearing member so that developer is born on the developer bearing member during a period when image formation is not performed and the developer attached to the transfer body by the image forming sections does not overlap, a detector that detects the attached developer by each image forming section, and a specification unit that specifies the image forming section which attaches the developer to the transfer body, on the basis of a time from when the controller starts driving the developer bearing member to when the detector detects the developer attached to the transfer body.
US09423741B1	Fixing press member, fixing device, and image forming apparatus A fixing press member includes a substantially tubular thermal conductive layer containing a resin and a substantially scale-shaped filler having a higher thermal conductivity than the resin, and a surface layer disposed on an outer circumferential surface side of the thermal conductive layer.
US09423738B1	Heat generating unit, fixing unit, and image forming apparatus having a thermal destruction element A heat generating unit includes a substrate; a heat-generating element that is provided on the substrate and generates heat by receiving electric power; and a thermal destruction element provided on the substrate and connected in series to the heat-generating element, the thermal destruction element having a positive temperature coefficient and causing thermal destruction due to self-heating when heated to a temperature higher than a certain temperature by the heat of the heat-generating element.
US09423726B2	Drive transmitter, driving device incorporating the drive transmitter, and image forming apparatus incorporating the driving device A drive transmitter, which can included in a driving device and an image forming apparatus, includes a drive transmitter including a drive coupling and a driven coupling. The drive coupling is mounted on a drive output shaft to which a driving force is transmitted and includes a drive claw projecting in an axial direction. The driven coupling is mounted on a driven shaft, faces the drive coupling in the axial direction, and includes a driven claw projecting in the axial direction. A height of at least one of the drive claw and the driven claw in the axial direction gradually decreasing from one end to the other end in a rotation direction of at least one of the drive coupling and the driven coupling. The drive claw and the driven claw come into either one of line contact and point contact with each other in the axial direction.
US09423714B2	Toner A toner has a toner particle that contains a binder resin and a charge control resin, wherein the charge control resin is a polymer that contains a unit A and a unit B, the unit A is a unit derived from 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, the unit B is a unit derived from an electron donor compound that has a polymerizable unsaturated group, and a molar ratio between the unit A and the unit B is from 1.0 to 10.0.
US09423713B2	Positively chargeable electrostatic latent image developing toner A positively chargeable electrostatic latent image developing toner includes a plurality of toner particles each including a toner mother particle and an external additive adhering to a surface of the toner mother particle. The external additive includes metal oxide particles and coat layers that are each disposed over a surface of a corresponding one of the metal oxide particles. The coat layers contain a nitrogen-containing resin. The metal oxide particles contain metal ions having an electronegativity of no greater than 11.
US09423707B2	Electrophotographic photoreceptor, and method and apparatus of forming electrophotographic image The electrophotographic photoreceptor of the present invention includes a conductive support, a photosensitive layer disposed on the conductive support, and a surface protective layer disposed on the photosensitive layer. The surface protective layer contains a binder resin and a fine particulate material containing at least one compound selected from MgCu2O2, CaCu2O2, SrCu2O2, and BaCu2O2.
US09423702B2	Exposure apparatus, exposure method, and device manufacturing method measuring position of substrate stage by switching between encoder and interferometer An exposure apparatus and method exposes a substrate with an energy beam via a mask, and includes a substrate stage system that drives a movable body holding the substrate to move the substrate. A measurement system has an encoder system that irradiates a grating section with a beam and measures positional information of the movable body, and an interferometer system that measures positional information of the movable body. A control system controls a movement of the movable body based on measurement information of the measurement system. The positional information used for movement control of the movable body can be switched from the positional information of one of the encoder system and the interferometer system to the positional information of the other.
US09423692B2	Composition for forming resist protection film for lithography and method for forming pattern of semiconductor device using the same Provided are a composition for forming a resist protection film for lithography and a method for forming a pattern of a semiconductor device using the same. The composition comprises a repeat unit having a fluorine-containing functional group on a side chain thereof and contains a polymer having a weight average molecular weight of 2,000-100,000 and a solvent. The solvent containing 10-100 parts by weight of a material has a Hildebrand solubility parameter of 12.5-22.0, based on 100 parts by weight of the total weight thereof.
US09423690B2	Pattern forming method, electron beam-sensitive or extreme ultraviolet ray-sensitive resin composition, resist film, and method for manufacturing electronic device, and electronic device using the same There is provided a pattern forming method, including: (a) forming a film by using an electron beam-sensitive or extreme ultraviolet ray-sensitive resin composition containing a resin (A) having a repeating unit represented by Formula (1-0) and a repeating unit represented by Formula (1-2); (b) exposing the film by using an electron beam or extreme ultraviolet ray; and (c) developing the exposed film by using a developer containing an organic solvent to form a negative pattern, wherein a content of the repeating unit represented by Formula (1-0) is 45 mol % or more based on a whole repeating units in the resin (A).
US09423682B2	Ultra high-resolution volumetric three-dimensional display An ultra high-resolution volumetric three-dimensional (3D) display system comprises an image chamber, and an addressing system to direct a beam of electromagnetic energy at a first wavelength to slice through the image chamber. The beam of electromagnetic energy slices the image chamber along a first axis to provide an image slice. The addressing system comprises a line generator to shape the beam into a line extended along a second axis. An imaging system delivers the electromagnetic energy at a second wavelength to an area within the provided image slice. The line is moved along a third axis to form a three dimensional (3D) image.
US09423678B2	Light emitting device, and super luminescent diode A light emitting device includes: an active layer; and a first cladding layer and a second cladding layer that sandwich the active layer, wherein the active layer forms an optical waveguide that guides light, a traveling direction of the light guided in the optical waveguide changes at a first reflection part provided on a first side surface of the active layer, and the first reflection part is located outside of a region in which the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer are provided in a plan view.
US09423677B2	Cooling structure, image projection apparatus, electronic device, and cooling device A cooling structure includes: a heat releasing unit configured to include a plurality of fins and to release heat by contacting a first cooling target; and an air blowing unit configured to blow air to the heat releasing unit, wherein the heat releasing unit includes a first region and a second region in which intervals of the fins are smaller than those of the first region, and a second cooling target that is different from the first cooling target is positioned downstream relative to the first region in a flow path of the air, and the air that has passed through the first region blows on the second cooling target.
US09423674B1	System and method for providing image encoding projection using an apodized liquid crystal display pixel A system for projecting to a viewing surface includes an illumination source to project a first image onto the viewing surface along a beam path, an LCD, with at least one pixel having a polarization rotation profile that approaches zero at an edge, for placement in the beam path of the illumination source to the viewing surface to transmit the first image in a first polarization state through the LCD to the viewing surface and to propagate a second image in a second polarization state from the LCD to the viewing surface, and a first polarization filter to provide the first image in the first polarization state prior to the first image being transmitted through the LCD. At least one of the first image in the first polarization state and the second image in the second polarization state is in a non-detectable polarization state when illuminated upon the viewing surface.
US09423671B2	Accessories for communication devices A modular accessory adapter configured to be selectively attachable to at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device. The modular accessory adapter includes a first member configured to be rotatably coupled to a second member such that the first member is rotatable relative to the second member to move the modular accessory adapter between a first position and a second position. The modular accessory adapter further includes a mount for attaching at least one of a flash, tripod, battery, diffuser, microphone, and speaker. The modular accessory adapter includes an engagement member configured to engage with a portion of at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device. In the first position, the modular accessory adapter is configured to be removably attachable to the at least one of a communication device and a case for a communication device.
US09423661B2	Liquid crystal display A liquid crystal display includes: a bottom chassis, a backlight assembly received in the bottom chassis, a liquid crystal display panel including a thin film transistor substrate and a counter substrate disposed opposite the thin film transistor substrate, with the liquid crystal display panel being disposed so that the counter substrate faces the backlight assembly. The liquid crystal display further includes a mold structure disposed between the bottom chassis and the liquid crystal display panel, and configured to fasten the liquid crystal display panel to the bottom chassis, a driving connection line connected to the thin film transistor substrate and a shield case configured to cover the driving connection line to protect the driving connection line, and including a lateral side disposed corresponding to an edge of the liquid crystal display panel or disposed inside the edge of the liquid crystal panel.
US09423660B2	Display panel A display panel is provided. The display panel has a display area and a peripheral area and includes a plurality of pixels, a plurality of data lines and a plurality of signal traces. The pixels are disposed on the display area and arranged in an array. The data lines extend from the display area to the peripheral area and are respectively electrically connected to a plurality of columns of pixel. The signal traces extend from the display area to the peripheral area and are parallel to the data lines. In addition, the data lines and the signal traces are respectively disposed between two columns of pixels, and the signal traces include a plurality of gate signal traces.
US09423656B2	Liquid crystal display and method for fabricating the same A liquid crystal display includes a first display panel having a light-transmitting region and a light-shielding portion, a second display panel that faces the first display panel with liquid crystals interposed between the first and second display panels and that includes a TFT substrate, a pixel electrode on the TFT substrate, a passivation film on the TFT substrate and the pixel electrode, and a common electrode patterned on the passivation film, and a trench in the passivation film within the light-shielding region between the first and second display panels. The trench encloses the light-transmitting region, and the common electrode is on the trench.
US09423649B2	Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including the same A backlight unit includes first and second light sources; first and second light guide bars positioned between the first and second light sources and each having a branch shape; and a mold frame accommodating the first and second light sources and the first and second light guide bars.
US09423645B2	Liquid crystal display device Provided is a liquid crystal display device, including: a TFT substrate including a pixel electrode; a liquid crystal layer provided on the TFT substrate; and a color filter substrate provided on the liquid crystal layer. The color filter substrate includes a light non-transmitting layer made of a material that limits transmission of light. The light non-transmitting layer includes: a display region including a hole portion filled with a color resist that transmits light; and a frame-shaped non-display region surrounding the display region. The frame-shaped non-display region has a slit formed in one side thereof, along the one side, the slit passing through the light non-transmitting layer. The slit is filled with a member made of the same material as a material of the color resist.
US09423643B2	Display panel preventing reflection of external light and display apparatus having the same A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel is provided, including a lower substrate; an upper substrate disposed to face the lower substrate; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate; a lower polarizing layer with a structure of wire grid formed on one surface of the lower substrate and configured to provide polarizing-filtering of light radiated from a backlight; and an upper polarizing layer with a structure of wire grid formed on one surface of the upper substrate and configured to provide polarizing-filtering of the radiated light passing through the lower polarizing layer and the liquid crystal layer, at least one of the wire grid of the lower polarizing layer and the wire grid of the upper polarizing layer including a reflection layer configured to reflect the radiated light and an absorbing layer configured to absorb external light incident from the outside through the upper substrate.
US09423640B2	Display device comprising a first positioning portion opposite to a second positioning portion and television device having the same A liquid crystal display device 10 includes LEDs 17, a liquid crystal panel 11, a chassis 14, a frame 13, positioning ribs 23, opposed portions 25, and gel members 30. The liquid crystal panel 11 is configured to display using light from the LEDs 17. The chassis 14 is arranged on an opposite side of the liquid crystal panel 11 from a display surface 11c that is for display. The frame 13 is arranged on the display surface 11c side of the liquid crystal panel 11. The frame 13 holds at least the liquid crystal panel 11 and the LEDs 17 with the chassis 14 such that the liquid crystal panel 11 and the LEDs 17 are sandwiched between the frame 13 and the chassis 14. The positioning ribs 23 project from the frame 13 toward the chassis 14. The positioning ribs 23 include a peripheral surface opposite a peripheral surfaced of the liquid crystal panel 11 for positioning the liquid crystal panel 11. The opposed portions 25 are arranged at portions opposite the positioning ribs 23 of the liquid crystal panel 11. The gel members 30 have elastic properties and are arranged in gaps between the positioning ribs 23 and the respective opposed portions 25.
US09423639B2	Window for display device and display device including the window Disclosed is a window for a display device that includes a first plastic substrate, a second plastic substrate disposed on one side of the first plastic substrate, and a bonding layer disposed between the first plastic substrate and second plastic substrate and bonding the first plastic substrate and the second plastic substrate, wherein the bonding layer has protrusions and depressions on a side in contact with the first plastic substrate.
US09423625B2	Display panel and 3D display device A display panel including a first substrate, a first polarizer sheet arranged on the first substrate, a second substrate, a second polarizer sheet arranged on the second substrate, a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate, and further comprises a pixel electrode, a common electrode, a first alignment layer and a gate line formed on the first substrate, at least one of the pixel electrode and the common electrode is a comb-like electrode, a transmission axis of the first polarizer sheet is parallel with the line along which an alignment direction of the first alignment layer is located, and the transmission axis of the first polarizer sheet is perpendicular to a transmission axis of the second polarizer sheet, and the line along which the alignment direction of the first alignment layer is located is at a predetermined angle greater than 0° and less than 90° with the respect to the gate line. Such a display panel can obtain better angular characteristic of 3D visual sense.
US09423617B2	Head-up display device An HUD device includes a laser scanner that projects laser light carrying a display image, and a screen member that has a plurality of optical elements arrayed in the form of a grating, and diffuses laser light which emanates from the laser scanner and enters the optical elements toward a projection surface. The optical elements have curved surfaces, which take on a convexly curved form as a common curved form, formed as their faces, and diffuse laser light which is emitted to the projection surface from the curved surfaces. The optical elements are configured so that an element width differs in at least one array direction of the array of the grating between adjoining optical elements.
US09423614B2	Head-up display device Emitted light from first light sources cause a pair of first guide lights to be displayed on a combiner side by side at positions adjacent to a HUD display area. Emitted light from second light sources cause a pair of second guide lights to be displayed such that the pair of first guide lights are interposed between the pair of second guide lights. At least one of number of light sources to be lit, lighting cycle, and lighting order of the first and the second light sources is changed in accordance with a current vehicle speed and a change in shift position of a transmission of a vehicle.
US09423613B2	Vehicle display device with linearly retractaable reflection plate Provided is a vehicle display device including a base to be mounted to a vehicle, a reflection plate which protrudes from and retracts in the base, a projection unit for projecting a display image on the reflection plate, a cover body covering a front portion in a protruding direction of the retracted reflection plate, a drive unit provided to the base for driving the reflection plate to protrude and retract, a holding member holding the reflection plate and connected to the drive unit to be driven linearly, and a posture maintenance unit provided across the holding member and the base to maintain a posture of the reflection plate. The reflection plate is moved to protrude and retract along a movement plane tilted in the protruding direction toward an eye-point with respect to an orthogonal plane orthogonal to a direction of line of sight of a driver to the reflection plate.
US09423605B2	Optomechanical non-reciprocal device There is set forth herein an optomechanical device which can comprise a first mirror and a second mirror forming with the first mirror a cavity. In one aspect the first mirror can be a movable mirror. The optomechanical device can be adapted so that the first mirror is moveable responsively to radiation force.
US09423604B2	Subsurface glass reticles An optical instrument for light incoming along a principal optical axis includes a glass block and a subsurface object within the glass block. The subsurface object includes an arrangement of object marks. Each object mark includes a plurality of scattering layers stacked against the principal optical axis of the incoming light. First and second scattering layers of the plurality of scattering layers have different polarization responses.
US09423599B2	Projection zoom lens and projection type display device A projection zoom lens in which a magnification change operation is performed by moving three to four lens groups as moving groups, wherein a first lens group, which is a lens group on the most-magnification side, substantially consists of a moving group having a negative refractive power; a lens group on the most-reduction side is composed of a moving group having a positive refractive power; and the first lens group which is the lens group the most-magnification side substantially consists of two lenses. In this case, conditional formula (1) below is satisfied, where fw is the focal length of the entire system at the wide angle end and fm is the focal length of the lens group on the most-magnification side: −3.5
US09423586B2	Fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and method for making the same A fiber optic connector includes a mechanical splice assembly and a connector body. The connector body has a first portion joined to a second portion. The first portion of the connector body includes first and second chambers. An opening on a front end of the connector body passes through the first chamber into the second chamber so that the mechanical splice assembly can be inserted into the first and second chambers. The second portion of the connector body includes cable retention arms that extend out from the rear end of the first portion and an opening that passes into the second chamber.
US09423581B2	Parallel optical system with integrated monitoring photodetectors The invention provides an optical system, in particular, a multi-channel parallel optical transceiver system with monitoring photodetectors and methods of forming the same. The multi-channel parallel optical system includes a substrate with at least one optical component mounted on the first side, at least one optical monitoring photodetector (mPD) fabricated on the first side of the substrate, a set of optical functional components disposed on the first side of the substrate to guide and reflect the light signal, an arrayed fiber placement structure fixing at least one optical fiber and having an exposed end to couple with the optical functional components to guide and diffract light from and to the optical components mounted on the first side of the substrate. The optical alignment of the optical placement structure, optical functional components, and the optical components mounted on the substrate is realized passively through the alignment holes and pins.
US09423576B2	Fiber optic cable connector The invention relates to a fiber optic cable connector (1), the fiber optic cable contact (1) having a hot forming zone (100) at a free longitudinal end portion (10) and, at a portion (11) of the fiber optic cable contact (1) remote from the hot forming zone (100), a thermal barrier zone (110), the thermal barrier zone (110) being configured in such a way that it prevents heat from passing from the hot forming zone (100) into a portion of the fiber optic cable contact (1) on the other side of the thermal barrier zone (110).
US09423569B2	Method and apparatus for aligning optical element A structure for aligning an optical element includes a baseplate including a set position for mounting at least one optical element, a first reference hole, and a second reference hole spaced by a first distance from the first reference hole. The set position is determined by a first baseline that passes the first reference hole and the second reference hole and a second baseline that intersects with the first baseline at a second distance from the first reference hole on an opposite side to the second reference hole with respect to the first reference hole. The second distance is shorter than the first distance.
US09423567B2	Optical module, including a prism covered by a housing Provided are an optical module, an optical communication apparatus, and an information processing system including the same. The optical module includes a lower clad layer, an optical waveguide extended in one direction on the lower clad layer, an optical device on the optical waveguide, a prism disposed between the optical device and the optical waveguide and having a higher refractive index than the optical waveguide, a housing covering the prism and the optical device, and an electrode layer adjacent to the prism and disposed between the housing and the optical waveguide.
US09423564B2	Optical waveguide feedthrough assembly An optical waveguide feedthrough assembly passes at least one optical waveguide through a bulk head, a sensor wall, or other feedthrough member. The optical waveguide feedthrough assembly comprises a cane-based optical waveguide that forms a glass plug sealingly disposed in a feedthrough housing. For some embodiments, the optical waveguide includes a tapered surface biased against a seal seat formed in the housing. The feedthrough assembly can include an annular gold gasket member disposed between the tapered surface and the seal seat. The feedthrough assembly can further include a backup seal. The backup seal comprises an elastomeric annular member disposed between the glass plug and the housing. The backup seal may be energized by a fluid pressure in the housing. The feedthrough assembly is operable in high temperature and high pressure environments.
US09423557B2	Backlight component A backlight component includes a back plate, a fastening module, a light source and a light-guiding plate. The fastening module includes a first plate, a second plate and a third plate. The first plate, the second plate and the third plate define a receiving space. The light source is securely assembled at one side of the second plate and facing toward the receiving space. The light-guiding plate is slidably assembled in the receiving space of the fastening module, and sandwiched between the first plate and the third plate. Accordingly, when the thickness of the light-guiding plate is changed, only the second plate of the fastening module need be changed; additionally, the length of the fastening module can be normalized to apply for display devices with different sizes. Consequently, the manufacturing cost of display devices can be reduced, and the fastening module is applicable to different kinds of display devices.
US09423556B2	Optical assembly, backlight module and liquid crystal display An optical assembly, a backlight module and a liquid crystal display are provided. The optical assembly includes a light guide plate and a frame. The light guide plate has at least one first circular-arc structure disposed on a side of the light guide plate. The frame is disposed around the light guide plate, in which the frame has at least one second circular-arc structure interlocked with the first circular-arc structure. A radius of the first circular-arc structure is substantially equal to a radius of the second circular-arc structure.
US09423545B2	Mask processing using films with spatially selective birefringence reduction Certain patternable reflective films are used as masks to make other patterned articles, and one or more initial masks can be used to pattern the patternable reflective films. An exemplary patternable reflective film has an absorption characteristic suitable to, upon exposure to a radiant beam, absorptively heat a portion of the film by an amount sufficient to change a first reflective characteristic to a different second reflective characteristic. The change from the first to the second reflective characteristic is attributable to a change in birefringence of one or more layers or materials of the patternable film. In a related article, a mask is attached to such a patternable reflective film. The mask may have opaque portions and light-transmissive portions. Further, the mask may have light-transmissive portions with structures such as focusing elements and/or prismatic elements.
US09423542B2	Polarizer, method for preparing the same, and polarizing plate provided with the same A polarizer includes a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin film in which iodine is oriented by adsorption, wherein an iodine orientation ratio, represented by the following Equation I, is about 20% to about 30%, Iodine ⁢ ⁢ orientation ⁢ ⁢ ratio = R I R PVA , ( I ) RI being an average in-plane retardation value of iodine in infrared regions of 845.1 nm, 903.3 nm, 952.1 nm, 1000.0 nm, 1046.5 nm, and 1092.7 nm, and RPVA being an average in-plane retardation value of a polyvinyl alcohol-based resin in infrared regions of 845.1 nm, 903.3 nm, 952.1 nm, 1000.0 nm, 1046.5 nm, and 1092.7 nm.
US09423533B2	Patterned glass cylindrical lens arrays for concentrated photovoltaic systems, and/or methods of making the same Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to patterned glass that can be used as a cylindrical lens array in a concentrated photovoltaic application, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the lens arrays may be used in combination with strip solar cells and/or single-axis tracking systems. That is, in certain example embodiments, lenses in the lens array may be arranged so as to concentrate incident light onto respective strip solar cells, and the entire assembly may be connected to a single-axis tracking system that is programmed to follow the East-West movement of the sun. A low-iron glass may be used in connection with certain example embodiments. Such techniques may advantageously help to reduce cost per watt related, in part, to the potentially reduced amount of semiconductor material to be used for such example embodiments.
US09423532B2	Anti-reflection coatings with aqueous particle dispersions and methods for forming the same Embodiments provided herein describe coating formulations, such as those used to form optical coatings, panels having optical coatings thereon, and methods for forming optical coatings and panels. The coating formulation includes an aqueous-based suspension of particles. The particles have a sheet-like morphology and a thickness of less than about 10 nm. The coating also includes a polysiloxane or silane emulsion, a polysiloxane or silane solution, or a combination thereof.
US09423523B2	Portal monitoring The present invention relates to a portal monitoring system that uses distributed sensing to detect metallic objects passing through the portal. The system comprises a length of fiber optic (102) comprising an optical fiber (106) mechanically coupled to a material (108) whose physical characteristics vary dependent on the applied magnetic field. The fiber optic (102) is arranged in the vicinity of a portal (200) and a fiber optic interrogator (104) is adapted to provide distributed sensing on the optical fiber to provide measurement data from a plurality of contiguous portions of said optical fiber at each of a plurality of times. A data analyzer processes the measurement data to detect signals characteristic of a disturbance in the magnetic field along the optical fiber. The system of the present invention is able to monitor multiple people passing though a portal at the same time and provide an indication of the location of metallic objects within the portal.
US09423520B2	Rigid protracted geophysical equipment comprising control surfaces Disclosed are rigid protracted geophysical equipment that comprise control surfaces and associated methods of use in marine geophysical surveys. An apparatus for use in a marine geophysical survey comprising: rigid protracted geophysical equipment having a ratio of length to a largest dimension of width or height of about 1000:1 or more, wherein the rigid protracted geophysical equipment comprises control surfaces for controlling movement of the rigid protracted geophysical equipment when towed through a body of water.
US09423516B2	Systems and methods for spent fuel pool subcriticality measurement and monitoring A system and method for measuring and monitoring axial flux to determine subcriticality in a spent fuel pool of a nuclear power plant. In certain embodiments of this invention, one or more neutron detectors are operable to generate signals resulting from neutron interactions in the spent fuel pool, a counting device counts the signals which are generated by the one or more neutron detectors, a connecting means electrically connects the one or more neutron detectors to the counting device, a signal analyzer is used to determine reactivity of the fuel assemblies in the spent fuel pool based on the counted signals, a power supply provides power for the neutron detectors, the counting device and the system analyzer, and a software code containing an axial flux curve index is used to correlate the counted signals to determine the subcriticality of the spent fuel pool.
US09423514B2	Detection apparatus comprising two scintillators for detecting X-ray radiation Detection apparatus for detecting radiation The invention relates to a detection apparatus for detecting radiation. The detection apparatus comprises at least two scintillators (14, 15) having different temporal behaviors, each generating scintillation light upon reception of radiation, wherein the generated scintillation light is commonly detected by a scintillation light detection unit (16), thereby generating a common light detection signal. A detection values determining unit determines first detection values by applying a first determination process and second detection values by applying a second determination process, which is different to the first determination process, on the detection signal. The first determination process includes frequency filtering the detection signal. Since the scintillation light of the different scintilla-tors is collectively detected by the same scintillation light detection unit, detection arrangements with, for example, side-looking photodiodes for separately detecting the different scintillation light of the different scintillators are not necessarily required, thereby reducing the technical complexity of the detection apparatus.
US09423513B2	Radiation imaging apparatus and radiation imaging system A radiation imaging apparatus includes pixels arranged to form an array, sensors including conversion elements dispersed in the array to monitor radiation, a processing circuit for processing signals from the sensors, first signal lines for transmitting a signal from at least one of the sensors to the processing circuit, and second signal lines extending in a direction parallel to the first signal lines and not directly connected to the pixels and the conversion elements or connected to at least one of the pixels and at least one of the sensors. The processing circuit determines a value of a signal generated by each sensor based on a difference between a value of a signal appearing on the first signal line and a value of a signal appearing on the second signal line.
US09423506B2	Tactical differential GPS A method for improving an accuracy of a radio based navigation system by correcting the position given by the radio based navigation system with a correction vector derived from localization data stored in a map database. Position coordinates of the radio based navigation system are measured. A set of 3D map data is selected based upon the measured position coordinates of the radio based navigation system position coordinates. The actual position is determined from the selected 3D map data. The actual position data coordinates are retrieved from the 3D map data based upon the determined actual position. The correction vector is calculated from position difference between measured radio based navigation system position coordinates and retrieved actual position coordinates. The position given by the radio based navigation system is corrected with the correction vector.
US09423505B2	Recovery from position and time outliers in positioning A mobile device may use one or more outlier detectors to detect likelihoods that an outlier condition exists for a satellite positioning system (SPS) position fix. In some implementations, an outlier detector may compare a computed position fix to an element of assistance data to generate an outlier likelihood. A decision to perform a recovery operation may be made based, at least in part, on a generated outlier likelihood. In some implementations, a computed reliability of the position fix may also be considered in making a recovery decision.
US09423502B2	Pseudolite positioning system A positioning system comprises a set of pseudolites distributed in a confined area, said pseudolites transmitting positioning signals characterized by their time desynchronization and their apparent Doppler frequency, said time desynchronization and/or said apparent Doppler frequency of the positioning signals transmitted by the pseudolites being configured so that there is no ambiguity concerning the location of the correlation peaks P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 in the matrix of ambiguities defined by the delay and the apparent Doppler frequency of the positioning signals acquired by the receiver.
US09423500B2	Electronic device with gesture detection system and methods for using the gesture detection system A method in an electronic device, the method includes projecting infrared (“IR”) light from a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) disposed proximate to the perimeter of the electronic device, detecting, by a sensor, IR light originating from at least two of the plurality of LEDs reflected from off of a person, and carrying out a function based on the relative strength of the detected IR light from the LEDs.
US09423496B2	Wireless detection devices and wireless detection methods A wireless detection device is provided, comprising a voltage control oscillation unit, a transceiving unit, demodulation unit and processing unit. The voltage control oscillation unit generates different oscillation signals according to analog control voltages and corresponding injection signals. The transceiving unit outputs first wireless signals to a predetermined area according to the oscillation signals and receives second wireless signals generated by reflection of the first wireless signals to generate the injection signal. The demodulation unit demodulates the oscillation signals into first voltage signals. The processing unit subtracts the corresponding analog control voltages from the first voltage signals to generate second voltage signals, and when the variation of the second voltage signals exceeds a predetermined value on a target frequency in frequency domain, the processing unit calculates a real distance between an object and the transceiving unit.
US09423490B2	Spatial localization of intermittent noise sources by acoustic antennae A noise source localization process that uses as few as four microphones in an antenna array. The process combines different averaging to the information from the various signals with non-linear (wavelet-based) filtering, cross-correlation and triangulation to more particularly locate a noise source relative to a target point. The process calculates a propagation time based on the distance from a target to each microphones, delays each of the signals according to the propagation time from the target, calculates a continuous wavelet transform for each of the signals to band-pass filter each of the signals according to a predetermined frequency of interest, determines the product of each pair of signals to produce correlation fringes, and locates the noise source based on the product of the pairs of signals.
US09423486B2	Position calculating method and position calculating device In a position calculating device of a moving object including a satellite positioning unit and an inertial positioning unit, a position calculation accuracy determining unit determines a position calculation accuracy and sets an influence level of measurement result 1 of the satellite positioning unit on measurement result 2 of the inertial positioning unit on the basis of the determined position calculation accuracy. The position of the moving object is calculated by performing a coupling process of coupling measurement result 1 and measurement result 2 on the basis of the set influence level.
US09423475B2	Electrical lead assemblies for MRI-compatible medical devices and MRI-compatible medical devices incorporating same An elongate electrical lead assembly that reduces localized heating due to MR scanner-induced currents includes a first elongate electrical lead having a series of alternating single layer coil sections and multi-layer coil sections, a second elongate electrical lead having a series of alternating single layer coil sections and multi-layer coil sections, and a third elongate electrical lead having a coiled section that coaxially surrounds the first and second electrical leads. Each multi-layer coil section of the second electrical lead is coiled around a respective single layer coil section of the first electrical lead, and each single layer coil section of the second electrical lead is coiled around a respective multi-layer coil section of the first electrical lead.
US09423473B2	Three axis magnetic sensor device and method using flex cables A method and structure for a three-axis magnetic field sensing device. An IC layer having first bond pads and second bond pads can be formed overlying a substrate/SOI member with a first, second, and third magnetic sensing element coupled the IC layer. One or more conductive cables can be formed to couple the first and second bond pads of the IC layer. A portion of the substrate member and IC layer can be removed to separate the first and second magnetic sensing elements on a first substrate member from the third sensing element on a second substrate member, and the third sensing element can be coupled to the side-wall of the first substrate member.
US09423469B2	Toroidal fluxgate current transducer Toroidal fluxgate current transducer comprising a ring shaped fluxgate sensing unit (6) comprising a ring-shaped support (40), a saturable magnetic core (38) mounted on the support (40), an excitation coil (44) wound around the support and saturable core and a magnetic shell (32) mounted around the excitation coil, ring-shaped support and saturable core. The support is ringed-shape and comprises terminals (50,48) fixed to the support, a first pair of said terminals connected to ends of the excitation coil, and a second pair of said terminals connected to ends of a secondary coil of the current transducer.
US09423468B2	Diagnostic system and method for fuel cell stack A diagnostic system and method for a fuel cell stack that diagnoses the state and/or failure of the fuel cell stack. More specifically, the diagnostic control analyzer diagnoses and analyzes the state of the fuel cell stack by measuring the voltage and the current received from the fuel cell stack. To do this, an AC signal generator cogenerates a diagnostic AC signal according to the control upon receiving a control command form the analyzer, and an AC component driving element is then driven upon receiving the AC signal that is output from the AC signal generator in order to include a diagnostic AC component within the current of the fuel cell stack. In particular, the diagnostic control analyzer diagnoses the fuel cell stack based on a voltage and a current received from the fuel cell stack that includes the AC component via a load.
US09423465B1	State of charge determination A method of determining the state of charge of a battery during charging may include providing a charging current having a first magnitude to the battery for charging, and changing a magnitude of the charging current from the first magnitude to a second magnitude. The second magnitude may be equal to the magnitude of current discharged from the battery during the charging. The method may also include determining a voltage across the battery after the changing, and determining a state of charge of the battery as a function of the determined voltage from a battery characterization curve.
US09423460B2	Systems and methods mitigating temperature dependence of circuitry in electronic devices Methods and systems for compensating for temperature variation in the performance of electronic circuits and systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems are configured to store compensation parameters determined in calibration, where the compensation parameters are used by the systems to modify performance. In some embodiments, the systems are part of an automatic test equipment (ATE) system.
US09423457B2	Self-test solution for delay locked loops A built-in self test (BIST) circuit and method is provided to test a first and a second DLL. The first DLL has a first delay input, a first clock input disposed to receive a clock input signal, and a first clock output that provides a first clock output signal delayed in comparison with the clock input signal. The second DLL has a second delay input, a second clock input disposed to receive the clock input signal, and a second clock output signal delayed in comparison with the clock input signal. The BIST circuitry provides a first delay amount over the first delay input creating a start offset between the first and second clock output signals. If the first DLL is functioning properly the start offset between the output signals should remain unchanged even after the BIST circuitry provides an additional common delay amount to the first and second delay inputs.
US09423450B2	Inductive charge balancing Disclosed is a method for charge balancing in a charge storage arrangement having a plurality of charge storage cells connected in series, and a charge balancing circuit.
US09423449B2	Display apparatus including dummy display element for TFT testing This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for a display apparatus including dummy display elements that can be switched between being coupled to a test bus and a drive bus. When connected to the drive bus, the circuit components, including thin-film transistors, of the dummy display element experience exposure to typical operating signals. When connected to the test bus, the display apparatus can test the operating parameters of the dummy display element circuit components.
US09423428B2	Mixed current sensor and method for fitting said sensor The invention relates to a mixed current sensor comprising in a case: a current measurement device comprising a first coil; a magnetic current sensor having a second coil, electronic measurement means. Said sensor comprises: a first cassette comprising first linking means arranged to fix said cassette to the first coil by clip-fastening and second linking means arranged to secure the measurement device on the case; a second cassette comprising third linking means arranged to secure and fix both the magnetic sensor on the case and the first cassette and the measurement device by clip-fastening on said case.
US09423424B2	Current-diverting guide plate for probe module and probe module using the same A current-diverting guide plate for use in a probe module is disclosed to include a plate body having a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a plurality of through holes penetrating through the first and second surfaces. A conducting layer is provided at a periphery wall of each through hole of the plate body and electrically coupled to a probe slidably inserted through the through holes. A current-diverting circuit trace is disposed on the first surface of the plate body and electrically connected with the conducting layers for diverting the electric current flowing through probes. Thus, the current-diverting guide plate can be used to prevent the probes from possible damage due to an excessive instantaneous current.
US09423423B2	Probe card for testing wafers A probe card for circuit-testing comprising a testing PCB, a probe head, and a silicon interposer substrate is provided. The probe head has a plurality of probes provided with a fine pitch arrangement and held inside. The silicon interposer substrate is used for conveying signals between said probes and said test PCB. The interconnection of said silicon interposer substrate is formed by utilizing the through-silicon via process. A plurality of upper terminals and a plurality of lower terminals are respectively array-arranged on the top surface and the bottom surface of said silicon interposer substrate. The pitch between the upper terminals is larger than the pitch between the lower terminals and the pitch between adjacent lower terminals is equal to the fine pitch of the arrangement of probes.
US09423421B2	Testing head for a test equipment of electronic devices A testing head for a test equipment of electronic devices of the type includes a plurality of contact probes inserted into guide holes which are realized in at least an upper guide and a lower guide separated one another by an air zone. Each of such contact probes include at least a probe body having a substantially rectangular section and a projecting arm from the probe body which ends with a probe tip for contacting one of a plurality of contact pads of a device to be tested. The projecting arm projects outside the probe body so as to have a lug with respect to both faces of the probe body which converge in an edge in order to define a probe tip offset and external with respect to the probe body.
US09423414B2	Method and system for measuring the variation in speed of a moving body A device and method measure an acceleration of a moving body. The device contains a solid body having a moving part and an internal cavity capable of allowing for a free movement of the moving part. The internal cavity has at least one wall forming a sloping track, the sloping track having a surface allowing for the free movement of the moving part on the sloping track between an initial position at rest and a distant position spaced from the initial position situated at an end of the internal cavity and reachable by the moving part during a variation in acceleration. The moving part moving from the initial position to the distant position in the internal cavity under an effect of the acceleration of the moving body. At least one detector is provide and is capable of detecting a presence of the moving part at the distant position.
US09423412B2	Automatic analyzer Unlike conventional reagent storing means of an analyzing unit having a cold-storage function, replacement reagent storing means having no cold-storage function requires reagent management of a higher order. An automatic analyzer is provided that manages the placing elapsed time for a reagent vessel in replacement reagent storing means 2, compares the placing elapsed time for the reagent with a permissible placing limit value stored as one of analysis parameters for each analysis item, and determines as to whether or not the placing elapsed time exceeds permissible limit value. In this way, the analyzer prevents the degradation of the reagent and automatically transfers the reagent to an analyzing section for performing measurement.
US09423410B2	Transport device, sample distribution system, and laboratory automation system A transport device for transporting a sample container along a transport surface is presented. The transport device comprises a permanent magnet, a holding unit and a receiving unit. This enables reliable transporting of sample containers by means of magnetic forces. A sample distribution system and a laboratory automation system are also presented.
US09423409B2	Articulated sample container rack apparatus, rack conveyor systems, and methods of conveying sample containers An articulated sample rack apparatus is disclosed. In one aspect, the articulated sample rack apparatus has a plurality of coupled rack components wherein at least some of the rack components have a receptacle having a bottom to receive a sample container, the rack having free ends and at least one hinge allowing articulation between at least some of the rack components. Conveyor systems and methods to convey sample racks are provided, as are other aspects.
US09423407B2	Automated analysis coverage verification (AACV) The invention relates to systems and methods for verifying complete analysis coverage in a steam generator tube inspection. The analysis is conducted by an automated analysis process. The process includes setup and analysis functions. Information is entered into the setup function to identify abnormalities to be inspected and to model the steam generator tubes. The verification includes employing a software verification program to detect and identify a gap within analysis coverage for a particular abnormality or set of abnormalities for which the steam generator tube is inspected, in a particular portion of the steam generator tube.
US09423406B2	Lipidomic biomarkers for the prediction of cardiovascular outcomes in coronary artery disease patients not undergoing statin treatment The present invention inter alia provides a method, and use thereof, of predicting severe CVD complications such as AMI or CVD death by detecting the lipid concentrations or lipid ratios of a biological sample and comparing it to a control and has identified specific lipid markers that are more specific and sensitive in predicting these CVD complications than currently utilized clinical markers. Also provided are antibodies towards said lipids, and the use thereof for predicting, diagnosing, preventing and/or treating CVD complications. The invention additionally relates to kits comprising lipids and/or an antibody thereto, for use in the prediction and/or diagnosis of CVD complications.
US09423401B2	Compositions and methods for detecting cancer The invention provides sialylated glycans and antibodies that specifically bind to them. The invention's compositions and methods for using them are useful for early detection and diagnosis of cancer.
US09423397B2	Waveguide-based detection system with scanning light source The invention provides methods and devices for generating optical pulses in one or more waveguides using a spatially scanning light source. A detection system, methods of use thereof and kits for detecting a biologically active analyte molecule are also provided. The system includes a scanning light source, a substrate comprising a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of optical sensing sites in optical communication with one or more waveguide of the substrate, a detector that is coupled to and in optical communication with the substrate, and means for spatially translating a light beam emitted from said scanning light source such that the light beam is coupled to and in optical communication with the waveguides of the substrate at some point along its scanning path. The use of a scanning light source allows the coupling of light into the waveguides of the substrate in a simple and cost-effective manner.
US09423391B2	Relative valuation method for naphtha streams A system and a method for determining the relative value of a naphtha product includes reforming the naphtha into fractions at a predetermined constant research octane number (RON), conducting PIONA analysis on the reformate, after which modules or steps are performed to assign the feed quality, assign the total liquid yields, assign raw product yields, normalize the assigned raw product yields, assign a value to one or more fractions, and calculate a total value of the naphtha stream. The method is repeated on samples of different crude oils in order to provide relative values at the predetermined RON for comparison purposes.
US09423389B2	Portable fluorimetric apparatus, method and system A fluorimetric system, apparatus and method are disclosed to measure an analyte concentration in a sample. A sensor reagent housing is also disclosed which comprises a channel and a porous medium having an analysis chemistry reagent, such as a nucleic acid analysis chemistry reagent. The apparatus and system are portable for field use, with an apparatus housing having a size adapted to fit into a user's hand. An apparatus also includes a sensing chamber and cover, a user interface, a light source; a photomultiplier tube, an amplifier, an A/D converter, a memory, and a processor. In various embodiments, the processor performs a data fitting, determines a sample reaction rate parameter, and determines the analyte concentration from a comparison of the sample reaction rate parameter with stored calibration data. The processor may also generate the calibration data and site-specific offset factors, and modify the calibration data using an offset factor.
US09423383B2	Chromatography systems and methods using them Certain embodiments described herein are directed to chromatography systems that include a microfluidic device. The microfluidic device can be fluidically coupled to a switching valve to provide for selective control of fluid flow in the chromatography system. In some examples, the microfluidic device may include a charging chamber, a bypass restrictor or other features that can provide for added control of the fluid flow in the system. Methods of using the devices and methods of calculating lengths and diameters to provide a desired flow rate are also described.
US09423374B2	Reference electrode error trap determined from a specified sampling time and a pre-determined sampling time Various embodiments for a method that allow for a more accurate analyte concentration with a biosensor by determining at least one physical characteristic of the sample and determining whether a counter or reference electrode is causing an error by monitoring the working electrodes and flagging an error if the signal outputs of the working electrodes do not meet certain thresholds.
US09423364B1	Method and system for perceiving a boundary between a first region and second region of a superabrasive volume Methods of evaluating a superabrasive volume or a superabrasive compact are disclosed. One method may comprise exposing a superabrasive volume to radiation and detecting a response of the radiation when it interacts with the superabrasive volume. In one embodiment, a boundary may be perceived between a first region and a second region of the superabrasive volume in response to detecting the response of the radiation. In one particular embodiment, a boundary between a catalyst-containing region and a catalyst-diminished region of a polycrystalline diamond volume may be perceived. Additionally, a depth to which a catalyst-diminished region extends within a polycrystalline diamond volume of a polycrystalline diamond compact may be measured based on the monitored response of the radiation. In a further embodiment, a non-planar boundary between the two regions may be mapped. A system configured to evaluate a superabrasive volume is also disclosed.
US09423362B2	Primary and secondary scanning in muon tomography inspection Techniques and systems for using cosmic ray-produced muons to inspect objects based on an initial scanning of all objects and an additional scanning of objects that are determined by the initial scanning to potentially include one or more suspect regions. In one implementation, a system can include a primary scanner for performing the initial or primary scanning and a smaller secondary scanner for the additional or secondary scanning to provide efficient and accurate inspection of objects while maintaining a desired throughput of the inspection. In another implementation, a single scanner can be used to perform both the initial scanning and the additional scanning while maintaining a sufficient throughput of a line of objects under inspection.
US09423343B2	Membrane potential change detection device and membrane potential change detection method A membrane potential change detection device is provided with a reflection interference measurement light source, a holder which holds a transparent member on which cells are mounted, a reflection interference detection camera which images light emitted from the reflection interference measurement light source and reflected from the cells through the transparent member, to generate a reflection interference image, and an analysis unit which calculates a parameter dI about adhesion between the cells and the transparent member from the reflection interference image and detects a change of membrane potential of the cells on the basis of a change of the parameter dI.
US09423341B1	Daytime infrared imaging of satellites GEO satellites and other space objects are studied in daylight, twilight and at night using IR cameras in clusters of no more than three with programs for pointing the instruments at known locations of the GEO objects and satellites and receiving weak near IR signals. Detection instruments have minimal optical surfaces and simple optical paths directing IR through Kshort and combined Kshort and H near IR band filters in cryogenic assemblies. Large focal ratios and large apertures reduce the effect of sky brightness, lower noise and improve the target signal, increasing the noise to signal ratio. Sky background noise is reduced by co-adding hundreds of pixels, allowing for the faint IR signal integration of one second or more. Results are read after integration.
US09423333B2	Methods and systems for viscoelastic characterization of irregularly shaped anisotropic biological samples Methods that extend the utility of standard rotational rheometers for accurate and sensitive viscoelastic characterization of small or small irregularly shaped or small anisotropic samples and systems to implement those methods.
US09423320B2	Tire rubber index calculating method, device, and computer-readable storage medium In order to precisely calculate the rubber index of a tire, a rubber index calculating device: measures, by a frictional energy measuring device, frictional energies of a tire in plural tire input conditions applied to the tire on the basis of the shear force and the slippage of a tire contact patch; measures, by the frictional energy measuring device, frictional energies of a sample of the same material as the tire in sample input conditions that have been set on the basis of the frictional energies of the tire in the tire input conditions that were measured, and sets measurement conditions for measuring amounts of wear of the sample on the basis of the frictional energies of the tire in the tire input conditions that were measured and the frictional energies of the sample in the tire input conditions that were measured; measures, by an amount of wear measuring device, the amounts of wear of the sample in the measurement conditions that were set, and calculates the rubber index of the tire on the basis of the frictional energies and the amounts of wear of the sample that were measured.
US09423319B2	Modular rigid barrier A rigid barrier system includes a base piece and a face piece. The face piece may be configured to be to be mounted to the base piece, such that the face piece is laterally movable while mounted to the base piece in an unfixed mode. Alternatively or additionally, the rigid barrier system may include a steel floor plate resting on a base layer. A mass of the base layer may be at least ten times a mass of the face piece and the base piece.
US09423317B2	Combustion chamber measurement system A system and method disclosed may include a dynamic pressure sensor or probe having a wave guide and wave guide tube and a temperature sensor disposed therethrough in order to optimally install and position the temperature sensor to measure combustor flame characteristics. The dynamic pressure sensor is preferably positioned or mounted on the outer casing of the combustor. By taking advantage of the placement of an existing dynamic pressure sensor, a temperature sensor—for instance a fine wire temperature probe—can be disposed through the interior of the dynamic pressure sensor so that combustion flame characteristics can be measured near the combustion liner.
US09423313B2	Press machine braking performance verifying apparatus A press machine braking performance verifying apparatus verifies performance of brakes applying braking to a slide. The press machine braking performance verifying apparatus includes a speed detecting component, a stopping instruction detecting component, a stopping time measuring component, a maximum stopping time calculating component and an evaluating component. The speed detecting component detects a slide driving speed. The stopping instruction detecting component detects if stopping of the slide is instructed. The stopping time measuring component measures a stopping time until the slide stops when a stopping instruction is detected. The maximum stopping time calculating component calculates predicted stopping time in a case where the slide is driven at a maximum driving speed based on the slide driving speed after detecting the stopping instruction and the stopping time. The evaluating component evaluates performance of the brakes by comparing the predicted stopping time and a threshold valve set in advance.
US09423311B2	Movement and expression sensor A movement and expression sensor has a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) disposed along the length of an optical fiber, and the optical fiber is placed in contact with a subject's skin surface. The sensors are interrogated for reflected wavelength, which is converted into a temperature or a strain. A series of such measurements can be made to determine the movement or position of the sensor location. A garment may be formed using the sensors and an elastomeric material, such that the sensors may be worn and removed, and the movements of the elastomer in the areas of sensors measured as a wavelength shift to characterize movement or estimate location. The elastomeric garment may be formed as a mask, or a sock, such as for use with a face, or foot.
US09423308B2	Six-axis force-torque sensor A sensing device for measuring force and/or torque includes a top part with a top electrode structure, a bottom part with a bottom electrode structure, and a support structure. The support structure includes spring elements for supporting the top part on the bottom part with the top electrode structure parallel to and facing the bottom electrode structure. The spring elements provide a gap between the top and bottom electrode structures and allow displacement of the top part relative to the bottom part in three orthogonal directions two parallel and one perpendicular to the bottom plate, and for rotation of the top part relative to the bottom part around three orthogonal axes, corresponding with the two parallel and one perpendicular directions. The displacement and/or rotation induce a change in distance between and/or overlap area of the top and bottom electrodes and a corresponding change of capacitance.
US09423304B2	Infrared ray detecting element and infrared ray detector including the same An infrared ray detecting element includes: a substrate having a cavity; an infrared ray detecting portion including, sequentially stacked, a lower electrode layer, a detection layer, and an upper electrode layer; first and second support portions which support the infrared ray detecting portion above the cavity; and first and second external lead portions for leading electrical signals outputted from the infrared ray detecting portion, to the outside. The first support portion includes, sequentially stacked, a first upper wiring pattern, a first insulating layer, and a first lower wiring pattern. The upper electrode layer is connected to the first external lead portion via the first upper wiring pattern. The second support portion includes, sequentially stacked, a second upper wiring pattern, a second insulating layer, and a second lower wiring pattern. The lower electrode layer is connected to the second external lead portion via the second lower wiring pattern.
US09423302B2	Spectroscopic analysis device, spectroscopic analysis method and program for spectroscopic analysis device A stray light ratio computation unit computes the stray light ratio at a specified wavelength based on the quantity of light at the specified wavelength computed by light quantity computation unit in a state where there is no sample having absorption in the light path and the quantity of light at the specified wavelength computed by light quantity computation unit when the light is transmitted through a sample having absorption at the specified wavelength. Stray light quantity computation unit computes the quantity of stray light at each wavelength through computations using the stray light ratio at the specified wavelength and different unique values for each wavelength (for example, different coefficients for each wavelength, stored in coefficient storage unit).
US09423296B2	Unit for determining the type of a dominating light source by means of two photodiodes The invention relates to a unit (1) for determining the dominant light source type in electromagnetic radiation (2) incident on the unit (1) and generated from a plurality of light sources of different types. The unit comprises at least one first photodiode (10) designed to detect electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectral range and to generate a first output signal (11). The unit comprises at least one second photodiode (20) designed to detect electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectral range and to generate a second output signal (21). The unit comprises at least one calculation unit (30) designed to derive a quotient result (23) and a frequency result (13) from the first (11) and second (21) output signals. The frequency result (13) provides information about the presence or absence of signal components in a predetermined frequency range contained in the electromagnetic radiation. The unit comprises at least one evaluation unit (40) designed to derive the dominant light source type from the quotient result (23) and the frequency result (13).
US09423292B2	Sensor with a vibrating member in a cavity with integrated anomaly detection The invention relates to vibrating micro-systems, and notably but not exclusively to pressure, acceleration, or angular speed micro-sensors with a resonator in an evacuated cavity.The resonator (10) with a vibrating element is placed in an oscillating circuit controlled by a closed-loop control, the oscillating circuit supplying an oscillating signal y(t) at a resonance frequency Fp representing the measurement of a physical quantity. The resonance frequency is calculated by counting pulses over a time window. The sensor furthermore comprises means for calculating a continuity parameter Pc representing the variations in the result of the calculation of the resonance frequency over the course of the successive time windows, and means for comparing the parameter Pc with a threshold in order to deduce from this information on the degradation of the precision of the sensor.
US09423273B2	High traffic data transmission The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for communicating with a radio frequency (RF) device. A hybrid method for collecting data may include a pushing method of collecting data and a pulling method of collecting data. The pushing method of collecting data may be configured such that a first node initiates data collection with a second node during a pushing period. The pulling method of collecting data may be configured such that the first node waits on the second node to initiate data collection during a pulling period. The pushing period and the pulling period may occur at different times.
US09423259B2	3D sonar display with semi-transparent shading A marine navigation device comprises a location determining element, a display, a memory element, and a processing element. The location determining element determines a current geolocation of a marine vessel on a first body of water. The memory element stores sonar data for a plurality of bodies of water. The processing element is in communication with the memory element and is configured to access the sonar data from the memory element corresponding to the first body of water, calculate bottom hardness shading data based on the sonar data, generate a map representation of at least a portion of the first body of water corresponding to the current geolocation, the map representation including shading derived from the calculated bottom hardness shading data, and control the display to visually present the map representation.
US09423256B2	Pointing and navigation system and process for calibrating the pointing and navigation system A method of calibration of a navigation and pointing system (10) including a navigation unit (11) integrally connected to a pointing device (12), the navigation unit being configured to measure the orientation of a navigation reference system (21), the pointing device (12) being configured to measure a signal in a pointing reference system (22). The calibration method includes the following steps: selecting a first planar surface (8) and a second planar surface (9); acquiring measurements via the system by directing the pointing direction towards the first planar surface (8), and respectively towards the second planar surface (9), according to a plurality of predetermined orientations; applying an algorithm for processing the measurements acquired at the previous step to extract therefrom the misalignment angles between the navigation reference system (21) and the pointing reference system (22).
US09423255B2	System and method for mitigating an occurrence of a dry spot in a field of view of a star tracker A system and method for mitigating an occurrence of a dry spot, the method may include: (1) predicting the occurrence of the dry spot by at least one of determining a location of the occurrence of the dry spot, determining a date of the occurrence of the dry spot, and determining a duration of the occurrence of the dry spot; (2) generating a visualization of the occurrence of the dry spot, and (3) modifying a star catalog to reduce an impact of the dry spot by at least one of generating a set of modification to modify the star catalog, generating a modification schedule for modifying the star catalog, and uploading the set of modifications to the star catalog.
US09423248B2	Visual error calibration method A visual error calibration method configured to calibrate visual positioning errors of a laser processing apparatus is provided. The method includes: providing an alignment mark having at least one alignment point; locating a preset point of the alignment mark at a first preset position of a working area, and locating a preset image point at a preset position of the visible area; locating the alignment point at one of the second preset positions in the working area; adjusting parameters of a scanning module to locate an alignment image point at the preset position; relatively moving the alignment image point to positions of the visible area in sequence; recording the positions of the alignment image point in the visible area, the positions of the alignment point in the working area and the parameters of the scanning module, so as to produce an alignment table.
US09423238B2	Optical measurement apparatus for measuring a target using signal, reference, and control beams A clear image of a target to be measured is obtained by suppressing influence of a reflected beam from the surface of the target or a measurement target holding unit. A laser beam emitted from a light source is split into a signal beam, reference beam, and control beam. The signal beam is focused onto the target with an objective lens, so the target is irradiated with the signal beam. The amount of defocus of the control beam is controlled with a defocus control unit, and the phase of the control beam is controlled with a phase control unit. A signal beam reflected or scattered by the target is combined with the control beam to generate a controlled signal beam, and the controlled signal beam is combined with the reference beam. A plurality of interference beams with different phases are generated with interference optics, and phase diversity detection is performed.
US09423235B2	Device for measuring dimensions of parts Measuring system having a plurality of probes for measuring lengths, each probe including a probe tip connected in removable fashion relative to a casing, a transducer supplying an electric signal that is representative of the position of said probe tip relative to the casing, a digital processing unit for sampling the signal from said transducer and transforming it into a digital representation of said position, and a bidirectional interface for a wireless communication network connecting said probes with a control unit. A method including a step during which the clocks of the digital processing units of the probes are synchronized through said bidirectional wireless interface and a step during which the control unit transmits commands determining the instant at which said electric signals are sampled.
US09423233B2	Axial displacement and rotational speed monitoring An apparatus, for example for a pitch change mechanism, includes a cylinder having a magnetic portion defining an annular array of features extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, the cylinder rotating in use and able to translate longitudinally. There is a sensing arrangement including a stationary magnetised core and two coils connected in series and wound around the core. In use, the cylinder rotates and current is induced in the coils. Monitoring equipment is arranged to calculate rotational speed of the cylinder from the frequency of the current and to calculate longitudinal position from the relative amplitude of the current in each coil. Also a method.
US09423231B2	Positioning device for the saddle of a bicycle A positioning device for positioning the saddle of a bicycle that includes a measuring pole and an adaptor positioned at an end of the measuring pole for coupling the end to the pedal crankshaft of the bicycle. The positioning device also includes a positioning assembly with a base that is configured to be supported on the saddle. An articulation assembly couples the base with the measuring pole. The base is slideable along the measuring pole and has a main plate that is capable of being supported on the saddle. The base includes a front stop adapted for abutting a front end of the saddle. The positioning device being adapted for incorporating an angle of inclination measuring device for measuring the angle of inclination of the measuring pole.
US09423227B2	Method for optically transmitting data into and from a casing of a projectile A method for optically transmitting data into and from a casing of a projectile. The method including: transmitting, from an outside of the casing to an inside of the casing, a first optical signal containing first data through a first optical window disposed on the casing; manipulating the first data inside the casing of the projectile into second data; and transmitting, from the inside of the casing to the outside of the casing, a second optical signal containing the second data through a second optical window. The first and second optical windows can be the same optical window or different optical windows.
US09423218B2	Method for producing a ring-shaped or plate-like element The invention relates to a method for producing a ring-shaped or plate-like element, in particular for a metal-sealing material-feedthrough, in particular for devices which are subjected to high pressures, preferably igniters for airbags or belt tensioning devices, whereby a blank, especially in the embodiment of a wire-shaped material is provided and the blank is subjected to processing so that a feedthrough-opening can be incorporated into a ring-shaped or plate-like element created from the blank.
US09423216B2	KeyMod quick mounting arrangement A KeyMod quick mounting arrangement is arranged for detachably coupling an accessory at a firearm having a KeyMod mounting slot, wherein the arrangement includes a mounting body extended from the accessory, a positioning member protruded from a second side of the mounting body for detachably engaging with a narrow slot portion of the mounting slot, and a coupling head having a head portion outwardly protruded from said second side of the mounting body. In a securing position, the head portion of the coupling head is arranged for being disposed in an enlarged slot portion of the mounting slot so as to secure the accessory at the firearm. In a releasing position, the head portion of the coupling head is arranged for disengaging with the enlarged slot portion of the mounting slot so as to enable the accessory to be detached from the firearm.
US09423212B2	Reflex sight adjustments A battery compartment for a reflex sight is accessed via a pivoting lid that can be unlatched, opened, and closed by hand without tools and without removing the sight from its weapon. A button carried by the lid actuates a switch within the sight for changing a setting of the sight. Also disclosed is a reflex sight having mounting structures for accessories, such as an impact guard, a rain hood, or a rear iron sight for example. Positioning mechanisms for an LED or other aiming point display device of an aiming sight are also disclosed.
US09423208B1	Vertical foregrip pepper spray device A vertical foregrip pepper spray device is taught which consists of a hollow body having a base with an internal fluid conduit incorporated therein. The device has a picatinny rail female groove and a thumb opening containing a covered safety mechanism in the top portion. A pepper spray pressurized aerosol container is inserted within the hollow of the body and latched in place, such that an operator may safely discharge a non-lethal chemical irritant spray by manually depressing the top surface of the pressurized aerosol container. The device is removably mounted, with a quick release assembly, onto a picatinny rail positioned on the forearm underside of a modern sporting rifle or long gun.
US09423200B1	Virtual preloaded bearing A preload bearing is provided for mounting into an orifice in a shock-inducing platform. The bearing includes a cylindrical housing insertable into the orifice of the platform with a housing axis oriented vertically in relation to the platform, the housing having a closed bottom end and an open top end; a scraper that attaches to the bottom end of the housing for receiving compressive load from underneath; a crown roller disposed to extend radially from the housing; a shaft coaxial with the crown roller disposed within the housing along a roller axis perpendicular to the housing axis; and a cap that covers the open top end of the housing.
US09423187B2	Plate type heat pipe with mesh wick structure having opening A plate type heat pipe includes a sealed tube, a chamber defined in the tube, and working medium received in the chamber. A mesh wick structure is attached to an inner wall of the tube. In one version of the plate type heat pipe, the wick structure defines a single opening. The opening communicates the chamber and thereby provides additional space for flow of vaporized working medium inside the tube. In other versions of the plate type heat pipe, the wick structure defines two or more openings.
US09423178B2	Device for conversion of waste to sources of energy or fertilizer and a method thereof The present invention provides a compact device (that may be installed onto a mobile or stationary platform) for conversion of waste to sources of energy or fertilizer. The device includes multiple stages for efficient conversation and processing of waste into energy or fertilizer, including a first stage for reducing a size of received waste, a second stage for compressing the reduced sized waste into partially dehydrated waste, a third stage for grinding and further compression of received waste from second stage to pulverize the constituent parts into highly dense substantially dehydrated pellets or fertilizers, with a fourth stage for further drying of the received pellets or fertilizers and a final fifth stage for cooling the received pellets or fertilizers into highly dense pellets. The device of the present invention further includes a controller for controlling each operational stage.
US09423174B2	Cryogenic system for removing acid gases from a hydrocarbon gas stream, and method of removing acid gases A system for removing acid gases from a raw gas stream the system includes a cryogenic distillation tower. The tower receives and separates the raw gas stream into an overhead methane stream and a bottom liquefied acid gas stream. Refrigeration equipment downstream of the cryogenic distillation tower cools the overhead methane stream and returns a portion of the overhead methane stream to the cryogenic distillation tower as liquid reflux. The system also may include a first molecular sieve bed upstream of the distillation tower and a second molecular sieve bed downstream of the distillation tower. The first molecular sieve bed adsorbs water while the second molecular sieve bed adsorbs additional acid gases from the cooled overhead methane stream.
US09423169B2	Defrosting system and method of refrigeration Disclosed is a defrosting system and a defrosting method of a refrigerator, the system including an evaporator configured to reduce an ambient temperature by heat exchange through movement of refrigerant, a frost monitoring camera by photographing a state of frost adhered to the evaporator, a controller configured to grasp changes of an image captured by the frost monitoring camera to determine a defrosting start time, and a heat-generating unit configured to emit heat in response to a signal applied from the controller to remove the frost, whereby an unnecessary operation of a heat-generating unit is prevented by appropriately coping with an environment that flexibly changes according to an inner situation of a refrigerator and by accurately determining, by the controller, a start time and a completion time of defrosting operation for removing frost adhered to the refrigerator.
US09423159B2	Bi-directional cascade heat pump system A multi-mode, bi-directional cascade heat pump system, according to some examples, includes at least two chillers each being part of a unidirectional refrigerant circuit. The system includes heat exchangers each of which are dedicated to operate as just a condenser or as just an evaporator, regardless of the system's operating mode. In some modes, a secondary fluid transfers heat between the condenser of one chiller and the evaporator of another chiller before the fluid returns to a secondary fluid source such as, for example, a geothermal borefield or a conventional water source. In some embodiments, fluid is withdrawn from a borefield by way of a pump having a speed that varies to maintain a desired fluid temperature and/or a desired heat transfer rate at the borefield. The heat pump system includes means for minimizing flow through the borefield and for minimizing unnecessary mixing of relatively high and low temperature fluid.
US09423155B2	Solar energy collector and system for using same A solar energy collector includes a first member having a cavity and a longitudinal axis. The first member has a longitudinal window forming a part thereof and a body forming another part thereof. The longitudinal window is made of a material adapted to be transparent to solar radiation. The body has an exterior absorptive surface and an interior reflective surface. A second member is located within the cavity of the first member and is generally parallel to longitudinal axis of the first member. The second member is adapted to carry an energy absorbing fluid. An insulative material fills the cavity between the first member and the second member. A solar energy collection system includes the form going solar energy collector and a solar energy transmitting device for directing solar energy through the window of the collector.
US09423148B2	Overflow safety switch mounting device A mounting device for removably supporting an overflow safety switch in operable position within a condensation collecting drain pan in HVACR equipment. The mounting device includes a clip member that is secured to the drain pan side wall and locked in place by a non-penetrating thumb screw. A bracket removably attaches to the overflow safety switch at several adjusted positions and is slidably adjustable on the clip member for adjustably positioning the overflow safety switch relative to a bottom of the drain pan. The overflow safety switch is easily removed from the bracket for adjustment and replacement while the bracket remains fitted to the clip member. Moreover, the bracket is easily removed from the clip member without removing the clip member from the drain pan side wall.
US09423142B2	Personal portable humidifier-type air cleaner, and case and water tank thereof A personal portable humidifier-type air cleaner includes: a portable case; a water tank formed in the case to store a certain amount of water; an intake channel for outside air, which is connected from outside to inside the case; an air discharge channel configured in continuation of the intake channel, for discharging the inside air to outside the case via a directional exit; a fan disposed on the intake channel, for forcing the air to flow from the intake channel to the discharge channel; and a vaporization kit composed of a plurality of moisture-containing filters that is maintained in a moisture-containing condition by being arranged on the air discharge channel and connected with the water tank by a wick.
US09423137B2	Fuel injector with first and second converging fuel-air passages A gas turbine engine fuel injector is disclosed having a plurality of fuel injection circuits that are structured to deliver fuel to air passageways. In one non-limiting embodiment, one of the fuel injection circuits includes a plain jet airblast injector that delivers fuel to an air passageway. In some applications the plain jet can extend across the air passageway and deliver a fuel to an opposite surface to form a fuel film. The fuel film can then be sheared between an air in the air passageway and an air in a nearby air passageway. Another of the fuel injection circuits includes a fuel filmer structured to deliver fuel to an air passageway that can then be sheared by an air in the air passageway and an air in the air passageway that included the plain jet airblast injector.
US09423119B2	Device for securing a source of LED light to a heat sink surface A device for securing a source of LED light to a heat sink includes an LED light source engaging surface that is arranged and configured to engage at least a portion of the source of LED light and which is provided with an integrated force applying spring. Further, the device may include a continuous metallic path extending between the sources of LED light and the surface.
US09423118B2	Light-emitting module and lamp using same A light-emitting module includes a substrate, an LED chip arranged on a main surface of the substrate, a sealing member covering the LED chip on the main surface of the substrate and converting a wavelength of the light produced by the LED chip, and a heat transfer member thermally connecting the sides of the LED chip to the main surface of the substrate and dissipating heat produced by the LED chip to the substrate. The heat transfer member is made up of a silicone resin having particles dispersed therein, the particles being nanoparticles of ZrO2 and microparticles of MgO, which have higher thermal conductivity than the silicone resin.
US09423117B2	LED fixture with heat pipe A light assembly fixture comprising a heat pipe to dissipate heat from the light emitting device, such as but not limited to a light emitting diode (LED). The assembly further comprises a housing including a front surface, a light emitting device on a first heat spreader remote from the front surface, a first end of a heat pipe in thermal contact with the first heat spreader and the heat pipe extending towards the front surface such that a second end of the heat pipe is in thermal contact with a second heat spreader that is disposed on the housing, wherein the first heat spreader, heat pipe and second heat spreader are configured to provide a thermal path to dissipate heat from the light emitting device.
US09423116B2	LED lamp and modular lighting system A modular lighting system has lamps that may be connected to one another such that current is carried between the lamps. The lamps include an enclosure that is at least partially optically transmissive. At least one LED is located in the enclosure that is operable to emit light through the enclosure when energized through an electrical path. A first electrical connector is provided for connecting the electrical path to a power source and a second electrical connector is configured to connect the electrical path to a second lamp.
US09423115B2	Lighting device with microwave detection function A lighting device includes a microwave sensor for adjusting its sensing range based on a range gate selected from multiple range gates. An active antenna module transmits first FMCW signal toward a target based on the selected range gate and for receiving second FMCW signal reflected from the target. The microwave sensor demodulates the first FMCW signal and the second FMCW signal to generate beat frequency signal. Then another demodulator demodulates the beat frequency signal to generate Doppler signal. The microwave sensor calculates a range between the microwave sensor and the target based on the beat frequency signal, calculates velocity of the target according to frequency of the Doppler signal, and determine whether to generate triggering signal according to the calculated velocity and the calculated range, when the object located within the range gate. The power module enables a lamp based on the triggering signal.
US09423106B2	Lighting system with thermal management system having point contact synthetic jets Lighting systems having unique configurations are provided. For instance, the lighting system may include a light source, a thermal management system and driver electronics, each contained within a housing structure. The light source is configured to provide illumination visible through an opening in the housing structure. The thermal management system includes a plurality of synthetic jets. The synthetic jets are arranged within the lighting system such that they are secured at contact points.
US09423084B2	Indirect lighting apparatus An indirect lighting apparatus includes a light-emitting device, a reflector disposed above the light-emitting device, and a wavelength conversion layer disposed on a surface of the reflector facing the light-emitting device and spaced apart from the light-emitting device. The wavelength conversion layer includes phosphors configured to change the wavelength of light emitted from the light-emitting device. The reflector is configured to reflect light emitted from the wavelength conversion layer, back towards the wavelength conversion layer.
US09423082B2	Lighting device A lighting device may include: a carrier having a mounting surface, at least one luminescence diode chip having, at its side facing away from the carrier, a radiation exit surface, through which electromagnetic radiation generated in the luminescence diode chip during operation emerges at least partly, at least one optical body designed in a radiation-transmissive fashion, and a shaped body including a phosphor, wherein each luminescence diode chip is fixed to the mounting surface on the carrier, each optical body is fixed to the radiation exit surface of an assigned luminescence diode chip, the shaped body encloses each optical body in a positively locking manner at a side surface of the optical body, and the phosphor converts at least part of the electromagnetic radiation generated in at least one of the luminescence diode chips during operation.
US09423075B2	Device for monitoring the state of a system A device (1) monitors the state of a system (2), in particular safety switches for monitoring the closed state of safety equipment (2) of a machine (3). The device (1) is provided with a switch head (10) and an actuator (8), which can be brought into interaction with one another to control the device (1). The switch head (10) has an optical signaler (14) for optically signaling an operational state of the actuator (8) provided with a light-guide (28) having at least one entrance window (32) and at least one exit window (34, 36). In a state of the device (1) in which the switch bead (10) and the actuator (8) are interacting with one another, the light emitted by the signaler (14) enters, at least in part, via the at least one entrance window (32) and exits via the at least one exit window (34. 36).
US09423071B2	Lock for a wall hanging electronic device An electronic device which can be hung on a fixing member includes an enclosure and a wall hanging lock. The wall hanging lock includes a locking frame. The locking frame includes a pair of positioning legs and a pair of locking members. The positioning legs are inserted into the locking members to engage the locking members with each other to clamp onto the fixing member. The positioning legs can also be detached from the locking members to enable the locking members to disengage from each other to allow separation of the locking members from the fixing member.
US09423066B2	Support arm with a multiple degree of freedom locking device A support arm with a multiple degree of freedom locking device includes a support arm unit, an outer housing unit, a feed screw, a conical push block, and two conical baffles. When the feed screw rotates in a first direction, the conical push block and the conical baffle are driven are rotated to make the outer annular baffle slanting surface press against the inner surface of the pivot space and the first and second pivot portions, so that the lateral housing is unable to pivot with respect to the upper and lower housing, and the first and second pivot portions are positioned between the two ears in a non-rotatable manner, when the feed screw rotates reversely, the lateral housing will be able to pivot with respect to the upper and lower housing, and the first and second pivot portions are able to pivot with respect to the two ears.
US09423061B2	Locking quick connect spray shield with visual indicator According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for a quick connect spray shield includes an inner sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a center axis that is parallel to an axis from the first end to the second end, wherein the inner sleeve has an inner surface that is contoured to position the inner sleeve relative to a female quick connect fitting; and an outer sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a center axis that is parallel to the center axis of the inner sleeve, wherein the outer sleeve has an inner surface contoured to position the outer sleeve relative to an actuating collar of the female quick connect fitting, wherein the actuating collar has an engaged position and a disengaged position.
US09423058B2	Formed hose with different fiber-reinforced regions Formed hose configurations are provided which include an innermost elastomer layer, a first fiber-reinforcement region, and multiple second fiber-reinforcement regions. The first fiber-reinforcement region has a first fiber-reinforcement density, and is disposed, at least in part, at a bend region of the formed hose, and the multiple second fiber-reinforcement regions have a second fiber-reinforcement density, and are disposed at least at the first and second end regions of the formed hose. The second fiber-reinforcement density is greater than the first fiber-reinforcement density, and results in the first and second ends of the formed hose being less radially-deformable than the bend region of the hose. This facilitates providing a mechanical fluid-tight connection with a hose barb fitting when the formed hose is slid over the hose barb fitting, absent any clamp over the formed hose and hose barb fitting connection.
US09423049B2	Reading and adjusting tool for hydrocephalus shunt valve A reading and adjustment tool for use with a valve having a pressure or flow setting adjustable to a plurality of pressure or flow settings is disclosed. The tool includes a signal generator and an excitation coil coupled to the signal generator. The signal generator includes an adjustment interface configured to generate an adjustment signal to adjust the pressure or flow setting and a reading interface to generate a reading signal to read the pressure or flow setting of the valve. At least one excitation coil is connected to the signal generator and configured to generate an oscillating electromagnetic field based on one of the adjustment signal and reading signal. A sense coil can include two portions positioned on either side of the at least one excitation coil to determine the pressure or flow setting of the valve.
US09423041B2	Dispensing machine valve and method A one-way valve is connectable in fluid communication with a fluid-receiving chamber, such as a dilution chamber or a mixing chamber for diluting or mixing a perishable food product, such as a milk product or chocolate product, and forming a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween. The valve comprises a relatively rigid valve seat, and a relatively flexible valve member overlying the valve seat and forming an axially-elongated, normally-closed valve opening therebetween defining an inlet at one end of the valve seat, an outlet at an opposite end of the valve seat, and an axially-extending seal therebetween that forms a fluid-tight seal between the inlet and outlet of the normally-closed valve opening. An axially-extending valve body is radially spaced relative to the valve member and forms a space therebetween allowing fluid-flow therethrough for cleaning the valve and the fluid-receiving chamber. A seal is engageable with the fluid-receiving chamber and forms a substantially fluid-tight seal therebetween to seal the valve outlet and fluid-receiving chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere. The valve member is movable radially away from the valve seat in response to substance at the inlet to the valve opening exceeding a valve opening pressure to flow into the normally closed valve opening, through the outlet, and into the fluid-receiving chamber.
US09423038B1	Switching valve structure for a faucet A switching structure for a faucet contain: a body, a stopping sleeve, a switch valve, and a rotatable control knob. The body includes a cold-water inlet, a hot-water inlet, a chamber, an outlet pipe, and an outlet connector. The chamber has a first opening and a second opening. The stopping sleeve includes a first hole, a second hole, a first close washer with a first aperture, a second close washer with a second aperture, a first face, and a second face. Between the switch valve and the body is defined a limiting structure to limit a rotation of the switch valve, the switch valve includes a channel, a coupling stem, a first vent, and a second vent. The first close washer has a first seal ring, and the second close washer has a second seal ring. The rotatable control knob is joined with the coupling stem of the switch valve.
US09423031B2	Key seal and valve A key seal preferably includes a first circular seal portion, a second rounded seal portion and a third rounded seal portion. The first circular seal portion preferably has generally circular cross-section. The second rounded seal portion preferably has a bottom side which is connected to the first seal portion, and has a cross-section which is smaller than that of the first circular seal portion. The third rounded seal portion preferably has a top side which is connected to the first seal portion, and has a cross-section which is smaller than that of the first circular seal portion. The first, second and third seal portions may be integrally formed. They key seal may be installed in a hydroseal assembly around the pin section of a hydroseal, and between a seal and a block section of the hydroseal.
US09423027B2	Control apparatus for continuously variable transmission The apparatus is configured to compare the calculated value (NDRCMDZ) of the desired input shaft rotational speed with the desired input shaft rotational speed upper limit (#NDRCMDMX) set in relation to an energy supply cut-off rotational speed (NEFC), determine the desired input shaft rotational speed upper limit (#NDRCMDMX) as the desired input shaft rotational speed (NDRCMD) when it is determined that the calculated value (NDRCMDZ) does exceed the desired input shaft rotational speed upper limit, and determine the calculated value (NDRCMDZ) as the desired input shaft rotational speed (NDRCMD) when it is determined that the calculated value does not exceed the desired input shaft rotational speed upper limit (#NDRCMDMX).
US09423025B1	Drive system having a variable output pump A variable output assembly including a hydraulic pump disposed on a pump running surface located on a center section, end cap or other hydraulic mounting member. The pump may be a gerotor or other rotatable pump body. A support member is disposed between the pump running surface and the pump and includes a pump support surface having openings to permit fluid communication between the support member and the pump running surface. The support member is movable between neutral and a plurality of positions corresponding to forward and reverse directions of the output. In forward and reverse positions, the support member permits fluid communication between the pump and a first porting system, and in the neutral position the support member permits fluid communication between the pump and a sump through the support surface openings and a second porting system.
US09423021B2	Flap type electronic automatic transmission lever control method A flap type electronic automatic transmission lever control method may include a step of turning on a start-up of a vehicle by control unit, a step of detecting a touch by a transmission stage recognition sensor, a step of detecting a touch by forward or backward rotation recognition sensor, a step of detecting the touch by a transmission stage recognition sensor when the forward rotation recognition sensor detects the touch, or detecting the touch by a transmission stage recognition sensor when the backward rotation recognition sensor detects the touch, a step of rotating the transmission stage flap and the upper transmission stage flap forward or rotating the transmission stage flap and the lower transmission stage flap backward by a step motor, a step of outputting transmission signal of the transmission stage corresponding to upper or lower transmission stage flap by the control unit, and a step of turning OFF the start-up.
US09423020B2	Shift device In a shift lever device, a width dimension of left ribs and right ribs is set larger than a diameter dimension of a left support shaft portion and a right support shaft portion. In the event of an impact load being imparted to a shift lever in different directions to a control lever axial direction, the left rib and the right rib are broken in this impact load direction since the left rib and the right rib are formed so as to face the whole diameter of the left support shaft portion and the right support shaft portion. Impact load can accordingly be absorbed even in the event that an impact load is imparted to the shift lever in different directions to a control lever axial direction. Namely, impact load can be absorbed for impact load directions within a range of a specific angle. Dependency on the impact load direction is accordingly suppressed when absorbing an impact load imparted to the shift lever.
US09423017B1	Transfer case and hydraulic clutch for driveline with active hydraulic fluid reservoir refill A transfer case and hydraulic clutch assembly for a motor vehicle driveline include a hydraulic fluid circuit in communication with a cavity disposed opposite a piston from a clutch pack for delivering pressurized fluid to the cavity for biasing the piston towards the clutch pack thereby activating the clutch. The transfer case and hydraulic clutch assembly also include a lubricant fluid circuit that is in communication with the chain that links the input sprocket to the output sprocket during use, as the chain rotates around the input sprocket and output sprocket, the lubricant fluid drips from or is sprayed from the chain. At least part of this released fluid is captured by a screen disposed above the hydraulic fluid reservoir. The screen removes any metal particles or debris and then passes the screen fluid into the hydraulic fluid reservoir thereby replenishing the hydraulic fluid reservoir without resorting to a time consuming and costly maintenance procedure.
US09423012B2	Ball screw device and dust-proof member extracting tool A ball screw device is provided in which a dust-proof member can be simply attached to a nut. The ball screw device (1) is a ball screw device (1) in which a concave portion (6) is formed in an inner circumferential end portion of a nut (4) through which a screw shaft (2) passes and the concave portion (6) is provided with a dust-proof member (5), wherein the dust-proof member (5) is formed of a cylindrical elastic member into which the screw shaft (2) is inserted and includes at least one protrusion (8) protruding in an outward diameter direction from an outer circumferential surface of the dust-proof member (5), and the concave portion (6) has a groove shape to which the dust-proof member (5) is fitted and is provided with a locking portion (7) to which the protrusion (8) is locked.
US09423002B2	Metal belt and driving mechanism with same metal belt A metal belt (300) is an endless belt formed of a strip body. The metal belt (300) includes a belt overlapping portion in which at least two ring pieces (310a, 320a) formed by deformation due to a compressive stress inherent in the belt doubly overlap in a ring radial direction in a natural state where no external force is applied. Further, the metal belt (300) has a cross-sectional shape convex radially outwardly in a cross-section perpendicular to a circumferential direction of the belt in a state reached by annularly spreading the belt in the natural state.
US09423000B2	Magnetically suspended vibration isolator with zero stiffness whose angle degree of freedom is decoupled with a joint ball bearing A magnetically suspended vibration isolator with zero stiffness whose angle degree of freedom is decoupled with a joint ball bearing has a main body, in which a sleeve and a lower mounting plate are supported with a magnetically suspended thrust bearing, a piston cylinder and the sleeve are lubricated and supported with a cylinder air bearing surface, and the angle degree of freedom between a upper mounting plate and the lower mounting plate is decoupled with a joint ball bearing; a position close-loop control system comprising voice coil motors, displacement sensors, limit switches, a controller and a driver is introduced, and the relative position between the upper mounting plate and the lower mounting plate is precisely controlled.
US09422993B2	Rotor cover, rotor cooling apparatus, and temperature-level indicator A rotor cover comprises a cover portion and a mounting portion. The cover portion is configured to at least partially cover a disc brake rotor mounted on a bicycle hub assembly. The mounting portion is configured to be mounted on the bicycle hub assembly.
US09422992B2	Disc brake with a spring attachment A disc brake includes brake pads (7), which are slidably received on either side of a brake disc within guide portions (6) of the disc brake, and including a spring arrangement (10) for spring cushioning the brake pads (7). Disc brakes of this type are frequently used in motor vehicles. To improve the spring cushioning of the brake pads, the spring arrangement (10) is equipped with at least one radial spring element (11) for radially clamping the brake pads (7) with respect to the guide portions (6), at least one axial spring element (22) for axially clamping the brake pads (7) in relation to each other, and at least one tangential spring element (18) for tangentially clamping the brake pads (7) in relation to the guide portions (6). The three spring elements (11, 18, 22) act in different spatial dimensions and can be embodied as separate components which are independent of each other.
US09422973B2	Ball joint Provided is a ball joint capable of coupling a third mechanical element in a freely pivotable manner near a pivot center of a first mechanical element and a second mechanical element coupled to each other in a freely pivotable manner. The ball joint includes: a ball stud including: a shaft member configured to allow a first mechanical element to be coupled thereto; and a ball portion formed at a distal end of the shaft member; a holder including a fixing port ion configured to allow a second mechanical element to be coupled thereto, the holder being formed through casting with the ball portion being set as a core to cover a maximum diameter portion of the ball portion, the holder being configured to couple the first mechanical element and the second mechanical element in a freely pivotable manner with the ball portion defining a pivot center; and a pivot shaft that protrudes out of the holder in a direction of intersecting with the shaft member of the ball stud to define a second pivot center independently of the ball portion, and to serve as a coupling portion for a third mechanical element, the pivot shaft being integrated with the holder at the time of the casting of the holder.
US09422966B2	Shear member post shear segment retention apparatus Shear member designs in various formats are presented with additional features for segment retention and subsequent removal after a shearing event and removal of the tool from a subterranean location. In some embodiments a portion of the shear member is retained by threads so that the segment stays in the part and then can be removed at the surface with putting a notch in the segment and removing it with a screwdriver. In another embodiment a retaining pin in an intersecting bore can hold onto a sheared remnant of the shear pin by pushing the remnant laterally in the bore that it is mounted. Another design for a shear ring uses a split design with the right angle portion of the ring that gets sheared appearing in segments so that the ring can be rapidly snapped into a groove at its outer periphery followed by a retaining cap facilitating removal.
US09422965B2	Methods and apparatus for asymmetrical fastening system Methods and apparatus for an asymmetrical fastening system according to various aspects of the present invention include a driver and a fastener that are configured to have corresponding conforming surfaces suitably adapted to provide substantially complete engagement between a torque surface of the driver and a recessed socket area of the fastener. The driver and fastener may each be configured to include a driving surface that is aligned with a longitudinal axis and a removal surface that intersects a radial extending from the longitudinal axis at an oblique angle. The driver and fastener may further include corresponding tapering surfaces that allow the torque surface of the driver to wedge against the recessed socket area of the fastener.
US09422964B2	Blind fasteners Fasteners for producing double blind joints where the fastener is not visible or accessible are provided. The fasteners comprise a shape memory polymer that may be used to fasten workpieces by heating the fasteners, inducing recovery of the original, permanent shape of the fasteners.
US09422952B2	Vortex diodes as effluent treatment devices The present invention discloses device that can generate a strong vortex in the vortex chamber which significantly enhances rate of reactions and effectiveness of waste water treatment. The present invention disclose vortex diodes with or without inserts/stabilizers as continuous flow reactors to induce cavitation to generate radicals which reduces Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), ammoniacal nitrogen and color of waste water effectively in effluent treatments.
US09422946B2	Antenna assembly for piston accumulators A replaceable antenna assembly for use with a piston accumulator configured for supplying fluid to a hydraulic cylinder is provided. The antenna assembly includes a hollow manifold for flow of fluid and an antenna connected into or onto the manifold for emitting and receiving electromagnetic waves. The hollow manifold is connectable to and configured to be in fluid communication with both the piston accumulator at one end and a pressure line at the other end. The pressure line is connectable to an external high pressure gas bank. The antenna assembly further includes at least one first bore for transferring signals to and from the antenna and at least two fluid channels symmetrically displaced around the circumference of the antenna, thereby ensuring that most of, or all, fluid flows on the radial outside of the antenna during use.
US09422944B2	Carbon fiber laminate piezoelectric cooler and method therefor An opening at a first carbon fiber sheet is provided, the opening extending through the sheet from a first major surface to a second major surface, the opening defining two sides and a first end of a rectangular flap, a second end of the flap remaining rooted in the first carbon fiber sheet. A piezoelectric transducer is bonded to the first carbon fiber sheet, the transducer proximate to the second end of the flap. A controller including a signal generator is coupled to the piezoelectric transducer, the piezoelectric transducer to excite sympathetic vibration of the flap.
US09422939B2	Electric motor and electric unit including the same A pump housing, a fixing member and a holding member are assembled in the axis direction of an oil pump to fix a stator and a rotor of a brushless motor. The holding member is made of metal material and has a cylindrical shape that extends from its bottom portion toward one side in the axial direction. The fixing member is a cylindrical metal member. Stepped portions, extending in the circumferential direction, are formed in the outer periphery of the holding member and the inner periphery of the fixing member, and contact each other. The outer periphery of the holding member engages with the inner periphery of the fixing member. The outer periphery of the other end portion of the fixing member is fitted to the inner periphery of a flange portion projecting from the end face of the pump housing, which is adjacent to the brushless motor.
US09422914B2	Radar absorbing material compatible with lightning protection systems A wind turbine component incorporating radar-absorbing material having increased compatibility with lightning protection systems is described. The radar absorbing material includes a ground plane having an electrical conductivity and/or a dielectric constant that is higher in the presence of an electric field having a frequency of 1 GHz and above than in the presence of an electric field having a frequency of 10 MHz and below. Suitable materials for the ground plane include ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic materials and percolating material combinations, all of which have frequency-dependent properties that can be tuned to make the ground plane highly reflective at radar frequencies and benign at lightning discharge frequencies.
US09422913B2	Ceramic glow plug equipped with pressure sensor A ceramic glow plug equipped with a pressure sensor including a ceramic heater, a holding device, a housing sleeve, a housing, a movable member and a pressure sensor. A heat-generating main portion P whose resistance is 75% of the total resistance of the ceramic heater is located forward of the forward end of the holding sleeve.
US09422900B2	System and method for closing a tank valve A method for closing a storage tank valve in response to leaks in a fuel line or fuel rail and emptying the tank of a vehicle when no leaks are detected is described. The method includes comparing a tank pressure to a fuel line or fuel rail pressure in order to detect leaks therein and further includes using a dedicated tank pressure sensor to measure the gaseous pressure of the storage tank, and thereby the amount of fuel remaining. In response to leaks in the fuel system, a controller may close an electronic solenoid valve, which reinforces a mechanical excess flow valve, to block the flow of fuel and prevent fuel loss from the gaseous storage tank.
US09422890B2	Rotary carburetor In a carburetor, three downstream body passages in the body communicate with three valve passages in the valve element, and the valve element rotates between a closed position and an opened position. The carburetor is a one-bore type carburetor in which the body passages and the valve passages are respectively partitioned with the body partitions and the valve partitions. When rotating the valve element from the closed position to the opened position, the second body passage and the second valve passage for mixture start to communicate in advance than the first and third body passages and the first and third valve passages for air.
US09422888B2	Actuating device for moving a movable cover of a thrust reverser The invention relates to an actuating device (1) for moving a mobile cap of a thrust reverser, comprising: —an actuator comprising a first element (3), such as a screw, and a second element (4), such as a nut, collaborating with the first element in such a way that turning the first element causes the second element to move in a translational movement, —a locking piece (18) rotationally mobile between a locked position in which the locking piece prevents the first element (3) from turning, and an unlocked position in which the locking piece (18) allows the first element (3) to turn, and —an unlocking piece (25) rotationally mobile between an active position in which the unlocking piece (25) urges the locking piece (18) towards the unlocked position and a passive position in which the unlocking piece (25) allows the locking piece (18) to return to the locked position.
US09422880B2	Torque converter clutch lockup during skip-fire operation A variety of methods and arrangements for determining conditions when an engine-decoupling friction interface may be locked-up during skip-fire operation of an internal combustion engine are described. In some embodiments, the engine-decoupling friction interface is the lockup clutch of a torque converter situated in a powertrain that transmits motive power from the engine to a wheel. Rotation of the wheel causes vehicle motion.
US09422876B2	Method and system for controlling safety of a bi-fuel vehicle A method and system for controlling safety of a bi-fuel vehicle may safely control the bi-fuel vehicle when it is in an accident. The method may include detecting a pressure of a vaporizer configured to decompress and vaporize liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) that is one fuel of the bi-fuel vehicle, determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or higher than a predetermined high pressure, determining whether the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than a predetermined low pressure, determining whether an airbag has been inflated, and switching to a gasoline mode configured to use gasoline if at least one of the detected pressure is equal to or higher than the predetermined high pressure, the detected pressure of the vaporizer is equal to or lower than the predetermined low pressure, and/or the airbag has been inflated is determined to be true.
US09422872B2	Variable compression ratio internal combustion engine It is an object to increase the reliability and durability by minimizing mixing/entry of foreign matter (contaminants) into a speed reducer. The speed reducer is provided for reducing rotation of an actuator of a variable compression ratio mechanism and for transmitting the reduced rotation to a control shaft of the variable compression ratio mechanism. The actuator and the speed reducer are attached to a sidewall of an engine main body with a housing therebetween. An oil filter, which removes contaminants from within lubricating oil, is attached to the housing with an oil-passage-forming body therebetween. A portion of the lubricating oil supplied from the oil filter immediately after having been filter-purified is supplied via a bypass oil passage, formed in the oil-passage-forming body and the housing, into a speed-reducer accommodation chamber of the housing.
US09422868B2	Simple cycle gas turbomachine system having a fuel conditioning system A simple cycle gas turbomachine includes a compressor portion, and a turbine portion having an outlet. At least one combustor is fluidically connected to the compressor portion and the turbine portion. An exhaust member includes an inlet, fluidically connected to the outlet of the turbine portion, a first outlet and a second outlet. A fuel conditioning system includes a heat exchange member provided with a first circuit having an exhaust gas inlet fluidically connected to the second outlet of the exhaust member and an exhaust gas inlet, a second circuit having an inlet fluidically connected to a source of fuel and an outlet fluidically connected to the at least one combustor. A conditioned fluid conduit is fluidically connected between a source of conditioned fluid and one of the combustor assembly and the first outlet of the exhaust member.
US09422843B2	Resonance generating muffler In accordance with at least one embodiment: a muffler with a case (comprised of at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a body), and elongated members comprised of material capable of a predetermined resonance. The elongated members have sufficient length after their final point of attachment to vibrate when exposed to flowing exhaust gasses. This vibration results in resonance that is noise canceling and/or sound enhancing. The muffler may also contain any combination of sound baffles, sound absorbent material, and other sound altering devices.
US09422841B2	Fill tube with pop-up pouring assistance assembly An assembly for assisting with the pouring of fluid includes, among other aspects, a fill tube and a pop-up component disposed at least partially within the fill tube. The pop-up component assists with directing poured fluid into the fill tube.
US09422836B2	Valve timing control apparatus Bolts are respectively inserted through through-holes of a sun gear and are respectively threadably inserted into threaded holes of a driving-side rotatable body. The bolts are placed on an outer side of a first internally toothed portion of the sun gear in a radial direction and fix the sun gear and the driving-side rotatable body together. The sun gear includes press-fitting parts, each of which is press-fitted to a corresponding one of press-fitting projections of the driving-side rotatable body at a corresponding location that is located between corresponding adjacent two of the bolts in a circumferential direction, and open parts, each of which is placed at a corresponding location that overlaps with a corresponding one of the bolts in the circumferential direction, while a corresponding predetermined space is located adjacent to each of the open parts on an outer side of the open part in the radial direction.
US09422834B2	Roller lifter for internal combustion engine A roller lifter for internal combustion engines is provided, which has higher rigidity of the lifter body, prevents cocking in the cylinder, and can achieve a size reduction. The roller lifter includes a cylindrical lifter body having a sliding surface on an outer circumferential surface thereof and a roller rotatably attached to the lifter body via an axial support pin and making contact with a rotating cam lobe. The lifter body includes a pair of support portions supporting the axial support pin. The axial support pin is mechanically fastened to the pair of support portions, with both ends thereof inserted in support holes formed in the support portions. The lifter body includes an anti-rotation retainer extending radially outward from the sliding surface. The sliding surface is formed on both front and rear sides in the sliding direction of the anti-rotation retainer.
US09422832B2	Method for controlling a cooling process of turbine components A method for controlling a cooling process of turbine components of a steam turbine shaft, wherein an air flow mixed with a water mist is used to cool the turbine components during a mist cooling phase (P4) is provided. The mist cooling phase (P4) is preceded by an air cooling phase (P3), during which an air flow is used to cool the turbine components. A constant temporal temperature gradient is specified for the cooling process, wherein the air flow density is adjusted by the valve position of a controllable regulating valve and a switch is made from the air cooling phase (P3) to the mist cooling phase (P4) if the maximum air flow density is reached and in particular if the regulating valve is fully open.
US09422830B2	Washer of a combustion chamber tile of a gas turbine A washer of a combustion chamber tile of a gas turbine having a round disk-shaped basic body provided with a central recess and a flat contact surface arranged on a first side of the washer, wherein several groove-like air ducts are provided on a second side that extend from a circumferential rim of the washer radially relative to the center axis of the washer, and in the center area of the washer in the axial direction.
US09422825B2	Gas turbine engine synchronization ring A synchronization ring for a gas turbine engine according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a synchronization ring for a variable vane assembly. A plurality of rollers are attached to the synchronization ring for engaging a case on the gas turbine engine.
US09422824B2	Gas turbine thermal control and related method Thermal control is provided for a gas turbine casing by supplying thermal control gas from a compressor to a space between an outer casing and an inner casing, and transferring the thermal control gas from the space through the opening in the inner casing via a plurality of holes defined through a plate attached to an outer surface of the inner casing. The holes are arranged with a predetermined non-uniform distribution corresponding to a desired preferential impingement pattern for providing non-uniform heat transfer. A gas turbine thermal control assembly includes structure providing preferential heat transfer from the inner casing during operation of the gas turbine via a thermal control gas flow path from radially outside of the inner casing into the interior of the gas turbine.
US09422823B2	Piston seal ring A gas turbine having a device and a further device is provided. The device includes an outer casing, an inner casing and a seal ring. The outer casing and the inner casing are arranged in such a way that a cooling duct is formed between each other. The seal ring is arranged between the outer casing and the inner casing in such a way that the seal ring seals the cooling duct from an environment surrounding the outer casing. The device and the further device are mounted together such that working fluid is flowable from the further device to the device. Furthermore the device includes a rotatable shaft and the further device includes a further rotatable shaft, wherein the rotatable shaft and the further rotatable shaft are mechanically decoupled from each other, and wherein the seal ring exclusively abuts against the inner casing and against the outer casing of the device.
US09422813B2	System for motorized displacement of a mobile element, method of driving such a system and method of testing such a system The invention provides a motor-driven movement system for moving a movable element, the system comprising at least two actuators, each provided with means connecting it to the movable element and each dimensioned to be capable, on its own, of driving the movable element, a central control unit being connected to the two actuators in order to be capable of sending a position setpoint (Pos1, Pos2) to one or other of the actuators. According to the invention, the system further comprises control means for simultaneously controlling both actuators in terms of force in response to the position setpoint sent to one of the actuators. The invention also provides a method of driving such a system and a method of testing such a system.

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