Document Document Title
US09490587B1 Communication connector having a contact module stack
A contact module stack includes signal contact modules and ground contact modules flanking the signal contact modules in a ground-signal-signal-ground contact module arrangement. The signal contact modules each include signal leadframes and signal dielectric bodies. The ground contact modules each include ground leadframes and ground dielectric bodies. The ground leadframes each have at least one ground contact. Each ground dielectric body has a low loss layer on a first side of the ground leadframe and a lossy layer on a second side of the ground leadframe. The lossy layer and the low loss layer substantially enclose a transition portion of the ground contact. The lossy layers are manufactured from lossy material having conductive particles in a dielectric binder material. The lossy layers absorb electrical resonance propagating through the contact module stack.
US09490576B2 Electrical connector with connector position assurance element
An electrical connector is disclosed having a first connector member, a second connector member, and a connector position assurance element. The first connector member has a stop surface with flanking projections. The second connector member is complimentary to the first connector member and has a stop element with a second raised portion. The connector position assurance element is slidably mountable on the first connector member and has a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion. The first engagement portion engages the flanking projections when the first connector member is completely mated to the second connector member in a final mating position. The second engagement portion is spaced a distance from the first engagement portion in a longitudinal direction of the connector position assurance element, and is engaged with the second raised portion when the first connector member is mated to the second connector member in the final mating position.
US09490565B2 Electrical contact with sealing web
Electrical contact (19) having a housing (2) in which an electrical conductor (1) is embedded, the housing (2) having a recess (3), the electrical conductor (1) being inserted into the recess (3), an intermediate space (20) between the conductor (1) and the housing (2) being filled with a sealing material (21), the conductor (1) extending in the longitudinal direction through the housing (2), the conductor (1) having a web (15, 16), the web (15, 16) extending transversely relative to the longitudinal direction around the conductor (1), the web (15, 16) protruding by a predetermined height beyond a lateral face (6, 7) of the conductor (1), the sealing material (21) being arranged at one side of the web (15, 16).
US09490558B2 Connection system for use with a chip
A connection system is disclosed for use in providing a high speed transmission line for connecting a chip mounted on a circuit board to a connector. The system has a structure that allows for high data rates from the connector to the chip. The connector includes a plurality of conductive terminals and a ground terminal arranged so that the impedance and other electrical characteristics may be maintained from the connector to the chip while reducing signal loss.
US09490542B1 Multi-mode composite antenna
A multi-mode composite antenna is disclosed. The antenna includes at least two dipole elements, each dipole element having two arms with a signal transmission line connected to each arm, a conductive tube in which the signal transmission lines extend which forms a shield for the signal transmission lines, and an extension of the conductive tube. In one embodiment, the extension is formed by the conductive tube being folded back over itself. The dipole elements are capable of being excited by at least one differential mode excitation to realize a dipole radiation pattern, and the extension forms a monopole element with a monopole radiation pattern when at least one dipole element is excited by a common mode excitation. The composite antenna is capable of a combined monopole and dipole radiation pattern through the application of both differential mode excitation and common mode excitation.
US09490538B2 Planar dual polarization antenna and complex antenna
A planar dual polarization antenna for receiving and transmitting at least one radio signal includes a first patch plate, a metal grounding plate and a first dielectric layer disposed between the first patch plate and the metal grounding plate. The metal grounding plate includes a first pattern slot and a second pattern slot symmetric with respect to a centerline of the first patch plate. A first rectangle and a second rectangle enclosing an angle constitute a shape of the first pattern slot. The first rectangle and the second rectangle meet at a pivot vertex.
US09490537B2 Antenna device and electronic apparatus
An antenna device includes an antenna coil, a magnetic sheet, and a metallic member. The antenna coil is formed on a flexible base. The antenna coil is wound into a loop or a spiral in which a winding central portion is a coil opening portion. The magnetic sheet is disposed at a back surface of the flexible base. A square opening is formed in the metallic member. The antenna coil is exposed from the opening of the metallic member. A first side of the antenna coil is hidden by the metallic member and part of the coil opening portion and a second side are exposed from the opening, so that a magnetic flux links with the second side.
US09490533B2 Dual receiver/transmitter radio devices with choke
Wireless radio apparatuses for point-to-point or point-to-multipoint transmission/communication of high bandwidth signals having dual receivers and transmitters. Radio devices and systems may include a pair of reflectors separated by an isolation choke boundary. The device may be configured to operate in any appropriate band (e.g., a 5 GHz band, a 24 GHz band, etc.) and may simultaneously transmit and receive with minimal crosstalk. The isolation choke boundary may have ridges that extend between the first and second parabolic reflectors to a height that may be tuned to the band. The isolation choke boundary provides greater than 10 dB isolation between the first and the second parabolic reflectors may be in a fixed configuration relative to each other so that they are aligned to send/receive in parallel. The two reflectors may be formed of a single housing, with fixed parallel alignment.
US09490529B2 Antenna device and mobile terminal
This disclosure provides an antenna device and a mobile terminal equipped with the antenna device. The antenna device includes a coil conductor spirally wound to have a conductor opening portion at the center of winding and is formed on a flexible substrate. A magnetic sheet is disposed near, or proximal to the flexible substrate and between the coil conductor and a flat conductor of a circuit board. A side of the antenna coil that is near an edge of the flat conductor is bent toward the circuit board.
US09490523B2 Methods of modifying erect concealed antenna towers and associated modified towers and devices therefor
The disclosure describes installing an antenna canister in a portion of a concealed antenna pole at a location that is below a top of the pole while the antenna pole is erect and associated components to facilitate the procedure, as well as multi-piece vertical rods, pole mounting bracket assemblies and retrofit kits.
US09490518B1 System for launching a signal into a dielectric waveguide
A system is provided for transmitting sub-terahertz electro-magnetic radio frequency (RF) signals using a dielectric waveguide (DWG) having a dielectric core member surrounded by dielectric cladding. An RF transmitter is coupled to an antenna located on a first substrate, in which the antenna is adjacent an edge of the substrate. The first substrate is mounted on a second substrate. A conductive reflector plate is formed on the top surface of the second substrate. An end of the DWG is mounted on the second substrate over the reflector plate such that an exposed face of the core member at the end of the DWG is adjacent the antenna. The core member at the end of DWG forms an angle of inclination with the second substrate in which the angle is in a range of approximately 10-30 degrees.
US09490517B2 High frequency power combiner/divider
Radio frequency (RF) power amplifiers are provided which may include high power, wideband, microwave or millimeter-wave solid state power amplifiers based on waveguide power combiner/dividers.
US09490515B2 High-frequency signal line
A high-frequency signal line includes a dielectric laminate body including a first dielectric layer, an adhesive layer and a second dielectric layer laminated in this order from a first side to a second side in a direction of lamination. A linear signal line is fixed on a main surface of the adhesive layer. A main ground conductor is provided on a main surface of the dielectric layer. An auxiliary ground conductor is provided on the second dielectric layer. The adhesive layer bonds the first and second dielectric layers together. A distance in the direction of lamination between the signal line and the main ground conductor is greater than a distance in the direction of lamination between the signal line and the auxiliary ground conductor.
US09490514B2 High-frequency signal transmission line and electronic apparatus including the same
A high-frequency signal transmission line includes a body; a signal line including a first line portion provided to a first layer of the body, a second line portion provided to a second layer of the body alternately being connected; and a first ground conductor provided to the first layer or a third layer positioned on an opposite side of the second layer relative to the first layer, and also overlaid with a plurality of second line portions in planar view from a normal direction of a principal surface of the body, and also not overlaid with a plurality of the first line portions. A property impedance of the first line portion and a property impedance of the second line portion are different from each other.
US09490511B2 Nonreciprocal transmission line apparatus whose propagation constants in forward and backward directions are different from each other
When a phase constant in a first mode of propagation in the forward direction is βp, and a phase constant in a second mode of propagation in the backward direction is βm, respective first and second electrical lengths of stub conductors are set so that a function of nonreciprocal phase shift amount βNR=(βp−βm)/2 with respect to an operating angular frequency comes close to a function βNRZ with respect to an operating angular frequency, when beam squint of such a phenomenon that a radiation direction of electromagnetic waves radiated from a nonreciprocal transmission line apparatus changes in accordance with frequency does not occur in the vicinity of an intersection of a dispersion curve representing a relation between the phase constant βp and the operating angular frequency and a dispersion curve representing a relation between the phase constant βm and the operating angular frequency.
US09490508B2 Battery assembly having a thermal management system
A battery assembly includes a plurality of battery cells disposed adjacent and in heat transfer relationship with a plurality of cooling modules. The cooling modules are directly affixed to or cause to abut at least one of a first thermally conductive base and a second thermally conductive base forming a thermal transfer path from the battery cells through the cooling modules to the at least one thermally conductive base.
US09490498B2 Mercury-free lead-free button battery
A mercury-free lead-free button battery includes a negative cap, a cathode material, a gasket ring, a positive can, an anode material, and a diaphragm. The positive can and the negative cap are combined. The gasket ring is clamped between the positive can and the negative cap for separating the positive can from the negative cap. The cathode material is arranged on the bottom of the positive can. The diaphragm is arranged on the cathode material. The anode material is arranged between the negative cap and the diaphragm. A partition unit is arranged between the negative cap and the anode material for separating the anode material from the negative cap and conductively connecting the anode material and the negative cap. The partition unit ensures disconnection between the anode material and the negative cap and therefore safety of the battery by preventing expansion, weeping and even that would otherwise happen.
US09490491B2 Separable fuel cartridge
A fuel supply (10) is attachable to a fuel cell system (12). The fuel supply includes a fuel supply connector (14) configured to be attached to the fuel cell system. A fuel supply connector automatically separates the fuel supply from the fuel cell system in a predetermined manner if exposed to a separation load. Valves (24, 26) or filler material (23a-d) are used to automatically stop the flow of fuel through the fuel supply connector. Alternatively, the fuel supply connector includes a flexible tube (114) and a valve disposed within the connector. The flexibility of the tube prevents the connector from breaking in case of a separation load.
US09490489B2 Device for manufacturing fuel cell stack components
An apparatus for manufacturing fuel cell stack components integrally bond gas diffusion layers to both surfaces of a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) basic material in which a membrane-electrode assembly has sub gaskets. The apparatus includes a frame, an upper die disposed on the frame to be movable in a vertical direction, and a lower die disposed on the frame, and configured to support the MEA basic material and the gas diffusion layers at a lower side of the upper die. Bonders are installed at each of the upper die and the lower die and configured to compress the MEA basic material and the gas diffusion layers at a high temperature and a high pressure. Steam injectors are disposed at the bonders and configured to inject steam to the MEA basic material and the gas diffusion layers. An ultra-pure water storage tank configured to stores ultra-pure water for generating the steam by the bonders and supplies the ultra-pure water to the bonders.
US09490486B2 Method for removing strongly adsorbed surfactants and capping agents from metal to facilitate their catalytic applications
A method of synthesizing activated electrocatalyst, preferably having a morphology of a nanostructure, is disclosed. The method includes safely and efficiently removing surfactants and capping agents from the surface of the metal structures. With regard to metal nanoparticles, the method includes synthesis of nanoparticle(s) in polar or non-polar solution with surfactants or capping agents and subsequent activation by CO-adsorption-induced surfactant/capping agent desorption and electrochemical oxidation. The method produces activated macroparticle or nanoparticle electrocatalysts without damaging the surface of the electrocatalyst that includes breaking, increasing particle thickness or increasing the number of low coordination sites.
US09490472B2 Method for manufacturing electrode for storage battery
To provide a storage battery electrode including an active material layer with high density that contains a smaller percentage of conductive additive. To provide a storage battery having a higher capacity per unit volume of an electrode with the use of the electrode for a storage battery. A slurry that contains an active material and graphene oxide is applied to a current collector and dried to form an active material layer over the current collector, the active material layer over the current collector is rolled up together with a spacer, and a rolled electrode which includes the spacer are immersed in a reducing solution so that graphene oxide is reduced.
US09490471B2 Battery comprising a moulded body made of a porous, moisture-absorbing material for transporting moisture out of the battery housing
A battery includes a housing in which at least one battery cell and a device configured to dry air present in a housing inner chamber are arranged. The battery also includes a molded body made of a porous, moisture-absorbing material that is arranged such that it extends both into the housing inner chamber and into an outer chamber of the housing and connects said chambers to each other such that moisture is conducted there between. The part of the molded body present in the housing inner chamber is connected to the device configured to dry the air present in the housing inner chamber such that collected water is transferred out of the device to the molded body for air drying.
US09490470B2 Secondary battery
The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate and a separator interposed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, and a first current collector plate electrically connected to the first electrode plate and having a first fuse part formed at its one side, wherein the first fuse part includes at least two fuse holes spaced apart from each other.
US09490468B2 Secondary battery
A secondary battery, including an electrode assembly including a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator between the first and second electrode plates, a first collector electrically connected to the first electrode plate, and having a fuse region, a case accommodating the electrode assembly and the first collector, a cap plate coupled with the case, and having a short circuit hole, a first short circuit member in the short circuit hole, a second short circuit member spaced apart from a top surface of the cap plate and facing the first short circuit member, the second short circuit member being electrically connected to the second electrode plate, and an induction member inducing gas generated from inside the case to move to the first short circuit member.
US09490465B2 Z-shaped bus bar for a battery pack
A battery pack with a compact and robust bus bar assembly is provided. The batteries within the pack are divided into groups, where the batteries within each battery group are connected in parallel and the groups are connected in series. A repetitive sequence of overlapping bus bars is used, with each bus bar comprised of upper and lower segments coupled together via a step segment. The overlapping design allows the upper surface of the upper segment of each of the repetitive bus bars to be aligned within an upper plane, and the lower surface of the lower segment of each of the repetitive bus bars to be aligned within a lower plane.
US09490462B2 Separator and nonaqueous electrolytic secondary battery including the same
A separator for a battery according to the present disclosure (present separator) is held between a positive electrode and a negative electrode of the battery and includes an inorganic layer formation part and an inorganic layer non-formation part formed at an end. In addition, a nonaqueous electrolytic secondary battery according to the present disclosure includes: an electrode assembly including: a positive electrode having an active material layer including a positive electrode active material and a positive electrode current collector foil exposure part; a negative electrode having an active material layer including a negative electrode active material and a negative electrode current collector foil exposure part; and the present separator held between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a case for housing the electrode assembly; and an electrolyte held between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.
US09490450B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing organic light emitting display apparatus
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, an organic light emitting portion comprising a plurality of organic light emitting devices formed on the substrate, and an encapsulation portion for encapsulating the organic light emitting portion. The encapsulation portion includes a porous layer formed on the organic light emitting portion, a planarization layer formed on the porous layer, and a barrier layer formed on the planarization layer. The porous layer prevents impurities from being concentrated at a part of the porous layer.
US09490446B2 Organic light-emitting diode display with split anodes
An organic light-emitting diode display may have thin-film transistor circuitry formed on a substrate. A pixel definition layer may be formed on the thin-film transistor circuitry. Openings in the pixel definition layer may be provided with emissive material overlapping split anodes that are separated by anode gaps. The anode gaps may extend vertically and horizontally or may extend diagonally. The pixel definition layer openings may have edges that extend vertically and horizontally or that extend diagonally. A display may have three different pixel colors or may have four different pixel colors. Each pixel definition layer opening may have a pair of split anodes that are overlapped by a common layer of emissive material or may have four split anodes that are overlapped by a common layer of emissive material.
US09490439B2 Planarization layer for organic electronic devices
The invention relates to organic electronic devices containing polycycloolefin planarization layers between the substrate and a functional layer such as a semiconducting layer, dielectric layer, or electrode; to the use of polycycloolefins as a planarization layer on the substrate of an organic electronic device; and to processes for preparing such polycycloolefin planarization layers and organic electronic devices.
US09490437B2 Organometallic compound and organic light-emitting device including the same
An organometallic compound represented by Formula 1: M(L1)n1(L2)n2,  Formula 1 wherein M is selected from iridium (Ir), platinum (Pt), osmium (Os), titanium (Ti), zirconium (Zr), hafnium (Hf), europium (Eu), terbium (Tb), thulium (Tm), and rhodium (Rd), and wherein L1 is a ligand represented by Formula 2A and L2 is a ligand represented by Formula 2B, and wherein L1 and L2 in Formula 1 are different from each other,
US09490432B2 Quinoid compounds and their use in semiconducting matrix materials, electronic and optoelectronic structural elements
The invention relates to quinoid compounds and their use in semiconductive matrix materials, electronic and optoelectronic structural elements.
US09490430B1 Field effect transistors and methods of forming same
Semiconductor devices and methods of forming the same are provided. A first gate electrode layer is formed over a substrate. A first gate dielectric layer is formed over the first gate electrode layer. A first channel layer is formed over the first gate dielectric layer. An isolation layer is formed over the first channel layer. A second channel layer is formed over the isolation layer. A second gate dielectric layer is formed over the second channel layer. The second gate dielectric layer, the second channel layer, the isolation layer and the first channel layer are patterned to form a first opening, the first opening extending through the first gate dielectric layer, the second channel layer and the isolation layer, and into the first channel layer. A first source/drain region is formed in the first opening.
US09490429B2 Nonvolatile memory device and method for manufacturing same
When a thin channel semiconductor layer formed on a side wall of a stacked film in which insulating films and gate electrodes are alternately stacked together is removed on the stacked film, a contact resistance between a vertical transistor including the channel semiconductor layer and the gate electrode, and a bit line formed on the stacked film is prevented from rising. As its means, a conductive layer electrically connected to the channel semiconductor layer is disposed immediately above the stacked film.
US09490425B2 Semiconductor constructions and memory arrays
Some embodiments include semiconductor constructions having an electrically conductive interconnect with an upper surface, and having an electrically conductive structure over the interconnect. The structure includes a horizontal first portion along the upper surface and a non-horizontal second portion joined to the first portion at a corner. The second portion has an upper edge. The upper edge is offset relative to the upper surface of the interconnect so that the upper edge is not directly over said upper surface. Some embodiments include memory arrays.
US09490423B2 Integrated circuit structures with spin torque transfer magnetic random access memory ultilizing aluminum metallization layers and methods for fabricating the same
STT-MRAM integrated circuits employing aluminum metallization layers and methods for fabricating the same are disclosed. A method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a first metallization layer including an aluminum material, forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure over the first metallization layer, and forming an encapsulation layer over the MTJ structure and over the first metallization layer. The method further includes etching the encapsulation layer and the first metallization layer to form an encapsulation segment overlying a first metal line, forming a contact plug to the MTJ structure, and forming a second metal line including an aluminum material over the contact plug.
US09490419B2 DHCPv6 address autoconfiguration for source-routed networks
In one embodiment, first IP addresses are allocated to a plurality of nodes, respectively, in a computer network, the first IP addresses being routable IP addresses and specifically designated for routing packets in the computer network. At the same time, the plurality of nodes is allowed to submit a second IP address allocation request indicating a requested second IP address. In response to a second IP address allocation request from a particular node of the plurality of nodes, the requested second IP address of the second IP address allocation request is allocated to the particular node. The particular node is then allocated one of the first IP addresses and the requested second IP address. Also, a routing topology for routing packets in the computer network is constructed using only the first IP addresses.
US09490409B2 Light emmiting diode chip
A light emitting diode (LED) chip including a first type semiconductor layer, an light-emitting layer, a second type semiconductor layer, a current blocking layer, a transparent conductive layer and an electrode is provided. The light-emitting layer is disposed on the first type semiconductor layer. The second type semiconductor layer is disposed on the light-emitting layer. The current blocking layer is disposed on the second type semiconductor layer. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the second type semiconductor layer and covered the current blocking layer. The electrode is disposed on the transparent conductive layer corresponding to the current blocking layer. The current blocking layer and the electrode respectively have a first width and a second width in a cross section view, and the first width of the current blocking layer is larger than the second width of the electrode.
US09490407B2 Process for forming ultra-micro LEDS
A flexible light sheet includes a bottom conductor layer overlying a flexible substrate. An array of vertical light emitting diodes (VLEDs) is printed as an ink over the bottom conductor layer so that bottom electrodes of the VLEDs electrically contact the bottom conductor layer. A top electrode of the VLEDs is formed of a first transparent conductor layer, and a temporary hydrophobic layer is formed over the first transparent conductor layer. A dielectric material is deposited between the VLEDs but is automatically de-wetted off the hydrophobic layer. The hydrophobic layer is then removed, and a second transparent conductor layer is deposited to electrically contact the top electrode of the VLEDs. The VLEDs can be made less than 10 microns in diameter since no top metal bump electrode is used. The VLEDs are illuminated by a voltage differential between the bottom conductor layer and the second transparent conductor layer.
US09490405B2 Light emitting diode device and method for production thereof containing conversion material chemistry
In one embodiment, a light emitting device comprises: a lighting element located in a housing, wherein the housing is formed from a polymer composition comprising: a polymer material; and a coated conversion material. The coated conversion material is selected from a coated conversion material, coated yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) doped with rare earth elements, coated terbium aluminum garnet doped with rare earth elements, coated silicate (BOSE) doped with rare earth elements; coated nitrido silicates doped with rare earth elements; coated nitride orthosilicate doped with rare earth elements, coated oxonitridoaluminosilicates doped with rare earth elements; as well as combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. After the coated conversion material has been exposed to an excitation source, the coated conversion material has a luminescence lifetime of less than 10−4 seconds when the excitation source is removed.
US09490399B2 Illumination method and light-emitting device
To provide an illumination method and a light-emitting device which are capable of achieving, under an indoor illumination environment where illuminance is around 5000 lx or lower when performing detailed work and generally around 1500 lx or lower, a color appearance or an object appearance as perceived by a person, will be as natural, vivid, highly visible, and comfortable as though perceived outdoors in a high-illuminance environment, regardless of scores of various color rendition metric. Light emitted from the light-emitting device illuminates an object such that light measured at a position of the object satisfies specific requirements. A feature of the light-emitting device is that light emitted by the light-emitting device in a main radiant direction satisfies specific requirements.
US09490398B2 Manufacturing method of light emitting device in a flip-chip configuration with reduced package size
Provided is an LED device which is compact while having good luminous efficiency and a focused light distribution. This LED device is provided with: a reflective frame around the outer periphery of the LED device; an LED die which has a transparent insulating substrate, a semiconductor layer formed on the bottom surface of the transparent insulating substrate, and an outer connection electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer; and a fluorescent member which is disposed on at least the top surface of the LED die and which converts the wavelength of the light emitted from the LED die. On the inside of the reflective frame is an inclined surface in contact with the lateral surface of the fluorescent member, and the inclined surface is formed such that the inner diameter of the reflective frame widens from the bottom surface towards the top surface of the LED die. Also provided is a manufacturing method of the LED device.
US09490385B2 Devices including independently controllable absorption region and multiplication region electric fields
A device includes a first region, a multiplication region, a second region, and an absorption region. The first region is associated with a first terminal, and the second region is associated with a second terminal. The first region is separated from the second region by the multiplication region. The absorption region is disposed on the multiplication region and associated with a third terminal. A multiplication region electric field is independently controllable with respect to an absorption region electric field, based on the first terminal, the second terminal, and the third terminal.
US09490381B2 Photovoltaic device, photovoltaic system, and vehicle including photovoltaic device
Disclosed is a photovoltaic device 1 including a plurality of cluster power generation sections G (G11, G12, G21, and G22). Each cluster power generation section G includes unitary power generation sections D (D1, D2) connected in series via connection points CP12. The cluster power generation sections G each have at least a predetermined one of the connection points CP12 designated as a specific connection point SP12. The specific connection points SP12 are connected together to link the cluster power generation sections G.
US09490379B2 Thin film solar cells and method of manufacturing the same
A thin film solar cell comprises a substrate, an inorganic layer disposed on the substrate and having a plurality of unevenness, a first electrode disposed on the inorganic layer and having a plurality of second unevenness, an absorbing layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the absorbing layer.
US09490375B2 Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same, and solar cell module
A solar cell includes a first conductive type semiconductor substrate in which a through hole is formed, a second conductive type impurity diffusion layer provided on one-surface side of the semiconductor substrate, a light-receiving surface electrode provided to be electrically connected to the impurity diffusion layer, a lead-out electrode led out to the other-surface side of the semiconductor substrate via the through hole and provided to be electrically connected to the light-receiving surface electrode, and a back-surface electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate on the other-surface side of the semiconductor substrate and electrically separated from the lead-out electrode. The lead-out electrode contains a metal member inside the through hole and is electrically connected to the light-receiving surface electrode.
US09490370B2 Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device includes a source line, a bit line, a signal line, a word line, memory cells connected in parallel between the source line and the bit line, a first driver circuit electrically connected to the source line and the bit line through switching elements, a second driver circuit electrically connected to the source line through a switching element, a third driver circuit electrically connected to the signal line, and a fourth driver circuit electrically connected to the word line. The memory cell includes a first transistor including a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, and a first drain electrode, a second transistor including a second gate electrode, a second source electrode, and a second drain electrode, and a capacitor. The second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor material.
US09490364B2 Semiconductor transistor having a stressed channel
A process is described for manufacturing an improved PMOS semiconductor transistor. Recesses are etched into a layer of epitaxial silicon. Source and drain films are deposited in the recesses. The source and drain films are made of an alloy of silicon and germanium. The alloy is epitaxially deposited on the layer of silicon. The alloy thus has a lattice having the same structure as the structure of the lattice of the layer of silicon. However, due to the inclusion of the germanium, the lattice of the alloy has a larger spacing than the spacing of the lattice of the layer of silicon. The larger spacing creates a stress in a channel of the transistor between the source and drain films. The stress increases IDSAT and IDLIN of the transistor. An NMOS transistor can be manufactured in a similar manner by including carbon instead of germanium, thereby creating a tensile stress.
US09490360B2 Semiconductor device and operating method thereof
Provided is a semiconductor device including a P-type substrate, a P-type first well region, an N-type second well region, a gate, N-type source and drain regions, a dummy gate and an N-type deep well region. The first well region is in the substrate. The second well region is in the substrate proximate to the first well region. The gate is on the substrate and covers a portion of the first well region and a portion of the second well region. The source region is in the first well region at one side of the gate. The drain region is in the second well region at another side of the gate. The dummy gate is on the substrate between the gate and the drain region. The deep well region is in the substrate and surrounds the first and second well regions. An operation method of the semiconductor device is further provided.
US09490359B2 Superjunction semiconductor device with columnar region under base layer and manufacturing method therefor
A semiconductor device that includes the following is manufactured: an n− base layer; a p-type base layer formed on the surface of the n− base layer; an n+ source layer formed in the inner area of the p-type base layer; a gate electrode formed so as to face a channel region across a gate insulating film; a plurality of p-type columnar regions that are formed in the n− base layer so as to continue from the p-type base layer and that are arranged at a first pitch; and a plurality of p+ collector layers that are selectively formed on the rear surface of the n− base layer and that are arranged at a second pitch larger than the first pitch.
US09490357B2 Vertical III-nitride semiconductor device with a vertically formed two dimensional electron gas
A HEMT device comprising a III-Nitride material substrate, the surface of which follows a plane that is not parallel to the C-plane of the III-Nitride material; an epitaxial layer of III-Nitride material grown on said substrate; a recess etched in said epitaxial layer, having at least one plane wall parallel to a polar plane of the III-Nitride material; a carrier supply layer formed on a portion of the plane wall of the recess, such that a 2DEG region is formed along the portion of the plane wall of the recess; a doped source region formed at the surface of said epitaxial layer such that the doped source region is separated from said 2DEG region by a channel region of the epitaxial layer; a gate insulating layer formed on the channel region of the epitaxial layer; and a gate contact layer formed on the gate insulating layer.
US09490348B2 Method of forming a FinFET having an oxide region in the source/drain region
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a semiconductor device, a FinFET device, and methods for forming the same. An embodiment is a semiconductor device including a first semiconductor fin extending above a substrate, the first semiconductor fin having a first lattice constant, an isolation region surrounding the first semiconductor fin, and a first source/drain region in the first semiconductor fin, the first source/drain having a second lattice constant different from the first lattice constant. The semiconductor device further includes a first oxide region along a bottom surface of the first source/drain region, the first oxide region extending into the isolation region.
US09490335B1 Extra gate device for nanosheet
A method for forming semiconductor devices includes forming a highly doped region. A stack of alternating layers is formed on the substrate. The stack is patterned to form nanosheet structures. A dummy gate structure is formed over and between the nanosheet structures. An interlevel dielectric layer is formed. The dummy gate structures are removed. SG regions are blocked, and top sheets are removed from the nanosheet structures along the dummy gate trench. A bottommost sheet is released and forms a channel for a field effect transistor device by etching away the highly doped region under the nanosheet structure and layers in contact with the bottommost sheet. A gate structure is formed in and over the dummy gate trench wherein the bottommost sheet forms a device channel for the EG device.
US09490331B2 Formation of semiconductor arrangement comprising buffer layer and semiconductor column overlying buffer layer
A semiconductor arrangement and methods of formation are provided. A semiconductor arrangement includes a semiconductor column on a buffer layer over a substrate. The buffer layer comprises a conductive material. Both a first end of the semiconductor column and a bottom contact are connected to a buffer layer such that the first end of the semiconductor column and the bottom contact are connected to one another through the buffer layer, which reduces a contact resistance between the semiconductor column and the bottom contact. A second end of the semiconductor column is connected to a top contact. In some embodiments, the first end of the semiconductor column corresponds to a source or drain of a transistor and the second end corresponds to the a drain or source of the transistor.
US09490330B2 Controlling GaAsP/SiGe interfaces
Initiation conditions and strain techniques are described that enable forming high quality GaAsP semiconductor material on an SiGe semiconductor material with low threading defect density. Suitable initiation conditions include exposing the SiGe semiconductor material to a gas comprising arsenic. A tensilely-strained region may be formed in the semiconductor structure between regions of GaAsP semiconductor material and SiGe semiconductor material.
US09490328B2 Silicon carbide semiconductor device and manufacturing method of the same
In order to provide a high-performance and reliable silicon carbide semiconductor device, in a silicon carbide semiconductor device including an n-type SiC epitaxial substrate, a p-type body layer, a p-type body layer potential fixing region and a nitrogen-introduced n-type first source region formed in the p-type body layer, an n-type second source region to which phosphorus which has a solid-solubility limit higher than that of nitrogen and is easily diffused is introduced is formed inside the nitrogen-introduced n-type first source region so as to be separated from both of the p-type body layer and the p-type body layer potential fixing region.
US09490324B2 N-polar III-nitride transistors
An N-polar III-N transistor includes a III-N buffer layer, a first III-N barrier layer, and a III-N channel layer, the III-N channel layer having a gate region and a plurality of access regions on opposite sides of the gate region. The compositional difference between the first III-N barrier layer and the III-N channel layer causes a conductive channel to be induced in the access regions of the III-N channel layer. The transistor also includes a source, a gate, a drain, and a second III-N barrier layer between the gate and the III-N channel layer. The second III-N barrier layer has an N-face proximal to the gate and a group-III face opposite the N-face, and has a larger bandgap than the III-N channel layer. The lattice constant of the first III-N barrier layer is within 0.5% of the lattice constant of the buffer layer.
US09490322B2 Semiconductor device with enhanced 3D resurf
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain regions in the semiconductor substrate and spaced from one another along a first lateral dimension, and a drift region in the semiconductor substrate and through which charge carriers drift during operation upon application of a bias voltage between the source and drain regions. The drift region has a notched dopant profile in a second lateral dimension along an interface between the drift region and the drain region.
US09490315B2 Power semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same and cutoff ring
The invention provides a power semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the same and a cutoff ring. A cutoff ring located at a periphery of an active area of the power semiconductor device is etched forming at least one trench below which an implant area is formed by implanting ions into the trench, and a silicon dioxide dielectric layer covering the trench and a surface of the active area, are formed. Since the ions are implanted into the trench formed by etching the cutoff ring to thereby increase a depth of the implanted ions and a density of the cutoff ring, a width of the cutoff ring can be shortened to thereby address the technical problem of a considerable area of a chip occupied by the cutoff ring and improve a utilization ratio of the area of the chip so as to lower a cost of fabricating the chip.
US09490313B2 Vertical meander inductor for small core voltage regulators
Vertical meander inductors for small core voltage regulators and approaches to fabricating vertical meander inductors for small core voltage regulators are described. For example, a semiconductor die includes a substrate. An integrated circuit is disposed on an active surface of the substrate. An inductor is coupled to the integrated circuit. The inductor is disposed conformal with an insulating layer disposed on an essentially planar surface of the substrate. The insulating layer has an undulating topography.
US09490309B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
An object is to realize a hermetically sealed package which ensures long-term airtightness inside the package by sealing using a substrate, or a sealing structure for reducing destruction caused by pressure from the outside. A frame of a semiconductor material is provided over a first substrate, which is bonded to a second substrate having a semiconductor element so that the semiconductor element is located inside the frame between the first substrate and the second substrate. The frame may be formed using, as frame members, two L-shaped semiconductor members in combination or four or more stick semiconductor members in combination.
US09490298B2 Magnetic memory devices having a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction
A magnetic memory device may include a free magnetic structure and a reference magnetic structure that are separated from each other by a tunnel barrier. The free magnetic structure may include an exchange-coupling layer, and first and second free layers that are separated from each other by the exchange-coupling layer. The first free layer may be provided between the second free layer and the tunnel barrier. A thickness of the first free layer may be greater than a first maximum anisotropy thickness, being the thickness at which the first free layer has maximum perpendicular anisotropy. A thickness of the second free layer may be smaller than a second maximum anisotropy thickness, being the thickness at which the second free layer has maximum perpendicular anisotropy. A magnetic tunnel junction having two free layers with different thicknesses can enable a magnetic memory device that has increased MR ratio and reduced switching current.
US09490293B2 Solid-state imaging device, manufacturing method thereof, and electronic apparatus
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions each provided in a semiconductor substrate and receives incident light through a light sensing surface, and a pixel separation portion provided to electrically separate a plurality of pixels. At least a pinning layer and a light shielding layer are provided in an inner portion of a trench provided on a side portion of each of the photoelectric conversion portions in an incident surface side, the trench includes a first trench and a second trench formed to be wider than the first trench in a portion shallower than the first trench, the pinning layer is formed in an inner portion of the first trench to cover an inside surface of the second trench, and the light shielding layer is formed to bury an inner portion of the second trench at least via the pinning layer.
US09490283B2 Active pixel sensor with nanowire structured photodetectors
An imaging device formed as an active pixel array combining a CMOS fabrication process and a nanowire fabrication process. The pixels in the array may include a single or multiple photogates surrounding the nanowire. The photogates control the potential profile in the nanowire, allowing accumulation of photo-generated charges in the nanowire and transfer of the charges for signal readout. Each pixel may include a readout circuit which may include a reset transistor, charge transfer switch transistor, source follower amplifier, and pixel select transistor. A nanowire is generally structured as a vertical rod on the bulk semiconductor substrate to receive light energy impinging onto the tip of the nanowire. The nanowire may be configured to function as either a photodetector or a waveguide configured to guild the light to the substrate. Light of different wavelengths can be detected using the imaging device.
US09490274B2 Thin film transistor array panel and liquid crystal display device including the same
A thin film transistor array panel includes a first substrate; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate; a storage electrode line on the first substrate where a constant voltage is applied thereto; a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor which are connected to the gate line and the data line; a third thin film transistor which is connected to the gate line, the second thin film transistor and the storage electrode line; a first subpixel electrode which is connected to the first thin film transistor; and a second subpixel electrode which is connected to the second thin film transistor.
US09490273B2 Display device comprising a dielectric layer having an opening partially exposing a semiconductor layer and a data line filling the opening
A display device includes a first substrate and an insulating layer over the first substrate. The display device further includes a semiconductor layer over the insulating layer and a dielectric layer over the semiconductor layer, having an opening partially exposing the semiconductor layer and the insulating layer, wherein the opening has a first width along a first direction. In addition, the display device further includes a conductive line extending over the dielectric layer along a second direction that is different from the first direction and filling the opening to electrically connect to the semiconductor layer exposed by the opening. The conductive line includes a first portion over a top surface of the dielectric layer and a second portion in the opening. The first portion of the conductive line has a second width along the first direction. The first width is greater than the second width.
US09490270B2 Array substrate and manufacturing method thereof, and display device including the array substrate
An array substrate and manufacturing method thereof and a display device having the array substrate are provided. The array substrate includes a non-pixel region distributed in the form of a grid and a plurality of sub-pixel regions formed by being surrounded by the non-pixel region, a plurality of scan lines (12) and data lines (16) disposed in a crossing manner are provided within the non-pixel region, and a common electrode (20) is provided in the sub-pixel regions and the non-pixel region. A zone of the common electrode (20) corresponding to the sub-pixel regions has a first thickness, a zone of the common electrode (20) corresponding to the scan lines (12) and/or the data lines (16) has a second thickness, and the first thickness is smaller than the second thickness. By means of arranging the common electrode (20) to have such a structure that thickness of its zone corresponding to scan lines (12) and/or data lines (16) in a non-pixel region is larger than thickness of its zone corresponding to sub-pixel regions, the ability of conductivity of the common electrode (20) can be enhanced, and this makes the voltage distribution on the whole liquid crystal display panel for the common electrode (20) be more even. Thus, the display quality of picture is improved, and the quality grade of the display device is promoted.
US09490268B2 Semiconductor device and display device including the semiconductor device
A semiconductor device including a transistor and a connection portion is provided. The transistor includes a gate electrode, a first insulating film over the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film over the first insulating film and at a position overlapping with the gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film; and the connection portion includes a first wiring on the same surface as a surface on which the gate electrode is formed, a second wiring on the same surface as a surface on which the source and drain electrodes are formed, and a third wiring connecting the first wiring and the second wiring. The distance between an upper end portion and a lower end portion of the second wiring is longer than the distance between an upper end portion and a lower end portion of each of the source and drain electrodes.
US09490267B2 Semiconductor device
A first field-effect transistor provided over a substrate in which an insulating region is provided over a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region is provided over the insulating region; an insulating layer provided over the substrate; a second field-effect transistor that is provided one flat surface of the insulating layer and includes an oxide semiconductor layer; and a control terminal are provided. The control terminal is formed in the same step as a source and a drain of the second field-effect transistor, and a voltage for controlling a threshold voltage of the first field-effect transistor is supplied to the control terminal.
US09490266B2 Array substrate and method for producing the same and display apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the display field and provide an array substrate, a method for producing the same and a display apparatus, for reducing a via hole space without adding a step for patterning the gate insulation layer and thereby reducing product costs. The array substrate includes a gate metal layer, a gate insulation layer, a source and drain metal layer and a passivation layer, wherein the array substrate is provided with a via hole, which passes through the passivation layer, the source and drain metal layer and the gate insulation layer and at which a transparent conductive material is deposited for connecting the source and drain metal layer with the gate metal layer.
US09490262B1 Selective removal of charge-trapping layer for select gate transistor and dummy memory cells in 3D stacked memory
Fabrication techniques for a three-dimensional stack memory device remove the charge-trapping material from the select gate transistors and the dummy memory cells to avoid unintentional programming which increases the threshold voltage. In one approach, a stack is formed with a sacrificial material for the a) control gate layers of the select gate transistors and the dummy memory cells and the b) control gate layers of the data memory cells. A slit is formed to allow etchants to be introduced to selectively remove the sacrificial material and then the charge-trapping material for the select gate transistors and dummy memory cells. A protective layer is provided partway in the slit, or the slit is etched in two steps.
US09490260B2 Method for fabricating a semi-floating gate transistor
A semi-floating gate transistor structure includes a substrate, a first N-well region and a second N-well region separated from each other in the substrate, and a gate oxide layer on the substrate. The gate oxide layer includes a separation groove disposed on the first N-well region. The semi-floating gate transistor structure further includes a P-type doped floating gate having a first portion filling the separation groove and a second portion integrally formed on the first portion. The first portion of the P-type doped floating gate and the first N-well region form a pn-junction diode.
US09490234B2 Alternative current light-emitting systems
A light-emitting system is introduced herein. The light-emitting system includes an insulating substrate and a plurality of light-emitting units electrically-connected on the insulating substrate. Each of the plurality of light-emitting units includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged as a bridge rectifier. A first part of the plurality of light-emitting diodes emits light during positive half cycles of an AC power signal. A second part of the plurality of light-emitting diodes emits light during negative half cycles of the AC power signal. The third part of the plurality of light-emitting diodes comprising at least one light-emitting diode emits light during both the positive half cycles and the negative half cycles of the AC power signal, wherein the plurality of light-emitting units including the plurality of light-emitting diodes arranged as a bridge rectifier is formed together in a light-emitting chip.
US09490233B2 Fingerprint recognition semiconductor device and semiconductor device
A fingerprint recognition semiconductor device includes an insulation layer, a wiring pattern formed on a lower surface of the insulation layer, and a sensor element flip-chip-connected to the wiring pattern. The sensor element includes an active surface, including a sensor portion that recognizes a fingerprint, and a rear surface, located at a side opposite to the active surface. An encapsulation resin fills a gap between the lower surface of the insulation layer and an upper surface of a wiring substrate, facing the rear surface of the sensor element and connected to the wiring pattern by a connecting member. The entire active surface of the sensor element is covered by underfill formed between the active surface of the sensor element and the lower surface of the insulation layer. The insulation layer includes an upper surface, defining an uppermost surface and free from a wiring layer.
US09490202B2 Self-aligned airgap interconnect structures
Devices and methods for forming a self-aligned airgap interconnect structure includes etching a conductive layer to a substrate to form conductive structures with patterned gaps and filling the gaps with a sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is planarized to expose a top surface of the conductive layer. A permeable cap layer is deposited over the conductive structure and the sacrificial material, Self-aligned airgaps are formed by removing the sacrificial material through the permeable layer.
US09490196B2 Multi die package having a die and a spacer layer in a recess
Package assemblies for and methods of packaging integrated circuit chips are described. Disclosed package assemblies have spacers and recessed regions comprising IC chips. Architectural structures are provided that enable, for example, three dimensional (3D) packaging (or system in package (SiP) or multi-chip modules), systems-on-chip 3D packaging, and hybrid 3D bonding. Embodiments of the invention can be used, for example, to create logic-to-memory, memory-to-memory, and logic-to-logic interface stacking assemblies.
US09490195B1 Wafer-level flipped die stacks with leadframes or metal foil interconnects
An assembly includes a plurality of stacked encapsulated microelectronic packages, each package including a microelectronic element having a front surface with a plurality of chip contacts at the front surface and edge surfaces extending away from the front surface. An encapsulation region of each package contacts at least one edge surface and extends away therefrom to a remote surface of the package. The package contacts of each package are disposed at a single one of the remote surfaces, the package contacts facing and coupled with corresponding contacts at a surface of a substrate nonparallel with the front surfaces of the microelectronic elements therein.
US09490193B2 Electronic device with multi-layer contact
The electronic device includes a carrier, a semiconductor substrate attached to the carrier, and a layer system disposed between the semiconductor substrate and the carrier. The layer system includes an electrical contact layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate. A functional layer is disposed on the electrical contact layer. An adhesion layer is disposed on the functional layer. A solder layer is disposed between the adhesion layer and the carrier.
US09490192B1 Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor structure includes a through via, a molding surrounding the through via, a dielectric layer disposed over the die, the through via and the molding, and a conductive member disposed within the dielectric layer, disposed over the through via, and electrically connected with the through via, wherein the conductive member includes a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion, and the first protruding portion is laterally protruded from the through via along a first direction in a first length, and the second protruding portion is laterally protruded from the through via along a second direction in a second length, and the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction, and the first length is substantially greater than the second length.
US09490191B2 Mounting structure of semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor-device mounting structure includes a first semiconductor device and a plate-shaped second semiconductor device connected to the first semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a flexible board, an electronic component, and a sealing resin. The flexible board includes a bendable flexible portion and a hard portion. The flexible portion is bent at a boundary with the hard portion, along a shape of the electronic component such that the flexible board covers the electronic component. The flexible board and the electronic component are sealed with the sealing resin. The first semiconductor device is provided vertical to the second semiconductor device such that the hard portion is provided parallel to the second semiconductor device.
US09490184B2 Light emitting device and manufacturing method thereof
The light-emitting device has a plurality of light-emitting elements that is mounted on one or more wiring patterns on a substrate. A new light-emitting element that replaces a defective element is mounted on the same wiring pattern on which the defective element is mounted. The defective element or a trace that remains alter removal of the defective element is sealed by a same sealing member by which the new light-emitting element is sealed.
US09490181B2 Misalignment/alignment compensation method, semiconductor lithography system, and method of semiconductor patterning
A misalignment/alignment compensation method for a lithography process includes the steps of: obtaining misalignment data associated with an alignment mark disposed on a substrate; and obtaining a compensation parameter by performing asymmetry compensation calculation on at least one of a first directional component of the misalignment data, which is associated with a first direction, and a second directional component of the misalignment data, which is associated with a second direction.
US09490179B2 Semiconductor element and semiconductor device
One object is to provide a semiconductor element in which leakage current between a gate electrode and a channel formation region is suppressed even when the gate electrode is miniaturized as a result of miniaturization of the semiconductor element. Another object is to provide a downsized and high-performance semiconductor device. A semiconductor element having the following structure is manufactured: an insulating film containing gallium oxide and having a relative permittivity of 10 or more is formed as a gate insulating film over a semiconductor layer having a function of a channel formation region; and a gate electrode is formed over the gallium oxide. Further, a semiconductor device is manufactured by using the semiconductor element.
US09490174B2 Fabricating raised fins using ancillary fin structures
A method of fabricating a raised fin structure including a raised contact structure is provided. The method may include: providing a base fin structure; providing at least one ancillary fin structure, the at least one ancillary fin structure contacting the base fin structure at a side of the base fin structure; growing a material over the base fin structure to form the raised fin structure; and, growing the material over the at least one ancillary fin structure, wherein the at least one ancillary fin structure contacting the base fin structure increases a volume of material grown over the base fin structure near the contact between the base fin structure and the at least one ancillary fin structure to form the raised contact structure.
US09490172B2 Method for preventing delamination and cracks in group III-V wafers
In an exemplary implementation, a method includes growing a III-Nitride body over a group IV substrate in a semiconductor wafer. The method includes forming at least one device layer over the III-Nitride body. The method also includes etching grid array trenches in the III-Nitride body, where the etching of the grid array trenches may extend into the group IV substrate. The method can also include forming an edge trench around a perimeter of the semiconductor wafer. The method further includes forming separate dies by cutting the semiconductor wafer approximately along the grid array trenches.
US09490153B2 Mechanical alignment of substrates to a mask
A plurality of masks is attached to the underside of a mask frame. This attachment is made such that each mask can independently move relative to the mask frame in three directions. This relative movement allows each mask to adjust its position to align with respective alignment pins disposed on a working surface. In one embodiment, each mask is attached to the mask frame using fasteners, where the fasteners have a shaft with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the mounting hole disposed on the mask. A bias element may be used to allow relative movement between the mask and the mask frame in the vertical direction. Each mask may also have kinematic features to mate with the respective alignment pins on the working surface.
US09490149B2 Chemical deposition apparatus having conductance control
A chemical deposition apparatus having conductance control, which includes a showerhead module having a faceplate and a backing plate, the showerhead module including a plurality of inlets which deliver reactor chemistries to a cavity and exhaust outlets which remove reactor chemistries, a pedestal module configured to support a substrate and which moves vertically to close the cavity between the pedestal module and an outer portion of the faceplate, and at least one conductance control assembly, which is in fluid communication with the cavity via the exhaust outlets. The at least one conductance control assembly selected from one or more of the following: a ball valve assembly, a fluidic valve, magnetically coupled rotary plates, and/or a linear based magnetic system.
US09490146B2 Semiconductor device with encapsulated lead frame contact area and related methods
A semiconductor device may include an IC, and lead frame contact areas adjacent the IC. Each lead frame contact area may have a lead opening. The semiconductor device may include bond wires, each bond wire coupling a respective lead frame contact area with the IC. The semiconductor device may include encapsulation material surrounding the IC, the lead frame contact areas, and the bond wires, and leads. Each lead may extend through a respective lead opening and outwardly from the encapsulation material.
US09490135B2 Movable chamber liner plasma confinement screen combination for plasma processing apparatuses
A movable symmetric chamber liner in a plasma reaction chamber, for protecting the plasma reaction chamber, enhancing the plasma density and uniformity, and reducing process gas consumption, comprising a cylindrical wall, a bottom wall with a plurality of openings, a raised inner rim with an embedded heater, heater contacts, and RF ground return contacts. The chamber liner is moved by actuators between an upper position at which substrates can be transferred into and out of the chamber, and a lower position at which substrate are processed in the chamber. The actuators also provide electrical connection to the heater and RF ground return contacts.
US09490128B2 Non-melt thin-wafer laser thermal annealing methods
Methods of annealing a thin semiconductor wafer are disclosed. The methods allow for high-temperature annealing of one side of a thin semiconductor wafer without damaging or overheating heat-sensitive electronic device features that are either on the other side of the wafer or embedded within the wafer. The annealing is performed at a temperature below the melting point of the wafer so that no significant dopant redistribution occurs during the annealing process. The methods can be applied to activating dopants or to forming ohmic contacts.
US09490124B2 Polycrystalline silicon substrate and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention discloses a polycrystalline silicon substrate and a manufacturing method thereof. The method comprises: provide a substrate; sequentially form an amorphous silicon layer, an insulating layer and a metal catalyst layer; anneal the substrate at the first time, so that metal ions of the metal catalyst layer extend down to the amorphous silicon layer through the insulating layer, thereby inducing the amorphous silicon on the amorphous silicon layer to crystallize at the first time; remove the insulating layer and the metal catalyst layer; anneal the substrate at the second time, so that the metal ions lateral diffuse along the amorphous silicon layer, thereby inducing the amorphous silicon on the amorphous silicon layer to crystallize at the second time, forming the polycrystalline silicon layer. Through the above way, it can reduce the metal catalyst residues during forming the polycrystalline silicon layer, decreasing the leakage current of the semiconductor layer in the thin film transistor, thereby raising the performance of the thin film transistor.
US09490122B2 Method and apparatus of forming carbon-containing silicon film
A method of forming a carbon-containing silicon film includes: adsorbing a silicon source on a workpiece by supplying a silicon source gas containing at least one chlorine group into a reaction chamber accommodating the workpiece and activating the supplied silicon source gas to react the activated silicon source gas with the workpiece; and removing chlorine from the adsorbed silicon source containing chlorine by supplying an alkyl metal gas into the reaction chamber and activating the supplied alkyl metal gas to react the activated alkyl metal gas with the adsorbed silicon source. Adsorbing a silicon source and removing chlorine are sequentially repeated plural times.
US09490120B2 Vapor transport deposition method and system for material co-deposition
An improved feeder system and method for continuous vapor transport deposition that includes at least two vaporizers couple to a common distributor through an improved seal for separately vaporizing and collecting at least any two vaporizable materials for deposition as a material layer on a substrate. Multiple vaporizer provide redundancy and allow for continuous deposition during vaporizer maintenance and repair.
US09490113B2 Tailored nanopost arrays (NAPA) for laser desorption ionization in mass spectrometry
The production and use of semiconducting nanopost arrays made by nanofabrication is described herein. These nanopost arrays (NAPA) provide improved laser ionization yields and controllable fragmentation with switching or modulation capabilities for mass spectrometric detection and identification of samples deposited on them.
US09490102B2 Device for generating plasma having a high range along an axis by electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) from a gaseous medium
The device includes at least two coaxial waveguides each formed of a central conductor and of an external conductor to bring microwaves into a treatment chamber. The at least two electromagnetic wave injection guides are combined with a magnetic circuit elongated in one direction. The magnetic circuit surrounding the waveguides by creating a magnetic field capable of achieving an ECR condition close to the waveguides.
US09490078B2 Cover for an energy storage unit, energy storage unit comprising said cover, and method for manufacturing such an energy storage unit
The invention relates to a cover (40) for an energy storage unit, which is to be inserted at an end of a casing (20) in which a capacitive element (30) of the unit is arranged, the cover comprising at least one sidewall (43) which to be arranged opposite at least one sidewall of the casing and two end walls (41, 42), characterized in that a plurality of cavities (46, 48) are provided in the cover, at least one first cavity (46) opening onto the sidewall(s) (43) and onto an end wall (41), and at least one second cavity (48) opening onto the sidewall(s) (43) and onto the other end wall (42), the first cavity or cavities opening onto the sidewall(s) (43) in one or more first portions extending over a portion of the periphery of the sidewall(s), while the second cavity or cavities (48) open onto the sidewall(s) (43) in one or more second portions extending over a portion of the periphery of the sidewall(s).
US09490076B2 Solid electrolytic capacitor and manufacturing method therefor
A solid electrolytic capacitor that includes: a laminated body having a plurality of capacitor elements stacked to have principal surfaces thereof overlapped with each other. The capacitor elements each include a valve-action metallic substrate having two principal surfaces opposed to each other, a dielectric oxide film covering a surface of the valve-action metallic substrate, and a cathode layer covering a surface of the dielectric oxide film. The laminated body has two principal surfaces and more than one side surface, and has at least one of the side surfaces with the valve-action metallic substrates exposed. An anode terminal is electrically connected to the side surface of the laminated body having the valve-action metallic substrates exposed therefrom, and the cathode layers and the anode terminal are insulated with insulators interposed therebetween, the insulators being obtained from the cathode layers.
US09490072B2 Method of making a high capacitance multilayer capacitor with high voltage capability
A method for making multilayer ceramic capacitors is described with high voltage capability without the need of coating the part to resist surface arc-over. One design combines a high overlap area for higher capacitance whilst retaining a high voltage capability. A variation of this design has increased voltage capability over this design as well as another described in the prior art although overlap area and subsequently capacitance is lowered in this case.
US09490069B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component including: a ceramic body including a dielectric layer; and first and second inner electrode layers formed within the ceramic body, wherein, when a thickness of the dielectric layer is defined as td and a maximum thickness and a minimum thickness of the first or second inner electrode layer are defined as tmax and tmin, respectively, td≦0.6 μm and (tmax−tmin)/td<0.30 are satisfied. According to the present invention, a large-capacity multilayer ceramic electronic component capable of improving withstand voltage characteristics and having excellent reliability can be realized by improving uniformity in the thickness of the inner electrode layers.
US09490068B2 Multilayer ceramic electronic component and board having the same
A multilayer ceramic electronic component includes a capacitance forming part in which a plurality of first and second dielectric layers are alternately disposed. The capacitance forming part includes first and second internal electrodes disposed to be spaced apart from each other. First floating electrodes are disposed to be spaced apart from the first and second internal electrodes on the plurality of first dielectric layers, and second floating electrodes are disposed on the plurality of second dielectric layers and partially overlap the first and second internal electrodes. The ceramic body further includes a protective part having a plurality of third dielectric layers on which first and second dummy electrodes are disposed and a plurality of third dummy electrodes are disposed between the first and second dummy electrodes.
US09490052B2 Tubular insulator for coaxial connector
An insulator for a coaxial connector is disclosed. The insulator is adapted to connect to a coaxial transmission medium to form an electrically conductive path between the transmission medium and the coaxial connector. The insulator is constructed of dielectric material. A laser-cut pattern in the insulator produces voids in the dielectric material such that air is incorporated into the insulator. The insulator has a composite tangent delta and a composite dielectric constant based on a combination of the dielectric material and the air and maintains dielectric properties to insulate and separate components of the coaxial connector.
US09490046B2 Conductive material and connected structure
There is provided a conductive material which has a rapid reaction rate and is high in fluxing effect. The conductive material according to the present invention includes a conductive particle having solder at at least an external surface, an anionically hardenable compound, an anionic hardener, and an organic acid having a carboxyl group and having a functional group that is an esterified carboxyl group.
US09490041B2 Composite particles comprising a conductive coating of PEDOT/PSS, methods of making, and articles including the same
A composite particle includes a spheroidal core having a polymeric layer disposed thereon. In one embodiment, the polymeric layer includes a cationic surfactant and at least one of a nonionic polymer or an anionic polymer. In another embodiment, the polymeric layer includes a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer. Methods of making the composite particles, composite materials, and articles including them are also disclosed.
US09490040B2 Graphene for semiconductor co-doping boron and nitrogen at the same time and preparation method thereof
Disclosed are boron/nitrogen co-doped graphene for semiconductor applications and a method for producing the same. The boron/nitrogen co-doping allows the use of the doped graphene in a wider variety of applications, including semiconductors. In contrast, graphene structures produced by conventional methods have good physical, chemical, and electrical stability but cannot be used in semiconductor applications due to the absence of band gaps therein. In addition, the boron/nitrogen co-doping makes the doped graphene highly dispersible in organic solvents.
US09490039B2 Strip of Cu—Co—Si-based copper alloy for electronic materials and the method for producing the same
Cu—Co—Si-based alloy strip, which has not only an excellent balance between strength and electrical conductivity but also suppressed hanging curl, is provided. The copper alloy strip for electronic materials comprises 0.5-2.5 mass % of Co, 0.1-0.7 mass % of Si, the balance Cu and inevitable impurities, wherein, from a result obtained from measurement of an X ray diffraction pole figure, using a rolled surface as a reference plane, the following (a) is satisfied.(a) A diffraction peak height at β angle 120° among diffraction peak intensities by β scanning at α=25° in a {200} pole figure is at least 10 times that of standard copper powder.
US09490022B2 Data storage device and data maintenance method
A data storage device includes a flash memory, a voltage source and a controller. The flash memory includes a plurality of blocks, wherein each of the blocks includes a plurality of pages. The voltage source provides the flash memory with an operation voltage. The controller determines whether the operation voltage was lower than a predetermined voltage level during a predetermined operation after the predetermined operation on the flash memory is finished, and enabling the flash memory to initialize when the operation voltage was lower than the predetermined voltage level during the predetermined operation.
US09490012B2 Semiconductor memory having both volatile and non-volatile functionality including resistance change material and method of operating
Semiconductor memory is provided wherein a memory cell includes a capacitorless transistor having a floating body configured to store data as charge therein when power is applied to the cell. The cell further includes a nonvolatile memory comprising a resistance change element configured to store data stored in the floating body under any one of a plurality of predetermined conditions. A method of operating semiconductor memory to function as volatile memory, while having the ability to retain stored data when power is discontinued to the semiconductor memory is described.
US09490011B2 Storage device write pulse control
According to an example, a method for storage device write pulse control may include writing a storage device to a first polarity by driving a row address line (RAL) and a column address line (CAL) to an intermediate voltage level RCA for a cycle A. The RAL may be driven to a voltage level RB for a cycle B pulse duration, and the CAL may be maintained at RCA for the cycle B pulse duration. The RAL may be driven to a voltage level RC for a cycle C pulse duration, and the CAL may be driven to a voltage level CC for the cycle C pulse duration. The RAL may be driven to RCA, and the CAL may be driven to a voltage level CD for a cycle D pulse duration. The RAL may be maintained at RCA, and the CAL may be driven to RCA.
US09489987B1 Manufacturing process for a disk drive aperture channel
A method for reducing particulates within a disk drive may comprise providing a first component of a disk drive that is to be coupled to a second component of the disk drive by a fastener. The first component may define an aperture extending, along a central axis, through the first component. The aperture may comprise a channel, angularly-disposed relative to the central axis, that extends through the first component and has a greater cross-sectional dimension than the greatest cross-sectional dimension of the fastener. The first component may then be secured to the second component by advancing the fastener through the aperture and into the second component. Air may be drawn from within the aperture and/or from between the first and second components through the channel.
US09489984B2 Display apparatus, information terminal, display system, and program
A display apparatus which can communicate with an information terminal via a network is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a receiving unit which receives content data which are caused to be displayed on the display apparatus and reproduction control information on reproduction of the content data from the information terminal, an execution information generation unit which causes the reproduction control information to be execution information corresponding to the display apparatus, and a display unit which causes the content data to be displayed on the display apparatus based on the execution information.
US09489974B2 Method of fabricating a BPM template using hierarchical BCP density patterns
The embodiments disclose a method including patterning a template substrate to have different densities using hierarchical block copolymer density patterns in different zones including a first pattern and a second pattern, using a first directed self-assembly to pattern a first zone in the substrate using a first block copolymer material, and using a second directed self-assembly to pattern a second zone in the substrate using a second block copolymer material.
US09489965B2 Method and apparatus for acoustic signal characterization
Characterizing an acoustic signal includes extracting a vector from the acoustic signal, where the vector contains information about the nuisance characteristics present in the acoustic signal, and computing a set of likelihoods of the vector for a plurality of classes that model a plurality of nuisance characteristics. Training a system to characterize an acoustic signal includes obtaining training data, the training data comprising a plurality of acoustic signals, where each of the plurality of acoustic signals is associated with one of a plurality of classes that indicates a presence of a specific type of nuisance characteristic, transforming each of the plurality of acoustic signals into a vector that summarizes information about the acoustic characteristics of the signal, to produce a plurality of vectors, and labeling each of the plurality of vectors with one of the plurality of classes.
US09489962B2 Sound signal hybrid encoder, sound signal hybrid decoder, sound signal encoding method, and sound signal decoding method
A sound signal hybrid encoder includes: a signal analysis unit which determines a scheme for encoding a frame included in a sound signal; an LFD encoder which encodes a frame to generate an LFD frame; an LP encoder which encodes a frame to generate an LP frame; a switching unit which switches between the encoders according to a result of the determination by the signal analysis unit; and an AC signal generation unit which generates an AC signal according to a scheme selected from among schemes, outputs the generated AC signal, and also outputs an AC flag indicating the selected scheme.
US09489955B2 Indicating frame parameter reusability for coding vectors
In general, techniques are described for indicating frame parameter reusability for decoding vectors. A device comprising a processor and a memory may perform the techniques. The processor may be configured to obtain a bitstream comprising a vector representative of an orthogonal spatial axis in a spherical harmonics domain. The bitstream may further comprise an indicator for whether to reuse, from a previous frame, at least one syntax element indicative of information used when compressing the vector. The memory may be configured to store the bitstream.
US09489951B2 Information processing system, information processing method, communication terminal, information processing apparatus, and control method and control program thereof
An apparatus of this invention is directed to an information processing apparatus that determines a search range of one of the pieces of instruction information based on the other of a plurality of different pieces of instruction information, and effectively narrows down manipulation instruction candidates corresponding to a user even if the manipulation instruction candidates are extended. The information processing apparatus includes an instruction information receiver that receives instruction voice information indicating the instruction voice of the user acquired from the voice of the user, and instruction operation information indicating the instruction operation of the user acquired from the operation of the user, a search range determining unit that determines a search range for recognizing the instruction operation information according to the instruction voice information, or determines a search range for recognizing the instruction voice information according to the instruction operation information, and a user instruction recognizer that recognizes an instruction of the user based on a search result obtained by searching for one of the instruction voice information and the instruction operation information within the search range determined by the search range determining unit.
US09489946B2 Transcription support system and transcription support method
In an embodiment, a transcription support system includes: a first storage, a playback unit, a second storage, a text generating unit, an estimating unit, and a setting unit. The first storage stores the voice data therein; a playback unit plays back the voice data; and a second storage stores voice indices, each of which associates a character string obtained from a voice recognition process with voice positional information, for which the voice positional information is indicative of a temporal position in the voice data and corresponds to the character string. The text creating unit creates text; the estimating unit estimates already-transcribed voice positional information based on the voice indices; and the setting unit sets a playback starting position that indicates a position at which playback is started in the voice data based on the already-transcribed voice positional information.
US09489942B2 Method for recognizing statistical voice language
The present invention is a method for recognizing a statistical voice language using a statistical technique without using a manually tagged corpus. The method comprises: a dialog act clustering step of clustering speech utterances of sentences based on similar dialog acts; a named entity clustering step of extracting a named entity candidate group from the result of the dialog act clustering step and clustering named entities based on the neighboring contextual information of the extracted named entity candidate group; and a main act clustering step of clustering main acts for each region based on the clustered dialog acts and named entity.
US09489923B2 Synchronization of video wall movement with content on the wall
A controlling console and media server, and winch moving console all work together.
US09489917B2 Color perception tester, control program and method of controlling color perception tester
A color perception test has a color matching processor that executes a color matching processing on a color monitor, and an image display controller that displays two or more images for color perception test in order on the color monitor on which the color matching processing was done. When displaying each image for color perception test, a color perception test is done in a state that one of its hue, brightness, saturation and display time is changed and the other elements are fixed. Since the color perception tester has the color matching processor, colors of the image are not changed with passage of time different from color printed one, and correct test can be done thereby. If the test is periodically done on some examinee, a degree of decreasing color perception function by aging can be exactly known.
US09489911B2 Display device
A display device includes a first pixel group and a second pixel group. A central value of positive-side and negative-side grayscale voltages of the first pixel group is set to be a fixed value. A common voltage is adjusted to its optimal value with respect to the first pixel group. A difference between the common voltage adjusted to the optimal value with respect to the first pixel group and an optimal common voltage of the second pixel group is corrected by shifting entire positive-side and negative-side grayscale voltages of the second pixel group in a vertical direction.
US09489908B2 Drive module, display panel, display device, and multi-display device
In order to realize display control of a display panel in which gate signals and source signals are supplied to the display panel via only one side of the display panel, a display device (1) includes a driving module (12) including: input terminals via which input signals from an input signal generating section (13) are supplied; output terminals via which gate signals and source signals are outputted; a gate driving circuit for generating the gate signals; and a source driving circuit for generating the source signals, and a display panel (11) in which control terminals are provided on only one side of the display panel (11).
US09489899B2 Control circuit for continuous smooth reduction of backlight luminance, and a display thereof
A control circuit having large effects of low power consumption in CABC drive is provided. The control circuit performs B/L luminance reduction in eliminating a discomfort in image quality by using the feature value calculation circuit in the video signal. The control circuit comprises a luminance control circuit controlling a backlight luminance according to an inputted video signal and a gradation conversion circuit for converting a gradation of inputted video signal according to a controlled luminance. The control circuit reduces continuously and smoothly the backlight luminance, while the screen area reaches one-pixel white, in case where the all white is inputted as video signal, one-pixel black is displayed in any screen area from a display condition of all white, a rate of screen area displaying one-pixel black is gradually increased, and the video signal is continuously changed until the screen area of all white reaches the one-pixel white.
US09489894B2 Pixel circuit and driving method thereof, and thin film transistor backboard
There is provided a pixel circuit comprising a driving transistor (DTFT), a signal loading module, a light emitting control module and a storage capacitor (Cs). The pixel circuit can effectively eliminate the non-uniformity due to the threshold voltage of the driving transistor (DTFT) itself and the afterimage phenomenon due to the threshold voltage drift when driving the OLED, avoid the display brightness non-uniformity due to different threshold voltages of the driving transistors (DTFT) between the OLEDs of different pixel units. There is further provided a driving method for the above pixel circuit and a TFT backboard comprising the above pixel circuit.
US09489890B2 Organic electroluminescent display device
The present invention overcomes image defects such as the brightness inclination or smears by reducing the line resistance of a power source bus line which supplies electricity to organic EL elements. A plurality of pixels which are arranged in a matrix array is connected to power source lines, and the plurality of power source lines are connected to a power source bus line. Both ends of the power source bus line are connected to a power source part via a FPC. By supplying electricity to both ends of the power source bus line from the power source part, the line resistance of the power source bus line can be reduced.
US09489889B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An OLED display having a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel arranged in a matrix format including: a substrate; gate lines formed on the substrate; data lines crossing the gate lines in the insulated manner; a plurality of driving power lines formed on the substrate and including a first driving power line transmitting a driving voltage to the first pixel, second driving power line transmitting a driving voltage to the second pixel, and a third driving power line transmitting a driving voltage to the third pixel; a switching thin film transistor connected with the gate lines and the data lines; a driving transistor connected with the switching thin film transistor and the driving power lines; a first electrode connected with the driving transistor; an organic light emitting member formed on the first electrode; and a second electrode formed on the organic light emitting member.
US09489883B2 Electronic apparatus and method of displaying image thereof
An electronic apparatus includes a graphic processor to generate each of a plurality of images as a different signal, an incorporation unit to incorporate the plurality of generated images into one image, and a display to display the incorporated image.
US09489882B2 Display having selective portions driven with adjustable refresh rate and method of driving the same
There is provided a TFT backplane having at least one TFT with oxide active layer and at least one TFT with poly-silicon active layer. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one of the TFTs implementing the circuit of pixels in the active area is an oxide TFT (i.e., TFT with oxide semiconductor) while at least one of the TFTs implementing the driving circuit next to the active area is a LTPS TFT (i.e., TFT with poly-Si semiconductor).
US09489881B2 Shading correction calculation apparatus and shading correction value calculation method
The apparatus calculates a first relation representing a relation of mapping from an image capturing coordinate system of a camera to a shading correction coordinate system of a display apparatus, by using a first captured image acquired by capturing a first display image, and calculates a second relation by removing, from the first relation, a part corresponding to an object located between the first display image and the camera. The apparatus calculates a first gradation value in the shading correction coordinate system by performing a mapping transformation using the second relation on a second captured image acquired by capturing a second display image, calculates from the first gradation value a first correction value for the shading correction coordinate system, and calculates through an interpolation using the first correction value a second correction value for a part thereof where the first gradation value is not calculated.
US09489880B2 Display system and driving method
A method for driving a display device is disclosed. Each pixel of the display device includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel. The method includes: driving the first sub-pixel of a first pixel disposed in a first column and in a first row to display a first color; driving the second sub-pixel of the first pixel to display a second color; driving the first sub-pixel of a second pixel disposed in the first column and in a second row or a third row to display a third color; driving the second sub-pixel of the second pixel to display the first color; and determining a pixel value of the first sub-pixel of the first pixel according to a predetermined region, the pixels adjacent to the first pixel, and a video signal.
US09489879B2 Display device
A driving circuit of a display device includes first to third output signal lines which are continuously arranged, a first transistor that has a source connected to the second output signal line and a drain connected to a first clock signal line, and a second transistor that provides a non-active potential to a gate of the first transistor when a second clock signal becomes the active potential, wherein a circuit that outputs the active potential to the first output signal line and the third output signal line is disposed at an opposite side to a circuit that outputs the active potential to the second output signal line with a display region interposed therebetween, and wherein the gate of the first transistor is connected to the first output signal line and the third output signal line via rectifying circuits.
US09489878B2 Shift register
A shift register has an input stage circuit, a first switch, a control circuit and a pull down circuit. A first end of the first switch receives a first clock signal. A second end and a control end of the first switch are respectively coupled to an output end of the shift register and a first output end of the input stage circuit. The control circuit controls electrical connection between a first power terminal and a node according to a second clock signal and controls electrical connection between the node and a second power terminal according to a voltage level of a second output end of the input stage circuit. The pull down circuit controls electrical connection between the second output end and the second power terminal and electrical connection between the output end and the second power terminal according to a voltage level of the node.
US09489869B2 Portable low cost computer assisted surgical trainer and assessment system
A system is provided for evaluating MIS procedures. The system includes a sensor configured to receive task-performance data, block components, and actuating components. The sensor, block components, and actuating components are configured to simulate a training task. The system also includes a processor. The processor is configured to determine, based on the received task-performance data, a trial task-performance metric corresponding to a trial performance of the training task. The processor is also configured to select a reference task-performance metric from a plurality of reference task-performance metrics. Each reference task-performance metric in the plurality corresponds to a respective reference performance of the training task. The processor is additionally configured to determine, based on a comparison of the trial task-performance metric to the reference task-performance metric, a task-performance classification level. The processor is further configured to cause a graphical display to provide an indication of the task-performance classification level.
US09489864B2 Systems and methods for an automated pronunciation assessment system for similar vowel pairs
Computer-implemented systems and methods are provided for assessing non-native speech proficiency. a non-native speech sample is processed to identify a plurality of vowel sound boundaries in the non-native speech sample. Portions of the non-native speech sample are analyzed within the vowel sound boundaries to extract vowel characteristics associated with a first vowel sound and a second vowel sound represented in the non-native speech sample. The vowel characteristics are processed to identify a first vowel pronunciation metric for the first vowel sound and a second vowel pronunciation metric for the second vowel sound, and the first vowel pronunciation metric and the second vowel pronunciation metric are processed to determine whether the non-native speech sample exhibits a distinction in pronunciation of the first vowel sound and the second vowel sound.
US09489861B2 Rythmic motor skills training device
A computerized system and method for music practice and training to assist a musician to improve their skills in maintaining a tempo and to improve ear-hand coordination, eye-hand coordination and other motor skills while learning to play an instrument. The system receives user defined beats per minute (BPM), rhythms or short segments of a music piece and generates audio reference outputs and visual display of music notes as stimuli. The user responses to these stimuli are measured in time and in the force and intensity of the responses and provided as feedback to the user to improve their response time and intensity to stimuli and assists the user in modifying the responses to the output stimuli to reduce the time between the output stimuli and the user response and thus improve the user's timing accuracy while playing music.
US09489860B2 Systems and methods for music instruction
Disclosed are systems and methods for instructing a musician to play an instrument. Methods can include importing a video file into a directory of a remote computing device. The video file can include video of a second musician playing the instrument and audio of the second musician playing the instrument. Methods can include playing the video file with the remote computing device, and decreasing a tempo of the video. The audio can continue to remain in pitch while the tempo of the video has been decreased.
US09489857B2 Controller for electrical impulse stress exposure training
A control module used in combination with an activation device for generating an activation signal in response to a stress exposure training event and an electrical impulse device for delivering an electrical shock to the user. The control module has a housing for being carried on the user. The module includes a controller function which sends a shock signal to the impulse device to shock the user according to prescribed shock criteria in response to an activation signal. The control module can be used with various activation devices including light-based force-on-force training or video shoot-back simulations. An operator input of the controller enables the prescribed shock criteria stored on the controller which is carried on the user to be adjusted by an operator directly at the module or remotely.
US09489846B2 Modifying directions to a parking lot associated with a venue based on traffic conditions proximate to the parking lot
A venue is associated with various parking lots, and a user may purchase a space in one of the parking lots. A venue management system associated with the venue stores an association between the user and the parking lot. Based on a location of a client device associated with the user, the venue management system communicates navigation directions to the client device for presentation to the user. The directions communicated to the client device account for traffic conditions within a threshold distance of the parking lot, and the venue management system may modify stored directions to the parking lot based on the traffic conditions and communicate the modified directions to the client device for presentation to the user. Additionally, the traffic conditions used by the venue management system include information describing on current usage of various parking lots associated with the venue to allow the user to bypass congestion.
US09489835B2 System and method for simplified setup of a universal remote control
A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).
US09489834B2 Noise-reducing motorized gearbox assembly for automating window coverings
An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a motor and a gearbox coupled to the motor and configured to actuate a window covering. The gearbox includes an internal wall enclosing gears of the gearbox, and an external wall enclosing the internal wall and creating a cavity between the internal wall and the external wall. The external wall is configured to support an output shaft extending from the internal wall. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.
US09489826B1 Aberration engine
An aberration engine that collects data sensed by a monitoring system that monitors a property of a user and aggregates the collected data over a period of a time. The aberration engine detects, within the aggregated data, patterns of recurring events and, based on detecting the patterns of recurring events within the aggregated data, takes action related to the monitoring system based on the detected patterns of recurring events within the aggregated data.
US09489825B1 Computerized school safety system
A computerized school safety system is disclosed for providing information to an emergency responder about an alert at a school. The system includes a computerized processor including programming configured to monitor inputs from a mobile computerized device within the school, the inputs including location data for the mobile computerized device, combine the inputs with a floor plan for the school, and provide a tactical display to the emergency responder comprising the combined inputs and floor plan.
US09489824B2 Active probe, system and method for pest detection
A pest detector (1) for actively detecting pest activity within the environs of a structure. The pest detector includes a pest detection unit (2) that detects pest activity through the analysis of sounds of pest activity within a pest bait. The pest bait is typically timber or cellulose material (3). Upon detection of pest activity, a signal is sent to wireless transmitting device which transmits a radio frequency signal which includes data identifying the pest detector. Advantageously, the radio frequency is in the cellular radio frequency spectrum and is transmitted via the cellular radio network to a remote base station. The signal can be in the form of a short message service message. In this way, the pest detector can be remotely monitored and any pest activity dealt with appropriately. The pest detector can be used within a pest detection system and the pest detection unit can be retrofitted to known pest monitoring systems.
US09489809B1 Wearable indicator devices and methods of using same
Disclosed are wearable indicator devices and methods of using same. The device is a head-mounted device for detecting an alert condition and providing an alert to a user. The device has a display unit with one or more LEDs and a driver circuit configured to control the brightness of the one or more LEDs. The device also has a control unit having a microprocessor, a memory buffer in electronic communication with the microprocessor, a microphone in electronic communication with the microprocessor, and a radio transceiver configured to interface with an external computing system. The microprocessor can be configured to gather audio samples from the microphone, analyze one or more gathered audio samples for an alert condition, transmit the alert condition, and control the LEDs based on the alert condition.
US09489808B1 Electrical device and methods of making and using the device
An electrical device, processes for using and making the device, and products produced thereby. There can be an alarm device and an extension which includes a protrusion. The extension can have wiring, and the alarm device can detect for a change in electricity running through the wiring, such as a change that would occur when the electricity is interrupted when the wiring is cut. The protrusion is located adjacent to the extension, distant from the alarm device, and can include a key, switch, connector, or the like. The protrusion, in some cases, can be releasably connectable to a housing that is in turn connected to the extension, so as to form a loop in which an item can be secured for protection, e.g., from theft.
US09489794B2 Systems and methods for providing control of a wagering device using a smartphone or mobile device
Gaming systems and methods are set forth for players to link a player mobile communication device such as a Smart phone to a gaming terminal to present at the player mobile communication device display an auxiliary or substitute player interface for controlling the game.
US09489793B2 Gaming through mobile or other devices
Various embodiments that may generally relate to mobile gaming, location determination, mobile devices, authentication, and so on are described. Various methods are described. Various apparatus are described. Further embodiments are described.
US09489791B2 Sanitized vending machine having cup retention-and-release mechanism
A sanitized vending machine includes product and cup dispensing mechanisms and an actuation mechanism. The product dispensing mechanism, holding product items, rotates through a product dispensing cycle to dispense them. The cup dispensing mechanism, holding a stack of cups, rotates through a cup dispensing cycle to dispense an empty cup to an intermediate location in a drop chute spaced above a final discharge location. Dispensing cycles occur in predetermined sequence enabling dispensed product items to be received in a previously dispensed cup. A cup retention-and-release mechanism disposed about and adjacent to the drop chute at the intermediate location converts between a cup hold position, wherein the empty cup is caught and retained at the intermediate location awaiting receipt of dispensed product items into the cup, and a cup release position, wherein the cup now having dispensed product items received therein is released and enabled to drop to the discharge location.
US09489790B2 Data processing device and data processing system
A data processing device is provided between a cash processing terminal cluster in a local network and an external network outside the local network. The data processing device includes a data acquisition section that acquires, in the local network, serial numbers obtained from banknotes read by a cash processing terminal configuring the cash processing terminal cluster, and results of recognition of the banknotes by the cash processing terminal; a storage controller that associates the serial numbers and the recognition results with each other and stores the serial numbers and the recognition results in a storage section; and a comparison section that, in cases in which the serial numbers and banknote recognition results have been acquired from any cash processing terminal configuring the cash processing terminal cluster, compares the banknote recognition results against the stored recognition results associated with the serial numbers.
US09489783B2 Door system with noncontact access control and noncontact door operation
A door system includes a door frame, at least one door leaf and a door drive with a control unit. The door leaf is equipped with a hand vein scanner for detecting the hand vein profile when a hand is held a distance in front of the hand vein scanner for recognizing the user. A programmable computer with a memory element, in which a plurality of user hand vein profiles can be stored, is housed in the interior of the door leaf. A hand vein profile is compared to the hand vein profiles stored in the memory of the computer and, depending on a match, the door is opened or not. The computer is programmed and supplied with power via a network interface that terminates in the edge of the door leaf or the peripheral area and is the only interface between the door leaf and the door frame, other than a signal cable for the control unit for the door drive. The computer can be programmed by temporarily connecting an external computer to this network interface. The network interface is also used for connecting a power supply for the computer.
US09489779B2 Vehicle status notification and operator identification
A computing system located on-board a vehicle issues an event notification responsive to detection of an event condition. The on-board computing system detects the presence of wireless-enabled devices located within the vehicle or within proximity to the vehicle over a wireless communications link. The on-board computing system seeks to determine the identity of one or more persons that enter, attempt to enter, or operate the vehicle based on identifiers obtained from one or more wireless-enabled devices carried by those persons. The on-board computing system distinguishes multiple users from each other by designating one user as the vehicle operator, and one or more other users as passengers of the vehicle. The on-board computing system may include a removable on-board interface device that interfaces with an on-board vehicle control system.
US09489769B2 Dynamically updating compartments representing one or more geological structures
Systems and methods for dynamically updating compartments representing one or more geological structures by performing one or more dynamic interactions on i) current data; ii) a predefined polygon area-of-interest and/or predefined minimum/maximum depths from volume-of-interest based model sealing; and/or iii) a fluid contact flag and/or a sealing state from a fluid fill analysis.
US09489765B2 Silhouette-based object and texture alignment, systems and methods
An object-image alignment data generating method for use in an object recognition system is presented. The method obtains a 3D model and a set of 2D images of the object. Each 2D image from the set is captured based on a particular camera point of view. The method then uses the 3D model of the object to generate multiple silhouettes of the object according to different camera point of views. Each silhouette is then matched and aligned with a 2D image based on the corresponding camera point of view. The method also derives at least one descriptor from the 2D images and compiles feature points that correspond to the descriptors. Each feature point includes a 2D location and a 3D location. The method then generates an object-image alignment packet by packaging the 2D images, the descriptors, and the feature points.
US09489763B2 Techniques for setting up and executing draw calls
One embodiment sets forth a method for processing draw calls that includes setting up a plurality of shader input buffers in memory, receiving shader input data related to a graphics scene from a software application, storing the shader input data in the plurality of shader input buffers, computing a pointer to each shader input buffer included in the plurality of shader input buffers, and passing the pointers to the plurality of shader input buffers to the software application. By implementing the disclosed techniques, a shader program advantageously can access the shader input data associated with a graphics scene and stored in various shader input buffers without having to go through the central processing unit to have the shader input buffers binded to the shader program.
US09489761B2 Pinning a callout animation
Animation for the attachment of content items to a location on a content surface in a user interface is provided. A user interface showing a content surface may be displayed on a computer. The content surface may include a content item at an initial position above the content surface. The content surface may display content formatted for display over an area comprising a totality of the content surface. The computer may then receive in the user interface a request to attach the content item to a final position on the content surface. The computer may then display an animation of the content item moving, from the initial position, across the content surface until the final position has been reached. The computer may then attach the content item to the content surface at the final position.
US09489755B2 Determining reserve estimates for a reservoir
Systems and methods for determining reserve estimates for a reservoir using a thickness grid multiplied by one or more grids of laterally-varying attributes to produce a unified grid from which the reserve estimates are determined.
US09489753B1 Reconstruction of three dimensional model of an object from surface or slice scans compensating for motion blur
Techniques for creating a three dimensional model of an object and eliminate artifacts due to object motion. Such techniques are applied to line scans and slice scans of an object.
US09489751B2 Image processing apparatus and image processing method for color correction based on pixel proximity and color similarity
An image processing apparatus comprises an image acquiring unit configured to acquire a face image including a face of a person; a lip extracting unit configured to extract a lip region from the face image; a color determining unit configured to determine a representative color of the lip based on pixels included in the lip region; a value acquiring unit configured to acquire a first value representing a proximity to the lip region and a second value correlated to similarity of a color to the representative color; a generating unit configured to generate, based on distributions of the first and second values, a lip correction map representing a distribution of weights used in correcting a color of the lip included in the face image; and an image correcting unit configured to correct the color of the lip using the lip correction map.
US09489750B2 Exposure metering based on background pixels
The disclosed technology relates to image-capturing methods. In one aspect, a method includes receiving an image frame comprising a plurality of pixels and subtracting foreground pixels from the image frame to obtain background pixels. The method additionally includes determining an exposure condition for a next image frame based on at least a subset of the background pixels. The method further includes adjusting the foreground pixels such that a difference between a background luma value and a foreground luma value of the next image frame is within a predetermined range. Aspects are also directed to apparatuses configured for the methods.
US09489734B2 Determination of a body part position during radiation therapy
The present invention relates to a data processing method for use in the field of radiation therapy and for determining a position of a treatment body part relative to an actual arrangement of at least one position of a treatment beam issued by a treatment device, the position being called monitoring tissue position and the treatment body part being a soft tissue part of an anatomical structure of a patient; the data processing method being constituted to be performed by a computer and comprising the following steps: ● providing CBCT data describing a three-dimensional CBCT image of the anatomical structure, the three dimensional CBCT image representing the treatment body part and a bony structure in a relative position to each other, called tissue-bone pre-alignment position, at a point in time, called pre-alignment time; ● providing x-ray data describing information on a position of the bony structure, called monitoring bone position, relative to the actual arrangement at a point in, time during treatment, called monitoring time, the monitoring time being after the pre-alignment time; ● determining the monitoring tissue position of the treatment body part relative to the actual arrangement ∘ based on the tissue-bone pre-alignment position represented by the CBCT image data, ∘ based on the information on the monitoring bone position described by the x-ray data, and ∘ based on a predefined relationship between a first relative position between the treatment body part and the bony structure at the pre-alignment time and a second relative position between the treatment body part and the bony structure at the monitoring time.
US09489724B2 Three-dimensional stereoscopic projection on complex surfaces
A method of displaying. The method includes using a system including three-dimensional stereoscopic projection equipment to project an image onto a complex surface of a physical object disposed in an area. The complex surface includes at least one curve or angle. The system also includes a device worn by a user or disposed on a mobile device. The method further includes warping the image based on a geometry of the complex surface, tracking a position and orientation of the user or the mobile device, and further warping the image based on the position and orientation.
US09489720B2 Non-local means image denoising with detail preservation using self-similarity driven blending
System, apparatus, method, and computer readable media for texture enhanced non-local means (NLM) image denoising. In embodiments, detail is preserved in filtered image data through a blending between the noisy input target pixel value and the NLM pixel value that is driven by self-similarity and further informed by an independent measure of local texture. In embodiments, the blending is driven by one or more blending weight or coefficient that is indicative of texture so that the level of detail preserved by the enhanced noise reduction filter scales with the amount of texture. Embodiments herein may thereby denoise regions of an image that lack significant texture (i.e. are smooth) more aggressively than more highly textured regions. In further embodiments, the blending coefficient is further determined based on similarity scores of candidate patches with the number of those scores considered being based on the texture score.
US09489718B2 Display apparatus and image processing method thereof which decode an image in unit of minimum coded unit
The display apparatus includes: a display; a decoder which decodes an image in unit of a MCU; a scaler which scales the decoded image; a memory which stores the scaled image; and a controller which controls the display to display the scaled image, sets an RAU structure of the image, and further stores in the memory image information corresponding to the RAU structure. Thus, even if a decoded and scaled image is zoomed in, the quality of the zoomed image may be maintained at a high level.
US09489715B2 Image display apparatus and image display method
An image display apparatus includes: a display screen; an image output unit configured to output an image to the display screen; a region setting unit configured to extract one or more objects included in the image and to set a first region, which is a region corresponding to each of the objects; an operation acquisition unit configured to acquire a coordinate on the display screen that has been designated by a user; and an image zooming unit configured to zoom in the image, which is being displayed, on the basis of the designated coordinate. The image zooming unit zooms in the object included in the first region when the designated coordinate is within the first region.
US09489714B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and program
An information processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain information regarding a size of a display screen of a display terminal that displays reflow format document data including a font with a set font size, a determining unit configured to determine whether the size of the display screen obtained from the information differs from a predetermined size, a setting unit configured to, if determined that the size of the display screen differs from the predetermined size, set the font size to a size determined based on the set font size, the size of the display screen, and the predetermined size, and if not determined that the size of the display screen differs from the predetermined size, keep the font size at the set font size, and a controlling unit configured to control the display screen to display the font at the font size set by the setting unit.
US09489704B2 Systems and methods for tracking public transportation vehicles using an internet-enabled device
A system for tracking a public transportation vehicle includes a reporting device implemented on the public transportation vehicle that transmits a signal including information regarding an identity of the public transportation vehicle and a receiving device implemented on a public transportation station that receives the signal from the reporting device and communicates the information regarding the identity of the public transportation vehicle and a time-stamp regarding an arrival of the public transportation vehicle at the public transportation station. The system further includes an internet-enabled back-end server that receives the communication from the reporting device and stores the identity of the public transportation vehicle and the time-stamp regarding the arrival of the public transportation vehicle at the public transportation station in a database of the back-end server. The back-end server is configured to allow access of its database by an internet-enabled commuter device.
US09489690B1 Apparatus and method for providing product location information to customers in a store
A system and method are disclosed for providing product location information within a store. The system comprises a first user interface fixed within the store and an inventory information unit coupled to the first user interface. The first user interface is configured to receive an input signal from a user related to the identity of a product within the store, to process the input signal and to provide a product inquiry signal in response to the input signal. The first user interface is further configured to receive a location information signal, and to provide an output signal in response to the location information signal. The inventory information unit comprises a database containing product location information and is configured to provide the location information signal to the first user interface after receiving the product inquiry signal from the first user interface.
US09489681B2 Systems and methods for distributing coupons
The present invention provides systems and methods for distributing coupons by a retailer. The coupons distributed in the invention are “third-party” coupons, that is, coupons for goods or services that are unrelated to those of the retailer and offered by a third-party retailer. For example, if the coupons are being distributed by a supermarket, then the coupons may be for tools at a home-improvement store or for tax services by an accountant. The distribution methods of the invention increases the revenue of a retailer. More specifically, a consumer is presented a coupon when the value of the transaction exceeds a threshold. In a number of embodiments, the threshold is the average sale per transaction of the retailer. Accordingly, consumers will be motivated to increase spending so that coupons can be earned. The methods and apparatus of the invention are equally applicable to both “brick and mortar” and “click and mortar” retailing. In the latter, consumers may shop on the Internet and print out coupons during checkout if the threshold for a particular website is met.
US09489679B2 System and method for an interactive query utilizing a simulated personality
A system and method provides for an interactive query comprising a first input module capable of receiving input for creating a simulated personality for a first user. An expert system is capable of creating and storing the simulated personality. An output module is used for presenting the simulated personality to a second user. An interactive query module is capable of allowing the second user to communicate with the simulated personality of the first user.
US09489675B2 Dynamic card validation using randomly determined cell identifiers
A card validation system receives a request to validate a card. The system receives a set of cell identifiers from a merchant, where the set of cell identifiers determined by the merchant. The system further receives a set of received cell values corresponding to the set of cell identifiers of a card validation matrix. The system determines a set of stored cell values corresponding to the set of cell identifiers of the card validation matrix. The system compares the set of received cell values to the set of stored cell values. Based at least in part upon the comparison, the system determines whether the card is validated.
US09489671B2 Systems and methods for mobile application, wearable application, transactional messaging, calling, digital multimedia capture and payment transactions
Systems and methods for multimedia capture and payment transactions are provided. A system comprises a payment and multimedia capture means and a cloud-based application. The payment and multimedia capture means is configured to communicate with an external device, transmit key data from the payment and multimedia capture means to the external device. The cloud-based application is configured to receive the key data from the external device, provide a payment and multimedia capture interface on a display of the external device, receive haptic input via the haptic control, analyze the haptic input to determine a duration of the haptic input, select an operation based on the duration, and perform the selected operation. The operation include a payment operation and a multimedia capture operation.
US09489670B2 Hybrid wireless short range payment system and method
A smart phone payment management system includes a synthetic barcode module and near field communication module. Each module is configured to wirelessly convey payment information to a point of sale, with the synthetic barcode module being available for use if the point of sale is not equipped with a compatible near field communication terminal.
US09489665B2 Information processing system, information processing apparatus, method and program
The present invention relates to an information processing system, an information processing apparatus and method, and a program in which the purchase of content can be facilitated. When a device to which content data is downloaded and a device for giving an instruction to purchase the content data are different, a purchase form for purchasing the content data is sent to the device for giving an instruction to purchase the content data. The user ID and password are input into the purchase form, and the device to which the content data is downloaded is determined by the user ID. If the device to which the content data is downloaded cannot be specified because the user registers a plurality of devices, a destination determination form for specifying the device to which the content data is downloaded is sent. The content data is then distributed to the device indicated in the destination determination form. The present invention is applicable to a server for executing processing concerning content data.
US09489664B2 ATM customer defined user interface for security purposes
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for receiving a customization that will be displayed on the screen of an ATM based on a customer initiating a session with the ATM. The customization is associated with a function to perform a financial transaction. The function is performed as a result of the customer interacting with the customization on the screen of the ATM. The customization may be altered based on a handicap impairment of the customer. The displaying of the customization may be restricted for security purposes or as a request of the customer.
US09489658B2 Universal communication system
A universal communication system including a processor configured to execute a client application is described and includes first logic configured to provide a client interface for accessing a plurality of communication and media types from the command window, and second logic configured to integrate a plurality of contact information from the plurality of media and communication types into a single contact list, where the single contact list being accessible from the client interface. The system further includes third logic configured to receive executable instructions from a multi-protocol application program interface to alter the plurality of communication and media types and the plurality of contact information received therefrom.
US09489656B2 Method and apparatus for generating community
A method and apparatus generate a community based on goals and intentions of its members. Context information related to a first member is collected. A list of goals that the first member wants to accomplish and a list of capabilities that the first member may provide are derived, based on the context information. A search is conducted to find a second member that has at least one of a capability matching at least one goal listed in the list of goals and a goal matching at least one capability listed in the list of capabilities. And then, a community including the first member and the second member is generated.
US09489647B2 System and method for a cloud computing abstraction with self-service portal for publishing resources
In embodiments of the present invention, improved capabilities are described for a virtualization environment adapted for development and deployment of at least one software workload, the virtualization environment having a metamodel framework that allows the association of a policy to the software workload upon development of the workload that is applied upon deployment of the software workload.
US09489641B2 Condition monitoring system
A computer based conditioning monitoring system for monitoring at least one condition data source. The system is adapted to determine condition data of interest to a user and build a user profile based on the condition data of interest. As and when new condition data sources are added, the system is adapted to identify these and automatically access or make available condition information from the existing data sources and any newly added condition data source. Relevant data in any of the available the condition data sources is identified and presented to the user based on the user profile.
US09489636B2 Task-agnostic integration of human and machine intelligence
A system combines inputs from human processing and machine processing, and employs machine learning to improve processing of individual tasks based on comparison of human processing results. Once performance of a particular task by machine processing reaches a threshold, the level of human processing used on that task is reduced.
US09489633B2 Trust rating metric for future event prediction of an outcome
In at least one embodiment, a trust rating system and method provide a precise and accurate, structured (yet adaptable and flexible), quantifying way of expressing historical trustworthiness so the user or decision maker can make more informed decisions on the data or information being evaluated.
US09489625B2 Rapid development of virtual personal assistant applications
A platform for developing a virtual personal assistant (“VPA”) application includes an ontology that defines a computerized structure for representing knowledge relating to one or more domains. A domain may refer to a category of information and/or activities in relation to which the VPA application may engage in a conversational natural language dialog with a computing device user. Re-usable VPA components may be linked to or included in the ontology. An ontology populating agent may at least partially automate the process of populating the ontology with domain-specific information. The re-usable VPA components may be linked with the domain-specific information through the ontology. A VPA application created with the platform may include domain-adapted re-usable VPA components that may be called upon by an executable VPA engine to determine a likely intended meaning of conversational natural language input of the user and/or initiate an appropriate system response to the input.
US09489621B2 Graph based selection of decorrelated variables
A computing device to select decorrelated variables using a graph based method is provided. A correlation value is computed between each pair of a plurality of variables to define a correlation matrix. A binary threshold value is compared to each correlation value to define a binary similarity matrix from the correlation matrix. An undirected graph comprising a subgraph that includes one or more connected nodes is defined based on the binary similarity matrix to store connectivity information for the plurality of variables. Each node of the subgraph is pairwise associated with a unique variable of the variables. (a) A least connected node is selected from the undirected graph based on the connectivity information. (b) The selected least connected node is removed from the undirected graph. (c) The connectivity information for the undirected graph is updated based on the removed node. (d) (a)-(c) are repeated until a stop criterion is satisfied.
US09489618B2 Electronic comparison systems
An electronic comparison system includes input stages that successively provide bits of code words. One-shots connected to respective stages successively provide a first bit value until receiving a bit having a non-preferred value concurrently with an enable signal, and then provide a second, different bit value. An enable circuit provides the enable signal if at least one of the one-shots is providing the first bit value. A neural network system includes a crossbar with row and column electrodes and resistive memory elements at their intersections. A writing circuit stores weights in the elements. A signal source applies signals to the row electrodes. Comparators compare signals on the column electrodes to corresponding references using domain-wall neurons and store bit values in CMOS latches by comparison with a threshold.
US09489617B2 Neuromorphic system and method for operating the same
A neuromorphic system includes: an unsupervised learning hardware device configured to perform learning in an unsupervised manner, the unsupervised learning hardware device performing grouping on input signals; and a supervised learning hardware device configured to perform learning in a supervised manner with labeled values, the supervised learning hardware device performing clustering on input signals.
US09489616B2 Mobile device to control virtual assistant system to remotely control external services and selectively share control of the same
A mobile device to operate a virtual assistant system to control any wirelessly connected devices and services by receiving an input command to perform a function at the devices and services, translate the input command into a common language sharable between the external devices and services so that such input commands can be understood between the plurality of devices and services, and functions can be performed at the devices and or service in response to the input command. This control is sharable with other mobile devices as instructed by an input command.
US09489605B2 Wireless IC device
A wireless IC device includes a wireless IC chip arranged to process a radio signal, a power-supply circuit board that is connected to the wireless IC chip and that includes a power supply circuit including at least one coil pattern, and a radiation plate arranged to radiate a transmission signal supplied from the power-supply circuit board and/or receiving a reception signal to supply the reception signal to the power-supply circuit board. The radiation plate includes an opening provided in a portion thereof and a slit connected to the opening. When viewed in plan from the direction of the winding axis of the coil pattern, the opening in the radiation plate overlaps with an inner area of the coil pattern and the area of the inner area is approximately the same as that of opening.
US09489596B1 Optimal rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) spacing and fusion for electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain computer interface (BCI)
Described is system for optimizing rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) spacing and fusion. The system receives a sequence of a plurality of rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) image chips. The plurality of RSVP image chips are generated from an image via a pre-processing step and have a high probability of containing a target of interest. The system alters the order of the sequence of the plurality of RSVP image chips to increase the probability of detection of a true target of interest when presented to a human subject.
US09489592B2 User characteristic prediction using images posted in online social networks
Methods and systems provide electronic instructions to a non-transitory electronic storage hardware device to record images uploaded by a user over a computerized network to a social networking site, and to record categories of network site locations to which the images are uploaded by the user. These methods and systems also provide electronic instructions to a computerized electronic image processor hardware device to analyze features within the images to identify content of each of the images, and to determine the user characteristics based on the categories of network site locations to which the images are uploaded by the user and on the content of the images uploaded by the user. Also, such methods and systems provide electronic instructions to the computerized electronic image processor hardware device to output the user characteristics on a graphic user interface hardware device.
US09489591B2 Haze image discriminating apparatus and discriminating method
A haze image discriminating apparatus has a first calculator to calculate a difference between a color difference component of an image signal of each of a plurality of pixels in an image and a gray value, and calculate a first ratio of pixels in which the difference is lower than a first reference value, to the plurality of pixels, a second calculator to calculate a second ratio of pixels in which a luminance component of the pixel signal of each of the plurality of pixels is lower than a second reference value, to the plurality of pixels, and a haze-degree determining unit to determine that a degree of haze of the image is higher as the first ratio is higher and the second ratio is lower.
US09489589B2 Information processing apparatus and control method thereof
An information processing method includes: converting voxel data to node data in which a voxel, which has a brightness value that is outside a certain brightness value range, is set as a first node, and a voxel, which has a brightness value that is within the certain brightness value range, is set as a second node that has a capability to extract relating nodes based on a neighborhood relationship between voxels; performing, for each second node, a calculation processing to calculate an output value of a reaction-diffusion equation by using a value corresponding to a brightness value of the second node and values corresponding to brightness values of relating nodes extracted from the second node, a predetermined number of times; and determining a brightness value of each second node from the output value of the reaction-diffusion equation after performing the calculation processing the predetermined number of times.
US09489587B2 Character reader and container inspection system using character reader
A character reader 200 for reading and recognizing a character displayed at a predetermined height position on the outer peripheral surface of a plurality of cylindrical containers (for example, bottles BT), the character reader includes: a rotary drive mechanism 203 to 207 for supporting the cylindrical container to rotate the cylindrical container around the central axis thereof; a camera 201 positioned to face the cylindrical container so that a character displayed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical container is captured within the visual field; and an image processing device for acquiring an image at the height position where the character is displayed over an angular range more than one rotation of the cylindrical container by controlling the imaging operation of the camera 201, thereby executing recognition processing. The image processing device includes: a search means for searching an image portion including all characters from the acquired image; a character recognition means for recognizing a character to be recognized by collating the image of a character to be recognized included in the image portion searched by the search means with the model images of a plurality of types of characters; and an output means for outputting a recognition result recognized by the character recognition means for each cylindrical container.
US09489586B2 Traffic sign recognizing apparatus and operating method thereof
Disclosed are an apparatus for recognizing a traffic sign and an operating method thereof. The apparatus for recognizing a traffic sign according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an image from a vehicle to a predetermined range; a region of interest designating unit configured to recognize a traffic sign within the image, and designate an area including the traffic sign as a region of interest; a valid area extracting unit configured to extract a valid area except for an area of a first color from the region of interest, and calculate valid area data; and a similarity calculating unit configured to calculate similarity of the traffic sign by using the valid area data.
US09489566B2 Image recognition apparatus and image recognition method for identifying object
There are provided an image recognition apparatus and an image recognition method according to which, when registering a face model for a face image, face images are sequentially acquired from frames of a moving image, feature amounts are extracted from the sequentially acquired face images, and a hypersphere defined by Support Vector Data Description (SVDD) is obtained from the group of training samples. Then, training samples in a boundary region of the hypersphere are registered as boundary samples. When performing matching of a face image of a recognition target, the reliability is calculated using the boundary samples, and a person with the highest reliability is output as a recognition result.
US09489564B2 Method and apparatus for prioritizing image quality of a particular subject within an image
A device capable of digital imaging detects multiple faces in image data received from an image sensor, performs pattern recognition to check if at least one of the detected faces is a priority face belonging to a ranked set of reference faces, adjusting at least one imaging related parameter (e.g., focus setting, exposure level, depth of focus in a plenoptic camera) of the device based on a region of interest (ROI) corresponding to the highest priority recognized face, and capturing an image.
US09489556B2 Scanner notifications
A scanner notification indicates an operational status of the scanner, such as a hand-held scanner used at a point-of-sale or as part of an inventory-tracking system. Among other things, a notification might indicate to a user that a product identifier has been verified, product tracking is occurring, a tag is being deactivated, successful completion of scanning functions, and various other operational states of the scanner.
US09489550B2 Positioning systems and methods
Manufacturing systems and methods are disclosed. In one example, a system includes a track to be positioned proximate a structure. The track has a length extending along an axis and a location indicator positioned along the length of the track. The location indicator provides a unique tag which identifies a location of the location indicator along the first axis.
US09489549B2 Implant telemetry with dynamic tuning
Systems and methods for maximizing the resonance frequency match between a reader and a controlled device interacting over a narrowband inductive link involve, in various embodiments, features of the controlled device, the reader, or both.
US09489547B2 Card reader
A card reader may include a card insertion port; a card conveying passage; and a card lock mechanism. The card lock mechanism may include a motor; a rotation shaft; a gear provided with a power transmission gear part and a ratchet gear part; a clutch mechanism disposed between the rotation shaft and the gear; a ratchet member to engage with the ratchet gear part; a cam member held by the rotation shaft; a torque limiter which is disposed between the rotation shaft and the cam member; an urging member which urges the ratchet member in a direction where the cam follower is contacted with the cam face; a stopper for restricting a turnable range of the cam member; and a lock member.
US09489542B2 Split-key arrangement in a multi-device storage enclosure
Apparatus and method for data security in a multi-device data storage enclosure. In some embodiments, the storage enclosure has a housing with opposing first and second ends. A plurality of active elements are disposed within the housing including an array of data storage devices, a control board, and an interconnection arrangement which mechanically and electrically interconnects the plurality of storage devices with the control board. A control circuit encrypts user data stored on a selected data storage device using a cryptographic encryption function and an associated cryptographic key. The key is partitioned into a plurality of portions, with each portion stored in a different one of the active elements.
US09489541B2 Content protection via online servers and code execution in a secure operating system
A computer system comprising a processor and a memory for storing instructions, that when executed by the processor performs a copy protection method. The copy protection method comprises executing a software loop of a first software application in a first operating system. A first call is executed in the software loop to a code portion. A decrypted code portion of the first software application is executed in a second operating system in response to the first call. The code portion is decrypted in response to a successful validation of the first software application.
US09489539B2 Allowing first module of computer code received from vendor to make use of service provided by second module while ensuring security of system
A system for integrating modules of computer code may include a sandbox validator for receiving a first module and verifying that the first module complies with one or more sandbox constraints. A computing device may execute the first module within a runtime environment. A module integrator may operate within the runtime environment for receiving a request from the first module to access a service provided by a second module and only allowing the first module to access the service when the first module is authorized to access the service according to a service authorization table. The sandbox validator may ensure the first module correctly identifies itself when requesting a service provide by another module and that the first module includes runtime policing functions for non-deterministic operations. A service authorizer may generate an authorization policy for the first module, which is sent to the computing device along with the first module.
US09489533B2 Efficient memory utilization in a dispersed storage system
A method for improving memory utilization in a dispersed storage network (DSN). After a data object is received for storage in the DSN, it is determined whether a substantially identical data portion of the data object has previously been encrypted and stored. The determination may be made, for example, by comparing a portion reference value relating to the data object to portion reference information stored in DSN memory. If not detected, the data object is encrypted using an encryption pattern sequence and encryption key, at least one of which substantially identical to at least a portion of the data portion. The encrypted data object is then compressed using a pattern based data compression function, and the compressed data object is stored. The portion reference value is also stored in DSN memory.
US09489520B2 Decryption and encryption of application data
Examples disclose providing a decryption, validation and encryption process. Specifically, disclosure includes decrypting a first encrypted application data to then validate its integrity. Disclosure also includes encrypting the decrypted application data using a technique different from that used to provide the first encrypted application data and then storing the encrypted application data.
US09489512B2 Trustzone-based integrity measurements and verification using a software-based trusted platform module
A “Firmware-Based TPM” or “fTPM” ensures that secure code execution is isolated to prevent a wide variety of potential security breaches. Unlike a conventional hardware based Trusted Platform Module (TPM), isolation is achieved without the use of dedicated security processor hardware or silicon. In general, the fTPM is first instantiated in a pre-OS boot environment by reading the fTPM from system firmware or firmware accessible memory or storage and placed into read-only protected memory of the device. Once instantiated, the fTPM enables execution isolation for ensuring secure code execution. More specifically, the fTPM is placed into protected read-only memory to enable the device to use hardware such as the ARM® architecture's TrustZone™ extensions and security primitives (or similar processor architectures), and thus the devices based on such architectures, to provide secure execution isolation within a “firmware-based TPM” without requiring hardware modifications to existing devices.
US09489511B2 Wearable device and a method for storing credentials associated with an electronic device in said wearable device
The disclosure relates in general to a wearable device for serving as a personal id towards electronic devices. In particular the disclosure provides a wearable device for storing credential data or password from an electronic device, which device is configured for serving as personal id towards an electronic device, such as a mobile phone or other smart devices.
US09489496B2 Secure software updates
Improved techniques to update software in electronic devices that are already in use are disclosed. In one embodiment, software can be updated in a secure and controlled manner using cryptography. The authenticity of the updated software as well as its appropriateness for the particular electronic device can be confirmed prior to update. The software can also be updated on a per module basis. In one embodiment, a server hosts software updates for various electronic devices, and supplies the appropriate software update to the electronic devices via a data network.
US09489495B2 System and method for detecting, collecting, analyzing, and communicating event-related information
A system and method involves detecting operational social disruptive events on a global scale, assigning disease event staging and warnings to express data in more simplistic terms, modeling data in conjunction with linguistics analysis to establish responsive actions, generating visualization and modeling capabilities for communicating information, and modeling disease propagation for containment and forecasting purposes.
US09489489B2 Image acquisition for medical dose preparation system
Use of improved image acquisition for a medical dose preparation system. The medical dose preparation system may include a work station for capturing medical dose preparation images (e.g., to document preparation of a mediation dose). The medical dose preparation image may be captured by a video data stream processor capable of performing an auto cropping technique on a video data stream received from an image device. Accordingly, memory resources may be more efficiently employed while maintaining high quality medical dose preparation images.
US09489488B2 Protocol independent interface supporting general communications interface debugging and testing tool
A protocol independent debugging tool for debugging communication interfaces of devices is disclosed. The debugging tool is configured to receive communication protocol plug-ins corresponding to different communication protocols. The debugging tool instantiates a stack interface from the protocol plug-in, such that the stack interface implements a protocol-specific stack wrapper that communicates with a device being tested. The stack specific wrapper receives commands from a command interface for the device being tested, generates data packets in accordance with the communication protocol of the device being tested, and transmits the data packets to the device being tested.
US09489477B2 Method and apparatus for word-level netlist reduction and verification using same
A computer implemented representation of a circuit design is reduced by representing the circuit design as a data structure defining a netlist. A first set of nodes is identified in the netlist that includes datapath nodes, preferably nodes that do not intermingle data and control. The first set of nodes is segmented into segment widths that correspond to uniformly treated segments of the corresponding words. A second set of nodes, including nodes that intermingle data and control, are converted into bit-level nodes. The segmented nodes are analyzed to define reduced safe sizes by applying a computer implemented function. An updated data structure representing the circuit design is then generated using the reduced safe sizes of the segmented nodes.
US09489474B2 Model and methods for identifying points of action in electrically active cells
The invention provides a model for generating predicted action potentials of an electrically active cell. The disclosed model includes three operatively coupled submodels. A first submodel contains Hodgkin-Huxley elements generating action potentials based on electrical equivalent circuits. A second submodel is based on reaction kinetics of cell metabolism and is operatively coupled with the first submodel. A third submodel is based on Boolean dynamics representing signaling and associated cellular processes and is operatively coupled with the first and second submodels. The invention includes storing a library of calculated action potentials and associated cellular parameters generated by the model, applying a stimulus to the electrically active cell in vitro so that the cell generates an action potential; and comparing the cell-generated action potential with those stored in the library, wherein a match is predictive of the cellular point of action of the applied stimulus according to the parameters stored.
US09489473B2 Computer implemented method for product design
A computer program product and a computer-implemented method are disclosed. The method includes providing a square design structure matrix having a number of rows and a number of columns equal to the number of rows, wherein each row represents one of a plurality of elements, wherein each entry of the design structure matrix is a numerical quantity; providing a domain mapping matrix having a number of rows equal to the number of rows of the design structure matrix, each row having an identical representation of one of the plurality of elements as a corresponding row of the design structure matrix, the domain mapping matrix having any number of columns, wherein each entry of the domain mapping matrix is a numerical quantity; and using a computer processor to group one or more elements into a cluster arrangement, using a plurality of entries from each of the matrices.
US09489472B2 Method and apparatus for detecting interference in design environment
The disclosure provides a solution for clash detection in three-dimensional design by allowing multiple members to work on a centrally-located version of the model. The disclosure also provides massively-parallel processing of the design file which enables rapid processing and version control. The model can be maintained at one or more remote servers with significantly higher processing capability. Implementing clash detection on the remote server allows the system to take advantage of parallel processing. Complex 3D models can be identified and divided across multiple computational units to significantly increase processing speed.
US09489469B2 Page display method, apparatus and terminal
The embodiments of the disclosure provide a page display method and apparatus, belonging to the field of terminals. The method comprises monitoring the page browsing mode of a browser while running the browser; determining a changed page browsing mode, if the page browsing mode of the browser is changed; and displaying a tips button on the current page of the browser, if the changed page browsing mode is a specified mode. The apparatus comprises a monitoring module, a determining module, and a displaying module. Thereby, the tips-making process while switching modes is simplified. The tips button is displayed on a specific location to remind users, without breaking the continuous browsing via the browser, so that non-trace switch can be achieved when the browser changes its page browsing mode.
US09489460B2 System and method for generating expert curated results
Aspects and embodiments are directed to systems and methods for managing validated information. Validated information can leverage previous research on an issue, track social interaction around the issue, and simplify any request from information on the same or related problems. Additionally, validated information can include background information on an issue being addressed (e.g., a tech support question), information on how the issue was resolved, links to source information used to resolve the issue, and can provide information on whether the resolution continues to be effective for other users. According to some embodiments, validated information can be organized into answer objects configured to provide an answer to a technical question. According to one embodiment, this capture of information into a validated knowledge base facilitates subsequent requests and better leverages the best resolutions by tracking, scoring, and elevating search results (including, for example, answer objects) and/or users that are the most effective.
US09489452B2 Image based spam blocking
A fingerprint of an image identified within a received message is generated following analysis of the message. A spam detection engine identifies an image within a message and converts the image into a grey scale image. The spam detection engine analyzes the grey scale image and assigns a score. A fingerprint of the grey scale image is generated based on the score. The fingerprint may also be based on other factors such as the message sender's status (e.g. blacklisted or whitelisted) and other scores and reports generated by the spam detection engine. The fingerprint is then used to filter future incoming messages.
US09489439B2 Generating portable interpolated data using object-based encoding of interpolation results
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating portable interpolated data using object-based encoding of interpolation results. A database can store sets of operational data, such as financial, medical, climate or other information. For given data, a portion of the input data can be known or predetermined, while for a second portion can be unknown and subject to interpolation. The interpolation engine can generate a conformal interpolation function and interpolated input sets that map to a set of target output data. In aspects, the interpolation engine can interact with an object encoder module to access, extract, and encode the interpolated inputs and/or other data in an object-based format or schema, such as the extensible markup language (XML). The object encoder can generate an object-oriented interpolated data container to transmit to a local or remote database, and expose that container to sets of applications for access and use by those applications. The applications can include other interpolation packages, and/or conventional applications such as databases or spreadsheets which do not have native interpolation capability. The applications can share, exchange, and/or modified the object-based interpolation data container(s), and can request further interpolation processing on updated objects via interpolation requests to remote interpolation engines.
US09489436B2 Gateway enablement of analytic database services
An example database system comprises one or more database servers configured to serve database data of a database and configured to provide database services and a generic database gateway server coupled to the one or more database servers, the generic database gateway server configured to provide an interface to define analytic database services which can be called during run-time by inputting a uniform resource identifier at a user device to provide to the user device with database server data processed by one or more predefined analytic operations, the generic database gateway server being configured to obtain, during design time, a specification of an analytic database service by selecting database server data of the one or more database servers and one or more analytic operations to be applied on the selected data by the analytic database service, convert the obtained specification of the analytic database service into one or more objects in a format that can be processed on the one or more database servers, wherein the one or more objects include one or more analytic database service data objects specifying one or more attributes of the analytic database service and one or more analytic database service metadata objects, the one or more analytic database service metadata objects including annotations to the attributes of the one or more analytic database service data objects to be processed by the one or more database servers to implement the one or more predefined analytic operations and provide the one or more converted objects to the one or more database servers to be called by a user by inputting a uniform resource identifier.
US09489434B1 System and method for replication log branching avoidance using post-failover rejoin
A system that implements a data storage service may store data on behalf of clients in multiple replicas stored on respective computing nodes. The system may employ a single master failover protocol, usable when a replica attempts to become the master replica for its replica group. Attempting to become the master replica may include acquiring a lock associated with the replica group, and gathering state information from other replicas in the group. The state information may indicate whether another replica supports the attempt (in which case it is included in a failover quorum) or stores more recent data or metadata than the replica attempting to become the master (in which case it is removed from the replica group). If replicas are removed from the group, they may re-join later or new replicas may be added. If the failover quorum includes enough replicas, the replica assumes mastership for the group.
US09489429B2 Computer system, data management method, and program
A computer system comprising a plurality of computers coupled through a network, the computer system performing service by using a database constructed by a storage area of each of the plurality of computers, wherein a plurality of pieces of data are located in the plurality of computers constructing the database based on a distributed algorithm for distributing and locating the plurality of pieces of data in the plurality of computers, wherein the computer system comprises: a load information management part to manage load information on a load of each of the plurality of computers constructing the database; an algorithm management part to switch the distributed algorithm of the computer system based on the load information; and a relocation processing part to relocate the plurality of pieces of data stored in each of the plurality of computers based on the switched distributed algorithm.
US09489427B2 System, method and computer-readable medium for optimization of multiple-parallel join operations on skewed data
Techniques that facilitate management of skewed data during a parallel multiple join operation are provided. Portions of tables involved in the join operation can be distributed among a plurality of processing modules, and each of the processing modules can be provided with a list of skewed values of a join column of a larger table involved in the join operation. Each of the processing modules can scan the rows of first and second tables distributed to the processing modules and compare values of the join columns of both tables with the list of skewed values. One or more of the processing modules can then redistribute the skewed values.
US09489419B2 System and method for optimizing business performance with automated social discovery
A system, process and method for automatically collecting, collating and transforming data into useful formats and displaying or otherwise outputting the transformed data into useable information. The system provides outputs that are useful in optimizing the enterprise performance of a business. The system, process and method are grounded in an established logical framework for systematically classifying areas of business concerns.
US09489414B2 Prefix burrows-wheeler transformations for creating and searching a merged lexeme set
Systems and methods to create a merged lexeme set from a first lexeme set and a second lexeme set such that an existential lexeme search may be performed on both data originally from the first lexeme set and data originally from the second lexeme set via the merged lexeme set, and wherein information in the merged lexeme set includes information as to which lexeme set a lexeme originated. Specifically Prefix Burrows-Wheeler Transform (“PBWT”) systems and techniques are applied to the scenario where a plurality lexeme sets are merged to a single merged lexeme set. Additionally, applications of PBWT systems and techniques as applied to genome sequence data and k-Mer searches are disclosed.
US09489413B2 Asynchronous global index maintenance during partition maintenance
Techniques for maintaining a global index in response to a partition being dropped are provided. In response to an instruction to drop a partition, partition identification data that identifies the partition is stored. Index entries, in the global index, that correspond to the dropped partition become “orphaned” entries. Later, an execution plan for a query is processed, where the execution plan targets a global index. During execution of the execution plan, one or more index entries are accessed. For each accessed index entry, the partition identification data is analyzed to determine if the index entry is an orphaned entry. If so, then the index entry is ignored for purposes of the query. Later, the global index may be updated to delete each orphaned entry. Such deletion may occur much later, such as during a time when the database is not queried or updated frequently.
US09489410B1 Bitmap index including internal metadata storage
A method includes receiving a query directed to a bitmap index. The bitmap index includes a plurality of bit strings, where a value stored in a particular location in each of the bit strings indicates whether a corresponding signal associated with a signal source has been received, and where the bitmap index includes at least a first metadata value associated with each of the bit strings, at least a second metadata value associated with each of a plurality of signal sources, or both. The method also includes generating a query execution plan for the query and generating query results based on the query execution plan. The query results identify at least one signal associated with at least one bit string of the plurality of bit strings, at least one signal source of the plurality of signal sources, and at least one of the first metadata value or the second metadata value.
US09489409B2 Rollover strategies in a N-bit dictionary compressed column store
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for rollover strategies in an n-bit dictionary compressed column store. An embodiment operates by receiving a new value for addition to a compressed column store, determining that a current memory block of a most recently added token to the compressed column store is the insertion block. It is determined that the maximum token value has been reached for the current memory block. A new virtual memory block is created using the current insertion block, and a token corresponding to the new value is stored in the new virtual memory block. In another embodiment, when it is determined a maximum number of token values that may be stored in a compressed column store has been reached for a data dictionary, the compressed column store is converted into a composite store include a flat store where the new value is stored.
US09489399B1 Data center management using virtualized data center inventory
Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for locating a target IT component in a data center. A first identification marker is scanned by a mobile computing device. A location of the first identification marker in the data center based on a virtual representation of the data center is determined by the mobile computing device. An identity of the target IT component is received. A location of the rack containing the target IT component in the data center based on the virtual representation of the data center is determined by the mobile computing device. A map of the data center, wherein the map of the data center includes first indicia of the location of the first identification marker and second indicia of the location of the rack containing the target IT component, is displayed by the mobile computing device.
US09489390B2 Reconciling access rights at IAM system implementing IAM data model
Systems and methods for reconciling access rights provisioned for physical computing resources of a computer system are provided. A reconciler may identify current physical computing resources accessible to a user account of the computer system and a physical entitlement specification associated with the user account. The reconciler may determine whether adjustment of access rights is needed based on a comparison of the current physical computing resources to the physical entitlement specification. Access rights to at least one physical computing resource may be adjusted in response to a determination that adjustment of access rights is needed.
US09489388B2 Computing system, host system and method for managing data
A computing system includes a storage device in which file data is stored through data blocks and metadata is stored through a node block, and a file system configured to manage the file data and the metadata stored in the storage device. The node block includes data pointers respectively pointing to the data blocks, and one or more extents each indicative of data block groups which include data blocks having continuous physical addresses among the data blocks.
US09489386B2 Inferred operations for data analysis
A method may include importing into a memory a set of data into a data structure having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and metadata for the set of data. A rules engine determines one or more operations on particular columns of the set of data according to a set of rules. A rule may include a condition defined in terms of the metadata. Determined operations are input into a data analysis tool, the determined operations are performed, and results of the operations are displayed. The rule can include comparing a metadata attribute of a first column with a metadata attribute of a second column; comparing a metadata attribute of a first column with a metadata attribute associated with the rule; or comparing a first scope of a first column with a second scope of a second column.
US09489381B1 Structured document customizable comparison systems and methods
Multiple structured documents can be compared with one another utilizing user-specified custom configurations. For example, a traversal of at least two of the documents may identify one or more potential matches in the documents. A user-defined rule may be obtained that specifies differences that are expected within the documents. Additionally, a determination may be made regarding when differences between potential matches are significant based in part on user-defined rule. In some examples, significant differences may be determined to be significant as a result of being differences, other than expected differences, that vary from the expected differences. Any significant differences can be logged, reported on or added to statistics for the new service being tested.
US09489376B2 Identifying confidential data in a data item by comparing the data item to similar data items from alternative sources
A method, apparatus and computer program product to identify confidential information in a document. To examine a document for inclusion of confidential information, the document is compared against documents having similar structure and content from one or more other sources. When comparing documents (of similar structure and content) from different sources, confidential information is then made to stand out by searching for terms (from the sources) that are not shared between or among them. In contrast, common words or terms that are shared across the sources are ignored as likely being non-confidential information; what remains as not shared may then be classified as confidential information and protected accordingly (e.g., by omission, redaction, substitution or the like). Using this technique, non-confidential information may be safely segmented from confidential information in a dynamic, automated manner.
US09489372B2 Web-based spell checker
A fast client-side spell checker is provided that builds efficient structures out of dictionary and a common misspelling list and uses the structures to prune the number of searches required to identify misspelled words and provide suggestions for correcting the misspelled words. The spell checker is a browser-based application, which is provided by a server to a client device. The server sends the dictionary and a list of common misspellings to the client device in the form of efficient data structures. The spell checker utilizes a set of rules to identify the words that are not in the dictionary but are intended to be correct as typed. The spell checker is used by different browser-based applications that utilize the same spell checker regardless of the browser platform used to access the applications. The spell checker, therefore, provides a uniform spell checking user experience across different browser platforms.
US09489371B2 Detection of data in a sequence of characters
A method for detecting data in a sequence of characters or text using both a statistical engine and a pattern engine. The statistical engine is trained to recognize certain types of data and the pattern engine is programmed to recognize the grammatical pattern of certain types of data. The statistical engine may scan the sequence of characters to output first data, and the pattern engine may break down the first data into subsets of data. Alternatively, the statistical engine may output items that have a predetermined probability or greater of being a certain type of data and the pattern engine may then detect the data from the output items and/or remove incorrect information from the output items.
US09489370B2 Synonym relation determination device, synonym relation determination method, and program thereof
A synonym relation determination device comprises: a synonym expression candidate storage unit which associates and stores a synonym candidate (EW) with the synonym source (OW); a text gathering unit which associates and gathers text with an issuing time; a synonym candidate search unit which calculates from the issuing time of the text a time interval (PD) in which the synonym candidate is searched in a text set (TX); a synonym source search unit which searches for a synonym source from the text set of a period which overlaps with the time interval in which the synonym candidate is searched for and calculates an occurrence of the synonym source; and synonym relation extraction unit which, when the occurrence of the synonym source is present in the time interval in which the synonym candidate is searched for, extracts a synonym relation between the synonym candidate and the synonym source.
US09489367B2 Systems and methods for mutations and operational transforms in a collaborative spreadsheet environment
Mutations representing spreadsheet edit operations are received at a server from client computers of collaborators and also at a collaborator's client computer from other collaborators and the server. Different mutations may conflict, i.e., provide contradictory instructions on how a spreadsheet is to be edited. Techniques for representing sort operations, cut-and-paste operations, and operations to change cell properties as mutations, and operational transform techniques that can be used to resolve conflicts between such mutations, are disclosed herein. Further disclosed herein are techniques for identifying and processing computationally intensive types of mutations in a calculation thread which operates asynchronously with respect to a UI thread at a collaborator's client computer. The processing may include performing an operational transform on results of the calculation thread based on results obtained in the UI thread.
US09489359B2 Editing the text of an arbitrary graphic via a hierarchical list
The present invention includes a graphics software program that automatically creates graphical content when a user creates or modifies a hierarchical list of content data and chooses from one of a plurality of graphical definition choices for the graphical elements. In addition, the present invention includes a user interface with three different displays. The first display presents the user with one or more galleries including a gallery with a plurality of graphical definitions. The second display is a content entry area. The final display is a drawing canvas.
US09489349B2 Page template selection for content presentation in a digital magazine
A digital magazine server creates a section of a digital magazine including content items based on a page template describing the relative positioning and sizing of content items. A page template may include display regions specifying the size of content items as a percentage of a display area. Additionally, a display region in a page template may specify use of a sub-template for presenting content items. The sub-template includes display regions specifying the relative positioning of content items presented in the display region specifying use of the sub-template. To generate the section of the digital magazine, various page templates are scored and a page template is selected based on the scoring. One or more diversity policies may be enforced when selecting the page template to improve user interaction with the digital magazine.
US09489346B1 Methods and systems for early stop simulated likelihood ratio test
A method for modeling a set of observed data comprises selecting a reference model and an alternative model as possible descriptions of the set of observed data, and storing an index function for measuring fit of models to data. The method further includes performing, by one or more processors, a simulated threshold-fitting for a first of the two models, deriving an initial simulated index for the second model for fitting the second model to the simulated data, and deriving an initial boundary for simulated index difference including calculating a difference between the threshold-fit simulated index for the first model and the initial simulated index for the second model. The method further includes determining, based on a comparison, whether to update a counter used in calculating a simulated p-value, and selecting, based on the simulated p-value, one of the reference and alternative models for modeling the set of observed data.
US09489345B1 System and method for providing products and locations
A computing system is provided, comprising a processor, a memory for storing instructions executable on the processor, a product generation module within the memory and, an input/output controller coupled to output a product sequence from the product generation module to a peripheral device. The product generation module comprises a code provider module and a product provider module.
US09489344B2 Methods of and apparatus for approximating a function
A data processor of a processing system, such as a graphics processing system, converts an input data value into an output data value by approximating a function which maps input values to output values. The data processor approximates the function using first and second predetermined ranges of values which are quantized into plural corresponding pairs of range sections, a predetermined gradient for each pair of range sections, and predetermined section end values for each pair of range sections. By using these predetermined parameters, the approximation of the function can be implemented efficiently by the data processor of the processing system.
US09489320B2 System and method for transferring an active state between a powerful processor and a less powerful processor
An information handling system includes a tablet with a processor, and a dock with a second processor that determines that the tablet is coupled to the dock, boots the dock, receives a request for the tablet to be uncoupled from the dock, creates a migration image with state information of the dock and that identifies a process running on the dock, and sends the migration image to the tablet. The first processor receives the request, boots the tablet, receives the migration image from the second processor, loads the state information to the tablet, and launches the first process.
US09489319B1 Operating time supervisory system
An operating time supervisory system includes a computer host, a computer screen and an input device. An application program and a device driver corresponding to the input device are installed in the computer host. The device driver contains a supervisory program. When the application program is opened, the supervisory program recognizes the application program and starts to calculate an operating time of the application program. After a prompt setting task is completed, the supervisory program acquires a prompt time point. If the supervisory program judges that the application program is still operated at the prompt time point, the operating time corresponding to the prompt time point is displayed on the computer screen under control of the supervisory program.
US09489312B2 Host side deduplication
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for performing host side deduplication. Host side deduplication may be performed upon writeable data within a write request received at a host computing device configured to access data stored by a storage server. The host side deduplication may be performed at the host computing device to determine whether the writeable data is already stored by the storage server based upon querying a host side cache comprising data stored by a storage server and/or a data structure comprising unique signatures of data stored by the storage server. If the writeable data is stored by the storage server, then a deduplication notification excluding the writeable data may be sent to the storage server, otherwise a write command comprising the writeable data may be sent. Accordingly, unnecessary network traffic of redundant data already stored by the storage server may be reduced.
US09489297B2 Pregroomer for storage array
Techniques are disclosed relating to arranging data on storage media. In one embodiment, a computer system is configured to access a storage array that includes a plurality of storage blocks. The computer system executes a first set of processes and a second set of processes, where the first set of processes operates on selected ones of the plurality of storage blocks to increase a likelihood that the selected storage blocks are operated on by the second set of processes. In some embodiments, the second set of processes determines whether to operate on a storage block based on an amount of invalid data within the storage block. In such an embodiment, the first set of processes increases a likelihood that the storage block is operated on by increasing the amount of invalid data within the storage block.
US09489285B2 Modifying run-time-instrumentation controls from a lesser-privileged state
Embodiments of the invention relate to modifying run-time-instrumentation controls (MRIC) from a lesser-privileged state. The MRIC instruction is fetched. The MRIC instruction includes the address of a run-time-instrumentation control block (RICCB). The RICCB is fetched based on the address included in the MRIC instruction. The RICCB includes values for modifying a subset of the processor's run-time-instrumentation controls. The subset of run-time-instrumentation controls includes a runtime instrumentation program buffer current address (RCA) of a runtime instrumentation program buffer (RIB) location. The RIB holds run-time-instrumentation information of the events recognized by the processor during program execution. The values of the RICCB are loaded into the run-time-instrumentation controls. Event information is provided to the RIB based on the values that were loaded in the run-time-instrumentation control.
US09489281B2 Access point group controller failure notification system
An access point IHS group controller failure notification system includes access point IHSs connected to a network and members of an access point IHS group. A first access point IHS group controller for the access point IHS group is also coupled to the network. The first access point IHS group controller detects a failure issue associated with its imminent failure and, in response, creates an imminent failure message that includes an identifier for the first access point IHS group controller. The imminent failure message may also include timing information that indicates when the first access point IHS group controller will again be available, and/or a second identifier for a second access point IHS group controller that is available for controlling the access point IHS group. The first access point IHS group controller then sends the imminent failure message through the network to each of the plurality of access point IHSs.
US09489280B2 Method and apparatus for 3-D accelerometer based slope determination, real-time vehicle mass determination, and vehicle efficiency analysis
Three dimensional accelerometer data is used to determine a slope the vehicle is traveling over at a specific point in time. The slope data can then be combined with other metrics to provide an accurate, slope corrected vehicle mass. The vehicle mass can then be used along with other vehicle data to determine an amount of work performed by a vehicle, enabling s detailed efficiency analysis of the vehicle to be performed. To calculate slope, horizontal ground speed (VHGS) can be calculated using the Pythagorean Theorem. One can take the Z/Up magnitude and divide it by the horizontal ground speed. Replacing Z, x and y with directional vectors enables one to calculate slope. The slope data is then used to determine the mass of the vehicle at that time. Pervious techniques to calculate mass did not factor in slope, and thus are not accurate.
US09489277B2 Application component testing
Systems and methods described here include embodiments for generating component test code for use in an application test generation program used to test an application under test. Certain embodiments include a computer server running the application test generation program with an integrated custom engine and function libraries, the custom engine configured to allow a user to define a component, allow the user to select at least one application area, allow the user to define a component step for the defined component, wherein defining a component step includes, an object repository associated with the selected application area, at least one object option associated with the selected object repository, wherein the selection of the object option determines subsequent sets of object options for selection by the user, repeating, and to generate the component test code, via associations in the function libraries between component test code portions and the defined component steps.
US09489274B2 System and method for performing efficient failover and virtual machine (VM) migration in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
Certain aspects direct to system for performing efficient failover and virtual machine (VM) migration in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). The system includes a plurality of computing devices functioning as nodes, and a virtual desktop controller. The virtual desktop controller includes a processor, a memory, and a storage device storing computer executable code. The code, when executed at the processor, is configured to configure the computing devices as a failover cluster of the system; assign one computing device as an active node; assign each of the other computing devices as a passive node, and configure a clustered shared volume (CSV) of physical disks as backup nodes of the active node; and monitor the computing devices of the failover cluster. When the active node of the failover cluster fails, the executed code configures assigns one of the passive node of the failover cluster as a new active node.
US09489257B2 Correcting soft reliability measures of storage values read from memory cells
A method for data storage includes reading storage values, which represent stored data, from a group of memory cells using read thresholds, and deriving respective soft reliability metrics for the storage values. The storage values are classified into two or more subgroups based on a predefined classification criterion. Independently within each subgroup, a subgroup-specific distribution of the storage values in the subgroup is estimated, and the soft reliability metrics of the storage values in the subgroup are corrected based on the subgroup-specific distribution. The stored data is decoded using the corrected soft reliability metrics.
US09489255B2 Dynamic array masking
A method, system, and/or computer program product for dynamic array masking is provided. Dynamic array masking includes, during execution of computer instructions that access a cache memory, detecting an error condition in a portion of the cache memory. The portion of the cache memory contains an array macro. Dynamic array masking, during the execution of the computer instructions that access a cache memory, further includes dynamically setting mask bits to indicate the error condition in the portion of the cache memory and preventing subsequent writes to the portion of the cache memory in accordance with the dynamically set mask bits. Embodiments also include evicting cache entries from the portion of the cache memory. This evicting can include performing a cache purge operation for the cache entries corresponding to the dynamically set mask bits.
US09489248B2 Method, apparatus and system for acquiring input events
A method, apparatus and system for acquiring an input event in a computer system comprising different priorities for processes are provided, the method comprising: executing a servant process and a master process, wherein the servant process comprises a higher priority than the master process and an input event list; and upon the servant process acquiring an input event and determining that the input event is in the input event list, the servant process transmitting the input event to the master process. A servant process with a high priority is used to acquire input events, which facilitates the operation of other processes and enhances process execution efficiency.
US09489244B2 Seamless virtual machine recall in a data storage system
The data storage system according to certain aspects can manage the archiving of virtual machines to (and restoring of virtual machines from) secondary storage. The system may archive virtual machines (VMs) that are determined to have a low level of utilization. The system may create a virtual machine placeholder for an archived VM, which may be a “light” or minimal version of the VM that acts like the actual VM. By using a VM placeholder, a VM may appear to be active and selectable by the user. When the user selects the VM, the VM placeholder can interact with the user in similar manner as the VM. Accessing the VM placeholder may trigger restore of the archived VM from secondary storage. The restore of the archived VM may be “seamless” to the user since the VM remains available while it is being restored.
US09489241B2 Guaranteed response pattern
Methods, systems and computer readable medium are presented for providing a response to a request. A request (e.g., a java request) is received by a computer-based system for providing a response to a request. The availability of the backend system (e.g., java dispatching system) request is analyzed in response to receiving the request. In response to a determination that the backend system is unavailable to process the request, an unavailable response is transmitted. In response to a determination that the backend system is available to process the request, the request is transmitted to a backend system to process the request.
US09489240B2 Resource management in a multi-operating environment
A method for providing user access to telephony operations in a multi operating environment having memory resources nearly depleted that include determining whether a predetermined first memory threshold of a computing environment has been reached and displaying a user interface corresponding to memory usage; and determining whether a predetermined second memory threshold, greater than the first, of the computing environment has been reached. Restricting computing functionality and allowing user access for telephony operations, corresponding to a mobile device, when the second memory threshold is reached is included as well. Also included is maintaining the computing restriction until the memory usage returns below the second memory threshold.
US09489239B2 Systems and methods to manage tiered cache data storage
Systems and methods for managing records stored in a storage cache are provided. A cache index is created and maintained to track where records are stored in buckets in the storage cache. The cache index maps the memory locations of the cached records to the buckets in the cache storage and can be quickly traversed by a metadata manager to determine whether a requested record can be retrieved from the cache storage. Bucket addresses stored in the cache index include a generation number of the bucket that is used to determine whether the cached record is stale. The generation number allows a bucket manager to evict buckets in the cache without having to update the bucket addresses stored in the cache index. Further, the bucket manager is tiered thus allowing efficient use of differing filter functions and even different types of memories as may be desired in a given implementation.
US09489235B2 Request processing system, method and program product
A processing method has been claimed for reducing the average wait time of requests in a queue in a system environment where garbage collection may occur. In the method, a computer system treats as a unit each request in a queue and a completion time of garbage collection that may occur at the time of processing the request, and processes requests preferentially and systematically in ascending order of the processing times of the units including the garbage collection times, thereby, reducing the average wait time of the requests. While, the computer system managing the queue knows the remaining amount of heap just before processing a certain request, the computer system statistically calculates in advance the amounts of heap to be consumed on a request type basis and holds the values. Accordingly, before processing a certain request, the computer system can predict whether or not the processing of the request will cause garbage collection, in consideration of the estimated heap consumption of the request and the remaining amount of heap in the memory.
US09489231B2 Selecting provisioning targets for new virtual machine instances
One embodiment of a system for provisioning a new virtual machine instance on a target host based on an image of the new virtual machine instance includes a local storage for storing images of virtual machine instances currently running on the target host and a virtual machine creator coupled to the local storage for constructing the image of the new virtual machine instance at least in part using the images of virtual machine instances currently running on the target host.
US09489226B2 Systems and methods to manage write commands in a cache
When a virtual machine sends a write command to a host operating system, a cache system stores the record included in the write command and later sends the write command to a storage system. Systems and methods store an indication of when the write command was received along with the received records in the cache. The cache system determines an order of the records from the indication. In some instances, records received at the same time are serialized and/or assigned record numbers. The simultaneously received records can be assigned a batch number. According to the determined order, the records are retrieved from the cache memory and included in write commands sent to the storage system. In some instances, checkpoints can be stored to prevent records from being re-sent to the storage system following a failure.
US09489221B2 Matching based pattern inference for SMT solvers
A method for automatically analyzing formulas and adding pattern annotations to quantifiers based on a database of common pattern idioms. The method involves matching base pattern inference for Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solvers. The method uses a database for fault detection in externally supplied pattern annotated formulas. The method also uses matching code trees to mixed second-order pattern matching.
US09489211B2 Exposing memory-mapped IO devices to drivers through firmware
A mapping table is passed to system software upon loading of the system software in a computer system. The mapping table is generated from a user-defined configuration file and maps device identifiers of various devices implemented in the computer system, as assigned by the device manufacturers, to device identifiers that are recognizable by the system software. The mapping is used by the system software when it performs binding of device drivers to devices so that devices that have been given generic and sometimes obscure names by the device manufacturers can still be associated with and bound to device drivers loaded by the system software.
US09489207B2 Processor and method for partially flushing a dispatched instruction group including a mispredicted branch
Mechanisms are provided for partial flush handling with multiple branches per instruction group. The instruction fetch unit sorts instructions into groups. A group may include a floating branch instruction and a boundary branch instruction. For each group of instructions, the instruction sequencing unit creates an entry in a global completion table (GCT), which may also be referred to herein as a group completion table. The instruction sequencing unit uses the GCT to manage completion of instructions within each outstanding group. Because each group may include up to two branches, the instruction sequencing unit may dispatch instructions beyond the first branch, i.e. the floating branch. Therefore, if the floating branch results in a misprediction, the processor performs a partial flush of that group, as well as a flush of every group younger than that group.
US09489206B2 Dependent instruction suppression
A method includes suppressing execution of at least one dependent instruction of a first instruction by a processor responsive to an invalid status of an ancestor load instruction associated with the first instruction. A processor includes an instruction pipeline having an execution unit to execute instructions, a load store unit for retrieving data from a memory hierarchy, and a scheduler unit. The scheduler unit selects for execution in the execution unit a first load instruction having at least one dependent instruction linked to the first load instruction for data forwarding from the load store unit and suppresses execution of a second dependent instruction of the first dependent instruction responsive to an invalid status of the first load instruction.
US09489204B2 Method and apparatus for precalculating a direct branch partial target address during a misprediction correction process
An example method of storing a partial target address in an instruction cache includes receiving a branch instruction. The method also includes predicting a direction of the branch instruction as being not taken. The method further includes calculating a destination address based on executing the branch instruction. The method also includes determining a partial target address using the destination address. The method further includes in response to the predicted direction of the branch instruction changing from not taken to taken, replacing an offset in an instruction cache with the partial target address.
US09489200B2 Method and apparatus for asynchronous processor with fast and slow mode
A clock-less asynchronous processing circuit or system is configured to operation in a plurality of modes. In an initialization mode (e.g., reset, initialization, boot up), a self-clocked generator associated with the asynchronous circuit is configured to generate an active complete signal (to latch output processed data) within a first period of time after receiving a trigger signal. In a normal mode, the self-clocked generator is configured to generate the active complete signal within a second period of time after receiving the trigger signal. In one embodiment, during the initialization mode, the asynchronous circuit latches the output slower than when in the normal mode.
US09489197B2 Highly efficient different precision complex multiply accumulate to enhance chip rate functionality in DSSS cellular systems
This invention is a digital signal processor capable of performing correlation of data with pseudo noise for code division multiple access (CDMA) decoding using clusters. Each cluster includes plural multipliers. The multipliers multiply real and imaginary parts of packed data by corresponding pseudo noise data. Within a cluster the real parts and the imaginary parts of the products are summed separately. This forms plural complex number outputs equal in number to the number of clusters. The pseudo noise data is offset relative to the data input differing amounts for different clusters. The clusters are divided into first half clusters receiving data from even numbered slots and second half clusters receiving data from odd numbered slots. The correlation unit includes a mask input to selectively zero a multiplier product.
US09489193B2 Method and system for providing software updates to local machines
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a updating software in a plurality of devices coupled to one another in a communicating relationship through a local network, the method comprising receiving a descriptor file for a software update at the first device from a remote source outside the local network, the descriptor file including a hash code for each of a plurality of update sub-files and an order for assembling the update sub-files into the software update, downloading the plurality of update sub-files to the first device from a remote source outside the local network until the sub-files identified in the descriptor file are present on the first device, where a presence of the sub-files is evaluated using the hash codes in the descriptor file, and broadcasting every one of the plurality of update sub-files from the first device to the number of other devices.
US09489181B2 Correlation analysis of program structures
System and method for performing correlation analysis. A program that includes multiple program structures and one or more data objects is stored. Each data object is shared by at least two of the program structures. For each program structure, decomposition effects on each of the data objects shared by the program structure resulting from each of a respective one or more optimizing transforms applied to the program structure are analyzed. One or more groups of correlated structures are determined based on the analyzing. Each group includes two or more program structures that share at least one data object, and at least one optimizing transform that is compatible with respect to the two or more program structures and the shared data object. For at least one group, the at least one optimizing transform is usable to transform the two or more program structures to meet a specified optimization objective.
US09489180B1 Methods and apparatus for joint scheduling and layout optimization to enable multi-level vectorization
Methods, apparatus and computer software product for source code optimization are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a first custom computing apparatus is used to optimize the execution of source code on a second computing apparatus. In this embodiment, the first custom computing apparatus contains a memory, a storage medium and at least one processor with at least one multi-stage execution unit. The second computing apparatus contains at least one vector execution unit that allow for parallel execution of tasks on constant-strided memory locations. The first custom computing apparatus optimizes the code for parallelism, locality of operations, constant-strided memory accesses and vectorized execution on the second computing apparatus. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.
US09489177B2 Methods for integrating and managing one or more features in an application and systems thereof
A method, computer readable medium, and system for integrating and managing one or more features in an application includes obtaining data from at least one application provider system with at least one application and from one or more feature provider systems with one or more features. The obtained data is used to implement a programming interface between the syndication system and the application and the one or more features which can be integrated in the application. A selection of one or more of the features for integration in the application is received. The implementation of the programming interface between a syndication system and the application and the one or more selected features to be integrated in the application is generated. The generated implementation of the programming interface is provided to the application provider system with the application.
US09489173B2 Resizable and relocatable queue
A computing device with a queue stored in a memory of the computing device is described. The queue may be relocated and/or resized in the memory using a queue address, a queue size, a head pointer, and/or a tail pointer associated with the queue. During operation, a processor, at the request of a software entity, updates one or more values associated with the queue to relocate and/or resize the queue. In response, a write mechanism performs one or more operations to enable the use of the relocated and/or resized queue. In addition, when the queue is relocated, the processor, at the request of the software entity, performs one or more operations to process remaining valid entries in an original location of the queue.
US09489172B2 Method and apparatus for voice control user interface with discreet operating mode
An electronic device includes a voice control interface engine operative in a first mode to receive a speech command, through a microphone, from a first distance and produce, through a loudspeaker and in response to the speech command, an audible output at a first output level. One or more processors are operable with one or more sensors to detect a predefined user input. The one or more processors can then transition the voice control interface engine to a second mode operative to receive the speech command from a second distance and produce, in response to the speech command, the audible output at a second output level, where the second distance is less than the first distance and the second output level less than the first output level.
US09489163B2 System and method to provide mobile printing using near field communication
A method of mobile printing using near field communication (NFC) includes checking a version of firmware installed in an image forming apparatus; determining whether the checked version of the firmware supports Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a personal identification number (PIN); updating the firmware installed in the image forming apparatus when the checked version of the firmware does not support Wi-Fi Direct connection via automatic transmission of a PIN; encrypting and storing a PIN in an NFC tag attached to the image forming apparatus; setting a Wi-Fi Direct connection by receiving the stored PIN and automatically transmitting the PIN to the image forming apparatus by the mobile device when the mobile device is NFC-tagged to the image forming apparatus; and performing mobile printing via the Wi-Fi Direct connection.
US09489161B2 Automatic selection of web page objects for printing
A method includes receiving a request to print a current web page. A set of records that represent web pages that are similar to the current web page are identified from a print log that includes at least one record, each record including an indication of a web page and indicating one or more objects that had been previously selected for printing from that web page. Based on the objects that are indicated by the identified set of records, one or more objects of the current web page are selected to be printed on a printer.
US09489155B2 Image processing device
An image processing device accepts a user-defined code, which is a command that implements a process desired by a user and is written in the same page description language as a print job to be processed, and merges the print job to be processed and the user-defined code.
US09489154B1 System, apparatus and method for tracking and managing devices
Tools, such as systems, apparatuses and methodologies, are provided to track and manage devices in a network, based on information retrieved from network switches in the system.
US09489153B2 Print server system, method for controlling the same, and program
The present invention relates to a print server system which suitably performs control of registration of a printer in accordance with a result of a determination as to whether an environment in which the printer is used corresponds to an enterprise environment. When the printer has been registered in a print service and a proxy is an enterprise supporting proxy, the printer is not registered whereas when the printer has been registered in the print service and the proxy is not the enterprise supporting proxy, multiple registration of the printer is performed by redundantly storing information on the printer.
US09489148B2 Selecting between non-volatile memory units having different minimum addressable data unit sizes
An apparatus includes a controller capable of being coupled to a host interface and a memory device. The memory device includes two or more non-hierarchical, non-volatile memory units having different minimum addressable data unit sizes. The controller is configured to at least perform determining a workload indicator of a data object being stored in the memory device via the host interface. The controller selects one of the memory units in response to the workload indicator of the data object corresponding to the minimum addressable data unit size of the selected memory unit corresponding to the workload indicator. The data object is stored in the selected memory unit in response thereto.
US09489146B2 Memory system and method for selecting memory dies to perform memory access operations in based on memory die temperatures
A memory system and method are provided for selecting memory dies for memory access operations based on memory die temperatures. The memory system has a plurality of memory dies, where each memory die has its own temperature sensor. In one embodiment, the memory system selects which memory dies to perform memory access operations in based on the temperatures of the memory dies. In another embodiment, a controller of the memory system selects which memory dies to thermal throttle memory access operations in based on the detected temperatures. In yet another embodiment, a temperature-aware media management layer module of the memory 1 system routes a memory access operation from a first memory die to a second memory die based on the temperatures of the memory dies.
US09489145B2 Disk drive including I-regions having configurable final logical block addresses
A disk drive includes a controller and at least one disk, which may include a first I-region, a second I-region, and an E-region. The first and second I-region may have a first final logical block address (LBA) and a second final LBA, respectively. The controller may be configured to cause information to be written to the first I-region and the second I-region using a first type and a second type of magnetic recording, respectively. The controller also may be configured to set at least one of the first final LBA or the second final LBA to a final LBA value higher than the at least one of the first final LBA or the second final LBA, respectively, after writing user data to at least a portion of the first I-region or the second I-region and without removing the user data.
US09489142B2 Transactional memory operations with read-only atomicity
Execution of a transaction mode setting instruction causes a computer processor to be in an atomic read-only mode ignoring conflicts to certain write-sets of a transaction during transactional execution. Read-set conflicts may still cause a transactional abort. Absent any aborting, the transaction's execution may complete, by committing transactional stores to memory and updating architecture states.
US09489140B2 Exposing proprietary data to a hypervisor as native hypervisor data
Exposing proprietary data to a hypervisor as native hypervisor data. In one example embodiment, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media store one or more programs that are configured, when executed, to cause one or more processors to perform a method of exposing proprietary data to a hypervisor as native hypervisor data. The method may include identifying a proprietary disk file having a proprietary file format, identifying a plugin file corresponding to the proprietary disk file with the plugin file having a plugin file format which is different from a native hypervisor disk file format, and intercepting read requests directed to the plugin file. The method may further include, in response to each read request, gathering data gathered from the proprietary disk file, restructuring the data to cause the data to appear to be gathered from a native hypervisor disk file, and responding with the restructured data.
US09489126B2 Portable terminal device using touch pen and handwriting input method thereof
A portable terminal device using a touch pen and a handwriting input method thereof are provided. The handwriting input method of the portable terminal device using a touch pen includes displaying an execution screen of an application on a touch screen in response to the application being executed, overlapping a handwriting input layer, which is configured for a handwriting input, with the execution screen, inputting a handwriting image on an area of the handwriting input layer using the touch pen, determining a data type for recognizing the input handwriting image in consideration of an attribute of the area corresponding to a position in which the handwriting image has been input on the execution screen, and recognizing the input handwriting image as the determined data type, and applying a recognized result of the determined data type to the application.
US09489116B2 Method and apparatus for establishing user-specific windows on a multi-user interactive table
The present invention is directed toward a method and apparatus in which one or more user specific windows may be launched within a single computing session executed and displayed on the display of an interactive table. More specifically, the present invention is directed toward detecting the position of one or more users around an interactive table and generating one or more user-specific windows proximate to one or more user/s on the display of the interactive table within a single session.
US09489112B2 Recommended news edition on a map using geo entities
Described embodiments enable the presentation to a user of news articles or other content that is of likely interest to a user and that is geographically relevant to the user's location or region of interest. A news delivery system includes an ingest module that assigns topics and locations to available content, a profile engine that determines profile topics and geographic locations that a particular user finds relevant, and a news delivery module that selects content for the user based on the operation of the ingest module and the profile engine. In one embodiment, the profile engine performs decay processing to remove stale topics and locations from a user's profile. In related aspects, the profile engine maintains multiple profiles for the user.
US09489103B2 Techniques for optimizing stringing of solar panel modules
Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for performing design automation on a mobile computer system. In one example embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising storing design automation data on a mobile device, displaying a plurality of design automation process steps to a user, the plurality of design automation process steps guiding the user through a design automation process for a project, receiving design automation input data from the user in the mobile device for a plurality of the design automation process steps, executing one or more data processing algorithms specific to at least one of the design automation process steps, and generating output data for the design project.
US09489101B2 Touch panel and touch device with the same
A touch panel includes a substrate; and a sensing electrode with a conductive pattern on the substrate, wherein the sensing electrode includes: an electrode layer; and a first buffer layer on the electrode layer.
US09489095B2 Liquid crystal display device
A display device includes a display panel including a first surface, a second surface opposed to the first surface, and a side surface extending between the first surface and second surface, a frame fixed to the first surface of the display panel by a double-sided tape, and a capacitive touch panel adhered to the second surface of the display panel. The frame includes a first portion opposed to the first surface of the display panel, and a second portion surrounding the side surface of the display panel and opposed to a rear surface of the capacitive touch panel. The capacitive touch panel has a protruding end portion which protrudes beyond one end of the display panel. The protruding end portion overlaps the second portion of the frame, and a gap is delimited between the protruding end portion and the second portion of the frame.
US09489093B2 Capacitive sensing apparatus and methods
One or more waveform generators impose an input waveform across touch sensor components. Phase shift detection logic measures a phase shift between the input waveform and an output waveform component associated with each waveform generator appearing across a touch sensor component. Amplitude ratio detection logic measures an output-to-input waveform magnitude ratio associated with each waveform generator. Translator logic converts the phase shift(s) and optionally the output-to-input waveform magnitude ratio(s) to capacitance values. Validation logic compares the resulting capacitance values to each other to determine consistency and validity during a particular waveform sampling time. The phase shift detection logic and the amplitude ratio detection logic are optionally implemented with discrete Fourier transform logic which includes narrow-band filtering to exclude electromagnetic interference frequency components from touch sensor signal measurements.
US09489090B2 Capacitive touch panel and a method of manufacturing the same
The present invention relates to a touch technology and provides a capacitive touch panel which has low-visibility metal jumper. The touch panel comprises of a transparent substrate and at least one metal juniper. A mask layer, reflectance of which is lower than that of the metal jumper, is set between the metal jumper and the transparent substrate to block the light reflected by the metal jumper. The mask layer can reduce light reflection of the metal jumper so as to reduce visibility of the metal jumper.
US09489077B2 Optical touch panel system, optical sensing module, and operation method thereof
The present invention discloses an optical touch panel system, an optical sensing module, and an operation method using for the same system. The system recognizes a track of an object moving on or above a touch control surface to determine a corresponding gesture function; it includes a touch control surface, at least one image sensor, and a processor. The touch control surface includes at least two touch control areas. The image sensor captures a plurality of continuous pictures including the images of the objects. The processer determines which touch control area the object is moving on or above according to a starting position or a path of the track, and executes a gesture function corresponding to the track and the touch control area.
US09489075B2 Display apparatus, display system, and display method
A client can return a display state of an object to the past. When a point body moves on a screen, a projector draws an object of a line representing a moving trajectory. The projector generates object data representing the object and transmits the generated object data to tablet terminals. The object data contains order information representing generation order of the object. The tablet terminals display the object represented by the transmitted object data on a touch panel. When performing an operation for returning the display, the tablet terminals return the display by object unit based on the order information contained in the object data.
US09489073B2 Multi-point contacts with pressure data on an interactive surface
There is disclosed a method and apparatus for controlling a software application running on a computer system including an interactive display adapted to detect at least two contact points on the surface of the interactive display, the method comprising: detecting at least two contact points; determining pressure data associated with at least one of said contact points; and defining a condition of the software application in dependence on said detected at least two contact points and said at least one determined pressure value.
US09489071B2 Electronic apparatus and data transmission system
An electronic apparatus is cooperated with an operation apparatus and includes a display panel and a transceiver module. The display panel has at least one electrode. The transceiver module has a transmission unit and a receiving unit. The information exchange between the electronic apparatus and the operation apparatus is performed by at least one of the following ways: the operation apparatus couples and receives a first data transmitted from the electrode, the transmission unit delivers a second data from the electronic apparatus to the operation apparatus, and the receiving unit receives a third data transmitted from the operation apparatus. A data transmitting system is also disclosed. Accordingly, a near field wireless data transmission, which can be applied to not only the near field transmission of data or file but also the far distance data transmission by cooperating with the current communication transmission system, is provided.
US09489069B2 Method for controlling display scrolling and zooming and an electronic device thereof
A method and apparatus for zooming in/out and displaying display information in an electronic device are provided. The method includes detecting an angle according to a touch movement and zooming in/out display information based on the angle according to the touch movement.
US09489067B2 Scalable touchscreen processing with realtime role negotiation among asymmetric processing cores
A method for determining touch input data complexity and negotiating the processing of touch inputs from a touchscreen controller to a host processor. As touch input data is received from a touchscreen, the data may be evaluated by the touchscreen controller to determine the data's complexity. When the touchscreen controller determines the received touch input data is too complex for touchscreen controller processing, the host processor may be requested to process the data. The touchscreen controller may resume processing touch input data based on low complexity or host processor availability. Complexity may be determined based on evaluations of the number and frequency of touch inputs. Additionally, the touch input data may be evaluated to determine whether it represents multi-touch input. In an aspect, the touchscreen controller may disregard received touch input data determined to be noise.
US09489065B2 Safety driving system of display device and safety driving method of display device
A safety driving system of a display device includes a display panel including at least one conductive detection line, the conductive detection line extending in a predetermined area of the display panel and being configured to detect voltage variation according to damage in the predetermined area, a panel detector configured to apply a reference voltage to one end of the detection line, to receive an output voltage corresponding to the reference voltage through the detection line from another end of the detection line, to compare the received output voltage with a predetermined normal voltage range, and to generate and output a detection result signal, and a controller configured to provide a detection set value for driving the panel detector and to interrupt the driving of the display panel when the output detection result signal indicates that the display panel is damaged.
US09489040B2 Interactive input system having a 3D input space
An interactive input system comprises computing structure; and an input device detecting at least one physical object carrying a recognizable pattern within a three-dimensional (3D) input space and providing output to the computing structure, wherein the computing structure processes the output of the input device to: recognize the pattern carried by the at least one physical object in the 3D input space; and modify an image presented on a display surface by applying a transition to digital content associated with the at least one physical object based on a detected state of the at least one physical object.
US09489034B2 Method and apparatus for controlling operation voltage of processor core, and processor system including the same
A method and an apparatus for controlling an operation voltage of a processor core and a processor system including the same are provided. The apparatus for controlling an operation voltage of a processor core includes a voltage supplier and an operation voltage searching core. The voltage supplier supplies the operation voltage to the processor core. The operation voltage searching core requests the processor core to execute a program, and controls the operation voltage based on whether the program has been normally operated.
US09489023B1 Secure wake on LAN with white list
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with secure Wake on LAN with white list are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes memory and sleep manager logic. The memory is configured to store a white list. The white list includes credentials for entities that are authorized to wake a host device from a power-saving sleep mode. The sleep manager logic is configured to receive, from a requesting entity, a request to wake the host device and determine if credentials for the requesting entity are on the white list. The sleep manager logic is configured to wake the host device when credentials for the requesting entity are on the white list and refrain from waking the host device when credentials for the requesting entity are not on the white list.
US09489021B2 Insertion and extraction structure with inclined surfaces of card-shaped component and electronic apparatus including the same
An insertion and extraction structure of a card-shaped component includes a slot receiving a card-shaped component in an insertable and extractable manner. The slot has a first surface slidably guiding one surface of the card-shaped component and a second surface located opposite the first surface and slidably guiding the other surface of the card-shaped component. The insertion and extraction structure of a card-shaped component further includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface. The first inclined surface projects from the first surface while being inclined in an extraction direction of the card-shaped component. The second inclined surface is located apart from the first inclined surface in the extraction direction and, with one end portion of the card-shaped component yet to be completely extracted from the slot, abuts the other end portion of the card-shaped component. The second inclined surface is steeper than the first inclined surface.
US09489018B2 Input detection system for a portable electronic device
A proximity input detection system for an electronic device. In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes an inductive field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field when an input device with a coil is within a threshold distance. In another embodiment, the present invention utilizes a capacitive sensor which can locate the position of an electrically conductive object which is within a threshold distance. The capacitive sensor can also be used, for example, as a switch to activate the device if a user picks it up. The present invention allows user inputs to be detected without actually touching the electronic device. The present invention can also be used to detect inputs through intervening non-metallic layers such as a protective cover or another display of the device without using additional input sensors.
US09489014B2 Foldable display device
A foldable display device is provided. The device includes a top cover body and a transflective assembly rotatably connected to the top cover body. The device also includes a bottom cover body rotatably connected to the transflective assembly. Further, the device includes a viewing angle adjustment mechanism set on the bottom cover body and configured to expand and collapse with respect to the bottom cover body, wherein the top cover body, the transflective assembly, and the bottom cover body are configured to expand spatially to form a viewing angle when the foldable display device is in an open state, and the viewing angle adjustment mechanism is configured to expand with respect to the bottom cover body to adjust the viewing angle when the foldable display device is in a viewing angle adjustable state and to support the foldable display device when the foldable display device is in the open state.
US09489013B2 C6-azaspiro iminothiadiazine dioxides as bace inhibitors, compositions, and their use
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides certain C2-ring-substituted thiadiazine compounds, including compounds Formula (I): (structure represented) or tautomers thereof, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of said compounds and said tautomers, wherein R1, R4, ring A, RA, m, -L1-, RL, and ring C are as defined herein. The novel compounds of the invention are useful as BACE inhibitors and/or for the treatment and prevention of various pathologies related thereto. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more such compounds (alone and in combination with one or more other active agents), and methods for their preparation and use, including for the possible treatment of Alzheimer's disease, are also disclosed.
US09489009B2 System on chip, bus interface and method of operating the same
A mobile system includes a first interface configured to transmit a payload in synchronization with a first clock signal through a first channel at a first transfer rate; and a second interface that includes: a payload storage connected to the first channel and configured to receive the payload from the first channel; and a payload receiver connected to the payload storage and configured to receive the payload from the payload storage in synchronization with a second clock at a second transfer rate through a second channel. A length of the second channel is shorter than a length of the first channel, and the first clock signal is asynchronous with the second clock signal.
US09489001B2 Constant on-time or constant off-time switching power converter and control circuit thereof
A constant ON-time or constant OFF-time switching power converter includes a control circuit for controlling a power switch. The control circuit includes: a constant ON-time or constant OFF-time calculation circuit, for calculating a constant ON-time or constant OFF-time; a logic circuit having inputs for receiving an output of the constant ON-time or constant OFF-time calculation circuit and a clock signal, respectively, wherein the clock signal has a frequency which is the desired fixed frequency; and a flip-flop for generating an output signal according to a set input and a reset input, wherein one of the set input and the reset input receives an output of the logic circuit, and the other one of the set input and the reset input receives a trigger signal which determines a start time of the ON-time or OFF-time.
US09488994B2 Method and system for configuring wireless sensors in an HVAC system
An HVAC controller for controlling an HVAC system may be configured to enroll one or more wireless devices, and once one or more wireless devices are enrolled, to prompt the user to enter an identifier, a location, a device type and/or a function for one or more of the enrolled wireless devices. The HVAC controller may use the identifier, location and/or device type to identify each of the enrolled devices. This may facilitate a user in selecting various sensors to participate in sensor averaging, identifying where certain sensor data is originating, identifying devices having a low battery condition, as well as performing other tasks as desired.
US09488991B2 Fan control system for shipping container
A fan control system includes an AC power supply, a fan module, a switch control module, a switch unit, and a control module. The control module includes a number of outputs. The switch unit includes a number of switches. The switch control module includes a number of relays. The control module outputs a high voltage or a low voltage to control the number of relays via the number of switches to change a rotating speed of the fan module.
US09488985B2 Method for constructing air-observed terrain data by using rotary wing structure
A method for constructing air-observed terrain data by using a rotary wing structure includes setting flight information including a photographing starting location and a photographing ending location on the basis of a flight route and a photographing location of the rotary wing structure; transmitting, to the rotary wing structure, the flight information so as to store the flight information in a flight control unit; capturing a ground image by a photographing unit of the rotary wing structure and storing the ground image in a storage unit when the rotary wing structure arrives at the photographing location; ending photographing and returning to the ground when the rotary wing structure arrives at the photographing ending location while repeatedly capturing a ground image; and constructing, by a computer in the control center, terrain data by using ground images stored in the storage unit.
US09488981B2 Method and apparatus for dynamic swarming of airborne drones for a reconfigurable array
A method, system and apparatus to detect when one or more airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) are close to each other, and to take necessary actions to maintain a minimum distance between drones as well as a maximum distance among the drones in a dynamic environment by automatic navigation. A computer method and apparatus for holding a group of drones in a swarm formation by maintaining the group centroid of the group of drones within a tolerance of a predetermined location is also disclosed. Additionally, methods to move a swarm of drones along a predetermined path while maintaining the swarm formation of the drones is also disclosed.
US09488975B2 Methods and media for lot dispatch priority
Methods and media for prioritizing dispatch during semiconductor manufacturing are provided. A method of prioritizing dispatch of a lot during semiconductor fabrication includes calculating a lot level goal and prioritizing dispatch of the lot based on the lot level goal. Calculating the lot level goal for processing time of the lot includes calculating the lot level goal based on a normal goal in response to a lack of delay in processing the lot or in response to a recovered delay in processing the lot. Calculating the lot level goal further includes calculating the lot level goal based on a vectored goal in response to a delay in processing the lot and based at least in part on a predetermined time in which to reduce the normal goal to recover from a delay in processing the lot.
US09488967B2 Configuring building energy management systems using knowledge encoded in building management system points lists
Techniques for configuring a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) using knowledge encoded in BMS point lists are provided. In one aspect, a method for configuring a BEMS of a site is provided. The method includes the following steps. A knowledge base is derived from subject matter expertise. The knowledge base is used to extract one or more building characteristics from a point list of a building management system (BMS) that are not directly available from the BMS point list. The BEMS is configured using the one or more building characteristics extracted from the BMS point list.
US09488956B2 Image forming apparatus having drawer
An image forming apparatus has a drawer accommodating a plurality of photosensitive drums. The photosensitive drums are arranged in an arrangement direction. A supporting member is configured to support the drawer, inside the casing, such that the drawer is movable, in the arrangement direction, between an accommodated position and an exposed position at which the drawer is partially protruded outside the casing. A belt is arranged to convey the sheet, and has a stretched surface extending in the arrangement direction and facing the photosensitive drums. A registration roller pair serves to adjust an orientation of the sheet conveyed from the sheet feed tray and conveys the sheet through a nip between the first registration roller and the second registration roller toward the stretched surface of the belt. The registration roller pair is integrally secured to the drawer so as to be movable in the arrangement direction together with the drawer.
US09488949B2 Image forming apparatus
An image forming apparatus, includes an image forming section that forms an image layer on a recording medium by supplying and fixing a toner based on image information, a winding section that winds the recording medium on which the image layer is formed by the image forming section, an extraction section that extracts step portion which is formed at end portion of the image layer based on the image information, and an adjustment layer forming section that forms an adjustment layer which suppresses the step portion that is extracted by the extraction section on the recording medium.
US09488947B2 Method and system for managing field convertible customer replaceable components
A method and system for managing field convertible operator replaceable components associated with a rendering device. A file that defines a set of operator replaceable components can be created and remotely installed on the device. The replaceable components associated with the device can be easily changed from a designation as a customer service engineer replacement component to an operator replacement component and vice versa. A determination that an operator is allowed to replace the component can be made based on a training level provided to the operator, the component availability, a usage pattern, and/or a security level. Such an approach enables the operator to perform the majority of maintenance on the device without requiring the services of a field engineer.
US09488933B2 Sheet conveying device and image forming apparatus
A sheet conveying device includes: a curved conveyance path; and a pair of downstream side rollers that lies on the downstream side with respect to the curved conveyance path, and catches the sheet conveyed from the upstream side with respect to the curved conveyance path and reaching the curved conveyance path, wherein the curved conveyance path includes a movable guide movable between a first position and a second position, at the first position, the movable guide forms an outer circumferential wall of the curved conveyance path, and guides a tip of the sheet in such a direction that the sheet conveyed to the curved conveyance path travels toward the pair of downstream side rollers, and at the second position, a summit portion of a curve of the outer circumferential wall is retracted toward the outside in a radial direction of the curve with respect to the first position.
US09488932B1 Method and system for converting a toner cartridge printer to a white, clear, or fluorescent toner printer
A method and system for converting a toner cartridge printer to a white, clear or fluorescent toner printer. The method may comprise the steps of: providing a printer having one or more toner printing cartridges; removing at least one of the one or more toner printing cartridges; providing one or more white, clear, or fluorescent toner printing cartridges; installing one or more white, clear, or fluorescent toner printing cartridges into the printer; using raster image processor software for printing cartridge remapping; and printing one or more toner print layers using the installed white, clear, or florescent toner printing cartridges in one pass.
US09488929B2 Image forming unit and image forming apparatus
An image forming unit suppressing occurrences of jitters, includes an image carrier rotating by drive force transmitted via a first route to form an electrostatic latent image, and a developer carrier having an elastic layer carrying a developer on a surface thereof and rotating by drive force transmitted via a second route to develop the electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is developed with the developer under a development condition that, with the elastic layer of a thickness from 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm, the developer carrier is rotated with a circumferential speed ratio to the image carrier in a range from 1.10 to 1.45, or that, with the elastic layer of a thickness more than 2.5 mm but not more than 5.0 mm, the developer carrier is rotated with a circumferential speed ratio to the image carrier in a range from 1.10 to 1.24.
US09488917B2 Mask and fabrication method thereof, and method of patterning by using mask
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mask and a fabrication method thereof, and a method of patterning by using a mask. The mask comprises: a first substrate and a second substrate disposed oppositely; a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate and the second substrate; a transparent conductive layer formed on the first substrate, the transparent conductive layer and the liquid crystal layer being located on a same side of the first substrate; and a mask pattern made of a non-transparent conductive material formed on the second substrate, wherein the mask pattern and the transparent electrode are configured to be capable of generating an electric field therebetween, so as to drive liquid crystal molecules in the liquid crystal layer to deflect.
US09488915B2 Reagent for enhancing generation of chemical species
A reagent that enhances acid generation of a photoacid generator and composition containing such reagent is disclosed. Described is a reagent that generates a first chemical species in at least one of a composition including the reagent, a solution of the composition, and a film formed of the composition. Further described is a reagent that generates a first product in at least one of a composition including the reagent, a solution of the composition, and a film formed of the composition.
US09488902B2 Illuminator and projector
An illuminator includes a (solid-state light source array) including a plurality of solid-state light sources, a light collecting system that collects light from the solid-state light source group at a predetermined light collection position, a collimator system disposed on the opposite side of the light collection position to the light collecting system and substantially parallelizing light from the light collecting system, and an integrator system that homogenizes the in-plane light intensity distribution of light from the collimator system. The illuminator further includes a transmissive diffusing unit that is disposed in the vicinity of the light collection position and transmits the light from the light collecting system while diffusing the light from the light collecting system.
US09488894B2 Electronic ink display device and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing an electronic ink display device is provided, which includes the steps of: forming an electronic ink layer on an driving substrate; forming a front protective layer and a back protective layer covering outside of the electronic ink layer and outside of the driving substrate separately, in which a dimension of the front protective layer is greater than that of the back protective layer; and filling an sealant covering and surrounding sidewall of the electronic ink layer and sidewall of the driving substrate. An electronic ink display device is also provided.
US09488892B2 Printed appliqué and method thereof
An electro-optic assembly that includes a front substrate having a first surface and a second surface substantially parallel to the first surface; a rear substrate spaced from and substantially parallel to the front substrate, and having a third surface and a fourth surface substantially parallel to the third surface; and a carrier operably connected to at least one of the front substrate and the rear substrate. Further, the electro-optic assembly includes an appliqué layer directly on at least a first portion of the fourth surface and having an opening over a second portion of the fourth surface; and an assembly component that is coupled to the carrier, behind the fourth surface and substantially coincident with the opening. The portions of the fourth surface are in a transmissive region of the rear substrate, and the front and rear substrates define a cavity at least partially filled with an electro-optic material.
US09488887B2 Display device
On a first substrate for a display device, gate lines, data lines, pixel electrodes, a common electrode, thin film transistors, connection wirings that correspond to the data lines, respectively, and are connected to a data line driving circuit, protection circuits, and a control line connected to the protection circuits are formed. The data lines are electrically connected to the connection wirings via the protection circuits. The connection wirings are formed in the same layer as the gate lines. The control lines is formed of the same material as that of the common electrode, and then, receives a common voltage.
US09488885B2 Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode including a first pattern inclined at first and second angles with respect to a center line and a second substrate including a common electrode including a second pattern alternately arranged with the first pattern. The first angle is about +35 degrees to about +45 degrees and the second angle is about −35 degrees to about −45 degrees.
US09488879B2 Liquid crystal lens panel and display apparatus having the same
A liquid crystal lens panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The first substrate includes a first base substrate and a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the first base substrate. The second substrate includes a second base substrate disposed to face the first base substrate, the second substrate further including a plurality of second electrodes disposed on the second base substrate. Each of the first base substrate and the second base substrate are rectilinearly shaped to comprise corresponding first sides and second sides, the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes are inclined with respect to the corresponding first sides or second sides, and the plurality of first electrodes comprise a first inclination angle different from a second inclination angle associated with the plurality of second electrodes.
US09488875B2 Method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device
An LCD device and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed, the method including preparing a liquid crystal cell including: a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second substrates, and a sealant surrounding the liquid crystal layer and having a predetermined portion corresponding a cutting line; forming an inlet for the inflow and outflow of liquid crystal in the sealant; regulating the amount of liquid crystal through the inlet; and sealing the inlet.
US09488874B2 Liquid crystal display
Provided is a liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display comprises a substrate having a plurality of pixel areas; a first electrode on the substrate in each of the pixel areas; a fine space layer positioned on the first electrode; a roof layer defining the fine space layer between the substrate and the roof layer and including a liquid crystal injection port; a second electrode on a bottom surface of the roof layer; and a supporter on the liquid crystal injection port and divided into a plurality of portions to define a filling space.
US09488873B2 Substrate and display device
The present disclosure provides a substrate and a display device. The substrate is an array substrate or a color filter substrate of a display panel. The substrate includes at least one spacer-supporting region. The spacer-supporting region includes a recess configured to support a spacer. By the presence of the recess configured to support a spacer in the spacer-supporting region, an upper of the spacer abuts within the recess. When the display panel is squeezed, the upper of the spacer does not move, thereby ensuring a uniform cell gap of the display panel and improving quality of products.
US09488867B2 Liquid crystal display device
Pixels of a liquid crystal display device have a polygonal shape long in the longitudinal direction. The pixel is divided into two by a center line, and is line-symmetric with respect to the center line. Pixel electrodes are divided line-symmetrically with respect to the center line. Streaks are formed on the surfaces of the pixel electrodes. Common electrodes are divided line-symmetrically with respect to the center line. Positions of the common electrodes in the lateral direction shift from the pixel electrodes in directions apart from the center line. A film gives a pretilt angle to liquid crystal molecules to tilt the lengthwise direction of the liquid crystal molecules from the vertical direction in the directions in which the common electrodes shift from the pixel electrodes.
US09488854B1 High-speed optical phase-shifting apparatus
An optical phase shifter includes an optical waveguide, a plurality of partial phase shifting elements arranged sequentially, and control circuitry electrically coupled to the partial phase shifting elements. The control circuitry is adapted to provide an activating signal to each of the N partial phase shifting elements such that the signal is delayed by a clock cycle between adjacent partial phase shifting elements in the sequence. The transit time for a guided optical pulse train between the input edges of consecutive partial phase shifting elements in the sequence is arranged to be equal to a clock cycle, thereby enabling pipelined processing of the optical pulses.
US09488851B2 Process and apparatus for making decorated eyeglasses frames
A process for making eyeglasses frames (1), where at least one front rim (2) or a pair of sidepieces (3) of the eyeglasses frame (1) is decorated, comprises the steps of decorating a film, inserting the film into the mould (4) and injection moulding the front rim (2) and/or the sidepieces (3) with the film applied to it/them; before the step of injection moulding the front rim (2) and/or the sidepieces (3), there is a step of thermoforming and trimming the film to form and shape the film according to a profile corresponding to a wall (7) of the mould (4), in such a way that the film (5) inserted in the mould is shaped like a surface of the front rim (2) and/or of the sidepieces (3) to be formed.
US09488850B2 Retention mechanism, driving apparatus, and blur correction apparatus
A retention mechanism includes a fixed part including a magnet, and a movable part opposed to the fixed part. A plurality of rolling elements are provided between the fixed part and the movable part, and the movable part is movable in a plane direction. A magnetic material which forms, in combination with the magnet, a magnetic spring is provided on the movable part. The magnetic spring generates a magnetic attraction force which attracts the movable part to the fixed part. The magnetic material is extended along a direction in which magnetic poles of the magnet are arrayed.
US09488849B2 Coherent light source device and projector
Provided are a coherent light source apparatus and a projector. A first light emission region is formed on basis of a coherent light source; a first optical system projects light derived from a first light emission region to form a second light emission region; a light deflection section deflects a bundle of rays in vicinity of the second light emission region; a second optical system downstream of the light deflection section; and a light mixing section downstream of the second optical system that mixes components of angles and positions of rays incident on an incident end. The second optical system forms an image conjugate to the first light emission region and a third light emission region substantially conjugate to an exit pupil of the first optical system. The light deflection section continues to cause a direction in which the bundle of rays is deflected to be continuously changed.
US09488846B2 Optical unit and imaging apparatus
An optical unit includes a condensing lens which condenses light from an object; a pupil splitting polarization separation element which separately outputs two linearly polarized light beams of which polarizing directions are different from the condensed light using a left eye polarization separation region and a right eye polarization separation region which are formed by having a pupil splitting line which is orthogonal to an optical axis as a border; a polarizing direction conversion element which converts polarizing directions of the two linearly polarized light beams which are output from the pupil splitting polarization separation element; and a rotation driving unit which rotates the pupil splitting polarization separation element and the polarizing direction conversion element in an optical axis rotational direction.
US09488844B2 Stereoscopic image display device
A stereoscopic image display device, including a display unit comprising a plurality of pixel units, wherein at least one of the pixel units has a short side extended in a first direction and a long side extended in a second direction different from the first direction, and an image conversion unit comprising a lenticular lens overlapped with at least two of the pixel units arranged in the first direction, wherein the lenticular lens is extended in the second direction and a first prism corresponding to the lenticular lens is arranged in the second direction.
US09488831B2 Aberration-correcting method, laser processing method using said aberration-correcting method, laser irradiation method using said aberration-correcting method, aberration-correcting device and aberration-correcting program
In an aberration-correcting method according to an embodiment of the present invention, in an aberration-correcting method for a laser irradiation device 1 which focuses a laser beam on the inside of a transparent medium 60, aberration of a laser beam is corrected so that a focal point of the laser beam is positioned within a range of aberration occurring inside the medium. This aberration range is not less than n×d and not more than n×d+Δs from an incidence plane of the medium 60, provided that the refractive index of the medium 60 is defined as n, a depth from an incidence plane of the medium 60 to the focus of the lens 50 is defined as d, and aberration caused by the medium 60 is defined as Δs.
US09488830B2 Scanning device
A scanning device includes a scan unit with a polygon mirror, pre-scan optics and post-scan optics. The pre-scan optics are arranged upstream of the polygon mirror in such a way that a beam bundle coming from the light source impinges on the polygon mirror at an angle of incidence (α) in a cross scan plane, and the optical axis of the post-scan optics is arranged in a reflection direction of the polygon mirror. Distortions, trapezoidal distortion and scan bow, occurring when imaging the light source on a scan line are minimized in that the cylindrical mirror of the post-scan optics is tilted at a first tilt angle (β) relative to the surface normals to the polygon mirror in the cross scan plane, and one of the two corrective lenses of the post-scan optics is tilted relative to the optical axis of the post-scan optics at a second tilt angle (γ) and is arranged so as to be offset by a distance.
US09488820B2 Autofocus system
An autofocus apparatus is capable of detecting the position of a sample on a microscope. The sample may consist of a specimen mounted between a microscope slide and coverslip or specimens within a well plate. The device tracks the position of a sample by identifying refractive index boundaries through Fresnel reflections. A change in refractive index can correspond to the top and bottom of a coverslip, the top of a slide, the bottom of a well plate or the bottom of a well within a well plate. Using optical coherence tomography (OCT) these reflections are used to form a depth scan of the sample which gives the positions of these surfaces relative to the objective. The device functions as an autofocus system by compensating for any variation of the position of the sample from the focal plane of the objective.
US09488817B2 Immersion objective and light microscope
An immersion objective for a light microscope with a first lens group including a first and second lenses, with a third lens arranged behind the first lens group, a first air gap between the first lens group and the third lens, with a second lens group behind the third lens and including fourth, fifth and sixth lenses, a second air gap formed the third lens and the second lens group, and a third lens group behind the second lens group including seventh, eighth and ninth lenses. Tenth, eleventh and twelfth lens are provided behind the third lens group. For correction of aberrations a fourth air gap is formed between the third lens group and the tenth lens, a fifth air gap is formed between the tenth lens and the eleventh lens and a sixth air gap is formed between the eleventh lens and the twelfth lens.
US09488811B2 Wynne-Dyson optical system with variable magnification
A 1× Wynne-Dyson optical system for microlithography having a variable magnification is disclosed. The 1× Wynne-Dyson optical system has first and second prisms, and a positive lens group that includes a split lens having first and second split lens elements that reside adjacent the first and second prisms, respectively. The first and second split lens elements are axially movable to change the magnification by up to about 500 parts per million. An adjustable positive lens group for a 1× Wynne-Dyson optical system is also disclosed, wherein the positive lens group allows for small changes in the optical system magnification.
US09488803B2 Optical image lens system
An optical image lens system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element has positive refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof, wherein at least one surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric. The sixth lens element with refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein at least one surface of the sixth lens element is aspheric, and the image-side surface of the sixth lens element has at least one inflection point thereon.
US09488795B1 Optical patch panel
Optical patch panels are disclosed. In one example, a housing module may include at least one wall arranged to present connectors for mating with optical cables. A plurality of trunk connectors may be arranged in at least one wall of the housing module, each of the trunk connectors being connectable to an optical trunk line entering the housing module. A plurality of duplex fiber connectors may be arranged in at least one wall of the housing module, the duplex fiber connectors being operable to mate with downstream networking equipment, the duplex fiber connectors being arranged in clusters, each cluster presenting a group of four pairs of duplex fiber connectors. The duplex fiber connectors in a cluster may be optically coupled to one of the plurality of trunk lines via the plurality of trunk connectors.
US09488794B2 Fiber optic strain locking arrangement and method of strain locking a cable assembly to tubing
A fiber optic strain locking arrangement includes a cable assembly having an outer radial surface, an optical fiber strain transmissively coupled to the outer radial surface, and tubing disposed at the outer radial surface. The tubing is strain locked to the outer radial surface through at least one of interference fit with granules at least partially embedded into at least one of the tubing and the outer radial surface and adhesive bonding to both the tubing and the outer radial surface.
US09488774B2 Primary optical fiber coating composition containing non-radiation curable component
An optical fiber is disclosed that includes a primary coating formed from a radiation curable composition that includes a curable cross-linker essentially free of urethane and urea functional groups, a curable diluent, and a non-radiation curable component comprising (thio)urethane and/or (thio)urea groups. The primary coating features low Young's modulus, low Tg, and high tensile strength. The optical fiber exhibits low microbend losses in wire mesh drum and basketweave tests.
US09488769B2 Surface light guide and planar emitter
A surface light guide includes a radiation exit area running along a main extension plane of the surface light guide and includes a light guiding region, which has scattering locations and a coating arranged on a first main area of the light guiding region, wherein radiation coupled in along the main extension plane impinging on the first main area after scattering at the scattering locations has an excessively increased radiation component and the coating reduces in a targeted manner an exit of the excessively increased radiation component from the radiation exit area.
US09488768B2 Optical film, surface light source device, and liquid crystal display device
An optical film according to one embodiment includes at least one stack having a plurality of basic pairs, each pair being composed of a first layer and a second layer having different refractive indices and being laminated. The number of the stacks, a difference in the refractive index between the first and second layers, and the number of the basic pairs are set such that a reflectance spectrum of the at least one stack as a whole matches a target reflectance spectrum. The target reflectance spectrum includes first and second reflectance spectrum components corresponding to first and second polarized light beams in a predetermined wavelength range, wherein each of them is a spectrum having at least one reflective peak region including a spectrum region having a reflectance of 50% or more and a wavelength width of 20 to 60 nm.
US09488767B2 LED based lighting system
An LED lighting system includes an LED assembly for emitting light when energized through an electrical path. An optic element in the enclosure receives the light emitted by the LED assembly and disperses the light from the enclosure. The optic element comprises a light guide for transmitting light from the LED assembly to a light emitting portion where the light emitting portion is configured to visually appear like a filament in a traditional bulb.
US09488765B2 Wire grid polarizer and method of fabricating the same
A wire grid polarizer includes a substrate, and a plurality of wire patterns which is arranged on the substrate at periodic intervals, where the wire patterns include first wire patterns, which are disposed on the substrate, and one or more second wire patterns, which are disposed on one or more of the first wire patterns each of the second wire patterns including at least one of a neutral pattern, a surface treatment pattern and first and second monomer block patterns.
US09488759B2 Varifocal lens
A varifocal lens including a first liquid crystal layer; a first electrode portion disposed below the first liquid crystal layer and having a flat shape; a first non-uniform electric field generator which generates a non-uniform electric field in the first liquid crystal layer together with the first electrode portion, and the first non-uniform electric field generator including a second electrode portion having a flat shape.
US09488744B2 System and method for estimating seismic anisotropy with high resolution
A system and method for estimating seismic anisotropy of subsurface formations with high resolution. A method for determining anisotropy parameters of subsurface formations includes generating a synthetic reflectivity gather from a vertical well log. Times of a surface seismic gather are adjusted to those of the synthetic gather. Low-cut filtering is applied to the surface seismic gather. Anisotropy parameters are generated as a difference of the filtered seismic gather and the synthetic gather. An anisotropy value is assigned to each of plurality of layers of a formation based on the generated anisotropy parameters.
US09488743B2 Land based unit for seismic data acquisition
A self-contained, wireless seismic data acquisition unit having a cylindrically shaped case with smooth side walls along the length of the case. A retaining ring around the circumference is used to secure the cylindrical upper portion of the case to the cylindrical lower portion of the case. Interleaved fingers on the upper portion of the case and the lower portion of the case prevent the upper portion and the lower portion from rotating relative to one another. Ruggedized external electrical contacts are physically decoupled from rigid attachment to the internal electrical components of the unit utilizing electrical pins that “float” relative to the external case and the internal circuit board on which the pins are carried. The seismic sensors in the unit, such as geophones, and the antennae for the unit are located along the major axis of the cylindrically shaped case to improve fidelity and timing functions.
US09488741B2 X-ray energy spectrum measurement method, X-ray energy spectrum measurement apparatus, and X-ray CT apparatus
Provided is an X-ray energy spectrum estimation method capable of reproducing, with high precision, information on an attenuation path to which an X-ray is irradiated, and performing, with high precision, reconstruction of an X-ray CT image by enabling high-precision estimation of spectrum of energy released from an X-ray source device. An energy spectrum estimation device (92) normalizes a response function, and calculates a modified efficiency matrix from the normalized response function, a detection efficiency matrix, and a measurement-system correction coefficient. The energy spectrum estimation device then calculates a particular result in accordance with a Bayesian estimation equation, without divergence, with use of the calculated modified efficiency matrix, the normalized modified efficiency matrix, and an attenuation characteristic curve obtained by a measurement circuit (30). The energy spectrum (92) calculates an X-ray energy spectrum by dividing, by the normalized modified efficiency matrix, the particular result obtained by the Bayesian estimation equation.
US09488734B2 Inertial navigation system using hybrid navigation via integrated loose coupling
An inertial navigation system using loose coupling hybridization of inertial measurements by utilizing measurements supplied by a satellite-positioning receiver which utilizes signals sent by a plurality of satellites distributed across at least two separate satellite subsets and calculates at least two navigation solutions, each navigation solution being calculated by means of signals sent by the satellites of one of the subsets. The inertial navigation system includes a hybridization module using each of the at least two calculated navigation solutions. A satellite failure detector is configured to compare the hybrid navigation solutions and where applicable detect incoherence between said hybrid navigation solutions. The hybridization module is configured to stop execution of hybridization following detection of incoherence between the hybrid navigation solutions when the origin of the incoherence cannot be determined.
US09488731B2 Authentication based on random bits in satellite navigation messages
A system and methods for location authentication are presented. A subset of demodulated server received navigation signals are selected synchronized to client bit frames to provide synchronized server bit frames. A function of the synchronized server bit frames is computed to provide a server signature set. A client signature set and the server signature set are compared to provide a comparison result, and a location of a client device is authenticated based on the comparison result.
US09488728B2 Digital depth readout adapter for flasher type fish finder
A depth display device for use with a flasher type fish finder system including a primary unit and a transducer assembly. The depth display device includes an enclosure, a microcontroller, a display panel, a transducer port, and an interface cable. The transducer port is configured for connection with the transducer assembly cable. The interface cable terminates at a connector configured for connection with a receptacle of the primary unit. During use, the display device establishes an electrical connection between the primary unit and the transducer cable such that drive signals generated by the primary unit are delivered to the transducer assembly, and return signals generated by the transducer are delivered to the primary unit. The microcontroller samples the transmitter and return signals to determine a depth of a body of water, and operates the display panel to display the determined depth.
US09488722B2 Time-of-flight ranging system and method with extended range
An embodiment includes a method, comprising: receiving a modulated signal having modulation; generating a first signal in response to the modulation and a first sampling signal; generating a second signal in response to the modulation and a second sampling signal; and generating a distance in response to the first signal and the second signal. A ratio of a frequency of the first sampling signal to a frequency of the second sampling signal is a rational number.
US09488710B2 MRI pulse sequence based on Q-space trajectory technique
Systems and methods capable of improving acquisition times associated with obtaining diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data are discussed. In aspects, multiple points in q-space can be sampled in a single repetition time (TR). Acquisition time can be further increased using other techniques, such as a radial raster or compressed sensing.
US09488707B2 Method for predicting resistance to heat deterioration of isoprene rubber
A method for predicting the resistance to heat deterioration of a sulfur-vulcanized isoprene rubber is disclosed. The nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of the isoprene rubber is obtained by the use of a solid state nuclear magnetic resonance method employing magic angle spinning. The spectrum of a cross-linked structure α and the spectrum of a cross-linked structure β in the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum are identified. The percentage of the cross-linked structure α and the percentage of the cross-linked structure β in the overall cross-linked structures of the sulfur are computed from the spectrum. From the computed percentages, the resistance to heat deterioration of the isoprene rubber is predicted.
US09488697B2 Fractional depletion estimation for battery condition metrics
Evaluation of a battery state comprises transforming a time based history of the load on the battery into a spectral representation of that history in a load domain, e.g., the current domain. The method also comprises comparing the spectral representation to an expected battery capability for the load represented by each line in the spectra and calculating the fraction of the expected capability used at each spectral line. The method still further comprises aggregating the calculated fractions into a total fraction that represents the estimated fraction of the expected battery capability associated with that particular time history.
US09488694B2 Load testing apparatus and coupling switch unit for load testing apparatus
A load testing apparatus includes a resistance unit configured with a plurality of resistor-groups arranged in stages, each resistor-group including an array of resistors, and a coupling switch unit including a main body, a switching unit that controls resistor-groups applied for a load test among the plurality of resistor-groups, and a first bus bar coupled to a first terminal of the switching unit and one of power source lines from a power source subjected to the load test. A terminal of the resistor of the resistor-group is coupled to a second terminal of the switching unit. The main body includes a first face and a second face vertical to the first face, the switching unit being attached to the first face, the first bus bar being attached to the second face via an insulator with a certain gap between the first bus bar and the second face. The coupling switch unit is detachably attached to the resistance unit so as the switching unit to be positioned between the first bus bar and the terminal of the resistor coupled to the switching unit via a cable.
US09488690B2 Residual material detection in backdrilled stubs
A stub of a via formed in a printed circuit board is backdrilled to a predetermined depth. A capacitance probe is positioned within the via. Then the capacitance probe is used to obtain a test capacitance measurement. The test capacitance measurement is compared to a predetermined baseline capacitance measurement. Residual conductive plating material in the backdrilled stub causes the test capacitance measurement to exceed the predetermined baseline capacitance measurement. An indication is made that the predetermined baseline capacitance measurement has been exceeded.
US09488688B2 Electric cable wear control system
A system including: a cable including: a core capable of transporting at least one useful electric signal; a sheath surrounding said core; at least one conductive wear detection strand embedded in the sheath and substantially extending along the entire length of the cable; and at least one reference conductive element which is not connected to said at least one wear detection strand and substantially extends along the entire cable length; and a control unit capable of measuring the capacitance or the resistance formed between said at least one strand and the reference conductive element.
US09488680B2 Voltage peak detection circuit and detection method
In one embodiment, a voltage peak detection circuit can include: (i) a voltage coupling circuit configured to inductively couple an input inductor voltage of a switching power supply, and to generate a first voltage that represents a DC input voltage of the switching power supply; (ii) a voltage conversion circuit configured to receive the first voltage, and to generate a second voltage that is proportional to the first voltage; and (iii) a holding circuit configured to hold a peak of the second voltage to generate a peak voltage signal that represents peak information of the DC input voltage.
US09488677B2 Probe card having a wiring substrate
A probe card includes a wiring substrate including an opening portion and a connection pad arranged on an upper face of the wiring substrate located on the periphery of the opening portion, a resin portion formed in the opening portion of the wiring substrate, and the resin portion formed of a material having elasticity, a contact terminal arranged to protrude from the lower face of the resin portion, and wire buried in the resin portion and connecting the contact terminal and the connection pad, wherein the contact terminal is formed of an end part of the wire, and is formed integrally with the wire.
US09488671B2 Accelerometer with flexible mounting structure
An accelerometer for sensing acceleration along a sensing axis, includes a flexure member (having a pendulum member pivotably connected to a support member via a hinge arrangement), a housing, and at least one mounting structure configured for clamping the support member to the housing in load bearing contact while concurrently allowing for differential movement between the support member and the housing. Embodiments also include a corresponding housing member for use with a flexure member of an accelerometer, and a flexure member for use with a housing of an accelerometer.
US09488663B2 Electrochemical methods and devices for amending urine samples for immunosensor detection
The present invention is directed to methods and devices for amending undiluted and partially diluted urine samples in a manner suitable for performing immunoassays for target analytes, for example NGAL. Generally, the urine sample is treated with reagents including at least one of buffer materials, water soluble proteins, urease, and other interferent mitigants. These reagents control the pH of the urine sample in a manner suitable for immuno-binding reactions and ameliorate interferences, particularly during the detection step.
US09488662B2 Method for the detection of a multispecific binder
Herein is reported a method for the detection of a multispecific antibody in a sample, whereby the multispecific antibody is specifically bound by i) a first anti-idiotypic antibody binding to a first binding specificity of the multispecific antibody, and ii) by a second anti-idiotypic antibody binding to a second binding specificity of the multispecific antibody and the formed complex is determined.
US09488656B2 BCR-ABL truncation mutations
Truncation variants of BCR-ABL mRNA that produces BCR-ABL proteins with a truncated C-terminus and its role in resistance to treatment with kinase inhibitors is described. Vectors for expressing the truncated gene products are described as well as recombinant cells that express the truncated gene products from cDNA constructs. Also provided are methods compositions and kits for detecting the BCR-ABL truncation variants. Also provided are methods for determining the prognosis of a patient diagnosed as having myeloproliferative disease, and methods for predicting the likelihood for resistance to a treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitor in a patient diagnosed as having myeloproliferative disease. Additionally, methods for screening BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase domain inhibitors which rely on the recombinant cells are also disclosed.
US09488648B2 NMR systems and methods for the rapid detection of analytes
This invention features systems and methods for the detection of analytes, and their use in the treatment and diagnosis of disease.
US09488646B2 Biomarkers of osteoarthritis
Biomarkers, biomarker panels and methods for diagnosing osteoarthritis (OA) and determining treatment are disclosed, using measurement of the expression level of certain polypeptides in a test sample from a subject, including MCP1, IL8, KC, MMP2, MMP3, Apolipoprotein A1, and Apolipoprotein E. Related methods for monitoring OA treatment efficacy, diagnostic reagents, and kits are also described.
US09488643B2 Compositions comprising human embryonic stem cells and their derivatives, methods of use, and methods of preparation
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising of preparations of human embryonic stem (hES) cells and their derivatives and methods for their transplantation into the human body, wherein transplantation results in the clinical reversal of symptoms, cure, stabilization or arrest of degeneration of a wide variety of presently incurable and terminal medical conditions, diseases and disorders. The invention further relates to novel processes of preparing novel stem cell lines which are free of animal products, feeder cells, growth factors, leukaemia inhibitory factor, supplementary mineral combinations, amino acid supplements, vitamin supplements, fibroblast growth factor, membrane associated steel factor, soluble steel factor and conditioned media. This invention further relates to the isolation, culture, maintenance, expansion, differentiation, storage, and preservation of such stem cells.
US09488635B2 Pore structure analyzer based on non-contact impedance measurement for cement-based materials
Measurement of the impedance and complex resistivity of a sample is used for measuring parameters resulting from a change in physical or chemical state. A variable frequency signal is provided by a transformer primary coil. A secondary coil of the transformer with a closed loop and electrically coupled said sample is monitored along with a leakage current sensor. Sampling at multiple signal frequencies is performed at the multiple signal frequencies.
US09488628B2 Gas sensor protection device and method
A gas sensor includes a sensor housing and a sensing element located within the sensor housing. The sensing element has a distal end and defines an axis. The gas sensor also includes a sensor protection device coupled to the sensor housing and at least partially surrounding the distal end of the sensing element. The sensor protection device includes a first member coupled to the housing, the first member having a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the axis. The first member includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The sensor protection device also includes a second member coupled to the housing.
US09488625B2 Purification of factor VIII using a conductivity gradient
The present specification discloses methods of eluting a protein from a chromatography column.
US09488621B2 Particle analysis in an acoustic cytometer
The present invention is a method and apparatus for acoustically manipulating one or more particles.
US09488612B2 Lubricant test method
A method of determining the compatibility of a lubricating fluid with an energized electrical or electronic component comprises: (a) contacting a test apparatus with the fluid; (b) applying an electrical current to the test apparatus; and (c) monitoring the current flow through the test apparatus over time. The test apparatus includes at least one pair of conductors separated by an insulator that does not extend across the whole of the opposing surfaces of the conductors. The electrical current is applied across the pair of conductors. Also described is a device for performing the method, a method of selecting a lubricant and a lubricant so selected.
US09488609B2 Determination of anisotropic conduction characteristics
A method includes applying a current to a specimen to deposit a material on the specimen. The method also includes determining a quantity of the material deposited at multiple locations of the specimen and determining anisotropic conductive characteristics of the specimen based on the quantity of the material deposited at the multiple locations on the specimen.
US09488608B2 Method for determining the dew point of a vaporised hydrocarbon feedstock
The invention provides a method for determining the dew point of a vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising heating a hydrocarbon feedstock and a hydrocarbon diluent to a first temperature and maintaining the feedstock and diluent at that temperature until all hydrocarbon feedstock is vaporized and a homogeneous mixture is obtained; passing a first flow of the mixture through a first zone maintained at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature; halting the first flow; passing a sweep gas through the first zone and providing the sweep gas to a detector for detecting hydrocarbons; decreasing the temperature of the first zone, wherein steps (c) to (f) are repeated at least until a hydrocarbon presence is detected in the sweep gas.The invention further provides a method for measuring the dew point of a steam cracker feed and a system for determining the dew point of a vaporized hydrocarbon feedstock.
US09488607B2 Insulation test cryostat with lift mechanism
A multi-purpose, cylindrical thermal insulation test apparatus is used for testing insulation materials and systems of materials using a liquid boil-off calorimeter system for absolute measurement of the effective thermal conductivity (k-value) and heat flux of a specimen material at a fixed environmental condition (cold-side temperature, warm-side temperature, vacuum pressure level, and residual gas composition). An inner vessel receives liquid with a normal boiling point below ambient temperature, such as liquid nitrogen, enclosed within a vacuum chamber. A cold mass assembly, including upper and lower guard chambers and middle test vessel, is suspended from a lid of the vacuum canister. Each of the three chambers is filled and vented through a single feedthrough. All fluid and instrumentation feedthroughs are mounted and suspended from a top domed lid allowing easy removal of the cold mass. A lift mechanism allows manipulation of the cold mass assembly and insulation test article.
US09488599B2 Authentication device for full intact wine bottles
Methods, devices and systems for identifying or authenticating an intact bottle of wine are provided.
US09488596B2 Defect inspection method and device for same
In defect scanning carried out in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor or the like, a light detection optical system comprising a plurality of photosensors is used for detecting scattered light reflected from a sample. The photosensors used for detecting the quantity of weak background scattered light include a photon counting type photosensor having few pixels whereas the photosensors used for detecting the quantity of strong background scattered light include a photon counting type photosensor having many pixels or an analog photosensor. In addition, nonlinearity caused by the use of the photon counting type photosensor as nonlinearity of detection strength of defect scattered light is corrected in order to correct a detection signal of the defect scattered light.
US09488593B2 Surface features mapping
Provided herein is an apparatus, including a light source configured to illuminate a surface of an article, wherein light incident upon the surface of the article is collimated light; a light detector array including a plurality of light sensors configured to receive scattered light from features about the surface of the article; and a processing means for mapping the features about the surface of the article, wherein the processing means is configured to map the features by analyzing the scattered light received at the light detector array.
US09488590B2 Method for evaluating cosmetic for effectiveness in improving wrinkles
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a rapid and widely practicable cosmetic-evaluating method for evaluating the performance of candidate cosmetics in improving wrinkles in the horny cell layer. Provided is a method for evaluating the effectiveness in wrinkle improvement of a candidate cosmetic by immersing a horny-cell-layer sheet having creases and wrinkles in the candidate cosmetic, and verifying the disappearance of the creases and wrinkles after drying, whereby the purpose is achieved.
US09488588B2 Gemstone registration system
A device for producing a reproducible identification pattern of a polished gemstone includes light directing means for directing a focused beam of light onto a gemstone orientated in a particular known manner to produce an output of the internal refraction and reflection characteristics of the gemstone including reflected light beams having particular locations, sizes and intensities. The device also includes automated means for changing a position of the gemstone relative to the focused beam of light; and also a means for recording the output in a manner to record the relative size and location of the reflected light beams.
US09488585B2 Reader devices for optical and electrochemical test devices
This invention relates generally to devices and methods for performing optical and electrochemical assays and, more particularly, to devices having optical and electrochemical detectors and to methods of performing optical and electrochemical assays using such devices. The present invention is particularly useful for performing immunoassays and/or electrochemical assays at the point-of-care.
US09488582B2 Methods for measuring concentrations of chlorinated solvents through raman spectroscopic observation of the vibrational modes of water
Method for determining concentration of a chlorinated solvent in a non-turbid aqueous solution sample containing the chlorinated solvent is disclosed. The method includes developing a calibration profile relating intensities of Raman returns at a predetermined Raman shift associated with O—H stretching region of water for non-turbid aqueous chlorinated solvent calibration solutions of known concentrations. Intensity of Raman return at the predetermined Raman shift associated with O—H stretching region of the non-turbid aqueous solution sample is measured and compared to the calibration profile to determine the concentration of the chlorinated solvent in the non-turbid aqueous solution sample. For turbid solution samples, a method using turbidity-corrected intensity for the solution sample is disclosed. Alternatively, for turbid solution samples, a method employing a calibration profile utilizing turbid calibration solutions is disclosed.
US09488571B2 Two-dimensional spectral imaging system
Systems, including methods, apparatus, and algorithms, for spectrally imaging a two-dimensional array of samples.
US09488570B2 Systems and methods for pressure differential molecular spectroscopy of compressible fluids
Described herein is a spectroscopic system and method for measuring and monitoring the chemical composition and/or impurity content of a sample or sample stream using absorption light spectroscopy. Specifically, in certain embodiments, this invention relates to the use of sample pressure variation to alter the magnitude of the absorption spectrum (e.g., wavelength-dependent signal) received for the sample, thereby obviating the need for a reference or ‘zero’ sample. Rather than use a reference or ‘zero’ sample, embodiments described herein obtain a spectrum/signal from a sample-containing cell at both a first pressure and a second (different) pressure.
US09488564B2 Methods and apparatuses for detecting moisture
Methods and apparatuses for detecting moisture are disclosed. Embodiments detect the existence and/or level of moisture in electronic devices, such as by using one or more moisture sensors that removably connect to a pre-existing port in the electronic device (such as a headphone jack or similar port). Some embodiments detect a component of the ambient air (such as moisture level) to improve the accuracy of the moisture detector. Some embodiments decrease pressure at the port using a pneumatic pump and move gas from the electronic device into the moisture detector. Some embodiments detect the movement of air in the vicinity of at least one moisture sensor (such as by measuring pressure) and use this information to improve the accuracy of the moisture detector. Some embodiments display information related to the moisture in the electronic device and/or the ambient air.
US09488561B2 Test apparatus for early landslide detection fully-connected with pore water pressure, surface displacement and shear surface
Disclosed herein is a test apparatus for early landslide detection fully-connected with pore water pressure, surface displacement and shear surface. The test apparatus calculates a factor of safety of a slope based on variation in pore water pressure, surface displacement and shear surface of a soil mass, and predicts a change in factor of safety, thus making early landslide detection possible. In the test apparatus, while a container of a slider is moved with a soil mass loaded into the container, shear surface and surface displacement environment is provided, and the shear strength and the shear stress of the soil mass can be calculated based on the pore water pressure and the weight of the soil mass. Thereby, the factor of safety of the soil mass can be calculated, and early landslide detection can be realized by using variation of the factor of safety of the slope.
US09488554B2 Method and system for reducing curtaining in charged particle beam sample preparation
A method and system for exposing a portion of a structure in a sample for observation in a charged particle beam system, including extracting a sample from a bulk sample; determining an orientation of the sample that reduces curtaining; mounting the sample to a holder in the charged particle beam system so that the holder orients the sample in an orientation that reduces curtaining when the sample is milled to expose the structure; exposing the structure by milling the sample in a direction that reduces curtaining; and imaging the structure.
US09488548B2 Apparatus and method for testing an airbag control unit
An apparatus for testing a vehicle airbag ECU is provided. The apparatus includes a support plate having a first surface for mounting the airbag ECU and a wheel rotatable about a rotational axis. An input chute is positioned above the wheel and configured to direct an aggregate to the wheel. A motor is connected to a power supply and drivingly connected to the wheel. A controller is programmed to operate the motor and to selectively vary a rotational speed of the motor and the wheel. The wheel is configured to project the aggregate to impact a second surface of the support plate that is opposite the first surface.
US09488546B2 Testing equipment for crash simulation tests having first and second carriage arrangements
A testing equipment for crash simulation tests is specified which has a rail arrangement, a first carriage arrangement which is arranged displaceably along a longitudinal axis of the rail arrangement, and an acceleration unit via which a force can be transferred to the first carriage arrangement in order to accelerate the carriage arrangement. With the aim of preparing parts to be tested outside the testing equipment, quickly introducing them into the testing equipment, and keeping low the overall mass composed of carriage arrangement including object to be tested, the testing equipment further has a second carriage arrangement, which can be mounted on the rail arrangement and can be displaced therealong and is designed to support a test superstructure with at least one component to be tested in the crash simulation. The first carriage arrangement further has a detachable clutch for transferring a force to the second carriage arrangement from the acceleration unit via the first carriage arrangement.
US09488542B2 Pressure sensor having multiple pressure cells and sensitivity estimation methodology
A pressure sensor (20) includes a test cell (32) and sense cell (34). The sense cell (34) includes an electrode (42) formed on a substrate (30) and a sense diaphragm (68) spaced apart from the electrode (42) to produce a sense cavity (64). The test cell (32) includes an electrode (40) formed on the substrate (30) and a test diaphragm (70) spaced apart from the electrode (40) to produce a test cavity (66). Both of the cells (32, 34) are sensitive to pressure (36). However, a critical dimension (76) of the sense diaphragm (68) is less than a critical dimension (80) of the test diaphragm (70) so that the test cell (32) has greater sensitivity (142) to pressure (36) than the sense cell (34). Parameters (100) measured at the test cell (32) are utilized to estimate a sensitivity (138) of the sense cell (34).
US09488539B2 Device for determining the torque applied to a crankset shaft
A device (1) for determining the torque applied to a crankset shaft (10) moveable in rotation about an axis of rotation, includes a supporting element (50). The crankset shaft (10) has two separate parts that are moveable in rotation, the supporting element being designed to keep the two parts substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the two parts have respective contact elements designed to transform the rotational movement of one of the two parts into a simultaneously translational and rotational movement of the other of the two parts, as well as stop element designed to cooperate with the supporting element. The device also has at least one sensing element (80) designed to provide a signal representing a mechanical stress applied to the at least one sensing element, and a processing module configured to determine the torque as a function of the signal.
US09488530B2 Time-domain temperature sensing system with a digital output and method thereof
A time-domain temperature sensing system includes a cyclic delay line, a path selection circuit and a counter. The cyclic delay line includes a plurality of logic components connected. The path selection circuit connects with the cyclic delay line and the counter connects with the path selection circuit. The cyclic delay line is operated to sense and convert a temperature into a time pulse to generate a temperature-related time pulse width signal, and the cyclic delay line is further operated to measure the temperature-related time pulse width signal via the path selection circuit. The cyclic delay line is operated to convert the temperature into the time pulse and the counter is further operated to convert the temperature-related time pulse width signal into a digital signal via the path selection circuit, thereby generating a temperature-to-digital signal.
US09488529B2 Temperature measurement system
A temperature measurement system is disclosed. In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a temperature measurement system may comprise a resistor, a thermistor, a resistance-to-current converter configured to generate a current signal based on a resistance, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive a first current signal based on the resistor, convert the first current signal into a first digital signal, receive a second current signal based on the thermistor, and convert the second current signal into a second digital signal, and a calculation stage communicatively coupled to an ADC output and configured to determine a first digital value based on the first digital signal, determine a second digital value based on the second digital signal, calculate a resistance ratio based on the first digital value and the second digital value, and determine a temperature output value based on the resistance ratio.
US09488526B2 Assembly for selecting matching colours to base colours, method, and user article
Assembly for selecting matching colors to base colors of user articles. The assembly comprises a substrate provided with a plurality of selection areas that have mutually differing selection colors. The assembly further comprises a cover having a first main surface provided with a first base color and having a second main surface. The cover is provided with a window. The assembly is provided with holding means for holding the cover to the substrate in a first cover position wherein, by means of the window, at least one selection area is exposed. The second main surface is provided with a second base color. The window and the holding means are arranged for holding the cover to the substrate in a second cover position wherein, by means of the window, at least one selection area is exposed.
US09488519B2 Measuring instrument using light beam
The present invention provides a light beam measuring instrument that can securely receive light reflected by a sample. The light beam measuring instrument 1 includes an optical axis tilting mechanism 13 that includes a first tilting mechanism 131 and a second tilting mechanism 132. From the optical axis A1 of irradiation light beam emitted from a light beam source 112, the first tilting mechanism 131 tilts the optical axis A1 about the first tilting axis T1. The second tilting mechanism 132 tilts the optical axis A1 about the second tilting axis T2. The light beam measuring instrument 1 can receive the light reflected by the semiconductor chip C by means of operation of the optical axis tilting mechanism 13 even if the light reflected by the semiconductor chip C is tilted. Accordingly, this apparatus can securely perform measurement or inspection using the light beam.
US09488513B2 Flexible fluid level sensor with improved measurement capability
A capacitive fluid sensor is provided that utilizes a flexible substrate. It has a plurality of conductive members supported on it which are connected to a connecting end. The conductive members are arranged in an array and are aligned with a longitudinal axis of the substrate and the members are separated by intervening spaces. The intervening spaces are arranged so that they cross the longitudinal axis at an angle such that adjacent conductive members overlap each other when viewed from a side edge of the sensor. Such an arrangement provide more accurate measurement of fluid levels within containers.
US09488512B2 Semi-empirical mass flow model and calibration method for undeveloped flow regions in an air seeder
A method of determining a mass flow rate of product being applied with an agricultural implement includes the steps of: calibrating a pressure drop across a known distance in an air line at a number of air flow rates; metering a product at a desired application rate into the air line at a selected air flow rate; establishing a pressure drop across the known distance at the selected air flow rate, while the product is being metered; calculating a specific pressure drop by dividing the established pressure drop by the determined pressure drop; ascertaining the values of parameters A and B using the mathematical expression: α=1+Aμ+B√{square root over (μ)}  where: α=specific pressure drop; μ=mass loading ratio; and A and B=parameters based on measured data for the specific product being applied; and estimating a mass flow rate of the product being applied.
US09488510B2 Product dispensing system
A flow sensor includes a fluid chamber configured to receive a fluid. A diaphragm assembly is configured to be displaced whenever the fluid within the fluid chamber is displaced. A transducer assembly is configured to monitor the displacement of the diaphragm assembly and generate a signal based, at least in part, upon the quantity of fluid displaced within the fluid chamber.
US09488496B2 Position measurement using flux modulation and angle sensing
Systems and methods for determining a position of a movable component. One system includes a controllable source of varying magnetic flux. In a particular embodiment, the magnetic flux is directed through a magnetic sensor using a first flux concentrator and a second flux concentrator. The sensor generates a sensor signal that is provided to an electrical circuit designed to demodulate the signal. The demodulated signal is provided to a controller. The controller converts the signal and calculates the position of the second flux concentrator relative to the first flux concentrator. The controller may take a predetermined action based on the calculated position of the second flux concentrator.
US09488486B2 Point of interest search along a route with return
A routing module identifies POIs that can be reached from a route with a cost less than distance m. A routing engine performs a reverse exploration on nodes in the planned route to locate POIs from which the route can be reached with a cost of less than a second cost n. POIs identified as being reachable from the route with a cost of less than m, and from which the route is reachable with a cost less than n are then further filtered to identify a subset of the POIs for which the sum of the time or distance from the route to the POI and the time or distance from the POI back to the route is less than a threshold time or distance, t.
US09488483B2 Localization using road markings
One or more embodiments of techniques or systems for creating a road marking classification template and vehicle localization using road markings are provided herein. A road marking classification template database includes templates of training images taken from different navigation environments. A training image with a road marking can be rectified and enhanced. Corners can be calculated for the road marking using the rectified or enhanced image. Locations can be determined for the corners and stored as part of a template. Similarly, a runtime image can also be rectified, enhanced, boosted, etc. Additionally, corners can be calculated for the runtime image and matched against corners of templates from the template database. A location or a pose of a vehicle can be determined using the match. In this way, vehicle localization is provided such that drift or other issues associated with GPS, such as occlusion, are mitigated, for example.
US09488476B2 Apparatus and method to compensate bearing runout in an articulated arm coordinate measurement machine
A method and apparatus for correcting errors in a bearing cartridge used in a portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) is provided. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first bearing and a second bearing arranged in a fixed relationship to define an axis, the cartridge further including an angle measurement device configured to measure a rotation of a portion of the cartridge about the axis. A plurality of angles is measured with the angle measurement device. A first plurality of displacements is determined at a first position along the axis, each of the first plurality of displacements being associated with one of the plurality of angles. Compensation values are determined based at least in part on the plurality of angles and the first plurality of displacements.
US09488463B2 Fiber optic transducers, fiber optic accelerometers and fiber optic sensing systems
A fiber optic transducer is provided. The fiber optic transducer includes a fixed portion configured to be secured to a body of interest, a moveable portion having a range of motion with respect to the fixed portion, a spring positioned between the fixed portion and the moveable portion, and a length of fiber wound between the fixed portion and the moveable portion. The length of fiber spans the spring. The fiber optic transducer also includes a mass engaged with the moveable portion. In one disclosed aspect of the transducer, the mass envelopes the moveable portion.
US09488459B2 Position sensor module
A position sensor module (1) for control capsules (2), having a base carrier (3) which base carrier (3) has a first receiving space (4) in which is arranged a sensor chip (5) and a second receiving space (6) in which is arranged a plug contact strip (7) of a plug contact arrangement (8) which is connected to chip contacts (9) of the sensor chip (5), and a cover part (10) which covers the first receiving space (4) and the second receiving space (6). The cover part leaves open an access opening (11) to the plug contact strip (7), and fixes the sensor chip (5) and the plug contact arrangement (8) to the base carrier (3).
US09488456B2 Geologic fracturing method and resulting fractured geologic structure
Detonation control modules and detonation control circuits are provided herein. A trigger input signal can cause a detonation control module to trigger a detonator. A detonation control module can include a timing circuit, a light-producing diode such as a laser diode, an optically triggered diode, and a high-voltage capacitor. The trigger input signal can activate the timing circuit. The timing circuit can control activation of the light-producing diode. Activation of the light-producing diode illuminates and activates the optically triggered diode. The optically triggered diode can be coupled between the high-voltage capacitor and the detonator. Activation of the optically triggered diode causes a power pulse to be released from the high-voltage capacitor that triggers the detonator.
US09488452B1 Apparatus for rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable and related methods
Apparatus for rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable may include a containment structure having a first compartment that is configured to receive a device therein and a movable member configured to receive a cartridge having reactant material therein. The movable member is configured to be inserted into the first compartment of the containment structure and to ignite the reactant material within the cartridge. Methods of rendering at least a portion of a device inoperable may include disposing the device into the first compartment of the containment structure, inserting the movable member into the first compartment of the containment structure, igniting the reactant material in the cartridge, and expelling molten metal onto the device.
US09488450B2 Sensor system for explosive detection and removal
A sensor system for detecting one of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), landmines or other buried explosives, the sensor system is mounted in place of a standard backhoe digging bucket of a backhoe vehicle. The sensor system includes a mounting portion having arc swing points for hanging the sensor system on a backhoe arm, and a holding pin opening for receiving a holding pin when positioned in a mounting position on the backhoe arm; and an electronic sensor wand arm assembly mounted to the mounting portion.
US09488447B2 Personal cooling device for use with body armor
A personal cooling device with a network of tubular members, each tubular member having an inner surface defining a flowpath, an outer surface, and at least two channels extending between the flowpath and the outer surface. The network has an inlet. The at least two channels of each tubular member have differently-sized volumes, with the channels having the larger volumes closer to the network inlet than the channels having the smaller volumes. The device also includes a pump having an inlet and an outlet, and a length of connection tubing in fluid communication with the outlet of the pump and the inlet of the network of tubular members.
US09488440B2 Illumination device and method
An illumination device for use with a firearm and a method of using the same are disclosed. The illumination device can include a gun grip cover configured to attach to a gun grip. The illumination device can have a first illumination element extending to the left of the gun grip cover and a second illumination element extending to the right of the gun grip cover. The illumination elements can deliver a spread of light to illuminate a large area. The illumination elements can be laterally adjacent to the barrel. The illumination elements can be controlled by a control switch positioned below the trigger.
US09488439B2 Pistol mounted light and operation thereof
A novel flashlight assembly that includes an interface integrated into the housing thereof to facilitate mounting of the flashlight to the interface positioned ahead of the trigger on a modern firearm. Generally, the outer body of the flashlight includes a head mounted to a flashlight body at one end and at least one paddle switch extending outwardly at the other end of the body. Preferably the paddle switch extends at least partially beyond a trigger guard on the firearm when the flashlight is mounted to the accessory interface on the firearm. Further, the flashlight includes protrusions extending from the side of the body for interfacing the flashlight with the accessory interface on the firearm.
US09488438B1 Small vehicle encapsulation for torpedo tube vehicle launch
A containment canister is provided for loading a vehicle. In the canister, the vehicle is restrained by a nose cap and a ring which conforms to an aft section of the vehicle. Longitudinal leads support the vehicle and provide glide surfaces during a launch. A casing with flow ports is affixed to an aft end of the containment canister with the casing encompassing an actuator with an extendable arm and an attached plug. The plug is sized to move in alignment with each canister toward a sealing ring. When the arm is extended; the plug seats against the ring. To eject the vehicle, a signal is sent an actuator to retract the plug aft of the flow ports. As the canister is flooded by a water impulse thru the flow ports; the impulse contacts the aft end of the vehicle to expel the vehicle.
US09488425B2 Belt feed mechanism for mil-spec linked ammo
A lower-receiver type feeding device for belted ammunition cartridges. A lead cartridge of the belt is separated from its lead link at a central stripping station. A rocker-type transfer mechanism sequentially moves cartridges with connected link toward the central stripping station. The transfer mechanism is driven through a cam interface with the bolt-carrier group. A sheering lip is disposed at the central stripping station to engage the lead link directly below the lead cartridge and resist stripping forces when the lead cartridge is pushed through a first outlet for chambering. A mag well post slides into a magazine well of the firearm. A bolt catch extension is pivotally carried on the right pivot shaft to remotely activate the bolt catch. An end-of-link stop is joined to the end of the ammunition belt. The end-of-link stop comprised a dummy cartridge having a longitudinally extending groove.
US09488424B1 Charging handle with cog and spring
A firearm comprising an upper receiver and a charging handle is disclosed. A charging handle is coupled to the upper receiver and comprises a handle assembly rotationally coupled to a main body about a first and a second pivot point. The handle assembly includes a first handle having an edge nearest the main body and a latch extending from the first handle parallel to the main body for interfacing with the upper receiver in a first position, a second handle having an edge nearest the main body, and a plunger interfacing with the edge of the first handle and the edge of the second handle, and a spring, such that when force is applied to either handle, the plunger is pushed into the main body and energy is transferred to the handles, moving the latch into a second position.
US09488423B2 Firearm systems and methods
A firearm can have a bolt having a plurality of locking lugs that are configured to have a shear area that is larger than that of a standard M16/M4. A bolt carrier can have a bolt that has a double cut cam having an unlocking cam surface that has sufficient dwell increase to delay a start of unlocking when the bolt carrier is used in an M4 carbine. A stepped extractor pin may be provided that prevents disengagement of the extractor pin. A tube can be configured to provide gas from a barrel of the firearm to the piston via the carrier key. The tube can have a heat radiator formed from triangular shaped threads on at least a portion of the tube. A piston on the bolt can have a plurality of rings including pairs of mating rings that are formed and maintained as a matched pair.
US09488421B2 Coolant system for machine tools
A coolant system for machine tools, includes a pump (12) for the coolant, at least one consumer (10), a pressure sensor (24) for detecting an actual pressure (Pi) in the coolant system, a feedback control device (22) acting upon the pump (12) for regulating the pressure in the coolant system to a target pressure (Ps), and a limiting valve (26) for limiting the pressure of the coolant supplied to the consumer, wherein in that the opening pressure (Plim) of the limiting valve (26) is variable and the feedback control device (22) is adapted to adjust the opening pressure in accordance with the target pressure (Ps) such that it is always a certain amount larger than the target pressure.
US09488415B2 Metal melting furnace vortex chamber body and metal melting furnace using the same
A metal melting furnace includes: a furnace body including a storage space storing molten metal; a vortex chamber body including a vortex chamber communicating with the storage space, the vortex chamber body including a partition plate serving as a drop weir uprightly formed inside the vortex chamber, the partition plate disposed at a communication side with respect to the storage space in the vortex chamber so that the longitudinal direction of the partition plate follows the communication direction and divides the communication side to form first and second vortex chamber openings positioned at both sides of the partition plate and communicating with both the storage space and the vortex chamber; and a molten metal whirling gap formed between a front end portion of the partition plate positioned inside of the vortex chamber in the longitudinal direction and an inner wall of the vortex chamber body facing the front end portion.
US09488398B2 Ternary heat-transfer fluids comprising difluoromethane, pentafluoroethane and tetrafluoropropene
A ternary composition including: from 5 to 50% of difluoromethane; from 2 to 20% of pentafluoroethane; and from 30 to 90% of tetrafluoropropene. The tetrafluoropropene may be 1,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene or 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene. This composition can be used as a heat-transfer fluid in vapor compression circuit. A process for heating or cooling a fluid or a body using a vapor compression circuit containing a heat transfer fluid, said process successively including evaporation of the heat transfer fluid, compression of the heat transfer fluid, condensation of the heat fluid and depressurization of the heat transfer fluid, in which the heat transfer fluid is a composition as described.
US09488395B2 Heat exchanger and heat pump system using the same
A heat exchanger includes a main core portion (6) for conducting heat exchange between an air and a refrigerant, a receiver tank (8) into which the refrigerant having passed through the main core portion flows, and a subcool core portion (10) for supercooling and liquefying a gas-liquid mixed refrigerant having passed through the receiver tank by heat exchange with the air, wherein the subcool core portion is composed of a plurality of tubes (22) arranged along a crosswise direction between left and right header tanks (20) arranged along the crosswise direction, respectively, in a state in parallel with each other and communicating with both the left and right header tanks; and fins (24) arranged between the adjacent tubes.
US09488382B2 Electronic air cleaners and associated systems and methods
Electronic air cleaners for use in heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) systems and associated methods and systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an electronic air cleaner (100, 200, 300) includes one or more collecting electrodes (122, 322) having a collection material with a porous, open-cell structure and a conductive internal portion (125, 325). The collection material can be configured to collect and receive charged particulate matter in an airflow path. After a period of time, used collection material can be removed from individual collecting electrodes (122, 322) and replaced with new collection material.
US09488379B2 Method for adjusting several parallel connected heat exchangers
A method is provided for adjusting several parallel connected heat exchangers supplied with a coolant medium. The aim of the invention is to simplify the adjustment. For this purpose, the method consists in a) determining a specific value of heat requirement for each heat exchanger in a predetermined time period; b) comparing the specific values of all heat exchangers therebetween and c) in modifying the adjustment of the heat exchanger having the lowest specific value of heat requirement in such a way that the heat requirement thereof is increased.
US09488378B2 Tubular section bar for a biphasic radiator and relative biphasic radiator
A tubular section bar (100) for a biphasic≧radiator comprising a tubular body (10) having a perimeter surface, a surface lug (11-21) protruding from at least one portion of said perimeter surface; each lug is perpendicular to the perimeter surface and has a height (H); two consecutive lugs are arranged at a reciprocal distance (D) and so that the relation between the reciprocal distance (D) and height (H) is greater or equal to 1.4 (D:H≧1,4).
US09488377B2 Gas oven range
A gas oven range may include a cavity forming a cooking chamber in which food may be cooked, and a burner assembly installed in the cavity. The burner assembly may include a burner having flame holes formed therein, and a cover covering the burner to form a burner chamber. The cover may include an inlet that guides air from the cooking chamber into the burner chamber and an outlet that discharges air heated by the burner. An air inlet may be formed at one wall of the cavity to introduce external air into the burner chamber.
US09488366B2 Light emission device for imaging apparatus
A light emission device attachable and detachable to and from an imaging apparatus, includes: a light emission portion; a storage portion for accommodating a battery which supplies electric power to cause the light emission portion to emit light; and a capacitor which accumulates electrical energy to cause the light emission portion to emit light using the power supplied from the battery, wherein the storage portion is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the battery accommodated in the storage portion is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light emission portion, the capacitor is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the capacitor is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light emission portion, and the storage portion and the capacitor are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the light emission portion.
US09488346B2 Luminaire mounting system
A device including a hub portion, said hub portion including an opening with spring-loaded electrical contacts slidably disposed in said opening, a light rail an extended portion and a power contact disposed on the extended portion, wherein the light rail is operable to slide into the opening and couple the power contact to the spring-loaded contact. The extended portion may include an o-ring for fixing the light rail and the hub may have a cable for mounting and coupling power to the spring-loaded electrical contact. Some embodiments may have a second opening in said hub portion, and a second end for the light rail. Power may be coupled through the light rail to hubs on each end.
US09488336B2 Wavelength conversion structure, apparatus comprising wavelength conversion structure, and related methods of manufacture
A wavelength conversion structure comprises a sintered body comprising a mixture of a wavelength conversion material and a glass composition, wherein the wavelength conversion material comprises a phosphor and the glass composition comprises ZnO—BaO—SiO2—B2O3.
US09488335B2 Electromagnetic radiation shielding assembly
An electromagnetic shielding assembly may include a transparent substrate layer and a transparent active layer positioned with respect to the substrate, wherein the active layer is configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation having a first wavelength and emit electromagnetic radiation having a second wavelength, the second wavelength being different than the first wavelength, the active layer includes fluorescent molecules combined with a base material, the fluorescent molecules being configured to absorb electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength and emit the electromagnetic radiation having the second wavelength, wherein the first wavelength is in a visible electromagnetic spectrum and the second wavelength is in a non-visible electromagnetic spectrum.
US09488334B2 Elastomeric indicator light lens
An indicator light includes at least one segment. Each segment includes a housing forming an interior and an exterior surface with a light source within. A light filter comprises a transparent or translucent stretchable elastomeric ring processed to pass a desired color and dimensioned to fit on the exterior surface of the housing.
US09488332B2 Light emitting device and method of manufacturing light emitting device and optical component used in the same
A light emitting device wherein discoloration of a reflective layer in an optical component can be prevented and a stable optical output power can be maintained, and a method of manufacturing an optical component used in the light emitting device. The optical component includes a supporting member defining a through-hole, a reflective layer formed on an inner wall defining the through-hole, a protective layer formed on the reflective layer, and a light transmissive member having a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, and an outer circumference side-surface, and disposed in the through hole. The light transmissive member is fixed in the through-hole with a joining portion where the outer circumference side-surface and the protective layer are joined, and an end portion at the light emitting side of the joining portion is covered with a second protective layer disposed continuously on the protective layer and the light transmissive member.
US09488330B2 Direct aisle lighter
A direct lighting fixture that is well-suited for use with solid state light sources, such as LEDs, and particularly useful for lighting aisles in commercial and industrial environments. An elongated housing comprises several integral elements including a heat sink, opposing side reflectors, and a mount surface. A plurality of light sources is disposed on the mount surface. Each light source or cluster of sources has an optical element such as a lens over it to redirect a portion of the light emitted from the sources in a desired direction, for example, to collimate the light. Reflective elements are placed on both sides of each light source or cluster to redirect light that is initially emitted in a longitudinal direction. The fixture may comprise multiple elongated housings connected together and aligned in parallel along the longitudinal direction. The fixture may also be scalable.
US09488323B2 Solid state lamp using light emitting strips
In one embodiment, an LED lamp has a generally bulb shape. The LEDs are low power types and axe encapsulated in thin, narrow, flexible strips. The LEDs are connected in series in the strips to drop a desired voltage. The strips are affixed to the outer surface of a bulb form to provide structure to the lamp. The strips are connected in parallel to a power supply, which may be housed in the lamp. Since many low power LEDs are used and are spread out over a large surface area, there is no need for a large metal heat sink. Further, the light emission is similar to that of an incandescent bulb. In other embodiment, there is no bulb form and the strips are bendable to have a variety of shapes. In another embodiment, a light sheet is bent to provide 360 degrees of light emission. Many other embodiments are described.
US09488317B2 Low oil level detection system and method
A hydraulic system for a hybrid module which is located between an engine and a transmission includes a parallel arrangement of a mechanical pump and an electric pump. Each pump is constructed and arranged to deliver oil from a sump to other portions of the hydraulic system depending on the operational mode. A load on the electric pump corresponds to a current draw on the electric pump motor. This current draw is used to indicate when there is a low oil level in the sump.
US09488316B2 Method, system and device for reducing friction of viscous fluid flowing in a conduit
There is disclosed a device for improving flow of a viscous fluid in a fluid transport conduit, the device comprising: a porous conduit having a passage through which the viscous fluid may pass between upstream and downstream sections of the fluid transport conduit; and a casing member having a wall which extends around the porous conduit, the device being configured such that, when it is in situ, a fluid transfer chamber having at least one fluid inlet is defined between the casing member wall and porous conduit, whereby lubricating fluid may pass under pressure through the inlet(s) into the fluid transfer chamber and through the porous conduit into the passage to lubricate the flow.
US09488308B2 Flow-limiting device
A flow-limiting device comprises a stationary portion and a mobile valve comprising an orifice. The mobile valve is kept closed by a forced closure system that enables the mobile valve to limit the flow of a fluid passing through same and opens same to allow a larger flow to pass through when the upstream pressure of the fluid becomes higher than a predetermined value. The orifice of the flow-limiting device can be positioned at the bottom or the periphery of the mobile valve. The forced closing system can comprise at least one spring attached to the stationary portion at one end and to the mobile valve at the other end.
US09488302B2 Tubular joint
A tubular joint has first and second tubular members, a metallic seal ring between the tubular members and having sealing surfaces designed to mate with corresponding sealing surfaces of the tubular members to form a primary seal, an additional seal provided between the tubular members radially outwardly of the primary seal, a fluid channel having an outlet opening in an end surface of the first tubular member radially outwardly of the primary seal and radially inwardly of the additional seal, and annular seal members interposed between the seal ring and the tubular members radially outwardly of the primary seal and radially inwardly of the outlet opening.
US09488298B2 Tie device for elongate articles
A device for holding together elongate objects such as high-power electrical cables has a frame (30), a strap (12) designed to be fixed at one end to the device and to pass round the cables back to the device with its other end, a spindle (20) rotatably mounted in the frame so as to be generally parallel to the elongate objects in use, the other end of the strap being attachable to the spindle once passed round the cables, and then wound round the spindle by turning the latter in order to tighten the strap round the objects; and a locking mechanism constituted by at least one non-circular section of the spindle (20) and a matching non-circular aperture (33) in the frame, and by the spindle being displaceable along its length with respect to the frame by tightening a locknut (22) so that the non-circular section engages in the corresponding aperture when it is desired to lock it against rotation.
US09488292B2 Device for cooling a metering valve
The invention relates to a metering module (10) including a metering valve (12). The metering module further includes a cooling device through which a cooling fluid flows. Said cooling device comprises a first chamber (26) that has a cooling fluid inlet (42). The metering valve (12) has an additional cooling member (36) containing a second chamber (52) which is hydraulically connected to the first chamber (26) via at least one opening (50).
US09488288B2 Active valve for drug delivery
The present invention inter alia relates to a valve arrangement comprising at least two ports, a valve body and a valve piston, wherein the valve piston is at least partially movably arranged in the valve body, wherein the valve arrangement is configured to disable a fluid flow between the at least two ports in a first position of the valve piston in the valve body and to enable the fluid flow in a second position of the valve piston in the valve body, and wherein at least one port of the valve arrangement is arranged in the valve piston and at least one port of the valve arrangement is arranged in the valve body.
US09488275B2 Sliding element, in particular a piston ring, having a coating
The invention relates to a sliding element, in particular a piston ring, having at least one running surface. The running surface comprises a coating, which from the inside to the outside has at least one first adhesive layer, a hard hydrogen-free DLC layer, a second adhesive layer, a soft hydrogen-containing, metal and/or metal carbide-containing DLC layer, which is softer than the hard hydrogen-free DLC layer, and a hard hydrogen-containing DLC layer, which is harder than the soft hydrogen-containing, metal and/or metal carbide containing DLC layer.
US09488271B2 Control device for belt-type continuously variable transmission
A control device for a belt-type continuously variable transmission CVT includes an engine 1, a belt-type continuously-variable transmitting mechanism 4; a forward/reverse switching mechanism 3 including a forward clutch 31 and a reverse brake 32; and a hydraulic control circuit 71 configured to control a pulley hydraulic pressure and engagement-element pressures for the forward clutch 31 and the reverse brake 32. The control device includes a selection control means for outputting a pulley hydraulic command to obtain an idle-time clamping pressure which is higher than an idle-time minimum pressure (idle-time MIN-pressure) calculated from an input torque, to the hydraulic control circuit 71, when the engine 1 is in operation during a selection of N-range. A position of an element clearance generated in the belt can be maintained even if drag torque is inputted.
US09488267B2 Line pressure control with input shaft torque measurement
A method of controlling a line pressure in a transmission is provided. Line pressure in a transmission is set to a pressure value including a first term that is proportional to an input torque value. The first term has a coefficient of proportionality that is increased in response to a signal indicating clutch slippage. The input torque value is a measured input torque value in a steady-state condition. The input torque value may be a maximum of the measured input torque value and a driver demand torque value in a transient condition.
US09488259B2 Actuator and method of actuating
An actuator includes, a housing, an expandable member housed within the housing configured to expand and contract, an elongated member in operable communication with the expandable member, and a ratchet in operable communication with at least one of the expandable member and the elongated member. The ratchet is configured to allow movement of the elongated member in a first direction relative to the housing in response to expansion of the expandable member and to prevent movement of the elongated member in a second direction in response to contraction of the expandable member until the elongated member has moved a selected dimension, after which the ratchet automatically permits movement of the elongated member in the second direction.
US09488254B2 Method for embedded feedback control for bi-stable actuators
A drive mechanism having a bi-stable motor driving an actuator with a high starting torque, and a slower, regulated velocity as the actuator moves through its range of travel. This advantageously maintains high torque margins at low velocity, and lowers the kinetic energy of the bi-stable actuator at end of travel by limiting the terminal velocity and establishing a softer stop. A solenoid may be used in one embodiment. Actual bi-stable motor values are obtained immediately before the move to maintain accurate control of the motor, such as the resistance and inductance of the motor coil. For instance, the bi-stable motor may be driven into a stop, and the coil resistance may be calculated by sensing current associated with the calibration voltage. Inductance may be measured similarly by applying low level AC currents. Back-emf is sensed through the coil resistance, and an estimated motor rotation rate is sent to a feedback loop to maintain the desired rate.
US09488249B2 Planetary gear train of automatic transmission for vehicle
A planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle may include an input shaft receiving torque of an engine, an output shaft outputting changed torque, a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set, a fourth planetary gear set, a first rotation shaft, a second rotation shaft directly connected to the output shaft, a third rotation shaft selectively connected to a transmission housing, a fourth rotation shaft selectively connected to the first rotation shaft, a fifth rotation shaft selectively connected to the first rotation shaft, a sixth rotation shaft, a seventh rotation shaft directly connected to the input shaft, and an eighth rotation shaft selectively connected to the first rotation shaft, the sixth rotation shaft, or the transmission housing.
US09488238B2 Composite rotor
A brake disc arrangement is provided. The brake disc arrangement includes a mounting section, a brake plate section and a transitional interface positioned between the mounting section and the brake plate section and configured to attach the brake plate section to the mounting section. The transitional interface includes at least one extension extending radically from an outer circumference of the mounting section, the at least one extension having a cross-sectional configuration shaped as an I-Beam or other shape having at least two spaced apart projections on opposite side of the extension such that a vent gap is formed between the projections.
US09488237B2 Vehicle disc brake caliper body
One embodiment of the present invention provides a caliper body including an acting portion having a cylinder bore; a union boss portion having a union hole; and a bleeder boss portion having a bleeder hole. The union boss portion is formed at a central portion of a side surface of the acting portion in a circumferential direction of a disc brake rotor, the side surface being opposite to a side surface facing the disc brake rotor. The bleeder boss portion extends from an outer circumferential side of the bottom wall of the cylinder bore to the union boss portion. The union boss portion and the bleeder boss portion form a continuous projecting portion such that the union boss portion projects further outwards than the bleeder boss portion.
US09488228B2 Bearing arrangement for a steering shaft
A bearing arrangement for a steering shaft (10) of a vehicle, having a bearing plate (12) which has an inversion (18) and, at the bottom of the inversion, a bearing seat (14) in which a bearing (16) for the steering shaft (10) is held in such a way that a steering shaft (10) runs obliquely with respect to a plate plane (P) which is defined by the outer edge of the inversion (18), and having an insert (28) which is made from plastic, surrounds the steering shaft (10), and is fitted into the inversion (18), in which the inversion (18) has at least one section (24) with walls which run at right angles with respect to the plate plane (P), and the insert (28) has at least one disk (30, 32) which has a uniform thickness and is fitted into the cross-section of the section (24).
US09488219B2 Floating bearing for a steering gear
A floating bearing for a steering gear, having an inner ring for receiving a pinion shaft of the steering gear and having an outer ring which surrounds the inner ring and which serves for the mounting of the floating bearing in a housing of the steering gear, wherein the outer ring and the inner ring form an annular gap between them and wherein the outer ring and the inner ring are connected to one another by means of at least one flexible connecting part such that said outer ring and inner ring are movable relative to one another in at least one radial direction, is characterized in that the outer ring and/or the inner ring form, within the connecting part, at least one projection which projects into the annular gap such that the spacing between the outer ring and inner ring is smaller in the region of the projection than in the remaining section of the annular gap.
US09488210B2 Flow drill screw assembly and method
An assembly is provided including a first workpiece and a second workpiece that are positioned together. A groove is provided in an exposed face of one of the workpieces. A location is provided at the bottom of the groove having a reduced cross-sectional thickness. The flow drill screw is extended through this location when joining the workpieces together.
US09488209B2 Clamp for fastening a panel to a holder and resulting assembly
A fastener clip includes a head extended by a hollow body that is to be housed in the orifice of a support and that is to receive the anchor leg of a panel for fastening to the support, the body includes first and second elastically deformable flaps and presents a U-shape with branches including recesses housing said first and second flaps, each first and second flap is provided with at least one inside hook projecting into the inside of said U-shape for the purpose of locking said anchor leg in the U-shape of said fastener clip, and an outside hook projecting to the outside of said U-shape for the purpose of locking said support between said outside hook and said head (2). An assembly includes such a fastener clip.
US09488203B2 Disconnectable subsea connector
The described embodiments provide a subsea connector that is a quickly deployable and reusable. The subsea connector comprises a male and a female assembly that can be connected and disconnected. The male assembly includes a shaft, a sleeve that surrounds the shaft, and bars that are connected to the shaft and are configured to rotate about one axis. The female assembly includes a receptacle into which the male assembly can fit. Once the male assembly is inserted into the female assembly, the bars can rotate into such a position that the male and female assemblies are connected together. The bars can also be rotated such that the male and female assemblies can be disconnected.
US09488200B2 System, method, and apparatus for clamping
A protective mechanism for use when gripping a medical device to a rack is provided. A related system and method are also provided. The protective mechanism includes a guide member, a connector, an actuation member configured to have a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion of the actuation member is pivotally coupled to the guide member. The cover member is pivotally coupled to the guide member and is configured to interact with the actuation member so as to pivot to uncover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a first direction and to pivot to cover the connector when the actuation member pivots in a second direction.
US09488195B2 Hydraulic system for hydraulic working machine
Disclosed is a hydraulic system for a hydraulic excavator. The hydraulic system inputs rotary power from a rotary power producing means to a hydraulic pump to produce hydraulic power, and operates an actuator by the hydraulic power. A hydraulic oil drain line from the actuator is branched into a flow rate control line as a line connected to a spool of a flow rate control valve controllable by manipulation of a lever and a power regeneration line as a line connected to a variable displacement motor for converting hydraulic power of discharged hydraulic oil to reusable energy. A regeneration ratio control means is also arranged to control the variable displacement motor such that a flow rate of the power regeneration line satisfies a preset fixed ratio α relative to a flow rate occurred in the flow rate control line by the manipulation of the lever.
US09488194B2 Hydraulic temperature compensator and hydraulic lift transmitter
The hydraulic temperature compensator has at least one longitudinally extensible hydraulic chamber and a gas-filled chamber which is at least partly enclosed by the hydraulic chamber, wherein the hydraulic chamber is subdivided into a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber which are hydraulically connected to each other by at least one throttle point and wherein the second sub-chamber adjoins the gas-filled chamber. The stroke transmitter has at least the hydraulic temperature compensator, a stroke actuator acting on the temperature compensator, and a further hydraulic chamber which is fluidically connected to the first sub-chamber of the hydraulic chamber of the temperature compensator, wherein the further hydraulic chamber is in fluidic connection with a displaceably mounted actuating element.
US09488192B2 Compressor, assembling and disassembling device therefor, and assembling and disassembling method therefor
An assembling and disassembling device for a compressor has a substantially cylindrical bundle that is received insertably and removably on an inner circumferential surface of a substantially tubular compressor casing that is mounted horizontally and further includes: a plate-like member that is provided on an axial end portion of the bundle at an opposite side of an insertion direction so as to protrude outward in a radial direction of the bundle and a threaded-rod member that inserts and removes the bundle connected to the plate-like member into and from the compressor casing by being screwed into a threaded hole provided in the plate-like member and being rotated.
US09488190B2 Pump for immersion within a fluid reservoir
A pump for immersion in a fluid reservoir has an extensible body and a fluid conduit. The length of the pump may be varied in order to accommodate a variety of reservoir fluid heights. The pump may be pivotable relative to at least a portion of a frame in order that the entrance angle may be adjusted. The pump has a bottom housing with a bottom inlet and at least two, preferably at least three, tangential fluid outlets that are upwardly angled towards the conduit. The outlets may be merged with the fluid conduit. An impeller within the housing is shaped to transfer fluid tangentially and upwardly within the housing to co-operate with the upward angle of the outlets. These features reduce fluid pressure loss and thereby increase fluid flow rate through the pump for a given input power.
US09488184B2 Method and system of increasing wear resistance of a part of a rotating mechanism exposed to fluid flow therethrough
A method of increasing wear resistance of one or more part(s) of a rotating mechanism includes manufacturing the one or more part(s) with a portion thereof configured to be exposed to wear during fluid flow associated with the rotating mechanism having a dimension different from that of a desired dimension, applying a protective coating of an aluminum bronze alloy to the portion through welding deposition, and mechanically treating the protective coating. The method also includes applying one or more layer(s) of solid-alloy over the protective coating through electro-erosion deposition, and continuing the mechanical treatment of the protective coating and/or the one or more layer(s) of solid-alloy after the solid-alloy deposition to obtain the desired dimension of the portion.
US09488182B2 Control shaft seal
The propensity for gas leakage around a shaft, which connects volumes of differing pressures, in, e.g., a turbocharger is minimized in a simple cost-effective manner. The addition of a complementary pair of frusto-spherical, conical, or other profiles to the interface of the shaft and its bearing maintain concentricity of the shaft in its bore and thus improve the efficacy of existing sealing protocols.
US09488174B2 Gear pump driven gear stationary bearing
One embodiment includes a gear pump with a driven gear, a gear shaft passing through the driven gear, and a stationary journal bearing. Also included is a fluid film, between a surface of the stationary journal bearing and a surface of the gear shaft, and a hybrid pad on the stationary journal bearing. The hybrid pad has a minimum leading edge angular location on the stationary journal bearing of 41.5° and a maximum trailing edge angular location on the stationary journal bearing of 54.5°. The gear pump also includes a porting path for supplying high pressure fluid from a discharge of the gear pump to the fluid film at the hybrid pad.
US09488167B2 System, method, and apparatus for utilizing a pumping cassette
The present invention involves, in some embodiments, systems and methods for performing an integrity test on a medical grade cassette that is configured to be used on a medical fluid handling system, wherein the cassette may be disposable and may comprise a membrane therein. The test may be configured to determine an error condition, such as detection of membrane leakage above a threshold value, and may in certain cases be implemented by a medical computer system. In certain cases the integrity test is a dry integrity test and in certain cases, the test is configured to determine a leakage rate of fluid through the membrane.
US09488162B2 Electronic device
An electronic device includes a substrate, an electrode formed on the substrate, and a movable portion provided above the electrode, the movable portion being elastically deformable, in which the movable potion includes a shape memory alloy film.
US09488160B2 Dispatchable power plant and method for using the same
The present invention provides a method for producing load-following power using low to medium temperature heat source fluid comprising the steps of: reducing the power level produced by a Rankine cycle power plant producing load-following power operating on a low to medium temperature heat source fluid during one period of time; storing heat not used during the first period of time; and using the heat stored for producing power during a second period of time.
US09488142B2 Locating pin
A fuel injector assembly has a control valve body and a plurality of end caps. End cap locating holes are formed into a mating surface of each end cap, and control valve body locating holes are formed into each mating surface of the control valve body. Locating pins inserted into the end cap and control valve body locating holes each have a fixed portion that affixes the locating pins to either the control valve body or the end cap. In the event of failure of a locating pin between the fixed portion and a free portion of the pins, the free portion maintains alignment of the control valve body locating holes with the end cap locating holes.
US09488141B2 Demand valve
A fuel system 10 includes a fuel tank 11, a demand valve 12, a primer pump 13, and an internal combustion engine 14. The demand valve 12 closes and prevents fuel flow to the engine and potential fuel spillage when the engine is not running, even if a positive pressure condition exists in the fuel tank 11. The demand valve 12 is opened to allow fuel flow to the engine 14 only when the engine is to be started or is running. This opening of the demand valve is caused by a vacuum in a central cavity 31 of the demand valve 12. The vacuum causes a diaphragm 43 to move laterally and act through a connector 44 against a pin 39 connected to a valve member 37, to tilt or rotate the valve member 37 relative to a valve seat 34.
US09488140B2 Intake air volume measuring device for internal combustion engine
Disclosed is an intake air volume measuring device for an internal combustion engine. The device includes an air flow meter located in an intake air path of the internal combustion engine, to measure the volume of intake air into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine based on an output signal of the air flow meter. The output signal of the air flow meter (AFM signal) is sampled in synchronism with the crank angle of the internal combustion engine. With this angle-synchronous processing, the device is capable of obtaining AFM data at equal intervals within a cycle of intake air pulsation, thereby eliminating adverse effects of the intake air pulsation. The device is hence capable of reducing variations in AFM data averages and calculating average flow rates of the intake air with high precision.
US09488134B2 Engine system having turbo charger
An engine system having a turbocharger, in which an intake manifold is integrally formed, may include an intercooler that cools intake air supplied from the turbocharger, an EGR cooler that cools EGR gas supplied from an exhaust manifold, the intake manifold in which the intake air and the EGR gas supplied from the intercooler and the EGR cooler are mixed and that supplies a combustion chamber with the mixed gas, and a distribution unit that is mounted in the intake manifold and includes distribution pipes. One or each of the distribution pipes may receive the EGR gas from a connection hole through which the EGR gas is supplied and exhaust the EGR gas through an outlet towards an intake port.
US09488133B2 Exhaust-gas turbocharger
An exhaust-gas turbocharger (1) having a compressor (2); a turbine (5) which has a turbine wheel (6) with a radial flow region (11) and a semi-axial flow region (12) and which has a turbine housing (7) which has a spiral arrangement (9), surrounding the turbine wheel (6) at its outer circumference (8), for supplied exhaust gas; and a guide grate (10) for supplying exhaust gas to the turbine wheel (6). The guide grate (10) has a guide ring (13), which is axially movable in the charger axial direction (L) and is assigned to the radial flow region (11), and a closure sleeve (14), which is axially movable in the charger axial direction (L) and which is assigned to the semi-axial flow region (12).
US09488130B2 Variable area fan nozzle systems with improved drive couplings
A VAFN system is provided for a fan case of an engine. The system includes a motor; a gearbox; an actuator; a nozzle; and a drive coupling extending between the gearbox and the actuator and configured to transmit the mechanical torque from the motor to the actuator. The drive coupling includes an external tube extending from a first one of the gearbox or the actuator, the external tube defining first and second slots extending in a longitudinal direction, and an internal tube extending from a second one of the gearbox or the actuator and at least partially extending within the external tube, the internal tube including a pin with first and second ends respectively positioned within the first and second slots such that the internal tube is configured to translate within the external tube and to be rotatably coupled to the external tube.
US09488129B1 Passive edge-tone suppression method
The passive edge-tone suppression method includes the step of inserting a central insertion tube within a nozzle to disturb jet oscillations in a flow field of an edge-tone feedback loop. The central insertion tube can have a diameter of 200 micrometers and can be inserted within a center of the nozzle. The method also includes the step of extending the central insertion tube through the nozzle and into an alignment with the edge producing the edge tone. Further, the method includes the step of increasing a length of the central insertion tube in relation to a stand-off distance between the nozzle and the edge. The length of the central insertion tube can be increased to a length of about 30 percent of the stand-off distance.
US09488128B2 Thermal torque engine
A thermal torque engine comprising a hot box heated by a thermal agent and a wheel having a plurality of peripherally mounted canisters with diametrically opposed canisters connected by a conduit. One of the pair of canisters having a quantity of refrigerant that is pressurized when within the hot box. The pressurized refrigerant moves to the cooler canister with the process continuing for subsequent paired canisters as long as there is a predetermined thermal difference between the interior and exterior of the hot box.
US09488125B2 Control device of direct-injection engine
A control device of a direct-injection engine is provided. The control device includes an engine body having a piston provided inside a cylinder and a combustion chamber formed by the cylinder and the piston, an injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, an ozone generator for generating ozone inside the combustion chamber, and a controller for controlling the injector and the ozone generator. The controller controls the injector to inject a first amount of the fuel and, after this fuel is ignited, to inject a second amount of the fuel, and the controller controls the ozone generator to generate ozone in synchronization with the fuel injection that is performed by the injector after the fuel ignition.
US09488119B2 Autoadaptive engine idle speed control
A machine engine idle speed control system may include an automated autoadaptive mode to supplement typical economy and normal power modes. The autoadaptive mode may afford an operator with an automated option to optimize fuel economy and lower engine/machine noise. The autoadaptive mode may initially default to a typical lower engine idle speed of the economy mode. However, as the machine workload rises, demands on the engine may become greater, and at a predetermined threshold of engine workload the engine idle speed may be automatically increased to a higher set point. The engine control may then remain at the higher idle speed until engine load is reduced to some predetermined target, and/or after a certain time period has elapsed. The time period may be controlled by a configurable delay timer to avoid unnecessary/undesirable cycling between modes. In addition, an operator may always intervene to increase or decrease engine idle speed.
US09488103B2 Variable cycle intake for reverse core engine
A gas generator for a reverse core engine propulsion system has a variable cycle intake for the gas generator, which variable cycle intake includes a duct system. The duct system is configured for being selectively disposed in a first position and a second position, wherein free stream air is fed to the gas generator when in the first position, and fan stream air is fed to the gas generator when in the second position.
US09488092B2 Flow control device
A flow restrictor 50 for use in a cooling system of an internal engine comprises a housing 29 enclosing an elongate body, a number of alternating first and second circumferentially extending passages formed in the elongate body. Each first passage is separated from a respective adjacent second passage by a respective land and at least one transfer passage extending across each land so as to connect the first and second passages on each side of the land and provide a significant loss in fluid momentum.
US09488090B2 Cylinder block arrangement with an exhaust gas system
An engine block arrangement includes an engine block and an exhaust gas system. The exhaust gas system, viewed in the flow direction of an exhaust gas flow, includes an exhaust gas turbocharger, an oxidation catalytic converter, a feed device for a urea-water solution, a particle filter, and an SCR catalytic converter arranged one behind the other. The exhaust gas turbocharger, the oxidation catalytic converter, the feed device for the urea-water solution, the particle filter, and the SCR catalytic converter are situated together on the engine block along one side thereof, the side being oriented essentially perpendicularly with respect to an output side of the engine block.
US09488088B2 Work vehicle and method of controlling work vehicle
A work vehicle includes an engine, an exhaust gas purification apparatus, a reducing agent tank, an engine coolant circuit, a branch path, a valve, an accepting portion, a valve control unit, a fan, a radiator, a thermostat, and a fan control unit. The valve control unit gives an instruction for an opening operation of the valve in response to the operation instruction from the operator accepted by the accepting portion. The fan generates cooling wind in an engine room. The radiator cools the engine coolant with the cooling wind. The thermostat is provided between the circulation path and the radiator and operates to open for supplying the engine coolant to the radiator when a temperature of the engine coolant is equal to or higher than a prescribed temperature. The fan control unit increases the number of rotations of the fan in response to the operation instruction.
US09488085B2 Catalytic converter structures with induction heating
A catalytic converter assembly has a substrate body with a plurality of cells for passage therethrough of exhaust gases. Metal is located at predetermined locations in the substrate body. An electromagnetic field generator is mounted adjacent the substrate for generating a varying electromagnetic field inductively to heat the metal and so heat the substrate.
US09488074B2 Rockerless desmodromic valve system
A desmodromic valve system which provides direct bidirectional displacement of a valve stem of an internal combustion engine without the aid of a rocker arm, utilizing a semirigid basket operating in conjunction with a plurality of cams for each valve. The basket is disposed about the camshaft of the engine and secured to the valve stem by an integral retainer on a bottom portion of the basket, and is constrained to motion along the valve stem axis. The basket has a pair of downwardly oriented cam followers in the upper portion thereof, spaced apart from the valve stem axis. A central cam and a parallel pair of side cams are fixedly mounted on the camshaft so as to rotate therewith, the cams substantially surrounded by the basket and cooperating therewith to provide reciprocating valve action with positive bidirectional drive. The central cam is aligned with the valve stem axis, and the side cams are spaced apart from the valve stem axis, parallel to the central cam and respectively aligned with the cam followers. During a first part of a valve cycle, the central cam pushes the valve stem down so as to positively open the associated valve, and the valve stem pulls said basket down with it via the retainer. During a second part of the valve cycle, the side cams push the basket up via their respective cam followers and thereby cause the basket to pull the valve stem so as to positively close the valve.
US09488073B2 Turbine gear assembly support having symmetrical removal features
An exemplary gear assembly support for use in a gas turbine engine includes a support member having a portion that is configured to be coupled to a gear assembly. Another portion of the support member is configured to be coupled to a housing in a gas turbine engine. The support member includes a plurality of removal features that each have a plurality of engaging surfaces to facilitate a pulling force on the support member in a direction parallel to an axis through a center of the support member. The engaging surfaces on each of the removal features are oriented relative to each other to resist any bending moment on the support member during application of the pulling force.
US09488071B2 Piston ring anti-rotation
A squeeze film damper bearing assembly includes a bearing and a squirrel cage radially outward of and supporting the bearing. The squirrel cage includes a first piston ring groove, a second piston ring groove, and a first pocket connected to the first piston ring groove. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly also includes a first piston ring configured to fit into the first piston ring groove. The first piston ring includes a first end circumferentially spaced apart from a second end and an ear configured to fit into the first pocket to prevent the first piston ring from rotating in the first piston ring groove. The squeeze film damper bearing assembly also includes a second piston ring configured to fit into the second piston ring groove and a stationary housing radially outward of the squirrel cage.
US09488066B2 Turbine vane of steam turbine and steam turbine
Vane members have a space formed therein and a plate spring member is disposed inside the space of the vane members and elastically contacts inner surfaces of the vane members. The plate spring member includes a positioning portion, an elastic contact portion, and a connection portion. The elastic contact portion is divided into a plurality of segments in a length direction of the vane members. The elastic contact portion elastically contacts the inner surfaces of the vane members without any partial contact throughout an entire surface thereof. The elastic contact area between the elastic contact portion and the inner surfaces of the vane members is widened.
US09488061B2 Compressor seal assembly for a turbocharger
A compressor seal assembly is disclosed. The compressor seal assembly may have a seal ring having a seal ring bore. The compressor seal assembly may also have a collar. The collar may have a cap portion having a first bore configured to receive an impeller. The cap portion may be disposed in the seal ring bore. The collar may further have a journal portion having a second bore configured to receive a shaft connectable to the impeller. The collar may also have a slinger disposed between the cap portion and the journal portion. The slinger may have a generally cylindrical shape and may have a front face. The slinger may also have a rear face opposite the front face. Further, the slinger may have a cylindrical side surface extending between the front face and the rear face. In addition, the slinger may have a groove disposed on the side surface.
US09488051B2 Axially balancing a turbine using low temperature exhaust
A single-flow turbine using CO2 as a working fluid. The turbine includes a balance piston portion configured to optimize an axial load of a rotor on a bearing with a fluid having a temperature lower than a temperature of the working fluid introduced into the turbine, wherein a flow path in which at least a part of the fluid passing through the balance piston portion is extracted from a middle part of the passing, and in which at least a part of the extracted fluid is urged to flow to a middle part of a passage where the working fluid passes and where rotor blades at a plurality of stages are provided, is formed at the turbine.
US09488045B2 System and method for controlling a downhole tool
A system and method for communicating with a downhole tool. A downhole tool includes a downlink receiver and a command actuator. The downlink receiver receives control information, encoded in rotation of the tool, that controls operation of the tool. The downlink receiver includes a rotation sensor and a decoder. The rotation sensor senses rotation of the tool about a longitudinal axis. The decoder demarcates fields of the control information based on rotation state transitions sensed by the rotation sensor. The rotation state transitions are transitions between a rotating state and a non-rotating state. The decoder also decodes a control value for controlling the tool based on a duration of a field of the control information. The control value is wholly encoded in the field, and the field is encoded as a non-rotating state of the tool. The command actuator applies the control value to control operation of the tool.
US09488044B2 Valuing future well test under uncertainty
The present invention relates to a method and system for quantifying the value-of-information (VoI) of a proposed and future well test where multiple uncertainties associated with the reservoir properties and/or measurement and/or interpretation may be present.
US09488040B2 Cyclic solvent hydrocarbon recovery process using an advance-retreat movement of the injectant
Herein is a cyclic solvent-dominated recovery process (CSDRP) for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir. The cyclic solvent process involves using an injection well to inject a viscosity-reducing solvent into the underground reservoir. Reduced viscosity oil is produced to the surface using the same well used to inject solvent. The process of alternately injecting solvent and producing a solvent/viscous oil blend through the same well continues in a series of cycles until additional cycles are no longer economical. To contact uncovered hydrocarbons between solvent fingers, the injection includes alternating injection and production, for creating an advance-retreat movement.
US09488036B2 Drilling shaft abutting apparatus
A drilling shaft abutting apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a plate having an arcuate edge. The arcuate edge is configured to at least partially encircle a drilling shaft. The apparatus also includes a first blade mounted on the plate for pivoting movement between a first retracted position and a first fully-pivoted position. The first blade passes across the arcuate edge during movement between the first retracted position and the first fully-pivoted position. The first blade prevents items from falling down a hole at least partially occupied by the drilling shaft. The apparatus includes at least one actuator operable to selectively urge the first blade to at least one of the first retracted position and the first fully-pivoted position.
US09488027B2 Fiber reinforced polymer matrix nanocomposite downhole member
A downhole composite component is disclosed. The downhole composite component includes a tubular member, the tubular member comprising a fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite. The fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite includes a polymer matrix, the polymer matrix having an unfilled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity. The polymer matrix also includes a nanoparticle filler comprising a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed within the polymer matrix, the polymer matrix and dispersed nanoparticle filler having a filled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity, the filled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity being greater than the unfilled matrix compressive modulus of elasticity. The fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite also includes a plurality of reinforcing fibers, the plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded within the polymer matrix, the polymer matrix and plurality of reinforcing fibers having the form of the tubular member, the tubular member configured to receive a compressive stress.
US09488016B2 Spherical ball skate for continuous well string injectors
A skate for an injector apparatus in which gripper dies on a pair of endless chains driven around respective closed loop paths on different sides a continuous wellbore string are forced against the continuous string by forcing a set of the skates toward theretoward from inside the closed loop paths of the endless chains. The inventive skate features a skate body carrying a plurality of spherical balls that are exposed on a side of the skate that faces toward the continuous string in order to allow riding of endless chains over exposed surfaces of the spherical balls as the endless chains are driven through the respective closed-loop paths, whereby the gripper dies ride over the spherical balls of said skates under the forcing of said skates toward the continuous string.
US09488011B2 Selectively leached cutter
The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting element used as drill bit cutting elements (10). The method includes leaching a PCD body formed from diamond particles (202) using a binder-catalyzing material so as to remove substantially all of the binder-catalyzing material from portions of a cutting surface of the PCD body. A portion (24) of the cutting surface is identified as a cutting area which, in use of the cutting element to cut material, is heated by the cutting action of the cutting element. Leaching of the PCD body includes performing a relatively deep leach in the portion of the cutting surface identified as the cutting area and performing a relatively shallow leach in at least the portion (26) of the cutting surface surrounding the identified cutting area.
US09488010B2 Hammer drill
A downhole apparatus connected to a workstring within a wellbore. The workstring is connected to a bit member. The apparatus includes a mandrel operatively connected to a downhole motor mechanism, an anvil member operatively formed on the bit member, the anvil member being operatively connected to the mandrel, a radial bearing housing unit operatively connected to the workstring, with the radial bearing housing unit being disposed about the mandrel, and a hammer member slidably attached to the radial bearing housing unit.
US09488002B2 Stepladder with latch stud and method
A stepladder includes a front section having a first front leg and a second front leg. The stepladder includes a step attached to the first front leg and the second front leg. The stepladder includes a latch engaged with the step. The stepladder includes a rear section having a first rear leg and a second rear leg and a cross bar attached to the first rear leg and the second rear leg. The rear section is pivotably attached to the front section. The rear section has a first stud which extends from the first rear leg toward the second rear leg and separate and apart and not in contact with the second rear leg and not in contact with the cross bar. The latch is engaged with and latched to the first stud to define an engaged position where the first front leg and the first rear leg are in an open position and form an inverted v shape and are prevented from folding together, and the latch when pulled up from the engaged position, disengages from the first stud and allows the front section and rear section to fold together into a closed position where the first rear leg and the first front leg are in parallel. A method of positioning a step ladder.
US09487999B2 Gazebo screen installation system
A gazebo screen installation system is disclosed that is operable to allow screen frame assemblies to be installed in gazebos. The system includes a gazebo screen frame having a wedge portion and a trim portion. The trim portion includes a mounting rib extending upwardly from an upper surface of the trim portion and the wedge portion extends downwardly from said trim portion. A backing wedge strip is included having an angled surface and a mounting surface. The angled surface is formed in relation to the mounting surface such that a right angle forming angle is created in relation to a screen material when the backing wedge strip is connected with a vertical support member of a gazebo.
US09487995B2 Window covering sizing method and apparatus
An apparatus for cutting a window covering comprises a saw blade for cutting a plurality of different types of window coverings. A first controllable drive moves the saw blade into engagement with a window covering selected from the plurality of different types of the window coverings. A second controllable drive for rotates the saw blade. A preferred saw blade feed rate and a preferred saw blade speed for each of the plurality of different types of window coverings is determined. The first variable drive and the second variable drive are controlled based on the preferred saw blade feed rate and the preferred saw blade speed for the window covering being cut.
US09487993B2 Spacer for a vacuum glazing panel, corresponding vacuum glazing panel and production process
The invention relates to a spacer (8) to be sandwiched between first and second glass sheets (5) of a vacuum glazing panel, such as to maintain a first space between the glass sheets, which space forms a first cavity (4) under a vacuum of less than 1 mbar, a sealing joint (1) being positioned on the periphery of the glass sheets enclosing the first cavity. According to the invention, one such spacer (8) comprises cold-worked austenitic stainless steel.
US09487983B2 Detent hood hinge
A detent hood hinge which includes a hinge bracket fixed to a vehicle body, and a hinge arm rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket at a first end, a hood being coupled to a second end of the hinge arm may include a detent bracket coupled to the hinge arm and having a slide hole perforated on one side, a sleeve pin mounted so as to protrude from the slide hole at one end and coupled to the detent bracket so as to be slidable along the slide hole, a spring configured to be elastically deformed in accordance with sliding of the sleeve pin, and a lock stopper fixed to the hinge bracket and formed with a seating groove.
US09487967B2 Kit for temporary wire barriers
A kit for a temporary barrier includes at least two vertical post members, a contiguous wire and a tensioning device. The at least two vertical post members define respective top and bottom ends thereof and are positioned on an underlying surface in a spaced apart relationship. The wire runs between the two vertical post members at least towards their respective top ends and at least towards their respective bottom ends thereby providing a top wire portion and a bottom wire portion extending between the two vertical post members. The two vertical post members have respective arcuate bodies along their respective length for arcuately receiving the wire. The tensioning device is mounted to one of the two vertical post members near one of the top or bottom ends thereof and provides tension to the wire. A barrier is provided by the previous kit. A method for building a temporary kit includes mounting vertical posts on an underlying surface in a spaced apart relationship and running a wire between them.