Document	Document Title
US09554495B2	Electro-optic displays, and materials and methods for production thereof An electro-optic display is produced using a sub-assembly comprising a front sheet, an electro-optic medium; and an adhesive layer. An aperture is formed through the adhesive layer where the adhesive layer is not covered by the electro-optic medium, and the sub-assembly is adhered to a backplane having a co-operating member with the aperture engaged with a co-operating member, thus locating the sub-assembly relative to the backplane. In another form of electro-optic display, a chip extends through an aperture in the electro-optic medium and adhesive layer. In a third form, the aforementioned sub-assembly is secured to a backplane and then a cut is made through both backplane and sub-assembly to provide an aligned edge.
US09554488B2	Method to align surface mount packages for thermal enhancement A surface mount device is disclosed. The surface mount device can include an electronic component operable in an electronic circuit. The surface mount device can also include a heat transfer component thermally coupled to the electronic component. The heat transfer component can have a heat transfer surface configured to interface with a heat sink. In addition, the surface mount device can include a resiliently flexible lead to electrically couple the electronic component to a circuit board. The resiliently flexible lead can be configured to resiliently deflect to facilitate a variable distance of the heat transfer surface from the circuit board, to enable the heat transfer surface and a planar heat transfer surface of another similarly configured surface mount device to be substantially aligned for interfacing with the heat sink.
US09554486B2	Heat dissipation system An electronic component includes a component enclosure. At least one subcomponent is positioned within the component enclosure. The at least one subcomponent is configured to be thermally coupled to the component enclosure.
US09554473B2	Apparatus and method for providing an embedded structure and for providing an electro-optical device including the same An apparatus for providing a patterned structure includes a deposition facility for depositing an electrically conductive material on a cylindrical surface of a transfer roll, a supply facility for providing a flexible substrate with a carrier layer, a press-roll for pressing the flexible substrate with the carrier layer against the surface of the transfer roll, the press-roll being positioned in the rotation direction of the transfer roll with respect to a position where the first deposition facility deposits the substance on the transfer roll, and being arranged for embedding the deposited substance in said carrier layer, wherein the adhesion between the printed substance and the cylindrical surface of the transfer roll is less than the adhesion between the printed substance and said carrier layer, a transport facility for releasing the flexible substrate with the carrier layer embedding the substance as the patterned structure from the transfer roll.
US09554469B2	Method of fabricating a polymer frame with a rectangular array of cavities An array of chip sockets defined by an organic matrix framework surrounding sockets through the organic matrix framework and a method of fabrication, the chip sockets are characterized by being rectangular with smooth walls that meet at corners that have radii of curvature of less than 100 microns thereby facilitating a close fit of each socket to the intended chip size, enabling compact chip packaging and miniaturization.
US09554462B2	Printed wiring board A printed wiring board includes a multilayer core substrate, a first buildup layer formed on the multilayer core substrate and including an interlayer insulation layer and a conductive layer, a second buildup layer formed on the multilayer core substrate and including an interlayer resin insulation layer and a conductive layer, and an end-surface through hole conductor formed on side surfaces of the first and second buildup layers and core substrate such that the through hole conductor connects the conductive layers of the first and second buildup layers. The core substrate includes a first conductive layer, a middle conductive layer, a second conductive layer, a first insulation layer between the first and middle conductive layers and a second insulation layer between the second and middle conductive layers, and the middle conductive layer is connected to the through-hole conductor and has thickness greater than thicknesses of the first and second conductive layers.
US09554457B2	Package for multiple light emitting diodes Substrates and packages for LED-based light devices can significantly improve thermal performance and provide separate electrical and thermal paths through the substrate. One substrate includes multiple electrically insulating base layers. On a top one of these layers are disposed top-side electrical contacts, including light device pads to accommodate a plurality of light devices. External electrical contacts are disposed on an exterior surface of the substrate. Electrical paths connect the top-side electrical contacts to the external electrical contacts. At least portions of some of the electrical paths are disposed between the electrically insulating base layers. The electrical paths can be arranged such that different subsets of the light device pads are addressable independently of each other. A heat dissipation plate can be formed on the bottom surface of a bottom one of the base layers.
US09554454B2	Devices and methods to reduce differential signal pair crosstalk Generally discussed herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods that relate to reducing crosstalk in a differential signal pair. According to an example, a device may include a first pair of differential signal lines comprising a first signal line and a second signal line proximate the first signal line, the first signal line and the second signal line separated from each other along a first line, and a second pair of differential signal lines comprising a third signal line proximate a fourth signal, the third signal line and the fourth signal separated from each other along a second line generally perpendicular to the first line.
US09554453B2	Printed circuit board structure with heat dissipation function A printed circuit board (PCB) structure with a heat dissipation function is provided, including: a package substrate; a landing pad formed over a portion of the package substrate from a first surface thereof, wherein the landing pad has a rectangular configuration and has a plurality of corners; a plurality of ground traces formed over various portions of the package substrate, physically connecting to the bond pad from at least two of the corners thereof, respectively; a first through hole formed through the landing pad and the package substrate from substantially a center portion of the bonding pad; and a plurality of second through holes formed through the landing pad and the package substrate from substantially one of the corners of the bonding pad, wherein the second through holes are adjacent to the ground traces, respectively.
US09554448B2	Illumination control device, light source for illumination, and illumination system An illumination control device (100) includes a motion detector (110) and a control unit (150) which perform control of illuminance, color, or distribution of light of an illumination light source (210) based on a result of detection by the motion detector (110).
US09554446B2	Calibration operation of a lighting device A controller comprising: presence detection logic, calibration logic, and an input for receiving a reading from a light sensor representing a sensed light level. The presence detection logic is for detecting presence events based on a presence sensor, and is configured to indicate a set-point to operate at least one lighting device in dependence on a positive detection of presence. The calibration logic is for performing a calibration operation, which is performed by causing a light output of the lighting device to change between a first, lower level and a second, higher level, and by and calibrating the set-point based on the reading from the light sensor under influence of the first and second levels. The calibration logic is configured to trigger this calibration operation in response to the positive detection of presence.
US09554445B2	Color point and/or lumen output correction device, lighting system with color point and/or lumen output correction, lighting device, and methods of lighting A portable device comprising a light detector, a correction calculator and a correction output element. In some aspects, (1) correction (and/or adjustment) is of color point, lumen output, or both, (2) the portable device is a smart phone or a computing device, and/or (3) a wireless correction signal is transmitted and received. Lighting system, comprising a light source, and a portable device that comprises a light detector, a correction calculator, and a correction output element. Lighting device comprising a light source and a receiver. A method comprising detecting light with a light detector of a portable device, generating a correction signal, and outputting the correction signal with a correction output element of the portable device. Method comprising placing a portable device in a calibration location, illuminating a lighting device, and detecting light emitted from the lighting device with a light detector of the portable device that has a correction calculator.
US09554444B2	Device and method for retrofitting or converting or adapting series circuits Method and device for adapting a series constant power system to operate constant voltage lighting.
US09554441B2	Current balancing for light-emitting-diode-based illumination systems A system includes first, second, and third sets of LEDs. The first set of LEDs generates ultraviolet light and converts the ultraviolet light to blue light using a phosphor coated on the first set of LEDs. The second and third sets of LEDs generate blue light and convert the blue light to green, yellow, and red light using phosphors coated on the second and third sets of LEDs. The second set of LEDs outputs less red light than green light. The third set of LEDs outputs less green light than red light. A combination of the blue, green, yellow, and red light output by the first, second, and third sets of LEDs produces white light.
US09554436B2	Power supply for LED lighting system Embodiments relate to a LED lighting system comprising a power supply circuit for supplying a power supply current to a LED strip (200). The power supply circuit (100) includes input terminals (K1, K2) for receiving a power voltage from a power supply voltage, output terminals (K3, K4) connected to the input terminals of the LED strip (200), a sensing module (106) coupled between the output terminals (K3, K4) for measuring an impedance of the LED strip (200). The sensing module is adapted to drive a switch (104) and to transmit a measured impedance value to a driver module (108). The driver module (108) is adapted to generate the power supply current depending on the length of the LED strip (200), as reflected by the measured impedance value.
US09554434B2	Light emitting diode driver having a logic unit for generating a frequency control signal A light-emitting diode driver includes a power switch, a logic unit and a pulse adjustment signal generator. The power switch is used to control a charging level of a light-emitting diode voltage terminal, and controlled to be turned on or off by a pulse-width modulation signal. The logic unit is coupled to a control terminal of the power switch, and used to generate a frequency control signal. The pulse adjustment signal generator is coupled to the logic unit, and used to generate an operational wave according to the frequency control signal and update the pulse-width modulation signal according to the operational wave. When the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal is smaller than a pulse-width modulation threshold, the operational wave has a first frequency. When the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation signal is larger than the pulse-width modulation threshold, the operational wave has a second frequency higher than the first frequency.
US09554431B2	LED driver An LED driver having an input to receive AC power from an AC power source, a semiconductor switch and an inductor controlled to produce a sinusoidal current drawn from the AC power source, and a large non-electrolytic (e.g. film) capacitor energy storage component. The semiconductor switch operates with a varying pulse-width-modulation frequency to regulate the voltage across the non-electrolytic capacitor energy storage component in such a way that a ripple current through the inductor is substantially smaller than a pulse-width-modulation cycle average current through the inductor. A DC-to-DC converter couples the energy from the non-electrolytic energy-storage capacitor to an LED string. A feedback loop allows the LED string to be regulated in either constant current mode or constant power mode and information for the feedback regulation is fed back across a high-voltage boundary using a low-cost signal transformer.
US09554430B2	Lighting system with an interface having a power supply unit and at least one light source module Various embodiments may relate to a power supply unit, including an output for outputting an operating current depending on an internal measurement signal, a communications line, and a current-measuring device, which is connected to the communications line. The current-measuring device is designed to generate a current on the communications line which is proportional to the conductance of a current-setting resistance. The current-measuring device has a current mirror, which is designed to mirror the generated current on the communications line. The current-measuring device is designed to convert the mirrored current into an internal measurement signal with a reference potential which is different than the communications line. At least one light source module is connectable to the output, wherein the at least one light source module has the current-setting resistance, which is connectable to the communications line.
US09554426B2	Induction heat cooking apparatus and method for controlling output level thereof Provided is an induction heat cooking apparatus. The induction heat cooking apparatus includes a rectifying part rectifying an input voltage to output a DC voltage, an inverter switching the DC voltage outputted through the rectifying part to generate an AC voltage, a first heating part operated by the AC voltage applied from the inverter, a second heating part connected to the first heating part in parallel, the second heating part being operated by the AC voltage applied from the inverter, and a switching signal generation part controlling an operation state of each of the first and second heating parts from the inverter according to an operation mode inputted from the outside. The switching signal generation part includes a photo coupler.
US09554422B2	Systems and methods using external heater systems in microfluidic devices The present invention relates to methods and systems that result in high quality, reproducible, thermal melt analysis on a microfluidic platform. The present invention relates to methods and systems using thermal systems including heat spreading devices, including interconnection methods and materials developed to connect heat spreaders to microfluidic devices. The present invention also relates to methods and systems for controlling, measuring, and calibrating the thermal systems of the present invention.
US09554421B2	Oven appliance having resistive touchscreen and method for operating same Oven appliances and methods for operating oven appliances are provided. An oven appliance includes a cooking assembly, the cooking assembly including a heating element. The oven appliance further includes a user interface panel, the user interface panel comprising a resistive touchscreen operable to transmit electrical signals. The oven appliance further includes a controller in communication with the resistive touchscreen and the heating element. The controller is operable to receive the electrical signals, select a calibration set based on a temperature-related operating condition, and interpret the electrical signals based on the selected calibration set.
US09554415B1	Methods and apparatus to improve a network connection via a connected vehicle Methods are apparatus are disclosed to improve a network connection of a cellular-enabled device via a connected vehicle. An example method disclosed herein include receiving an indication that a first cellular-enabled device is within range of a cellular-enabled vehicle to which the first cellular-enabled device has a connection relationship. When a first signal strength associated with the cellular-enabled vehicle is greater than a second signal strength associated with the first cellular-enabled device, the example method includes instructing the cellular-enabled vehicle to establish a first connection between the cellular-enabled vehicle and a cellular network using a first subscriber identifier stored in the first cellular-enabled device. The example method also includes instructing the cellular-enabled vehicle to establish a second connection between the cellular-enabled vehicle and the first cellular-enabled device, and routing first cellular data associated with the first cellular-enable device between the cellular network and the first cellular-enable device via cellular-enabled vehicle.
US09554413B2	Case-based radio platform for wireless network One aspect of an apparatus for wireless communications is disclosed. The apparatus includes a controller, a first transceiver, and a second transceiver. The first transceiver is configurable by the controller to support first communications through a cellular network to at least one of a packet-based network and a circuit-switched network. The second transceiver configurable by the controller to operate with the first transceiver to support first communications through the cellular network in a first mode and support second communications through an access point to the packet-based network in a second mode. In an aspect, the second transceiver is further configured to switch from the first mode to the second mode by moving its wireless connection from the cellular network to the access point while maintaining a network-layer connection to the cellular network.
US09554409B2	Communication terminal apparatus, communication control system, and communication control method A communication terminal apparatus includes: an assigning part configured to assign a usage right of a first subframe, from among a plurality of subframes included in a frame, to a base station, in a case where terminal-to-terminal communication is performed by transmission and reception of the frame directly with a different communication terminal apparatus, based on frequency information reported from the base station; and an acquiring part configured to acquire, during the terminal-to-terminal communication, information from the base station from the first subframe.
US09554406B2	Method for device to device communication and control node using the same The present disclosure proposes a method for device to device (D2D) communication. The method includes the step of receiving from the first device a first callee identification (ID) as the first device is handed over to the control node, searching for the second device having a second callee ID in response to receiving from the first device the first callee ID, determining that the second device has been found includes when the first callee ID is identical to the second callee ID, and arranging for the D2D communication between the first device and the second device in response to the second device is found when a first condition is fulfilled, wherein the first condition is fulfilled at least includes the second device has been found when the first callee ID is identical to the second callee ID.
US09554405B2	Wireless speaker for receiving from a mobile phone directions to receive and render a playlist from a content server on the internet An apparatus for playing media includes a network transceiver for communicating with a remote control device and a server. The apparatus provides a device identifier to the remote control device, receives a playlist from the device, sends a media item identifier to a server, and receives a media item from the server. In some embodiments the apparatus is a standalone speaker device, the remote control is a touchscreen cellular phone, and the media item is an audio item. In other embodiments the apparatus is a television. In some embodiments the server comprises a playlist server and a content server. After joining a local network, the remote control is operable to control the apparatus without direct input at the device. In some embodiments the apparatus receives the media item from the content server. In other embodiments the media item flows through the remote control.
US09554404B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting frame in wireless local area network (WLAN) system A frame transmission method, for receiving data in a wireless local area network. A destination station establishes a direct link with a source station. The destination station receives a first physical layer protocol data unit (PPDU) from the source station via the direct link. The destination station receives a second PPDU from a relay station via a relay link. In addition, the second PPDU is received by the relay station from the source station and is forwarded by the relay station to the destination station. Furthermore, the first PPDU includes a sequence field indicating that the second PPDU is to be transmitted via the relay link.
US09554401B2	Method and apparatuses for multimedia priority service The invention relates to an apparatus and method for transmitting a request to control a multimedia priority service for a user from user equipment to a subscription profile repository, comprising transmitting the request from the user equipment to an intermediate node, and transmitting the request from the intermediate node to a subscription profile repository.
US09554395B2	Communication control device, communication control method, terminal device, program, and communication control system Provided is a communication control device that controls radio communication conducted by a terminal device according to a time-division duplex (TDD) scheme on a radio communication network, the communication control device including a configuration section that configures, for each frame that includes a plurality of subframes, a link direction configuration expressing a link direction per subframe for the radio communication. The configuration section configures a timing of control signaling in a second link direction which is associated with data transmission in a first link direction in the radio communication, and which is opposite to the first link direction, independently of the configured link direction configuration.
US09554391B2	Method for mitigating interference when changing use of dynamic resource in wireless communication system, and device therefor The present application discloses a method whereby a base station transmits/receives signals to/from user equipment in a wireless communication system. More specifically, the method comprises the steps of: applying one of at least one candidate resource setting as a resource setting for the signal transmission/reception; and transmitting/receiving signals to/from the user equipment in accordance with the applied resource setting, the method being characterized by: decreasing transmission power for a downlink signal if the downlink signal is transmitted, in a resource designated for uplink signal reception from the user equipment according to a predetermined reference resource setting, to the user equipment according to the applied resource setting; and increasing transmission power for an uplink signal or decreasing the coding rate of the uplink signal if the uplink signal is received, in a resource designated for downlink signal transmission to the user equipment according to the reference resource setting, from the user equipment according to the applied resource setting.
US09554388B2	Method and apparatus of resource sharing for device-to-device and cellular communications The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus of resource sharing for D2D and cellular communications. The method may comprise: determining a cellular user set containing potential cellular users that may share resources with a D2D pair; and determining transmit power of the D2D pair on a frequency band of at least one cellular user in the cellular user set and transmit power of the at least one cellular user through maximizing throughput of the D2D pair with a quality of service (QoS) constraint and a power budget constraint of each of the potential cellular users and a transmit power constraint of the D2D pair. With embodiments of the present disclosure, it may provide a non-orthogonal resource sharing solution in which a D2D pair can reuse resources of the cellular users as more as possible while the QoS of all the cellular users are guaranteed, whereby the performance of the D2D user may be improved greatly.
US09554381B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting or receiving an additional demodulation reference signal based on a channel state information reference signal resource pattern A method for transmitting a second demodulation reference signal added to support an additional antenna port (referred to as a “second antenna” hereinafter) in a downlink subframe having an extended cyclic prefix (CP), in which a resource (referred to as a “first resource pattern” hereinafter) to which a first demodulation reference signal will be mapped is configured, through a predetermined number of antenna ports (referred to as a “first antenna” hereinafter) in a wireless communication system includes: specifying positions of resources to which a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) is mapped in subframe(s) in which the CSI-RS is not transmitted and a subframe in which the CSI-RS is transmitted on the basis of CSI-RS configuration information; selecting a resource (referred to as a “second resource pattern” hereinafter) to which the second demodulation reference signal will be mapped from resources of the subframe(s) in which the CSI-RS is not transmitted, the resources corresponding to the positions of the resources to which the CSI-RS is mapped; and mapping the second demodulation reference signal to the second resource pattern.
US09554369B2	Transmission of acknowledgement signals from a user equipment for orthogonal reception at multiple points Methods and user equipment (UE) apparatuses are provided to transmit a control signal using a first sequence or a second sequence in response to a detected control channel. The method includes identifying, through higher layer signaling, a configuration; determining a resource for control signal transmission from a sum of a lowest control channel element (CCE) index of the detected control channel and either a first offset or a second offset based on the identified configuration; and transmitting the control signal in the resource using the first sequence or the second sequence.
US09554360B2	Apparatus and method for improving data throughput of a tune-away operation in a wireless communication system Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communication devices and methods configured to operate with multiple communication protocols in tune-away operations. Some aspects of the present disclosure may improve the legacy tune-away operations at an access terminal. An access terminal establishes a call utilizing a first communication protocol, tunes away from the call to receive cell signaling utilizing a second communication protocol, and tunes back to the call utilizing the first communication protocol. Following the tuning back, during a first predetermined number of subframes and if the size of a reverse link (RL) packet is smaller than a first packet size and larger than a second packet size, the access terminal forces the RL packet to be a low latency (LoLat) packet.
US09554358B2	Methods and apparatus for optimizing paging mechanisms using device context information Methods and apparatus enabling a wireless network to optimize paging channel operation, based on mobile device context information. In one embodiment, the wireless network is a cellular network (e.g., LTE-Advanced), and both base stations and cellular user devices dynamically exchange and maintain a paging agreement. The paging agreement limits the paging channel operation, thereby minimizing unnecessary scanning and usage of irrelevant radio resources. Such paging mechanisms are limited to the air interface between the base station and the mobile device, and are compatible with existing legacy devices and network entities. Networks with appropriately enabled user devices may improve their resource utilization. Base stations may advantageously reclaim freed-up cellular resources to support other services.
US09554355B2	Methods and systems for providing notifications based on user activity data Systems and methods are presented for providing notifications based on user activity data. In some embodiments, a method is presented. The method may include accessing first sensor data associated with a first activity of a user. The method may also include determining that the user is engaged in the first activity based at least in part on the first sensor data, receiving a notification while the user is engaged in the first activity, and determining to not present or in other words, hold the notification while the user is engaged in the first activity. In some embodiments, the method may also include accessing second sensor data associated with the user, determining that the user is no longer engaged in the first activity based at least in part on the second sensor data, and presenting the notification while the user is no longer engaged in the first activity.
US09554348B2	Timing synchronization of wireless networks A single wireless slave node may be in a timing virtual network (TVN) with neighboring wireless slave nodes. The single wireless slave node may store information indicative of the identity, link propagation delay, and channel signature of each of its neighboring wireless slave nodes. The single wireless slave node may repeatedly update a timing estimate based on the stored information and by performing a physical layer fast reference signal broadcast transmission and reception.
US09554344B2	Bluetooth assisted NAN cluster discovery Disclosed herein are techniques to enable discovery of a NAN cluster using low-power communication. According to such techniques, a NAN discovery beacon including information indicative of a schedule for communication using a first radio is transmitted using a second radio that utilizes a lower amount of power relative to the first radio.
US09554343B2	Radio communication method, radio base station, user terminal and radio communication system The present invention is designed to report transmit power information of each subframe adequately when a plurality of transmit power are set in a plurality of subframes constituting radio frames. A radio base station performs the steps of setting at least three or more kinds of varying transmit power in a plurality of subframes constituting a radio frame, and also determining a power ratio between a reference signal and a shared data channel signal in each subframe, generating bitmap information that represents a type pattern of transmit power set in the plurality of subframes, reporting the bitmap information and the power ratio to a user terminal and/or another radio base station, and generating the bitmap information with reference to a table in which the power ratio of each subframe and identifiers are associated with each other.
US09554339B2	Method for controlling uplink transmission power in wireless communication system and device therefor The present invention relates to a method for controlling uplink transmission power of a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting an uplink signal according to a predetermined uplink-downlink configuration with respect to a serving cell, receiving first transmission power control information for a first set of uplink sub-frames and second transmission power control information for a second set of uplink sub-frames from the serving cell, and transmitting a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) on a particular sub-frame included in the second set of uplink sub-frames, according to the second transmission power control information, wherein the second set of uplink sub-frames is configured by at least one uplink sub-frame specified by a upper layer signaling among a plurality of uplink sub-frames according to the predetermined uplink-downlink configuration.
US09554334B2	RSRP mobility state estimation for cellular device Generally discussed herein are systems and apparatuses that can implement a Mobility State Estimation (MSE) of a User Equipment (UE) and techniques for using the MSE algorithms. According to an example technique to determine the MSE of a UE can include determining, using the UE, a maximum Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) within a cell, determining, using the UE, a minimum RSRP within the cell, determining, using the UE, a difference between the maximum and minimum RSRP, and determining, using the UE, an MSE of the UE as a function of the determined difference.
US09554318B2	Method and apparatus for providing seamless call handoff between networks that use dissimilar transmission methods Call handoff from an 802.1x network to a cellular network, and vice versa. A wireless device that has both cellular and 802.1x capability detects the strength of a cellular signal and of an 802.1x signal. If a call is taking place over the 802.1x network and the strength of the 802.1x signal drops below a particular level and the strength of the cellular signal is above a certain level, the call is handed off from the 802.1x network to the cellular network. If a call is taking place over the cellular network and the cellular signal strength drops below a certain level while the 802.1x signal strength is above a certain level, the call is handed off from the cellular network to the 802.1x network. In addition, the user of the wireless device can manually initiate the handoff by actuating a handoff selector of the wireless device.
US09554313B2	Enhanced mobility to home base station cells Cell relocation procedures to address handover between a macro radio network controller (RNC) and a home base station in a wireless communication network, while accounting for access control or membership verification procedures needed to support a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG) at the home base station. An example method begins with the receiving of a request for handover of the mobile terminal from an RNC of the macro wireless network. A closed subscriber group (CSG) identifier for the home base station and a cell access mode for the home base station are then sent, to a core network node associated with the macro wireless network, for use by the core network node in membership verification or access control for the mobile terminal. In response, the home base station receives a CSG membership status for the mobile terminal from the core network node.
US09554312B2	Message transfer for in-band signaling messages in radio access networks A method and apparatus for handling in-band signaling messages in radio access networks is provided. The method and apparatus may setup a logical channel, where the logical channel provides packet data control protocol in-band signaling for radio bearers, provide a unique logical channel identifier for the logical channel, receive a packet with a logical channel identifier tag and identify a packet data unit of the packet as a signaling packet data unit.
US09554309B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting indicator in wireless communication system A method and apparatus for transmitting an indicator in a wireless communication system is provided. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a source eNodeB (eNB) initiates handover for a user equipment (UE), it informs a target eNB about whether the handover is to avoid in-device coexistence (IDC) interference problems or not. Alternatively, according to another embodiment of the present invention, an eNB, which the UE reestablished, informs an eNB, which radio link failure (RLF) of the UE occurred, about that the cause of UE's RLF was IDC interference.
US09554298B2	Method and apparatus for measuring interference in a wireless communication system Provided are a method and apparatus for measuring interference in a wireless communication system. A terminal receives, from a base station, a zero-power channel state information (CSI) reference signal (RS) indicator that indicates whether or not to estimate interference using a zero-power CSI RS signal, and, according to the zero-power CSI RS indicator, measures interference on the basis of the zero-power CSI RS.
US09554296B2	Device trigger recall/replace feature for 3GPP/M2M systems Embodiments for managing device trigger action requests are generally described herein. The device trigger action requests may include a recall or replacement Device-Action Request. In some embodiments, a Device-Action Request command is received at a network entry point node from an external services capability server with an action type attribute value pair set to indicate a device trigger action request for performing an action on an old device trigger request, the network entry point node determines a status of the old device trigger request from the external services capability server and the network entry point node sends a Device-Action Answer command to the external services capability server with a request-status type attribute value pair to report a status of the old device trigger request in response to the device trigger action request for performing an action on the old device trigger request.
US09554292B2	Methods and systems for performance monitoring for mobile applications The present invention is directed towards methods and systems for performance monitoring for mobile applications. In an embodiment, a method of monitoring performance of a mobile application is provided. A mobile application is operated on a wireless mobile device. A progress indicator being displayed on a display screen of the mobile device during operation of the mobile application on the wireless mobile device is automatically detected. Data indicative of a time duration of the progress indicator is obtained. The data indicative of the time duration is communicated to a centralized server.
US09554289B2	Management method, apparatus, and system for coverage optimization Embodiments of the present invention disclose a management method, apparatus, and system for coverage optimization. The method includes obtaining measurement reports of a coverage optimization target region, and determining an actual value of a coverage optimization target within the coverage optimization target region according to the measurement reports. Coverage optimization processing is performed on the coverage optimization target region when the actual value of the coverage optimization target is smaller than a preset expected value of the coverage optimization target. According to the embodiments of the present invention, automatic determination is implemented to determine whether the coverage optimization processing needs to be performed on the coverage optimization target region, thereby improving management efficiency of coverage optimization.
US09554284B2	Wireless over PON A system for communicating wireless signals includes a passive optical network (PON) between a central office (CO) and network subscribers. The CO has an optical line terminal (OLT) and a wireless base station. An RF/Optic converter converts base station radio frequency (RF) signals to and from corresponding optical signals. An optical combiner combines signals of the OLT and signals of the RF/Optic converter for communication over the PON with at least one optical network unit (ONU) at a location of one or more of the network subscribers, so that signals of the OLT and converted wireless base station signals are carried together over the PON. A fiber mounted wireless antenna unit (FMCA) having an optical interface and a wireless antenna, and communicating wireless signals of the wireless antenna with the ONU, including performing conversions between wireless RF signals and optical signals.
US09554282B2	Apparatus and method for sharing radio spectrum resources among disparate services A method for use in mobile station. The method comprises detecting a special code transmitted by first base station, wherein the special code is associated with a border of a restricted area. The method further comprises, in response to detection of the transmitted special code, determining a position of the mobile station and comparing the position of the mobile station to the border of the restricted area. The method also comprises determining whether the mobile station is in the restricted area or a permitted area.
US09554278B2	Relay apparatus, relay method, relay system, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium A relay apparatus detects a request, sent from a communication apparatus, to grant an access authority for a desired resource, sends, in the case where the request to grant the access authority has been detected, an authorization request requesting the granting of the access authority to a server, receives an authorization response, which is a response to the authorization request, from the server, saves the authorization response, generates an authorization relay response based on the authorization response, and sends the authorization relay response to the communication apparatus, wherein in the case where a request to grant the access authority sent from another communication apparatus different from the communication apparatus has been detected, the relay apparatus sends the authorization relay response in response to the request to the other communication apparatus based on the saved authorization response.
US09554275B1	Voice and SMS communication from a mobile device over IP network and satellite or other communication network Systems, devices, and methods for communication system that includes a mobile application (software) installed on a user mobile device, a communications gateway, capable of performing EAP-SIM and/or EAP-AKA WPA2 wireless authentication & authorization, a Ground-based gateway, capable of proxying RADIUS messages, handling SIP communications and SMPP (SMS) messaging, and an integrated communications gateway platform (ICP), capable of performing the functions of a BTS, VLR and SIP/SMPP communications router. The systems, devices and methods allows for vehicle passengers, such as aircraft passengers the capability to use their mobile communication devices, such as smart phones and their smart phone numbers to send and receive calls and text messages to remote communication devices anywhere in the world while on the aircraft, wherein the remote communication devices display the phone numbers of the mobile communication devices.
US09554273B1	User identification on a touchscreen device Embodiments of the present invention may involve identifying a user of a touchscreen device. A touchscreen device may receive a user input. One or more features of the user input on the touchscreen device may be identified. The one or more features of the user input may include, for example, geometric patterns, swiping motifs, a pressure, a spatial orientation, or any combination thereof. A user profile comprising the one or more features of the user input may be generated. The touchscreen device may receive a second input from an unknown user. A statistical evaluation may be performed comparing one or more features of the second input with one or more features of the user input in the user profile. A probability that the unknown user is the user may be determined. If a low probability is determined, the unknown user may be locked out of the touchscreen device.
US09554272B2	Provisioning of wireless security configuration information in a wireless network environment A network environment includes a message-processing resource that receives a communication originated by a communication device and transmitted from the communication device over a wireless communication link. By way of non-limiting example, the communication can be a request for retrieval of content from server resource disposed in the network environment. The message-processing resource processes the communication transmitted over the wireless communication link to identify a network address assigned to the communication device. The message-processing resource maps the network address to corresponding status information associated with the communication device. In response to detecting status information indicating that the communication device has not yet been configured with configuration information supporting secured wireless communications of a particular type, the message-processing resource: initiates generation of configuration information supporting subsequent secured wireless communications between the communication device and a corresponding wireless access point, and forwards the configuration information to the communication device.
US09554271B2	Generating keys for protection in next generation mobile networks A set of associated keys for an authentication process to be performed in a second network is calculated based on a random value used in an authentication process of a first network.
US09554266B2	Apparatus and methods for selecting services of mobile network operators A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for detecting, by a first device including a least one processor and a first Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC), a second device having a second UICC, detecting, by the first device, that the second UICC is unprovisioned, selecting, by the first device, one of a plurality of selectable options, where the selection identifies a first network operator selected from a plurality of network operators, receiving, by the first device, first credential information of the first network operator, and transmitting, by the first device, to the second device the first credential information for enabling the second device to facilitate establishment of communication services with network equipment of the first network operator according to the first credential information. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09554256B2	Method for communicating text messages in deferred mode or in real-time mode, corresponding generating device and computer program A method and apparatus are provided for communicating text messages between a first terminal and at least one second terminal that are connected by a communications network. Initially, the terminals communicate according to a first mode in which all the characters of a validated message are transmitted at the validation of said message. Then, the terminals switch into a second communication mode in which each character of a message is transmitted following its introduction on a keypad. The switching from the first mode into the second mode takes place when a terminal, while it is introducing a message, receives at least one signal indicating the introduction of a character on the keyboard of the other terminal.
US09554254B2	Communication apparatus, control method of communication apparatus, and program A communication apparatus forms a new network for executing a first communication service according to a partner apparatus for the first communication service in a case where the communication apparatus starts the first communication service while the communication apparatus and a partner apparatus for a second communication service are executing the second communication service.
US09554239B2	Opportunistic offloading of tasks between nearby computing devices The embodiments set forth a technique for enabling a group of computing devices to delegate tasks in a manner that promotes energy savings. According to one embodiment, each computing device is configured to identify situations where the computing device has an energy advantage (e.g., when plugged-in) and should serve as a proxy computing device to other computing devices. Each computing device is also configured to identify situations where the computing device has an energy disadvantage (e.g., a low battery) and should seek out another computing device to act as a proxy computing device. In this manner, computing devices can delegate tasks between one another to reduce or eliminate the processing redundancies that otherwise occur when the computing devices work in isolation to maintain network connectivity and carry out tasks on their own.
US09554237B2	Method and system for transferring address book based on bluetooth A method and system for transferring an address book based on Bluetooth are provided. First, address book information stored in a terminal and a SIM card of a first mobile terminal is transmitted to the second mobile terminal. A second mobile obtains the address hook information in the first mobile terminal. The method and system provided by the present invention make the transfer of the address book information more convenient and efficient, not only improving a user's experience of the mobile terminal but also providing convenience for the user's daily life.
US09554226B2	Headphone response measurement and equalization An apparatus for evaluating performance of a headphone assembly is provided with a base and a support having a proximal end extending from the base. The support includes a distal end that is adapted for supporting a headphone assembly, and the support includes a pair of opposing sides that are laterally spaced apart. The apparatus also includes a pair of plates and at least two microphones. Each plate is mounted to one of the opposing sides of the support, and includes a central portion with at least two apertures formed therein. The central portion is sized for receiving a headphone of the headphone assembly. Each microphone is disposed within one of the apertures and arranged such that an outer surface of the microphone is oriented substantially parallel to an outer surface of the plate and adapted for receiving sound emitted from the headphone.
US09554223B2	Devices for enhancing transmissions of stimuli in auditory prostheses A resilient element is used to bias a vibration element of an auditory prosthesis towards the skin of a recipient. This helps improve transmission of vibration stimuli to the recipient. Additionally, the resilient element helps reduce feedback caused by the vibration element vibrating in close proximity to sound processing components contained within the auditory prosthesis.
US09554221B2	Speech processor cases Apparatus and methods for converting one type of speech processor unit into another type of speech processor unit.
US09554202B1	Speaker mounting assembly The present disclosure is directed to a speaker mounting assembly which includes a top mount having an opening configured for receiving there through at least a portion of a speaker, a speaker platform for resting the at least the portion of the speaker thereon, and a bottom mount configured for connecting to the top mount with the speaker platform positioned there between.
US09554199B2	Media processing methods and arrangements The present technology concerns cell phones and other portable devices, and more particularly concerns use of such devices in connection with media content (electronic and physical) and with other systems (e.g., televisions, digital video recorders, and electronic program directories). One particular aspect of the technology concerns complementing primary content viewed on one screen (e.g., a television screen) with auxiliary content displayed on a second screen (e.g., a cell phone screen). Different auxiliary content can be paired with the primary content, depending on the profile of the user (e.g., age, location, etc.). Some embodiments make use of location information provided by the primary screen device. Other embodiments make use of content identification data provided by the primary screen device. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09554198B2	Digital broadcast receiving method providing two-dimensional image and 3D image integration service, and digital broadcast receiving device using the same A method of receiving broadcast data streams for supporting a broadcast service, wherein the broadcast data streams include a multi-view video coding (MVC) base view video stream and at least one a MVC extended view stream; identifying a stream type field and a priority_id field of the broadcast data streams using a table, wherein a value of the stream type field indicates a codec of the MVC base view video stream or the at least one MVC extended view stream, wherein the priority_id field indicates priority information on the broadcast data streams of multi-view video, and wherein a value of the priority_id field with respect to the MVC base view video stream is set to be equal to zero; processing the broadcast data stream using the identified stream type and the priority_id field to support the broadcast service.
US09554195B2	Method and apparatus for targeted advertising with delivery of content Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, over a multicast-broadcast single-frequency network channel of a cellular network, a second advertisement provided by an advertisement server; providing the second advertisement to a media processor to cause the media processor to replace a first advertisement with the second advertisement during presentation of media content received by the media processor over a first network, where the second advertisement is selected from a group of advertisements according to user data of a user of the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09554192B2	Information terminal system When a user selects a topic tag included in a posted article on a display of a timeline obtained from an SNS server, an SNS client looks up an information channel related word table registering correspondence between a TV channel and a term related to the TV channel, searches a TV channel registering correspondence with a term and the topic tag, and causes the TV control to receive the searched TV channel and display and output the received program.
US09554190B2	System and method for controlling communication device use A computer implemented method is provided including establishing a value corresponding to a particular user of a device, receiving an indication of a triggering condition of the particular user of the device, the triggering condition being enabled by the device or measurable by the device, and determining the triggering condition has been met by the user via the device. The method further includes modifying the value responsive to determining the triggering condition has been met, determining when the value crosses a particular threshold, and disabling an application or a functional component of the device responsive to the value crossing the particular threshold. A system for implementing the method is also provided.
US09554181B2	Content supply device, content supply method, program, terminal device and content supply system The present disclosure relates to a content supply device, a content supply method, a program, a terminal device and a content supply system that are configured to be capable of realizing rapid zapping between channels in DASH.The content supply device of the present disclosure supplies a plurality of items of streaming data with differing attributes, which is content with identical detail, to the same channel, and is provided with a supply portion that divides the streaming data into minimum units when the reception of streaming data is switched according to a timing that is made uniform with other channels, and supplies the streaming data to a reception side through a network, and a metafile generation portion that generates metafiles for the reception side to receive the streaming data that is supplied in the minimum units, which show that the streaming data is for zapping.The present disclosure can be applied to a system that performs streaming distribution of content.
US09554179B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using HDMI A method for switching mode of a source device that uses a High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) according to an embodiment of the present invention may include connecting to a sink device through the HDMI; transmitting +5V signal to the sink device; receiving a Hot Plug Detect (HPD) signal from the sink device; receiving EDID information including a first Sideband mode support information representing that the sink device supports a Sideband mode through a Display Data Channel (DDC) channel that operates in a DDC mode; transmitting a second Sideband mode support information representing that the source device supports a Sideband mode to the sink device; receiving instruction to perform an operation mode switching of the DDC channel from the sink device; and switching the operation mode of the DDC channel from the DDC mode to the Sideband mode.
US09554178B2	Systems and methods for networked music playback Systems, methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to facilitate connection to a multimedia playback network are disclosed. An example method provides content to a local playback network. The example method includes identifying multimedia content from a content provider. The example method includes passing information regarding the multimedia content to a local playback system including one or more multimedia playback devices in response to a trigger. The example method includes facilitating play of the multimedia content via a local playback network associated with the local playback system.
US09554169B2	Systems, methods, and apparatus for delivering content Systems, methods, and apparatus for delivering content are provided. A request for desired content may be received by a content management server from a customer device associated with a customer. The content management server may include one or more computers. Additionally, the content management server may determine whether the customer device is in communication with one or more additional devices associated with the customer. Based at least in part upon the communication determination, the content management server may determine whether the customer device is located within a subscription area for the customer. Based at least in part upon the determination of whether the customer device is located within the subscription area, the content management server may determine access rights to the desired content.
US09554163B2	Client-server based interactive television program guide system with remote server recording An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
US09554149B2	Inter-layer prediction method and apparatus using same The present invention relates to an inter-layer prediction method and an apparatus using same. The inter-layer prediction method comprises: a step of inducing inter-layer motion information from a reference layer; and a step of performing a prediction on the current block in the current layer using the inter-layer motion information. The inter-layer motion information may include an inter-layer motion vector induced from the reference layer.
US09554148B2	Picture coding method and picture coding apparatus for coding a current picture in direct mode A picture coding apparatus includes a motion vector estimation unit and a motion compensation unit. The motion vector estimation unit selects one method for deriving a motion vector of a block to be motion-compensated, depending on a motion vector of a block located in a corner of a decoded macroblock from among a group of blocks that compose the decoded macroblock corresponding to the current macroblock to be coded and determines the motion vector derived by the selected method for derivation to be a candidate of the motion vector of the current macroblock to be coded. The motion compensation unit generates a predictive image of the block to be motion-compensated based on the estimated motion vector.
US09554145B2	Re-encoding image sets using frequency-domain differences Approaches to re-encoding image sets using frequency-domain differences, along with corresponding approaches to reversing the re-encoding of the image sets. For example, a re-encoding tool computes frequency-domain differences between (a) quantized coefficients for a block from encoded data in a first format and (b) quantized coefficients for a prediction of the block. The re-encoding tool entropy codes the frequency-domain differences, producing encoded data in a second format for the compressed images. Such re-encoding can significantly reduce storage cost for previously compressed images, compared to the storage cost for the previously compressed images in the first format, without hurting image quality. Subsequently, the previously compressed images in the first format can be recovered from the encoded data in the second format. Or, the encoded data in the second format can be decoded to reconstruct the images.
US09554141B2	Intra block copy for intra slices in high efficiency video coding (HEVC) A method for decoding high efficiency video coding, comprising determining whether a coding unit is within an intra slice or an inter slice, determining whether intra block copy has been enabled, reviewing syntax for said coding unit for an intra block copy flag when the coding unit is within an intra slice and intra block copy has been enabled, and omitting reviewing the syntax for the intra block copy flag when the coding unit is within an inter slice.
US09554140B1	Method and apparatus for encoding image, and method and apparatus for decoding image The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for encoding and decoding video. A video decoding method comprises reconstructing a residual value by entropy-decoding received bitstream and dequantizing and inverse-transforming residual value information, generating a final prediction unit by performing inter prediction on a prediction unit which is partitioned from a coding unit into at least two prediction units by asymmetric motion partitioning (AMP), the two partitioned prediction units comprising a first partitioned prediction unit and a second partitioned prediction unit, and reconstructing a picture by adding the final prediction unit to the residual values.
US09554118B2	Image proccessing device, imaging device, and image processing method Stereoscopic tracking during a zooming period is facilitated to alleviate eye fatigue. An image processing device includes an imaging unit 14 that acquires a stereoscopic image including a plurality of viewpoint images, an operation unit 16 that acquires a zoom value, an electronic zoom processing unit 17 that performs magnification of the stereoscopic image by image processing on the basis of the acquired zoom value, a monitor 21 capable of outputting the magnified stereoscopic image, and a control unit 25 that outputs the stereoscopic image immediately before or immediately after a change in the zoom value to the monitor 21 as a stereoscopic still image magnified by the electronic zoom processing unit 17 while the acquired zoom value is varying, and outputs the stereoscopic image acquired by the imaging unit 14 to the monitor 21 as a stereoscopic moving image while the zoom value is not varying.
US09554114B2	Depth range adjustment for three-dimensional images A system is provided for generating a three dimensional image. The system may include a processor configured to generate a disparity map from a stereo image, adjust the disparity map to compress or expand a number of depth levels within the disparity map to generate an adjusted disparity map, and render a stereo view of the image based on the adjusted disparity map.
US09554113B2	Video frame processing method A video frame processing method, which comprises: (a) capturing at least two video frames via a multi-view camera system comprising a plurality of cameras; (b) recording timestamps for each the video frame; (c) determining a major camera and a first sub camera out of the multi-view camera system, based on the timestamps, wherein the major camera captures a major video sequence comprising at least one major video frame, the first sub camera captures a video sequence of first view comprising at least one video frame of first view; (d) generating a first reference video frame of first view according to one first reference major video frame of the major video frames, which is at a reference timestamp corresponding to the first reference video frame of first view, and according to at least one the video frame of first view surrounding the reference timestamp; and (e) generating a multi-view video sequence comprising a first multi-view video frame, wherein the first multi-view video frame is generated based on the first reference video frame of first view and the first reference major video frame.
US09554112B2	Replay control apparatus for simultaneously replaying moving image data A simultaneous replay information storage unit stores a replay condition when simultaneously replaying the plurality of pieces of moving image data constituting the set of moving images so as to correspond to each of the sets of moving images in which a combination of the plurality of pieces of moving image data is different, respectively. A simultaneous replay control unit simultaneously replays, in a case in which the set of moving images as a replay target is designated from among a plurality of sets of moving images stored in the simultaneous replay information storage unit, a plurality of pieces of moving image data constituting the set of moving images, with a replay condition that is stored to be associated with the designated set of moving images.
US09554111B2	System and method for semi-automatic video editing A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions that cause a computerized system to: acquire at least one picture; analyze the at least one picture to provide analysis result; suggest to a user to acquire at least one other picture, if the analysis result indicates that there is a need to acquire at least one other picture; acquire the at least one other picture if instructed by the user; receive from the user metadata related to an acquired picture, the acquired picture is selected out of the at least one picture and the at least one other picture; and process the acquired picture in response to the metadata.
US09554091B1	Identifying conference participants and active talkers at a video conference endpoint using user devices A video conference endpoint includes a microphone array to detect ultrasound transmitted by a user device and that is encoded with a user identity. The endpoint determines a position of the user device relative to the microphone array based on the detected ultrasound and recovers the user identity from the detected ultrasound. The microphone array also detects audio in an audio frequency range perceptible to humans from an active talker, and determines a position of the active talker relative to the microphone array based on the detected audio. The endpoint determines whether the position of the active talker and the position of the user device are within a predetermined positional range of each other. If it is determined that the positions are both within the predetermined positional range, the endpoint assigns the user identity to the active talker.
US09554080B2	Power management systems for automotive video event recorders Video event recorders are coupled to a vehicle power source via an on-board diagnostic system including its power bus, data bus, and scanner port connector. Video event recorders are provided with a power input arranged in conjunction with a standard ODBII type “D” connector. Systems further include an extension cable between the connector and the vehicle event record to accommodate mounting needs associated with each. In advanced versions, both OBD power and data networks are coupled to the vehicle event recorded such that data relating to vehicle diagnostic systems can be captured in a triggered event along with video data. In addition, some versions are provided with special detection mechanism to determine the use state of a vehicle and adjust application of power accordingly. Thus an “in-use” detector is coupled to the vehicle and/or OBD systems to provide feedback which helps to conserve power and regulate the power connections.
US09554060B2	Zoom images with panoramic image capture In one aspect, one or more computing devices may capture a panoramic image. Panoramic images may refer to images having a field of view which is greater than that of the human eye, e.g., 180 degrees or greater. Some panoramic images may provide a 360-degree view of a location. In response to capturing the panoramic image, the one or more computing devices may provide for display a request for a non-panoramic, for example, a zoomed-in image. A zoomed-in image may be captured. An area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image is determined by the one or more computing devices. The zoomed-in image is associated with the area by the one or more computing devices. In this regard, the panoramic image and the zoomed-in image may be taken close in time such that the images have the same or similar lighting conditions, scenes, etc.
US09554055B2	Data processing method and electronic device The present application provides a data processing method and an electronic device. The data processing method comprises: detecting a movement status of the electronic device by a sensor unit; generating a movement parameter of the electronic device based on the movement status; and generating an exposure parameter threshold for an image capture unit of the electronic device based on the movement parameter of the electronic device, such that the image capture unit captures an image with an exposure parameter higher than the exposure parameter threshold.
US09554045B2	Systems and methods for digital video stabilization via constraint-based rotation smoothing Systems and methods for digital video stabilization via constraint-based rotation smoothing are provided. Digital video data including a set of image frames having associated time stamps and a set of camera orientation data having associated time stamps may be provided. A smoothed set of camera orientation data may be generated by minimizing a rate of rotation between successive image frames while minimizing an amount of empty regions in a resulting set of smoothed image frames reoriented based on the smoothed set of camera orientation data.
US09554041B1	Portable camera A portable camera including a housing including a pair of apertures formed on a front surface and a rear surface, an imaging unit including a pair of lens units exposed through the pair of apertures and mounted inside the housing, and a main board controlling the imaging unit. The imaging unit includes a pair of camera modules respectively facing directions of the front surface and the rear surface of the housing, a camera bracket between the pair of camera modules, and a pair of adhesive tapes between the camera modules and the camera bracket. The portable camera may provide a 360-degree panorama image without having to move the camera, and the portable camera may also may minimize any distortion occurring in the panorama image in accordance with the rotation speed of the portable camera, when capturing (or taking) the panorama image by moving and turning the camera.
US09554031B2	Camera focusing related methods and apparatus Methods and apparatus that facilitate or implement focus control in a camera and/or can be used to set the camera focus distance, e.g., the distance between the camera and an object which will appear in focus when the objects picture is taken by the camera. A depth map is generated for an image area, e.g., an area corresponding to an image which is captured by the camera. Based on said depth map, in various exemplary embodiments, a visual indication of which portions of an image captured by the camera device are in focus is generated. A user may indicate a change in the desired focus distance by touching a portion of the screen corresponding to an object at the desired focus distance or by varying a slider or other focus distance control.
US09554030B2	Mobile device image acquisition using objects of interest recognition An approach is provided for acquiring images with camera-enabled mobile devices using objects of interest recognition. A mobile device is configured to acquire an image represented by image data and process the image data to identify a plurality of candidate objects of interest in the image. The plurality of candidate objects of interest may be identified based upon a plurality of low level features or “cues” in the image data. Example cues include, without limitation, color contrast, edge density and superpixel straddling. A particular candidate object of interest is selected from the plurality of candidate objects of interest and a graphical symbol is displayed on a screen of the mobile device to identify the particular candidate object of interest. The particular candidate object of interest may be located anywhere on the image. Passive auto focusing is performed at the location of the particular candidate object of interest.
US09554028B2	Imaging device, imaging system, imaging method, and computer-readable recording medium associating image data with responsibility acceptance or abandonment information An imaging device includes a first communication unit, an imaging control unit, and a recording determination unit that determines whether or not an image data is to be recorded according to an operation instruction. The first communication unit transmits recording permission information to an external communication device when a user operation is a recording permission operation, and transmits recording prohibition information to the communication device when the user operation is a recording prohibition operation. The imaging control unit associates image data with determination result determined by the recording determination unit and either one of the recording permission information and the recording prohibition information and controls a recording unit to record the image data.
US09554027B2	Electronic system for processing multimedia information An electronic system includes a first electronic apparatus and a second electronic apparatus. The first electronic apparatus includes a first low-energy communication unit, a camera unit and a first control unit. The camera unit is configured for capturing multimedia files. The first control unit is configured for generating a plurality of metadata related to the multimedia files respectively. The second electronic apparatus includes a second low-energy communication unit and a second control unit. The second low-energy communication unit is configured for establishing a first wireless connection with the first low-energy communication unit, and receiving the metadata related to each of the multimedia files without receiving original contents of the multimedia files. The second control unit is coupled with the second low-energy communication unit. The second control unit is configured for classifying the metadata into at least one group.
US09554018B2	Image forming apparatus and controlling method thereof An image forming apparatus includes an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an image of a document, a document supplying unit configured to supply a document to the image obtaining unit, an image forming unit configured to form the image on a printing medium, a storing unit configured to store supply status information of the document, and a controller configured to perform a preparation for an image forming operation in response to at least one of the document being supplied to one of the image obtaining unit and the document supplying unit and an option setting command of the image forming operation being input. The controller, in response to the option setting command being input after the preparation for the image forming operation is stopped, is configured to perform the preparation for the image forming operation again based on the supply status information of the document.
US09554016B2	System, and method for controlling the system An image forming apparatus, which forms an image on paper and is connected to be communicable with an image capturing apparatus that captures a person existing around the image forming apparatus, includes a receiving unit configured to receive a job, a generation unit configured to generate information representing a user who has input the job received by the receiving unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the information representing the user, which has been generated by the generation unit, to the image capturing apparatus.
US09554013B2	Arithmetic memories, image sensors including the same, and methods of operating the arithmetic memories Arithmetic memories, image sensors including the arithmetic memories and methods of operating the arithmetic memories are provided. The arithmetic memories may include an input block to which a digital pixel reset signal and a digital pixel image signal are input and a plurality of unit cells configured to generate a digital difference signal. The input block may include first and second multiplexers to which the digital pixel reset signal and the digital pixel image signal are input and an inverter connected to the first multiplexer. The plurality of unit cells may include a first unit cell connected to the input block and a second unit cell through an N-th unit cell successively connected to the first unit cell. N may be two or greater. The first unit cell may include third and fourth multiplexers, a first flip/flop, and a first AND gate.
US09554007B2	Image forming apparatus and method for securing carriage An image forming apparatus includes a frame in which a carriage configured to reciprocate along a predetermined direction is disposed, and a unit disposed to be openable with respect to the frame. A first engaging portion is formed on the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is capable of restricting a movement of the carriage at least in the predetermined direction with use of a securing component including a second engaging portion engageable with the first engaging portion. When the securing component is attached to the carriage, and then the unit is closed with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion engaging with each other, the securing component is sandwiched and fixed between the frame and the unit.
US09554006B2	Information processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and processing image selection method Provided is an image forming apparatus with which, in selecting one of plural processing image areas in one image, even an inexpensive display unit will not lower the convenience. An information processing part of image forming apparatus includes a division number questioning part, answer receiving part, image dividing part, key highlighting part, processing image selection part, and reporting display part. Division number questioning part makes a question about a required image division number. Answer receiving part receives an answer. Image dividing part displays image, dividing it into plural processing image areas by the required image division number answered. Key highlighting part highlights keys corresponding to processing image areas. Processing image selection part selects processing image area corresponding to a key operated, as processing object. Upon a highlighted key being operated, reporting display part reports that processing image area corresponding to that key is selected as processing object.
US09554001B2	Information processing apparatus, output system, and output method An information processing apparatus stores output data in a storage unit, in an output system in which an output device acquires and outputs the output data stored in the storage unit. The information processing apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine whether a substitute output function should be valid for the output data, based on information read from the output data, by using a substitute output setting including the information that can be read from the output data for which the substitute output function should be valid; and a specifying unit configured to specify a substitute output person, based on information read from the output data, and reflect information of the specified person in output-data-related-information relating to the output data that is stored together with the output data in the storage unit, when it is determined that the substitute output function should be valid for the output data.
US09553999B2	Method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting A method and apparatus for notifying an end user of a messaging event in a multi-user setting is disclosed. An apparatus that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium in a communication device which includes computer instructions at least for matching a caller identifier associated with a messaging event and entries in a plurality of contact books corresponding to a plurality of users, and identifying a plurality of parties to whom the messaging event is potentially directed based on the matching. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09553989B1	Method and computer readable medium for geographic agent routing A method and computer readable medium for routing a call to geographically dispersed agents based on agent skill-set, agent location and caller location that results in the call being delivered to the best available agent. The computer readable medium and method are utilized with a system comprised of a call center application module coupled to a database module with a communications network being used to couple incoming calls from customers with the best available agent. A database contains a ranking of available agents, based on a dataset including information regarding skill-set, previous interaction with the customer, proximity to the customer, language capability, current availability, and the like. The method chooses the best available agent to service a customer call based on the agent rankings. In the case where the customer has a preference for proximity of the agent to the customer, the system adjusts the agent rankings according to the agent's distance from the customer prior to making a selection.
US09553988B2	System and methods for scheduling and optimizing inbound call flow to a call center A method for providing inbound call reservations to a communication center has steps for monitoring service access points into the communication center by reservation software executing from a machine-readable medium, evaluating communicators and potential communicators, and issuing invitations for reserved communication sessions to qualified communicators and potential communicators, the reserved times coordinated according to data pertaining to predicted communication load and resource availability statistics.
US09553987B1	Using a speech analytics system to control pre-recorded scripts for debt collection calls A speech analytics system (“SAS”) monitors speech from a remote party and agent to determine when text-based guidance information (“TBGI”) and a script control icon is to be provided to the agent. The agent may respond to a particular context with certain information, either by verbally informing the remote party or causing a prerecorded script to be played to the remote party. In one embodiment, the SAS monitors the agent's speech to ascertain if an expected speech response is provided by the agent within a first time period. If not, the SAS may cause another TBGI and script control icon to be presented to the agent, and again monitor the agent's speech to ascertain if an expected speech response is provided by the agent within a second time period. If the agent again fails to respond properly, then data may be written indicating a compliance failure.
US09553980B1	Providing caller identification to mobile devices A caller information server provides caller identification (ID) information to a mobile device. The server receives caller ID information from local address books stored on multiple mobile devices. The caller information server aggregates the received caller ID information to generate a pooled address book. The caller information server may determine whether names within the caller ID information are legitimate and store or filter the information accordingly. When a mobile device receives a call from a telephone number for which it lacks caller ID information in its local address book, the mobile device sends a request for the caller ID information for the telephone number, to the caller information server. The server identifies caller ID information associated with the telephone number in the pooled address book, and sends this information to the mobile device.
US09553951B1	Semaphores in distributed computing environments Methods and apparatus for a semaphore mechanism in a distributed computing environment are disclosed. A state manager coordinating accesses to objects from distributed clients implements programmatic interfaces for semaphore operations. A client process submits a permit record directed to a semaphore instance protecting a shared resource. The client process receives a representation of permit records associated with the resource. The permit records provide an indication of an order in which permit requests for the resource were processed. The client process uses the permit records to determine whether it has been granted a permit, and if it determines that the permit has been granted, performs operations on the resource.
US09553947B2	Embedded video playlists A system, method and various user interfaces provide an embedded web-based video player for navigating video playlists and playing video content. A website publisher can create and store a video player with customized parameters (e.g., player type, appearance, advertising options, etc.) and can associate the player with a playlist of selected videos. The stored video player is associated with a player ID in a player database and can be embedded in a website using an embed code referencing the player ID. A user interface for the embedded player provides controls for controlling video playback and for controlling the selection of a video from the playlist.
US09553940B2	System and method for controlling SIP-specific event notification according to preference of subscriber Disclosed is a system and method for controlling Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-specific event notification corresponding to an event subscription according to a preference of a subscriber. The system includes the subscriber requesting an event subscription through an event notification controller; a subscription target for notifying the subscriber of the event through the event notification controller in response to the event subscription request; and the event notification controller for controlling whether the event notification is forwarded to the subscriber according to the preference rules of the subscriber on event notifications. Accordingly, the event notifications to the subscriber can be effectively controlled according to the preference rules of the subscriber on event notifications, and it is possible to prevent the generation of unnecessary event notification that the subscriber does not desire.
US09553939B2	Presenting additional content items to a social networking system user based on receiving an indication of boredom A social networking system presents content items to a user and determines if the user has less than at threshold level of interest in the presented content items based on one or more user interactions with the presented content items. For example, the social networking system determines the user has less than the threshold level of interest in the presented content items if at threshold number of requests for content are received within a time interval. If the user has less than the threshold level of interest in the presented content items, the social networking system identifies additional content items to present to the user, and may also identify content items previously presented to the user. Content is selected form the additional content items or from the previously presented content items and presented to the user.
US09553934B2	Setting cookies across applications Systems and methods for setting cookies across applications on a device include receiving a first cookie indicating authorization of a first application on the device to use an online account. A second cookie indicating that the first application is authorized to use the online account may be set in a second application on the device.
US09553929B2	Episodic coordination model for distributed applications An episodic execution of program instances and a coordinated message exchange protocol are combined to achieve eventual consistency in the communication between nodes of a distributed system. Program instances run in episodic loops that are triggered by defined input events and that generate checkpoints. The checkpoints indicate when messages are to be sent from the one instance to another instance or other device. The coordinated message exchange protocol allows the instance to send a message to a receiver, to acknowledge that the message has been received, and to confirm the acknowledgement to the receiver.
US09553925B2	Front-end high availability proxy In particular embodiments, a method includes receiving a first connection from a client and assigning the client a unique socket. The method further includes selecting, from a plurality of execution hosts, a first execution host for the first connection based at least in part on load-balancing information associated with the execution hosts. Each execution host includes a unique general client engine. The method further includes launching a first transcoding remote desktop client instance at the first execution host in association with the general client engine of the first execution host. The method further includes receiving a second connection from the client, the second connection being associated with the unique socket of the first connection, launching a second transcoding remote desktop client instance at the first execution host in association with the general client engine of the first execution host, and updating the load-balancing information.
US09553922B1	Media event based social networking interfaces A social networking system aggregates content related to the media events that have aired or are currently airing from a variety of sources, such as the entity broadcasting the media event and users that author content items referencing the media events. The social networking system generates multiple event interfaces that allow users of the social networking system to consume content, both user authored content and content curated from external sources, related to a media event. The interfaces include both content items that have a high correlation with the media events and visual representations of the user response to media event. Further, the interfaces include interface elements that allow users to easily navigate and interact with the information being presented as well as provide additional content related to the media events.
US09553919B2	Techniques for sharing application states Techniques for sharing application states are disclosed. According to one aspect of the disclosure, the techniques include receiving a web resource identifier indicating a web address of a web server hosting a web application and including one or more parameters indicating a state of the web application. The techniques also include obtaining an instruction set for generating an application resource identifier, the instruction set being obtained based on a first portion of the web resource identifier. The techniques further include determining one or more parameter values based on the web resource identifier and the instruction set, and generating an application resource identifier based on the instruction set and the one or more parameter values, the application resource identifier being indicative of the state accessed via a native application.
US09553914B2	Replicating data The present invention concerns the replication of data, in particular the replication of data in a peer-to-peer network of mobile devices. Each device stores a plurality of data items. When two devices come into range, a decision as to whether to replicate a data item is made in dependence the extent to which that data item has been requested by other devices, and (b) the extent to which that data item is replicated on other devices. In this way, both the demand and supply of a data item are taken into account.
US09553912B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting media content via a single port or multiple ports Disclosed is a method for generating a substream ID usable in transmitting media content based on a plurality of scenarios, and allocating the substream ID for transmitting media. A method for allocating an ID for transmitting media content comprises: a step of generating a substream ID containing information required for transmitting the media content based on a certain scenario from among a plurality of scenarios; and a step of transmitting the substream ID to a client. According to the present invention, a header for the transmission of media may be simplified, media content may be transmitted regardless of the number of ports, number of servers, and presence/absence of additional information, an application to be introduced in the future may be used, and backward compatibility for an existing media content transmission system may be provided.
US09553900B2	System and method for managing conferencing in a distributed communication network Systems and methods for a conferencing system. Responsive to a new conference request received at a conference orchestration service, participants of the conference and participant regions for each determined participant are determined. A mixer topology is generated that specifies an assignment of each determined participant to at least one input channel of a plurality of mixers. A mixer state manager generates the mixer topology based on the determined participant regions and at least one regional association of a mixer. Media of each determined participant is routed to the assigned at least one input channel according to the generated mixer topology by using the conference orchestration service. The mixer state manager generates the topology responsive to a request provided by the conference state manager. The conference orchestration service receives the generated mixer topology from the mixer state manager via the conference state manager.
US09553898B2	Gateway based and centric network management and coordination Gateway based and centric network management and coordination. Coordination and management of delivery of a source sequence, that has possibly undergone adaptive bit rate (ABR) encoding upstream to generate a number of respective fragments that may have different respective bit rates associated therewith, to one or more downstream, user, or client devices is achieved via appropriate communication network management and coordination performed by one or more communication devices within the system. In one instance, a home gateway communication device operates to perform such coordination management of a convergent network or convergent digital home network (CDHN). Consideration of any one or more local and/or remote conditions, parameters, etc. may be employed by such an application to ensure effective delivery of a source sequence to one or more client devices.
US09553892B2	Selective modification of encrypted application layer data in a transparent security gateway According to one embodiment, a transparent security gateway is coupled between a client end station (CES) and a web application server (WAS). The security gateway monitors an encryption protocol handshake between the CES and the WAS to capture, using a provided private key of the WAS, a generated symmetric key to be used for an encryption layer connection. Using the captured symmetric key, the security gateway receives an encrypted connection record of the encryption layer connection, decrypts the encrypted connection record to yield a plaintext connection record, modifies the plaintext connection record, encrypts the modified plaintext connection record using the symmetric key, and transmits one or more packets carrying the encrypted modification plaintext connection record instead of the received encrypted connection record such that neither the CES or WAS is aware of the modification of the encrypted data.
US09553882B2	Correlation of advertising content to malicious software Technologies are generally described for systems, methods and devices effective to analyze a file. In some examples, a processor may receive the file. The file may include content and instructions. The content may include data executable by a browser. The processor may analyze the instructions. The processor may identify an internet protocol (IP) address in the instructions based on the analysis. The processor may compare the identified IP address with a list of IP addresses associated with an attack. The processor may generate an alert based on the comparison.
US09553868B2	Toggle between accounts Techniques are described for enabling administrators of teams that use a particular service to specify which sign-on options, of multiple possible sign-on options, are assigned to the members of the teams to which the administrators belong. For example, an administrator may assign a first sign-on option, which only allows users to use native authentication, to one set of members of the team. At the same time, the administrator may assign a second sign-on option, which only allows users to use third-party single-sign-on authentication, to another set of members of the same team.
US09553864B2	Dual code authentication system A verification method and system are disclosed that verify a user. The user is provided a verification code via, for example, a website, to be communicated to the system via an application on a mobile communication device. If the correct verification code is communicated by the user, the user receives via the application a verification message containing another verification code, which the user submits to a website or on-line form or to another verification system for authentication.
US09553860B2	Email effectivity facility in a networked secure collaborative exchange environment In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for managing access to a secure exchange environment managed by an intermediate business entity through a user email identity, the method comprising establishing a secure exchange server hosted by an intermediate business entity, wherein communications and access to a collection of files established by a first business entity are managed for a second business entity; and establishing an email effectivity facility that allows a user of the first business entity to specify a condition for email-based access to at least one resource in the collection of files, wherein the condition expresses (a) an effective period for using an email providing access to the resource and (b) a condition of email access to the resource by a designated individual of the second business entity, wherein the access permission was assigned using a specific email address of the designated individual.
US09553856B2	Secure session capability using public-key cryptography without access to the private key A server establishes a secure session with a client device where a private key used in the handshake when establishing the secure session is stored in a different server. During the handshake procedure, the server receives a premaster secret that has been encrypted using a public key bound with a domain for which the client device is attempting to establish a secure session with. The server transmits the encrypted premaster secret to another server for decryption. The server receives the decrypted premaster secret and continues with the handshake procedure including generating a master secret from the decrypted premaster secret and generating one or more session keys that are used in the secure session for encrypting and decrypting communication between the client device and the server.
US09553852B2	Secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for establishing a secure connection between a data repository and an intelligence application. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, from a user device and using a processing device, a request from the intelligence application, the request communicated from the intelligence application through a data virtualization application and for obtaining access to the data repository; responding, using the processing device, to the request comprising preparing and sending an authentication request through the data virtualization application to the intelligence application; receiving authentication credentials from the intelligence application through the data virtualization application, the authentication credentials associated with one or more users of a plurality of users authorized to access the data repository; determining that the authentication credentials are valid; and providing device, access to the data repository in response to validating the authentication credentials.
US09553849B1	Securing data based on network connectivity A method includes identifying a trusted computer network. The method also includes monitoring a plurality of active network connections. The method further includes determining that the trusted computer network is unavailable by determining that the plurality of active network connections does not comprise the trusted computer network. The method additionally includes, in response to determining that the trusted computer network is unavailable, securing sensitive data documents. Securing the sensitive data documents includes, for each data document of a plurality of data documents, determining a respective classification of a plurality of classifications. The plurality of classifications includes a sensitive classification based on predetermined criteria. Securing the sensitive data documents also includes encrypting particular data documents having the sensitive classification.
US09553843B1	Service directory profile for a fabric network Methods and systems for obtaining service directory information for a remote service including sending a service endpoint query to a remote service requesting a directory of locations within the service. In response to service endpoint query, obtaining the service directory information includes receiving a service endpoint response from the remote service in response to the service endpoint query when the service endpoint query is successful. The service endpoint response includes a directory length field that indicates a number of directory entries. The service endpoint response also includes one or more directory entries indicating one or more locations with the remote service as numerically limited by the directory length field.
US09553842B1	Method and apparatus of processing social networking-based user input information A method and apparatus of processing communications with end users are disclosed. One example method may include detecting a message or post on a website over the Internet that matches a monitoring company's keywords or rules and processing the message by parsing the message and performing a natural language interpretation of the message and processing the parsed message to determine the user's topic of interest. In response, the method may further provide generating a response to the message based on the user's requested objective and sending the response to the user acknowledging the user's topic of interest. Live agents may be notified to check the status of a message and continually override automated message responses to ensure the integrity of the responses.
US09553840B2	Information sharing system, server device, display system, storage medium, and information sharing method An example of an information sharing system includes at least one processor configured to: accept posting information on a content posted by each of a plurality of users; display the accepted posting information on a first screen; and display, on a second screen, the posting information, which is to be displayed on the first screen and which is posted by one of the plurality of users whose status satisfies a condition on usage of the content.
US09553830B2	Managing instant messaging sessions on multiple devices Transferring instant messaging sessions includes receiving a selection, from a user within a user interface, of at least one instant messaging session from among multiple instant messaging sessions to transfer from a first instant messaging controller on a first device to at 5 least a second instant messaging controller on a second device, where the user is signed on concurrently to the first instant messaging controller on the first device and the second instant messaging controller on the second device. At least a portion of the selected instant messaging session is transferred from the first instant messaging controller on the first device to the second instant messaging controller on the second device and the transferred portion of 10 the instant messaging session is made perceivable on the second instant messaging controller on the second device.
US09553814B2	Method and apparatus for controlling data flow by using proxy server A method for controlling data flow by a proxy server connected between a User Equipment (UE) and a content server is disclosed. The proxy server estimates a first amount of data reception indicating an amount of data received by the UE and calculates a second amount of data reception indicating an amount of data received by the proxy server from the content server. The proxy server delays transmission of acknowledgement (ACK) on data received by the proxy server from the content server and waits until a time allowed for the transmission, if the second amount of data reception is greater than the first amount of data reception by a predetermined threshold. The resent disclosure may prevent a waste of network load and unnecessary resources by the proxy server controlling download data rate from the content server.
US09553811B2	Method and apparatus for reducing flood traffic in train switches An improved method and apparatus for making forwarding decisions in a switching device. The invention reduces the flooding of frames to particular network segments connected to the switch. To insure a device sees a frame addressed to it, if a switch does not know what segment a device address is connected to for a unicast frame, the switch typically floods the frame to all segments in the broadcast domain. This invention allows segments to be identified as having a predefined maximum number of device addresses that will be associated with it. When that number of addresses is already in the forwarding table the switch will not flood unicast frames to that segment since no more devices should be connected to that segment.
US09553810B2	Dynamic reconfiguration of network devices for outage prediction According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method and technique for dynamic reconfiguration of network devices for outage prediction is disclosed. The method includes: aggregating a plurality of network devices to form an input/output (I/O) link bundle; identifying a quality of service level of data throughput needed by at least one workload utilizing the I/O link bundle; monitoring a parameter of each of the network devices of the I/O link bundle; determining whether the monitored parameter indicates a predicted data throughout quality of service level decrease by a network device being utilized by the workload below the quality of service level for the workload; and responsive to determining that the monitored parameter indicates a predicted quality of service level decrease by the respective network device, dynamically reconfiguring the link bundle to maintain the quality of service level for the workload utilizing the I/O link bundle.
US09553802B2	Layer 2 VPN service advertisement from access nodes to a core network A method, system and computer readable medium for advertising and interoperating Layer 2 VPN services from an access node to a core network. The method can include executing, using one or more processors, a routing protocol on an access node to establish adjacency with a core network node in an access mode. The method can also include mapping, using the one or more processors, an access network Layer 2 service identifier to a core network service identifier. The method can further include advertising, using the one or more processors, a mapping for the L2VPN service to the core network node. The method can also include sending, using the one or more processors, network traffic from the access node to the core network node without core network encapsulation.
US09553800B2	Reducing flooding of link state information The present disclosure describes reducing flooding of link state information of a link state protocol in a network with multiple routers. A filtering strategy is pre-configured on a router interface for filtering link state information generated by a first router. The filtering strategy is to enable link state database (LSDB) isolation between a second router associated with the router interface and the first router. Link state information generated by the first router is received or sent according to the pre-configured filtering strategy via the router interface.
US09553797B2	Message path selection within a network Embodiments relate to path selection for packet transfer in a network. An aspect includes a method of selecting a path among a plurality of paths in a network for transfer of a packet from a first system to a second system in the network. The method includes storing, in a memory device, a static path performance vector indicating a tier among a plurality of tiers corresponding with each of the plurality of paths, each of the plurality of tiers corresponding with a relative performance level. The method also includes maintaining a path availability bit vector indicating an availability of each of the plurality of paths, and selecting, using a processor, the path among the plurality of paths based on the path performance vector and the path availability bit vector.
US09553796B2	Cycle-free multi-topology routing In one embodiment, a node in a shared-media communication network may determine a first directed acyclic graph (DAG) topology, wherein the first DAG topology has a particular direction. The node may determine a second DAG topology in the shared-media communication network based on the first DAG topology. The second DAG topology may share the particular direction of the first DAG topology, to prevent loops between the first and the second DAG topologies.
US09553792B2	Secure media address learning for endpoints behind NAPT devices A first media packet from a first endpoint of an access network behind a NAPT device is received by a media device between a core network and the access network. The first media packet includes a first source IP address and port combination identifying the first endpoint. An UPDATE request or a reINVITE request is transmitted by the media device. A second IP address and port combination for the media device to receive future media packets from the first endpoint is negotiated. The media device compares a first IP address of the first source IP address and port combination to a second IP address of a second source address and port combination for a second media packet received on the second IP address and port combination. If the first and second IP addresses match, the media device relays media packets from the core network to the first endpoint.
US09553790B2	Terminal apparatus and method of controlling terminal apparatus A terminal apparatus included in a contents centric network and a communication method thereof are provided, the communication method including receiving an interest packet regarding a specific content from an external terminal apparatus, adjusting a window size of the interest packet based on at least one of a requesting frequency of the specific content corresponding to the interest packet and a communication status, and after adjusting the window size, transmitting the interest packet to surrounding terminal apparatuses.
US09553788B1	Monitoring an interconnection network The following description is directed to monitoring an interconnection network. In one embodiment, a method of monitoring an internal link of an interconnection network can comprise creating a network packet. The network packet can comprise a data-link-layer destination address corresponding to a management interface of a first router of the interconnection network, and a network-layer destination address corresponding to a host computer. The network-layer destination address can be within a subnet associated with a management interface of a second different router of the interconnection network. The internal link can connect the first router and the second router. The method can further comprise transmitting the network packet from the host computer, and determining one or more performance metrics of the internal link based, at least in part, on whether the network packet is received at the host computer.
US09553779B2	Framework supporting content delivery with content delivery services A framework supporting content delivery includes a plurality of devices, each device configured to run at least one content delivery (CD) service of a plurality of CD services. The plurality of CD services include services supporting content delivery.
US09553774B2	Cost tracking for virtual control planes Control planes of virtual resource providers may be customized in a secure, stable and efficient manner with virtual control planes. Control planes may be modularized. Control plane modules may be supplied with data from standardized sensors, and required to generate standardized resource configuration requests responsive to solicitations with specified response latencies. Custom control plane modules may be selected to replace or complement default control plane modules. Financial and computational costs associated with control plane modules may be tracked. Competing resource configurations may be mediated by a control plane supervisor. Such mediation may be based on control plane module reputation scores. Reputation scores may be based on customer feedback ratings and/or measured performance with respect to module goals. Mediated configuration parameter values may be based on a combination of competing configuration parameter values weighted according to reputation. Contribution of individual modules to goal achievement may be tracked and rewarded accordingly.
US09553771B1	Bloom filter index for device discovery Implementing a Bloom filter index as a hierarchical data structure. Bloom filters are received and their bit vectors are decomposed into successive bit sequences. For each bit sequence except the last one, memory for at least storing a pointer to a memory location on the next level is allocated on the level corresponding to the bit sequence. The pointer storage is labeled by the value of the next bit sequence. A pointer to the allocated memory is stored in the pointer storage on the previous level that was labeled by the binary value of the current bit sequence. For the last bit sequence, memory for storing Bloom filters is allocated on the last level. A pointer to the allocated memory is stored in the pointer storage on the second-to-last level that was labeled by the value of the last bit sequence. The Bloom filter is stored in the allocated memory.
US09553743B2	Two-dimensional (2D) decision feedback equalizer (DFE) slicer within communication systems A communication device (alternatively, device) includes a processor configured to support communications with other communication device(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. In some examples, the device includes a communication interface and a processor, among other possible circuitries, components, elements, etc. to support communications with other communication device(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. For example, the device's processor receives one or more signals from a communication channel. The processor then processes the one or more signals to generate 2D DFE soft slicer outputs and to decode the one or more signals based on the 2D DFE soft slicer outputs to generate estimates of information encoded within the one or more signals. The processor may process the 2D DFE soft slicer outputs to generate 2D DFE hard decisions and then generates other estimates of the information encoded based on the 2D DFE hard decisions.
US09553734B2	Delayed updating of forwarding databases for multicast transmissions over telecommunications networks A switch (110R.3) uses a forwarding database (140F) to forward multicast packets. The switch participates in a multicast protocol (e.g. PIM) with other switches, and also uses a snooping database (e.g. for IGMP snooping) to learn about local group members, i.e. members for which the router serves as a local multicast router (e.g. the local members do not participate in the multicast protocol). When the switch learns of a local member of a multicast group, the switch updates the snooping database but may or may not install the snooping information in the forwarding database. Thus, the forwarding database is not necessarily provisioned for locally sourced data packets addressed to the group until receipt of a locally sourced data packet addressed to the group. If no such packets are received, the forwarding database is not provisioned for such packets, and therefore its size is reduced. Other features are also provided.
US09553733B2	Communication devices for providing multimedia broadcast/multicast services Communication devices and methods thereof are provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises the communication device receiving information from one of a first carrier which indicates a second carrier carries a point-to-multipoint data, and the communication device determining to receive the point-to-multipoint data according to the received information.
US09553731B2	Transmission method and system for terminal unique information A terminal unique information transmission method including: receiving, by a server, from a terminal, a terminal unique information acquisition request including a terminal unique public key certificate of the terminal; generating an encrypted terminal unique public key certificate by encrypting the terminal unique public key certificate of the terminal; checking, by the server, whether the generated encrypted terminal unique public key certificate is described in a discarded terminal information table; and transmitting, by the server, when the generated encrypted terminal unique public key certificate is not described in the discarded terminal information table, a terminal unique information of the terminal to the terminal.
US09553720B2	Using key material protocol services transparently An application that consumes key management information (e.g., keys and certificates) through a conventional keystore API is configured to recognize a new keystore type. In addition, the services of that API are pointed to a management server component associated with a key management protocol (e.g., KMIP), and a client component of the key management protocol is instantiated as a “semi-remote” keystore in association with the application. Once configured to use the new keystore type, the consuming application uses the keystore API in a conventional manner, but calls to the new keystore type are directed to the KMIP client. The client intercepts these calls and then interacts with the KMIP server on behalf of the consuming application, and without the application being aware of the interaction over the KMIP client-server API. This approach enables the consuming application to take advantage of the full benefits provided by the key management protocol transparently.
US09553715B2	Optical phase detector for an optical phase lock loop An optical phase detector circuit is provided that is suitable for use in an optical phase lock loop. The optical phase detector includes a first optical flip-flop circuit configured to produce a first digital output based on ON/OFF state of a first digital optical input and a digital electrical control signal. A second optical flip-flop circuit is configured to produce a second digital output based on ON/OFF state of a second digital optical input and the digital electrical control signal. An AND gate is operably coupled to both the first and second optical flip-flops. The AND gate produces the digital electrical control signal for supply to the first and second optical flip-flop circuits according to an AND function of the first and second digital outputs produced by the first and second optical flip-flop circuits.
US09553711B2	Base station and cell assignment method A counting unit of a base station counts the number of terminals located in an area covered by the base station for each of communication carriers corresponding to the terminals. An assigning unit assigns each of cells in a first group to any of the communication carriers, where each of the cells is a frequency band of the base station 10 and occupied by one terminal communicating with the cell.
US09553709B2	Method and apparatus for wireless communication using a short-range base station with multiple radio interfaces of different technologies A method and an apparatus is provided for conducting wireless data communications using whitespace and non-whitespace channels. A short-range base station with an interface for whitespace channels and another interface for non-whitespace channels communicates with user equipment outfitted with equivalent interfaces. The short-range base station has a preference for using the interface for the whitespace channels, where the whitespace channels are whitespace spectrum bands that are available during periods when a primary user is not actively utilizing the whitespace. A spectrum server analyzes spectrum occupancy database information and whitespace spectrum sensing measurements to determine lists of available whitespace spectrum bands for use by the short-range base station.
US09553708B2	Communication system, terminal, and base station A terminal that performs a reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement of a channel-state information reference signal, on the basis of a second measurement target configuration in a case where the second measurement target configuration is contained in a measurement object configuration, where the second measurement target configuration containing at least a first index. In addition, the terminal transmits a first measurement result with a second index, where the first measurement result includes a reference signal received power of a channel-state information reference signal based on the second measurement target configuration.
US09553707B2	Method for transmitting and receiving data in wireless access system and apparatus for same Disclosed are a method for transmitting and receiving data in a wireless access system supporting relay nodes, and an apparatus for same. In particular, the present invention comprises: a broadcast phase for receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) signal from a first terminal and a negative acknowledgement (NACK) signal from a second terminal, after a base station transmits first data to the first terminal by using a first precoding vector (w1, B), and second data to the second terminal by using a second precoding vector (w2, B); a listening phase for receiving an ACK signal from the first terminal and a NACK signal from the second terminal, after the base station transmits second data to the first and second terminals by using a third precoding vector (wL); and a cooperative phase for the base station to transmit the second data to the second terminal, in cooperation with the first terminal, by using a fourth precoding vector (wC) which has been chosen for maximizing the transmission efficiency of the second terminal, wherein the first precoding vector, the second precoding vector, and the third precoding vector are chosen so that the total length of the rounds of all phases is minimized.
US09553702B2	Antenna time offset in multiple-input-multiple-output and coordinated multipoint transmissions A method for wireless communication is provided which includes receiving first and second signals transmitted from first and second antennas, respectively, determining a time offset between the first and second antennas based on the first and second signals, and reporting information regarding the time offset, including information regarding the time offset as being above or below a predetermined threshold. Another method for wireless communication is provided which includes generating channel state information feedback based on an assumption that the time offset is being compensated at a transmitter side. Yet another method for wireless communication is provided which includes receiving information regarding a time offset between multiple transmit antennas, including information regarding the time offset as being above or below a predetermined threshold, and adapting downlink transmissions to account for the time offset.
US09553691B2	Unidirectional multicast system A system for transmitting a message from a source entity to a target entity, the system including an input unit connected to the source entity in order to transmit the message via an optical transmission device to an output unit re-directing the message to the target entity. The optical transmission device is configured to transmit the message unidirectionally from the input unit to the output unit; and duplicate an optical input system containing the message into at least two optical output signals each containing the message to be transmitted to the output unit.
US09553688B2	Wireless communication apparatus and interference detection method According to one embodiment, a wireless communication apparatus is provided with first and second determination units. The first unit determines based on a first carrier sense threshold whether busy state or not and specifies a first time when busy state is determined with the first threshold, and determines based on a second carrier sense threshold smaller than the first threshold whether busy state or not and specifies a second time when busy state is determined. The second unit determines, if at least busy state is determined based on the second threshold and the second time precedes a reference time equal to or earlier than the first time, to perform processing for avoiding interference.
US09553686B2	Compression method for TDM frames in a packet network Example embodiments provide a compression method for TDM frames transported over a packet network. The method is based on mapping of allocated TDM slots but not all un-allocated slots into a transport structure, which thereby reduces the needed amount of data transported over packets and hence reduces the required packet rate and packet capacity during transport of the TDM frame. The mapping is further arranged to allow dynamic changes of packet rate and packet capacity, thus the mapping is performed such that a working size of the transport TDM frame is allowed to increase or decrease over time.
US09553685B2	PHICH-less operation for uplink-downlink configuration zero Various communication systems may benefit from techniques for handling inter-band carrier aggregation (CA). For example, systems of the third generation partnership project (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) advanced (LTE-A) may benefit from a uplink (UL) downlink (DL) configuration zero handling, particularly in cases where there is no physical hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) indicator channel (PHICH). For example, certain embodiments may be applicable to inter-band CA having different UL/DL configuration in use. A method can include triggering in a downlink subframe a first physical uplink shared channel transmission in a first hybrid automatic repeat request process. The method can also include triggering in the downlink subframe a second physical uplink shared channel transmission in a second hybrid automatic repeat request process. The secondary cell can be configured with time division duplex uplink/downlink configuration number zero. The triggerings can be performed by means of a single uplink grant but without a hybrid automatic repeat request indicator.
US09553684B2	Data frame generation circuit and data frame generation method A data frame generation circuit, includes: a frame generation unit configured to output a first data frame including client signals and a first signal count of the client signals included in the first data frame, the client signal being stored in the first data frame in accordance with a system clock; a storage unit configured to store a signal count range; a comparison unit configured to compare the first signal count to the signal count range; and a control unit configured to control a frequency of the system clock based on a comparison result, wherein, if the first signal count falls within the signal count range, the control unit changes the frequency of the system clock.
US09553683B2	Upstream (US) transient impairment localization and detection within communication systems A communication device (alternatively, device) includes a processor configured to support communications with other communication device(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. In some examples, the device includes a communication interface and a processor, among other possible circuitries, components, elements, etc. to support communications with other communication device(s) and to generate and process signals for such communications. A device directs an analog to digital converter (ADC) to perform a sample capture of a communication channel and processes that sample capture to generate a detected power. The device performs an integrate-and-dump (I&D) operation on the detected power over at least one time period to generate an integrated power and then generates an integrated power histogram of the communication channel that includes the integrated power. This integrated power histogram characterizes noise generated by the device, noise entering the device, noise associated with the communication channel, etc.
US09553677B1	Self-referenced continuous-variable quantum key distribution Various technologies for continuous-variable quantum key distribution without transmitting a transmitter's local oscillator are described herein. A receiver on an optical transmission channel uses an oscillator signal generated by a light source at the receiver's location to perform interferometric detection on received signals. An optical reference pulse is sent by the transmitter on the transmission channel and the receiver computes a phase offset of the transmission based on quadrature measurements of the reference pulse. The receiver can then compensate for the phase offset between the transmitter's reference and the receiver's reference when measuring quadratures of received data pulses.
US09553676B2	Method and system for split voltage domain receiver circuits Methods and systems for split voltage domain receiver circuits are disclosed and may comprise amplifying received electrical signals in a plurality of partial voltage domains, and combining the amplified received signals, utilizing a stacked cascode amplifier for each partial voltage domain, into a single differential signal in a single voltage domain. The stacked cascode amplifiers may comprise a feedback loop having a comparator which controls a current source in each domain. The signals may be received from a photodiode, which may be integrated in the integrated circuit. The amplified signals may be combined via stacked common source or common emitter amplifiers. The received signals via may be amplified by stacked inverters. The amplified received signals may be AC or DC coupled prior to the combining. The received electrical signals may be amplified and combined via cascode amplifiers. The voltage domains may be stacked and may be controlled by feedback loops.
US09553670B2	Optical module An integrated apparatus with optical/electrical interfaces and protocol converter on a single silicon substrate. The apparatus includes an optical module comprising one or more modulators respectively coupled with one or more laser devices for producing a first optical signal to an optical interface and one or more photodetectors for detecting a second optical signal from the optical interface to generate a current signal. Additionally, the apparatus includes a transmit lane module coupled between the optical module and an electrical interface to receive a first electric signal from the electrical interface and provide a framing protocol for driving the one or more modulators. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a receive lane module coupled between the optical module and the electrical interface to process the current signal to send a second electric signal to the electrical interface.
US09553669B2	Fiber to the antenna A cell site includes a tower, a multi-service terminal mounted to the tower and a base transceiver station in communication with the multi-service terminal. The multi-service terminal includes a housing and a plurality of adapters mounted to the housing. Each of the adapters includes an outer port accessible from outside the housing and an inner port accessible from inside the housing.
US09553667B2	Visible light communication apparatus A visible light communication apparatus includes a constant current circuit and a load circuit including light emitting elements connected to output terminals of the constant current circuit. Further, the visible light communication apparatus includes a load variation circuit configured to change load characteristics of the load circuit by electrically connecting to the load circuit, the load variation circuit including a series circuit of a diode and a resistor connected in series to the load circuit and a switching element configured to electrically connect or disconnect the load variation circuit to the load circuit in response to a binary communication signal.
US09553664B2	Optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system There is presented an optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system (100) comprising a first coupling point (15) arranged for splitting radiation into two parts, so that radiation may be emitted into a reference path (16) and a measurement path (17). The system further comprises an optical detection unit (30) capable of obtaining a signal from the combined optical radiation from the reference path and the measurement path via a second coupling point (25). The measurement path (17) comprises a polarization dependent optical path length shifter (PDOPS, PDFS, 10), which may create a first polarization (PI) and a second polarization (P2) for the radiation in the measurement path, where the optical path length is different for the first and second polarizations in the measurement path. This may be advantageous for obtaining an improved optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) system where e.g. the two measurements for input polarizations may be performed in the same scan of a radiation source.
US09553662B2	Integrated driver redundancy for a silicon photonics device In an example, the present invention includes an integrated system on chip device. At least a pair of laser devices are associated with a channel and coupled to a switch to select one of the pair of laser devices to be coupled to an optical multiplexer to provide for a redundant laser device.
US09553655B2	Data-receiving method and apparatus for relay station in wireless communication system A method for receiving data by a relay station (RS) in a wireless communication system includes: receiving radio resource allocation information via an R-PDCCH (R-Physical Downlink Control Channel); and receiving data from a base station (BS) via an R-PDSCH (R-Physical Downlink Shared Channel) indicated by the radio resource allocation information, wherein the radio resource allocation information includes information regarding an allocation of resource blocks in a frequency domain and information regarding an allocation of OFDM symbols in a time domain. Since the radio resource allocation information providing information regarding a time relationship between a control channel transmitted by the BS to a UE and a control channel transmitted by the RS to a UE connected to the RS is provided, the RS can reliably receive a signal transmitted from the BS in a backhaul link between the BS and the RS in a wireless communication system including the RS.
US09553654B2	Methods and systems for wireless networks relays Methods and systems are provided for use with wireless networks having one or more cell in which each cell includes a base station (BS), at least one relay station (RS) and at least one mobile station (MS). The at least one relay station can be used as an intermediate station for providing communication between the BS and MS. Methods are provided for allocating OFDM resources for communicating between the BS, RS and/or MS for example dividing transmission resources into uplink and downlink transmissions and methods of inserting pilot symbols intotransmission resources used by the RS. In some embodiments on the invention, the methods are consistent and/or can be used in conjunction with existing standards such as 802.16e.
US09553648B2	Reporting of multiple processes for aperiodic channel state information A method and an apparatus are provided for transmitting Channel State Information (CSI) having a reporting mode and being transmitted from a User Equipment (UE) over a PUSCH transmission in an Uplink (UL) cell associated with a Downlink (DL) cell in response to the UE receiving a Downlink Control Information (DCI) format that includes a CSI request field indicating CSI transmission corresponding to one of a plurality of CSI processes associated with measurements of respective reference signals. The method includes obtaining, from the CSI request field, an indication of a CSI process set for a CSI transmission; and transmitting the CSI for the CSI process set indicated by the CSI request field, wherein the CSI request field includes 2 bits of a first CSI process set having a first set of interpretations.
US09553643B2	User equipment and methods for codebook subsampling for enhanced 4TX codebooks Embodiments of user equipment (UE) and methods for codebook subsampling for enhanced 4TX codebooks in 3GPP LTE wireless networks are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) is configured for transmission of channel state information (CSI) feedback including a rank indicator (RI) and a precoding matrix (W1). The rank indicator (RI) and a precoding matrix (W1) are jointly encoded and codebook subsampling is performed for the enhanced 4Tx codebook for at least one of: PUCCH report type 5 (RI/1st PMI) in PUCCH 1-1 submode 1; PUCCH report type 2c (CQI/1st PMI/2nd PMI) in PUCCH 1-1 submode 2; and PUCCH report type 1a (subband CQI/2nd PMI) in PUCCH 2-1.
US09553642B2	Apparatus and methods for cross-polarized tilt antennas Embodiments are provided for cross-polarized antennas design with different down tilt angles that support versatile functionality, such as for MIMO or beamforming. An embodiment antenna circuit comprises a baseband signal processor, a pair of RF transmitters coupled to the baseband signal processor, a pair of PAs coupled to the RF transmitters, a 90°/180° hybrid coupler coupled to the RF transmitters, a pair of duplexers and two antennas coupled to the PAs. The two antennas are down tilted at different down tilt angles. A pair of signals is generated using the baseband signal processor, transmitted by the RF transmitters, and amplified using the PAs. Additionally, a 90° or 180° phase difference is introduced into the signals using the 90°/180° hybrid coupler. After the amplifying and introducing the phase difference, the signals are polarized at two different polarizations and down tilted at different down tilt angles using the two antennas.
US09553638B2	Wireless communication system, wireless communication apparatus, and wireless communication method A wireless communication system is disclosed. The system performs data transmission from a first terminal including N antennas to a second terminal including M antennas using spatially multiplexed streams (N and M are integers larger than or equal to 2).
US09553636B2	Contactless electricity supply device with foreign object detector This contactless electricity supply device, which contactlessly performs charging of the battery (28) of a vehicle, is provided with: an electricity transmission coil (12) disposed at a road surface; and an electricity reception coil (22) disposed in the vehicle. A foreign object detection coil (13) is provided to the upper surface of the electricity transmission coil (12), and on the basis of induced voltage arising at the foreign object detection coil (13) during a trial electricity supply, foreign objects between the electricity transmission coil (12) and the electricity reception coil (22) are detected.
US09553625B2	Modular functional band links for wearable devices A wearable device is coupled to a band including multiple modular functional band links that are each electrically and mechanically connected to one or more other of the band links and/or the wearable device and include one or more electronic components. In various implementations, the wearable device may receive identifiers from each of the band links, determine functionality available using the identifiers, and communicate with the band links to utilize the determine functionality. In some implementations, the band links may include multiple different output devices and the wearable device may determine to provide an output pattern and signal the respective output devices according to the output pattern. In various implementations, the band links may include multiple different input devices and the wearable device may receive input indications from the input devices and perform an action based on a pattern in which the input indications were detected by the respective input devices.
US09553623B2	Wireless communication device A method includes receiving a request to send data to a destination device. The method includes determining a value associated with QoS of a wireless network. The wireless communication device includes first SIM card information that enables first data delivery according to a first priority via the wireless network and second SIM card information that enables second data delivery via the wireless network according to a second priority at least at a first delivery rate. The method includes determining, based on the value, a throughput value and a first portion of the data to send with the first data delivery. The method also includes determining a second portion of the data to send to the destination device with the second data delivery based on the throughput value, where the second portion includes none of the data when the throughput value is greater than a threshold.
US09553622B2	Reception circuit and communication system According to an embodiment, a reception circuit is configured to receive a reception signal from a transmission circuit through a receiving AC coupling element. The transmission circuit transmits a transmission signal through a transmitting AC coupling element. The receiving AC coupling element is AC coupled to the transmitting AC coupling element. The reception circuit includes a variable gain amplifier, a hysteresis circuit and a first control circuit. The variable gain amplifier is configured to amplify the reception signal with a variable gain to output an amplified signal. The hysteresis circuit has hysteresis in an input/output characteristic, and is configured to output an output signal according to the amplified signal. The first control circuit is configured to control the gain so that an amplitude of the amplified signal approximates a reference amplitude.
US09553615B2	Receiver for carrier aggregation A single hybrid receiver is provided for processing both single carrier and carrier aggregated (CA) communications signals where carriers are split into independent receive paths without any additional external components. The receiver receives all contiguous and non-contiguous intra-band CA and inter-band CA signals, including those of unequal bandwidths, allowing for improved rejection and balanced rejection of jamming signals on either side of the two carrier signals.
US09553612B2	Decoding based on randomized hard decisions An apparatus having a memory and a controller is disclosed. The memory is configured to store a codeword. The controller is configured to (i) determine one or more least-reliable bit positions in a soft-decision version of the codeword in response to failing to decode a hard-decision version of the codeword, (ii) generate a trial codeword by selecting at random a respective value in one or more trial positions among the least-reliable bit positions in the hard-decision codeword and (iii) perform a hard-decision decoding of the trial codeword.
US09553611B2	Error correction coding with high-degree overlap among component codes A method for Error Correction Code (ECC) encoding includes receiving data to be encoded. The data is encoded to produce a composite code word that includes multiple component code words. Each component code word in at least a subset of the component code words is encoded in accordance with a respective component code and has at least one respective bit in common with each of the other component code words.
US09553604B2	Information processing system, information compression device, information decompression device, information processing method, and program In order to improve the compression rate for configuration information including address information and data information when transmitting or storing configuration information which includes addresses and data having differing characteristics, an information compression device is provided with a compressor which receives as input and compresses the configuration information provided with the addresses and data, and a compressed information storage module for storing the configuration information which is compressed, that is, compressed configuration information, as the information to be decompressed for the user, said compressor including an information separating module for separating the configuration information into address information and data information, an address compressor and data compressor which separately compress the separated address information and data information, and a compressed information outputting module for combining the compressed address information and data information and outputting the result as compressed configuration information.
US09553596B1	Frequency synthesizer and method for frequency synthesis A frequency synthesizer and a method for frequency synthesis are provided. The frequency synthesizer includes a subband phase-locked loop (PLL) and a main PLL. A divisor of an adjustable non-integer frequency divider in the subband PLL is adjusted, and a channel frequency of a maximum frequency band of all frequency bands is output. A divisor of an adjustable integer frequency divider in the main PLL is adjusted, and a center frequency required for each frequency band of the all frequency bands is output. The center frequency and the channel frequency are mixed by a mixer to produce a band frequency. A quantization noise generated by the adjustable non-integer frequency divider is filtered out by the subband PLL to reduce the impact of the quantization noise on the main PLL.
US09553593B1	Delay locked loop and associated control method A control method for a delay locked loop includes: delaying an input signal to generate an internal signal; delaying the internal signal to generate an output signal; and selectively providing a reference clock signal or the output signal as the input signal according to the output signal and the internal signal.
US09553588B2	System level interconnect with programmable switching Different functional elements are all located on a same integrated circuit wherein at least one of the functional elements comprises a micro-controller. Configuration registers or configuration memory in the integrated circuit store configuration values loaded by the micro-controller. Connectors are configured to connect the integrated circuit to external signals A system level interconnect also located in the integrated circuit programmably connects together the different functional elements and different connectors according to the configuration values loaded into the configuration registers.
US09553587B2	Data output circuit of a semiconductor apparatus A data output circuit of a semiconductor apparatus includes a pull-up driver including a first plurality of leg units commonly electrically coupled to a data output pad and configured to pull up the data output pad in response to a first code signals, a pull-down driver including a second plurality of leg units commonly electrically coupled to the data output pad and configured to pull down the data output pad to a second code signals, and a code generator configured to generate the first and second code signals. The code generator generates the second code signals by comparing a replica voltage to a reference voltage.
US09553568B2	Frequency multiplier A frequency multiplier includes an input terminal, an output terminal, a first transistor having a first gate to which a radiofrequency signal is input from the input terminal, a first drain from which an output signal is issued to the output terminal, and a first source, a second transistor having a second gate, a second source to which the radiofrequency signal is input from the input terminal, and a second drain from which an output signal is issued to the output terminal, and a stabilizing resistor which is a resistor connected to the second gate, wherein no resistor exists on the path for the radiofrequency signal, and wherein the stabilizing resistor suppresses a reflex gain produced by the second transistor.
US09553562B1	Compact C-multiplier The compact C-multiplier includes four MOSFETs operating in the subthreshold region using the translinear principle. The multiplier is controllable to meet designer requirements. A Tanner Tspice simulator is used to confirm the functionality of the design in 0.13 pm CMOS Technology. The circuit operates from a ±0.75 supply voltage. Simulation results indicate that the multiplication factor is large compared to existing designs.
US09553559B2	Configurable bias tee Bias tees, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, include switches in the AC signal path, the DC signal path, or both, to improve the capability of the bias tees to be used for high impedance AC measurement, low current DC measurement, or both. Optical control of the switches, as well as control of the switches using a DC bias present within the AC signal input to the bias tee, is described. Including a set of diodes into the DC signal path, rather than a switch, provides enhanced capability of the bias tee to be used for high impedance AC measurements.
US09553555B2	Terrestrial broadcast wave reception-use antenna device and component of same Provided is a terrestrial broadcast wave reception-use antenna device having performance that is equivalent to or better than that of a conventional device in frequency bands at or below an FM band even if an antenna element length is shortened to approximately 55 [mm]. An amplifier (12-A) is configured so as to include a compound semiconductor HEMT for amplifying a received wave having a frequency at or below a resonant point of an antenna element (10) among received waves of the antenna element (10), the compound semiconductor HEMT having an equivalent noise resistance of 2 [Ω] or smaller for the received frequency so that a noise figure (NF) is approximately constant over a wide frequency band at or below the FM band.
US09553547B2	Pseudo-envelope following power management system Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description relate to a pseudo-envelope follower power management system used to manage the power delivered to a linear RF power amplifier.
US09553544B2	Support racking for solar panel A supporting rack for a solar panel with a framework mountable on a surface such as a roof, this framework including two elongate runners extending parallel to each other and a cross-member extending between and connecting the two runners. Upper and lower clamp assemblies detachably and adjustably mount the solar panel on top of the framework so that the panel extends at an acute angle to the plane of the runners. There are two front clamp assemblies, each mountable on a respective runner and clamped to a front edge of the solar panel. A clevis pin connection pivotally connects the clamping mechanism to its respective runner. Two upper, rear clamp assemblies each have an adjustable J-clamp member and a back plate. After installation of the rack, the panel is pivotable from an operating position at an acute angle to the runners to a greater angle to facilitate maintenance or repair.
US09553541B2	Electric motor control apparatus The purpose is to suppress ripple of voltage between terminals of smoothing condenser. Electric motor control apparatus is electric motor control apparatus that controls electric motor system having electrical power converter, smoothing condenser and three-phase AC electric motor, and has generating device that generates modulation signal by adding third harmonic signal to phase voltage command signal; controlling device that controls operation of electrical power converter by using modulation signal; and adjusting device that adjusts amplitude of third harmonic signal, adjusting device adjusts amplitude of third harmonic signal so that peak value of voltage between terminals of smoothing condenser in the case where amplitude of third harmonic signal is adjusted is smaller than peak value of voltage between terminals in the case where amplitude of third harmonic signal is not adjusted.
US09553537B1	De-glitch circuit and de-glitch method and short circuit protection device A de-glitch circuit, a de-glitch method and a short circuit protection device are provided. In a period during which a first flag signal is in a first logic state, the de-glitch circuit increases a counting result with a rising rate. In a period during which the first flag signal is in a second logic state, the de-glitch circuit decreases the counting result with a falling rate, wherein the rising rate is greater than the falling rate. The de-glitch circuit sets a logic state of a second flag signal according to a relationship between the counting result and a threshold.
US09553527B1	Energy recovery layer in an electrowetting display Subject matter disclosed herein relates to arrangements and techniques that provide for harvesting thermal energy within a display, for example an electrowetting display, of an image display apparatus and converting the thermal energy into electricity. The electrowetting display comprises a first substrate and a second substrate opposite to the first substrate, a plurality of pixel portions defined between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a hydrophobic surface on the first substrate. A first fluid is included within the pixel portions and on the hydrophobic surface, while a second fluid is included on the first fluid, wherein the second fluid is substantially immiscible with the first fluid. A pyroelectric layer is included between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the pyroelectric layer is configured to absorb thermal energy within the electrowetting display and output a voltage based upon the thermal energy.
US09553524B2	Method for converting alternating current into direct current and related device The invention relates to a method for converting alternating current into direct current implemented by a conversion device that comprises a three-phase bridge in which at least one arm is comprised of a first switch and of a second switch mounted in series, with the method comprising a step of regulating the direct voltage output by the conversion device, characterized in that it comprises a transition step which precedes the regulation step, with the transition step comprising the formation of signals for controlling first and second switches capable of limiting the amplitude of the inrush currents when switching the conversion device to the alternative network.
US09553523B2	Circuit for converting power between a three-phase grid and a single-phase grid Described is a circuit for converting electric power between a three-phase grid and a single-phase grid. The circuit includes, in at least one embodiment, a first transformer that is connected to the three-phase grid, a number of first converter stages assigned to the first transformer, the associated DC intermediate circuits and the associated second converter stages. The second converter stages are connected to each other at the alternating-current side outputs with the aid of a series connection.
US09553522B2	Transferring electrical power for subsea applications A method for transferring electrical power in the sea includes generating AC power, guiding, at least partially underwater, the AC power through a cable from a first end of the cable to a second end of the cable, and changing a frequency of the AC power guided through the cable based on a value of power consumption of a load connected to the second end of the cable.
US09553521B2	Power supply device and control method of power supply device First FET switches control supply of electricity from an external power supply to a primary winding of a transformer. A condenser is connected, in series, to a secondary winding of the transformer. A second FET switch is connected, in parallel, to the secondary winding and the condenser. The diode is connected, in parallel, to the second FET switch. A switch control unit acquires a value obtained by measuring a current flowing through the first FET switches and the second FET switch and controls, on the basis of the measurement result of the current, conduction of the first FET switches and the second FET switch.
US09553512B1	Method and apparatus for providing a regulated output voltage via a voltage regulator based on multiple voltage references A voltage regulator including a comparing circuit, a first circuit, a transistor, a voltage reference circuit, and a latching circuit. The comparing circuit compares a first and second voltage references and generates an output based on the comparison. The first circuit amplifies the output of the comparing circuit. The transistor includes: a gate configured to receive a first output of the first circuit; a first terminal connected to a voltage supply terminal; and a second terminal. A regulated output voltage of the voltage regulator is based on a voltage at the second terminal. The voltage reference circuit generates the second voltage reference based on the voltage at the second terminal. The latching circuit, based on a second output of the first circuit: adjusts the second voltage reference; and switches between forcing the second output of the first circuit to be in a first state to be in a second state.
US09553506B1	Charge pump strength calibration and screening in circuit design Techniques and apparatuses for identifying weak charge pumps and for setting an optimal clock period for charge pumps to minimize variations in a current-voltage characteristic. A current sink which absorbs a specified current is connected to an output node of a charge pump. In one approach, a success or fail status is set for a charge pump by driving it with a specified clock period in a constantly pumping mode and determining if the output voltage reaches a specified output voltage. In another approach, a success or fail status is set for a charge pump by driving it with a specified clock period in a regulation mode and determining if the period in which the output voltage cycles is a specified multiple, e.g., 2×, of a period of the clock signal. In another approach, an optimal clock period is determined.
US09553503B2	Method for startup control of photovoltaic inverter, system thereof, and photovoltaic power generation system A method for start control of photovoltaic inverter, a system thereof, and a photovoltaic power generation system are provided. A fan of the photovoltaic inverter is controlled to operate in a case that input voltage of the photovoltaic inverter is greater than a start threshold, and the fan operation is used as a load. Input voltage drop before and after the fan operates is obtained, and in a case that the input voltage drop is less than or equal to a voltage determination threshold, the photovoltaic inverter is controlled to start a grid connection. The voltage determination threshold is changed based on a power determination threshold of the photovoltaic inverter.
US09553500B2	Inverter for a distributed power generator Provided is a maximum power point (MPP) tracker for a PV cell inverter, and a PV cell inverter. The MPP tracker decouples output power oscillations from the input power generation and extracts maximum available power from the PV cell. The PV cell inverter uses the MPP tracker and generates a sinusoidal output current from the MPP tracker output. The sinusoidal output current may be fed to a power distribution grid. The PV cell inverter may use a pulse width modulation technique to cancel harmonics in the sinusoidal output current. The circuits use a minimum number of components and avoid use of large electrolytic capacitors.
US09553495B2	Wound core, electromagnetic component and manufacturing method therefor, and electromagnetic equipment A wound core formed of a magnetic thin band, an electromagnetic component and a manufacturing method therefor and electromagnetic equipment in which iron loss and cost reduction can be achieved are provided. The wound core is a wound core formed by winding a magnetic thin band in the axial direction. A cutout portion is formed from place to place on an end face of the thin band in the axial direction and the cutout portions are arranged in random directions in the direction of the radius of the wound core.
US09553492B2	Paper shredder Provided is a paper shredder comprising a housing (6) and a paper shredder head (4), wherein a transmission mechanism (5) and a motor are provided in the paper shredder head (4); the motor comprises a motor body (1), the motor body (1) having an output shaft (12) and a motor housing (11) sleeve connected on the output shaft (12); the motor housing (11) is provided with a heat dissipation device, the heat dissipation device comprising an air intake device (2) and an air output device (3); the air intake device (2) has a cold air inlet and the air output device (3) has a hot air outlet; the air intake device (2) is provided on one side of the output shaft (12) and the air output device (3) is provided on the other side of the output shaft (12); at the position where the air intake device (2) is provided on the motor housing (11) there is an air intake hole (13) opened correspondingly to communicate with an inner chamber of the motor housing (11), and at the position where the air output device (3) is provided on the motor housing (11) there is an air output hole (14) opened correspondingly to communicate with the inner chamber of the motor housing (11), such that a relatively isolated and independent heat dissipating air channel is formed internally from the cold air inlet, via the inner chamber of the motor housing (11), to the hot air outlet.
US09553491B2	Alternator mounting assembly A mounting assembly for mounting an alternator is disclosed. The mounting assembly includes a first bracket, and a second bracket. The first bracket includes a first member, a second member, a third member, a fourth member, and a fifth member. The second bracket includes a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section. The alternator is mounted using the first bracket and the second bracket for reducing vibrations during operation.
US09553484B2	Electrohydraulic generator systems and methods A system includes a generator configured to be coupled to a power input of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), an engine, a hydraulic motor and a mechanical coupling mechanism configured to selectively couple the engine and the hydraulic motor to the generator. The system further includes a hydraulic accumulator and a valve configured to fluidically couple the hydraulic accumulator to the hydraulic motor. A control circuit is configured to control the valve, the mechanical coupling mechanism and the engine in conjunction with the UPS to supply power to the UPS.
US09553480B2	Power system Disclosed is an electric power system including a first unit (for example, a unit 201) equipped with a first power source (for example, a solar panel (201b)), a first rechargeable battery (for example, a unit storage battery (201c)) to which an output of the first power source is input, and a first power consuming portion (not shown) to which an output of the first rechargeable battery is input; a second rechargeable battery (for example, a shared storage battery (202)); and an electric power line (for example, a shared electric power line (203)) for sharing electric power between the first rechargeable battery and the second rechargeable battery.
US09553477B2	Mobile communication terminal A mobile communication terminal comprises: a magnetic field unit for generating magnetic field; an induction unit comprising at least one coil; a fixed unit and a motion unit which is movable relative to the fixed unit, wherein one of the magnetic field unit and the induction unit is arranged on the fixed unit, and the other is arranged on the motion unit; and an energy storage unit electrically connected to the induction unit for storing electrical energy generated by the induction unit. The mobile communication terminal can solve the problem that existing mobile communication terminals have large power consumption and short continuous service time. It can take full advantage of energies and have long continuous service time.
US09553474B2	Power supply apparatus, image forming apparatus, power supply method, and storage medium A power supply apparatus includes a charging mode information receiving unit configured to receive, from each of a plurality of power receiving apparatuses each including a secondary battery, charging mode information indicating whether each of the power receiving apparatuses requests normal charging of the secondary battery or fast charging of the secondary battery, wherein the fast charging charges faster than the normal charging, a power supply order determination unit configured to determine a power supply order of the power receiving apparatuses based on the charging mode information, and a power supply unit configured to wirelessly supply power to the power receiving apparatuses in the order determined by the power supply order determination unit.
US09553472B2	Method and charging bench via magnetic coupling A charging bench includes three coils that partially overlap, in superposed planes. An electrical feed makes it possible to supply the coils with an AC current from the mains. A portable device to be charged is placed on the upper side of this charging bench. This device includes a winding intended to receive the electrical charging, and a ferrite protective screen. One of the coils (Bb) is selected to emit the magnetic charging flux toward the mobile phone. The selection is carried out via the emission of a series of pulses by at least one of the coils and comparison of return signals with a reference threshold. This comparison also enables one of the other coils (Ba, Bc) to be selected or both of these other two coils (Ba, Bc) to be used to receive a flux for communicating information originating from the portable device to be charged.
US09553456B2	Power converter in resonance power transmission system, and resonance power transmission apparatus A power converter for transmitting a resonance power is provided that includes: an input end that receives a direct current (DC) voltage of a predetermined level; a first power converter that converts the DC voltage of a predetermined level to an alternating current (AC) signal using a first switching pulse signal having substantially the same frequency as a resonant frequency; a second power converter that converts the DC voltage of a predetermined level to an AC signal using a second switching pulse signal having an opposite phase to the first switching pulse signal; a first short circuit that reduces or eliminates an odd harmonic of the AC signal outputted from the first power converter, and provides the AC signal; and a second short circuit that reduces or eliminates an odd harmonic of the AC signal outputted from the second power converter, and provides the AC signal.
US09553455B2	Use of demand response to enable improved power supply restoration planning A utility network powered by a power source has a plurality of substations enabled to power electrical equipment in a participant site. At least one substation is disconnected from the utility network and is to be reconnected via a substation with a power constraint. A processor determines how much power should be shed in a participant site of the substation with the power constraint to allow reconnection of the substation that is disconnected. The processor initiates a Demand Response signal to power consuming equipment in the participant site of the substation with the power constraint to shed power. After shedding power based on the Demand Response signal, the substation that was disconnected is connected to the utility network by closing a switch.
US09553451B2	Load control system having independently-controlled units responsive to a broadcast controller A load control system for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a plurality of electrical load includes a plurality of independent units responsive to a broadcast controller. Each independent unit includes at least one commander and at least one energy controller for controlling at least one of the electrical loads in response to a control signal received from the commander. The independent units are configured and operate independent of each other. The broadcast controller transmits wireless signals to the energy controllers of the independent units. The energy controllers do not respond to control signals received from the commanders of other independent units, but the energy controllers of both independent units respond to the wireless signals transmitted by broadcast controller. The energy controller may operate in different operating modes in response to the wireless signals transmitted by the broadcast controller.
US09553449B2	Power supply apparatus, method of controlling power supply, and base station apparatus A power supply apparatus includes: a plurality of input ports configured to receive input of electric power from a plurality of power sources, respectively; a charge and discharge circuit configured to receive the input electric power to be charged and discharged so as to generate electric power to be supplied to a load circuit; a switching circuit configured to individually switch connections between the plurality of input ports and the charge and discharge circuit; and a control circuit configured to perform control so as to give different timing of the switch among the input ports.
US09553439B2	Compact, high power, high voltage, long-distance electrical transmission line structure Embodiments generally relate to long-distance, 3-phase, AC electricity transmission structures. In one embodiment, the structure comprises an array of beams, the array comprising a sub-array of 3N active beams, wherein N is an integer, one passive beam on the right side of the sub-array of active beams; and one passive beam on the left side of the sub-array of active beams. The centers of the cross-section of each of the active and passive beams lie in a single plane. In another embodiment, the structure comprises an array of 3N metal active beams, wherein N is an integer; and a tunnel of rectangular cross-section with either 90 degree or rounded corners. The array of beams is mounted within the tunnel, and the two side walls of the tunnel are lined with a highly conductive metal having a thickness similar to the thickness of metal used in the active beams.
US09553434B2	Electronic component assembly structure and electrical junction box An electronic component includes a main body section having a plurality of surfaces and a terminal portion that is disposed in the main body section and that is fitted to a terminal fitting. A housing member includes a first housing chamber that guides and accommodates the main body section and a second housing chamber that accommodates and holds the terminal fitting. The terminal portion includes a base end and a fitting portion that extends from a protruding tip of the base end and that is fitted to the terminal fitting. The fitting portion extends from the protruding tip of the base end, along a side surface of the main body section with a gap from the side surface, without causing an extending tip to protrude beyond the deep surface.
US09553430B2	Flexible conduit fitting A flexible conduit fitting system includes a housing that defines at least part of a flexible conduit fitting, and a resilient clip supported by the housing. The flexible conduit fitting may include an aperture for receiving an end of a flexible wiring conduit. The resilient clip may have an engagement portion that extends into the aperture of the flexible conduit fitting to engage the generally corrugated outer structure of the flexible wiring conduit. The housing may be configured to support the resilient clip in a manner that allows the resilient clip to flex in a direction of movement of the flexible wiring conduit when the flexible wiring conduit is being inserted into the aperture and past the engagement portion, but to not substantially flex in the direction of movement of the flexible wiring conduit when attempting to withdraw the flexible wiring conduit from the aperture.
US09553420B1	Current amplification to improve optical amplifier performance Methods and systems for current amplification to improve optical amplifier performance may include equalizing a current level indicative of input optical power to an optical amplifier with a current level indicative of an output optical power level of the optical amplifier. In this manner, a first bandwidth of an input log amp may be matched with a second bandwidth of an output log amp in a gain control loop circuit to improve overall transient gain accuracy of the optical amplifier, irrespective of the input optical power. In this manner, the optical amplifier may be enabled to operate at a defined gain level even in the presence of transients in the input signal.
US09553417B2	Inexpensive variable rep-rate source for high-energy, ultrafast lasers System for converting relatively long pulses from rep-rate variable ultrafast optical sources to shorter, high-energy pulses suitable for sources in high-energy ultrafast lasers. Fibers with positive group velocity dispersion (GVD) and self phase modulation are advantageously employed with the optical sources. These systems take advantage of the need for higher pulse energies at lower repetition rates so that such sources can be cost effective.
US09553414B2	Motor power feed wiring structure having a vehicle body-side power feed wire rotatably connected to a motor-side power feed wire A motor power feed wire routing structure for an in-wheel motor driven wheel includes an electrical connection that electrically connects a motor side feed wire extending from the motor and a vehicle body-side feed wire extending from a vehicle mounted power source such that the vehicle body-side feed wire is rotatably connected relative to the motor side feed wire. The electrical connection mechanism is disposed on the knuckle outside of a space of a wheel recess of the wheel. The configuration allows reduction of whirling of the vehicle body-side wire during steering operation.
US09553403B1	Adapters for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system There is provided an adapter for adapting an electronic device to a modular electronic device system. The adapter generally has a housing having two lateral edges, a cavity between the lateral edges and being adapted to receive the electronic device, each of the two lateral edges of the housing having at least one magnetic coupler electrically connectable with at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system by magnetically engaging the at least one magnetic coupler of the adapter with the at least one magnetic coupler of the modular electronic device system, and an internal electric conductor network electrically connected to the magnetic couplers of the adapter and electrically connected to an internal connector which is electrically connectable to the electronic device when received in the cavity of the housing.
US09553398B2	Hermetic feed through assembly An electrical feed through assembly includes a mechanical connector extending between a first end and a second end. The mechanical connector defines at least one opening through the mechanical connector between the first end and the second end. The electrical feed through assembly includes a first electrical connector attached to the first end of the mechanical connector. The first electrical connector includes a conductor portion that extends through the at least one opening in the mechanical connector. The first electrical connector includes a grounded portion within which the conductor portion is received. An inner radial surface of the grounded portion is sealed with the conductor portion. An outer radial surface of the grounded portion is attached to the mechanical connector.
US09553392B2	Electrical plug connector having a plug-connection member and a cable outlet member An electrical plug connector with a plug-connection member and with an angled cable outlet member is provided. The cable outlet member is able to be connected detachably to the plug-connection member in a plurality of orientations. In order to develop the electrical plug connector such that it is simple to manipulate even when using relatively thick cables, it is proposed that the cable outlet member be able to be connected detachably to the plug-connection member by a pivoting movement about a pivot axis arranged obliquely or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plug-connection member or by a linear movement along the longitudinal axis of the plug-connection member.
US09553383B2	Transmission module, transmission cable, and connector A transmission module, a transmission cable, and a connector are provided. The transmission module includes a connector component including a connector side substrate having a terminal component including a ground terminal and a data terminal, and a transmission cable component including a cable side substrate having a flexibility on which a cable side ground layer electrically connected to the ground terminal and a signal line are provided, wherein the cable side ground layer disposed at least at lower and upper sides of the signal line is folded, wherein a connector side ground layer electrically connected to the ground terminal is provided on the connector side substrate, and wherein the connector side ground layer disposed at least at lower and upper sides of an area where electromagnetic noises are generated is folded.
US09553381B2	Connector system with cable by-pass A connector system is provided that includes a first connector and a second connector that are both coupled by a cable. Both connectors can be configured with terminal tails that are configured to be press-fit into a circuit board. The first connect - or includes a first terminal pair and the second connector includes a second terminal pair and the first and second terminal pairs are fixably connected to opposite ends of the cable.
US09553379B2	Electrical connector for a chip module An electrical connector includes a socket, a stiffener disposed around the periphery of the socket, and a load plate covering the socket. The load plate includes two opposite lateral sides, and a front side and a rear side connected to the two lateral sides, which define an opening for a chip module to pass through. The rear side includes a pivoting portion, such that the load plate is rotatable relative to the socket around the pivoting portion. Each lateral side includes a first pressing portion and a second pressing portion in front of the first pressing portion. When the chip module is installed onto the socket and the load plate is closed, the first and second pressing portion press the chip module, and distances from bottom surfaces of the first and second pressing portions to a top surface of the load plate is unequal.
US09553376B1	Coaxial alignment instrument adapter An adapter alignment device, that can be added on the coaxial RF connectors of instruments, especially slide screw impedance tuners, aligns and guides precisely and repeat ably the male and female adapters into each-other. This leaves the internal center conductors of the tuner slabline, which are attached to the connectors and to external manually handled cables, intact; this is crucial for all instruments, most of all electro-mechanical impedance tuners, where data generated by previous calibrations are used in later measurement and where any other type of numeric adapter error correction or error model is impossible.
US09553366B1	Twin-axial wire antenna An antenna includes a polymer coating having a VLF/LF element and an HF/VHF element embedded therein. A blocking choke is interposed between the VLF/LF element and the antenna feed to block HF/VHF signals. Small chokes are regularly positioned on the VLF/LF element to eliminate resonances caused by mutual capacitance between the elements. Reactive loads are positioned in said HF/VHF element at regular intervals for optimizing performance of the antenna in the HF/VHF radio bands. In further embodiments the antenna is provided as a floating antenna with the elements helically arranged therein.
US09553363B2	Antenna array optimization system A method for optimizing a phased array antenna. A predicted future health state for elements in the phased array antenna is identified. A configuration for the elements to use a radiation pattern based on the predicted future health state for the elements taking into account potential degradation of a group of the elements in the predicted future health state is also identified.
US09553359B2	Antenna apparatus An antenna apparatus includes a glass plate that is fixed to a flange of a vehicle body at a window opening portion of the vehicle body; a dielectric material; a conductive film provided between the glass plate and the dielectric material; and a monopolar feeding portion provided on the dielectric material at a surface opposite to a glass plate side and at a position capable of being capacitively coupled to the conductive film, the antenna apparatus being configured such that a clearance between an end portion of the flange of the vehicle body and an outer edge of the conductive film functions as a slot antenna, the conductive film being provided with a notch having one end as an open end at the outer edge of the conductive film in the vicinity of the feeding portion.
US09553355B2	Antenna structure and wireless communication device employing same An antenna structure includes a radiation body, a grounding portion, a feeding portion, and a variable capacitor. The grounding portion is coupled to the radiation body and is configured to couple to ground. The feeding portion is coupled between the radiation body and the variable capacitor, the feeding portion is configured to receive feeding signals via the variable capacitor.
US09553354B2	Digital TV antenna The present antenna comprises a metallic base, defining an inner housing; an irradiating element, in the form of a metallic rod, having one end to be secured, in an electrically insulated manner, to the base; and a coaxial cable to connect the antenna to the TV set and having a mesh and a central wire, respectively and electrically connected to the base and to the irradiating element, in the interior of the housing. The antenna further comprises an electronic circuit located in the interior of the housing and having an input connected to the end of the rod, and an output connected to the central wire of the coaxial cable, said electronic circuit blocking the passage of signals in undesired frequencies, from the irradiating element to the coaxial cable.
US09553353B2	Redirection of electromagnetic signals using substrate structures A system for transmitting or receiving signals may include a dielectric substrate having a major face, a communication circuit, and an electromagnetic-energy directing assembly. The circuit may include a transducer configured to convert between RF electrical and RF electromagnetic signals and supported in a position spaced from the major face of the substrate operatively coupled to the transducer. The directing assembly may be supported by the substrate in spaced relationship from the transducer and configured to direct EM energy in a region including the transducer and along a line extending away from the transducer and transverse to a plane of the major face.
US09553350B2	Antenna mount assembly An antenna mount assembly disclosed herein provides for an efficient and elegant solution for installation of radio frequency antennas on existing wooden poles. An implementation of the antenna mount assembly includes a saddle comprising a plurality of concave plates, each of the plurality of concave plates configured to be attached to a pole. A pipe mount attachment element is welded to one of the plurality of concave plates. A pipe mount is attached to the pipe mount attachment element and the pipe mount is configured to attach an antenna element thereto.
US09553346B2	Battery system with selective thermal management The present invention is directed to battery systems. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a battery system having a first battery group and a second battery group. The first battery group and the second battery group can share a single housing, or be positioned within separate housings. The first battery group and the second battery group can each have a plurality of cells configured in parallel, and the two groups can be electrically integrated. When operating at a low temperature, the first battery group is configured to provide electrical energy to a heating module that selectively heats up one or more segments of the second battery group. In addition, the first battery group also provides energy for initial operation of an electric vehicle or equipment. Once the selected segments of the battery group are heated up to an operating temperature, the selected segments supply electrical power to the vehicle or equipment and charge the first battery group. In addition, the selected segments of the second battery group provide electrical energy for heating other segments of the second battery group. There are other embodiments as well.
US09553343B2	Printed circuit board interconnect for cells in a battery system A system includes a cell interconnect board including a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed proximate a power assembly having a plurality of pouch battery cells, including at least a first battery cell and a second battery cell in a stacked orientation relative to each other. The cell interconnect board includes an interconnect spanning a slot in the cell interconnect board and configured to receive a first tab electrode extending from the first battery cell and a second tab electrode extending from the second battery cell, such that the first and second tab electrodes are in contact with each other. The system also includes a sensor configured to measure a parameter associated with the power assembly.
US09553339B2	Security architecture, battery and motor vehicle having a corresponding battery A security architecture, a battery, and a motor vehicle that has a corresponding battery are configured to be used to combine battery packs of a lower security integrity level into a battery system that has a higher security integrity level. The security architecture is for at least two batteries and each battery includes at least one electrochemical cell. The at least two batteries are each combined with at least one data processing unit to form a respective module. The security architecture is configured such that input signals of at least one second module are processed by the at least one data processing unit of at least one first module.
US09553335B2	Lead-acid battery A lead-acid battery improving the charge acceptance in an initial stage, suppressing the decrease of the charge acceptance for a long time use of the battery and having a long life is provided. In a lead-acid battery using a paste type negative plate prepared by filling a past form negative active material using a lead powder as a starting material in a collector made of a lead alloy, a flake graphite and a condensate of bisphenols and aminobenzene sulfonic acid are contained in the negative active material. The average primary particle diameter of the flake graphite is 10 μm or more and 220 μm or less, preferably, 100 μm or more and 220 μm or less. The content of the flake graphite is preferably from 0.5 mass parts to 2.7 mass parts and, more preferably, from 1.1 mass parts to 2.2 mass parts based on 100 mass parts of the negative active material (spongy metallic lead) in a fully charged state.
US09553332B2	Solid state catholytes and electrolytes for energy storage devices The present invention provides an energy storage device comprising a cathode region having an active region which expands or contracts from a first volume to a second volume during a period of a charge and discharge. The device has a a solid state catholyte material which includes lithium, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon elements. The device has a protective material formed overlying exposed regions of the cathode material to substantially maintain the sulfur species within the catholyte material. Also included is a novel oxygen doped configuration of LiaSiPbSc containing material.
US09553331B2	Solid electrolyte material, solid electrolyte, and battery According to one embodiment, a solid electrolyte material is an oxide represented by ABO3, wherein an A-site includes Li and vacancies. A cubic root V1/3 of a unit cell volume is within a range of 386 pm≦V1/3≦397 pm. A peak top νtop of an absorption peak in an infrared absorption spectrum satisfies Expression (1) νtop (cm−1)=4.7×V1/3 (pm)−b (1), provided that 1220≦b≦1240.
US09553321B2	Integrated power generation and carbon capture using fuel cells Systems and methods are provided for capturing CO2 from a combustion source using molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFCs). At least a portion of the anode exhaust can be recycled for use as part of anode input stream. This can allow for a reduction in the amount of fuel cell area required for separating CO2 from the combustion source exhaust and/or modifications in how the fuel cells can be operated.
US09553310B2	Secondary battery A secondary battery according to the present invention has a current collector and a positive electrode mixture layer that coats the current collector. The positive electrode mixture layer includes a positive electrode active material, an electrically conductive material, and a binder, and the positive electrode active material is constituted by hollow-structure secondary particles formed by the aggregation of a plurality of primary particles of a lithium transition metal oxide and has a through hole penetrating from outside to a hollow portion. In addition, a particle porosity A1 of the positive electrode active material satisfies 2.0(%)≦A1≦70(%). Furthermore, a DBP absorption A2 of the positive electrode active material satisfies 23 (mL/100 g)≦A2. Moreover, the tap density A3 of the positive electrode active material satisfies 1.0 (g/mL)≦A3≦1.9 (g/mL).
US09553309B2	Silicon oxide particles, making method, lithium ion secondary battery, and electrochemical capacitor Silicon oxide particles each comprising an inner portion having an iron content of 10-1,000 ppm and an outer portion having an iron content of up to 30 ppm are suitable as negative electrode active material in nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. Using a negative electrode comprising the silicon oxide particles as active material, a lithium ion secondary battery or electrochemical capacitor having a high capacity and improved cycle performance can be constructed.
US09553308B2	Negative electrode material for sodium secondary battery and method for producing same, negative electrode for sodium secondary batter, and sodium secondary battery Problem. Provided is a negative electrode material for a sodium secondary battery and its manufacturing method, and a negative electrode for a sodium secondary battery, and a sodium secondary battery, wherein the negative electrode material can have excellent cycle characteristics while maintaining high discharge capacity. Solution. A negative electrode material for a sodium secondary battery according to the present invention includes sulfide or sulfide composite body containing sulfur and antimony, and as necessary further includes the following component(s) of (i): (i) at least one or more element(s) selected from a group consisting of Sn, As, Bi, Ge, Ga, Pb, and C, wherein when a component(s) of (i) is included, the ratio of each of the above described components is sulfur: 10 to 70 mol %, antimony: 10 to 70 mol %, and (i): 3 to 60 mol %.
US09553301B2	High capacity lithium ion battery formation protocol and corresponding batteries Battery formation protocols are used to perform initial charging of batteries with lithium rich high capacity positive electrode to result a more stable battery structure. The formation protocol generally comprises three steps, an initial charge step, a rest period under an open circuit and a subsequent charge step to a selected partial activation voltage. The subsequent or second charge voltage is selected to provide for a desired degree of partial activation of the positive electrode active material to achieve a desired specific capacity while providing for excellent stability with cycling. The formation protocol is particularly effective to stabilize cycling for compositions with moderate lithium enrichment.
US09553297B2	Battery pack The present invention relates to a battery pack including a housing, a latch mechanism, a printed circuit board connected to electrical terminals, and an internal frame. The housing includes a first and second portion. The first portion includes openings that receive the latch mechanism and openings that receive the terminals. The battery pack also includes a latch cover that protects against water infiltrating between the openings and the latch mechanism, and a terminal cover that protects against water infiltrating between the first housing portion and the terminals. Water that enters the battery pack is directed to the bottom of the battery pack. The water is then drained through openings in the lower housing portion. The internal frame includes openings that secure batteries within the lower housing portion with the help of wedges that are positioned in between adjacent rows of batteries.
US09553293B2	Rechargeable lithium battery A rechargeable lithium battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The separator includes a substrate having a first side facing the negative electrode and a second side facing the positive electrode. A first layer is positioned on the first side of the substrate and includes an organic material, and a second layer is positioned on the second side of the substrate and includes an inorganic material.
US09553289B2	Battery module A battery module with a plurality of battery cells arranged in a first direction in a battery array, the battery module including a plurality of barriers in which a pair of adjoining ones of the barriers mount a battery cell therebetween, a frame having at least a pair of opposed frame members, the battery array and the barriers being between the opposed frame members and disposed internally thereof, the frame including a pair of end blocks at outermost sides of the battery array, side frames connecting the end blocks, and a degassing portion overlying vent portions of each of the plurality of battery cells and providing a passage for directing vented gas from the battery cells away from the battery module, the degassing portion rigidly supporting the battery cells and barriers of the battery array within the frame.
US09553275B2	Flexible display panel and method of manufacturing the same A flexible display panel and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the flexible display panel includes a flexible substrate including a bending area, a display unit formed over the flexible substrate, and a thin film encapsulation layer covering the display unit. The flexible display panel further includes a wiring layer electrically connected to the display unit and formed over the bending area and a stress-neutralizing layer formed over the flexible substrate. The stress-neutralizing layer is configured such that a compressive stress is applied to the wiring layer when the bending area is bent. The stress-neutralizing layer includes a layer formed of the same material as the thin film encapsulation layer.
US09553266B2	Process of structuring an active organic layer deposited on a substrate A method of structuring an active organic layer deposited on a substrate, including depositing a sacrificial layer on the substrate by photolithography, the sacrificial layer being made of at least one resist, creating at least one pattern inside of the sacrificial layer, depositing an active organic layer on the sacrificial layer and in the pattern, depositing a protective layer made of organic polymer on the active layer and in the pattern of the resist sacrificial layer, removing the sacrificial layer by projection of a solvent on the resin forming the layer, and removing the protective layer by dissolving the polymer forming it in a solvent.
US09553263B1	Resistive memory elements including buffer materials, and related memory cells, memory devices, electronic systems A resistive memory element comprises a first electrode, an active material over the first electrode, a buffer material over the active material and comprising longitudinally extending, columnar grains of crystalline material, an ion reservoir material over the buffer material, and a second electrode over the ion reservoir material. A memory cell, a memory device, an electronic system, and a method of forming a resistive memory element are also described.
US09553259B2	Magnetic tunnel junctions A magnetic tunnel junction comprises a conductive first magnetic electrode comprising magnetic recording material. A conductive second magnetic electrode is spaced from the first electrode and comprises magnetic reference material. A non-magnetic tunnel insulator material is between the first and second electrodes. The magnetic recording material of the first electrode comprises a first crystalline magnetic region, in one embodiment comprising Co and Fe. In one embodiment, the first electrode comprises a second amorphous region comprising amorphous XN, where X is one or more of W, Mo, Cr, V, Nb, Ta, Al, and Ti. In one embodiment, the first electrode comprises a second region comprising Co, Fe, and N.
US09553253B2	Method for manufacturing piezoelectric device A lower electrode and an adhesive layer made of an insulator are formed on a back surface on the ion implantation layer side of a piezoelectric single crystal substrate. A supporting substrate in which sacrificial layers made of a conductive material have been formed is bonded to the surface of the adhesive layer. By heating the composite body including the piezoelectric single crystal substrate, the lower electrode, the adhesive layer, and the supporting substrate, a layer of the piezoelectric single crystal substrate is detached to form a piezoelectric thin film. A liquid polarizing upper electrode is formed on a detaching interface of the piezoelectric thin film. A pulsed electric field is applied using the polarizing upper electrode and the sacrificial layers as counter electrodes. Consequently, the piezoelectric thin film is polarized.
US09553250B2	Manufacturing method of thermoelectric converter An insulating substrate to which intermediate portions or conductive pastes constituting the intermediate portions are disposed, a front surface protective member to which front surface patterns are formed, and a back surface protective member to which back surface patterns are formed are prepared. A laminated body, to which first end portions or conductive pastes constituting the first end portions are disposed between the intermediate portions or the conductive pastes constituting the intermediate portions and the front surface patterns, and second end portions or conductive pastes constituting the second end portions are disposed between the intermediate portions or the conductive pastes constituting the intermediate portions and the back surface patterns, is constituted. Then, thermoelectric conversion elements are formed by integrating the laminated body.
US09553247B2	Lead frame for mounting LED elements, lead frame with resin, method for manufacturing semiconductor devices, and lead frame for mounting semiconductor elements A lead frame for mounting LED elements includes a frame body region and a large number of package regions arranged in multiple rows and columns in the frame body region. The package regions each include a die pad on which an LED element is to be mounted and a lead section adjacent to the die pad, the package regions being further constructed to be interconnected via a dicing region. The die pad in one package region and the lead section in another package region upward or downward adjacent to the package region of interest are connected to each other by an inclined reinforcement piece positioned in the dicing region.
US09553246B2	Silicone-grafted core-shell particles, polymer matrix, and LED containing same A silicone-grafted core-shell particle is described wherein the silicone-grafted core-shell particle comprises a core of an inorganic particle and a shell of a grafted poly(dimethylsiloxane) polymer formed from a bi-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) having reactive groups at each terminal end. The silicone-grafted core-shell particles may be dispersed in a polysiloxane polymer matrix and employed as an LED encapsulant.
US09553229B2	Etching of solar cell materials A solar cell is fabricated by etching one or more of its layers without substantially etching another layer of the solar cell. In one embodiment, a copper layer in the solar cell is etched without substantially etching a topmost metallic layer comprising tin. For example, an etchant comprising sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide may be employed to etch the copper layer selective to the tin layer. A particular example of the aforementioned etchant is a Co-Bra Etch® etchant modified to comprise about 1% by volume of sulfuric acid, about 4% by volume of phosphoric acid, and about 2% by volume of stabilized hydrogen peroxide. In one embodiment, an aluminum layer in the solar cell is etched without substantially etching the tin layer. For example, an etchant comprising potassium hydroxide may be employed to etch the aluminum layer without substantially etching the tin layer.
US09553227B2	Optical element and concentrating photovoltaic device Provided are an optical element and a concentrating photovoltaic device which are each capable of preventing warpage and deformation of an optical functional pattern formed in a surface thereof due to stress even in an environment with extreme temperature changes. An optical element (4) of a concentrating photovoltaic device (1) concentrating sunlight includes: a glass substrate (5) and a sheet-like molded body (6) which is made of an organic resin and includes a Fresnel lens pattern (6a) in a surface and has the other surface bonded to the glass substrate (5). The sheet-like molded body (6) has a tensile elastic modulus of 1500 MPa or less, a linear expansion coefficient of 7.0×10−5/° C. or less, an average transmittance of 85% or more in a wavelength range from 350 to 1850 nm at a thickness of 400 μm, and a haze value of 1.0% or less.
US09553219B2	Glass unit A glass unit includes an energy collecting layer attached to a light directing device for collecting a light energy from the light directing device, and an energy converting layer electrically coupled to the energy collecting layer for converting the light energy into an electric energy, and the light directing device includes a number of nanometer particles to direct the light energy toward the energy collecting layer. The light directing device includes one or more glass layers, and a light collecting panel attached to the glass layer with a bonding layer and made of polymer materials which are mixed with the nanometer particles to form the light collecting panel.
US09553215B2	Method and device for recognizing faults in a photovoltaic system The invention relates to a method and a device for recognizing faults in a photovoltaic system (1). A first output voltage (U0, UMPP) of the system (1) and/or a first parameter derived from the output voltage (U0, UMPP) is determined at a first point in time in a first operating state of the photovoltaic system (1). At a second point in time in a second operating state comparable to the first operating state, a second output voltage (U0, UMPP) and/or a second parameter of the system (1) derived from the output voltage (U0, UMPP) is determined. Finally, a deviation between the first and the second output voltage (U0, UMPP) and/or between the first and the second parameter is identified and a fault notification is output if the deviation exceeds a predeterminable threshold.
US09553209B2	Process for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising an empty trench structure and semiconductor device manufactured thereby The process is based upon the steps of: forming a trench in a body including a substrate and at least one insulating layer; and depositing a metal layer above the body for closing the open end or mouth of the trench. The trench is formed by selectively etching the body, wherein the reaction by-products deposit on the walls of the trench and form a passivation layer along the walls of the trench and a restriction element in proximity of the mouth of the trench.
US09553198B1	TFT substrate structure and manufacturing method thereof The present invention provides a TFT substrate structure and a manufacturing method thereof. The TFT substrate structure of the present invention includes an N-type lightly-doped amorphous silicon layer and an N-type heavily-doped amorphous silicon layer arranged between an amorphous silicon layer and a metal layer to form a gradient of doping concentration so as to reduce the potential barrier between the metal layer and the amorphous silicon layer, making injection of electrons easy and reducing the leakage current without lowering an operation current, thereby improving the electrical property of the TFT. The manufacturing method of a TFT substrate structure of the present invention includes forming an N-type lightly-doped amorphous silicon layer and an N-type heavily-doped amorphous silicon layer between an amorphous silicon layer and a metal layer to effectively reduce the potential barrier between the metal layer and the amorphous silicon layer, making injection of electrons easy and reducing the leakage current without lowering an operation current, thereby improving the electrical property of the TFT.
US09553196B2	Multi-gate thin film transistor, array substrate and display device The present invention discloses a multi-gate thin film transistor for realizing a multi-gate occupying a small area, pixels provided with the multi-gate TFTs are high in aperture ratio, and a display device provided with the multi-gate TFTs is high in resolution. The multi-gate thin film transistor comprises: at least three gate electrodes; a plurality of active layers corresponding to each of the gate electrodes, respectively, the active layers being formed into an integrated structure; a source electrode connected with one of the plurality of active layers; and a plurality of drain electrodes connected with each of the remainder of the plurality of active layers, respectively. The present invention further discloses an array substrate comprising the multi-gate thin film transistor, and a display device.
US09553190B2	Semiconductor devices including source/drain regions having multiple epitaxial patterns A semiconductor device includes an active pattern protruding from a substrate, a gate structure crossing over the active pattern, and source/drain regions disposed on the active pattern at opposite sides of the gate structure. Each of the source/drain regions includes a first epitaxial pattern contacting the active pattern and a second epitaxial pattern on the first epitaxial pattern. The first epitaxial pattern comprises a material having a lattice constant which is the same as that of the substrate, and the second epitaxial pattern comprises a material having a lattice constant greater than that of the first epitaxial pattern.
US09553183B2	Gate stack for normally-off compound semiconductor transistor A normally-off compound semiconductor transistor includes a heterostructure body and a gate stack on the heterostructure body. The heterostructure body includes a source, a drain spaced apart from the source, and a channel for connecting the source and the drain. The channel includes a first two-dimensional charge carrier gas of a first polarity arising in the heterostructure body due to piezoelectric effects. The gate stack controls the channel in a region of the heterostructure body under the gate stack. The gate stack includes at least one III-nitride material which gives rise to a second two-dimensional charge carrier gas of a second polarity opposite the first polarity in the gate stack or in the heterostructure body under the gate stack due to piezoelectric effects. The second two-dimensional charge carrier gas counter-balances polarization charges in the first two-dimensional charge carrier gas so that the channel is disrupted under the gate stack.
US09553182B2	Circuit structure, transistor and semiconductor device A circuit structure includes a substrate, a III-V semiconductor compound over the substrate, a AlxGa(1−X)N (AlGaN) layer over the III-V semiconductor compound, a gate over the AlGaN layer, a passivation film over the gate and over a portion of the AlGaN layer, a source structure, and a drain structure on an opposite side of the gate from the source structure, wherein X ranges from 0.1 to 1. The source structure has a source contact portion and an overhead portion. The overhead portion is over at least a portion of the passivation film between the source contact portion and the gate. A distance between the source contact portion and the gate is less than a distance between the gate and the drain structure.
US09553181B2	Crystalline-amorphous transition material for semiconductor devices and method for formation The present disclosure presents a novel structure for a dielectric material for use with Group III-V material systems and a method of fabricating such a structure. More specifically, the present disclosure describes a novel dielectric layer that is formed on the top surface of a III-V material where the dielectric layer comprises a first region in contact with the top surface of the III-V material crystalline and a second region adjacent to the first region and at the upper side of the dielectric layer. The dielectric layer has material properties different from traditional dielectric layers as it is composed of both crystalline and amorphous structures. The crystalline structure is at the interface with the III-V material (such as AlGaN or GaN) but gradually transitions into an amorphous structure, both within the same layer and both comprising the same material.
US09553178B2	Semiconductor component with an emitter control electrode A semiconductor component includes a first emitter zone of a first conductivity type, a second emitter zone of a second conductivity type, a first base zone arranged between the first and second emitter zones and a first control structure. The first control structure includes a control electrode arranged adjacent the first emitter zone, the control electrode being insulated from the first emitter zone by a first dielectric layer and extending in a current flow direction of the semiconductor component. The first control structure includes a first control connection and at least one first connection zone arranged between the first control connection and the control electrode and comprising a semiconductor material.
US09553173B1	Asymmetric finFET memory access transistor A field effect transistor device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a doped source layer arranged on the semiconductor substrate, an insulator layer arranged on the doped source layer, a fin arranged on the insulator layer, a source region extension portion extending from the doped source layer and through the fin, a gate stack arranged over a channel region of the fin and adjacent to the source region extension portion, a drain region arranged on the fin adjacent to the gate stack; the drain region having a graduated doping concentration.
US09553158B2	Thin film transistor array substrate and a thin film transistor which comprise a conductive structure comprising a blocking layer and a diffusion prevention layer Embodiments of the invention provide a conductive structure, a thin film transistor, an array substrate, and a display device. The conductive structure comprises a copper layer formed of copper or copper alloy; a blocking layer for preventing copper ions of the copper layer from diffusing outward; and a diffusion prevention layer for preventing exterior ions from diffusing to the copper layer and disposed between the copper layer and the blocking layer. The multilayer conductive structure according to an embodiment of the invention can prevent exterior ions from diffusing into a copper layer and prevent copper ions from diffusing outward to reduce ions diffusion that adversely impacts the electricity performance and chemical corrosion resistance of the copper metal layer, and meanwhile can enhance adhesiveness of the conductive structure, which may be helpful for etching/patterning of the multilayer conductive structure.
US09553155B2	Semiconductor device and method In an embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) including a floating gate. The floating gate includes two or more electrically separated floating gate segments.
US09553153B1	Post growth defect reduction for heteroepitaxial materials A method of reducing defects in epitaxially grown III-V semiconductor material comprising: epitaxially growing a III-V semiconductor on a substrate; patterning and removing portions of the III-V semiconductor to form openings; depositing thermally stable material in the openings; depositing a capping layer over the semiconductor material and thermally stable material to form a substantially enclosed semiconductor; and annealing the substantially enclosed semiconductor.
US09553152B2	Semiconductor device A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer which is formed over a substrate and is formed from a nitride semiconductor; a second semiconductor layer which is formed over the first semiconductor layer and is formed from a nitride semiconductor; a third semiconductor layer which is formed over the second semiconductor layer and is formed from a nitride semiconductor; a source electrode and a drain electrode which are formed over the third semiconductor layer; an opening which is formed in the second semiconductor layer and the third semiconductor layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode; an insulating layer which is formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the opening; and a gate electrode which is formed in the opening through the insulating layer.
US09553150B2	Transistor design Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a transistor device formed in a semiconductor substrate containing dopant impurities of a first impurity type. The transistor device includes channel composed of a delta-doped layer comprising dopant impurities of the first impurity type, and configured to produce a peak dopant concentration within the channel. The channel further includes a layer of carbon-containing material overlying the delta-doped layer, and configured to prevent back diffusion of dopants from the delta-doped layer and semiconductor substrate. The channel also includes of a layer of substrate material overlying the layer of carbon-containing material, and configured to achieve steep retrograde dopant concentration profile a near a surface of the channel. In some embodiments, a counter-doped layer underlies the delta-doped layer configured to reduce leakage within the semiconductor substrate, and includes dopant impurities of a second impurity type, which is opposite the first impurity type.
US09553147B2	Trench formation with CD less than 10nm for replacement fin growth Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods of forming sub-10 nm node FinFETs. Various processing steps may be performed on a substrate to provide a trench over which a dielectric layer is conformally deposited. The dielectric layer is subsequently etched within the trench to expose the underlying substrate and a semiconductive material is deposited in the trench to form a fin structure. The processes of forming the trench, depositing the dielectric layer, and forming the fin structure can achieve sub-10 nm node dimensions and provide increasingly smaller FinFETs.
US09553139B2	Semiconductor component and method of manufacture In accordance with an embodiment, a semiconductor component and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor component are provided. A first dielectric material is formed over a body of semiconductor material of the first conductivity type and a plurality of semiconductor fingers are formed over the first of dielectric material. Semiconductor fingers of the plurality of semiconductor fingers spaced apart from each other and at least one of the semiconductor fingers has a first end spaced apart from a second end by a central region. A second dielectric material is formed over central region of the at least one semiconductor finger of the plurality of semiconductor fingers. An electrically conductive material is formed over the second dielectric material that is over the central region of the at least one semiconductor finger. The electrically conductive material serves as a shielding structure and the semiconductor material may be coupled to a fixed potential.
US09553137B2	Display device A display device includes a substrate, a plurality of first layered link lines spaced apart from each other on the substrate, a first insulating layer on the plurality of first layered link lines, a plurality of second layered link lines spaced apart from each other on the first insulating layer, each second layered link line between neighboring first layered link lines, a second insulating layer on the plurality of second layered link lines, and a plurality of data lines or a plurality of gate lines connected to the plurality of first layered link lines and the plurality of second layered link lines.
US09553123B2	Back-illuminated sensor chips A back-illuminated sensor chip is disclosed, which includes one or more pixel areas each including a plurality of pixels located in a plane and arranged in a matrix. Each pixel area includes: a central portion consisting of a plurality of first pixels located in vicinity of a center of the pixel area; and a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion and consisting of the other pixels in the pixel area than the first pixels. The plurality of first pixels have a first height in a vertical direction perpendicular to the plane, and the pixels in the peripheral portion have a second height in the vertical direction that is greater than the first height so that the peripheral portion protrudes outward beyond the central portion and is thus located nearer to a light source during imaging than the central portion. As a result, light sensibility of the peripheral portion is increased.
US09553121B2	Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same A connection portion connects a copper-based first wiring layer with a copper-based second wiring layer arranged on the upper side of a first diffusion barrier film. The first diffusion barrier film includes a first opening region formed in a semiconductor circuit region that is a partial region in a two-dimensional view and a second opening region formed as an opening region different from the first opening region in a two-dimensional view. The opening regions are formed in a region different from an opening region formed to allow the connection portion to pass through the first diffusion barrier film. A mark wiring layer is arranged immediately above the second opening region as the same layer as the second wiring layer. A second diffusion barrier film is arranged in contact with the upper surface of the mark wiring layer.
US09553120B2	Image sensor using backside illumination photodiode and method for manufacturing the same A technology capable of simplifying a process and securing a misalignment margin when bonding two wafers to manufacture an image sensor using backside illumination photodiodes. When manufacturing an image sensor through a 3D CIS (CMOS image sensor) manufacturing process, two wafers, that is, a first wafer and a second wafer are electrically connected using the vias of one wafer and the bonding pads of the other wafer. Also, when manufacturing an image sensor through a 3D CIS manufacturing process, two wafers are electrically connected using the vias of both the two wafers.
US09553112B2	Array substrate and method of manufacturing the same, display panel and method of manufacturing the same, and display device The invention discloses an array substrate, a display panel and methods of manufacturing the same, and a display device. The array substrate comprises: a pixel region and a wiring region located outside the wiring region; a gate line and a data line each arranged within both the pixel and wiring regions; a passivation layer arranged to cover the gate and data lines and provided therein with trenches respectively exposing and being wider than the gate and data lines within the wiring region; first and second signal line partially arranged within the trenches respectively and contacting exposed portions of the gate and data lines to transmit signals to the gate and gate lines respectively, the first and second signal line each having widths equal to those of the trenches respectively. With the invention, good electrical connections between the signal line and the gate and data lines are enabled.
US09553107B2	Shallow extension junction A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes receiving a finned substrate comprising an isolation layer with a plurality of semiconductor fins formed thereon, forming a gate structure over a fin that comprises a gate and a seed layer disposed below the gate and immediately adjacent to the fin, and epitaxially growing a gate extender from the seed layer that laterally extends over a source or drain region of the fin. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a finned substrate comprising an isolation layer with a plurality of semiconductor fins formed thereon, a gate structure formed over a fin of the plurality of fins, the gate structure comprising a gate and a seed layer disposed below the gate and immediately adjacent to the fin, and a gate extender epitaxially grown from the seed layer that laterally extends over a source or drain region of the fin.
US09553102B2	Tungsten separation Methods of selectively etching tungsten from the surface of a patterned substrate are described. The etch electrically separates vertically arranged tungsten slabs from one another as needed, for example, in the manufacture of vertical flash memory devices. The tungsten etch may selectively remove tungsten relative to films such as silicon, polysilicon, silicon oxide, aluminum oxide, titanium nitride and silicon nitride. The methods include exposing electrically-shorted tungsten slabs to remotely-excited fluorine formed in a capacitively-excited chamber plasma region. The methods then include exposing the tungsten slabs to remotely-excited fluorine formed in an inductively-excited remote plasma system. A low electron temperature is maintained in the substrate processing region during each operation to achieve high etch selectivity.
US09553098B2	Semiconductor devices including separate line patterns A semiconductor device includes a plurality of lines disposed on a semiconductor substrate, and remaining line patterns disposed spaced apart from the lines on extensions from the lines. The lines include first end-portions adjacent to the remaining line patterns. The remaining line patterns include second end-portions adjacent to the lines. The first end-portions and second end-portions are formed to have mirror symmetry with respect to each other.
US09553093B1	Spacer for dual epi CMOS devices Aspects of the disclosure include a method for making a semiconductor, including patterning a first transistor having one or more gate stacks on a first source-drain area and second transistor comprising one or more gate stacks on a second source-drain area, forming dielectric spacers on gate stack side walls, depositing a first nitride liner on the first and second transistors. The method also includes masking the second transistor and etching to remove the first nitride material and the spacer from the first source-drain area and growing a first epitaxial layer on the first source-drain area by an epitaxial growth process. The method also includes depositing a second nitride liner on the first and second transistors. The method also includes masking the first transistor. The method also includes etching to remove the second nitride material from the second source-drain area and growing a second epitaxial layer on the second source-drain area by an epitaxial growth process.
US09553088B1	Forming semiconductor device with close ground rules A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises forming active regions on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate stack over the active regions and regions adjacent to the active regions, depositing a layer of conductive material over the active regions and the substrate, patterning a first mask over the conductive material, etching to remove exposed portions of the conductive material and form conductive contacts, patterning a second mask over portions of the gate stacks and conductive contacts, and etching to remove exposed portions of the gate stack.
US09553084B2	Switching element, semiconductor device, and semiconductor device manufacturing method According to the present invention, a switching element includes a substrate, a first gate pad formed on the substrate, a second gate pad formed on the substrate, a first resistor portion formed on the substrate, the first resistor portion connecting the first gate pad and the second gate pad to each other, and a cell region formed on the substrate and connected to the first gate pad. Thus, measurement of the gate resistance value and selection from gate resistances of the switching element can be performed after the completion of the gate-resistor-incorporating-type switching element.
US09553068B2	Integrated circuit (“IC”) assembly includes an IC die with a top metallization layer and a conductive epoxy layer applied to the top metallization layer An integrated circuit (“IC”) assembly includes an IC die with a metallization layer on a top surface thereof. A plurality of lead wires are bonded at first end portions thereof to the metallization layer. A conductive layer is attached to the metallization layer and covers the first ends of the lead wires.
US09553060B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method therefor Provided are a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method therefor that can prevent electric short-circuiting between redistribution lines. A barrier film is formed over each side surface of a copper redistribution line. The barrier film includes, for example, a manganese oxide film. The barrier film is also in contact with each end surface of a barrier metal film that is located in the position receding inward from the side surface of the copper redistribution line. A redistribution portion is formed by the copper redistribution line, the barrier film, and the barrier metal film.
US09553044B2	Electrically conductive interconnect including via having increased contact surface area An interconnect structure includes a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer each extending along a first axis to define a height and a second axis opposite the first axis to define a length. A capping layer is interposed between the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. At least one electrically conductive feature is embedded in at least one of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer. At least one electrically conductive via extends through the second dielectric layer and the capping layer. The via has an end that contacts the conductive feature. The end includes a flange having at least one portion extending laterally along the first axis to define a contact area between the via and the at least one conductive feature.
US09553040B2	Semiconductor package The invention provides a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package includes a semiconductor package includes a substrate having a die attach surface. A die is mounted on die attach surface of the substrate via a conductive pillar bump. The die comprises a metal pad electrically coupling to the conductive pillar bump, wherein the metal pad has a first edge and a second edge substantially vertical to the first edge, wherein the length of the first edge is different from that of the second edge from a plan view.
US09553038B2	Semiconductor cooling apparatus An apparatus for cooling semiconductor elements uses heat exchangers to transfer heat from the semiconductor elements to a coolant flowing through the heat exchangers. A central body, made from a flexible material, is positioned between the heat exchangers and a manifold from which the coolant is provided. The central body includes a plurality of flexible runners fluidly coupled to each heat exchanger and the manifold to provide the coolant to the heat exchanger. Heat is transferred away from the semiconductor elements by the coolant and heated coolant is returned from the heat exchanger to the manifold. Each flexible runner is configured to flex to conform to a height of a respective semiconductor element and thereby apply a force to the heat exchanger to maintain contact with the semiconductor element.
US09553034B1	Combined semiconductor metrology system A semiconductor wafer inspection system includes a camera and two or more illuminators. The illuminators illuminate a line of the semiconductor wafer in sequence and the camera captures an interleaved image of illuminated lines such that the individual images can be recovered from the interleaved image. The semiconductor wafer can be moved by a conveyor so that adjacent lines can be sequentially illuminated by the illuminators. The camera may include two or more line sensors.
US09553027B2	Fine patterning methods and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices using the same A fine-patterning method includes forming a mask layer with lower and upper mask layers on an underlying layer, forming a pair of sacrificial patterns on the mask layer, forming a connection spacer between the sacrificial patterns and first spacers that are spaced apart from each other with the pair of sacrificial patterns interposed therebetween and covering side surfaces of the sacrificial patterns, etching the upper mask layer using the first spacers and the connection spacer as an etch mask to form upper mask patterns, forming second spacers to cover side surfaces of the upper mask patterns, etching the lower mask layer using the second spacers as an etch mask to form lower mask patterns, and etching the underlying layer using the lower mask patterns as an etch mask.
US09553023B2	Substrate dividing method A substrate dividing method which can thin and divide a substrate while preventing chipping, and cracking from occurring. This substrate dividing method comprises the steps of irradiating a semiconductor substrate 1 having a front face 3 formed with functional devices 19 with laser light while positioning a light-converging point within the substrate, so as to form a modified region including a molten processed region due to multiphoton absorption within the semiconductor substrate 1, and causing the modified region including the molten processed region to form a starting point region for cutting; and grinding a rear face 21 of the semiconductor substrate 1 after the step of forming the starting point region for cutting such that the semiconductor substrate 1 attains a predetermined thickness.
US09553018B2	Self-aligned via and plug patterning with photobuckets for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects Self-aligned via and plug patterning with photobuckets for back end of line (BEOL) interconnects is described. In an example, an interconnect structure for an integrated circuit includes a first layer of the interconnect structure disposed above a substrate, the first layer having a first grating of alternating metal lines and dielectric lines in a first direction. The dielectric lines have an uppermost surface higher than an uppermost surface of the metal lines. The integrated circuit also includes a second layer of the interconnect structure disposed above the first layer of the interconnect structure. The second layer includes a second grating of alternating metal lines and dielectric lines in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. The dielectric lines have a lowermost surface lower than a lowermost surface of the metal lines of the second grating. The dielectric lines of the second grating overlap and contact, but are distinct from, the dielectric lines of the first grating. The integrated circuit also includes a region of dielectric material disposed between the metal lines of the first grating and the metal lines of the second grating, and in a same plane as upper portions of the dielectric lines of the first grating and lower portions of the dielectric lines of the second grating. The region of dielectric material is composed of a cross-linked photolyzable material.
US09553016B2	Contacts for semiconductor devices and methods of forming thereof A method for a method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a bottom surface opposite a top surface with circuitry disposed at the top surface. The method further includes forming a first metal layer having a first metal over the bottom surface of the semiconductor substrate. The first metal layer is formed by depositing an adhesion promoter followed by depositing the first metal.
US09553009B2	Substrate separation device and substrate separation system There is provided a substrate separation device and method for separating a growth substrate from a laminate structure which includes a support substrate, a semiconductor layer, and the growth substrate. The device includes: a first base which is configured to hold the laminate structure thereon, and includes a first holding unit configured to hold the support substrate defining a bottom surface of the laminate structure and a heating unit configured to heat the laminate structure; and a second base including a second holding unit disposed above the first holding unit and configured to hold the growth substrate defining an upper surface of the laminate structure.
US09553008B1	Methods to reduce debonding forces on flexible semiconductor films disposed on vapor-releasing adhesives A method comprises providing a handle substrate having a front surface and a back surface; providing a layer of flexible semiconductor material having a front surface and a back surface and an at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack on the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; bonding the front surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material to the front surface of the handle substrate; removing at least a portion of the at least partially sacrificial backing layer stack from the back surface of the layer of flexible semiconductor material; opening outgassing paths through the layer of flexible semiconductor material; and processing the layer of flexible semiconductor material.
US09552989B2	Apparatus and method for improved control of heating and cooling of substrates Methods and apparatus for processing substrates and controlling the heating and cooling of substrates are described. A radiation source providing radiation in a first range of wavelengths heats the substrate within a predetermined temperature range, the substrate being absorptive of radiation in a second range of wavelengths within the first range of wavelengths and within the predetermined temperature rang. A filter prevents at least a portion of radiation within the second wavelength range from reaching the substrate.
US09552986B2	Forming a memory device using sputtering to deposit silver-selenide film A method of sputter depositing silver selenide and controlling the stoichiometry and nodular defect formations of a sputter deposited silver-selenide film. The method includes depositing silver-selenide using a sputter deposition process at a pressure of about 0.3 mTorr to about 10 mTorr. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an RF sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 2 mTorr to about 3 mTorr. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a pulse DC sputter deposition process may be used preferably at pressures of about 4 mTorr to about 5 mTorr.
US09552975B2	Mass spectrometers comprising accelerator devices A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising providing a flight region for ions to travel through and a detector or fragmentation device. A potential profile is maintained along the flight region such that ions travel towards the detector or fragmentation device. The potential at which a first length of the flight region is maintained is then changed from a first potential to a second potential while at least some ions are travelling within the first length of flight region. The changed potential provides a first potential difference at an exit of the length of flight region, through which the ions are accelerated as they leave the length of flight region. This increases the kinetic energy of the ions prior to them reaching the detector or fragmentation cell.
US09552965B2	Inductively coupled coil and inductively coupled plasma device using the same The present invention discloses an inductively coupled coil and an inductively coupled plasma device using the same. The inductively coupled coil comprises an internal coil and an exterior coil which are respective from each other and coaxially arranged, internal coil comprising a plurality of internal respective branches having the same configurations which are nested together, the plurality of internal respective branches being arranged symmetrically with respect to an axis of the inductively coupled coil; the external coil comprising a plurality of external respective branches having the same configurations which are nested together, the plurality of external respective branches being arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis of the inductively coupled coil. The inductively coupled coil is located on the reaction chamber of the inductively coupled plasma device and is connected to a RF source. It can make the plasma distribute uniformly on the wafer in the reaction chamber so that the difference in chemical reaction rate on the surface of the wafer is small and the quality of the etched wafer is improved. They can be applied in a semiconductor wafer manufacturing apparatus, and they can also be adapted to other apparatuses.
US09552956B2	Radiation generating apparatus and radiation imaging apparatus A radiation generating apparatus includes: an envelope 1 having a first window 2 through which a radiation is transmitted; and a radiation tube 10 being held within the envelope 1, and having a second window 15 which is arranged in opposition to the first window 2, and through which the radiation is transmitted; and a radiation shielding member 16 thermally connected to the second window 15, having a radiation transmitting hole 21 arranged in communication with the second window 15, and having a protruding portion protruding from the second window 15 toward the first window 2. A thermally conductive member 17 having a higher thermal conductivity rather than that of the radiation shielding member 16 is connected to the protruding portion of the radiation shielding member 16. The radiation generating apparatus can shield an unnecessary radiation and cool a target with a simple structure and is entirely reduced in weight.
US09552954B2	Waste fluorescent light end-cutting apparatus The present invention relates to a waste fluorescent light end-cutting device. The waste fluorescent light end-cutting device includes a conveyor transferring a waste fluorescent light, a heating wire disposed on each of both sides of the conveyor, a cooling wire subsequently disposed on a rear side of the heating wire, and a suction duct disposed between the cooling wire and the heating wire. A base cap is separated from the waste fluorescent light by using a temperature difference between the heating wire and the cooling wire.
US09552937B2	Electro-mechanical energy harvesting switch An electro-mechanical energy harvesting switch configured to provide at least two different control signals comprises: a generator activating member (9) configured to move between a rest position and a maximum loaded position; at least one spring (11, 13) configured to force the generator activating member towards the rest position; and a unidirectionally rotating protrusion member (17) comprising at least one protrusion (21) configured to move through a protrusion's path during rotation of the protrusion member (17), through a first position of the protrusion (21), in which first position the protrusion (21) is engaged with the generator activating member (9) in the rest position, and through a second position, the protrusion (21) thereby carrying the generator activating member (9) from the rest position to the maximum loaded position against the force of the at least one spring (11, 13).
US09552931B2	Polarizable electrode material and electric double layer capacitor using same Disclosed is a polarizable electrode material for an electric double layer capacitor with a high energy density and excellent long-term reliability, as well as an electric double layer capacitor in which the polarizable electrode material is used. The polarizable electrode material includes porous carbon particles, a conductive assistant, a tungsten oxide powder and a binder, wherein the tungsten oxide is dispersed in the polarizable electrode material so that the tungsten oxide per 1 g of the polarizable electrode material has a surface area of 0.2 m2 or more and less than 6 m2.
US09552930B2	Anode for lithium ion capacitor An anode in a lithium ion capacitor, including: a carbon composition comprising: a coconut shell sourced carbon in from 85 to 95 wt %; a conductive carbon in from 1 to 10 wt %; and a binder in from 3 to 8 wt %; and an electrically conductive substrate, wherein the coconut shell sourced carbon has a disorder (D) peak to graphitic (G) peak intensity ratio by Raman analysis of from 1.40 to 1.85; and by elemental analysis a hydrogen content of from 0.01 to 0.25 wt %; a nitrogen content of from 0.01 to 0.55 wt %; and an oxygen content of from 0.01 to 2 wt %. Also disclosed are methods of making and using the carbon composition.
US09552928B2	Solid-state electrolytic capacitor manufacturing method and solid-state electrolytic capacitor A solid electrolytic capacitor having grooves provided in a valve-acting metal substrate that includes a porous surface part and a non-porous body part, the bottoms of the grooves being non-porous. The valve-acting metal substrate is divided into a plurality of unit regions by the grooves, and define cathode layer formation parts in the porous surface parts for each unit region. A dielectric layer covers the surfaces of the cathode layer formation parts of the valve-acting metal substrate and the grooves between the cathode layer formation parts. A solid electrolyte layer and a cathode extraction layer cover the surface of the dielectric layer, thereby providing a sheet in which a plurality of solid electrolytic capacitor elements are prepared integrally with the grooves interposed therebetween. The sheet is cut at the grooves, and a dielectric layer is formed on the cut surfaces located around the cathode layer formation parts.
US09552927B2	Ceramic electronic component A ceramic electronic component includes a first fired electrode layer disposed on top of a ceramic body. The first fired electrode layer includes first to fifth portions that are separate from each other. The first portion is disposed on top of a first end surface. The second portion is disposed on top of a first principal surface. The third portion is disposed on top of a second principal surface. The fourth portion is disposed on top of a first side surface. The fifth portion is disposed on top of a second side surface.
US09552917B2	Materials, devices and methods related to below-resonance radio-frequency circulators and isolators Materials, devices and methods related to below-resonance radio-frequency (RF) circulators and isolators. In some embodiments, a circulator can include a conductor having a plurality of signal ports, and one or more magnets configured to provide a magnetic field. The circulator can further include one or more ferrite disks implemented relative to the conductor and the one or more magnets so that an RF signal can be routed selectively among the signal ports due to the magnetic field. Each of the one or more ferrite disks can include synthetic garnet material having dodecahedral sites, octahedral sites and tetrahedral sites, with bismuth (Bi) occupying at least some of the dodecahedral sites, and aluminum (Al) occupying at least some of the tetrahedral sites. Such synthetic garnet material can be represented by a formula Y3-x-2y−zBixCa2y+zFe5-y-z-aVyZrzAlaO12. In some embodiments, x≦1.4, y≦0.7, z≦0.7, and a≦0.75.
US09552914B2	Simultaneous magnetic balancing of two points This application relates to devices in which magnets are arranged so that an intensity of a magnetic field emitted by the magnets is substantially the same at a position of interest for at least two discrete positions of the magnets. The application describes how this can be achieved even when the discrete positions are different distances from the position of interest by identifying locations at which magnetic material can be added to balance the field intensity for both discrete locations. In some embodiments, this type of configuration can be helpful in accommodating movement of magnets between two common positions. When the magnetic field intensity for the position of interest is set near zero a magnetically sensitive component can be positioned at the point of interest with little or no effect from the magnetic field when the magnets are in any of the discrete positions.
US09552910B2	Ferrite magnet with salt and manufacturing method of the same A ferrite magnet with salt includes 40 to 99.9 weight % of ferrite and 0.1 to 60 weight % of salt, wherein the salt has a melting point lower than a synthetic temperature of the ferrite, and the salt is melted to form a matrix between the ferrite particles, and a manufacturing thereof. The ferrite magnet with salt has advantages in terms of process conditions due to fast synthesis reaction at low temperatures compared to typical magnets, easily obtaining nano-sized particles having high crystallinity, preventing cohesion between particles and particle growth by molten salt, allowing sintering at temperatures lower than typical during the molding and sintering processes for producing a ferrite magnet with salt due to synthesized ferrite magnetic powder with salt thus preventing the deterioration of magnetic characteristics due to particle growth, and allowing alignment in the direction of magnetization easy axis to obtain higher magnetic characteristics.
US09552907B2	Condenser core A resin impregnated paper (RIP) condenser core configured for being positioned around an electrical conductor. The condenser core includes a winding tube forming a longitudinal through hole through the condenser core, configured for allowing an electrical conductor to be inserted there through; an electrically insulating RIP body wound onto and around the winding tube; and at least one electrically conducting foil coaxially encircling the winding tube and being surrounded by the RIP body insulating each of the at least one foil from any other of the at least one foil. The winding tube is of an electrically insulating material which has been chosen from a group consisting of materials having a volumetric thermal expansion coefficient within the range of 50% to 200% of the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient of the RIP body.
US09552906B1	Current lead for cryogenic apparatus In embodiments of the invention, a superconductor lead is configured to have less ohmic heating by its own current and less heat conduction from room temperature to cryogenic temperature, where a cryogenic apparatus is located. The superconducting lead with no ohmic resistance and low thermal conductivity disclosed herein maximizes current capacity by placing superconductors in parallel, each having equal current. Thus, the resistances are controlled to provide uniform current distribution through each superconductor of the high temperature superconducting (HTS) lead.
US09552904B2	Composition containing nano-carbon material and a polyether-based polymer containing oxirane unites having a cationic group A composition in accordance with the present invention contains a nano-carbon material, such as a carbon nanotube, and a polyether-based polymer containing oxirane monomer units at least part of which are oxirane monomer units each having a cationic group.
US09552901B2	Lithium ion batteries with high energy density, excellent cycling capability and low internal impedance Batteries with particularly high energy capacity and low internal impedance have been described herein. The batteries can exhibit extraordinary long cycling with acceptable low amounts of fade. Pouch batteries using high specific capacity lithium rich metal oxide as positive electrode material combined with graphitic carbon anode can reach an energy density of at least about 180 Wh/kg at a rate of C/3 from 4.35V to 2V at room temperature while having a room temperature areas specific DC resistance of no more than about 75 ohms-cm2 at 20% SOC based on a full charge to 4.35V. High specific capacity lithium rich metal oxide with specific stoichiometry ranges used in these batteries are disclosed.
US09552898B2	Systems and methods for obtaining and displaying an X-ray image Systems and methods for obtaining and displaying a collimated X-ray image are described. The methods can include providing an X-ray device having an X-ray source, a square or rectangular X-ray detector, and a collimator. The collimator can be sized and shaped to collimate an X-ray beam from the X-ray source that exposes a receptor region on the detector. The collimator can allow the X-ray image received by the X-ray detector to have any suitable shape that allows a relatively large view of the image to be displayed and rotated on the display device without changing the shape or size of the image as it rotated. In some instances, the collimator provides the image with superellipse shapes or cornerless shapes having four substantially straight edges with a 90 degree corner missing between at least two edges that run substantially perpendicular to each other. Other embodiments are described.
US09552895B2	Autorecovery after manufacturing/system integration Memory devices storing particular data, systems containing such memory devices and methods of testing such memory devices. The memory devices include an array of memory cells containing particular data, and control circuitry configured to control operations of the array of memory cells. The control circuitry is further configured to perform a test of the particular data in response to a command received from an external device and perform a repair of the particular data when results of the test indicate that repair of the particular data is needed
US09552889B2	Clock mode determination in a memory system A clock mode configuration circuit for a memory device is described. A memory system includes any number of memory devices serially connected to each other, where each memory device receives a clock signal. The clock signal can be provided either in parallel to all the memory devices or serially from memory device to memory device through a common clock input. The clock mode configuration circuit in each memory device is set to a parallel mode for receiving the parallel clock signal, and to a serial mode for receiving a source synchronous clock signal from a prior memory device. Depending on the set operating mode, the data input circuits will be configured for the corresponding data signal format, and the corresponding clock input circuits will be either enabled or disabled. The parallel mode and the serial mode is set by sensing a voltage level of a reference voltage provided to each memory device.
US09552886B2	Memory system and method of driving memory system using zone voltages A method is provided for driving a nonvolatile memory device, including multiple strings, where each string is formed by penetrating plate-shaped word lines stacked on a substrate. The method includes configuring the word lines of a string in multiple zones based on zone configuration information, and applying zone voltages to the zones, respectively. The zone configuration information is varied according to a mode of operation.
US09552883B1	Semiconductor memory device and operating method thereof A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory cells connected to a plurality of word lines; a peripheral circuit suitable for applying a program pulse to at least one of the word lines, performing a program verification operation to the plurality of memory cells by using a first program verification voltage; and a control logic suitable for controlling the peripheral circuit to repeat the applying of the program pulse and the performing the program verification operation until program verification passes by increasing a level of the program pulse by an amount of a step voltage at each repetition, wherein a size of the step voltage decreases at each repetition.
US09552880B2	Screening for later life stuck bits in ferroelectric memories A reliability screen of integrated circuits including ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) arrays for stuck bits. The FRAM devices are subjected to a high temperature bake in wafer form. A “shmoo” of the reference voltage is performed, at an elevated temperature, for each device to identify a first reference voltage at which a first cell in the device fails a read of its low polarization capacitance data state, and a second reference voltage at which a selected number of cells in the device fail the read. The slope of the line between the first and second reference voltages, in the cumulative fail bit count versus reference voltage plane, is compared with a slope limit to determine whether any stuck bits are present in the device.
US09552876B2	Descending set verify for phase change memory Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to write performance of a phase change memory.
US09552875B2	Apparatuses and methods for sensing using an integration component The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for sensing a resistance variable memory cell. A number of embodiments include circuitry to provide a programming signal to a memory cell in the array, the programming signal associated with programming the memory cell to a particular data state; and determine, via an integration component, if a data state of the memory cell changes to a different data state responsive to the programming signal being provided.
US09552872B2	Memory device Disclosed is a memory device. The memory device includes a bit-cell comprising a cross-coupled inverter and pass gate transistor connected to data storage node of the cross-coupled inverter, a read buffer transistor having a drain terminal connected to a bit line for read operation and a gate terminal connected to the pass gate transistor, a write operation transistor connected between the pass gate transistor and a bit line for write operation, and a drive transistor unit which is connected to a local line between the pass gate transistors and the write operation transistor and which provide a voltage to a gate terminal of the read buffer transistor based on a data value stored at the bit-cell.
US09552871B1	Low power high performance electrical circuits Hybrid Super Threshold (SupVt) circuits are CMOS circuits that can function in two different operation modes: a normal operation mode and a SupVt power saving mode. At normal operation mode, a hybrid SupVt circuit operates in the same ways as typical CMOS circuits. At SupVt mode, the standby leakage current of the circuit is reduced significantly, while the circuit still can function at high speed. Typically, most parts of a hybrid SupVt circuit stay in power saving mode. A circuit block is switched into normal operation mode when it needs to operate at full speed. The resulting circuits are capable of supporting ultra-low power operations without sacrificing performance.
US09552870B1	Memory includes transmitter for data synchronization transmission after a mode switch and method thereof An apparatus includes a memory and a circuit. The memory may have a transmitter. The memory may be configured to (a) train transmit parameters of the transmitter that synchronize transmission of data with a clock signal while in a first mode, (b) save the transmit parameters in response to a command received while in the first mode, and (c) transmit additional data while in a second mode using the transmit parameters learned while in the first mode. The circuit may have a receiver in communication with the memory. The circuit may be configured to (a) train receive parameters of the receiver that synchronize reception of the data with the clock signal while the memory is in the first mode and (b) receive the additional data from the memory while the memory is in the second mode using the receive parameters learned while the memory was in the first mode.
US09552868B2	Semiconductor memory device having various column repair modes A memory device including first to fourth cell blocks, each including a plurality of normal columns and one or more redundancy columns and a control unit suitable for repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the first and the second cell blocks using first repair information and repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the third and the fourth cell blocks using second repair information when the memory device is set as a first mode, and suitable for repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the first and the third cell blocks using the first repair information and repairing the normal columns using the redundancy columns in the second and the fourth cell blocks using the second repair information when the memory device is set as a second mode.
US09552867B2	Semiconductor memory devices and memory systems including the same A semiconductor memory device includes a control logic and a memory cell array in which a plurality of memory cells are arranged. The memory cell array includes a plurality of bank arrays, and each of the plurality of bank arrays includes a plurality of sub-arrays. The control logic controls an access to the memory cell array based on a command and an address signal. The control logic dynamically sets a keep-away zone that includes a plurality of memory cell rows which are deactivated based on a first word-line when the first word-line is enabled. The first word-line is coupled to a first memory cell row of a first sub-array of the plurality of sub-arrays. Therefore, increased timing parameters may be compensated, and parallelism may be increased.
US09552862B2	Magnetic ram array architecture A magnetic random access memory (MRAM) array including: a plurality of MRAM cells arranged in an array configuration, each comprising a first type nTron and a magnetic memory element; a wordline select circuit comprising of a second type nTron to drive a plurality of parallel wordlines; and a plurality of bitline select circuits, each comprising of said second type nTron for writing to and reading from a column of memory cells in the array and each capable of selecting a single MRAM cell for a memory read or write operation, wherein the second nTron has a higher current drive than the first nTron.
US09552847B2	Electronic device and covering structure An electronic device including a metal casing and a covering structure is provided. The metal casing has a first opening. The covering structure includes a cover and a conductive component. The cover is assembled to the metal casing and covers the first opening, wherein the cover has at least one hole. The conductive component is fixed to the cover and has at least one contacting portion, wherein the contacting portion passes through the hole and contacts the metal casing, and an electromagnetic wave is adapted to pass through the conductive component to be transmitted to the metal casing.
US09552840B2	Three-dimensional sound capturing and reproducing with multi-microphones A method for audio signal processing is described. The method includes decomposing a recorded auditory scene into a first category of localizable sources and a second category of ambient sound. The method also includes recording an indication of the directions of each of the localizable sources. The method may be performed with a device having a microphone array.
US09552839B2	Optical recording medium and manufacturing method of the same Provided is an optical recording medium including: two discs, each of which includes a substrate and a plurality of recording layers; and an attachment layer which is provided between the two discs and includes ultraviolet curable resin, wherein thickness of each of the substrates in the two discs is equal to or greater than 0.3 mm and equal to or less than 0.545 mm, wherein transmittance of the two discs is equal to or less than 20%, and wherein inversion rates on both surface sides of the attachment layer are equal or substantially equal to each other, and are equal to or greater than 70%.
US09552837B2	Vertically and horizontally weakly coupled perpendicular small grain media In one general embodiment, a magnetic medium includes a recording layer having at least three exchange control layers each having a magnetic moment less than 100 emu/cc, and four magnetic layers separated from one another by the exchange control layers. An uppermost of the magnetic layers is doped with oxygen. In another general embodiment, a magnetic medium includes a recording layer having at least three exchange control layers and four magnetic layers separated from one another by the exchange control layers. An uppermost of the magnetic layers has an oxygen content of greater than 0.5 vol %. An average pitch of magnetic grains in a lowermost of the magnetic layers is 9 nm or less. A lowermost of the magnetic layers has an oxide content of at least 20 vol %.
US09552836B2	Slider including one or more fluid pathways, and related apparatuses and methods The present invention is directed to a slider that includes at least one fluid pathway that is in fluid communication with an air bearing face and/or the trailing edge face of the slider. The at least one fluid pathway is configured to propel/transport a fluid such as a lubricant toward at least one side face via capillary action. The present invention is also directed to related apparatuses and methods.
US09552832B2	Read-write non-erasable memory with laser recording and method of recording A nonvolatile memory comprising at least one ferromagnetic region having permeability which changes from a first state to a second state of lower permeability upon heating; at least one laser operatively associated with the at least one ferromagnetic region which selectively provides heat to the ferromagnetic region to change its p permeability; and a plurality of connectors operatively connected to the at least one laser and adapted to be connected to a current source that provides a current which causes the laser to change the at least one ferromagnetic region from a first state to a second state. Optionally, the memory is arranged as an array of memory cells. Optionally, each cell has a magnetic field sensor operatively associated therewith. Optionally, the nonvolatile memory is radiation hard. Also, a method of recording data by heating at least one ferromagnetic region to change its permeability.
US09552829B2	System and method for low-loss removal of stationary and non-stationary short-time interferences According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a system and method that allows the user to remove stationary and not stationary short time interference signals in speech or other recordings in the audio part of a video recording. The system is automatically analyzing the input signal and in a plurality of individual steps detects the interference signal and removes it accordingly.
US09552820B2	Apparatus and method for processing multi-channel audio signal using space information An apparatus for and a method of processing a multi-channel audio signal using space information. The apparatus includes: a main coding unit down mixing a multi-channel audio signal by applying space information to surround components included in the multi-channel audio signal, generating side information using the multi-channel audio signal or a stereo signal of a down-mixed result, coding the stereo signal and the side information, and transmitting the coded result as a coding signal; and a main decoding unit receiving the coding signal, decoding the stereo signal and the side information using the received coding signal, up mixing the decoded stereo signal using the decoded side information, and restoring the multi-channel audio signal.
US09552809B2	Document transcription system training A system is provided for training an acoustic model for use in speech recognition. In particular, such a system may be used to perform training based on a spoken audio stream and a non-literal transcript of the spoken audio stream. Such a system may identify text in the non-literal transcript which represents concepts having multiple spoken forms. The system may attempt to identify the actual spoken form in the audio stream which produced the corresponding text in the non-literal transcript, and thereby produce a revised transcript which more accurately represents the spoken audio stream. The revised, and more accurate, transcript may be used to train the acoustic model, thereby producing a better acoustic model than that which would be produced using conventional techniques, which perform training based directly on the original non-literal transcript.
US09552801B2	Electronic music instrument, system and method for controlling an electronic music instrument An electronic music instrument comprises an input configured for receiving at least one note event from an input device having a plurality of input elements configured for generating at least one note event when activated; a software module configured for including: at least one instrument plugin configured for defining sounding note events and non-sounding control events, and at least one play assistant module, wherein the software module is further configured for at least one of the group comprising excluding the control events from being processed by play assistant functions and excluding play assistant functions generating control events.
US09552800B1	Piano keyboard with key touch point detection The present invention provides touch sensor means for detecting the touch location along the length of an outfitted piano key as it is pressed, so as to then offset the notes of an associated piano keyboard accordingly during play. When such an outfitted key is pressed in combination with other piano keys, the touch location along the length of the outfitted key, and the separation intervals and timing of the key presses, are analyzed to determine the intended chord, such that before any notes are sounded, the notes of the pressed keys are configured for the sounding of that chord. This arrangement enables playing a wide range of notes using just a few keys, so as to provide a substantially reduced-size keyboard with full-sized keys sufficient for real-time playing. This arrangement also enables configuring the note offsets of those pressed keys to conform to a selected musical key, so as to simplify the layout of the keyboard by eliminating its black keys, while still supporting the playing of non-conforming notes. This arrangement further enables applying pitch variation to those note offsets in order to emulate the “string stretching,” “whammy bar,” and “fretless neck” playing techniques for guitars and basses. This arrangement even further enables playing advanced chords in a simplified manner. Finally, this arrangement enables providing a wide assortment of keyboards that can differ in the type, number, size, and functionality of their outfitted keys.
US09552799B2	Protective system A protective system includes a protective multi-layered body portion for protecting an instrument from debris, wind, temperature extremes, and visual observation. The body portion encapsulates the instrument fully assembled, so that a user has to remove the cover to utilize the instrument. The body portion minimizes contact with instrument. The body portion includes multiple layers. Each layer provides a unique, novel function for protection of the instrument. An inner layer engages the instrument. An intermediate layer contours to the shape of the instrument and provides insulation. An exterior layer forms the exterior protective surface and includes a pouch and a handle. Outside the body portion, a fastener regulates access to the inside. Inside the body portion, an instrument enhancing device, such as silica packs help protect the instrument. At least one wire carries a current along the body portion to provide heat for the instrument from an external source.
US09552796B2	Degradation compensating pixel circuit and organic light emitting diode display device including the same A degradation compensating pixel circuit includes: an organic light emitting diode (OLED); a driving circuit including a first capacitor and a first transistor, the first capacitor being configured to be charged in response to a data signal and a scan signal, the first transistor being configured to drive the OLED according to a first voltage between first and second terminals of the first capacitor, the first terminal of the first capacitor being configured to receive a supply voltage, the second terminal of the first capacitor being coupled to a gate terminal of the first transistor; and a degradation compensating circuit coupled to a source terminal of the first transistor and the gate terminal of the first transistor, the degradation compensating circuit being configured to change the first voltage according to a first current of the first transistor.
US09552795B2	Image processing method and image processing device for performing the same An image processing method and image processing device for performing the same are disclosed. In one aspect, the image processing method includes transmitting a content image having a visual condition to a display unit. The method also includes periodically changing the visual condition from a first visual condition to a second visual condition according to a modulation timing such that the content image to be displayed after the modulation timing has the second visual condition different from the first visual condition before commencement of the modulation timing.
US09552789B2	Scan driver and driving method thereof A scan driver includes a plurality of stages arranged sequentially and configured to respectively output a scan signal; and a switching unit configured to receive a plurality of clock signals, to select clock signals of the plurality of clock signals according to a selection control signal, and to input the selected clock signals to the plurality of stages.
US09552782B2	Image display device, presentation box employing same, and method of driving image display device An image display device is capable of displaying an image, in which occurrence of color unevenness is suppressed. A method of driving the image display device is also disclosed. In an area above the dotted line, red light is transmitted in a first sub-frame period. In second and third sub-frame periods, light blocking data are respectively supplied as green data and blue data. Therefore, green light and blue light cannot be transmitted through the area. Hence, a red image with no color unevenness is displayed in the area. In contrast, in an area under the dotted line, the red light is transmitted in the first sub-frame period, and the green light is transmitted in the second sub-frame period. As a result, in a viewed image of the area, there is color unevenness where green is mixed to red.
US09552776B2	Luminance compensation apparatus for organic light emitting diode panel Disclosed is a luminance compensation apparatus of an organic light emitting diode panel including a reference pixel element unit that is installed at an outer peripheral portion of a display area on an organic light emitting diode panel and operate corresponding to a pixel element aligned in the display area, and a driving chip that is provided in an area including the reference pixel element unit of the outer peripheral portion of the display area, compares a luminance value of light incident from the reference pixel element unit with a reference luminance value to calculate a luminance deviation value based on a comparison result, controls driving of pixel elements aligned in the display area according to the luminance deviation value, and allows light, luminance deviation of which has been compensated, to be irradiated.
US09552774B2	Organic light emitting display device including data distribution unit and driving method thereof An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes: a display unit comprising a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scan lines, and a plurality of pixels coupled to corresponding data lines of the data lines and corresponding scan lines of the scan lines; a scan driver configured to supply a plurality of scan signals to the scan lines; a data driver configured to: output a plurality of first data signals among a plurality of data signals through a plurality of first output lines among a plurality of output lines, output a plurality of second data signals among the data signals through the first output lines, and output a plurality of third data signals among the data signals through a plurality of second output lines among the output lines, wherein the first data signals represent a first color, the second data signals represent a second color, and the third data signals represent a third color; and a data distribution unit configured to: transmit the first data signals to a plurality of corresponding first data lines among the data lines according to a first clock signal, transmit the second data signals to a plurality of corresponding second data lines among the data lines according to a second clock signal, and transmit the third data signals to a plurality of corresponding third data lines among the data lines.
US09552770B2	Emission driver, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display including the same, and electronic device An emission driver, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display including the same, and electronic device are disclosed. In one aspect, the emission driver includes first through (n)th emission circuits configured to output a plurality of emission control signals. The emission circuits are connected to a display panel of an OLED display via emission-lines. The emission driver also includes a plurality of first switches configured to electrically connect the emission circuits in series when the first switches are turned on and a plurality of second switches configured to electrically connect the emission circuits in parallel when the second switches are turned on. The second switches are further configured to be turned off when the first switches are turned on and the second switches are further configured to be turned on when the first switches are turned off.
US09552768B2	Display device including a defective pixel correcting system A display device is provided with an image processing circuit that outputs a pixel value of each pixel to a pixel driving circuit, the pixel driving circuit that inputs a pixel voltage to each of pixels based on the pixel value of each of the pixels, and a control circuit that detects a defective pixel. Here, the image processing circuit corrects the pixel value of the defective pixel in the image data to be displayed which is input to the image processing circuit, to a pixel value for black, and then outputs each pixel value of the image data to be displayed in which the pixel value of the defective pixel is corrected to the pixel value for black, to the pixel driving circuit.
US09552765B2	Pixel, pixel driving method, and display device including the pixel A pixel includes a switching transistor connected to a data line, a first circuit to control compensation of a first driving transistor, and a second circuit to control compensation of a second driving transistor. The first and second circuits are connected to the switching transistor. The first and second transistors are connected to respective organic light emitting diodes of a same pixel. Compensation of the first and second driving transistors is based on respective first and second subscan signals, which overlap periods of corresponding common scan signals to be received by the switching transistor.
US09552756B2	Method for repairing organic light emitting display A method for repairing an organic light emitting display having a plurality of unit pixels each including a white subpixel is provided. The method includes detecting a defective white subpixel by checking circuit units of the white subpixels, connecting a circuit unit of a neighboring subpixel positioned adjacent to the defective white subpixel in the unit pixel with a light emitting unit of the defective white subpixel using a repair conductive pattern, storing a repair position to which the repair conductive pattern is connected, and compensating for digital video data that will be input to the repair position.
US09552755B2	Method of displaying an image and display apparatus performing the method A display apparatus includes a light source configured to generate lights having a plurality of colors, the light source configured to be driven in a field sequential color driving method; and a display panel configured to receive the lights to display an image, display the colors at a first area in a first order, and display the colors at a second area different from the first area in a second order different from the first order.
US09552751B1	Light tower marketing display A method of advertising includes using light towers for new uses. Specifically, a skeleton may be employed to connect to a frame supporting at least one LED light from a frame connected to a mast of the light tower. The skeleton may locate a first display at a desired distance from the at least one LED light to backlight the first display. While first displays may be used with many embodiments, still other embodiments may have a second display as a vertically oriented display along a portion of the mast. The second display may deploy with the extension of mast portions for at least some embodiments.
US09552744B2	Visual teaching tool and method for determining the result of digit multiplication based-on diagram rotation and transition path A device for determining the result of digit multiplication based-on diagram-configured carrier rotation and transition path is proposed. Firstly, one of three types of visual teaching tools including first type of visual teaching tool, second type of visual teaching tool and third type of visual teaching tool is selected, then, the first type of or the second type of diagram-configured carrier is rotated to determine an initial node, and thereby transferring multiplicand from digit 1 to digits 3, 7, or 9, or transferring multiplicand from digit 2 to digits 4, 6, or 8. Finally, proceeding number (PN) of the first transition paths, the second transition paths or the third transition paths reaching to an object node is determined to obtain a multiplier and product value of the multiplicand and the multiplier.
US09552742B2	Data diagnostic evaluation device A teaching aid to aid in evaluating data may include a frame member and an eye guide movably connected to the frame member to guide the user of the teaching aid in evaluating the data. The frame member may include a top frame wall, a pair of opposing a side frame walls to connect to the top frame wall and a bottom frame wall to connect to the pair of opposing side frame walls, and the frame member may include a divider wall to define a cavity for the data to be evaluated.
US09552740B2	Autonomous safety system for the users of vehicle simulators A method and apparatus for the safe use of a vehicle simulator is provided. The apparatus having an access zone, a rescue unit, a shock absorbing surface, and a projection surface. The rescue unit being moveable with the vehicle simulator.
US09552739B2	Computer-based tutoring method and system Disclosed are a computer-based tutoring method and system in which an animated tutor, an animated avatar, and at least one animated group member selected by a user are displayed on a screen. A tutorial is presented by the animated tutor. During the tutorial, an interactive question is presented. An answer is received from the user. If the answer is correct, the tutorial continues. If the answer is incorrect, a second tutorial is presented. The second tutorial is based on the incorrect answer received from the user. Dialog between the animated tutor, the animated avatar, and the animated group members may be held. Dialog among animated group members may be held.
US09552736B2	Systems and methods for restricting drone airspace access Methods, systems and devices are disclosed for providing access to a restricted area for a drone by a beacon device. Beacon signals including access information associated with access for the restricted area may be transmitted by the beacon device. The beacon device may receive one or more access parameters for the drone. The beacon device may compare the received one or more access parameters for the drone to the access information for the restricted area. The beacon device may determine clearance for the drone to access the restricted area based on comparing the one or more access parameter for the drone and the access information.
US09552733B2	Course evaluation apparatus and course evaluation method A course evaluation apparatus includes an estimated-course-group generation portion that generates a plurality of estimated course groups for a movable body; and a course evaluation portion that performs a course evaluation on the plurality of estimated course groups with respect to at least two different evaluation criteria.
US09552730B2	Method for the computer-assisted processing of the vicinity of a vehicle A method for computer-supported processing of the vicinity of a vehicle includes detecting the surroundings of a vehicle and providing surroundings data by a sensor system. The surroundings data may be processed to ascertain, for pre-specified sections of the surroundings of the vehicle, a specific distance to objects detected by the sensor system. A collision probability between one of the detected objects and the vehicle is ascertained depending on a predicted and/or actual vehicle movement determined using odometric data. Moreover, the surroundings of the vehicle are depicted on an output unit where, for at least one of the pre-specified sections, distance information between such at least one pre-specified section of the surroundings and the detected object is output using at least one of a graphic element and an acoustic element that includes collision information about a collision probability.
US09552725B2	Method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information and applying thereof A method and system for modeling and processing vehicular traffic data and information, comprising: (a) transforming a spatial representation of a road network into a network of spatially interdependent and interrelated oriented road sections, for forming an oriented road section network; (b) acquiring a variety of the vehicular traffic data and information associated with the oriented road section network, from a variety of sources; (c) prioritizing, filtering, and controlling, the vehicular traffic data and information acquired from each of the variety of sources; (d) calculating a mean normalized travel time (NTT) value for each oriented road section of said oriented road section network using the prioritized, filtered, and controlled, vehicular traffic data and information associated with each source, for forming a partial current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with each source; (e) fusing the partial current traffic situation picture associated with each source, for generating a single complete current vehicular traffic situation picture associated with entire oriented road section network; (f) predicting a future complete vehicular traffic situation picture associated with the entire oriented road section network; and (g) using the current vehicular traffic situation picture and the future vehicular traffic situation picture for providing a variety of vehicular traffic related service applications to end users.
US09552722B2	Modular communicator for use in life critical network A modular patient communicator provides for communications with a patient implantable medical device (PIMD) and connectivity with a central authority (CA) via an unsecured network. Medical firmware and a radio facilitate wireless interrogation of the PIMD and acquisition of PIMD data. A universal communications port facilitates mechanical and signal connectivity with one or a multiplicity of disparate detachable modules, some of which provide the communicator with an external communications facility and have disparate communication protocols. The communicator is devoid of an external communications facility other than the radio and universal communications port. Life critical network software is executed in cooperation with an attached module to cause the communicator to transmit a request to a network access facility for a connection to the unsecured network, authenticate the communicator to the CA, and facilitate secured communication between the communicator and CA upon successful communicator authentication.
US09552713B2	Notification system for providing awareness of an interactive surface A system for providing awareness of an interactive surface is disclosed. The system may include a processor that is communicatively linked to an interactive surface. The processor may determine a position and a velocity of an object that is within range of the interactive surface based on one or more of media content, vibrations, air movement, sounds and, global positioning data associated with the object. Additionally, the processor may determine if the object has a trajectory that would cause the object to collide with the interactive surface based on the information associated with the object. If the processor determines that the object has a trajectory that would cause the object to collide with the interactive surface, the processor can generate a notification.
US09552703B2	Vacuum crane arcade game An arcade target game uses an extendable extraction device to enter a tube of cards in a horizontal direction. The prizes are protected by the tube's outer wall that limits successful attempts to those tries that avoid the wall. A vacuum source allows the extraction device to capture the prize if the extraction device successfully enters the tube. The extraction device's effective radius can be adjusted by extending projections that reduce the tolerance between the disk and the tube's outer wall.
US09552699B2	Electronic dice games and sic bo variant A method and apparatus provide a side bet game play method for dice games and particularly Sic Bo. Multiple outcomes may be wagered on for occurrence of Trips. Excess numbers of dice beyond what are needed for a dice game outcome are reduced to the necessary number for use in the dice game by visual identification selection or exclusion by input or automatic processor selection/exclusion.
US09552695B2	Wagering game history features This description describes techniques for storing and utilizing wagering game histories. In one embodiment, a method for recording progress of a wagering game can include detecting a first event indicating a first activity of the wagering game. The method can also include storing the first event according to a first data format and detecting a second event indicating a second activity of the wagering game, wherein the second event includes random number information indicating a result of the wagering game. The method can also include encrypting the second event and storing the second event according to the first data format.
US09552693B1	Use of mobile device as a direct input/output device for a player tracking system for gaming machines A mobile device is used as an input/output device for a player tracking system for gaming machines, such as slot machines. Each gaming machine has a unique identifier and each player has a unique identifier that is associated with an account of the player. Player credentials are electronically communicated via the mobile device directly to the player tracking system, and each player credential is associated with a player's unique identifier that is maintained by the player tracking system. The mobile device is also used to electronically communicate directly to the player tracking system a gaming machine that the player wishes to play. Prior to initiation of game play on a gaming machine, the player tracking system associates the unique identifier of a player with the unique identifier of a gaming machine that the player wishes to play. A play session is initiated at the gaming machine and game play at the gaming machine is associated with the account of the player, and activity from the play session is captured by the player tracking system. Information is displayed on a display screen of the mobile device during the play session, including data regarding the player that is maintained in the player tracking system.
US09552686B2	Video and mechanical spinning bonus wheel A gaming machine includes a combination inner video display and rotatable object. The inner video display and the rotatable object may be correlated together to form a reconfigurable object. Both the inner video display and the rotatable object can have segments wherein each segment may have an indicia associated with the segment, wherein the indicia can be a prize, a bonus multiplier, a progressive jackpot, a negative value, a bonus spin character, a loss of spin character, a blank space or a null character. The player will be rewarded with the corresponding prize(s) based upon the outcome of the combination inner video display and rotatable object.
US09552685B1	Automatic ball blower A transparent, automatic ball blower configured to generate random outcomes for a game by air-mixing Ping-Pong-style balls in a mixing chamber. During game play, the balls extracted from the mixing chamber via an extractor pipe are subsequently carried by a computer-controlled, motorized ball carrier mechanism to an inlet of a ball accumulator compartment. The ball accumulator compartment may be located proximate to the ball mixing chamber. The ball carrier mechanism moves and drops the extracted balls, one-at-a-time, into the ball accumulator compartment. The balls fall into the ball accumulator compartment by means of gravity alone. The balls fill the ball accumulator compartment which, in one version, accommodates a single vertical layer of balls allowing visual inspection of the balls. At the end of game play, the balls are released from the ball accumulator compartment into the mixing chamber through a computer-controlled, motorized ball release gate.
US09552683B2	Controlling access to a resource A system is provided for controling access to a resource, the access being restricted by an access mechanism. The system comprises an access control subsystem for i) subjecting the user to one or more security measures based on use of a security input system, and ii) signaling the access mechanism to grant the user access to the resource based on the user passing the one or more security measures. The system further comprises a task interlace for accessing task data, the task data being indicative of a scheduled task of the user. The access control subsystem is further arranged for determining the one or more security measures based on the scheduled task to establish different levels of security depending on the task. Advantageously, a better adjusting of the level of security is obtained in that it is dynamically adjusted to the scheduled task of the user.
US09552676B2	Wearable computer with nearby object response Exemplary methods and systems relate to detecting physical objects near a substantially transparent head-mounted display (HMD) system and activating a collision-avoidance action to alert a user of the detected objects. Detection techniques may include receiving data from distance and/or relative movement sensors and using this data as a basis for determining an appropriate collision-avoidance action. Exemplary collision-avoidance actions may include de-emphasizing virtual objects displayed on the HMD to provide a less cluttered view of the physical objects through the substantially transparent display and/or presenting new virtual objects.
US09552675B2	Display application and perspective views of virtual space A display management resource associated with a mobile device controls display of images on a respective display screen of the mobile device. The display management resource receives location information indicating a location of the mobile device in a geographical region. Additionally, the display management resource receives input from a user operating the mobile device. The input can be any suitable information such as a command to play back images on the display screen of the mobile device. The display management resource maps the input to content such as virtual images such as images associated with an historical event that occurred in the past. Using the virtual images, the display management resource initiates display of a rendition of the virtual images from different perspectives depending on an orientation and location of the mobile device and corresponding display screen.
US09552665B2	Hidden surface removal in graphics processing systems In a graphics processing pipeline 1, a primitive depth sorting stage 9 is arranged prior to the rasterization stage 3 and rendering stage 6. The primitive depth sorting stage 9 operates to sort successive sub-sets of primitives in a stream of primitives 2 received by the graphics processing pipeline 1 based on their depth values. The so-sorted primitives are then output from the primitive depth sorting stage 9 in their sorted depth order to the rasterizer 3. This makes the depth test stages 4, 13 of the graphics processing pipeline 1 more efficient in their hidden surface removal operations, because the primitives entering the rasterizer 3 will be in depth order.
US09552657B2	Mobile electronic device and control method of mobile electronic device According to an aspect, a mobile electronic device includes: an imaging unit for capturing a map image; a processing unit for acquiring information for a specific image corresponding to the map image based on information included in the map image captured by the imaging unit; and an image projecting unit for projecting the specific image to a projection area.
US09552655B2	Image processing via color replacement There is described an image processing method in which a scene is repeatedly imaged to form a series of input images. For at least a subset of the input images, a color calibration procedure is conducted which populates a foreground color histogram with the frequency of occurrence of color values in a stencil area of the input image, and populates a background color histogram with the frequency of occurrence of color values outside of the stencil portion of the input image. For at least a subset of the input images, a color replacement procedure is conducted which updates the stencil area based on a determination, from the color values of pixels within the input image, of likelihood values representing the likelihood of pixels belonging to an image area of interest, the likelihood value for each color value being determined from a combination of the foreground and background color histograms, replaces the original color values of pixels within the updated stencil area of the input image with replacement color values, and displays the image on which color replacement processing has been conducted. In this way, a stencil area is determined based on foreground/background histogramming, and used both to define an area to which color replacement processing is to be conducted, and also an area for use in further populating the color histograms to calibrate the color replacement processing.
US09552654B2	Spatio-temporal color luminance dithering techniques Embodiments include techniques that use color-shifting and luminance for creation and display of spatio-temporal dithered images. In one embodiment, adjacent pixels are color-shifted with respect to each other and the color values of the adjacent pixels are temporally alternated with color values of pixels in the group. In another embodiment, the luminance of group of adjacent pixels is determined and the luminance of the group is made more homogenous, spatially and temporally, by distributing color variations over a larger number of pixels so as to reduce the luminance difference between the pixel with the least luminance and the pixel with the greatest luminance. Individual color components (e.g., red, green, blue) may also be separated and used so that the color-shifts associated with each color component may be simultaneously present in different pixels.
US09552641B2	Estimation of shift and small image distortion Disclosed is method of measuring the displacement between a reference region of a reference image and a sample region of a sample image. The method spatially varies the reference region using a one-dimensional filter having complex kernel values, wherein a length (radius) and direction (angle or tangent segment) of the filter is a function of position in the reference region. The method then measures a displacement between the reference region and the sample region by comparing the spatially varied reference region and the sample region.
US09552631B2	Image processing using a bilateral grid Methods and systems are provided for processing digital images. An integrated grid, comprising one or more integrated values, may be generated based on processing of an image, with the generating comprising cumulatively integrating at least one value, of a cell in a bilateral grid generated based on the processed image, over the bilateral grid. A modified bilateral grid may then be generated, with generating comprising computing a sum of said at least one value over a portion of said bilateral grid, by using integrated values of said integrated grid corresponding to said portion of said bilateral grid. An output image may be generated based on the modified bilateral grid.
US09552629B2	Medical thermal image processing for subcutaneous detection of veins, bones and the like Medical thermal image processing for vein or other subsurface element detection and related methods is provided. A method for thermal image processing to enhance thermal scene information includes taking an output of an infrared camera and coupling the output to a spatial high pass filter. An output of the spatial high pass filter is then applied to a scene-based noise suppression module.
US09552625B2	Method for image enhancement, image processing apparatus and computer readable medium using the same A method, image processing apparatus, and computer readable medium for image enhancement are provided. In the method, a low-resolution image is received and upscaled to generate an upscaled image having first pixels. Edge detection is performed on the upscaled image to obtain edge information of the first pixels. Each piece of the edge information includes an edge direction and an edge intensity, and each of the edge directions includes a horizontal and vertical component having a constant summation. A non-edge region of the upscaled image is enhanced to generate a high-resolution detail image; based on unsharp masking sharpening methods, an edge region of the low-passed upscaled image is enhanced according to the horizontal and vertical components of the edge directions to generate a high-resolution edge image. Image fusion is performed on the high-resolution edge image and the high-resolution detail image according to the edge intensities to generate a super-resolution image.
US09552623B1	Variable frame rate interpolation A method of determining an output frame rate includes receiving an input sequence of frames of image data at an input frame rate, performing motion vector calculations on the frames of image data to produce motion vectors and motion statistics, determining a motion level in the frames using the motion statistics, and interpolating frames of image data at the output frame rate, wherein the output frame rate is based upon the motion level.
US09552620B2	Depth offset compression Zmin and Zmax are determined for depth offset compression. Then a check determines whether Zmin is equal to Zmax. If so, only one of Zmin and Zmax is used for depth offset compression and no index mask may be used. The bits that are saved thereby may be used for other purposes, including improving precision.
US09552619B2	Image processing apparatus and image processing interface circuit An image processing apparatus includes a plurality of image processing module parts, a module arbiter part, and a DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) part. Each of the image processing module parts includes a module core for executing a predetermined image processing. The plurality of image processing module parts is connected to the module arbiter part. The module arbiter part arbitrates memory access which is given by the plurality of image processing module parts through a bus. The DMAC part is connected between the module arbiter part and the bus, and executes memory access related to the arbitration result obtained by the module arbiter part.
US09552615B2	Automated database analysis to detect malfeasance In various embodiments, systems, methods, and techniques are disclosed for analyzing various entity data items including users, computing devices, and IP addresses, to detect malfeasance. The data and/or database items may be automatically analyzed to detect malfeasance, such as criminal activity to disguise the origins of illegal activities. Various money laundering indicators or rules may be applied to the entity data items to determine a likelihood that money laundering is occurring. Further, the system may determine one or more scores (and/or metascores) for each entity data item that may be indicative of a likelihood that it is involved in money laundering. Scores/metascores may be determined based on, for example, various money laundering scoring criteria and/or strategies. Account entities may be ranked based on their associated scores/metascores. Various embodiments may enable an analyst to discover various insights related to money laundering.
US09552605B2	Systems and methods for generating location-based group recommendations Methods and systems for generating location-aware group recommendations are discussed. For example, a method can include operations for receiving a group recommendation request, accessing user profile data associated with members of the group, and generating a group recommendation. The group recommendation request can be received at a network-based system and include identification of a first and second user as well as information identifying a current location associated with the first and second users. Accessing the user profile information can include accessing user profile information for both the first and second users. The group recommendation can be generated based on the current location data and a combination of at least a portion of the user profile data from the first and second users.
US09552601B2	Presenting information for containers in search results Methods and systems to build containers of uncategorized items are described. In some example embodiments, the methods and systems access a search query received by a network-based publication system, identify a container of uncategorized items having a title that satisfies the search query, and return a result for the search query that is associated with the identified container.
US09552592B2	System and methods for upcoming event notification and mobile purchasing Various embodiments relate generally to providing upcoming event notification and mobile purchasing and, more specifically but not exclusively relate to a system and methods for providing notifications of upcoming events to users of an online secondary ticket marketplace and allowing the users to purchase tickets to upcoming events using a mobile device. In one embodiment, a network-based system may receive a registration request from a user to receive alert notifications for upcoming events. The registration request may comprise a telephone number for a mobile device of the user. The network-based system may send an alert notification for an upcoming event to the mobile device of the user over a mobile telephone network. The alert notification may comprise a text message including relevant static or dynamic event information as well as an embedded hyperlink for allowing the user to transact a mobile purchase.
US09552572B2	Mobile terminal Disclosed is a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a display unit and a controller configured to display a watch object on the display unit, the watch object including at least one of a plurality of schedule information or a plurality of applications. The controller is configured to, when a first region of the watch object is touched or when a current time reaches a time corresponding to the first region, display schedule information or a corresponding application screen related to the first region of the watch object or the time corresponding to the first region, and, when a second region of the watch object is touched or when a current time reaches a time corresponding to the second region, display schedule information or a corresponding application screen related to the second region of the watch object or the time corresponding to the second region. In this way, user convenience may be enhanced.
US09552571B2	Electronic device and method of meeting notification A method of providing a meeting notification includes adding an indication of an observer to a calendar event in a calendar graphical user interface at an organizer electronic device, saving the calendar event associated with the observer at the organizer electronic device, and sending an observer electronic message from the organizer electronic device to an observer electronic device. The observer electronic message includes the calendar event for storage at the observer electronic device with a period of time, associated with the calendar event, indicated as free time.
US09552569B1	Removable and reusable device for object tracking Techniques for providing a removable and reusable tracking device feature in an inventory management system may be described. For example, an inventory transfer request may be received for transferring inventory within a facility. A first indication may be received that indicates one or more reusable tracking devices are associated with the inventory included in the inventory transfer request. Information about the inventory transfer request may be mapped to the association of the one or more reusable tracking devices and the inventory. In an embodiment, a location of the inventory may be determined based on location information provided by the associated one or more reusable tracking devices. The mapping between the inventory transfer information to the one or more reusable tracking devices and the inventory may be removed based at least in part on the location information indicating that the inventory is located at a particular location within the facility.
US09552559B2	System and methods for verifying that one or more directives that direct transport of a second end user does not conflict with one or more obligations to transport a first end user Computationally implemented methods and systems that are designed for receiving one or more first directives that direct a transportation vehicle unit to transport a first end user; receiving, while the transportation vehicle unit is en route to or is transporting the first end user, one or more second directives that direct the transportation vehicle unit to transport a second end user while transporting the first end user, the transportation vehicle unit having been determined to be able to accommodate transport of the second end user while transporting the first end user; and verifying that compliance with the one or more second directives will not conflict with one or more obligations to transport the first end user by the transportation vehicle unit. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
US09552553B1	Identifying item preparation requirements Disclosed are various embodiments for an item preparation application. Business logic and machine learning may be applied to attributes of an item to generate a recommendation for item preparation prior to storage in a physical storage facility. The recommendation may indicate whether preparation is to be applied, or what type of preparation is required. A machine learning knowledge base may be updated based on feedback or overrides of recommendations.
US09552547B2	Normalizing electronic communications using a neural-network normalizer and a neural-network flagger Electronic communications can be normalized using neural networks. For example, an electronic representation of a noncanonical communication can be received. A normalized version of the noncanonical communication can be determined using a normalizer including a neural network. The neural network can receive a single vector at an input layer of the neural network and transform an output of a hidden layer of the neural network into multiple values that sum to a total value of one. Each value of the multiple values can be a number between zero and one and represent a probability of a particular character being in a particular position in the normalized version of the noncanonical communication. The neural network can determine the normalized version of the noncanonical communication based on the multiple values. Whether the normalized version should be output can be determined based on a result from a flagger including another neural network.
US09552534B2	Apparatus for detecting afterimage candidate region and apparatus including the same for preventing afterimage An apparatus for detecting an afterimage candidate region includes: a comparison unit which compares gradation data of an n-th frame with integrated gradation data of an (n−1)-th frame and generates integrated gradation data of the n-th frame, where n is a natural number; a memory which provides the integrated gradation data of the (n−1)-th frame to the comparison unit and stores the integrated gradation data of the n-th frame; and an afterimage candidate region detection unit which detects an afterimage candidate region based on the integrated gradation data of the n-th frame, where each of the integrated gradation data of the n-th frame and the integrated gradation data of the (n−1)-th frame comprises a comparison region and a gradation region.
US09552532B2	System and method for describing image outlines The present invention relates to the field of image processing and methodologies to construct a descriptor from binary silhouette images. The method comprises the steps of; receiving a parametric equation of a closed planar curve, choosing nodes on the closed planar curve with equal intervals, generating a continuous scale space of the nodes on the curve by successively convolving the planar curve with a Gaussian filter and down-sampling it after each octave, calculating orientation vectors and orientation angle values for each sampled point at each interval of each octave, creating a orientation scale space (OSS) which is a matrix obtained from stacking each orientation angle value on top of each other, representing the outline with a descriptor including all the orientation vectors and their respective parameters position and scale.
US09552526B2	Image processing using cellular simultaneous recurrent network A method of image processing using a cellular simultaneous recurrent network (CSRN) is provided. In particular, the method includes a processor that sets initial parameters of the CSRN and generates a target image based on the initial parameters. Then, a training process is executed to learn an image processing task. The training process performs an image processing task on one of a plurality of sub-images of an input image and then the sub-image is stored after the training process. The training process is then repeated until the image processing task has been performed on each of the plurality of sub-images of the input image. Once the training process is complete, an image transformation is performed on the input image and an output image is displayed based on the transformed input image.
US09552515B2	Autogenerating video from text A method of converting user-selected printed text to a synthesized image sequence is provided. The method includes capturing a first image of printed text and generating a model information associated with the text.
US09552509B2	Method and system for rectifying distorted fingerprint A method and a system for rectifying a distorted fingerprint are provided. The method includes following steps. A feature of a distorted fingerprint is extracted, a reference distorted fingerprint whose feature is matched with the feature of the distorted fingerprint is searched for in a reference distorted fingerprint database, a dense distortion field of the reference distorted fingerprint is obtained in the reference distorted fingerprint database and the distorted fingerprint is rectified to a normal one according to the dense distortion field of the reference distorted fingerprint.
US09552508B2	Fingerprint sensor module, portable electronic device including same, and method for manufacturing same The present invention relates to a fingerprint sensor module having excellent sensing sensitivity, to a portable electronic device including same, and to a method for manufacturing same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a fingerprint sensor module is provided which includes: a sensing unit formed on a substrate using a conductive body; a fingerprint sensor having a sensor circuit unit electrically connected to the sensing unit; a bracket accommodating the sensing unit and receiving the fingerprint sensor; and a post-processing layer positioned on a contact surface formed on the bracket so as to face the upper surface of the sensing unit. The sum of the thickness of a supporting layer between the upper surface of the sensing unit and the contact surface, and the thickness of the post-processing layer is 0.04 mm to 0.06 mm.
US09552505B2	Barcode reader and barcode reading system having an age verification capability A barcode reader and a barcode reading system having an age verification capability are disclosed. The barcode reader may capture a barcode pattern on an identification (ID) card of an individual presented within a field of view of the barcode reader, extract date of birth information from the barcode, and verify an age of the individual. The barcode reader may provide an approve signal if it is verified that the age of the individual is greater than a high threshold or a deny signal if it is verified that the age is less than a low threshold. The low threshold is distinct from the high threshold. The age may be verified by a host computer. The barcode reader may extract a product ID and send the product ID to the host computer. The host computer may then prompt age verification operation if the product is an age-restricted product.
US09552498B2	On-chip storage, creation, and manipulation of an encryption key A system and method for encrypting data provides for retrievial of an encryption key; identification of the address in memory of a first portion of the data to be encrypted; derivation of a first unique key from the encryption key and the address of the first portion of data; encryption of the first portion of data using the first unique key; identification of the address in memory of a second portion of data to be encrypted; derivation of a second unique key from the encryption key and the address of the second portion of data; and encryption of the second portion of data using the second unique key.
US09552488B2	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus is provided that receives data for an authentication print job from an external terminal connected thereto via a network, receives a user authentication request from a user, and executes the job when the user authentication is successfully performed. The image forming apparatus comprises: a display unit; and a display control unit displaying information related to an amount of time expected to be required for the execution of the job on the display unit when the user authentication is successfully performed prior to completion of the reception of the data for the job.
US09552477B2	Resource management in a processor A processor system is arranged to execute user selected applications. A manager module is configured to detect a user selection of an application and configured to initiate a launch process. A supervisor module is configured to intercept the launch process initiated by the manager module and detect whether the application is a trusted application or an untrusted application. Trusted applications have a privilege to access resources without authorization, and untrusted applications do not have the privilege. The supervisor module has the privilege to access the resources. When the application is untrusted, the application is launched in a container, and at least one of the resources is delivered to the untrusted application in the container.
US09552474B2	Method and computer system for dynamically providing multi-dimensional based password/challenge authentication Providing multi-dimensional password/challenge authentication for a computer device includes, in response to a login request, sending a login webpage, the webpage at least comprising a set of randomly generated icons with graphical attributes for sequentially selecting; and, determining whether each icon choice entered by a user complies with at least a dimensional option preset for each digit of a preset password according to at least a dimensional option of the digit.
US09552467B2	Information processing device and information processing method An information processing device includes an image acquirer that acquires a shot image of a user, a registered user information holder that holds face identification data of a registered user, and a face authentication section that detects a face image of a registered user existing in the shot image by using face identification data held in the registered user information holder. The information processing device further includes an information processing section that executes information processing based on a detection result by the face authentication section, and a face identification data registration section that updates the face identification data based on a face image extracted from a shot image of a user at predetermined timings. The face identification data registration section determines whether or not to update the face identification data with a condition corresponding to a situation in which the timing is generated.
US09552464B2	Method and apparatus for providing content protection in a computer system A computer system includes a server device which provides one or more content packages each comprising a plurality of asset files. A client device stores the content packages, and generates a virtual environment based on the asset files to be displayed on a display unit. A tracker is arranged to record an asset list directly or indirectly representing a sequence of the asset files according to progress through the virtual environment at the client device, and to distinguish between legitimate and non-legitimate behavior of the client device according to the recorded asset list.
US09552455B2	Method for an efficient modeling of the impact of device-level self-heating on electromigration limited current specifications An efficient method of calculating maximum current limits for library gates in which a current limit includes the impact of self-heating effects associated with the maximum current. A maximum current solution is obtained in a self-consistent fashion, providing a way of determining the self-consistent solution in a rapid fashion without extensive numerical calculations or simulations. The present method provides a practical approach for characterizing a large library of gates for use in CMOS designs.
US09552454B2	Concurrent timing-driven topology construction and buffering for VLSI routing A system and method for topology construction for long and complex fan-out networks such as encountered in microprocessors include a modified Steiner tree algorithm with concurrent buffering to reduce post-buffer power/delay cost for a spanning tree. The system and method may prune Hanan points prior to calling a buffering tool to insert buffers and insert non-Hanan branching points. Embodiments may also include dividing a device into a plurality of super unit blocks, performing routing within each of the plurality of super units using a single crossing Steiner tree algorithm to determine a corresponding port, and aligning corresponding ports of each super unit to provide routing between the plurality of super units.
US09552453B1	Integrated circuit with power network aware metal fill In the physical design of an integrated circuit, comparing metal fill locations with an average least resistance path (LRP) for a cell and then filling the location with either power or ground tiles based on the comparison. For each metal layer, all of the metal fill locations are determined and nearby metal fills, i.e., those within a predetermined radius of a located metal fill are connected. A Design Rule Check (DRC) is performed to ensure that connected metal fills meet design specifications, for example, that connected metal fills are not too close to a signal line. The metal fill method improves the power integrity of the design.
US09552446B2	Mapping circuits A method, apparatus and program product are provided for mapping electrical circuits. A user provides an electronic record of one or more rooms with outlets to be mapped and installs a module in each outlet to be mapped. Using an interactive program, the user prepares a diagram of a circuit box. The user triggers a probe to propagate a signal detectable by said modules over a circuit and to provide circuit information. The user retrieves the circuit information from the modules. Then, the interactive program associates the circuit information from each module with a corresponding outlet on said electronic record of one or more rooms.
US09552432B1	Lightweight appliance for content retrieval In some embodiments, a request to retrieve a photograph is received. The request is interpreted and associated metadata for the requested photograph is retrieved. A determination is then made as to whether to retrieve the content of the photograph from either a multi-image container file or from a photo cache. The content of the photograph is then retrieved from the determined source. Finally, the content of the photograph and associated metadata are displayed on a display.
US09552430B1	Identifying resource locations Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying resource locations. In one aspect, a method includes determining a resource location for a resource from user locations associated with users who performed actions identified as having represented user interest in the resource.
US09552426B2	Shared image database with geographic navigation There is disclosed a method and device for operating an image database shared by a plurality of users. In an embodiment, each image captured by a user and stored in a shared image database is associating with the geographic coordinates of the location at which the image was captured. A search engine for the image database is configured to accept geographic coordinates as a search criterion for locating at least one captured image stored in the shared image database. The images having location coordinates within a predefined range of geographic coordinates is displayed to the user.
US09552424B2	Peer-to-peer access of personalized profiles using content intermediary A method for personalizing content for a particular user in a computing system comprising a user interface configured to display content. The method comprises identifying a content item accessed by a user, identifying features associated with the content item; using the features of the content item to identify one or more third party profiles that substantially match a content profile of the content item, and displaying a list of the identified third party profiles.
US09552411B2	Trending suggestions Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to paragraph snapping. In aspects, trending data is collected and prepared for sending to one or more target machines. Upon receiving the trending data, a target machines installs the trending data locally and deletes previously installed trending data. After installation, the trending data may be used to suggest text in response to input from a user. If a user selects suggested text, the text may be added to a local dictionary of the target machine.
US09552410B2	Document order management via relaxed node indexing An illustrative embodiment includes processing parse tree data. A parse tree data structure that is representative of a document object model (DOM) tree data structure is received. Concomitant to receiving the parse tree data structure, an assignment of index values for the DOM nodes consisting of distinct index values for each existing DOM node is received by the processor. Requests to manipulate the parse tree data structure that include node inserts and document order comparisons are also performed.
US09552407B1	Log-based synchronization with conditional append A device may participate in a shared data state in which editing operations performed locally are distributed and synchronized with other devices participating in the shared data state. Data may be maintained in log-structured storage files on each device. Changes made locally may be represented by change descriptors conditionally appended to the end of a log. The size of the log may be monotonically increasing. Monotonically increasing identifiers may be used to implicitly or explicitly identify change descriptors. Upon conflict resolution, conditionally appended change descriptors may be committed. Non-committed change descriptors may be conditionally reappended to the end of the log for further conflict resolution.
US09552402B2	System and method for exporting data to web-based applications A system and method is provided for exporting data from a client-server, collaborative application to a relational database and/or web based application. The method is implemented on a computing infrastructure and includes extracting unstructured rich text information hosted in a client-server, collaborative application. The method further includes converting the unstructured rich text information to XML files using a series of XML APIs. The method further includes transforming the XML files (data) to XHTML using reusable stylesheets unique to each type of unstructured rich text information, and utilizing the xHMTL in a web based application.
US09552395B2	Methods, systems, and media for presenting recommended media content items In accordance with some implementations of the disclosed subject matter, mechanisms for presenting recommended media content items are provided. In some implementations, a method for providing media guidance is provided, the method comprising: receiving a query from a user; determining search terms from the received query; determining location information corresponding to the user and popularity information associated with a plurality of media content items and a plurality of content sources; selecting a media content item from the plurality of media content items based at least in part on the popularity information associated with each of the plurality of media content items and the search terms from the received query, wherein the selected media content item is available from the plurality of content sources; selecting at least one content source from the plurality of content sources based at least in part on the location information associated with the user and the popularity information associated with each of the plurality of content sources; and causing a recommendation interface to be presented to the user, wherein the recommendation interface includes the selected media content item that is provided from the at least one selected content source.
US09552393B2	Adaptive record linking in a distributed computing system Techniques for information retrieval include the features of receiving a plurality of data records, updating a plurality of database records associated with the received plurality of data records stored in a database, receiving a query for a particular database record, and preparing for display, in response to the query, one or more of the database records based on at least one of the name of the business enterprise or the alias associated with the name of the business enterprise. Each data record includes data fields associated with a business enterprise. The data fields include a name of the business enterprise. Each database record includes attributes including the name of the business enterprise and an alias associated with the name of the business enterprise. The query includes at least one of the name of the business enterprise or the alias associated with the name of the business enterprise.
US09552391B1	Apparatus and method for improvised explosive device (IED) network analysis Tools and apparatus are presented for identification and analysis of improvised explosive device (IED) networks, including data acquisition tools and techniques providing structured prompting and predefined answers for acquiring structured IED data reports in a streamlined fashion using uniform terminology with respect to IED components and/or structure, as well as analysis methodologies employing IED component level analysis with adjustable similarity correlation and IED attribute filtering to expeditiously identify likely IED networks using graphical renderings of IED locations in a given geolocation range of interest and connection indicators.
US09552386B2	Reducing lock occurrences in server/database systems Limiting the number of concurrent requests in a database system. Arranging requests to be handled by the database system in at least one queue. Defining a maximum value (SS) of concurrent requests corresponding to the at least one queue. Monitoring at least one queue utilization parameter corresponding to the at least one queue and calculating a performance value based on the at least one queue utilization parameter. Adapting the maximum value (SS) of concurrent requests of the at least one queue dynamically based on the performance value (PF) in order to improve system performance. Limiting the number of concurrent requests of the at least one queue dynamically based on the dynamically adapted maximum value (SS).
US09552381B2	Limiting the rendering of instances of recursive elements in view output Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for limiting the rendering of instances of recursive elements in view output. A schema provides a definition of elements, wherein at least one of the elements comprises a recursive element of a recursive data type, wherein the recursive data type allows for instances of the recursive element to include instances of that same recursive data type at different levels in a hierarchy. A condition is received for terminating recursion for the recursive element. A view is generated for the schema including information on the condition for terminating the recursion, wherein the processing of the view causes a parser to chunk instances of the recursive element in schema data in response to the condition indicating to terminate recursion at the level of the instance of the recursive element being processed.
US09552380B2	Method and apparatus for converting heterogeneous databases into standardized homogeneous databases A method, an apparatus, and a system for configuring, designing, and/or implementing database tables are detailed that provides a framework into which a remainder of database tables is developed. Also detailed is a method to develop this framework of database tables. This so developed framework provides a platform for converting multiple independent heterogeneous databases into standardized homogeneous databases.
US09552361B2	Method and system for prefetching music for devices Methods and systems are presented for prefetching music for devices. The disclosed method includes detecting an access to a music library through a device. The music library is associated with a user music account and is managed in cloud music storage. The disclose method further includes monitoring use activities for the user music account and the use activities of selected songs in the music library are adjustable for relevance based on assigned weightings. One or more songs from the music library that satisfy a prefetching constraint based on the monitored use activities are identified. The songs that satisfy the prefetching constraint are tagged for transferring to the device. The tagged songs are transferred to the device without receiving a user initiated request for the tagged songs.
US09552356B1	Merging client-side and server-side logs Techniques described enable creation of a single log containing information from both server-side and client-side logs. A logging service receives page requests and other data from a user operating a computing device. These page requests are then stored in a server-side log. The logging service also receives interactions made by the user on a displayed page. These interactions are then stored in a client-side log separate from the server-side log. The logging service then converts a format of the data in the client-side log and merges the client-side and server-side logs to form a single log. A service provider may then analyze this single log to track how this and other users navigated the pages associated with the page requests.
US09552342B2	Generating a collage for rendering on a client computing device Various technologies pertaining to generation of a client collage are described herein. A creator can construct a computer-implemented collage by selecting a plurality of computer-implemented objects from a respective plurality of network-accessible storage locations, and arranging the computer-implemented objects in a desired manner. Responsive to receiving an indication that the computer-implemented collage is suitable for publication, a server can render the collage and capture a backdrop image of the rendered collage. The server can further generate metadata that are packaged with the backdrop image as a client collage. When a client computing device requests the collage, the client collage is provided to the client computing device, which renders the backdrop image and processes the metadata. The metadata causes a click overlay to be placed upon the backdrop image, wherein functionality of the click overlay is defined by the metadata.
US09552340B2	Method and computer-readable media for comparing electronic documents A computer program and computer-implemented method for assisting a use in selecting versions of a document to be compared and reviewed. The method may include storing a plurality of documents in a database and creating comparison documents that each depicts differences between different pairs of the documents. The method may also include selecting one of the documents to be a current document, then displaying comparison data for assisting the user in selecting one of the documents as a base document. The comparison data may include keyword search results and marked differences between user-selected sections of the documents as extracted from the comparison documents. Based on the comparison data, the user may select one of the documents in the database to be the base document. Finally, the method may include opening and displaying a specific one of the comparison documents associated with the current document and the base documents.
US09552337B2	Workflow automation at a multifunction printer via a composite document A composite document comprises a publicly posted composite document including a plurality of parts, a map-file for each participant in a workflow associated with the composite document, and a set of encryption keys. The encryption keys are associated with at least one of the plurality of parts and distributed via the map file to the participants. At least one of the parts of the composite document, associated with the encryption keys, includes workflow processing instructions. The workflow processing instructions are enactable by the multifunction printer independent of a server and automate at east some steps of the workflow for participant at the multifunction printer via resident functions of the multifunction printer.
US09552328B2	Reconfigurable integrated circuit device A reconfigurable integrated circuit device includes plural processing elements each including an arithmetic circuit, and being configured in any computing state based on the configuration data; and an inter-processing element network which connects the processing elements in any state based on the configuration data. And the processing element inputs an input valid signal and an input data signal, and outputs an output valid signal and an output data signal, and includes an input data holding register, an arithmetic processing circuit, and an output data holding register which holds the computing result data, and when the configuration is updated by configuration data which makes a hold mode valid, regardless of the input valid signal, valid or invalid, the input data holding register holds the input data signal upon the update and the arithmetic processing circuit performs computing processing on the input data signal held in the input data holding register.
US09552322B2	Hybrid repeater for supporting backward compatibility Hybrid repeaters are described that are capable of transmitting data in accordance with different versions of a serial data protocol are described. The appropriate circuitry to be used to transmit incoming serial data is determined by monitoring sideband communication (e.g., a link training handshake) between the transmitter and the receiver.
US09552316B2	Techniques for adaptive interface support Techniques for adaptive interface support are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to execute a basic input/output system (BIOS), determine a respective impedance state for each of one or more pins in an M.2 physical interface, determine an interface type for a peripheral device coupled with the M.2 physical interface based on the impedance states for the one or more pins, and control an operational state of the peripheral device during execution of the BIOS, based on the interface type for the peripheral device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09552313B2	Delivering real time interrupts with an advanced programmable interrupt controller Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for delivering real time interrupts with an APIC are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a local advanced programmable interrupt controller including a storage location to store a non-maskable interrupt vector.
US09552302B2	Data processing apparatus, data processing method and program recording medium To enable moving and copying structured data as block data at high speed, and tracing the moved or copied structured data at high speed. A data processing apparatus that processes structured data including a pointer includes a processing unit configured to process the structured data that uses as the pointer a relative address whose origin is the address of a word in which the pointer is stored.
US09552289B1	Bitwise addressing of entries in a forward lookup table A logical address is received that references data stored at a physical address of a non-volatile memory. From the logical address, one or more words of a forward table in random access memory are received. The one or more words encompass the physical address. A bit address within the one or more words is also received. The bit address is not aligned with boundaries of the one or more words. The logical address is forward mapped to the physical address utilizing the one or more words and the bit address.
US09552288B2	Multi-tiered memory with different metadata levels Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a data object is stored in a first non-volatile tier of a multi-tier memory structure. A metadata unit is generated to describe the data object, the metadata unit having a selected granularity. The metadata unit is stored in a different, second non-volatile tier of the multi-tier memory structure responsive to the selected granularity.
US09552285B2	Micro-execution for software testing Micro-execution is the ability to run any code segment in isolation. Implementations for micro-execution of code segments are described. A test engine determines an effective address of a memory operation of an instruction of an executable program. The test engine determines, prior to performing the memory operation and based on a memory policy, that the effective address is to be replaced with a replacement address. Based on determining that the effective address is to be replaced, the test engine allocates the replacement address and executes the instruction based on the allocated replacement address.
US09552279B2	Data bus network interface module and method therefor A data bus network interface module for enabling reception and transmission of application messages to/from at least one host processing module of an integrated digital signal processing device via a data bus network is described. The data bus network interface module being arranged to receive at least one data bus message from at least one remote network node via the data bus network, read an identifier field of the received at least one data bus message, and make data content of the received at least one data bus message available to at least one debug module if the identifier field comprises an identifier value defined for debug use.
US09552273B2	Health reporting from non-volatile block storage device to processing device Methods and devices are provided for adapting an I/O pattern, with respect to a processing device using a non-volatile block storage device based on feedback from the non-volatile block storage device. The feedback may include information indicating a status of the non-volatile block storage device. In response to receiving the feedback, a storage subsystem, included in an operating system executing on processing device, may change a behavior with respect to the non-volatile block storage device in order to avoid, or reduce, a negative impact to the non-volatile block storage device or to enhance an aspect of the non-volatile block storage device. The feedback may include performance information and/or operating environmental information of the non-volatile block storage device. When the non-volatile block storage device is not capable of providing the feedback, the processing device may request information about the non-volatile block storage device from a database service.
US09552270B2	System and method for receiving analysis requests and configuring analytics systems A method for analyzing data is disclosed that includes receiving an analysis request to analyze selected data corresponding to one or more monitored assets, wherein the analysis request includes one or more parameters corresponding to performance categories of computing resources for processing the analysis request, the performance categories include at least one of a time for processing the analysis request or a cost for processing the analysis request; determining a computing resource allocation plan for processing the analysis request based on the one or more parameters; and processing the analysis request using the determined computing resource allocation plan to provide analysis results. Also disclosed is an analytic router that includes a mapper, an estimator, an optimizer, and a resource provisioner.
US09552267B2	SATA receiver equalization margin determination/setting method and apparatus Apparatuses, methods and storage medium associated with automatic SATA receiver equalization margin determination and setting, are disclosed. In embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a BIOS configured to determine, during POST, whether a device is attached to one of the SATA ports, and on determination that a device is attached to one of the SATA ports, further determine whether a receiver equalization margin has been set for the device. Additionally, the BIOS may be configured to perform a DTLE training to dynamically determine and set the receiver equalization margin for the device, on determination that a receiver equalization margin has not been set for the device. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09552266B2	Systems and methods for data generation The invention provides, in one aspect, a digital data processor-based test data generator, that includes a digital data processing system with one or more digital data processors that are coupled for communications. A scenario creator executes on the digital data processing system and accepts, for each of one or more entities (“domains”), a plurality of parameters, including a hierarchical relationship between that entity and one or more other entities, a priority-of-test-data-creation relationship between that entity and one or more entities, and one or more attributes of that entity. The scenario creator generates a parameter set that defines a test data set specifying the aforesaid entities, relationships and attributes. The test generator further includes an engine that enumerates values for the entities and their attributes in an order determined by the aforesaid relationships.
US09552258B2	Method and system for storing data in raid memory devices A redundant array of independent disk (RAID) memory storage system comprising data storage blocks arranged in a first plurality of data rows and a second plurality of data columns, wherein parity data is stored in additionally defined parity blocks, and wherein numbers of data blocks in respective columns are different, to accommodate the additional diagonal parity data block that the geometry of the system requires. The system is suitable for an SSD array in which sequential disk readout is not required.
US09552255B2	Memory device with parallel odd and even column access and methods thereof A memory device includes: a plurality of first lines; a plurality of second lines; a plurality of bank groups each including a predetermined number of banks; and a column signal transmission unit suitable for transmitting one or more column command signals and one or more column address signals to the bank groups through the first lines based on an odd-numbered column command, and transmitting the column command signals and the column address signals to the bank groups through the second lines based on an even-numbered column command.
US09552253B2	Probabilistic flit error checking A bit error in a flit transmitted over a link is determined to affect one or more particular bits of the flit based on a syndrome value associated with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) value of the flit. The link includes a plurality of lanes. It is determined that the one or more particular bits were sent over one or more particular lanes of the link. The bit error is associated with the one or more particular lanes based on determining that the affected bits were transmitted over the particular lanes.
US09552249B1	Systems and methods for troubleshooting errors within computing tasks using models of log files The disclosed computer-implemented method for troubleshooting computing tasks using log files may include (1) identifying multiple log files generated during successful executions of a computing task, (2) identifying an anomalous log file generated during an anomalous execution of the computing task, (3) creating a model of a successful log file for the computing task by (a) identifying invariants that represent matching sequences found in the same location within at least two successful log files and (b) storing each invariant in a node within the model, and (4) traversing, sequentially through the anomalous log file, matching sequences within the anomalous log file with nodes within the model until identifying at least one discrepancy between the anomalous log file and the model. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09552248B2	Cloud alert to replica Systems, methods, and computer readable storage mediums for generating an alert on a failure of a storage subsystem to phone home to the cloud in a replication environment. A dataset is replicated from a first storage subsystem to a second storage subsystem. The first and second storage subsystems also phone home log data to the cloud on a periodic basis. In response to detecting a failure of the first storage subsystem to phone home, the cloud generates and sends an alert to the second storage subsystem. In response to receiving this alert, the second storage subsystem starts disaster recovery operations for the dataset.
US09552241B2	Information processing apparatus, method of information processing, and recording medium having stored therein program for information processing An information processing apparatus includes: processors each having a memories and a memory controller that controls the memories; a normality checker that checks whether the processors operate normally when started; a failure detector that finds any failed processor from a result of the check; a fallback unit that falls back a failed processor if any; a redundancy determiner that determines whether the memories are used in a redundancy configuration; a redundancy cancellation determiner that determines, when the memories are determined to be used in the redundant configuration, whether the redundancy configuration of the memories is to be cancelled; and a redundancy canceller that cancels, when the redundancy configuration of the memories is to be cancelled, the redundancy configuration of the memories in at least one processor operating normally.
US09552236B2	Tasks—RCU detection of tickless user mode execution as a quiescent state A TASKS_RCU grace period is detected whose quiescent states comprise a task undergoing a voluntary context switch, a task running in user mode, and a task running in idle-mode. A list of all runnable tasks is built. The runnable task list is scanned in one or more scan passes. Each scan pass through the runnable task list searches to identify tasks that have passed through a quiescent state by either performing a voluntary context switch, running in user mode, or running in idle-mode. If found, such quiescent state tasks are removed from the runnable task list. Searching performed during a scan pass includes identifying quiescent state tickless user mode tasks that have been running continuously in user mode on tickless CPUs that have not received a scheduling clock interrupt since commencement of the TASKS_RCU grace period. If the runnable task list is empty, the TASKS_RCU grace period is ended.
US09552232B2	System and process to recommend cloud service cloud configuration based on service similarity A method provides a recommendation for a cloud configuration for deploying a service. In response to receiving a service request, a database is searched for a cloud configuration. The search is performed by acquiring a resource usage pattern for the service. The resource usage pattern is mapped to a multidimensional space, which is searched for a previously deployed cloud configuration having a similar resource usage pattern. In response to finding a previously deployed cloud configuration, the activity management is determined for the previously deployed cloud configuration. A recommendation is made based on the activity management.
US09552223B2	Post-return asynchronous code execution A method, system, and computer program product for the prioritization of code execution. The method includes accessing a thread in a context containing a set of code instances stored in memory; identifying sections of the set of code instances that correspond to deferrable code tasks; executing the thread in the context; determining that the thread is idle; and executing at least one of the deferrable code tasks. The deferrable code task is executed within the context and in response to determining that the thread is idle.
US09552222B2	Experience-based dynamic sequencing of process options For experience-based dynamic sequencing of a set of process options, a first process option is executed at a first stage in a first sequence for a first set of members. The sequence includes several stages of executing a subset of the process options. An experience value is determined corresponding to executing the first process option. The experience value is normalized to calculate a normalized experience value corresponding to the first process option. Using the normalized experience value in a later stage from the plurality of stages, an evaluation is made whether a first trigger threshold is satisfied in a first activation function of a second process choice. When the first trigger threshold of the first activation function being satisfied, the second process choice is included in the first sequence at the later stage.
US09552208B2	System, method, and computer program product for remapping registers based on a change in execution mode A system, method, and computer program product are provided for remapping registers based on a change in execution mode. A sequence of instructions is received for execution by a processor and a change in an execution mode from a first execution mode to a second execution mode within the sequence of instructions is identified, where a first register mapping is associated with the first execution mode and a second register mapping is associated with the second execution mode. Data stored in a set of registers within a processor is reorganized based on the first register mapping and the second register mapping in response to the change in the execution mode.
US09552202B2	Automated and heuristically managed solution to quantify CPU and path length cost of instructions added, changed or removed by a service team Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system, and computer program product for qualifying changes to an instruction set in source code. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for quantifying changes to an instruction set in source code can be provided. The method can include receiving text in a code editor as an edit to source code of a computer program querying a data store of code change costs with at least a portion of the edit. The method additionally can include retrieving in response to the query a code change cost associated with the edit. Finally, the method can include displaying in the code editor the retrieved code change cost.
US09552201B2	System and method for incremental software installation Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for performing incremental software installations. The system identifies a set of files associated with one or more software programs. Each file can be a component of a software program, or any file accessed by the software program or system when the software program is executed. The system receives a list of files associated with a software version that is not installed on the system. The system determines the differences between the set of files and the list of files, and receives a missing file from the list of files based on the differences. Finally, the system builds the software version on the system using the set of files and the missing file. In building the software version, the system does not assume a linear progression of updates and is able to reuse existing files to create nonlinear variations of software.
US09552200B1	System and method for providing supplemental functionalities to a computer program via an ontology instance Supplemental functionalities may be provided for an executable program via an ontology instance. In some embodiments, a computer program (e.g., an executable program or other computer program) associated with an ontology may be caused to be run. The ontology may include information indicating attributes for a set of applications. An instance of the ontology may be obtained, which may correspond to an application of the set of applications. Based on the ontology instance, supplemental information may be generated for the computer program. The supplemental information may be related to one or more functionalities of the application to be added to the executable program. The supplemental information may be provided as input to the computer program. The supplemental information, at least in part, may cause the one or more functionalities of the application to be made available via the executable program.
US09552199B2	Method and apparatus of prompting an update of an application A method and apparatus of updating an application are disclosed. The method includes calculating an error probability of a designated application when running under one or more designated conditions in an event that the application includes updateable content, the one or more designated conditions including an attribute and/or a runtime environment of the application; and pushing an update prompt of the application to a terminal device that satisfies the one or more designated conditions in response to the error probability satisfying a preset condition. The embodiments of the present disclosure reduce the number and the frequency of pushing other unnecessary update prompts, reduce the consumption of resources of a server system, reduce the number and the frequency of responses of a terminal device with respect to the update prompts, and also decrease the consumption of system resources of the terminal devices.
US09552184B2	Facsimile apparatus and method for printing facsimile A facsimile apparatus according to an embodiment includes a communication interface that receives facsimile data, a data storage device, a non-decolorable printing section, a decolorable printing section and a processor. The data storage device stores, prior to the facsimile data being received, a plurality of facsimile transmission source information. The data storage device also stores the received facsimile data. The processor controls printing of the content of the received facsimile data in one of the non-decolorable printing section and the decolorable printing section based on whether a detected transmission source information is determined to be included in the previously stored plurality of facsimile transmission source information.
US09552183B2	Methods and systems for performing queue-based assignment of print jobs in a multi-site print production environment A system for performing queue-based routing of print jobs in a multi-site print production environment may include an electronic dispatch system having a scheduling queue, at least one processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium may include programming instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive print jobs from client computing devices, identify one or more print shops, select a set of print jobs from the scheduling queue that are to be assigned to the print shops for completion, generate a feasibility matrix for the selected print jobs, determine a preliminary assignment of the selected print jobs to the identified print shops using a set cover heuristic, use a linear programming heuristic to determine a final assignment of the selected print jobs to the identified print shops, and route each of the selected print jobs to an assigned print shop as specified by the final assignment.
US09552182B2	Printing using multiple print processing resources A method of managing an electronic document (ED). The method includes: receiving, by a print manager, the ED and an output location; sending, by the print manager, a first portion of the ED to a plurality of print processing resources (PPRs); receiving, by the print manager, a first raster image file associated with the first portion from a first winning PPR of the plurality of PPRs; sending, by the print manager, an interrupt message to a losing PPR of the plurality of PPRs; and sending, by the print manager, the first raster image file to the output location.
US09552176B2	Block storage using a hybrid memory device Techniques for block storage using a hybrid memory device are described. In at least some embodiments, a hybrid memory device includes a volatile memory portion, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The hybrid memory device further includes non-volatile memory portion, such as flash memory. In at least some embodiments, the hybrid memory device can be embodied as a non-volatile dual in-line memory module, or NVDIMM. Techniques discussed herein employ various functionalities to enable the hybrid memory device to be exposed to various entities as an available block storage device.
US09552174B2	Method and system for preventing unreliable data operations at cold temperatures Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with protecting data during cold excursions are provided. A method for preventing unreliable data operations at cold temperatures may include determining whether a first temperature of a solid state drive (SSD) is below a threshold temperature. The method may also include initiating an artificial read/write operation if the first temperature is below the threshold temperature.
US09552171B2	Read scrub with adaptive counter management A number of complimentary techniques for the read scrub process using adaptive counter management are presented. In one set of techniques, in addition to maintaining a cumulative read counter for a block, a boundary word line counter can also be maintained to track the number of reads to most recently written word line or word lines of a partially written block. Another set of techniques used read count threshold values that vary with the number of program/erase cycles that a block has undergone. Further techniques involve setting the read count threshold for a closed (fully written) block based upon the number reads it experienced prior to being closed. These techniques can also be applied at a sub-block, zone level.
US09552166B2	Process and apparatus to reduce declared capacity of a storage device by deleting data Systems, methods and/or devices are used to reduce declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device in a storage system. In one aspect, the method includes, detecting an amelioration trigger for reducing declared capacity of non-volatile memory of a storage device of the storage system, and in accordance with the detected amelioration trigger, performing an amelioration process to reduce declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device, the performing including: deleting from the storage device discardable data that is used by a host, and reducing declared capacity of the non-volatile memory of the storage device. In some embodiments, the storage device includes one or more flash memory devices. In some embodiments, the detecting, the performing, or both are performed by the storage device, or by one or more subsystems of the storage system distinct from the storage device, or by the host.
US09552150B2	Scroll bar control A user interface control for scrolling a display of computer program data during retrieval of computer program data includes a track, a bar overlying the track, and a thumb button movable along the bar to scroll the displayed data. The size of the track indicates the total amount of data being retrieved, and the size of the bar varies to indicate the progress of the data retrieval. Thus, the ratio of the size of the bar to that of the track indicates the ratio of available to total data. The computer program data is displayed in a display area allocated to the computer program, and the size of the thumb button (compared to a corresponding size of the track) indicates the ratio of the amount of data displayed in the display area to the total amount of data being retrieved.
US09552140B2	Method and apparatus for providing data entry content to a remote environment Various methods for providing data entry content to a remote environment are provided. One example method includes receiving, at a device, a data entry field selection message notifying that a selection of a data entry field has occurred at a remote device, modifying a focus of a user interface of the device to the data entry field, retrieving current data content of the data entry field, and causing an indication to be provided to the remote device informing the remote device of the current data content of the data entry field to enable the remote device to display the current data content of the data entry field in a data entry input interface. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
US09552127B2	Multi-bend display activation adaptation Systems and methods receive input from a flexible display. A flexible display displays an image with at least one graphical user interface element and receives input from a user by flexing of the flexible display. At least one flexing sensor characterizes a flexing of the flexible display, and a user input controller receives a characterization of an initial flexing of the flexible display, determines, as an initial determination, that the initial flexing is a bending of the flexible display along a first line that is located within a first threshold distance from a proximate graphical user interface element, and provides, based on the initial determination, a user selection corresponding to the proximate graphical user interface element.
US09552113B2	Touch sensing display device for sensing different touches using one driving signal A touch sensing display device includes: a display panel; a capacitive touch panel disposed on a front surface of the display panel; a digitizer disposed on a surface of the display panel; a sensor driving unit which sequentially applies scanning signals to the capacitive touch panel and the digitizer, where each of the scanning signal is applied simultaneously to the capacitive touch panel and the digitizer; and a sensing unit which senses sensing signals of the capacitive touch panel and the digitizer, in which the sensing unit receives the sensing signal of the capacitive touch panel and the sensing signal of the digitizer at different times.
US09552108B2	Inputting fingertip sleeve An inputting fingertip sleeve includes a sleeve and an inputting end. The sleeve includes at least one opening configured to receive a finger. The inputting end is fixed on the sleeve. The inputting end includes a supporter and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is located on a surface of the supporter. The conductive layer includes a number of carbon nanotubes and a polymer matrix. The carbon nanotubes are located in the polymer matrix.
US09552106B2	Bezel-less acoustic touch apparatus An acoustic touch apparatus is provided that includes a substrate capable of propagating surface acoustic waves, such as Rayleigh-type or Love-type waves. The substrate has a front surface, a back surface, and a curved connecting surface formed between the front surface and the back surface. The apparatus also includes at least one acoustic wave transducer and at least one reflective array, the acoustic wave transducer and the reflective array behind the back surface of the substrate. The acoustic wave transducer is capable of transmitting or receiving surface acoustic waves to or from the reflective array. The reflective array is capable of acoustically coupling the surface acoustic waves to propagate from the back surface and across the front surface via the curved connecting surface. Various types of acoustic touch apparatus with edge sensitive touch functions can be provided, according to specific embodiments.
US09552100B2	Touch sensing with mobile sensors Apparatus and methods are disclosed for simultaneously tracking multiple finger and palm contacts as hands approach, touch, and slide across a proximity-sensing, multi-touch surface. Identification and classification of intuitive hand configurations and motions enables unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device.
US09552098B2	Mobile device and proximity detection method A mobile device and a corresponding proximity detection method are provided. The mobile device includes an infrared emitter and a proximity sensor. The infrared emitter emits an infrared using first power in a first mode or emits the infrared using second power in a second mode. The first power and the second power are different. The proximity sensor detects the reflection of the infrared and determines whether or not there is an object in close proximity to the mobile device based on the reflection.
US09552084B2	Control of an electronic device equipped with coordinate input device for inputting with an electronic pen A manner of reducing the power consumption is utilized in a tablet terminal equipped with a digitizer for inputting with an electronic pen. When another tablet terminal or a smartphone approaches the tablet terminal, each digitizer detects input. When the digitizer detects the input, it is determined whether the input is electronic pen input from the electronic pen or proximity input caused by the proximity of the other tablet terminal or the smartphone. In the case of electronic pen input, coordinate information is transferred to a system, while in the case of proximity input, the system takes an action such as shifting a tablet terminal to a sleep state.
US09552081B1	Virtualization of tangible interface objects An example system includes a computing device located proximate to a physical activity surface, a video capture device, and a detector. The video capture device is coupled for communication with the computing device and is adapted to capture a video stream that includes an activity scene of the physical activity surface and one or more interface objects physically intractable with by a user. The detector processes the video stream to detect the one or more interface objects included in the activity scene, to identify the one or more interface objects that are detectable, to generate one or more events describing the one or more interface objects, and to provide the one or more events to an activity application configured to render virtual information on the one or more computing devices based on the one or more events.
US09552066B2	Drive control apparatus that drives actuator, electronic apparatus that drives actuator, and control method for driving actuator A drive control apparatus includes a storage storing first or second waveform data representing a drive signal, and a drive controller reading the first or the second waveform data, and output the drive signal to the actuator. The first waveform data applying vibration m×Q times (Q is a natural number other than 0) and obtained by multiplying a sine wave (f1=(m/n)×f0 (m and n are mutually different natural numbers other than 0)) by a damping ratio of a vibration system to an actuator, and the second waveform data applying a vibration (m/2)×Q times (Q is a natural number other than 0) and obtained by multiplying a sine wave (a frequency f1=(m/n)×f0 (m and n are mutually different positive odd numbers)) by the damping ratio to the actuator, where f0 represents a resonant frequency of the actuator.
US09552062B2	Gaze-based security Systems and methods for presenting actual data on a display device based on eye-tracking data. An eye-tracking engine receives sensed data from an eye-tracking device, determines a movement status of an eye based on the sensed data, and determines a display configuration based on the determined movement status. The display configuration is output on the display device and includes masking data when the determined movement status indicates the eye is in motion.
US09552060B2	Radial selection by vestibulo-ocular reflex fixation Methods for enabling hands-free selection of objects within an augmented reality environment are described. In some embodiments, an object may be selected by an end user of a head-mounted display device (HMD) based on detecting a vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) with the end user's eyes while the end user is gazing at the object and performing a particular head movement for selecting the object. The object selected may comprise a real object or a virtual object. The end user may select the object by gazing at the object for a first time period and then performing a particular head movement in which the VOR is detected for one or both of the end user's eyes. In one embodiment, the particular head movement may involve the end user moving their head away from a direction of the object at a particular head speed while gazing at the object.
US09552059B2	Information processing method and electronic device The present disclosure provides an information processing method and an electronic device. The information processing method is applied in an electronic device comprising or being connected to a display unit. The method comprises: acquiring a first target object containing a first display image and a second display image different from the first display image; displaying the first display image based on a first display parameter and displaying the second display image based on a second display parameter different from the first display parameter, such that a first user using the electronic device perceives a first distance value larger than zero, the first distance value indicating a distance between a plane where a display position of the first target object is located and a plane where the display unit is located; detecting user location information corresponding to the first user; and determining a second distance value between the first user and the first target object based on the user location information. In this way, the distance between the user and the first target object as perceived by the user can be determined more accurately.
US09552056B1	Gesture enabled telepresence robot and system A telepresence robot includes a mobile platform, a camera, and a computer in communication with the platform and the camera. The computer receives video information from a remotely located camera relating to a gesture made by a remote human operator, and the robot is configured to operate based on the gesture. The computer may further predict an emotional state of a person interacting with the robot, based on video information received from the robot camera. A telepresence robot system includes: a telepresence robot having a mobile platform, a robot camera, a robot display, and a robot computer; and a control station, located remote to the robot, having a control station camera, a control station display, and a control station computer.
US09552050B2	Information processing device, printing device, and control method An information processing device having plural control units appropriately executes an arbitration process when a control unit is hibernating (in power-saving mode) and transmits data correctly to an external device. The information processing device has a first CPU and a second CPU; a first memory embedded in a semiconductor chip including the first CPU and second CPU; and a second memory disposed externally to the semiconductor chip. The first CPU executes an arbitration process according to the type of event that occurred when the first CPU is in a first state, the second CPU and the second memory are in a second state different from the first state, and an event requiring sending data from the first memory to the second memory occurs.
US09552049B1	Activating and using device with a grip switch An activation signal is provided in response to a user gripping force incident to a grip switch. Electronic circuitry transitions from an inactive state to an active state in response to the activation signal. The activation signal may also include encoded information regarding user identity, gripping force magnitude, user input gesturing, and the like. The electronic circuitry may use the information encoded in the signal to select or perform particular functions or operations. Power consumption of a stylus, user device, or other apparatus is reduced, or various functions are improved, accordingly.
US09552047B2	Multiprocessor having runtime adjustable clock and clock dependent power supply A multiprocessor that that provides for adjusting the clock frequency for at least some data processing units at runtime and a voltage supply adapted to supply higher supply voltages for data processing at higher clock frequencies.
US09552046B2	Performance management methods for electronic devices with multiple central processing units Performance management methods for an electronic device with multiple central processing units (CPUs) are provided. First, thread loading rearrangement and CPU frequency evaluation are performed to obtain a plurality of evaluated performance values for different amounts of CPUs, wherein the plurality of evaluated performance values are relevant to power consumption values of the multiple CPUs. It is then determined whether to adjust an amount of used CPUs based on the plurality of evaluated performance values corresponding to the different amounts of CPUs.
US09552045B2	Method, apparatus, and system for controlling power consumption of unused hardware of a link interface In an embodiment, a plurality of hardware buffers each may store information associated with one or more virtual channels. In turn, a configuration logic is to determine an identifier corresponding to a maximum number of virtual channels commonly supported by first and second devices coupled via a link and to obtain a control value based on the identifier. A gate logic coupled to the configuration logic is to provide an operating voltage to corresponding ones of the hardware buffers based on the control value. In this way, the operating voltage can be withheld from at least one of the hardware buffers when the maximum number of virtual channels is less than the plurality of hardware buffers. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09552039B2	Constrained boot techniques in multi-core platforms Methods and apparatus relating to constrained boot techniques in multi-core platforms are described. In one embodiment, a processor may include logic that controls which specific core(s) are to be powered up/down and/or which power state these core(s) need to enter based, at least in part, on input from OS and/or software application(s). Other embodiments are also claimed and disclosed.
US09552032B2	Branch prediction power reduction In one embodiment, a microprocessor is provided. The microprocessor includes instruction memory and a branch prediction unit. The branch prediction unit is configured to use information from the instruction memory to selectively power up the branch prediction unit from a powered-down state when fetched instruction data includes a branch instruction and maintain the branch prediction unit in the powered-down state when the fetched instruction data does not include a branch instruction in order to reduce power consumption of the microprocessor during instruction fetch operations.
US09552006B1	Wideband low dropout voltage regulator with power supply rejection boost The present disclosure provides a detailed description of techniques for implementing a wideband low dropout voltage regulator with power supply rejection boost. More specifically, some embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a voltage regulator comprising a voltage regulator core powered by a supply voltage and providing a regulated voltage output, and a power supply feed forward injection module delivering an injection signal to the voltage regulator core to effect a power supply rejection of the supply voltage variation from the regulated voltage. In one or more embodiments, the injection signal is determined from the supply voltage variation and a gain factor that is based on various design attributes of the output stage of the voltage regulator core. In one or more embodiments, the power supply feed forward injection module comprises a supply voltage sense circuit, a low pass filter, and one or more selectable transconductance amplifiers.
US09552004B1	Linear voltage regulator A voltage regulator includes an error amplifier, a voltage buffer, a transistor, a frequency compensation circuit, a capacitor, and a resistive network. The error amplifier receives a reference signal and a feedback signal, and generates an intermediate control signal. The voltage buffer receives the intermediate control signal and generates a control signal. The transistor has a gate that receives the control signal, a first terminal that receives a supply voltage signal, and a second terminal that generates a regulated output signal. The frequency compensation circuit is connected to the second terminal of the transistor. The capacitor is connected to the error amplifier and the frequency compensation circuit. The resistive network receives the regulated output signal and generates the feedback signal.
US09551999B2	Structure of gas regulator A structure of gas regulator comprises a space for setting an intake switchover valve formed at an outer end of a high-pressure portion and interconnected with the inside of the high-pressure portion. A pushing block is outside a diaphragm, and an elastic element is set between the pushing block and a flange at the periphery of an inner end of the pushing block. A support base outside the pushing block is abutted the elastic element and comprises an extending section extended from an inner end thereof and corresponding to the outer periphery of the elastic element and a through-hole corresponding to the pushing block. A display diaphragm with a center slot is outside the support base. A cover covered the space has a transparent side display window at the periphery thereof and a transparent outer display window at an outer end thereof.
US09551998B2	Remote control device A remote control device includes an instruction transmitter and a controller which controls a speed of an unmanned helicopter based on an instruction from the instruction transmitter. The instruction transmitter selectively outputs one of a speed change signal that changes the speed of the unmanned helicopter and a speed determination signal that determines the speed of the unmanned helicopter. When an output from the instruction transmitter is changed from the speed change signal to the speed determination signal, the controller determines whether the speed of the unmanned helicopter should be maintained or brought to zero based on a result of comparison between speed information of the unmanned helicopter and a threshold value. Preferably, the speed change signal changes the speed of the unmanned helicopter by changing a tilt angle of a nose of the unmanned helicopter in an up-down direction in accordance with an amount of operation applied to the instruction transmitter.
US09551992B1	Fall back trajectory systems for autonomous vehicles Aspects of the disclosure provide systems and methods for providing suggested locations for pick up and destination locations. Pick up locations may include locations where an autonomous vehicle can pick up a passenger, while destination locations may include locations where the vehicle can wait for an additional passenger, stop and wait for a passenger to perform some task and return to the vehicle, or for the vehicle to drop off a passenger. As such, a request for a vehicle may be received from a client computing device. The request may identify a first location. A set of one or more suggested locations may be selected by comparing the predetermined locations to the first location. The set may be provided to the client computing device.
US09551989B2	Method and apparatus for extending the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle A method of extending the operation of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is disclosed. The method comprises detecting that an energy storage device on board the UAV is depleted below a threshold level, landing the UAV at a base station, and initiating operation of the base station to cause a replacement mechanism thereof to remove the energy storage device on board the UAV from the UAV and to replace this with another energy storage device.
US09551987B1	Container holder utilization and selection An inventory system includes inventory holders, container holders, containers carried by the container holders, mobile drive units, stations, and a management module. The management module instructs the mobile drive units to move the inventory holders and container holders to stations. Container holders are loaded with containers of inbound inventory items at a first station. Inbound inventory items are transferred from containers to inventory holders at a second station. Outbound inventory items are transferred from inventory holders to containers at a third station. Containers of outbound inventory items are removed from container holders at a fourth station.
US09551982B2	Water treatment control apparatus and water treatment system According to one embodiment, a water treatment control apparatus generates an indication to a water treatment facility referring to conditions including a drought status and a water treatment cost at the water treatment facility. The indication indicates a type of water to be taken by the water treatment facility between a plurality of types of water including river water from rivers, rainwater, and waste water used by a customer.
US09551968B1	Image forming apparatus An image forming apparatus comprises a paper feeding unit which feeds a sheet-shaped recording medium, an image forming unit which forms a toner image on the recording medium fed from the paper feeding unit, a fixing unit which fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit on the recording medium, a stacking unit which stacks the recording medium on which the toner image is fixed by the fixing unit, a temperature sensor which detects the surface temperature of the recording mediums stacked on the stacking unit and a control unit which determines, according to the printing information of the recording medium, whether or not to feed a new recording medium from the paper feeding unit when the surface temperature of the recording mediums detected by the temperature sensor is above a threshold temperature.
US09551967B2	Sheet discriminator and image forming apparatus incorporating the sheet discriminator A sheet discriminator, which can be included in an image forming apparatus, includes an optical information detector, a sheet distinguisher, and a sheet thickness detector. The optical information detector includes a light emitter to emit light to a recording medium and a light receiver to receive the light and detects information of the recording medium. The sheet distinguisher distinguishes a type of the recording medium based on the information detected by the optical information detector. The sheet thickness detector includes a displacement gauge to sandwich the recording medium with an opposing member disposed facing the displacement gauge and to move from an initial position thereof and a displacement detector to detect an amount of displacement of the displacement gauge. The sheet thickness detector detects a thickness of the recording medium based on detection results obtained by the displacement detector.
US09551962B2	Hybrid heater with dual function heating capability A fuser heater member for an electrophotographic imaging device, including a heater member. According to an example embodiment, the heater member includes positive temperature coefficient (PTC) material disposed along a width of a fuser nip of the fuser assembly; first and second electrodes disposed along disposed surfaces of the PTC material; an intermediate layer disposed over the second electrode; and at least one resistive trace disposed along the intermediate layer along the width of the fuser nip. The heater member includes a plurality of wire segments coupled to the first and second electrodes and the resistive elements for use in generating heat from at least one of the PTC material and the at least one resistive trace during a fusing operation.

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