Document Document Title
US09713293B2 Electric power converter
An electric power converter includes a semiconductor module constituting a power conversion circuit, a capacitor electrically connected to the semiconductor module, and a cooling member for cooling the capacitor. The capacitor includes an element body provided with internal electrode, and a pair of end-face-electrodes provided on both end faces of the element body and connected to the internal electrode. The pair of end-face-electrodes are connected with a pair of bus bars, respectively, in a manner of surface contact. The capacitor is disposed in a state where one of the pair of end-face-electrodes is facing the cooling member. The end-face-electrode facing the cooling member is in contact with the cooling member via the bus bar.
US09713289B2 Modular pod
A modular pod may include two or more walls, a roof, and a base, an air plenum, an air inlet, and an air economizer. The two or more walls, the roof, and the base may define a substantially enclosed interior space. The return air plenum may be positioned within the interior space. The air inlet may be positioned proximate one of the walls. The air economizer may be positioned within the interior space. The air economizer may include a mixing zone and two or more air shafts. The mixing zone may be in communication with the air inlet. The two or more air shafts may be in communication with the air plenum and in communication with the mixing zone. Each air shaft may taper down from the top end to the bottom end of the air shaft.
US09713278B2 Display apparatus
A display apparatus includes a display panel displaying an image, a mold frame disposed under the display panel to support the display panel and a lower receiving container receiving the display panel and the mold frame and having an opening portion, a bottom portion having a chamfered portion that at least one of a corner of the opening portion is chamfered, a side wall extended from the bottom portion to an upper direction and an engaging portion extended from the side wall to be protruded to an outside direction.
US09713272B2 Display device
A display device includes a display panel, a back cover placed in the back surface of the display panel, and a coupling unit placed in an area between the back cover and the display panel. The display device can be closely coupled to a to-be-attached surface.
US09713269B2 Fixing structure, electronic device and method for assembling an electronic device
A fixing structure is suitable for fixing a display panel of an electronic device. The display panel has a panel fitting portion at a side edge of the display panel. The fixing structure includes a front bezel and a rear bracket. The front bezel has a bezel fitting portion to fit with the panel fitting portion. The rear bracket is assembled to the front bezel and has a restraining portion to restrain the motion of the bezel fitting portion relative to the panel fitting portion after the bezel fitting portion fits with the panel fitting portion and the rear bracket is fixed to the front bezel. Besides, an electronic device applied with the above fixing structure and a method for assembling the same are also provided here.
US09713256B2 Curved display device
A curved display device includes a semiconductor chip package including a base film, a plurality of driving chips on the base film, and an input wire unit and an output wire unit connected to the driving chips, a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the input wire unit of the semiconductor chip package, and a display panel including a display unit and a pad unit connected to the output wire unit of the semiconductor chip package, wherein the display panel, the semiconductor chip package, and the PCB are bendable in a first direction, and the driving chips of the of the semiconductor chip package are separated from each other in the first direction.
US09713255B2 Electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding techniques and configurations
Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding techniques and configurations. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first substrate, a die having interconnect structures coupled with the first substrate to route input/output (I/O) signals between the die and the first substrate and a second substrate coupled with the first substrate, wherein the die is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate include traces configured to provide electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shielding for the die. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09713249B2 Chip on film flexible circuit board and display device
A Chip on Film (COF) flexible circuit board and a display device using the COF flexible circuit board are provided. The circuit board includes: a substrate; a plurality of conductive terminals arranged separately in parallel over the substrate, each of the plurality of conductive terminals including a wide line and a narrow line; and a anisotropic conductive adhesive region provided over the substrate. A connection site of the wide line and the narrow line is located in an overlapping area of the anisotropic conductive adhesive region and the substrate. The embodiments of the invention can reduce the probability of the circuit board being broken and the undesirable phenomena such as open circuit.
US09713247B2 Robot
A robot includes: a wiring board which is a flexible printed wiring board including a first board wiring line through which current having a first frequency flows in a wiring direction and a second board wiring line through which current having a second frequency which is a frequency smaller than the first frequency flows in the wiring direction; and a shield board which is a flexible printed wiring board including a conductor and which is overlapped with the wiring board in a thickness direction, in which, in an orthogonal direction which is orthogonal to the wiring direction and the thickness direction, a first conductor edge which is one end portion of the conductor, the first board wiring line, the second board wiring line, a second conductor edge which is another end portion of the conductor are lined in this order, and a distance from the second conductor edge to the second board wiring line is shorter than a distance from the first conductor edge to the first board wiring line.
US09713241B2 Reactive-species supply device and surface treatment apparatus
A reactive-species supply device is configured to supply a treatment gas to an electric discharge space, for thereby supplying at least a reactive species formed in a plasma, to an object. The reactive-species supply device includes (a) at least one pair of electrodes configured to form the electric discharge space and (b) an electrode protection device configured to protect the electrodes from the treatment gas. Also disclosed is a surface treatment apparatus that includes the reactive-species supply device.
US09713235B2 Light bulb, intelligent lighting device and method and system for use in configuring same
An intelligent light bulb is provided as well as a method, devices and computer program product of configuring such an intelligent light bulb. The intelligent light bulb comprises an LED lighting element and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises a memory module having stored therein firmware including instructions for controlling operations of the LED lighting element, where the memory module including a passive memory on which at least a portion of the firmware is stored. The passive memory component of the memory module is responsive to a signal carrying firmware update information received over a wireless communication link from a device external to the intelligent light bulb for causing a firmware update process to be performed to modify the instructions of the firmware based on the update information carried by the signal. The programmable controller also includes a processing unit in communication with the memory module for operating the LED lighting element at least in part in accordance with the instructions of the firmware. Advantageously, the proposed intelligent light bulb can be configured using the signal carrying the firmware update information. In some embodiments, this may allow modifications of certain operating characteristic of the intelligent light bulb to be performed after manufacturing, including modifications pertaining to light color emitted and/or manner of operating the light bulb.
US09713227B2 LED lighting systems
Light fixture systems and application of ambient light measurement for improving lighting system efficiency.
US09713195B2 Method and apparatus for releasing connection in wireless communication system
A method and apparatus of releasing a connection in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a specific establishment cause, receiving paging indicating connection release and release information including an establishment cause or a logical channel priority, and releasing the RRC connection depending on the establishment cause or the logical channel priority included in the release information.
US09713189B2 Multiple outer loop link adaptation
Systems and methods for subframe-based link adaptation for a radio signal in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a base station obtains a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement for data transmitted between the base station and a mobile terminal in a radio signal of the base station. The base station then updates a parameter (e.g., SINR offset) used to control a Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) for transmission of data between the base station and the mobile terminal in the radio signal for one or more subframes in a frame structure of the radio signal based on the hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement. The one or more subframes are a subset of all of the subframes in the frame structure of the radio signal.
US09713185B2 Method and device for transmitting discovery signal
Provided are a method and a device for transmitting a discovery signal for a device-to-device (D2D) communication in a wireless communication system. A wireless device generates a random sequence on the basis of an identifier (ID), and determines generation information on the basis of the random sequence. The wireless device generates a discovery sequence on the basis of the generation information, and transmits the discovery sequence to another wireless device.
US09713167B2 Multistage hierarchical packet scheduling
A system may receive a bandwidth allocation policy, may allocate first bandwidth to a first set of queues based on the bandwidth allocation policy, and may allocate second bandwidth to a second set of queues based on the bandwidth allocation policy. The system may identify a first characteristic associated with packets, and may store information associated with the packets in first queues based on the first characteristic. The system may identify a second characteristic associated with the packets, and may store information associated with the packets, from the first queues, in second queues, based on the second characteristic, the allocated first bandwidth, and the bandwidth allocation policy. The system may store information associated with the packets, from the second queues, in an output queue based on the allocated second bandwidth and the bandwidth allocation policy, and may service the packets from the output queue for delivery to a device.
US09713166B2 Soft cell inter-layer interference handling
In a heterogeneous cell deployment a mobile terminal may need to receive control data transmissions from a macro node at the same time as a pico node is transmitting user data for the mobile terminal, using the same frequency or set of frequencies. This can result in a problematic interference situation. According to several embodiments of the present invention, at least one of two general approaches is used to mitigate the interference situation described above. In a first approach, the pico node's transmission power is reduced in some time intervals, thereby reducing the interference to a level where reception from the macro node is possible. In a second approach, which may be combined with the first approach in some cases, the data transmitted from the macro node is provided by the pico node, either alone or in combination with the macro node.
US09713159B2 Communication control method and base station
A communication control method used in a cellular mobile communication system that supports inter-terminal communication that is direct radio communication capable of being performed between user terminals in a state where a radio connection with a network is established, comprises a step of determining, by the network, a method for assigning a radio resource in the inter-terminal communication in accordance with a characteristic of an application used in the inter-terminal communication.
US09713153B2 Method and apparatus for communication in a wireless LAN system
A method for communicating in a wireless local area network, and a device therefore are discussed. The method according to one embodiment includes selecting, by a transmitting station, a transmission channel; and transmitting, by the transmitting station, a Physical layer Protocol Data Unit (PPDU) over the selected transmission channel to a receiving station. The transmission channel includes a primary channel and a first channel if the first channel was idle. The transmission channel includes the primary channel, the first channel and a second channel if both the first channel and the second channel were idle. The primary channel is positioned between the first channel and the second channel if the transmission channel includes the primary channel, the first channel and the second channel.
US09713147B2 License shared access in cellular network
Generally discussed herein are systems and apparatuses that are configured for using Licensed Shared Access (LSA) in a cellular network. Also discussed herein are method of using the systems and apparatuses. In one or more embodiments, an LSA control can include a processor configured to determine which licensing option of a plurality of licensing options to accept, and the LSA control can include a transceiver configured to (1) receive a first signal representative of a request for extra spectrum from a licensing Base Station (BS), and transmit a second signal representative of one or more details of the accepted licensing option to the licensee BS and an incumbent BS so as to cause the licensee BS to use the extra spectrum and cause the incumbent BS to stop using the extra spectrum in a coverage area of the licensee BS.
US09713146B2 Controlling carrier selection in a wireless communication system
A mobile communications system including at least one base station configured to communicate data to/from different types of terminal devices via respective of plural logically separate carriers of a wireless access interface; first and second terminal devices operable to respectively camp-on to first and second carriers of the carriers and to subsequently communicate data with the at least one base station via the first and second carriers. The first and second carriers support compatible synchronization signalling such that the first and second terminal devices synchronize with the first and second carriers to begin a camp-on procedure, and following synchronization with one of the first or second carriers to begin a camp-on procedure. The second terminal device is configured to determine whether or not to continue with the camp-on procedure based on an aspect of physical layer signalling associated with a control channel of the carrier with which it has synchronized.
US09713144B2 Methods and apparatus for routing communication using slotted resources of radio access mesh networks
Methods and network nodes (700-720) route communications between pairs of source and destination nodes through network nodes (700-720) of a wireless communication system. One resource slot of a wireless communication link is selected (1200) between each of a sequence of the network nodes (700-720) along a communication route between one pair of the source and destination nodes. Another resource slot of the wireless communication link is selected (1202) between at least some of the sequence of the network nodes (700-720) along the communication route between the one pair of the source and destination nodes. Selection of the other resource slot between each of the sequence of the network nodes along the communication route can be constrained to selection among resource slots that are available from only the sequence of the network nodes along the communication route between the one pair of the source and destination nodes.
US09713137B2 Framing for an adaptive modulation communication system
A system and method for mapping a combined frequency division duplexing (FDD) Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)/Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) downlink subframe for use with half-duplex and full-duplex terminals in a communication system. Embodiments of the downlink subframe vary Forward Error Correction (FEC) types for a given modulation scheme as well as support the implementation of a smart antenna at a base station in the communication system. Embodiments of the system are also used in a TDD communication system to support the implementation of smart antennae. A scheduling algorithm allows TDM and TDMA portions of a downlink to efficiently co-exist in the same downlink subframe and simultaneously support full and half-duplex terminals.
US09713133B2 Method for transceiving downlink control channel in wireless communication system and apparatus therefor
The present invention relates to a method for transceiving a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system and an apparatus therefor. Specifically, a method for transceiving a downlink control channel in a wireless communication system comprises a step of receiving a downlink signal comprising a first downlink control channel (Physical Downlink Control Channel, PDCCH) and a second downlink control channel (Enhanced PDCCH; EPDCCH), wherein a starting symbol index of the second downlink control channel is greater than the final symbol index of the first downlink control channel.
US09713125B2 Method and apparatus providing fast control channel feedback for multiple downlink carrier operations
A method and apparatus for fast control channel feedback for multiple downlink carrier operations are disclosed. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) receives signals over a plurality of downlink carriers, generates feedback for each of the plurality of downlink carriers based on the received signals, and transmits via a plurality of antennas, the feedback for at least one of the plurality of downlink carriers over a first physical channel and feedback for another of the plurality of downlink carriers over a second physical channel.
US09713121B2 Apparatus and method for controlling transmission of push messages
An apparatus and method for controlling a transmission timing of push messages in a system that provides a location-based push service. An electronic device transfers its own network information to a push server when connecting to the push server. The push server classifies electronic devices based on network information. At startup, the push server divides the electronic devices classified based on the network information into a plurality of groups, each including a predetermined number of electronic devices, and transmits push messages per unit of the groups. The push server measures a response time period taken to receive acknowledge messages in response to the push messages in a group, and adjust a waiting time for correcting a transmission time of push messages based on the response time period. The push server transmits push messages to electronic devices of the next group based on the adjusted waiting time.
US09713118B1 Device tagging using micro-location movement data
From a collection of movement data of a device, a pattern of movement of the device in a venue is computed. An evaluation is made to determine whether the pattern fits a profile from a set of profiles. Each profile in the set of profiles includes a set of characteristics of a different type of user. A label of the profile indicative of a type of a user associated with the device is added to a data record in the collection when the evaluation is affirmative.
US09713111B2 Method, device and system for recording attendance
The disclosure provides a method device and system for recording an attendance. The method includes that: a Femto (74) receives a registration request or a de-registration request of a mobile terminal (72), wherein the registration request or the de-registration request includes an identifier of the mobile terminal (72); and the Femto (74) saves the identifier of the mobile terminal (72) and time corresponding to the registration request or the de-registration request of the mobile terminal (72) together to serve as an attendance record of a user corresponding to the mobile terminal (72). The method, device and system for recording an attendance solve the problems of great configuration difficulty and high cost of a system for implementing attendance recording in related technologies, and realize fully-automatic attendance statistics; and this implementation mode is easy to operate and low in cost.
US09713110B2 Method and network node for facilitating timing synchronization in network
The disclosure provides a method for facilitating timing synchronization in a network. The method comprises, at a network node: updating a timing value of the network node iteratively based on synchronization signals from neighboring network nodes; determining that the timing value is in a stable state; calculating a bias due to propagation delays of the synchronization signals based on a number of timing values obtained in iterations of said updating; and correcting the timing value based on the bias.
US09713106B2 Method, base station and computer storage medium for implementing inner loop and closed loop power control
Provided are a method, a base station and a computer storage medium for implementing inner loop and closed loop power control. The method includes that when User Equipment (UE) is in a soft handover status, a cell which belongs to a Radio Link Set (RLS) different from that of a serving cell of the UE sends a fixed power control instruction to instruct the UE to increase transmission power.
US09713103B2 Wireless communications system and method for performing wireless communication in wireless communications system
A wireless communications system and a method for performing wireless communication in a wireless communications system. The wireless communications system includes: a first base station node; a second base station node; and a wireless communications apparatus, performing communication with the first base station node and the second base station node. The first base station node and the second base station node perform scheduling coordination, to reduce a probability that the wireless communications apparatus sends an uplink signal to the first base station node and the second base station node simultaneously. The system and method can reduce a probability that a wireless communications apparatus sends an uplink signal to a first base station node and a second base station node simultaneously, thereby effectively ensuring uplink/downlink transmission performance.
US09713089B2 Communication apparatus, control method for communication apparatus, communication system, and program
A communication apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate in a first communication mode in which a memory of the communication apparatus is accessed by another communication apparatus, a detection unit configured to detect an access from the another communication apparatus to the memory of the communication apparatus, and a shift unit configured to shift an operation mode of the communication apparatus in response to a condition including at least the access to the memory detected by the detection unit.
US09713087B2 Triggered target wake time operation
A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for wireless communication are provided. In an aspect, an apparatus may be configured to determine whether to switch to an active mode, a power save mode, or a TWT power save mode. During the TWT power save mode, the apparatus may enter an awake state during TWT service periods and may enter a doze state outside of the TWT service periods. The apparatus may transmit a message to a second wireless device based on the determination.
US09713085B2 Dynamic activation and deactivation of access points
A network selection device may determine that a communication between a user device and a first network device should be transferred from the first network device to a second network device that is in an idle state; output an instruction to cause the second network device to exit the idle state and communicate with the user device; determine that the second network device is unused or underutilized; and output, based on determining that the second network device is unused or underutilized, an instruction to cause the second network device to reenter the idle state.
US09713079B2 Mobile terminal and method for mobile terminal to select network
Disclosed is a method for a mobile terminal to select a network, including: acquiring shared network configuration information set in advance and determining, according to the shared network configuration information, whether a home network of a local SIM card is a shared network; when the home network of the local SIM card is a shared network, then selecting, from all shared networks, an optimal shared network and implementing a registration operation of the optimal shared network. Further disclosed accordingly is a mobile terminal. In the disclosure, after it is determined that a home network of a local SIM card is a shared network, by using the method of selecting from all shared networks an optimal shared network on which a register access operation is performed, a user of a mobile terminal is enabled to select and access the optimal shared network in a shared network environment in the case that the network side is not modified, thus the objective of balancing network loads can be achieved, thereby improving user experiences of the mobile terminal.
US09713072B2 Method of relay discovery and communication in a wireless communications system
A method of relay discovery and communication for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communications system, including: receiving a first relay discovery request, from a remote UE which announces relay discovery requests; transmitting a relay discovery response including an identification of the UE, to the remote UE; receiving a second relay discovery request including the identification of the UE, from the remote UE; and activating a relay function to start relaying traffic of Proximity-based Service (ProSe) communication for the remote UE.
US09713066B2 Mobile access point connection switching
In one aspect, mobile access point devices may provide client devices access to an internet service provider. The mobile access point may communicate with the internet service provider via a cellular connection or a Wi-Fi connection. As the Wi-Fi connection may cause data service access failures due to, for example, firewalls, protocol limitations, or application layer gateways, allowing the mobile access point device to dynamically determine which mode of communication will reach the internet service provider can ensure more efficient service provisioning to the client devices. Packet filters may be maintained at the mobile access point device which identify which connections should be established via cellular and which should be established via Wi-Fi.
US09713057B2 Techniques for selected internet protocol traffic offload support at an assisting eNodeB
Techniques are described for selected internet protocol traffic offload (SIPTO) support at an assisting eNodeB. A connection may be established between a first eNodeB and a UE, and it may be determined whether a connection exists or is pending between the UE and a second eNodeB. A message may be transmitted to a mobility management entity (MME), the message associating a network address of the second eNodeB with SIPTO connectivity for the UE.
US09713038B2 Mobile terminated call performance during single radio long term evolution (LTE) mode
Various embodiments include methods and apparatuses for responding to a page message for a mobile-terminated call by a wireless communication device using a single radio Long-term Evolution (LTE) mode. A wireless communication device may receive the page message for the mobile-terminated call, release resources of the wireless communication device owned by a non-LTE voice radio access technology receiving the page message, and execute an extended service request by an LTE radio access technology. The wireless communication device may search for a network for responding to the page message after the extended service request is completed. The network may be from a set of networks including a serving pilot network, a preapproved pilot network, and an unapproved pilot network, and each of the pilot networks may belong to a first base station. The wireless communication device may send a page message response using the network in response to finding the network.
US09713027B2 Method for measurement reporting in wireless communication system and apparatus supporting same
Provided is a method for measurement reporting by user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. The method comprises: evaluating a first measurement result and deciding whether a first reporting condition has been satisfied; evaluating a second measurement result and deciding whether a second reporting condition has been satisfied; and transmitting a measurement reporting message to a network, if the first measurement result satisfies the first reporting condition. If the second measurement result satisfies the second reporting condition within a specific time interval from the time of satisfying the first reporting condition, then the measurement reporting message includes the first measurement result and the second measurement result.
US09713026B2 Channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting for enhanced interference management for traffic adaptation (eIMTA) in LTE
Certain aspects of the disclosure generally relate to wireless communications and, more particularly, to techniques for channel state information (CSI) measurement and reporting for enhanced interference management for traffic adaptation (eIMTA) in long term evolution (LTE). According to certain aspects, a method for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE) is provided. The method generally includes identifying, within a set of subframes, one or more flexible subframes that may be dynamically managed for either uplink or downlink communications, determining whether a current flexible subframe is for either uplink or downlink communications, and performing at least one of channel measurement, interference measurement, or channel state reporting based on the determination.
US09713019B2 Self organizing backhaul radio
A self-organizing backhaul radio (SOBR) and related arrangements are disclosed. A “primary” link between an first SOBR enabled radio and a second SOBR radio includes a secondary transmission link, referred to as a signature control channel (SCC), as a spread spectrum modulated signal embedded within and transmitted simultaneously with the primary link. The SCC transmissions from the first SOBR radio may be utilized by other SOBR enabled radios to determine an interference level to or from the first SOBR radio's primary link. The SCC transmission may be utilized to allow transmit beam forming between SOBR-enabled radios without damaging other friendly SOBR radios within the propagation distance of the transmitted signals based upon the detection of the SCC transmissions.
US09713017B2 Method and device for determining radio link failure reason
The disclosure claims a method and a device for determining a Radio Link Failure (RLF) reason, wherein a UE has an RLF in a first eNB where the UE is located, and successfully establishes a RRC with a second eNB. The method includes that: the UE sends RLF information to the first eNB, wherein the RLF information includes at least one of the following: the ambient signal quality information recorded by the UE when the RRC is established successfully, the location information of the UE when the RLF occurs, and the location information of the UE when the RRC is successfully established; the first eNB determines the RLF reason according to the RLF information. The disclosure solves the problem that the RLF reason cannot be judged accurately in the conventional art, and enables the network side to obtain more accurate and comprehensive information.
US09713014B2 Communication control apparatus, communication control method, program, and terminal apparatus
Provided is a communication control apparatus including: a selection unit that uses information related to one or more terminal apparatuses operable as an access point for a small cell to select a master terminal operating the small cell and one or more sub-master terminals; and a control unit that instructs the at least one sub-master terminal to be involved in an operation of the small cell according to occurrence of an event disturbing the operation of the small cell by the master terminal.
US09713012B2 Methods, devices and systems for enabling simultaneous operation of different technology based devices over a shared frequency spectrum
In one example embodiment, a device includes a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions therein and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to determine a first signal of a first technology in presence of interference from at least a second signal of a second technology, the first signal and the second signal being overlappingly transmitted, the determined first signal being used for processing of information associated with the first signal.
US09713010B2 Full duplex wireless transmission with self-interference cancellation
Two-way (full-duplex) wireless communications. Various embodiments measure interference channels and provide for interference cancellation in both analog and digital domains to mitigate self-interference. The system supports multiple clients wherein new clients can join the network asynchronously, and also supports Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) antennas.
US09713006B2 Apparatus and method for managing security domains for a universal integrated circuit card
A device that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, generating a security domain root structure for a universal integrated circuit card of an end user device, where the security domain root structure includes a hierarchy of a link provider operator security domain above a mobile network operator trusted security domain, where the link provider operator security domain enables transport management by a link provider operator, and where the mobile network operator trusted security domain enables card content management and subscription eligibility verification by a mobile network operator trusted service manager. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09713005B2 Apparatus and method of location based telecommunication authorization
An apparatus and method directed to automated call screening, and specifically the utilization of location history of a call recipient to determine call authorization, are provided. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a computer readable medium embodied in an article of manufacture is encoded with instructions for directing a processor to receive a request from a first device to communicate with a second device. The processor is further directed to determine at least one location associated with the first device, determine an authorization for the request based at least in part upon the at least one location associated with the first device and at least one prior location of the second device, and transmit the request to the second device in accordance with the authorization.
US09713002B2 Access control via a mobile device
Systems, devices, and methods for access control via a mobile device are described herein. One method includes receiving location information associated with a mobile device in a facility, determining that the mobile device is within a particular distance of an area of the facility based on the location information, determining whether a user of the mobile device is allowed access to the area, and allowing access to the area via a relay associated with the area responsive to a determination that the user is allowed access.
US09713001B2 Method and system for generating an identifier of a key
A method for generating an identifier of a key includes that: when a user equipment (UE) transfers from an evolved UMTS terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) to a universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) or a global system for mobile communications (GSM), or an enhanced data rate for GSM evolved radio access network (GERAN), an identifier of a system key after transfer is generated by mapping an identifier KSIASME for an access security management entity, and a mobile management entity generates an identifier of a ciphering key (CK) and an integrity key (IK) by mapping the KSIASME, and then sends the generated identifier to a serving GPRS support node (SGSN), when the UE transfers from the EUTRAN to the UTRAN, the SGSN stores the ciphering key, the integrity key and the identifier thereof, and when the UE transfers from the EUTRAN to the GERAN, the SGSN assigns the value of the identifier of the ciphering key and the integrity key to an identifier of a ciphering key of the GERAN.
US09712999B1 Digest of biographical information for an electronic device with static and dynamic portions
A method of managing a lifecycle of a mobile communication device. The method comprises storing a biographical digest in a radio frequency identity chip of the mobile communication device at the time of manufacture of the communication device, wherein the biographical digest comprises information about the device and comprises a static portion and a dynamic portion. The method further comprises activating the device for wireless communication service; after activating the device, deactivating the device for wireless communication service; and after deactivating the device, writing a device status of the dynamic portion of the biographical digest in the radio frequency identity chip of the device to a value of dead, whereby the device is prevented from being activated for wireless communication service after once having the device status of the dynamic portion of the biographical digest in the radio frequency identity chip of the device written to the dead value.
US09712997B2 Processing of cellular radio data implemented by a SIM card, particularly for security purposes
Processing of cellular radio data, in particular by a SIM card of a terminal in a mobility situation, said SIM card receiving a current cell identifier and comparing the current identifier with an identifier previously stored in memory, in order to generate a notification intended for a remote server when there is a difference between the current identifier and an identifier previously stored in memory. More particularly, the SIM card stores in memory a list of current identifiers of respective cells in which the terminal is successively located, and the sending of a notification to the server occurs only if the current identifier is absent from this list.
US09712996B2 Profile management method, embedded UICC, and device provided with the embedded UICC
The present invention relates to a method for managing a profile in an embedded UICC, and more particularly, to a method for managing a profile in an embedded UICC that enables management information on the profile provided within the embedded UICC to play an essential role for providing communication and additional services, to be provided to a device existing outside the embedded UICC. The present invention also relates to an embedded UICC and to a device provided with the embedded UICC for the method.
US09712995B2 Method and device for performing group communication using direct communication between terminals in wireless communication system
The present application discloses a method of performing group communication using user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. In particular, the method includes: detecting a first group of discovery signals having a first tier counter value; generating a second group of discovery signals having a second tier counter value by using the first value; and transmitting the second group of discovery signals to another UE, wherein the tier counter indicates a tier value to which the UE belongs based on an initially activated UE or base station in the group communication.
US09712989B2 Communication control method, base station, and user terminal
A communication control method is used in a mobile communication system that supports cellular communication in which a data path passes through a core network, and D2D communication that is direct device-to-device communication in which a data path does not pass through the core network. The communication control method comprises: a transmission step of transmitting, by a first user terminal that camps on a cell of a first base station, a discovery-use signal related to the discovery of a proximal terminal be capable of a communication partner of the D2D communication; and a notification step of notifying, by a communication device, the first base station of interference information related to the received discovery-use signal in response to the communication device receiving the discovery-use signal.
US09712985B2 Repurposing a mobile device
Some examples include repurposing a mobile device for performing a plurality of nonconventional functions, including a fire detector, a radiation detector, and a Wi-Fi repeater. For example, the mobile device may be configured to serve as a fire detector by one or more modules that may use an onboard camera, microphone, and temperature sensor to monitor an area for fires. In addition, the mobile device may be configured to serve as a radiation detector. For instance, a camera image sensor and/or the memory on the device may be used to detect elevated levels of radiation in the vicinity of the mobile device. In response to detecting a fire and/or radioactivity, the mobile device may send an alert notification to another device. Further, the mobile device may be configured to concurrently serve as a Wi-Fi repeater, such as for extending a range of a wireless router, or the like.
US09712984B1 System and method for sending messages
A system for exchanging messages between a business user and a mobile device, and methods for making and using the same. The system may include a business server, an application programming interface (“API”) and/or an SMS database. The business server may be configured to exchange messages with the business user and to obtain a public identifier for the business user to enable duplex message exchange between the business user and the mobile device by either retrieving the public identifier or associating the business user with the mobile device and a public identifier. The business user may be unambiguously determined according to the public identifier or a combination of the mobile device and the public identifier, which may enable the mobile device to direct a reply message to the business user that may be the sender of a direct message.
US09712979B2 Determining the position of a mobile device in an indoor environment
Technologies and implementations for determining the location of a device in an indoor environment are generally disclosed.
US09712969B2 Mobile communication devices and context-based geofence control methods thereof
A mobile communication device and associated method are provided. The device includes a positioning unit, configured to provide position information of the mobile communication device, and a processing unit, configured to detect an approach to a first geofence according to a plurality of contexts associated with the mobile communication device, turn off the positioning unit when not detecting the approach to the first geofence, and turn on the positioning unit when detecting the approach to the first geofence. The contexts include at least one cellular context and at least one personal context or multimedia context, and the processing unit is further configured to prioritize at least one of the cellular context and the personal context or the multimedia context over the other contexts, for detecting the approach to the first geofence.
US09712966B2 Apparatus, method and process of influencing information gathered by a tethered item and computer-readable medium thereof
A tethered item is associated with an identifier that uniquely identifies the item, and one or more content processing devices execute obtaining an identifier of the item, and correlating the obtained item identifier with information related to the tethered item.
US09712964B2 Maintaining privacy in location-based operations
Various approaches discussed herein enable techniques for managing privacy with respect to location-based operations, for example by receiving point of interest (POI) data corresponding to location data such as global positioning service (GPS) data at a computing device along with various location-based rules, which when satisfied, result in attribution events being generated that indicate various characteristics associated with POIs in the POI data. The attribution events are then sent to a server without compromising the location privacy of the computing device, because the location of the computing device is not included with the attribution events.
US09712951B2 Extended bluetooth communication modes
A method and system for an improved communication mode for Bluetooth wireless devices is disclosed. Packets used in the improved communication mode are encoded using a convolutional encoder and transmitted with a particular modulation index such that the improved communication mode provides an improved link margin with respect to a communication mode specified in a Bluetooth wireless communication protocol. In this regard, the improved communication mode allows Bluetooth wireless devices to continue to communicate when a communication link between the Bluetooth wireless devices degrades, whereas otherwise the connection would be dropped. Furthermore, the Bluetooth wireless devices seamlessly switch between the improved communication mode and other Bluetooth communication modes without renegotiating the connection.
US09712950B2 Blue-tooth communication system and broadcasting method thereof
A blue-tooth communication system and a broadcasting method therefor are provided. The broadcasting method includes: detecting N blue-tooth receivers in a blue-tooth range of a blue-tooth transmitter; broadcasting a data package during at least one transmitting timing window by the blue-tooth transmitter; and receiving N returned data packages which are respectively returned by the corresponding blue-tooth receivers by the blue-tooth transmitter during N receiving timing windows. At least one of the N returned data packages includes an acknowledge message which is recorded in a header field of the corresponding returned data package.
US09712946B2 Information-gathering system, sensor terminal, communication terminal and terminal connection control method
In a terminal connection control method for a system having a plurality of centers, the plurality of centers include a first center for initial connection and a plurality of second centers, the first center includes information of the plurality of second centers, destination information of the first center and information of a terminal are previously stored in the terminal, when the terminal requires the system for connection, the terminal requires the first center for connection based on the destination information of the first center, and sends the terminal information to the first center, the first center selects, from the plurality of second centers, a destination of the terminal which sends connection requirement based on information received from the terminal and based on information of the second centers, and the first center sends the destination information of the selected second center to the terminal which sends the connection requirement.
US09712941B2 Method and apparatus for providing application service in a mobile communication system
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing application service in a mobile communication system. A method in which a base station provides application service comprises: a step of receiving a request for application service from a mobile terminal; and a step of providing the mobile terminal with the requested application service on the basis of application service information pre-stored in the base station and/or application service information received from an application server, in accordance with whether or not the application service information corresponding to the requested application service is pre-stored in the base station.
US09712935B2 Microphone compatibility
Provided is a microphone compatibility device comprising a sensor that detects a voltage along a conductive path between a microphone and at least one electronic device and a current control device that draws current for permitting microphone detection by each of a first electronic device and a second electronic device. The second electronic device has a lower current draw requirement than the first electronic device.
US09712934B2 System and method for calibration and reproduction of audio signals based on auditory feedback
Systems and methods are provided for testing an individual's hearing and correcting audio signals to compensate for the significant variance in each listener's sensitivity to various frequencies of the audible spectrum. An auditory calibration procedure includes identifying a first volume level as a minimum volume level at which nominal frequency tones are audible, a minimum frequency at which said first volume level is audible, a maximum frequency at which said first volume level is audible, and a minimum volume level at which a number of intervening sample frequencies are audible. A substantially parabolic correction curve is generated based on the minimum volume levels at the various sample frequencies. The correction curve is applied to modify real time audio signals generated upon execution of an audio file functionally linked to the processor, wherein the modified real time audio signals are provided to an audio output device.
US09712932B2 User interface control of multiple parameters for a hearing assistance device
Disclosed herein, among other things, are methods and apparatus for a user interface control to allow control of multiple parameters from a single control for a hearing assistance device. One aspect of the present subject matter relates to hearing assistance device for a wearer, including a housing, hearing assistance electronics housed in the housing, and a tinnitus therapy generator housed in the housing. A user interface control is connected to the electronics and the generator, and the control is configured to sense input from the wearer and provide for selection and adjustment of operational parameters for the electronics and the generator based on the sensed input. Other aspects are provided without departing from the scope of the present subject matter.
US09712930B2 Packet loss concealment for bidirectional ear-to-ear streaming
Embodiments of packet loss concealment in a hearing assistance device are generally described herein. A method for packet loss concealment can include receiving, at a first hearing assistance device, a first encoded packet stream from a second hearing assistance device and a signal frame. The method can include encoding, at the first hearing assistance device, the signal frame and determining, at the first hearing assistance device, that a second encoded packet stream was not received from the second hearing assistance device within a predetermined time. In response to determining that the second encoded packet stream was not received, the method can include decoding, at the first hearing assistance device, the encoded signal frame, and outputting the signal frame and the decoded signal frame.
US09712927B2 Binaural hearing assistance system comprising two wireless interfaces
The application relates to a binaural hearing assistance system comprising first and second hearing assistance devices adapted for being located at or in left and right ears of a user. The application further relates to a method of operating a binaural hearing assistance system. The object of the present application is to provide an improved binaural hearing assistance system. The problem is solved in that each of the first and second hearing assistance devices comprises a) a first wireless interface comprising first antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a first communication link to the respective other hearing assistance device based on near-field communication; b) a second wireless interface comprising second antenna and transceiver circuitry adapted for establishing a second communication link to an auxiliary device based on far-field communication; c) a link control unit operatively coupled to the second antenna and transceiver circuitry and configured to repeatedly provide a second link quality measure indicative of a link quality of the second communication link; wherein the first and second hearing assistance devices are configured to exchange said respective second link quality measures between them via said first and/or second communication links. This has the advantage of providing a robust and flexible system. The invention may e.g. be used for binaural hearing assistance systems, e.g. binaural hearing aid systems, where audio quality and power consumption has to be mutually optimized.
US09712925B2 Dual antenna system and method for charging one or more hearing aids
To make the charging of hearing aids more convenient, a charging device for wirelessly charging a hearing aid is provided. The charging device has a cylindrical container, an integrated antenna for generating an alternating magnetic field in the container in the event of electrical excitation, and a charging circuit which can be used to electrically excite the antenna. The antenna is a birdcage antenna in which rods are arranged parallel to a cylinder axis on a cylinder jacket and the ends of the rods at the edges of the cylinder jacket are each connected to an end ring. A switching element is arranged in each of the rods. The charging circuit is used to alternately generate a circular magnetic field, in which case the switching elements are operated in a closed mode, and a linear magnetic field, in which case the switching elements are operated in an open mode.
US09712924B2 Microphone and method of manufacturing the same
A microphone includes a substrate including a penetration hole; a vibration membrane disposed over the substrate and covering the penetration hole; a fixed electrode disposed over the vibration membrane and spaced apart from the vibration membrane; a fixed plate disposed over the fixed electrode; and a plurality of air inlets disposed in the fixed electrode and the fixed plate. The vibration membrane includes a plurality of slots positioned over the penetration hole, and an entire area of the plurality of slots is approximately 8% to approximately 19% of an entire area of the vibration membrane.
US09712913B2 Acoustic sound adsorption material having attached sphere matrix
A gas adsorbing material is provided. Specifically, there is provided a molded matrix of a plurality of spherically-shaped gas adsorbing material. The individual spheres comprise particles of a highly porous gas adsorbing material and a binder. The plurality of spheres are mixed with a second binder material and molded into a desired shape for use in the back volume of an acoustic transducer such as a loudspeaker device, a microphone or a balanced armature receiver.
US09712901B2 Interconnection system, apparatus, and data transmission method
An interconnection system, an apparatus, and a data transmission method. In the interconnection system, to-be-transmitted data is converted into a data packet in an optical signal form for transmission, and a control packet corresponding to the data packet is transmitted in an electrical signal form and includes routing information of the data packet. When the control packet passes through a switching node, the switching node directly determines, according to the routing information in the control packet, a neighboring node that serves as a next hop, and opens, in the switching node, an optical path used to transmit the data packet. Because no optical-to-electrical or electrical-to-optical conversion needs to be performed on the control packet and the data packet during an entire transmission procedure, problems of an extra delay and power consumption caused by electrical-optical-electrical conversion can be reduced, thereby improving data transmission efficiency.
US09712894B2 Passive wireless sensors
A passive wireless sensor having a plurality of dielectric layers, an antenna, a diaphragm, and a feeding element is provided. Further, the antenna is disposed in at least a portion of a cavity formed by one or more dielectric layers of the plurality of dielectric layers. Moreover, the diaphragm is disposed on the cavity. Additionally, the feeding element is disposed in at least a portion of the plurality of dielectric layers. Also, the feeding element is operatively coupled to the antenna.
US09712887B2 Methods and systems for real-time transmuxing of streaming media content
Systems and methods for providing a full reverse translating proxy for streaming media content, which can employ session tracking or transmuxing, or both. The described system can be integrated seamlessly into an existing adaptive streaming environment. The system can transmux each request from a client into a delivery format supported by an origin content server, and vice versa, irrespective of the specific delivery format used by either the client or server. Conversely, the system can further transmux the requested content into the delivery format used by the client. A stateful session model can link each request from a specific end user for a specific piece of content to a particular identified client streaming session.
US09712884B2 Methods and systems for generating and providing program guides and content
Systems and methods for identifying, assembling, and publishing content are described. A content item, such as a video, having a first time length, is identified by a system to be included in a program scheduled for a first time period. The video may be hosted on a third party system. A first span of time within the first program is allocated for the video, wherein the first span of time is longer than the first time length. The system determines, prior to or at the first time period, a time difference between a current length of the video and the first span of time. At least partly in response to determining that the video has a time length shorter than the first span of time, the system selects supplemental content based at least in part of the determined time difference to be streamed to user terminals over a data network within the first time period.
US09712881B2 Method and system for electronic communication to television
A system and method of displaying messages at a television is described. The method of displaying messages at a television includes: establishing communication over the Internet between a television and a server. A user-generated communication is received at the television from the server. A notification is displayed on the television that the user-generated communication has been received. The user-generated communication is displayed on the television.
US09712868B2 Systems and methods for consumer control over interactive television exposure
Systems and Methods for allowing a user to control access to interactive television applications and events are provided. One method includes detecting an interactive television event destined for a user's device, and determining at least one of whether the interactive television application event is allowed, disallowed, or conditionally allowed to be executed on the user's device. The determining may include generating a query based on the interactive television application event and checking the query against a preference database containing one or more user preferences.
US09712852B2 System and method for altering images in a digital video
A method of altering a distinctive image within a digital video file is provided, wherein data representing a set of images in the file is selected. The data is then scanned for a pixel having a color associated with the distinctive image. Then additional pixels having the color are located in a plurality of directions relative to the first pixel. A shape is determined based on the location of pixels, and the shape compared to the distinctive image so that a probability can be determined as to whether the shape represents the distinctive image. If the probability exceeds a confidence level, then the distinctive image is altered.
US09712851B2 Event pop-ups for video selection
A computer program product for notifying a viewer of content relevant to the viewer's interests is provided. A computer identifies an identity of a viewer of a display device, wherein the display device is displaying a first video feed. A computer determines a plurality of preferences of the viewer. A computer retrieves a profile of the viewer, wherein the profile includes the plurality of preferences of the viewer. In response to a determination that a content of a second video feed that is available for viewing on the display device matches at least one of the plurality of preferences of the viewer, a computer generates a notification of the second video feed. In response to receiving an acceptance of the notification, a computer sends a command to the display device to display the second video feed.
US09712844B2 Transform coefficient coding
An idea used herein is to use the same function for the dependency of the context and the dependency of the symbolization parameter on previously coded/decoded transform coefficients. Using the same function—with varying function parameter—may even be used with respect to different transform block sizes and/or frequency portions of the transform blocks in case of the transform coefficients being spatially arranged in transform blocks. A further variant of this idea is to use the same function for the dependency of a symbolization parameter on previously coded/decoded transform coefficients for different sizes of the current transform coefficient's transform block, different information component types of the current transform coefficient's transform block and/or different frequency portions the current transform coefficient is located within the transform block.
US09712840B2 Image decoding method
An image decoding method includes: dividing a current block into sub-blocks; deriving, for each sub-block, one or more prediction information candidates; obtaining an index; and decoding the current block using the prediction information candidate selected by the index. The deriving includes: determining whether a neighboring block neighboring each sub-block is included in the current block, and when not included in the current block, determining the neighboring block to be a reference block available to the sub-block, and when included in the current block, determining the neighboring block not to be the reference block; and deriving a prediction information candidate of the sub-block from prediction information of the reference block; and when the number of prediction information candidates is smaller than a predetermined number, generating one or more new candidates without using the prediction information of the reference block till the number of prediction information candidates reaches the predetermined number.
US09712839B2 Picture coding device, picture coding method, and picture coding program, and picture decoding device, picture decoding method, and picture decoding program
A picture coding device partitions differential information between a coding target picture and a prediction target picture into sub blocks and codes the partitioned sub blocks. The device codes significant sub block information that represents whether or not all the values of differential coefficients belonging to the sub block are zero and codes significant differential coefficient information that represents whether or not the value of the differential coefficient is zero. A context index processing unit derives a context used for coding the significant sub block information and a context used for coding the significant differential coefficient information of the differential coefficient that is a coding target based on an addition equation using the significant sub block information of a coded sub block that is horizontally neighboring to the coding target sub block and the significant sub block information of a coded sub block that is vertically neighboring.
US09712834B2 Hardware efficient sparse FIR filtering in video codec
In an embodiment, a control map of false contour filtering is generated for a predicted image. The predicted image is predicted from a low dynamic range image mapped from the wide dynamic range image. Based at least in part on the control map of false contour filtering and the predicted image, one or more filter parameters for a sparse finite-impulse-response (FIR) filter are determined. The sparse FIR filter is applied to filter pixel values in a portion of the predicted image based at least in part on the control map of false contour filtering. The control map of false contour filtering is encoded into a part of a multi-layer video signal that includes the low dynamic range image.
US09712816B2 Inter-layer prediction between layers of different dynamic sample value range
The ratio between coding quality on the one hand and coding rate on the other hand is increased. To this end, a global predictor and a local predictor are used in combination. The global predictor derives a global tone-mapping function based on a statistical analysis of pairs of values of co-located samples in the first tone-mapped version and the second version of the picture, and applies the global tone-mapping function onto the first tone-mapped version of the picture. The local predictor locally derives a locally varying tone-mapping function based on a statistical analysis of values of co-located samples in the second version of the picture and the globally predicted reference picture in units of sub-portions into which the globally predicted reference picture and the second version of the picture are partitioned, and applies the locally varying tone-mapping function onto the globally predicted reference picture.
US09712815B2 Method of anticipating component failure in broadband network devices
There is provided a method of anticipating component failure in broadband network devices, the method comprising monitoring values of AC ripple voltage on a DC voltage from a power supply associated with a CATV amplifier or node, comparing values of AC ripple voltage with a set value to determine whether the value of AC ripple voltage are acceptable or not, generating an alarm when the set value is exceeded and sending the alarm to a remote computing device. The monitoring step further comprises amplifying the AC ripple voltage by a factor of 10 and passing the amplified signal to a processing means for comparison with the set value. A circuit for monitoring the ripple voltage is also provided.
US09712812B2 Method and device for projecting an image
According to the present invention there is provided a method for projecting an image on to a display surface, comprising the steps of, providing two or more projection systems; arranging the two or more projection systems such that they each project an image on a display surface; off-setting an oscillating reflective surface within at least one of the two or more projection systems such that the image projected by each of the two or more projection systems are in co-operation on the display surface.
US09712808B2 Image acquisition device and image processing method and system
An image acquisition device and an image processing method and system are provided. The image acquisition device includes a first dual-camera device and a second dual-camera device. The first dual-camera device includes a first camera and a third camera. The second dual-camera device includes the first camera and a second camera. The image acquisition device can acquire depth information of richer information content from more viewing angles and reduce the number of points that cannot be matched.
US09712806B2 Depth camera system using coded structured light
Depth camera systems and methods of operation use coded structured light to determine depth values. One example method includes projecting a structured light pattern towards a target region. The structured light pattern includes a plurality of parallel bars that encode a plurality of codes. The method includes, for each of a plurality of rows of pixels that are transverse to the plurality of parallel bars: decoding the plurality of parallel bars represented in the row of pixels to identify a location of each of the plurality of codes in the row of pixels; determining a plurality of disparities respectively between the identified locations of the plurality of codes and a plurality of reference locations respectively associated with the plurality of codes; and determining a depth value for each identified location based at least in part on the determined disparity for such location.
US09712803B2 Receiving system and method of processing data
A receiving system and a method of processing data are disclosed herein. The receiving system includes a receiving unit, a system information processor, a decoding unit, and a display unit. The receiving unit receives a broadcast signal including a 3D content and system information associated with the 3D content. The system information processor extracts identification information from the system information. Herein, the identification information may identify that the broadcast signal being received by the receiving unit includes the 3D content. The decoding unit decodes the received 3D content based upon transmission format information of the 3D content. Herein, the transmission format information may be included in the extracted identification information. And, the display unit displays the 3D content decoded by the decoding unit as a 3D image based upon a display method of a display device.
US09712801B2 Compatible stereoscopic video delivery
Stereoscopic images are subsampled and placed in a “checkerboard” pattern in an image. The image is encoded in a monoscopic video format. The monoscopic video is transmitted to a device where the “checkerboard” is decoded. Portions of the checkerboard (e.g., “black” portions) are used to reconstruct one of the stereoscopic images and the other portion of the checkerboard (e.g., “white” portions) are used to reconstruct the other image. The subsamples are, for example, taken from the image in a location coincident to the checkerboard position in which the subsamples are encoded.
US09712798B2 Imaging apparatus and image processing system processing image based on detection result of partial region
An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, a control unit, a first image processing unit, and a second image processing unit. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit which converts light into an electric charge. The control unit makes a first control line output a signal based on the electric charge of the photoelectric conversion unit to a first signal line, and makes a second control line output a signal based on the electric charge of the photoelectric conversion unit to a second signal line. The first image processing unit performs first image processing for the signal output to the second signal line. The second image processing unit performs second image processing for the signal output to the first signal line based on a result of the first image processing in the first image processing unit.
US09712783B2 Use of face and motion detection for best view framing in video conference endpoint
A video conference endpoint detects faces at associated face positions in video frames capturing a scene. The endpoint frames the video frames to a view of the scene encompassing all of the detected faces. The endpoint detects that a previously detected face is no longer detected. In response, a timeout period is started and independently of detecting faces, motion is detected across the view. It is determined if any detected motion (i) coincides with the face position of the previously detected face that is no longer detected, and (ii) occurs before the timeout period expires. If conditions (i) and (ii) are not both met, the endpoint reframes the view.
US09712780B2 Display device attachment fitting and display device attachment jig
An attachment fitting 12 comprises a frame body 12a, a fitting component 12b, and fixing bolts 17. The frame body 12a is externally the same size as a display device 11, and is attached to a wall surface 15, and has stiffness property enough to support the weight of the display device 11. The fitting component 12b is provided to the frame body 12a on the side where the display device 11 is attached, and supports the rear face 11b side of the display device 11. The fixing bolts 17 are provided to the side faces of the frame bodies 12a, and fix the frame bodies 12a to each other in a state of being in contact with the side faces of the frame bodies 12a included in attachment fittings 12 of display devices 11 attached at adjacent positions.
US09712769B2 Imaging device
An image sensor having a pixel part generating a signal in accordance with a light, a signal processing part performing signal processing on the signal read from the pixel part, and a power supply part connected to the signal processing part via a first wiring, and supplying a power supply to the signal processing part, and a storage package storing the image sensor, and having a second wiring configuring a parallel circuit by being connected to the first wiring. Accordingly, it is possible to solve a problem such that a wiring resistance is increased when a power supply circuit is configured inside of a solid state image sensor.
US09712768B2 Method and apparatus for fault detection for imager decoder
The teachings herein provide a method and apparatus for detecting erroneous pixel addressing in an imaging sensor. The method and apparatus advantageously leverage the characteristic “fixed pattern noise” of the sensor to detect addressing errors. Broadly, pixel addressing errors are detected based on comparing the pattern noise seen in data read outs from a targeted address of the sensor with characteristic fixed pattern noise known for the sensor.
US09712761B2 Method for embedding product information in video using radio frequencey information
Embodiments are directed towards tracking physical objects' pixel locations in a stream of video frames. Radio frequency (RF) readers may be positioned relative to a scene. RF tags may be positioned in the scene at known pixel locations within the field of view of a video recording device. The RF tags may be enabled to generate RF signals to the RF readers. The RF readers may generate RF values based on the RF signals, which may be employed to determine a function to translate the RF values into known pixel locations within a video frame. An RF tag may be disposed at a physical location of at least one object within the scene. A stream of video frames and RF values may be recorded over time. The function may be employed to translate the recorded RF values into pixel locations for the least one object each recorded video frame.
US09712744B2 Image quality compensation system and method
A user authentication system and method. The user authentication system includes a camera and a processor connected to the camera. The processor receives images from the camera, searches for a user feature in the images, determines if the images require correction, adjusts camera controls in a pre-defined order to provide desired corrections, applies the desired corrections to subsequent images and authenticates the user based on the user feature in the corrected images.
US09712741B2 Smart vehicle sun visor
A vehicle sun visor system with a touch screen display is configured to display video feed from one or more cameras. A front facing polarized and/or photochromic camera shows the area of view which is normally blocked by the deployed sun visor, allowing the user to view traffic lights, road signs, etc. without the distraction of glare. Software image processing may also be used to reduce glare and improve visibility. In addition, the sun visor system also has a “see-me” camera which allows the user to use the screen as a mirror, and one or more rear-view cameras which can be used to see the passenger area of a vehicle through the touch-screen display. Any of the cameras may be used to take photos or videos, which may be viewed on the display and transmitted wirelessly to other electronic devices or cloud storage.
US09712738B2 Systems, devices, and methods for managing camera focus
Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, via a device comprising an electro-active lens, automatically acquiring at least two images of a scene.
US09712735B2 Movable-mechanical-section controlling device, method of controlling movable mechanical section, and program
A movable-mechanical-section controlling device includes a pan/tilt driving controlling unit configured to perform driving control on a movable mechanical section having a structure that moves so that an image pickup direction of an image pickup section that obtains an image-pickup image by performing an image pickup operation changes in a pan direction and a tilt direction. In the controlling device, unit pan operations that are performed in an angular range in the pan direction are performed for the respective two or more different tilt positions with decreasing angle of elevation at the tilt positions.
US09712733B2 Method and apparatus for live capture image-live streaming camera
A live image transferring method includes the steps of capturing live image information by one or more live image devices, wherein the live image information is captured in raw format and is continuously transferred to one or more platforms in a live manner; cloning the live image information at the platform, wherein when the live image information is cloned at the platform, the live image information is converted from the raw format into a web viewable format and an embed code is generated corresponding to the live image information at the same time; and enabling one or more users to use the embed code in order to broadcast the live image information over any website. The user is able to copy-and-paste the embed code at the personal website to live stream the live image information from the live image device.
US09712710B2 System, method, and terminal device for providing service
A system for providing multiple services by using one or more electronic devices connected to the system includes a data processing apparatus, a portable terminal including an obtaining unit that obtains device data from a target electronic device included in the one or more electronic devices, the device data identifying the one or more electronic devices, a receiving part that receives a selection of a target service included in the multiple services, and a determining part that determines whether the target service can be executed by the target electronic device according to the device data obtained from the target electronic device. In a case where the determining part determines that the target service can be executed by the target electronic device, the portable terminal and the data processing apparatus cooperate with each other and control the target electronic device for providing the target service.
US09712709B2 Document image capturing device
A document image capturing device includes an image capturing module for capturing an image of a document, and a first aperture portion, an illumination module movable between the image capturing module and a document conveying path and including a light source for illuminating the document and a second aperture portion, and a sealer for sealing between the first aperture portion and the second aperture portion regardless of movement of the illumination module. The sealer includes a first film attached to cover an entire periphery of the first aperture portion and a second film attached to cover an entire periphery of the second aperture portion, and the first aperture portion and the second aperture portion are arranged so that a reflection light from the document illuminated by the light source passes through the first aperture portion and the second aperture portion.
US09712707B2 Information processing apparatus and user detection method
An information processing apparatus detects a first user and a second user that approaches the information processing apparatus by using a plurality of detection devices including a first detection device and a second detection device which is different from the first detection device. The information processing apparatus includes a second user determination unit configured to determine that a user detected by the first detection device is the second user, in a case where a certain time period has elapsed since the first detection device detects the user, at which the first user has been detected, the second detection device not detecting the user during the certain time period.
US09712705B2 Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus with memory management for Z-folded documents
An image reading apparatus which includes an image reading section and a document conveyance section, the image reading apparatus including: a document size detector which detects a document size of the document; and a processor configured to detect whether or not a Z-fold exists in the document for which the document size is detected by the document size detector; unfold a Z-folded part of a Z-folded document for which a Z-fold is detected; and assign image data of the image to a page memory on the basis of the document size detected by the document size detector and whether or not a Z-fold is detected.
US09712701B2 Sheet conveyance device, image reading device, image forming apparatus, and sensor unit
A double feed detection sensor unit includes a double feed detection sensor for detecting a document via a hole on a conveyance guide, a control circuit board on which the double feed detection sensor and an element are provided, and a protection member provided to cover the element.
US09712699B2 Image processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, information processing apparatus, method of controlling the same, and storage medium
An image processing apparatus containing a web server is provided. The image processing apparatus regularly notifies a web browser of an operation instruction. When it is determined that setting processing of a set value for an operation of the image processing apparatus is attached, whether or not there is a set value saved on the web browser is checked. When it is confirmed that there is a set value saved on the web browser, the web browser is caused to transmit the set value to the image processing apparatus. When the set value transmitted from the web browser is reflected on the image processing apparatus, the set value saved on the web browser is deleted.
US09712693B2 Information provision apparatus, information provision method, and non-transitory storage medium
Provided is an information provision apparatus (10) including: a feature quantity storage unit (11) in which a feature quantity of print content that is printed on a printed material is stored; a relevant information storage unit (12) in which relevant information that is associated with the print content is stored; a captured image obtainment unit (13) that obtains a captured image that is captured by an imaging unit; a specification unit (14) that specifies the print content that is included in the captured image by using the feature quantity of the print content that is stored in the feature quantity storage unit (11); and a relevant information output unit (15) that obtains from the relevant information storage unit (12) the relevant information that is associated with the print content that is specified by the specification unit (14) and outputs the obtained relevant information.
US09712682B2 Method and systems for automatically assigning virtual numbers
Methods and systems for automatically assigning virtual numbers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for automatically assigning virtual numbers may include receiving, from a first customer device associated with a first identifier, a second identifier associated with a recipient device; establishing a call between the first customer device and the recipient device; assigning a first virtual number associated with the first identifier and the second identifier, wherein the first virtual number is selected to be in a local calling area of the first identifier; and transmitting the first virtual number to the customer for use in making future calls to the recipient device.
US09712673B2 Providing to a public-safety answering point emergency information associated with an emergency call
Users store information relevant to first responders in the event of an emergency. When a user later places an emergency call, the user's emergency information is automatically made available to the public-safety answering point operator handling the call. Hotel personal are notified of the call and may listen to and break in to the ongoing call in order to assist. A reverse 9-1-1 broadcast enables hotel personnel to quickly notify guests of an emergency situation via in-room and mobile phones. In the event that police need to conduct surveillance on a target location, the onsite PBX server reconfigures phones within the vicinity of the target location to operate in an open mode and records the audio/visual information received. An incoming call to a hotel room from the PSAP is automatically connected to the in-room phone even if other incoming calls not from the PSAP are being screened by front desk.
US09712671B2 Method and apparatus for intent prediction and proactive service offering
An intelligent IVR system identifies a customer based on previous customer interactions. Customer intent is predicted for an ongoing interaction and personalized services are proactively offered to the customer. A self-optimizing algorithm improves intent prediction, customer identity, and customer willingness to engage and use IVR.
US09712665B2 Apparatus, system and method for dispute resolution, regulation compliance and quality management in financial institutions
An apparatus, system and method for multimedia capturing, logging and retrieval are disclosed. The apparatus provides time synchronized voice and data interactions capturing and logging, secured playback and retrieval functionality for dispute resolution, for detecting negative and positive conduct, for business analysis and performance, and for quality management. The apparatus provides for synchronization and association of multi-media interactions for financial transactions in order to provide for the retrieval, playback, and review of the transaction-specific events in their temporally correct and integrated sequence.
US09712664B1 Sustained service subscriptions
Systems and methods discussed herein are employed in a cross-platform notification system configured to send a series of notifications to devices and/or subscription services associated with an account where a payment is due. These notifications may be sent to an increasing number of devices and/or subscription services as time passes from when payment was due, and the iterations of notifications may take up progressively more of a graphical user interface and/or be displayed for an increasing period of time until a final notification is sent, after which point access to telecommunications services and subscription services, except for emergency functions, accessed through the telecommunications service provider are no longer available to users associated with the overdue account.
US09712655B2 In-vehicle voice reception system using audio beamforming and method for controlling thereof
A sound signal processing system for achieving a handsfree function irrespective of positions of passengers using one microphone includes a microphone including a plurality of cores, and a head unit for generating a plurality of beams using a plurality of analog signals inputted from each of the plurality of cores, searching for a sound signal through each of the plurality of beams to select one beam, and outputting a sound signal corresponding to the selected beam.
US09712653B2 Data transmission device, data transmission method and program for data transmission device
The present invention is to provide a data transmission device to enable a sender to easily transmit predefined data to a proper user and a proper terminal even if the receiver owns two or more user IDs and terminals. The data transmission device 100 is provided with a user icon output module 133 outputting a user icon associated with a user ID to display in a sender's terminal, and a data transmission module 136 transmitting predefined data associated with the user icon specified by a sender to a terminal corresponding to the user ID associated with the specified user icon.
US09712642B2 Distributed control over client-side requests for server resources
Techniques are disclosed for regulating a flow of requests from a client device to a server. The techniques include the step of receiving, from an application program executing on the client device, a request to perform an operation on the server. The client device determines a current budget value based upon an initial budget value, where the current budget value is reduced by a particular cost each time the server processes a request generated by the application program. The client device then determines a time-adjusted budget value based upon a sum of the current budget value and a regeneration value. Finally, the client device sends to the server the request to perform the operation only when the time-adjusted budget value exceeds a threshold value.
US09712639B2 System and method for dynamic provisioning of mobile application content
In various embodiments, the systems, methods and computer-readable mediums (collectively “system”) discussed herein may be configured to enable a single mobile application to receive dynamically customized content. The criteria and/or preferences that influence the dynamically customized content may be defined by a user and/or may be automatically detected by a user device. The criteria and/or preferences may be associated with the mobile application and/or a mobile device operating the mobile application. The criteria and/or preferences may be provided as part of a request for content to a content distribution system.
US09712631B2 Push notification via file sharing service synchronization
Embodiments relate to push notification via file sharing service synchronization. A method includes establishing synchronization, at a notification service of a mobile platform server executing on a computer processor, with a client-to-server directory of a file sharing container of a client mobile device via a file sharing service. The notification service detects a notification from the client mobile device in the client-to-server directory and determines an endpoint associated with the notification and a notification transport protocol associated with the endpoint. The notification service also selects a channel plugin associated with the notification transport protocol to establish a notification channel with the endpoint and sends a notification trigger on the notification channel to the endpoint based on the notification.
US09712630B1 Monitoring and controlling perception of an online profile of a user
One embodiment provides a system for monitoring and controlling an online user profile of a user. In response to receiving a data request from the user to access a first web site, the system forwards the data request and desired persona scores to an intelligence service system, receives a list of other web sites from the intelligence service system, and counteracts the user's access to the first web site by spawning multiple threads in accordance with the list received. The multiple threads spawned are transparent to the user. Further, the system alters an original data post submission from the user based on a desired translation option, maps the altered data post submission to a first key, and posts the altered data post submission to a target web site. The original data post submission is viewable only by the user and other users with the first key.
US09712627B2 User interface provisioning system
Systems and methods for providing a user interface include collecting user activity data that includes navigation details provided from each of a plurality of user devices in navigating through a user interface. User interface use profiles are determined using the user activity data and include information on the likelihood of at least one subsequent navigation detail based on at least one present navigation detail. A new user navigation detail is received from a new user device accessing the user interface, and a first user interface use profile is retrieved based on a first present navigation detail in the first user interface use profile that corresponds to the new user navigation detail. A customized user interface is then created using a first subsequent navigation detail associated the first present navigation detail in the first user interface use profile, and that customized user interface is provided to the new user device.
US09712616B2 Method for calling up a media file in a telecommunication system, computer program product for executing the method, and telecommunication system for calling up the media file
A method for calling up a media file wherein the content of the called up media file is presented unrequested to the user of one of the multiple telecommunication terminals via a connection established with a telecommunication terminal includes provisioning of an interface in the telecommunication control unit such that the media file stored outside a telecommunication system can be accessed via the interface. The establishment of the connection can also include installation of a media assignment target in the telecommunication control unit central to the telecommunication system, selection of the media assignment target by one of the multiple telecommunication terminals and placement of a link to the media file in the telecommunication control unit by means of which the media file is assigned, and call-up of the media file by the telecommunication control unit via the interface using the link placed in the telecommunication control unit.
US09712614B2 Communication system and its method and communication apparatus and its method
This invention relates to a communication system including a first apparatus having a first storage medium, and a second apparatus for transmitting data to the first apparatus, the second apparatus comprising: a second storage medium for storing management information of data to be transferred to the first storage medium; communication means for communicating data with the first apparatus; edit means capable of editing the management information; and control means for making a control to transfer data stored in the second storage medium to the first storage medium by way of the communication means on the basis of the management information edited by the edit means.
US09712610B2 System and method for increasing physical memory page sharing by workloads
System and method for increasing physical memory page sharing by workloads executing on different host computing systems are described. In one embodiment, workloads executing on different host computing systems that access physical memory pages having identical contents are identified. Further, migration to consolidate the identified workloads on a single host computing system such that the physical memory pages can be shared using a page sharing mechanism is recommended.
US09712603B2 Remote control of a shared application
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media are provided for enabling client devices to remotely control a shared application. A remote control service receives a request for a shared application to be controlled by a multiple client devices. Based on this request, the client devices are enabled to remotely control the shared application. A command from one of the client devices is received at the remote control service to modify a display of the shared application without the client device receiving any sensitive information associated with the shared application or the computing device running the shared application. The command is used to cause a modification to the display of the shared application.
US09712594B2 Method and apparatus for pushing applications to a web site visitor during co-browsing
A method for pushing applications to a website visitor during co-browsing is presented. A co-browsing session between an operator of the website and the website visitor is initiated. An application is selected to be pushed to the website visitor. The application is configured and pushed to the website visitor. The application is co-browsed with the website visitor.
US09712587B1 Identifying and rendering content relevant to a user's current mental state and context
Systems and methods are provided for identifying and rendering content relevant to a user's current mental state and context. In an aspect, a system includes a state component that determines a state of a user during a current session of the user with the media system based on navigation of the media system by the user during the current session, media items provided by the media system that are played for watching by the user during the current session, and a manner via which the user interacts with or reacts to the played media items. In an aspect, the state of the user includes a mood of the user. A selection component then selects a media item provided by the media provider based on the state of the user, and a rendering component effectuates rendering of the media item to the user during the current session.
US09712581B2 Methods and systems for data transmission
Methods and systems for transmitting data are presented. In an example embodiment, data streams from one or more media content sources are received into one or more buffers. Each of the data streams includes contiguous, non-overlapping data sets of a first media content, and each of the data streams has a unique data rate relative to one or more of the other data streams. A request is received from a device to stream a next segment of the first media content from one of the data streams to the device, the next segment including one or more of the data sets of the first media content. In response to the request, the next segment is streamed from the one of the data streams via a buffer to the device.
US09712572B2 Systems, methods, and apparatuses for implementing a streaming platform IO pump and regulator
In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing a streaming platform IO pump and regulator including, for example, means for executing an application at the computing device; requesting data for the application from a second computing device communicably interfaced with the first computing device via a public Internet; calculating an estimated arrival time for the data to be returned from the second computing device; determining the data fails to arrive within the estimated arrival time calculated; initiating a new connection to the second computing device; and re-sending the request for the data for the application to the second computing device via the new connection. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09712571B1 Access level determination for conference participant
A method and system are provided for admitting new participants to an ongoing conference session. In one example, a conference server hosting a conference session may receive a request for a UE to join the ongoing conference session. In response to receiving such a request, the conference server may determine whether to admit the UE to the ongoing conference session as a full participant or as a partial participant. When the conference server determines to admit the UE as a full participant, the conference server establishes a conference leg with the UE and permits the UE to communicate with each and every current participant of the ongoing conference session. However, when the conference server determines to admit the UE as a partial participant, the conference server may establish a conference leg with the UE and may permit the UE to communicate with just some of the ongoing conference's current participants.
US09712566B2 Providing session identifiers
Technologies are generally described for providing a session identifier. In some examples, a method performed under control of a first device includes generating information including at least a part of a next session identifier to be used in a next session between the first device and a second device and transmitting the information to the second device. The next session follows a present session between the first device and the second device.
US09712559B2 Identifying frames
A frame identifier running on a computing device generates identifier values and embeds the identifier values in a networking frame. The frame identifier also receives networking frames, and analyzes the received networking frames to identify a subset of received networking frames containing the identifier values. The identifier values indicate that corresponding received networking frames were originated from the network device. The frame identifier also discards the identified subset of received networking frames.
US09712558B2 Method, system, and device of protecting a computerized service
Devices, systems, and methods of detecting user identity, differentiating between users of a computerized service, and detecting a cyber-attacker. An end-user device (a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a smartphone, a tablet, or the like) interacts and communicates with a server of a computerized server (a banking website, an electronic commerce website, or the like). The interactions are monitored, tracked and logged. User Interface (UI) interferences or irregularities are intentionally introduced to the communication session; and the system tracks the response or the reaction of the end-user to such communication interferences. The system determines whether the user is a legitimate human user, or a cyber-attacker or automated script posing as the legitimate human user. The system further detects click-fraud, and prevents or mitigates Application Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks.
US09712532B2 Optimizing security seals on web pages
A method of providing web site verification information to a user can include receiving a DNS query including a host name and a seal verification site name, parsing the DNS query, and extracting the host name from the DNS query. The method also can include accessing a DNS zone file including a list of Trust Services customers and determining if the host name is associated with a Trust Services customer in the list of Trust Services customers. The method further can include transmitting a positive identifier to the requester if the host name is associated with a Trust Services customer and transmitting a negative identifier to the requester if the host name is not associated with a Trust Services customer. In a specific embodiment, the Trust Services include issuance of digital certificates.
US09712521B2 Dynamic secure login authentication
A system for performing a secured transaction using a network including a server in communication with the network is provided. The server has a processor and a memory to store private account information from registered users and store commands that when executed by the processor cause the server to perform a method including: providing a login configuration to a user, including a matrix of dynamic symbols; determining an expected password for the user based on a trace pattern from the user and the symbols in the matrix; receiving a password from the user; and determining whether the password matches the expected password. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by one or more processors of a server controlled by a service provider are adapted to cause the server to perform a method as above is also provided.
US09712514B2 Super-session access to multiple target services
A method of establishing privileged communication sessions to target services unifies multiple sub-sessions into a single super-session. The user client requests access to target services. The request includes authentication credentials. Using the authentication credentials, privileged credentials are retrieved for target services requiring privileged access. Interactive sub-sessions are established between an intermediate element and respective target services. Required credentials are provided by the intermediate element to the target services. The interactive sub-sessions are unified into a single super-session on the intermediate element, and the super-session is established with the user client. The super-session provides the user client with interactive control of each of the interactive sub-sessions. Data communication between the user client and the target services is conducted via the intermediate element.
US09712507B2 System and method for secure messaging in a hybrid peer-to-peer network
An improved system and method are disclosed for peer-to-peer communications. In one example, the method enables endpoints to securely send and receive messages to one another within a hybrid peer-to-peer environment.
US09712498B2 Systems and devices for encrypting, converting and interacting with medical images
A network device and a peripheral device for attachment with a medical imaging device provides for the encryption and conversion of a medical image into a secure and standardized image file format as well as the communication of the encrypted and/or converted image to a secure server on a remote network. The devices may monitor all medical image files generated on the medical imaging device and encrypt and convert selected medical image files for transmission to a remotely connected device on another network, such as a server or a mobile device. An encryption and conversion unit may be incorporated within the hardware and software of a medical imaging device or another network device in order to provide the capability for encrypting a medical image for transmission to a remote network and for converting the medical image to a format that is compatible with a destination device or network.
US09712491B2 Access control lists for private networks of system agnostic connected devices
The disclosure relates to using a control service to control external access to APIs of IoT devices on a private network. An external application can request access to an API, and in response, the control service can monitor broadcasts from the IoT devices indicating what APIs they have available. If a match exists, the control service can request user authorization to allow the requested access. The user can grant or deny the requested access, and place limitations on the authorized access. The control service uses this information to open a connection between the requesting application and the IoT device having the requested API, and via this connection, the requesting application can access and control the device running the requested API.
US09712484B1 Managing request routing information utilizing client identifiers
Systems and methods for managing requesting routing functionality associated with resource requests for one or more resources associated with a content provider are provided. The request routing functionality can correspond to the processing of domain name service (“DNS”) requests for resources by computing devices and the resolution of the DNS requests by the identification of a network address of a computing device that will provide the requested resources. Based on the processing of DNS queries initiated by a client computing device, a CDN service provider can correlate client computing device identifiers, such as an Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, with identifiers (e.g., IP addresses) associated with other components in a content delivery environment, such as DNS resolvers associated with the client computing device.
US09712477B2 Email notifications
Disclosed are various examples for communicating notifications for received email messages. A monitoring service monitors inboxes to which clients are subscribed. When a message arrives in a subscribed inbox, the monitoring service sends a notification to a notification brokering service. The notification brokering service then forwards the notification to the appropriate notification service for communication to a subscribed client.
US09712468B2 Network-enabled method for family members with shared interests or futures to mutually assist one another
A social networking device and method that creates a new virtual private network and interface for family members that have shared interests in each other's health, finances, travel, calendars, special events, debts, and physical access to assets. Fundamental to these interests are their individual respective commitments to help one another, and need for automation to assist them with the means needed to be made aware and the tools needed to be effective. A generic family-hub mobile app is downloaded to corresponding mobile devices and independently used by each family member to invite others to join a new family-hub VPN, enroll, share personal information, and access graphical user interfaces (GUI). Several dashboards in the GUI are included with scoreboards for the health, finances, travel, calendars, special events, debts, and physical access to assets of the other enrolled family members.
US09712462B2 Expandable distributed core architectures having reserved interconnect bandwidths
A network system for an expandable distributed core architecture (“DCA”) includes multiple spine switches, multiple leaf switches coupled thereto, and a plurality of interconnections coupling each of the spine switches to each of the leaf switches. Servers, storage, and other system items and resources can be coupled to the leafs via downlinks and uplinks. Each of the plurality of spine switches includes at least one unused spine port that is reserved for a future expansion of the DCA in order to accommodate the addition of at least one other separate leaf switch to the at least one unused spine port. Additional ports can be unused and reserved for future expansion additions of more leafs and/or more spines. Also, a computing system assists in the design of the specific number and configuration of spines, leafs and interconnections based upon user inputs regarding current and future system needs.
US09712459B1 Low-to-high speed cut-through communication
This disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses enabling low-to-high speed cut-through communication without creating an overrun condition. By so doing, the techniques and/or apparatuses enable communication interfaces to communicate at higher speed, such as by avoiding store-to-forward latency.
US09712452B2 System and methods for improving support of a virtual subscriber identity module (SIM) in a multi-SIM wireless communication device
Methods and devices for scheduling data packet transmissions on a multi-subscriber identity module (SIM) wireless communication device having at least a first SIM and a virtual SIM (VSIM) application associated with a shared radio frequency (RF) resource may include detecting registration of a SIM profile for the VSIM application, in which the VSIM application is provisioned to operate as a VSIM, and determining whether a VSIM management procedure is required for the VSIM. When a VSIM management procedure is required for the VSIM, the wireless communication device may tag data packets associated with the required VSIM management procedure, select a prioritization policy for data packet transmissions on the RF resource, and apply the selected prioritization policy within a transmission queue on the RF resource.
US09712450B1 Methods and systems for scheduling data transmission with a feedback mechanism
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying one or more channel queues associated with one or more RF channels, wherein the one or more RF channels are associated with a Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS) bonding group and wherein the DOCSIS bonding group receives downstream data from a first node, determining a data usage of the DOCSIS bonding group, determining that a data rate of the downstream data is to be modified based on at least one of the one or more channel queues or the data usage of the DOCSIS bonding group, and causing the first node to modify the data rate of the downstream data based on the determination.
US09712448B2 Proxy server, hierarchical network system, and distributed workload management method
A proxy server and a hierarchical network system and a distributed workload management method. According to one embodiment of this disclosure, the proxy server includes: a rate controller configured to, based on measured request-related information and service quality parameters relative to service levels of requests, periodically determine a dispatch rate for requests of each service level, wherein the sum of the dispatch rate for respective service levels is less than or equal to a predetermined rate; and a request dispatcher configured to dispatch the requests of the corresponding service level in accordance with the dispatch rate determined by the rate controller. One aspect of the disclosure realizes a low overhead, highly scalable, simple and efficient workload management system to achieve QoS assurance and overload protection.
US09712447B2 Point-to-multipoint path computation for wide area network optimization
In some examples, a controller for a network includes a path computation module configured for execution by one or more processors to obtain configuration information for at least one point-to-multipoint label switched path (P2MP LSP); obtain, from the network via at least one protocol, network topology information defining a network topology for the network; determine, based on the network topology, a first solution comprising first respective paths through the network for the at least one P2MP LSP; determine, after generating a modified network topology based on the network topology, a second solution comprising second respective paths through the network for the at least one P2MP LSP. The controller also includes a path provisioning module configured for execution by the one or more processors to configure the network with the solution of the first solution and the second solution having the lowest total cost.
US09712446B2 Apparatus and method for controlling transmission of data traffic
There is provided an apparatus for controlling transmission of data traffic to a destination node. The apparatus includes: an interface unit configured to obtain information regarding a congestion condition that has occurred on a first routing path during transmission of the data traffic; and a control unit configured to select, based on the information, a second routing path to route, to the destination node, a first portion and a second portion of the data traffic along the first routing path and the second routing path, respectively.
US09712443B1 Distributed traffic quota measurement and enforcement
A network traffic controller includes components adapted to receive traffic from a multitude of switches and to compare the traffic data to one or more threshold values. The threshold values may represent usage quotas. If the traffic generated by a host is detected as exceeding such usage quota, a traffic control signal is sent to the switch connecting the host to the network. The control signal may instruct the switch to mark the associated host's traffic as low priority, or rate limit the interface so as to limit the amount of traffic that is allowed onto the network, or block the traffic altogether.
US09712441B2 Method, apparatus and system for determining transmission path of packet
A method, an apparatus and a system are provided, which relate to the communications field, for determining a transmission path of a packet, and can solve a problem that a determined transmission path of a packet is not accurate enough. The method includes determining, by a network device, a packet; acquiring, by the network device, a characteristic of the packet and an attribute of the packet according to the packet; and sending, by the network device, the characteristic of the packet, the attribute of the packet, and an attribute of the network device to a control device, so that the control device determines a transmission path of the packet according to the characteristic of the packet, the attribute of the packet, and the attribute of the network device.
US09712436B2 Adaptive load balancing for bridged systems
Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing adaptive load balancing for bridged systems are disclosed. Examples generally relate to both physical and virtualized computer systems. A computer-implemented method may include mapping a first network interface to each of a plurality of intermediate network interfaces, determining a second network interface to use from the intermediate network interfaces for sending an outbound packet received from the first network interface, updating the outbound packet by replacing a source layer-2 network address of the outbound packet with a layer-2 network address assigned to a mapping between the first network interface and the second network interface, and sending the updated outbound packet using the second network interface.
US09712433B2 Maintaining and communicating nodal neighboring information
In one embodiment, a nodal device receives information from each of its neighboring nodes in a network. The information identifies a link quality between the nodal device and each of its neighboring nodes. The link quality information is stored in one or more bloom filters in the nodal device such that a table having a compressed format is provided in the bloom filter. The table includes probabilistic identifiers to identify link quality between the nodal device and each of its neighboring nodes.
US09712432B2 Light-weight fork channels for clustering
A method for light-weight fork channels for clustering is disclosed. The method includes receiving, by a processing device, a message at a main channel used for group communication between processes executed by the processing device, identifying a fork channel identifier (ID) and a fork stack ID in a header of the message, processing the message with a fork stack corresponding to the fork stack ID in the header of the message, the fork stack comprising a subset of protocols of a main protocol stack of the main channel, and providing the message to a fork channel corresponding to the fork channel ID, wherein the fork channel to utilize the fork stack to separate messages for the fork channel from the main channel.
US09712431B2 Methods for managing transaction in software defined network
Disclosed are methods for managing transactions in a software defined network (SDN). A method performed in a controller may comprise generating a group message for modifying flow entries of a plurality of flow tables related to each other in a switch; and transmitting the group message to the switch. Thus, a plurality of flow tables having relevance to each other can be simultaneously modified so that modifications on a plurality of switches can be synchronized, and consistency of them can be guaranteed.
US09712428B2 Wireless terminal device, method for generating number of alternative paths, and wireless communication system
A wireless terminal device includes a transmitter configured to receive a first packet including path information and a first number of paths of each path and a second packet including a second number of paths between a transmission origin wireless terminal device and a destination wireless terminal device, which is sent from the transmission origin wireless terminal device, and a processor configured to multiply the first number of the paths between an own wireless terminal device and the transmission origin wireless terminal device with another first number of paths between the own wireless terminal device and the destination wireless terminal device and calculate a number of alternative paths of the own wireless terminal device by subtracting the multiplied value from the second number of the paths which is received.
US09712426B2 Multi-domain routing computation method and device, path computation element and routing network
Disclosed is a multi-domain routing computation method, including: when it is determined that there are two or more domains deployed with a Path Computation Elements (PCE) in a network, a routing path is computed, between a PCE of a first domain and a PCE of a last domain among the two or more domains deployed with a PCE, using an extended Backward-Recursive PCE-Based Computation (BRPC) algorithm, and the routing path is computed using a Routing Controller (RC) in domains other than the two or more domains deployed with a PCE. Further disclosed are a multi-domain routing computation device, a path computation element and a routing network. The present disclosure can improve greatly optimality of path computation and has a fairly high efficiency for the path computation.
US09712424B2 Method for configuring node devices of a mesh communications network, computer program, information storage means and system
Node devices of a mesh communications network are interconnected by links. Forwarding tables are initially built following a link-state routing protocol. Each node device performs, upon detecting a link failure or a link recovery, determining and transmitting. Each end-point, when receiving said message(s) representative of said link failure or said link recovery, records an indication of whether each data path identified in the received message(s) can be activated or not. When the received message(s) is(are) representative of a link failure, each end-point performs selecting and transmitting.
US09712422B2 Selection of service nodes for provision of services
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for enabling selection of a remote service node from a plurality of possible nodes, each capable of providing a service, and each associated with a service node control entity. The method comprises: receiving a user request in respect of a service required by a user, the request containing a first user device routing identifier relating to the location in the network of the user device, and a service indication indicative of an appropriate service provider; identifying from the service indication a service node control entity associated with the service provider; sending to the service node control entity a service node request containing a second user device routing identifier differing from the first user device routing identifier but selected at least partly in dependence thereon; receiving from the service node control entity an indication of a remote service node capable of providing the required service; and providing an indication of the remote service node to the user device.
US09712419B2 Integrated switch tap arrangement and methods thereof
An integrated switch tap device for managing and monitoring network traffic is provided. The device includes a set of network ports for receiving and outputting the network traffic. The device also includes a first logic arrangement for performing routing functionalities and a first CPU for processing the routing functionalities. The device further includes a set of monitoring ports that is coupled to one or more monitoring devices. The device yet also includes a first tap module, which is configured at least for intercepting at least part of the network traffic flowing through the network device, creating a copy of at least part of the network traffic, and forwarding the copy to at least one of the set of monitoring ports. The device moreover includes a second CPU configured at least for processing tap functionalities associated with the first tap module.
US09712403B2 Method for providing node information, method for acquiring node information, and device
A method provides node information. A command for requesting node information associated with a target node is received. The command includes a Management Object Identifier (MOI) and node object information associated with the target node. The node information associated with the target node is sent according to the MOI and the node object information in the command.
US09712399B2 Computer network for services retrieval, method for managing such network and a computer system for such network
The invention concerns a computer network for services retrieval consisting of one or more computer systems and one or more service providers. The computer system may comprise one or more clients. On the computer system one or more network accessible client tools are running. The client tools may be enriched with services. According to the invention the computer network comprises one or more subscription management components. The subscription management component manages and secures specific client tool related communications between the one or more computer systems and the one or more service providers. The invention also concerns a computer system for application in the computer network, as well as a method for managing the network.
US09712398B2 Authenticating connections and program identity in a messaging system
A messaging system enables client applications to send and receive messages. The messaging system includes independent component programs performing different functions of the messaging system, such as connection managers that maintain network connections with the client applications, a message router that sends received messages to recipient applications through network connections, and a dispatcher that authenticates other component programs. A messaging server may authenticate client applications using certificate-based authentication (e.g., private and public keys), authentication transfer from another trusted messaging server, or other methods (e.g., user name and password). To authenticate a component program, the dispatcher compares instantiation information (e.g., user identity, process identifier, creation time) of the component program provided by the operating system with instantiation information saved in a shared memory at the time of the component program's instantiation. In response to a match, the dispatcher provides the component program with secure information through an inter-process communication socket.
US09712393B2 Network loop prevention
Systems, methods and computer readable media for network loop detection and prevention are described. Some implementations can include a computerized method comprising detecting, at a first switch, a loop condition in a network, and generating, at the first switch, a localize loop message having an instance count and a path list. The method can also include setting, at the first switch, the instance count of the localize loop message to a first value, and transmitting, from the first switch, the localize loop message to a second switch. The method can further include detecting, at the second switch, a loop in the network; and sending, from the second switch, a localize loop response message to the first switch.
US09712392B2 SIP endpoint configuration in VoIP networks
VoIP networks and methods are disclosed for configuring SIP endpoints of VoIP networks. An application server of a VoIP network identifies an endpoint configuration for the SIP endpoints, and generates a configuration command based on the endpoint configuration. The application server formats a SIP message to include the configuration command, and transmits the SIP message to the SIP endpoints. Responsive to receiving the SIP message, the SIP endpoints process the SIP message to identify the configuration command, and set local configuration parameters based on the configuration command.
US09712388B2 Systems and methods for detecting and managing cloud configurations
A cloud configuration management method implemented in a cloud configuration management system communicatively coupled to one or more cloud nodes in a cloud system includes creating a plurality of golden configurations for each of a plurality of roles, wherein each of the one or more cloud nodes has one of the plurality of roles for operation in the cloud system; defining metadata rules for each of the plurality of golden configurations; performing a configuration analysis to audit the one or more cloud nodes using the metadata rules; and providing results of the configuration analysis to determine misconfiguration of any of the one or more cloud nodes.
US09712372B2 Cable signal detector
A cable signal detector is configured to detect the presence or absence of information communication in a communication cable including a plurality of signal line pairs for differential signaling. The cable signal detector includes a plurality of detecting portions each of which is configured to partially branch and draw a transmission signal from a different signal line pair, rectify the branched and drawn signal into a direct current, and output that direct current, and a displaying portion configured to display the presence or absence of information communication, based on outputs of the plurality of detecting portions. The outputs of the plurality of detecting portions are connected in series, and the displaying portion is configured to display the presence or absence of information communication, based on an overall output voltage of the plurality of detecting portions connected in series.
US09712368B2 Differential current mode low latency modulation and demodulation for chip-to-chip connection
A chip-to-chip communications circuit which is particularly well-suited for short range communication (less than a few inches) from one integrated circuit (chip) to another is presented. The circuits preferably utilize multi-frequency quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) mechanisms for converting digital data bits from a parallel form into a serial analog stream for communication over a chip I/O connection. Differential current mode modulation in the transmitter, and demodulation in the receiver, are utilized which reduce latency and power-consumption while increasing manufacturing yields and resilience to process variations.
US09712365B2 Compressed feedback format for WLAN
Channel data for a plurality of OFDM tones for one or more spatial or space-time streams are determined. A plurality of angle values associated with the one or more spatial or space-time streams and the one or more OFDM tones of the plurality of OFDM tones are determined. For each of the one or more spatial or space time streams, a per-tone signal to noise ratio (PT-SNR) associated with one or more OFDM tone of the plurality of OFDM tones is determined, and an average signal to noise ratio (avg-SNR) is determined by averaging signal to noise ratio (SNR) values corresponding to one or more OFDM tones of the plurality of OFDM tones. A feedback report is generated to include at least i) the plurality of angle values, ii) the PT-SNRs, and iii) the avg-SNR.
US09712357B2 Method for transmitting broadcasting signal, method for receiving broadcasting signal, apparatus for transmitting broadcasting signal, and apparatus for receiving broadcasting signal
The present invention provides a method for transmitting a broadcasting signal. The method for transmitting the broadcasting signal according to the present invention comprises the steps of: encoding data of a plurality of PLPs according to a code rate, wherein the step of encoding data of a plurality of PLPs comprises the steps of LDPC-encoding data of at least one PLP of the plurality of PLPs according to the code rate, bit-interleaving the LDPC-encoded data, and mapping the bit-interleaved data to constellation; mapping the encoded data of the plurality of PLPs to generate at least one signal frame; and modulating data of the generated signal frame through an OFDM scheme and transmitting a broadcasting signal including the modulated data of the signal frame.
US09712355B1 Spreading techniques for frequency-shift keying modulation
Various aspects described herein relate to distinguishing frequency shift keying (FSK) signals transmitted by each user of multiple users in a wireless communications system. One or more symbols for transmitting in an FSK-modulated signal can be obtained by a user. The one or more symbols can be encoded based on a tone location assignment corresponding to a unique spreading code associated with the user. Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and/or phase-shift keying (PSK) can be performed over at least one tone associated with the encoded symbols. Each user can transmit the encoded symbols to a receiving entity, where the receiving entity can decode each symbol received from the plurality of users to produce a distinguishable symbol for each user based on the unique spreading codes associated with each user.
US09712354B2 Modulation and equalization in an orthonormal time-frequency shifting communications system
A method of receiving data including receiving, on one or more carrier waveforms, signals representing a plurality of data elements of an original data frame wherein each of the data elements are represented by cyclically time shifted and cyclically frequency shifted versions of a known set of waveforms. The method further includes generating, based upon the signals, a received data frame and generating an equalized data frame by performing an equalization operation using elements of the received data frame, the equalization operation correcting for distortion introduced into the signals during propagation of the carrier waveforms through a channel.
US09712352B2 High-speed multi-channel data transmission method, related devices and system
A high-speed multi-channel data transmission method is disclosed. The method includes that: a data sender replaces data at intervals of N periods with frame headers in data channels, sequentially stores the data replaced with the frame headers in the data channels in a Deskew channel, and sends the data in the data channels and data in the Deskew channel to a data receiver; the data receiver determines frame header locations of the data channels and the Deskew channel, calculates offsets of the data channels according to the frame header locations, and performs period compensation for the data channels according to the calculated offsets to keep the frame header of each data channel and the frame header of the Deskew channel in a relative relationship the same as that at the data sender; and the frame headers on the data channels and the corresponding data on the Deskew channel are replaced to finish data restoration. A high-speed multi-channel data transmission system and related devices are further disclosed. According to the embodiments of the disclosure, 400 Gb/s multi-channel data alignment and restoration can be realized, and speed of data alignment and restoration is increased.
US09712346B2 Continuous phase modulation method and emitter implementing said method
A continuous phase modulation method comprises the following steps: receiving a sequence of digital data symbols a(n) to be emitted; transforming the sequence of symbols a(n) to be emitted into a transformed sequence of symbols b(n), each symbol b(n) of which is equal to the sum of a symbol a(n) to be emitted and of a corrective factor equal to a transformation Tf applied to a plurality of differences (a(n)-a(n−1)) between two consecutive symbols to be emitted, the transformation Tf applied being a combination c of at least two differences between two consecutive symbols of the sequence to be emitted, transformed by the application of a non-linear function f; filtering the sequence of transformed symbols b(n) with a shaping filter and modulating the filtered sequence with a phase modulator; said transformation Tf being defined so as to minimize interference between modulated symbols filtered by a receiving filter.
US09712344B2 Receiving device with error detection circuit
A receiving device includes a termination circuit to which a received signal is input, a processing circuit which performs a process at a rear stage of the termination circuit, and an error detection circuit which detects an error contained in the received signal. In a case where the error is detected by the error detection circuit, a termination resistance value of the termination circuit is lowered. Therefore, the receiving device can be rapidly restored when a signal containing an error is received.
US09712343B2 Scalable telecommunications system
One aspect is directed to a node unit for a scalable telecommunications system. The node unit is configured to have inserted therein a respective power amplifier module and duplexing module for each of a plurality universal digital RF transceiver modules. The node unit is configured to communicatively couple an input of each power amplifier module to an output of the respective universal digital RF transceiver module. The node unit is configured to communicatively couple each universal digital RF transceiver module to respective external equipment via a duplexing module. At least one module comprises a module identifier. The system controller is configured to read the at least one module identifier and to configure the operation of at least one of universal digital RF transceiver modules, universal digital transport interface modules, and universal backplane module based on the at least one module identifier.
US09712334B2 Efficient multicast topology construction in a routed network
One embodiment of the present invention provides a layer-3 forwarding device. The layer-3 forwarding device includes a processor and a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium stores instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method. The method comprises determining whether the layer-3 forwarding device is a leaf layer-3 forwarding device of a multicast distribution tree of a multicast group in a routed network based on a multicast topology discovery message from a root layer-3 forwarding device of the multicast distribution tree. If the layer-3 forwarding device is the leaf layer-3 forwarding device, the method comprises constructing a multicast topology report message. This multicast topology report message includes topology information of the multicast group in the routed network associated with the layer-3 forwarding device.
US09712327B1 System and method for remote storage auditing
The present invention relates to remote storage auditing. In another embodiment, a remote storage auditing system may include a first remote storage manager configured to be a data owner, a second remote storage manager configured to be a storage donor, and a remote storage auditor. The first remote storage manager sends a data block and a signed fingerprint for the data block to the second remote storage manager. The second remote storage manager verifies that the signed fingerprint is associated with the data block and stores the data block and signed fingerprint. The second remote storage manager calculates a fingerprint for a sub-block of the data block, and sends the fingerprint for the sub-block and signed fingerprint to the remote storage auditor. The remote storage auditor audits a sub-block of the data block and verifies the fingerprint for the sub-block and signed fingerprint.
US09712326B2 Method and system for backing up private key of electronic signature token
Provided are a method and system for backing up the private key of an electronic signature token, the method comprising: a first electronic signature token transmits a private key backup request data packet comprising a first signature; a second electronic signature token authenticates the first signature in the private key backup request data packet; if the first signature passes authentication, then determining whether the first electronic signature token has a backup relationship with the second electronic signature token; if yes, then encrypting the private key of the second electronic signature token, and transmitting a private key backup response data packet comprising a second signature and the encrypted private key; the first electronic signature token authenticates the second signature in the private key backup response data packet; if the second signature passes authentication, then determining whether the second electronic signature token has a primary-standby relationship with the first electronic signature token; and if yes, then decrypting the encrypted private key.
US09712311B2 Method and apparatus of mapping one or more messages onto transmission resource
Method in a network node of mapping one or more messages onto transmission resource for transmitting to a wireless device. The one or more messages are processed by the network node. The network node and the wireless device are adapted to be comprised in a wireless communications network. The network node maps the one or more processed messages onto the transmission resource. This is performed according to indexing information comprised in the one or more messages, and to a precalculated mapping table. The precalculated mapping table is calculated prior to obtaining the one or more messages to be mapped. The network node, the communications network, a second network node, a core network node in the wireless communications network, and methods therein are described.
US09712304B2 Method for configuring reference signal for multi-antenna-based beamforming in wireless communication system and device for same
A method by which a base station transmits a reference signal to a terminal in a wireless communication system is disclosed. Particularly, the method comprises the steps of determining a reference signal resource interval expressed as a unit of one or more resource blocks (RBs), setting reference signal resources for a downlink bandwidth defined by a plurality of RBs, according to the reference signal resource interval, and transmitting the reference signal to the terminal by using the set reference signal resources, wherein the reference signal resource interval is determined on the basis of the number of reference signal antenna ports for which quasi co-location (QCL) can be assumed.
US09712301B2 Method and device for transmitting/receiving downlink reference signal in wireless communication system
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and discloses a method and a device for transmitting/receiving a downlink reference signal in a wireless communication system. The present invention provides a way for maintaining orthogonality of a reference signal between cells in a multi-cell operation.
US09712290B2 Network link monitoring and testing
In some embodiments, a link monitoring system (“LMS”) is configured to obtain link status metrics and packet transmission metrics for network links forming a network channel between a first network device and a second network device. The LMS can obtain link status metrics from the first network device and the second network device and can also initiate the generation of packets on the network links to obtain the packet transmission metrics. Based on the status metrics and packet transmission metrics, the LMS can determine if the network links are malfunctioning.
US09712285B2 Method and device for searching for service for terminal using gas protocol
Method and device for discovering a service are provided. A responding device receives a service request frame including a first service identifier indicating a service queried by the requesting device. The responding device transmits a service response frame to indicate that the queried service is currently not available and a service announce frame follows on. The responding device determines whether the queried service is accepted or not during a pre-defined time after transmitting the service response frame.
US09712277B2 Channel quality indicator feedback method and apparatus, and user equipment
Embodiments of the present invention provide a channel quality indicator feedback method and apparatus, and a user equipment, so as to improve accuracy of channel quality reflection. The method includes: acquiring a first channel quality indicator CQI1 based on detection of a pilot that is sent by a base station; acquiring a second channel quality indicator CQI2 based on a result of detection of a demodulation pilot; and sending the first channel quality indicator CQI1 and/or the second channel quality indicator CQI2 to the base station in a manner in which the base station can distinguish the first channel quality indicator CQI1 and/or the second channel quality indicator CQI2. The method provided by the embodiments of the present invention objectively reflects a current channel quality status, so that the base station can acquire accurate channel quality information, thereby objectively scheduling data based on the channel quality information and improving data sending efficiency of a channel.
US09712274B2 Optical communication system with a hierarchical branch configuration
An optical communication system with a hierarchical branch configuration. The system includes first and second cable landing stations coupled to a trunk path in an optical cable. At least one hub-node is coupled to the trunk path through an associated hub-node branching unit. In an embodiment, mid-nodes are coupled the hub-nodes through associated mid-node branching units and mid-node paths in the optical cable. Mid-node signals may be communicated between the mid-nodes and the hub-nodes without being provided on the trunk path. Sub-nodes are coupled to at least one of the mid-nodes through associated sub-node branching units and sub-node paths in the optical cable. Sub-node signals may also be communicated between the sub-nodes and the mid-nodes without being provided on the trunk path or the mid-node path.
US09712272B2 User equipment and method for dynamic non-orthogonal multiple access communication
Embodiments pertain to systems, methods, and component devices for dynamic non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) communications. A first example embodiment includes user equipment (UE) configured to receive a first downlink control indicator (DCI) from an evolved node B (eNB) and process the first subframe as a first higher power NOMA subframe in response to a first power ratio signal. The DCI includes the first power ratio signal for a first NOMA subframe. The UE may then receive, from the eNB, a second DCI, the second DCI comprising a second power ratio signal for a second subframe and process, by the UE, the second subframe as a second lower power NOMA subframe in response to the second power ratio signal. Additional embodiments may further use another DCI with a third power ratio signal to configure the UE to receive orthogonal multiple access (OMA) communications.
US09712269B2 Electric fader drive unit, audio mixer, and electric fader driving method
An electric fader drive unit includes a drive portion, a fader position control portion, and an electric fader control portion. The fader position control portion detects a distance between a current position of the electric fader and a target position, indicates a high speed movement mode when the distance is not less than a predetermined value, and indicates a silent movement mode when the distance is less than the predetermined value. The electric fader control portion controls the drive portion to change the drive power to silent drive power not less than the minimum drive power that is the lowest drive power for moving the electric fader when the fader position control portion indicates the silent movement mode, and controls the drive portion to change the drive power to base drive power more than the silent drive power when the fader position control position indicates the high speed movement mode.
US09712265B2 System and method for wirelessly transmitting and receiving customized data broadcasts
A system for wirelessly transmitting and receiving customized data broadcasts comprising at least one computer apparatus running an application for customized data broadcasts. The computer apparatus uses the application to transmit and/or receive at least one broadcast. The system is further comprised of a server network infrastructure with: the application, at least one application server, at least one web server; and at least one database/information server. The infrastructure, servers, and application comprise a distributed computing environment in a secure server network model wherein the environment utilizes the application as a secure communicator of the broadcasts, thereby enabling secure communication of the broadcasts between any computer apparatus running the application. The application strengthens standard broadcast security by communicating the broadcast via the distributed computing environment in a secure server network model comprised of proprietary software, a proprietary number of loops per broadcast transmission, and proprietary encoding and decoding protocols.
US09712262B2 Method and apparatus for performing measurement in wireless communication system
A method for and apparatus for performing a measurement in a wireless communication system is provided. A wireless device determines information about a measurement type, the measurement type indicating one of a first measurement object and a second measurement object and performs measurement using a measurement signal at subframe(s) configured in the measurement object indicated by the measurement type. The measurement signal includes one of a discovery signal, a measurement reference signal (MRS) and a cell-common RS (CRS).
US09712260B2 Hi-fi audio device and method of removing noise of power supply
A hi-fi audio device for reproducing and outputting a hi-fi sound source, the hi-fi audio device including: an operation unit configured to operate the hi-fi audio device; and a power supply unit comprising: an alternating current (AC) power supply unit configured to rectify alternating current supplied from an external power supply into first direct current and supply the first direct current to the operation unit; and a battery unit configured to supply second direct current to the operation unit, wherein the operation unit receives the first direct current and drives the hi-fi audio device when the operation does not reproduce a sound source, and receives the second direct current and drives the hi-fi audio device while the operation unit reproduces the sound source, and while the sound source is reproduced, the supply of the first direct current to the operation unit is blocked.
US09712255B2 System and method for providing underwater communication data
A system and a method for communication in a submarine communication network are disclosed. The communication system comprises a branching unit, an optical cable segment comprising a first conductor path and a second conductor path, a repeater and an insulation and loopback circuit. The branching unit is configured for enabling exchange of optical communication data and electric power between an optical trunk cable of the submarine communication network and the cable segment. The insulation and loopback circuit is configured to receive the optical communication data and the electric power through said first conductor path, direct at least a part of said electric power back to the trunk cable through said second conductor path and the branching unit, and direct said optical communication data to a remote platform through a third conductor path.
US09712240B2 Mapping information centric networking flows to optical flows
A method implemented by an edge node in an optical network, the method comprising receiving one or more information centric networking (ICN) service flows, each of which is identifiable by a service label, determining at least one optical resource to be provisioned to the one or more service flows based on the one or more service labels, converting the one or more ICN service flows to one or more optical flows, and transmitting the one or more optical flows using the at least one optical resource.
US09712237B2 Optical distribution method, device, and system
The present invention provide an optical distribution method that includes determining, a first optical distribution frame and a second optical distribution frame, and generating first port indication information and second port indication information according to fiber patch cord setting information; and sending the first port indication information to the first optical distribution frame, sending the second port indication information to the second optical distribution frame, receiving a first port identity and a fiber patch cord identity corresponding to the first port identity which are sent by the first optical distribution frame, and receiving a second port identity and a fiber patch cord identity corresponding to the second port identity which are sent by the second optical distribution frame.
US09712236B2 Feedback-based configuration of a hybrid fiber-coaxial network
Circuitry of a fiber node which is configured to couple to an optical link and an electrical link may comprise an electrical-to-optical conversion circuit for transmitting on the optical link. The circuitry may be operable to receive signals via the optical link. The circuitry may select between or among different configurations of the electrical-to-optical conversion circuit based on the signals received via the optical link. The signals received via the optical link may be intended for one or more gateways served by the fiber node or may be dedicated signals intended for configuration of the circuitry. The circuitry may be operable to generate feedback and insert the feedback into a datastream received from one or more gateways via the electrical link prior to transmitting the datastream onto the optical link.
US09712229B2 GPS time-aiding and frequency correction
A system and method for time-aiding an autonomous Global Positioning System device over a Bluetooth connection allows for a faster time to fix by allowing faster acquisition of time and ephemeris data. The time-aiding information may be distributed in a one-to-one manner or in a manner that allows for the synchronization of multiple devices.
US09712226B2 Multi-way diversity receiver with multiple synthesizers in a carrier aggregation transceiver
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide multi-way diversity receivers with multiple synthesizers. Such a multi-way diversity receiver may be implemented in a carrier aggregation (CA) transceiver. One example wireless reception diversity circuit generally includes three or more receive paths for processing received signals and two or more frequency synthesizing circuits configured to generate local oscillating signals to downconvert the received signals. Each of the frequency synthesizing circuits is shared by at most two of the receive paths, and each pair of the frequency synthesizing circuits may generate a pair of local oscillating signals having the same frequency.
US09712224B2 Antenna switching for dual radio devices
Systems and methods for antenna selection in a wireless terminal with two radios are provided. Signals received using first and second antennas are demodulated by first and second modems according to first and second protocols. A receive path between the second antenna and the second modem can be controlled to receive signals according to the first protocol. A performance measure of demodulating, according to the first protocol, a signal received using the second antenna is determined. The performance measure may be determined using a mirror module in the second modem or using a search module in the first modem. The wireless terminal switches antennas so that the first modem demodulates a signal received using the second antenna, if the performance measure for using the second antenna is such that the switch would improve performance of the first modem.
US09712221B2 Apparatus, system and method of beamforming
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, devices, systems and methods of beamforming. For example, a first station may be configured to transmit to a second station a plurality of sector sweep (SSW) frames of a first beamforming transmission of a beamforming procedure, a SSW frame of the first beamforming transmission including a duration value to indicate a time until at least a beginning of a second beamforming transmission subsequent to the first beamforming transmission; and to receive from the second station one or more SSW frames of the second beamforming transmission.
US09712220B2 Communication system for spatially-encoded wireless communications
A method of spatially-encoded wireless transmission using a wireless communications device that is configured with an electromagnetic radiator involves applying a modulated carrier to one or more radiator elements of the electromagnetic radiator. The radiator elements are selected based on instantaneous samples of baseband information, and the modulated carrier is generated from the baseband information. The modulated carrier is then transmitted via the selected radiator elements.
US09712218B2 Method and apparatus for facilitating high data rate transmission in the wireless communication
A method for a wireless device capable of receiving and transmitting a signal includes receiving a reference signal from a second wireless device through a communication channel, estimating the communication channel, using the reference signal, selecting a pair of an analog digital converter (ADC) quantizer and an input distribution, based on the estimated communication channel, and sending information on the selected input distribution and the ADC quantizer to the second wireless device. A wireless device capable of wirelessly receiving and transmitting a signal includes a transceiver configured to receive a reference signal from a second wireless device through a communication channel, and a processor configured to estimate the communication channel, using the reference signal, selecting a pair of an ADC quantizer and an input distribution, based on the estimated communication channel, and sending information on the selected input distribution and the ADC quantizer to the second wireless device.
US09712217B2 Parallel channel training in multi-user multiple-input and multiple-output system
This disclosure describes systems, and methods related to parallel channel training in communication networks. A first computing device comprising one or more processors and one or more transceiver component may receive a first connection request from a second computing device, and a second connection request from a third computing device. The first computing device may send the first training field to the second computing device based at least in part on the first connection request and sending in parallel, the second training field to the third computing device based at least in part on the second connection request. The first computing device may establish a first spatial channel stream with the second computing device based at least in part on the first training field and a second spatial channel stream with the third computing device based at least in part on the second training field.
US09712206B2 Preamble design and processing method for on-the-fly, frame-by-frame air data rate detection in wireless receivers
In a system and method for wireless communication with a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter is operable to wirelessly transmit digital information to the receiver with a plurality of data transmission rates using a modulation format, wherein the digital information is transmitted using a transmission frame including a header part and a payload part, and the header part comprises a preamble, wherein the modulation format is the same for all data transmission rates and wherein the data transmission rate is at least encoded into the preamble of the frame, and wherein the receiver is configured to determine the data transmission rate when receiving the preamble.
US09712205B2 Duplex unit
A duplex unit allowing simultaneous transmission and reception of microwave signals on at least partly overlapping frequency bands, comprising an interference canceller unit and a control unit, the duplex unit being arranged to receive a transmit signal and to output a first part of the transmit signal at an antenna port, the duplex unit further being arranged to receive a receive signal comprising a payload signal at the antenna port, and to output a combination of the receive signal and a filtered transmit signal as an interference suppressed receive signal of the duplex unit.
US09712184B2 Sigma-delta modulator
A sigma-delta modulator comprising a plurality of filter stages in series with each other, wherein at least one of the plurality of filter stages is configured to provide a filter-output-signal; and a plurality of gain stages, each gain stage configured to provide a gain-output-signal. The sigma-delta modulator also includes a filter-output-switching-element configured to selectively couple the filter-output-signal to an input terminal of one of the plurality of gain stages; and a plurality of filter-input-switching-elements. Each of the plurality of filter-input-switching-elements is associated with one of the plurality of filter stages, wherein the plurality of filter-input-switching-elements are configured to selectively couple one of the gain-stage-output-signals to an input terminal of its associated one of the plurality of filter stages.
US09712180B2 Angle encoder and a method of measuring an angle using same
An angle encoder has first and second components rotatable with respect to each other, and an encoder pattern having codewords for indicating the angle between the first and second components. The encoder pattern has a set of base encoder channels coded with a conventional Gray code, and a set of Booster channels for improving the resolution of angle measurement.
US09712177B1 Fractional PLL using a linear PFD with adjustable delay
A phase-locked loop. The phase-locked loop includes a voltage-controlled oscillator having: a control input, and a clock output; and a phase frequency detector having: a reference clock input, a feedback clock input, an up output configured to be either in a set state or a reset state, and a down output configured to be either in a set state or a reset state. The up output and the down output are connected to the control input. The clock output is connected to the feedback clock input. The phase frequency detector includes an adjustable delay block configured to delay, by an adjustable delay time: a transition of the up output from the set state to the reset state, and a transition of the down output from the set state to the reset state.
US09712176B1 Apparatus for low power signal generator and associated methods
An apparatus includes a signal generator. The signal generator includes a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) coupled to provide an output signal having a frequency. The signal generator further includes an asymmetric divider coupled to receive the output signal of the VCO and to provide an output signal. The output signal of the asymmetric divider has a frequency that is lower than the frequency of the output signal of the VCO. The asymmetric divider presents a balanced load to the VCO.
US09712174B1 Double calibration loop for random spread spectrum modulator
Representative implementations of devices and techniques provide calibration for a spread spectrum PLL device modulator. A first calibration loop includes a cross correlator to correlate a sequence of random or pseudo-random signals injected into a signal path of the PLL device to a phase error signal of the PLL device. A second calibration loop includes a bandwidth tuner to tune a bandwidth of the PLL device and to reduce a jitter of the PLL device.
US09712172B2 Devices with an array of superconducting logic cells
A device including an array of superconducting logic cells, where each of the superconducting logic cells is configured to receive at least one input and provide at least one output, is provided. Each of the superconducting logic cells includes at least one Josephson junction, whose state changes based on at least a biasing condition caused by a phase of a first clock or a phase of a second clock. The array of the superconducting logic cells is configured to perform at least one operation based at least on a connection arrangement of the array of the superconducting logic cells.
US09712166B2 Data generating device and authentication system
A data generating device according to embodiments comprises a ring oscillator, a flip-flop circuit and a generator. The flip-flop circuit includes a first terminal and a second terminal to each of which the ring oscillator output is inputted, and that determines a value of output of the ring oscillator. The generator generates an ID for authentication based on one or more values determined by the flip-flop circuit at the time when the ring oscillator is turned on.
US09712165B2 Semiconductor device including electrostatic protection circuit
A semiconductor device includes: a first power source (PS1) pad supplied with a PS1 voltage; a PS1 line connected to the PS1 pad; a first ground line (G1); an output circuit operated using the PS1 voltage; a second power source (PS2) pad supplied with a PS2 voltage; a PS2 line connected to the PS2 pad; a second ground line (G2); a signal line connected to an output end of the output circuit; an input circuit connected to the signal line at an input end receiving a signal from the output end and operated using the PS2 voltage; a main protection circuit unit providing discharge routes between the PS1 pad and G1, G1 and G2, and G2 and the PS2 pad; and a sub protection circuit unit. The output circuit includes: a circuit element arranged between the PS1 line and the signal line and able to function as a resistive element.
US09712158B1 Apparatus and methods for biasing radio frequency switches
Apparatus and methods for biasing radio frequency (RF) switches are provided herein. In certain configurations, an RF switching circuit includes a field effect transistor (FET) switch electrically connected between a first terminal and a second terminal, and an adaptive biasing circuit that generates a bias voltage used in part to bias a gate of the FET switch. The adaptive biasing circuit includes a low pass filter that generates a low pass filtered voltage based on low pass filtering a voltage of the first terminal, a buffer circuit that receives the low pass filtered voltage and generates a buffered voltage, and a voltage shifting circuit that generates the bias voltage by shifting the buffered voltage by an amount of voltage that depends on a state of a switch control signal.
US09712155B2 Drive circuit for power semiconductor element
A drive circuit for a power semiconductor element includes: a voltage-command generation unit that generates a voltage command VGEref, which is a charge command between the gate and emitter terminals of a power semiconductor element; and a subtracter that calculates a deviation voltage Verr between the voltage command VGEref and the voltage between the gate and emitter terminals. The drive circuit also includes: a gate current controller that is input with the deviation voltage Verr and calculates a gate-current command voltage VIGref for determining the gate current that is caused to flow to the gate terminal of the power semiconductor element; a gate-current command limiter that limits the gate-current command voltage VIGref; and a gate-current supply device that is input with an actual gate-current command voltage VIGout and that supplies a gate current to the gate terminal of the power semiconductor element.
US09712154B1 Voltage generation circuit and integrated circuit including the same
A voltage generation circuit includes a voltage generator initialized in response to a first power on reset signal, and generates an internal voltage on an output node using an external voltage; and a pull-down driving unit which pull-down drives the output node in response to a second power on reset signal delayed from the first power on reset signal.
US09712152B2 Circuit for controlling power supply
A circuit for controlling power supply includes a first switch situated between a first power supply and a first node coupled to a circuit block, a second switch situated between a second power supply having a voltage value different than the first power supply and a second node coupled to a back gate of a transistor of the circuit block, a third switch situated between the first node and the second node, and a control unit configured to place the second switch in an “on” state and the third switch in an “off” state during an “on” state of the first switch, and to place the second switch in an “off” state and the third switch in an “on” state during an “off” state of the first switch.
US09712148B2 Switching device driving apparatus
A switching device driving apparatus for preventing arm short circuit is provided, including: a first switching device driving unit for receiving a control signal for controlling a first switching device and a second switching device so that they will not turn ON at the same time and outputting an ON/OFF drive signal to the first switching device; and a second switching device driving unit for receiving the control signal and outputting an ON/OFF drive signal to the second switching device, in which the first switching device driving unit outputs a drive signal for increasing the delay of the ON timing of the first switching device with respect to the OFF timing of the second switching device with increase in ambient temperature.
US09712137B2 Resonation device, method of manufacturing resonation device, electronic apparatus, and moving object
A method of manufacturing resonation device (a quartz crystal oscillator) includes the steps of applying a thermosetting thermal insulating connection material and an electrically-conductive connection material, which is higher in curing temperature than the thermosetting thermal insulating connection material, on a principal surface of a substrate, mounting fixation terminals of a resonator (a quartz crystal resonator), which has a heating element, and to which the fixation terminals and connection terminals are connected, in application positions of the insulating connection material on the substrate, and connection terminals in application positions of the electrically-conductive connection material, and heating the insulating connection material and the electrically-conductive connection material based on a reflow profile to make the insulating connection material and the electrically-conductive connection material cure in this order.
US09712130B2 Passive device cell and fabrication process thereof
An implementation of the invention is directed to a passive device cell having a substrate layer, and intermediary layer formed above the substrate layer, and a passive device formed above the intermediary layer. The intermediary layer includes a plurality of LC resonators and a plurality of segmented conductive lines, wherein the plurality of segmented conductive lines are disposed between the plurality of LC resonators.
US09712128B2 Microelectromechanical resonator
In a MEMS device having a substrate and a moveable micromachined member, a mechanical structure secures the moveable micromachined member to the substrate, thermally isolates the moveable micromachined member from the substrate and provides a conduction path to enable heating of the moveable micromachined member to a temperature of at least 300 degrees Celsius.
US09712124B2 Distributed amplifier
The present disclosure provides a distributed amplifier, including: a drain transmission line; a gate transmission line; GFETs, in which sources of the graphene field-effect transistors are respectively grounded; gates of the graphene field-effect transistors respectively connected with a plurality of first shunt capacitors which are grounded; the gate transmission line is connected with a plurality of first nodes respectively between the gates of the graphene field-effect transistors and the plurality of first shunt capacitors, having a plurality of first inductors respectively between each two first nodes; drains of the graphene field-effect transistors respectively connected with a plurality of second shunt capacitors which are grounded; the drain transmission line is connected with a plurality of second nodes respectively between the drains of the graphene field-effect transistors and the plurality of second shunt capacitors, having a plurality of second inductors respectively between each two second nodes.
US09712118B2 Amplifier circuit and method
An amplifier circuit comprises a first amplifier configured to amplify a first input signal. The output of the first amplifier is coupled to an output node via a first transmission line, the first transmission line comprising a first portion having a first characteristic impedance and a first length, and a second portion having a second characteristic impedance and a second length. A second amplifier is configured to amplify a second input signal. The output of the second amplifier is coupled to the output node via a second transmission line, the second transmission line comprising a first portion having a first characteristic impedance and a first length, and a second portion having a second characteristic impedance and a second length. An auxiliary amplifier is configured to amplify a third input signal. The output of the auxiliary amplifier is coupled via an auxiliary transmission line network to a first intersection between the first and second portions of the first transmission line, and to a second intersection between the first and second portions of the second transmission line.
US09712107B2 Modular support assembly for a solar power system
A modular support assembly for a solar power system includes a plurality of base units each of which includes a base frame having first and second tube members, and a plurality of connection units each of which interconnects two adjacent ones of the base units. Each connection unit includes two sleeve members and a plurality of fasteners. Each sleeve member has a tubular portion sleeved on one end of the second tube member of one of the two adjacent ones of the base units, and a blind flange connected to the tubular portion and closing the one end of the second tube member. The blind flanges abut against each other and are fastened by the fasteners.
US09712099B2 Divided phase AC synchronous motor controller
A phase windings circuit for a motor includes at least two phase windings forming one half of motor phase windings of the circuit and at least two other phase windings forming another half of the motor phase windings of the circuit. A direct current (DC) power supply is located at least approximately at a midpoint of the motor phase windings to receive alternating current (AC) power transferred from one or more of the phase windings and convert the AC power to DC power. A first stage power switch circuit comprises at least one power switch outside of the DC power supply and is electrically connected at least approximately at a midpoint between phase windings on each half of the circuit. A second stage power switch circuit comprises at least one other power switch outside of the DC power supply and is electrically connected at least approximately at the midpoint of the divided phase windings to receive AC power from the motor divided phase windings. A non-collapsing DC power supply component prevents the DC power supply from collapsing when the at least one power switch or the at least one other power switch is on and conducting.
US09712083B2 Method and device for switching operation mode of a five-level inverter
A method and device for switching an operation mode of a five-level inverter are provided. The method includes: determining a first three-level operation mode as a three-level operation mode to be switched to from a five-level operation mode in a case that a PV input voltage is higher than a bridge line-line voltage command value; switching, after the operation mode is switched to the first three-level operation mode, the operation mode from the first three-level operation mode to a second three-level operation mode, in a case that a junction temperature of a switching device operating in the first three-level operation mode exceeds a first preset value; and switching the operation mode from the second three-level operation mode to the first three-level operation mode in a case that the junction temperature of a switching device operating in the second three-level operation mode exceeds a second preset value.
US09712080B2 Reducing phase current imbalances in single phase redundant power supply systems with unbalanced loads
A system includes first and second pluralities of single phase AC/DC power supplies each having an input for coupling to first and second phase voltages, respectively, in a polyphase power distribution system. The outputs of the power supplies are electrically connected in parallel for supplying DC current to a load at a substantially constant voltage. The system further includes a controller coupled to at least the first plurality of power supplies and configured to increase the DC current supplied to the load by at least one of the first plurality of power supplies in response to another one of the first plurality of power supplies shutting down. Various other systems, power supplies, controllers and methods are also disclosed.
US09712079B2 Electric power converter and control method for electric power converter
An electric power converter according to an embodiment includes a switching unit, a controller, and a second bidirectional switch. The switching unit includes a plurality of first bidirectional switches disposed between a DC power source and an AC load or between a DC load and an AC power source. The controller controls the switching unit to perform power conversion between DC power and AC power. When turning off the second bidirectional switch disposed on a path between one pole of the DC power source or the DC load and the switching unit, the controller turns on the first bidirectional switch connected between the other pole of the DC power source and the AC load or between the other pole of the DC load and the AC power source.
US09712071B2 Power conversion device and air-conditioning apparatus
A power conversion device includes: a rectifier, a converter unit including a reactor, a backflow prevention element, and a switching element, the converter unit being configured to boost a DC voltage rectified by the rectifier, a smoothing capacitor, a reactor current detection unit, a bus voltage detection unit, a temperature detection unit, and a control unit. The control unit includes a converter control unit configured to calculate a switching command value for driving the switching element, on the basis of a target command voltage which is the bus voltage to be targeted, the bus voltage detected by the bus voltage detection unit, and the reactor current detected by the reactor current detection unit, and a temperature correction unit configured to correct the temperature of the switching element detected by the temperature detection unit, on the basis of the switching command value calculated by the converter control unit.
US09712070B2 Power conversion device
A power conversion device includes transformers provided with primary windings connected to input terminals and secondary windings including pluralities of single-phase open windings that are insulated to each other; a plurality of converter cells connected to the secondary windings of the transformers; and a control circuit for controlling ON/OFF of switching elements. The converter cells are each include a converter and the inverter that are provided with the switching elements, in which their input ends are connected to the respective single-phase open windings, so that the input ends are connected in mutually parallel fashion, through the transformers, to the input terminal of each phase, and in which their output ends are connected in mutually serial fashion to an output terminal of each phase, to thereby perform three or more-level power conversion.
US09712068B2 Power supply device, adapter, power receiving device, and power supply method
There is provided a power supply device, including a connection state determiner that determines a connection state between an external power recipient device and a power line on which electric power is transmitted, a communication control unit that, in a case where the connection state determiner determines that the external power recipient device is connected to the power line, causes information related to power receiving capability corresponding to the external power recipient device to be acquired by wireless communication, a power receiving capability specifier that specifies the power receiving capability of the external power recipient device on the basis of the acquired information related to the power receiving capability, and a power control unit that causes electric power compatible with the external power recipient device to be transmitted on the basis of the specified power receiving capability.
US09712061B1 Power converter overvoltage system
Power converters their methods of operation are described. An example method includes regulating an output using a switching circuit that responds to a control signal. The method includes comparing a feedback voltage from the output to a reference voltage using an error amplifier to create an error voltage, and comparing the error voltage to a ramp voltage from a periodic ramp signal using a comparator to create a PWM signal. The PWM signal is used in combination with the switching circuit to regulate the output. The method includes: clamping the error voltage, using a clamping circuit, if the error voltage drops below a lowest value for the periodic ramp signal while the power converter is regulating a load; and unclamping the error voltage, using the clamping circuit, if the error voltage rises above the lowest value for the periodic ramp signal while the power converter is regulating the load.
US09712059B2 Directly amplified ripple tracking control scheme for multiphase DC-DC converter
A controller for a multiphase power converter has a plurality of DC to DC converters coupled in parallel between a voltage source and a single output terminal is provided. The controller includes a voltage sensing circuit coupled to the output terminal. An internal pulse generating circuit is couplable to the voltage sensing circuit for generating an internal pseudo-pulse width modulated signal. An ON time signal distribution circuit is couplable to an output of the internal pulse generating circuit and couplable to driver circuit for driving each of the plurality of DC to DC converters. A multiphase power converter and method also disclosed.
US09712058B1 High speed tri-level input power converter gate driver
Various methods and devices that involve electronic circuits are disclosed. A disclosed method includes buffering an input signal using a first buffer. The first buffer is powered by a supply voltage and a reference voltage. The method also includes buffering the input signal using a second buffer. The second buffer is powered by the reference voltage and a ground voltage. The method also includes level shifting a first buffer output signal of the first buffer to a voltage range using a first level shifter, and level shifting a second buffer output signal of the second buffer to the voltage range using a second level shifter. The voltage range is larger than a delta between the supply voltage and the reference voltage. The reference voltage is greater than one quarter of the supply voltage and less than three quarters of the supply voltage.
US09712057B1 Feedback control circuit and method thereof
Disclosed are a feedback control circuit and a method thereof. The feedback control circuit includes a voltage comparator, a calibration voltage generator and processor. The voltage comparator receives a middle-point voltage and a calibration voltage, compares the middle-point voltage and calibration voltage, and outputs a reference voltage pulse signal. The calibration voltage generator generates the calibration voltage and outputs it to a switch driving circuit and the voltage comparator. The processor compares the pulse widths of the reference voltage pulse signal and a predetermined voltage pulse signal, and accordingly outputs a control signal to the calibration voltage generator to fine tune the calibration voltage. The switch driving circuit outputs a switch driving signal to a switching regulating circuit to adjust the timing when to turn on or off switches in the switching regulating circuit.
US09712056B1 Three-phase power switching for ungrounded wye circuits
A power control system includes a multi-phase power source, an ungrounded multi-phase load, a plurality of power switching circuits and a plurality of zero-crossing circuits. The multi-phase power source includes a plurality of phase power outputs. The plurality of power switching circuits are each connected to provide power from one of the plurality of phase power outputs to the ungrounded multiphase load. The plurality of zero-crossing circuits are connected to provide control signals to the plurality of power switching circuits. Each of the plurality of zero-crossing circuits are connected between one of the plurality of power phase outputs and an ungrounded reference.
US09712055B1 Zero voltage switching energy recovery control of discontinuous PWM switching power converters
Buck and boost power converter topologies and methods of converting power are provided. One method provides switching power conversion circuitry including an inductor and switches and clamp circuitry connected across the inductor. Control circuitry operates the switches and the clamp circuitry in a series of converter operating cycles which may include: (a) an energy transfer interval for transferring energy input to output via the inductor; (b) an energy recovery phase, during which the inductor current oscillates transitioning from substantially zero to a negative value, from the negative value to a positive value, and from the positive value toward zero; and (c) a clamp phase, during a portion of which the clamp circuitry is ON, energy is trapped in the inductor, the inductor current is negative, and is not zero at the end of the clamp phase.
US09712049B2 Power converter with noise-current reduction capacitor
In a power converter, a housing is grounded. A power converter circuit is installed in the housing and configured to perform power conversion of input power into output power. An external terminal is electrically connected to the power converter circuit for connection of an external device to the power converter circuit. A first capacitor has first and second electrodes. The first electrode of the first capacitor is connected to the external terminal, and the second electrode thereof is connected to the housing. A second capacitor has first and second electrodes. The first electrode of the second capacitor is connected to the external terminal, and the second electrode thereof is connected to the housing. The first capacitor, the external terminal, the second capacitor, and the housing is arranged to provide a conductive loop.
US09712045B2 System and method for a startup cell circuit
According to an embodiment, a circuit comprising includes a first switching circuit coupled to a power supply input, a second switching circuit coupled to an output of the first switching circuit, a supply capacitor coupled to the second switching circuit, and a startup cell coupled to the power supply input and the supply capacitor. The startup cell is configured to electrically couple the power supply input to the supply capacitor when the second switching circuit is not actively switching. The startup cell is also configured to electrically decouple the power supply input from the supply capacitor when the second switching circuit is actively switching.
US09712040B1 Virtual impedance shaping
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for shaping grid currents output from parallel inverters in a power distribution system with virtual impedances. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a measurement of the current output from the inverter, processing the measurement of the current to extract a first current component having a particular frequency, obtaining a second current component based on the measurement of the current and the extracted first current component, weighing the first and second current components with respective first and second impedances to obtain respective first and second component voltages, the first impedance having a lower impedance amplitude than the second impedance, obtaining a shaped voltage based on the first and second component voltages, and outputting a control signal to the inverter, the control signal causing the inverter to output the shaped voltage to the power distribution bus.
US09712035B1 Electrospray based diffusion pump for high vacuum applications
An electrospray diffusion pump with an upper vacuum chamber coupled to a lower vacuum chamber by a cylinder having an aperture in the upper chamber at the center of a conductive extractor ring. A conductive tube is positioned in the upper chamber and is axially aligned with the conductive extractor ring. The conductive tube is coupled to receive a conductive or semi-conductive spray fluid. A voltage source is coupled between the conductive tube and the extractor ring and adjusted to form a Taylor Cone that provides a jet of charged droplets at the tip of the conductive tube, the charged droplets are attracted to the extractor ring and pass into the aperture, then through the cylinder into the second chamber. The charged droplets have nearly zero vapor pressure and transfer ambient gas at a first pressure from the upper chamber to the lower chamber at a lower pressure.
US09712033B2 System and method for stabilizing a voice coil
A device or method for stabilizing a voice coil is disclosed. The device comprises a voice coil for providing a motive force, and means for measuring a signal from said voice coil related to a motional electromotive force. The device further comprises a unit for controlling an amplification of said signal to create a force in said voice coil in a direction of said motional electromotive force.
US09712015B2 Motor of a ceiling fan
A motor of a ceiling fan includes: a shaft having two shoulder surfaces facing in opposite axial directions of the shaft, with the shaft coupling with a stator; and a bearing sleeve receiving two bearings for supporting the shaft, with an annular flange formed at an end of the bearing sleeve. The annular flange and one of the shoulder surfaces of the shaft clamp and position one of the bearings. A rotor has a housing coupling with the bearing sleeve, with the housing having a connecting portion. The connecting portion and the other one of the shoulder surfaces of the shaft clamp and position the other one of the bearings.
US09712008B2 Permanent magnet synchronous motor and power-assisted steering system
The invention relates to a permanent magnet synchronous motor, in particular an electric three phase motor, comprising a stator in which stator teeth with interposed stator grooves are arranged, at least one winding made of an electrically conductive material being provided on each stator tooth, further comprising a rotor with permanent magnets which are arranged radially in a spoke-like manner in the rotor. Said synchronous motor has a predetermined and defined maximum brake torque based on a predetermined diameter-length-ratio of the rotor, a number of rotor poles and a number of stator grooves. The present invention further relates to an electric power-assisted steering system.
US09712003B2 Motor of a ceiling fan with linking seat coupling to the stator core
A motor of a ceiling fan includes a stator, a shaft, a linking seat, and a rotor. The stator has a core with an assembly hole. The linking seat couples with the core and has an axial hole in alignment with the assembly hole in an axial direction of the shaft firmly resting in the axial hole. The rotor is rotatably arranged around the shaft.
US09711997B2 System and method for storing and distributing DC power
A system and method for storing and distributing DC power, comprising: a first desk with a horizontal desktop surface and vertical support surfaces, batteries, a charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, one AC power input channel, one DC power input channel, and DC power output channels; a second desk with a horizontal desktop surface and vertical support surfaces, batteries, a charging circuit with an AC to DC power converter, one AC power input channel, one DC power input channel, and DC power output channels; and electrical information processors adapted to the charging circuits to regulate and allocate DC power between batteries and DC power output channels within a chain of electrically connected desks by measuring and controlling charges and electric currents from charging circuits to batteries, from charging circuits to DC power output channels, and from batteries to DC output channels.
US09711996B2 Emergency system with brown-out detection
An emergency system including an auxiliary power supply, a charging circuit, a brown-out circuit, and a controller unit. The auxiliary power supply connected to a device. The charging circuit having an input voltage, provided by a mains power supply, and an output, configured to provide power to the auxiliary power supply. The brown-out circuit operably connected to the charging circuit and configured to sample the input voltage. The control unit receiving the sampled input voltage and activating the device when a brown-out condition is detected, the detection based on the sampled input voltage.
US09711993B2 Opportunistic charging of an electronic device
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for charging an electronic device. The technique includes determining that the electronic device is proximate to a first induction coil that is included in a plurality of induction coils that are disposed in a steering wheel. The technique further includes, in response to determining that the electronic device is proximate to the first induction coil, causing electrical current to be supplied to the first induction coil to charge the electronic device.
US09711983B2 Device, system and method for charging a battery
A device, system and method for charging a battery are provided. The device comprises: a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port; a battery in communication with the USB port; and, circuitry in communication with the USB port and the battery, the circuitry configured to: transmit a power control signal over the USB port, the power control signal comprising data indicative of one or more of a power, a voltage and a current to be received over the USB port to charge the battery; and, responsively receive the power for charging the battery over the USB port.
US09711972B2 Auxiliary receiver coil to adjust receiver voltage and reactance
In a wireless charging system, a receiver device includes a second coil that performs a reactance shift. The reactance shift may be used to conform the device reactance to a reactance range, or to adjust a rectified voltage of the wireless power provided to the device electronics. The reactance shift differs from resonance matching in that the power transfer efficiency may be decreased.
US09711966B2 Method and device for monitoring a converter
A converter is described, in particular a DC/DC converter for use in a motor vehicle, including: a converter circuit, which is situated between a first network and a second network to convert a direct current or alternating current at an input terminal on the input side into a direct current or alternating current at the output terminal on the output side, the direct current or alternating current on the input side and the direct current or alternating current on the output side being based on a shared potential; a first monitoring circuit, which is situated between the input terminal and the converter circuit to detect a current flow into the converter circuit; a second monitoring circuit, which is situated between the output terminal and the converter circuit to detect a current flow into the converter circuit; a first separation element, which is situated between the input terminal and the converter circuit to establish a connection between the input terminal and the converter circuit and/or a second separation element, which is situated between the output terminal and the converter circuit, to establish a connection between the output terminal and the converter circuit.
US09711965B2 Circuit arrangement for connection to an electrical circuit and electrical circuit
A circuit arrangement connected to an electrical circuit including a transformer with primary winding connected to the electric power grid and secondary winding connected to a power converter with a capacitor, the circuit arrangement has a primary winding coupled to the auxiliary winding, which is connected to a switching device.
US09711956B1 Hinged cable guide
A cable guide is made of four sections that are connected in series with three hinges. In the closed position, the cable guide forms a cylinder with four enclosed openings for four parallel cables. In the open position, the cable guide is linear with each section having a cylindrical slot for receiving a cable.
US09711955B2 Efficient installation electrical hardware system and method of use
An improved installation system for electrical hardware, such as power outlets, electrical switches, light fittings, ceiling fans and the like, whereby the cutting of their installation access holes in drywall panels is accomplished much faster than prior art methods and with a high degree of accuracy by the use of the hole cutting system, comprising the magnetic block assembly, corresponding magnetic template assembly and the hole cutter. In conjunction with the aforementioned; the electrical hardware's associated electrical boxes are wired directly to their electrical supply and the hardware is in turn, electrically connected to them by their respective sets of electrical terminals which make simultaneous contact with each other upon their installation. Additionally, the latching pawl mechanism and alignment device supports the weight of heavy light fittings and ceiling fans and aligns their electrical connections while they're being fixed into their installed position. These features taken together make this improved installation system substantially superior to all prior art.
US09711952B2 Mounting system for arranging electric devices in switchgear cabinets
A mounting system (1) for arranging electric devices (2), for example switchgear cabinets, includes at least one preferably horizontal mounting strip (3) to which at least one device (2) can be secured. The mounting strip (3) includes a support rail (6) to which the device (2) can be releasably fastened and located in a first section (41) of the mounting strip. The first section is central in relation to a cross-sectional view through the mounting strip (3), transversely to its longitudinal axis. A third section (43) of the mounting strip located at a distance from the support rail (6) is at a greater vertical distance (44) from the bottom point (39) of the support rail (6) than a second section (42) at its end that is closer to the support rail (6), especially its end adjoining the support rail (6). The second section is located between the first section (41) and the third section (43).
US09711950B2 Dense wavelength beam combining with variable feedback control
An external cavity laser apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention is provided. The external cavity laser apparatus includes a plurality of beam emitters that collectively emit a plurality of emitted beams that each includes a primary component emitted beam. A first reflective element is configured to reflect the plurality of primary component emitted beams and a first polarizing optic disposed in the optical path of the plurality of primary component emitted beams is configured to rotate a polarization of each primary component emitted beam to produce a first rotated primary component beam having a first linear polarization and a second rotated primary component beam having a second linear polarization. A polarized beam splitter is configured to direct first feedback system output component beams into an output beam, and to direct second feedback system output component beams to the plurality of beam emitters as feedback beams.
US09711944B2 Quantum cascade laser
A quantum cascade laser includes a substrate having a principal surface; a laser body region disposed on the principal surface, the laser body region including a semiconductor laminate structure having an end facet, the laser body region having a waveguide structure extending along a waveguide axis; and a distributed Bragg reflection region disposed on the principal surface, the distributed Bragg reflection region including low and high refractive index portions that are alternately arranged in a direction of the waveguide axis. The end facet of the semiconductor laminate structure is optically coupled to the distributed Bragg reflection region. Each of the high refractive index portions includes a semiconductor wall including upper and lower portions that are arranged in a direction intersecting with the principal surface of the substrate. The principal surface is disposed between the upper and lower portions. The lower portion includes a part of the substrate.
US09711939B2 Semiconductor optical device
Provided herein is a semiconductor optical device, including a waveguide including lattices buried therein and having a buried hetero (BH) structure formed in an optical oscillation region in which single mode light is oscillated, a waveguide having a deep ridge structure formed in an optical modulation region, and a passive waveguide formed in a mode transition region interposed between the optical oscillation region and the optical modulation region, formed as a connecting structure of the waveguide having the BH structure extending from the optical oscillation region and the waveguide having the deep ridge structure extending from the optical modulation region, and inducing evanescent optical coupling, wherein a width of the waveguide having the BH structure in the mode transition region is smaller than a width of the waveguide having the deep ridge structure in the optical modulation region.
US09711936B2 Semiconductor laser and method for manufacturing the same
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser of the present invention includes a step of forming an insulating film on a surface of a grooved semiconductor substrate, a step of pasting an insulating sheet to a top surface of the insulating film so as to cover an opening of the groove and forming an insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate, a step of forming an opening of providing a first opening in the insulating layer so that a part corresponding to an electrode of the semiconductor substrate is exposed and a step of forming the electrode on a top surface of the insulating layer so as to fill the first opening.
US09711932B2 Optical signal processing with modelocked lasers
The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. In some embodiments an effective CDSL is constructed with only one laser. At least one embodiment includes a coherent scanning laser system (CSL) for generating pulse pairs with a time varying time delay. A CDSL, effective CDSL, or CSL may be arranged in an imaging system for one or more of optical imaging, microscopy, micro-spectroscopy and/or THz imaging.
US09711926B2 Method of forming an interface for an electrical terminal
A method of forming an electrical terminal includes the steps of: transferring a portion of electrically conductive material to a selected location on a surface of electrically conductive material stock; bonding the portion of electrically conductive material to the surface of the electrically conductive material stock; forming the portion of electrically conductive material to the surface of the electrically conductive material stock to define a conductive interface; and forming the electrical terminal from the electrically conductive material stock.
US09711924B2 Brush assembly for an electric motor
A brush assembly has a brush, a brush cage, and a spring. The spring is a constant force spring having two coil portions and a connecting portion. The connecting portion the brush are together received in the brush cage. The brush has a contact end arranged to make sliding contact with a commutator and a second end remote from the contact end against which the spring applies its force, to urge the brush out of the brush cage. A hook is formed at each of two opposite sides of the brush cage, at a first end portion of the brush cage adjacent the contact end of the brush. The coil portions respectively engage the hooks. The hooks extend at different angles to a corresponding outer surface of the brush cage.
US09711914B2 Cable connector assembly having a stopping member for avoiding light scattering
A cable connector assembly includes a cable and an electrical connector electrically connected with the cable, and the electrical connector includes a mating member, a printed circuit board electrically connected with the mating member, a light emitting element electrically connected with the printed circuit board and a light guide element for transmitting the light emitted by the light emitting element, having a receiving room, wherein the light emitting element is received in the receiving room, and the printed circuit board includes a soldering portion electrically connected with the matting member and an extension portion rearwardly extending from the soldering portion, and the cable connector assembly further includes a stopping member disposed between the soldering portion and the light guide element and abutting against the light guide element, to block the receiving room of the light guide element.
US09711911B2 Connector with tuned channel
A connector is provided that includes a housing and the housing supports a plurality of wafers. Each wafer supports a terminal and adjacent signal wafers are configured so as to provide broad-side coupled terminals. A pair of signal terminals can be surrounded on both sides by ground terminals that offer shielding so as to help isolate one signal pair from another signal pair. The geometry of the wafers can be adjusted so as to provide a tuned transmission channel. The resultant tuned transmission channel can be configured to provide desirable performance at high signaling frequencies of 12-16 GHz or even higher signaling frequencies such as 20 GHz.
US09711881B2 Tray with low cost used in a tray-type card connector
A tray used in a card connector for receiving a card therein includes a base having opposite top and bottom surfaces, a receiving room for receiving the card therein, and an inner surface surrounding the receiving room and connecting the top surface with the bottom surface. The base defines a plurality of thin portions projecting into the receiving room from the inner surface and a shallow notch recessed in the inner surface to adjacent to one of the plurality of thin portions, the shallow notch runs through both the top surface and the bottom surface. The present invention provides a low cost tray.
US09711880B2 Connector with floating housing
A connector includes a plurality of contacts each including a contacting portion, provided at one end, that contacts a counterpart connector, a lead portion, provided at another end, that contacts a substrate, and a spring portion, provided between the contacting portion and the lead portion, that elastically deforms; a floating housing, fixed to the contacting portions of the plurality of contacts that are aligned in two columns of contacts, that fits with the counterpart connector; a first fixed housing, provided between the two columns of contacts, that is fixed to the substrate, and a second fixed housing, fixed to the first fixed housing, that sandwiches a portion adjacent to the lead portion of each of the plurality of contacts with the first fixed housing.
US09711876B2 Clamping spring
A clamping spring for mounting on a circuit board includes a spring leg for contacting a conductor in a clamped manner, the spring leg having an actuating element for stopping clamping, a contact region for contacting the circuit board; and a guide element disposed in relation to the spring leg such that a tool for actuating the actuating element can be inserted between the guide element and the spring leg, wherein the clamping spring is designed in one piece.
US09711869B1 Hexaferrite slant and slot MIMO antenna element
A MIMO antenna for mobile devices has a system board, and two or more microstrip lines extending along a top surface of the system board. The MIMO antenna additionally includes a ground plane extending along a bottom surface of the system board, wherein the ground plane has a Y-shaped slot. The MIMO antenna further includes one or more pairs of miniature antenna elements attached to the top surface of system board in contact with the at least two microstrip lines, wherein the antenna elements are slanted at ±45° with respect to a center Z of an X Y coordinate system, and center of a radiation sphere, located proximate the Y-shaped slot.
US09711868B2 In-building-communication apparatus and method
An In-Building Communications system is disclosed which permits communication in tunnels, underground parking garages, tall buildings such as skyscrapers, buildings having thick walls of concrete or metal, and/or any building which has communication dead zones due to electromagnetic shielding. The invention includes a portable bi-directional amplifier (BDA) system, an outdoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable, an indoor antenna system attached to the building or independently mountable inside the building, and a standardized, In-Building Communications (IBC) interface box affixed preferably to the exterior of the building. The interface box communicates with antenna systems attached to the building. The fire department or other emergency response personnel carry portable outdoor and indoor antenna systems and a portable, lithium-ion battery powered, bi-directional amplifier (BDA) system which may be connected to the building during an event such as a fire, earthquake, or an act of terrorism or whenever radio coverage enhancement is required. The portable BDA system is simply connected to the standardized, IBC interface box and powered thus restoring communications within.
US09711860B2 Wideband antennas including a substrate integrated waveguide
A wireless electronic device includes a Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW), a first metal layer including one or more top wave traps, a second metal layer, a feeding structure extending through the first metal layer and into the SIW, and a reflector on the first side of the SIW. The reflector directly connects to the first metal layer and extends outward along a major plane of the first side of the first metal layer. The wireless electronic device is configured to resonate at a resonant frequency when excited by a signal transmitted or received though the feeding structure. The one or more top wave traps are configured to trap a signal radiated by the reflector based on the signal transmitted or received though the feeding structure.
US09711852B2 Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas
Modulation patterns for surface scattering antennas provide desired antenna pattern attributes such as reduced side lobes and reduced grating lobes.
US09711847B2 Apparatus and method for integrating a reduced-sized antenna with an accessory connector
A system including a base affixed to a radio. The base includes a first base connector and a second base connector with a plurality of radial interconnectors positioned around the perimeter of the first base connector. The system includes an antenna connector including a first antenna connector and a second antenna connector with a plurality of radial interconnectors positioned around the perimeter of the first antenna connector. The first base connector is connected to the first antenna connector to form a central radio frequency (RF) coaxial connection and a first transmission line for a first antenna. The second antenna connector is connected to the second base connector to form a second transmission line and a plurality of radial connections around the perimeter of the central RF coaxial connection. The plurality of radial connections is configured to function as a signal carrier and/or an additional RF element.
US09711845B2 Aerial vehicle radome assembly and methods for assembling the same
An aerial vehicle includes at least one antenna configured to at least one of transmit and receive a signal and a radome assembly at least partially covering the antenna. The radome assembly includes a shell having an inner surface that defines an opening therein and a tip comprising an extension portion coupled to the shell. The radome assembly also includes a component that engages a portion of the extension portion such that the extension portion is impeded from exiting the opening.
US09711844B2 Portable antenna
A portable antenna with a housing in which the antenna is held when not in use, and a mechanism to cause the antenna to pop-up from, and sit on top of, the housing when it is to be used. The mechanism can function to collapse the antenna into the housing when not in use.
US09711841B2 Apparatus for tuning multi-band frame antenna
A multi-band frame antenna is used for LTE, MIMO, and other frequency bands. The frame antenna includes a conductive block and a metallic frame with no gaps or discontinuities. The conductive block functions as a system ground and has at least one electronic component mounted on the surface. The outer perimeter of the metallic frame surrounds the conductive block, and there is a gap between the metallic frame and the conductive block. One or more antenna feeds are routed across the gap, between the metallic frame and the conductive block. One or more connections can be made across the gap, and at least one electronic element connects the conductive block to the metallic frame.
US09711835B2 Apparatus and methods related to junction ferrite devices having improved insertion loss performance
Disclosed are apparatus and methods related to junction ferrite devices having improved insertion loss performance. In some implementations, a ferrite disk assembly can be configured for a radio-frequency (RF) circulator. The disk assembly can include a ferrite-based disk having a ferrite portion and a metalized layer formed on a grounding surface of the disk to improve electrical contact between the grounding surface of the disk with an external grounding surface. The ferrite-based disk can further include a dielectric portion disposed around the periphery of the ferrite center portion. In some embodiments, the metalized layer can be a silver layer formed on the grounding surface of the disk and having a desired thickness.
US09711826B2 Nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is prevented from decreasing the remaining capacity and returned capacity at the time of continuous charge at high voltages and high temperatures. The battery has positive and negative electrodes, and a nonaqueous electrolytic solution containing ethylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate as a solvent. The positive electrode contains a positive-electrode active material with the fine particles of a rare earth element compound deposited on its surface in a dispersed state.
US09711825B2 Lithium ion secondary battery
A lithium ion secondary battery comprising a negative electrode comprising one or more types of carbon selected from the group consisting of natural graphite, artificial graphite, non-graphitizable carbon and easily graphitizable carbon; and an electrolyte solution comprising a cyclic sulfonic acid ester represented by the following formula (1): wherein in the formula (1), R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a halogen group or an amino group with the proviso that R1 and R2 are not hydrogen atoms at the same time; R3 represents a linkage group selected from the group consisting of an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, a fluoroalkylene group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and a divalent group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms in which alkylene units or fluoroalkylene units are bonded through an ether group.
US09711819B2 Mount structure for fuel cell stack
A mount structure includes a mount member, and a bracket member. An upper surface of the bracket member, which is connected to a lower portion of a fuel cell stack, includes an upper surface cut formed by cutting the bracket member in a depth direction, and the upper surface cut extends in a surface direction. A lower surface of the bracket member, which is opposite to the upper surface, includes a lower surface cut formed by cutting the bracket member in the depth direction, and the lower surface cut extends in the surface direction.
US09711818B2 Charge transfer mediator based systems for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction
Disclosed are systems for the electrocatalytic reduction of oxygen, having redox mediator/redox catalyst pairs and an electrolyte solution in contact with an electrode. The redox mediator is included in the electrolyte solution, and the redox catalyst may be included in the electrolyte solution, or alternatively, may be in contact with the electrolyte solution. In one form a cobalt redox catalyst is used with a quinone redox mediator. In another form a nitrogen oxide redox catalyst is used with a nitroxyl type redox mediator. The systems can be used in electrochemical cells wherein neither the anode nor the cathode comprise an expensive metal such as platinum.
US09711811B2 End plate of fuel cell
An end plate arranged on one end of a fuel cell unit includes a plate body, which is formed from a metal material, and a gas-liquid separator, which includes a housing into which emission from the fuel cell unit is drawn in. The gas-liquid separator separates water from the emission and drains the separated water out of the housing. The housing is formed from a resin material and is in contact with the plate body.
US09711810B2 Exhaust drain valve for fuel cell
An exhaust drain valve includes a valve casing, a primary flow passage introducing an anode-off gas and a produced water from an inlet of the primary flow passage to an inside, a secondary flow passage discharging the anode-off gas and the produced water from an outlet of the secondary flow passage to an outside, a valve seat being formed at a primary flow passage outlet, and a valve body moving forward and backward. The primary flow passage includes an orifice being communicated with the primary flow passage outlet, an introduction flow passage having a diameter larger than a diameter of the orifice, the introduction flow passage being communicable with the inlet, and a step portion being formed orthogonal to an axial direction of the introduction flow passage, the step portion connecting the orifice and the introduction flow passage by having a step between the orifice and the introduction flow passage.
US09711798B2 Lithium electrode and lithium secondary battery comprising the same
The present disclosure relates to a lithium electrode, comprising an electrode composite comprising a porous metallic current collector, and lithium metal inserted into pores present in the metallic current collector; and a protective membrane for lithium ion conduction, the protective membrane being formed on at least one surface of the electrode composite.The lithium electrode according to the present disclosure can increase contact surface between lithium metal and a current collector to improve the performances of a lithium secondary battery, and can exhibit uniform electron distribution therein to prevent the growth of lithium dendrites during the operation of a lithium secondary battery, thereby improving the safety of a lithium secondary battery. Furthermore, even though the lithium electrode is coated with a protective membrane for lithium ion conduction on the surface thereof, the protective membrane can be prevented from being peeled off during the charge and discharge of a lithium secondary battery.
US09711797B2 Coated particles for lithium battery cathodes
Particles of cathodic materials are coated with polymer to prevent direct contact between the particles and the surrounding electrolyte. The polymers are held in place either by a) growing the polymers from initiators covalently bound to the particle, b) attachment of the already-formed polymers by covalently linking to functional groups attached to the particle, or c) electrostatic interactions resulting from incorporation of cationic or anionic groups in the polymer chain. Carbon or ceramic coatings may first be formed on the surfaces of the particles before the particles are coated with polymer. The polymer coating is both electronically and ionically conductive.
US09711795B2 Anode electrodes for secondary battery and lithium secondary battery containing the same
Disclosed is an anode for secondary batteries, in which an anode mixture including an anode active material and a binder is coated on a current collector, wherein the binder includes a homopolymer having a molecular weight of 1,000,000 to 1,400,000 and the anode active material includes a lithium metal oxide represented by Formula 1 below: LixMyOz  (1) wherein M is Ti, Sn, Cu, Pb, Sb, Zn, Fe, In, Al, or Zr; and x, y, and z are determined according to oxidation number of M.
US09711783B2 Negative electrode for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery and nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery
A negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to one aspect of the present invention includes a negative electrode mixture layer that contains a binder and a negative electrode active material particle that forms an alloy with lithium and is formed on a current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes a base portion near the current collector and pillar-shaped portions formed on the base portion. A negative electrode for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to another aspect of the present invention includes a negative electrode mixture layer that contains a binder and a negative electrode active material particle that forms an alloy with lithium and is formed on a current collector. The negative electrode mixture layer includes pillar-shaped portions and the particle diameter of the negative electrode active material particle is 20% or less of the maximum diameter of the pillar-shaped portions.
US09711766B2 Energy storage apparatus
An energy storage apparatus includes a base arranged adjacently to an energy storage device and forming a passage between the base and the energy storage device, a holder that holds the energy storage device and a spacer, and an insulator arranged between the spacer and the holder. The insulator includes a first insulating portion arranged between the spacer and the holder, and a first sealing portion being in contact with an extending portion.
US09711761B2 Electro luminescence panel and method for manufacturing electro luminescence panel
The present invention provides an organic EL panel and a manufacturing method of the organic EL layer which can slow the reduction in the light emission lifetime of an organic layer and allow a short-circuit defect to be repaired. Organic EL elements include: an organic EL element including a short-circuit portion, and an altered portion formed to be highly resistive by irradiating a cathode with a laser beam; and an organic EL element which does not include the short-circuit portion. In the organic EL element, an organic EL layer emits light when a voltage higher than or equal to a first voltage is applied. In the organic EL element, the organic EL layer emits light when a voltage higher than equal to a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage is applied.
US09711749B2 Organic light emitting display apparatus and method for manufacturing the same
An organic light emitting display (OLED) device, and a method for manufacturing the OLED device are discussed. The OLED device according to one embodiment includes a substrate; an anode formed on the substrate; a bank formed on the substrate to partially overlap the anode; an organic light emitting element including a portion of a common layer on the anode and another portion of the common layer on the bank, the portion of the common layer on the bank being thinner than the another portion of the common layer on the anode; and a cathode fanned above the portion of the common layer on the anode and the another portion of the common layer on the bank.
US09711732B2 Organic electroluminescent element and material for organic electroluminescent elements
An organic electroluminescence device includes: a cathode; an anode; and an organic thin-film layer having one or more layers and provided between the anode and the cathode, in which the organic layer includes an emitting layer. The emitting layer includes a first host material, a second host material and a phosphorescent dopant material. The first host material is a compound represented by a formula (1A). The second host material is a compound represented by a formula (2A).
US09711715B2 Method of manufacturing a dual mode ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) having imprinted read-only (RO) data
Read-only (“RO”) data to be permanently imprinted in storage cells of a memory array are written to the memory array. One or more over-stress conditions such as heat, over-voltage, over-current and/or mechanical stress are then applied to the memory array or to individual storage cells within the memory array. The over-stress condition(s) act upon one or more state-determining elements of the storage cells to imprint the RO data. The over-stress condition permanently alters a value of a state-determining property of the state-determining element without incapacitating normal operation of the storage cell. The altered value of the state-determining property biases the cell according to the state of the RO data bit. The bias is detectable in the cell read-out signal. A pre-written ferroelectric random-access memory (“FRAM”) array is baked. Baking traps electric dipoles oriented in a direction corresponding to a state of the pre-written data and forms am RO data imprint.
US09711706B2 Piezoelectric element drive circuit
A piezoelectric element drive circuit includes an H bridge circuit, an LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit, an amplifier circuit, and an inverter circuit. First and second drive signals output from the H bridge circuit and having opposite phases are applied to a piezoelectric element. A voltage between opposite ends of a resistor connected to a first output terminal of the H bridge circuit is input to the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit. A differential signal output from the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit has a lower slew rate because harmonic components are suppressed by the function of a low pass filter. Accordingly, respective slew rates of first and second control signals input to first and second input terminals of the H bridge circuit are also reduced. Hence the first and second control signals are each provided as a signal having a step-like waveform and including harmonic components that have been suppressed.
US09711698B2 Light-emitting device
The present invention provides a solution increasing illuminance of the irradiation surface in a vicinity of the optical axis and suppressing the generation of the yellow ring phenomenon. The present invention is for a light emitting device 1 having a light emitting element 2 and a light control member 3, the light control member has a light incident surface 31 and light emitting surface 32, when the intersection point of the optical axis and a light emitting surface of the light emitting element 2 is defined as a base point, an angle formed by the optical axis and a line connecting the base point and an optional point is defined as α1, and distance between the optional point of the light incident surface and the base point is defined as D1, for the light incident surface, the distance D1 is increasing as increasing the angle α1 if the angle α1 is 0≦α1<β1 (radian), and the distance D1 is decreasing as increasing the angle α1 if β1β2α1<(p/2) (radian). when an angle formed by the optical axis and a line connecting the base point and an optional point of the light emitting surface is defined as α1α2 and distance between the optional point of the light emitting surface and the base point is defined as D2, for the light emitting surface, the distance D2 is decreased in range of 0≦a2
US09711692B2 Display device using semiconductor light emitting devices having different structures
A display device using semiconductor light emitting devices is disclosed. The display device includes a substrate, a plurality of first electrodes disposed on the substrate, a light emitting device array comprising a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices electrically connected to the first electrodes, constituting individual pixels, and having different brightnesses increasing from one side of a current input direction of each of the first electrodes to the other side of the current input direction, and a plurality of second electrodes electrically connected to the semiconductor light emitting devices. Thus, brightness variation caused by power loss may be reduced in a display device of PM type using light emitting device array, thereby reducing load effect that is a problem of the device of PM type using light emitting device array.
US09711691B2 Side-view type light emitting device including base body having protruding component
A light emitting device has a base body equipped with a base material and a pair of connection terminals disposed from a first main face to a second main face that is on the opposite side from the first main face; a plurality of light emitting elements connected to the connection terminals on the first main face; and a light reflecting member that covers the side faces of the light emitting elements, the base material having a protruding component on the second main face, the protruding component being one of a heat releasing terminal, a reinforcement terminal, and an insulating film, and the connection terminals being disposed on the first main face from the second main face on both sides of the protruding component, and being partly exposed from the light reflecting member on both sides of the first main face.
US09711683B2 Semiconductor device and the method of manufacturing the same
The present application discloses a semiconductor device comprising a crystalline substrate having a first region and a second region, a nuclei structure on the first region, a first crystalline buffer layer on the nuclei structure, a void between the second region and the first crystalline buffer layer, a second crystalline buffer layer on the first crystalline buffer layer, an intermediate layer located between the first crystalline buffer layer and the second crystalline buffer layer, and a semiconductor device layer on the second crystalline buffer layer.
US09711679B2 Front-side emitting mid-infrared light emitting diode fabrication methods
Methods for fabricating mid-infrared light emitting diodes (LEDs) based upon antimonide-arsenide semiconductor heterostructures and configured into front-side emitting high-brightness LED die and other LED die formats.
US09711673B2 Display device with photovoltaic cells integrated into the screen and improved screen luminosity and reflectivity
A display device comprising at least: (a) a plurality of photovoltaic active areas and a plurality of holes, two neighboring photovoltaic active areas forming an opening; (b) one or more artificial light sources; (c) a plurality of light concentrators and reflective opaque disposed between said light sources and said photovoltaic active areas. This device wherein said hubs of light are arranged so that the light emitted from artificial light sources is directed by the light concentrators through the holes.
US09711670B2 Self-charging electronic devices
Self-powered portable electronic devices are disclosed that have the capacity to generate their own electrical power, store electrical charge, and distribute electrical power to similarly designed devices in close proximity. Devices generate power in part using one or more non-solar thermal energy sources that have increased stability and efficiency compared to current solar cell powered devices. Devices comprise components including, control processors, data storage, energy storage, dedicated energy and power management processors, and thermophotovoltaic cells that convert thermal energy into electrical power. Devices are capable of transmitting and receiving energy, power, voice and data information using standard frequencies associated with portable devices. Additionally, the invention discloses methods, systems, and apparatuses comprising circuitry that can control power generation from multiple thermophotovoltaic cells and traditional power sources.
US09711664B2 Flexible transparent solar cell and production process of the same
The invention provides a flexible transparent solar cell and a production process of the same, and belongs to the technical field of solar cell. The flexible transparent solar cell comprises: a flexible transparent substrate, a transparent front-electrode, a cell unit, a transparent back-electrode and a transparent encapsulating layer, which are disposed in this order; the transparent front-electrode comprising a metallic grid thin film layer and a graphene layer; and the transparent back-electrode comprising a nano metal layer and a graphene layer. The invention can be used in production of flexible transparent solar cell, in order to improve conductivity and transparency of solar cells.
US09711663B2 Power generating system and method of designing power generating system
A power generating system comprising: a plurality of power generating units coupled in parallel; a power collecting device for collecting electric power output from the plurality of power generating units; and wirings for coupling the plurality of power generating units and the power collecting device. A ratio of a conductor diameter to a predetermined length of each of the wirings is defined as a reference ratio. A value obtained by multiplying the reference ratio, a number of the wirings, and a loss generated by a specific wiring together is subtracted from a value obtained by multiplying a predetermined number of wirings for adjustment by a ratio of a conductor diameter to a length of the specific wiring. A total of the ratios of the conductor diameters to the lengths of the predetermined number of the wirings for adjustment is determined as a value less than the subtracted value.
US09711659B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first conductive type first main electrode region, a first conductive type drift region which makes contact with the first main electrode region, a first conductive type second main electrode region which makes contact with the drift region, a second conductive type well region which is provided in a part of a surface layer portion of the drift region and to which a reference potential is applied, and a first conductive type potential extracting region which is provided in a surface layer portion of the well region and to which the reference potential is applied. The well region serves as a base region which controls a current flowing between the potential extracting region and the drift region. Thus, it is possible to provide a novel semiconductor device which is high in reliability while the increase of the chip size can be suppressed.
US09711658B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a first selection gate insulating film, a first selection gate, a first gate insulating film, a first contact electrode, a first bit line connected to an upper portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and an upper portion of the first contact electrode, a second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, a layer including a first charge storage layer, a first control gate, a layer including a second charge storage layer and formed above the first control gate, a second control gate, a second gate insulating film, a second contact electrode having an upper portion connected to an upper portion of the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer, and a first lower internal line that connects a lower portion of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor layer and a lower portion of the second pillar-shaped semiconductor layer.
US09711654B2 Display device
A display device including: a first base substrate including a display area and a non-display area adjacent to the display area; a plurality of signal lines disposed in the display area; a plurality of pixels disposed in the display area and connected to the signal lines; and a driving circuit disposed in the non-display area and configured to provide driving signals to the signal lines. Each of the pixels includes a switching transistor connected to a corresponding signal line, and a display element connected to the switching transistor.
US09711653B2 Thin film transistor, method for fabricating the same and display apparatus
Embodiments of the present invention provide a thin film transistor, method for fabricating the thin film transistor and display apparatus. The method includes steps of: forming an active layer pattern which has a mobility greater than a predetermined threshold from an active layer material; and performing ion implantation on the active layer pattern. The energy of a compound bond formed from the implanted ions is greater than that of a compound bond formed from ions in the active layer material, thereby reducing the chance of vacancy formation and reducing the carrier concentration. Therefore, the mobility of the active layer surface is reduced, the leakage current is reduced, the threshold voltage is adjusted to shift toward positive direction and performance of the thin film transistor is improved.
US09711649B2 Transistors incorporating metal quantum dots into doped source and drain regions
Metal quantum dots are incorporated into doped source and drain regions of a MOSFET array to assist in controlling transistor performance by altering the energy gap of the semiconductor crystal. In a first example, the quantum dots are incorporated into ion-doped source and drain regions. In a second example, the quantum dots are incorporated into epitaxially doped source and drain regions.
US09711645B2 Method and structure for multigate FinFET device epi-extension junction control by hydrogen treatment
Embodiments are directed to forming a structure comprising at least one fin, a gate, and a spacer, applying an annealing process to the structure to create a gap between the at least one fin and the spacer, and growing an epitaxial semiconductor layer in the gap between the spacer and the at least one fin.
US09711640B2 Vertical conduction integrated electronic device protected against the latch-up and relating manufacturing process
A vertical conduction integrated electronic device including: a semiconductor body; a trench that extends through part of the semiconductor body and delimits a portion of the semiconductor body, which forms a first conduction region having a first type of conductivity and a body region having a second type of conductivity, which overlies the first conduction region; a gate region of conductive material, which extends within the trench; an insulation region of dielectric material, which extends within the trench and is arranged between the gate region and the body region; and a second conduction region, which overlies the body region. The second conduction region is formed by a conductor.
US09711623B2 FinFETs with vertical Fins and methods for forming the same
In a method for forming a device, a (110) silicon substrate is etched to form first trenches in the (110) silicon substrate, wherein remaining portions of the (110) silicon substrate between the first trenches form silicon strips. The sidewalls of the silicon strips have (111) surface orientations. The first trenches are filled with a dielectric material to from Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) regions. The silicon strips are removed to form second trenches between the STI regions. An epitaxy is performed to grow semiconductor strips in the second trenches. Top portions of the STI regions are recessed, and the top portions of the semiconductor strips between removed top portions of the STI regions form semiconductor fins.
US09711622B2 Manufacturing method of display apparatus
Provided are a display apparatus and a manufacturing method of the same. The display apparatus includes: a counter substrate, and an active matrix substrate including a pixel area. The active matrix substrate includes, in a non-transmissive region of each pixel, a transparent substrate, a polycrystalline silicon film, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, an interlayer insulating film, and a drain layer including patterned conductive films, and includes, in a transparent region of each pixel, the transparent substrate, the gate insulating film and the interlayer insulating film. The interlayer insulating film includes zones where the interlayer insulating film is thinner than a part of the interlayer insulating film at the middle of each transmissive region. The zones are each located so as to extend between the neighboring patterned conductive films and are further located so as not to overlap with the transmissive regions and regions laid over LDD portions of the polycrystalline silicon film.
US09711617B2 Dual isolation fin and method of making
A method of making a dual isolation fin comprises applying a mask to a substrate and etching the exposed areas of the substrate to form a mandrel; forming a dielectric layer on the surface of the substrate and adjacent to the mandrel; forming a first epitaxially formed material on the exposed portions of the mandrel; forming a second epitaxially formed material on the first epitaxially formed material; forming a first isolation layer on the dielectric layer and adjacent to the second epitaxially formed material; removing the mask and mandrel after forming the first isolation layer; removing the first epitaxially formed material after removing the mask and mandrel; and forming a second isolation layer.
US09711597B2 Semiconductor element, method for manufacturing same, and semiconductor integrated circuit
The present invention provides a semiconductor element that can be manufactured easily at a low cost, can obtain a high tunneling current, and has an excellent operating characteristic, a method for manufacturing the same, and a semiconductor integrated circuit including the semiconductor element. The semiconductor element of the present invention is characterized in that the whole or a part of a tunnel junction is constituted by a semiconductor region made of an indirect-transition semiconductor containing isoelectronic-trap-forming impurities.
US09711584B2 Display unit and electronic apparatus
A display unit includes a light emitting layer including a light emitting device; a color filter layer including a color filter corresponding to the light emitting device; and a light blocking layer including a light blocking member arranged to overlap an end of the color filter, a center position of the light blocking member being offset from the end of the color filter.
US09711577B2 OLED display device and fabrication method thereof
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device (01) and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The OLED display device (01) comprises a plurality of sub-pixel units, and each of the sub-pixel units includes a first electrode (20), an organic material functional layer (30) and a second electrode (40) which are sequentially disposed on a base substrate (10). The sub-pixel unit further includes: a first buffer layer (50) disposed between the base substrate (10) and the first electrode (20). A surface of a part, corresponding to the first electrode (20), of the first buffer layer (50) on a side away from the base substrate (10) is in a concave shape; the first electrode (20) is a transparent electrode, and the second electrode (40) is a non-transparent metal electrode.
US09711567B2 Process for fabricating an integrated circuit cointegrating a FET transistor and an OxRAM memory location
The invention relates to a process for fabricating an integrated circuit (1), comprising the steps of: providing a substrate (100), the substrate being equipped with first and second dummy gates and with an encapsulation layer (106); removing the first and second dummy gates in order to make first and second grooves (23, 33) in said encapsulation layer (106); simultaneously depositing a gate insulating layer (107) at least in the bottom of the first groove and on a side wall of the second groove; forming a gate electrode of said transistor (2) in the first groove, forming source and drain electrodes of said transistor on either side of said gate electrode, forming first and second electrodes of said memory cell on either side of said gate insulating layer deposited on a side wall of the second groove.
US09711554B2 Image sensor
An image sensor includes a pixel array chip, a logic chip, and an interposed layer. The interposed layer is disposed on the pixel array chip. The logic chip is disposed on the interposed layer. The interposed layer includes a connecting part, a shielding part, and a metal-diffusion barrier layer. The connecting part electrically connects a first interconnection wire of the pixel array chip and a second interconnection wire of the logic chip. The connecting part includes a first metallic element. The shielding part is disposed spatially apart from the connecting part and electrically grounded to suppress an electrical coupling between the pixel array chip and the logic chip. The shielding part includes a second metallic element. The metal-diffusion barrier layer is disposed on top and bottom surfaces of the interposed layer to limit diffusion of electrical charges to the pixel array chip and the logic chip.
US09711551B2 Image sensors with color filter windows
An imaging pixel may include an upper substrate layer with a photosensitive layer and a lower substrate with a photosensitive layer. A color filter layer may be formed over the upper substrate layer. The color filter layer may include a color filter window that allows light to pass through the upper substrate layer to the photosensitive layer in the lower substrate. The color filter window may be formed from a dielectric material or from a color filter element with a different color than the surrounding color filter element. A metal interconnect layer may couple the lower substrate layer to the upper substrate layer. The color filter window may be formed in the central portion of a pixel, or between multiple pixels in an image sensor.
US09711543B2 Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same
A liquid crystal display device includes a gate line and a data line disposed on a substrate; a thin film transistor (TFT) provided between the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode positioned on the entire surface of a pixel region of the substrate; an insulating layer positioned on the entire surface of the substrate and exposing the TFT and the pixel electrode; a pixel electrode connection pattern electrically connecting the pixel electrode and the TFT on the insulating layer; and a plurality of common electrodes overlapping the pixel electrode and spaced apart from one another; and metal layer patterns provided on the common electrode overlapping at least one of the data line and the gate line.
US09711541B2 Display panel and method for forming an array substrate of a display panel
The present disclosure provides a display panel and a method for forming an array substrate of a display panel. The display panel includes an array substrate which includes a display region and a frame region. The frame region includes a wire region in which first signal wires are formed. Each of the first signal wires includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer which are stacked with each other and electrically connected. As such, to obtain the same resistance value as that in prior art, the first signal wires in the present disclosure can be formed with a reduced width. Therefore, the wire region of the array substrate can have a smaller size, and thus the whole frame region of the display panel can be smaller.
US09711538B2 Display device
A display device includes two or more pixels disposed in a pixel area in which two or more data lines intersect two or more gate lines; a common electrode commonly disposed on the pixels; a first gate high voltage supplied through a first gate voltage line, a portion of the first gate high voltage overlapping the common electrode; a second gate high voltage supplied through a second gate voltage line, a portion of the second gate high voltage overlapping the common electrode; a connecting line structure in contact with the common electrode, and extending from the common electrode in a direction toward a position in which the common electrode does not overlap the first gate voltage line.
US09711535B2 Method of forming FinFET channel
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device having a substantially undoped channel region includes performing an ion implantation into a substrate, depositing a first epitaxial layer over the substrate, and depositing a second epitaxial layer over the first epitaxial layer. In various examples, a plurality of fins is formed extending from the substrate. Each of the plurality of fins includes a portion of the ion implanted substrate, a portion of the first epitaxial layer, and a portion of the second epitaxial layer. In some embodiments, the portion of the second epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins includes an undoped channel region. In various embodiments, the portion of the first epitaxial layer of each of the plurality of fins is oxidized.
US09711534B2 Devices including a diamond layer
A device includes a substrate layer, a diamond layer, and a device layer. The device layer is patterned. The diamond layer is to conform to a pattern associated with the device layer.
US09711531B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device can include forming a channel hole in a vertical stack of alternating insulating and sacrificial layers to form a recess in a substrate. A selectively epitaxial growth can be performed to provide a lower semiconductor pattern in the recess using material of the substrate as a seed and a recess can be formed to penetrate an upper surface of the lower semiconductor pattern via the channel hole.
US09711504B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a first trench, a first fin pattern on the substrate that is defined by the first trench, a gate electrode on the substrate, and a field insulating layer on the substrate. The first fin pattern includes an upper part on a lower part. The first fin pattern includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite each other. The first sidewall is concave along the lower part of the first fin pattern. The second sidewall is tilted along the lower part of the first fin pattern. The field insulating layer surrounds the lower part of the first fin pattern. The gate electrode surrounds the upper part of the first fin pattern.
US09711491B2 Light-emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light-emitting device may comprise a substrate, an electric wire fixed to the substrate, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes mounted to the electric wire. According to one embodiment, each of the plurality of light-emitting diodes is an LED chip, and the light-emitting diodes on the substrate are sealed individually or collectively by one or more sealing members. According to another embodiment, the substrate has a plurality of through holes, wherein a plurality of portions of the electric wire provided on a rear surface side of the substrate communicates with a front surface side of the substrate at the plurality of through holes of the substrate, and wherein the plurality of light-emitting diodes is respectively mounted to the respective portions of the electric wire that communicate with the front surface side of the substrate. Other embodiments relate to methods of manufacturing a light-emitting device.
US09711485B1 Thin bonded interposer package
Methods and systems for a thin bonded interposer package are disclosed and may, for example, include bonding a semiconductor die to a first surface of a substrate, forming contacts on the first surface of the substrate, encapsulating the semiconductor die, formed contacts, and first surface of the substrate using a mold material while leaving a top surface of the semiconductor die not encapsulated by mold material, forming vias through the mold material to expose the formed contacts. A bond line may be dispensed on the mold material and the semiconductor die for bonding the substrate to an interposer. A thickness of the bond line may be defined by standoffs formed on the top surface of the semiconductor die.
US09711476B2 Wiring board and electronic component device
A wiring board includes: an insulating layer; a pad including: an upper surface; a lower surface opposite to the upper surface; and a side surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein the side surface and the lower surface of the pad are embedded in the insulating layer; and a metal post formed on the upper surface of the pad and including: an upper surface; a lower surface opposite to the upper surface; and a side surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, wherein a narrowed portion is formed in the side surface of the metal post.
US09711475B2 Bump structural designs to minimize package defects
A method of forming a chip package includes providing a chip with a plurality of first bumps, wherein the plurality of first bumps has a first height. The method further includes providing a substrate with a plurality of second bumps, wherein the plurality of second bumps has a second height. The method further includes bonding the plurality of first bumps to the plurality of second bumps to form a first bump structure of the chip package, wherein the first bump structure has a standoff, wherein a ratio of a sum of the first height and the second height to the standoff is equal to or greater than about 0.6 and less than 1.
US09711474B2 Semiconductor package structure with polymeric layer and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor package structure includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of through substrate vias (TSV) extending from a first surface to a second surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the second surface is opposite to the first surface; a plurality of conductive bumps on the second surface and connected to a corresponding TSV; a polymeric layer on the second surface and surrounding a lower portion of a corresponding conductive bump. The polymeric layer includes a first portion configured as a blanket covering a periphery region of the semiconductor substrate; and a second portion in a core region of the semiconductor substrate and configured as a plurality of isolated belts, wherein each of the isolated belts surrounds a corresponding conductive bump.
US09711468B2 Bonding pad structure with dense via array
A bonding pad structure comprises a first dielectric layer, a first conductive island in a second dielectric layer over the first dielectric layer and a via array having a plurality of vias in a third dielectric layer over the first conductive island. The structure also comprises a plurality of second conductive islands in a fourth dielectric layer over the via array. The second conductive islands are each separated from one another by a dielectric material of the fourth dielectric layer and in contact with at least one via of the via array. The structure further comprises a substrate over the second conductive islands. The substrate has an opening defined therein that exposes at least one second conductive island. The structure additionally comprises a bonding pad over the substrate. The bonding pad is in contact with the at least one second conductive island through the opening in the substrate.
US09711461B2 Wiring substrate and semiconductor device
A wiring substrate includes first through holes extending through an insulation layer, first via wirings formed in the first through holes, a conductive pattern connected to the first via wirings, recesses formed in the first via wirings, and a protective insulation layer covering the conductive pattern and the first via wirings. The first via wirings, the conductive pattern, the recesses, and the protective insulation layer form an identification mark identifiable as a particular shape including a character or a symbol. Each recess is defined by an upper surface of the corresponding first via wiring and includes a curved side wall and a bottom wall that is located at a lower position than an upper surface of the conductive pattern. The protective insulation layer is thicker over the first via wirings than over the conductive pattern.
US09711453B2 Semiconductor devices including a capping layer
Methods of forming a semiconductor device are provided. A method of forming a semiconductor device may include forming a capping layer on a metal pattern and on an adjacent portion of an insulating layer, the capping layer comprising a first etch selectivity, with respect to the insulating layer, on the metal pattern and a second etch selectivity, with respect to the insulating layer, on the portion of the insulating layer. Moreover, the method may include forming a recess region adjacent the metal pattern by removing the capping layer from the portion of the insulating layer. At least a portion of the capping layer may remain on an uppermost surface of the metal pattern after removing the capping layer from the portion of the insulating layer. Related semiconductor devices are also provided.
US09711445B2 Package substrate, package structure including the same, and their fabrication methods
This disclosure provides a package substrate, a package structure including the same and their fabrication methods. The package substrate comprises: a first wiring layer having a first metal wire and a first dielectric material layer surrounding the first metal wire; a conductive pillar layer formed on the first wiring layer and including a first metal pillar connected to the first metal wire and a molding compound layer surrounding the first metal pillar; a flexible material layer formed on the conductive pillar layer and including a first opening formed on the first metal pillar and exposing the first metal pillar; and a second wiring layer formed on the conductive pillar layer and including a second metal wire connected to the first metal pillar through the first opening, a second metal pillar formed on the second metal wire, and a protective layer surrounding the second metal wire and the second metal pillar.
US09711444B2 Packaging module and substrate structure thereof
A substrate structure is provided, including: a circuit board having a plurality of wiring layers; a first circuit layer; a plurality of conductive posts disposed on the first circuit layer; a first insulating layer encapsulating the circuit board, the first circuit layer and the conductive posts; and a second circuit layer formed on the first insulating layer and electrically connected to the wiring layers with the second circuit layer electrically connected to the first circuit layer through the conductive posts. According to the present disclosure, fine-pitch circuits are formed in the circuit board, and thus only the circuit board needs a high-cost insulating material, thereby allowing the first insulating layer to be made of a low-cost material to reduce the fabrication cost.
US09711441B2 Reduced PTH pad for enabling core routing and substrate layer count reduction
Embodiments are directed to semiconductor packaging having reduced sized plated through hole (PTH) pads by eliminating the margin of the pad-to-PTH alignment and enabling finer traces on the core of the substrate.
US09711421B1 Process for making semiconductor dies, chips, and wafers using in-line measurements obtained from DOEs of GATE-snake-open-configured, NCEM-enabled fill cells
Improved processes for manufacturing wafers, chips, or dies utilize in-line data obtained from non-contact electrical measurements (“NCEM”) of fill cells that contain structures configured to target/expose a variety of open-circuit, short-circuit, leakage, or excessive resistance failure modes, including GATE-snake-open and/or GATE-snake-resistance failure modes. Such processes may involve evaluating Designs of Experiments (“DOEs”), comprised of multiple NCEM-enabled fill cells, in at least two variants, all targeted to the same failure mode(s).
US09711414B2 Strained stacked nanosheet FETS and/or quantum well stacked nanosheet
Exemplary embodiments provide for fabricating a biaxially strained nanosheet. Aspects of the exemplary embodiments include: growing an epitaxial crystalline initial superlattice having one or more periods, each of the periods comprising at least three layers, an active material layer, a first sacrificial material layer and a second sacrificial material layer, the first and second sacrificial material layers having different material properties; in each of the one or more periods, placing each of the active material layers between the first and second sacrificial material layers, wherein lattice constants of the first and second sacrificial material layers are different than the active material layer and impose biaxial stress in the active material layer; selectively etching away all of the first sacrificial material layers thereby exposing one surface of the active material for additional processing, while the biaxial strain in the active material layers is maintained by the second sacrificial material layers; and selectively etching away all of the second sacrificial material layers thereby exposing a second surface of the active material layers for additional processing.
US09711411B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate; forming a first gate structure and a second gate structure on the substrate; forming a contact etch stop layer (CESL) on the first gate structure, the second gate structure, and the substrate; removing part of the CESL between the first gate structure and the second gate structure; and forming an interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer on the CESL.
US09711408B2 Integrated circuit structure and method for manufacturing thereof
A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit structure includes forming a plurality of gate stacks on a first area and a second area of a substrate. A photo-resist layer is formed over the gate stacks on the first area. An ion-doped layer is formed in the second area. The photo-resist layer is removed. A first etching recess is formed in the first area and between two gate stacks. A second etching recess is formed in the second area and between two gate stacks. An epitaxial material is filled into the first etching recess and the second etching recess to form a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure.
US09711406B2 Method and apparatus for plasma dicing a semi-conductor wafer
The present invention provides a method for plasma dicing a substrate. The method comprising providing a process chamber having a wall; providing a plasma source adjacent to the wall of the process chamber; providing a work piece support within the process chamber; placing the substrate onto a support film on a frame to form a work piece work piece; loading the work piece onto the work piece support; providing a clamping electrode for electrostatically clamping the work piece to the work piece support; providing a mechanical partition between the plasma source and the work piece; generating a plasma through the plasma source; and etching the work piece through the generated plasma.
US09711404B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A semiconductor device includes a substrate that includes a first region and a second region adjacent to the first region. The first region has a thickness that is smaller than a thickness of the second region, and a nitride semiconductor layer is provided on the first region of the substrate.
US09711403B2 Method for forming chip package
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for forming a chip package which includes: providing a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein at least two conducting pads are disposed on the first surface of the substrate; partially removing the substrate from the second surface of the substrate to form at least two holes extending towards the first surface, wherein the holes correspondingly and respectively align with one of the conducting pads; after the holes are formed, partially removing the substrate from the second substrate to form at least a recess extending towards the first surface, wherein the recess overlaps with the holes; forming an insulating layer on a sidewall and a bottom of the trench and on sidewalls of the holes; and forming a conducting layer on the insulating layer, wherein the conducting layer electrically contacts with one of the conducting pads.
US09711401B2 Reliable packaging and interconnect structures
Methods and apparatus for forming a semiconductor device are provided which may include any number of features. One feature is a method of forming an interconnect structure that results in the interconnect structure having a top surface and portions of the side walls of the interconnect structure covered in a dissimilar material. In some embodiments, the dissimilar material can be a conductive material or a nano-alloy. The interconnect structure can be formed by removing a portion of the interconnect structure, and covering the interconnect structure with the dissimilar material. The interconnect structure can comprise a damascene structure, such as a single or dual damascene structure, or alternatively, can comprise a silicon-through via (TSV) structure.
US09711394B1 Method for cleaning the surface of an epitaxial layer in openings of semiconductor device
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes the following steps: providing a substrate having an epitaxial layer, a gate structure and an interlayer dielectric thereon, where the epitaxial structure is disposed at sides of the gate structure and the interlayer dielectric covering the epitaxial structure; forming an opening in the interlayer dielectric so that the surface of the epitaxial layer is exposed from the bottom of the opening; performing a rapid thermal process in an inert environment until non-conductive material is generated on the surface of the epitaxial layer; and removing the non-conductive material.
US09711390B2 Shallow trench isolation trenches and methods for NAND memory
A method of forming a shallow trench isolation trench in a semiconductor substrate is described. The method includes forming a trench in a region of the substrate, forming a liner in the trench, wherein the liner includes a first dielectric material, adhering a halogen element to the liner, forming a second dielectric material in the trench, annealing the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material, exposing a portion of a surface of the second dielectric material, and isotropically etching the exposed portion of the surface of the second dielectric material to form an air gap in the shallow trench isolation trench.
US09711389B2 Automatic module apparatus for manufacturing solid state drives (SSD)
An automatic module apparatus for manufacturing a solid state drive (SSD) includes a labeling apparatus, one or more test handler apparatuses and a sorting apparatus. The labeling apparatus is for printing a label on a SSD mounted on a carrier tray. The one or more test handler apparatuses are for transporting the carrier tray on which the labeled SSD is mounted and for testing the labeled SSDs to determine whether the labeled SSDs have any defects. The SSD sorting apparatus is for transporting the carrier tray on which the tested SSDs are mounted and sorting non-defective defective SSDs tested by the test handler apparatuses. The SSD labeling apparatus, the test handler apparatuses, and the SSD sorting apparatus are in-line and automated.
US09711381B2 Methods and apparatus for post-chemical mechanical planarization substrate cleaning
A method and apparatus for cleaning a substrate after chemical mechanical planarizing (CMP) is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing, a substrate holder rotatable on a first axis and configured to retain a substrate in a substantially vertical orientation, a first pad holder having a pad retaining surface facing the substrate holder in a parallel and spaced apart relation, the first pad holder rotatable on a second axis disposed parallel to the first axis, a first actuator operable to move the pad holder relative to the substrate holder to change a distance between the first axis and the second axis, and a second pad holder disposed in the housing, the second pad holder having a pad retaining surface facing the substrate holder in a parallel and spaced apart relation, the second pad holder rotatable on a third axis parallel to the first axis and the second axis.
US09711372B2 Double patterning method
In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a method of forming an integrated circuit device. The method is performed by forming a first mask layer over a substrate and a second mask layer over the first mask layer. The second mask layer is patterned to form cut regions. A mandrel is formed over the first mask layer and the cut regions, and the first mask layer is etched using the mandrel form a patterned first mask. The substrate is etched according to the patterned first mask and the cut regions to form trenches in the substrate, and the trenches are filled with conductive metal to form conductive lines.
US09711363B2 Plating method, recording medium and plating system
A plating method includes forming a catalyst layer 118 on a surface of a substrate including an inner surface of a recess 112; drying the substrate having the catalyst layer formed thereon such that an inside of the recess is dried as well; removing the catalyst layer at least on the surface of the substrate at the outside of the recess by supplying a processing liquid, which is configured to dissolve a material of the surface of the substrate, onto the surface of the substrate while rotating the dried substrate and while preventing or suppressing the processing liquid from being introduced into the dried inside of the recess; and forming a plating layer 119 on the inside of the recess, at which the catalyst layer is not removed, by an electroless plating process.
US09711362B2 Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes a first layer, a second layer provided on the first layer, the second layer forming a two-dimensional electron gas in the first layer, a source electrode provided on the second layer, a drain electrode provided on the second layer, a gate electrode provided between the source electrode and the drain electrode on the second layer, and a first insulating layer provided between the gate electrode and the drain electrode on the second layer, the first insulating layer being a first oxide of at least one first element selected from the group consisting of Hf, Zr, Ti, Al, La, Y, and Sc, the first insulating layer containing 5×1019 cm−3 or more of at least one second element selected from the group consisting of F, H, D, V, Nb, and Ta.
US09711359B2 Shadow trim line edge roughness reduction
A method for etching an etch layer in a stack over a substrate wherein the etch layer is under a mask layer which is under a patterned organic mask is provided. The stack and substrate is placed on a support in the plasma chamber. A silicon based layer is deposited in situ over the stack. The silicon based layer is etched to form silicon based sidewalls or spacers on sides of the patterned organic mask. The mask layer is selectively etched with respect to the silicon based sidewalls or spacers, wherein the selectively etching the mask layer undercuts the silicon based sidewalls or spacers. The etch layer is selectively etched with respect to the mask layer. The stack and substrate are removed from the support and the plasma chamber.
US09711351B2 Process for densifying nitride film
In some embodiments, a nitride film is provided over a semiconductor substrate and densified. The nitride film may be a flowable nitride, which may be deposited to at least partially fill openings in the substrate. Densifying the film is accomplished without exposing the nitride film to plasma by exposing the nitride film to a non-plasma densifying agent in the process chamber. The non-plasma densifying agent may be a nitriding gas, a hydrogen scavenging gas, a silicon precursor, or a combination thereof.
US09711348B2 Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
The present invention increases controllability of a composition ratio of a multi-element film that contains a predetermined element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron, oxygen, carbon and nitrogen. There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming a laminated film where a first film and a second film are laminated on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times, the cycle including: (a) forming the first film being free of borazine ring structure and including a predetermined element and at least one element selected from the group consisting of oxygen, carbon and nitrogen; and (b) forming the second film having a borazine ring structure and including at least boron and nitrogen.
US09711340B1 Photo-dissociation beam alignment method
A method of aligning a light beam within a mass spectrometer includes providing precursor ions along a longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer at two or more precursor ion locations, the precursor ion locations being spatially separated along the longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer, the precursor ions forming in-vacuum targets. The method then includes directing a light beam from a light source in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the mass spectrometer, the light beam photo-dissociating the precursor ions, and monitoring a mass spectrometer ion signal from each of the two or more precursor ion locations while adjusting the direction of the light beam, thereby aligning the light beam within the mass spectrometer.
US09711337B2 Data dependent control of the intensity of ions separated in multiple dimensions
A method of mass spectrometry is disclosed comprising setting an attenuation factor of an attenuation device to a first value and then separating or filtering ions according to a first physico-chemical property and separating or filtering ions according to a second physico-chemical property and obtaining a multi-dimensional array of data. The most intense ion peak within one or more subsets of the multi-dimensional array of data is determined. If it is determined that the most intense ion peak would cause saturation of an ion detector or ion detection system then the method further comprises adjusting the attenuation factor of the attenuation device to a second value and obtaining mass spectral data wherein the adjustment of the attenuation factor substantially alters the intensity of all ions which are detected by the ion detector or ion detection system equally and irrespective of the mass to charge ratio of the ions. The intensity of the mass spectral data is then scaled based upon the degree to which the attenuation factor of the attenuation device was increased or reduced.
US09711333B2 Non-planar radial-flow plasma treatment system
An atmospheric-pressure plasma treatment system includes a plasma source including at least one electrode, a gas in a gas chamber, and an AC power supply that supplies power to the at least one electrode to form a plasma in the gas. A radial-flow surface has a jet nozzle through which the gas flows and the radial-flow surface has a surface profile that conforms to a nonplanar treatment surface of an object. The radial-flow surface is separated from the nonplanar treatment surface by a gap that is less than 2 times a diameter of the jet nozzle so that the gas flows radially outward from the nozzle and between the radial-flow surface and the nonplanar treatment surface.
US09711330B2 RF multi-feed structure to improve plasma uniformity
A plasma source assembly for use with a processing chamber is described. The assembly includes a multi-feed RF power connection to a single or multiple RF hot electrodes.
US09711327B2 Method and system for optimizing configurable parameters of inspection tools
A method, computer product and system for optimization of configurable parameters of inspection tools are provided. The method includes applying a heuristic that utilizes a prioritized sequence of selections of configurable parameters. For each configuration setting of the heuristic the method includes providing a set of local scan images of a list of DOIs, calculating an optimization target function and updating the configuration settings with the best value of each scanned parameter according to said prioritization heuristic. The method includes outputting the one or more updated configuration settings to a recipe file.
US09711324B2 Inert atmospheric pressure pre-chill and post-heat
An ion implantation system provides ions to a workpiece positioned in a process environment of a process chamber on a sub-ambient temperature chuck. An intermediate chamber having an intermediate environment is in fluid communication with an external environment and has a cooling station and heating station for cooling and heating the workpiece. A load lock chamber is provided between the process chamber and intermediate chamber to isolate the process environment from the intermediate environment. A positive pressure source provides a dry gas within the intermediate chamber at dew point that is less than a dew point of the external environment to the intermediate chamber. The positive pressure source isolates the intermediate environment from the external environment via a flow of the dry gas from the intermediate chamber to the external environment.
US09711316B2 Method of cleaning an extraction electrode assembly using pulsed biasing
A system and method of improving the performance and extending the lifetime of an ion source is disclosed. The ion source includes an ion source chamber, a suppression electrode and a ground electrode. In the processing mode, the ion source chamber may be biased to a first positive voltage, while the suppression electrode is biased to a negative voltage to attract positive ions from within the chamber through an aperture and toward the workpiece. In the cleaning mode, the ion beam is defocused so that it strikes the suppression electrode and the ground electrode. The voltages applied to the ion source chamber and the electrodes are pulsed to minimize the possibility of glitches during this cleaning mode.
US09711312B2 Method for controlling an electromagnetic contactor and electromagnetic contactor implementing such a method
The present invention relates to a control method for an electromagnetic contactor and an electromagnetic contactor implementing such a method, where the method includes supplying an electromagnet of the contactor with a pulse width modulation supply signal and having a nominal frequency, the method also including varying the period over at least part of the pulses of the modulation so as to reduce the conducted electromagnetic disruptions, the variation of the period being chosen such that the frequency of the supply signal remains comprised in a given frequency band including the nominal frequency.
US09711309B2 Relay including processor providing control and/or monitoring
A relay includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, a fourth terminal, separable contacts electrically connected between the first and second terminals, an actuator coil comprising a first winding and a second winding, the first winding electrically connected between the third and fourth terminals, the second winding electrically connected between the third and fourth terminals, a processor, an output, a first voltage sensing circuit cooperating with the processor to determine a first voltage between the first and second terminals, and a second voltage sensing circuit cooperating with the processor to determine a second voltage between the third and fourth terminals. The processor determines that the separable contacts are closed when the first voltage does not exceed a first predetermined value and the second voltage exceeds a second predetermined value and responsively outputs a corresponding status to the output.
US09711307B2 Magnetically driven trip mechanism for an overload relay
In an overload relay, a tripping actuator 12 has a first magnet 18 and a moveable contact carrier 20 has a second magnet 28 mounted opposed to the first magnet. A moveable contact 22 on the moveable contact carrier is urged by repulsion between the magnets, to make a normally closed connection with a stationary contact 24, when the tripping actuator is in an ON position 15 and the contact carrier in a first stable position 26′. The magnets pass through an over-center tripping position (T) when the tripping actuator is moved to an OFF position 23 in response to an overcurrent condition sensed by a bimetallic thermal overload sensor 16. The magnets repel each other after passing through the over-center tripping position, to thereby urge the moveable contact into a second stable position 26, away from the stationary contact, to break the normally closed connection with the stationary contact.
US09711293B1 Capacitor with ionic-solution-infused, porous, electrically non-conductive material
A capacitor has two electrodes, one having a porous, electrically non-conductive material formed on a surface of the electrode, for example, by subjecting the conductive material of the first electrode to an anodization process. The porous, electrically non-conductive material is infused with an ionic solution and then covered by the second electrode to form the capacitor. In one implementation, the first electrode is made of titanium, and the porous, electrically non-conductive material is an array of titania tubes that grow perpendicularly from the titanium surface during the anodization process. After infusing the array of titania tubes with a saturated solution of sodium nitrate, the array is covered with a sheet of conductive material that forms the second electrode. The presence of the ionic solution greatly increases the effective dielectric constant of the titania array, thereby greatly increasing the amount of charge that can be stored in the capacitor.
US09711290B2 Curved RF electrode for improved Cmax
The present invention generally relates to a MEMS device and a method of manufacture thereof. The RF electrode, and hence, the dielectric layer thereover, has a curved upper surface that substantially matches the contact area of the bottom surface of the movable plate. As such, the movable plate is able to have good contact with the dielectric layer and thus, good capacitance is achieved.
US09711287B2 High voltage high current vacuum integrated circuit
A high voltage, high current vacuum integrated circuit includes a common vacuum enclosure that includes at least two cold-cathode field emission electron tubes, and contains at least one internal vacuum pumping means, at least one exhaust tubulation, vacuum-sealed electrically-insulated feedthroughs, and internal electrical insulation. The cold-cathode field emission electron tubes are configured to operate at high voltage and high current and interconnected with each other to implement a circuit function.
US09711278B2 Wireless power transmission system for free-position wireless charging of multiple devices
The present invention relates to a near-field wireless power transfer system capable of having a constant efficiency regardless of a charging position of a receiver by only using a simple impedance matching circuit without using a separate existing complex adaptive impedance matching circuit or control circuit, and simultaneously transmitting power without having difficulty with impedance matching even for wireless power transmission to a plurality of electronic devices by applying a wireless power transmitter with a transmitting coil having a structure to generate a uniform mutual inductance between the transmitting coil of the wireless power transmitter and a receiver coil of each of the plurality of electronic devices.
US09711265B2 Chip resistor and method for making the same
A chip resistor includes first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other, a resistor element arranged on the first and the second electrodes, a bonding layer provided between the resistor element and the two electrodes, and a plating layer electrically connected to the resistor element. The first electrode includes a flat outer side surface, and the resistor element includes a side surface facing in the direction in which the thirst and the second electrodes are spaced. The outer side surface of the first electrode is flush with the side surface of the resistor element. The plating layer covers at least a part of the outer side surface of the first electrode in a manner such that the covering portion of the plating layer extends from one vertical edge of the outer side surface to the other vertical edge.
US09711264B2 Winding layers composed of different materials
Fewer insulation layers can be used by virtue of using hydrophobic electrically conductive materials around a main insulation around a conductive bar. There are several more layers of conductive and/or non-conductive material.
US09711254B2 Toroidal bending magnets for hadron therapy gantries
Toroidal superconducting magnets can be used as lightweight rotating bending magnets in hadron therapy gantries. The toroidal bending magnets are self-shielded and do not require ferromagnetic material for field modification or shielding, decreasing both the magnet system weight, as well as overall gantry weight. Achromatic magnet can be made by combining two of these bending magnets. The simple geometry may allow the use of higher fields, making it attractive for carbon, as well as proton.
US09711253B2 Method and system for electron radiotherapy
A radiotherapy system is disclosed. The radiotherapy system comprises an electron beam generator for generating an electron beam and a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field. In some embodiments of the present invention, the system further comprises a controller for controlling the electron beam and the magnetic field generators such that the electron beam is dynamically shifted and the magnetic field is dynamically redirected synchronously with the shifting.
US09711246B2 Passive containment air cooling device and system with isolated pressure boundary
Provided is a passive containment air cooling device with an isolated pressure boundary, including a heat exchanger positioned inside and outside a containment, penetrating through an outer wall of the containment to be connected to the containment through a pipe and thus form a closed loop, and including a coolant, an air induction duct circulating air outside the heat exchanger, and a cooled air exhaust unit formed in the air induction duct to increase cooling efficiency of the heat exchanger.
US09711237B2 Method and structure for reliable electrical fuse programming
A method of programming electrical fuses reliably is disclosed. If a programming current exceeds a critical current, disruptive mechanisms such as rupture, thermal runaway, decomposition, or melt, can be a dominant programming mechanism such that programming is not be very reliable. Advantageously, by controlled programming where programming current is maintained below the critical current, electromigration can be the sole programming mechanism and, as a result, programming can be deterministic and very reliable. In this method, fuses can be programmed in multiple shots with progressive resistance changes to determine a lower bound that all fuses can be programmed satisfactorily and an upper bound that at least one fuse can be determined failed. If programming within the lower and upper bounds, defects due to programming can be almost zero and, therefore, defects are essentially determined by pre-program defects.
US09711232B2 Dynamic non-volatile memory operation scheduling for controlling power consumption of solid-state drives
A memory device and a method for rescheduling memory operations for dynamically controlling power consumption of the memory device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a plurality of memory operations for a plurality of memory arrays of a memory device via a memory channel; storing the plurality of memory operations in a plurality of queues associated with the memory array; receiving a power budget associated with the plurality of memory arrays; determining one or more candidate memory operations in the plurality of queues to meet the power budget for a time window; dynamically rearranging the plurality of memory operations in the plurality of queues and generating rescheduled memory operations that meet the power budget for the time window; and fetching the rescheduled memory operations to the plurality of memory arrays.
US09711230B2 Method for writing into and reading a multi-levels EEPROM and corresponding memory device
During a phase of programming the cell, a first voltage is applied to the source region and a second voltage, higher than the first voltage, is applied to the drain region until the cell is put into conduction. The numerical value of the item of data to be written is controlled by the level of the control voltage applied to the control gate and the item of data is de facto written with the numerical value during the putting into conduction of the cell. The programming is then stopped.
US09711224B2 Devices including memory arrays, row decoder circuitries and column decoder circuitries
Some embodiments include a device having an array of memory cells, a memory control unit at least partially under the array, row decoder circuitry in data communication with the memory control unit, and column decoder circuitry in data communication with the memory control unit. Some embodiments include a device having an array of memory cells, row decoder circuitry and column decoder circuitry. One of the row and column decoder circuitries is within a unit that extends at least partially under the array of memory cells and the other within a unit that is laterally outward of the array of memory cells.
US09711216B2 Semiconductor storage device
When writing ReRAM cells, it is pursued to set the cells in a sufficiently high or low resistance state, while preventing excessive writing. Disclosed is a semiconductor storage device including memory cells, each including a variable resistance element, and control circuitry that executes an Off writing process of applying Off writing pulse to a memory cell to turn it into high resistance state and an On writing process of applying On writing pulse to turn it into low resistance state. The control circuitry, when the memory cell is placed in low resistance state, after applying Off writing pulse, applies a reading pulse for a verify process of reading whether it is placed in high or low resistance state. If the memory cell is not placed in high resistance state as a result of the verify process, the control circuitry applies a reset pulse comprising On writing pulse, applies Off writing pulse with extended pulse width and executes the verify process in mentioned order.
US09711213B2 Operational signals generated from capacitive stored charge
Methods, a memory device, and a system are disclosed. One such method includes applying a select pulse to a snapback device of a memory cell. This causes the memory cell to enter a conductive state. Once in the conductive state, the memory cell can be set or reset by a pulse formed from parasitic capacitive discharge from various paths coupled to the memory cell.
US09711210B1 Low power high performance electrical circuits
Hybrid circuits are CMOS circuits that can function in two different operation modes: a normal operation mode and a power saving mode. At normal operation mode, a hybrid circuit operates in the same ways as typical CMOS circuits. At power saving mode, the standby leakage current of the circuit is reduced significantly. Typically, most parts of a hybrid 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. Hybrid circuits can be implemented on integrated circuits comprising multiple-gate MOS transistors.
US09711203B2 Memory device including boosted voltage generator
A boosted voltage generator may include a difference voltage generator, a first charging circuit, a second charging circuit and a switch circuit. The difference voltage generator generates a difference voltage to a first node, based on a reference voltage and a power supply voltage. The first charging circuit, connected between the first node and a ground voltage, charges the difference voltage therein during a first phase in response to a first pulse signal. The second charging circuit, connected between the first node and the ground voltage, charges the difference voltage therein during a second phase in response to a second pulse signal. The switch circuit, connected to a second node in the first charging circuit, a third node in the second charging circuit and an output node, provides a boosted voltage following a target level to the output node during each of the first phase and the second phase.
US09711189B1 On-die input reference voltage with self-calibrating duty cycle correction
A buffer circuit with an adjustable reference voltage is presented. The buffer circuit with adjustable reference voltage has an input buffer circuit that is connected to a data input and a reference voltage. The output of the input buffer circuit is connected an eye monitor circuit that generates a transition signal based on a number of transitions of an output of the input buffer circuit. The output from the eye monitor circuit is that processed by a calibration control circuit that transmits a selection signal to a multiplexer. The multiplexer selects a level of the reference voltage based on the selection signal from the calibration control circuit.
US09711188B2 Vertical non-volatile memory device including plural word line stacks
A vertical non-volatile memory device includes a substrate, and a first stack of word lines and a second stack of word lines extending in a first direction on the substrate and separated from each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The device further includes first array lines extending in the second direction on the first and the second stack, and connected to word lines of the first and the second stack through at least two of first via contacts in a same level. The device further include first word select lines being in a same level and extending in the first direction, and connected to each of the first array lines through at least one of second via contacts. Ends of each of the first and the second stack have a form of stairs on the substrate.
US09711163B2 Bi-directional in-line active audio filter
An audio filter for a breathing apparatus uses active filtering in a multi-wire system where one or more electrical conductors contain bi-directional signals using multiple stages of active isolation to separate direct current (DC) power, which is then used to bias an active filtering element. Using active signal conditioning or processing elements, the audio filter directionally separates the power and audio components to allow active conditioning or processing of the audio signal.
US09711161B2 Voice processing apparatus, voice processing method, and program
A voice processing apparatus includes a voice quality determining unit configured to determine a target speaker determining method used for a voice quality conversion in accordance with a determining method control value for instructing the target speaker determining method of determining a target speaker whose voice quality is targeted to the voice quality conversion, and determine the target speaker in accordance with the target speaker determining method.
US09711155B2 Noise filling and audio decoding
A noise filling method is provided that includes detecting a frequency band including a part encoded to 0 from a spectrum obtained by decoding a bitstream; generating a noise component for the detected frequency band; and adjusting energy of the frequency band in which the noise component is generated and filled by using energy of the noise component and energy of the frequency band including the part encoded to 0.
US09711153B2 Activating functions in processing devices using encoded audio and detecting audio signatures
Methods and apparatus for performing an action on a device based on audio are disclosed. An example method includes determining at a first device whether the audio includes a monitoring code indicating that the audio is to be monitored, generating a signature using a portion of the audio containing the monitoring code, and causing the action to be performed on a second device based on at least one of the monitoring code or the signature.
US09711151B2 Quality of experience for communication sessions
A computer-implemented method, computer program product, and computing system is provided for managing quality of experience for communication sessions. In an implementation, a method may include determining a language spoken on a communication session. The method may also include selecting a codec for the communication session based upon, at least in part, the language spoken on the communication session. The method may further include transacting the communication session using the selected codec for the communication session.
US09711148B1 Dual model speaker identification
A processing system receives an audio signal encoding an utterance and determines that a first portion of the audio signal corresponds to a predefined phrase. The processing system accesses one or more text-dependent models associated with the predefined phrase and determines a first confidence based on the one or more text-dependent models associated with the predefined phrase, the first confidence corresponding to a first likelihood that a particular speaker spoke the utterance. The processing system determines a second confidence for a second portion of the audio signal using one or more text-independent models, the second confidence corresponding to a second likelihood that the particular speaker spoke the utterance. The processing system then determines that the particular speaker spoke the utterance based at least in part on the first confidence and the second confidence.
US09711145B2 Word-level correction of speech input
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for correcting words in transcribed text including receiving speech audio data from a microphone. The method further includes sending the speech audio data to a transcription system. The method further includes receiving a word lattice transcribed from the speech audio data by the transcription system. The method further includes presenting one or more transcribed words from the word lattice. The method further includes receiving a user selection of at least one of the presented transcribed words. The method further includes presenting one or more alternate words from the word lattice for the selected transcribed word. The method further includes receiving a user selection of at least one of the alternate words. The method further includes replacing the selected transcribed word in the presented transcribed words with the selected alternate word.
US09711135B2 Electronic devices and methods for compensating for environmental noise in text-to-speech applications
A method by an electronic device for compensating for environmental noise in text-to-speech (TTS) speech output includes: measuring environmental noise using a microphone signal; determining sound characteristics of the measured environmental noise; dynamically predicting expected future sound characteristics of the environmental noise based on the determined sound characteristics of the measured environmental noise; receiving a text input at a TTS engine at the device, with the TTS engine configured to convert the text input into a speech output signal; determining text characteristics of the text input at the TTS engine; and at the TTS engine, dynamically adapting the speech output signal based on the determined text characteristics of the text input and the predicted expected future sound characteristics of the environmental noise.
US09711125B2 Sound absorbing device, electronic device, and image forming apparatus
A sound absorbing device including a Helmholtz resonator having a projection part which includes a shape of protruding from an outer wall surface of a communicating part forming plate among the communicating part forming plate and a cavity forming member that are cavity part forming members forming a cavity part of the Helmholtz resonator, and surrounding an opening of a communicating part that causes the cavity part to communicate with the outside.
US09711124B2 Acoustic device, and electronic device and image forming apparatus incorporating same
An acoustic device includes an opening; a flange forming the opening; a first member including the opening and the flange; and a second member joined to the first member, thereby forming a cavity. The second member is formed of a material with a density lower than a material of the first member.
US09711122B1 Acoustic stomp box percussion device
An acoustic stomp box percussion device includes a first chamber having a first area enclosed by a first frame constructed from four frame pieces, a first top plate coupled to the top of the first frame, and a first bottom plate coupled to the bottom of the first frame. Additionally, the acoustic stomp box percussion device includes a second chamber having a second area enclosed by a second frame constructed from four frame pieces, a second top plate coupled to the top of the second frame, and a second bottom plate coupled to the bottom of the second frame. Further, the first chamber and the second chamber are coupled together to form a chamber assembly, and the chamber assembly includes at least one sound modification hardware component and at least one electronic amplification component.
US09711105B2 Gate signal line driving circuit for noise suppression and display device
A gate signal line driving circuit which suppresses noises in a gate signal and a display device which uses the gate signal line driving circuit are provided. A first basic circuit provided to a gate signal line driving circuit includes a HIGH voltage applying switching element which applies a HIGH voltage to gate signal lines in response to a signal HIGH period, and a LOW voltage applying switching circuit which applies a LOW voltage to the gate signal lines in response to a signal LOW period. In response to a signal HIGH period, a switch of the LOW voltage applying switching circuit of the first basic circuit is turned off based on a signal applied to a switch of the HIGH voltage applying switching element of a second basic circuit which assumes a signal HIGH period earlier than the first basic circuit.
US09711099B2 Techniques for avoiding and remedying DC bias buildup on a flat panel variable refresh rate display
A method for driving a display panel having a variable refresh rate is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a current input frame from an image source. Next, it comprises determining a number of re-scanned frames to insert between the current input frame and a subsequent input frame, wherein the re-scanned frames repeat the input frame, and wherein the number of re-scanned frames depends on the minimum refresh interval (MRI) of the display panel. Further, it comprises calculating respective intervals at which to insert the re-scanned frames between the current input frame and the subsequent input frame. Subsequently, it comprises determining if a charge accumulation in pixels of the display panel has crossed over a predetermined threshold value. Finally, responsive to a determination that the charge accumulation has crossed over a predetermined threshold value, it comprises performing a counter-measure to remediate the charge accumulation.
US09711097B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit configured to drive a liquid crystal display
An input buffer chooses, in accordance with first control clocks, to output an input data signal or output a high-impedance signal. A master flip-flop chooses, in accordance with second control clocks, to output a data signal received from the input buffer or retain a currently output data signal. A master-slave switch chooses, in accordance with the second control clocks, to output a high-impedance signal or output a data signal received from the master flip-flop. A slave flip-flop chooses, in accordance with the second control clocks, to retain a currently output data signal or output a data signal received from the master-slave switch. A clock buffer inputs the second control clocks, and generates and outputs the first control clocks.
US09711094B2 Method of driving display panel and display apparatus for performing the same
A method of driving a display panel includes generating a first driving period having a first driving frequency, generating a second driving period having a second driving frequency, and inserting a compensating frame between the first driving period and the second driving period. A display apparatus includes a display panel configured to display an image, and a display panel driver configured to generate a first driving period having a first driving frequency, to generate a second driving period having a second driving frequency, and to insert a compensating frame between the first driving period and the second driving period.
US09711093B2 Light emitting device for image display, and image display device
The light emitting device is divided into a plurality of areas, and has, as main configuration elements, an area drive circuit (2), which generates LED data and LCD data, an LED controller (4), and a backlight unit (5), which is provided with a plurality of LEDs (52) corresponding to each of the areas. The power calculating unit of the LED controller (4) is mainly configured of a power calculating circuit (42), a power limiter circuit (43), and a limit value updating circuit (45), and the emission power to be supplied to each of the LEDs (52) is calculated for each are on the basis of image data. The power calculating unit performs the calculation such that the sum (Psum) of the emission power does not exceed a power limit value (Plimit) currently set, and updates the power limit value (Plimit) by following a previously set pattern.
US09711088B2 Display device
A display device includes a display panel and a scan driver including transistors formed in a non-display area of the display panel. A compensation voltage is supplied to the scan driver through a compensation gate electrode included in at least one transistor of the scan driver. Namely, the at least one transistor includes a gate electrode, to which a signal or a voltage for activating a channel is supplied, and the compensation gate electrode, to which the compensation voltage for recovering a threshold voltage is supplied.
US09711069B2 Freestanding display
A freestanding display system includes a weighted base removably and replaceably coupled to a relatively lightweight top portion bearing display surfaces. Because of the shape of the freestanding display and the significant weight differential between the weighted base and the top display portion, the center of mass for the freestanding display may be disposed within its volume such that the freestanding display resists tipping over when subjected to substantial tilt angles, while advantageously facilitating easy disassembly and transportation for deployment at tradeshows or similar temporary venues.
US09711062B2 Performance monitoring systems and methods
We have disclosed systems and methods for portable performance monitoring of an individual during a physical activity. The systems and methods may include a portable sensor component configured to be carried by the individual during the physical activity and configured to obtain movement data for the athlete individual during the physical activity. The systems and methods may also include a portable output component configured to be carried by the individual during the physical activity and configured to provide an output to the individual during the physical activity. The systems and methods may further include a portable processing component in communication with the portable sensor component and the portable output component, where the portable processing component is configured to be carried by the individual during the physical activity. The portable processing component may be configured to identify movement of the individual during the physical activity.
US09711041B2 N-phase polarity data transfer
System, methods and apparatus are described that facilitate transmission of data, particularly between two devices within an electronic apparatus. Data is selectively transmitted as N-phase polarity encoded symbols or as packets on differentially driven connectors. A data transfer method comprises encoding data and control signals in a sequence of symbols to be transmitted on a plurality of connectors, and transmitting the sequence of symbols on the plurality of connectors. Each symbol may be transmitted using a combination of a phase state of a first pair of connectors, a polarity of a second pair of connectors, and a selection of at least one undriven connector. Transmission of each symbol in the sequence of symbols may cause a change of state for at least one of the plurality of connectors.
US09711036B2 Leveraging neighborhood to handle potential visitor at a smart-home
This patent specification relates to apparatus, systems, methods, and related computer program products for providing home security/smart home objectives. More particularly, this patent specification relates to a plurality of devices, including intelligent, multi-sensing, network-connected devices, that communicate with each other and/or with a central server or a cloud-computing system to provide any of a variety of useful home security/smart home objectives.
US09711035B2 Systems and methods for reporting visibility to ground based imaging
A user's vulnerability to ground based imaging may be reported to the user. A positioning subsystem may determine a location of the user. A camera detection subsystem may determine a location of an imaging system able to view the user. A visibility determination subsystem may determine a visibility vulnerability of the user to imaging by the imaging system based on the location of the user and the location of the imaging system. The vulnerability may be determined based on an image quality capturable by the imaging system of the user, such as a spatial resolution. An output subsystem may report the visibility vulnerability to the user. The subsystems may be included in a mobile communication device or a server or may be split among the device and/or server. The output subsystem may deliver the report over a communication network and/or may display a visual representation of the report.
US09711034B2 Security system and method
A system comprising: at least one processor; at least one sensor; and computer executable instructions readable by the at least one processor and operative to: use the at least one sensor to determine a number of persons or identity of a person; and trigger an alarm based on the number of persons or the identity of the person. A method comprising: using at least one processor to perform any or all of the following: use at least one sensor to determine a number of persons or identity of a person; and triggering an alarm based on the number of persons or the identity of the person.
US09711030B2 Electronic device for providing content according to user's posture and content providing method thereof
An electronic device includes a camera configured to capture an image of a user which is watching the electronic device; a controller configured to obtain information regarding a posture of the user based on the captured image, determine whether the posture of the user is acceptable based on the obtained information regarding the posture of the user; and a display configured to display posture correcting content based on a result of the determination.
US09711024B2 Blasting system protection
A method of controlling the operation of a blasting system which includes the steps of monitoring for the occurrence of electromagnetic interference (EMI) within a defined zone and initiating an alarm upon detection of such interference wherein the initiation of the alarm can automatically inhibit or suspend the operation of the blasting system.
US09711003B2 User-initiated location determination for a location-based gaming system
A system for providing access to casino gaming and sports booking is provided which permits a gambler to place wagers using a location based mobile gaming unit. The gambler may access the system through a wireless network. Further, the gambler may be positioned anywhere there is an established local gaming server. A gambler profile may be provided wireless access to the local server along with the games available in the local server jurisdiction based on a global positioning of the mobile gaming unit.
US09711001B2 Cabinet and pedestal interface
Examples disclosed herein relate to a movement interface utilized to enhance production of the electronic gaming device. The systems, devices, and methods may allow for the movement of the cabinet based on game data. Further, the systems, devices, and methods may allow for the movement of the cabinet based on a player's input. In addition, the systems, devices, and methods may allow for the movement of the cabinet based on a gaming mode, such as, an attraction mode.
US09711000B2 Method of gaming, a gaming system and a game controller
A gaming system, game controller and method of gaming implementing a game wherein one or more symbols are selected to be retained from a previous game outcome based on symbols which contribute to a winning symbol combination in the game outcome. One or more subsequent game outcomes can be generated including the retained symbols. The retained symbols from a previous game outcome can be selected from symbols which contribute to a winning symbols combination in the previous game outcome. In the subsequent game outcome, the retained symbols can contribute to further winning symbol combinations.
US09710997B2 System and method for synchronizing indicators associated with a plurality of gaming machines
A system and method for synchronizing indicators of electronic gaming machines. The system providing a plurality of electronic gaming machines each having a control array and at least one electronic display operatively connected thereto, at least one lighting device operatively connected to the plurality of gaming machines and control circuitry, including a programmable processor, operatively connected to the lighting device. The lighting device having elements to present synchronized lighting effects at the plurality of gaming machines, the synchronized lighting effects including an attract mode and an emotive mode. The system registering a condition on at least one gaming machine and electrically transmitting a signal to the lighting device. The lighting device initiating a predetermined lighting effect at the plurality of machines in response to the registered condition.
US09710991B2 Money handling apparatus
A money handling apparatus includes an inlet to receive money of a plurality of different currencies, a plurality of outlets, and a control unit to control a transport unit, such that the money is sorted and delivered from the transport unit to respective outlets based on a money recognition result of a recognition unit. As such, the control unit determines whether the currencies that have been recognized by the recognition unit are assigned to any of the outlets. Thus, when the recognized currency is assigned to an outlet, the transport unit is controlled to transport the money of the associated currency to the assigned outlet. In addition, when the recognized currency is not assigned to an outlet, and if there is an outlet to which no currency is assigned, the control unit assigns the currency to such outlet and the associated money is transported to the assigned outlet.
US09710990B1 Cash management system capable of verifying all of banknotes delivered from backyard area to verification headquarter at one time
A cash management system includes a cloud server, a banknote cash unit and a verification center. The banknote cash unit senses serial numbers of banknotes introduced therein for obtaining serial number data corresponding to the banknotes. The banknote cash unit further uploads the serial number data to the cloud server, such that the verification center downloads the serial number data. The verification center senses the banknotes sent thereto for obtaining the verification data corresponding to the banknotes sent to the verification center and determines whether the serial number data matches the verification data. Accordingly, the cash management system is able to verify all of banknotes delivered from backyard area to verification headquarter at one time.
US09710986B2 Vehicle door handle device
A vehicle door handle device includes: a detection member including an antenna and a DC driving detection member capable of detecting approach or touch of a person, electrically connected to a driving controller through first and second connection wires and are connected in parallel, wherein the antenna is driven by an AC voltage supplied from the driving controller, the detection member is driven by a DC voltage supplied from the driving controller by respectively connecting the first connection wire and the second connection wire to a positive DC power supply and a ground, the detection member includes a power terminal and a ground terminal, a detection output terminal, an antenna driving detection terminal, and an antenna driving detection unit, and the vehicle door handle device further comprises a DC cut capacitor, and a passive element.
US09710984B2 Method for the authentication of at least one first unit on at least one second unit
A method for unilaterally or mutually authenticating at least one first unit, especially a mobile device, on at least one second unit, especially a field device, within a plant, especially in the area of process automation technology, with a communication line, preferably a wireless communication line, in place between the first unit and the second unit, comprising the steps of: establishing a security policy, with the security policy including rules for granting access of the first unit on the basis of at least one unlock key, and information to check the unlock key for validity; providing the security policy to the second unit; generating an unlock key for the first unit and providing the unlock key at the first unit; transfer of the unlock key from the first unit to the second unit and verification of the unlock key by the second unit using the security policy and, if applicable, granting access. Furthermore, a computer program product executes the method and a machine-readable data carrier includes the computer program product.
US09710967B2 Information processing program, information processing system, information processing apparatus, and information processing method, utilizing augmented reality technique
An exemplary embodiment provides an information processing program. The information processing program includes image obtaining instructions, search target detection instructions, shape recognition instructions, event occurrence instructions, virtual image generation instructions, and display control instructions. The search target detection instructions cause a computer to detect a search target from an image of a subject obtained in accordance with the image obtaining instructions. The shape recognition instructions cause the computer to recognize a shape of the search target. The event occurrence instructions cause the computer to cause an event to occur in a virtual space in accordance with the shape of the search target. The virtual image generation instructions cause the computer to generate a virtual image by shooting the event that occurs in accordance with the event occurrence instructions with a virtual camera arranged in the virtual space.
US09710956B2 Three-dimensional map display system
A map database stores three-dimensional polygons of features, as well as water system polygons such as sea and lake and ground surface polygons. The map database stores map data in multiple levels having different levels of details, such as levels LVa to LVc. A procedure of displaying a three-dimensional map offsets the water systems relative to the ground surfaces, draws a map of a distant view area distant away from the viewpoint using map data at a low level of details, subsequently clears a depth buffer and newly draws a map of a close view area close to the viewpoint using map data at a high level of details. The offset is set to increase in the distant view area and decrease in the close view area. Increasing the offset in the distant view area avoids the occurrence of Z-fighting in the distant area from the viewpoint.
US09710951B2 Techniques for processing image data generated from three-dimensional graphic models
Techniques are disclosed for creating animated video frames which include both computer generated elements and hand drawn elements. For example, a software tool may allows an artist to draw line work (or supply other 2D image data) to composite with an animation frame rendered from a three dimensional (3D) graphical model of an object. The software tool may be configured to determine how to animate such 2D image data provided for one frame in order to appear in subsequent (or prior) frames in a manner consistent with changes in rendering the underlying 3D geometry.
US09710947B2 Using genetic algorithm to design 2-dimensional procedural patterns
Selection of an area of an image can be received. Selection of a subset of a plurality of predefined patterns may be received. A plurality of patterns can be generated. At least one generated pattern in the plurality of patterns may be based at least in part on one or more predefined patterns in the subset. Selection of another subset of patterns may be received. At least one pattern in the other subset of patterns may be selected from the plurality of predefined patterns and/or the generated patterns. Another plurality of patterns can be generated. At least one generated pattern in this plurality of patterns may be based at least on part on one or more patterns in the other subset. Selection of a generated pattern from the generated other plurality of patterns may be received. The selected area of the image may be populated with the selected generated pattern.
US09710943B2 2D region rendering
Disclosed is a method of rendering a plurality of graphical objects. The method generates a region graph using at least a plurality of intersection points of the graphical objects. The intersection points identify disjoint regions each representing a particular combination of the graphical objects, in which the region graph has at least one region graph link, and defines a relationship between the regions. A contributing level and an activating direction are assigned to at least one of the region graph links, the level and the activation direction defining an appearance of the region associated with said region graph link. The method then renders the plurality of graphical objects using the assigned contributing level and activating direction of the region graph links by traversing the region graph to determine at least one contributing level for each region in the region graph using the assigned contributing level and the activating direction.
US09710941B2 Biological information displaying apparatus and biological information displaying method
A biological information displaying apparatus includes: a calculator which is configured to calculate measurement values of parameters based on a plurality of biological signals obtained by an acquiring unit, the parameters including: sclerosis parameters relating to arterial sclerosis; and stenosis and/or occlusion parameters relating to arterial stenosis and/or occlusion; a display which is configured to display information; and a display controller which is configured to produce different radar charts of the sclerosis parameters and the stenosis and/or occlusion parameters, and which is configured to display the measurement values of the parameters on the display, on respective one of line segments that radially extend from a center in each of the radar charts, while plotting each of the measurement values of corresponding parameters at a position that is remoter from the center as a clinical value is worse.
US09710940B2 Methods, systems and apparatus for summarizing a meeting
Aspects of the present invention are related to systems, methods and apparatus for providing a compact, yet informative, representation of meeting content.
US09710937B2 Local artifact reduction with insignificant side effects
A medical imaging system (34) includes a memory (45) and one or more processors (60). The memory (45) stores magnetic resonance k-space data (4) and the magnetic resonance data includes non-rigid motion defects. The one or more processors (60) are configured to reconstruct (6) a first image (8) from the magnetic resonance data (4) which includes a high signal to noise ratio and motion artifacts. The one or more processors are further configured to detect and reject (10) portions of k-space (4) which include non-rigid motion defects, and reconstruct (4) a second image (16) from non-rejected portions of k-space (12) and the first image (8).
US09710929B2 Method and apparatus for lossless image compression
The present disclosure discloses method and apparatus for lossless image compression, and relates to the field of computer technologies. The method includes: removing ancillary information and redundant information from a picture having a predefined format in a preset manner; decompressing the picture to restore original picture data of the picture; and setting a compression parameter for the original picture data of the picture and compressing the original picture data of the picture into a picture having the same format before the picture decompression using the compression parameter. According to the present disclosure, ancillary data and redundant data in a picture are removed, and after decompression is performed on the picture, the picture is compressed again according to a preset compression parameter, so that based on lossless compression, a compression rate of the picture is increased, and storage space is saved.
US09710926B2 Image processing of a retail shelf area
A system and method for processing an image of a retail shelf area. According to one aspect, a portion of an image that depicts the retail shelf area at an angled and depthwise perspective is determined to depict shelves. The image can be modified so that the portion of the image determined to depict shelves is substantially parallel to a predefined horizontal reference frame. Products can then be detected in the remainder portion of the image, separate from the portion of the image determined to depict shelves. An applicable planogram can be used to generate compliance information based on the detected products and the determined portion of the image depicting shelves.
US09710922B2 Image processing apparatus, method and medium storing a program for detecting a motion vector
An image processing apparatus which reduces an operation amount while maintaining accuracy in detecting a motion vector, includes a contrast value calculating circuit calculating a contrast value for each processing region including a pixel of interest at a center in a standard image which is one of input images, a bit length determining circuit determining a bit length for calculating a motion vector for the pixel of interest among the images to be smaller than a bit length when the contrast value is calculated, a quantization circuit converting a bit length of the processing region and a region corresponding to at least the processing region among the images to be the bit length determined by the bit length determining circuit, and a motion vector calculating circuit calculating a motion vector for the pixel of interest among the images in the processing region for which the bit length is converted.
US09710920B2 Motion information processing device
A motion information processing device for supporting a rehabilitation according to an embodiment includes obtaining circuitry and specification circuitry. The obtaining circuitry obtains image information of a subject carrying out a predetermined motion in the rehabilitation and surroundings of the subject. The specification circuitry specifies motion information of the subject carrying out the predetermined motion on the basis of a predetermined feature in the image information obtained by the obtaining circuitry.
US09710916B2 Kernel sparse models for automated tumor segmentation
A robust method to automatically segment and identify tumor regions in medical images is extremely valuable for clinical diagnosis and disease modeling. In various embodiments, an efficient algorithm uses sparse models in feature spaces to identify pixels belonging to tumorous regions. By fusing both intensity and spatial location information of the pixels, this technique can automatically localize tumor regions without user intervention. Using a few expert-segmented training images, a sparse coding-based classifier is learned. For a new test image, the sparse code obtained from every pixel is tested with the classifier to determine if it belongs to a tumor region. Particular embodiments also provide a highly accurate, low-complexity procedure for cases when the user can provide an initial estimate of the tumor in a test image.
US09710913B2 Image processing apparatus that forms distance image and control method thereof, as well as storage medium
An image processing apparatus capable of correcting an error during computation of a correlation degree without storing data for correcting distance information in advance in a recording medium, to highly accurately form a distance image. The image processing apparatus has a distance estimation unit that estimates a subject distance in each area, from a correlation degree of a plurality of images, a distance reliability calculation unit that calculates the reliability of the subject distance estimated by the distance estimation unit, and a distance image forming unit that corrects the subject distance estimated by the distance estimation unit based on the reliability calculated by the distance reliability calculation unit and to form a distance image based on the corrected subject distance.
US09710895B2 Image processing device, image capture device, image processing method, and program
Source image data is subjected to a logarithmic process (gamma correction process) (S11), and the luminance distribution of source image data is acquired (S12). Then, it is determined whether or not the luminance distribution of source image data corresponds to “a high luminance scene (highlight scene) biased toward a high luminance side” based on a characteristic of a luminance value equal to or greater than a first threshold value in the luminance distribution of source image data (S13). According to the determination result (Y/N of S13), a restoration process based on a point spread function of an optical system is controlled (S14, S15). A restoration filter which is used in the restoration process has a filter coefficient corresponding to image data before the logarithmic process.
US09710893B2 Image resolution modification
A method performed under control of a storage manager may include identifying a subject of an image; determining a resolution value for the image based, at least in part, on the identified subject; and modifying a resolution of the image in accordance with the determined resolution value.
US09710885B2 Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image processing system for performing sub-pixel interpolation
An image processing apparatus includes a region determiner configured to receive image data and perform a region determination by determining whether each of a plurality of sub-pixels included in the image data is included in an in-focusing region that is focused or an out-focusing region that is not focused; and an interpolator configured to perform demosaicing with respect to a sub-pixel included in the in-focusing region by using a first algorithm and perform the demosaicing with respect to a sub-pixel included in the out-focusing region by using a second algorithm, according to a result of the region determination, wherein, when the demosaicing with respect to the sub-pixel included in the in-focusing region is performed, one or more peripheral sub-pixels having phases that are different from a phase of the sub-pixel, on which the demosaicing is performed, are used.
US09710883B2 Flexible control in resizing of visual displays
A computer processor circuit can be used to receive a resizing request that includes parameters for resizing a user interface containing a plurality of visual elements. In response to the request, the computer processor circuit can access a set of one or more data files specifying: links to binary image data files for the plurality of visual elements; a set of nodes forming a plurality of vector paths for at least one of the plurality of visual elements; and a set of rules defining different image resizing properties for different vector paths of the plurality of vector paths. The computer processor circuit can then create a resized version of the user interface by modifying the plurality of visual elements according to the set of rules and to the parameters for resizing.
US09710877B2 Image processing apparatus and feature detection method
An image processing apparatus is disclosed. A processor performs a process that arranges multiple image filters in a tree structure and acquires features of multiple input images captured in different environments. A storage part stores a filter table that maintains information concerning the multiple image filters. In the process, an image filter having a different type for each of layers, in which multiple image processes are hierarchized, is selected from the filter table. A population, which includes the multiple image filters in the tree structure, is generated.
US09710872B2 Information insertion method, information extraction method, and information extraction apparatus using dot-based information robust to geometric distortion
An information insertion method, an information extraction method, and an information extraction apparatus using dot-based information are provided herein. The information extraction apparatus includes an identification unit and an extraction unit. The identification unit identifies a set of at least one dot output to a target. The extraction unit extracts information from the set of at least one dot.
US09710868B2 System and methods for identifying compromised personally identifiable information on the internet
In one embodiment, a method includes generating, by a computer system, a search-engine query from stored identity-theft nomenclature. The method also includes querying, by the computer system, at least one search engine via the search-engine query. Further, the method includes crawling, by the computer system, at least one computer-network resource identified via the querying. In addition, the method includes collecting, by the computer system, identity-theft information from the at least one computer-network resource. Additionally, the method includes processing, by the computer system, the identity-theft information for compromised personally-identifying information (PII).
US09710858B1 Insurance policy alterations using informatic sensor data
A computer device and method for processing risk related data to affect changes to an insurance policy whereby one or more terms of an insurance policy associated with an insured and informatic data from a plurality of sensor devices are received by a computer processor. Analysis is performed on the received informatic data to determine a risk assessment value regarding the insured and/or other risks relevant to the insurance policy, such as a dwelling. Predefined business rules are then applied using at least the determined risk assessment value to determine if conditions have been met to allow or require modification of the insurance policy whereafter modification of one or more terms of the insurance policy is performed if the insurance policy associated with the insured permits modification.
US09710854B2 Volatility based futures products
A method of providing a financial product may include obtaining, by a computer device, pricing information about a financial market over a specified duration, the pricing information including at least a high price and a low price occurring within the duration. The computer device may be configured for determining a volatility associated with the market, the volatility based, at least in part, on the pricing information and determining a settlement price for a cash settled futures product using the volatility of the market over the specified duration.
US09710852B1 Credit report timeline user interface
A credit report user interface is provided that may comprise a credit event timeline to view events associated with various accounts associated with a consumer. Credit events may be determined by accessing and analyzing a consumer's credit report from one or more of the national credit bureaus. In some embodiments the consumer can see credit events associated with all of the consumer's accounts or only from a limited number of the consumer's accounts. The consumer may also be able to search credit events, sort credit events, view the impact of credit events on one or more of the consumer's credit scores, and view predicted future credit events.
US09710844B2 Object driven newsfeed
Object driven newsfeeds supporting interest-based social networks aid in the formation of relationships based on similar domains of user interest. A space efficient graphical user interface (GUI) enables access to an object driven newsfeed of contextual and relevant information to aid a consumer/user in making buying decisions in an e-commerce environment.
US09710842B1 Sensor based recommendations
User devices are used to access various forms of electronic content. Sensors in the user device or information about environmental data associated with the device, such as weather at the locale of the user device, may be used to determine the occurrence of physical events. Recommendations such as offers for sale of extended warranties, warranty replacement, and so forth may be provided based at least in part on the physical events.
US09710841B2 Method and medium for recommending a personalized ensemble
A computer-implemented method for generating a recommendation of a personalized ensemble. The method includes accessing customer data associated with a customer; enabling display of items on a three-dimensional shape; enabling selection of one of the items; and dynamically generating a recommendation of a personalized ensemble for the customer based on the selection of one of the items.
US09710837B1 System and method enabling ownership, trade, and marketplace for named geographic locations
Embodiments for enabling ownership, trade, and marketplace for named geographic locations are provided. Embodiments provide a marketplace for ownership of named location-specifiers. Each named location-specifier corresponds to a latitude/longitude coordinate of a location. Embodiments provide an ownership registry for the named location-specifiers, provide a registry of named location-specifiers that retrieves data based on a user's request for location data related to the named location-specifiers, provide a location data store that stores current location data corresponding to the named location-specifiers, provide a future location data store that stores updated location data and future location data corresponding to the named location-specifiers, and provide a requesting system that allows the user to request location data corresponding to a named location-specifier or to conduct a search related to one or more of the named location-specifiers.
US09710821B2 Systems and methods for mobile and online payment systems for purchases related to mobile and online promotions or offers provided using impressions tracking and analysis, location information, 2D and 3D mapping, mobile mapping, social media, and user behavior and
A method, apparatus, computer readable medium, computer system, network, or system is provided for mobile and online payment systems for mobile and online promotions or offers or daily deal coupons or daily deal coupons aggregation provided using impressions tracking and analysis, location information, 2D and 3D mapping, social media, and user behavior and information for generating mobile and internet posted promotions or offers or daily deal coupons or daily deal coupons aggregation for, and/or sales of, products and/or services in a social network, online or via a mobile device-for mobile and web based promotions or offers that connect information and user behavior data to a user or related demographic location or user specified or predicted demographic location(s) for targeted promotions or offers for products and/or services in a social network, online or via a mobile device.
US09710816B2 Method and system of measuring customer satisfaction with purchased vehicle
A method of measuring customer satisfaction with a product. The method may assess customer satisfaction from information collected after purchasing the product. This post-purchase information may be collected, for example, by monitoring customer expressions made while interacting with the product. Optionally, the settings and operating conditions of the product may be separately monitored and cross-referenced with the customer expressions to tie the expressions with specific characteristics of the product.
US09710815B2 System, method, and computer program product for processing and visualization of information
Systems and methods for processing and reporting information and data, such as business information, and more particularly, to systems, software, hardware, products, and processes for use by businesses, individuals and other organizations to collect, process, distribute, analyze and visualize information, including, but not limited to, business intelligence, data visualization, data warehousing, and data mining. Real-time monitoring of web site interactions allows users to modify and fine-tune their websites to maximize value realized.
US09710814B2 Customer management system
A system and method are disclosed for scoring an interaction over one or more channels by an end user and an entity by monitoring the communications over the channels and assigning penalties and scores based on topics associated with the communications.
US09710813B2 System and method for providing recovery for victims of check fraud
A method for a consumer or business to protect against loss associated with specified forms of check fraud. Upon purchasing checks, a consumer or business can subscribe to a check fraud protection program, for an additional fee. A consumer or business may purchase Check Fraud Protection for an additional fee independent of purchasing checks. The subscription will enable the consumer or business to obtain reimbursement from the service provider for the consumer's losses due to specified causes. The consumer or business reciprocally assigns any right of recovery from the consumer's or business's bank or financial institution to the service provider, which can then seek reimbursement from the bank, or financial institution and institute proceedings against the fraud perpetrator. Protection may be obtained for forged signatures, forged endorsements and altered check. A symbol to indicate such protection is also disclosed.
US09710810B2 Systems and methods for performing funds freeze and/or funds seizure with respect to prepaid payment cards
Systems, mechanisms and processes are provided to allow law-enforcement officials, when encountering the potential use of prepaid payment cards in the furtherance of a crime or in relation to criminal activities, to (1) attempt to check the balances on such prepaid payment cards, including the ability to perform aggregate balance checks on a group of such prepaid cards, (2) attempt to freeze the funds on such prepaid payment cards, and/or (3) attempt to seize the funds on such prepaid payment cards.
US09710800B2 Using voice input at a mobile point of sale
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for using voice input at a mobile point-of-sale (POS) are disclosed. For example, one method involves receiving a voice input, where the receiving is performed by a mobile POS (MPOS) device. The method also involves determining, based on the voice input, whether to use voice-based processing. In response to a determination to use the voice-based processing, performing voice-based processing, including selecting a first workflow based on the voice input, and performing a first portion of the first workflow based on the voice input. The first portion of the first workflow is performed by the MPOS device. The method also includes determining whether to perform a second portion of the first workflow based on another voice input.
US09710798B1 System and method for usage billing of hosted applications
A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client.
US09710795B2 System and method for executing cash payments via a computer network
The invention presented comprises a system and method for executing a cash payment via a computer network. A payor computing device communicates over a computer network with payee computing devices via a P2P server. The P2P server is operative to receive a payment request from the payor computing device and process the payment by debiting a financial instrument specified by a payor utilizing the payor computing device. The payment request is transmitted from the P2P server to a cash payment server operative to receive the payment request and translate the request into the native format of an ATM control server, the native format of the P2P server and ATM control server not being interoperable. The ATM control server is operative to generate a PIN code, which is transmitted along with the received payment instructions to an ATM.
US09710787B2 Systems and methods for representing, diagnosing, and recommending interaction sequences
Systems and methods for representing and diagnosing interaction sequences in accordance embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a group interaction diagnosis and recommendation server system includes a processor and a memory configured to store a set of reference interaction data, where the reference interaction data includes a set of reference interaction sequences, wherein a group interaction diagnosis application configures the processor to obtain a set of group interaction data, generate an interaction model based on the group interaction data and an interaction dynamics language, determine at least one interaction sequence within the set of group interaction data based on the generated interaction model, identify at least one matching interaction sequence within the determined at least one interaction sequence, and recommend at least one improved interaction sequence based on the identified at least one matching interaction sequence and the set of reference interaction data.
US09710785B2 Trusted sources with personal sustainability for an organization
A system and method for developing trust in an organization supported tracking system by ensuring that resources in a resource library are collected from trusted sources, and encouraging and tracking participation in organization supported activities designed to achieve a long term goal of the organization. Resources may be submitted by organization members and ranked according to multiple factors including the trustworthiness of the source, the relevance of the resource to the long term goal, or the response of the organization members to the resource. Participation may be encouraged through friendly competition, awards granted for participation, and publication of member accomplishments. Tracking may be facilitated by allowing members to create initiatives and actions related to the long term goal which members may follow and join and then tracking and verifying member participation in those initiatives and actions.
US09710780B2 System and method of coordinating distribution of an item
A system and method for coordinating item delivery is disclosed. The system includes a control hub configured to receive item information, a dynamic routing system configured to provide routing instructions, and a handheld device configured to receive routing instructions. The control hub controls and coordinates receiving and transmitting item information, including pick-up and delivery schedules, and other item information.
US09710774B2 Configuration of embedded intelligence
A system for configuration of embedded intelligence comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to associate a prompt of an embedded intelligence applet with an exposed field of a process. The memory is coupled to the processor and is configured to provide the processor with instructions. The memory is configured to store the process definition.
US09710773B2 Modeling user input and interaction in workflow based applications
Systems and methods that implement interactivity as part of a workflow itself. Data is passed in and out of the workflow to form an interactive workflow, via employing an interactive activity component. Such interactive activity component models suspension points within a workflow definition, wherein user input and associated interaction can be supplied to the workflow during various interactivity breaks that request user input. Such an arrangement enables a controlled/synchronous data exchange between the workflow and a host application associated therewith.
US09710768B2 Acquiring and transmitting event related tasks and subtasks to interface devices
Computationally implemented methods and systems include detecting an occurrence of an event, acquiring one or more subtasks configured to be carried out by two or more discrete interface devices, the subtasks corresponding to portions of one or more tasks of acquiring information related to the event, facilitating transmission of the one or more subtasks to the two or more discrete interface devices, and receiving data corresponding to a result of the one or more subtasks executed by two or more of the two or more discrete interface devices. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
US09710766B2 Identifying field development opportunities for increasing recovery efficiency of petroleum reservoirs
Performing a Recovery Design Assessment™ (RDA™) for a petroleum producing field provides a novel indicator and metric that is designed to assess how to improve recovery efficiency of a petroleum producing field. A combination of global benchmark analysis and reservoir management assessment is utilized to identify areas of reservoir management that can be improved to increase recovery efficiency. Global benchmark analysis can include comparing a recovery efficiency for a petroleum reservoir to that of other benchmark petroleum reservoirs to indicate if alterations to recovery design or developments plans or reservoir management optimizations are to be pursued. Management of the petroleum reservoir is assessed to identify recovery obstacles potentially reducing recovery efficiency. Development opportunities for overcoming recover obstacles can be implemented to increase recovery efficiency.
US09710764B1 Data mining technique with position labeling
Roughly described, individuals in both a training system and in a production system include a label field in their rule outputs. Positions entered by an individual are maintained in a status record for the individual, including the label output by the rule which triggered entry of that position. Rules that assert exiting or partial exiting of a position also output the label from the rule which triggered the assertion, and are effective only so far as matching positions exist or remain in the individual's status record, including a matching label. Labels present in the status record also can be referenced in conditions of a rule. During evolution, a rule's output label is subject to crossover and/or mutation just like the conditions and output assertions.
US09710762B2 Dynamic logging
In general, techniques are described for dynamically modifying the extent of logging performed by logging information generators in response to events detected in logging information received by the collector. In some examples, a network device includes one or more processors and a collector executed by the processors to receive a log message that includes logging information from a generator. The network device also includes a rules engine to apply one or more rules that each specify a condition and a corresponding action to the logging information to identify a matching rule, wherein the rules engine, upon identifying a matching rule, executes the action of the matching rule to generate and send a logging modification message to increase an extent to which the generator generates logging information.
US09710754B2 Inference electronic shelf life dating system for perishables
A shelf life inference system comprising a container for a plurality of items. The container has coupled to it a tracker operative to read the ID label on each item and to track the exit from and the return to the container of each item separately and to calculate the freshness status of each item upon return to the container.
US09710751B2 Parallel tree based prediction
Embodiments relate to performing an ensemble model based prediction for a set of input data records. An aspect includes creating an assignment table assigning all data records in the input data set to a root node of a tree. Another aspect includes splitting the assignment tables into disjoint sub-tables. Another aspect includes storing each of the sub-tables to a respective data slice. Another aspect includes designating root nodes of each of the plurality of trees as a set of current nodes. Another aspect includes evaluating split conditions of each identified current node based on data records that are assigned to the current node; re-assigning said input data records to one or more child-nodes; using the child nodes of all current nodes as the set of current nodes; and calculating a prediction result from the assignment of data records to the leaf nodes of each of a plurality of trees.
US09710745B1 Systems and methods for automated assembly of dynamic magnetic stripe communications devices
An automated conveyor system extends a continuous layer of plastic onto a moving conveyor. A pair of damming strips may be applied to the continuous layer of plastic as the conveyor advances. A liquid material may be sprayed between the damming strips and electronic assemblies may be robotically picked and placed onto the continuous layer of plastic between the damming strips and on top of the liquid material. Additional liquid material may be sprayed on top of the electronic assemblies as the conveyor moves. A continuous top plastic layer may be extended on top of the electronic assemblies, while a roller compresses the electronic assemblies between the top plastic layer and bottom plastic layer. A transparent clamp holds a portion of the compressed sub-assembly in place while the sub-assembly is cured. A sheering station sheers the sub-assembly as the conveyor indexes.
US09710740B2 System and method for arranging shipment and insurance for an item
A system and method for arranging shipment and insurance for items being shipped in containers with memory devices. An intelligent shipping agent may receive a request to ship an item. The intelligent shipping agent may search a database or solicit quotations to obtain shipping and insurance services for an item to be shipped from an origination to a final destination. The intelligent agent may find an entry in the database or may select a vendor based on received quotations. The selection may maximize value of a product or service at the lowest cost. The memory device may store shipping and insurance information related to the item being shipped in a data file. The memory device may include input devices and sensors to gather and store information before, during and after shipment.
US09710738B2 Cell counting device including a body with a display and an extension to receive a sample
A cell counting device for counting the number of cells in a sample includes: an accommodation portion that accommodates, in a removable manner, at least a part of a holding member for holding the sample; and a display unit configured to display information including a result of counting of the number of cells. The display unit has a screen inclined with respect to a bottom of the cell counting device. The bottom is configured to be in contact with a placement surface on which the cell counting device is placed. The display unit is provided between the accommodation portion and the bottom.
US09710730B2 Image registration
Image registration is described. In an embodiment an image registration system executes automatic registration of images, for example medical images. In an example, semantic information is computed for each of the images to be registered comprising information about the types of objects in the images and the certainty of that information. In an example a mapping is found to register the images which takes into account the intensities of the image elements as well as the semantic information in a manner which is weighted by the certainty of that semantic information. For example, the semantic information is computed by estimating posterior distributions for the locations of anatomical structures by using a regression forest and transforming the posterior distributions into a probability map. In an example the mapping is found as a global point of inflection of an energy function, the energy function having a term related to the semantic information.
US09710728B2 Image based signal response metrology
Methods and systems for measuring overlay error between structures formed on a substrate by successive lithographic processes are presented herein. Two overlay targets, each having programmed offsets in opposite directions are employed to perform an overlay measurement. Overlay error is measured based on zero order scatterometry signals and scatterometry data is collected from each target at two different azimuth angles. In addition, methods and systems for creating an image-based measurement model based on measured, image-based training data are presented. The trained, image-based measurement model is then used to calculate values of one or more parameters of interest directly from measured image data collected from other wafers. The methods and systems for image based measurement described herein are applicable to both metrology and inspection applications.
US09710727B2 Anomaly detection using a kernel-based sparse reconstruction model
A method and system for detecting anomalies in video footage. A training dictionary can be configured to include a number of event classes, wherein events among the event classes can be defined with respect to n-dimensional feature vectors. One or more nonlinear kernel function can be defined, which transform the n-dimensional feature vectors into a higher dimensional feature space. One or more test events can then be received within an input video sequence of the video footage. Thereafter, a determination can be made if the test event(s) is anomalous by applying a sparse reconstruction with respect to the training dictionary in the higher dimensional feature space induced by the nonlinear kernel function.
US09710720B2 System and method of image analysis for automated asset identification
A system and method are provided that capture an image of an asset and analyze the captured image to identify an indicium on the asset. The indicium is used, after identification, to identify the asset. The system may also be configured to identify a type of asset, to track the asset, to verify a manifest for a group of assets, or to identify damage to an asset based on comparing the captured image of the asset with a previously captured image of the asset.
US09710716B2 Computer vision pipeline and methods for detection of specified moving objects
A computer vision pipeline detects tracks and classifies people or other specified class of objects in a steam of video. The ability to not only detect motion, but to distinguish people or other specified objects, can improve the systems usefulness in applications like security monitoring. A motion detection module provides a motion bitmap and a background subtraction module provides a foreground bitmap, and an object tracking module uses these bitmaps identify and track the specified classes of objects. From these objects and tracks, categorized object data can then be generated.
US09710714B2 Fusion of RGB images and LiDAR data for lane classification
Point cloud data is received and a ground plane is segmented. A two-dimensional image of the segmented ground plane is generated based on intensity values of the segmented ground plane. Lane marking candidates are determined based on intensity within the generated two-dimensional image. Image data is received and the generated two-dimensional image is registered with the received image data. Lane marking candidates of the received image data are determined based on the lane marking candidates of the registered two-dimensional image. Image patches are selected from the two-dimensional image and from the received image data based on the determined lane markings. Feature maps including selected image patches from the registered two-dimensional image and received data are generated. The set of feature maps are sub-sampled, and a feature vector is generated based on the set of feature maps. Lane markings are determined from the generated feature vector.
US09710710B2 System and method for autonomous vehicle control
A system for localizing an autonomous vehicle to a target area can include a position indicator adapted for association with the vehicle in a three dimensional configuration, a detection device configured to detect the position indicator, a computation device configured to compute a position of the vehicle based on the detected position indicator and the relationship of the configuration to the vehicle orientation, a transmitter configured to receive information from the computation device and produce a signal carrying the information, a receiver configured to receive the signal from the transmitter and filter the information therefrom, and a control system configured for association with and control of one or more directional control components of the vehicle, the control being based on the information received from the receiver relating to localizing the vehicle to the target area. A method of for localizing a vehicle to a target area is also disclosed.
US09710704B2 Method and apparatus for finding differences in documents
Systems and methods for finding and presenting differences between documents are provided. One method includes identifying one or more differences between a first document and at least one second document. The method further includes determining each of the one or more differences to be either a significant difference or an insignificant difference. The determination of whether each of the one or more differences is a significant difference or an insignificant difference may be performed in an automated manner without intervention from a user. The method further includes providing an identification of the significant differences to the user. The method further includes either hiding the insignificant differences from the user or providing an identification of the insignificant differences in a different manner than a manner in which the identification of the significant differences is provided.
US09710694B2 Image quality for diagnostic resolution digital slide images
An improved diagnostic resolution of digital slide images is obtained by scanning a first digital slide image at diagnostic resolution that is then deconvolved into separate images with one stain per image. The single stain images are then enhanced with image adjustments and/or processed with image analysis algorithms. The resulting single image data sets from the image analysis algorithms can then be stored. Additionally, the resulting enhanced single images can be recombined into a second digital slide image at diagnostic resolution that is also enhanced.
US09710689B2 Fingerprint sensors for mobile devices
Various embodiments concern fingerprint sensors for mobile devices. By modifying one or more layers of a display assembly, a fingerprint sensor can be positioned directly beneath the display. For example, the air gap within the backlight structure could be replaced by an optically clear adhesive that allows waves emitted by a fingerprint sensor to properly propagate through the display assembly. In some embodiments, a fingerprint sensor is set within a recess in the display assembly. For example, a depression could be created in the protective substrate, and the fingerprint sensor could be set within the depression using an optically clear adhesive. The functionality of a fingerprint sensor could also be replicated by increasing the density of touch-sensing elements in certain areas of a display assembly that utilizes in-cell technology.
US09710688B2 Stereoscopic information code and stereoscopic information code reading device
The present invention is to easily read out an information code. A stereoscopic information code includes a plurality of same information codes arranged on the surface of a stereoscopic object at equal distances; and an alignment mark placed near each of the information codes. The stereoscopic information code reading device includes a scan unit that obtains a scanned image of the surface of stereoscopic object; an alignment mark distinguishing unit that distinguishes at least two alignment marks from the scanned image obtained by the scan unit; and an information code reading unit that reads an information code existing between two of the alignment marks distinguished by the alignment mark distinguishing unit.
US09710682B2 Operating systems for an RFID tag
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a wireless computing device, comprising an antenna, an analog block for receiving and transmitting an RF signal through the antenna, a power management block for managing power requirements of the wireless computing device, and a data processing and controller block for data management, wherein the data processing and controller block comprises (i) a first program memory adapted to store a first set of instructions comprising a system call adapted to control at least one function of the wireless computing device (ii) a second program memory adapted to store a second set of instructions comprising an instruction to call the system call, and (iii) at least one processor, wherein at least one processor is adapted to execute the first set of instructions and at least one processor is adapted to execute the second set of instructions.
US09710677B1 Tamper evident port protector
A port protector is provided by a base member that engages the port and a slidably mounted slide member. Locking members are provided on the base member and the slide member such that when the locking members are engage the slide member does not slide relative to the base member. Unlocking of the port protector is achieved by removing or perforating a tongue of the base. Removal of the tongue provides evidence that access to the port was achieved.
US09710669B2 Secure personal content server
A local content server system (LCS) for creating a secure environment for digital content is disclosed, which system comprises: a communications port in communication for connecting the LCS via a network to at least one Secure Electronic Content Distributor (SECD), which SECD is capable of storing a plurality of data sets, is capable of receiving a request to transfer at least one content data set, and is capable of transmitting the at least one content data set in a secured transmission; a rewritable storage medium whereby content received from outside the LCS may be stored and retrieved; a domain processor that imposes rules and procedures for content being transferred between the LCS and devices outside the LCS; and a programmable address module which can be programmed with an identification code uniquely associated with the LCS. The LCS is provided with rules and procedures for accepting and transmitting content data.
US09710667B2 System and method for online key rotation
The system may comprise receiving a data element, and receiving an encryption key and an associated encryption key identifier from an encryption keystore database. The system may further comprise transmitting the data element to an encryption module for encryption using the encryption key to form an encrypted data element. The system may also comprise receiving the encrypted data element from the encryption module and concatenating the encryption key identifier with the encrypted data element to form a protected data field entry.
US09710660B2 System for meetings documentation that enables access to the documentation only by the consent of the participants
A system for audio and visual documenting of personal meetings between two or more persons whereby the documentation is stored in a memory means where the access to the memory means can be done only by consent of said participants and by a positive action made by each of them. The system includes a casing, a memory means, a recording voice means or a video recording means, a locking means and authorized keys. The memory means is saved in the casing and locked by the locking means. Opening the locking means and the casing can be done only by using authorized keys. The locking means is a locking means selected from the group consisting of a mechanical locking, an electronic lock, an electric lock, a lock based on magnetic cards, a biometric lock, a locking means based on finger print, retina or DNA sample.
US09710656B2 Controlled delivery and assessing of security vulnerabilities
A method for providing security vulnerability information is provided. The method may include checking for the security vulnerability information product supplier servers. The method may further include sending alerts to a security vulnerability administrator associated with a client environment. Additionally, the method may include performing a security check on the security vulnerability administrator to authorize the security vulnerability administrator to receive the security vulnerability information. The method may also include authenticating customers associated with the client environment to authorize the customers to receive the security vulnerability information. The method may further include prompting the authorized security vulnerability administrator to acknowledge an information confidentiality reminder. The method may also include sending an audit record to the product supplier server. The method may further include presenting the security vulnerability information to the authorized security vulnerability administrator and the authorized customers associated with the client environment.
US09710655B2 Controlled delivery and assessing of security vulnerabilities
A method for providing security vulnerability information is provided. The method may include checking for the security vulnerability information product supplier servers. The method may further include sending alerts to a security vulnerability administrator associated with a client environment. Additionally, the method may include performing a security check on the security vulnerability administrator to authorize the security vulnerability administrator to receive the security vulnerability information. The method may also include authenticating customers associated with the client environment to authorize the customers to receive the security vulnerability information. The method may further include prompting the authorized security vulnerability administrator to acknowledge an information confidentiality reminder. The method may also include sending an audit record to the product supplier server. The method may further include presenting the security vulnerability information to the authorized security vulnerability administrator and the authorized customers associated with the client environment.
US09710654B2 Method for validating an untrusted native code module
A system that validates a native code module. During operation, the system receives a native code module comprised of untrusted native program code. The system validates the native code module by: (1) determining that code in the native code module does not include any restricted instructions and/or does not access restricted features of a computing device; and (2) determining that the instructions in the native code module are aligned along byte boundaries such that a specified set of byte boundaries always contain a valid instruction and control flow instructions have valid targets. The system allows successfully-validated native code modules to execute, and rejects native code modules that fail validation. By validating the native code module, the system facilitates safely executing the native code module in the secure runtime environment on the computing device, thereby achieving native code performance for untrusted program binaries without significant risk of unwanted side effects.
US09710643B2 Interactive CAPTCHA
In response to a user access request, a media object containing a plurality of media components is constructed and transmitted to the user. At least one of the media components has been categorized as having different degrees of relevance to humans from a first culture/geographical location and humans from a second culture/geographical location. The user is prompted to solve a puzzle by selecting one or more of the media components or rearranging a location, size, appearance, or orientation of one or more of the media components. A description of an action performed by the user in response to the prompting is obtained. A determination is made, based on the obtained description of the action performed by the user, whether the user is more likely to be a human from the first culture/geographical location or a machine or a human from outside the first culture/geographical location.
US09710642B2 Methods, systems, and computer program products for recovering a password using user-selected third party authorization
A password recovery technique for access to a system includes receiving a request from a first party to recover the first party's password to access the system, receiving a selection of a second party from the first party, sending a message to the second party requesting that the second party authorize the request to recover the first party's password, receiving authorization from the second party for the request to recover the first party's password, and resetting the first party's password responsive to receiving authorization from the second party.
US09710639B1 Single input unlock for computing devices
A device is described that, while operating in a lock-sensitive display. Responsive to detecting, and while receiving the first portion, the device displays a plurality of input nodes including a first node at the initial location and a second node at a subsequent location. Responsive to detecting the first portion of the continuous-gesture input at the subsequent location, the device receives a second portion of the gesture beginning at the subsequent location and ending at a final location where a third node is displayed. Based on the second portion of the gesture, the device determines an ordered-selection of input nodes beginning with the second node and ending with the third node. Responsive to determining that the ordered-selection satisfies an unlock sequence, the device transitions to operating an unlocked-state where the device displays a graphical user interface.
US09710638B2 Unicode-based image generation and testing
Systems and methods for testing to tell computers and humans apart and generating said tests are described. An interface is generated that includes a challenge and a response is provided, and a plurality of user selections of locations in the interface are received. A server compares the x coordinate and the y coordinate of each user selection with x and y coordinates for a subset of the plurality of characters in the response to obtain a distance value for each user selection. The server then sums the distance values for each user selection to obtain a total distance value. The server subsequently compares the total distance to a predetermined threshold, the server validating the user response when the total distance is less than the predetermined threshold, the validating causing access to be provided to web content specified in the user request.
US09710626B2 Security model for network information service
Systems and methods for providing information security in a network environment are disclosed. The method includes initiating processing, invoked by a user, of at least one of a plurality of objects in a processing unit of a hardware layer, wherein the plurality of objects is hosted for a tenant. The method further includes determining that the processing of the at least one of the plurality of objects by the processing unit is authorized by the tenant based on a security map provided by the tenant and accessible by the processing unit within the hardware layer. The method further includes allowing the processing of the object based on a result of the determining.
US09710622B2 Instructions and logic to fork processes of secure enclaves and establish child enclaves in a secure enclave page cache
Instructions and logic fork processes and establish child enclaves in a secure enclave page cache (EPC). Instructions specify addresses for secure storage allocated to enclaves of a parent and a child process to store secure enclave control structure (SECS) data, application data, code, etc. The processor includes an EPC to store enclave data of the parent and child processes. Embodiments of the parent may execute, or a system may execute an instruction to copy parent SECS to secure storage for the child, initialize a unique child ID and link to the parent's SECS/ID. Embodiments of the child may execute, or the system may execute an instruction to copy pages from the parent enclave to the enclave of the child where both have the same key, set an entry for EPC mapping to partial completion, and record a page state in the child enclave, if interrupted. Thus copying can be resumed.
US09710620B2 Digital rights management handler and related methods
A system and method of providing universal digital rights management system protection is described. One feature of the invention concerns systems and methods for repackaging and securing data packaged under any file format type, compression technique, or digital rights management system. Another feature of the invention is directed to systems and methods for securing data by providing scalability through the use of modular data manipulation software objects.
US09710619B2 System and method for providing an electronic document
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided. Some embodiments include initiating a scan operation to generate an electronic document representing a scanned physical document, encrypting the electronic document, storing the encrypted electronic document, and outputting a message. The message may include location information for locating the encrypted electronic document, a key for decrypting the encrypted electronic document, and restriction information indicating a restriction associated with the encrypted electronic document. Some embodiments include receiving the message, using the location information to obtain the encrypted electronic document, decrypting the encrypted electronic document using the key to generate an unencrypted electronic document, presenting an image of the unencrypted electronic document on a display of a computing system, and restricting availability of at least one function or feature of the computing system in accordance with the restriction information.
US09710616B2 DRM plugins
Presented is a system and methods for receiving metadata, a decryption module and encrypted content from a cable headend, decrypting the encrypted content with the decryption module and presenting the decrypted content to a user. The client device can receive, load and execute any decryption module compatible with the system framework allowing flexibility in the choice or changing of client device manufacturer and/or Digital Rights Management system vendor.
US09710608B2 Pill bottle lid incorporating audible messaging device, and pairing thereof with external devices for dosage reminder and conflict checking purposes
A pill bottle or like for medicinal products such as prescription drugs includes an audio device for emitting audible messages to the user of the product, thereby enabling easy identification of the product by the visually impaired. The audio device is incorporated into an internal chamber of a lid of the bottle. The audio device stores data thereon that is received from the computer terminal of a prescription dispensing station, and is configured to wirelessly transmit this data to a separate mobile electronic device, such as a smart phone or tablet computer, which uses the data to cross-check the user's medicinal products for potential interactions and allergen risks, and to create audible reminders for following a prescribed dosage schedule.
US09710602B1 Visual display of room information
An embodiment provides a method of graphically displaying room information, including: displaying, on an electronic device, a matrix having a plurality of cells therein, at least one cell displaying hospital room information regarding room availability and patient occupancy in the room; said matrix displaying the plurality of cells in column form; and displaying, responsive to a user interaction with a cell in the matrix of a patient occupied hospital room, an overlay window having secondary room status information therein comprising patient specific information regarding the status of the hospital room.
US09710601B1 Visual display of room information
An embodiment provides a method of graphically displaying room information, including: displaying, on an electronic device, a matrix having a plurality of cells therein, at least one cell displaying hospital room information regarding room availability and patient occupancy in the room; said matrix displaying the plurality of cells in column form; and displaying, responsive to a user interaction with a cell in the matrix of a patient occupied hospital room, an overlay window having secondary room status information therein comprising patient specific information regarding the status of the hospital room.
US09710595B2 Multi-view user interface for server cabling display
Methods and systems for displaying graphical representations of server system cabling in the data center may include, but are not limited to operations for: generating a pattern view of a cabling scheme; generating a routing view of a cabling scheme; receiving a request to display a pattern view of a cabling scheme; transmitting data representing the pattern view of the cabling scheme; receiving a request to display a routing view of the cabling scheme; and transmitting data representing the routing view of the cabling scheme. The display of various graphical representations of the cabling scheme may facilitate various service operations associated with the cabling. Such service operations may include installation, maintenance, trouble shooting and optimization for a cabled server cluster.
US09710577B2 Heat source integration for electromigration analysis
A computer-implemented method includes receiving layout information associated with a circuit design at an extractor, and generating three-dimensional (3-D) heat source grid information based on the layout information, an extracted netlist, and wire information. The method also includes sending the wire information to an electromigration(EM)/current(IR) analyzer, sending the extracted netlist to a circuit simulator, and sending the 3-D heat source grid information to a thermal analysis component. The circuit simulator is configured to generate temperature waveforms and current waveforms based on the extracted netlist. The thermal analysis component is configured to generate heat source information to be provided to the EM/IR analyzer. The method further includes determining, at the EM/IR analyzer, an electromigration risk associated with a wire based on the wire information, the current waveforms, and the heat source information.
US09710566B2 User interface for webpage permission requests
Systems and methods for presenting information in a header region of an application are provided. In some aspects, a URL is received in an omnibox of an application window of a computer. A page corresponding to the URL is presented in a page display region of the application window. The URL is presented in the omnibox. A collapsed form of the URL and connection information associated with the page are presented in a button of the application window adjacent to the omnibox. The collapsed form of the URL includes a representation of a top-level domain and a hierarchy of the URL. The collapsed form of the URL includes different text from the URL.