Document	Document Title
US09729799B2	Imaging mode blooming suppression A minimally invasive surgical system includes a scene anti-bloom process that allows switching between imaging modes on a stereoscopic display without causing a surgeon to look-away or being momentarily distracted by sudden changes in overall scene luminance. The process receives a switch from a first imaging mode to a second imaging mode. An overall scene luminance of a scene in the first imaging mode is less than an overall scene luminance of a scene in the second imaging mode. The process delays the switch to the second imaging mode until after an illumination output level of a visible illumination source has changed to a higher output level, and then switches to the second imaging mode.
US09729794B2	Display device, display control method, and non-transitory recording medium In a smartphone, the imaging mode of an imager or the display mode of a display is changed from a normal mode when an image of an optical communication region is captured. More specifically, a process of lowering the contrast of the entire image (frame), a process of superimposing an icon image on the candidate region, a masking process for lowering the contrast of the candidate region, a process of reducing the count of display frames by image averaging or thinning, or a zoom limiting process of limiting the upper limit of the zoom ratio of the imager or the upper limit of the enlarged display magnification on the display is performed.
US09729791B2	Micro camera and multi-purpose mounting base A power connector facilitates mounting and repositioning an electronic device via a magnetic field. The power connector can include a receptacle surface comprising a curved surface operable to mate with a curved contact surface of an electronic device, and a device-coupling mechanism operable to hold the curved contact surface of the electronic device pressed against the curved surface of the power connector device, while an angle of the electronic device changes with respect to the power connector. The power connector can also include a power-transfer mechanism operable to transfer at least power to the electronic device, without an electrical wire between power connector and the electronic device, while the angle of the electronic device changes with respect to the power connector.
US09729789B2	Method of 3D reconstruction and 3D panoramic mosaicing of a scene The invention relates to a method of 3D reconstruction of a scene by means of 2D panoramic images of the scene, which comprises a step of processing these images. These images arise from a panoramic system moving in displacement along a determined trajectory, such that the image of at least one point of the scene is in at least 3 successive images obtained according to various directions; the step of processing these 2D successive images comprises the sub-steps: a) determining reconstruction planes in the scene to be reconstructed, b) determining, on the basis of pairs of panoramic images and for each pair, rectification planes corresponding to the reconstruction planes and projecting onto each of them a sector of each image of the pair, in a direct manner, so as to obtain two 2D rectified images, c) matching the two 2D rectified images so as to obtain an intermediate 3D reconstruction, d) transforming each intermediate 3D reconstruction into a 3D frame including the reconstruction planes so as to obtain a transformed intermediate 3D reconstruction, e) repeating steps b) to d) on the basis of a new pair of 2D panoramic images and of at least one other rectification plane, so as to obtain at least one other transformed intermediate 3D reconstruction, f) temporally fusing at least two transformed intermediate 3D reconstructions so as to obtain a 3D reconstruction of the scene.
US09729786B2	Image processing apparatus and image capture apparatus using a plurality of integrated circuits for image processing An image processing apparatus and an image capture apparatus can efficiently use a plurality of integrated circuits for image processing. Image processing ICs are integrated circuits that deal with different formats of image data. A programmable logic IC converts a data format of image data output from one image processing IC into a format of image data that is dealt with by the other image processing IC, and outputs the result of conversion to the other image processing IC.
US09729778B2	Focus adjustment device and control method of the same A focus adjustment device includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire focus evaluated values of a plurality of color signals obtained from an image signal generated by an image sensor that light transmitted through a focus lens has entered, a calculation unit configured to calculate at least one value indicating a difference in magnitude between each pair of the focus evaluated values of the plurality of color signals, and a determination unit configured to determine, in a case in which a value calculated by the calculation unit is within a predetermined range, a drive direction of the focus lens based on the value calculated by the calculation unit, and determine, in a case in which the value calculated by the calculation unit is outside the predetermined range, a drive direction of the focus lens based on a luminance signal obtained from the image signal.
US09729773B2	Interchangeable lens digital camera Provided is an interchangeable lens digital camera that is capable of correcting a rolling shutter distortion in a live view image without delay in displaying the image. At the start of live view imaging, a lens controller in an interchangeable lens controls a shake detection sensor to detect the direction and amount of a shake, and produces deviation information on the basis of shake detection signals from the shake detection sensor, the deviation information indicating fluctuation in direction and amount of the shake for one frame of the live view image in the form of a parameter. The deviation information is transmitted to a body controller of a camera body through a serial communication unit, to correct the rolling shutter distortion on the basis of the deviation information.
US09729768B2	Electronic device An electronic device includes an electronic member, a plate having a fastening part, the fastening part having a tubular shape and projecting outward with respect to the electronic member when the plate is arranged outside the electronic member, a case having a hole whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the fastening part, the fastening part being inserted into the hole, and a fastening member attached to the fastening part from outside of the case with the fastening part inserted into the hole. A part of the electronic member is located on the axis of the fastening part.
US09729766B2	Hinge structure, support structure and electric apparatus A hinge structure, comprising a plurality of bearings each of which has a cylindrical body formed by using a molding die, and a shaft member rotatably supported by the plurality of bearings.
US09729764B2	Image pickup apparatus and processing method for result of image pickup The present invention is applied to an image pickup apparatus for which, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup element is used. One screen image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion is detected for each of the blocks to control the exposure time of the block.
US09729754B2	Image processing apparatus for expansion processing Embodiments may include a reception processor that receives image data corresponding to an image including a plurality of image objects. A controller may determine whether image objects are in contact with a boundary of a printing area of medium, and, based on a result of the determination, may perform expansion processing on one of the plurality of image objects that is in contact with the boundary of the printing area of the medium to expand image objects in contact with the boundary of the printing area and does not perform expansion processing on image objects not in contact with the boundary of the printing area of the medium such image objects not in contact with the boundary of the printing area are not expanded. Expansion image data including the expanded image objects and image objects on which expansion processing is not performed may be generated and output.
US09729753B2	Operation input system, electronic device and mobile terminal Electronic device is linked with a mobile terminal, screen transition of the electronic device is eliminated, and various operation input is performed while confirming operation content from the mobile terminal on a screen of the electronic device. When proximity of the mobile terminal is detected in a state of displaying a specific screen on an operation display portion, an image forming apparatus transmits operation input information associated with the specific screen in advance to the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal displays an operation input screen based on the operation input information transmitted from the image forming apparatus and transmits operation content instructed by a user from the operation input screen to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus updates the specific screen in accordance with the operation content transmitted from the mobile terminal.
US09729747B2	Information processing device, and method for instructing job to image processing apparatus When a first recognition condition is satisfied, a target apparatus notification portion causes an image display portion to display a notification notifying that a target apparatus is recognized which exists at an azimuth of a line of sight of a user. The first recognition condition is that an apparatus image exists in a position corresponding to the line-of-sight direction in a field-of-view image taken by a camera, when a line-of-sight direction enters a gaze state under a situation that an image processing apparatus exists in an area where the wireless communication can be performed. An instruction screen control portion causes the image display portion to display an instruction screen for execution of a job, when a second recognition condition is satisfied. The second recognition condition is that the apparatus image exists in the field-of-view image within a short distance range of the target apparatus.
US09729746B1	Approach for registering printing devices with a cloud print service A printing device configuration application, referred to herein as a “mass deployment tool,” provides the capability to configure a large number of printing devices for cloud printing, in accordance with specific requirements of a cloud print service. The mass deployment tool deploys and installs a cloud print configuration application to a plurality of printing devices. The mass deployment tool transmits registration settings data to the cloud print configuration applications and causes the cloud print configuration applications to register their corresponding printing device with the cloud print service. The mass deployment tool receives and stores identification data that specifies a unique identification issued by the cloud print service for each of the printing devices. The mass deployment tool may be configured to provide a graphical user interface that allows a user to specify and manage the registration settings, general settings used to install the cloud print configuration applications, and sharing settings.
US09729743B2	Image forming apparatus, control method of image forming apparatus, and storage medium A printing apparatus has first and second sheet storage units, where a second sheet conveyance path is longer than a first sheet conveyance path, and includes a determining unit and a permitting unit. When a sheet stored in the first sheet storage unit is for printing of a Nth page included in a first job and a sheet stored in the second sheet storage unit is for printing of a N+1th page included in the same first job, the determining unit determines a feeding schedule in which the N+1th page sheet feeding is initiated before the Nth page sheet feeding is initiated. When an issued instruction is issued to perform a second job by interrupting the first job after determining the feeding schedule, the permitting unit permits printing of a page included in the second job before the printing of the N+1th page included in the first job.
US09729731B1	Information processing apparatus Provided is an information processing apparatus that transmits image data input by sequentially reading originals, with limiting an allowable frame size. The apparatus includes: a transmission control unit, in which, in a case where an original has an existing size, the transmission control unit transmits the image data to a destination with frames having one of frame sizes selected based on the existing size of the original, such that transmission of the current image data is finished before a start of transmission of the image data of the next original.
US09729724B2	Communication system, relay device, and information processing device A communication system includes: a relay device including: a storage unit configured to store terminal specification information for specifying the third terminal associated with the second terminal, and a first communication control unit configured to connect the third terminal to the first network if an authentication control unit authenticates the terminal authentication information; one or more first terminals connected to a first network; a second terminal connectable to the first network and including a second communication control unit configured to transmit the relay-device specification information and the terminal authentication information to the third terminal through the second network if receiving the relay-device specification information and the terminal authentication information from the relay device; and a third terminal connectable to a second network and including a third communication control unit configured to transmit the terminal authentication information to the relay device through the second network.
US09729722B2	Conference call alerts Conference call alerting is provided. A first device of a plurality of telecommunications devices initiates a telecommunications link between the first device and a second device of the plurality of telecommunications devices. The first device receives an interaction that includes a communications address of a third device of the plurality of telecommunications devices. The telecommunications link is modified to include the third device. In response to the third device joining the telecommunications link, the first device issues an alert to the second device and the third device, wherein the alert indicates that the third device has joined the telecommunications link.
US09729721B2	Mobile device synchronization to a gateway A gateway 202 identifies mobile devices 210 connected to it. Communication access numbers associated with the mobile devices are then obtained and synchronized with communication access numbers associated with the gateway. The gateway notifies a service provider for the mobile device that its calls should now be routed to the gateway instead of the mobile device. Calls received by the gateway can then be delayed, reformatted and/or otherwise transformed/controlled by the gateway and passed to connected landline devices.
US09729720B1	Customer service call processing and support agent access application Disclosed are a method and apparatus of receiving and processing customer support calls. The calls may be initiated from a mobile/wireless device via a call function or via a mobile device application. An example method of operation may provide receiving a call from the mobile device at a call processing server configured to route the call to an appropriate destination. The call processing server may perform identifying a purpose associated with the call and transmitting the call to the message redirect call processing module responsive to identifying the purpose of the call as a request for customer service support. Also, the server may also perform creating a redirect message instructing the mobile device to initiate a customer service support application that operates via a data network, and transmitting the redirect message to the mobile device.
US09729717B1	Script compliance and agent feedback Systems and methods are provided for using automatic speech recognition to analyze a voice interaction and verify compliance of an agent reading a script to a client during the voice interaction. In one aspect of the invention, a method may include a voice interaction, wherein the agent follows the script via a plurality of panels. The voice interaction is evaluated via the plurality of panels employing panel-by-panel playback with an automatic speech recognition component adapted to analyze the voice interaction. As such, it may be determined, via generating a score using confidence level thresholds of an automatic speech recognition component such that confidence level thresholds are assigned to each of the plurality of panels and evaluating the score against at least one of a static standard and a varying standard, whether the agent has adequately followed the script.
US09729716B2	Collaboration system and method A system for enabling collaboration between two or more customer contact campaigns running within a call center environment includes at least one outbound contact server (OCS) resident on a digital medium, the OCS including an automated dialer application resident on a digital medium thereon or accessible thereto for dialing contact numbers from contact records assembled for the running campaigns, a call monitoring and recording system executing from software on a digital medium, for monitoring call dialing progress and business results of completed calls, a central data repository for storing dialing progress and business results data collected by the running outbound campaigns, and a data sharing mechanism executing from software resident on a digital medium, accessible to each campaign running on the OCS for sharing collected data among the running campaigns. Shared data received by individual campaign instances is processed by the receiving campaign against one or more pre-configured business rules to determine whether to modify campaign contact records, campaign dialing patterns and or campaign dialing methods.
US09729710B2	Prioritized ongoing communication interrupt A method including receiving an interrupt originating associated with an interrupting entity during an ongoing communication between a user and a current entity, determining if the interrupting entity has a higher priority than the current entity, interrupting the user if the interrupting entity has a higher priority than the current entity, and not interrupting the user if the interrupting entity has a lower priority than the current entity.
US09729695B2	Messaging client application interface A user interface for a messaging client application can include a message list. By executing various input operations on a representation of a message in the message list, the user can take an action on the message. For example, a user operating a pointing device can perform a drag operation on a representation of the message in the message list, and the action to be taken on the message can be indicated by the direction and distance of the drag. Visual feedback can be provided during the drag operation to indicate the action that will be taken if the user ends the drag at the current location.
US09729687B2	Wearable communication device Wearable communication devices, e.g. implemented in a watch, using short range communication e.g. to a cell phone allow a user to talk and listen, place and answer calls, send and receive text messages, initiate voice commands to mobile search for information and find locations, and be notified of incoming calls, texts, and events, all while a phone is nearby but not visible. Notification is performed with vibration, an LED light or OLED text display of incoming calls, texts, and calendar events. It allows communicating hands-free. The watches can be directly connected to a smartphone allowing using the watch as “remote control” for home appliances or any other devices via voice and buttons. Motion sensors such as accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope, together with audio generation device can be used for gaming applications.
US09729676B2	Method of autonomic representative selection in local area networks A method and apparatus for selecting a client computer as a relay server to rebroadcast common application information that is broadcast from a server system over a network. The client computer is selected randomly to rebroadcast the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) information received from the server system and client computers receiving the UDP information from another client computer relay server on the network do not rebroadcast the information. If the client computer selected to rebroadcast the common information fails to rebroadcast, another client computer is randomly selected as a relay server and takes over rebroadcasting the common information.
US09729675B2	Enhancement of upload and/or download performance based on client and/or server feedback information Systems and methods for providing enhancement of upload and/or download performance based on client and/or server feedback information are disclosed. In one embodiment, the disclosed method optimizes upload performance by performing an upload speed test to measure an upload speed associated with each of multiple servers. The method detects a user request to upload a file from a client device to a host server. Based on results from the upload speed test, the method selects one of the multiple servers to upload the file. The multiple servers can include host servers providing cloud-based collaboration and/or storage services, one or more content delivery network servers and/or geographically distributed edge servers.
US09729674B2	Information processing system, clients, server, programs and information processing method An information processing system including an IC chip, a client driving the IC chip to carry out predetermined processing, a server connected to the client by a communication network, wherein the client has a processing-command requesting section configured to request for transmission of a processing command to the server; an ID-acquisition-command sender section configured to transmit an ID acquisition command; a chip-ID extraction section configured to extract the chip ID; and a processing-command sender section configured to embed the extracted chip ID into the processing command and transmit the command. The server has a command-group sender section configured to send the command. The IC chip has a chip-ID sender section configured to transmit data; a chip-ID determination section configured to determine whether the chip ID in the command is identical with the chip ID of the IC chip; and a processing execution section configured to carry out the predetermined processing.
US09729672B2	Collaborative editing Methods are provided for collaborative editing of documents which allow users who are editing source code to see previews of a compiled document as the process of editing continues. During editing, the source code is compiled to provide a compiled document from which previews can be produced. Steps can be taken to ensure that previews are only produced and/or sent to the user for those pages that have been changed since a previous compile. Moreover, a pre-compile checking process may avoid unnecessary attempts to compile incomplete or erroneous source code.
US09729666B2	Large scale storage system and method of operating thereof A distributed storage system comprising interconnected computer nodes; each one of the computer nodes comprising at least one processing resource configured to execute a Unified Distributed Storage Platform (UDSP) agent; at least one of the computer nodes comprising one or more resources including at least one cache resource configured to cache objects and having corresponding cache-related parameters; at least one UDSP agent of a respective computer node having the at least one cache resource is configured to: monitor cache-related parameters of the at least one cache resource connected to the respective computer node, for determining whether the cache-related parameters meet at least one first SLS criteria; and in the case the at least one first SLS criteria is not met, initiate handoff of at least part of one or more cache object spaces of the at least one cache resource to at least one other computer node, which after receiving the at least part of one or more cache object spaces, its cache-related parameters meet at least one second SLS criteria.
US09729654B1	Reduction in redirect navigation latency via speculative preconnection Methods, systems, and computer storage mediums for reducing navigation redirect latency by using speculative preconnection. A redirect speculation value is retrieved in response to a request for a source Uniform Resource Locator (URL), where the redirect speculation value is based on the source URL. The redirect speculation value includes the source URL, a target URL, and a probability factor. A preconnection to the target URL's hostname is then initiated based on the probability factor. Next, a response from the request to the source URL is received, where the response includes a redirect URL. Finally, the preconnection is used to process the redirect URL when the redirect URL is similar to the target URL.
US09729652B2	Dynamically affinitizing users to a version of a website Systems and methods for providing user's access to a particular version of an electronic resource (e.g., a website, web resource or the like) where versions of such electronic resources are stored across a set of servers are disclosed. In one embodiment, user's requests may be received—either requesting a particular version or as an unversioned request. A version control module (for example, a load balancer) may receive these requests and assign the user's request to a first server according to different metrics, e.g., regarding version control rules and/or effective load balancing considerations. If the initial server assigned is not able to handle the user's request, the user's request may be proxied to another server, according to different metrics. If there is no server that may handle the user's request (after a certain number of proxied requests), the request may be returned to the user as not handled.
US09729651B2	Method for delivering push notification and push notification server for performing the same The present invention relates to a method for delivering a push notification and a push notification server for performing the method. In the push notification delivery method, by a push notification server, a push notification message is received from a push notification server application. By the push notification server, the push notification message is sent to a push notification client registered in association with the push notification server application. If the push notification message is not sent, the push notification message is stored in a transmission queue within the push notification server and is resent to the push notification client, or an update, expiration or cancellation of the push notification message is processed. A push delivery state of a push notification message, sending of which has finally failed, is changed to a delivery failed state, and failure results are transferred to the push notification server application.
US09729650B2	Providing data to a network terminal A method and apparatus for providing data to a network terminal. A network node receives information relating to a first instance of a client running at the network terminal. Using the information, the network node concurrently runs a second instance of the client that emulates the first instance. Using the second instance, the network node generates a request for data required by the first instance. Before receiving a request for data generated by the first instance, the network node sends the request for data required by the first instance to a remote server and receives a response that includes the required data. The required data is then sent to the network terminal. The advantage of this is that the request for data required is generated before the network node receives a request from the network terminal. This allows the request to be handled more quickly.
US09729648B2	Recommending objects to a user of a social networking system based on implicit interactions between the user and the recommended objects The social networking system monitors implicit interactions between a user and objects of the social networking system with which the user has not established a connection. Based on the implicit interactions between the user and an object, the social networking system identifies a soft connection between the user and the object. The social networking system may then identify soft connections to include in a candidate list of soft connections to recommend to the user. The social networking system may also extract signals from the set of candidate list of soft connections, and may use the extracted signals to rank the soft connections in the list of candidate soft connections. The social networking system may then recommend soft connections to the user based on the rank associated with the soft connections in the candidate list of soft connections.
US09729646B2	Communication system, server apparatus, and communication method Disclosed herein is a communication system including: a first apparatus and a second apparatus being communication terminals at least one of which resides on a mobile object; and a server apparatus. The server apparatus includes: a determination block configured to determine whether the first and the second apparatuses are in close proximity to each other based on position data of the first apparatus and on position data of the second apparatus; and a communication block configured such that if the determination block determines that the first and the second apparatuses are in close proximity to each other, the communication block transmits preinstalled content data to at least one of the first and the second apparatuses.
US09729641B2	Event saturation networking Systems and methods for selecting tiering protocols based on data transmissions over mesh networks within defined spatial areas can be provided. A mesh network can be established within a defined spatial area. Each network device within the mesh network can be a user device or a supernode. Further, a wireless communication link can be established between the user devices and supernodes. A plurality of tiered protocols for tiering data transmissions can be accessed. Data to be transmitted over the mesh network can be analyzed to determine which tiered protocol to select. Path data that identifies a routing path from the a user device to a supernode can be generated, and the data can be transmitted according to the path data.
US09729640B2	Switching connection between network devices An example method includes connecting, by wireless device, to a first network device, wherein the first network device provides a connection to a playback network; adding the connection via the first network device to a list of available network connections; sending, to a second network device via the first network device, command(s) to control playback by the second network device; identifying additional available connection(s) to the playback network within range of the wireless device, wherein the additional available connection(s) include a connection via the second network device; determining that the connection to the second network device is preferred over the connection via the first network device based on characteristic(s); based on the determination that the connection via the second network device is preferred, connecting to the playback network via the second network device; and sending, to the second network device, additional command(s) to control playback by the second network device.
US09729633B2	Distributed data processing system To coordinate distributed processing of the data files specified for the run by the set of analysis computers, the analysis computers and an analysis management computer are each configured to follow a convention regarding how the run is specified and performed. The convention includes the timing of when each run begins and ends, and the specification of the data files to be included in the run, and the identification of the analysis computers available for the run. The analysis management computer provides a mechanism through which the set of data files to be processed, and a state of processing of those files, can be communicated with available analysis computers. The analysis computers communicate their availability to participate in the run through the analysis management computer and receive information enabling each analysis computer to determine its own partitions of the set of data files to process.
US09729632B2	Managing migration of an application from a source to a target Aspects of the disclosure relate to managing migration of an application. The managing migration of an application includes establishing a source dataset. The source dataset includes a set of source features. The source features relate to a source. The source includes the application. A determination of a first set of migration plans is made. The determination is made with an evaluation. The evaluation is made using the source dataset and a set of legacy features. The evaluation is performed with a cost measure. The application is migrated from the source to the target. The migration is based on the determined first set of migration plans.
US09729622B2	Determining consistencies in staged replication data for data migration in cloud based networks Data migration among cloud-based storage networks is described. A method may include analyzing, by a processor, whether data from a data distribution service is consistent with a data payload of a host cloud provider. The method also includes determining, by the processor, in view of the analyzing, whether the data is a replica of the data payload of the host cloud provider. The method further includes determining, by the processor, whether to initiate a transport of the data to a resource associated with a target cloud provider.
US09729617B2	Information management device, system, and method for management of states of use of licenses in units of organizations An information management device includes a first receiving unit that receives organization identification information to identify an organization and device identification information to identify a device in the organization from the device, a first storage unit that stores the received organization identification information and the received device identification information which are associated together, a second receiving unit that receives license identification information and the device identification information from the device, the license identification information identifying a license for using a predetermined service, and a second storage unit that stores the received license identification information and the received device identification information which are associated together.
US09729607B2	Discovering device drivers within a domain A system for managing a domain in a premises is described. The system includes: an action identifier coupled with a server, the action identifier identifies an action to be mapped to a device of the at least one device, wherein the device comprises a communication port that supports a first protocol; a device driver determiner coupled with the server, the device driver determiner determines a device driver that supports a second protocol, wherein the second protocol supports the action; a comparer coupled with the server, the comparer compares the second protocol with a domain configuration store comprising device configuration information for the at least one device; and a device driver implementer coupled with the server, the device driver implementer implements, based on the comparing, the device driver when the first protocol corresponds to the second protocol such that the action is enabled for performance.
US09729605B2	Mechanism for distinguishing between content to be served through first or second delivery channels Described herein are methods, apparatus and systems for selectively delivering content through one of two communication channels, one being origin to client and the other being from or through a CDN to client. Thus a client may choose to request content from a CDN and/or from an origin server. This disclosure sets forth techniques for, among other things, distinguishing between which channel to use for a given object, using the CDN-client channel to obtain the performance benefit of doing so, and reverting to the origin-client channel where content may be private, sensitive, corrupted, or otherwise considered to be unsuitable from delivery from and/or through the CDN.
US09729603B2	Content stream delivery using variable cache replacement granularity A method comprises associating at least one cache replacement granularity value with a given one of a plurality of content streams comprising a number of segments, receiving a request for a given segment of the given content stream in a network element, identifying a given portion of the given content stream which contains the given segment, updating a value corresponding to the given portion of the given content stream, and determining whether to store the given portion of the given content stream in a memory of the network element based at least in part on the updated value corresponding to the given portion. The at least one cache replacement granularity value represents a given number of segments, the given content stream being separable into one or more portions based at least in part on the at least one cache replacement granularity value.
US09729595B2	Method, apparatus, and system for transmitting media data based on OTT A method, an apparatus, and a system for transmitting media data based on OTT are disclosed. The method includes: receiving, by an OTT server, a media data request initiated by a user terminal, where the OTT server is connected to at least one cache server; determining, by the OTT server, a cache server from the at least one cache server according to a location and/or a capability of the at least one cache server; sending, by the OTT server, a notification message, which carries session information, to the user terminal and the determined cache server, so that the determined cache server receives a media data request, which carries session information, from the user terminal, and sends corresponding media data to the user terminal.
US09729593B2	System and method for customized experiences in a shared online environment There is provided a system and method for providing customized experiences to a plurality of client stations in a shared environment. There is provided an accounts database having data relating to a plurality of clients, an online server having a server processor and hosting the shared environment for access by the plurality of client stations, and an online client application for execution by a client processor of a client station. The server processor is configured to retrieve client data from the accounts database relating to a client, determine client preferences of the client based on the client data, create a customized environment from the shared environment according to the client preferences, and send the customized environment to the online client application of a client station associated with the client for rendering the customized environment on a client display. User interactions may be filtered to maintain a shared environment perception.
US09729592B2	System and method for distributed virtual assistant platforms Virtual assistant systems (“VAs”) operate on a distributed and interconnected network, such as a hierarchy or mesh, of virtual assistant platforms (“VAPs”). VAs communicate with a user via an electronic device, and can communicate with other devices, software programs, and other VAs. VAs include intelligent agents configured to perform particular tasks. The VAP includes an execution environment that may provide an interface between the VA and the electronic device, and may further provide a framework of services for implementing, maintaining, and executing the intelligent agents. A VA may be configured to participate in a group VA in which knowledge and tasks can be shared and cooperatively executed. Cooperative execution can include distributing subtasks among VAs in the group VA, the subtasks together forming the task. Group VAs can share information with each other, and may further inter-network by accessing a common network outside the VAP, such as a social network.
US09729591B2	Gestures for sharing content between multiple devices Methods and systems for sharing content includes detecting selection of multimedia content at a first device. The selection causes automatic rendition of the selected multimedia content on a display portion of the first device. Selection of a second device is detected at a user interface of the first device. The user interface identifies a plurality of devices that have an established communication pairing with the first device. A gesture made with the first device while the second device continues to be selected, is identified. The gesture acts as a trigger for sharing the selected multimedia content with the second device. The gesture causes the multimedia content to be automatically transmitted to the second device for rendering at a display portion of the second device.
US09729590B2	Digital communication and monitoring system and method designed for school communities A method related to addressing possible damage caused by inappropriate internet conduct, including writings, pictures, videos, or any other web-delivered content, and/or inappropriate behavior and/or conduct, is provided. The method includes providing a reporting interface enabling a reporting user to generate a complaint report regarding an unfavorable item published by one or more third parties. The method further includes receiving the complaint report and alerting an administrator regarding the complaint report. Additionally, the method includes providing an administrator interface enabling the administrator to view the complaint report, submit the complaint report to an authority, and assign a complaint report status to the complaint report. A resource center is provided for administrators and users and includes content curated for the recipient.
US09729589B2	Integrating collaboration systems with other systems Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide improved mechanisms and techniques for integrating computer based collaboration systems with other systems. Various embodiments involve creating a collaboration group around a business object created in another system, and maintaining communications with the other system such that updates regarding actions taken with regard to the business object may be received from and sent to the other system. In various embodiments, the information provided by the other system is displayed in a user interface of the collaboration system. In some embodiments, the information provided by the collaboration system is displayed in a user interface of the other system. In some embodiments, historical information regarding actions taken in the collaboration group is stored, and made available for later retrieval even after the collaboration group is no longer active.
US09729587B2	Access change for re-routing a connection There is proposed a method and corresponding apparatuses allowing a change from a packet switched communication domain to a circuit switched communication domain. When a user equipment as a connection terminating point receives a connection initialization message with a media flow, such as audio, which cannot be delivered by the packet switched access, it sends a specific response rejecting the connection via the packet switched access to an application server for service centralization and continuity. In the application server, it is checked whether several conditions are met in order to determine whether the communication connection comprising the media flow is allowed to be changed to the circuit switched domain. If yes, the communication connection is changed from the packet switched communication domain to the circuit switched communication domain.
US09729582B2	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating software defined networking (SDN) policies Methods, systems, and computer readable media for generating SDN policies are disclosed. One system includes a processor and a memory. The system also includes an SDN policy synthesizer (SPS) implemented using the processor and the memory. The SPS is configured to receive scenario based information indicating one or more behaviors for at least one SDN policy, to use a synthesis algorithm for generating the at least one SDN policy based on the scenario based information, and to provide the at least one SDN policy to an SDN controller.
US09729576B2	Method and system for rapid accreditation/re-accreditation of agile IT environments, for example service oriented architecture (SOA) A system and method for managing and analyzing security requirements in reusable models. At least one functional model, at least one security implementation model, at least one requirement model, and meta models of the models are read by a reader. A correspondence between the functional model, security implementation model, and the requirements model is analyzed, whereby the correspondence indicates that compliance/security/accreditation requirements defined in the requirement model match with security objectives implemented by controls defined by the security implementation model. Next, it is determined whether correspondence is or is not given based on the analysis of the correspondence and then evidence is generated based on the analysis of the correspondence and the determination and the impact of changes is analyzed.
US09729574B2	Seamless switchover for anti-replay connections in multiple network processor systems Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method, network node, and non-transitory machine-readable storage medium including one or more of the following: receiving, at the network device, an ownership indication that a first network processor is currently serving an anti-replay connection; and in response to receiving the ownership indication, effecting a presetting in a second network processor of a current sequence number (SN) for the anti-replay connection to a first value that is greater than or equal to a re-key threshold value, wherein the network device includes at least one of the first network processor and the second network processor wherein the re-key threshold value is a value beyond which an SN triggers re-keying of the anti-replay connection, and wherein the second network processor utilizes the current sequence number upon beginning to serve the anti-replay connection.
US09729568B2	Network anomaly detection Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for determining network related anomaly scores. One of the methods includes generating a network map including at least a plurality of network nodes and a plurality of edges that indicate communications paths between the plurality of network nodes, obtaining first data indicating network activity over the edges and between the plurality of network nodes for a first time period, generating a model of expected network activity over the edges and between the plurality of network nodes for a future time period using the network map and the first data, obtaining second data indicating network activity over the edges and between the plurality of network nodes for a second time period, and determining an anomaly score using a comparison between the second data and the model of expected network activity.
US09729565B2	Provisional bot activity recognition In one implementation, a network device is configured to monitor communications associated with an endpoint and identify domain name service messages in the communications. Subsequently, the network device receives a hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) request and determines whether a destination internet protocol (IP) address of the HTTP request is present in or absent from the domain name service messages. When the IP address is absent from the domain name service messages, the HTTP request is modified to trigger increased security.
US09729564B2	Statistical analytic method for the determination of the risk posed by file based content A system and method for calculating a risk assessment for an electronic file is described. A database of checks, organized into categories, can be used to scan electronic files. The categories of checks can include weights assigned to them. An analyzer can analyze electronic files using the checks. Issues identified by the analyzer can be weighted using the weights to determine a risk assessment for the electronic file.
US09729560B2	Method and device for synchronizing network data flow detection status A method and a device for synchronizing network data flow detection status are provided. The method includes: a status synchronizing server receives a first request sent by a first security device node, where the first request carries a first flow entry of a first data flow that is currently detected by the first security device node; determines first network data flow detection status corresponding to the first flow entry; sends a first response to the first security device node, where the first response carries the first network data flow detection status. A security device node requests previous network data flow detection status of a data flow from a status synchronizing server so as to synchronize network data flow detection status, thereby allowing the security device node to detect a network attack in a more accurate way and improving network system security.
US09729546B2	Auto-correcting credentials for network subscriber equipment A network communication system includes a computing device, which includes a processor, a memory device, and a component management module. The component management module is configured to receive a message from customer-premises equipment (CPE). The component management module is also configured to determine from the message that the CPE is operating in a captive portal. The captive portal restricts Internet access to the CPE. The component management module is configured to obtain stored connection credential values corresponding to a subscriber in response to determining that an identification parameter of connection credentials associated with the CPE is valid for the subscriber. The component management module is also configured to provide the stored values to the CPE.
US09729528B2	Apparatus and method for establishing secure communication channels in an internet of things (IOT) system An apparatus and method for secure communication. An IoT service establishes communication with an IoT device through an IoT hub or a mobile user device. The IoT service and IoT device each generate public/private keys and exchange the public keys. The IoT service and device use their own private key and the public key received from the IoT device and service, respectively to independently generate a secret. The secret or a data structure derived from the secret is then used to encrypt and decrypt data packets transmitted between the IoT service and the IoT device.
US09729527B2	Lookup front end packet input processor A packet processor provides for rule matching of packets in a network architecture. The packet processor includes a lookup cluster complex having a number of lookup engines and respective on-chip memory units. The on-chip memory stores rules for matching against packet data. A lookup front-end receives lookup requests from a host, and processes these lookup requests to generate key requests for forwarding to the lookup engines. As a result of the rule matching, the lookup engine returns a response message indicating whether a match is found. The lookup front-end further processes the response message and provides a corresponding response to the host.
US09729520B2	Facilitating communication between mobile applications Methods and systems for communicating information between mobile applications are presented. In some embodiments, a mobile device may determine that a plurality of applications are running on the mobile device. The mobile device may determine that each application of the plurality of applications uses a shared passcode to encrypt information about a persistent state. The mobile device may generate a beacon that includes encrypted state information. The mobile device may maintain state information across the plurality of applications beyond the lifetime of any one of the plurality of applications by transmitting the beacon from a first application to a second application before the first application's lifetime is completed.
US09729503B2	Network name processing method and mobility management network element device Embodiments of the present invention provide a network name processing method and a mobility management network element. The network name processing method includes receiving a network name sent by a mobile switching center/visitor location register MSC/VLR. The received network name is processed. The mobility management information message is sent to a terminal and according to a processing result based on the processed received network name to enable the terminal to display the network name of the registered network of the terminal. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the terminal always display the network name of the registered network of the terminal, thereby ensuring consistency in the network name display of the terminal, and improving user experience.
US09729497B2	System and method for implementing a subscription-based social media platform Systems and methods for implementing a subscription-based social media or fan club platform are provided. A content creator generates live content on a mobile device and sends requests to a server for initializing a live stream from the mobile device. The server sends requests to encoding service providers. The encoded live content is send to a content storage server. Subscribers of the social media or fan club platform can access the live content on their mobile devices from the content storage server.
US09729496B2	Perpetual music A method includes engaging with a second person to render a song on behalf of a first person using a digital representation of the first person; and on behalf of the first person and using the digital representation of the first person, while rendering the song with the second person, providing a natural language response to a question or statement from the second person based on information received from or about the first person.
US09729495B2	Ordering content items in a feed based on heights associated with the content items A social networking system selects and presents content items to a user via a feed. Additionally, the social networking system predicts heights associated with various content items, such as content items selected for presentation via the feed. Characteristics of a content item (e.g., a type of content included in the content item, a language of the content item, and a number of comments associated with the content item) as well as characteristics of a client device associated with the user are used to predict a height associated with the content item. When selecting content items for presentation to the user, the social networking system accounts for the predicted heights of various content items when ordering the content items in the news feed.
US09729486B2	Vehicle network transmission method and transmission system A vehicle network transmission method and a vehicle network transmission system are provided. The vehicle network transmission method comprises the following steps. A first transmission device transmits a data signal to a second transmission device. It is determined whether the second transmission device is located in a target area. If the second transmission device is located in the target area, then a geographic location of the first transmission device is retrieved and a transmission region of the first transmission device is calculated. It is determined whether all of the third transmission devices adjacent to the second transmission device in the target area are located in the transmission region. If all of the third transmission devices adjacent to the second transmission device in the target area are located in the transmission region, then the second transmission device does not continue forwarding the data signal.
US09729485B2	Aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations Techniques for the aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations are described. Some techniques may aggregate items in response to user input identifying a scope for item retrieval. The user input may identify a scope such as selection of a local storage location or a search query for retrieving items. The aggregated items may span multiple storage locations and include items within the identified scope and related items outside the identified scope. A group of aggregated items are presented in a hierarchical display within a user interface. The hierarchical display may visually differentiate items inside and outside of the identified scope, and may identify parent-child relationship between related items. An aggregate header for the group of aggregated items may be displayed indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09729480B2	Interoperable clinical document-exchange system A method of exchanging messages between users over a network includes receiving a registration request from an organization and provisioning an organizational sub-domain, verifying the registration request according to requirements of a first protocol and provisioning a first user address that is part of the organizational sub-domain, and sending a message from the first user address to a second user address according to the first protocol.
US09729472B2	Network physical link (PHY) switch system One example includes network physical link (PHY) switch system. The system includes a multiplexer to output a first of a plurality of data streams that are input to a PHY device in response to a first state of a selection signal. The system also includes a data detector that monitors the first data stream and provides a trigger signal in response to a predetermined condition associated with the first data stream. The system further includes a switching controller that provides the selection signal, and in response to a switching command signal indicating a command to switch from the first data stream to the second data stream, monitors the data detector for the trigger signal and changes the selection signal from the first state to a second state in response to receiving the trigger signal to switch to the second data stream of the plurality of data streams.
US09729468B2	Configuring a service based on manipulations of graphical representations of abstractions of resources A method to enable defining of a profile of a service through manipulation of graphical representations of abstractions of resources in a data center is disclosed. The profile of the service is accessed. A graphical representation of an abstraction of the first resource type is presented. A graphical representation of an abstraction of a second resource type is presented. A manipulation of the graphical representation of the abstraction of the second resource type is detected with respect to the graphical representation of the abstraction of the first resource type. Based on the manipulation, a correspondence between the abstraction of the second resource type and the profile of the service is identified and a relationship between the abstraction of the second resource type and the abstraction of the first resource type is identified. The profile of the service is updated to include information identifying the correspondence and the relationship.
US09729464B1	Method and apparatus for provisioning of resources to support applications and their varying demands Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for allowing efficient allocation of data center resources in a virtualized data center. In one step, network information is obtained from a network using an application resource broker (ARB). In another step, data center information is obtained from a virtual center server using the ARB. In another step, a set of application traffic metrics and a set of virtualized infrastructure metrics are determined using the ARB based on the obtained network information and data center information respectively. The ARB is implemented on a computer system.
US09729458B2	Device for retrieving data from wireless devices based on mapping of read request priorities Embodiments of the present invention include systems and methods for providing Quality of service to RFID. In one embodiment the present invention includes a method of providing quality of service in an RFID network comprising storing RFID priority information corresponding to the RFID network, wherein the RFID network comprises one or more tags and one or more readers mapping the RFID priority information into priority information corresponding to a second network.
US09729446B1	Protocol-independent packet routing In one aspect, one or more processors may be coupled to a content-addressable memory, a first memory and a second memory. The one or more processors may be configured to receive a data packet, read a predetermined number of bytes from the data packet, and match the read bytes to patterns corresponding to rows of the content-addressable memory. Further, the one or more processors may determine a number associated with the matched row, and based on the number, determine an initial routing instruction. The one or more processors may then determine which bits of the read bytes to hash using hash information stored in the first memory, hash the bits to generate a hash value, determine whether the value corresponds to routing information in the second memory, and route the data packet based on the routing information.
US09729444B2	High speed packet processing using a distributed hash table In one embodiment, forwarding information with respect to a particular data packet is requested from a distributed hash table (DHT) that stores key-network flow information pairs. A plurality of nodes in a network participate in the DHT, each node locally stores network flow information as dictated by a hashing function of the DHT, and the network flow information can be used to process data packets in the network. Then, forwarding information is received from the DHT indicating a destination node of the plurality of nodes to which the particular data packet should be forwarded according to the hashing function of the DHT. The destination node stores network flow information that corresponds to the particular data packet. Finally, the particular data packet is forwarded toward the destination node in order for the particular data packet to be processed using the network flow information stored at the destination node.
US09729443B2	Multicast message filtering in virtual environments Various systems, processes, and products may be used to filter multicast messages in virtual environments. In particular implementations, a system, process, and product for filtering multicast messages in virtual environments may include the ability to determine whether a multicast message has been received, examine a local filtering store for a match for the destination address of the multicast message, and send the message to a number of virtual machines if a match for the address is found. The system, process, and product may also include the ability to analyze a filtering store of at least one of the virtual machines for a match for the address if a match is not found in the local filtering store and send the message to a number of the virtual machines if a match for the address is found in a filtering store of one of the virtual machines.
US09729438B2	Cloud-based anonymous routing A system and computer-implemented method for cloud-based anonymous traffic routing is disclosed. The method may include receiving, from a client application by a router, network traffic identified for a destination. The method may include determining, for a set of internal cloud nodes distinct from both the client application and the destination, a set of internet protocol (IP) addresses including a first IP address for a first internal cloud node of the set of internal cloud nodes. The method may also include establishing an anonymity algorithm for cloud-based anonymous traffic routing, the anonymity algorithm configured to use the set of IP addresses. The method may also include routing, based on the anonymity algorithm, the network traffic to the first internal cloud node using the first IP address. The method may also include routing the network traffic from the set of internal cloud nodes to the destination identified by the client application.
US09729424B2	Defining data flow paths in software-defined networks with application-layer traffic optimization A method implemented by a software defined network (SDN) controller, the method comprising receiving, from a network node, a request for path optimization, wherein the request comprises information identifying the network node and a destination node, forwarding the request to an application layer traffic optimization (ALTO) server, receiving, from the ALTO server, path information that identifies a plurality of SDN domains to be traversed from the network node to the destination node, wherein the plurality of SDN domains comprises a first SDN domain, in which the SDN controller resides, and a second SDN domain, in which an edge node known by the SDN controller resides, and determining a first path segment from the network node to the edge node.
US09729422B2	Trace feature across the network (depth and breadth)-wise A feature trace capability may be provided for features including, but not limited to, automatic quality of service (auto QoS), power over Ethernet (PoE), and fabric compatibility. A network command may be implemented with the capability to validate features across a network path or the network as a whole. The output of this network command may result in the display of details about supported features. Such a command may also result in a listing of what devices require upgrades to support any number of features of interest. Embodiments of the feature trace capability may be configured such that the query gets terminated once a final subnet (or endpoint) is reached. Alternatively, the feature trace capability may be configured such that the query gets terminated after a maximum hop count, or trace total (trace_ttl) is reached. Such a limit may prevent the continuous flooding of the network.
US09729405B2	Systems and methods for real-time service assurance A system and methods for providing service assurance using real-time monitoring, management and maintenance capabilities to provide customers and vendors with information related to the state of the service. The service assurance domain implements end-to-end functionality with a level of granularity sufficient to diagnose issues to the device and call/session level.
US09729403B1	Proficiency-based GUI adaptation One embodiment is directed to a method performed by a computing device. The method includes (1) receiving a command from a user to display a current GUI page of a set of GUI pages on a client device, the set of GUI pages providing the user with control over a system, (2) selecting, with reference to a proficiency level associated with the user, a version of the current GUI page from a plurality of versions of the current GUI page, and (3) causing the selected version of the current GUI page to be displayed to the user on a display of the client device. Other embodiments are directed to a computerized apparatus and a computer program product for performing a method similar to that described above.
US09729401B2	Automatic remediation of poor-performing virtual machines for scalable applications A management system and method for remediating poor-performing clients running in a distributed computer system uses a machine learning technique to automatically detect one or more poor-performing clients among a plurality of clients running in the distributed computer based on at least performance data and resource usage data of the clients. An action is then initiated to mitigate the effects of the poor-performing clients.
US09729399B2	Bandwidth on demand automation A device enables automated bandwidth on demand functionality for a user, associated with a network, based on a request of the user, and receives a particular schedule for the user and the automated bandwidth on demand functionality. The device generates provisioning commands that update bandwidth requirements of the network, for the user, based on the particular schedule. The device provides the provisioning commands to network resources of the network, and the provisioning commands cause the network resources to implement the updated bandwidth requirements for the user according to the particular schedule.
US09729395B2	Collaborative conference experience improvement An example computing device creates a resource module that acquires resource information relating to resources of the computing device and acquire quality of experience information corresponding to a quality of audio, and creates a roster module that displays a participant list including resource information relating to resources of a plurality of other computing devices connected to the teleconference and display quality of experience information corresponding to a quality of audio a user of each of the plurality of other computing devices experiences when connected to the teleconference. The device also creates a policy module configured to evaluate the resource information and quality of experience information acquired by the client resource module against rules of a teleconference policy and implement actions based on a determination that the computing device is non-compliant with one or more of the rules of the teleconference policy to control quality of audio during the teleconference.
US09729392B2	Intelligent message manager A message manager is capable of analyzing a number of inputs to dynamically adjust rules used to delete messages as well as determine what kinds of messages are likely candidates to be deleted due to their being stale. If a message is determined to be a likely candidate for deletion, the message manager may query the user if they want to delete all messages with similar characteristics, e.g., sender, title, dates sent, time sent, recipients, content, context, and the like. If the user selects “yes” then the message manager may automatically update its deletion rules and further delete all messages in accordance with the user's selection.
US09729378B1	Receiver architecture for constant envelope OFDM A system and method involve receiving, at a processor, a phase modulated signal such as an optical or electromagnetic signal, using one or more samples of an in-phase component I(t) and a quadrature component Q(t) of the received phase modulated signal to generate, at the processor, a processed signal using the equation [A−B×I(t)]×Q(t), where A and B are numerical parameters, and inputting the processed signal into a receiver operatively connected to the processor. The processed signal may be filtered prior to being input into the receiver. Parameters A and B may be selected to vary complexity and performance of the receiver while controlling distortion for different modulation indices.
US09729377B2	Coarse symbol boundary detection in OFDM receivers A method for determining a symbol boundary in a data packet belonging to a received OFDM signal is provided. The data packet includes a first training filed and a second training field, which begins with a guard interval. The method includes detecting the beginning of the data packet, and starting an automatic gain control process. The method further includes, after the automatic gain control process is locked, determining autocorrelation peaks and estimating the symbol boundary from times of the autocorrelation peaks.
US09729375B2	Apparatus for transmitting broadcast signals, apparatus for receiving broadcast signals, method for transmitting broadcast signals and method for receiving broadcast signals A method and an apparatus for receiving broadcast signals thereof are disclosed. The method for receiving broadcast signals, the method comprises receiving the broadcast signals, demodulating the received broadcast signals by an OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex) scheme, parsing a signal frame from the demodulated broadcast signals, MIMO (Multiple-Input and Multiple-Output) decoding service data in the parsed signal frame, decoding signaling data in the parsed signal frame and decoding the MIMO decoded service data.
US09729370B2	Method and apparatus for transmitting/receiving data in single carrier frequency division multiple access system The present invention provides a method for transmitting and receiving data in a single carrier frequency division multiple access system to which a precoding matrix is applied, and to a transmitting/receiving apparatus for same. The method for transmitting data comprises the steps of: applying selected mapping algorithm (SLM) sequences of an SLM sequence subset corresponding to a precoding matrix, to respective data; selecting the SLM sequence in which each of the applied data has the smallest peak to average power ratio (PAPR) value; and transmitting the index of the selected SLM sequence and data to which the selected SLM sequence is applied. The method for receiving data, to which a precoding matrix is applied, comprises the steps of: receiving the index of the SLM sequence selected from the SLM sequence subset corresponding to the precoding matrix, and data to which the selected SLM sequence is applied; and removing the SLM sequence from the data to which the SLM sequence is applied using the SLM sequence indicated by the index, in order to recover data.
US09729362B1	Systems and methods for autonomous signal modulation format identification Systems and methods for autonomous signal modulation format identification are disclosed. In an example embodiment of the disclosed technology, a method includes applying higher-order statistics to an input signal to identify the input signal's modulation format. The method may include applying higher-order statistics to the input signal to calculate higher-order cumulant values for the input signal as higher-order cumulants are indicative of a particular modulation format signature. The method may further include employing a decision tree to determine the modulation format of the input signal.
US09729344B2	Integrating a trigger button module into a mass audio notification system An IP-enabled speaker with a trigger button module. Activation of the button on the trigger button module activates an audio link between a user of the speaker and a user of a destination communications device.
US09729340B2	System and method for notifying a user of conditions associated with an internet-of-things (IoT) hub A platform, apparatus and method for detecting that an IoT hub communication channel has become inoperative. For example, one embodiment of an IoT system comprises: an Internet of Things (IoT) hub comprising a network interface to couple the IoT hub to an IoT service over a first communication channel; at least one IoT device communicatively coupled to the IoT hub over a second communication channel; connection monitoring logic to detect when the first communication channel between the IoT service and the IoT hub has become inoperative; notification logic to transmit a notification to a data processing device of a user of the IoT system responsive to the connection monitoring logic detecting that the first communication channel has become inoperative.
US09729338B2	Fast hardware switchover in a control path in a network ASIC A multicast destination table contains a list of links. The list of links includes the main link that is currently in use and alternate links to reach the same destination. The links in the list of links are ordered based on a metric. Each of the links is stored as an entry in the multicast destination table. A multicast replication engine traverses the list of links until an enabled link in the list of links is reached, and replicates a packet according to data associated with the enabled link in the list of links.
US09729328B2	Information processing apparatus, software updating method, and image processing apparatus An information processing apparatus which updates a basic software package is disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes an encryption and decryption unit which stores values calculated uniquely from software and encrypts information based on the calculated values and decrypts encrypted information based on the calculated values. The basic software package includes a firmware authenticating module for authenticating a firmware updating file which includes new software for updating the basic software package, a value uniquely calculated from the new software, and a public key signature. The information processing apparatus further includes a software updating module which updates the basic software package by using the authenticated firmware updating file, and an encryption key managing module for encrypting again the information encrypted by the values based on a value changed by updating the basic software package.
US09729325B2	Apparatus and method for protecting message data Disclosed is a method for protecting message data. In the method, the message data is padded with padding bits generated based on a deterministic function performed on the message data. The padded message data is compressed to generate compressed data. A length of the compressed data is dependent on the padding bits. The compressed data is encrypted to generate encrypted message data.
US09729323B2	Method of cryptographic processing of data on elliptic curves, corresponding electronic device and computer program product In one embodiment, it is proposed a method of cryptographic processing of data, the method being executed by an electronic device, and comprising obtaining at least two points belonging to a same elliptic curve defined on an algebraic structure being a finite ring, each point being represented by at least two coordinates. The method is remarkable in that it comprises:obtaining a parameterization of an isomorphism between said elliptic curve and another elliptic curve, said parameterization defining some configuration parameters, each configuration parameter having a range of possible values;determining in function of values of coordinates of said at least two points said configuration parameters, delivering determined configuration parameters; andobtaining coordinates of another point corresponding to an image of an addition of said at least two points through said isomorphism, said another point belonging to said another elliptic curve, and said obtaining being performed without an inversion operation in said algebraic structure, due to said determined configuration parameters.
US09729319B2	Key management for on-the-fly hardware decryption within integrated circuits Methods and systems are disclosed for key management for on-the-fly hardware decryption within an integrated circuit. Encrypted information is received from an external memory and stored in an input buffer within the integrated circuit. The encrypted information includes one or more encrypted key blobs. The encrypted key blobs include one or more secret keys for encrypted code associated with one or more encrypted software images stored within the external memory. A key-encryption key (KEK) code for the encrypted key blobs is received from an internal data storage medium within the integrated circuit, and the KEK code is used to generate one or more key-encryption keys (KEKs). A decryption system then decrypts the encrypted key blobs using the KEKs to obtain the secret keys, and the decryption system decrypts the encrypted code using the secret keys. The resulting decrypted software code is then available for further processing.
US09729313B2	Methods, systems, and computer readable media for scrambled communication of data to, from, or over a medium The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable medium for scrambled communication of data to, from, or over a medium. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating data in scrambled form to or over a medium. The method includes receiving analog or digital data to be transmitted to or over a medium. The method further includes modulating samples representing at least signal using the analog or digital data to produce data modulated signal samples. The method further includes scrambling the data modulated signal samples using a predetermined scrambling algorithm. The method further includes transmitting the scrambled data modulated signal samples to or over the medium. The method further includes descrambling samples received from the medium using the inverse of the predetermined scrambling algorithm to obtain the unscrambled modulated signal samples, which can then be demodulated to retrieve original data.
US09729310B2	Scrambled counter mode for differential power analysis resistant encryption A system and method for providing a scrambled counter mode encryption for a device that mitigates the effect of side channel attacks based on differential power analysis (DPA). The scrambled counter mode encryption engine creates noise at the start of the encryption process by obfuscating the counter value with the use of the very fast mixing function, such as a mixing function based on a XOR tree, substitution-permutation networks, or double-mix Feistel networks. The mixing function uses some secret key material, which diversifies its behavior between different instantiations. Because the counter values are scrambled and the mixing functions operate very fast in parallel hardware, the input of the block cipher is pseudorandom and groups of blocks can't be correlated. The output of the block cipher is XORed with a plaintext message to obtain a cipher text message.
US09729304B2	Methods and devices for radio communication configuration The teachings present a method performed in a network node for configuring a device for radio communication in uplink and downlink between the network node and the device. The method comprises: configuring the device with a primary cell on a first radio channel at a first carrier frequency f1 with a first frequency bandwidth B1 for time division duplexed communication in uplink and downlink; configuring the device with a secondary cell on a second radio channel at a second carrier frequency f3 with a second frequency bandwidth B3, wherein the secondary cell is adjacent to the primary cell and configured for downlink communication only; and configuring the device to support and to monitor the second radio channel, the configuration comprising a priority list according to which the device is to perform the monitoring. The teachings also disclose corresponding network node, methods in a device, and corresponding devices.
US09729303B2	Methods and apparatuses for controlling glitch behavior in a network The embodiments herein relate to a method performed in a user equipment, a user equipment, a method performed in a network node and a network node for controlling glitch behavior of the user equipment. The method comprising: receiving a message from the network node. Determining if the message includes an indicator indicating if the UE shall perform a glitch at cell configuration or at cell activation, and performing the glitch depending on the indication received in the message.
US09729299B2	Methods and systems for communication in dense wireless environments Systems, methods, and computer readable storage media communicate with a wireless device within a dense wireless environment. In one aspect, a method includes determining whether a wireless device is subject to interference, adjusting a transmission attribute based on the determining, and transmitting a message to the wireless device based on the adjusted transmission attribute. In some aspects, adjusting a transmission attribute may include selecting one or more of time division multiplexing or frequency division multiplexing when communicating with the wireless device. In some aspects, particular time periods and/or particular frequency bands may be selected for communication with the device depending on whether the device is subject to interference.
US09729294B2	Communications system, wireless base station, wireless terminal, and communications method A communications system in which, in each cell, a common reference signal to wireless terminals of the cell is transmitted at a first timing at a frequency that is based on identification information of the cell, and the communications system includes a wireless base station that transmits the common reference signal at the first timing, and transmits at a second timing that is different from the first timing, a wireless-terminal-specific reference signal to the wireless terminals of the cell of the wireless base station and a control signal to the wireless terminals of the cell of the wireless base station, concurrently at different frequencies; and a wireless terminal that based on the wireless-terminal-specific reference signal transmitted by the wireless base station, demodulates the control signal transmitted by the wireless base station.
US09729293B2	Terminal, base station, and method for terminal to report received power of reference signals to base station A terminal is disclosed that includes a higher layer processing circuitry, a channel measurement circuitry, and a transmitting circuitry. The terminal is configured to set a first parameter and a second parameter measurement. The channel measurement circuitry is configured to perform a measurement of a reference signal received power based on a first reference signal in a case that the first parameter is configured in a measurement configuration, and perform a measurement of a reference signal received power based on a second reference signal in a case that at least the second parameter is configured in the measurement configuration. The transmitting circuitry is configured to report a first measurement report.
US09729290B2	Reference signal transmitting method and device in a multi-antenna system Provided is a method for transmitting, by a user equipment (UE), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) in a wireless communication system. A terminal receives a cyclic shift field, which indicates a first value and a second value, through a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) from a base station, generates a first DMRS sequence and a second DMRS sequence, which are associated with a first layer and a second layer respectively, by using a first cyclic shift and a second cyclic shift, respectively, which are determined based on the first value and the second value respectively, and transmits the first DMRS sequence and the second DMRS sequence to the base station. Furthermore, the first value and the second value are separated by a maximum value corresponding to a total number of possible cyclic shifts.
US09729288B2	Method for allocating PHICH and generating reference signal in system using single user MIMO based on multiple codewords when transmitting uplink The present invention relates to a method for generating an uplink reference signal in a system supporting plural uplink-access transmission modes. The method comprises: a step for transmitting the reference signal configuration information about the configuration of a reference signal from a base station to a user device through an uplink grant PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel), and a step for receiving from the user device a sub-frame including the reference signal that is generated based on the reference signal configuration information. The reference signal configuration information is prepared for plural uplink access transmission modes and includes a cyclic shift value for the sequence of the reference signal. The reference signal is supposed to be transmitted to an uplink, and the user device is set up to be operated in the uplink-access transmission mode that corresponding to the reference signal configuration information.
US09729259B2	System and a method for identifying a point in time of receipt of a data packet A de-serializer, such as forming part of a SERDES, in which a point in time of receipt, on the serial data path, of receipt of a particular part of a data packet, such as an SOF, is determined from when that part is output on the parallel data path from knowledge of the clock controlling the parallel data path as well as which of the parallel lanes the part is output on.
US09729251B2	Cooling system control in distributed antenna systems Power distribution modules in distributed antenna systems include fan monitoring circuits for indicating an alarm condition to head-end equipment. The alarm condition can be used by system operator/owners that a fan is drawing excessive power, thereby detracting from system performance, or indicating that the fan may fail. The alarm condition signal can be returned to the head-end equipment via an uplink communication path between a remote unit powered by the module and the head-end equipment.
US09729249B2	Amplification circuit According to one embodiment, an amplification circuit includes an amplifier having a gain based on a gain control signal and amplifying an input signal by the gain, and a control portion outputting the gain control signal for increasing the gain after decreasing the gain based on an amplitude of the input signal, when the amplitude of the input signal is detected.
US09729247B2	Methods and apparatus for multiphase sampling of modulated light A light transmitter to transmit multiple light packets, each formatted to include a same message comprising a series of bits, each bit represented as light that is intensity modulated over a bit period at a frequency indicative of the bit. The light packets are transmitted at different start-times to establish different phases, one for each of the light packets, to permit a light receiver to sample each message at a different phase of a fixed sample timeline that is asynchronous to the bit period and the frequency. The light receiver samples the multiple light packets based on the sample timeline, to sample each received message at one of the different sample phases, then constructs a best series of bits based on the multiple demodulated messages.
US09729245B2	Using artificial justifications to apply noise shaping to actual justifications associated with mapping client data A transmitter may receive client data, associated with a client rate, to be mapped to frames associated with a server rate. The transmitter may generate justifications associated with the mapping of the client data to the frames. The transmitter may create, based on the justifications, artificial justifications that include information associated with justifications created to shape phase variations present in a recovered client clock associated with the client rate. The phase variations may be shaped based on the artificial justifications to cause shaped phase variations to be present in the recovered client clock. The shaped phase variations may include phase variations that can be filtered from the recovered client clock. The transmitter may map the client data to the frames based on the artificial justifications to cause the shaped phase variations to be present in the recovered client clock.
US09729236B2	Multi-wavelength visible light communications systems and methods A system for transmitting data using light includes a plurality of light sources configured to transmit light at non-overlapping wavelengths, processing electronics, and a diffuser configured to diffuse the transmission of light. The processing electronics assign the plurality of light sources to a plurality of channels, accept a data stream, allocate the data stream to the channels, and modulate a transmission of the light using the allocated data stream, where the allocated data used to modulate a first light source of the plurality of light sources is separate from the allocated data used to modulate a second light source of the plurality of light sources.
US09729225B2	Relaying communications in advanced LTE systems There is a method including receiving, at a first network node, information from a relay node associated with the first network node. The information includes an indication of at least one second network node neighboring the first network node. Parameter information of the at least one second network node is determined on the basis of the indication. The parameter information is uniquely mapped to the relay node and indicates current available resources of the at least one second network node for the relay node. Apparatus and computer program products are also disclosed.
US09729216B2	Multiple transmitter codebook methods and devices Various communication systems may benefit from codebook methods and devices for multiple transmitters. For example, a codebook for four transmitters (4Tx) may provide further enhancement for downlink multiple-input multiple-output (DL-MIMO) systems. A method can include weighting a signal for transmission based on a precoder selected according to a feedback from a codebook, such as codebooks A, B, C, D, or E, described herein. The method can also include sending the weighted signal.
US09729196B2	Method and apparatus for avoiding interference A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may perform, for example, a method that determines at least one threshold for detecting signal interference in a first plurality of segments occurring in a first radio frequency spectrum of a first wireless communication system, detecting a pattern of recurrence over time of signal interference in a segment of the first plurality of resource blocks according to the at least one threshold, and performing one or more mitigation steps to mitigate the signal interference without filtering the signal interference where the one or more mitigation steps include at least one of transmitting signals out of phase from the signal interference, adjusting transmit power, increasing power in a resource block of a long term evolution communication session, performing beam steering, or changing time parameters for the resource block without changing to a new resource block. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09729188B2	Protecting wireless communication components in a highly resonant field A system for harnessing and conditioning wirelessly transmitted electrical energy by near field magnetic induction configured with various magnetic field shielding embodiments is disclosed. The shielding embodiments are designed to minimize electromagnetic interference and induced electrical current. The system comprises an electrical energy capture circuit and an RF communication circuit. The electrical energy capture circuit conditions and modifies the wirelessly received electrical energy. The RF communication circuit enables the system to wirelessly communicate with its sub-circuits and other energy capture systems. The system comprises a tunable band stop filter that is electrically connected to the RF communication sub-circuit. In addition, the RF communication sub-circuit is configured with opposing electrically conductive plates that isolate and shield the circuit from an oscillating magnetic field.
US09729186B1	Mobile phone holder A mobile phone holder. The mobile phone holder provides a device for securing a cellular communications device to clothes. The holder includes a housing having an open upper end, a rear wall, arcuate side walls, and a bottom end forming a pocket configured to slidably receive and secure a phone in the housing. The sidewalls include cut-out portions and the bottom end includes a slot for providing access to inputs and outputs of a cell phone. A pair of opposing straps are disposed on an exterior surface of the rear wall that are configured to secure the holder to a user's clothing. In this way, a user may attach a cell phone to his or her clothes in order to communicate over the phone without compromising his or her hands.
US09729181B2	Network access device faceplate The front side of a vehicle infotainment system head unit is provided with a removable faceplate that carries a network access device such as a cell phone or GPS receiver and an associated antenna. A removable user-interface display panel, also referred to herein as a display screen, is also carried by the faceplate. When the head unit and faceplate are assembled into a vehicle dashboard, a removable bezel conceals the network access device, antenna and provides access to the display panel. The network access device and its antenna are thus readily accessible by simply removing the bezel.
US09729179B1	Feed-forward interference cancellation in a receiver Systems and methods for interference cancellation in a receiver of wireless signals include receiving a signal comprising an aggressor and a desired signal. The received signal is amplified in a low noise amplifier (LNA) to generate an amplified received signal. The aggressor is extracted from the received signal in a feed-forward path between an input of the LNA and an output of the LNA, to generate an extracted aggressor and the extracted aggressor is subtracted from the amplified received signal to provide the desired signal. An amplify and rotate block in the feed-forward path is used to align a phase of the aggressor to a phase of the amplified received signal in order to enable the subtraction.
US09729178B2	Passive intermodulation detection A method, apparatus and receiver for detecting intermodulation distortion (IMD) affecting a received signal in a wireless receiver are provided. One method includes determining a measurement indicative of IMD based on at least one transmit signal. When the measurement indicative of IMD exceeds a first pre-determined level, at least one sample of an amplitude of a signal output by the wireless receiver is collected in a first data set. When the measurement indicative of intermodulation distortion does not exceed a second pre-determined level, the second predetermined level being less than the first predetermined level, at least one sample of an amplitude of the signal output by the wireless receiver is collected in a second data set. A comparison is performed based on data of the first data set and on data of the second data set to determine a measure of IMD.
US09729177B2	Power amplifier die configurations having reduced radiated emissions Apparatus and methods for orienting power amplifiers are disclosed herein. In certain implementations, a power amplifier system is provided. The power amplifier system includes a first power amplifier die that is positioned in a first position on a printed circuit board (PCB) and configured to radiate a first amount of emissions. The power amplifier system further includes a second power amplifier die that is positioned in a second orientation on the PCB and configured to radiate a second amount of emissions. The power amplifier system further includes a third power amplifier die that is positioned in a third orientation on the PCB and configured to radiate a third amount of emissions, the third power amplifier die oriented such that the first amount of emissions, the second amount of emissions, and the third amount of emissions in a first direction are less than a threshold value.
US09729172B2	Low density parity check encoder having length of 64800 and code rate of 7/15, and low density parity check encoding method using the same A low density parity check (LDPC) encoder, an LDPC decoder, and an LDPC encoding method are disclosed. The LDPC encoder includes first memory, second memory, and a processor. The first memory stores an LDPC codeword having a length of 64800 and a code rate of 7/15. The second memory is initialized to 0. The processor generates the LDPC codeword corresponding to information bits by performing accumulation with respect to the second memory using a sequence corresponding to a parity check matrix (PCM).
US09729166B1	Delta-sigma modulator having multiple dynamic element matching shufflers A data converter is disclosed. The data converter includes a loop-filter, a quantizer, an analog dynamic element matching (DEM) shuffler, a digital DEM shuffler and a feedback digital-to-analog converter. The loop-filter receives analog signals from an analog input. The quantizer then converts the filtered analog signals from the loop-filter to digital signals at a digital output. The analog DEM shuffler shuffles a set of analog threshold levels of the quantizer to yield a set of partially shuffled digital data at an output of the quantizer. The digital DEM shuffler shuffles the set of partially shuffled digital data from the output of the quantizer to yield a set of shuffled digital data. The feedback digital-to-analog converter converts the set of shuffled digital data to a set of analog data to be fed back to the loop-filter.
US09729164B2	Dual processing paths for differential mode and common mode signals for an adaptable analog-to-digital converter (ADC) topology One method of processing microphone input in an ADC to determine microphone configuration is to process the microphone input signals in two processing paths, in which one processing path processes a difference between differential input signals and another processing path processes an average value of the differential input signals. The outputs of these processing paths may be combined to generate a digital signal representative of the analog signal from the microphone. The digital signal contains a digital version of the audio in the environment around the microphone, but may also be used to detect microphone topology and configure aspects of the processing paths to match the detected microphone topology. An apparatus for an ADC may implement the two processing paths as two delta-sigma modulator loops.
US09729160B1	Wideband analog to digital conversion by random or level crossing sampling Circuit and method for encoding an analog signal to a stream of bits at an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) and subsequent reconstruction of the original signal from the bit stream at a Digital to Analog Converter (DAC), where the ADC module samples the analog signal at a sub-Nyquist rate and encodes the samples to a stream of bits. The bit steam is subsequently used to reconstruct the Nyquist-rate samples of the original analog signal at the DAC. The ADC samples the input signal in one of the two realizations of non-uniform sampling, namely, Random Sampling (RS) and Level Crossing (LC) sampling techniques, according to embodiments of the disclosed invention.
US09729158B2	Ultra low phase noise frequency synthesizer A system for providing ultra low phase noise frequency synthesizers using Fractional-N PLL (Phase Lock Loop), Sampling Reference PLL and DDS (Direct Digital Synthesizer). Modern day advanced communication systems comprise frequency synthesizers that provide a frequency output signal to other parts of the transmitter and receiver so as to enable the system to operate at the set frequency band. The performance of the frequency synthesizer determines the performance of the communication link. Current days advanced communication systems comprises single loop Frequency synthesizers which are not completely able to provide lower phase deviations for errors (For 256 QAM the practical phase deviation for no errors is 0.4-0.5°) which would enable users to receive high data rate. This proposed system overcomes deficiencies of current generation state of the art communication systems by providing much lower level of phase deviation error which would result in much higher modulation schemes and high data rate.
US09729157B2	Variable clock phase generation method and system A variable phase generator is disclosed that includes a delay line with an input, and output, and a delay lone control signal input. A signal on the delay line output has a phase offset relative to the delay line input signal such that the phase offset is controlled by a digital offset signal. A phase detector process the input signal and the output signal to generate a phase detector output signal. A charge pump, responsive to the phase detector output signal, generates a charge pump output. A digital to analog converter receives and converts the digital offset signal to an analog offset signal. A control node is connected to the delay line control input, the charge pump, and the digital to analog converter, and is configured to receive and combine the charge pump output and the analog offset signal to create the delay line control signal.
US09729143B2	GOA circuit based on LTPS semiconductor TFT A GOA circuit based on LTPS semiconductor TFT includes a plurality of GOA units which are cascade connected, in which an Nth GOA unit includes a pull-up control part, a pull-up part, a first pull-down part and a pull-down holding part. The pull-down holding part utilizes a high/low voltage reverse design and includes first, second and third DC constant low voltage levels, which are sequentially abated, and a DC constant high voltage level so that the influence of electrical property of the LTPS semiconductor TFT to the GOA driving circuit and particularly the bad function due to the electric leakage issue can be solved. Also, the existing issue that the second node voltage level of the pull-down holding circuit part in the GOA circuit based on the LTPS semiconductor TFT cannot be at higher voltage level in the functioning period can be solved.
US09729140B2	Circuits with floating bias Apparatus and methods to increase the range of a signal processing circuit. A system uses floating bias circuits coupled to a signal processing circuit to increase the range of power supplies that can be used with the signal processing circuit, while maintaining the components of the signal processing circuit within a breakdown voltage threshold. As the voltage level of the data signal varies, the voltage level of the floating bias circuits varies as well.
US09729138B1	Circuits and systems having low power power-on-reset and/or brown out detection A circuit can include a signal section that includes a first signal transistor configured to operate in a subthreshold region to maintain the signal node at about VCC as VCC rises from a low level; a high threshold section that enables a current path from the signal node to the low power supply node only after a voltage at the detect node exceeds a level greater than a threshold voltage (Vt); and an output section having transistors with relatively long channels, for reduced crowbar current.
US09729137B2	Semiconductor circuit, voltage detection circuit, and voltage determination circuit The present disclosure provides a semiconductor circuit including: a PMOS transistor that includes a first source connected to a power supply, a first drain, and a first gate to which a fixed potential is supplied; an output circuit that outputs a first output signal, which is a reset signal or a power-on signal, and that outputs a second output signal according to a potential of the first drain; a constant current source connected to the first drain; and an NMOS transistor that includes a second source to which a fixed potential is supplied, a second drain connected to the first drain, and a second gate to which the second output signal from the output circuit is applied.
US09729126B2	Method and implementation for accurate gain-bandwidth product tuning Method and implementation of gain-bandwidth product (GWB) tuning are disclosed. In an embodiment an operational amplifier (opamp) includes an input stage of the opamp including a differential device pair coupled to a tail device and configured to be responsive to a differential input signal for conducting a first current and an output stage of the opamp including a class AB interface stage circuit and a pair of output devices connected to the class AB interface stage circuit, wherein a first constant gm bias circuit is coupled to an input terminal of the class AB interface stage circuit.
US09729122B2	Switching circuit In one embodiment, a switching circuit includes a first switch comprising one or more transistors operably coupled in series with a first terminal, wherein each of the one or more transistors has a corresponding diode, a drain of each of the one or more transistors being operably coupled to a cathode of the corresponding diode; and a second switch comprising one or more transistors operably coupled in series with a second terminal, wherein each of the one or more transistors has a corresponding diode, a drain of each of the one or more transistors being operably coupled to a cathode of the corresponding diode; wherein a source of the one or more transistors of the first switch is operably coupled to a source of the one or more transistors of the second switch.
US09729118B2	Loudness matching An example method may involve a device determining a first loudness representation for a playback device based on a first equalization setting applied to a representation of average music. The device may also determine a second loudness representation for the playback device, based on a second equalization setting applied to the representation of average music. The device may also determine a loudness adjustment factor based on the first and second loudness representations, and then causing the playback device to play back media based on the second equalization setting and the determined loudness adjustment factor.
US09729112B2	Power management in transceivers Various embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods to generate a first signal representing modulation data and a second signal representing an amplitude of the modulation data, the first signal and the second signal to depend on an output signal and vary a power supply voltage to a gain stage in proportion to the amplitude of the modulation data.
US09729110B2	Radio-frequency device calibration Exemplary embodiments are related to method and devices for calibration a radio-frequency (RF) transceiver. A method may include calibrating an RF device by calculating input voltage values and bias voltage values of a power amplifier for each desired output voltage value of the power amplifier to generate a desired compression point. The method may also include applying digital pre-distortion (DPD) values to the input voltage of the power amplifier, and measuring a value of the output voltage after applying the DPD values.
US09729109B2	Multi-channel amplifier with chopping Aspects of this disclosure relate to an amplifier with at least two chopper amplifier channels in parallel between a shared input and differential nodes. The amplifier can multiplex outputs of the chopper amplifier channels to provide the output of one or more chopper amplifier channels to the differential nodes at a time. In certain embodiments, this can mask dynamic settling errors.
US09729107B2	Amplifiers operating in envelope tracking mode or non-envelope tracking mode Various envelope tracking amplifiers are presented that can be switched between an ET (envelope tracking) mode and a non-ET mode. Switches and/or tunable components are utilized in constructing the envelope tracking amplifiers that can be switched between the ET mode and the non-ET mode.
US09729106B2	Spin torque oscillator having multiple fixed ferromagnetic layers or multiple free ferromagnetic layers A spin torque oscillator and a method of making same. The spin torque oscillator is configured to generate microwave electrical oscillations without the use of a magnetic field external thereto, the spin torque oscillator having one of a plurality of input nanopillars and a nanopillar having a plurality of free FM layers.
US09729103B2	Reinforcement PV laminate A solar module (2) comprising: (a) a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic cells (4); (b) a forward protective layer (22); (c) a rearward protective layer (24); and (d) an reinforcement (10); wherein the reinforcement is integrally located within the solar module and extends from a location substantially proximate to the forward protective layer to a location substantially proximate to the rearward protective layer.
US09729102B2	Low profile solar tracking systems and methods A solar energy collection system comprises a frame for mounting the system on a suitable substrate and a plurality of solar panels disposed adjacent to one another on the frame. A first set of the solar panels are movable relative to a second set of the solar panels, for tracking movement of the sun during the day. Solar panels of the first set are arranged in alternating fashion with solar panels of the second set. In some embodiments of the invention, the panels in the second set of solar panels are stationary. The second set of solar panels, in some embodiments, are disposed substantially flat, relative to the frame and the substrate on which the frame is mounted. In some embodiments, differing from those in which the second set of solar panels are stationary, the second set of solar panels may be arranged to be movable relative to the first set of solar panels.
US09729097B2	Apparatus for controlling induction machine An apparatus for controlling an induction motor is provided, the apparatus generates generating a d-axis current command and a q-axis current command of a torque command, estimating speed of a rotor of the motor, and correcting the d-axis and q-axis current commands by using the estimated speed, to enhances the rotor speed and position estimation performance by increasing the slip frequency.
US09729087B2	Vibration power generator, vibration monitoring device, and vibration monitoring system A vibration power generator includes a vibration system attached to a vibrating member. The vibration system includes a first vibration subsystem, and a second vibration subsystem attached to the first vibration subsystem. The first vibration subsystem includes an elastic member attached to the vibrating member, and a first mass member attached to the elastic member. The second vibration subsystem includes a plate spring integral with a piezoelectric element, and a second mass member attached to the plate spring. The first vibration subsystem has a resonant frequency that is substantially equal to a resonant frequency of the second vibration subsystem.
US09729086B2	Ultrasonic actuator The invention relates to an ultrasonic actuator (2) with a polarization axis P, said actuator being made of a piezoelectric ceramic. The ultrasonic actuator (2) has a temperature expansion coefficient which is parallel to the polarization axis P and which differs from a temperature expansion coefficient that is perpendicular to the polarization axis P, and at least one friction element (8) is arranged on the ultrasonic actuator. The friction element (8) consists of an anisotropic monocrystal with temperature expansion coefficients which are different along the three crystal axes a, b, and c. The temperature expansion coefficient along a first of the three crystal axes is the lowest, and the temperature expansion coefficient along a second of the three crystal axes is the greatest. The friction element (8) is aligned relative to the ultrasonic actuator (2) such that the first crystal axis is parallel to the polarization axis P of the ultrasonic actuator (2), and the second crystal axis is perpendicular to the polarization axis P of the ultrasonic actuator (2). The invention additionally relates to an ultrasonic motor with an ultrasonic actuator of the aforementioned type.
US09729084B2	Wide power range resonant converter A resonant power converter. An embodiment with a fullbridge converter is disclosed, controlled with feedback or feedforward technique. Switching schemes are either based on a sort of look up table or on measurement of current or voltage. Dead time may be adjusted. Timing may be such, that in the respective diagonal pairs of the converter, one switch is switched on for a different time (different pulse width) than the other. Use in a relative high power environment for about 20 KW in e.g. an X-Ray or Computer Tompgrapy System.
US09729078B2	AC/DC voltage transformer and method of operation therefor A method for actuating an AC/DC voltage converter is specified, which has a DC voltage output between which at least one series circuit of at least two capacitors and at least one series circuit of n switching elements-is arranged, where n≧4. A connecting point of the switching elements is connected to a connection of an AC voltage input between n/2 switching elements. Two diodes are connected in an antiparallel arrangement to the two switching elements lying closest to the connecting point. In addition, a connecting point of the capacitors is connected to a connecting point of the diodes. An output voltage at the DC voltage output and a potential of the connecting point of the capacitors or diodes are provided as controlled variables, an input current at the AC voltage input is provided as a manipulated variable and the switching elements are provided as an actuating element of a control loop. In addition, a controller for implementing the method and an AC/DC voltage converter containing such a controller are specified.
US09729061B2	Boost regulator having adaptive dead time A boost regulator that selectively operates in an asynchronous mode, a synchronous mode, or an adaptive mode. In the adaptive mode, the boost mode regulator controls a high side switch according to an adaptive dead time. Adaptive mode allows the boost regulator to operate more efficiently than in asynchronous mode.
US09729056B2	Charge injection circuit for instantaneous transient support A voltage regulator circuit includes a voltage regulator electrically coupled to a load through an output inductor and operable to regulate a voltage applied to the load, an output capacitor electrically coupled to a node between the inductor and the load, and a charge injection circuit capacitively coupled to the node. The output capacitor is configured to discharge energy stored in the capacitor to the load during step-up transient events at the load and absorb energy from the load during step-down transient events at the load. The charge injection circuit is operable to inject charge onto the output capacitor during the step-up transient events and absorb charge from the output capacitor during the step-down transient events.
US09729052B1	Systems and methods for controlling DC-to-DC converters including unregulated operating modes A method for controlling a DC-to-DC converter includes: (a) regulating a magnitude of an output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter according to a magnitude of a reference voltage; (b) in response to a command to enter the unregulated operating mode, allowing the magnitude of the output voltage to fall; and (c) adjusting the magnitude of the reference voltage to track the magnitude of the output voltage. A controller for a DC-to-DC converter includes reference and switching modules. The reference module generates a reference voltage, such that: (a) a magnitude of the reference voltage is fixed, in a regulated operating mode, and (b) the magnitude of the reference voltage tracks a magnitude of an output voltage of the DC-to-DC converter, in the unregulated operating mode. The switching module controls a power stage of the DC-to-DC converter to regulate the magnitude of the output voltage, in the regulated operating mode.
US09729049B2	Supply voltage generating circuit and switching power supply The present disclosure relates to a supply voltage generating circuit and a switching power supply having the circuit. The supply voltage generating circuit provides a supply voltage for a power terminal of a control circuit in the switching power supply. The supply voltage generating circuit includes a switching circuit, a unidirectional conduction circuit and an energy storage circuit. In a time period during which a main power transistor is turned off, the switching circuit is turned off and a rectifying device provides a current to the energy storage circuit through the unidirectional conduction circuit, in a case that the supply voltage is smaller than a predetermined voltage reference; and the switching circuit is turned on and the current output from the rectifying device flows to the switching circuit, in a case that the supply voltage is larger than or equal to the predetermined voltage reference. When the supply voltage generating circuit is used in a switching power supply, the control circuit has improved controllability for supplying electric energy, and the switching power supply has an increased integration level and a simplified circuit structure, and will not be adversely influenced by resonance.
US09729041B2	Magnetic rotation accelerator and power generation system including the same Provided are a magnetic rotation accelerator and a power generation system. The magnetic rotation accelerator includes: a shaft; a fixed plate through which the shaft penetrates and on which a plurality of first magnetic units are disposed; and a rotary plate through which the shaft penetrates, which faces the fixed plate and on which a plurality of second magnetic units are disposed, wherein a repulsive force is generated between the first magnetic units and the second magnetic units, the first magnetic units form a first row and a second row around the shaft, and the second magnetic units form a third row and a fourth row around the shaft, wherein central axes of the first magnetic units of the first row are in phase with central axes of the first magnetic units of the second row, and central axes of the second magnetic units of the third row are out of phase with central axes of the second magnetic units of the fourth row.
US09729040B2	Magnetic gear device having a plurality of magnetic bodies arranged in a particular configuration The magnetic gear device is equipped with a first magnet row in which a plurality of magnetic pole pairs are arranged at substantially equal intervals in a specific direction; a second magnet row which is opposed to the first magnet row and in which a plurality of magnetic pole pairs are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the specific direction at a pitch shorter (or longer) than that of the first magnet row; and a magnetic body row which is disposed between the first magnet row and the second magnet row and in which a plurality of magnetic bodies are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the specific direction, wherein a distance between the plurality of magnetic bodies and the second magnet row in the opposing direction is shorter (or longer) than a distance between the plurality of magnetic bodies and the first magnet row.
US09729039B2	Linear drive unit with a magnetic gap changing mechanism A linear drive unit and a machine tool having the linear drive unit, capable of being applied to various applications, while taking into consideration the balance between the thrust force and the cogging of a linear motor. The linear drive unit has a magnetic gap changing mechanism which is configured to change a magnitude of a magnetic gap between a coil and a magnet, by displacing at least one of the coil and the magnet so that the coil and the magnet approach or are separated from each other.
US09729036B2	Permanent magnet machine for integrated starter generator An integrated starter-generator (ISG) system includes a flux-regulated permanent magnet machine (PMM), a wound-field synchronous machine, and a control coil controller. The flux-regulated PMM includes a stationary portion having a control coil and a plurality of permanent magnets, and a rotating portion that includes rotating armature windings. The wound-field synchronous machine includes a stationary portion that includes a main armature winding and a rotating portion that includes a main field winding that receives excitation from the flux-regulated PMM. The control coil controller controls current supplied to the control coil of the flux-regulated PMM to selectively control magnetic flux presented to the rotating armature windings.
US09729031B2	Winding apparatus and winding method A winding apparatus includes a pair of first latch pawls provided with a distance therebetween so as to sandwich one of magnetic poles of a multi-pole armature, a flyer that is configured to feed a wire while rotating around the pair of first latch pawls so as to loop and wind the wire around the pair of first latch pawls, and a first moving mechanism that is configured to move the pair of first latch pawls to a position of sandwiching the one of the magnetic poles, and insert the wire wound around the pair of first latch pawls into slots formed between the magnetic poles so that the wire is wound around the one of the magnetic poles.
US09729020B2	Motor stator having channels used for cooling and method of providing the channels An example stator assembly includes a stator for establishing a core side of a channel. A plurality of stator windings are secured relative to portions of the stator core. The plurality of stator windings establish a winding side of the channel. At least a portion of the channel is configured to communicate a cooling fluid from a first axial end of the stator core to an opposing axial end of the stator core.
US09729004B2	Power source protection device and method A power source protection device and a power source protection method are disclosed herein. The power source protection device includes a power supply, a power source managing unit and a signal sending unit. The power supply provides a DC input voltage. The power source managing unit receives the DC input voltage, and when a determining voltage related to the input voltage is larger than a set voltage, enters a startup state and outputs a supply voltage. After receiving the supply voltage, the power source managing unit transforms the DC input voltage into a standby power output voltage and provides the standby power output voltage when the signal sending unit sends a control signal to the power source managing unit within an enabling time. VVhen it has not received the control signal within the enabling time, the power source managing unit enters a shutdown state.
US09728997B2	Wireless power transmission system Provided is a device and method for wirelessly transmitting power, and a wireless power transmission device that may control an electrical connection between a power charger and a transmitter to charge a source resonator with power and transmit the charged power to a target resonator through mutual resonance.
US09728994B2	Device for charging an accumulator and having a storage charge mode A device for determining the charge state of an accumulator and having a charging current supply unit that can be operated in a plurality of charging modes is provided. When the storage charge mode is activated, the accumulator is charged only up to a predefined, optimized partially charged state. If the charge state determined at the start of the storage charge mode is higher than the predefined partially charged state, then the discharging device discharges the accumulator as far as the predefined partially charged state.
US09728992B2	Control apparatus and control method for secondary battery A control apparatus has a controller configured to control charge and discharge of a secondary battery. The controller acquires a positive electrode potential and a negative electrode potential of the secondary battery. The controller controls the charge and discharge of the secondary battery such that each of the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential changes within a range between an upper limit value and a lower limit value set for each of the positive electrode potential and the negative electrode potential.
US09728990B2	Fast charge mode for extended trip A system and method for early identification of an impending fast-charge or fast-charge opportunity and use of that information to prepare the battery cells for the fast-charge.
US09728986B2	Inrush current limiting circuit In various embodiments a circuit is provided including: an input terminal to receive an input voltage; a switch, a first controlled input of which being coupled to the input terminal; an inductor, a first terminal of which may be coupled in series to a second controlled input of the switch; a freewheeling diode, wherein a first diode terminal may be coupled with the second controlled input of the switch and with the first terminal of the inductor, and wherein a second diode terminal may be coupled with a reference potential; a capacitor coupled with a second terminal of the inductor; and a controller configured to operate the switch and the inductor in continuous current mode to charge the capacitor.
US09728982B2	Wireless power transmission system and power transmission device of wireless power transmission system A power transmission device includes an inverter using a frequency f11 lower than a frequency f0 between a first resonator and a second resonator or a frequency f12 higher than the frequency f0 to generate a first power; an oscillator using a frequency f10 lower than a frequency fr between the first resonator and a third resonator or a frequency f20 higher than the frequency fr to generate a second power; and a power transmission control circuitry setting a foreign object detection period between first and second transmission periods, using the frequency f11 or frequency f12 in the first transmission period, using the frequency f10 or frequency f20 in the foreign object detection period, and if it is determined that a substance is present in the foreign object detection period, transmitting power in the second transmission period at a frequency different from the frequency used in the first transmission period.
US09728980B2	Wireless power transmitter, wireless power receiver, wireless power transmission method and wireless power reception method A wireless power reception method of a wireless power receiver for receiving power from a wireless power transmitter is disclosed. The wireless power receives a connection signal for identifying the wireless power receiver from the wireless power transmitter; transmitting a response signal in response to the connection signal to the wireless power transmitter; negotiating a power transmission condition with the wireless power transmitter; and receiving the power using resonance frequency band according to the negotiated power transmission condition. Furthermore, frequency band for exchanging information used for the power reception is different from the resonance frequency band. In addition, the negotiating of the power transmission condition comprises: receiving first state information of the wireless power transmitter from the identified wireless power transmitter, and transmitting second state information to the wireless power transmitter, the second state information being determined from the wireless power receiver based on the first state information of the wireless power transmitter.
US09728979B2	Contactless power transmission circuit The present invention provides a contactless power transmission circuit which is capable of narrowing a fluctuation extent of an output voltage output by a power receiving coil via a rectifier circuit. The contactless power transmission circuit controls a period of an alternating voltage output from a driving circuit based on a smaller one of either of a first command value and a second command value. Here, the first command value is one based on a difference between a detected value of the output voltage from the rectifier circuit and a target value. The second command value is one calculated based on a difference between a detected value of a transmission current flowing through the power transmitting coil and a target value.
US09728978B2	Power management using reduced power to selected loads A system includes a solar power subsystem that receives power from one or more solar power arrays. A storage control subsystem is coupled to the solar power subsystem to charge a battery from the power received by the solar power subsystem. A grid power control subsystem having an AC to DC converter receives power from a power grid and provides DC voltage to the storage control subsystem. A balance of system control system controls the amount of power received from the power grid as a function of a load, battery charge and received power by the solar power subsystem. The solar array and battery may be sized to provide sufficient power under normal operating conditions, with power being drawn from the grid during abnormal operation conditions.
US09728977B2	Control of power distribution system A method of controlling a plurality of outlets and a first and a second non-transitory medium for use in connection with in a power distribution. The power distribution system includes a handheld device, a power distribution device, and the plurality of outlets. The handheld device includes a first controller. The power distribution device includes a second controller and is coupled to the plurality of outlets to provide electrical power thereto. The power distribution device is physically separated from the plurality of outlets and is located not in close proximity to an outlet of the plurality of outlets. Each outlet of the plurality of outlets includes a socket and indicia located proximate to the socket. The first non-transitory medium includes instructions that when executed by the first controller cause the first controller to scan indicia of a first outlet and receive a set of input data. The first non-transitory medium also includes instructions that when executed by the first controller cause the first controller to determine and transmit a target setting of the first outlet based on the first set of input data and the scanned indicia. The second non-transitory medium includes instructions that when executed by the second controller cause the second controller to receive the target setting, and provide electrical power to the first outlet based on the target setting.
US09728974B2	Renewable energy site reactive power control Methods, systems, controller devices, and computer program products for reactive power control at a renewable energy site are provided. Embodiments address dynamic performance problems associated with control loop delay and the changing modes of operation for meeting utility voltage and reactive power constraints. Provided is a method for reactive power control involving: (a) determining a site-wide reactive power command comprised by a sum of a reactive power feedforward or compensation term and an integrator term; and (b) distributing the site-wide reactive power command among inverters. Embodiments can include a reactive power control term based on the sum of a single integrator and reactive power compensation term, an integrator anti-windup mechanism based on the status of individual inverters, a means for decreasing detrimental effects of loop delay during reactive power reference changes, and/or a means of implementing voltage and power factor limits with smooth transfer between reactive power operating regions.
US09728967B2	System for improving power factor in an AC power system A combination includes an AC power system and a system for improving power factor in the AC power system by continuously variable, analog control of level of reactive current introduced into a power conveying line of the AC power system. A power factor-improving circuit includes at least one channel that comprises a channel-level AC electron tube circuit and at least one associated reactive impedance element interconnected in series manner. Each of the channel-level AC electron tube circuit is responsive to a control system for continuously variable, analog control of the level of reactive current in the at least one associated reactive impedance element so that the foregoing level of reactive current changes, as necessary, in a continuously variable, analog manner to improve power factor in the power conveying line. Each of the channel-level AC electron tube circuit comprises at least one cold-cathode field-emission electron tube.
US09728965B2	Scalable universal power supply and power converter A scalable universal power supply and/or power converter provides independent voltage, frequency, phase, and current control through a common power bus connected to a plurality of electrical conversion modules which can provide voltage, frequency, phase, and current control. According to one embodiment, a power supply and/or power converter includes a power bus; a plurality of terminals for input and/or output of electricity; a plurality of electrical conversion modules connected in parallel to the bus for transferring or converting electricity; a switch matrix, formed of a plurality of switches arranged in an array, connecting to the plurality of electrical conversion modules and the plurality of terminals; and a controller configured to select and operate one or more electrical conversion modules and one or more switches of the switch matrix to selectively provide and/or receive electricity to the one or more terminals.
US09728953B2	Fault detection circuit and fault detection method A fault detection circuit includes a micro processing unit configured to output a first pulse width modulation (PWM) signal, a driver electrically coupled to the micro processing unit, and a comparator configured to electrically connect the micro processing unit and the driver. The first PWM signal is configured to drive the driver to output a second PWM signal configured to drive the electrical device. The comparator is configured to compare the second PWM signal with a reference level to output a third PWM signal to the micro processing unit. The third PWM signal contains a number of high level signals and low level signals. The micro processing unit is configured to detect the number of the high level signals and the number of the low level signals during at least one time period to determine a status of an electrical device.
US09728948B2	Lightning protector device A lightning protector device for laying on a structure that is to be protected the device comprises: a surface coating including at least one conductive paint layer. A plurality of electrically conductive elements is arranged in spaced-apart manner on the structure, and the elements are in contact with the conductive paint layer. A protective coating is arranged on the surface coating and comprises a material that is thermally insulating and electrically conductive. The protective coating covers the electrically conductive elements in part.
US09728947B2	Screwless and seamless cover plate and cover plate assemblies for electrical fixtures Cover plates are provided for electrical fixtures including a screwless cover plate and/or cover plate assembly for electrical devices that cover the outlets but provide holes for plugs, light switches, audio, data, or video connectors, and the like, and that do not show screw or attachment holes and where the cover plate is part of a cover plate assembly that have screwless attachment to a rectangular ring shaped mounting or strapping plate that attaches to the outlet, switch, wall, or housing or receptacle box without showing screw holes, e.g., via tabs or other attachment mechanism, with or without a backing plate.
US09728934B2	Back-side-emitting vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) wafer bonded to a heat-dissipation wafer, devices and methods A wafer-to-wafer bonded arrangement is provided comprising a VCSEL wafer and a highly thermally-conductive (HTC) wafer that are bonded together with the front side of the VCSEL wafer bonded to the HTC wafer. The VCSEL wafer is fabricated to include, at least initially, a native substrate. The HTC wafer includes a thermally-conductive, non-native substrate. All or a portion of the native substrate may be removed after performing wafer-to-wafer bonding. In effect, the HTC wafer becomes the substrate of the bonded pair. During operation of VCSEL dies diced from the bonded wafer, heat generated by the dies flows into the non-native substrate where the heat spreads out and is dissipated. Laser light generated by the VCSEL die is emitted through the back side of the VCSEL die.
US09728933B2	Tunable laser source A tunable transmission optical filter is optically coupled between a laser section and semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) section of a tunable laser device. The optical filter may be tuned to provide a high transmission near the lasing peak while suppressing a significant portion of back-propagating amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) of the SOA section. Without the optical filter, the laser output spectrum may develop side lobes of higher intensity after the ASE is amplified and reflected in the forward direction by the laser gain and mirror sections. While lessening the side lobes, the optical filter simultaneously transmits the laser peak for amplification by the SOA section.
US09728928B2	Connector and method for producing the same A connector includes a resin housing, a terminal and a seal member. The housing includes a housing body and a partition portion that divides inside of the housing body, a press-fit hole being provided in the partition portion so as to penetrate the partition portion from a front face to a rear face of the partition portion being opposed to the front face. The terminal includes a conductive metal portion and a plated layer surrounding the conductive metal portion, the terminal being press-fitted into the press-fit hole, and an intermediate portion of the terminal being fixed to the partition portion. The seal member covers at least one of the front face and the rear face of the partition portion and is adhere to the partition portion and the terminal so as to seal the press-fit hole.
US09728921B2	TF card connector which is capable of installing Nano-SIM card and mobile phone thereof The invention discloses a TF card connector which is capable of installing a Nano-SIM card and a mobile phone thereof. The TF card connector is improved by arranging a Nano-SIM card connector in the TF card connector so that the functions are increased for the TF card connector. The mobile phone have the function of installing an SIM card by arranging the TF card connector capable of installing the Nano-SIM card in the mobile phone to increase the novel functions for the mobile phone such that the Nano-SIM card is used simply and conveniently after the Nano-SIM card is installed.
US09728908B1	Rotating electrical device An electrical receptacle including a body having a plurality of electrical connections, a device face connected to the body, and wherein the device face is movable with respect to the body from an electrically inactive position to an electrically active position. The electrical receptacle may further include at least one pair of electrical contacts which are in electrical continuity when the electrical receptacle is in an electrically active position.
US09728906B2	Power adapter with a single-piece insulator assembly An AC-to-DC power adapter comprises a single-piece insulator unit. The various components of the power adapter such as a transformer, other circuitry, etc. are attached to the single-piece insulator unit. The single-piece insulator unit has embedded channels to provide electrical connectivity between the circuitry, The entire assembly is placed in housing and a cap assembly having prongs to connect to a AC wall outlet is ultrasonically welded to the housing.
US09728904B2	Method for connecting differential transmission cable, differential transmission cable and electric device A method for connecting a differential transmission cable, (and a differential transmission cable and an electric device) includes: connecting a pair of conductors for transmitting a differential signal to transceivers; and connecting a second shield provided on the periphery of a first shield via an insulating layer to frame grounds, without electrically connecting anywhere the first shield that is provided on the periphery of the pair of conductors via a dielectric layer.
US09728900B1	Electrical receptacle connector An electrical receptacle connector includes a terminal module, an inner metallic shell, an outer insulation frame, and an outer metallic shell. The terminal module is assembled with the inner metallic shell and the outer insulation frame, the outer metallic shell is formed on the outer insulation frame, and the outer metallic shell is in contact with the inner metallic shell. The connector is provided with the outer insulation frame so as to prevent water moist entering into the other end of the outer insulation frame from one end of the outer insulation frame having the insertion opening. In addition, the outer metallic shell is formed on the outer insulation frame to improve the structural strength of the connector. Moreover, the outer metallic shell and the inner metallic shell are soldered with each other through the grooves of the outer insulation frame.
US09728889B2	Circuit card A circuit card is disclosed. The circuit card may have a strain relief aperture and a conductor contact. A conductor may extend through the strain relief aperture and connect in electrical continuity with the conductor contact. The circuit card may have a conformal coating, such as poly(p-xylylene) polymer applied. The conformal coating may be applied in layers, and the layers may have different thicknesses.
US09728868B1	Apparatus having self healing liquid phase power connects and method thereof The present invention is directed to a liquid and solid phase power connect for packaging of an electrical device using a using a phase changing metal. The phase changing metal transitions back and forth between a liquid phase and a solid phase while constantly maintaining connection to the electrical device. The packaging uses a substrate, a restraining housing, and a lid to encase an electrical contact on the electrical device and restrain the phase changing metal. In one embodiment, the entire electrical device is encased and a voltage isolator is utilized to limit the contact areas between the phase changing metal and the electrical device. A method for relieving contact stress by transitioning the phase changing metal from a solid to a liquid is also taught.
US09728854B2	Antenna using exterior metal frame and electronic device utilizing the same An antenna device that uses an exterior metal frame is provided. The antenna includes a Printed Circuit Board (PCB); a plurality of segment-type exterior metal frames spaced apart from the PCB; a feeding portion connected to one metal frame of the plurality of segment-type exterior metal frames; and a slit located between the PCB and the one metal frame, wherein the one metal frame fed through the feeding portion operates with radiation, or the slit operates with radiator, or another exterior metal frame fed through the feeding portion operates with radiation.
US09728852B2	Matching circuit for antenna and associated method A matching circuit for an antenna of whatever type, includes a ground circuit and a feed circuit. The ground circuit connects a ground terminal of the antenna to a ground voltage, and provides an inductive impedance between the ground terminal and the ground voltage. The feed circuit connects a feed signal to a feed terminal of the antenna. The feed circuit is capable of switching between a first mode and a second mode for respectively providing a first equivalent impedance and a second equivalent impedance between the feed signal and the feed terminal. An associated method is also disclosed.
US09728851B2	Mobile communication device A mobile communication device including a ground plane, a radiation element and a resonant circuit is provided. The radiation element is electrically connected to the ground plane. The resonant circuit is electrically connected to the radiation element and receives a feeding signal. The resonant circuit and the radiation element resonate at a resonant frequency and excite the ground plane to generate a resonant mode.
US09728848B1	Adaptive neutralization line to counter environmental effects for ultra-high isolation Devices or apparatuses for changing settings of a neutralization line are described. A radio device may include a neutralization line coupled between a first antenna and a second antenna. The neutralization line has a variable component and the first and the second antennas are electromagnetically coupled and have a first coupling value. The neutralization line is controlled by a controller. The controller is coupled to the first antenna port, the second antenna port and the neutralization line. The controller detects an environmental condition that causes the first coupling value increase to a second coupling value. The controller also adjusts a value of the variable component to change a resistance value or, a reactance value, or both of the adaptive neutralization line to achieve a third coupling value that is lower than the second coupling value.
US09728842B2	Antenna structure and wireless communication device using the antenna structure An antenna structure includes an antenna holder, a feed portion, a grounding portion, and a radiating body. The antenna holder includes a plurality of surfaces. The feed portion and the ground portion are both positioned on one surface of the antenna holder. The radiating body is positioned on at least one surface of the antenna holder. The feed portion is electronically connected to a first end of the radiating body. The ground portion is electronically connected to a second end of the radiating body so as to form a loop antenna.
US09728836B2	Electronic device including main body, movable portion and connector An electronic device includes a main body, a movable portion, and a connector. A positional relationship between the main body and the movable portion is changeable via the connector. The main body includes a first surface having a display unit, the movable portion includes a second surface having a long side adaptive to a short side of the first surface, the movable portion has a first communication antenna unit.
US09728834B2	Connector apparatus and wireless transmission system A connector apparatus includes a first connector unit provided at an end section of a waveguide cable and a second connector unit that is provided at a terminal section of a transmission wire formed on a print substrate and is detachable from the first connector unit, the second connector unit being structured to perform a signal transmission with the first connector unit by an electromagnetic induction.
US09728833B2	Connector apparatus and radio transmission system The present invention includes a first connector unit, a second connector unit, and a joining unit. The first connector unit is provided at an end section of a feeder cable formed on a circuit substrate. The second connector unit is provided at an end section of a waveguide cable through which a high-frequency signal is transmitted. The joining unit includes a hollow waveguide interposed between the first connector unit and the second connector unit, the joining unit being capable of detachably joining the first connector unit and the second connector unit.
US09728829B1	DC blocking circuit with bias control and independent cut-off frequency for AC-coupled circuits A circuit for blocking undesired input direct current of AC-coupled broadband circuits. The circuit includes a capacitor coupled to an input port and a common node. The input port receives a RF input signal. Additionally, the circuit includes a current source supplying a DC current to the common node leading a bias current to an output port. Further, the circuit includes a variable voltage source through an internal load and a close loop with an application circuit having an input load coupled to the output port to determine various bias voltages to control the bias current at the output port in association with a RF output signal that is substantially free of any input direct current originated from the RF input signal and is associated with an inherent low cut-off frequency independent of the various bias voltages.
US09728822B2	Battery charger with a fan A charger has a housing with a receptacle configured to receive a battery, an electrical circuit board, a fan to circulate air within the housing and to cool the battery, and a fan-supporting member to support the fan. The fan is located above the electrical circuit board. A part of the fan-supporting member is positioned between the fan and the electrical circuit board.
US09728820B2	Margin-based battery charge balancing A battery pack management system adjusts the relative state-of-charge of respective battery blocks in a battery pack to equalize (i.e., align, balance or otherwise make similar) the peak battery block voltages (i.e., maximum or “upper peak” battery block voltages when the battery pack is being charged and/or minimum or “lower peak” battery block voltages when the battery is being discharged). Upon detecting an anomalous battery block that exhibits outlier upper and lower peak voltages, the battery pack management system adjusts the relative state of charge of respective battery blocks to center their respective upper and lower peak voltages between operating limits, thus maximizing the operating margin of the battery pack as a whole.
US09728813B2	Method for fabricating solid-state thin film batteries A method is provided for fabricating a thin film solid-state Li-ion battery comprising a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer. The method comprises depositing, on a substrate, an initial layer stack comprising a first layer comprising a first electrode material compound, and a second layer comprising an electrolyte material compound; and afterwards performing a lithiation step comprising incorporating Li in the first layer and in the second layer, thereby forming a stack of a first electrode layer and a solid electrolyte layer. The initial layer stack may further comprise a third layer comprising a second electrode material compound. By performing the lithiation step, Li is also incorporated in the third layer, such that a stack of a first electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, and a second electrode layer is formed. One or more of the first, second, or third layers may be Li-free.
US09728807B2	Electrochemical or electric layer system, method for the production and use thereof An electrochemical or electric layer system, having at least two electrode layers and at least one ion-conducting layer disposed between two electrode layers. The ion-conducting layer has at least one ion-conducting solid electrolyte and at least one binder at grain boundaries of the at least one ion-conducting solid electrolyte for improving the ion conductivity over the grain boundaries and the adhesion of the layers.
US09728804B2	Flexible secondary battery A flexible secondary battery includes: an electrode stack structure including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a separator disposed between the first and second electrode layers; and a binding structure surrounding the electrode stack structure, where the binder structure is in fixed contact with a first side of the electrode stack structure and is in slidable contact with a second side of the electrode stack structure.
US09728797B2	Fuel cell and fuel cell stack A fuel battery and a fuel cell stack, the fuel battery including: a fuel cell that generates electric power through a power generating reaction of reactant gases and includes a solid electrolyte layer having a first main surface and a second main surface, a first electrode disposed on the first main surface and serving as one of a cathode and an anode, and a second electrode disposed on the second main surface and serving as the other one of the cathode and the anode; an interconnector disposed so as to face the first electrode; and a current collecting member that electrically connects the first electrode to the interconnector. The first electrode includes: an inner portion connected to the current collecting member; and an outer portion disposed outward of the current collecting member and having a height larger than the height of the inner portion.
US09728796B2	Fluidic distribution system and related methods Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fluid distribution system. The system may include one or more electrochemical cell layers, a bulk distribution manifold having an inlet, a cell layer feeding manifold in direct fluidic contact with the electrochemical cell layer and a separation layer that separates the bulk distribution manifold from the cell feeding manifold, providing at least two independent paths for fluid to flow from the bulk distribution manifold to the cell feeding manifold.
US09728795B2	Complex fuel cell stack with hydrogen storage unit A complex fuel cell stack with hydrogen storage unit is introduced. Through the new configuration of the PEM fuel cell stack, no cooling system and cooling fluid is needed for the fuel cell stack, since hydrogen storage vessel can act as a heat sink to protect the expensive catalyst layer of the MEA of the fuel cell away from over-heated and damaged. In addition, the waste heat generated from the operation of the fuel cells can aid in release of hydrogen from hydrogen storage alloys inside the hydrogen storage vessel.
US09728790B2	Fuel cell stack bus bar assembly systems and methods Systems and methods are disclosing providing for a fuel cell (“FC”) stack assembly utilizing bus bars that accommodate for variations in FC stack heights during assembly. In some embodiments, bus bars consistent with embodiments disclosed herein may be integrally formed with terminal plates out of a single piece of conductive material. Further embodiments of the bus bars disclosed herein may include structures configured to facilitating cooling of the bus bars during operation of the FC system.
US09728786B2	Electrode having active material encased in conductive net An anode for a lithium-ion battery includes a current collector, a separator and an active material comprising alloying particles and a carbon material. A conductive net of carbon material surrounds the active material on at least the side walls and a separator-facing surface, the conductive net having net openings sized to retain the alloying particles and the carbon material within the conductive net while allowing lithium ions and electrons to pass through. The conductive net also maintains electrical contact between the carbon material and the alloying particles during lithiation and delithiation of the alloying particles.
US09728783B2	Cathode active material for lithium secondary battery, method for manufacturing same, and lithium secondary battery including same The present invention relates to a cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery comprising: a core including a compound represented by chemical formula 1, and a shell including a compound represented by chemical formula 2, wherein the material composition of the core and the material composition of the shell are different; and a lithium secondary battery including the cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery.
US09728779B2	Negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery The present invention provides a negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, the negative electrode comprising a negative electrode active material layer containing: negative electrode active materials including carbon active material and silicon active material composed of SiOx at least partially coated with lithium carbonate where 0.5≦x≦1.6; and binders including carboxymethyl cellulose or metal salt thereof, polyacrylic acid or metal salt thereof, and styrene-butadiene rubber or polyvinylidene fluoride, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including this negative electrode. The negative electrode can increase the battery capacity and improve the cycle performance and first charge and discharge efficiency.
US09728777B2	Methods for mass-producing silicon nano powder and graphene-doped silicon nano powder Disclosed is a facile and cost effective method of producing nano silicon powder or graphene-doped silicon nano powder having a particle size smaller than 100 nm. The method comprises: (a) preparing a silicon precursor/graphene nano composite; (b) mixing the silicon precursor/graphene nano composite with a desired quantity of magnesium; (c) converting the silicon precursor to form a mixture of graphene-doped silicon and a reaction by-product through a thermal and/or chemical reduction reaction; and (d) removing the reaction by-product from the mixture to obtain graphene-doped silicon nano powder.
US09728765B2	Rechargeable battery having fuse unit A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including a first electrode and a second electrode, a case configured to receive the electrode assembly, a first current collecting member including a first fuse unit coupled to the first electrode and having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a periphery of the first current collecting member, and a second current collecting member including a second fuse unit coupled to the second electrode and having a cross-sectional area that is smaller than a cross-sectional area of a periphery of the second current collecting member, in which the first fuse unit is configured to melt more quickly than the second fuse unit at a first current, and the second fuse unit is configured to melt more quickly than the first fuse unit at a second current that is lower than the first current.
US09728761B2	Rechargeable battery and battery module A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, and first and second electrode terminals electrically coupled to the electrode assembly and protruding out of the case, the first electrode terminal having a first terminal magnet, and the second electrode terminal having a second terminal magnet.
US09728758B2	Electrode assembly, battery cell, manufacturing method of electrode assembly, and manufacturing method of battery cell The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electrode assembly, the method including: preparing an electrode laminate including at least one negative electrode, at least one positive electrode, and at least one separation film; generating a separation film assembly by bonding remaining portions of the separation film positioned in regions not corresponding to shapes of the negative electrode and the positive electrode; and cutting the separation film assembly so as to correspond to the shapes of the negative electrode and the positive electrode, and an electrode assembly manufactured by the method.
US09728755B2	Array frame design for electrified vehicle battery arrays A battery array frame according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a frame body extending along a longitudinal axis and including a top surface, a bottom surface and frame arms that connect between the top surface and the bottom surface. At least one of the top surface and the bottom surface is rotationally symmetric about an axis that is transverse to the longitudinal axis.
US09728754B2	Thin film battery module, thin film battery package, thin film battery package manufacturing device, and thin film battery package manufacturing method Provided is a thin film battery module. The thin film battery module comprises: a battery module which is configured of unit cells stacked against each other; and a shock absorbing portion which surrounds the space between the unit cells and the battery module. Also provided are a thin film battery package, a thin film battery package manufacturing device, and a thin film battery package manufacturing method.
US09728746B2	Encapsulation structures, encapsulation methods, and display devices of organic electroluminescent devices Disclosed are encapsulation structures, encapsulation methods and display devices of organic electroluminescent devices. The encapsulation structure comprises: a substrate (3); an organic electroluminescent device (2) located on the substrate (3); and at least one film encapsulation layer (1) covering the organic electroluminescent device (2), wherein the film encapsulation layer (1) comprises an inorganic film (11) and a fluorocarbon polymer film (13). The encapsulation structure can effectively improve the film encapsulation layer (1)'s ability to block water and oxygen so as to effectively extend the lifetime of OLED devices.
US09728738B2	Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, and a thin-film transistor and a capacitor formed over the substrate. The apparatus further includes an interlayer insulation layer, a first organic insulating layer and a second organic insulation layer sequentially stacked over the substrate and covering the thin-film transistor and a capacitor. The first organic insulation layer includes a first hole that does not overlap with the thin-film transistor and the capacitor when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a major surface of the substrate. The apparatus further includes a pixel electrode formed over the interlayer insulating layer and the first organic insulating layer. The pixel electrode includes a first portion disposed inside the first hole and a second portion disposed over the first organic insulating layer and outside the first hole. The apparatus includes a light emission layer and an opposite layer formed over the pixel electrode.
US09728735B2	Transparent photovoltaic cells A transparent photovoltaic cell and method of making are disclosed. The photovoltaic cell may include a transparent substrate and a first active material overlying the substrate. The first active material may have a first absorption peak at a wavelength greater than about 650 nanometers. A second active material is disposed overlying the substrate, the second active material having a second absorption peak at a wavelength outside of the visible light spectrum. The photovoltaic cell may also include a transparent cathode and a transparent anode.
US09728732B2	Light emitting polymers and devices A polymer comprising units α, β, γ and δ wherein: unit α is present at 30 mole % to 60 mole % and is an optionally substituted arylene; unit β is present at 1 mole % to 30 mole % and is a unit comprising an optionally substituted fluorene; unit γ is present at 1 mole % to 40 mole % and comprises aryl substituted nitrogen, or an optionally substituted triazine; unit δ is present at 0.5 mole % to 15 mole % and comprises an iridium complex; and optionally up to 20 mole % of other units if the total of α, β, γ and δ is less than 100 mole %.
US09728731B2	Heterocyclic compound and organic light emitting device using same Disclosed are a heterocyclic compound and an organic light emitting device including the same.
US09728728B2	Compound and organic light-emitting device using same The present invention provides a novel compound that is capable of largely improving a life span, efficiency, electrochemical stability and thermal stability of an organic light emitting device, and an organic light emitting device in which the compound is included in an organic compound layer.
US09728726B2	Organic electroluminescent element, material for organic electroluminescent element and light emitting device, display device, and illumination device, each employing organic electroluminescent element This application relates in part to an organic electroluminescent element including a substrate, a pair of electrodes including an anode and a cathode, disposed on the substrate, and an organic layer(s) including a light emitting layer, in which the organic layer(s) contains a compound represented by the following formula (1), in which R1 to R8 are each hydrogen or a substituent, at least one of R1 to R4 and at least one of R5 to R8 are each a substituent represented by the formula (2); R9 to R12, Z1 to Z4, Ar1, Ar2, and L1 are as defined herein.
US09728723B2	Organic thin film transistor and manufacturing method thereof, array substrate An organic thin film transistor, a manufacturing method thereof and an array substrate are provided. The manufacturing method of an organic thin film transistor includes: forming an organic semiconductor layer; partially sheltering the organic semiconductor layer, so that a sheltered region and an unsheltered region are formed on the organic semiconductor layer, the sheltered region corresponding to a region where an active layer of the organic thin film transistor needs to be formed; and doping the organic semiconductor layer, so that the organic semiconductor layer in correspondence with the sheltered region is not doped, and the organic semiconductor layer in correspondence with the unsheltered region is doped.
US09728712B2	Spin transfer torque structure for MRAM devices having a spin current injection capping layer A magnetoresistive random-access memory (MRAM) device is disclosed. The device described herein has a spin current injection capping layer between the free layer of a magnetic tunnel junction and the orthogonal polarizer layer. The spin current injection capping layer maximizes the spin torque through very efficient spin current injection from the polarizer. The spin current injection capping layer can be comprised of a layer of MgO and a layer of a ferromagnetic material.
US09728711B2	Thermally-assisted MRAM cells with improved reliability at writing MRAM cell including a magnetic tunnel junction including a reference layer, a storage layer having a storage magnetization, a tunnel barrier layer between the reference and the storage layers; and an antiferromagnetic layer exchange-coupling the storage layer such as to pin the storage magnetization at a low temperature threshold and free it at a high temperature threshold. The storage layer includes a first ferromagnetic layer in contact with the tunnel barrier layer, a second ferromagnetic layer in contact with the antiferromagnetic layer, and a low saturation magnetization storage layer including a ferromagnetic material and a non-magnetic material. The MRAM cell can be written with improved reliability.
US09728704B2	Thermoelectric module The invention concerns a thermoelectric module with multiple thermoelectric elements, which are arranged spaced apart from one another, two thermoelectric elements being respectively electrically connected by means of a conductor bridge, an electrical insulation being arranged at least in certain portions on a side of the conductor bridge that is facing away from the thermoelectric element and/or on a side of the conductor bridge that is facing the thermoelectric element, the electrical insulation being arranged on the surface of the conductor bridge, the electrical insulation and the conductor bridge being thermomechanically decoupled.
US09728700B2	Phonon scattering material, nanocomposite thermoelectric material, and method of producing the same Provided is a compound which is mixed with a thermoelectric conversion material matrix as a phonon scattering material. The compound is represented by the following formula: (In the above formula, G1 represents a functional group capable of binding to the thermoelectric conversion material matrix; G2 independently represents G1 or CH3; 0≦m≦5; 0≦m′≦5; 6≦n≦1000; and 1/1000<(the number of G1/n)≦1).
US09728691B2	Light-emitting diode structure The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode (LED) structure, which comprises an LED unit. The LED unit is doped with a plurality of fluorescent powders in at least an arbitrary layer on one side of a light-emitting layer. Alternatively, the LED unit includes a plurality of fluorescent powder particles arranged on at least a light-emitting surface of the LED unit. No gel is adopted for disposing or packaging fluorescent powders. Thereby, gel yellowing caused by long-term high-temperature heating of the LED structure will not occur. The yellowing phenomenon will affect the light-emitting efficiency of LED and induce color deviation.
US09728690B2	Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same A light emitting device includes a base member including a conductive member containing silver. A light emitting element has an upper surface below an upper surface of a side wall portion. A wire electrically connects the light emitting element and the conductive member. A protective film covers the conductive member to be spaced apart from at least a part of at least one connecting portion connecting the wire and the conductive member. A first resin member continuously covers at least a portion of each of the protective film, a portion of the conductive member around the connecting portion, and the wire. The first resin member has a first gas barrier property with respect to hydrogen sulfide. A second resin member covers the light emitting element and the first resin member and has a second gas barrier property with respect to hydrogen sulfide lower than the first gas barrier property.
US09728685B2	Light emitting device and lighting device including same A light emitting device includes a base that has an element mounting surface, a light emitting element that is mounted on the element mounting surface and that has maximum light intensity in a directly upward direction, and a coating member that contains a fluorescent body that is excited by light from the light emitting element, and that is constituted by a single layer that coats an upper part of the light emitting element. The fluorescent body exists at a position other than directly above the light emitting element.
US09728683B2	Optoelectronic semiconductor component An optoelectronic semiconductor component includes an optoelectronic semiconductor chip having side areas covered by a shaped body; at least one via including an electrically conductive material; and at least one electrically conductive connection electrically conductively connected to the semiconductor chip and the via, wherein the via is laterally spaced part from the semiconductor chip; the via includes a contact pin, the contact pin including an electrically conductive material; and the contact pin is laterally completely enclosed by the shaped body.
US09728678B2	Light emitting element and method of manufacturing the same A light emitting element includes a crystal growth substrate formed in a flat shape and that has a translucency, a semiconductor layer that constitutes a light emitting element structure and is formed at a side of a first surface of the crystal growth substrate, irregularities formed on a second surface of the crystal growth substrate, the second surface being an opposite surface of the first surface, and a protective layer that has a translucency and a predetermined hardness and brittleness, and covers the irregularities formed on the second surface of the crystal growth substrate.
US09728675B2	Display substrate, method of manufacturing the same and electro-wetting display panel having the same In a display substrate, a method for manufacturing the display substrate and an electro-wetting display apparatus including the display substrate, the display substrate includes a base substrate, a sidewall defining a unit pixel area, a pixel electrode, a hydrophobic insulating layer and a light blocking layer. The sidewall is on the base substrate and defines the unit pixel area. The pixel electrode is in the unit pixel area. The hydrophobic insulating layer is on the sidewall and the pixel electrode. The light blocking layer is on the hydrophobic insulating layer and overlaps the sidewall.
US09728672B2	Light emitting diode and manufacturing method thereof A light-emitting diode (LED) and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method includes following steps. An LED wafer is fixed on a crafting table and is processed such that a substrate of the LED wafer has a thickness smaller than or equal to 100 μm. A fixing piece is pasted on the LED wafer surface. The LED wafer is detached from the crafting table. The LED wafer together with the fixing piece are cut and broken, such that the LED wafer forms a plurality of LEDs. The fixing piece is removed. Before the LED wafer is detached from the crafting table, the fixing piece is pasted on the LED wafer to provide a supporting force to the LED wafer to maintain the flatness of the wafer and avoid the wafer being warped or the substrate being broken or damaged, such that product quality and reliability can be improved.
US09728671B2	Monolithic nano-cavity light source on lattice mismatched semiconductor substrate An optoelectronic light emission device is provided that includes a gain region of at least one type III-V semiconductor layer that is present on a lattice mismatched semiconductor substrate. The gain region of the type III-V semiconductor layer has a nanoscale area using nano-cavities. The optoelectronic light emission device is free of defects.
US09728666B2	Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first insulation layer formed on the substrate in a first region, a photon absorption seed layer formed on the first insulation layer in the first region and on the substrate in a second region separate from the first region, and a photon absorption layer formed on the photon absorption seed layer in the first region. The photon absorption seed layer has a particular structure that may assist in reducing dislocation density in a region that includes a photon absorption layer.
US09728665B2	Luminescent solar energy concentrator with a new architecture A luminescent concentrator for solar light is provided. The luminescent concentrator comprises a wavelength-selective filter, an energy concentrating area, and a luminescent material. The wavelength-selective filter is adapted to pass the solar light and to reflect light emitted by the luminescent material. Further, a method for concentrating solar light is provided. The method comprises the steps of (a) passing incident solar light through a wavelength-selective filter and an energy concentrating area onto a luminescent material, and (b) converting the incident solar light in the luminescent material to light having a wavelength reflectable by the wavelength-selective filter. The method further comprises a step (c) of concentrating the converted light in a pre-determined area arranged between the wavelength-selective filter and the luminescent material.
US09728653B2	MEMS device A MEMS device includes a membrane comprising a first plurality of fingers. A counter electrode arrangement includes a second plurality of fingers disposed in a interdigitated relationship with the first plurality of fingers of the membrane. A deflector is configured to deflect the membrane such that the first and second plurality of fingers are displaced in a position excluding maximum overlapping of surfaces of the fingers.
US09728647B2	TFT substrate structure and manufacturing method thereof The present invention provides a TFT substrate structure and a manufacturing method thereof. In the manufacturing method of a TFT substrate structure according to present invention, a graphene layer is formed on a semiconductor layer and after the formation of a second metal layer, the second metal layer is used as a shielding mask to conduct injection of fluoride ions into the graphene layer to form a modified area in a portion of the graphene layer that is located on and corresponds to a channel zone of the semiconductor layer, wherein the modified area of the graphene layer shows a property of electrical insulation and a property of blocking moisture/oxygen so as to provide protection to the channel zone; portions of the graphene layer that are located under source and drain electrodes are not doped with ions and preserves the excellent electrical conduction property of graphene and thus electrical connection between the source and drain electrodes and the semiconductor layer can be achieved without formation of a via in the graphene layer, making a TFT device so manufactured showing excellent I-V (current-voltage) output characteristics and stability, saving one mask operation process, shortening the manufacturing time, and lowering down the manufacturing cost.
US09728645B2	Semiconductor devices A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes partially removing an upper portion of an active fin of a substrate loaded in a chamber to form a trench; and forming a source/drain layer in the trench, which includes providing a silicon source gas, a germanium source gas, an etching gas and a carrier gas into the chamber to perform a selective epitaxial growth (SEG) process using a top surface of the active fin exposed by the trench as a seed so that a silicon-germanium layer is grown; and purging the chamber by providing the carrier gas into the chamber to etch the silicon-germanium layer.
US09728643B2	Semiconductor devices having a spacer on an isolation region A semiconductor device including a fin active region protruding from a substrate and an isolation region defining the fin active region, a gate pattern intersecting the fin active region and the isolation region, and gate spacer formed on a side surface of the gate pattern and extending onto a surface of the isolation region is provided.
US09728638B2	Semiconductor device with one-side-contact and method for fabricating the same A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first conductive layer doped with an impurity for forming a cell junction over a semiconductor substrate, forming a second layer over the first conductive layer, forming a plurality of active regions by etching the second layer and the first conductive layer, the plurality of the active regions being separated from one another by trenches, forming a side contact connected to a sidewall of the first conductive layer, and forming a plurality of metal bit lines each connected to the side contact and filling a portion of each trench.
US09728635B1	Uniform gate length in vertical field effect transistors A method of fabricating a vertical field effect transistor includes forming a base layer on a doped layer that is formed on a substrate, and forming fin hard masks above the base layer. Spacers are formed adjacent to each side of each of the fin hard masks above the base layer. A width dimension of each of the spacers is the same. Gaps between the spacers are filled with oxide prior to removing the spacers. The spacers are removed to leave gaps of the same width on each side of each of the fin hard masks. An etch in the gaps forms a plurality of fins below the fin hard masks. A height dimension of each of the plurality of fins is the same and a space between two of the plurality of fins is different than a second space between two others of the plurality of fins.
US09728631B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same An object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductor device having a conductive film, which sufficiently serves as an antenna, and a method for manufacturing thereof. The semiconductor device has an element formation layer including a transistor, which is provided over a substrate, an insulating film provided on the element formation layer, and a conductive film serving as an antenna, which is provided on the insulating film. The insulating film has a groove. The conductive film is provided along the surface of the insulating film and the groove. The groove of the insulating film may be provided to pass through the insulating film. Alternatively, a concave portion may be provided in the insulating film so as not to pass through the insulating film. A structure of the groove is not particularly limited, and for example, the groove can be provided to have a tapered shape, etc.
US09728630B2	High-electron-mobility transistor having a buried field plate A high-electron-mobility field effect transistor is formed with a buffer region having a stepped lateral profile, the stepped lateral profile having first, second and third cross-sections of the buffer region, the first cross-section being thicker than the third cross-section and including a buried field plate, the second cross-section interposed between the first and third cross-sections and forming oblique angles with the first and third cross-sections. A barrier region is formed along the stepped lateral profile. The barrier region is separated from the buried field plate by a portion of the buffer region. The buffer region is formed from a first semiconductor material and the barrier region is formed from a second semiconductor material. The first and second semiconductor materials have different band-gaps such that an electrically conductive channel of a two-dimensional charge carrier gas arises at an interface between the buffer and barrier regions.
US09728626B1	Almost defect-free active channel region A FinFET includes a fin and a conductive gate surrounding a top channel region of the fin, the channel region of the fin being filled with an epitaxial semiconductor channel material extending below a bottom surface of the conductive gate. The top channel region of the fin includes epitaxial semiconductor channel material that is at least majority defect free, the at least a majority of defects associated with forming the epitaxial semiconductor material in the channel region being trapped below a top portion of the channel region. The FinFET may be achieved by a method, the method including providing a starting semiconductor structure, the starting semiconductor structure including a bulk semiconductor substrate, semiconductor fin(s) on the bulk semiconductor substrate and surrounded by a dielectric layer, and a dummy gate over a channel region of the semiconductor fin(s). The method further includes forming source and drain recesses adjacent the channel region, removing the dummy gate, recessing the semiconductor fin(s), the recessing leaving a fin opening above the recessed semiconductor fin(s), and growing epitaxial semiconductor channel material in the fin opening, such that at least a majority of defects associated with the growing are trapped at a bottom portion of the at least one fin opening.
US09728623B2	Replacement metal gate transistor A replacement metal gate transistor is described. Various examples provide a replacement metal gate transistor including a trench, a first sidewall and a second sidewall. A layer is disposed in the trench where the layer has a bottom section disposed on a bottom of the trench and sidewall sections disposed on the first and second sidewalls, wherein the sidewall sections of the layer are at least 50% thinner than the bottom section of the layer.
US09728622B1	Dummy gate formation using spacer pull down hardmask Forming a dummy gate on a semiconductor device is disclosed. A first sacrificial layer is formed on a fin, and a second sacrificial layer is formed on the first sacrificial layer. A first hardmask layer is formed on the second sacrificial layer, and a second hardmask layer is formed on the first hardmask layer and patterned. The first hardmask layer is laterally recessed in a lateral direction under the second hardmask layer. The first and second sacrificial layers are etched to a corresponding width of the first hardmask layer. A spacer layer is formed on the fin, the first sacrificial layer, second sacrificial layer, the first hardmask layer and the second hardmask layer. The spacer layer is etched until it remains on a sidewall of the first sacrificial layer, the second sacrificial layer and the first hardmask layer, wherein the first and second sacrificial layers form the dummy gate.
US09728619B2	Generation of multiple diameter nanowire field effect transistors A method of modifying a wafer having a semiconductor disposed on an insulator is provided and includes forming pairs of semiconductor pads connected via respective nanowire channels at each of first and second regions with different initial semiconductor thicknesses and reshaping the nanowire channels into nanowires to each have a respective differing thickness reflective of the different initial semiconductor thicknesses.
US09728602B2	Variable channel strain of nanowire transistors to improve drive current A semiconductor device includes a nanowire structure and a stressor. The nanowire structure includes a first channel section and a second channel section. The stressor subjects the first channel section to a first strain level and the second channel section to a second strain level greater than the first strain level. The difference between the second strain level and the first strain level is less than the second strain level.
US09728600B2	Partially biased isolation in semiconductor devices A device includes a semiconductor substrate, a doped isolation barrier disposed in the semiconductor substrate and defining a core device area within the doped isolation barrier, an isolation contact region disposed in the semiconductor substrate outside of the core device area, and a body region disposed in the semiconductor substrate within the core device area, and in which a channel is formed during operation. The body region is electrically tied to the isolation contact region. The body region and the doped isolation barrier have a common conductivity type. The body region is electrically isolated from the doped isolation barrier within the core device area. The doped isolation barrier and the isolation contact region are not electrically tied to one another such that the doped isolation barrier is biased at a different voltage level than the isolation contact region.
US09728597B2	Metal-insulator-metal structure and method for forming the same A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure includes forming a bottom electrode layer over a substrate and forming a first passivation layer over the bottom electrode layer by a first atomic layer deposition process. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure further includes forming a dielectric layer over the first passivation layer by a second atomic layer deposition process and forming a second passivation layer over the dielectric layer by a third atomic layer deposition process. The method for manufacturing a semiconductor structure further includes forming a top electrode layer over the second passivation layer.
US09728595B2	Display device with power supply in cover type A display device comprises a display panel having a display area, in which a plurality of pixels and at least one power line for supplying power to the pixels are formed, and a non-display area outside the display area; and a cover disposed over the display panel so as to cover the display area of the display panel. The cover comprises at least one electrically conductive portion coupled to the at least one power line and configured to receive at least one power supply voltage via the non-display area and supply the at least one power supply voltage to the at least one power line in the display area.
US09728584B2	Three dimensional memory array with select device Three dimensional memory arrays and methods of forming the same are provided. An example three dimensional memory array can include a stack comprising a plurality of first conductive lines separated from one another by at least an insulation material, and at least one conductive extension arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the plurality of first conductive lines such that the at least one conductive extension intersects each of the plurality of first conductive lines. Storage element material is arranged around the at least one conductive extension, and a select device is arranged around the storage element material. The storage element material is radially adjacent an insulation material separating the plurality of first conductive lines, and the plurality of materials arranged around the storage element material are radially adjacent each of the plurality of first conductive lines.
US09728580B2	Power transistor with integrated temperature sensor element, power transistor circuit, method for operating a power transistor, and method for operating a power transistor circuit A power transistor has a semiconductor body with a bottom side and top side spaced distant from the bottom side in a vertical direction. The semiconductor body includes a plurality of transistor cells, a source zone of a first conduction type, a body zone of a second conduction type, a drift zone of the first conduction type, a drain zone, and a temperature sensor diode having a pn-junction between an n-doped cathode zone and a p-doped anode zone. The power transistor also has a drain contact terminal on the top side, a source contact terminal on the bottom side, a gate contact terminal, and a temperature sense contact terminal on the top side. Depending on the first and second conduction types the anode or cathode zone is electrically connected to the source contact terminal and the other diode zone is electrically connected to the temperature sense contact terminal.
US09728577B2	Infrared image sensor An infrared image sensor includes a bias circuit receiving a timing signal, the bias circuit generating a bias voltage having a first value and a second value in response to the timing signal; a semiconductor light-receiving device including a photodiode, the semiconductor light-receiving device receiving the bias voltage; a read-out circuit including a read-out electrode connected to the photodiode, the read-out electrode receiving an electrical signal from the photodiode; and a signal processing circuit processing a read-out signal from the read-out circuit synchronously with the timing signal. The photodiode includes an optical absorption layer made of a III-V group compound semiconductor. The optical absorption layer has a type II multi quantum well structure including first compound semiconductor layers containing antimony as a constituent element and second compound semiconductor layers that are stacked alternately.
US09728568B2	Semiconductor device and electronic apparatus Provided is a semiconductor device including: a multilayer substrate including an optical element; a light-transmitting plate provided on the substrate to cover the optical element; and a lens of an inorganic material provided between the substrate and the light-transmitting plate. A structure having a same strength as a strength per unit area of the lens is provided at a portion outside an effective photosensitive region where the optical element is formed, when the substrate is viewed in plan.
US09728560B2	TFT substrate structure The present invention provides a TFT substrate structure, comprising a Switching TFT and a Driving TFT, and the Switching TFT comprises a first active layer, and the Driving TFT comprises a second active layer, and the first active layer and the second active layer are made by the same or different materials and the electrical properties of the Switching TFT and the Driving TFT are different. According to the different functions of the different TFTs, the present invention employs different working structures for the Switching TFT and the Driving TFT to respectively implement deposition and photolithography, and employs different materials for the active layers of the Switching TFT and the Driving TFT to differentiate the electrical properties of different TFTs in the TFT substrate. Accordingly, the accurate control to the OLED with lowest cost can be realized.
US09728555B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A more convenient and highly reliable semiconductor device which has a transistor including an oxide semiconductor with higher impact resistance used for a variety of applications is provided. A semiconductor device has a bottom-gate transistor including a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, and an oxide semiconductor layer over a substrate, an insulating layer over the transistor, and a conductive layer over the insulating layer. The insulating layer covers the oxide semiconductor layer and is in contact with the gate insulating layer. In a channel width direction of the oxide semiconductor layer, end portions of the gate insulating layer and the insulating layer are aligned with each other over the gate electrode layer, and the conductive layer covers a channel formation region of the oxide semiconductor layer and the end portions of the gate insulating layer and the insulating layer and is in contact with the gate electrode layer.
US09728536B2	Semiconductor devices A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region; and forming at least one first dummy gate in the first region and at least one second dummy gate in the second region. Further, the method includes forming a dielectric layer with a top surface leveling with a surface of the first dummy gate on the semiconductor substrate; oxidizing a top portion of the second dummy gate to form a protective layer to prevent over-polishing on the second region; removing the first dummy gate to form a first gate trench; forming a first metal layer to fill the first gate trench and cover the protective layer and the dielectric layer; and removing a portion of the first metal layer higher than the dielectric layer to form a first metal gate in the first gate trench.
US09728532B2	Clamp based ESD protection circuits An electro-static discharge (ESD) protection circuit utilizes a gate-drain breakdown characteristic of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) in a dual stacked configuration to provide a discharge path for electro-static discharges, while having a minimal effect on the associated circuit which is being protected.
US09728531B2	Electrostatic discharge device An integrated circuit device includes at least two epitaxially grown active regions grown onto a substrate, the active regions being placed between a first gate device and a second gate device. The integrated circuit device includes at least one dummy gate between the two epitaxially grown active regions and between the first gate device and the second gate device, wherein each active region is substantially uniform in length. The first gate device and the second device are formed over a first well having a first conductivity type and the dummy gate is formed over a second well having a second conductivity type.
US09728530B1	Bipolar transistor device A bipolar transistor device includes a substrate and at least one first transistor unit. The first transistor unit includes a first doped well of first conductivity type, at least one first fin-based structure and at least one second fin-based structure. The first fin-based structure includes a first gate strip and first doped fins arranged in the first doped well, and the first gate strip is floating. The second fin-based structure includes a second gate strip and second doped fins arranged in the first doped well, and the second gate strip is floating. The first doped fins, the second doped fins and the first doped well form first BJTs, and the first doped fins and the second doped fins are respectively coupled to high and low voltage terminals.
US09728528B2	Method and apparatus for floating or applying voltage to a well of an integrated circuit In one well bias arrangement, no well bias voltage is applied to the n-well, and no well bias voltage is applied to the p-well. Because no external well bias voltage is applied, the n-well and the p-well are floating, even during operation of the devices in the n-well and the p-well. In another well bias arrangement, the lowest available voltage is not applied to the p-well, such as a ground voltage, or the voltage applied to the n+-doped source region of the n-type transistor in the p-well. This occurs even during operation of the n-type transistor in the p-well. In yet another well bias arrangement, the highest available voltage is not applied to the n-well, such as a supply voltage, or the voltage applied to the p+-doped source region of the p-type transistor in the n-well. This occurs even during operation of the p-type transistor in the n-well.
US09728523B2	Semiconductor light emitting device A semiconductor light emitting device includes an LED chip, which includes an n-type semiconductor layer, active layer, and p-type semiconductor layer stacked on a substrate. The LED chip further includes an anode electrode connected to the p-type semiconductor, and a cathode connected to the n-type semiconductor. The anode and cathode electrodes face a case with the LED chip mounted thereon. The case includes a base member including front and rear surfaces, and wirings including a front surface layer having anode and cathode pads formed at the front surface, a rear surface layer having anode and cathode mounting electrodes formed at the rear surface, an anode through wiring connecting the anode pad and the anode mounting electrode and passing through a portion of the base member, and a cathode through wirings connecting the cathode pad and the cathode mounting electrode and passing through a portion of the base member.
US09728519B2	Bonding method of semiconductor chip and bonding apparatus of semiconductor chip According to one embodiment, there is provided a bonding method of a semiconductor chip. The bonding method includes arranging an activated front surface of a semiconductor chip and an activated front surface of a substrate so as to face each other with a back surface of the semiconductor chip attached to a sheet. The bonding method includes pushing the back surface of the semiconductor chip through the sheet to closely attach the activated front surface of the semiconductor chip and the activated front surface of the substrate. The bonding method includes stripping the sheet from the back surface of the semiconductor chip while maintaining a state in which the activated front surface of the semiconductor chip is closely attached to the activated front surface of the substrate.
US09728515B2	Integrated WLUF and SOD process This disclosure relates generally to a wafer having a plurality of semiconductor chips having a major surface, a metal contact positioned on one of the plurality of semiconductor chips and having a side surface and contact surface, the contact surface substantially parallel to the major surface, wherein the contact surface defines a thickness of the metal contact relative to the major surface, an underfill layer abutting the one of the plurality of semiconductor chips and the side surface of the metal contact, the underfill layer having a top surface substantially parallel to the major surface, wherein the top surface of the underfill layer defines a thickness of the underfill layer relative to the major surface, the thickness of the underfill layer being not greater than the thickness of the metal contact, and a solder bump formed in electrical contact with the contact surface of the metal contact.
US09728514B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A semiconductor device including a relatively thin interposer excluding a through silicon hole and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The method includes forming an interposer on a dummy substrate. The forming of the interposer includes, forming a dielectric layer on the dummy substrate, forming a pattern and a via on the dielectric layer, and forming a seed layer at the pattern and the via of the dielectric layer and forming a redistribution layer and a conductive via on the seed layer. A semiconductor die is connected with the conductive via facing an upper portion of the interposer, and the semiconductor die is encapsulated with an encapsulant. The dummy substrate is removed from the interposer. A bump is connected with the conductive via facing a lower portion of the interposer.
US09728513B2	Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same A semiconductor device includes a fuse pattern disposed over a semiconductor substrate, an epoxy mold compound (EMC) layer disposed over the fuse pattern, a first package substrate disposed over the EMC layer, an insulating film disposed over the first package substrate, and a second package substrate disposed over the insulating film. To the first package substrate, a Vss voltage or a negative voltage lower than the Vss voltage is applied to prevent impurities from migrating to the fuse pattern.
US09728500B2	Integrated circuit surface layer with adhesion-functional group Embodiments of the present disclosure describe an integrated circuit and associated fabrication techniques and configurations, which may include forming on at least one of a metal layer or a polymer layer of an integrated circuit die a surface layer that includes an adhesion-functional group, and applying to the surface layer a next layer to adhere to the surface layer with the adhesion-functional group. In embodiments wherein the at least one of the metal layer or the polymer layer is a polymer layer, forming the surface layer may include copolymerizing on the polymer layer a polar monomer that includes the adhesion-functional group. In embodiments wherein the at least one of the metal layer or the polymer layer is a metal layer, forming the surface layer may include forming on the metal layer a self-assembled monolayer that includes amine group terminations. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09728485B1	Semiconductor device with interconnect structure having catalys layer A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a semiconductor substrate and a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a conductive feature in the dielectric layer, and the conductive feature includes a catalyst layer and a conductive element. The catalyst layer is between the conductive element and the dielectric layer, and the catalyst layer is in physical contact with the conductive element. The catalyst layer continuously surrounds a sidewall and a bottom of the conductive element. The catalyst layer is made of a material different from that of the conductive element, and the catalyst layer is capable of lowering a formation temperature of the conductive element.
US09728481B2	System with a high power chip and a low power chip having low interconnect parasitics An IC system includes low-power chips, e.g., memory chips, located proximate one or more higher power chips, e.g., logic chips, without suffering the effects of overheating. The IC system may include a high-power chip disposed on a packaging substrate and a low-power chip embedded in the packaging substrate to form a stack. Because portions of the packaging substrate thermally insulate the low-power chip from the high-power chip, the low-power chip can be embedded in the IC system in close proximity to the high-power chip without being over heated by the high-power chip. Such close proximity between the low-power chip and the high-power chip advantageously shortens the path length of interconnects therebetween, which improves device performance and reduces interconnect parasitics in the IC system.
US09728480B2	Passivation layer and method of making a passivation layer A passivation layer and a method of making a passivation layer are disclosed. In one embodiment the method for manufacturing a passivation layer includes depositing a first silicon based dielectric layer on a workpiece, the first silicon based dielectric layer comprising nitrogen, and depositing in-situ a second silicon based dielectric layer on the first silicon based dielectric layer, the second dielectric layer comprising oxygen.
US09728476B2	Fingerprint sensor and manufacturing method thereof A fingerprint sensor device and a method of making a fingerprint sensor device. As non-limiting examples, various aspects of this disclosure provide various fingerprint sensor devices, and methods of manufacturing thereof, that comprise an interconnection structure, for example a bond wire, at least a portion of which extends into a dielectric layer utilized to mount a plate, and/or that comprise an interconnection structure that extends upward from the semiconductor die at a location that is laterally offset from the plate.
US09728468B2	Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof A first well in a first conductivity type which is formed at a first region and is electrically connected to a first power supply line, a second well in a second conductivity type being an opposite conductivity type of the first conductivity type which is formed at a second region and is electrically connected to a second power supply line, a third well in the second conductivity type which is integrally formed with the second well at a third region adjacent to the second region, a fourth well in the first conductivity type integrally formed with the first well at a fourth region adjacent to the first region, a fifth well in the first conductivity type which is formed at the third region to be shallower than the third well, and a sixth well in the second conductivity type which is formed at the fourth region to be shallower than the fourth well, are included.
US09728457B2	System, structure, and method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate stack A method of manufacturing a semiconductor substrate structure for use in a semiconductor substrate stack system is presented. The method includes a semiconductor substrate which includes a front-face, a backside, a bulk layer, an interconnect layer that includes a plurality of inter-metal dielectric layers sandwiched between conductive layers, a contact layer that is between the bulk layer and the interconnect layer, and a TSV structure commencing between the bulk layer and the contact layer and terminating at the backside of the substrate. The TSV structure is electrically coupled to the interconnect layer and the TSV structure is electrically coupled to a bonding pad on the backside.
US09728454B1	Semiconductor structure and manufacturing method thereof The present invention provides a semiconductor structure, includes a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a first gate structure and a second gate structure disposed in the dielectric layer, a hard mask disposed in the dielectric layer, where the hard mask covers a sidewall of the first gate structure, and covers the second gate structure, and a contact structure disposed in the dielectric layer. The contact structure at least crosses over the hard mask. The contact structure includes a first contact portion and a second contact portion. The first contact portion contacts the first gate structure directly, the second contact portion contacts the substrate directly, and the hard mask is disposed between the first contact portion and the second contact portion.
US09728453B2	Methods for hybrid wafer bonding integrated with CMOS processing Methods for forming an integrated device using CMOS processing with wafer bonding. In an embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes defining an integrated circuit function using a front-end substrate having one or more active devices and a back-end substrate having connections formed in metal layers in dielectric material, wherein the back-end substrate is free from active devices; manufacturing the front-end substrate in a first semiconductor process; more or less simultaneously, manufacturing the back-end substrate in a second semiconductor process; physically contacting bonding surfaces of the front-end substrate and the back-end substrate; and performing wafer bonding to form bonds between the front-end and back-end substrates to form an integrated circuit. Additional methods are disclosed.
US09728450B2	Insulating a via in a semiconductor substrate Insulating a via in a semiconductor substrate, including: depositing, in the via, a dielectric layer; depositing, in the via, a barrier layer; allowing the barrier layer to oxidize; and depositing, in the via, a conducting layer.
US09728436B2	Transfer mechanism with multiple wafer handling capability An integrated robotic mechanism is disclosed for improving transport equipment, integrating an object movement with other functionalities such as alignment or identification. The disclosed integrated robot assembly can comprise a multiple end effector for moving a plurality of workpieces, a single end effector for moving a single workpiece, a rotation chuck incorporated on the robot body to provide alignment capability, and an optional identification subsystem for identify the object during transport. The present invention robot assembly can be used in a sorter or stocker equipment, in processing equipment, and a transfer system.
US09728434B2	Substrate processing apparatus, storage device, and method of transporting substrate storing container In a substrate processing apparatus, a storage device, an indexer block, a processing block and an interface block are arranged to line up in this order. The storage device includes a plurality of openers on which a carrier storing a plurality of substrates can be placed. The carrier is carried in the storage device. In the storage device, the carrier is transported among the plurality of openers by a transport device. The transport device includes first and second hands configured to be able to hold the carrier and move in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The second hand is provided below the first hand.
US09728432B2	Method of degassing A method of degassing semiconductor substrates includes sequentially loading a plurality of semiconductor substrates into a degas apparatus, and degassing the semiconductor substrates in parallel, the degassing of each semiconductor substrate commencing at a different time related to the time at which the semiconductor substrate was loaded into the degas apparatus. The method further includes unloading a semiconductor substrate from the degas apparatus when the semiconductor substrate has been degassed, while semiconductor substrates which were loaded later in the sequence are still being degassed. The degassing of the semiconductor substrates is performed at pressure of less than 10−4 Torr, and the degas apparatus is pumped continuously during the degassing of the semiconductor substrates.
US09728428B2	Single use rinse in a linear Marangoni drier An apparatus for drying of wet substrates in a post CMP cleaning apparatus is provided. The apparatus provides a waterfall or shallow reservoir of rinsing solution, such as DIW, through which a substrate may be lifted. A solvent vapor may be provided at the rinsing solution interface on the substrate, such as in a Marangoni process. In certain embodiments, the volume of solution through which the substrate is lifted is reduced, which may provide for reduced or eliminated particle reattachment to the substrate.
US09728427B2	Method for manufacturing semiconductor structure A method includes followings operations. A substrate including a first surface and a second surface is provided. The substrate and a transparent film are heated to attach the transparent film on the first surface. A first coefficient of a thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch is between the substrate and the transparent film. The substrate and the transparent film are cooled. A polymeric material is disposed on the second surface. A second CTE mismatch is between the substrate and the polymeric material. The second CTE mismatch is counteracted by the first CTE mismatch.
US09728413B2	Method for preparing film patterns A method for preparing film patterns; firstly, a complementary film pattern (1) to a desired film pattern (201) is prepared on a substrate (3) with an erasable agent; secondly, a whole layer of film (2) is formed on the complementary film pattern (1); and thirdly, the desired film pattern (201) is obtained by removing the complementary film pattern (1). The preparation method can simplify the production process and reduce the production cost of the film patterns.
US09728409B2	Method of manufacturing semiconductor device Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming a stacked metal nitride film including a first metal nitride film and a second metal nitride film on a substrate by alternately performing steps (a) and (b) a plurality of times, wherein the step (a) includes alternately supplying: a first metal source containing a first halogen element and a metal element; and a nitrogen-containing source to the substrate a plurality of times to form the first metal nitride film, and the step (b) includes alternately supplying: a second metal source containing a second halogen element different from the first halogen element and the metal element; and the nitrogen-containing source to the substrate a plurality of times to form the second metal nitride film.
US09728406B2	Multi materials and selective removal enabled reverse tone process Embodiments described herein generally relate to methods for device patterning. In various embodiments, a plurality of protrusions and gaps are formed on a substrate, and each gap is formed between adjacent protrusions. Each protrusion includes a first line, a second line and a third line. The first and third lines include a first material, and the second lines include a second material that is different from the first material. A fourth line is deposited in each gap and the fourth line includes a third material that is different than the first and second materials. Because the first, second and third materials are different, one or more lines can be removed by selective etching while adjacent lines that are made of a different material may not be covered by a mask. The critical dimensions (CD) and the edge displacement errors (EPE) of the mask are increased.
US09728402B2	Flowable films and methods of forming flowable films An embodiment is a method including depositing a first flowable film over a substrate in a processing region, the first flowable film comprising silicon and nitrogen, curing the first flowable film in a first step at a first temperature with a first process gas and ultra-violet light, the first process gas including oxygen, curing the first flowable film in a second step at a second temperature with a second process gas and ultra-violet light, the second process gas being different than the first process gas, and annealing the cured first flowable film at a third temperature to convert the cured first flowable film into a silicon oxide film over the substrate.
US09728395B2	Method for manufacturing a semiconductor wafer, and semiconductor device having a low concentration of interstitial oxygen A method for manufacturing a substrate wafer 100 includes providing a device wafer (110) having a first side (111) and a second side (112); subjecting the device wafer (110) to a first high temperature process for reducing the oxygen content of the device wafer (110) at least in a region (112a) at the second side (112); bonding the second side (112) of the device wafer (110) to a first side (121) of a carrier wafer (120) to form a substrate wafer (100); processing the first side (101) of the substrate wafer (100) to reduce the thickness of the device wafer (110); subjecting the substrate wafer (100) to a second high temperature process for reducing the oxygen content at least of the device wafer (110); and at least partially integrating at least one semiconductor component (140) into the device wafer (110) after the second high temperature process.
US09728394B2	Excimer discharge lamp Disclosed herein an excimer discharge lamp that is capable of mitigating a stress concentration occurring due to a fixing method of an outer electrode, and achieving a desired life of lamp in an ensured manner. The excimer discharge lamp comprises: an arc tube for enclosing a luminous gas inside and having a sealing portion formed contiguous to, via a reduced diameter portion, one end of a tube shaped luminous portion; and an outer electrode of a net-like shape arranged on an outer peripheral surface of the art tube. The one end of the outer electrode being fixed via an outer electrode fixing member provided on an outer surface of the sealing portion.
US09728386B1	Mass analysis instruments and methods Mass spectrometry instruments are provided that are configured to provide dynamic switching between positive and negative ion preparation and analysis during a single sample analysis. Mass spectrometry analysis methods are also provided that can include switching between positive and negative ion preparation and analysis during a single sample analysis.
US09728383B2	Method of calibrating ion signals A method of mass or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: providing an ion source for generating analyte ions and reference ions; providing a mass analyzer or ion mobility separator (IMS); providing an ion trap between the ion source and the mass analyzer or IMS; guiding reference ions from the ion source into the ion trap and trapping the reference ions in the ion trap; guiding the analyte ions from the ion source into the mass analyzer or IMS, wherein the analyte ions bypass the ion trap; and releasing reference ions from the ion trap into the mass analyzer or IMS for analysis.
US09728376B2	Compact high-voltage plasma source for neutron generation Systems and methods are described herein for coupling electromagnetic (EM) energy from a remotely-located primary antenna into a plasma ion source. The EM energy is radiated by a first by through an intermediary secondary antenna. The embodiments described herein enable the elevation of the plasma ion source to a high electric potential bias relative to the primary antenna, which can be maintained at or near a grounded electric potential.
US09728369B2	Two-part high voltage vacuum feed through for an electron tube A high voltage vacuum feed through (23) for an electron tube (25) has an anode (28) and an insulating body (1) of ceramic material, the insulating body (1) having a continuous hollow space (10). The anode (28) has a rear part (2) and a front part (3) mounted thereto. The rear part (2) consists of a first metallic material, having a thermal expansion coefficient corresponding to a thermal expansion coefficient of the ceramic material. The rear part (2) is arranged in the hollow space (10) of the insulating body (1) and is soldered into the insulating body (1) in a vacuum-tight fashion. The front part (3) has a second metallic material whose heat conductivity is larger than that of the first metallic material. The high voltage vacuum feed through reliably remains vacuum-tight during operation and can be easily provided with different target materials.
US09728367B2	Digital X-ray source The present invention discloses a digital X-ray source. The digital X-ray source includes an X-ray generation unit that emits X-rays, wherein the X-ray generation unit includes a cathode electrode; an emitter formed above the cathode electrode; an anode electrode located above the emitter; a gate electrode located between the emitter and the anode electrode; first and second focusing electrodes located between the emitter and the anode electrode; and an electrode connecting unit configured to include one or more insulating tubes capable of fixing and adjusting the locations of the gate electrode and the first and second focusing electrodes on the cathode electrode, and also configured to individually insulate and connect the cathode electrode, the gate electrode and the first and second focusing electrodes from and with electric lines
US09728364B2	Fusible link A fusible link includes a power supply portion provided on a connection terminal that connects to a battery terminal, a circuit terminal that connects to a circuit, a power-supply side upstanding portion standing in an out-of-plane direction of a terminal mounting surface from an edge substantially parallel to an extending direction of the battery terminal out of an outer circumferential edge near the power supply portion of the connection terminal, a circuit-side upstanding portion standing in the same direction as the power-supply side upstanding portion from an edge substantially parallel to the extending direction out of an outer circumferential edge of the circuit terminal, and a bridge portion extending between the power-supply side upstanding portion and the circuit-side upstanding portion. The power-supply side upstanding portion, the circuit-side upstanding portion, and the bridge portion function as a fuse element that fuses when a current greater than a threshold value flows.
US09728345B1	Ultra capacitor module An ultra capacitor module includes a first ultra capacitor having a first polar terminal provided with a screw thread A formed on an outer peripheral surface, a second ultra capacitor having a second polar terminal provided with a screw thread A formed on an outer peripheral surface, and a connecting member having a screw hole B formed corresponding to the screw thread A on an inner peripheral surface through which the first polar terminal is inserted from one side and the second polar terminal is inserted from the other side to connect the first and second ultra capacitors in series and having a gas emission hole formed from a center to an outer surface.
US09728344B2	Energy storage device including a redox-enhanced electrolyte An electrical double layer capacitor (EDLC) energy storage device is provided that includes at least two electrodes and a redox-enhanced electrolyte including two redox couples such that there is a different one of the redox couples for each of the electrodes. When charged, the charge is stored in Faradaic reactions with the at least two redox couples in the electrolyte and in a double-layer capacitance of a porous carbon material that comprises at least one of the electrodes, and a self-discharge of the energy storage device is mitigated by at least one of electrostatic attraction, adsorption, physisorption, and chemisorption of a redox couple onto the porous carbon material.
US09728342B2	Coated housing for ultracapacitor An electric double-layer ultracapacitor configured to maintain desired operation at an operating voltage of three volts, where the capacitor includes a housing component, a first and a second current collector, a positive and a negative electrode electrically coupled to one of the first and second current collectors, and a separator positioned between the positive and the negative electrode. The capacitor may also include a protective coating disposed on an inner surface of the housing for the ultracapacitor.
US09728339B2	Insulation for high voltage capacitors Methods and apparatus are provided for a high voltage capacitor having a plurality of capacitor units connected in electrical series in a stacked configuration. An insulator element can be positioned between two adjacent capacitor units of the high voltage capacitor for providing separation between the adjacent capacitor units, where the insulator element has a first thickness at a first end of the insulator element and a second smaller thickness at a second end of the insulator element. The insulator element can have a wedge-shaped cross section.
US09728337B2	Method for producing a capacitor A method for producing a capacitor stack in one portion of a substrate, the method including: forming a cavity along a thickness of the portion of the substrate from an upper face of the substrate, depositing a plurality of layers contributing to the capacitor stack onto the wall of the cavity and onto the surface of the upper face, and removing matter from the layers until the surface of the upper face is reached. The forming of the cavity includes forming at least one trench and, associated with each trench, at least one box. The at least one trench includes a trench outlet that opens into the box. The box includes a box outlet that opens at the surface of the upper face, and the box outlet being shaped to be larger than the trench outlet.
US09728335B2	Multilayer ceramic capacitor A multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a multilayer unit, thickness-direction first and second outer layer sections, and width-direction first and second outer layer sections. A dimension of the thickness-direction second outer layer section is greater than a dimension of the thickness-direction first outer layer section. The thickness-direction second outer layer section includes an inner portion and an outer portion. A composition ratio of Si to Ti in a ceramic dielectric layer included in the outer portion is higher than that in the inner portion. A Si content ratio is higher in a boundary portion between the outer portion and the inner portion. A relationship expressed by T1/(W0−W1)≦6.95 is satisfied when a minimum dimension in the width direction of the body is denoted by W0, a minimum dimension in the thickness direction of the multilayer unit is denoted by T1, and a minimum dimension in the width direction of the multilayer unit is denoted by W1.
US09728329B2	Coil techniques Techniques are disclosed involving coils. For example, energy may be transferred between transmitting and receiving coils. The transmitting coil may be in a first device, while the receiving coil may be in a second device. In embodiments, the transmitting coil may be shaped in a way as to direct a magnetic field toward a receiving device. Similarly, the receiving device may be shaped in a way that is directed towards the device having the transmitting coil.
US09728324B2	Transformer construction The invention relates to a transformer construction comprising a plurality of transformer cores configured to share magnetic flux paths and, as a result, at least one of the cores comprises a post and an associated sidewall having an effective cross-sectional area which is less than that of the post. Such a construction may be employed in a power conditioning unit, for example, for a photovoltaic module, which is configured to operate the cores out of phase from each other. Also described is a transformer winding comprising a longitudinal spine having a first turn emanating from a first portion of the spine in a first transverse direction and a second turn emanating from a second portion of the spine in a second transverse direction, wherein the second transverse direction is opposite to the first transverse direction.
US09728313B2	Device for cooling a superconducting machine A device for cooling a superconducting machine is disclosed, including a storage vessel which receives condensed coolant and from which the coolant can be fed via a pipe to the machine, wherein the storage vessel has a storage region and an evaporator region, which is separated from the former, with a heat source which continuously has a temperature above the boiling point of the coolant. The evaporator region is connected via a curved overflow pipe to the storage region in such a way that, when a defined coolant filling level is reached in the storage region, coolant flows via the overflow pipe automatically into the evaporator region and evaporates there.
US09728308B2	Surge arrester comprising traction elements maintained by loops A surge arrester has several tensioning elements which brace the discharge column in the axial direction. One or more loop arrangements radially surround the tensioning elements. One loop arrangement has a plurality of loops. Each loop of the plurality of loops surrounds only some, but not all, of the tensioning elements.
US09728305B2	Apparatus for electric stress grading with wildlife guard for electrical power distribution equipment An apparatus for mounting at a conductive terminal of a high voltage insulator is provided. An apparatus includes an electrical insulator including an electrically insulating material without a conductive material. The electrical insulator includes a first surface, a second surface, a first edge that is between the first surface and the second surface, an intersection between the first edge and the first and second surfaces, and a second edge that is opposite the first edge and that is between the first surface and the second surface. The apparatus further includes a connected electrical conductor that is arranged on the first surface of the electrical insulator and is spaced apart from the second edge and an electrically conductive connector that is configured to electrically couple the connected electrical conductor to the conductive terminal of the high voltage insulator.
US09728290B2	Energy shield for radiation system Among other things, an energy shield (212) for a radiation system, such as a security imaging system, is provided. The energy shield is comprised of one or more flaps (300). At least one flap defines an aperture (320) providing a demarcation between a first flap segment (322) of the flap and a second flap segment (324) of the flap. The aperture (e.g., and a flexible member (326) positioned spatially proximate the aperture) provide for (e.g., facilitate) movement of the second flap segment relative to the first flap segment. In this manner, an amount of force required to be applied by an object to pass by the flap may be reduced when the object is small and merely contacts the second flap segment, for example. In this manner, baggage jams may be mitigated, for example, by reducing the likelihood that certain objects will be impeded from passing through the energy shield.
US09728286B2	System for low profile translation of high level radioactive waste An apparatus, system and method for handling and translating high level radioactive waste. The apparatus comprises a body for supporting the cask close to the ground so that the cask and the apparatus can pass underneath over head doors. The apparatus further comprises rollers for translating the cask. The apparatus additionally supports the storage cask during spent nuclear fuel transfer procedures.
US09728283B2	Positional encoder and control rod position indicator for nuclear reactor using same A cam is immersed in water at an elevated temperature and/or pressure. A reciprocating cam follower also immersed in the water contacts a surface of the cam. The cam follower includes a permanent magnet. An electrically conductive coil is magnetically coupled with the permanent magnet such that movement of the cam follower induces an electrical signal in the electrically conductive coil. A sealed housing also immersed in the water contains the electrically conductive coil and seals it from contact with the water. Leads of the coil are electrically accessible from outside the sealed housing and from outside the water. Alternatively, the cam includes magnetic inserts, the cam follower is replaced by a sensor arm of magnetic material, and the sensor arm and/or the inserts are magnetized whereby rotation of the rotary element causes time modulation of the magnetic coupling and induces coil voltage.
US09728273B2	Embedded memory testing using back-to-back write/read operations In one embodiment, a BIST (built-in self-test) engine performs BIST testing of embedded memory in an integrated circuit device (e.g., an FPGA) via an (e.g., hard-wired, dedicated, low-latency) bus from the configuration bitstream engine. During BIST testing, data is written into the embedded memory at-speed, which may require the bitstream engine to produce a higher frequency than originally used for configuration. Between consecutive write operations, the BIST engine is capable of reading the previously written set of data from the embedded memory and comparing that read-back data with the corresponding original set of data to determine whether a BIST error has occurred. By performing back-to-back write/read-back operations faster than the configuration speed and using a dedicated W/RB bus, BIST testing can be optimally performed without false-positive-invoking delays and undesirable resource utilization.
US09728271B2	Charge injection noise reduction in sample-and-hold circuit A sample-and-hold circuit includes a first transistor; a second transistor disposed between a gate electrode and a drain electrode of the first transistor; a sampling capacitor, an electrode of the sampling capacitor being connected to the gate electrode of the first transistor; and a first current source connected to the drain electrode of the first transistor, where a gate electrode of the second transistor receives a gate control signal. A minimum voltage of the gate control signal is Vth2+Vsat2+Vth1+Vsat1, where Vth1 is a threshold voltage of the first transistor, Vsat1 is a saturation voltage of the first transistor, Vth2 is a threshold voltage of the second transistor, and Vsat2 is a saturation voltage of the second transistor.
US09728270B2	Semiconductor device and control method of the same A semiconductor device comprises a bit determination circuit to count the number of bits at a first level in an input address signal formed of a plurality of bits and to output a result indicating whether or not a value of the count exceeds a predetermined determination threshold value, as a bit determination result signal, and a selection control circuit to select a non-volatile program element to be cut off, based on the bit determination result signal and the address signal. Additional apparatus and methods are described.
US09728267B2	Memory devices configured to apply different weights to different strings of memory cells coupled to a data line and methods A memory device has first and second strings of memory cells coupled to a data line. The first string is for storing a first bit having a first bit significance, and the second string is for storing a second bit having a second bit significance different than the first bit significance. A first resistor is coupled in series with the first string. A second resistor is coupled in series with the second string. The memory device is configured to set the first resistor to a first resistance based on the first bit significance and the second resistor to a second resistance based on the second bit significance so that the second resistance is different than the first resistance. The memory device is configured to compare a first bit of input data to the first bit and to compare a second bit of the input data to the second bit.
US09728266B1	Memory device including multiple select gates and different bias conditions Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods using first and second select gates coupled in series between a conductive line and a first memory cell string of a memory device, and third and fourth select gates coupled in series between the conductive line and a second memory cell string of the memory device. The memory device can include first, second, third, and fourth select lines to provide first, second, third, and fourth voltages, respectively, to the first, second, third, and fourth select gates, respectively, during an operation of the memory device. The first and second voltages can have a same value. The third and fourth voltages can have different values.
US09728263B2	Method and device for iteratively updating read voltages A data storage device includes a memory and a controller. Read voltages are updated based on adjusting a first read voltage without adjusting a second read voltage to generate multiple sets of read voltages, and the multiple sets of read voltages are used to generate multiple representations of data. A value of the first read voltages is selected based on error correction coding (ECC) related information related to the multiple representations of the data. In another embodiment, storage elements of the memory are sensed using a set of candidate read voltages to generate sensing data that is transferred to a memory accessible to the controller. The multiple representations of data may be generated based on the sensing data to emulate results of reading the storage elements using a different combination of candidate reading voltages.
US09728262B2	Non-volatile memory systems with multi-write direction memory units Non-volatile memory systems with multi-write direction memory units are disclosed. In one implementation an apparatus comprises a non-volatile memory and a controller in communication with the non-volatile memory. The controller is configured to select an empty memory block of the non-volatile memory for the storage of data; examine an identifier associated with the memory block to determine a write direction for the storage of data; and write data to the memory block beginning with an initial word line of the memory block or a last word line of the memory block dependent on the write direction. The controller is further configured to erase the memory unit and, in response to erasing the memory unit, modify the identifier to change the write direction for a subsequent write of data to the memory block.
US09728259B1	Non-volatile (NV)-content addressable memory (CAM) (NV-CAM) cells employing differential magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensing for increased sense margin Non-volatile (NV)-content addressable memory (CAM) (NV-CAM) cells employing differential magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) sensing for increased sense margin are disclosed. By the NV-CAM cells employing MTJ differential sensing, differential cell voltages can be generated for match and mismatch conditions in response to search operations. The differential cell voltages are amplified to provide a larger match line voltage differential for match and mismatch conditions, thus providing a larger sense margin between match and mismatch conditions. For example, a cross-coupled transistor sense amplifier employing positive feedback may be employed to amplify the differential cell voltages to provide a larger match line voltage differential for match and mismatch conditions. Providing NV-CAM cells that have a larger sense margin can mitigate sensing issues for increased search operation reliability. One non-limiting example of an NV-CAM cell that employs MTJ differential sensing is a ten (10) transistor (10T)-four (4) MTJ (10T-4MTJ) NV-TCAM cell.
US09728255B2	Planar variable resistance memory An example memory device includes a planar semiconductor substrate layer; a planar variable resistance layer disposed above the planar semiconductor substrate layer; a planar channel layer disposed above the planar variable resistance layer; and one or more gates positioned along a length of the memory device and above the planar channel layer, wherein each respective gate of the one or more gates is configured to direct at least a portion of a current flowing through a respective region of the planar channel layer positioned below the respective gate into a respective region of the variable resistance layer positioned below the respective gate in response to a voltage applied to the respective gate being greater than a threshold voltage.
US09728254B2	Nonvolatile memory device and method for sensing the same A nonvolatile memory device includes a first resistive memory cell connected to a first word line, a second resistive memory cell connected to a second word line that is different from the first word line, a clamping unit connected between a sensing node and a reference current supplying unit connected to the second resistive memory cell to supply a reference current, and a sense amplifier connected to the sensing node to sense a level change of the sensing node, wherein when the first word line is enabled, the second word line is disabled.
US09728253B2	Sense circuit for RRAM A resistive random-access memory device includes a RRAM array including a plurality of RRAM cells coupled to a source line, a controller, a bit-line decoder, and a sense circuit. Each of the RRAM cells storing a logic state and is selected by the corresponding bit line and word line. The controller selects a selected RRAM cell by a bit-line signal and a selected word line and determines the logic state according to a sense signal. The bit-line decoder couples a data bit line to the selected bit line according to a bit-line signal. The sense circuit is coupled to the data bit line and compares a memory current flowing through the selected RRAM with a reference current to generate the sense signal. The sense circuit sinks the memory current from the data bit line when operating in a reset operation and a reverse read operation.
US09728248B2	Semiconductor structure and memory device including the structure A semiconductor structure includes first and second source/drain region disposed in a semiconductor body and spaced from each other by a channel region. A gate electrode overlies the channel region and a capacitor electrode is disposed between the gate electrode and the channel region. A first gate dielectric is disposed between the gate electrode and the capacitor electrode and a second gate dielectric disposed between the capacitor electrode and the channel region. A first electrically conductive contact region is in electrical contact with the gate electrode and a second electrically conductive contact region in electrical contact with the capacitor electrode. The first and second contact regions are electrically isolated from one another.
US09728240B2	Pulse programming techniques for voltage-controlled magnetoresistive tunnel junction (MTJ) A method of programming a voltage-controlled magnetoresistive tunnel junction (MTJ) includes applying a programming voltage pulse (Vp), reading the voltage-controlled MTJ, and determining if the voltage-controlled MTJ is programmed to a desired state and if not, changing the Vp and repeating the applying and reading steps until the voltage-controlled MTJ is programmed to the desired state.
US09728235B2	Semiconductor device and semiconductor memory device A semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory unit, a data line configured to transfer data sequentially outputted from the non-volatile memory unit, and a shift register unit configured to include a plurality of registers that shift and store the data transferred through the data line in synchronization with a clock. The semiconductor device includes a non-volatile memory unit having an e-fuse array, and transfers the data stored in an e-fuse array to other constituent elements of the semiconductor device that use the data of the e-fuse array in order to have the data stored in the e-fuse array, including diverse setup information and repair information.
US09728230B2	Techniques to bias video thumbnail selection using frequently viewed segments Techniques for intelligently biasing video thumbnail selection to popular segments of the video file are provided. In one aspect, a method of selecting video thumbnails used to represent a video file is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) acquiring trending data from viewers related to the video file; (b) using the trending data to identify one or more segments of the video file that are popular among the viewers; and (c) adapting a selection of the video thumbnails used to represent the video file to the segments identified in step (b).
US09728225B2	Systems and methods for viewing instant updates of an audio waveform with an applied effect A method implemented in an audio editing device comprises retrieving, by the editing device, audio content and obtaining from a user via the user interface an effect to be applied to the audio content. The method further comprises determining a target number of samples based on the obtained effect, obtaining the target number of samples of the audio content, and identifying, within the obtained target number of samples, a maximum amplitude and a minimum amplitude. The method further comprises applying the effect to the obtained target number of samples and displaying on the user interface, a graphical representation of the obtained target number of samples with the applied effect, wherein the graphical representation depicts amplitude varying as a function of time, wherein displaying the graphical representation is performed prior to generating an audio output file with the effect applied to the audio content.
US09728224B2	Video editing system user interface using virtual film equipment A video editing system comprising a computer or mobile device with a display screen, executing a software program whereby virtual film editing equipment is projected on the screen and used to edit motion video and audio programs as if they were physical strips of film or magnetic tape. The user of the system uses a fingertip, mouse, or spoken commands to control the virtual film editing equipment in much the same manner as mechanical film equipment is used to edit film and magnetic tape. A virtual camera on the screen is used to select video or audio clips to edit. A virtual film viewer is used to cut the virtual film clips. A virtual film reel is used to represent the assembled clips organized into a hierarchical structure. A virtual film projector is used to present choices to the user for the export of the reels for presentation to an audience.
US09728223B2	Storing random and sequential data on different track widths of a recording medium Host data to be written to a recording medium is categorized as one of sequential data or random data. The sequential data is written to a first track width on the recording medium. The random data is written to a second track width on the recording medium, the second track width being larger than the first track width.
US09728222B1	Reverse read bias for drive performance and sensor stability In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a plurality of read transducers arranged in an array, and a plurality of biasing circuits. Each biasing circuit is coupled to a unique one of the read transducers. Each biasing circuit is configured to selectively reverse a direction of a read current applied to the read transducer associated therewith.
US09728218B2	Magnetic recording medium for heat-assisted magnetic recording A magnetic recording medium for heat-assisted magnetic recording is provided. A magnetic recording layer includes upper and lower magnetic recording layers. The lower magnetic recording layer has a lower granular structure including lower magnetic crystal grains, and a lower non-magnetic portion, that surrounds the lower magnetic crystal grains, mainly composed of carbon. The upper magnetic recording layer has an upper granular structure including upper magnetic crystal grains, and an upper non-magnetic portion, that surrounds the upper magnetic crystal grains, formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon nitride, titanium oxide and titanium nitride.
US09728215B2	Magnetic disk apparatus and data recording method A magnetic disk apparatus of one of the embodiments stores read position dependency information on read signal quality of a data region at a first track and measures the read signal quality at a predetermined radial position in a second data region of a second track different from the first track. A positioning error of the second data region is determined based on the read position dependency information and the read signal quality at the predetermined radial position. Data is recorded in a recording target data region in a shingled recording so as to prevent data written in the second data region from being overwritten by data in a recording target data region adjacent to the second data region by using the determined positioning error.
US09728213B1	Hysteresis compensation in a disc drive Systems and methods for compensating for hysteresis in a disc drive are described. In one embodiment, a method may use an inverse hysteresis model to linearize effects of hysteresis of a microactuator in the disc drive. The hysteresis model may be a Coleman-Hodgdon hysteresis model. The hysteresis of the microactuator may be characterized, and the inverse hysteresis model may be based at least in part on the characterization. The inverse hysteresis model may be used to implement a digital filter. The digital filter may be employed in series with the microactuator to linearize the effects of hysteresis.
US09728209B2	Thermally robust near-field transducer peg A near-field transducer includes first and second stacked base portions having a common outline shape. The second base portion is proximate alight delivery structure. A peg extends from the first base portion towards a media-facing surface. The peg includes a material that is more thermally robust than a plasmonic material of the base portion. The peg has a peg thickness that is less than a thickness of the first base portion. The first base portion has a first recess proximate the peg. The first recess separates the first base portion from the media-facing surface and exposes at least a top side of the peg.
US09728208B2	Methods of forming materials for at least a portion of a NFT and NFTs formed using the same A method including depositing a plasmonic material at a temperature of at least 150° C.; and forming at least a peg of a near field transducer (NFT) from the deposited plasmonic material.
US09728201B2	Playback apparatus, setting apparatus, playback method, and program A playback apparatus includes: an acquiring unit that acquires auditory language data including data to be played back as a spoken voice; an analyzing unit that analyzes the auditory language data to output an analysis result; a setting unit that sets at least a portion of the auditory language data to a control portion to be played back at a set playback speed, based on the analysis result; and a voice playback unit that plays back the control portion as a spoken voice at the set playback speed.
US09728187B2	Electronic device, information terminal system, and method of starting sound recognition function An on-vehicle device can simultaneously connect smart phones provided with a sound recognition function through short-distance wireless communications. The on-vehicle device determines whether a specific keyword for starting the sound recognition function of the smart phones is included in an utterance sound of a user. When the keyword is included, the on-vehicle device selects the smart phone identified with the keyword, and transmits a sound signal of the utterance sound to the selected smart phone.
US09728179B2	Calibration and stabilization of an active noise cancelation system A method of calibrating an earphone may include: securing an ANC earphone to a calibration fixture, the calibration fixture including an ear model configured to support the ANC earphone, the ear model having an ear canal configured to anatomically resemble a human ear canal and a concha configured to anatomically resemble a human ear concha, the ear canal extending from the concha to an inner end of the ear canal; generating, with the ANC earphone, an audio signal based on a reference tone; determining a characteristic of the audio signal; comparing the characteristic of the audio signal to a previously determined reference characteristic; and adjusting a gain value of the ANC earphone based on the comparing. Additional methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
US09728178B2	Particular signal cancel method, particular signal cancel device, adaptive filter coefficient update method, adaptive filter coefficient update device, and computer program By using the adaptive filter, the reference input signal is processed so as to identify a pseudo-signal of a particular signal to be deleted. The pseudo-signal is subtracted from the mixture containing a target signal inputted from a microphone, the particular signal to be deleted, and a noise so as to obtain an error signal. A stationary noise is estimated to obtain a stationary noise estimated value. A non-stationary noise is estimated to obtain a non-stationary noise estimated value. The stationary noise estimated value is mixed with the non-stationary estimated value to obtain a mixed noise estimated value. An update amount is calculated according to a correlation value between the error signal and the reference input signal, and the mixed noise estimated value. According to the update amount, a coefficient of the adaptive filter is updated.
US09728170B2	Mounting system for pivotal coupling of a tuner to an instrument Disclosed herein are embodiments of a mounting system for pivotal coupling to an instrument, the mounting system including a tuner, a ball element outwardly extending from the tuner, and a socket element having a wall defining a socket in communication with a wall opening; whereby the socket is configured to pivotally receive at least a portion of the ball element via the wall opening to pivotally couple the ball element to the socket element.
US09728161B2	Display device A display device includes a signal processing unit that receives input signals, and calculates output signals to a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel, a third sub-pixel, and a fourth sub-pixel. The signal processing unit calculates a frequency of pixels belonging to each of a plurality of partitions using a light quantity of a surface light source. The signal processing unit calculates an index value for each of the partitions by at least multiplying the cumulative frequency being obtained by sequentially adding the frequency of pixels from a partition having the maximum light quantity among the partitions, and the number of partitions representing a position of a partition to which the cumulative frequency belongs counted from the partition having the maximum light quantity. The signal processing unit controls luminance of the surface light source based on a partition in which the index value exceeds a threshold.
US09728154B2	Display apparatus Disclosed is a display apparatus including: a display panel including a plurality of pixels each for displaying an image corresponding to a data signal; and a timing controller configured to receive an image signals and to convert the image signal into the data signal to be supplied to the display panel, wherein the timing controller is further configured to convert the image signal into an intermediate data signal and to generate the data signal, which corresponds to a k-th pixel, on a basis of intermediate data signals corresponding to a (k−1)-th pixel, the k-th pixel and a (k+1)-th pixel of the plurality of pixels, wherein the data signal corresponding to a first pixel of the plurality of pixels includes first and second color signals and the data signal corresponding to a second pixel of the plurality of pixels includes third and fourth color signals.
US09728151B2	Display panel driving and scanning method and system A display panel driving and scanning system includes a timing controller to divide one frame period into first to third time periods. In the first time period, an image processing device calculates an overdriving signal for a current frame based on the current frame and a previous frame. In the second time period, the image processing device outputs the current frame, and a source driver charges the capacitors of the pixels in the liquid crystal display panel based on the current frame. In the third time period, the timing controller drives a backlight driving circuit to turn on a backlight source of the liquid crystal display panel for displaying the current frame.
US09728139B2	Organic light emitting display device having a plurality of data driving circuits An organic light emitting display device includes: a plurality of pixels coupled to scan lines and data lines; a plurality of scan driving circuits configured to receive a circuit selection signal and a line control signal, and to output a scan signal to the scan lines, corresponding to the circuit selection signal and the line control signal; a plurality of data driving circuits respectively coupled to the data lines, the plurality of data driving circuits being configured to select at least one of a first pre-emphasis voltage, a second pre-emphasis voltage, a first data voltage or a second data voltage, and to output the selected voltage to a corresponding one of the data lines; and a first decoder configured to supply the first pre-emphasis voltage, corresponding to the circuit selection signal and the line control signal.
US09728132B2	Four-transistor-two-capacitor AMOLED pixel driving circuit and pixel driving method based on the circuit The present invention provides an AMOLED pixel driving circuit and a pixel driving method. The AMOLED pixel driving circuit utilizes the 4T2C structure, comprising a first, a second, a third, a fourth thin film transistors (T1, T2, T3, T4), a first, a second capacitor (C1, C2) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED) with introducing a first, a second global signals (Vselx, Vsely) and a reference voltage (Vref); by providing the reference voltage (Vref) to the first node (a) via the third thin film transistor (T3), the data signal voltage (Vdata) can be simplified to diminish the complexity of the data signal voltage (Vdata). The process of writing the data signal voltage (Vdata) into the first thin film transistor T1, i.e. the driving the thin film transistor is separated from the reset stage (Reset) and the threshold voltage detection stage (Vth sensing) with the fourth thin film transistor (T4). Thus, the reset time and the compensation time can be increased to effectively compensate the threshold voltage changes of the drive thin film transistor and the display brightness of the AMOLED becomes more even to raise the display quality.
US09728131B2	Five-transistor-one-capacitor AMOLED pixel driving circuit and pixel driving method based on the circuit The present invention provides an AMOLED pixel driving circuit and a pixel driving method. The AMOLED pixel driving circuit utilizes a 5T1C structure, comprising a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth thin film transistors (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5), a capacitor (C) and an organic light emitting diode (OLED). The first thin film transistor (T1) is a drive thin film transistor; the first global signal (G1), the second global signal (G2) and the scan signal (Scan) are introduced to be combined with one another, and correspond to an initialization stage (1), a data writing stage (2), a threshold voltage compensation stage (3) and a drive stage (4) one after another, wherein the data writing stage (2) and the threshold voltage compensation stage (3) are simultaneously proceeded for effectively compensating the threshold voltage variations of the drive thin film transistor and the organic light emitting diode to make the display brightness of the AMOLED more even and to promote the display quality.
US09728128B2	Pixel circuit, driving method thereof and display panel A circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a first transistor, to respond to a first scanning signal and to transmit a first voltage, a first capacitor, to store the first voltage, and an organic light emitting diode. The circuit also includes a second transistor, to provide a current to the organic light emitting diode, a third transistor, to respond to a second scanning signal and to transmit a first potential signal to the second transistor, and a fourth transistor, to respond to the first scanning signal and to form a diode connection of the second transistor. The circuit also includes a fifth transistor, to respond to a third scanning signal and to transmit a second signal voltage to the second transistor, and a sixth transistor, to respond to a light emitting scanning signal, and to output the current to the organic light emitting diode.
US09728123B2	Organic light emitting display device and method of driving the same An organic light emitting display device includes a plurality of pixels, each including a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, a first blue sub-pixel and a second blue sub-pixel; and an initialization power source configured to supply a plurality of initialization voltages to the pixels, wherein the first and second blue sub-pixels are adjacent to each other and are coupled to a same data line.
US09728118B2	DC-DC converter and display device having the same A DC-DC converter for supplying a display panel with first and second power voltages, the DC-DC converter includes: a first converting module to convert an input power voltage into the first power voltage in response to a control signal; a sensor to detect a drive current of the display panel when the first power voltage is output; and a second converting module to convert the input power voltage into the second power voltage lower than the first power voltage in response to the control signal, the second converting module including: a first inverting converter to generate the second power voltage corresponding to the input power voltage regardless of an amount of the detected drive current; and a second inverting converter to selectively generate the second power voltage corresponding to the input power voltage and according to the amount of the detected drive current.
US09728117B2	Tone and gamut mapping methods and apparatus Tone and/or gamut mapping apparatus and methods may be applied to map color values in image data for display on a particular display or other downstream device. A mapping algorithm may be selected based on location and/or color coordinates for pixel data being mapped. The apparatus and methods may be configured to map color coordinates differently depending on whether or not a pixel corresponds to a light source in an image and/or has special or reserved color values.
US09728108B2	Sign and display systems A sign and display system including a faceplate, lens, backing plate, and at least one magnet is described. The faceplate includes a viewing aperture and the back of the faceplate includes a recess in which the at least one magnet is mounted. The recess in the faceplate is configured to receive the lens and backing plate. The lens may include one or more edge protrusions configured to enter one or more small recesses in the side of the faceplate recess to secure the lens to the faceplate. When the lens and backing plate are positioned in the recess of the faceplate, the one or more magnets exert a force on the backing plate to secure the faceplate and lens to the backing plate. An insert capable of displaying text and/or graphics can also be positioned between the lens and backing plate in the recess of the faceplate.
US09728107B1	Systems and methods for protecting content when using a general purpose user interface application Systems and methods which prevent or limit access to protected content (e.g., value bearing indicia (VBI)) by a general purpose user interface application (e.g., web browser) are shown. Embodiments implement techniques to avoid displaying protected content by a general purpose user interface application, or displaying protected content during a time in which a user does not have access to particular functions of the general purpose user interface application, to protect the content from various operations, such as repeated printing, electronic copying, etc. Data presentation formatting control in the form of style sheets may be utilized to control access to content. Additionally or alternatively, executable code or an executable object may be implemented within a page or other content to control access to content. Similarly, separate areas, such as windows or pages, may be utilized to control access to content.
US09728104B2	System and method for manual welder training A method for manual welder training that includes providing a welding training apparatus that includes both hardware and software components and that is operative to gather and process data in real time, wherein the data is derived from an actual training exercise conducted by a welding trainee; selecting training objectives from a predetermined number of predefined objectives; initializing a curriculum, wherein the curriculum is based on the selected training objectives; performing at least one training exercise, wherein the training exercise is a component of the curriculum; providing real-time feedback to the trainee, wherein the real-time feedback is based on the performance of the trainee during the training exercise; evaluating the performance of the trainee based on data gathered and processed during the training exercise; optionally, adapting the curriculum based on the trainee's performance evaluation; and awarding credentials or certifications to the trainee following successful completion of the curriculum.
US09728102B2	Mobile computing weight, diet, nutrition, and exercise management system with enhanced feedback and goal achieving functionality An illustrative mobile computing device executing weight, nutrition, health, behavior and exercise application software serves as a simulated combination personal trainer and dietician/nutritionist for the user using comprehensive databases storing personalized health, nutrition and exercise information. A mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, executing such software monitors, tracks and/or adjusts caloric intake, energy expenditure taking into account nutritional information and behavioral factors. The mobile computing device receives food consumption, exercise-related, behavior and other input using speech input and the device's GPS subsystem to ease data entry burden on users and to promote continued long-term usage. The system rewards user goal achievement in an automatic, seamless manner, through, for example, downloading music, books, or other media. In illustrative implementations, the system assists users to make healthy food and exercise choices by using a comprehensive color code system to identify good choices, bad choices and those in between.
US09728082B2	Premises monitoring system This invention relates generally to computer systems, and more specifically, to a premise monitoring system. In one embodiment, the invention includes operations of receiving one or more signals containing a device identifier and a device condition from one or more remote alarm monitoring systems; retrieving enhanced information based on the device identifier and/or the device condition; determining one or more communication methods and/or communication destinations based on the device identifier and/or the device condition; and dispatching the enhanced information to the one or more communication destinations using the one or more communication methods.
US09728076B2	Adaptive exception handling in security system A method of controlling a security system of a premises includes detecting one or more exceptions when the system is set to an alarm mode, determining whether any of the one or more exceptions is a terminal exception, automatically executing an arming procedure according to the alarm mode when all of the exceptions are determined to be non-terminal exceptions, preventing execution of the arming procedure when any of the exceptions are determined to be a terminal exception, and, while in the alarm mode, preventing a sensor associated with a security exception from triggering an alarm when the security exception is fully corrected, and triggering an alarm when a condition that is causing the security exception is adjusted without resulting in full correction of the security exception.
US09728069B2	Hand cleanliness Among other things, an entry monitor has circuitry to detect when a person enters a monitored space and an indicator perceptible to other people in the space to indicate a cleanliness state of the hands of the person who has entered the space.
US09728064B2	Cartridge interdependence switch Techniques for identifying interdependent cartridges are described herein. In one example, a method can detect a signal from an indication switch on a first cartridge, wherein the signal results from a user manually actuating the indication switch. The method can also detect a second interdependent cartridge based on interdependence information. Furthermore, the method can activate an interdependence indicator on the first cartridge and an interdependence indicator on the second cartridge.
US09728060B2	Monitoring system The present invention is a system for monitoring a health state of a subject. The system is provided with: a measuring unit that chronologically measures the position of the subject in a facility in which the subject resides or stays; and an information processing unit that determines a health state of the subject by determining whether a chronological change in the position of the subject satisfies a predetermined determination condition.
US09728056B2	Proximity alerting systems and methods Systems and methods for detecting a breach of a proximity threshold associated with a first electronic device comprising a first electronic device configured to transmit a first wireless signal; and a second electronic device configured to: 1) measure a strength of the first wireless signal, 2) determine, based on the measured strength of the first wireless signal, a proximity of the second electronic device to the first electronic device, 3) instruct the first electronic device, via a second wireless signal, to subsequently transmit the first wireless signal at a predetermined interval corresponding with a proximity of the second electronic device to a proximity threshold associated with the first electronic device, and 4) measure a strength of the first wireless signal being transmitted at the predetermined interval to detect when the second electronic device breaches the proximity threshold associated with the first electronic device.
US09728048B2	Matched symbol upgrade slot game Methods and systems providing game play of a slot game allowing for identifying matching symbols in the same relative positions in two or more grids. A first grid and a second grid may be displayed. Symbols for each grid spot in the first and second grids are determined, and the display of the game is updated with the determined symbols. A first symbol in a first location in the first grid is determined to match a second symbol in a second location in a second grid, where the first location and the second location are the same relative positions in the first grid and the second grid. An award to a player is determined based on the determined match.
US09728047B2	System and method for managing one or more games of chance over a network Implementing games of chance across multiple computing devices is described. An electronic hand is associated with each computing device. The electronic hand includes a set of characters having a value. An electronic bid, which is a total quantity of a character of the set characters at a particular value, is initiated. An electronic challenge to the electronic bid is initiated. An actual quantity of the character at the particular value in the bidding electronic hand is determined. A point value is allocated to the bidder if the actual quantity of the character at the particular value is greater than or equal to the total quantity of the character at the particular value in the electronic bid. The point value is adjusted based on a bid value, and/or bid level, and/or the number of participants.
US09728046B2	Systems and methods for providing electronic gaming pieces Systems and methods are provided for providing playing cards. An exemplary method may include retrieving data related to a selection of a set of numbers for bingo and determining matching bingo patterns on a predetermined number of cards from a library of bingo cards against the set of selected numbers. The method may further include selecting corresponding playing cards based on the matching bingo patterns on the predetermined number of cards and providing the corresponding playing cards for display. The exemplary method may be used to deal playing cards for poker using a set of selected numbers.
US09728033B2	Providing auto-stereo gaming content in response to user head movement Devices and methods are set forth to perform operations that perform head tracking of a player of a wagering game machine. The operations can further include presenting different auto-stereo content in response to determining the movement of the head of the player.
US09728032B2	Generating auto-stereo gaming images with degrees of parallax effect according to player position Gaming devices and methods are set forth which provide for face or body tracking to generate content concurrently displayed with several degrees of the motion parallax effect.
US09728029B2	Apparatus for storing and fully automatically dispensing a multiplicity of products The present invention relates to an apparatus for storing and fully automatic output of a multiplicity of different products having substantially cuboid geometry, such as packaged CDs, DVDs, printer cartridges, books, etc., comprising at least one permanently installed storage rack for stocking the multiplicity of products, at least one selection station for selecting, from the multiplicity of stocked products, one product to be output by the apparatus at a product output point, at least one handling device that is movable relative to the at least one storage rack for retrieval of a selected product from the at least one storage rack and for transport of the product in question to a product output point of the apparatus, and at least one computer-assisted control unit for controlling the apparatus and its components.
US09728027B2	Banknote processing apparatus and banknote processing method A banknote processing apparatus including: one or more banknote storage boxes that store banknotes; an information management section that manages banknote management information including identification information for banknotes respectively stored in the one or more banknote storage boxes; a search information receiving section that receives input of search information including part of, or all of, identification information of a banknote to be searched for; a banknote search section that searches for a banknote matching the search information based on information being managed by the information management section; and a payout controller that effects control of feeding out and dispensing a detected banknote that has been detected by the banknote search section from the banknote storage boxes.
US09728025B2	Portable device, communication device, and communication system A communication system includes: a vehicle-mounted communication device and a portable device. The communication device includes: a vehicle transmission unit which transmits a plurality of first signals to the portable device, and a vehicle reception unit which receives a second signal transmitted from the portable device. The portable device includes: a portable device reception unit which receives the first signals, a portable device controller which detects signal intensities of the received first signals, and which compares the signal intensities of the first signals, and a portable device transmission unit which transmits the second signal according to control of the portable device controller. The portable device controller sets an output value of the second signal to a predetermined value when a difference between the compared signal intensities of the first signals is equal to or less than a threshold.
US09728022B2	Electronic padlocks and related methods Disclosed are electronic padlocks and related methods. An electronic padlock includes a lock body, a shank, and a locking mechanism operably coupled to electronic circuitry configured to detect physical interactions of a user with the shank and control the locking mechanism. A method of operating the electronic padlock includes detecting physical interactions of a user with a shank of an electronic padlock, comparing the detected physical interactions with a stored predetermined series of physical interactions, and transitioning from a locked state to an unlocked state responsive to determining that the detected physical interactions match the predetermined series of physical interactions. A method of transforming a mobile device into a device configured to interface with an electronic padlock includes distributing computer-readable instructions configured to instruct one or more processors of the mobile device to display a graphical user interface configured to enable a user to alter settings of the electronic padlock.
US09728015B2	Fuel savings scoring system with remote real-time vehicle OBD monitoring A novel fuel savings scoring system is capable of analyzing real-time on-board diagnostics (OBD) information of a vehicle from a remote monitoring station unit. The fuel savings scoring system can derive a novel fuel efficiency comparison metric called “driving score.” Preferably, the driving score represents a commercial vehicle driver's fuel efficiency driving performance relative to those of peer commercial drivers in a commercial vehicle fleet organization. The driving score takes account of a current real-time mileage achieved by a particular vehicle as well as the best empirical mileage achieved by the same make and model to the particular vehicle in the commercial vehicle fleet organization. Furthermore, in some embodiments of the invention, the driving score for the particular vehicle can even be route and traffic condition-sensitive, which further improves the realistic usefulness of the driving score as a comparative fuel efficiency driving performance measure among commercial vehicle drivers.
US09728007B2	Mobile device, server arrangement and method for augmented reality applications A mobile device (104, 204) comprising communications interface (324) for transferring data, a digital camera (328) for obtaining a camera view (102) of the surroundings of the mobile device at a location, a display (330) for visualizing data such as the camera view (102), and an augmented reality (AR) entity (332) configured to transmit, via the communications interface, an indication of the location of the mobile device to an external entity, obtain, by applying data transfer from said external entity via the communications interface, a representation determined on the basis of a number of 3D models (202) of one or more virtual elements (102e, 206a) deemed as visually observable from the location of the mobile device, said representation forming at least a part of at least an approximation of spherical projection (108, 208, 210) of said 3D models, wherein the associated spherical surface is configured to surround the location of the mobile device, and produce an AR view (102d) for visualization on the display on the basis of the camera view and orientation-wise matching portion, such as 2D images and/or parts thereof, of the representation. Related server arrangement and methods are presented.
US09728003B1	Systems and methods for coordinated editing of seismic data in dual model A system and method may model physical geological structures. Seismic and geologic data may be accepted. A three-dimensional (3D) transformation may be generated between a 3D present day model having points representing present locations of the physical geological structures and a 3D past depositional model having points representing locations where the physical geological structures were originally deposited. An indication may be accepted to locally change the 3D transformation for a subset of sampling points in a first model of the models. The 3D transformation may be locally changed to fit the updated subset of sampling points. A locally altered or updated version of the first model and, e.g., second model, may be displayed where local changes to the first model are defined by the locally changed 3D transformation. The transformation may also be used to extract geobodies in the past depositional model.
US09727994B2	Image joining method An image jointing method includes steps of obtaining a first image, a second image including a line image, and a displacement data, dividing a specific region of the line image as image blocks and calculating to obtain feature values corresponded to the image blocks, comparing the feature values and utilizing an initial coordinate of the image block corresponding to the maximum of the feature values as a feature point representing the line image, corresponding the feature point to a base point of the first image according to the displacement data and obtaining a first jointing point corresponding to the first image and a second jointing point corresponding to the second image according to the base point and the feature point, and jointing the first image and the second image through the first jointing point and the second jointing point, thereby significantly reducing the operation time and enhancing the user experiences.
US09727991B2	Foveated image rendering A method and system for foveated image rendering are provided herein. The method includes tracking a gaze point of a user on a display device and generating a specified number of eccentricity layers based on the gaze point of the user. The method also includes antialiasing the eccentricity layers to remove artifacts, rendering a foveated image based on the eccentricity layers, and displaying the foveated image to the user via the display device.
US09727987B2	Blending techniques for curve fitting Blending techniques for curve fitting are described. In one or more implementations, an indication is received of three or more data points. A blending factor is computed based on a spatial relationship of the three or more data points to each other. A curve is fit to the three or more data points by blending a plurality or curve fitting techniques using the computed blending factor.
US09727969B2	Image processing device, image processing method, program, and image processing system Provided is an image processing device including a dividing unit which divides a captured image of skin into regions in a multidimensional manner, a feature value calculating unit which calculates a feature value of a color property in each region divided by the dividing unit, and an evaluating unit which calculates an evaluation value of the skin using the feature values calculated by the feature value calculating unit.
US09727961B2	Method of operating a radiographic inspection system with a modular conveyor chain A method of operating a radiographic inspection system is designed for a radiographic inspection system in which a conveyor chain with identical modular chain segments transports the articles being inspected. The method encompasses a calibration mode and an inspection mode of the radiographic inspection system. In the calibration mode, calibration data characterizing the radiographic inspection system with the empty conveyor chain are generated and stored as a template image. In the inspection mode, raw images (50) of the articles (3) under inspection with the background (41) of the conveyor chain are acquired and arithmetically merged with the template image. The method results in a clear output image (51) of the articles under inspection being obtained without the interfering background of the conveyor chain.
US09727957B2	Source image providing multiple item views According to example embodiments, an Image View Aggregator identifies a frontal view of an item within an image. The Image View Aggregator identifies at least one reflection view of the item within the image. Each reflection view of the item having been captured off a corresponding reflective physical surface. The Image View Aggregator extracts the frontal view of the item and each reflection view of the item from the image. The Image View Aggregator generates a representation of the item based at least on the extracted frontal view of the item and each extracted reflection view of the item.
US09727950B2	Noise-reduction processing device A noise-reduction processing device including: a part that calculates an edge strength indicating the edge amount at the pixel of interest based on the pixel of interest and surrounding pixels that surround the pixel of interest; a part that discriminates the edge direction at the pixel of interest; a first filter-processing part that subjects the pixel of interest to smoothing processing along a direction that is based on a direction-discrimination result and outputs a first filter-processing result; a second filter-processing part that subjects the pixel of interest to smoothing processing producing a lower low-pass effect than that of the first filter-processing part and outputs a second filter-processing result and a part that synthesizes the first and second filter-processing results, with the ratio of the first filter-processing result increased as the edge strength becomes higher and the ratio of the second filter-processing result increased as the edge strength becomes lower.
US09727949B1	Providing secure digital images Implementations generally relate to providing secure digital images. In some implementations, a method includes receiving an input image. The method further includes generating a plurality of partial images derived from the input image. The method further includes displaying the plurality of partial images to a user, where a sum of the partial images provides the input image.
US09727948B2	Pixel interpolation device and operation control method The generation of a false color is prevented. In a pixel mixture block, pixels of the same color are mixed. For example, red pixels are mixed to obtain a red mixed pixel and blue pixels are mixed to obtain a blue mixed pixel. Green pixels in an odd-numbered row and pixels in an even-numbered row are separately mixed to obtain a green mixed pixel and a green mixed pixel. A correlation direction in a partial color image 1 is detected from these mixed pixels. Interpolation pixels are generated from the mixed pixels according to the correlation direction such that a false color is not generated.
US09727943B1	Remote rendering control objects This disclosure is directed to the control of graphical output of a second computing device by a first computing device. According to these techniques, a first computing device may be configured to generate at least one control object that includes at least one control script. The at least one control script is configured to be executed according to an execution environment (e.g., a graphics processing environment) of the second computing device. Once executed, the at least one control script may be configured to access a native application programming interface (API) of the second computing device to cause graphical data to be presented via an output interface (e.g., a display) communicatively coupled to the second computing device based on a context defined by the at least one control object.
US09727935B2	Equitably assigning medical images for examination Disclosed are various embodiments for equitably assigning medical images for examination. Data describing a medical image study that is pending examination is obtained from a medical data server. The medical image study is assigned for examination by at least one of a plurality of users based on preferences associated with each of the users and a relative complexity value determined for the medical image study. Data describing the assignments is sent to a client. The client is configured to display at least one worklist. Each worklist is associated with a user and describes the one or more medical image studies that have been assigned to the user for examination.
US09727926B2	Entity page recommendation based on post content Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for an online community management system. One method includes an operation for detecting a post on a social network, where the post is associated with an article. The social network has a plurality of entity pages associated with respective entities. Further, the method includes operations for determining a topic of the article based on a content of the article, and for determining whether the topic is associated with a related entity page on the social network. The related entity page is recommended to a user accessing the post when the topic is associated with the related entity page.
US09727924B2	Computer implemented methods and apparatus for informing a user of social network data when the data is relevant to the user Disclosed are examples of apparatus, methods, and computer readable storage media for informing one or more users of social network data such as group data when the data is relevant to the user(s). For example, when one or more keywords are identified as being associated with both a group of an online social network and the user, a communication with information identifying the group data can be generated and provided to a display device accessible by the user. In another example, social network data is associated with an entity of the online social network, and the entity is not being followed by the user. Social network data identified as related to one or more keywords can be provided to a display device in a suitable presentation accessible by the user.
US09727909B2	Anonymous block trade matching system An anonymous block trade matching system which allows users that who wish to cross large blocks of stock to submit orders, or indications of interest, with the option of utilizing market peg benchmarks or future price cross benchmarks. Orders submitted may be subject to minimum thresholds, including a threshold requiring that the order represent ‘X’ % of average daily volume. After submission of a firm order in the system, an alert is generated to provide the order data to other users with potential to cross the order. Visibility of order data by other users may be restricted based upon a data interaction group to which the ordering user or the other user belongs. The system provides users viewing order data with a capability of communicating with the submitting user via a restricted two-way messaging interface.
US09727907B2	System and method for associating item lists with geographical locations A current geographic location of a mobile device, such as a smart phone, tablet computer, or the like, is used to retrieve one or more lists of product related items, such as information related to product that has been delivered/shipped to one or more locations in the vicinity of the current geographic location of the mobile device. The lists of product related items provide details about the product related items and a user interface element for allowing, among other things, items to be ordered, e.g., for delivery/shipment to a corresponding geographic location.
US09727900B2	Multiple UI paradigms within a single application A user interface (UI) with multiple UI paradigms. Each of the multiple UI paradigms is substantially different from the other UI paradigm(s). The substantially different UI paradigms are within a single application. A switching mechanism, which is also a part of the single application, enables a user to relatively rapidly switch between the different UI paradigms.
US09727894B2	Aggregator system having a platform for engaging mobile device users Methods and systems are presented for attracting and engaging a user for a merchant system. A selectable option associated with the merchant system is displayed on a client device associated with a user. An indication of a user selection of the selectable option is received, and a content page is provided to the client device in response to the indication. Customer relationship management (CRM) information associated with the user of the client device is received from a carrier system associated with the client device. A transaction is processed for the user on behalf of the merchant system, based on the CRM information, and data associated with the user and the transaction are output to the merchant system.
US09727883B2	Methods and systems for conducting surveys and processing survey data to generate a collective outcome Machine-implemented methods and computer systems are disclosed for determining a collective outcome for a survey from a plurality of potential outcomes. Each outcome is a particular combination of options. Each survey participant ranks the options to develop an influent function. For each participant, the influent function is applied to each potential outcome to determine a satisfaction score for the outcome. A collective dissonance score is calculated based on the participants' satisfaction scores for the potential outcome. The potential outcomes are ordered based on a weighted combination of the satisfaction scores and the collective dissonance score for each of the potential outcomes. In particular embodiments, the methods and systems aim to determine a collective outcome that achieves greatest satisfaction and minimizes dissonance among the participants.
US09727876B2	System and method for permitting use of content using transfer rights Apparatus, method, and media for permitting use of content. An exemplary method comprises associating a transfer right with content, the transfer right specifying that the content is permitted to be transferred from a first computing device to a second computing device, transferring the content from the first computing device to the second computing device in accordance with the transfer right, updating information associated with the transfer right based on the transfer of the content from the first computing device to the second computing device, and associating a usage right with the content, the usage right corresponding to a utilization of the content, wherein the first computing device includes at least a server mode of operation, and wherein the second computing device includes both a requester mode of operation and a server mode of operation.
US09727870B2	System and method for link of upper shopping mall and independent shopping mall using API method The present invention relates to a link system and link method of an upper shopping mall and an independent shopping mall of API (application programming interface) link method, in particular, to a technology that builds and manages an independent shopping mall having an independent domain address and an user interface besides the upper shopping mall which is registered together with the other sellers. According to the present invention, provided is a link system of an upper shopping mall having a plurality of sellers and an independent shopping mall operated independently by one person among the sellers, of API link method, which comprises a shopping mall database that stores a goods information, a member information, and a payment and delivery information; an independent shopping mall web server receives a goods inquiry or a purchase request from a user to output a factor for extracting data of the shopping mall database, and receives a necessary data from the shopping mall database; and an API server receives a factor from the independent shopping mall web server to analyze, and accesses to the shopping mall database so as to request that the necessary data should be sent to the independent shopping mall web server.
US09727856B2	Gift card conversion and digital wallet A method and a system convert the value of a gift card for use with a mobile device. The value of the gift card is determined from an issuer of the gift card. The value of the gift card is stored in a digital payment account in a storage device. The digital payment account stores values of gift cards from issuers. A financial transaction corresponding to the issuer of the gift card is performed on the digital payment account. The value of a first gift card from a first issuer of a first digital payment account is exchanged with the value of a second gift card from a second issuer of a second digital payment account.
US09727855B2	Systems and methods for communicating with a magnetic reader head A device and method for waveform transmission of transaction card data to a merchant point-of-sale device are provided. The device includes a memory device for storing data, a processor, and a transmitter. The device is programmed to receive transaction card data that mimics data stored within a magnetic stripe associated with a transaction card, convert the transaction card data to a first data file for storage within the memory device, transmit the first data file to the transmitter, and transmit a first waveform from the transmitter to the POS device, wherein the first waveform includes changes in a magnetic field that represent the transaction card data.
US09727844B2	Online documentation review An apparatus, method, and computer program product for online documentation review. The apparatus includes a documentation presentation module configured to visually present a list of documents within a documentation frame. The content of one or more documents selected from the list of documents may also be visually presented. The online documentation framework may facilitate navigation of the documentation package. The apparatus also includes a documentation review module configured to receive and store comments associated with at least one document in the documentation package. The comments may be stored on a computer readable storage medium. The apparatus includes an integration module configured to integrate the documentation review application into the online documentation framework such that comments associated with the at least one document of the documentation package may be one or more of submitted and viewed from within the online documentation framework.
US09727837B1	System utilizing layered software application for facilitating delivery services A Barcode to Zipcode Application, the purpose of which is to remove as many steps from the supply chain as possible, reducing the time required to complete the process of purchasing goods in one location for delivery in another location to hours or even minutes. This application contains interfaces to location based retail product information services as well as customer payment processing systems. The application functions as an internet web application with the primary users being the customer service representatives and delivery personnel.
US09727836B2	Systems and methods for generating data visualization dashboards An aspect of the technology described relates to a dashboard creation system for generating dashboards displaying key performance indicator (KPI) information. The dashboard creation system includes: a business database comprising a plurality of business values; an intermediate table comprising intermediate data; and at least one KPI record. In some implementations, the intermediate data includes: an intermediate value corresponding to a selected plurality of the business values; and an intermediate link identifying the corresponding selected plurality of business values. Also, the KPI record may include: a KPI value corresponding to the intermediate value; a KPI link corresponding to the intermediate link and identifying the corresponding selected plurality of the business values; and a KPI format corresponding to a desired graphical format for depicting the KPI value. A processor may be provided to render the KPI value in the KPI format.
US09727825B2	System and method for predicting runway risk levels using weather forecast data and displaying multiple risk indicators comprising graphical risk indicators A method includes receiving meteorological forecast data at an electronic device. The method includes predicting multiple risk levels associated with an aircraft using one or more runways of an airport during a forecast time interval based on the meteorological forecast data. The method further includes generating a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes multiple risk indicators based on the multiple risk levels. The multiple risk indicators may correspond to multiple time sub-intervals during the forecast time interval.
US09727823B2	Systems and methods for achieving orthogonal control of non-orthogonal qubit parameters Achieving orthogonal control of non-orthogonal qubit parameters of a logical qubit allows for increasing the length of a qubit chain thereby increasing the effective connectivity of the qubit chain. A hybrid qubit is formed by communicatively coupling a dedicated second qubit to a first qubit. By tuning a programmable parameter of the second qubit of a hybrid qubit, an effective programmable parameter of the hybrid qubit is adjusted without affecting another effective programmable parameter of the hybrid qubit thereby achieving orthogonal control of otherwise non-orthogonal qubit parameters. The length of the logical qubit may thus be increased by communicatively coupling a plurality of such hybrid qubits together.
US09727814B2	Ruggedized RFID tag A radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder tag is contained in and electrically connected to a mechanically rugged metallic tag housing slotted to define a radio frequency antenna, such as a half turn antenna, and sealed with an epoxy filling.
US09727811B2	Methods and apparatus for barcode reading and encoding The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for barcode reading and encoding. In accordance with an embodiment, a method of reading and encoding barcode information is provided. A one-dimensional barcode image is decoded using an electronic device to obtain data encoded by the one-dimensional barcode image. The data is encoded into a two-dimensional barcode image. The two-dimensional barcode image is displayed in a manner suitable for reading by a scanner configured for reading two-dimensional barcodes.
US09727808B1	Method and system for rendering rectangle drawing objects using a clip region A method and system for rendering rectangle drawing objects using a clip region are provided. For at least a first rectangle drawing object and a second rectangle drawing object, a determination is made if the first rectangle drawing object and the second rectangle drawing object satisfy a predetermined condition. If the predetermined condition is satisfied, one-line raster image data associated with the first and second rectangle drawing objects is generated, and a clip region corresponding to the first and second rectangle drawing objects is generated. Subsequently, the one-line raster image data may be used together with the clip region to fill a clipped drawing region corresponding to the first and second rectangle drawing objects.
US09727797B2	Techniques for rotating language preferred orientation on a mobile device Techniques presented herein describe rotating text content rendered on a mobile device to a preferred orientation based on the mobile device orientation and language of the text content. A display tool executing on the mobile device detects an orientation of the mobile device changing from a first orientation to a second orientation. The mobile device currently displays the characters in the text content according to the first orientation. The display tool determines that the text content is written in a specified language. The display tool re-renders the display of the characters in the text content and any accompanying images according to the second orientation.
US09727790B1	Method and apparatus for a wearable computer with natural user interface An embodiment of a Wearable Computer with Natural User Interface apparatus includes a first portable unit for data gathering and communicating feedback and a second portable unit for processing the at least gathered data from the first unit. The first portable unit includes an eyeglass frame, at least one first optical unit disposed on the eyeglass frame for capturing at least one scene image corresponding to a field of view of a user, at least one second optical unit disposed on the eyeglass frame for capturing at least one eye image corresponding to at least a portion of at least one eye of the user, at least one microphone to allow the user to communicate via voice, at least one speaker to allow the user to receive feedback via voice, at least one visible light source to allow the user to receive feedback via light signals, at least one motion sensor to monitor the head movements of the user, and at least one first processor to at least receive data from the data gathering units in the first portable unit and at least manage the communication with the second portable unit. The second portable unit is in communication with the first portable unit and includes at least one second processor configured for receiving the at least data from the first processor and decoding a pre-defined command from the user and executing at least one command in response to the received command. At least one of the processors will determine a direction within the field of view to which the at least one eye is directed based upon the at least a history of one eye image, and generates a command or a subset of the at least one scene image based on the determined direction. At least one of the processors will provide a feedback to the user to acknowledge the user command received. In one embodiment, the Wearable Computer will function as a driver assistant and in another embodiment as a cameraman.
US09727785B2	Method and apparatus for tracking targets A method and apparatus for processing images. A set of candidate targets is identified in a first image and in a second image that corresponds with the first image. A set of first scores is generated for the set of candidate targets using the first image. A set of second scores is generated for the set of candidate targets using the second image. A set of final scores is computed for the set of candidate targets using the set of first scores and the set of second scores. A determination is made as to which of the set of candidate targets is a target of interest based on the set of final scores.
US09727776B2	Object orientation estimation The description relates to estimating object orientation. One example includes determining a first estimate of object orientation using a first technique and image data. In this example, a second estimate of the object orientation can be determined using a second technique and the image data. The first estimate can be corrected with the second estimate to generate a corrected object orientation estimate which can be output.
US09727770B2	Controllable signal processing in a biometric device A processing channel is operatively connected to a biometric device. The processing channel includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to at least one of an amplifier and an offset circuit. Biometric signals representing captured biometric data, such as a fingerprint image, are controllably fitted into an input range of the ADC. The ADC input range can include one or more removed ranges and one or more adjustable allowed input ranges. One or more channel parameters are adjusted until a desired number of biometric signals are included in the one or more removed ranges.
US09727769B2	Conformable hand mount for a mobile scanner A hand mount for a mobile scanner includes an elongated body having an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, a scanner receiving cradle disposed on the upper surface that removably receives a mobile scanner, a scanning end, and an opposite securing end; a hook extends outward from the lower surface of the body, adjacent the scanning end, and bends towards the securing end; and a conformable wrist wrap is positioned adjacent the securing end of the body, with the body being positionable on a back area of a wearer's hand whereby the hook is received between a thumb and index finger of the hand and the conformable wrist wrap is wrapped around a wrist area.
US09727759B1	Prepaid, debit and credit card security code generation system This invention is a comprehensive “Dynamic Security Code” (“DSC”) System (“DSC System”) that can change the security code of a prepaid, debit, or credit card (“Payment Card”). In an effort to thwart Card-Not-Present (“CNP”) fraud, the DSC System provides dynamic security code values (“DSC Values”) that have a limited use. The DSC Values provided by this DSC System can be calculated by various methodologies and can be used within existing standard payment card infrastructures. The DSC System can also be used with other form factors and in other environments not related to payments such as balance inquiries. The DSC Values can be calculated by a DSC Generator Server or on the card itself.
US09727745B2	Data transmitting method of image forming apparatus and image forming apparatus for performing data transmitting method A method of transmitting data from an image forming apparatus, the method including: receiving identification information of a destination of the data; determining whether to transmit the data to the destination corresponding to the received identification information based on a security policy of the image forming apparatus; and transmitting the data to the destination in response to the destination being determined to be a destination to where the data is allowed to be transmitted, based on the security policy.
US09727741B2	Confidential content display in flexible display devices Confidential content within a file is masked for display on a flexible display device. A legend relating the masking to the confidential content is displayed in a hidden area created by bending the flexible display device. The flexible display device monitors secondary users and their gaze towards the flexible display device and the hidden area to determine if unauthorized secondary users can see the display and hidden area of the flexible display device.
US09727729B2	Automated code lockdown to reduce attack surface for software In an example embodiment, a system determines a set of instructions from the available instructions for a computer application. The determined set of instructions provides specific functionality of the computer application. The system may determine the set of instructions by performing functional testing and negative testing on the specific functionality. The system may reorganize and randomize the set of instructions in memory and write the reorganized set of instructions to a smaller memory space. For each available instruction not in the set of instructions, the system changes the respective instruction to inoperative to prevent execution of the respective instruction. The system may change the respective instruction to inoperative by overwriting the instruction with a NOP instruction. The system then captures a memory address of the computer application being accessed at runtime. The system may declare a security attack if the captured memory address matches a memory address for an inoperative instruction.
US09727710B2	System and method for limiting spyware activity A system and method of detecting and limiting unsolicited data uploads. Downloaded content such as web pages and emails are scanned for web forms and/or links. A watermark is added where appropriate and the modified downloaded content is forwarded to the person who requested the content. A check is made to determine whether information received from a user includes appropriate watermarks. If so, the watermark is removed and the information is forwarded to its destination.
US09727705B2	Remotely defining security data for authorization of local application activity Systems and methods, including computer software adapted to perform certain operations, can be implemented for remotely defining security data for authorizing access to data on a client device. Permission indicators are associated with a sequence of instructions, and a protected activity is associated with one or more of the permission indicators and with an instruction within the sequence of instructions. The one or more permission indicators and the sequence of instructions are provided to a remote device. The remote device determines whether execution of the instruction is permitted based, at least in part, on the one or more permission indicators, and the remote device performs the protected activity if execution of the instruction is permitted.
US09727704B2	Method for supporting post browsing in moving rights object of digital rights management and terminal thereof A digital rights management (DRM) including a transfer of a rights object (RO) to a second user in consideration of requirements of a movement of a rights object of a first user (a terminal, an equipment), charge, etc., by providing a post browsing session when the rights object occupied by the first user is transferred to a second user via a server.
US09727700B2	Pharmacy printer system and method A computer network system and method for printing accompanying information and prescription labels in pharmacies, comprises: a central CS; a PMS; a data transmission network through which said PMS and said central CS can communicate; wherein said PMS includes an I/O terminal, a scanner, and a first printer; wherein said PMS includes a PMS SO and a Catalina SO; said PMS SO is configured to receive and store prescription information for a prescription, and to associate a prescription identification with said prescription; said Catalina SO is configure to select accompanying information for said prescription, to format and save said accompanying information in an accompanying information print file; and said PMS is configured to print a prescription label for said prescription and said accompanying information print file.
US09727685B2	Method, apparatus, and system for improved standard cell design and routing for improving standard cell routability At least one method, apparatus and system disclosed involves circuit layout for an integrated circuit device. A design for an integrated circuit device is received. The design comprises a functional cell. A first substitute functional cell for a first value of shift of a set of routing tracks respective to the boundary of the functional cell is provided. The first substitute functional cell comprises at least one pin moved by an amount of the first value. A determination is made as to whether an amount of shift of the set of routing tracks corresponds to the first value. The functional cell is replaced with the first substitute functional cell in response to a determination that the amount of shift of the set of routing tracks corresponds to the first value.
US09727683B2	Integrated circuit having a plurality of conductive segments An integrated circuit includes a cell and a first plurality of conductive segments. Each of the first plurality of conductive segments has a first predetermined width, and the first plurality of conductive segments includes a first conductive segment, and a second conductive segment. The first conductive segment and the second conductive segment are coupled to the cell to transmit a signal, and a distance between the first conductive segment and the second conductive segment is greater than the first predetermined width.
US09727678B2	Graphical view and debug for coverage-point negative hint The present invention provides a graphical view of this connected network that allows the user to navigate throughout a network. The graph view consists of a series of nodes that correspond to a set of test, testbench, design or coverage items in the simulation. Various nodes in the network are colored or shaped differently to represent either test, class, stimulus, testbench, design or coverage points. The graph may be drawn so that all items that occur at the same time are lined up in the same horizontal or vertical region, to give the user an intuitive view of time going left to right or top to bottom.
US09727677B2	Baseband equivalent volterra series for behavioral modeling and digital predistortion of wideband transmitters A method, system and apparatus for modelling a power amplifier and pre-distorter fed by one of a wideband signal and an intra-band carrier aggregated signal are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method includes receiving the one of the wideband signal and the intra-band carrier aggregated signal and generating a discrete base band equivalent, BBE, Volterra series based on the received signal, where the series has distortion products grouped according to determined shared kernels. The shared kernels are determined based on a transformation of a real-valued continuous-time pass band Volterra series without pruning of kernels.
US09727676B1	Method and apparatus for efficient generation of compact waveform-based timing models For a circuit path to be represented in a timing model, a set of propagating waveforms substantially converges through waveform stabilization to a uniform waveform at a waveform invariant node and all pins following. The circuit path is decomposed at the waveform invariant node into first and second portions, which are characterized as first and second timing arcs. In computing output slew and delay values, the first timing arc generation factors only a single output load of the waveform invariant node, and the second timing arc generation factors only the uniform waveform. Similarly, a setup arc employs the uniform waveform rather than multiple clock input waveforms in computing setup/hold values. Simulation of waveform propagation is also simplified by simulating only the uniform waveform for the second portion. Additionally, the first arc may be shared between a plurality of circuit paths which share an input pin and the waveform invariant node.
US09727673B1	Simultaneous simulation of multiple blocks using efficient packet communication to emulate inter-block buses An integrated circuit includes a first circuit, a second circuit, and a bus that couples the circuits together. The first circuit is simulated on a first simulator at the same time that the second circuit is simulated on a second simulator. A simulator plug-in is incorporated into the simulation model of the first circuit. A simulator plug-in is incorporated into the simulation model of the second circuit. If valid data is to pass from the first to second circuit across the bus during simulation, then the plug-in of the first model causes a network stack to generate a packet. The packet carries the data. After communication to the second simulator, the data is recovered from the packet, and is injected by the plug-in of the second model into the simulation of the second circuit. By exchanging data back and forth this way, multiple circuits are simulated simultaneously on different simulators.
US09727669B1	Analyzing and interpreting user positioning data In a computer system, a pedestrian dataset that indicates position fixes for several portable devices is received, such that each portable device corresponds to a respective pedestrian. Raw heat scores for several geographic units of equal size are generated based on the pedestrian dataset, each raw heat score being indicative of a number of position fixes in the corresponding geographic unit. A selection of a geographic area that contains some of the geographic units is received, and normalized heat scores for these geographic units are generated based on at least some of the generated raw heat scores.
US09727662B2	Data output method, computer-readable recording medium storing data output program and data output system A data output method includes: generating, by a computer, (n−1) first conditions (n is an integer number of three or more) on a relationship between two data by dividing, in a sequential order, a common element condition in which an attribute of each of n data includes a common element, the attribute of each of the two data including the common element; extracting first data corresponding to each of n data to set the first data as a node under a condition; creating a first graph in which nodes are coupled with links based on the first condition; creating a second graph by repeatedly performing a first process, a second process and a third process; determining candidates of a combination of data from the second graph; and outputting a combination of data satisfying the common element condition from the candidates of a combination of data.
US09727660B2	System and method to aid assistive software in dynamically interpreting internet websites and the like Disclosed is a system and method for modifying the presentation of content and/or graphical elements and behavior of a digital presentation (e.g., a webpage) by identifying an information event and dynamically overlaying a fully functional complementary presentation of the digital presentation, without accessing the underlying source code of the digital presentation, employing a special software or equipment (e.g., a special web browser), or requiring that original or user submitted content associated with the digital presentation be transmitted to a remote or otherwise uncontrolled server.
US09727657B2	Multi-mode barcode resolution system Methods and systems for generating and resolving multi-mode barcodes include a device scanning and translating graphical data representing a barcode pattern into barcode information. The device detects distinct data items in the barcode information that each specifies an action to be taken by the device, and then transmits a request for a preference order to a remote server. Next, the device receives the preference order indicating a ranking of the distinct data items and determines, based on the ranking, an order in which actions specified by the data items are to be taken by the device. The device identifies a data item that the device is capable of taking the action specified by the data item and has a higher ranking in the preference order than the actions specified by all other data items that the device is capable of taking, and performs the action specified by the data item.
US09727655B2	Searching system, method and P2P device for P2P device community A searching system, searching method and P2P devices for a P2P device community are provided. An online server connects to a content management server and a P2P device community, respectively. The content management server includes a search engine and an index database, and each of the P2P devices of the P2P device community is provided with an indexed data and a weighted data. The index database is recorded with the indexed data associated with each of the P2P devices of the P2P device community, and the search engine searches the index database to generate a search result and then generates a weighted and sorted search result based on the weighted data, thereby achieving the object of searching important file data in the P2P device community.
US09727654B2	Suggested keywords A method and system to suggest keywords to a social network member is described. A suggested keywords system, in one example embodiment, examines phrases that appear in profiles maintained by the on-line social networking system that are similar to the target profile and identifies those words and phrases that are most prominent in these profiles, utilizing discriminative strength values. These most prominent words and phrases may be presented to the target member as suggested keywords to be included in the member's professional summary.
US09727651B1	Dynamic research system and methods of use A dynamic research system and associated methods are disclosed for assisting an at least one user with dynamically and automatically researching an at least one subject across a plurality of data sources. In at least one embodiment, upon a new instance of a browser application being opened on the user device, a navigation display is overlaid onto a user interface of the browser application. Additionally, for each of the at least one data source, upon determining that an at least one page of said data source contains data related to the at least one subject, a graphical element associated with said at least one page of said data source is generated and displayed in the navigation display. Upon the user selecting a one of the at least one graphical element in the navigation display, the browser application navigates to the at least one page of the data source associated with the selected graphical element, and the navigation display is overlaid onto the user interface of the browser application once again, thereby simulating a persistent navigation display across multiple pages, though all within a single instance of the browser application.
US09727649B2	Use of stored search results by a travel search system A method and apparatus are provided for a dynamic information connection search engine. User actions may be detected on at least one client system. In response, a determination may be made whether the user is searching for supported information. When the user is searching for supported information, information may be extracted electronically from, for example, third party websites, direct supplier connections, and/or intermediate databases. Potential suppliers may be automatically selected in response to the detected user search. Queries may be formulated from the user search and transferred to one or more selected suppliers over a network coupling (e.g., the Internet and/or an intranet). The queries may include one or more requests for information. One or more responses may be received from the suppliers, and the responses may be used to generate a result list for the user. The result list may include information and/or query status information. Further, an electronic link may be provided to a website of one or more of the supplies from which the information was derived.
US09727647B1	Annotating articles A server may receive an article that is retrieved from a server; determine whether the article satisfies first criteria based on content of the first article; annotate the article with a first article type when the article satisfies the first criteria; determine whether the article satisfies second criteria based on information associated with the article; annotate the article with a second article type when the article satisfies the second criteria; and store the article in association with a topic and at least one of the first article type or the second article type. The different server may be associated with a news website.
US09727644B1	Determining a quality score for a content item Systems and methods for determining a quality score or a user engagement level for a content item are provided. The quality score is based on a recentness score of the content item, an affinity score between two users and a popularity score of the content item. The user engagement level for the content item is based on user interactions with the content item, associated times of the user interactions, and interaction types of the user interactions. The user engagement level for the content item is stored in association with the content item.
US09727640B2	Asymmetrical multilateral decision support system A system and methodology which can effectively provide decision makers with a better means of making decisions in a way that greatly improves the availability, reliability, and relevance of the information which they provide and use to make decisions. The system and methodology facilitates maximizing mutual utility in the context of a mutual decision between multiple users and groups of users identified generally as Parties and Counterparties and performs user specified actions based on meeting mutual threshold parameters. The system provides significant technical advantages over the prior art in that it uses helps Parties and Counterparties identify optimal arrangements and configurations with less errors, fewer computational cycles, less storage medium, and a smaller amount of time than would be possible using prior art systems.
US09727639B2	Name search using a ranking function An approach is described for performing a name search using a name search operation and a ranking operation. The name search operation may take text as input and apply a fuzzy matching operation and a lookup operation to generate a collection of candidate names with respective probability scores. In other cases, speech or handwriting recognition may generate the collection of candidate names and probability scores. The ranking operation may then rank these candidate names using a ranking function. The ranking function may rank the candidate names based on the probability scores associated with the names and at least one other factor. One such factor may reflect whether information provided by a user matches profile information associated with a candidate name under consideration. Another factor may reflect an extent of a nexus between the user and a person associated with the candidate name. Other types of factors can be used.
US09727637B2	Retrieving text from a corpus of documents in an information handling system A mechanism is provided for retrieving candidate answers from a corpus of documents. The mechanism receives an input question for which an answer is sought. The mechanism extracts features of the input question based on a natural language processing. The mechanism executes a first search of the corpus of documents based on a first subset of the extracted features of the input question and an initial evaluation of a utility of the first subset of extracted features to generate a subset of documents. The mechanism executes a second search of a set of passages extracted from the subset of documents based on a second subset of the extracted features of the input question and a reevaluation of the utility of the second subset of extracted features thereby forming a subset of passages. The mechanism generates query results from the subset of passages matching from which candidate answers are identified.
US09727636B2	Generating excutable code from complaint and non-compliant controls A hierarchy of controls and parts, that are each in accordance with constraints of a computing executing context. A control is executable code that performs a function and which may impart a visualization. A part is a unit of visualization container that has its own visualization and/or shows visualizations from one or more compliant controls associated with the part.
US09727632B2	Contact builder A web-based contact builder, management system and a computer-implemented method to assist a user in efficiently managing and communicating with their designated contacts. The system enables a user to manage existing contacts; to identify via automated means new contacts and determine if they are registered users, or to invite them to join the system; to invite and respond to requests from new contacts in an efficient “one step” method; and to set the level of access that each contact will have to the user's personal identifying information.
US09727631B2	Automatic categorization of entries in a contact list Entries within a participant list of an electronic communications system may be categorized automatically into one or more groups based on attributes of users represented in the participant list. Categorizing users includes maintaining a list of identifiers that are selected by a first user and for which online presence information is made perceivable through the list. The list includes one or more categories into which the identifiers are categorized. At least one attribute associated with an identifier for which online presence information is to be made perceivable through the list and attributes stored relative to at least one of the categories are accessed. The attributes associated with the identifier are compared to the stored attributes. Based on results of the comparison, at least one category within the list that corresponds to the identifier is identified, and the identifier is categorized into the identified category.
US09727611B2	Hybrid buffer management scheme for immutable pages Exemplary embodiments provide a hybrid buffer pool for a database that includes a plurality of data pages contained in storage. The hybrid buffer pool comprises: a shared buffer pool of page frames containing dirty data pages that are modified after reading that will be written back to storage; an immutable buffer pool that temporarily contains read-only data pages from the storage; and a page multiplexer that identifies which ones of the data pages from storage to store in the immutable buffer pool based at least in part on information from a query processor.
US09727610B1	Optimizing performance of database middleware One embodiment of the present invention is a wizard (e.g., software) for configuring database access middleware for optimal performance. The wizard asks a set of questions. The questions are presented to the user with a navigable UI, and are designed such that the user does not need database expertise to answer them. Based on the user's answers, the wizard generates a set of connect options and values to be used to optimize performance of the user's middleware. Users can use the wizard to determine whether currently selected options or values of a deployed application are optimal, and to determine if other options/values should be used that may improve the performance of the existing application. Also, a prospective customer that is evaluating middleware can use this wizard to tune the middleware for the intended application, thereby allowing that user to better assess how the middleware will perform.
US09727598B2	Systems, methods, and apparatuses for fixing logical or physical corruption in databases using LSM trees In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for fixing logical or physical corruption in databases using LSM trees including, for example, means for storing records in a LSM database at the host organization; processing transactions to the LSM database by writing the transactions into immutable extents for subsequent merge into the LSM database; recording a history of the transactions in a log; identifying corruption in at least one of the records of the LSM database represented within the immutable extents prior to use of the immutable extents in the LSM database; and correcting the identified corruption to the at least one of the records of the LSM database based at least in part on the recorded history of the transactions in the log during live operation of the LSM database. Other related embodiments are disclosed.
US09727589B2	Enterprise process database Systems and methods for providing an enterprise level view of an organization's data including an SOA business process server, an enterprise meta model and an enterprise database. The SOA business process server and enterprise meta model are synchronized by automated tools so that a change to one of these components will be reflected in the other. The enterprise database is populated by data automatically extracted from a process engine of the business process server. The enterprise database is populated in real time so that enterprise level views based on the enterprise database will be accurate in real time.
US09727583B2	Interactive physical display According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one receiver configured to receive sensor information, at least one processing core configured to determine, based at least in part on the sensor information, a position of a device on a physical surface and to obtain or cause obtaining of an image relating to the determined position wherein obtaining the image comprises obtaining static content based on the position of the device on the physical surface and obtaining dynamic content based a virtual space associated with the physical surface.
US09727574B2	System and method for applying an efficient data compression scheme to URL parameters Disclosed is a system and methods for data compression and decompression. The systems and methods discussed herein include an encoder, dictionary, decoder, literal string and control output. The discussed systems and methods encode data transmitted over a communications channel through the use of a dynamically compiled dictionary. Upon reviewing the characters within the transmitted data in view of the dictionary, an encoded/compressed output string is created. Such output string may also be decoded in a similar fashion via a dynamically compiled dictionary.
US09727567B2	Transferring data using a data bridge structure A method of transferring data between a first computer language layer and a second computer language layer is described. According to the method, a first data bridge structure in a first data format is received from a first set of computer code using a first computer language layer. The first data format is used by the first set of computer code using the first computer language layer. In the method, the first data bridge structure is transformed from the first data format to a second data format, the second data format being a format used by a second set of computer code using a second computer language layer. The first data bridge structure in the second data format is transmitted to the second set of computer code using the second computer language layer.
US09727560B2	Systems and methods for organizing and identifying documents via hierarchies and dimensions of tags Computer-implemented systems and methods are disclosed to interface with one or more storage devices storing a plurality of documents, wherein each of the plurality of documents is associated with one or more tags of one or more predefined hierarchies of tags, wherein the one or more hierarchies of tags include multiple dimensions. In accordance with some embodiments, a method is provided to identify one or more documents from the data storage devices. The method comprises acquiring, via an interface, a selection of one or more tags of the one or more predefined hierarchies of tags. The method further comprises identifying one or more documents from the data storage devices in response to the selection, the identified one or more documents having tags that have a relationship with the selected tags, and providing data corresponding to the identified documents for displaying in the interface.
US09727558B2	Techniques for crowd sourcing human translations to provide translated versions of web pages with additional content Techniques include outputting to a developer an offer to opt-in to a translation feature that enables human translators to translate their web page to a target language. In response to receiving a first request to opt-in to the translation feature, the server: generates and stores a web page copy, obtains from the human translators translations of at least a portion of the web page from its source language to the target language, modifies the web page copy based on the obtained translations to obtain a translated web page that is a translated version of the web page, detects a second request for the web page from a computing device associated with the target language, and in response to detecting the second request outputs, to the computing device, the translated web page with additional content relevant to the computing device or a user associated with the computing device.
US09727554B2	Knowledge-based editor with natural language interface A computer-implemented method for knowledge based ontology editing, is provided. The method receives a language instance to update a knowledge base, using a computer. The method semantically parses the language instance to detect an ontology for editing. The method maps one or more nodes for the ontology for editing based on an ontology database and the knowledge base. The method determines whether the mapped nodes are defined or undefined within the knowledge base. The method calculates a first confidence score based on a number of the defined and undefined mapped nodes. Furthermore, the method updates the knowledge base when the first confidence score meets a pre-defined threshold.
US09727527B2	Analog processor comprising quantum devices Analog processors for solving various computational problems are provided. Such analog processors comprise a plurality of quantum devices, arranged in a lattice, together with a plurality of coupling devices. The analog processors further comprise bias control systems each configured to apply a local effective bias on a corresponding quantum device. A set of coupling devices in the plurality of coupling devices is configured to couple nearest-neighbor quantum devices in the lattice. Another set of coupling devices is configured to couple next-nearest neighbor quantum devices. The analog processors further comprise a plurality of coupling control systems each configured to tune the coupling value of a corresponding coupling device in the plurality of coupling devices to a coupling. Such quantum processors further comprise a set of readout devices each configured to measure the information from a corresponding quantum device in the plurality of quantum devices.
US09727522B1	Multi-tenant storage service object lifecycle management using transition job objects Methods and apparatus for a pipelined architecture for storage lifecycles are disclosed. A method includes identifying, during a transition candidate discovery iteration, storage objects of a multi-tenant service for which respective lifecycle transitions are to be scheduled, including a particular storage object identified as being a candidate for a particular lifecycle transition. The method includes generating transition job objects, each job comprising respective indications of one or more of the storage objects identified during the discovery iteration. The method includes assigning, during a transition execution iteration, resources to initiate storage operations for the particular lifecycle transition, and initiating, using the assigned resources, storage operations for the particular lifecycle transition.
US09727513B1	Unicast packet ready command A method of performing an unicast packet ready command (unicast mode operation) is described herein. A packet ready command is received from a memory system via a bus and onto a network interface circuit. The packet ready command includes a multicast value. A communication mode is determined as a function of the multicast value. The multicast value indicates a single packet is to be communicated to a single destination by the network interface circuit. A free packet command is outputted from the network interface circuit onto the bus. The free packet command includes a Free On Last Transfer (FOLT) value that indicates that the packet is to be freed from the memory system by the network interface circuit after the packet is communicated to the network interface circuit. The network interface circuit and the memory system are included on an Island-Based Network Flow Processor.
US09727506B2	Communication system, communication system control method, and program Communication systems and communication control methods are disclosed. In one example, a slave device belonging to a group of devices to which arbitration is applicable sequentially transmits a start bit and a first address including a first bit having a value different from a corresponding first bit of predetermined pattern data. A master device sequentially transmits the start bit and the predetermined pattern data. The master device arbitrates the master device and the first slave device based on the value of the first bit.
US09727503B2	Storage system and server A data storage system includes a storage server, including non-volatile memory (NVM) and a server network interface controller (NIC), which couples the storage server to a network. A host computer includes a host central processing unit (CPU), a host memory and a host NIC, which couples the host computer to the network. The host computer runs a driver program that is configured to receive, from processes running on the host computer, commands in accordance with a protocol defined for accessing local storage devices connected to a peripheral component interface bus of the host computer, and upon receiving a storage access command in accordance with the protocol, to initiate a remote direct memory access (RDMA) operation to be performed by the host and server NICs so as to execute on the storage server, via the network, a storage transaction specified by the command.
US09727502B2	System and method for direct memory access transfers A system and method for transferring data between a memory and peripheral units via a plurality of direct memory access (DMA) transactions, wherein a respective timestamp is assigned and/or appended to at least two of the plurality of the DMA transactions.
US09727501B2	SAN fabric online path diagnostics A diagnostic testing utility is used to perform online path diagnostic tests to troubleshoot components in a path that contribute to performance degradations and check application level data integrity, while traffic is allowed to flow as normal. To perform the diagnostic tests, two HBA or CNA ports at each end of a path are identified and used to send test frames to perform the diagnostic tests. The entire diagnostic procedure is performed without taking any ports or servers offline.
US09727500B2	Message filtering in a data processing system Each processor of a plurality of processors is configured to execute an interrupt message instruction. A message filtering unit includes storage circuitry configured to store captured identifier information from each processor. In response to a processor of the plurality of processors executing an interrupt message instruction, the processor is configured to provide a message type and a message payload to the message filtering unit. The message filtering unit is configured to use the captured identifier information to determine a recipient processor indicated by the message payload and, in response thereto, provides an interrupt request indicated by the message type to the recipient processor.
US09727499B2	Hardware first come first serve arbiter using multiple request buckets A First Come First Server (FCFS) arbiter that receives a request to utilize a shared resource from a plurality of devices and in response generates a grant value indicating if the request is granted. The FCFS arbiter includes a circuit and a storage device. The circuit receives a first request and a grant enable during a first clock cycle and outputs a grant value. The grant enable is received from a shared resource. The grant value communicated to the source of the first request. The storage device includes a plurality of request buckets. The first request is stored in a first request bucket when the first request is not granted during the first clock cycle and is moved from the first request bucket to a second request bucket when the first request is not granted during a second clock cycle. A granted request is cleared from all request buckets.
US09727487B2	Cache management method and apparatus for non-volatile storage device Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and apparatus of cache management for a non-volatile storage device. The method embodiment includes: determining a size relationship between a capacity sum of a clean page subpool and a dirty page subpool and a cache capacity; determining, when the capacity sum is equal to the cache capacity, whether identification information of a to-be-accessed page is in a history list of clean pages or a history list of dirty pages; and when it is determined that the identification information of the to-be-accessed page is in the history list of clean pages, adding a first adjustment value to a clean page subpool capacity threshold; and when the identification information of the to-be-accessed page is in the history list of dirty pages, subtracting a second adjustment value from the clean page subpool capacity threshold.
US09727486B1	Writing pages to a storage system A method for writing data objects, the method may include accumulating, in a first memory module, multiple new data entities in one or more dirty pages of a data layer; wherein each new data entity and a corresponding older data entity are associated with a same application object; wherein the accumulating comprises storing each new data entity in a page that differs from a page that stores the corresponding older data entity; calculating multiple new sets of descriptors by generating to each new data entity, a new set of descriptors; wherein each set of descriptors comprises descriptors that belong to multiple descriptors layers; wherein the multiple descriptors layers and the data layer belong to an hierarchical data structure; accumulating the multiple new sets of descriptors in one or more dirty pages of one or more descriptors layers; wherein each corresponding older data entity is associated with a corresponding set of descriptors; wherein the accumulating comprises storing each new set of descriptor in a page that differs from a page that stores a corresponding set of descriptors; and writing the multiple new data entities and the multiple new sets of descriptors to a second memory module.
US09727484B1	Dynamic cache memory management with translation lookaside buffer protection A computer-implemented method for protecting a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) from TLB pollution includes receiving, via a processor, a virtual address for a data portion, determining, via the processor, whether the virtual address has a classification of memory cache transiency, creating, via the processor, a TLB entry in a first TLB, wherein the TLB entry omits a most recently used (MRU) classification, and installing the TLB entry in a next available LRU position.
US09727482B2	Address range priority mechanism Method and apparatus to efficiently manage data in caches. Data in caches may be managed based on priorities assigned to the data. Data may be requested by a process using a virtual address of the data. The requested data may be assigned a priority by a component in a computer system called an address range priority assigner (ARP). The ARP may assign a particular priority to the requested data if the virtual address of the requested data is within a particular range of virtual addresses. The particular priority assigned may be high priority and the particular range of virtual addresses may be smaller than a cache's capacity.
US09727479B1	Compressing portions of a buffer cache using an LRU queue Techniques are described for compressing cache pages from an LRU (Least-Recently-Used) queue so that data takes longer to age off and be removed from the cache. This increases the likelihood that data will be available within the cache upon subsequent re-access, reducing the need for costly disk accesses due to cache misses.
US09727470B1	Using a local cache to store, access and modify files tiered to cloud storage Systems and methods are provided herein for efficient local caching of data tiered to cloud storage to help reduce the bandwidth cost of repeated reads and writes to the same region of a stubbed file, increase the performance of write operations, and increase performance of read operations to portions of a stubbed file accessed repeatedly. When operations are directed toward data tiered to the cloud, the data can be read from cloud storage and stored within a local cache. A cache tracking tree can be generated and used to track file regions of a stub file, cached states associated with regions of the stub file, a set of cache flags, and other file and mapping data. For example, the cache state of regions of a stub file can be tracked including a cached data state, a non-cached state, a modified state, or a truncated state. Operations directed toward stubbed files can then look to the cache tracking tree to determine the most efficient way to access, retrieve, or operate on the data that maximizes local file system performance while reducing network activity.
US09727465B2	Self-disabling working set cache A method to monitor the behavior of a working set cache of a full data set at run time and determine whether it provides a performance benefit is disclosed. An effectiveness metric of the working set cache is tracked over a period of time by efficiently computing the amount of physical memory consumption the cache saves and comparing this to a straightforward measure of its overhead. If the effectiveness metric is determined to be on an ineffective side of a selected threshold amount, the working set cache is disabled. The working set cache can be re-enabled in response to a predetermined event.
US09727460B2	Selecting a memory mapping scheme by determining a number of functional units activated in each cycle of a loop based on analyzing parallelism of a loop A method and apparatus for optimizing a configuration memory of a reconfigurable processor is provided. The method of optimizing the configuration memory of the reconfigurable processor includes analyzing parallelism of a loop of a program code based on an architecture of the reconfigurable processor and information regarding the configuration memory, scheduling groups of function units (FUs) to be activated in each cycle of the loop based on the analyzed parallelism, generating configuration data of each cycle, and determining a memory mapping to store the generated configuration data in the configuration memory.
US09727456B2	Scheduled garbage collection for solid state storage devices A processing device identifies a plurality of solid state storage devices arranged in an array and determines, for at least one solid state storage device of the plurality of solid state storage devices, a first time window during which the at least one solid state storage device is permitted to perform one or more garbage collection operations. The processing device then sends, to the at least one solid state storage device, a message comprising the first time window allocated to the at least one storage device, wherein the at least one solid state storage device is to perform the garbage collection operations during the first time window allocated to the at least one solid state storage device.
US09727446B2	Modifiers that customize presentation of tested values to constraints A device receives code generated via a technical computing environment (TCE), the code including a value to be tested, and receives a value modifier, a test case, and a constraint. The value modifier customizes a manner in which the value of the code is presented to the constraint for verification. The device also generates a test based on the value modifier, the test case, and the constraint, performs the test on the value of the code to generate a result, and outputs or stores the result.
US09727430B2	Failure recovery method in information processing system and information processing system Services are promptly resumed at the time of a failure recovery in an information processing system. Before a first server system 3a resumes service during the failure recovery, a second server system 3b sends the first server system 3a directory images of directories of a highest-level tier to a predetermined lower-level tier out of data of files stored in a second storage apparatus 10b, and the first server system 3a restores the directory images in a first storage apparatus 10a. When the request is transmitted from the first server system 3a, the second server system 3b reads an additional directory image from the second storage apparatus 10b and transmits the additional directory image to the first server system 3a. If a re-stubbing occurrence frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold, the second server system 3b suppresses transmission of directory images to the first server system 3a.
US09727421B2	Technologies for data center environment checkpointing Technologies for environment checkpointing include an orchestration node communicatively coupled to one or more working computing nodes. The orchestration node is configured to administer an environment checkpointing event by transmitting a checkpoint initialization signal to each of the one or more working computing nodes that have been registered with the orchestration node. Each working computing node is configured to pause and buffer any presently executing applications, save checkpointing data (an execution state of each of the one or more applications) and transmit the checkpointing data to the orchestration node. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09727420B2	Generating and using checkpoints in a virtual computer system To generate a checkpoint for a virtual machine (VM), first, while the VM is still running, a copy-on-write (COW) disk file is created pointing to a parent disk file that the VM is using. Next, the VM is stopped, the VM's memory is marked COW, the device state of the VM is saved to memory, the VM is switched to use the COW disk file, and the VM begins running again for substantially the remainder of the checkpoint generation. Next, the device state that was stored in memory and the unmodified VM memory pages are saved to a checkpoint file. Also, a copy may be made of the parent disk file for retention as part of the checkpoint, or the original parent disk file may be retained as part of the checkpoint. If a copy of the parent disk file was made, then the COW disk file may be committed to the original parent disk file.
US09727417B2	Chunk redundancy architecture for memory An integrated circuit (IC) includes addressable blocks of memory, and at least one redundant block of memory. A block of memory includes two or more chunks of memory. The IC also includes redundancy control cells. Control circuitry is included to access a first chunk of a redundant block of memory in place of a first remapped chunk one of the addressable blocks of memory, and a second chunk of a redundant block of memory in place of a second remapped chunk one of the addressable blocks of memory, based on the redundancy control cells.
US09727415B2	Configuration structure and method of a block memory A configuration structure and method of a block memory. The configuration structure includes a first port, a second port, an ECC module, and an FIFO module; the ECC module includes an ECC encoder and an ECC decoder; the FIFO module is used for setting the first clock enable terminal and the second clock enable terminal, so as to make the read clock synchronous or asynchronous with and the write clock of the block memory. The read width and the write width of the block memory can be independently configured, and the block memory has built-in an ECC function and a FIFO function, and can be cascaded to a block memory with larger storage space without consuming additional logic resource.
US09727413B2	Flash memory scrub management A method, computer-readable storage media, and a system are provided for managing a scrub. The method may include detecting a trigger for the scrub. The trigger may be based upon a metric of a memory unit. The method may further include scrubbing the memory unit based upon the detection of the trigger.
US09727412B2	Memory device having error notification function A memory device having an error notification function includes an error correction code (ECC) engine detecting and correcting an error bit by performing an ECC operation on data of the plurality of memory cells, and an error notifying circuit configured to output an error signal according to the ECC operation. The ECC engine outputs error information corresponding to the error bit corresponding to a particular address corrected by the ECC operation. The error notifying circuit may output the error signal when the particular address is not the same as any one of existing one or more failed addresses.
US09727411B2	Method and processor for writing and error tracking in a log subsystem of a file system A method for error tracking a log subsystem of a file system is provided. The method includes: when a data block of the log subsystem is recovered to an original position in the file system, calculating a verification code of the data block to obtain a second verification code; determining whether a verification result between the second verification code and a first verification code of the data block stored in a spare space in a submit block of the log subsystem in a disk is consistent; and when the verification result is inconsistent, processing the data block corresponding to the inconsistent verification result. With the above method, given that system performance is least affected, an error and a position of the error of the log subsystem of the file system can be more accurately detected to enhance the reliability of the log subsystem.
US09727410B2	Handling errors when transferring data A computer-implemented method for handling errors is described. According to the method, a data bridge structure is received. The data bridge structure includes data being communicated between a driving caller using a first computer language layer and a set of computer code using a second computer language layer. In the method, the call between the computer language is re-driven in response to an error occurring. The re-driven call obtains an updated data bridge structure. In the method, the updated data bridge structure is returned to the caller in the first computer language layer driving the call.
US09727400B2	Method and system for timeout monitoring Embodiments relate to systems and methods for timeout monitoring of concurrent commands or parallel communication channels comprising assigning or de-assigning each one of the commands or communication channels to a corresponding one of a plurality of timeout timers when corresponding commands are to be transmitted or command acknowledges are received respectively.
US09727394B2	Establishing causality order of computer trace records Techniques are described herein that are capable of establishing causality order of computer trace records. A computer trace record is information that indicates an event that occurs with regard to execution of a computer program. For instance, machines in a distributed computer system may generate such computer trace records as the machines execute the computer program. The computer trace records may be ordered in an aggregated trace to accurately reflect the causality order of the computer trace records. A causality order of computer trace records is a temporal sequence of the computer trace records in which each cause event is indicated to occur before each effect event that is caused by the cause event. A cause event is an event that causes an effect event. An effect event is an event that is caused by a cause event.
US09727383B2	Predicting datacenter performance to improve provisioning Methods of predicting datacenter performance to improve provisioning are described. In an embodiment, a resource manager element receives a request from a tenant which describes an application that the tenant wants executed by a multi-resource, multi-tenant datacenter. The request that has been received is mapped to a set of different candidate resource combinations within the datacenter, where each candidate resource combination can be used to execute the application in a manner which satisfies a high level constraint specified within the request. This mapping may, for example, be performed using a combination of benchmarking and an analytical model. In some examples, each resource combination may comprise a number of virtual machines and a bandwidth between those machines. Data relating to at least a subset (and in some examples, two or more) of the candidate resource combinations is then presented to the tenant.
US09727379B1	Specifying behavior among a group of computing tasks A method of specifying behavior among a group of computing tasks included in a request to be performed in a domain of computing resources is disclosed. Method steps include receiving, at a scheduler operably coupled to the domain, a p/f request, the received p/f request including a first group and a first relationship, the first group comprising at least a first p/f group element and a second p/f group element, the first relationship defining a desired behavior of the first and second p/f group elements with respect to each other during performance of the p/f request; determining whether the domain includes available computing resources capable of satisfying the first relationship; and in response to a determination that the domain includes available computing resources capable of satisfying the first relationship, allocating, with the scheduler, at least one available computing resource to fulfill the p/f request.
US09727375B1	Systems and methods for run time migration A method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium for safely and efficiently migrating applications from one application server to another is provided. A termination request is received. When an API call has been sent by a first application since a last recurring checkpoint, the sent API call is processed one of several ways. Sometimes the API call is immediately terminated. Alternatively, the first application server waits a waiting period for an answer to the API call, and during the waiting period any new API calls are captured and not sent. Upon completion of the waiting period, if no answer has been returned, the API call is terminated. Then a new checkpoint of the application is taken in order to obtain a new checkpoint data set. The application is then migrated to another application server using the new checkpoint data set.
US09727372B2	Scheduling computer jobs for execution A method, system, and apparatus to divide a computing job into micro-jobs and allocate the execution of the micro-jobs to times when needed resources comply with one or more idleness criteria is provided. The micro-jobs are executed on an ongoing basis, but only when the resources needed by the micro-jobs are not needed by other jobs. A software program utilizing this methodology may be run at all times while the computer is powered up without impacting the performance of other software programs running on the same computer system.
US09727367B2	Virtual dispersive networking systems and methods A method for network communications from a first device to a second device includes communicating data from the first device to the second device by spawning a first virtual machine for a first network connection that virtualizes network capabilities of the electronic device, and using the virtualized network capabilities of the first virtual machine, transmitting a plurality of packets for communication to a first network address and port combination associated with the second device. The method further includes repeatedly changing to a respective another network address and port combination by repeatedly spawning a respective another virtual machine for a respective another network connection that virtualizes network capabilities of the electronic device, and using the virtualized network capabilities of the spawned respective another virtual machine, transmitting a plurality of packets for communication to the respective another network address and port combination associated with the second device.
US09727366B2	Machine learning for virtual machine migration plan generation Embodiments relate to generating a virtual machine (VM) migration plan. A method includes determining an initial mapping of VMs to hosts as an origin state and a final mapping of VMs to hosts as a goal state. Candidate paths are generated from the initial mapping to the final mapping. The candidate paths are evaluated based on a heuristic state transition cost from the origin state through intermediate states to the goal state by recursively obtaining a list of transitions that a parent state underwent. A heuristic goal cost is identified to reach the goal state from the intermediate states based on a fewest number of VM movements. The VM migration plan is generated based on the heuristic state transition cost of the candidate paths in combination with the heuristic goal cost of a sequence of transitions from the origin state to the goal state having a lowest total cost.
US09727358B2	Failover detection and treatment in checkpoint systems A method for treatment of a hypervisor call sequence, in a system having a plurality of hosts, includes assigning a host ID to a plurality of hosts in the system; identifying a first host ID for a host from which a first hypervisor call of a hypervisor call sequence originates; identifying a second host ID for a host from which a second hypervisor call of the hypervisor call sequence originates, wherein the second hypervisor call is a call subsequent to the first hypervisor call; and determining whether the second host ID is equal to the first host ID.
US09727347B2	Method and device for providing a selection possibility while producing display content During setup of a display content on a display panel of a display apparatus a method for providing a selection option is performed which involves the display of a temporary display content at a temporary position on the display panel, the display content having at least one selection option. In addition, the method involves identification of a selection from at least one of the selection options at the temporary position on the display panel and display of a final display content at a final position on the display panel. Furthermore, there is provision for the selection from at least one of the selection options at the temporary position to be identified as a selection while the final display content is already displayed at the final position on the display panel.
US09727345B2	Method for booting a heterogeneous system and presenting a symmetric core view A heterogeneous processor architecture and a method of booting a heterogeneous processor is described. A processor according to one embodiment comprises: a set of large physical processor cores; a set of small physical processor cores having relatively lower performance processing capabilities and relatively lower power usage relative to the large physical processor cores; and a package unit, to enable a bootstrap processor. The bootstrap processor initializes the homogeneous physical processor cores, while the heterogeneous processor presents the appearance of a homogeneous processor to a system firmware interface.
US09727329B2	Apparatus and method for managing a software development and maintenance system A management apparatus and a method for managing a software development and maintenance system are provided. In order to improve the quality and to minimize errors in a code base, an analysis of individual parts of the code base and related functional and/or architectural concerns is performed.
US09727324B2	Application management in enterprise environments using cloud-based application recipes A cloud-based system is described for producing application deltas based on application recipes that identify components of the application deltas using unique identifiers, without the recipe containing all or any content of the actual application. The application recipe can be conveyed to an organization operating on an enterprise network, where the application recipe can be matched with application files in the organization's backup storage containing copies of content of endpoint devices on the network to retrieve components identified by the recipe and produce the application delta for the application. Subsequently, the application delta can be used as an installation package to perform IT operations such as installing the application on endpoint devices.
US09727321B2	System and method for managing playback of streaming digital content One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for managing playback of digital content on two or more different playback devices. A playback device designated as a controller is associated with a playback device designated as a playback target. Association is implemented via a local network discovery protocol. The controller issues commands to the target, which then streams digital content directly from a content server. The controller is able to separately stream related digital content for independent, but synchronized playback. Server mediated operations, such as device activation and application installation, are advantageously enabled by explicit association between the controller and the target.
US09727317B2	Optimized compilation using an auto-tuned compiler as a service A source code is pre-processed to form a pre-processed source code. The source code refers to an external code in a separate file, and the pre-processed source code creates a single file that includes the source code and the external code. The source code is profiled to create profile information identifying a hot portion having a first degree of hotness. A set of environment parameter values is determined to be applicable to a data processing system where the application will execute. At a remote optimizing compiler, a selection of a set of compiler options from a knowledgebase corresponding to the profile information and the set of environment parameter values is caused and an object code resulting from compiling the pre-processed source code using the set of compiler options is obtained. The object code is optimized according to the profile information and the set of environment parameter values.
US09727310B2	Entropy source for random number generator An entropy source extracts noise associated with the sampling of an RC circuit. The decay time of the RC circuit and other parameters are selected so that a buffer used to sample the voltage remains in an indeterminate voltage region over multiple clock cycles to generate random transitions. The entropy source may be implemented to be compliant with government standards for entropy sources utilized to generate random numbers.
US09727304B2	Obtaining content from direct source and other source A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.
US09727303B2	Resuming synchronous playback of content A system is described for maintaining synchrony of operations among a plurality of devices that have independent clocking arrangements. The system includes a task distribution device that distributes tasks to a synchrony group comprising a plurality of devices that are to perform the tasks distributed by the task distribution device in synchrony. The task distribution device distributes each task to the members of the synchrony group over a network. Each task is associated with a time stamp that indicates a time, relative to a clock maintained by the task distribution device, at which the members of the synchrony group are to execute the task. Each member of the synchrony group periodically obtains from the task distribution device an indication of the current time indicated by its clock, determines a time differential between the task distribution device's clock and its respective clock and determines therefrom a time at which, according to its respective clock, the time stamp indicates that it is to execute the task.
US09727298B2	Device and method for allocating data based on an arrangement of elements in an image A host device may include an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a guest device, and a communication unit configured to communicate with the guest device. The host device may include circuitry configured to identify, in the image of the guest device, identification information corresponding to the guest device, the identification information being displayed on a screen included on the guest device. The circuitry may calculate, based on the identification of the identification information in the image, an arrangement position of the guest device. The circuitry may assign, based on the calculated arrangement position, assigned data to the guest device. The circuitry may transmit one or more of the calculated arrangement position and information associated with the assigned data to the guest device.
US09727295B2	Extendable display mechanism A system can include a processor; memory operatively coupled to the processor; a first display unit that includes a first planar display operatively coupled to the processor; a second display unit that includes a second planar display; and a mechanism that selectively transitions the first planar display and the second planar display between a stacked orientation and a side-by-side orientation that forms a planar extended display operatively coupled to the processor. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09727270B2	Device and method for processing placement data, and method for loading and unloading article A device for processing placement data according to the present invention is provided with an article data memory unit that stores article data including a configuration and a storage period of an article, a storage-region data memory unit that stores storage region data including a shape of a storage region where the article is placed, a temporal-spatial map data memory unit that stores temporal-spatial map data showing positions of the article and the storage region in space-time specified by a user, and a computation device that creates the temporal-spatial map data and acquires a placement position of the article in time series in the storage region using the article data, the storage region data and the temporal-spatial map data.
US09727269B2	System and method for retaining DRAM data when reprogramming reconfigurable devices with DRAM memory controllers incorporating a data maintenance block colocated with a memory module or subsystem A system and method for retaining dynamic random access memory (DRAM) data when reprogramming reconfigurable devices with DRAM memory controllers such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The DRAM memory controller is utilized in concert with a data maintenance block collocated with the DRAM memory and coupled to an I2C interface of the reconfigurable device, wherein the FPGA drives the majority of the DRAM input/output (I/O) and the data maintenance block drives the self-refresh command inputs. Even though the FPGA reconfigures and the majority of the DRAM inputs are tri-stated, the data maintenance block provides stable input levels on the self-refresh command inputs.
US09727264B1	Tracking content blocks in a source storage for inclusion in an image backup of the source storage Tracking content blocks in a source storage for inclusion in an image backup of the source storage. In one example embodiment, a method for tracking content blocks in a source storage for inclusion in an image backup of the source storage may include identifying files in a source storage for inclusion in image backups of the source storage, tracking, in an inclusion map and prior to a first snapshot time, locations in the source storage of content blocks of the identified files, tracking, in the inclusion map and prior to the first snapshot time, modifications to the locations in the source storage of the content blocks, taking a snapshot of the source storage at the first snapshot time, and backing up, subsequent to the first snapshot time, the content blocks tracked in the inclusion map from the snapshot into a full image backup.
US09727262B2	Low overhead resynchronization snapshot creation and utilization One or more techniques and/or computing devices are provided for resynchronization. For example, a request may be received to create pseudo snapshots of a first consistency group, hosted by a first storage controller, and a second consistency group, hosted by a second storage controller, having a synchronous replication relationship with the first consistency group. Incoming client write requests are logged within an intercept tracking log at the first storage controller. After a first drain without hold of incoming write requests is performed, a first pseudo common snapshot of the second consistency group is created. After a second drain without hold of incoming write operations is performed, a second pseudo common snapshot of the first consistency group and the intercept tracking log is created. The pseudo snapshots and the intercept tracking log (e.g., indicating a delta between the pseudo snapshots) are used to resynchronize the first and second consistency groups.
US09727261B2	Weighted programming patterns in solid-state data storage systems Systems and methods are disclosed for programming data in non-volatile memory arrays. A data storage device includes a solid-state non-volatile memory including a plurality of memory cells and a controller configured to improve data retention or reduce read disturb of at least a portion of the solid-state non-volatile memory at least in part by receiving data to be written to the solid-state non-volatile memory. The controller is further configured to, when a data retention programming mode is set, encode the data using a programming pattern that favors a first programming state over a second programming state, the first programming state being associated with a lower voltage level than the second programming state, and write the encoded data to the solid-state non-volatile memory. When a read disturb programming mode is set, the first programming state is associated with a higher voltage level than the second programming state.
US09727249B1	Selection of an open block in solid state storage systems with multiple open blocks An instruction to write data to a write logical address is received where the write logical address is a member of a group of one or more logical addresses. It is determined if data associated with any of the logical addresses in the group of logical addresses has been written to any of a plurality of open groups of locations. If so, the data is written to the open group of locations to which data from the group of logical addresses has already been written to. If not, an open group of locations to write to is selected from the plurality of open groups of locations.
US09727244B2	Expanding effective storage capacity of a data storage system while providing support for address mapping recovery In response to receipt of a write input-output operation (IOP) including a logical address and a logical page of write data, control logic of a data storage system detects a presence of a data pattern in the logical page. In response to detecting the presence of the data pattern in the logical page of write data, the control logic records, in a logical-to-physical translation data structure, an association between the logical address and a data pattern identifier identifying the detected data pattern in the bulk storage media, refrains from writing the logical page of write data to the bulk storage media, and writes logical page metadata describing the logical page of write data to the bulk storage media. The logical page metadata includes at least the logical address and the data pattern identifier, such that contents of the logical-to-physical translation data structure can be recovered from the bulk storage media.
US09727242B2	Selective memory dump using usertokens Embodiments of the present invention provide efficient systems and methods for selectively dumping memory by using usertokens to specify a address range from 64-bit storage to be included or excluded from a memory dump. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to reduce the requirement for programs to manage lists of address ranges which represent pertinent data for applications.
US09727237B2	Management method and management system of keypad of handheld electronic device A method of managing a keypad of a handheld electronic device comprises promoting a user whether a size of the keypad needs adjustment when the handheld electronic device is in a single hand operating mode. If the answer is yes, the handheld electronic device then detects a movement of a finger of the user on a touch screen thereof. When a movement of the finger along a diagonal direction of the keypad away from the keypad is detected, the size of the keypad is increased. When a movement of the finger alone the diagonal direction of the keypad toward the keypad is detected, the size of the keypad is decreased. When the movement of the finger is stopped and a “Done” button is pressed, the adjustment of the size of the keypad is completed, and the size of the keypad after adjustment is stored in a storage module.

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