Document Document Title
US09923534B2 Automatic volume control for land mobile radio
The present disclosure provides a radio and method for automatically adjusting, in response to ambient noise, the volume setting of a radio. The radio comprises a microphone for receiving ambient audio and generating a microphone signal; a codec for receiving the microphone signal and generating a processor signal representative of the ambient audio; and processor circuitry operable to receive the processor signal, determine an ambient audio level in response to the processor signal, and determine an adjusted radio volume to generate a radio volume control signal, wherein the adjusted radio volume is determined by calculating a difference between a baseline volume level and ambient audio level and adding a current volume level setting, wherein the codec is also operable to receive the radio volume control signal and generate an output signal to adjust the radio volume setting to maintain a net difference between the adjusted radio volume and ambient audio.
US09923521B1 Stacked PA power control
Systems, methods and apparatus for efficient power control of an RF amplifier for amplification of a constant envelope RF signal are described. A reduction in a size of a pass device of an LDO regulator is obtained by removing the pass device of the LDO regulator from a main current conduction path of the RF amplifier. Power control is provided by varying one or more gate voltages to cascoded transistors of a transistor stack of the RF amplifier according to a power control voltage. Various configurations for controlling the gate voltages are presented by way of a smaller size LDO regulator or by completely removing the LDO regulator. In a case where a supply voltage to the transistor stack varies, such as in a case of a battery, a compensation circuit is used to adjust the power control voltage in view of a variation of the supply voltage, and therefore null a corresponding drift in output power of the RF amplifier.
US09923520B1 Switching power supply for RF power amplifiers
The present disclosure describes a synchronized switching power supply for a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier. In some aspects, a synchronized power supply circuit comprises a first switch connected between a power rail and a first terminal of an inductor that is connected to an output of the circuit via its second terminal. The circuit also includes a second switch connected between a ground rail and the first terminal of the inductor, and respective gate drivers for the first and second switches. An amplifier of the circuit is connected to the power rail and has an output connected to the output of the circuit. A current sensor is connected between the output of the amplifier and the output of the circuit, with an output of the current sensor being connected to an input of a comparator. A delay circuit is connected between an output of the comparator and the first and second gate drivers, and may synchronize the power supply circuit.
US09923505B2 Methods and systems for controlling an electric motor
A system and method of controlling an electric motor using a motor drive controller are provided. The motor drive controller includes a rectifier configured to convert an AC input voltage to a DC voltage, a DC bus electrically coupled to the rectifier, an inverter electrically coupled to the DC bus and configured to generate an AC voltage to drive the electric motor, and a control unit. The control unit includes a sign calculation module configured to determine a polarity of each phase of a reference current command and a compensation module configured to generate a voltage compensation command signal using one of the determined polarities of the reference current command and a measured current, and one of a measurement of DC bus voltage and a constant DC bus voltage value, the voltage compensation signal compensating the drive controller to neutralize a deadtime effect.
US09923499B2 Motor control device and motor control method
Provided is a motor control device, including an acceleration command calculation unit configured to calculate an acceleration command directed to a motor, a torque command calculation unit configured to calculate a torque command directed to the motor based on the acceleration command and a predetermined moment-of-inertia value, a torque correction value calculation unit configured to estimate disturbance of the motor based on the torque command and at least one of a motor position or a motor speed, to thereby calculate a torque correction value for the torque command, and a moment-of-inertia value change unit configured to change the predetermined moment-of-inertia value based on an estimated moment-of-inertia ratio, which is a ratio of the torque correction value to the torque command.
US09923496B2 Fault-tolerant control method for position sensor of switched reluctance motor
A fault-tolerant control method for a position sensor of a switched reluctance motor, if the position sensor of the switched reluctance motor runs without a fault, detecting, in real time, four equal-interval or equal-angle continuous edge pulses of an output signal of the position sensor, the fourth edge pulse being the current edge pulse, and detecting time intervals (T1, T2, T3) between each two adjacent edge pulses sequentially, thereby calculating a time interval (T4) between the current edge pulse and a next edge pulse following the current edge pulse. If the position sensor of the switched reluctance motor fails, and the next edge pulse following the current edge pulse is lost, reconstructing the next edge pulse after the interval time (T4) of the current edge pulse of the output signal of the position sensor. The method can be used, when one or more position sensors of a rotatory and linear switched reluctance motor having various phases and various topology structures fail, to reconstruct an edge pulse after lost.
US09923487B2 Hybrid power converter for renewable energy power plant
A hybrid power converter system that comprises a first power bus connected to a DC power source, a second power bus connected to an AC load, and a third power bus connected to an energy storage device. One or more power converters are connected to the first power bus in parallel and are connected with the second and third power buses, each by a switch. The system includes a first switch for connecting or disconnecting a power converter to or from the second power bus and a second switch for connecting or disconnecting the power converter to or from the third power bus, to switch the source of power being provided to the AC load either from the DC power source or the energy storage device. With additional power converters connected into the system in a similar manner, several combinations of power supply are possible.
US09923483B2 Method for operating an inverter and inverter comprising a switch between a center point of a DC link and a connection for a neutral conductor of an AC grid
A method of operating a transformerless inverter connected on the input side to a generator and on the output side to a multiphase AC grid and comprising a multi-phase inverter bridge with a switch between a midpoint of a DC intermediate circuit on the input side and a terminal for a neutral conductor of the multiphase AC grid, includes feeding electric power from the DC intermediate circuit into the AC grid by the inverter bridge with the switch closed when first operating conditions are present, and opening the switch when there is a transition from the first operating conditions to second operating conditions different from the first operating conditions. The method further includes feeding electric power from the DC intermediate circuit into the AC grid by the inverter bridge with the switch open when the second operating conditions are present, and closing the switch when there is a transition from the second operating conditions to the first operating conditions.
US09923478B2 Capacitor arrangement and method for operating a capacitor arrangement
The present invention provides a low-inductivity and mechanically stable connection between a DC link capacitor and a switching module for a power electronic system. To this end, the DC link capacitor and the switching module are connected to each other via an electrically conductive, flexible connection arrangement of electrically conductive strips or films. The individual strips or films are spaced from each other via suitable isolation media.
US09923476B2 Switching power supply and method for controlling switching power supply
A switching power supply and a method for controlling the switching power supply, the switching power supply includes: an input power supply, a front-stage circuit which includes a first inductor and at least two switch devices, and a post-stage isolated circuit which includes a primary-side switch circuit, a transformer and a secondary-side rectification circuit. One end of the first switch device is connected to a positive electrode of the input power supply, one end of the second switch device and an input-end of the first inductor are jointly connected to another end of the first switch device, another end of the second switch device is connected to a negative electrode of the input power supply, an output-end of the first inductor is connected to the primary-side switch circuit of post-stage isolated circuit, and another end of the primary-side switch circuit is connected to another end of the second switch device.
US09923465B2 Power conversion circuit and associated operating method
A power conversion circuit includes an input terminal, a first switching element, a second switching element, a third switching element, a fourth switching element, a capacitor; an inductor; and a controller configured to control the switching elements to be switched ON/OFF, such that a voltage at the load is regulated by repetitively (1) charging the inductor with a first current before charging the capacitor causing a second current to flow in the inductor and (2) charging the inductor with a third current before discharging the capacitor causing a fourth current to flow in the inductor.
US09923458B2 Booster circuit including a booster section configured to operate intermittently
Provided is a booster circuit enabling improvement of efficiency of a stress test for a circuit to which a boosted voltage is applied. A voltage divider circuit is configured to have a voltage-dividing ratio that is variable depending on a test signal, and a limiter circuit is configured to clamp a voltage to a voltage higher than a boosted voltage in normal operation. In a test mode, the voltage divider circuit is controlled so that the boosted voltage becomes higher than that in the normal operation, and the limiter circuit clamps the boosted voltage, with the result that a booster section continuously operates.
US09923457B2 Regulated power converter and method of operating the same
An intellectual property (IP) block portion in an integrated circuit includes a first regulator, a first circuit, a power converter, and a second circuit. The first regulator is configured to receive a supply voltage and to generate a first output voltage. The first circuit is coupled with the first regulator and configured to receive the first output voltage. The power converter includes a charge pump configured to receive the supply voltage and to generate a pumped voltage; and a second regulator configured to receive the supply voltage or the pumped voltage and to generate a second output voltage. The second output voltage has a voltage level greater than a voltage level of the first output voltage. The second circuit is coupled with the power converter and configured to receive the second output voltage.
US09923454B2 Fast high-side power FET gate sense circuit for high voltage applications
A circuit for sensing gate voltage of a power FET. A switching circuit includes a switching FET having a high voltage rating, its drain coupled to the gate of the power FET, and its source coupled to an output node. A first feedback loop is coupled to the gate of the switching FET to facilitate sensing rising gate voltage. A second feedback loop is coupled to the gate of the switching FET to facilitate sensing falling gate voltage.
US09923452B2 Switched-mode power supply for powering a frequency converter
A switched-mode power supply for supplying an operating voltage to a frequency converter includes a supply capacitor configured to supply the operating voltage to a control device for generating control signals for semiconductor switches of the switched-mode power supply. The supply capacitor is chargeable through a start-up circuit from a DC link of the frequency converter. The start-up circuit includes a current regulator that is configured to control a total current from the DC link to the start-up circuit.
US09923450B2 Switched mode power supply compensation loop
There is provided a controller for controlling an output current of a switched mode power supply, SMPS. The controller comprises a sampling module arranged to sample a signal indicative of the output current of the SMPS at a frequency higher than a switching frequency of the SMPS, and a filter module arranged to filter out a ripple component of the sampled signal. The filter module comprises: a ripple component estimation module arranged to estimate the ripple component; a moving average calculation module arranged to calculate a moving average of the sampled signal; and a subtraction module arranged to generate a filtered signal by subtracting the estimated ripple component from the sampled signal and the calculated moving average. The controller also has a switching control module arranged to generate a control signal for controlling at least one of the switching frequency and a switching duty cycle of the SMPS based on the filtered signal.
US09923449B2 Damping apparatus and damping method of converter system
The present disclosure relates to a damping apparatus of a converter system, which compensates an input voltage reference being transmitted to a converter to damp an output current of a harmonic filter that is connected between an output end of the converter and a system, including a voltage reference compensation unit configured to compensate for the input voltage reference using a ratio between inductances of inductors included in the harmonic filter; a capacitor voltage value compensation unit configured to compensate for a voltage value of a capacitor included in the harmonic filter using the ratio between the inductances of the inductors; and a voltage reference generation unit configured to generate a final voltage reference by subtracting the compensated voltage value of the capacitor from the compensated input voltage reference.
US09923442B2 Breathing assistance device with linear actuated gas regulating valve
A breathing assistance device includes a gas regulating valve (1300). The gas regulating valve is operated by a linear actuator (1330). The linear actuator may include a movable member that moves an obstruction member between an open position and a closed position. The linear actuator is isolated from a gas flow path through the valve.
US09923441B2 Stator of linear compressor and fixing method thereof, linear motor, and linear compressor
In one aspect of the present invention, a stator of a linear compressor comprises first stator pieces that are circumferentially and sequentially arranged about an axial direction and are radially disposed, second stator pieces that are provided between outer parts of the adjacent first stator pieces, and an outer side, away from a motor axis, of the second stator pieces assembled at an outer circumference of the stator. The stator can reduce the magnetic losses of the stator caused by the gap, and improve the efficiency of the motor. It can also improve the performance, stability, durability and reliability of the linear compressor. It can also reduce the bulk of the linear compressor.
US09923438B2 Method for manufacturing a rotary electric machine
A stator core includes an inner ring core composed of a plurality of teeth arranged in the circumferential direction and a connection portion connecting inner circumferential portions of the plurality of teeth; and an outer ring core to be joined to an outer circumferential surface of the inner ring core. Slots of the stator core each have a circumferential direction width (a) on an inner circumference side smaller than a circumferential direction width (b) on an outer circumference side. A stator coil composed of conductive coils including a plurality of slot accommodated portions and a plurality of coil end portions connecting the slot accommodated portions is inserted and placed in the slots from an outer side in the radial direction of the inner ring core.
US09923437B2 Tool for making generator bars
A tool for shaping generator bars for large power generators. In particular, a tool for shaping a stator bar out of a straight unprocessed bar.
US09923435B2 Laminated core, VR type resolver and production method for laminated core
A production method for a rotor core for a VR type resolver has a structure in which one protrusion is formed on an inner edge thereof in which the rotor cores can be rotated and laminated without increasing cost. In a production method of a rotor core for a VR type resolver, a plurality of tabular rotor core pieces are laminated. In this case, in the rotor core pieces, four protrusions are simultaneously formed, one of them is left, the remainder thereof is removed, and rotating lamination is carried out.
US09923430B2 Actuator of engraving machine
The proposed actuator of engraving machine relates to decorative machining of hard materials, and can be used in arrangement of facades and monuments. A permanent magnet and a core with a pivot are concentrically fixed in an upper part of a housing. An electric coil is placed on a cylindrical frame of nonmagnetic material and can move in the axial direction in a ring gap between the core and the permanent magnet together with a pusher fixed in two circular elastic membranes, spaced in the axial direction and fixed in the housing along an external contour. A shank is fixed on the pusher under the membranes, having a central part extending through a bottom cover of the housing. It has a hollow axial opening, wherein a removable impact tool is mounted. The design is simple and reliable. Durability, accuracy and speed of engraving of the actuator are improved.
US09923423B2 Radially embedded permanent magnet rotor and methods thereof
In one embodiment, a permanent magnet rotor is provided. The permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet and a substantially cylindrical rotor core including an outer edge and an inner edge defining a central opening. The rotor core includes a radius R, at least one pole, and at least one radial aperture extending radially though the rotor core from the outer edge to a predetermined depth less than the radius. The at least one radial aperture is configured to receive the at least one permanent magnet. The rotor further includes at least one protrusion extending into the at least one radial aperture, the at least one protrusion positioned substantially along a bottom of the at least one radial aperture and configured to facilitate retention of the at least one permanent magnet within the at least one radial aperture.
US09923419B2 Electric power transmitter, electric power transmission method and semiconductor device
According to an embodiment, an electric power transmitter has a first electric power transmitting unit, a second electric power transmitting unit, a first detecting unit configured to detect a first placed object on the first electric power transmitting unit, a second detecting unit configured to detect a second placed object on the second electric power transmitting unit, a timer unit configured to, when the first placed object on the first electric power transmitting unit is detected, start driving, and a judging unit configured to, when the second placed object on the second electric power transmitting unit is detected within a predetermined time period from driving of the timer unit, judge that the first placed object and the second placed object are one common placed object.
US09923400B2 Method of operating a battery-charger device, and corresponding device
A battery charger operates in a current regulation mode and a voltage regulation mode. A value of the voltage on the battery being charged is sensed and compared against a target voltage value. The current regulation mode is active during charging while the sensed voltage is less than the target voltage value. When the sensed voltage reaches the target voltage value, the voltage regulation mode is enabled and the current regulation mode is inhibited.
US09923376B2 Adaptable wireless power, light and automation system
A power control unit and method of use thereof for varying the supply of electricity to an electrical apparatus using a wireless communications link between a controller and the power control unit. The power control unit is adapted to alternatively communicate with the controller using a non-peer-to-peer communications standard or a peer-to-peer communications standard such as Wi-Fi Direct.
US09923366B2 Electrical protection using a semiconductor switch
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to methods and devices for protecting a circuit against overcurrents. The device uses variable impedance properties of a semiconductor switch and includes closed-loop control for controlling the impedance of the switch as a function of the overcurrents to be corrected. The physical design stresses of an electrical circuit, linked to the protection against overcurrents, can therefore be limited.
US09923364B2 Load driving device, vehicle air-conditioning apparatus, and load short-circuit protection circuit
The purpose of the present invention is to improve responsiveness to short-circuit detection and rapidly cut off power supply to a load when a short circuit occurs. When a short circuit occurs, voltage exceeding the reference voltage of a comparison circuit is inputted as an input signal from a voltage output circuit, and a high signal is outputted from the comparison circuit. An FET is turned on by the output of the comparison circuit changing to the high signal. Consequently, an electric charge stored between the gate and emitter of an IGBT is discharged through a resistor, gate voltage decreases, and thereby the IGBT is turned off. The high signal of the comparison signal is held for a predetermined period by a holding circuit, and the IGBT is maintained in the off state over this period.
US09923362B2 Protective device
The present invention provides a protection device which includes a PTC component and a first non-resettable contact component which is connected electrically in parallel to the PTC component. A second non-resettable contact component is connected electrically in series to the PTC component, and when the PTC component is tripped by a current which is diverted by opening the contact of the first non-resettable contact component, the contact of the second non-resettable contact component opens due to heat which is generated by the PTC component.
US09923358B2 USB adapter protection
This document discusses, among other things, a protection system and method configured to detect a parasitic impedance between first and second pins of a standard connector and to remove a current path between a power source and a supply pin of the standard connector if a low-impedance is detected, in certain examples, without adding a current sense resistance to a return path between a ground pin of the standard connector and the power source.
US09923357B2 Power supply system, distributed power source system, management apparatus, and power supply control method
A power supply system comprises a plurality of distributed power source systems capable of supplying powers to loads 400 by performing an interconnection operation in parallel with grid 10 or an offline self-sustained operation. SOFC system 300 detects an abnormal state of the power supplied to loads 400. SOFC system 300 eases the abnormality detection conditions during the self-sustained operation than during the interconnection operation.
US09923356B2 Cable breakout with integrated strain relief
A cable breakout assembly includes a protective housing with a series of cable cradles, each of which accommodates a cable or wire in the cable transition area. The cable cradles have inwardly facing stop surfaces and stop members are applied to the exterior surfaces of the cables proximate to the cable cradles. The stop members encircle the cables and define a shoulder or stop surface in opposition to the stop surfaces of the cable cradles. The two stop surfaces confront each other and are configured to help to provide an integrated strain relief to the cable transition area.
US09923352B2 Device for connecting a first bus bar to a second bus bar
A device is disclosed for connecting a first bus bar to a second bus bar. The device includes a pivoting device and an adapter bus bar. The pivoting device is connected to the adapter bus bar and is mounted to pivot about the adapter bus bar. The pivoting device can be fastened to a first busbar or to a housing of a first busbar, and the adapter busbar can be pivoted into a second position in which it can be electrically connected to a second busbar.
US09923351B2 Universal bracket and method
A universal bracket for electronic device, electrical devices, and their cabling is made up of one or more interconnected bracket plates. Each bracket plate has a rectangular base having a first side and a second side. A number of standoff platforms are attached to the second side. The standoff platforms have a polygonal cross section with a number of sides. A hole extends through one of the sides. A number of screw holes are in the rectangular base. The universal bracket can be screwed or otherwise affixed to a mounting surface. A zip tie or other tie is used to hold electronic and electrical devices and associated wires semi-permanently to the universal bracket.
US09923350B1 System and apparatus for providing functional and decorative electrical cover plates
A decorative and functional electrical wall box plate cover assembly consisting of a back plate, center plate and front plate held together with a connecting and aligning mechanism. The center and front plate can be configured with decorative designs. The electrical plate cover assembly is designed to interconnect with auxiliary plate system to form a predetermined configuration on a wall surrounding the electrical box on the wall. The electrical wall box plate cover assembly can be used with electrical switch boxes, electrical outlet boxes or a combination of both.
US09923348B2 Electric wire protecting pipe and wire harness
A wire harness and an electric wire protecting pipe that can prevent holes from being formed by flying gravel while the vehicle is moving and includes a bending pipe portion that can be bent easily. The electric wire protecting pipe is a resin pipe into which electric wires are insertable, and includes a bending pipe portion that is easily bent and is provided with protruding portions and recessed portions that are alternately continuous with each other in an axial direction, and a straight pipe portion that is flat and is not easily bent in the axial direction. A thickness of a lower wall portion that is disposed on a lower side when the electric wire protecting pipe is attached to a vehicle is greater than a thickness of a left wall portion and a right wall portion.
US09923336B2 Laser diode and method of manufacturing laser diode
A laser diode includes a ridge portion, channel portions located adjacent to the ridge portion such that the ridge portion is sandwiched, the channel portions being shorter in height than the ridge portion, terrace portions adjacent to opposite sides of the respective channel portions from the ridge portion and longer in height than the channel portions, supporting portions provided over the respective channel portions, separated from side surfaces of the ridge portion or side surfaces of terrace portions or both, and made of resin, a ceiling portion including first portions provided over the supporting portions and second portions continuous with the first portions and located over the respective channel portions with hollow portions interposed therebetween, the ceiling portion being made of resin, and a metal layer provided over the ceiling portion and connected to an upper surface of the ridge portion.
US09923332B2 Array type wavelength converting laser device
A device includes: at least one laser element with light emitting points to output fundamental waves in a one-dimensional array; a wavelength converting element to carry out wavelength conversion of the incident fundamental waves, and to output wavelength converted light rays; and an output mirror to reflect the fundamental waves, and to transmit the wavelength converted light rays resulting from the wavelength conversion by the wavelength converting element. The wavelength converting element is disposed between the laser element and the output mirror, and the distance between the position of a waist of the fundamental waves output from the laser element and the output mirror is set in accordance with a Talbot condition under which the adjacent light emitting points cause phase synchronization with each other.
US09923301B2 Magnetic connector having a unitary housing
Power cables that include plug housings having an improved appearance as well as employ a halogen-free cable while providing adequate fire resistance. One example provides a power cable having cable plug with a substantially unitary body. Another example provides a power cable that is formed using halogen-free materials. To provide adequate fire protection, a strain relief formed using multiple materials is used.
US09923299B2 Connector withstanding partial discharges
This connector for connecting electrical conductors comprising a contact end fitting at their end to be connected, comprises two conjugate parts (31, 32), respectively male and female, each comprising a body (33) made of insulating material provided with housings (36) into which respectively male and female contacts (41) capable of receiving the contact end fittings of the conductors come to be mounted. At least one of the male and female parts comprises, internally, zones (46) forming partitions placed between said housings and produced from a material capable of withstanding electrical discharges.
US09923298B2 Connector with circumferentially spaced resilient positioning members extending resiliently between inner and outer housings
A connector (F) includes an inner housing (11). Terminal fittings (72) fixed to front end parts of wires (71) are inserted into the inner housing (11) from behind. An outer housing (37) is mounted relatively displaceably with respect to the inner housing (11) and is held out of contact with the terminal fittings (72). Two resilient positioning members (55) are configured to position the inner housing (11) and the outer housing (37) and spaced apart in a circumferential direction.
US09923295B2 Connector
A connector includes a connector housing (10) with a cavity (15B), into which a terminal fitting (40) is to be inserted. The connector housing (10) is connectable to a mating connector. A retainer insertion opening (30) opens in a side surface of the connector housing (10) and in a direction intersecting an inserting direction of the terminal fitting (40). A retainer (50) can be inserted into the retainer insertion opening to lock the terminal fitting (40). The retainer (50) includes a thin plate (61) extending in an inserting direction of the retainer (50), a convex portion (70) on a lower surface of the thin plate (61) and a groove (71) in the convex portion (70). A projection (25) is provided on a rear part of a locking lance (20) in the cavity (15B) of the connector housing (10) and fits to the groove (71).
US09923292B2 Connector having a housing with closed loop terminals
A connector includes terminals. The terminals can have a contact that has a loop configuration. In an embodiment the contacts are positioned in a vertical connector similar to an edge card connector but with a differential pair aligned in a vertical direction. Thus the connector can provide edge-coupled differential pair in a high density configuration.
US09923281B2 Dual antenna system
A disclosed dual antenna system includes a receiving antenna which includes a first surface orthogonal to an incident wave, the first surface being a first antenna aperture, and a transmitting antenna which includes a second surface parallel to a reflection direction which is a transmission direction, the second surface being a second antenna aperture. A portion of a structure of the transmitting antenna is shared by the receiving antenna.
US09923275B2 Tilted antenna bobbins and methods of manufacture
An antenna assembly includes a bobbin that provides a cylindrical body that defines an outer radial surface, an inner radial surface, and a central axis. One or more channels are defined on the outer radial surface, and each channel provides a first sidewall, a second sidewall opposite the first sidewall, a floor, and a pocket jointly defined by the first sidewall and the floor. A coil including one or more wires is wrapped about the bobbin and received within the one or more channels.
US09923259B2 Device for radio-frequency power coupling and method of using the device
A device and a method for utilizing the device for radio-frequency (RF) power coupling, particularly a power combiner and/or divider, includes a box shaped casing forming the outside conductor, and connectors for inputting and outputting RF-power, which are electrically connected to at least one center conductor, where the electrical connection between the connectors and the at least one center conductor is a direct electrical and mechanical connection.
US09923252B2 Battery pack with variable-conductance heat pipe (VCHP) cooling
An apparatus including a battery pack comprising a plurality of individual batteries arranged around a battery cavity such that each individual battery is in thermal contact with at least one neighboring individual battery. A variable-conductance heat pipe (VCHP) having an evaporator end and a condenser end, is positioned so that at least part of the evaporator end being positioned in the battery cavity and in thermal contact with each of the plurality of individual batteries. The apparatus includes a thermally insulating cover having an inside and an outside, wherein the battery pack and the part of the VCHP evaporator end in the battery cavity are positioned inside the thermally insulating cover and at least part of the condenser end of the VCHP is outside the thermally insulating cover, and wherein the VCHP is substantially the only thermal path between the battery pack and the outside. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.
US09923249B2 Rechargeable battery pack for a handheld power tool
A rechargeable battery pack for a handheld power tool, encompasses a housing and at least one interface unit for establishing a mechanical and electrical connection between the rechargeable battery pack and the handheld power tool and/or a charging device. The interface unit has at least one locking element for locking the rechargeable battery pack onto the handheld power tool, and an actuation element for actuating the locking element. The actuation element encompasses at least one light-emitting element for outputting an optical signal and/or for illumination.
US09923248B2 Rechargeable battery unit and charging method
A rechargeable battery unit and method for charging a battery is provided. The battery unit can be connected to a constant current charging device for charging the battery unit. The constant current charging device has a plurality of poles and a cut-off voltage. The battery unit has an internal resistance, a lithium battery cell having a predetermined end-of-charge voltage, and a switch unit. The switch unit is configured to enable alteration of the internal resistance when the predetermined end-of-charge voltage has been reached, such that the voltage at the poles of the constant current charging device is greater than the cut-off voltage of the constant current charging device to terminate the charging process.
US09923242B2 Lithium bromide battery
A rechargeable battery is provided such that the positive electrode comprises graphite, the negative electrode also comprises graphite, and the electrolyte is a solution of lithium bromide in an ester of succinic acid or an ester of glutaric acid.
US09923235B2 Hybrid electrolyte
A nanoparticulate organic hybrid material comprising inorganic nanoparticles covalently grafted with at least one anion of an organic sodium or lithium salt is provided. In addition, a process for preparing the nanoparticulate organic hybrid material and its use in the preparation of electrolytes suitable for lithium and sodium secondary batteries are provided.
US09923232B2 Production of high-purity lithium fluoride
The present invention relates to a process for preparing high-purity lithium fluoride proceeding from lithium carbonate, and to lithium fluoride having a preferred morphology.
US09923224B2 Proton exchange material and method therefor
A proton exchange material includes a linear perfluorinated carbon backbone chain and a side chain extending off of the linear perfluorinated carbon backbone chain. The side chain includes at least one sulfonimide group, —SO2-NH—SO2-, and a carbon chain link between the at least one sulfonimide group and the linear perfluorinated carbon backbone chain. The carbon chain link has less than three carbon atoms.
US09923223B2 Electrolyte membrane, dispersion and method therefor
A method of producing an electrolyte membrane includes providing a dispersion solution that has a crosslinked perfluorinated ionomer material and a linear perfluorinated ionomer material dispersed in a carrier fluid or mixture carrier fluids. The crosslinked perfluorinated ionomer material has an equivalent weight of 750 g/mol or less with respect to proton exchange acid groups. The linear perfluorinated ionomer material has an equivalent weight of 750 g/mol or more with respect to proton exchange as acid groups. At least a portion of the carrier fluid or fluids is removed from the dispersion solution to thereby form an electrolyte membrane with the crosslinked perfluorinated ionomer material and the linear perfluorinated ionomer material.
US09923221B2 Method of decontaminating a fuel reactant stream for a fuel cell
An example method of decontaminating a fuel reactant stream for a fuel cell flows the fuel reactant stream through a fluidized ammonia dissolving media, while simultaneously flowing water through the fluidized ammonia dissolving media to separate contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. The separated contaminant and water stream from the fluidized bed is accumulated within an accumulator, circulated through a water-control loop, and decontaminated by flowing the stream through an ion exchange bed secured in fluid communication with the water-control loop. A decontaminated water stream from the ion exchange bed is circulated back through the ammonia dissolving media. A temperature of the fuel reactant stream is controlled upstream of the fuel reactant stream entering the separator scrubber to produce a predetermined temperature of the fuel reactant stream passing through the separator scrubber.
US09923217B2 Method of controlling fuel cell system
There is provided a method of controlling a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell, a tank that is configured to store a fuel gas filled through a filler port of fuel gas provided in an outer plate of a vehicle, and a main stop valve that is configured to change over between opening and closing to open and close a fuel passage arranged from the tank to the fuel cell. The method comprises controlling the main stop valve to change over from opening to closing in response to detection of an operation for gas filling to fill the fuel gas into the tank, when a control accompanied with opening of the main stop valve is performed during a stop of the vehicle.
US09923212B2 Serpentine flow field with varying numbers of channel portions
An exemplary flow field includes a plurality of flow channel portions. There are n inlet portions configured for introducing a fluid into the flow field. A plurality of first pass portions direct fluid flow in a first direction. A plurality of second pass portions direct fluid flow in a second direction that is generally parallel to and opposite to the first direction. A plurality of third pass portions direct fluid flow in the first direction. n outlet portions are configured to allow fluid to exit the flow field. n is an integer and a number of the portions in at least one plurality of pass portions is a non-integer multiple of n.
US09923208B2 Electrolyte membrane for liquid anode cell battery
The invention relates to an electrolyte membrane for a liquid anode cell battery. In particular, the electrolyte membrane is coated with a coating protective against decomposition of the electrolyte membrane in contact with a liquid anode.
US09923207B2 Electrode material, electrode and lithium ion battery
An electrode material which can improve the mobility of electrons and the mobility of ions at the same time, and, furthermore, does not have a problem of the impairment of the diffusion of lithium ions in a thin layer containing a carbonaceous electron-conductive substance so as to be excellent in terms of load characteristics and energy density, and an electrode and a lithium ion battery are provided. The electrode material of the invention is produced by forming a thin layer made of a carbonaceous electron-conductive substance on surfaces of primary particles made of an electrode active material, in which the carbonaceous electron-conductive substance contains nitrogen atoms.
US09923206B2 Encapsulated phthalocyanine particles, high-capacity cathode containing these particles, and rechargeable lithium cell containing such a cathode
Disclosed is an electrode material comprising a phthalocyanine compound encapsulated by a protective material, preferably in a core-shell structure with a phthalocyanine compound core and a protective material shell. Also disclosed is a rechargeable lithium cell comprising: (a) an anode; (b) a cathode comprising an encapsulated or protected phthalocyanine compound as a cathode active material; and (c) a porous separator disposed between the anode and the cathode and/or an electrolyte in ionic contact with the anode and the cathode. This secondary cell exhibits a long cycle life, the best cathode specific capacity, and best cell-level specific energy of all rechargeable lithium-ion cells ever reported.
US09923193B2 Cathode of lithium-ion battery
A cathode of lithium-ion battery includes a carbon fiber film. The carbon fiber film includes at least one carbon nanotube film including a number of carbon nanotubes joined end to end and extending along a same direction. Each of the number of carbon nanotubes is joined with a number of graphene sheets, and an angle is between each of the number of graphene sheets and the number of carbon nanotubes.
US09923181B2 Laminate, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery separator including the laminate, and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery including the laminate
Provided is a laminate which is capable of ensuring a high level of safety by preventing an internal short circuit due to, for example, breakage of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery while maintaining various performance capabilities of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. A laminate (10) includes: a porous film containing polyolefin as a main component; and a porous layer containing fine particles; the porous layer being laminated to at least one side of the porous film, in an electrical conduction test by nail penetration in which test a displacement in a thickness direction of the laminate (10) during a period from when a dielectric breakdown occurs in the laminate (10) to when the laminate (10) is brought into electrical conduction is measured by use of a nail (2) of N50 specified in JIS A 5508 and under a condition in which the nail (2) descends at a descending speed of 50 μm/min, the displacement being not less than 20 μm and not more than 200 μm.
US09923168B2 Edge barrier film for electronic devices
In some embodiments, a first product is provided. The first product may include a substrate, a device having a device footprint disposed over the substrate, and a barrier film disposed over the substrate and substantially along a side of the device footprint. The barrier film may comprise a mixture of a polymeric material and non-polymeric material. The barrier film may have a perpendicular length that is less than or equal to 3.0 mm from the side of the device footprint.
US09923164B2 Method for manufacturing transparent electrode, transparent electrode, and organic electroluminescence device provided with the same
A transparent electrode includes a transparent substrate, a thin wire structure partially covering a surface of the transparent substrate and formed of a conductive material, and a transparent conductive layer formed on the transparent substrate to cover the thin wire structure. The transparent conductive layer is formed of two or more separately prepared layers.
US09923163B2 Current distribution in an organic light emitting diode device
The invention relates to an organic light emitting diode device having an electrode sheet of a light emitting area and an electrode contact in contact with the electrode sheet, to a method for forming such OLED device and to method of operating such OLED device. In order to provide such OLED device having a reduced tendency for the occurrence of hot spots, the present invention provides for reducing a local and/or average regional current density of a current flowing in operation of the lighting device through an interface between the electrode sheet and the electrode contact in a corner area of the interface.
US09923162B2 Buckled organic light emitting diode for light extraction without blurring
A layered organic light emitting diode (OLED) device comprises a buckled structure over a portion of the light emitting face to provide improved light output relative to flat OLED devices. The buckled structure has a fine buckling and a gross buckling, which are quasi-periodic. Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method of producing the OLED device comprising a buckled structure, where a transparent substrate coated with a transparent elastomeric layer has a thin metal layer deposited on a portion of the elastomeric layer at an elevated temperature. Upon cooling the metal layer buckles with the formation of the quasi-periodic buckling. Subsequently the metal layer is oxidized to a metal oxide layer that retains the buckling. An OLED with a buckling structure over a portion of the emitting face is constructed on the metal oxide layer and retains the buckling of the metal oxide layer.
US09923160B2 Method of assembling carbon nanotubes of a semiconductor device via fringing field assisted dielectrophoresis
A method of arranging at least one carbon nanotube on a semiconductor substrate includes depositing the at least one carbon nanotube on a dielectric layer of the semiconductor device. The method further includes arranging the at least one carbon nanotube on the dielectric layer in response to applying a voltage potential to an electrically conductive electrode of the semiconductor device, and applying a ground potential to an electrically conductive semiconductor layer of the semiconductor device.
US09923153B2 Organic light emitting diode comprising an organic semiconductor layer
The present invention relates to organic light-emitting diodes that include an anode electrode, a transparent cathode electrode, at least one emission layer and at least one organic semiconductor layer, wherein the at least one emission layer and the at least one organic semiconductor layer is arranged between the anode electrode and the transparent cathode electrode and the organic semiconductor layer includes a first zero-valent metal dopant and a first matrix compound wherein the first matrix comprising at least two phenanthrolinyl groups as well as to a method for manufacturing the same.
US09923104B2 Photosensor including multiple detection mode and method of operating the same
Provided are a photosensor and a method of operating the same. The photosensor includes a lower electrode, a semiconductor layer, a 2-dimensional material layer, and an upper electrode. Photocurrent generated due to externally radiated light may be operated in a multiple detection mode including a lateral detection mode and a vertical detection mode. The upper electrode may include a plurality of electrode elements, which may be formed of the same conductive material or different conductive materials.
US09923091B2 Semiconductor device including power MOS transistor
An n-channel power MOS transistor having a gate electrode is formed in an element formation region defined in a semiconductor substrate. A p-type guard ring region is formed in a terminal region. A plurality of p-type column regions are formed from the bottom of the p-type base region to a further deeper position. The column region located in the outermost periphery and the p−-type guard ring region are spaced apart from each other by a distance. A gate electrode lead-out portion electrically coupled to the gate electrode is formed in the p−-type guard ring region.
US09923086B2 CMOS device having carbon nanotubes
A method, and the resulting structure, of making a CMOS device from carbon nanotube substrate, where a carbide contact is formed in a source drain region. The carbide is formed prior to the gate structure by reacting a glassy carbon and a metal.
US09923077B2 Methods of curing a dielectric layer for manufacture of a semiconductor device
A method of curing a dielectric layer, such as a dielectric layer that has a relatively small thickness and/or a narrow width or a complicated shape, is provided. The method of curing a dielectric layer for the manufacture of a semiconductor device includes providing the dielectric layer, wherein the dielectric layer is on a semiconductor layer; forming a first metal-containing layer on the dielectric layer; forming a curing atom screening region in an upper portion of the first metal-containing layer by injecting screening atoms onto an upper surface of the first metal-containing layer; injecting curing atoms into the first metal-containing layer through the upper surface of the first metal-containing layer; and flowing the curing atoms into the dielectric layer in an atmosphere at a first temperature.
US09923064B2 Vertical semiconductor device
A vertical semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body having a front side, a backside arranged opposite to the front side and a lateral edge delimiting the semiconductor body in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the front side, a gate metallization arranged on the front side and extending at least close to the lateral edge; a contact metallization arranged on the front side and between the lateral edge and the gate metallization, and a backside metallization arranged on the backside and in electric contact with the contact metallization. The gate metallization is arranged around at least two sides of the contact metallization when viewed from above.
US09923063B2 Group III nitride composite substrate and method for manufacturing the same, laminated group III nitride composite substrate, and group III nitride semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A group III nitride composite substrate with a diameter of 75 mm or more includes a support substrate and a group III nitride film with a thickness of 50 nm or more and less than 10 μm that are bonded to each other. A ratio st/mt of a standard deviation st of the thickness of the group III nitride film to a mean value mt of the thickness thereof is 0.01 or more and 0.5 or less, and a ratio so/mo of a standard deviation so of an absolute value of an off angle between a main surface of the group III nitride film and a plane of a predetermined plane orientation to a mean value mo of the absolute value of the off angle is 0.005 or more and 0.6 or less.
US09923059B1 Connection arrangements for integrated lateral diffusion field effect transistors
In an active layer over a semiconductor substrate, a semiconductor device has a first lateral diffusion field effect transistor (LDFET) that includes a source, a drain, and a gate, and a second LDFET that includes a source, a drain, and a gate. The source of the first LDFET and the drain of the second LDFET are electrically connected to a common node. A first front-side contact and a second front-side contact are formed over the active layer, and a substrate contact electrically connected to the semiconductor substrate is formed. Each of the first front-side contact, the second front-side contact, and the substrate contact is electrically connected to a different respective one of the drain of the first LDFET, the source of the second LDFET, and the common node.
US09923057B2 Semiconductor structures employing strained material layers with defined impurity gradients and methods for fabricating same
Semiconductor structures and devices including strained material layers having impurity-free zones, and methods for fabricating same. Certain regions of the strained material layers are kept free of impurities that can interdiffuse from adjacent portions of the semiconductor. When impurities are present in certain regions of the strained material layers, there is degradation in device performance. By employing semiconductor structures and devices (e.g., field effect transistors or “FETs”) that have the features described, or are fabricated in accordance with the steps described, device operation is enhanced.
US09923056B2 Method of fabricating a MOSFET with an undoped channel
A method of fabricating a MOSFET with an undoped channel is disclosed. The method comprises fabricating on a substrate a semiconductor structure having a dummy poly gate, dummy interlayer (IL) oxide, and a doped channel. The method further comprises removing the dummy poly gate and the dummy IL oxide to expose the doped channel, removing the doped channel from an area on the substrate, forming an undoped channel for the semiconductor structure at the area on the substrate, and forming a metal gate for the semiconductor structure. Removing the dummy poly gate may comprise dry and wet etch operations. Removing the dummy IL oxide may comprise dry etch operations. Removing the doped channel may comprise anisotropic etch operations on the substrate. Forming an undoped channel may comprise applying an epitaxial process to grow the undoped channel. The method may further comprise growing IL oxide above the undoped channel.
US09923043B2 Organic light-emitting display apparatus
An organic light-emitting apparatus includes a substrate including an active area, a dead area, and a pad area, a display unit disposed in the active area and including thin-film transistors, pixel electrodes, and a portion of a common electrode, a first voltage supply unit disposed on the dead and pad areas and electrically contacting the common electrode, a second voltage supply unit overlapping the common electrode, and spaced apart and electrically insulated therefrom, and an insulating layer disposed between the common electrode and the second voltage supply unit, in which a portion of the common electrode that overlaps the first voltage supply unit is closer to the pad area than that of a portion of the common electrode that overlaps the second voltage supply unit, and an end portion of the insulating layer contacts an end portion of the first voltage supply unit adjacent to the active area.
US09923039B2 Display panels, methods of manufacturing the same and organic light emitting display devices having the same
A display device includes a substrate and first, second and third thin film transistor. The first thin film transistor is disposed over the substrate, and includes a first gate electrode which has a first transmittance. The second thin film transistor is disposed over the substrate, and includes a second gate electrode which has a second transmittance substantially different from the first transmittance. The third thin film transistor is disposed over the substrate, and includes a third gate electrode which has a third transmittance substantially different from the first transmittance.
US09923019B2 Semiconductor device, manufacturing method thereof and imaging apparatus
A semiconductor device for converting incident light into an electric current includes a semiconductor substrate; an electrode embedded in the semiconductor substrate; an insulation film contacting the electrode in the semiconductor substrate; a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type and a third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type, formed sequentially in a depth direction from a side of a front face of the semiconductor substrate; and a fourth semiconductor region of the second conductivity type contacting the insulation film and the second semiconductor region. An impurity concentration of the fourth semiconductor region is greater than an impurity concentration of the second semiconductor region.
US09923017B2 Monolithic active pixel radiation detector with shielding techniques
A monolithic active pixel radiation detector including a method of fabricating thereof. The disclosed radiation detector can include a substrate comprising a silicon layer upon which electronics are configured. A plurality of channels can be formed on the silicon layer, wherein the plurality of channels are connected to sources of signals located in a bulk part of the substrate, and wherein the signals flow through electrically conducting vias established in an isolation oxide on the substrate. One or more nested wells can be configured from the substrate, wherein the nested wells assist in collecting charge carriers released in interaction with radiation and wherein the nested wells further separate the electronics from the sensing portion of the detector substrate. The detector can also be configured according to a thick SOA method of fabrication.
US09923015B2 Infrared photosensor
A thermal diode for a photosensor of a thermal imaging camera includes a semiconductor substrate having a surface and two doped structures set apart from each other on the surface. Furthermore, a device is provided for influencing a current between the first and the second structure, in order to reduce a current density in an area near to the surface and to increase it in an area far from the surface. In addition, a topology having an even absorption layer is proposed. The measures proposed have the aim of realizing a low-noise diode for thermal applications.
US09923011B2 Semiconductor device structure with stacked semiconductor dies
A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor die and a second semiconductor die. The semiconductor device structure also includes a passivation layer between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die, and the passivation layer is directly bonded to a second interlayer dielectric layer of the second semiconductor die. The semiconductor device structure further includes a conductive feature in via hole and directly bonded to a second conductive line of the second semiconductor die. The semiconductor device structure further includes a second barrier layer between the conductive feature and the passivation layer. The second barrier layer covers sidewalls of the conductive feature and a surface of the conductive feature closer to the first semiconductor die.
US09923006B2 Optical detection element and solid-state image pickup device
A radiation tolerant optical detection element includes: a p-type base-body region; a gate insulating film provided on an upper surface of the base-body region; an n-type buried charge-generation region buried in an upper portion of the base-body region; an n-type charge-readout region buried in an upper portion of the base-body region on the inner-contour side of the buried charge-generation region; an n-type reset-drain region buried on the inner-contour side of the charge-readout region; a transparent electrode provided on the gate insulating film above the buried charge-generation region; and a reset-gate electrode provided on a portion of the gate insulating film between the charge-readout region and the reset-drain region.
US09923002B2 Method for manufacturing TFT substrate and structure thereof
A TFT substrate includes a base plate on which first and second gate electrodes respectively corresponding to first and second TFTs are formed. A gate insulation layer, a semiconductor layer, and an etch stop layer are sequentially formed on the base plate and the first and second electrodes. A single photolithographic process is conducted simultaneously on the gate insulation layer, the semiconductor layer, and the etch stop layer with the same gray tone mask to form separate semiconductor portions for the two TFTs and also form contact holes in the etch stop layer and the gate insulation layer to receive sources and drains of the two TFTs to be deposited therein and in contact with the two semiconductor portions.
US09923001B2 Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
A highly reliable semiconductor device suitable for miniaturization and high integration is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor, a first insulator over the first transistor, a second transistor over the first insulator, a second insulator over the second transistor, and a capacitor over the second insulator. The first insulator has a barrier property against oxygen and hydrogen. The second transistor includes an oxide semiconductor. The second insulator includes an oxygen-excess region. The capacitor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a dielectric between the first electrode and the second electrode. The dielectric includes a third insulator having a barrier property against oxygen and hydrogen. The first insulator and the third insulator are in contact with each other on an outer edge of a region where the second transistor is located so that the second transistor and the second insulator are enclosed by the first insulator and the third insulator.
US09922998B2 Display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a substrate having a display area and a pad area, an active layer in the display area of the substrate, a pad electrode in the pad area of the substrate, and a planarization layer on the active layer and the pad electrode with a contact hole for exposing a part of the active layer. A maximum diameter of the contact hole has a size considering an increase in maximum diameter of the contact hole while the planarization layer in the pad area is removed after the planarization layer is formed on the display area and the pad area. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize an increase in size of the contact hole in the display area while the planarization layer is removed, thereby reducing process defects, such as a gap error, of the display apparatus.
US09922995B2 Structure of dual gate oxide semiconductor TFT substrate including TFT having top and bottom gates
The present invention provides a manufacture method of an oxide semiconductor TFT substrate and a structure thereof. The manufacture method of the dual gate oxide semiconductor TFT substrate utilizes the halftone mask to implement one photo process, which cannot only accomplish the patterning to the oxide semiconductor layer but also obtain the oxide conductor layer (52′) with ion doping process, and the oxide conductor layer (52′) is employed as being the pixel electrode of the LCD to replace the ITO pixel electrode in prior art; the method manufactures the source (81), the drain (82) and the top gate (71) at the same time with one photo process; the method implements patterning process to the passivation layer (8) and the top gate isolation layer (32) together with one photo process, to reduce the number of the photo processes to nine for shortening the manufacture procedure, raising the production efficiency and lowering the production cost.
US09922994B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the semiconductor device
First to third insulators are successively formed in this order over a first conductor over a semiconductor substrate; a hard mask with a first opening is formed thereover; a resist mask with a second opening is formed thereover; a third opening is formed in the third insulator; a fourth opening is formed in the second insulator; the resist mask is removed; a fifth opening is formed in the first to third insulators; a second conductor is formed to cover an inner wall and a bottom surface of the fifth opening; a third conductor is formed thereover; polishing treatment is performed so that the hard mask is removed, and that levels of top surfaces of the second and third conductors and the third insulator are substantially equal to each other; and an oxide semiconductor is formed thereover. The second insulator is less permeable to hydrogen than the first and third insulators, the second conductor is less permeable to hydrogen than the third conductor.
US09922989B2 Memory device having interchangeable gate/channel transistor and manufacturing method of the same
A memory device is provided. The memory device includes a bottom conductive line, a stacked structure, a side oxide layer, a dielectric layer and a side semiconductor layer. The stacked structure is disposed on the bottom conductive line, and includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer disposed above the first semiconductor layer, and a plurality of oxide layers alternately stacked with the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The side oxide layer is disposed on both side walls of the first conductive layer. The dielectric layer is disposed on the stacked structure. The side semiconductor layer is disposed on the dielectric layer.
US09922979B2 Integrated circuit device and method of manufacturing the same
An integrated circuit (IC) device includes a fin-type active region formed in a substrate, a step insulation layer on at least one sidewall of the fin-type active region, and a first high-level isolation layer on the at least one sidewall of the fin-type active region. The fin-type active region protrudes from the substrate and extending in a first direction parallel to a main surface of the substrate, includes a channel region having a first conductivity type, and includes the stepped portion. The step insulation layer contacts the stepped portion of the fin-type active region. The step insulation layer is between the first high-level isolation layer and the at least one sidewall of the fin-type active region. The first high-level isolation layer extends in a second direction that is different from the first direction.
US09922978B2 Semiconductor structure with recessed source/drain structure and method for forming the same
A semiconductor structure and a method for forming the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a fin structure formed over a substrate and a first gate structure formed across the fin structure. The semiconductor structure further includes a first source/drain structure formed in the fin structure adjacent to the first gate structure and a first contact formed over the first source/drain structure. In addition, the first contact includes a first extending portion extending into the first source/drain structure.
US09922975B2 Integrated circuit having field-effect trasistors with dielectric fin sidewall structures and manufacturing method thereof
An integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor fin, a first epitaxy structure, and at least two first dielectric fin sidewall structures. The first epitaxy structure is disposed on the first semiconductor fin. The first dielectric fin sidewall structures are disposed on opposite sidewalls of the first epitaxy structure. The first dielectric fin sidewall structures have different heights.
US09922974B2 Semiconductor device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating semiconductor device includes the steps of: providing a substrate having a gate structure thereon; forming a silicon layer on the substrate to cover the gate structure entirely; planarizing the silicon layer; and performing a replacement metal gate (RMG) process to transform the gate structure into a metal gate.
US09922971B2 Integration of analog transistor
An integrated circuit has two parallel digital transistors and a perpendicular analog transistor. The digital transistor gate lengths are within 10 percent of each other and the analog gate length is at least twice the digital transistor gate length. The first digital transistor and the analog transistor are implanted by a first LDD implant which includes a two sub-implant angled halo implant process with twist angles perpendicular to the first digital transistor gate edge and parallel to the analog transistor gate edge. The second digital transistor and the analog transistor are implanted by a second LDD implant which includes a two sub-implant angled halo implant process with twist angles perpendicular to the second digital transistor gate edge and parallel to the analog transistor gate edge. The first halo dose is at least 20 percent more than the second halo dose.
US09922970B2 Interposer having stacked devices
An apparatus includes a substrate and an interposer associated with the substrate. The apparatus further includes a first device disposed within the substrate or within the interposer and a second device disposed within the interposer. The first device and the second device are arranged in a stacked configuration.
US09922960B2 Packaging structure of substrates connected by metal terminals
A packaging structure includes a first substrate including a first metal terminal and a second metal terminal whose height is lower than the height of the first metal terminal; and a second substrate including a third metal terminal and a fourth metal terminal whose height is lower than the height of the third metal terminal, the second substrate being provided on the first substrate, the first metal terminal and the third metal terminal being directly bonded with each other, and the second metal terminal and the fourth metal terminal being bonded via a connection portion.
US09922955B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming package-on-package structure electrically interconnected through TSV in WLCSP
A semiconductor wafer has a plurality of semiconductor die. First and second conductive layers are formed over opposing surfaces of the semiconductor die, respectively. Each semiconductor die constitutes a WLCSP. A TSV is formed through the WLCSP. A semiconductor component is mounted to the WLCSP. The first semiconductor component is electrically connected to the first conductive layer. A first bump is formed over the first conductive layer, and a second bump is formed over the second conductive layer. An encapsulant is deposited over the first bump and first semiconductor component. A second semiconductor component is mounted to the first bump. The second semiconductor component is electrically connected to the first semiconductor component and WLCSP through the first bump and TSV. A third semiconductor component is mounted to the first semiconductor component, and a fourth semiconductor component is mounted to the third semiconductor component.
US09922948B2 Semiconductor device with modified pad spacing structure
A semiconductor device is provided, including a substrate, an interconnection structure formed on the substrate, a first top conductive layer formed on the interconnection structure, bars formed on the interconnection structure, and a second top conductive layer formed above the first top conductive layer. The first top conductive layer includes several first conducting portions spaced apart from each other, and at least one of the bars is positioned between adjacent two of the first conducting portions.
US09922944B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A first film (3) is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor wafer (1). A second film (4) is formed on the first film (3). A surface protection film (5) is formed to cover the first film (3) and second film (4). After forming the surface protection film (5), a reverse surface of the semiconductor wafer (1) is etched with a chemical liquid. The first film (3) is formed on an outer peripheral section of the semiconductor wafer (1). The second film (4) is not formed on the outer peripheral section of the semiconductor wafer (1). The first film (3) and the surface protection film (5) are adhered to each other in the outer peripheral section of the semiconductor wafer (1). The first film (3) has a higher adhesion to the surface protection film (5) than the second film (4).
US09922941B1 Thin low defect relaxed silicon germanium layers on bulk silicon substrates
A strain relaxed silicon germanium layer that has a low defect density is formed on a surface of a silicon substrate without causing wafer bowing. The strain relaxed silicon germanium layer is formed using multiple epitaxial growing, bonding and transferring steps. In the present application, a thick silicon germanium layer having a low defect density is grown on a transferred portion of a topmost silicon germanium sub-layer of an initial strain relaxed silicon germanium graded buffer layer and then bonded to a silicon substrate. A portion of the thick silicon germanium layer is then transferred to the silicon substrate. Additional steps of growing a thick silicon germanium layer having a low defect density, bonding and layer transfer may be performed as necessary.
US09922940B2 Semiconductor device including air gaps between interconnects and method of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, and interconnects provided above the substrate. The device further includes a first insulator that is provided on the interconnects and on air gaps provided between the interconnects, surrounds the interconnects from lateral sides of the interconnects, and is formed of a first insulating material. The device further includes a second insulator that surrounds an interconnect region including the interconnects and the air gaps from the lateral sides of the interconnects through the first insulator, includes no portion provided between the interconnects, and is formed of a second insulating material different from the first insulating material.
US09922935B2 Semiconductor package and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor package including a marking film and a method of fabricating the same are provided wherein a marking film including a thermoreactive layer may be applied to a molding layer to protect a semiconductor chip under the molding layer and to efficiently perform a marking process. The thickness of the molding layer may thereby be reduced so the entire thickness of the semiconductor package may be reduced. Also, it is possible to prevent warpage of the semiconductor package through the marking film, provide the surface of the semiconductor package with gloss and freely adjust the color of the surface of the semiconductor package.
US09922934B2 Semiconductor manufacturing process and package carrier
A package carrier includes a carrier and a light absorption layer. The light absorption layer is disposed on the carrier. The light absorption layer includes a notch at the periphery of the carrier, and the notch is light transmissive so as to expose the carrier to light in a normal direction of the carrier. A semiconductor manufacturing process is also provided.
US09922932B2 Resin structure having electronic component embedded therein, and method for manufacturing said structure
In a resin structure including a resin molded body and a plurality of electronic components embedded in the resin molded body, (i) the resin molded body has a plurality of exposed surfaces on which electrodes of the plurality of electronic components are exposed, (ii) the resin molded body has a recess formed therein, and (iii) the recess has a bottom surface which is at least one of the plurality of exposed surfaces.
US09922920B1 Semiconductor package and method for fabricating the same
A method of fabricating semiconductor packages includes providing an interposer layer having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, in which the interposer layer includes through interposer vias embedded inside, and the through interposer vias extended from the first surface toward the second surface, in which through interposer vias are patterned to form repetitive polygonal-packing units, and part of the through interposer vias can be grouped within at least two distinct said polygonal-packing units; subsequently, forming at least one redistribution layer on the first surface to form terminals on a surface of the redistribution layer away from the interposer layer, in which the terminals are selectively connected to the through interposer vias respectively; and then disposing at least one semiconductor chip on the redistribution layer, wherein the semiconductor chip includes active surfaces electrically connected to the terminals respectively.
US09922919B2 Electronic package structure having insulated substrate with lands and conductive patterns
In one embodiment, an electronic package includes a substrate having a plurality of lands embedded within an insulating layer. Conductive patterns are disposed on at least a portion of a respective land top surface. An electronic device is electrically connected to the conductive patterns and a package body encapsulating the top surface of the insulating material and the electronic device, wherein the bottom land surfaces are exposed to the outside. In another embodiment, the top land surfaces and the top surface of the insulating layer are substantially co-planar and the conductive patterns further overlap portions of the top surface of the insulating layer.
US09922918B2 Substrate for stacked module, stacked module, and method for manufacturing stacked module
A substrate for a stacked module includes a stacked insulator in which a plurality of insulator layers mainly composed of a thermoplastic resin are stacked, a conductor pattern arranged along the plurality of insulator layers in the stacked insulator, an embedded component connected to the conductor pattern, a pad provided on a surface of the stacked insulator and configured to be ultrasonically bonded to a bump of a mounted component to be mounted on the surface of the stacked insulator, and an auxiliary conductor pattern between the pad and the embedded component and extending in a range that covers the pad and the embedded component as viewed in a stacking direction of the plurality of insulator layers.
US09922906B2 Electronic device and manufacturing method of electronic device
An electronic device includes first to third terminals and a clip. The clip includes first to third joint portions and a connection portion. The first to third joint portions correspond to and are bonded to the first to third terminals, respectively. The connection portion connects the first to third joint portions. One terminal in the first to third terminals has a depressed portion depressed to one side in a predetermined direction to store a conductive bonding material. A variation in positions of the first to third terminals in the predetermined direction is absorbed by deformation of the conductive bonding material when one joint portion in the first to third joint portions corresponding to the one terminal is bonded to the one terminal through the conductive bonding material.
US09922900B2 Near-chip compliant layer for reducing perimeter stress during assembly process
A heat source (single semiconductor chip or group of closely spaced semiconductor chips of similar height) is provided on a first side of a substrate, which substrate has on said first side a support member comprising a compressible material. A heat removal component, oriented at an angle to said heat source, is brought into proximity of said heat source such that said heat removal component contacts said support member prior to contacting said heat source. Said heat removal component is assembled to said heat source such that said support member at least partially absorbs global inequality of force that would otherwise be applied to said heat source, absent said support member comprising said compressible material.
US09922894B1 Air cavity packages and methods for the production thereof
Air cavity packages and methods for producing air cavity packages containing sintered bonded components, multipart window frames, and/or other unique structural features are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating an air cavity package includes the step or process of forming a first metal particle-containing precursor layer between a base flange and a window frame positioned over the base flange. A second metal particle-containing precursor layer is further formed between the base flange and a microelectronic device positioned over the base flange. The metal particle-containing precursor layers are sintered substantially concurrently at a maximum processing temperature less than melt point(s) of metal particles within the layers to produce a first sintered bond layer from the first precursor layer joining the window frame to the base flange and to produce a second sintered bond layer from the second precursor layer joining the microelectronic device to the base flange.
US09922890B1 Integrated circuit including NCEM-enabled, snake-configured fill cells, with NCEM pads formed from at least three conductive stripes positioned between adjacent gates
An integrated circuit, in the form of a wafer, die, or chip, includes multiple standard cell-compatible fill cells, configured to enable non-contact electrical measurements. Such fill cells include mesh pads that contain at least three conductive stripes disposed between adjacent gate stripes. Such fill cells further include geometry to enable non-contact evaluation of snake opens and/or resistances.
US09922885B1 Semiconductor devices comprising nitrogen-doped gate dielectric
Some embodiments include semiconductor devices having first transistors of a first channel type and having second transistors of a second channel type. The first transistors include a first gate electrode, a first nitrogen-doped gate dielectric layer and a first high-k material. The second transistors include a second gate electrode, a second nitrogen-doped gate dielectric layer and a second high-k material. The second nitrogen-doped gate dielectric layer is doped with nitrogen to a different peak concentration than the first nitrogen-doped gate dielectric layer. Some embodiments include methods of forming PMOS and NMOS transistors having nitrogen-doped gate dielectric material.
US09922883B2 Method for making strained semiconductor device and related methods
A method for making a semiconductor device is provided. Raised source and drain regions are formed with a tensile strain-inducing material, after thermal treatment to form source drain extension regions, to thereby preserve the strain-inducing material in desired substitutional states.
US09922880B2 Method and apparatus of multi threshold voltage CMOS
A first and a second instance of a common structured stack are formed, respectively, on a first fin and a second fin. The common structured stack includes a work-function metal layer, and a barrier layer. The barrier layer of the first instance of the common structured stack is etched through, and the work-function metal layer of the first instance of the common structure is partially etched. The partial etch forms a thinner work-function metal layer, having an oxide of the work-function metal as a new barrier layer. A gate element is formed on the new barrier layer.
US09922876B1 Interconnect structure and fabricating method thereof
An interconnect structure including a substrate, a dielectric layer, a first conductive pattern, and a second conductive pattern is provided. The dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate and has an opening. The first conductive pattern is disposed in the opening. The second conductive pattern is disposed on the first conductive pattern and exposes an exposed portion of the first conductive pattern. The exposed portion of the first conductive pattern has a notch.
US09922860B2 Apparatus and methods for wafer chucking on a susceptor for ALD
Described are apparatus and methods for processing a semiconductor wafer so that the wafer remains in place during processing. The wafer is subjected to a pressure differential between the top surface and bottom surface so that sufficient force prevents the wafer from moving during processing, the pressure differential generated by applying a decreased pressure to the back side of the wafer.
US09922859B2 Joining device and joining system
A joining device for joining substrates together includes a first holding member configured to vacuum-suck a first substrate to draw and hold the first substrate on a lower surface thereof, and a second holding member disposed below the first holding member and configured to vacuum-suck a second substrate to draw and hold the second substrate on an upper surface thereof. The second holding member includes a body portion formed into a size larger than the second substrate when seen in a plan view and configured to vacuum-suck the second substrate, a plurality of pins provided on the body portion and configured to make contact with a rear surface of the second substrate, and an outer wall portion annularly provided on the body portion at an outer side of the plurality of pins and configured to support an outer periphery portion of the rear surface of the second substrate.
US09922855B2 Method for reducing temperature transition in an electrostatic chuck
A method for controlling a substrate temperature in a substrate processing system includes determining a temperature difference between the substrate temperature before the substrate is loaded onto a substrate support device and a desired temperature for the substrate support device and, during a first period, controlling a thermal control element to adjust the temperature of the substrate support device to a temperature value based on the temperature difference. The temperature value is not equal to the desired temperature for the substrate support device. The method further includes loading the substrate onto the substrate support device after the first period begins and before the temperature of the substrate support device returns to the desired temperature and, during a second period that follows the first period, controlling the temperature of the substrate support device to the desired temperature for the substrate support device.
US09922854B2 Vertical inline CVD system
The present invention generally relates to a vertical CVD system having a processing chamber that is capable of processing multiple substrates. The multiple substrates are disposed on opposite sides of the processing source within the processing chamber, yet the processing environments are not isolated from each other. The processing source is a horizontally centered vertical plasma generator that permits multiple substrates to be processed simultaneously on either side of the plasma generator, yet independent of each other. The system is arranged as a twin system whereby two identical processing lines, each with their own processing chamber, are arranged adjacent to each other. Multiple robots are used to load and unload the substrates from the processing system. Each robot can access both processing lines within the system.
US09922850B2 Apparatus for treating substrate
Disclosed is a substrate treating apparatus which includes a treating container having a treating space therein and including a plurality of collecting vessels surrounding the treating space and provided such that inlets for inputting a fluid in the treating space are vertically stacked on each other, a support unit supporting a substrate in the treating space, a solution supply unit supplying a treating solution to the substrate supported by the support unit, and elevation units respectively joined with the collecting vessels and lifting up and down the collecting vessels. Each of the elevation units includes a base having a ring shape and joined with a corresponding collecting vessel, an elevation load joined with the base, and a driver lifting up and down the elevation load.
US09922841B2 Plasma processing method
A plasma processing method uses a plasma processing apparatus including a processing chamber, a mounting table provided in the processing chamber and configured to support a target object, and a ceiling member made of silicon and provided above the mounting table. The plasma processing method includes loading the target object into the processing chamber and generating a plasma of a processing gas containing chlorine gas and oxygen gas in the processing chamber.
US09922837B2 Asymmetric application of pressure to a wafer during a CMP process
A method includes measuring a topography of a wafer, determining that a first portion of the wafer has a greater thickness than a specified thickness. The method further includes, after measuring the wafer, performing a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) process to a first side of the wafer, and during application of the CMP process, applying additional pressure to a region of the wafer, the region comprising an asymmetric part of the wafer, the region including at least a part of the first portion of the wafer.
US09922827B2 Method of forming a semiconductor structure
A method of cleaning a semiconductor structure includes rotating a semiconductor structure. The method of cleaning further includes cleaning the semiconductor structure with a hydrogen fluoride (HF)-containing gas. A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a recess in a source/drain (S/D) region of a transistor. The method of forming further includes cleaning the recess with a HF-containing gas, the HF-containing gas having an oxide removing rate of about 2 nanometer/minute (nm/min) or less. The method of forming further includes epitaxially forming a strain structure in the recess after the cleaning the recess, the strain structure providing a strain to a channel region of the transistor.
US09922820B2 Film forming method and film forming apparatus
A method of forming a silicon nitride film on a substrate in a vacuum vessel, includes forming the silicon nitride film by depositing a layer of reaction product by repeating a cycle a plurality of times. The cycle includes a first process of supplying a gas of a silicon raw material to the substrate to adsorb the silicon raw material to the substrate, subsequently, a second process of supplying a gas of ammonia in a non-plasma state to the substrate to physically adsorb the gas of the ammonia to the substrate, and subsequently, a third process of supplying active species obtained by converting a plasma forming gas containing a hydrogen gas for forming plasma into plasma to the substrate and causing the ammonia physically adsorbed to the substrate to react with the silicon raw material to form the layer of reaction product.
US09922817B2 Deposition of boron and carbon containing materials
Methods of depositing boron and carbon containing films are provided. In some embodiments, methods of depositing B,C films with desirable properties, such as conformality and etch rate, are provided. One or more boron and/or carbon containing precursors can be decomposed on a substrate at a temperature of less than about 400° C. In some embodiments methods of depositing silicon nitride films comprising B and C are provided. A silicon nitride film can be deposited by a deposition process including an ALD cycle that forms SiN and a CVD cycle that contributes B and C to the growing film.
US09922816B2 Source and drain process for FinFET
A FinFET includes a fin structure on a substrate; a dielectric layer provided on the fin structure; a metal gate crossing over the dielectric layer; two spacers respectively crossing over the dielectric layer abutting two opposite sidewalls of the metal gate, each of the two spacers having a length along a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fin structure; and a source and a drain. Each of the source and the drain having a first portion peripherally enclosed by the dielectric layer, and a second portion peripherally enclosed by the two spacers, in which the length of each of the two spacers is greater than a length of the second portion, and a length of a combination of the first portion and the second portion is greater than the length of each of the two spacers.
US09922811B2 Laser ablation cell
A laser ablation cell (1) comprises a flow channel (11) having an essentially constant cross-sectional area so as to ensure a strictly laminar flow in the flow channel. A sample chamber (21) is provided adjacent to a lateral opening (14) of the flow channel. A laser beam (41) enters the sample chamber (21) through a lateral window (16) and impinges on a surface (24) of a sample (23) to ablate material from the sample. The sample may be positioned in such a distance from the flow channel that the laser-generated aerosol mass distribution has its center within the flow channel. This leads to short aerosol washout times. The laser ablation as cell is particularly well suited for aerosol generation in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), including imaging applications.
US09922809B2 Deposition system for growth of inclined c-axis piezoelectric material structures
Systems and methods for growing hexagonal crystal structure piezoelectric material with a c-axis that is tilted (e.g., 25 to 50 degrees) relative to normal of a face of a substrate are provided. A deposition system includes a linear sputtering apparatus, a translatable multi-aperture collimator, and a translatable substrate table arranged to hold multiple substrates, with the substrate table and/or the collimator being electrically biased to a nonzero potential. An enclosure includes first and second deposition stations each including a linear sputtering apparatus, a collimator, and a deposition aperture.
US09922799B2 Apparatus of plural charged-particle beams
A multi-beam apparatus for observing a sample with high resolution and high throughput and in flexibly varying observing conditions is proposed. The apparatus uses a movable collimating lens to flexibly vary the currents of the plural probe spots without influencing the intervals thereof, a new source-conversion unit to form the plural images of the single electron source and compensate off-axis aberrations of the plural probe spots with respect to observing conditions, and a pre-beamlet-forming means to reduce the strong Coulomb effect due to the primary-electron beam.
US09922797B2 Microreactor for use in microscopy
An improved microreactor for use in microscopy, use of said microreactor, and a microscope comprising said reactor. The present invention is in the field of microscopy, specifically in the field of electron and focused ion beam microscopy (EM and FIB), and in particular Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). However its application is extendable in principle to any field of microscopy, especially wherein characteristics of a (solid) specimen (or sample) are studied in detail, such as during a reaction.
US09922796B1 Method for inspecting a specimen and charged particle multi-beam device
A method for inspecting a specimen with an array of primary charged particle beamlets in a charged particle beam device having an optical axis. The method includes generating a primary charged particle beam; illuminating a multi-aperture lens plate with the primary charged particle beam to generate the array of primary charged particle beamlets; and correcting a field curvature of the charged particle beam device with a first and a second field curvature correction electrode. The method further includes applying a voltage to the first and to the second field curvature correction electrode. At least one of the field strength provided by the first and the second field curvature correction electrode varies in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the charged particle beam device. The method further includes focusing the primary charged particle beamlets on separate locations on the specimen with an objective lens.
US09922794B2 Rotating anode X-ray tube
According to one embodiment, a rotating anode X-ray tube includes a fixed shaft, a rotor, a lubricant, target, and a supporting member. The fixed shaft includes a small-diameter portion provided with a first radial bearing surface including first grooved surfaces, and a large-diameter portion provided with a second radial bearing surface including second grooved surfaces. The rotor includes a third radial bearing surface. The lubricant is filled in a gap between the fixed shaft and the rotor, and drawn by the first and second grooved surfaces.
US09922785B2 Safety switch having interlocking handle and door
A safety switch includes a housing including first and second compartments that are separated by a barrier, a switch mechanism in the first compartment, one or more fuse holders in the second compartment, a first door connected to the housing and covering the first compartment, a second door connected to the housing, a handle connected to the switch mechanism, and a locking mechanism operatively connected to the handle. The handle is movable between an off position and an on position. The locking mechanism configured such that: the second door is locked in a closed position when the handle is in the on position; the second door is movable from the closed position to an open position to expose the second compartment when the handle is in the off position; and the handle is locked in the off position when the second door is in the open position.
US09922784B2 Control dial having multiple torque and detent profiles
A rotary dial assembly including a dial portion and a base portion. The dial portion has a knob extending from a first side of the dial portion. An outer detent profile and an inner detent profile are on a second side of the dial portion that is opposite to the first side. The inner detent profile is closer to a center of the dial portion than the outer detent profile. The outer detent profile includes a plurality of outer detents, and the inner detent profile includes a plurality of inner detents. The base portion includes an outer detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the outer detent profile, and an inner detent engaging member movable to selectively engage the inner detent profile.
US09922781B2 Hybrid MCCB employing electromechanical contacts and power electronic devices
A hybrid switch assembly for a circuit breaker assembly is provided. The circuit breaker assembly includes a housing assembly and an operating mechanism. The housing assembly defines a power electronic switch assembly cavity. A hybrid switch assembly includes a number of conductor assemblies, each conductor assembly including a movable conductor, and a stationary conductor. Further, each movable conductor is structured to move between an open, first position, wherein each movable conductor is spaced from and not in electrical communication with an associated stationary conductor, and a closed, second position, wherein each movable conductor is coupled to and in electrical communication with an associated stationary conductor. A number of the conductor assemblies further include a power electronic switch assembly. Each power electronic switch assembly includes an isolation contact assembly. Each isolation contact assembly is selectively coupled to, and in electronic communication with, the stationary conductor and the movable conductor.
US09922780B2 Switching device having an exchangeable switching piece assembly
A switching device including a switching chamber, in which a stationary switching piece is arranged opposite a movable switching piece, where the stationary switching piece is placed on a plastic carrier part and this component combination of stationary switching piece and plastic carrier part is configured as an exchangeable switching piece assembly.
US09922779B2 Electrical enclosure, and switching assembly and transfer assembly therefor
A transfer assembly is for a switching assembly of an electrical enclosure. The switching assembly includes an electrical switching apparatus having an operating handle structured to move from an OFF position to an ON position. The transfer assembly includes a driving handle; a first shaft member coupled to the driving handle; a second shaft member structured to be coupled to the operating handle; and a transmission assembly having a first component and a second component, the first component being coupled to the first shaft member, the second component being coupled to the second shaft member. The transfer assembly is structured to move from a FIRST position to a SECOND position. When the transfer assembly moves from the FIRST position to the SECOND position, the first component drives the second component, thereby causing the second shaft member to move the operating handle from the OFF position to the ON position.
US09922774B2 High density electrode for electric dual layer capacitor and method of manufacturing the same
A high density electrode includes a through type aluminum sheet, a plurality of first hollow protrusion members protruded to one side of the through type aluminum sheet, a plurality of second hollow protrusion members protruded to the other side of the through type aluminum sheet, a first active material sheet bonded to the first surface of the through type aluminum sheet, and a second active material sheet bonded to the second surface of the second surface of the through type aluminum sheet.
US09922766B2 Ceramic electronic component
A ceramic electronic component includes a dielectric layer and an electrode layer. The dielectric layer contains barium titanate and yttrium. The dielectric layer contains dielectric particles and Y—Ti segregation particles. An area ratio occupied by the Y—Ti segregation particles is 1.3% or less on a cross section of the dielectric layer.
US09922765B2 Manufacturing method for laminated electronic component
In a method of manufacturing a laminated electronic component, in a step of obtaining a laminate, a position of a second green sheet with respect to a first green sheet is determined such that an overall width of a first portion printed on the first green sheet and a second portion printed on the second green sheet becomes substantially equal to a width of the first portion or a width of the second portion.
US09922755B2 Joint connector
In the process of mounting a joint terminal (5) into a first terminal accommodating portion (16) of a housing (15), tab terminals (6) of the joint terminal (5) move forward along tab entrance paths (26) formed in the housing (15). The tab entrance path (26) is formed with a cam portion (27) spiral about an axis thereof. As the tab terminal (6) moves forward in the tab entrance path (26), a follower portion (8) formed at an intermediate position of the tab terminal (6) is guided by the cam portion (27). Thus, the tab terminal (6) is twisted about an axis. In this way, resilient contact pieces (14) of female terminals (9A, 9B) face the tab terminals (6) in a plate surface direction of the tab terminals (6) and are connected to the tab terminals (6).
US09922740B2 Nuclear power generation system
A nuclear power generation system and related power cycle are disclosed, in one embodiment, the system includes primary coolant circulation through a hydraulically interconnected reactor containing nuclear fuel and a steam generating vessel collectively defining a steam supply system. Liquid secondary coolant for the power cycle flows through the steam generating vessel and is converted to steam by the primary coolant to drive a low pressure turbine of a turbine-generator set. Steam exiting the turbine is condensed and heated prior to return to the steam supply system, thereby completing a secondary coolant flow loop. In one embodiment, a majority of the secondary coolant heating occurs within the steam generating vessel via heat exchange with the primary coolant rather than externally in the secondary coolant flow loop. This creates a temperature differential between the primary and secondary coolant sufficient to create natural thermally induced convective circulation of the primary coolant.
US09922738B2 Traveling reactor power monitoring system and method for monitoring driving torque
A traveling reactor power monitoring system includes a drive control unit configured to drive a motor and move a traveling probe in a guide tube by driving the motor, a torque sensor configured to measure a drive torque of the motor, and a drive torque monitoring unit that generates an alarm when the measured drive torque exceeds a predefined upper threshold, and that bypasses generating the alarm for a predefined bypass time, the predefined bypass time starting at a time of starting driving the motor.
US09922734B2 Containment vent system with passive mode for boiling water reactors (BWRS), and method thereof
A system and a method for a passive containment vent system for a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). The system is capable of venting and scrubbing a gaseous discharge from the primary containment of the BWR over a prolonged period of time leading up to or following a serious plant accident, without the need for monitoring by on-site plant personnel. External electrical power is not required (following initial activation of the system) in order to operate the containment vent system. The system may protect the integrity of primary containment during and following the serious plant accident.
US09922710B1 Resistance variable memory apparatus and read circuit and method therefor
A resistance variable memory apparatus in accordance with an embodiment may include a memory cell array and a read circuit. The memory cell array may include a plurality of resistance variable memory cells coupled between a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines. The read circuit may couple a word line, to which a selected resistance variable memory cell is coupled, to a first ground voltage supply terminal for a preset first time period before an amount of current flowing through the selected resistance variable memory cell is detected. The read circuit may couple a bit line, to which the selected resistance variable memory cell is coupled, to a power voltage supply terminal for a preset second time period, in a read operation.
US09922705B1 Reducing select gate injection disturb at the beginning of an erase operation
A memory device and associated techniques avoid a disturb of a select gate transistor during an erase operation for memory cells in a string. During the erase operation, a channel gradient near the select gate transistors is reduced when the voltages of the drain and source ends of a memory string are increased to an erase level which charges up the channel. In one approach, the voltage of the word line which is adjacent to a select gate line is temporarily increased. Another approach builds off the first approach by temporarily increasing the voltage of the select gate line at the same time as the increase in the word line voltage.
US09922696B1 Circuits and micro-architecture for a DRAM-based processing unit
A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) processing unit (DPU) may include at least one computing cell array that may include a plurality of DRAM-based computing cells arranged in an array having at least one column in which the at least one column may include at least three rows of DRAM-based computing cells configured to provide a logic function that operates on a first row and a second row of the at least three rows and configured to store a result of the logic function in a third row of the at least three rows.
US09922695B2 Apparatus and method for page copying within sections of a memory
An apparatus comprises: a source array of memory cells with associated source sense amplifiers; a destination array of memory cells with associated destination sense amplifiers; and logic to activate a source word-line (WL) to select a row of memory cells within the source array such that data in the selected row of memory cells is latched by the associated source sense amplifiers, wherein the logic to activate a destination WL to select a row of memory cells within the destination array such that data in the selected row of memory cells is latched by the associated destination sense amplifiers, and wherein the source and destination arrays of memory cells are within a same bank of a memory.
US09922687B2 Memory system, semiconductor device and methods of operating the same
A memory system, a semiconductor memory device and methods of operating the same may perform a read operation on the basis of flag data stored in a flag register, without reading the flag data stored in a memory array, when performing the read operation, so that a time taken for the read operation may be reduced.
US09922682B1 Systems and methods for organizing video files
Electronic information defining visual content within video frames for playback may be accessed. The electronic information may be divided into electronic information parts defining separate temporal segments of the visual content. Headers may be generated and appended to the electronic information parts. The headers may include locators indicating locations of video frames in the electronic information parts. Two or more of the electronic information parts may be combined into combined electronic information. The combined electronic information may include a combine header. The combined header may include locators indicating locations of video frames in the combined electronic information.
US09922671B2 Main pole layer with at least two sacrificial layers and a gap layer
A write head having a main pole, a gap layer, and at least two sacrificial layers. In accordance with one embodiment, a method includes depositing a non-magnetic gap layer of material above a main pole layer of magnetic material; depositing a sacrificial layer of material above the non-magnetic gap layer of material; etching a portion of the sacrificial layer of material while not entirely removing the sacrificial layer of material; and depositing additional sacrificial material to the etched sacrificial layer.
US09922666B2 Conversational analytics
A computer-implemented method includes determining a meeting has initialized between a first user and a second user, wherein vocal and video recordings are produced for at least the first user. The method receives the vocal and video recordings for the first user. The method analyzes the vocal and video recordings for the first user according to one or more parameters for speech and one or more parameters for gestures. The method determines one or more emotions and a role in the meeting for the first user based at least on the analyzed vocal and video recordings. The method sends an output of analysis to at least one of the first user and the second user, wherein the output of analysis includes at least the determined one or more emotions and the role in the meeting for the first user.
US09922637B2 Microphone noise suppression for computing device
A computing device with a microphone system is disclosed. The computing device includes a microphone system with an environment microphone and a noise microphone. The environment microphone picks up an environment microphone signal which includes (1) a desired signal component based on desired sound and (2) a noise component based on noise from a noise source. The noise microphone picks up a noise microphone signal based on the noise, and is configured such that contributions to the noise microphone signal from the desired sound, if present, are attenuated relative to the environment microphone. A controller receives and processes time samples from the noise microphone signal to yield a noise estimation of the noise component. The estimation is subtracted from the environment microphone signal to yield and end-user output.
US09922636B2 Mitigation of unstable conditions in an active noise control system
The technology described in this document can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes receiving a portion of a feedback signal of an active noise control (ANC) system, and processing the portion of the feedback signal using an adaptive line enhancer (ALE) filter to detect a tonal signature. The method also includes determining, by one or more processing devices, that the tonal signature represents an unstable condition, and responsive to determining that the tonal signature represents an unstable condition, generating one or more control signals for adjusting one or more parameters of the ANC system, to mitigate the unstable condition.
US09922634B2 Sound insulation constructions and methods of using the same
Sound insulation constructions, multilayer constructions for acoustically insulating a source of sound from a receiver that include one or more sound insulation constructions, structures comprising one or more sound insulation constructions and/or multilayer constructions, and a method for acoustically insulating a source of sound from a receiver. In some embodiments, the sound insulation construction includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer can include a bonded fiber nonwoven web exhibiting a work of compression of at least about 0.7 kJ/m3 and an airflow resistance of no greater than 10,000 Rayls/m. The second layer can exhibit an airflow resistance of greater than 10,000 Rayls/m. In some embodiments, the method includes coupling the first layer to a surface of a vehicle to attenuate sound in at least a portion of the vehicle.
US09922625B2 Guitar bridge assembly with string-specific saddles and stopbar
A stringed instrument bridge assembly for a stringed instrument having a plurality of strings of different gauges, the bridge assembly including a stringed instrument bridge; and a plurality of string-specific saddles arranged within the stringed instrument bridge. Each of the plurality of string-specific saddles includes a respective notch structured and arranged for accommodating therein a respective string of the plurality of strings. Each of the respective notches is configured in a string-specific manner to accommodate therein a string at least one of: configured to produce a particular note, having specific string gauge, and within a range of string gauges configured to produce a particular note.
US09922623B2 Emboldening of outline fonts
Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable storage media for increasing the weight of a character are described. In one aspect, the method includes receiving a vector character description and an emboldening parameter of an initial character. Vertices of an emboldened representation of the initial character are calculated by moving each vertex of the initial character based on a combination of the emboldening parameter and a stroke width for each vertex associated with the vertex, such that each stroke of the emboldened representation of the initial character is thickened based on the width of the stroke. The emboldened representation of the initial character are formed using the calculated vertices to increase the weight of the initial character.
US09922622B2 Shifting carrier frequency to avoid interference
In a method of avoiding interference in an integrated capacitive sensor device and display device, a first transmitter signal having a first frequency is transmitted with a combination electrode of the integrated capacitive sensor device and display device. The combination electrode is configured for both capacitive sensing and display updating. A shift is made from transmitting the first transmitter signal with the combination electrode to transmitting a second transmitter signal with the combination electrode. The shift is made by changing a duration of at least one non-display update time period of the display device. The second transmitter signal has a second frequency, and the shifting occurs based at least in part upon an amount of interference.
US09922615B2 Operational amplifying circuit and liquid crystal panel drive device using the same
An operational amplifier circuit includes: a first differential amplifier section containing a P-type differential pair of P-type transistors; a second differential amplifier section containing an N-type differential pair of N-type transistors; an intermediate stage connected with outputs of the first and second differential amplifier sections and containing a first current mirror circuit of P-type transistors, and a second current mirror circuit of N-type transistors; and an output stage configured to amplify an output of the intermediate stage in power. The first differential amplifier section includes a first current source and a first capacitance between sources of the P-type transistors of the P-type differential pair and a positive side power supply voltage. The second differential amplifier section includes a second current source and a second capacitance between sources of the N-type transistors of the N-type differential pair and a negative side power supply voltage.
US09922613B2 Image display device
In a liquid crystal display device, it is determined whether or not image data inputted from the outside has changed from image data of the previous frame by comparing those image data with respect to each line. As a result, when it is determined that the image data has changed, an entire screen is not rewritten, but image data from a top of a screen as a fixed position to a last line with the image data having changed are read from a frame memory and written into a pixel formation portion. Accordingly, of the screen for one frame, a screen from a top thereof to the last line where the image change has been detected is updated, and on subsequent lines, an image of the previous frame is continuously displayed.
US09922601B2 Backlight unit and display device
The invention provides a backlight unit used in a display device. The backlight unit includes a light source which is driven by a pulse wave having a predetermined duty cycle. The light source emits light including a first color light and a second color light. The frequency of the pulse wave is at least 360 Hz.
US09922598B2 Organic light emitting diode display and method for sensing characteristic thereof
Embodiments relate to selectively sensing device characteristics of pixels in a sensing period. Input image displayed on a display panel is analyzed to determine the complexity or gray level difference in different portions of the input image. Based on analysis, the portions of the display panel likely to result in significantly difference in device characteristics are selected with smaller intervals but portions of the display panel likely to experience the same or similar device characteristics are selected with larger intervals. The device characteristics of only the selected pixels are sensed in a sensing period while the remaining pixels are estimated based on the sensed device characteristics.
US09922591B2 Display driving method and mobile apparatus thereof
A display driving method includes: performing a display scan function and a display stop function during a plurality of frame periods; during one frame period, outputting, alternately and sequentially along a scan direction, N scan signals according to K clock signals when performing the display scan function, wherein each of the scan signals has an enable period of a scan line, the clock signals sequentially have a delay, and each of the clock signals is a periodic signal with K delays as one period; providing a driving control signal and disabling the clock signals when performing the display stop function during a display stop period, wherein an initiation time position of the display stop period is changed based on an offset between two neighboring frame periods, and the neighboring frame periods have no overlapping or interlacing interval.
US09922589B2 Emission electrode scanning circuit, array substrate and display apparatus
There provide an emission electrode scanning circuit, an array substrate and a display apparatus. The emission electrode scanning circuit includes a plurality of sub scanning circuits connected in cascades, each of which includes a shift register unit, a scanning signal generation unit and a driving output unit. Each sub scanning circuit provides a driving signal to the emission electrode respectively, thereby avoiding bringing in a plurality of driving signal lines from outside of the array substrate. And the plurality of sub scanning circuits shares the emission electrode driving signal line and needs an input of only one start signal to drive the emission electrode scanning circuit to send the emission electrode driving signal progressively. The emission electrode scanning circuit is suitable to be integrated in the seal region of the array substrate, without setting the Fan-out having numerous input lines, which is advantageous for implementing the narrow frame of the display apparatus and also avoids crosstalk produced between the input lines and the gate voltage lines.
US09922588B2 Image display device
A liquid crystal display device (100) according to the present invention comprises: a transparent-display-area extraction circuit (15) for extracting an area to be used as a transparent display area from an input image signal (Sin); a subfield generation circuit (21) which divides the input image signal (Sin) into a plurality of subfields to generate a subfield image signal (Ssf) and reads, from a resister (22), transparency setting data (Dts) for forcibly changing the transparent display area to a state of transparent display in all the subfields; and a display panel drive unit (23,30) which displays an image on a crystal liquid panel (60) for each subfield on the basis of the subfield image signal (Ssf) and changes the transparent display area into a state of transparent display on the liquid crystal panel (60) on the basis of the transparency setting data (Dts).
US09922579B2 Gallbladder model
An anatomical model for surgical training is provided. The model includes a first layer simulating a liver and a second layer including a simulated gallbladder. A third layer having an inner surface and an outer surface is provided between the first and second layer. The outer surface of the third layer is adhered to the first layer at location around the simulated gallbladder and the simulated gallbladder is adhered to the inner surface of the third layer. A fourth layer is provided that overlays both the second layer and the simulated gallbladder. A frame is embedded within the first layer and is connectable to a support. The model provides a substantially upright projection of a simulated gallbladder and liver in a retracted orientation ideally suited for practicing laparoscopic cholecystectomy when inserted inside a simulated insufflated cavity of laparoscopic trainer.
US09922576B2 Ingestion intelligence acquisition system and method for ingestible material preparation system and method
Prior to dispensing of the one or more selected ingestible products for ingestion by the particular individual living being of the selected ingestible products, the at least partial preparation of the one or more selected ingestible products occurring within a first vicinity of the electronically outputting of the electronically generated one or more selection menus; and electronically directing control at least in part of acquisition of ingestion intelligence including information related to ingestion by the particular individual living being of at least one of the one or more selected ingestible products, the ingestion by the particular individual living being within a second vicinity of the electronically outputting of the electronically generated one or more selection menus. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US09922568B2 Aircraft flight management unit and method of monitoring such a unit
A flight management unit includes two guidance subsystems each including a flight management system, each of the flight management systems being configured at least to extract a flight plan from at least one navigation database, to construct a flight trajectory, and to compute guidance commands for the aircraft. The flight management unit also includes at least one monitoring unit configured to compute a guidance command from a validated flight trajectory and a consolidated flight plan and to monitor the guidance command, as well as guidance commands computed by the two flight management systems so as to be able to detect and to identify a defective flight management system.
US09922564B2 Vehicle pedestrian safety system and methods of use and manufacture thereof
The systems and methods are directed to a vehicle control system for use with: a vehicle communications network, at least one source of pedestrian data relevant to at least one pedestrian's location, and at least one source of vehicle system data relevant to the vehicle's location and movement. The control system can include a processor that is configured to determine a vehicle's current location and speed based on the vehicle system data, build a predetermined number of vehicle polygons hardcoded into an application for representing a predicted path of the vehicle, build at least one pedestrian polygon representing a predicted path for at least one pedestrian detected in pedestrian data, and define a plurality of warning zones based on the vehicle polygons, and determine if one or more of the pedestrian polygons intersects at least one of the predetermined number of hardcoded vehicle polygons.
US09922562B2 Intelligent parking system
The present invention is a system for intelligently managing parking spaces and facilities. A preferred embodiment of the present invention would include a system comprising one or more parking barrier devices, connected over a network to a system back-end that manages parking space utilization, barrier operation and status, and inputs from one or multiple user applications.
US09922556B2 Traffic light system and method
The present invention is a system and method for dynamically and accurately allocating green light time of a traffic light at a given intersection by counting the number of vehicles located in an approach to a given intersection. A signal controller radio transceiver of a stationary intersection mounted control unit (CU) receives identifying signals transmitted by the on board vehicle radio transceiver of vehicles located at an approach to this intersection. A signal controller interface processing unit of the CU at the given intersection is operable to disregard signals transmitted by vehicles located at one or more upstream intersections and by pedestrians and passengers of a common motor vehicle. The number of vehicles located at an approach is thereby counted, allowing the CU to dynamically allocate green light time of a corresponding traffic light in accordance with traffic arrangement, for example per approach or per signal group, and design preferences.
US09922551B2 Remote control system
Provided is a remote control system with which leakage current flowing in a switch can be reduced so that power consumption can be reduced. The remote control system includes a portable information terminal, a server, and an electric device. The on/off of the switch included in the electric device is controlled using information transmitted from the portable information terminal to the server. The switch includes a transistor formed using a semiconductor whose band gap is larger than that of single crystal silicon in a channel formation region.
US09922538B2 Alarm and monitoring system and method of operation thereof
An alarm and monitoring system including a primary device and at least one secondary device, the alarm and monitoring system including at least one controller configured to: determine whether at least one alarm event is set; establish a wireless communication between a primary device and the secondary device, when it is determined that the alarm event has been set; transmit an alarm event signal including alarm information from the primary device to the secondary device in accordance with the alarm event that is determined to have been set; generate an alarm signal by the secondary device in accordance with at least the alarm information; and render the generated alarm signal on a rendering device. The controller being configured to generate and send an actuator control signal to an actuator to adjust a condition to a predetermined state.
US09922536B2 Helmet and method of use for emergency notification
A wearable emergency alert apparatus includes a communication device configured to communicate an alert to a node on a communications network external to the wearable emergency alert apparatus, a shock sensor in communication with the communication device, where the shock sensor is pre-configured to send a message to the communication device based on experiencing pressure from a source external to the wearable emergency alert apparatus exceeding a pre-determined threshold, and where the communication device is configured to communicate the alert based on receiving the message. The apparatus also includes a microcontroller communicatively coupled to one or more of: the communication device, or the shock sensor and a heat sensor communicatively coupled to the microcontroller. Based on the heat sensor obtaining a heat value exceeding a given threshold, the microcontroller activates one or more of: the communication device, or the shock sensor. A power source is also electronically coupled to the communication device and the microcontroller.
US09922535B2 Systems and methods for processing ultrasonic inputs
Hazard detection systems and methods according to embodiments described herein are operative to enable a user to interface with the hazard detection system by performing a touchless gesture. The touchless gesture can be performed in a vicinity of the hazard detection system without requiring physical access to the hazard detection system. This enables the user to interact with the hazard detection system even if it is out of reach. The hazard detection system can detect gestures and perform an appropriate action responsive to the detected gesture. In one embodiment, the hazard detection system can silence its audible alarm or pre-emptively turn off its audible alarm in response to a detected gesture. Gestures can be detected using one or more ultrasonic sensors, or gestures can be detected using a motion detector in combination with one or more ultrasonic sensors.
US09922518B2 Notification of incoming projectiles
Described embodiments include a real-time system, method, and apparatus. A system includes an incoming object sensor configured to be worn by a human and to acquire data indicative of a trajectory of an incoming projectile. The system includes a warning device configured to be worn by the human and to provide a notification to the human. The system includes a processing circuit configured to (i) receive the data indicative of a trajectory of the incoming projectile; (ii) predict a spatial relationship of the trajectory of the incoming projectile relative to the human; and (iii) initiate a notification by the warning device suggesting a movement by the human to evade the incoming projectile.
US09922514B2 Apparatus and methods for alarm verification based on image analytics
A method for verification of alarms is disclosed. The method involves receiving an alarm signal trigger associated with an alarm signal, receiving video data from a premise associated with the alarm signal, rapidly analyzing the video data to test for the existence a significant event, and when a significant event exists, sending a representation of a segment of interest of the video data, the segment of interest being associated with the significant event, to a user.
US09922507B2 Self-learning suppression of secondary barcodes
Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, methods, and software for self-learning suppression of secondary barcodes. One such embodiment, in the form of a method, includes receiving barcode data read by a barcode scanning device and determining whether the barcode data is stored in a local database. In such embodiments, when the barcode data is not stored in the local database, the method sends the barcode data to a transaction processing system. Otherwise, when the barcode data is stored in the local database, the method includes executing at least one function associated with the barcode data stored in the local database, such as ignoring the barcode data and causing a barcode reading device to search for another barcode to read.
US09922503B2 Cooperating reels
Certain embodiments provide systems, methods, and apparatus for game play, including cooperative reel and/or symbol game play. A method includes initiating a game for play by a player at a gaming system. The method also includes determining a player combination of one or more symbols. The method further includes determining a dealer combination of one or more symbols. Additionally, the method includes comparing the player combination and the dealer combination to determine a result. The method includes outputting the result to the gaming system for player view.
US09922498B2 System and method of revealing the outcomes of real world wagers through geolocation reveals
The invention relates to systems and methods of placing real-world wagers, obtaining outcomes of the real-world wagers, facilitating user interactions with various interactive media, and revealing the outcomes of the real-world wagers through location-based reveals to give an appearance that the outcomes of the real-world wagers resulted from the user location even though the outcomes resulted from the real-world wagers. The system may associate certain locations with a reveal such that when a user enters, is determined to be at, and/or leaves a reveal location, a reveal opportunity may be presented to the user. For example, the system may invite the user to make a purchase at a nearby partner retailer for a chance to win a payout or be guaranteed to win a payout and/or may simply obtain a particular payout (e.g., via cash, item, etc.) when a user enters a particular location.
US09922493B2 Gaming system and method for providing and redeeming partial wagering game outcomes
Methods, computer readable media and systems related to wagering games, and in particular those that concern providing and redeeming partial game outcomes. One example method includes receiving a completion request from a player who is operating a gaming device to complete at least one partial game outcome. The partial game outcome was previously provided to the player, who used a first device that is different than the gaming device. This example method includes determining that the player is entitled to a complete game outcome, displaying the partial game outcome on the gaming device, determining the complete game outcome, and then displaying the complete game outcome.
US09922492B2 Gaming machine, control method for machine, and program for gaming machine
A gaming machine that provides an operation unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The operation unit is configured to receive an operation of the player. The display unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and is configured to display a symbol display area. The symbol display area includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid. The control unit is operably coupled to the operation unit and the display unit and being configured to initiate a game in response to player operation and to establish an outcome of the game. During the game, the control unit, in response to a trigger condition, is further configured to establish a set of replacement symbols and to divide the set of replacements symbols into two groups and to display the replacement groups using features or feature animations.
US09922487B2 Device for use in detecting counterfeit or altered bullion, coins or metal
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a system for detecting counterfeit or altered coins or bullion includes a sensor system, an alternating current (AC) power supply electrically connected to the sensor system, a detection system electrically connected to the sensor system and the AC power supply, and a data processor configured to communicate with the detection system. The sensor system comprises an impedance component and a measurement circuit. The detection system is configured to determine a calibration complex impedance and a sample complex impedance. The data processor is configured to receive the calibration complex impedance and the sample complex impedance from the detection system, and provide information regarding a composition of the sample to distinguish valid coins and bullion from at least one of counterfeit or altered coins and bullion.
US09922486B2 Unique identification of coin or other object
A method of producing an authenticatable article. An overt feature is produced in the article using a fabricating technique which is selected based on a material of the article so as to produce the overt feature having predetermined, reproducible macroscopic characteristics as well as random, non-reproducible microscopic characteristics rendering the article physically unique. The overt feature including the microscopic characteristics are imageable using a predetermined imaging technology to produce an overt feature image. An authentication signature is generated based on the overt feature image and stored in a central database. The overt feature may alternatively be produced in an apparatus or means used to manufacture authenticatable articles such that the overt feature including the random, microscopic characteristics is reproduced in the articles. The overt feature and generated authentication code therefore corresponds to articles manufactured using that apparatus or means.
US09922467B2 System and method for processing distribution items in a distribution network
Systems and methods for processing distribution items having unique identifiers affixed thereon. The unique identifiers can include computer readable codes and written alphanumeric strings generated by a user. A system receives the unique identifier and requests payment information from a user, and stores an association between the unique identifier and the payment information, and processes the item according to the payment information.
US09922464B2 Occluded virtual image display
Embodiments described herein include an augmented reality (AR) optical system, and associated method and computer program product, defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point. The optical system comprises an imagery display configured to display images using a received first display signal, and a beam-splitter disposed within the field of view and configured to cause the displayed images to appear in a first focal plane within the field of view. The optical system further comprises an occluding display disposed within the field of view and configured to display, based on the first display signal, occluding images in a second focal plane nearer to the beam-splitter than the first focal plane, thereby reducing environmental light at the optical reference point for at least a portion of the displayed images.
US09922458B2 Methods and systems for generating polycube segmentations from input meshes of objects
A method for generating a polycube segmentation of an input object comprises: providing an input mesh of the object comprising a plurality of surface faces; generating an initial polycube labeling for the faces by assigning, to each face, a label which is one of six directions (±X,±Y,±Z) aligned with a set of Cartesian axes, the initial polycube labeling defining a plurality of charts, and generating the initial polycube labeling comprising effecting a tradeoff between competing objectives of: making the initial polycube labeling relatively compact; and making the initial polycube labeling relatively faithful to the input object. The method further comprises generating an updated polycube segmentation by changing the label assigned to each of one or more surface faces and thereby modifying one or more of the charts to provide the charts with monotonic boundaries.
US09922455B2 Room planning system and method
A room planning system, generally at 10, comprises a host site 12 and a local site 14, two-way communication between which is represented by arrows A. On the host site is a host processor 16, which is connected to a database 18. On the local site is a local processor 20 that is connected to user input apparatus, in the form of a keyboard 24 and mouse 26, and to a graphical user interface, in the form of a display 28. The database 18 contains data of a plurality of types of product that are available for the design of a room space. In the example of a kitchen room space, the database contains product details of items such as room fixtures, floor units, wall units, worktops, handles, cornices, plinths, pelmets, sinks, taps, appliances and accessories. The host processor 16 is in communication with one or more local processors 20 via a communications network represented by arrows A, which could be a wide area network, such as the Internet. The local processor 20, which may comprise a personal computer, has stored thereon a computer program for causing the processor 20 carry out a room space design method, and for displaying a design template, and an image of the design, on the display 28, as will be described below. A 3-D engine, located within the local processor 20, is able to create and display a virtual room space on the display 28.
US09922438B2 Method and apparatus for switching real-time image in instant messaging
A method and an apparatus for switching a real-time image in instant messaging are provided, where the method includes: providing a camera installed in the terminal; receiving a real-time image turn-on instruction inside an instant messaging window indicated on the terminal, and turning on the camera according to the real-time image turn-on instruction; receiving a real-time image acquired by the camera; and switching a background of the instant messaging window to the real-time image, the real-time image being placed behind a text of the instant messaging window.
US09922428B2 Vibration image acquisition and processing
A shaker test apparatus is provided along with a method of collecting and processing images, wherein a shaker table is driving the device under test by a vibration controller at a known vibration frequency and period, wherein a device under test obtains a steady-state vibration characteristic of that excitation frequency when mounted on the shaker table. While the device under test is being excited, a trigger signal controller triggers a camera to capture a series of still image frames at a regular sampling frequency that is less than the vibration frequency (under-sampling), and a timer associated with the camera records a timestamp of an image capture time for each image frame. A computer processor uses the timestamps to remap the order of the image frames, shifting each frame's capture time backwards by a specified multiple of vibration periods in order to correctly represent a single vibration period beginning with an earliest captured image.
US09922426B2 Reducing latency in presenting map interfaces at client devices
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for reducing latency in transmitting and presenting map user interfaces. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, from a client device, a request for presentation of an interactive map user interface that depicts (i) a region and (ii) data related to an account for sub-regions of the region. One or more servers render a map of the region. The server(s) generate an image file representing an image of the rendered map. A different visual characteristic is assigned to each different sub-region. The server(s) configure a user interface of the client device to present (i) the image with each of the different sub-regions being presented according to the different visual characteristics and (ii) account data related to a sub-region when the client device detects a user interaction with the sub-region.
US09922421B1 Diffusion ellipsoid mapping of tissue
Disclosed herein are methods and devices for generating novel diffusion ellipsoid maps from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scan data. One example method includes: (i) generating, from DTI scan data, for each voxel in a plurality of voxels in one or more slabs of a target tissue, a respective diffusion tensor; (ii) generating, for each voxel, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the respective diffusion tensor and a respective set of diffusion parameters; (iii) partitioning the voxels into two groups, wherein voxels, whose respective set of diffusion parameters is such that each element in the set is smaller than a corresponding element in a set of thresholds, are substantially all in a first group of the two groups; and (iv) providing a graphical representation of a diffusion ellipsoid map of at least one of the one or more slabs, wherein ellipsoids, associated with voxels in the first group, are displayed differently to the other ellipsoids. The utility of the disclosed methods and devices in breast cancer detection is demonstrated.
US09922418B2 Image processing device
An image processing method provides a step of detecting the pedicle region of vertebral arch detects the region having the higher pixel value compared to the periphery thereof is detected by classifying three classes ABC (detection of the pedicle of vertebral arch) of the step S2. Then, in the case of a failure to detect the intervertebral region, e.g., when the intervertebral region is crushed, the boundary, contacting to the cervical vertebra side of the pedicle of vertebral arch detected by the step of classifying three classes ABC (detecting the pedicle of vertebral arch) described above is drawn by classifying ABC three classes (drawing the boundary) of the step S2. Accordingly, even when the intervertebral region is crushed or when the intervertebral region is undetectable, the boundary between the vertebral bodies can be detected accurately. Therefore, the detection performance of the correct boundary is enhanced so that it can also be effective on that the manual correction frequency by the user decreases and the throughput increases.
US09922416B2 Noncontact measuring device
A solution including a noncontact electronic measurement device is provided. The measurement device includes one or more imaging devices configured to acquire image data of a surface of an object located in a measurement region relative to the measurement device and one or more projected pattern generators configured to generate divergent pattern(s) of structured light, which impact the surface of the object within a field of view of the imaging device when the object is located in the measurement region. Using image data acquired by the imaging device(s), a computer system can measure a set of attributes of the surface of the object and/or automatically determine whether the measurement device is within the measurement region. An embodiment is configured to be held by a human user during operation.
US09922412B1 System and method for assessing a physical structure
A computer-implemented method for assessing a physical structure. The method includes receiving information indicative of an infrared image. The infrared image includes a portion of the physical structure. The method includes determining one or more indicators within the infrared image. The one or more indicators exceed a heat threshold. The method includes determining a plurality of characteristics of the one or more indicators. The method includes classifying the one or more indicators according to the determined plurality of characteristics. The method includes determining a condition of the physical structure based on the classification of the one or more indicators.
US09922409B2 Edge emphasis in processing images based on radiation images
A subtraction image is generated by performing subtraction between a mask image serving as a radiation image obtained by capturing an object, at least of a specific region of which does not include contrast medium, and a live image serving as a radiation image obtained by capturing the object which includes the contrast medium. The emphasis degree serving as the degree of emphasis processing for the subtraction image is determined based on at least either the mask image or live image. The emphasis processing is performed for the subtraction image based on the emphasis degree.
US09922404B2 Inpainting device and method using segmentation of reference region
An inpainting device and method using the segmentation of a reference region are disclosed. An inpainting device using the segmentation of a reference region includes a region determination unit configured to determine an inpainting target region and a reference region within video image content, an inpainting group setting unit configured to set inpainting groups using pixel values within the reference region; an inpainting unit configured to perform segmentation inpainting adapted to perform inpainting on a segmented target region using the segmented reference region on an inpainting group basis and non-segmentation inpainting adapted to perform inpainting on the target region using the reference region, and an information provision unit configured to visually provide the result of the segmentation inpainting, the result of the non-segmentation inpainting, and information about the difference between the results of the segmentation inpainting and the non-segmentation inpainting to the user.
US09922395B2 Multi-thread graphics processing system
A graphics processing system comprises at least one memory device storing a plurality of pixel command threads and a plurality of vertex command threads. An arbiter coupled to the at least one memory device is provided that selects a pixel command thread from the plurality of pixel command threads and a vertex command thread from the plurality of vertex command threads. The arbiter further selects a command thread from the previously selected pixel command thread and the vertex command thread, which command thread is provided to a command processing engine capable of processing pixel command threads and vertex command threads.
US09922388B2 Systems and methods for multimedia processing
Systems and methods are provided for multimedia processing. For example, an encoded file is acquired; the encoded file is parsed to obtain application-indication information and watermark-indication information associated with the encoded file; a multimedia-recording application associated with the application-indication information is called; watermark information is generated based on at least the watermark-indication information; the watermark information displayed on a recording interface of the multimedia-recording application; and in response to multimedia information being generated on the recording interface of the multimedia-recording application, the watermark information and the multimedia information is integrated.
US09922386B2 Systems and methods for facilitating remote security threat detection
Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting security threats in a network environment. A canine detection unit may initially inspect items at a screening location. A local workstation is used to further inspect the items that are identified as raising potential security concerns. Requests for assistance are submitted to remote experts for assistance with resolving the potential security concerns. One or more servers receive the requests over a network and retrieve dialing plans associated with the origins of the requests. The one or more servers utilize the dialing plans to route the requests to expert groups assigned to dialing plans. In response to the requests being accepted by remote expert devices in one of the expert groups, the one or more servers establish connections between the local workstations and the remote expert devices that accept the requests.
US09922384B2 Pharmaceutical will call system and method
A wireless computerized will call system is provided for filling prescriptions and then locating specific prescriptions that have been filled when the customer arrives to pick up the prescription. The system includes a computer workstation or network, a wireless transmitter, and hanger bags for temporarily storing prescriptions awaiting customer pick up. The hanger bags are equipped with wireless receivers and transducers. When a pharmacy worker commands the computer system to locate a specific prescription, the specific hanger bag containing that prescription receives a wireless signal from the computer system and activates the transducer on the hanger bag to alert the pharmacy worker to the location of the prescription.
US09922380B2 System and method for providing messenger application for product purchases
Disclosed is an approach for providing a payment capability in a dialog. The method includes receiving, via a messenger application and as part of a dialog between a site and a user, an input from the user, presenting user text associated with the input in the messenger application, responding, as part of the dialog and by the site, to the input with a response, presenting response text associated with the spoken response in the messenger application, and identifying a product the user desires to purchase from the site. Based on a buy interaction by the user, the method includes receiving, at a browser and via a browser payment request API, a payment request for payment data of the user for purchasing the product and, in response to the payment request, communicating, from the browser and via the browser payment request API, payment information to the site for purchasing the product.
US09922378B2 Method and apparatus for providing intent-based monitoring using sensory information
An approach is provided for providing intent-based monitoring using sensory information. The monitoring platform determines to detect, at a device, sensory information from an environment, the environment relating to a user of the device, one or more other users, or a combination thereof. Next, the monitoring platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of the sensory information to determine intent information associated with the user, the one or more other users, or a combination thereof.
US09922375B1 Systems and methods of parsing receipts
According to another aspect, a computer system is provided. The computer system includes a memory; at least one processor in data communication with the memory; an optical character recognition (OCR) component executable by the at least one processor; and a receipt parsing component executable by the at least processor. The receipt parsing component is configured to receive an image of a receipt; request execution of the OCR component to convert the image to text; identify a value of a vendor element in the text; identify values of additional elements in the text based on the value of the vendor element; and store the vendor elements and the additional elements in a data store.
US09922373B2 System and method for buy-side order matching
Techniques for buy-side order matching in the trading of financial instruments using a centralized matching engine having one or more storage devices including rules and order parameters for a plurality of buy-side parties. The centralized matching engine includes one or more transmitters and receivers communicatively coupled to a network and one or more processors operatively coupled to the one or more storage devices and the one or more transmitters and receivers. At least one message sent over the network by a plurality of buy-side parties and is received by the central matching engine to set the rules or order parameters. At least one order of at least two of the plurality of buy-side parties is matched based on the rules and the order parameters. A message is transmitted over the network to a sell-side party indicating that trade negotiation can commence.
US09922370B2 Techniques for automated teller machine (ATM) transactions
Techniques for automated transactions are provided. A customer pre-stages a financial transaction with a financial service. Subsequently, the customer visits an ATM and automatically acquires a code from the ATM that is then sent to a mobile transaction service for verification and to identify the staged financial transaction. The ATM interacts with the customer via the mobile device and interacts with the financial service to complete the transaction for the customer at the ATM.
US09922368B2 System and method for purchasing a prepaid debit account
Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for auctioning gift cards on the secondary market. The system can receive a prepaid debit account for resale from an owner and determine a face value for the prepaid debit account. The system can establish a floor price and offer the prepaid debit account for sale via an auction, starting at an initial price above the floor price and up to and including the face value, and can decrement the sale price at regular time intervals. The system can end the auction when a purchaser purchases the prepaid debit account at the decremented price. However, if no purchaser purchases the prepaid debit account before the decremented price is below the floor price, the system can purchase the prepaid debit account from the owner for the floor price. The system can store the prepaid debit account in an inventory for resale.
US09922367B2 System and method for location recognition in indoor spaces
A system for indoor location identification of electronic devices includes a retail store having a ceiling and a plurality of networked geo-context panels mounted on the ceiling. Each geo-context panel having a network communication device and an ultrasound transmitter capable of broadcasting ultrasonic pulses having a duration of less than 100 ms. At least one portable electronic device in the retail store receives and records the ultrasonic pulses to make a recording. The portable electronic device communicates the recording to at least one of the plurality of geo-context panels to enable the at least one of the geo-context panels to determine a precise location of the electronic device.
US09922361B2 Content suggestions
Users may create and/or interact with content that may reference various businesses. For example, a user may submit a search query “Akron Hardware Store” to a search interface that may provide relevant search results for the search query. As provided herein, content suggestions may be provided to the user based upon an occurrence of a business reference of a business. For example, search keywords that resulted in user engagement with the business may be evaluated to identify a set of search keywords (e.g., search queries that led users to an Akron Hardware Store website). A set of content suggestions (e.g., coupons, maps, search queries, website links, images, descriptions, etc.) may be generated based upon the set of search keywords, and may be provided to the user.
US09922346B2 Valuing advertisements on a map
The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a system includes a map store, a map server, and a content server. The map server identifies a set of content items in which each content item is associated with a geographic location that is presented in a portion of a map, determines, for a given content item, an adjusted value of a given content item based at least in part on a base value for the content given item and a set of adjustment factors for one or more other content items in the set of content items, selects content items from the set of content items based on the adjusted values, and provides data that present the selected content items on the portion of the map presented at the device.
US09922341B2 Programming optimization utilizing a framework for audience rating estimation
The television program scheduling system receives from one or more published data sources, historical audience data for previous telecasts of the shows on one or more television networks, and calibrates a model for audience rating estimation based on the historical audience data. The calibrated model for audience rating estimation may be utilized to generate estimates or projections of audience in the future. The television program scheduling system may generate an optimal schedule assignment of the shows to time periods that maximizes total resulting estimated audience based on the calibrated model for audience rating estimation. The generation utilizes a time expanded network in which each node represents an assignment of a show to a specific time period, with a specific stacking, and preceded by a lead-in show, and a feasible transition between two nodes represents a valid transition between two shows.
US09922340B1 Evaluating attribution models based on simulated activity streams
Methods, systems, and apparatus including computer programs encoded on computer-readable storage media are provided for evaluating an attribution model, based on simulated activity streams. Parameters are specified that describe how users behave in the absence and presence of advertising, and parameters that regulate advertising in a simulation. A first set of simulated activity streams is generated with advertising turned on, observational metrics associated with the first set of streams are determined, and an attribution model is applied to determine a first fraction of incremental conversions associated with one or more advertising channels. Further sets of simulated activity streams are generated, each with a single advertising channel turned off, observational metrics associated with the further sets of streams are determined, and a second fraction of incremental conversions is determined for each advertising channel. The first and second fractions of incremental conversions are compared to evaluate the attribution model.
US09922332B2 Digital signatory and time stamping notary service for documents and objects
A integrated electronic networked notary system includes sub-systems of computers to execute biometric analysis, target object information input and analysis, marking and time stamping with an trusted third-party provider to enable an electronic notary process. The system provides for authentication of both the signatories as well as the target objects. The user has the option to either unilaterally self-notarize or to collaborate with others for the purpose of electronically notarizing the target object. For high-value target objects, a selectable display menu can be changed into the semi-automatic mode, whereby, a legal notary person may be present to interface and/or assist the user(s) in their notarization and time stamping process. A machine-readable notary symbol generator generates a machine-readable notary symbol by encoding an identifier representing a container of notary information including an official current time corresponding to a notarization event, identification information of the target object, and GPS notarization authorization information.
US09922329B2 Digitally secured electronic titles for products in supply chains
Computer-implemented methods and systems are provided for inhibiting entry of unauthorized products in a supply chain. The methods and systems feature unique identifiers placed on products in the supply chain and Digitally Secured Electronic Titles (DSETs) for products. The DSETs are exchanged upon transfer of the products in the supply chain and tracked in an electronic registry.
US09922317B2 Mobile terminal and controlling method thereof
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, which facilitates a terminal to be used in further consideration of user's convenience. According to at least one of embodiments of the present invention, a strict authentication procedure for expense payment can be performed via a simple and convenient user interface between a mobile terminal and a terminal user. In particular, since at least one of a selection and authentication of a payment means of the mobile terminal can be performed via at least one of an aligned direction, a moving direction and a moving track of the mobile terminal, the user interface between the mobile terminal and the terminal user for the expense payment can be further simplified.
US09922315B2 Systems and methods for calculating actual dollar costs for entities
Systems, methods, and computer programs for performing calculations of cost of entities are described. According to one embodiment, a method is described wherein one or more data sources are identified; information is gathered from those data sources, which is then used to calculate an adjusted cost of the entities. According to another embodiment, the information gathered from the data sources relates to dollar costs and other information pertaining to the entities, which is used to statistically model cost-related figures pertaining to the entities.
US09922299B2 Determining a quality score for internal quality analysis
An apparatus for assessing and controlling the quality of a project in a production environment is provided. The apparatus is configured to: receive a first score, wherein the first score comprises a first numerical value associated with a first level of quality, wherein the first level of quality is associated with a first deliverable; receive a second score, wherein the second score comprises a second numerical value associated with a second level of quality, wherein the second level of quality is associated with the first deliverable; and process the first score and the second score to generate a third score.
US09922284B2 Wireless communication device and article including the same
A wireless communication device includes an antenna resonance circuit and a wireless IC element. The antenna resonance circuit includes a loop-shaped antenna that performs wireless communication by generating a magnetic field and series inductors connected in series to the loop-shaped antenna. The antenna resonance circuit has a resonant frequency corresponding to a carrier frequency. The wireless IC element is connected to the antenna resonance circuit and processes transmission and reception signals. An inductance value of the series inductors is larger than an inductance value of the loop-shaped antenna, and the series inductors are covered with a magnetic material.
US09922281B2 Tag assembly with multiple antennas, ICs, and/or sensing elements
At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag adapted to wirelessly communicate with a remote transceiver. The RFID tag includes a substrate; and first and second circuits disposed on the substrate and comprising respective first and second antennas magnetically coupled to one another. At least some aspects of the present disclosure feature a RFID tag having a plurality of RF circuits, where each RF circuit is electronically coupled to a sensing element.
US09922274B2 Printer colour reference system
A test apparatus comprising a portable reference element having color and spectrophotometrically neutral gray elements of predetermined hues and saturations, and a digital software file provides identical color and spectrophotometrically neutral grayscale data which, when printed or otherwise reproduced accurately, may be compared with the test colors and grayscale provided by the portable reference element, enabling appropriate adjustments to be made to the printer as required.
US09922272B2 Deep similarity learning for multimodal medical images
The present embodiments relate to machine learning for multimodal image data. By way of introduction, the present embodiments described below include apparatuses and methods for learning a similarity metric using deep learning based techniques for multimodal medical images. A novel similarity metric for multi-modal images is provided using the corresponding states of pairs of image patches to generate a classification setting for each pair. The classification settings are used to train a deep neural network via supervised learning. A multi-modal stacked denoising auto encoder (SDAE) is used to pre-train the neural network. A continuous and smooth similarity metric is constructed based on the output of the neural network before activation in the last layer. The trained similarity metric may be used to improve the results of image fusion.
US09922270B2 Global visual vocabulary, systems and methods
Systems and methods of generating a compact visual vocabulary are provided. Descriptor sets related to digital representations of objects are obtained, clustered and partitioned into cells of a descriptor space, and a representative descriptor and index are associated with each cell. Generated visual vocabularies could be stored in client-side devices and used to obtain content information related to objects of interest that are captured.
US09922266B2 Extracting salient features from video using a neurosynaptic system
Embodiments of the invention provide a method of visual saliency estimation comprising receiving an input sequence of image frames. Each image frame has one or more channels, and each channel has one or more pixels. The method further comprises, for each channel of each image frame, generating corresponding neural spiking data based on a pixel intensity of each pixel of the channel, generating a corresponding multi-scale data structure based on the corresponding neural spiking data, and extracting a corresponding map of features from the corresponding multi-scale data structure. The multi-scale data structure comprises one or more data layers, wherein each data layer represents a spike representation of pixel intensities of a channel at a corresponding scale. The method further comprises encoding each map of features extracted as neural spikes.
US09922258B2 On-vehicle image processing apparatus
An on-vehicle image processing apparatus includes: a photographing device configured to photograph a road surface around a vehicle; an image creation section configured to create an overhead view image showing a periphery of the vehicle when looked down from above the vehicle, based on the obtained photographed image; an extraction section configured to extract a road surface sign around the vehicle by using the created overhead view image; a detection section configured to detect one or more noises among at least a road surface noise, an obstruction noise, and an attached substance noise that are to be observed when the extraction section extracts the road surface sign; and a parking frame recognition section configured to recognize a parking frame based on one of a partial photographing region in the photographed image and a partial overhead view region in the overhead view image, depending on the detected noise.
US09922252B2 Automated conversion of two-dimensional hydrology vector models into valid three-dimensional hydrology vector models
A system for automated conversion of two-dimensional hydrology vector models into valid three-dimensional hydrology vector models, comprising a vector extraction engine that retrieves vectors from, and sends vectors to, a vector storage, a DSM server that retrieves a DSM from a DSM storage and computes a DSM from stereo disparity measurements of a stereo pair retrieved from a raster storage, and a rendering engine that provides visual representations of images for review by a human user, and a method for automated hydrology vector model development utilizing the system of the invention.
US09922242B2 Systems and methods for predicting the outcome of a state of a subject
Systems and methods for improving the health and wellbeing of subjects in an industrial setting are disclosed. The systems may include a camera arranged so as to observe one or more features of a subject, and a processor, coupled to the camera, the processor configured to analyze one or more images obtained therefrom, to extract one or more features from the image(s) of the subject, and to analyze one or more of the features, or sub features nested therein to predict an outcome of a state of the subject. In particular the system may be configured to generate a diagnostic signal (e.g. an outcome, fever, mastitis, virus, bacterial infection, rut, etc.) based upon the analysis.
US09922239B2 System, method, and program for identifying person in portrait
The present invention is to provide a system, a method, and a program for identifying a person depicted in a portrait. The system for identifying a person depicted in a portrait 1 receives input of portrait data of the portrait, stores different individual data depending on a plurality of persons, extracts a feature point of the received portrait by image analysis, checks the extracted feature point against the individual data, identifies a person depicted in the portrait from the check result, and displays the identification result together with a probability corresponding to an identical level.
US09922226B1 Presenting an augmented reality within a custom graphic
Systems and methods for presenting an augmented reality within a custom graphic are provided. In example embodiments, a server receives a scanned image from a client device, the scanned image including a custom graphic and an optical barcode. The server identifies an augmented reality and a user interface item based on the optical barcode. The server transmits the augmented reality to the client device for display, at the client device, within a custom graphic of the scanned image. The server receives an indication that the scanned image was selected at the client device. The server transmits, to the client device, the user interface item for display at the client device.
US09922199B2 Document security tool
A document security tool includes a memory and a processor. The processor receives a first command from a first user to save a document and in response: encrypts a username, email address, and job code of the first user to produce an encrypted file, merges the encrypted file with the document, and saves the document. The processor also receives a second command to access the document and in response: determines a second user who issued the command, determines a username, email address, and job code of the second user, extracts the username, email address, and job code of the first user from the document, and grants the second user access to the document if one or more of the username, email address, and job code of the second user matches one or more of the username, email address, and job code of the first user.
US09922188B2 Method and system of providing a picture password for relatively smaller displays
Embodiments described herein relate to a device operable to process input for a picture password for proof of knowledge. In some embodiments, the device includes a display, an input subsystem, processor(s), and memory containing instructions executable by the processor(s) such that the device is operative to display, on the display of the device, an image for the picture password proof of knowledge. The image is associated with an overlaid grid comprising a plurality of elements, and each element corresponds to a distinct area of the image. The device is further operative to, determine an offset to be used and, in response to receiving an input via the input subsystem at a first location of the display, highlight an element of the overlaid grid at a second location on the first image on the display. The second location is offset from the first location by the offset.
US09922185B2 Linking token detection at a single computing platform with a user identification to effectuate modifications in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms
Token detection at a single computing platform may be linked with a user identification to unlock content and/or effectuate modifications in virtual space instances presented via multiple computing platforms, in accordance with one or more implementations. Exemplary implementations may enhance consistency in a user's experiences of a virtual space across multiple computing platforms.
US09922184B2 Information processing apparatus
A taken-image display unit displays a taken image on a display. By use of face identification data held in a registered user information holding section, a face authentication unit detects a face image of a registered user existing in a taken image. A face frame processing unit displays a face frame on the display for the detected registered user. If, when the face frame is being displayed, the face authentication unit detects by use of the face identification data held in the user information holding section that the face image of the registered user is included in the face frame, a login processing unit lets this user log in.
US09922179B2 Method and apparatus for user authentication
A method is provided including: detecting, by an electronic device, at least one signal that is generated while a predetermined content is displayed on a display; identifying a security-related object associated with the content based on the signal; comparing, by the electronic device, information relating to the object with specified security setting information; and releasing a restriction on access to a resource based on an outcome of the comparison.
US09922176B2 Borrowing software licenses in a license management system for time based usage
According to one embodiment, a method for borrowing licenses. The method may include retrieving a license file associated with a software program from a data storage device, whereby the license file includes a plurality of borrowing information. The method may also include recording a plurality of usage information to the data storage device based on a plurality of user interactions with the software program. The method may further include updating the plurality of borrowing information within the retrieved license file using the recorded plurality of usage information. The method may also include revoking the retrieved license file based on the updated plurality of borrowing information expiring.
US09922172B1 Surgical guidance system based on a pre-coded surgical procedural map
In some embodiments, surgical data structure is accessed that includes a plurality of nodes (relating to a plurality of discrete procedural states for a surgical procedure and being associated with procedural metadata) connected by a plurality of edges. Each edge can be associated with a procedural action causing a state transition. A new node can be generated based on an identification of a new procedural state. A first and second node from the plurality of nodes can be identified, to which the new node is to be connected. Edges can be generated to connect the new node to the first and second nodes.
US09922164B2 Methods to identify macromolecule binding and aggregation prone regions in proteins and uses therefor
The present invention provides methods and computational tools based, at least in part, on computer simulations that identify macromolecule binding regions and aggregation prone regions of a protein. Substitutions may then be made in these aggregation prone regions to engineer proteins with enhanced stability and/or a reduced propensity for aggregation. Similarly, substitutions may then be made in these macromolecule binding regions to engineer proteins with altered binding affinity for the macromolecule.
US09922153B2 Scalable logic verification by identifying unate primary inputs
Embodiments herein describe a verification process that identifies unate primary inputs in input paths of a property gate. A property gate is logic inserted in a hardware design represented by a netlist which is used to verify the design. Before performing the verification process, a computing system evaluates the netlist to identify the primary inputs in the input paths of the property gate and whether these primary inputs are unate or binate. To do so, in one embodiment, the computing system sets the output of the property gate in an error state and then traverses the input paths of the property gate to identify the values of the logic in the inputs paths that would result in the property gate being in the error state. Based on these polarities, the system can identify the unate and binate primary inputs.
US09922144B2 Energy and cycle time efficiency based method for robot positioning
Methods for CAD, simulation, and corresponding systems and computer-readable mediums. A method includes receiving inputs including one or more of robot information, operation information, position information, and constraint information. The method includes generating a list of candidate positions of a robot. The method includes, for each candidate position, determining a time value of the candidate position and when the time value of the candidate position does not meet a threshold cycle time value, removing the candidate position. The method includes, for each candidate position, determining an energy consumption value of the candidate position. The method includes, for each candidate position, determining one or more of a rating and a ranking for the candidate position based on the time value and the energy consumption value. The method includes determining the optimal position of the robot based on the ranking of each candidate position.
US09922131B2 Graphical user interface machine to present a window
Within a graphical user interface, a window may be spawned at one point in time and then populated with content at a later point in time. By execution of browser-executable code by a user's device and corresponding server-side code by a machine, a pop-under window may be spawned by the user's device. The spawned pop-under window may be initially hidden by the user's browser window and may be initially loaded with no content or default content. The device may monitor the graphical user interface for search criteria submitted by the user and update the spawned pop-under window based on such search criteria. If the user exits the webpage, and if rules allow presentation of a pop-under window, the pop-under window may be updated by the device for presentation to the user. Based on interest or lack of interest in the updated content, the user may revisit the website.
US09922122B2 Providing remedial search operation based on analysis of user interaction with search results
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for assisting users in performing searches. In one aspect, a query for a search session is received from a user device. A first set of search results responsive to the query is provided to the user device. Search results interaction data are received from the user device that identifies actions that are in response to the search results and taken at the user device. The search results interaction data are analyzed to determine that a remedial search operation should be performed, the remedial search operation determining a second set of search results responsive to the query and providing the second set of search results to the user device for presentation to the user.
US09922114B2 Systems and methods for distributing indexer configurations
Provided are systems and methods for causing display of an index management graphical user interface (GUI). In one embodiment, a method can be provided. The method can include causing display of an index management GUI including one or more user editable fields for specifying one or more index settings; receiving, via the one or more user editable fields of the index management GUI, one or more user specified index settings; generating an index definition corresponding to the one or more user specified index settings; and distributing the index definition to one or more indexers of a data processing system. The one or more indexers are able to manage storage of data in one or more indexes based at least in part on the index definition.
US09922112B2 Information processing device, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing device including a display control unit configured to display pieces of content at a first position of a screen, a condition setting unit configured to set a clustering condition for the pieces of content in accordance with a user operation, and a clustering unit configured to classify the pieces of content into a cluster in accordance with the clustering condition. The display control unit moves a display of the pieces of content from the first position toward a second position corresponding to the cluster.
US09922102B2 Templates for defining fields in machine data
A field extraction template simplifies the creation of field extraction rules by providing a user with a set of field names commonly assigned to a certain type of data, as well as guidance on how to extract values for those fields. These field extraction rules, in turn, facilitate access to certain “chunks” of the data, or to information derived from those chunks, through named fields. A field extraction template comprises at least a set of field names and ordering data for the field names. The ordering data indicates index positions that are associated with at least some of the field names. A delimiter is specified for splitting data items into arrays of chunks. The chunk of a data item that belongs to a given field name is the chunk whose position within the item's array of chunks is equivalent to the index position associated with the given field name.
US09922101B1 Coordinated configuration, management, and access across multiple data stores
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method, a system, and a computer program product for federated service requests of a logical data store comprising a plurality of heterogeneous data stores. The method includes providing a data abstraction services layer as a control plane for federated service requests of a logical data store, comprising a plurality of heterogeneous data stores, by an application operating on a processing device, receiving a service request at the data abstraction services layer from the application operating on the processing device directed to the logical data store, and returning results of the service request from the data abstraction services layer to the application operating on the processing device.
US09922087B2 Efficient query optimization for selective use of structure elements
The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for generating and executing queries. A query is received. A set of structure elements associated with the query is determined, wherein the structure elements are used for accessing, in a database, data tuples associated with the set of structure elements. Optionally, the set of structure elements is reduced for accessing data tuples to the structure elements selected. Contributing structure elements are added to the reduced set to not produce objects in the result set but for creating associated objects. Contributing structure elements are handled in an optimized way to keep the data set on which the query result set is calculated as small as possible. This is done by using the smallest set of characteristics in the group-by clause for retrieving the data set to calculate the requested set of structure elements. A result set of the query is provided.
US09922084B2 Events sets in a visually distinct display format
A request is received to display at least a portion of a first events set and at least a portion of a second events set in an interleaved and visually distinct display format, where, in the interleaved and visually distinct display format, the at least a portion of the first events set is displayed in a visually distinct manner from the at least a portion of the second events set, and data from the at least a portion of the first events set is interleaved with data from the at least a portion of the second events set. In response to receiving the request, display is caused, on a user interface, of the at least a portion of the first events set and the at least a portion of the second events set in the interleaved and visually distinct display format.
US09922083B2 Optimization of a plurality of table processing operations in a massive parallel processing environment
A computer-implemented method for partitioning data for a query operation of one table of the database system is provided. The computer-implemented method comprises estimating a value distribution of the attribute in the result table based on a first value distribution of the attribute in the first column of the first table. The computer-implemented method further comprises determining boundaries for partitioning ranges of the attribute, based on the estimated value distribution, wherein the partitioning ranges correspond to a same number of rows of the result table. The computer-implemented method further comprises partitioning the first table with processing nodes of the query operation, based on the determined boundaries of partitioning ranges.
US09922079B2 Information processing apparatus, for assisting user in setting an appropriate search condition
There is provided an information processing apparatus including a device state detection unit configured to detect a device state of an electronic device, and a search condition setting unit configured to reference a database that stores information regarding the device state in association with a search condition used for a search for operation related information for the electronic device, and to extract the search condition corresponding to the device state.
US09922075B2 Scalable distributed transaction processing system
Transactional data accesses are performed in a data storage system, where the data storage system is configured to store a plurality of data objects identified by respective key values. A request is received to modify the value of a particular data object. The request specifies a modified object value and a key value identifying the data object to be modified. In response to the request, a transactional data object is created, the transactional data object specifying a transaction identifier, the original object value and the modified object value. The transactional data object is stored in the data storage system, and associated with the key value.
US09922072B1 Extract, transform, and load application complexity management framework
Extract, transform, and load application (ETL) complexity management framework systems and methods are described herein. The present disclosure describes systems and methods that reduce the complexity in managing ETL flow and correcting errant data that is subsequently identified. One or more methods include defining an ETL job definition, defining a data asset definition, defining a data asset dependency definition, receiving an ETL flow to provide execution of one or more ETL flow steps, providing retrieval of data from a source data asset, applying a data control to the source asset data, and producing an ETL job registration, a data asset status, a latest asset available date, a data asset consumer identifier, and a target data asset based on at least one of the ETL job definition, the data asset definition, the data dependency definition, and the source asset data.
US09922071B2 Isolation anomaly quantification through heuristical pattern detection
In an approach for calculating a probability of a consistency violation of a transaction in a database management system, a processor receives a plurality of transactions within a predetermined time period. A processor identifies a first pattern in a first transaction of the plurality of transactions based on at least an isolation level of the transaction. A processor identifies a second pattern, wherein the second pattern is the cooperation between the first transaction and the second transaction. A processor determines that the first pattern of the first transaction substantially matches a preexisting pattern, wherein the preexisting pattern corresponds to values for a mathematical model for estimating a percentage of transactions in violation of consistency criteria. A processor extracts values from the first transaction based on the determined preexisting pattern. A processor calculates the mathematical model using the values from the first transaction and the values from the preexisting pattern.
US09922064B2 Parallel build of non-partitioned join hash tables and non-enforced N:1 join hash tables
A method for building a hash table over a subset of data in a data set includes mapping keys in the data set to values in the data set using multiple parallel computation threads. Each thread scans a subset of the keys and values and partitioning the subset of the keys and values into multiple partitions. A cumulative count for keys and values in each partition is determined. A hash table with space reserved for each partition is formed based on the determined cumulative counts. Each thread selects one or more partitions and inserts keys and values belonging to the selected one or more partitions into the hash table in the reserved space for those partitions.
US09922055B2 Managing and classifying assets in an information technology environment using tags
Disclosed below are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for managing and classifying assets in an information technology (“IT”) environment using a tag-based approach. The disclosed tag-based classification techniques can be implemented through a graphical user interface. Embodiments of the disclosed tag-based classification techniques can be used to allow a user to easily and quickly select and perform actions on groups of one or more assets (e.g., monitor policies, perform upgrades, etc.). For example, the tag-based classification techniques can automatically classify assets into “tag sets” (or “tagged sets”) based on node properties or user-selected criteria or conditions (e.g., criteria or conditions that are established in a user-created tagging profile or rule). The tagged assets can then be further filtered to identify even deeper relationships between the assets.
US09922053B1 System for image capture, notation and distribution
Disclosed is a server-based system allowing users to utilize photo-based documentation to capture, organize, annotate, and share collections of photographs and images. Photos and images are added to a Photo Set. Photo Sets belong to Teams. Teams have users with memberships. Each Photo Set also has membership groups consisting of users. Each membership group may have common and unique permissions that differ from other groups. Photos and images may be flagged and annotated to bring attention to specific portions of the photo or image. Photo Sets are stored and managed from a central server. When a user updates a Photo Set, the updates are sent to other members of the Photo Set. Users may use a mobile application on a smartphone or tablet to capture an image and add flags before the image is uploaded to the server. Typical camera images may also be captured, annotated, and uploaded from a personal computer. Standard flags or a combination of standard and custom flags may be used.
US09922042B2 Producing alternative segmentations of data into blocks in a data deduplication system
For producing secondary segmentations of data into blocks and corresponding digests for input data in a data deduplication system using a processor device in a computing environment, digests are calculated for an input data chunk using a primary segmentation into blocks. Secondary segmentations are produced for each of the data mismatches based on reference data, and used to calculate further data matches. The primary segmentation and the corresponding primary digests are stored for the input data chunk.
US09922040B2 Information processing apparatus, information processing method and program
The present invention aims to automatically determine an encoding parameter in consideration of a condition of compression efficiency and a memory usage and performing encoding based on the determined encoding parameter. To do so, an information processing method of an information processing apparatus comprises: estimating a memory usage concerning holding of a correspondence table of a part of structured data and codes; and estimating a compression effect obtained when the structured data is encoded, by holding the correspondence table, wherein a data size of the correspondence table is variable according to a value of a parameter, and the information processing method further comprises, under a condition of the memory usage, determining the value of the parameter on the basis of the estimated memory usage and the estimated compression effect, and encoding the structured data on the basis of the determined value of the parameter.
US09922037B2 Index time, delimiter based extractions and previewing for use in indexing
A graphical user interface allows a customer to specify delimiters and/or patterns that occur in event data and indicate the presence of a particular field. The graphical user interface applies a customer's delimiter specifications directly to event data and displays the resulting event data in real time. Delimiter specifications may be saved as configuration settings and systems in a distributed setting may use the delimiter specifications to extract field values as the systems process raw data into event data. Extracted field values are used to accelerate search queries that a system receives.
US09922027B2 Language translation and work assignment optimization in a customer support environment
Approaches presented herein enable assignment of translated work to an agent in a customer support environment based on a confidence factor that measures accuracy of translation and an agent's language skill. Specifically, agent proficiencies in a set of natural languages are measured and scored. An incoming customer communication is translated into one or more natural languages and each language translation is assigned a translation score based on a confidence of translation. The skill score and translation score are utilized to calculate a confidence factor for each language. In one approach, the customer communication is assigned to an agent that has a confidence factor greater than a predetermined threshold confidence factor. In another approach, the communication is only assigned if a rule optimizing agent availability and risk of constrained resources is satisfied.
US09922025B2 Generating distributed word embeddings using structured information
A computer program that generates a vector representation of a set of natural language text in a natural language processing system by: (i) receiving a first set of natural language text and a set of information pertaining to the first set of natural language text, where the information includes a dependency parse tree including a root node and a plurality of nodes that depend from the root node, where the root node represents the first set of natural language text, and where the plurality of nodes that depend from the root node represent context features of the first set of natural language text; and (ii) generating, by the natural language processing system, a first vector representation of the first set of natural language text, wherein the generating includes adding vector representations for the context features represented by the plurality of nodes that depend from the root node.
US09922014B2 Method and apparatus for making contents through writing input on touch screen
A method of writing content through a writing input on a touch screen is provided. The method includes displaying written input content according to a writing input detection and identifying whether there is a proofreading mode control, and when there is the proofreading mode control, entering a proofreading mode, displaying the written input content according to the writing input detection, identifying a proofreading mark in the written input content, and applying an editing content corresponding to the proofreading mark, so as to proofread the written content.
US09922011B2 Masking an object in hypertext markup language
A computer system may identify a first and second predefined color that are found in a Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) style sheet for a webpage. The computer system may receive an object to be embedded in the webpage. The computer system may calculate a color similarity score for each of the predefined colors. The computer system may compare the color similarity scores for the predefined color and determine, based on the comparison, which predefined color is the mask color. The computer system may then mask the object using the mask color.
US09922004B2 Dynamic highlighting of repetitions in electronic documents
In a method for dynamically highlighting repetitive text in electronic documents, obtaining one or more user preferences related to a user reading an electronic document. The method further includes determining whether the electronic document contains one or more repetitive text associations, wherein a repetitive text association is data that provides one or more indications of repetitive text segments interspersed within a document. In response to determining that the electronic document contains one or more repetitive text associations, the method further includes identifying one or more repetitive text segments in the electronic document corresponding to the one or more repetitive text associations and determining a time duration expended by the user reading an instance of the identified one or more repetitive text segments within the electronic document. The method further includes highlighting the identified one or more repetitive text segments within the electronic document based one or more obtained user preferences.
US09922003B2 Method and apparatus for identifying pulses in detector output data
A method for locating a pulse in detector output data, comprising fitting one or more functions to the detector output data; and determining a location and an amplitude of a peak of said pulse from said one or more functions. The one or more functions may be are a function of time.
US09921995B2 Managing data in USB communication
In a case where a changeover request indicating to change over setting of an end point is received from an external apparatus, an information processing apparatus decides whether or not data is being transferred from the end point to a memory of the information processing apparatus. Then, in a case where it is decided that the data is being transferred from the end point to the memory, the information processing apparatus does not change over the setting of the end point.
US09921987B2 Inter-component communication including posted and non-posted transactions
Component apparatuses with inter-component communication capabilities, and system having such component apparatuses are disclosed herein. In embodiments, such a component may include a number of control pins including a clock pin, a number of data pins, and a logic unit. The logic unit may be configured to receive a clock signal from another component through the clock pin, to provide an alert signal to the other component through a selected one of the control and data pins to initiate a transaction with the other component, to receive in response to the alert signal from the other component through the data pins a status request to determine nature of the transaction, and to provide in response to the status request to the other component through the data pins a status to indicate the nature of the transaction. The provision of the alert signal, the receipt of the status request and the provision of the status may be in reference to the clock signal. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US09921984B2 Delivering interrupts to user-level applications
Systems and methods for delivering interrupts to user-level applications. An example processing system comprises: a memory configured to store a plurality of user-level APIC data structures and a plurality of user-level interrupt handler address data structures corresponding to a plurality of user-level applications being executed by the processing system; and a processing core configured, responsive to receiving a notification of a user-level interrupt, to: set a pending interrupt bit flag having a position defined by an identifier of the user-level interrupt in a user-level APIC data structure associated with a user-level application that is currently being executed by the processing core, and invoke a user-level interrupt handler identified by a user-level interrupt handler address data structure associated with the user-level application, for a pending user-level interrupt having a highest priority among one or more pending user-level interrupts identified by the user-level APIC data structure.
US09921965B2 Demote instruction for relinquishing cache line ownership
A computer system processor of a multi-processor computer system having cache subsystem, executes a demote instruction to cause a cache line exclusively owned by the computer system processor to become shared or read-only in the cache subsystem.
US09921959B2 Efficient reference classification and quick memory reuse in a system that supports concurrent garbage collection
The disclosed embodiments facilitate reusing both the physical and virtual memory in a garbage-collected computing environment immediately after a relocated memory area has been emptied, without using special hardware or operating system extensions. This system uses load barrier to perform fast checks to determine if a reference might point into a relocated memory area. If so, the load barrier performs further actions to remap pointers that actually point into the relocated memory area, without the need to read that memory. Because the system neither follows pointers into relocated memory areas nor protects relocated memory areas, the system can immediately reuse the virtual memory areas. The load barrier ensures that references pointing into a relocated memory area will be caught and handled, and references pointing into the newly allocated memory will pass through the barrier without further actions.
US09921957B2 Methods and systems for managing memory allocation
A method is performed at an electronic device with a display, one or more processors, volatile memory, and non-volatile memory that stores one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes periodically comparing an amount of free volatile memory to a threshold level. The amount of free volatile memory is compared to the threshold level with a first periodicity when the display is off and with a second periodicity that is shorter than the first periodicity when the display is on. The method also includes, in response to a determination that the amount of free volatile memory does not satisfy the threshold level, deallocating volatile memory by terminating one or more processes based on priority levels of the one or more processes.
US09921944B2 Method and system for assisting in the verification and validation of an algorithm chain
Method and system for assisting in the verification and validation of an algorithm chain. The system (1) comprises an instrumentation module (2) of an algorithm chain, providing automatic data capture including at least some of the following data: interface data and internal algorithm data of the algorithm chain, a module (3) for automatic verification of functional rules, a learning module (5) for the modelling by learning of the constraints and algorithm criteria of the algorithm chain, and taking account of the validations performed by a human operator, and a module (7) for automatic detection of bugs and functional problems of the algorithm chain using statistical learning means.
US09921940B2 Creating a software performance testing environment on a virtual machine system
A method for creating a software performance testing environment based on a virtual machine, wherein the method comprises: in response to obtaining a hard disk read/write request triggered by a virtual CPU of the virtual machine, notifying a virtual CPU scheduler to record a CPU time quota t1 already consumed by the virtual CPU in a current CPU schedule period; in response to detecting completion of hard disk read/write processing corresponding to the hard disk read/write request, predicting a hard disk read/write latency t corresponding to the hard disk read/write request in a target environment; notifying the virtual CPU scheduler to determine a CPU time quota already consumed by the virtual CPU in the current CPU schedule period based on the recorded CPU time quota t1 and the hard disk read/write latency t; and adjusting a system clock of the virtual machine based on the determined CPU time quota already consumed by the virtual CPU in the current CPU schedule period. The method may obtain, in the created software performance testing environment, a software performance testing result consistent with the result obtained under a highly configured server in the target environment.
US09921934B1 Storage process metrics
Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate the collection, transmission and processing of information related to the storage processes initiated in conjunction with virtual machine instances instantiated on a hosted virtual network. A virtual machine manager component, such a hypervisor component, receives a storage request from one or more virtual machine instances hosted on a host computing device. Additionally, the virtual machine manager component can further request via the storage protocol that the storage subsystem should collect and return storage process metric information. If the storage subsystem supports the collection of the storage process metric information, the storage subsystem will provide a response to the storage request and at least some of the requested storage process metric information. The virtual machine manager component can then process the response to the storage request as appropriate and forward any storage process metric information to a storage process metrics management component.
US09921931B2 Blade centric automatic test equipment system
An automated test equipment (ATE) system includes a plurality of test blades each coupled to a test blade connector and mounted on a circular track; a central reference clock (CRC) having an origin point at a center of the circle; and a clock/sync connector coupled to the CRC through a zero skew clock connection to one or more sync buses, wherein each instrument utilizes the CRC to coordinate its testing process with another instrument.
US09921930B2 Using values of multiple metadata parameters for a target data record set population to generate a corresponding test data record set population
Metadata of a target data record set population is used to generate a test data record set population for use in data storage system testing. The metadata includes values for metadata parameters for individual target data record sets. The target data record set population as a whole has metadata parameter values distributed among sets of value ranges. A group of proportions is calculated for each set of value ranges. A test data record set population is generated based on the groups of proportions. As generated, the test data record set population meets a set of predetermined criteria.
US09921925B2 Method and apparatus for recovering abnormal data in internal memory
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for recovering abnormal data in an internal memory. The method includes: receiving, by a processor, a data abort signal and an address of an abnormal instruction where abnormal data is located; suspending a current instruction being executed, and recording an address pointed to by a computer pointer; obtaining a program unit currently being executed by the processor; if it is determined that the abnormal instruction belongs to the program unit and that instructions between the first instruction and the current instruction in the program unit are all reversible instructions, invoking a destruction program unit corresponding to the program unit, so as to release resources already applied for by the program unit; and causing the computer pointer to point back to an address of the first instruction in the program unit, and re-executing the program unit.
US09921921B2 Backup service with managed file transformation
Data files can be backed up by copying, in response to a backup request, files from a client device to a backup archive and recording the status of the files. Transformed copies of files in the backup archive can be created by automatically applying a transform to the files received from the client device. Upon receiving a subsequent backup request, differences can be identified between transformed files in the backup archive and files on the client device, and in response to identified differences in the files, the transformed files can be copied back to the client device.
US09921915B2 Baseboard management controller recovery
A method for recovering a baseboard management controller (BMC) by determining, by a basic input/output system (BIOS), whether a BMC recovery mode is generated by a recovery mode jumper being triggered. The system performing the method can further install, if the recovery jumper is not triggered, a BMC firmware update driver and detect, if the recovery jumper is not triggered, a BMC image. The system that performs the method can further update, if the recovery jumper is not triggered, the BMC firmware and copy to a backup image, if the recovery jumper is not triggered, the BMC firmware update.
US09921912B1 Using spare disk drives to overprovision raid groups
A technique for managing spare disk drives in a data storage system includes transferring segments of data from disk drives of an operating RAID group to spare regions on a set of spare disk drives to create unused space in the disk drives of the RAID group, thus using the spare regions to overprovision storage in the RAID group. Upon a failure of one of the disk drives in the RAID group, data of the failing disk drive are rebuilt based on the segments of data as well as on data from still-functioning disk drives in the RAID group. Thus, the spare disk drives act not only to overprovision storage for the RAID group prior to disk drive failure, but also to fulfill their role as spares in the event of a disk drive failure.
US09921909B2 Systems and methods for providing error code detection using non-power-of-two flash cell mapping
Systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for providing error detection or correction with flash cell mapping. One embodiment is a method comprising generating raw page data for a physical page in a main array of a flash memory device. The raw page data comprises less than a capacity of the physical page generated using a non-power-of-two flash cell mapping. One or more parity bits are generated for the raw page data using an error detection or correction scheme. The method stores the raw page data and the one or more parity bits in the physical page in the main array.
US09921908B2 Storage device and read reclaim and read method thereof
A read reclaim method of a storage device includes determining a number of page read reclaims based on degradation information in a read operation, and performing page read reclaim when a number of pages marked as read reclaim object reaches the number of page read reclaims.
US09921906B2 Performing a repair operation in arrays
A method for performing a repair operation in a computer system using arrays having array cells includes detecting an error in an array. In response to detecting the error, error information is written to an error trap register. The error information includes error data and associated error detection information and a position in an array row. The error information is read from the error trap register and a corresponding data copy is determined and fetched in the computer system. One or more exact bit positions that caused the error are determined by comparing the error data with the corresponding data copy. The array cells which are associated with the determined one or more bit positions are disabled.
US09921904B2 Multiple reset modes for a PCI host bridge
A PCI host bridge (PHB) includes a warm reset mode and a full reset mode. When a fatal error occurs, the type of fatal error is determined, a reset mode corresponding to that type of fatal error is determined, and a reset corresponding to the reset mode is performed. A full reset clears the error registers, status registers and configuration registers, which then requires the configuration registers to be reconfigured before the PHB can be reinitialized. A warm reset clears the error registers and status registers, but does not clear the configuration registers. A warm reset thus does not require the time to write to the configuration registers, and the PHB can be reinitialized using the existing configuration data in the configuration registers while link training is done in parallel. When initialization of the PHB after a warm reset is not successful, a full reset is performed.
US09921895B2 Transactional memory operations with read-only atomicity
Execution of a transaction mode setting instruction causes a computer processor to be in an atomic read-only mode ignoring conflicts to certain write-sets of a transaction during transactional execution. Read-set conflicts may still cause a transactional abort. Absent any aborting, the transaction's execution may complete, by committing transactional stores to memory and updating architecture states.
US09921882B2 Information processing system, deployment method, processing device, and deployment device
An objective of the present invention is to construct a system in which a plurality of software components having dependencies are deployed dispersedly on a plurality of processing devices.The information system includes a deployment device (100) and a plurality of processing devices (200). A scheduler (210) of the processing device (200) determine whether there is a deployment task satisfying an execution condition in task information (231) on the basis of a termination event of a deployment task. When there is a deployment task satisfying the execution condition, the scheduler (210) executes the deployment task and transmits a termination event of the deployment task to the deployment device (100). An event processing unit (130) of the deployment device (100) transmits the termination event of the deployment task to a notification destination processing device (200) referring to event information (141).
US09921876B2 Information processing device, resource allocation method, and computer-readable recording medium
An information processing device includes a bridge unit that connects with one or a plurality of IO device groups via a network, a connection management unit that manages a connection of the bridge unit, an allocation priority instruction unit that stores an instruction or a fixed value that is a priority condition for allocating resources, a resource amount search unit that searches resources used by IO devices of an entire system that includes the IO devices, a remaining resource calculation unit that calculates a remaining resource amount, a reservation resource amount output unit that calculates and outputs a number of virtual PCI bridges and a reservation resource amount, and a virtual bridge resource setting unit that sets the bridge unit based on the number of virtual PCI bridges and the reservation resource amount.
US09921861B2 Virtual machine management method and information processing apparatus
An information processing apparatus calculates, at the time of moving a virtual machine which operates on a first physical machine, an amount of a first resource which the virtual machine can use on a second physical machine without sharing with another virtual machine. The information processing apparatus estimates response time of the virtual machine at the time of moving the virtual machine to the second physical machine on the basis of response time of the virtual machine at the time of the virtual machine operating on the first physical machine and the amount of the first resource. At this time the information processing apparatus uses different algorithms at the time of a resource used by the virtual machine being within the first resource and at the time of the virtual machine using a second resource which the virtual machine shares with another virtual machine.
US09921859B2 Runtime compiler environment with dynamic co-located code execution
A system is provided for monitoring, regenerating and replacing the code of running applications with semantically equivalent, specialized code versions that reflect the demands of the execution environment. The system includes a co-designed compiler and runtime system that virtualizes a selected set of edges in a host program, where these edges provide hooks through which the runtime system may redirect execution into an intermediate representation utilized to optimize introspective and extrospective processes.
US09921856B2 Methods and devices for finding settings to be used in relation to a sensor unit connected to a processing unit
A method performed in a processing unit for finding settings to be used in relation to a sensor unit connected to the processing unit is disclosed. The method comprises inter alia receiving, from the sensor unit, a first identifier identifying a type of the sensor unit, and a second identifier identifying a group of at least one related type of sensor unit. If no settings associated with the first identifier are stored in the processing unit, but settings associated with the second identifier are stored in the processing unit, the processing unit uses the settings associated with the second identifier in relation to the sensor unit.
US09921849B2 Address expansion and contraction in a multithreading computer system
Embodiments relate to address expansion and contraction in a multithreading computer system. According to one aspect, a computer implemented method for address adjustment in a configuration is provided. The configuration includes a core configurable between an ST mode and an MT mode, where the ST mode addresses a primary thread and the MT mode addresses the primary thread and one or more secondary threads on shared resources of the core. The primary thread is accessed in the ST mode using a core address value. Switching from the ST mode to the MT mode is performed. The primary thread or one of the one or more secondary threads is accessed in the MT mode using an expanded address value. The expanded address value includes the core address value concatenated with a thread address value.
US09921842B2 Guest instruction block with near branching and far branching sequence construction to native instruction block
A method for translating instructions for a processor. The method includes accessing a plurality of guest instructions that comprise multiple guest branch instructions comprising at least one guest far branch, and building an instruction sequence from the plurality of guest instructions by using branch prediction on the at least one guest far branch. The method further includes assembling a guest instruction block from the instruction sequence. The guest instruction block is translated to a corresponding native conversion block, wherein an at least one native far branch that corresponds to the at least one guest far branch and wherein the at least one native far branch includes an opposite guest address for an opposing branch path of the at least one guest far branch. Upon encountering a missprediction, a correct instruction sequence is obtained by accessing the opposite guest address.
US09921835B2 Control module for multiple mixed-signal resources management
The present solution targets independent or inter-dependent resource management scenarios such as multi-sensor and other scenarios of possible process/component sharing, intended for individual or group synchronized core task management as part of a flexible long-term solution for monitoring, self-calibration, built-in self-testing, measurements and/or group synchronization dependant strategies. An extension to I2C compatible instruments is described. Disclosed is a module comprising an interpreter sub-module, for receiving and responding to I2C sequences and a register bank module comprising a plurality of registers for storing values. The disclosed module and method of operation can be used for initialization, measurement, and resource management through mixed-signal analog bus scheduling, synchronization and group addressing for built-in calibration strategies for example.
US09921833B2 Determining of validity of speculative load data after a predetermined period of time in a multi-slice processor
Operation of a multi-slice processor that includes a plurality of execution slices and a plurality of load/store slices coupled via a results bus includes: retrieving, from the results bus into an entry of a register file of an execution slice, speculative result data of a load instruction generated by a load/store slice; and determining, from the load/store slice after expiration of a predetermined period of time, whether the result data is valid.
US09921823B2 Line replacement unit (LRU) replacement process
An improved integrated avionics system having a plurality of line replacement units (LRUs) is disclosed. At least one LRU stores in its memory software and configuration data stored and used by another LRU in the system. Upon detecting a new LRU installation, the at least one LRU may be configured to copy to its internal memory the software and configuration data loaded to the new LRU. The LRU may also store a table in its internal memory identifying each LRU that has been installed in the system, when each LRU was installed, and a copy of configuration and software data loaded to each LRU. If one of the LRUs in the system needs to be replaced, the LRU may determine which software and configuration data is applicable to the replaced LRU and load the determined software and configuration data to the new LRU, thereby improving the loading and installation process.
US09921818B2 Method and apparatus of downloading and installing a client
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus of downloading and installing a client. The method includes: upon receiving a request message of downloading client software that includes an identifier of the client software from a user terminal, a server obtaining account information of a user and installation information of the client software corresponding to the identifier of the client software, and sending the obtained account information and installation information of the client software to the user terminal. As such, when pushing the installation information of the client software to the user terminal, the server also provides the account information that is used for login of the client software to the user terminal, thus shortening the tedious procedure of re-registering the account information used for logging into the client software by the user, speeding up the user login of the client software and effectively improving user experience without the need of repeatedly registering the account information by the user. This saves the storage space of an application server and improves the storage capability of the application server.
US09921815B2 Program variable convergence analysis
System and method for convergence analysis. One or more state variables of a first program may be determined based on dependencies of variables in a first program. A second program corresponding to the first program is created based on the state variables and their dependencies, and executed multiple times. Each execution may include recording values of the state variables, determining an execution count, comparing the values to corresponding values from previous executions of the second program, and terminating the executing in response to the values matching corresponding values from at least one previous execution of the second program. A convergence property for the first program is determined based on the execution count, and indicating a number of executions of the first program required to generate all possible values of the one or more variables. The convergence property is stored, and may be useable to optimize the first program.
US09921811B2 Multiple display environment for software development projects
A multi-display system for management of a software development project having a graphical user interface including interactive user interface elements representing one or more tasks in the software project, first and second source code databases, first and second object code databases, a migration module configured to migrate source code from the first source code database to the second source code database and migrate object code from the first object code database to the second object code database in response to a user input to the graphical user interface, a first output module for executing the one or more blocks of object code and displaying an output of the executed object code stored in the first object code database, a second output module for executing the one or more blocks of object code and displaying an output of the executed object code stored in the second object code database.
US09921809B2 Scaling a cloud infrastructure
A method for scaling a cloud infrastructure, comprises receiving at least one of resource-level metrics and application-level metrics, estimating parameters of at least one application based on the received metrics, automatically and dynamically determining directives for scaling application deployment based on the estimated parameters, and providing the directives to a cloud service provider to execute the scaling.
US09921806B2 Method and apparatus for switching audio output device
A method for switching an audio output device includes after a predetermined event is captured on the information output interface, detecting whether a voice interface object representing a voice message is currently displayed on the information output interface. The method further includes detecting whether an external audio output device is currently connected to the mobile electronic apparatus. If it is detected that a voice interface object is currently displayed, and it is not detected that an external audio output device is connected to the mobile electronic apparatus, displaying an interface switching object on the information output interface, to correspondingly switch an audio output device of the mobile electronic apparatus according to an input operation of a user.
US09921793B2 Display device and controlling method thereof
Disclosed are a display device and controlling method thereof. The present invention includes a display unit configured to display a first content, a communication unit configured to connect communications with a plurality of external mobile terminals, and a controller configured to obtain personalization information corresponding to each of a plurality of the external mobile terminals, recognize an occurrence of an event related to the personalization information of a specific one of a plurality of the external mobile terminals, control the communication unit to transmit a signal indicating the event occurrence to the specific external mobile terminal, control the communication unit to receive a command signal for controlling the display device from the specific external mobile terminal.
US09921779B2 Memory apparatus, memory system and memory controlling method
A memory apparatus, includes: a memory including memory regions; a table storing a memory address and a number of reading times of data; a first buffer storing first data from another memory apparatus and a first memory address of the first data; a second buffer storing second data to the another memory apparatus and a second memory address of the second data; and a controller configured to store, when a first number of reading times being minimum in the table is smaller than a second number of reading times of the first data, the first data and the first memory address into the first buffer and outputs third data in a memory region of the first number and a third memory address of the third data to the another memory apparatus via the second buffer, and rewrites the third data and memory address with the first data and memory address.
US09921776B2 Efficient sidefile utilization in asynchronous data replication systems
A method to more efficiently utilize sidefiles in an asynchronous data replication system is disclosed. In one embodiment, such a method includes maintaining, in memory of a primary storage system, a set of sidefiles for mirroring record sets from the primary storage system to a secondary storage system. Each sidefile has a status of either active or inactive. The method further establishes an upper threshold and lower threshold for each sidefile. The method receives, into active sidefiles, record sets that need to be mirrored to the secondary storage system. When record sets in each of the actives sidefiles reaches the upper threshold, the method activates a deactivated sidefile. When record sets in an active sidefile fall below the lower threshold, the method deactivates and drains the sidefile. A corresponding system and computer program product are also disclosed.
US09921775B2 Memory management in a decentralized control plane of a computing system
A method of managing memory of a control plane for services in a computer system that includes executing a service host process of the control plane on a software platform of the computer system, the service host process including runtime software configured to manage lifecycles of objects representing the services, the objects being associated with the service host process and being marked as available; determining an amount of memory in the computer system consumed by the objects; marking a plurality of the objects as paused in response to the amount of memory consumed by the objects exceeding a threshold; storing at least a portion of a runtime context of each of the plurality of objects in storage of the computer system; and disassociating the plurality of objects from the service host process to reclaim memory consumed by the objects.
US09921769B2 Making more active use of a secondary storage system
Techniques are disclosed which allow a secondary storage system to provide data to non-production workloads in conjunction with performing data backup and protection tasks. As disclosed, a secondary storage system exposes backup data stored by the secondary storage system to other workloads, such as test and development applications, data analytics, etc. These non-production workloads can run at the same time the secondary storage system provides backup services to a primary storage system. This consolidation eliminates the need for an enterprise to deploy separate storage clusters for analytics, test and development applications, etc. and eliminates unnecessary copies of data.
US09921749B2 Memory system and method including determining a read voltage based on program order information and a plurality of mapping tables
A method of operating a memory system, including a memory device, includes managing program order information of the memory device based on a program order stamp (POS) indicating a relative temporal relationship between program operations of a plurality of memory groups that are included in the memory device. The method includes generating a first mapping table that stores a read voltage offset and an upper POS corresponding to the read voltage offset, by using a plurality of voltage levels that are sequentially decreased or reduced, and generating a second mapping table that stores the read voltage offset and a lower POS corresponding to the read voltage offset, by using a plurality of voltage levels that are sequentially increased. A read voltage for performing a read operation on the memory device is variably determined based on the first and second mapping tables and the program order information.
US09921747B2 Unifying memory controller
A unifying memory controller (UMC) to send and receive data to and from a local host. The UMC also may manage data placement and retrieval by using an address mapper. The UMC may also selectively provide power to a plurality of memory locations. The UMC may also manage data placement based on a policy that can make use of a property stored in the metadata storage location. The property may be a property describing the data that is being managed. The UMC also may use its own local cache that may store copies of data managed by the circuit.
US09921737B2 Flexible apparatus and control method thereof
A flexible apparatus is provided. The flexible apparatus includes: a screen generator configured to generate a user interface (UI) screen; a plurality of sensors configured to sense deformation of the flexible apparatus and output a result of sensing; a storage configured to store a crumple determining condition with regard to crumpling of the flexible apparatus; and a controller configured to determine whether the result of the sensing by the plurality of sensors satisfies the crumple determining condition stored in the storage, and in response to determining that the crumple determining condition is satisfied, perform an operation corresponding to the crumple determining condition.
US09921733B2 Graphical interface for automatically binned information
Provided are systems and methods for determining and displaying automatically binned information via a graphical user interface. A graphical user interface (GUI) may include a first graphical element representing a first metric value for a first time window and a second graphical element representing a second metric value for a second time window. An indication of a selection of the first time window may be received via the GUI. An updated GUI comprising a third graphical element representing a third metric value for the third time window and a fourth graphical element representing the fourth metric value for the fourth time window may be displayed, wherein the third time window and the fourth time window may be sub-ranges of the first time window.
US09921731B2 Duplication detection in clinical documentation
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided to detect similarities in clinical documents that might be inaccurate or inappropriate. A first clinical document and a second clinical document that are to be compared are identified. This identification of the documents is based on times associated with the first and second clinical documents, an identity of clinicians who authored the first and second clinical documents, an identity of patients associated with the first and second clinical documents, a type of the first and second clinical documents, or contents of the first and second clinical documents. The first clinical document is compared to a portion of the second clinical document. A report is automatically generated, where the report indicates the similarities between the portion of the first clinical document and the portion of the second clinical document that are potentially inaccurate or inappropriate.
US09921730B2 Statistics time chart interface row mode drill down
In embodiments of statistics time chart interface row mode drill down, a first interface is displayed in a table format that includes columns each having a column heading comprising a different value, each different value associated with a particular event field, and includes rows each with a time increment and one or more aggregated metrics, each aggregated metric representing a number of events having a field-value pair that matches the different value represented in one of the columns and within the time increment over which the aggregated metric is calculated. A row that includes the time increment and the aggregated metrics can be emphasized in the first interface, and in response, a menu is displayed with selectable options to transition to a second interface based on a selected one of the options.
US09921722B2 Page transition system and method for alternate gesture mode and invocation thereof
A method and system for providing an alternate gesture interface. A computing device, such as an electronic personal display or e-reading device, includes a memory and a display screen having touch functionality. The memory stores instructions configured to enact a page transition operation for digital content rendered on the display screen upon receipt of a first gesture input action performed at a first portion of the display screen. The method comprises receiving a gesture-mode switch request; in response to the gesture-mode switch request, disabling the touch functionality of the display screen; activating the touch functionality in only a second portion of the display screen, the second portion being at least partly spatially exclusive of the first portion of the display screen; and enacting the page transition operation only when a predefined second gesture input action is received at the second portion of the display screen.
US09921713B2 Transitional data sets
A set of applications on a mobile device can be specified, presented and automatically populated with transitional data sets. The transitional data sets can be stored on a network to facilitate computations of differences between transitional data sets and other data sets, and the differences can be presented on the mobile device by one or more location-aware applications.
US09921709B2 Electrode member and touch window including the same
The electrode member according to the embodiment includes: a substrate; and an electrode part on the substrate, wherein the electrode part includes a sensing electrode and a wire electrode, at least one electrode of the sensing electrode and the wire electrode includes an opening part and the electrode part has a black color.
US09921708B2 Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display including touch sensor
An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes a display substrate, an encapsulation substrate formed over the display substrate, and a window formed over the encapsulation substrate, wherein the window includes a surface facing the display substrate. The OLED display further includes a contact sensing layer formed on the surface of the window and a touch driver formed on the surface of the window and electrically connected to the contact sensing layer, wherein the touch driver is configured to drive the touch sensing layer.
US09921707B2 Operation console and image processing apparatus with the operation console
A touch key of an operation console includes a circuit board (310) having a light source (312, 314), a light transmitting portion (322) transmitting light, a non-transparent light shielding portion (324) and a semi-transparent operation panel (300) covering upper surfaces of the light transmitting portion and the light shielding portion. The light transmitting portion accommodates the light source. The surfaces of light transmitting portion and light shielding portion in contact with each other are tightly sealed, and the circuit board (310) and the light shielding portion (324) cover the light transmitting portion (322) such that the light is emitted only from the surface in contact with the operation panel (300). Thus, leakage of light from around a figure indicating a touch key can be prevented, and the operation console comes to have a high-class look.
US09921706B2 Method and apparatus for tracking input positions via electric field communication
A method and apparatus for tracking input positions via Electric Field Communication (EFC) are provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of receiving electrodes for EFC and a receiver unit. The receiving electrodes detect strengths of input electric fields. The receiver unit compares the strengths of the input electric fields with each other and generates position information regarding the input electric fields.
US09921700B2 Display module with pressure sensor
A display module includes a front panel, a backlight panel, a pressure sensor and a panel frame. The front panel includes an array of display pixels. The backlight panel is disposed under the front panel. The pressure sensor is disposed under the backlight panel, and includes a top electrode layer, an interlayer and a bottom electrode layer. The bottom electrode layer includes plural sub-electrodes. If a first distance between a first sub-electrode and a geometric center of the bottom electrode layer is shorter than a second distance between a second sub-electrode and the geometric center, an area of the second sub-electrode is larger than an area of the first sub-electrode. The panel frame is disposed under the pressure sensor. When an applied pressure is received by the front panel, a magnitude of the applied pressure is sensed by the pressure sensor.
US09921695B2 Touch device
A touch device is provided. The touch device includes a first insulating layer, a first sensing electrode layer, a second insulating layer, and a second sensing electrode layer. The first sensing electrode layer is located on the first insulating layer. The second insulating layer is located on the first sensing electrode layer. The second sensing electrode layer is located on the second insulating layer.
US09921694B2 Wearable computing device
Some forms relate to wearable computing devices that include a “touch pad” like interface. In some forms, the example wearable computing devices may be integrated with (or attached to) textiles (i.e. clothing). In other forms, the example wearable computing devices may be attached directly to the skin of someone (i.e., similar to a bandage) that utilizes any of the example wearable computing devices. The example wearable computing devices include a flexible touch pad that may allow a user of the wearable computing device to more easily operate the wearable computing device. The example wearable computing devices described herein may include a variety of electronics. Some examples include a power supply and/or a communication device among other types of electronics.
US09921693B2 Method and device for processing multi-touch input
The present invention relates to a method and a device for processing a multi-touch input, comprising the steps of: detecting whether an overlapping region exists between a first input region and a second input region when a multi-touch input occurs on a touch panel; computing a center point of the first input region, a center point of the second input region, and a center point of the overlapping region when an overlapping region exists; determining a first straight line passing through the center point of the first input region, a second straight line passing through the center point of the second input region, and a third straight line passing through the center point of the overlapping region; computing the sum of touch input forces of regions surrounding each of the first straight line, the second straight line, and the third straight line; and determining whether to merge the first input region and the second input region by comparing the sum of the touch input forces of the regions surrounding the first or second straight line when the sum of the touch input forces of the regions surrounding the third straight line.
US09921692B2 Hinged input device
An input device for use with an electronic system includes a deflectable component having an input surface configured to be touched by input objects and a capacitive sensor layer configured to sense positional information of the input objects. A hinge pivotably mounts a first edge of the deflectable component to the electronic system and facilitates deflection of the deflectable component in response to force applied by an input object to the input surface. A spring mechanism is spaced apart from the hinge and configured to resiliently couple a second edge of the deflectable component to the electronic system and to provide a restoring force responsive to the applied force.
US09921686B2 Learning method and information processing apparatus
A learning method includes collecting, from a sensor that measures a distance and a direction to an object, measurement data regarding a plurality of points forming the object, generating, based on the measurement data, first shape data indicating a shape of the object, calculating a number of first cusps in the first shape data, the first cusps corresponding to cusps of the object, generating second shape data in which the shape is simplified by removing a part of the plurality of points from the measurement data, calculating a number of second cusps in the second shape data, and generating learning information based on the number of the first cusps and the number of the second cusps, the learning information classifying a type of the shape of the object into one of a plurality of types.
US09921681B2 Display device
A display device includes a plurality of pixel electrodes, a plurality of drive electrodes and a touch detection electrode. A display function layer is controlled by a voltage generated between the plurality of pixel electrodes and the plurality of drive electrodes in a display period, and touch detection is performed by detecting a voltage of the touch detection electrode in a touch detection period. In the display period, the plurality of drive electrodes are connected to a first wiring, and in the touch detection period, selected drive electrodes of the plurality of drive electrodes are connected to the first wiring, and the other non-selected drive electrodes of the plurality of drive electrodes are connected to a second wiring.
US09921676B2 Display device
According to one embodiment, a lateral-electric-field liquid crystal display device includes a light-emitting display layer including OLEDs and a driving circuit controlling light emission of the OLEDs, a moisture impermeable film provided to be laminated on the light-emitting display layer to prevent infiltration of moisture into the light-emitting display layer, an optical substrate provided separately from the moisture impermeable film and subjecting light from the light-emitting display region to optical processing, a first touch electrode group serving as one electrode group of touch electrodes and provided on a back surface of the optical substrate, and an extraction electrode group formed to be laminated on the moisture impermeable film, the extraction electrode group and the optical substrate have an overlapping part in plan view, and electrodes of the first touch electrode group being electrically connected to electrodes of the extraction electrode group in the overlapping part.
US09921671B2 Touch projection screen and manufacturing method thereof
A touch projection screen including a first substrate, a plurality of first touch layers, a plurality of second touch layers, and a reflective projection film is provided. The first touch layers are disposed on the first substrate and at least two of the first touch layers are arranged adjacent to each other. Each of the first touch layers includes a first base layer and a first patterned electrode disposed on the first base layer. The second touch layers are disposed on the first touch layers and at least two of the second touch layers are arranged adjacent to each other. Each of the second touch layers includes a second base layer and a second patterned electrode disposed on the second base layer. The reflective projection film is disposed on the second touch layers. A manufacturing method of the touch projection screen is also provided.
US09921670B2 Organic light emitting display
An organic light emitting display including a first substrate and a second substrate is described. The first substrate has a pixel divided into a light emitting area and a non-light emitting area. The first substrate has an organic light emitting diode disposed in the light emitting area. The second substrate has an infrared sensor disposed corresponding to the non-light emitting area. In the organic light emitting display, the organic light emitting diode emits visible light and infrared light, and the infrared sensor is disposed corresponding to the non-light emitting area.
US09921660B2 Radar-based gesture recognition
This document describes techniques using, and devices embodying, radar-based gesture recognition. These techniques and devices can enable a great breadth of gestures and uses for those gestures, such as gestures to use, control, and interact with computing and non-computing devices, from software applications to refrigerators. The techniques and devices are capable of providing a radar field that can sense gestures from multiple actors at one time and through obstructions, thereby improving gesture breadth and accuracy over many conventional techniques.
US09921649B2 Electrostatic haptic based user input elements
A user input element includes a first part having a first capacitive surface, a second part having a second capacitive surface configured to be movable relative to the first capacitive surface, and an insulator positioned in between the first capacitive surface and the second capacitive surface so that a haptic effect is generated when the second capacitive surface is moved relative to the first capacitive surface from a first position to a second position. The user input element may be part of a haptic feedback interface system configured to provide haptic effects to a user operating the system.
US09921638B2 Data processing system with selective engagement of standby mode based on comparison with a break-even time
The data processing system has: a plurality of hardware resources each having at least one standby mode; a control part for controlling execution of a task achieved by using, of the plurality of hardware resources, predetermined ones, and a working status of each hardware resource; and a power-source part for controlling supply of a power source to each hardware resource. The control part performs the scheduling of a scheduled execution time of the task based on information for determining a timing of executing the task, and calculates a standby time of the hardware resource based on a result of the scheduling. The control part compares the standby time with a break-even time depending on the standby mode, thereby deciding whether or not to cause each hardware resource to transition to the standby mode.
US09921632B2 Pausing scripts in web browser background tabs
Provided is a method for pausing activities in an internet browser in which a plurality of webpages are open, at least one of the webpages being a background webpage relative to at least one other of the webpages. The method may comprise executing, while the plurality of webpages are open, software scripts on the background webpage. The method may then include analyzing a Document Object Model (DOM) and a rendering tree of a background webpage to discover what software scripts the background webpage runs while in the background, and determining whether the background webpage provides title bar updates. The method may also include periodically pausing, by a background activity suspension component, the execution of the software scripts for a pause duration to conserve power or processing resources, and adjusting the pause duration to be longer or shorter based on characteristics of the software scripts that run on the background webpage.
US09921629B2 Systems and methods for a multi-rail voltage regulator with configurable phase allocation
In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, an information handling system may include a processor and a power system comprising a plurality of voltage regulator phases, wherein at least one of the plurality of voltage regulator phases comprises an allocable voltage regulator phase that is configured to be selectively allocated to one of at least a first voltage rail and a second voltage rail of the information handling system based on a hardware configuration of the information handling system.
US09921624B1 Apparatus, system, and method for temperature-based regulation of electrical power output
The disclosed apparatus may include (1) at least one power interface that unites a plurality of power supplies that output electrical power for consumption by a network device that facilitates network traffic within a network and (2) a power-management unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of power supplies, wherein the power-management unit (A) detects an operating temperature of a power supply within the plurality of power supplies that output electrical power for consumption by the network device, (B) determines that the operating temperature of the power supply exceeds a temperature threshold, and then (C) modifies an amount of electrical power being output by the power supply to account for the operating temperature exceeding the temperature threshold. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
US09921613B2 Biaxial hinge and terminal device using the same
A biaxial hinge has a first hinge portion which includes a first A hinge shaft, a second A hinge shaft, and a first radial direction coupling unit for coupling the first A hinge shaft and the second A hinge shaft. The biaxial hinge also has a second hinge portion which includes a first B hinge shaft and a second B hinge shaft, and a second radial direction coupling unit for coupling the first B hinge shaft and the second B hinge shaft. The biaxial hinge also has an axial direction coupling unit.
US09921611B2 Electronic device and flexible connection device
An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an electronic device and a flexible connection device. The electronic device comprises a first body; a second body; and a flexible connection device, configured to connect the first body and the second body. The flexible connection device comprises N shafts; and N−1 transmission structures, wherein each of the transmission structures connects two adjacent shafts, to connect the N shafts together in order, wherein N is an integer which is larger than 3 or equals to 3. When an action force is applied onto the first body and/or the second body so that relative positions of the first body and the second body are changed, the N shafts and the N−1 transmission structures are driven sequentially so that the flexible connection device is flexibly bent while keeping the length of the inner arc of the flexible connection device constant.
US09921606B2 Low-profile swing gate to support service element interface hardware
An apparatus for positioning service element interface devices is provided. A gate is affixed to a computing rack by a gate hinge, wherein the gate hinge rotates on a first axis. A first tray affixed to the gate at a side edge of the first tray. A second tray affixed to the first tray at a bottom edge of the first tray by a hinge that rotates on a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. A first display and a first keyboard affixed to an outer surface of the first tray. A second display and a second keyboard affixed to an outer surface of the second tray.
US09921599B2 Voltage switching circuit and power supply device with regulator
A voltage switching circuit of an example includes a switching element that switches an electrical connection between a first terminal and a second terminal, a first control circuit that controls the switch element, a regulator circuit that generates a first internal voltage and supply the first control circuit with the first internal voltage, a voltage selection circuit that selects one of a first voltage from the first terminal and a second voltage from the second terminal and supply the regulator circuit with the selected one of the first voltage and the second voltage, a second control circuit that controls the voltage selection circuit, and a voltage generation circuit that generates a second internal voltage using at least one of the first voltage and the second voltage, the second internal voltage is supplied to the voltage selection circuit and the second control circuit.
US09921596B2 Power supply noise reduction circuit and power supply noise reduction method
A power supply noise reduction circuit and a power supply noise reduction method are provided. An integrated circuit includes an input node configured to receive a signal via a transmission line. The integrated circuit also includes termination circuitry configured to electrically couple the input node to a power rail of the integrated circuit. The integrated circuit further includes a circuit component coupled to the power rail. The circuit component is configured to bleed off a portion of current on the power rail based on a determination that a voltage on the power rail meets or exceeds a high voltage threshold. The circuit component is also configured to bleed off a smaller portion of the current on the power rail based on a determination that the voltage on the power rail is less than the high voltage threshold.
US09921589B2 Method and device for controlling a coasting operating mode in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine
A method and a device for automatically deactivating a coasting operating mode in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine is disclosed. An activated coasting operating mode is deactivated if the current vehicle speed exceeds a threshold value. The threshold value is set as the sum of a minimum vehicle speed and of a maximum permissible increase in speed.
US09921587B1 Spherica weight-shifting integral free-rolling tumbler
A spherical weight-shifting integral free-rolling tumbler (SWIFT) is provided for rolling along a surface in a command direction. The SWIFT includes a spherical shell, a cubic box within the shell held by spars, and a controller. The box has six panels, and each panel connects to a weight-shifter. Each weight-shifter includes an actuator and a movable mass. The controller for selectively activates the weight-shifter among the panels to translate the mass from the default position to the active position. The controller operates a first switch that corresponds to panels facing away from the surface, and in combination operates a second switch that corresponds to a weight-shifter approximately facing the command direction to roll the shell accordingly.
US09921586B2 Celestial navigation system for an autonomous vehicle
A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter.
US09921583B2 Package management system for robotic vehicles
Described embodiments include a system, method, and apparatus. A system includes package management system for operating a robotic vehicle configured to transport consumer items selected by a human shopper from a consumer shopping environment and placed in the robotic vehicle. The package management system includes circuitry for receiving data indicative of a transportation departure point accommodating a transfer of a consumer item from the robotic vehicle to a conveyance configured to transport the consumer item away from the consumer shopping environment. The package management system includes circuitry for routing the robotic vehicle to the departure point. In an embodiment, the package management system includes circuitry for managing a transfer of a consumer item acquired by the individual human shopper in the consumer shopping environment from the robotic vehicle to the conveyance at the departure point.
US09921579B1 Human interaction with unmanned aerial vehicles
In some examples, an unmanned aerial vehicle is provided. The unmanned aerial vehicle may include a propulsion device, a sensor device, and a management system. In some examples, the management system may be configured to receive human gestures via the sensor device and, in response, instruct the propulsion device to affect an adjustment to the behavior of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Human gestures may include visible gestures, audible gestures, and other gestures capable of recognition by the unmanned vehicle.
US09921577B2 Method and system for diagnostic rules for heavy duty gas turbines
A method for monitoring and diagnosing anomalies in auxiliary systems of a gas turbine implemented using a computer device coupled to a user interface and a memory device, the method including storing a plurality rule sets in the memory device, the rule sets relative to the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine, the rule sets including at least one rule expressed as a relational expression of a real-time data output relative to a real-time data input, the relational expression being specific to parameters associated with the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine, receiving real-time and historical data inputs from a condition monitoring system associated with the gas turbine, the data inputs relating to process parameters associated with the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine, and estimating values for at least some of the parameters associated with the auxiliary systems of the gas turbine using the received inputs.
US09921576B2 Virtual transmitter for bioreactor automation system
A bioreactor monitoring and/or control system utilizing only non-dedicated user input and information display devices, a digital controller and software, which system comprises: i) at least one diagnostic probe for measuring operating conditions in a bioreactor; ii) signal conditioning and communication electronics which supply operating current and/or voltage to the probe and which convert the diagnostic signal into a format accessible by a digital controller which directly receives the format converted signal and transmits it to software which enables the display device to show the converted signal, and also instruct the controller to implement changes in the operating conditions in the reactor, and iii) a software-based virtual transmitter which substantially replicates the keyboard, display, menu-tree and response of a physical sensor transmitter.
US09921575B2 Process monitoring system, apparatus and method
A process monitoring system includes: a plurality of field devices configured to measure state quantities in an industrial process implemented in a plant; a trend calculation unit configured to determine the variation trend of the state quantities based on time-sequence data output from each of the plurality of field devices and classify each of the variation trends of the state quantities into one of a pre-established plurality of statuses; a state change judgment unit configured to judge the existence or non-existence of a pre-indicator of a change in the plant state, in accordance with the existence or non-existence of a change in at least one of the statuses classified by the trend calculation unit; and a notification unit configured to notify of judgment results of the state change judgment unit.
US09921574B1 Dynamic interactive robot dialogue creation incorporating disparate information sources and collective feedback analysis
A system and methods for incorporating disparate sources of collective feedback in the preparation and execution of an initial interaction between a social robot and a human being is disclosed. These methods include retrieving interaction content, assigning a life cycle to new content, detecting and removing expired life cycle content, modifying interaction scripts to include new interaction content and sending the modified interaction script to at least one social robot, wherein the at least one social robot executes the modified script during the period of time specified by the life cycle associated with the interaction topic to obtain an improved interaction with a human receiving, by the data management system, interaction log data.
US09921569B2 Field device commissioning system and method
A field device commissioning system includes a commissioning tool configured to communicate with a repository and an input-output (IO) device, the IO device is configured to communicate with a field device. The commissioning tool includes a first processor configured to retrieve engineering data for the IO device or the field device from the repository, retrieve a first configuration parameter value for the IO device or the field device from the IO device, determine a second configuration parameter value for the IO device or the field device from the retrieved engineering data, the second configuration parameter corresponds to the first configuration parameter, determine if the first configuration parameter value is the same as the second configuration parameter value; and generate alert on a user interface with when the first configuration parameter value is not the same as the second configuration parameter value, wherein the IO device comprises a second processor.
US09921566B1 Advanced remote match drilling process
Fabricating a component is accomplished by operating a metrology system to obtain physical characteristics for an environment in which the component is to be installed. The physical characteristics for the environment are then transferred to a computer numerical control (CNC) machine and the component is fabricated to be compatible with the physical characteristics of the environment using the CNC machine.
US09921565B2 Programming assist device for programmable logic controller program and programming assist method for the program
A programming assist device for a PLC program and a programming assist method for a PLC program capable of easily preparing separate executable files for causing redundant CPUs of a PLC to operate and reliably preventing an emergency stop of the PLC due to a failure in converter software are provided. First and second intermediate codes are generated from an original program. An inverse conversion program is generated from the first intermediate code. A reconverted first intermediate code and a reconverted second intermediate code are generated from the inverse conversion program. In the case where the intermediate codes and the reconverted intermediate codes match each other, a first executable file is generated from the reconverted first intermediate code, and a second executable file is generated from the reconverted second intermediate code. The executable files are transferred to the PLC.
US09921564B2 Programmable logic controller
A PLC compares previously acquired device data with currently acquired device data when collecting device data on a control target device over three or more times within one polling time, and stores changed device data as changed data when they are different from each other. When transmitting the changed data to a PC in each polling, the PLC compares the changed data with collected device data. When the total amount of changed data is equal to or larger than the total amount of collected device data, the PLC restores collected device data by using the changed data and transmits the restored device data to the PC, and, when the total amount of changed data is smaller than the total amount of collected device data, the PLC transmits the changed data to the PC.
US09921558B2 Methods for intelligently throwing a ball to a dynamically detected user and devices thereof
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium, and a ball throwing management computing device that assists with intelligently throwing a ball to a dynamically detected user includes receiving health information associated with a user from a user computing device. A location and height of the user associated with the received health information is detected. A speed, a direction, a trajectory and a frequency at which the ball can be propelled to the user is determined based on the received health information and the detected location of the user without user intervention. Propelling the ball to the user based on the determined speed, direction and frequency is assisted.
US09921551B2 Electronic device, and control method of an electronic device
An electronic timepiece has a receiving device that receives satellite signals; a reception control unit that operates the receiving device and runs a reception process; a chronograph unit that executes a measuring process; an input device; a detection device that detects operation of the input device to start the chronograph, and outputs a chronograph operation signal when this operation is detected; a hand used both to indicate information related to the reception process and information related to the measuring process; and an operating control unit that operates the chronograph unit in addition to the operating reception control unit, and controls operation of the hand that is indicating information related to the reception process to indicate the measured time, if the chronograph operation signal is input while the reception process is running.
US09921547B2 Oscillator with rotating detent
The invention relates to an oscillator comprising a pivoting staff connected to a mechanical energy source, an inertia-elasticity resonator formed in one piece, which is mounted on the pivoting staff, a detent escapement comprising a single-piece detent fixed to the pivoting staff, which comprises at least one flexible blade and a stop member arranged to elastically lock the pivoting staff in relation to a concentric escapement toothing, wherein the release element is arranged to elastically unlock the stop member in relation to the concentric escapement toothing, by the movement of the member forming the inertia, so that the pivoting staff counts each oscillation of the resonator while transmitting to it the energy able to maintain it.
US09921546B2 Timepiece mechanism comprising a pivoting member provided with magnetic return means
The timepiece mechanism comprises a rotating wheel set, a support element, a pivoting member mounted on the support element and magnetic return means for returning one portion of the pivoting member against a surface of the rotating wheel set. The return means comprise a first magnet carried by the pivoting member and a second magnet carried by the support element. The first and second magnets are arranged such that, in normal operation, the interaction of their respective magnetic fields generates a magnetic force oriented to return said pivoting member portion towards said rotating wheel surface. At least one of the first and second magnets is arranged to permit reversal of its polarity, preferably with the aid of a tool, and thereby of the direction of the magnetic force acting on the pivoting member, said magnetic force then tending to move said pivoting member portion away from said rotating wheel set surface, which makes it easy to handle the various elements of the timepiece mechanism.
US09921544B2 Image forming apparatus, molded resin product for use with the image forming apparatus, and cartridge
A molded resin product for use with an image forming apparatus includes: a base portion formed of a resin material; a positioning portion provided on the base portion; and a movable member formed by injection molding so as to be movable relative to the base portion. When the molded resin product is connected to a connection part, the positioning portion positions the molded resin product and the connection part relative to each other, and the movable member is contactable to a contact portion of the connection part.
US09921543B2 Image-forming apparatus provided with support parts for supporting cartridge detached from housing
An image-forming apparatus includes: a housing formed with an opening part; and a process cartridge detachably attachable to the housing through the opening part in a first direction. The housing includes a first support part arranged at the opening part, and a cover movable between a closed position and an opened position. The cover includes a second support part positioned away from the first support part in the first direction when the cover is at the opened position. The process cartridge includes: a drum cartridge having a drum frame; and a toner cartridge detachably attachable to the drum frame. When the cover is at the opened position, the first support part and the second support part are configured to support the drum frame of the process cartridge detached from the housing to restrict displacement of the drum frame in the first direction.
US09921533B2 Image forming apparatus having a density sensor movable in a main scanning direction
An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, an optical scanner, a development device, a movable density sensor, a density sensor driver, and a processor. The optical scanner includes a light source to emit light, and irradiates a surface of the photoconductor in a main scanning direction with the light to form a latent image on the surface of the photoconductor. The development device develops the latent image into a toner image. The density sensor detects unevenness in density of the toner image in the main scanning direction. The density sensor driver moves the density sensor in the main scanning direction. The processor corrects a driving signal for the light source according to image data to reduce the unevenness in density in the main scanning direction, according to positional data of the density sensor in the main scanning direction and an output value of the density sensor.
US09921523B1 Image forming apparatus and method for controlling developer refreshing process therein
An image forming apparatus includes a developing unit attachment part to which developing units are to be attached, each of the developing units being associated with a first criteria for performing developer refreshing and a second criteria for performing developer refreshing, wherein the second criteria is defined so as to be met prior to the first criteria, and a controller configured to control a timing of developer refreshing executed for each of the developing units according to the first and second criteria values thereof. When the first criteria for performing developer refreshing is met for at least one of the developing units, the controller causes developer refreshing to be performed for all developing units whose first or second criteria is met.
US09921518B2 Developing roller, with conductive elastic layer having exposed protrusions, cartridge and apparatus
It is directed to providing a developing roller capable of forming a high-quality electrophotographic image. The developing roller includes a substrate, an electro-conductive elastic layer on the substrate, and a plurality of electrical insulating domains on the electro-conductive elastic layer. The developing roller has a length L of 200 mm or more in a longitudinal direction orthogonal to the circumferential direction thereof. The surface of the developing roller includes the surfaces of the domains and an exposed portion of the electro-conductive elastic layer, the exposed portion being uncovered with the domains. The developing roller has protrusions on the surface thereof, the protrusion being formed by the domains. The electro-conductive elastic layer has a plurality of protrusions at the exposed portion. The developing roller has an Asker C hardness of 50 degrees or more and 90 degrees or less.
US09921507B2 Electrostatic-image developing toner, electrostatic-image developer, and toner cartridge
An electrostatic-image developing toner includes toner particles each including a polyester resin and a styrene (meth)acrylic resin. In a micro-compression test where a load of 0.2 mN is applied to the toner particles at a loading rate of 0.098 mN/sec, the median of a distribution of the ratios (%) of deformations of the toner particles to the diameters of the toner particles is 8.0 or more and 18.0 or less, and a variation in the distribution of the ratios of deformations of the toner particles to the diameters of the toner particles is 0.02 or more and 0.40 or less.
US09921503B2 Toner, developer, and image formation device
A toner including: a pigment; polyester resin A that is insoluble in tetrahydrofuran (THF); and polyester resin B that is soluble in THF, wherein the toner satisfies requirements (1) to (3) below: (1) the polyester resin A includes one or more aliphatic diols including from 3 through 10 carbon atoms, as a component constituting the polyester resin A; (2) the polyester resin B includes at least an alkylene glycol in an amount of 40 mol % or more, as a component constituting the polyester resin B; and (3) a glass transition temperature (Tg1st) of the toner at first heating in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of the toner is from 20° C. through 50° C.
US09921500B2 Fluorinated structured organic film photoreceptor layers
A method of forming an overcoat layer. The method comprises providing a substrate having an imaging structure formed thereon, the imaging structure comprising (i) a charge transport layer and a charge generating layer, or (ii) an imaging layer comprising both charge generating material and charge transport material. An overcoat composition is deposited on the imaging structure, the overcoat composition comprising a charge transport molecule, a fluorinated building block, a leveling agent, a liquid carrier and optionally a first catalyst. The fluorinated building block is a fluorinated alkyl monomer substituted at the α and ω positions with a hydroxyl, carboxyl, carbonyl or aldehyde functional group or the anhydrides of any of those functional groups. The overcoat composition is cured to form an overcoat layer that is a fluorinated structured organic film, the curing comprising treating an outer surface of the overcoat composition with at least one cross-linking process. The crosslinking process forms a cross-linking gradient in the overcoat layer. If the overcoat composition comprises the first catalyst, there is an insufficient amount of the first catalyst to fully cross-link the overcoat layer.
US09921498B2 Electrophotographic photosensitive member, process cartridge, and electrophotographic apparatus
Provided is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a support, an undercoat layer formed on the support, and a photosensitive layer formed on the undercoat layer, in which the undercoat layer contains a polymer of a composition containing a compound represented by the formula (1).
US09921493B2 Photolithography system, method for transporting photo-mask and unit therein
A photolithography system includes a photo-mask storage, at least one photolithography machine and an overhead crane for transporting at least one photo-mask at least between the photo-mask storage and the photolithography machine. The overhead crane includes at least one main rail, a mask girder, a mask hoist and a mask holding device. The mask girder is coupled with the main rail and movable at least between a first position above the photo-mask storage and a second position above the photolithography machine. The mask hoist is movably coupled with the mask girder. The mask holding device is coupled with the mask hoist.
US09921487B2 Method for inspecting photoresist pattern
Example embodiments of inventive concepts provide a method for inspecting and/or observing photoresist patterns. The inspecting and/or observing methods may include forming at least an anti-reflective layer on a substrate, forming a fluorescent photoresist pattern on the anti-reflective layer, the fluorescent photoresist pattern having fluorescence, and observing and/or inspecting a shape of the fluorescent photoresist pattern using a fluorescence microscope.
US09921486B2 Multiscale patterning of a sample with apparatus having both thermo-optical lithography capability and thermal scanning probe lithography capability
The present invention provides a method for multiscale patterning of a sample. The method includes: placing the sample in an apparatus having both thermo-optical lithography capability and thermal scanning probe lithography capability; and patterning two patterns onto the sample, respectively by: thermo-optical lithography, wherein light is emitted from a light source onto the sample to heat the latter and thereby write a first pattern that is the largest of the two patterns; and thermal scanning probe lithography, wherein the sample and a heated probe tip are brought in contact for writing a second pattern that has substantially smaller critical dimensions than the first pattern. There is also provided an apparatus for multiscale patterning of a sample.
US09921485B2 Method of performing model-based scanner tuning
A model-based tuning method for tuning a first lithography system utilizing a reference lithography system, each of which has tunable parameters for controlling imaging performance. The method includes the steps of defining a test pattern and an imaging model; imaging the test pattern utilizing the reference lithography system and measuring the imaging results; imaging the test pattern utilizing the first lithography system and measuring the imaging results; calibrating the imaging model utilizing the imaging results corresponding to the reference lithography system, where the calibrated imaging model has a first set of parameter values; tuning the calibrated imaging model utilizing the imaging results corresponding to the first lithography system, where the tuned calibrated model has a second set of parameter values; and adjusting the parameters of the first lithography system based on a difference between the first set of parameter values and the second set of parameter values.
US09921483B2 Surface correction of mirrors with decoupling coating
A mirror (1) for EUV lithography includes a substrate (2) and a reflective coating (3, 4). The reflective coating has a first group (3) of layers (3a, 3b) and a second group (4) of layers (4a, 4b), wherein the first group and second group of layers (3a, 3b; 4a, 4b) reflect radiation having a used wavelength between 5 nm and 30 nm. The first group of layers is arranged between the substrate and the second group of layers, and a decoupling coating (6) is arranged between the first group and second group of layers, said decoupling coating optically decoupling the second group of layers from the first group of layers by preventing the radiation having the used wavelength from reaching the first group of layers. The reflective coating preferably has a correction layer (5) having a layer thickness variation for correcting the surface form of the mirror.
US09921479B2 Resist composition and patterning process
A pattern is formed by coating a resist composition comprising (A) a PPD inhibitor, (B) a polymer adapted to change its solubility in an organic solvent under the action of acid, (C) a photoacid generator, and (D) an organic solvent onto a substrate, baking, exposing the resist film, PEB, and developing in an organic solvent developer. The resist composition ensures to form a pattern in a consistent manner while inhibiting any CD shrinkage and pattern profile change due to a delay from PEB to development.
US09921475B1 Photoacid-generating compound, polymer derived therefrom, photoresist composition including the photoacid-generating compound or polymer, and method of forming a photoresist relief image
A photoacid-generating compound has the structure where R1, R2, R3, R4, Q, and X are defined herein. The photoacid-generating compound can be used as a component of a photoresist composition, or as a monomer incorporated into a polymer useful in a photoresist composition. The photoacid-generating compound provides a desired balance of solubility and line width roughness.
US09921474B2 Pattern-forming method and composition
A pattern-forming method includes forming a prepattern that is insoluble or hardly soluble in an organic solvent. A resin layer is provided on at least a lateral face of the prepattern. The prepattern and the resin layer are heated such that an adjacent portion of the resin layer to the prepattern is made insoluble or hardly soluble in the organic solvent, without being accompanied by an increase of a molecular weight of the prepattern and the resin layer. A portion of the resin layer other than the adjacent portion of the resin layer is removed. The resin layer is formed from a first composition including a first polymer and an organic solvent. Solubility of the first polymer in the organic solvent does not substantially change due to an action of an acid. A weight average molecular weight of the first polymer is 15,000-150,000.
US09921469B2 Imprint method, imprint apparatus, and method of manufacturing article
The present invention provides an imprint method comprising a deformation step of deforming a pattern surface of a mold so that the mold is gradually brought into contact with the imprint material outward from a central portion of the pattern surface, an obtaining step of obtaining a shift amount indicating how much a mark on the mold shifts in a direction parallel to a substrate surface due to deformation of the pattern surface, a detection step of detecting the mark on the mold and a mark on the substrate while the pattern surface is deformed, and obtaining relative positions of the mold and the substrate from a detection result, and an alignment step of aligning the mold and the substrate using the shift amount and the relative positions while the pattern surface is deformed.
US09921466B2 Method for monitoring focus in EUV lithography
Obtaining optimal focus for exposing a photoresist in an EUV lithography with an EUV mask containing a pattern with an assist feature is disclosed. The EUV mask contains a repeating pattern, wherein the repeating pattern has two different pitches, i.e. a first pitch and a second pitch, and contains an assist feature between main features. Because the two different pitches have different focus offsets, the difference between linewidths of said gratings provides a calibration curve which is a measure of focus. The method for monitoring focus is performing a EUV exposure using a focus position with a pre-determined focus position as calibrated using the linewidth difference between the two gratings. The EUV mask for monitoring focus of present invention is applicable to both test and product masks.
US09921461B1 Clip for mounting external device to electronic device
In an aspect, a device-and-clip system is provided for an electronic device. The system includes an external device that cooperates with at least one electronic device feature on the rear face to perform a selected function. The system includes a clip including a first clip arm having an arm marker thereon and which is engageable with the front face of the electronic device and a second clip arm that is engageable with the rear face of the electronic device. The system further includes an application that is executable to instruct the electronic device to display a screen marker on the display screen in a selected position and in a selected orientation such that positioning and orienting of the first clip arm on the display screen of the smart phone with the arm marker aligned with the position and orientation of the screen marker positions the external device in alignment with the at least one electronic device feature.
US09921447B2 Liquid crystal display and panel therefor
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display having excellent visibility.A thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes: gate lines formed on an insulating substrate; data lines insulated from the gate lines and intersecting the gate lines; first pixel electrodes disposed on pixel areas defined by intersections of the gate lines and the data lines; first thin film transistors, each having three terminals connected to one of the gate lines, one of the data lines, and one of the first pixel electrodes; second pixel electrodes disposed on the pixel areas and capacitively coupled to the first pixel electrodes; and second thin film transistors, each having three terminals connected to a previous gate line, a storage electrode line or one of the data lines, and one of the second pixel electrodes.
US09921441B2 Array substrate, liquid crystal display device having the same and method for manufacturing the same thereof
An array substrate, including a substrate, a multi-layer electrode and a switch element, is provided. The multi-layer electrode is disposed on the substrate and comprises an electric conductive layer and a first etch-stop layer. The electric conductive layer covers the first etch-stop layer. The switch element is disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the multi-layer electrode, and has a second etch-stop layer.
US09921439B2 Liquid crystal display device
A first substrate includes a gate line extending in a first direction, a first interlayer insulating film covering the gate line, a first common electrode formed on the first interlayer insulating film extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, a second interlayer insulating film covering the first common electrode, a source line extending in the second direction, and a third interlayer insulating film covering the source line. A pixel electrode includes a main pixel electrode extending in the second direction on the third interlayer insulating film. A second common electrode includes a second main common electrode extending in the second direction on the third interlayer insulating film and facing the source line. The second common electrode is set to the same potential as the first common electrode. A first alignment film covers the pixel electrode and the second common electrode.
US09921424B2 Portable device and method of manufacturing a display device
A portable device and method of manufacturing a display device includes a display panel having a glass substrate and a polarizer adhered to the glass substrate, a touch panel which is made of resin material and adhered to the polarizer of the display panel by a first adhesive material, and a front window which is made of glass and adhered to the touch panel by a second adhesive material. One of the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material is an adhesive sheet, and an other of the first adhesive material and the second adhesive material is an ultraviolet-curing adhesive material.
US09921418B2 Spectacle lens supply system, program therefor, prism amount determination device, prism amount determination method, and method for producing spectacle lens
An aligning prism amount determination device to determine an aligning prism amount for correcting fixation disparity of a spectacle wearer, having the fixation disparity, includes a determiner to determine an aligning prism amount to be uniformly included in the spectacle lens for correcting the fixation disparity, based on a first aligning prism amount obtained by measuring an aligning prism amount of the spectacle wearer at an eye examination distance corresponding to a first distance, a second aligning prism amount obtained by measurement at an eye examination distance corresponding to a second distance shorter than the first distance, and information used for allocation of the first aligning prism amount and the second aligning prism amount, within a prism prescription range between the first aligning prism amount and the second aligning prism amount.
US09921414B2 Display device
A display device according to one or more embodiments includes a display panel configured to display an image, a window substrate above the display panel, and including a display area configured to transmit the image therethrough, and a non-display area around the display area, a first adhesive layer between the display panel and the window substrate, and a decoration film above an upper surface of the window substrate. The decoration film includes a base film and a printing layer at a first surface of the base film.
US09921411B2 Stereoscopic lighting device and vehicle lighting device using the same
Provided are a stereoscopic display device capable of implementing a deep three-dimensional effect via a light source module having a thin thickness and a vehicle lighting device using the stereoscopic display device, the stereoscopic lighting device, including: a base substrate; a light source on the base substrate; a reflective layer disposed on one surface of the base substrate; a light guide layer burying the light source and the reflective layer; and a first half mirror layer disposed on the light guide layer.
US09921410B2 Head-mounted display device
A head-mounted display device includes an eyeglass frame, including a rim, for fixing the head-mounted display device onto a wearer's head, a display that displays an image, and an eyepiece optical unit that guides light of an image displayed on the display into at least one of the wearer's eyes to display the image as an enlarged virtual image. The display and the eyepiece optical unit are attached to the rim, an optical axis of incident light that is image light incident on the eyepiece optical unit from the display and an optical axis of exiting light that is image light exiting from the eyepiece optical unit towards the wearer's eye are not coplanar, and the angle between an incident light vector formed by the incident light and an exiting light vector formed by the exiting light is greater than 90°.
US09921399B2 System and method for continuous, asynchronous autofocus of optical instruments
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to autofocus subsystems within optical instruments that continuously monitor the focus of the optical instruments and adjust distances within the optical instrument along the optical axis in order to maintain a precise and stable optical-instrument focus at a particular point or surface on, within, or near a sample. Certain embodiments of the present invention operate asynchronously with respect to operation of other components and subsystems of the optical instrument in which they are embedded. In one embodiment the autofocus detector comprises a beam splitter arranged to split the autofocus light beam into a plurality (n) of down-stream light beams and a photodetector arrangement for registering the intensity of each one of the down-stream light beams.
US09921391B2 Interference objective lens and light interference measuring device
An interference objective lens includes: an objective lens system; a beam splitter which is placed between a measurement surface of a measuring object and a tip end of the objective lens, which diverges light emitted from the objective lens into a reference optical path and a measurement optical path, and which outputs combined wave in which reflection light passing through the reference optical path and reflection light passing through the measuring object are combined; a reference mirror which is placed in the reference optical path and which reflects, by the beam splitter, light diverged into the reference optical path; a mirror holding member which has a spherical surface-shaped outer surface, and which holds the reference mirror such that a reflection surface of the reference mirror passes through a center of a spherical surface; a support member which has a spherical surface-shaped inner surface having a diameter which is substantially equal to the outer surface of the mirror holding member, and which supports the outer surface of the mirror holding member by the inner surface; and a reference mirror adjusting mechanism which adjusts a position of the mirror holding member in the support member.
US09921387B2 Lens driving apparatus
Disclosed is a lens driving apparatus. The lens driving apparatus includes a base, a yoke coupled to the base, having an upper surface formed with a hole, a closed side surface, and an opened bottom surface, a bobbin movably installed in an inner portion of the yoke, a lens module coupled to the bobbin to go in and out the hole according to movement of the bobbin, a magnet fixed to an inner portion of the yoke, a coil fixed to an outer portion of the bobbin while facing the magnets, and springs coupled to the bobbin to provide restoration force to the bobbin.
US09921386B2 Lens module
A lens module includes a lens barrel having a top wall that has a bottom surface, and a lens group received by the lens barrel. The lens group includes a first lens adjacent to the top wall and a second lens attached to the first lens. A first complementary configuration is arranged between the first lens and the top wall of the lens barrel for ensuring a concentricity between the lens group and the lens barrel, and a second complementary configuration is arranged between the first lens and the second lens for ensuring a concentricity between the first lens and the second lens.
US09921384B2 Ultra-high fiber density micro-duct cable with extreme operating performance
A micro-duct cable includes a center member and a plurality of buffer tubes surrounding the center member. A plurality of fibers are disposed in each of the plurality of buffer tubes. Each of the plurality of buffer tubes contains greater than or equal to 24 fibers. The micro-duct cable further includes a cable jacket surrounding the plurality of buffer tubes and the center member. A maximum outer diameter of the cable is less than 13 millimeters and a modulus of elasticity of the cable is greater than or equal to 800 kpsi.
US09921369B2 Multimode optical fiber with high bandwidth, and corresponding multimode optical system
The invention concerns a multimode optical fiber, with an ct-profile graded-index core with an a-value between 1.96 and 2.05 and a N value defined as N=(R1/λ)2(n12−n02) between 7 and 52, where R1 is the multimode core radius, n1 is the maximum index of the multimode core and n0 is the minimum index at the outer edge of the graded index core. According to the invention, a depressed region directly surrounds the graded/index core and satisfies the criteria: −2.20
US09921368B2 Edge-lit light guide panel
An edge-lit light guide panel includes a gripper and one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) positioned within the gripper. The edge-lit light guide panel further includes a light guide having a narrow edge positioned within the gripper. The narrow edge is positioned proximal to the one or more LEDs. The light guide is to receive light from the one or more LEDs through the narrow edge and to emit a portion of the light through at least one broad side of the light guide.
US09921364B2 Lighting arrangement
A lighting arrangement can include a casing, a mounting bracket, a plurality of light emitting diodes, and a driving circuit. The casing can have a perimeter wall extending about a central axis and bottom lip projecting from the perimeter wall. The mounting bracket can be configured to be affixed to a ceiling. A cavity can be defined vertically between the bottom lip and the mounting bracket and defined radially by the perimeter wall. The driving circuit can be configured to power the plurality of light emitting diodes with AC power. The driving circuit can be transformer-less and include a powering circuit portion electronically communicating with the plurality of light emitting diodes. The driving circuit is disposed in the cavity.
US09921361B2 Display screen frame eliminating apparatus and display device
The disclosure relates to the field of liquid crystal display, specifically to a display screen frame eliminating apparatus and a display device. The display screen frame eliminating apparatus comprises a light source, a light tube and a drive module. The light tube comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, and the light source is located within the light tube or under the lower surface of the light tube. The light tube enables the light emitted by the light source to dispersedly exit from the upper surface. The drive module drives the light source to emit light based on the luminous condition of the edge pixels of the display area in the display screen. In this way, the light source emits light rays similar as the edge pixels of the display area in the display screen, and the light rays dispersedly exit from the upper surface of the light tube by means of the layered light tube structure. Therefore, to the human eyes, the display influence of the frame can be eliminated in all directions, and the display effect of the display device can be improved.
US09921360B2 Illumination device and display device
A backlight device is provided with: LEDs; a light guide plate having a light-receiving face, a light-exiting surface, and an opposite plate surface; a prism sheet including a plurality of light-exiting side unit prisms aligned along a second direction; a light-exiting surface-side prism portion including a plurality of light-exiting surface-side prism units aligned along the second direction; a light emission reflection portion including a plurality of reflection units aligned along a first direction at an interval; an opposite plate surface-side prism portion including a plurality of opposite plate surface-side unit prisms aligned along the second direction; and bow-shaped portions disposed into such a form as to be adjacent to the light-exiting surface-side prism units in the second direction while extending along the first direction, the bow-shaped portions having a bow-shaped cross-section.
US09921354B2 Optical fiber assembly, methods of manufacture thereof and articles comprising the same
Disclosed herein is an optical fiber assembly comprising a launching fiber having a receiving end and a transmitting end; an illuminating fiber having a receiving end and a transmitting end; where the receiving end of the launching fiber is operative to receive light from a light source and the transmitting end of the launching fiber is operative to transmit light to the receiving end of the illuminating fiber; where the launching fiber contacts the illuminating fiber in a manner so as to be offset from a center of a cross-sectional area of the illuminating fiber; and where the launching fiber has a diameter that is ⅛ to ½ of a diameter of the illuminating fiber; and a lens that is operative to contact the transmitting end of the illuminating fiber.
US09921351B2 Multilayered optical film, manufacturing method thereof, and display device
An optical film includes: a polarization layer; a first phase retardation layer having an optic axis at an angle in a range from about 17 degrees to about 27 degrees or from about −27 degrees to about −17 degrees with respect to a transmission axis of the polarization layer; and a second phase retardation layer having an optic axis at an angle in a range from about 85 degrees to about 95 degrees with respect to the transmission axis of the polarization layer. The polarization layer, the first phase retardation layer, and the second phase retardation layer are deposited in sequence, the first phase retardation layer is a half-wave plate, the second phase retardation layer is a quarter-wave plate, and out-of-plane retardation values of the first phase retardation layer and the second phase retardation layer for incident light having the standard wavelength have opposite signs.
US09921350B2 Grid polarization element, and optical alignment device
An absorptive grid polarization element includes a transparent substrate, and a stripe-like grid provided on the transparent substrate. Each of a plurality of linear parts which form the grid absorbs more s polarization light than p polarization light, and thus achieves a polarizing action. The transparent substrate is made of quartz glass. Each of the linear parts includes a second layer formed on the transparent substrate, and a first layer formed on the second layer. The first layers are formed from amorphous titanium oxide. The second layers are formed from amorphous silicon.
US09921346B2 Optical films for reducing color shift and organic light-emitting display apparatuses employing the same
Optical films for reducing color shift, and organic light-emitting display apparatuses, employing the same include a first lens pattern layer including a plurality of first grooves, and a second lens pattern layer on the first lens pattern layer having the plurality of first grooves. The second lens pattern layer has a plurality of second grooves crossing the plurality of first grooves. The plurality of first and second grooves are each shaped in the form of a stripe.
US09921342B2 Polarizing plate and optical laminate
A polarizing plate of the present invention includes: a first adhesion layer, a transparent protective layer, a second adhesion layer, and a polarizing film in the stated order, wherein: the first adhesion layer has a thickness of 10 μm or more; the transparent protective layer has a thickness of 30 μm or less; the transparent protective layer has a moisture permeability of 200 g/m2/24 hr or less; the second adhesion layer has a bulk water absorption ratio of 10 wt % or less; the polarizing film has a thickness of 10 μm or less; and the polarizing film has a boric acid content of 18 wt % or less with respect to a weight of the polarizing film.
US09921341B2 Low-water content acrylate-acrylamide copolymers for ophthalmic devices
Acrylate-acrylamide copolymers are disclosed. They are rigid and glassy in dry state at room temperature (from about 23° C. to about 28° C.), but are soft and very deformable and have a high refractive index, a high glistening resistance and a low aging-related surface light scattering in fully hydrated state. They are particularly suitable for making wet-packed intraocular lenses (IOLs) which can be delivered through sub 2.0 mm incisions.
US09921338B2 Selecting and optimizing oil field controls for production plateau
A system, method and a computer program product for to determining energy production controls for a given subterranean hydrocarbon (oil) field production and more particularly to specifying controls for sustaining optimal field production (by means of a plateau-like profile over time).
US09921332B2 Crosstalk suppression or removal for galvanic measurements
Apparatus and techniques are described, such as for obtaining information indicative of a formation resistivity, such as using information from a galvanic measurement apparatus. A resistive parameter related to a geologic formation is estimated through use of a model. An electrical excitation is coupled from a well tool in a borehole to the geologic formation. Induced voltages resulting from the excitation are received using monitor electrodes selected according to the specified excitation mode, including receiving magnitude and phase information corresponding to the induced voltages. The resistive parameter of the model is then determined using the magnitude and phase information of the received voltages, and using magnitude and phase information about the excitation.
US09921326B2 Subterranean formation monitoring using frequency domain weighted analysis
The disclosed method includes receiving resulting signals emanating from a subterranean formation, wherein the resulting signals are caused by signals emitted from seismic sources. The method further includes dividing the resulting signals into a plurality of sub-samples. The method includes determining a frequency content of one or more of the sub-samples and assigning a weight to or more components of the frequency content of the sub-sample to produce a weighted frequency content of the sub-sample, wherein the assigned weight is based, at least in part, on an estimate of the amount of noise present in the frequency content of the sub-sample. The method further includes combining the weighted frequency contents of the sub-samples to produce a weighted sample. The method further includes determining one or more properties of the subsurface formation based, at least in part, on the weighted sample.
US09921323B2 Foldable-fixing type 3D seismic survey apparatus for small ship, and method of seismic survey using the same
The present invention relates to a 3D seismic marine survey apparatus. More particularly, it relates to a foldable-fixing type 3D seismic survey apparatus for a small ship and a method of 3D seismic survey using the foldable-fixing type 3D seismic survey apparatus. The foldable-fixing type 3D seismic survey apparatus for a small ship includes: a seismic wave generator; and a seismic unit that includes a plurality of floating board units, and foldable fixing-frames connecting and fixing the floating board units to each other in a floating board array such that relative positions of the floating board units are fixed, and being folded for transporting and unfolded for installing, in which the seismic unit receives 3D seismic waves while being towed behind the seismic wave generator after being moved and unfolded at a survey location.
US09921322B2 Segmented base plate seismic sweeps
Vibrators for producing seismic signals for use in oil and gas exploration are equipped with segmented base plates, each segment being independently controlled and activated. The use of an array of base plate segments allows the individual segments of the array to be activated in a particular pattern, thus generating S-waves and other unconventional wave patterns for seismic use.
US09921309B1 Visible-light and sound-based passive tracking system
A passive-tracking system for passively tracking a living being is described herein. The system can include a visible-light sensor to generate visible-light frames based on visible light reflected off an object and a sound transducer to generate sound frames based on sound reflected off the object. The system can also include a processor that can receive the visible-light and sound frames and based on data of these frames, generate a novelty representation of the object through a merging of the data of the frames. Based on the data of the visible-light and sound frames, the processor can determine the object is a living being, and when the processor does, it can generate, based on the novelty representation, a 3D position of the living-being object and can passively track the living-being object over time by, based on the novelty representation, selectively updating the 3D position of the living-being object.
US09921289B2 Tracking device comprising a receiving structure which can be adjusted about at least one axis, for mounting at least one element that is sensitive to electromagnetic waves and has a preferential radiation direction
The invention relates to a tracking device comprising a receiving structure that can be adjusted about at least one axis, for mounting at least one element that is sensitive to electromagnetic waves and has a preferential radiation direction, and comprising at least one rotational drive per axis for the purpose of actively rotationally adjusting said receiving structure in order for the element(s) mounted thereupon to track a celestial body on one or multiple axes with the aid of a control system and according to a predetermined algorithm, (each of) the rotational drive(s) comprising two annular connection elements that are concentric with one another, are mounted one upon the other, and are or can be coupled to at least one motor for mutual relative adjustment, a first connection element comprising at least one planar connection surface for fixing in place to a foundation, base, column or a connection element of another pivoting unit, and a second connection element comprising at least one planar connection surface for the purpose of coupling to said receiving structure or to a connection element of another pivoting unit in a rotationally-fixed manner. In addition, at least one row of roller elements is provided between the concentric annular connection elements of a pivoting unit, said roller elements rolling along raceways on the first and second connection elements, a toothing being provided that extends at least partially around one connection element and is formed, together with the raceway(s) that are in place, by machining or shaping a shared annular main part, and bore holes distributed in a circle and passing through the planar contact surface being provided on the other connection element for the purpose of fixing to a contact part, and being formed together with the raceway(s) that are in place by machining or shaping a shared annular main part.
US09921288B2 Electronic device with flexible data and power interface
Electronic modules with small and flexible interfaces are disclosed. One example electronic module includes a power supply terminal configured to receive power for the electronic module and circuitry configured to carry out various functions. The functions carried out by the electronic module circuitry include simultaneously receiving both of the following via the power supply terminal: a power signal for carrying out a mission mode operation of the electronic module, and a data signal.
US09921286B2 Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and method
The MRI apparatus includes a data processor, which time-serially performs undersampling on MR signals respectively received by coil channels included in a radio frequency (RF) multi-coil to acquire undersampled K-t space data, and an image processor that acquires a time-space correlation coefficient, based on noise information of the coil channels, and restores pieces of unacquired line data from the undersampled K-t space data by using the time-space correlation coefficient to acquire restored K-t space data, thereby increasing an accuracy of the time-space correlation coefficient to improve a quality of an image.
US09921283B2 Methods for detecting abnormalities and degenerative processes in soft tissue using magnetic resonance imaging
The present invention provides methods to detect degenerative processes and abnormalities in soft tissues at high spatial resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio and short scanning times, based on quantitative tissue properties. These methods might provide a useful tool to detect and assess abnormalities in soft tissues and to monitor disease progression.
US09921279B2 Magnetic resonance imaging device
An open-type magnetic resonance imaging device provides uniformity of a magnetic field without the necessity of lowering the degree of openness, and without increasing the superconducting wire material. The device includes at least one pair of main coils; at least one pair of shield coils; a pair of annular first magnetic substances disposed on an inner radial side of the main coils so that the first magnetic substances are plane symmetrical to each other; and second magnetic substances as protrusion portions disposed on an outer circumferential side of an end surface of the first magnetic substances on an opposite side of the first magnetic substances.
US09921269B2 Comparison device and method for comparing test pattern files of a wafer tester
A comparison device for comparing test pattern files of a wafer tester includes a storage unit and a processing unit. The comparison device stores a first to-be-compared file and a second to-be-compared file into the storage unit. The processing unit reads the first to-be-compared file and the second to-be-compared file from the storage unit to process and executes comparison operation, so as to generate a comparison result. The comparison operation compares the words in a first section of the first to-be-compared file with the words in a second section of the second to-be-compared file in a one-to-one manner, wherein, if the first section ending point is not the end of the first to-be-compared file or the second section ending point is not the end of the second to-be-compared file, the processing unit resets the first section and the second section, and executes comparison operation again.
US09921257B2 Crystal unit
A crystal unit includes: a crystal blank; an excitation electrode formed on the crystal blank and excites a main vibration of the crystal blank; a housing that accommodates the crystal blank; and a sub-vibration electrode formed on the housing and excites a sub-vibration of the crystal blank.And a method for inspecting a crystal unit, the method includes: generating a sub-vibration in a crystal blank by applying an input signal to a sub-vibration electrode formed on a housing, which accommodates the crystal blank, via external electrodes which are electrically coupled to the sub-vibration electrode and formed on the outer surface of the housing; obtaining an output of the crystal unit via the external electrodes; obtaining frequency characteristics of impedance between the external electrodes based on the output; and comparing the obtained frequency characteristics with the reference frequency characteristics indicating the quality of the crystal unit.
US09921253B1 Method for reducing power requirements in active load pull system
A method and test setup for reducing the RF power requirement m active load pull uses impedance tuners between the output of the test transistor and the active RF power injection network. The active network uses either a closed loop (active load) configuration or an open loop network employing split or synchronized signal sources. The impedance tuners are wideband (fundamental) tuners, harmonic rejection tuners or multi-harmonic tuners. A 7:1 transforming ratio of the tuners represents the best compromise between power matching and tuner loss, yielding a reduction of 11 dB in power requirements from the active load or the synchronized source(s); if only the fundamental signal is injected at the output of the DUT, a multi-harmonic tuner or a harmonic rejection tuner is used for independent harmonic tuning; if multiple harmonic signals are injected, a multi-harmonic tuner is used and creates passive harmonic loads while reducing at the same time the power requirements from the harmonic injection sources.
US09921252B2 High voltage isolation measurement system
The isolation resistance value is determined by measuring the voltage across a set of high resistance resistor networks placed between the high voltage battery pack (both the positive and negative terminals) and the chassis ground and then modifying the resistance networks by switching in an additional high resistance network and repeating the measurements. This results in a system that can be assembled using low cost components to determine with a high degree of accuracy the value of the isolation resistance. The implementation of this system does not require expensive solid state relays, as the small amount of resistance through the switching device is negligible when determining the isolation resistance of the high voltage system. The system is not dependent on high precision devices to give accurate isolation resistance detection in a range that is appropriate for high voltage applications.
US09921247B2 Current measurement device, control method for same, recording medium, and power measurement device
A microcomputer section operates by use of electric power from a power supply section. The microcomputer section carries out control so that any one of a plurality of switching circuits is selected, the selected one of the plurality of switching circuits causes an electric current from a corresponding current transformer of a plurality of current transformers to flow to the microcomputer section, whereas the other unselected switching circuits cause electric currents from respective current transformers of the plurality of current transformers to flow to the power supply section, and the selection is carried out successively with respect to each of the plurality of switching circuits.
US09921240B2 Probe actuation system with feedback controller
A probe actuation system has a detection system arranged to measure a position or angle of a probe to generate a detection signal. An illumination system is arranged to illuminate the probe. Varying the illumination of the probe causes the probe to deform which in turn causes the detection signal to vary. A probe controller is arranged to generate a desired value which varies with time. A feedback controller is arranged to vary the illumination of the probe according to the detection signal and the desired value so that the detection signal is driven towards the desired value. The probe controller receives as its inputs a detection signal and a desired value, but unlike conventional feedback systems this desired value varies with time. Such a time-varying desired value enables the probe to be driven so that it follows a trajectory with a predetermined speed. A position or angle of the probe is measured to generate the detection signal and the desired value represents a desired position or angle of the probe.
US09921228B2 Electronic lateral flow test arrangement and method
A lateral test flow arrangement for a test molecule is disclosed, comprising: a test strip for transporting an analyte away from a sampling region and towards an absorbing region, the test strip having therein and remote from the sampling region, a test region for functionalization with a molecule which binds to the test molecule or to a conjugate of the test molecule; a sensing test capacitor having electrodes extending across the test strip at least partially aligned with the test region and being physically isolated therefrom; a reference test capacitor having electrodes extending across the test strip and being physically isolated therefrom; and an electronic circuit configured to measure a time-dependant capacitance difference between the sensing test capacitor and the reference test capacitor. A method for carrying out that lateral flow tests is also disclosed, as are test systems and in particular pregnancy test systems.
US09921226B2 Sensor system utilizing piezoelectric microcantilever coupled with resonating circuit
An interchangeable sensor system is described, including: a microcantilever including a beam anchored at a first end, the beam being free to vibrate on another end, wherein a piezoelectric layer is deposited on a surface of the beam; an input configured to receive a voltage from a voltage source for applying voltage to the piezoelectric layer; and a resonating circuit including: the piezoelectric layer, configured as a capacitor of the resonant circuit; and one or more additional electrical elements; wherein the voltage source is configured to apply a first AC voltage under a first condition for actuating the microcantilever at a first mechanical resonating frequency of the microcantilever and a second AC voltage under a second condition for actuating the microcantilever at a second electrical resonating frequency of the resonating circuit. Method of using the sensor system is also described.
US09921223B2 Analysis of genomic DNA, RNA, and proteins in exosomes for diagnosis and theranosis
The present invention provides that exosomes from human body fluid samples contain double stranded genomic DNA that spans all chromosomes and may be used to determine the mutation status of genes of interest in diseases, such as cancer. Furthermore, the present invention provides the use of exosomes to produce therapeutic proteins and for their use in therapy as well as the detection of cancer cell-derived exosomes to diagnose cancer and monitor therapeutic response.
US09921216B2 Nanoelectronic-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay system and method
The present invention relates to a device and method for determining the presence of a specific compound in solution. The device includes a nanosensor having an electrically conducting pathway between at least a first and second contact. The device also includes a first receptor, suitable for binding a specific compound in the solution, attached to the nanosensor, and a second receptor also suitable for binding the specific compound while the specific compound is bound to the first receptor. The second receptor is attached to an enzyme added to the solution. When the solution having the second receptor is added to the device, and a second compound that is a substrate for the enzyme is subsequently added to the solution, a measured difference in an electrical property in the device before and after the application of the second compound is indicative of the presence of the specific compound in the solution.
US09921214B2 Method for performing a biochemical analysis, especially in outer space
The invention is based on a method for performing a biochemical analysis, especially in outer space, wherein at least one analyte in a sample is determined qualitatively and/or quantitatively by means of selective binding of an analyte-specific pair composed of a binding substance and a detection substance to the analyte and by labeling by a labeling substance, and wherein the sample, the binding substance, the detection substance and the labeling substance are mixed in a reaction vessel in one method step. It is proposed that the mixing be brought about by means of mixing bodies.
US09921209B2 Breath acetone monitor and method of detecting breath acetone
A breath acetone meter is provided. The blood glucose meter includes a receiver comprising a first polymer and a second plurality of layers arranged in an alternating arrangement. The receiver is configured to receive a breath sample from a user. The first plurality of layers and second plurality of layers being configured to interact in response to the level of acetone in the breath sample. The breath acetone meter further including a light source arranged to emit a light onto the receiver. A sensor is arranged to receive the light and output a voltage in response to receiving the light, wherein the voltage is proportional to an amount of acetone in the breath sample.
US09921204B2 System and method for fluid composition characterization
Systems and methods for predicting fluid composition in a reservoir formation are disclosed. To accurately and efficiently predict the composition of a sample fluid, an absorption spectrum is obtained over a prefixed set of wavelength channels and a set of basis spectra is received for all constituents of interest in the sample fluid. A set of a-priori constraints on the obtained absorption spectrum and constituent properties to be determined is then obtained, before calculating a joint probability distribution of all constituents of interest based on the obtained spectrum, basis spectra and a-priori constraints. In one embodiment, qualitative states are also computed for all constituents of interest based on the obtained spectrum, basis spectra and a-priori constraints.
US09921192B2 Gas analyte spectrum sharpening and separation with multi-dimensional micro-GC for gas chromatography analysis
The disclosure describes embodiments of an apparatus including a first gas chromatograph including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a first temperature control. A controller is coupled to the first temperature control and includes logic to apply a first temperature profile to the first temperature control to heat, cool, or both heat and cool the first gas chromatograph. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09921183B2 Vacuum DMS with high efficiency ion guides
Differential mobility spectrometry is performed under vacuum. Ions generated in a high pressure region are received from the inlet orifice of a vacuum chamber using a first ion guide located in the vacuum chamber. The first ion guide focuses the generated ions on a DMS device inlet end using a plurality of tapered electrodes. The DMS device is coaxial and adjacent to the first ion guide. The DMS device separates the focused ions using a plurality of electrodes. The inscribed diameter at the DMS device inlet end is larger than the inscribed diameter at the first ion guide exit end to maximize ion transfer. The separated ions are received from the DMS device using a second ion guide coaxial and adjacent to the DMS device. The second ion guide focuses the separated ions on an exit orifice of the vacuum chamber using a plurality of tapered electrodes.
US09921176B2 Systems and methods for multiple analyte analysis
Systems and methods for multiple analyte analysis are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes determining concentrations of first and second analytes in a sample. The first and second analytes may be, for example, glucose and hydroxybutyrate. In this form, an indication related to the measured concentration of hydroxybutyrate is provided in response to determining that the concentration of hydroxybutyrate is above a predetermined value. In a further aspect of this form, a quantitative indication representative of the measured glucose concentration is automatically provided regardless of the value of the measured glucose concentration. In another embodiment, a system includes a meter configured to interact with a test element to assess first and second analytes in a sample. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits shall become apparent from the description and drawings.
US09921169B2 Method of detecting defect location using multi-surface specular reflection
A method for detecting defects includes directing a scanning beam to a location on a surface of a transparent sample, measuring top and bottom surface specular reflection intensity, and storing coordinate values of the first location and the top and bottom surface specular reflection intensity in a memory. The method may further include comparing the top surface specular reflection intensity measured at each location with a first threshold value, comparing the bottom surface specular reflection intensity measured at each location with a second threshold value, and determining if a defect is present at each location and on which surface the defect is present. The method may further include comparing the top surface specular reflection intensity measured at each location with a first intensity range, comparing the bottom surface specular reflection intensity measured at each location with a second intensity range, and determining on which surface the defect is present.
US09921159B2 Spliced detection apparatus for simultaneous wide-range in-situ detection of dissolved oxygen in sludge-water interface and detection method therefor
A spliced detection apparatus for simultaneous wide-range in-situ detection of dissolved oxygen in a sludge-water interface of the present invention comprises a dissolved oxygen shimmer host, several detection probes, a casing and detection kits, several vertically through seat chambers being disposed in the casing, the detection kits can be placed and fixed in the seat chambers, the detection kits may be placed on the sludge-water interface, and each detection kit is provided with a vertically through water passage chamber, while the front side face and the back side face of the detection kit are respectively provided with several front slots and rear slots horizontally extending into the detection kit respectively, the detection apparatus further comprises tabs, with probe grooves being provided on the tabs, each detection probe can be put into the probe groove of the corresponding tab and fixed therein, the tabs may be inserted either into the front slots or the rear slots and can enable the probe tips of the detection probes to be placed in the water passage chamber, the detection apparatus can carry out simultaneous wide-range detection of the dissolved oxygen at different heights and horizontal positions of the sludge-water interface, and thus is quick and convenient for use.
US09921151B2 Correction of optical device throughput errors using integrated computational elements
An optical computing device utilizes an Integrated Computational Element (“ICE”) core to correct calibration transfer errors in the device.
US09921150B2 Imaging system for fuel tank analysis
A method can include transmitting, from a light source, light through a fuel tank ullage, and determining, by a processing device, an amount of absorption of at least one wavelength of the transmitted light. The method can further include determining, by the processing device based on the amount of absorption of the at least one wavelength of the transmitted light, a chemical composition of the fuel tank ullage.
US09921141B2 Centrifugal microfluidic device and methods of use
Provided herein are systems and methods for separation of heterogeneous analyte. In some embodiments, the systems and methods herein utilize an analyte holding portion that receives a volume of analyte. The analyte holding portion may include an analyte receiving portion and a microfluidic separation channel, A rotatable carrier holding the analyte holding portion may be rotated by a rotational actuator so as to apply a centrifugal force to the volume of analyte such that the analyte is separated into at least two components.
US09921140B2 Air sample tracking system and method
A system for tracking one or more subjects for collecting airborne contaminants. The system includes one or more subjects configured to collect air contaminants. Each of the one or more subjects includes an identification tag encoded with identification information identifying the each subject. The system further includes an identification reader configured to decode the identification information encoded within the identification tag of a scanned one of the one or more identification tags. A computer receives and stores the decoded identification information in a record in a database. The computer may also receive and stored an identification code for a user who scanned the scanned identification tag in the record in the database. Additional records in the database are created each time the identification tag of one of the one or more subjects is scanned. The one or more subjects are thereby tracked as they collect airborne contaminants and are incubated.
US09921134B2 System and method for determining tire wear
System for determining tire wear for tires of a wheeled motor vehicle including a direct tire pressure determination unit being configured to measure at least the tire pressure of the tires; an indirect tire pressure determination unit being configured to determine for at least some of the tires a roll radius factor corresponding to or depending from the roll radius of the respective tire; a tire force determination unit being configured to determine a vertical force factor corresponding to or depending from a vertical force applied to the tires; and a processing unit for determining the tire wear for such tires of the motor vehicle for which the indirect tire pressure determination unit provides the respective roll radius factor, namely by compensating the roll radius factor of the tires provided by the indirect tire pressure determination unit.
US09921132B2 Automated magnetic particle and fluorescent penetrant defect detection system
A system and method to inspect flaws associated with a part. The system includes a first image capturing device configured to capture a first set of images of the part and a computer operably associated with first image capturing device and configured to receive and analyze the first set of images. The method includes treating the part with a magnetic particle and fluorescent penetrant processing, capturing a first set of images of an outer surface of the part with the first image capturing device, and identifying a part defect with an algorithm associated with the computer.
US09921125B2 Leak detector using capacitance sensor
A system that holds a liquid such as water includes an electrode coupling the system to a surface. A capacitance sensor is coupled to the electrode. A processor is coupled to the capacitance sensor. The processor is adapted to receive a signal from the capacitance sensor to determine whether the liquid is present at the surface and to send one or more indication signals if liquid is present at the surface. A response circuit coupled to the processor causes the system to take responsive action in response to receipt of an indication signal. Responsive action includes causing the system to perform a failsafe action, such as automatic shutdown. A communication circuit notifies a user that a fault has occurred in the system over a network.
US09921124B2 Apparatus and method for monitoring the integrity of a weld seam
A weld seam monitoring apparatus includes a layer of sealant applied to the area surrounding the weld seam; a first layer of sheet material adapted to provide an air space and overlying the weld seam; a second layer of sheet material overlying the first layer of sheet material; and a fluid impermeable sealant overlying the second layer of sheet material. An air tight space is formed between the second layer of sheet material and the weld seam. The apparatus further includes a vacuum source, and the air tight space is in fluid communication with the vacuum source. The apparatus further includes vacuum monitoring means configured to monitor the status of a vacuum created in the air tight space.
US09921116B2 System and method for estimating temperatures of a hydraulic fluid circulated by a hydraulic pump of a transmission
A system including a current module, a second module, and a temperature module. The current module is configured to determine an amount of current drawn from a power source by a hydraulic pump of a transmission based on a current signal received from a current sensor. The current signal is indicative of the current drawn by the hydraulic pump. The second module is configured to determine (i) a speed of the hydraulic pump based on a speed signal received from a speed sensor, or (ii) an output torque of the hydraulic pump based on the amount of current drawn by the hydraulic pump. The speed signal is indicative of the speed of the hydraulic pump. The temperature module is configured to estimate a temperature of a hydraulic fluid circulated by the hydraulic pump based on (i) the amount of current drawn by the hydraulic pump, and (ii) the speed or the output torque of the hydraulic pump. The second module is configured to adjust the speed of the hydraulic pump based on the temperature of the hydraulic fluid.
US09921114B2 Pressure sensor, acoustic microphone, blood pressure sensor, and touch panel
According to one embodiment, a pressure sensor includes a film part, and a sensing unit. A circumscribing rectangle circumscribing a configuration of a film surface of the film part has a first side, a second side, a third side connected to one end of the first side and one end of the second side, a fourth side connected to one other end of the first side and one other end of the second side, and a centroid of the circumscribing rectangle. The circumscribing rectangle includes a first region enclosed by the first side, line segments connecting the centroid to the one end of the first side, and to the one other end of the first side. The sensing unit includes sensing elements provided on a portion of the film surface overlapping the first region. Each sensing element includes a first, second magnetic layers, and a spacer layer.
US09921108B2 Color conversion information generating apparatus and method, and non-transitory computer readable medium
A color conversion information generating apparatus includes the following elements. A specific color value obtaining unit obtains a specific color value of a device-dependent color space. A first color element value obtaining unit obtains a first color element value of a device-independent color space by converting the specific color value in accordance with color reproduction characteristics of a display device displaying an image of a subject. A second color element value obtaining unit obtains a second color element value of the device-independent color space by converting a colorimetric value of a color sample which approximates to the specific color value on the basis of a reference value. A generating unit generates, if the first color element value approximates to the second color element value, color conversion information for converting plural color values of the device-dependent color space into plural color values of the device-independent color space.
US09921106B1 Integrated imaging spectrometer for hyperspectral imaging systems
An integrated imaging spectrometer for hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system is disclosed. The integrated imaging spectrometer features photonic PLCs that include an array of input channel waveguides, one for each pixel of an image scene. Spectral grating filters are positioned along the length of each waveguide to extract the spectral components as the light propagates to the end of the waveguide. The filters route the optical energy to photodetectors and the detected electrical signals are captured by a read out integrated circuit (ROIC). Together the PLC, detectors, and ROIC form an imaging layer. Stacking imaging layers generates a device capable of recording an entire 3D high-resolution spatial/spectral image data cube in real-time.
US09921103B2 Spectrometer, and spectrometer production method
A spectrometer includes a light detection element provided with a light passing part and a light detection part, a support fixed to the light detection element such that a space is formed between the light passing part and the light detection part, a first reflection part provided in the support and configured to reflect light passing through the light passing part in the space, a second reflection part provided in the light detection element and configured to reflect the light reflected by the first reflection part in the space, and a dispersive part provided in the support and configured to disperse and reflect the light reflected by the second reflection part to the light detection part in the space.
US09921100B2 Photometric device
A photometric device (1) measuring light emitted from a measuring object such as a display (2) includes two types of filters including interference filters (20X, 20Y, and 20Z) and an LVF (21), a disk (22) supporting the interference filters and the LVF, a motor (23) rotatably drive the disk to cause the light emitted from the measuring object to scan the interference filters and the LVF sequentially, a photoreceptor (13) converting light passed through the interference filters and light passed through the LVF to an electrical signal, a photometric controller (14) outputting photometric information based on the electrical signal of the light passed through the interference filters and converted by the photoreceptor and the electrical signal of the light passed through the LVF and converted by the photoreceptor.
US09921096B2 Mechanical system for centering and holding a coax conductor in the center of an outer conductor
A coaxial fluid level sensor can be easily assembled and maintained with a minimum of required tooling by using U-shaped spacers to center an inner rod within an outer shell. The U-shaped spacers can be snapped onto the inner rod before or as the inner rod is inserted into the outer shell. The sensor can be extended by attaching additional inner rods and outer shells end to end.
US09921095B2 Capacitive liquid level sensor
A sensor for measuring a level of a liquid such as fuel and/or water in a tank such as a fuel tank. The sensor includes a stack of capacitors, each capacitor with one or more graphene measurement electrodes and one or more graphene reference electrodes. A measurement system is arranged to measure a capacitance of each capacitor between its measurement electrode(s) and its reference electrode(s) and thereby infer the liquid level. The graphene measurement and reference electrodes are formed in a single layer of graphene oxide by reductive etching.
US09921091B2 Thermal mass flowmeter
In order to provide a thermal mass flowmeter which makes higher accuracy of gas flowrate measurement possible while reliability in the thermal mass flowmeter is ensured (while deterioration or breakage caused by droplet adhesion is prevented), the thermal mass flowmeter according to the present invention has a heating element for generating heat by conduction, a temperature detection bridge circuit for detecting a temperature of the heating element, and a sensor element driving circuit portion connected to the heating element and the temperature detection bridge circuit and executing conduction control to the heating element, in which the sensor element driving circuit portion has an output mechanism and an output impedance adjustment mechanism and the output impedance adjustment mechanism is disposed between the output mechanism and the heating element and its output impedance is higher than an electric resistance value of the heating element and less than 1 MΩ.
US09921085B2 Method for active sensor signal optimization
A system and method for optimizing a fiber optic sensor by properly clocking or rotationally orienting a window with a fiber optic focuser. This method may include shining light through the focuser into the window and receiving with a reflectometer a first reflection from a first surface of the window and a second reflection from a second surface of the window. Next, the method may include calculating a delta of intensities between the first and second reflections, and then rotating an orientation of the window to a next rotational orientation. The steps of rotating the orientation of the window, receiving reflections, and calculating their delta may be repeated any plurality of times to solve for a plurality of deltas. Then, the method may include the steps of determining which one of the deltas is the largest and fixing the window to the focuser at a rotational orientation associated therewith.
US09921083B2 Device for locating one or more mobile elements in a predetermined zone, and method implemented in such a device
A method for locating a mobile element in a predetermined zone, including supplying power to an on-board module in the mobile element, where the on-board module includes an electronic circuit and an on-board coil, generating a locating signal by the electronic circuit and transmission of the locating signal via the on-board coil, picking up the locating signal by receiver coils on a support in proximity to the predetermined zone, each of the receiver coils configured to pick up the locating signal when the mobile element is in proximity, and determining a location of the mobile element in the predetermined zone by detecting a signal level on the support in the form of an array by a processing unit connected to the support. The electronic circuit and the on-board coil constitute an RLC circuit that oscillates, generating the locating signal by sudden interruption of the current through the on-board coil.
US09921079B2 Takeover information transmission system, takeover information transmission device, information terminal, takeover information transmission method, and takeover information transmission program
A takeover information transmission system includes a takeover information acquisition unit that acquires takeover information for transferring a first travel route, on which a terminal device provides guidance, to an in-vehicle device as a second travel route on the basis of information pertaining to the first travel route, and a takeover information transmission unit that transmits the takeover information acquired by the takeover information acquisition unit to the in-vehicle device.
US09921077B2 Method and system for dynamic estimation and predictive route generation
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for dynamic route estimation and prediction using discrete sampled location updates from various mobile devices for the purpose of providing a graphical representation of a mobile device's route along a known network path of map data. The embodiments also provide supplemental route metrics, such as traveled distance, elapsed time, etc., and the capability to assign destination points for the purpose of providing the ability to modify location update points in an application, such as a route planner, and/or to store the dynamically generated route based on various preferences for later retrieval.
US09921073B2 Eyewear-type terminal and method for controlling the same
An eyewear-type mobile terminal includes a camera; an output unit configured to output road guide information; and a controller configured to: acquire information about a current position; cause the output unit to output the road guide information for a route from the current position to a destination; cause the camera to acquire visual information in real-time while the road guide information is output; and update the road guide information in real-time based on the acquired visual information.
US09921070B1 System for planning trips with estimated time of arrival (ETA) and projected time of availability (PTA) calculated for each stop
A transportation management system that includes tools for generating an optimized trip plan that can be updated, such as based on driver input, during implementation of a planned trip. The system includes a comprehensive trip optimization tool that generates a trip plan with fuel stop and rest stop optimization. The system includes tools calculating estimated time of arrival (ETA) and projected time of availability (PTA) for the driver, and these tools are adapted to provide the ETA and PTA for the entire trip (rather than only providing an ETA for the next stop). The system further includes tools accepting driver input and/or allowing driver manipulation of a dispatched trip plan such as using pre-filtered alternatives for fuel stops or rest stops or routes, e.g., based on stored driver preferences, that may be less optimal than those in the original trip plan but still viable.
US09921066B2 Systems and methods for analyzing the use of mobile resources
A system for analyzing the use of a mobile resource, such as a vehicle, includes a central processing unit adapted to receive a plurality of geographic locations and create an optimal travel route between the geographic locations, and an analyzer device incorporating global positioning satellite (GPS) technology being positionable with a mobile resource for comparing an actual route traveled by the mobile resource with the optimal travel route created by the central processing unit. The central processing unit includes mobile resource management software stored therein adapted to use pre-selected criteria for creating the optimal travel route. The pre-selected criteria may include time, distance, cost, load parameters, territory, and customer requirements.
US09921063B2 Systems and methods for calibrating and adjusting a heading reference system
Systems and methods of calibrating and adjusting for deviations in a vehicle's heading system, such as the attitude heading and reference system of an aircraft or the heading system of a ship, positioned along the Earth's surface involve calibrating magnetometers for hard iron and misalignment errors using single heading measurements. This can be accomplished by obtaining both actual and theoretical readings for the magnetometer of the heading system, and comparing these values to obtain calibration values for the heading system. The vehicle may be repositioned, such as to North, South, East, and west magnetic headings, with the procedure repeated at each of these headings, and the calibration values averaged, further increasing the accuracy.
US09921059B2 Measurement value correction method, computer-readable recording medium, and measurement device
A measurement value correction method according to the present invention is a measurement value correction method for correcting a measurement value obtained by tracing a surface of a work piece with a stylus, and including a step of preparing a plurality of work pieces made from same design data, a step of adopting one of the work pieces as a master work piece and obtaining a reference measurement value with the stylus, a step of obtaining calibration data based on a difference between the reference measurement value and the design data, a step of adopting one of the plurality of work pieces other than the master work piece as a measurement target work piece and obtaining a target measurement value with the stylus, and a step of obtaining a corrected measurement value by correcting the target measurement value by using the calibration data.
US09921054B2 Shooting method for three dimensional modeling and electronic device supporting the same
A shooting method for three-dimensional modeling and an electronic device supporting the same are provided. The electronic device includes a sensor unit for sensing position information and a camera module for image capture. The shooting method for three-dimensional modeling includes performing sensor calibration, obtaining position information used for three dimensional modeling using the sensor unit, capturing multiple images of a target object used for three dimensional modeling according to the obtained position information, and storing the position information as metadata of each captured image.
US09921040B2 Longitudinally sectioned firearms projectiles
The present invention relates to longitudinally sectioned bullets and methods that pertain to a projectile structured to be discharged from a firearm and comprising at least two separable longitudinal body sections and at least one binding element that holds the at least two longitudinal body sections together, such as before impact with a target. Said projectile is thus capable of controlled fragmentation against a soft target. Said projectile is adapted to also contain at least one supplemental payload deliverable to a target to further damage said target.
US09921037B2 Hybrid periodic cellular material structures, systems, and methods for blast and ballistic protection
Structures based upon periodic cellular materials that provide a potential for defeating combinations of both air blast loading and ballistic attack either sequentially or simultaneously, or combination of both. The cellular structures may also be configured to meet the stiffness and strength support requirements of particular vehicle or other applications, systems or structures. The armor is therefore potentially able to support normal service loads and defeat blast and ballistic threats when necessary. The structure provides for using efficient load support capabilities of the material (without a high armor protection level) in low threat conditions, as well as the ability to modify the system to increase its level protection to a desired or required level. This would reduce the weight of the protection system in normal (low threat) conditions which reduces vehicle wear and tear, as well as cost savings in fabrication of applicable structures or systems.
US09921020B2 Sound suppressor with replaceable components
A sound suppressor having a housing and a baffle. The housing is integrally formed and has an outer surface, an inner surface, and a bore. The bore of the housing is defined by the inner surface of the housing and extends longitudinally. A serial number for the sound suppressor is provided on the outer surface of the housing. The baffle is removable from the housing and has an annulus. The annulus of the baffle is in communication with the inner surface of the housing when the baffle is at least partially disposed within the bore of the housing.
US09921017B1 User identification for weapons and site sensing fire control
Firearms or other projectile weapons include a GPS sensor, World Time RF sensor, orientation sensor for detecting the angle, acceleration (launch velocity), and direction in which the projectile will be launched along with a stored updatable list of times, GPS coordinates, distances from the GPS coordinates such that the weapon is disabled for use in these restricted areas if the projectile shall enter the restricted area. In addition, acceleration is used to detect a dropped or potentially damaged weapon such that the weapon is disabled and an emergency RF beacon is enabled (alternatively selected by the user).
US09921009B2 Dual-use ram-primary/regen hx
A regenerative heat exchanger includes an inlet and an outlet in communication with the inlet. The heat exchanger is configured to operate in two modes. A first mode uses only an ambient flow to cool a hot flow and a second mode uses both the ambient flow and a regenerative flow to cool the hot flow.
US09921008B2 Adjustable heat sink fin spacing
A heat sink includes a heat sink base, a first fin, and a second fin. The spacing between the base and the first fin and the second fin, restively, may be adjusted by rotating a threaded rod. The threaded rod includes a first threaded knurl that is engaged with the first fin and a second threaded knurl that is engaged with the second fin. The thread pitch of the first threaded knurl and the second threaded knurl may differ. For example, the pitch of the first threaded knurl may be smaller than the pitch of the second threaded knurl if the first fin is located nearest the heat sink base relative to the second fin. The spacing of the heat sink fins may be adjusted based upon the current operating conditions of the electronic device to maintain an optimal temperature of a heat generating device during device operation.
US09920999B2 Heat exchanger and integrated air-conditioning assembly including such exchanger
The invention relates to a heat-exchanger for an air-conditioning circuit that includes a first pipe (110) defining a path for a flow of fluid, the first pipe being spirally wound about a so-called exchanger axis (A). According to the invention, the heat exchanger (9) further includes at least one second pipe (120a, 120b) defining a path for a flow of a second fluid, said second pipe being provided against a surface of the first pipe (110) and spirally wound together with said first pipe (110) about said axis (A). The invention can be used in air-conditioning circuits operating with a super-critical coolant, in particular carbon dioxide (CO2).
US09920998B2 Air cooled condenser and power generating apparatus provided with the same
Disclosed are an air cooled condenser capable of preventing air from being mixed into a working medium flow path, and a power generating apparatus including the air cooled condenser. The air cooled condenser includes a heat exchanger for air-cooling a working medium indirectly through a wall, a fan, a sensor for measuring a pressure value of the working medium at an outlet of the heat exchanger, and a controller for controlling the rotating speed of the fan such that the pressure value obtained by the sensor comes closer to a target value set to be equal to or larger than an atmospheric pressure.
US09920990B2 Laundry press apparatus and method
A press for pressing batches of fabric articles to remove excess fluid therefrom utilizes a specially configured frame having upper and lower plates. The frame supports a vessel having an interior that receives a batch of fabric articles therein. A press having a ram and a disk is supported at the lower end portion of the ram. The disk engages an upper surface portion of the batch of articles. The ram and disk move between upper and lower positions, the lower position being a pressing position that engages the disk with the fabric articles. The frame includes a plurality of rods that connect to the upper and lower plates, spacing the plates apart. The rods each have upper and lower end portions, each with a diameter that is larger than the diameter of a central portion of said rod that is positioned in between the upper and lower plates.
US09920977B1 Ice chest or cooler with detachable drawers
The ice chest or cooler with detachable drawers is an organizational kit used with a wheeled cooler. The ice chest or cooler with detachable drawers comprises a plurality of compartmented spaces that can be added to the wheeled cooler for the purpose of separating foodstuffs. The ice chest or cooler with detachable drawers comprises a cabinet, a first container, and a second container. The cabinet attaches to the exterior of the wheeled cooler. The first container and the second container are inserted into the interior of the wheeled cooler.
US09920976B2 Dehumidifier and water tank for a dehumidifier
A dehumidifier and a water tank for a dehumidifier are provided. A withdrawable handle is provided on the water tank, which collects condensed water, and thus, when the water tank is mounted, the water tank is mounted in a state in which the handle is inserted, and when the water tank is withdrawn or moved, the handle is withdrawn, improving convenience in use.
US09920975B2 Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a mid-frame positioned on a front surface of the main body wall and a heater configured to heat the mid-frame and provided at the mid-frame. The mid-frame includes a front frame provided to cover at least a part of a front surface of the at least one inner box configured to form the main body wall, and an extension frame formed to extend rearward from the front frame and including an edge portion in which an end portion of the extension frame has a thickness greater than that of an adjacent extension frame.
US09920972B2 Dual trailer cooling unit
A portable cooling unit is disclosed for cooling perishable items such as strawberries at a worksite such as a field where the strawberries are harvested. The cooling unit includes a conveyor trailer for receiving pallets of perishable items and conveying the pallets through a number of cooling chambers within the conveyor trailer. The cooling unit further includes a refrigeration trailer for supplying independent cold air flow paths to the different cooling chambers of the conveyor trailer. The conveyor and refrigeration trailers may operate as a self-sustained cooling unit, without any external connections to power or working fluid.
US09920966B2 Apparatus and method for increasing removal rate of residue
An apparatus and a method of removing a high boiling point residue from a waste refrigerant are provided to improve a reuse rate of the waste refrigerant by improving an oil removal rate at which oil is separated from the waste refrigerant. The apparatus includes a vaporizer that is configured to vaporize a waste refrigerant collected from a vehicle and includes an oil outlet configured to exhaust oil separated from the waste refrigerant. In addition, an oil separator is configured to receive the vaporized waste refrigerant transferred from the vaporizer and separate oil mists remaining in the waste refrigerant from the waste refrigerant.
US09920961B2 Tetrafluoropropene-based supercritical heat-transfer fluids
A method for heating a fluid or a body using a vapor compression circuit containing a heat-transfer fluid containing tetrafluoropropene, said method including, successively and cyclically, evaporation of the heat-transfer fluid, compression of the heat-transfer fluid, cooling of the heat-transfer fluid and expansion of the heat-transfer fluid, the heat-transfer fluid being in the supercritical state at the end of compression. Also, an installation suited to implementing this method.
US09920947B2 Networked filter condition indicator
A filter condition indicator system is described herein. A pressure differential switch monitors air pressure across a filter, and a transmitter coupled to the pressure differential switch sends a signal to a networked device. If the pressure differential near the filter triggers the switch, then a “dirty” signal is sent to or retrieved by a mobile device which indicates that the filter is dirty and should be replaced. The filter condition indicator is able to be used by bypassing a thermostat and sending an alert to a computer or mobile device wirelessly. Alternatively, the filter condition indicator system described herein is able to be used in conjunction with a previously installed furnace/thermostat system by utilizing the pre-existing thermostat wiring. The filter condition indicator system is able to be used with HVAC systems, air conditioning systems, other heating/cooling systems, or other systems or devices.
US09920938B2 Packaged terminal air conditioner unit
A packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor, an interior coil, an exterior coil and a reversing valve are positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is configured for selectively reversing a flow direction of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The packaged terminal air conditioner also includes at least one phase separator and at least one ejector.
US09920936B2 Air conditioning apparatus
An object is to enable the dealer or user of an air conditioning apparatus to recognize that the heat dissipation amount of a heat exchange device is less than the heat dissipation amount expected of the air conditioning apparatus. A control device detects a hot water outflow temperature being a temperature of a fluid heated by a heat pump device, and a return temperature being a temperature of the fluid before being heated by the heat pump device, and checks whether or not a temperature difference between the detected hot water outflow temperature and the detected return temperature is smaller than a predetermined first value. If the control device judges that the temperature difference is smaller than the first value, it displays insufficiency of the heat dissipation amount of a heat exchange device, on a display of a remote controller.
US09920926B1 Pulse combustion heat exchanger system and method
A pulse combustion heat exchanger having a longitudinal axis is configured to accept oxidant and fuel and output a cooled combustion stream. The pulse combustion heat exchanger includes an oxidant inlet section that accepts oxidant, a fuel inlet section that accepts fuel, a mixing section that mixes oxidant with fuel, a combustion section that receives the oxidant and fuel and produces a pulsating combustion stream, and a heat transfer section configured to receive the pulsating combustion stream, the heat transfer section includes one or more resonance conduits. Coolant is employed at a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart transition sections to remove heat.
US09920924B2 High temperature sub-critical boiler with steam cooled upper furnace and start-up methods
A boiler is disclosed in which the furnace is divided into a lower furnace and an upper furnace. The lower furnace uses water-cooled membrane walls, while the upper furnace uses steam-cooled membrane walls that act as superheating surfaces. A steam-cooled circuit includes a steam separator, a primary superheater, and the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. During start-up, a diversion path is opened that reduces dry steam flow through the primary superheater and increases dry steam flow through the steam-cooled membrane walls of the upper furnace. This protects the steam-cooled membrane walls from excessive thermal stresses during start-up.
US09920920B2 Illumination device for an electrical household appliance
An electrical household appliance includes an appliance body having a body interior, into which a shelf for storing objects is inserted, and an illumination device having a light source, and a light-directing structure which couples one portion of the light generated by the light source into a narrow side of the shelf, and directs another portion of the light generated by the light source into the body interior.
US09920917B1 House lighting device
A house number light includes a frame defining an opening in a central portion and having a side opening along an inside face. The frame includes light sources, first and second power sources configured to provide electric power to the light sources, and a control circuit connected between the first power source and the light sources and connected between the second power source and the light sources. The control circuit electrically couples one of the first and the second power sources to the light sources at a time. If the first power source is electrically coupled to the light sources, electrical energy from the first power source passes through the control circuit to the light sources, and if the second power source is electrically coupled to the light sources, electrical energy provided by the second power source passes through the control circuit to the light sources.
US09920913B2 Color assurance light system
A color assurance device houses an array of distinct LEDs lighting sources with each LED array having a distinct color metric index for simulating a distinct light condition to permit color samples to be viewed under multiple simulated colored lighting conditions. Each color lighting condition is at a temperature range that simulates a well-known lighting condition.
US09920912B1 Lighting device
A lighting device includes a mount, a first seat, a switch and a fixture. When the mount is connected to the fixture, the fixture contacts the switch to activate the circuit, and the second seat on the fixture, the light source and the first seat are electrically connected to the exterior power source. When the fixture is removed from the mount, the switch is shut off to protect the users from electrical hazard.
US09920910B2 Method for mounting light-emitting elements
In a first aspect of the present invention, it is suggested that a mounting method for mounting light-emitting elements as evenly as possible in a mounting area of a lighting device may permit increased number of light-emitting elements. In a second aspect of the present invention, a lighting device including a substrate with a circular mounting area, a plurality of light-emitting elements configured to be positioned at centers of equal smaller circular areas that are calculated to be equal in size in the circular mounting area, the equal smaller circular areas being equal in size to each other and set as large as possible without an overlapping portion in the circular mounting area, a total area of the equal smaller circular areas being smaller than the circular mounting area, and the light-emitting elements and the equal smaller circular areas being the same in number is suggested.
US09920909B2 Lighting driver and housing having internal electromagnetic shielding layer configured for direct connection to circuit ground
An apparatus (200, 300, 400, 500) includes a lighting driver circuit (210, 310, 410, 510) and a housing (220, 420, 520) in which the lighting driver circuit is disposed. The lighting driver circuit is configured to receive an input voltage (10) between a pair of input terminals (305) and in response thereto to supply power to one or more light sources (20). The housing has an electrically insulating inner surface (222, 422, 522) and an electrically insulating outer surface (228, 428, 528) and an electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer (226, 426, 526). The electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer is disposed between the electrically insulating inner surface and the outer electrically insulating surface. The lighting driver circuit is electrically connected to the electrically conductive electromagnetic shield layer of the housing.
US09920907B2 Light emitting device
A light emitting device includes a base having a light reflecting surface and having a first side on which the light reflecting surface is provided, light sources mounted on the first side, and a half mirror disposed opposite to the base to reflect a part of incident light and to transmit another part of the incident light. Each of the light sources includes a reflecting layer on an upper surface of each of the light sources. The half mirror has an oblique reflectance with respect to wavelengths of light emitted from the light sources in a case where the light travels obliquely toward the half mirror. The half mirror has a perpendicular reflectance with respect to the wavelengths in a case where the light travels perpendicularly toward the half mirror. The oblique reflectance is smaller than the perpendicular reflectance.
US09920900B2 Maritime light source
The present invention relates to a maritime light source comprising a bottom housing and a lid attached thereto. The lid comprises an integrated lens portion and a button portion, wherein the lens portion is adapted to scatter light from an associated light source over an angle of at least 160 degrees in a substantially uniform manner. The button portion comprises an integrated and flexible push button membrane. A water proof sealing is formed between the bottom housing and the lid.
US09920898B2 Vehicular active stop and tail lamp module
A vehicular light module includes a light source configured to have a position that is adjustable longitudinally along a direction in which light radiates from the light source. The light module also includes a lighting guide that is movably disposed and that is configured to reflect and diffuse the light radiated from the light source. The light module further includes a moving unit configured to move the lighting guide to adjust the reflection and the diffusion of the light radiated from the light source by the lighting guide.
US09920889B2 Lighting device including phosphor cover and method of manufacturing the same
In a first aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a lighting device includes a light source including a light-emitting surface, and a phosphor cover including a spiral surface that covers the light-emitting surface of the light source. In a second aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a phosphor cover including a spiral surface may include one or more layers. In a third aspect of the present inventive subject matter, a method manufacturing a lighting device includes: rolling up a phosphor film from one end to another end to form a roll with spiral surfaces both ends of the roll of the phosphor film.
US09920888B1 Multi-purpose lightbulb having power failure mode
A lighting device having a power failure mode for use with one or more other networked devices is disclosed. In embodiments, the lighting device may comprise an outer globe, a diffuser, a plurality of light pipes, an outer cowling, a power input connector, a power control printed circuit board, a communication and control printed circuit board, an indicator printed circuit board, one or more microprocessors, an auxiliary device, and an LED lighting printed circuit board. In embodiments, the lighting device may communicate with one or more other networked devices, such as second lighting devices, mobile phones, servers, remote controls, and/or home or office automation equipment. The lighting device may be powered through a light socket or a backup battery in a power failure mode.
US09920872B2 Renovation liner, and method for installing renovation liner to pipework
A renovation liner is installed in a pipework. More particularly, an end of the renovation liner is closed by an elastic end piece. The renovation liner is impregnated with a hardening impregnating agent. The renovation liner, together with its end piece, is slipped into a position in the pipework to be renovated. A pressure is provided and maintained in a space formed by the renovation liner and the elastic end piece in order to press the renovation liner against walls of the pipework until the impregnating agent of the renovation liner has hardened in shape. The elastic end piece is removed.
US09920864B2 Connecting device, and corresponding thermal exchanger, particularly for a motor vehicle
The invention relates to a connecting device having a female part and a complementary male part, wherein the female part is a sleeve able to receive at least partially the associated male part with a gap between the sleeve and the male part for receiving a brazing material. The sleeve at least partially has a conical shape. The conical shape has a first substantially conical part having a complementary shape to the male part, with a first inclination angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The conical shape also has a second substantially conical part with a second inclination angle with respect to the axis, with the second inclination angle being larger than the first inclination angle.
US09920857B2 Vacuum valve
A vacuum valve is provided with opening pressure setting means that sets a set value of a fluid pressure in a primary side passage beyond which communication is opened and forcible opening means that forcibly opens communication regardless of the fluid pressure in the primary side passage. The opening pressure setting means includes a spring receiver fixed to a stem, a compression coil spring having a lower end supported by the spring receiver, and an adjustment screw, movable in the axial direction, that presses the upper end of the compression coil spring. The forcible opening means includes a piston inserted onto the stem 5 under the spring receiver so as to be movable upward and downward and piston driving means that moves the piston and the spring receiver upward integrally by moving the piston upward using compressed air.
US09920854B2 Control valve having a transmission unit
A control valve (1) with a valve housing (13) through which a flow channel (14) runs with a flow cross section changeable by a closure unit consisting of a valve seat and a valve cone which is adjustable relative to the valve seat. An adjusting device has a sliding unit (2) with a sliding rod (21) adjusting the valve cone over an adjustment path and a drive device acting on the sliding rod and controlled by a controller. The controller has a measuring unit (4) which detects the adjustment path via a transmission unit. The transmission unit is provided with an adapter unit (3) comprising a replaceable structural unit, between the sliding unit (2) and the measuring unit (4), said adapter unit converting the adjustment stroke into a measurement stroke specified by the measuring unit (4) in a manner corresponding to a transmission ratio specified by the adapter unit.
US09920851B2 Subsea electric actuators and latches for them
A subsea electric actuator includes an electric motor and a telescopic drive connection from the motor to a drive unit that can be moved to and fro and converts rotary motion of the connection to linear motion of an actuating stem. A return spring is operable on the drive unit to urge the actuating stem towards a datum state. An electromagnetic latch is operative when set to maintain the drive unit in a predetermined position so as to decouple the action of the return spring whereby the stem can be advanced and retracted relative to the drive unit free from the action of the return spring. De-energization of the latch allows the return spring to operate on the drive unit to return the actuating stem to the datum state. Various forms of electromagnetic latches are described.
US09920843B2 Spring gasket for a valve housing
A valve and a method for producing a valve for regulating a fluid, having a valve housing with a central part and with two connection ends, the connection ends extending away from the central part, wherein internally of the central part there is arranged a valve body including at least a shutoff part and a through-flow part. The valve seat is arranged in the valve housing and resiliently bears against the valve body, a resilient structural part has a spring action that acts in a direction substantially parallel with the flow direction of the valve and has at least one annular flange part adapted for bearing on the valve body. The resilient valve seat includes a fixing member for mechanical fixing of the valve seat in the valve housing. The fixing member has a flange part fixed in the valve housing by plastic deformation.
US09920836B2 Piston ring for internal combustion engine
Provided is a piston ring for an internal combustion engine capable of preventing aluminum cohesion for a long time under conditions with high temperature and a high load and also suppressing the wearing of a piston member. A piston ring 1 for the internal combustion engine including a piston ring body 11 having at least one of an upper side face and a lower side face coated with an aluminum cohesion resistance film 12, wherein the aluminum cohesion resistance film 12 has a first coating film 12a made of first ceramics material formed on the piston ring body and a second coating film having Vickers hardness HV smaller than that of the first ceramics material formed on the first coating film 12a.
US09920835B2 Piston device and pressure regulator using same
A piston device and a pressure regulator including the piston device. The piston device includes a piston body and a baffle plate having a surface provided with openings. The baffle plate is arranged in the piston body and divides the piston body into an upper first area and a lower second area. The piston device beneficially improves the stress balance of the first area and the second area, thereby improving the stability of the overall system.
US09920834B2 Park lock mechanism
A park lock having an actuator assembly for pivoting a pawl relative to a dog ring. The actuator assembly has a first linear actuator, a locking mechanism, a first biasing spring and a second linear actuator. The first linear actuator has a first output member that is movable along a movement axis that is parallel to a pivot axis of the pawl. The locking mechanism is configured to selectively couple the first output member and a cam for common movement along the movement axis. The first biasing spring is configured to move the cam along the movement axis relative to the first output member when the locking mechanism decouples the cam from the first output member. The second linear actuator is configured to move the cam along the movement axis and against the first biasing spring when the cam is decoupled from the first output member.
US09920833B2 Shifting apparatus for manual transmission
A shifting apparatus for a manual transmission able to shift two shift stages, of which selection positions are different but shift positions are the same, using a single fork and a single sleeve. Compared to the related art in which a fork and a synchronization sleeve are provided to each of two independent shift stages, the full length of the transmission is reduced, thereby reducing the weight and manufacturing costs.
US09920829B2 Cooler for a marine transmission gearbox
A cooler for cooling a marine transmission gearbox by a cooling fluid. The cooler (1) comprises a cooler housing (2) which is made of plastic and a heat sink element (3) which is arranged at least partially inside a cavity (39) of the cooler housing (2) so that the heat sink element (3) is in contact with the cooling fluid, during operation. The heat sink element (3) is attachable to the gearbox housing (4) of the marine transmission gearbox in such a way that heat is transferable from the gearbox housing (4), via the heat sink element (3), to the cooling fluid. A marine transmission gearbox with such a cooler (1) is also part of the present invention.
US09920828B2 Differential with lubricant control
A system for regulating lubricant temperature within a vehicle axle is provided. A differential housing has a primary chamber that contains the differential, and a secondary chamber separated from the primary chamber. A sump is in the primary chamber for collecting lubricant. An inlet to the secondary chamber allows the lubricant to flow from the primary chamber into the secondary chamber. An outlet to the secondary chamber allows the lubricant stored therein to be purged into the sump. When the lubricant is below a certain threshold temperature, a temperature-responsive valve is configured to close to inhibit the fluid to travel through the outlet. When the temperature of the lubricant rises to exceed the threshold, the valve is configured to open and permit the fluid to travel through the outlet.
US09920827B1 Axle assembly having horizontal oil drain integrated into cover flange
An axle assembly can include a housing, differential assembly in the housing, drain plug, cover, and gasket. The housing can include a main flange having threaded bores. A bottom threaded bore can extend through the main flange to be in fluid communication with a housing interior. The plug can include a shaft and a head. The shaft can threadably engage the drain bore. The cover can include a cover flange. The head of the drain plug can overlap the cover flange. The gasket can include a seal portion in sealing contact with the flanges, a standoff, and a fastener seal member. The shaft can extend through the standoff. The standoff can be a rigid material disposed between the flanges and can extend radially outward of the drain bore. The fastener seal member can be a resilient material in sealing contact with the standoff and the drain plug.
US09920823B2 Continuously variable transmission
Inventive embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a control system is adapted to facilitate a change in the ratio of a CVT. In another embodiment, a control system includes a stator plate configured to have a plurality of radially offset slots. Various inventive traction planet assemblies and stator plates can be used to facilitate shifting the ratio of a CVT. In some embodiments, the traction planet assemblies include planet axles configured to cooperate with the stator plate. In one embodiment, the stator plate is configured to rotate and apply a skew condition to each of the planet axles. In some embodiments, a stator driver is operably coupled to the stator plate. Embodiments of a traction sun are adapted to cooperate with other components of the CVT to support operation and/or functionality of the CVT. Among other things, shift control interfaces for a CVT are disclosed.