US09059594B2
A battery switching charger includes a PWM signal generator, a switching circuit, an inductor, a resistor and an analog-to-digital converter. The PWM signal generator is utilized for generating a PWM signal. The switching circuit includes cascoded transistors controlled by the PWM signal for generating an output voltage. The inductor is utilized for receiving the output voltage. The resistor is coupled between the inductor and a charge terminal of the battery switching charger, where the charge terminal is connected to a battery when the battery is being charged by the battery switching charger. The analog-to-digital converter is coupled to the PWM signal generator and the resistor, and is utilized for receiving voltages of two terminals of the resistor to generate control data to the PWM signal generator. In addition, the PWM signal generator adjusts a duty cycle of the PWM signal according to the control data.
US09059593B2
Disclosed herein is a charge controlling system, including: a control apparatus; and a plurality of battery units connected to the control apparatus, wherein the control apparatus includes an acquisition section configured to acquire sensor information from at least one of the battery units, and a control section configured to set a magnitude of charge current for each of the battery units in response to the sensor information, and the battery units individually include a battery, a charge controlling section configured to charge the battery with the charge current of the magnitude set by the control section, and a sensor for acquiring the sensor information.
US09059581B2
A splice housing is configured to slide over and engage with a metallic connector that couples together cable conductors in an electrical distribution system. The splice housing has a first end arranged to engage a first cable, a second end arranged to engage a second cable and a central portion set between the first and second ends that engages the metallic connector. A first support core holds the first end in an expanded state, while a second support core holds the second end in an expanded state. The first and the second ends are molded so that they have relaxed internal diameters that are smaller than a relaxed internal diameter of the central portion.
US09059577B2
A mounting tray for a supporting and electrical component relative to an opening in a wall can include a rear wall that defines an opening. A sidewall can extend outwardly from the rear wall and collectively define a pocket with the rear wall. The sidewall can have an outer lip. An outer flange can extend around the sidewall at a position intermediate to the outer lip and the rear wall from a first location at the sidewall to a second location at an outer perimeter. The outer perimeter of the outer flange is offset inboard of the opening in the wall in an installed position.
US09059572B2
A spark plug includes a center electrode, an insulator holding the center electrode inserted thereinto, a housing holding the insulator inserted thereinto and a ground electrode joined to the housing so as to form a spark discharge gap with the center electrode. The center electrode includes a core member and a cover layer covering a surface of the core member. The core member includes a large-diameter portion made of a material having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the cover layer, a small-diameter portion extending from the large-diameter portion toward a distal end side of the core member, and a connecting portion connecting the large-diameter portion to the small-diameter portion. The cover layer is made of a material having a linear expansion coefficient lower than that of the core member, and covers between at least part of the connecting portion and a distal end of the small-diameter portion.
US09059571B2
A spark plug includes: a center electrode, a ground electrode, which is side-mounted on the center electrode, and a noble metal insert, which is situated on the center electrode. The noble metal insert is situated in a cutout provided in a base material of the center electrode and connected in a continuous material to the base material of the center electrode. The noble metal insert is directed with one surface towards the side-mounted ground electrode.
US09059570B1
Methods for improving the performance of type-II and type-I ICLs, particularly in the mid-IR wavelength range, are provided. The electron injector of a type-II or a type-I ICL can be heavily n-doped to increase the ratio of electrons to holes in the active quantum wells, thereby increasing the probability of radiative recombination in the active quantum wells and reducing the threshold current density Jth needed to achieve lasing. For both type-II and type-I ICLs, the doping should have a sheet density in the low-1012 range. In either the type-II or the type-I case, in some embodiments, heavy doping can be concentrated in the middle quantum wells of the electron injector, while in other embodiments, doping with silicon can be shifted towards the active quantum wells.
US09059568B2
An optical electrical field enhancing device includes: a transparent substrate having a structure of fine protrusions and recesses on the surface thereof; and a metal structure layer of fine protrusions and recesses formed on the surface of the structure of fine protrusions and recesses. The metal structure layer of fine protrusions and recesses has a structure of fine protrusions and recesses, in which the distances among adjacent protrusions are less than the distances among corresponding adjacent protrusions of the structure of fine protrusions and recesses of the transparent substrate.
US09059562B2
An assembly (10) for providing an assembly output beam comprises a laser assembly (12), a power source (14), and a system controller (16). The power source (14) is electrically coupled to the laser assembly (12). The system controller (16) directs power from the power source (14) to the laser assembly (12). Additionally, the system controller (16) includes a capacitor assembly (22) that is electrically connected to the laser assembly (12), and a current source (20) that directs power from the power source (14) to the capacitor assembly (22) and the laser assembly (12). The power source (14) and the capacitor assembly (22) cooperate to provide power to the laser assembly (12). Further, the capacitor assembly (22) provides pulses of power and the current source (20) directs the pulses of power to the laser assembly (12). Moreover, the current source (20) charges the capacitor assembly (22) in between the pulses of power.
US09059559B2
We have demonstrated a novel Sagnac loop and micro-ring based laser cavity which is simple and reliable, with accurately controlled reflectivity and negligible excess loss. The resonant wavelength of a 2 μm radius micro-ring is shown to be lithographically controlled to a standard deviation of 3.6 nm. Both C- and O-Band lasers based on Sagnac loop mirror and micro-ring cavity have been demonstrated. The lasers are shown to be able to be modulated at 40 Gb/s.
US09059550B2
A connector includes a movable contact part formed of an insulating material, an electrically conductive movable terminal part, and an electrically conductive fixed terminal part. The movable terminal part and the fixed terminal part are caused to come into contact by the movable terminal part being pressed via the movable contact part by an electrically conductive plug electrode terminal of another connector after the plug electrode terminal inserted into a jack terminal opening part of the connector comes into contact with the movable terminal part, so that the plug electrode terminal and the fixed terminal part are electrically connected via the movable terminal part.
US09059524B2
The invention relates to a socket arrangement (15) comprising at least one plug connector socket (18). Each plug connector socket (18) comprises a contact arrangement (28) with two electrically conductive contact elements (35, 36) and a spring arrangement (38). The two contact elements (35, 36) are supported so as to be movable relative to each other in a movement direction (B) at a right angle or obliquely with respect to a plug-in direction (R). The spring arrangement (38) acts on one or both contact elements (35, 36) in movement direction (B). Due to the pretensioning force of the spring arrangement (38), the two contact elements (35, 36) are pushed or pulled toward each another. With the plug contact pin (19) inserted in the plug connector socket (18), the two contact elements are moved toward each other in movement direction (B) and abut from different sides against the plug contact pin (19). As a result of this, a mechanical clamping effect and an electrical contact are provided.
US09059521B2
A coaxial cable connector assembly and a receptor connector are provided. The coaxial cable connector assembly is composed at least of one cable end connector and the receptor connector. The receptor connector is formed of an insertion space with a lateral insertion opening to allow one portion of the cable end connector to be inserted into the insertion space through the lateral insertion opening such that the cable end connector and the receptor connector are in electrical connection. The cable end connector will be constrained such that it cannot be detached from the receptor connector in the direction other than the lateral insertion opening.
US09059516B2
A 3D package device of a photonic integrated chip matching circuit, comprising: a first carrier substrate; a first microwave transmission line array formed by evaporation on the top surface of the first carrier substrate to provide bias voltages and high-frequency modulation signals to the photonic integrated chip; a second carrier substrate formed perpendicularly to the first carrier substrate or to have a certain angle with respect to the first carrier substrate, so as to constitute a 3D structure; a second microwave transmission line array formed by evaporation on the bottom surface of the second carrier substrate to match electrodes of the first microwave transmission line array, the second microwave transmission line array being soldered or sintered with the electrodes of the first microwave transmission line array; an electrode array formed by evaporation on a side surface or two opposite side surfaces of the second carrier substrate; and a microwave circuit.
US09059510B2
There is disclosed an antenna arrangement having a parasitic conductive loop (1) and at least one active radiating element (9). The conductive loop (1) comprises first and second electrically conductive passive radiating elements (2, 3) each with first and second ends. The first ends of the passive radiating elements are each connected to ground, and the second ends of the radiating elements are each connected respectively to mutually discrete metalized surface regions (8) of a dielectric block (7). The at least one active radiating element (9) is not conductively connected to the passive radiating elements (2, 3). The passive radiating elements (2, 3) are configured to be fed parasitically by the at least one active radiating element (9). The antenna arrangement has excellent resistance to detuning and can be located in different regions of a PCB substrate without significantly affecting performance. Further, the antenna is small in size and may be arranged for dual band operation.
US09059508B2
A system and methods for co-site and multi-path interference mitigation are presented. A reflection signal is received from at least one aircraft surface at a sensor near a receiver antenna, and a conformal reflective phased array antenna coupled to at least one aircraft surface is configured to steer the reflection signal. The reflection signal is steered using the conformal reflective phased array antenna to reduce an amplitude of the reflection signal at the receiver antenna based on the reflection signal received at the sensor.
US09059504B2
A built-in antenna apparatus of a mobile terminal includes a main board having at least one feeding portion for feeding RF power and at least one grounding portion at ground potential. The antenna apparatus includes first and second thin metal plates configured to be stacked on the main board and spaced from one another. The second metal plate is electrically connected to the feeding portion and has a length sufficient to resonate within a communication frequency band of the mobile terminal. The first metal plate is electrically connected to the grounding portion and electromagnetically coupled with the second metal plate to resonate.
US09059495B2
A waveguide switch based on alternating short and open loads in a waveguide path. In one embodiment, the switch being made up of four waveguides connected by sections of ridge waveguides where simple short-circuit loads can be activated to control the signal paths. The switch being adapted for the C-, R- and T-type switches. Another embodiment of the same device being adapted for SPT type switched.
US09059475B2
A negative electrode of a lithium secondary battery has a negative electrode active material including at least one element of silicon and tin. Capacities of the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the lithium secondary battery are set as follows. In a completely charged state of the lithium secondary battery charged by a predetermined charging method, the positive electrode active material and the negative electrode active material are in a first partially charged state, respectively. In a completely discharged state of the lithium secondary battery discharged by a predetermined discharging method, the negative electrode active material is in a second partially charged state.
US09059470B2
A cathode for a fuel cell includes a gas diffusion layer contacting with a separator having a channel and a catalyst layer interposed between the gas diffusion layer and an electrolyte membrane. The catalyst layer of the cathode has two portions with different water-repelling properties, and a portion of the catalyst layer that does not face a channel has a higher water-repelling property than a portion that faces a channel. This cathode controls a water-repelling property of the catalyst layer differently according to locations, so it is possible to keep an amount of moisture in an electrode in a suitable way and to restrain generation of flooding, thereby improving the performance of the cell.
US09059469B2
The present invention relates to an electrode assembly having fiber-shaped structures, and a battery including the same. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electrode assembly comprises: a first electrode having one or two or more first fiber-shaped structures that have either a positive or negative pole; and a second electrode having one or two or more second fiber-shaped structures that have a different polarity from the structures and enclose said first structures in a spiral manner.
US09059464B2
Ferrous (II) phosphate (Fe3(PO4)2) powders, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) powders for a Li-ion battery and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. The lithium iron phosphate powders are represented by the following formula (II): LiFe(1-a)MaPO4 (II) wherein, M, and a are defined in the specification, the lithium iron phosphate powders are composed of plural flake powders, the length of each of the flake powders is 0.1-10 μm, and a ratio of the length and the thickness of each of the flake powder is in a range from 11 to 400.
US09059460B2
A prismatic secondary battery 10 includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom and storing an electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, a sealing plate 20 sealing up the mouth of the prismatic hollow outer body, and a positive electrode terminal 15 and a negative electrode terminal 17 attached to the sealing plate 20; the sealing plate 20 includes a gas release valve 25 at the center between the positive electrode terminal 15 and the negative electrode terminal 17 and includes an electrolyte pour hole 23 on one side of the gas release valve 25 and, on the other side on the front face, a concaved flat face with a height lower than that of the peripheral portion; and the concaved flat face is formed with an identification code 33.
US09059457B2
A thin battery integrating an electric connector and a battery cell is provided, including a battery cell, a circuit board, an electric connector, and an adhesive tape. The battery cell includes a top sealing area, a first electrode bar, and a second electrode bar. The first electrode bar and the second electrode bar are disposed in the top sealing area of the battery cell. The circuit board is disposed in the top sealing area and includes a first and a second electrode welding pad. The electric connector is disposed in the top sealing area and connected electrically to the circuit board. The adhesive tape wraps the battery cell and the circuit board. The thin battery can be connected to the mobile electronic equipment, having a mating connector, along a first direction or a second direction through the electric connector, thereby supplying power.
US09059455B2
Methods for refurbishing components, such as interconnects of a fuel cell stack, include singulating the stack and removing the electrolyte, seals and oxide layer using non-mechanical methods. The various methods of may be used either singly or in combination.
US09059452B2
There is provided an anode for a lithium ion secondary battery capable of improving the cycle characteristics, a lithium ion secondary battery using the same, an electric power tool using the lithium ion secondary battery, an electrical vehicle using the lithium ion secondary battery, and an electric power storage system using the lithium ion secondary battery. The anode for a lithium ion secondary battery includes an anode active material layer in which a first layer and a second layer respectively containing silicon and a metal element as an anode active material are alternately layered on an anode current collector, and 1.02≦A/B≦50 is satisfied. A represents a silicon content ratio in the anode active material in the first layer, and B represents a silicon content ratio in the anode active material in the second layer.
US09059451B2
An electroactive material for use in an electrochemical cell, like a lithium-ion battery, is provided. The electroactive material comprises lithium titanate oxide (LTO) and has a surface coating with a thickness of less than or equal to about 30 nm that suppresses formation of gases within the electrochemical cell. Methods for making such materials and using such materials to suppress gas formation in electrochemical cells are likewise provided.
US09059448B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a polymer electrolyte membrane, which comprises the steps of: removing a part of a salt component produced during polycondensation from a polymerization solution of a polymer electrolyte having a density of an ionic group of 2 mmol/g or more directly by centrifugal separation, thereby preparing a coating solution; applying the coating solution on a substrate by casting; removing a part of a solvent from the coating solution to form a film-shaped material on the substrate; and bringing the film-shaped material on the substrate into contact with water and/or an aqueous acidic solution to remove the salt component produced during the polycondensation. According to the method for producing an electrolyte membrane, even an electrolyte having a high density of an ionic group can be purified. Also disclosed is an electrolyte membrane capable of being used in a fuel cell which is operated at a high temperature higher than 80° C. and under low humidity conditions having a relative humidity of 60% or less.
US09059444B2
Herein are disclosed methods, and compositions produced using them, to assemble highly conducting, hydrolytically stable polymer electrolyte films from commercially-available, water-soluble polymers using layer-by-layer assembly technology. In certain embodiments, these films can be used for electrochemical device applications which require an ion-conducting material to operate. For example, the power efficiency of any electrochemical device with a solid polymer electrolyte layer can be increased by this technology by virtue of the low ionic resistance of these layer-by-layer assembled thin film electrolytes. Specifically, direct-methanol operated fuel cells (DMFCs) should benefit remarkably, as the described technology offers very high conductivity values at fully hydrated conditions with low fuel (methanol) crossover.
US09059437B2
A heating apparatus for a fuel cell that includes heating units that extend in the stacking direction of a plurality of separators, in contact with upper ends and lower ends of air intake sides of the stacked separators.
US09059428B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes a substrate. A pixel electrode is disposed on the substrate. A pixel defining layer covers an edge of the pixel electrode and exposes at least a first portion of the edge. A first intermediate layer is disposed on the pixel electrode and covers a central part and the first portion of the pixel electrode. An auxiliary insulating layer is disposed on the first intermediate layer and covers a portion of the first intermediate layer corresponding to the at least the first portion. An emission layer is disposed on the first intermediate layer corresponding to the central part of the pixel electrode. An opposite electrode faces the pixel electrode. The first intermediate layer is disposed between.
US09059426B2
An organic light emitting display device can prevent a voltage dropping in a cathode electrode. The organic light emitting display device includes a substrate, cathode wiring arranged on a surface of the substrate, an anode electrode arranged on the substrate and electrically insulated from the cathode wiring, an organic layer arrangement arranged on the anode electrode to form a plurality of unit pixels, a cathode electrode covering the organic layer arrangement and at least one electrical connection unit to electrically connect the cathode wiring to the cathode electrode.
US09059415B2
The invention relates to gold(I) complexes having a planar-trigonal coordination geometry and multivalent ligands for use in an optoelectronic device, in particular in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) and in light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEECs).
US09059412B2
Compounds having a metal M complexed to a ligand L containing a substituted imidazole carbene group, which is represented Formula (I), below: wherein ring B is a 5-member aromatic heterocyclic ring containing at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, O, and S; wherein ring A is a 5-membered or 6-membered carbocyclic or heterocyclic ring; wherein RA represents mono, di, tri, tetra substitutions or no substitution; wherein R1 represents mono, di, or tri substitution or no substitution; wherein each RA, R1 and R2 is independently selected from various possible substituents; wherein Z1 is nitrogen or carbon; and wherein the ligand is optionally linked with other ligands to comprise a tridentate, tetradentate, pentadentate or hexadentate ligand. Devices, such as organic light emitting devices (OLEDs) that comprise such compounds are also provided.
US09059411B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a fluorene compound. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention is a fluorene compound in which two 9-phenylfluoren-9-yl groups are each bonded to any of a pyridine skeleton and a pyrimidine skeleton through an arylene group, and in which the arylene group is any of one to three phenylene groups.
US09059410B2
The present invention provides a novel organic semiconductor material that affords efficient charge transport, under a wider range of conditions, by increasing the temperature stability and expanding the temperature range of the organic semiconductor material. In an organic semiconductor material comprising a liquid crystalline compound having substituents on the periphery of a rigid plate-like central structure, the substituents have a fluorinated phenylene group, and columns in which the molecules of the compound are accumulated in a stack are aligned hexagonally.
US09059405B2
When a ferroelectric thin film-forming sol-gel solution contains a PZT-based compound, a viscosity-adjusting macromolecular compound including polyvinylpyrrolidone, and an organic dopant including a formamide-based solvent, the PZT-based compound is included at 17 mass % or more in terms of an oxide, the molar ratio of the polyvinylpyrrolidone to the PZT-based compound is PZT-based compound:polyvinylpyrrolidone=1:0.1 to 0.5 in terms of a monomer, and the formamide-based solvent is included at 3 mass % to 13 mass % of the sol-gel solution, it is possible to form a thick layer by coating the sol-gel solution once, the production efficiency improves, and crack-free and dense film formation even after calcination and firing becomes possible.
US09059377B2
Solid state lighting (“SSL”) devices with improved contacts and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an SSL device includes a first semiconductor material, a second semiconductor material spaced apart from the first semiconductor material, and an active region between the first and second semiconductor materials. The SSL device also includes a contact on one of the first or second semiconductor materials. The contact includes a first conductive material and a plurality of contact elements in contact with one of the first or second conductive materials. The contact elements individually include a portion of a second conductive material that is different from the first conductive material.
US09059374B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device is provided. The device includes: an n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type semiconductor layer; and a light emitting unit provided between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer. The method includes: forming a buffer layer made of a crystalline AlxGa1−xN (0.8≦x≦1) on a first substrate made of c-plane sapphire and forming a GaN layer on the buffer layer; stacking the n-type semiconductor layer, the light emitting unit, and the p-type semiconductor layer on the GaN layer; and separating the first substrate by irradiating the GaN layer with a laser having a wavelength shorter than a bandgap wavelength of GaN from the first substrate side through the first substrate and the buffer layer.
US09059373B2
Provided is a method for protecting a thermal sensitive component mounted on a board during a thermal process. The method includes: providing the board, providing a protection apparatus which is removable and made of a thermoelectric material to protect the thermal sensitive component during the thermal process, wherein the protection apparatus cools the thermal sensitive component during the thermal process in response to applying a voltage to the protection apparatus. Further provided is the protection apparatus for the thermal sensitive component mounted on the board during the thermal process.
US09059372B2
A system for generating electrical energy is disclosed. The system includes at least one device having a plurality of heat radiating components each having a cooling component. The system includes a converter system comprising a plurality of thermal electric generators contained in each of the at least one device, each of the plurality of thermal electric generators integrated between a respective one of the plurality of heat radiating components and its respective cooling component, the plurality of thermal electric generators electrically interconnected according to power requirements of the at least one device, and the plurality of thermal electric generators generating power used to power the at least one device.
US09059370B2
A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a substrate comprising an absorber layer and an overlying window layer. The substrate is loaded into a chamber and subjected to a vacuum environment. The vacuum environment is at a pressure ranging from 0.1 Torr to about 0.02 Torr. In a specific embodiment, a mixture of reactant species derived from diethylzinc species, water species and a carrier gas is introduced into the chamber. The method further introduces a diborane species using a selected flow rate into the mixture of reactant species. A zinc oxide film is formed overlying the window layer to define a transparent conductive oxide using the selected flow rate to provide a resistivity of about 2.5 milliohm-cm and less and an average grain size of about 3000 to 5000 Angstroms.
US09059352B2
A solar energy concentrating system with high light collection efficiency includes a light concentrating unit, a light homogenizing unit and photovoltaic modules. The light concentrating unit includes a parabolic reflector and an ellipsoidal reflector which are coaxial and confocal. The light homogenizing unit includes an infrared filter and a hollow spherical reflector with a hole in its surface. When the system is under illumination, light is concentrated by the light concentrating unit through the hole in the spherical reflector surface and reflected by the inner surface of the spherical reflector onto the photovoltaic modules. The infrared filter covers the hole in the spherical reflector surface and reduces the heat in the photovoltaic modules under concentrated light. The combination of the parabolic reflector and the ellipsoidal reflector obtain highly concentrated light, and the hollow spherical reflector ensures light uniformity on the photovoltaic modules and light utilization efficiency.
US09059349B2
The present invention provides strategies for improving the adhesion between a barrier region, a transparent conductive region, and/or an electrically conductive grid through the use of an adhesion promoting region. The adhesion promoting region is optically transmissive and comprises a metal layer, a metal nitride layer, a metal carbide layer, or a combination thereof and preferably comprises at least one of Cr, Ti, Ta, and Zr or a combination thereof. These strategies are particularly useful in the fabrication of heterojunction photovoltaic devices such as chalcogenide-based solar cells. Adhesion is improved to such a degree that grid materials and dielectric barrier materials can cooperate to provide a hermetic seal over devices to protect against damage induced by environmental conditions, including damage due to water intrusion. The adhesion promoting region also serves as a barrier to the migration of Na, Li, and the lanthanoid series of elements.
US09059346B2
A laser-radiation sensor includes a copper substrate on which is grown an oriented polycrystalline buffer layer surmounted by an oriented polycrystalline sensor-element of an anisotropic transverse thermoelectric material. An absorber layer, thermally connected to the sensor-element, is heated by laser-radiation to be measured and communicates the heat to the sensor-element, causing a thermal gradient across the sensor-element. Spaced-apart electrodes in electrical contact with the sensor-element sense a voltage corresponding to the thermal gradient as a measure of the incident laser-radiation power. At least two protection layers are positioned between the sensor layer and the absorber layer.
US09059340B2
Provided is a method capable of easily manufacturing a back contact solar cell with high photoelectric conversion efficiency. A semiconductor layer having a first conductivity which is the same as that of a semiconductor substrate is formed substantially entirely on the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate inclusive of a surface of an insulation layer. A portion of the semiconductor layer located on the insulation layer is removed, and thereby an opening is formed. The insulation layer exposed through the opening is removed while the semiconductor layer is used as a mask, and thereby a surface of a first semiconductor region is partially exposed. Electrodes which are electrically connected to the surface of the first semiconductor region and to a surface of the semiconductor layer respectively are formed.
US09059330B2
Integrated circuit capacitors have composite dielectric layers therein. These composite dielectric layers include crystallization inhibiting regions that operate to increase the overall crystallization temperature of the composite dielectric layer. An integrated circuit capacitor includes first and second capacitor electrodes and a capacitor dielectric layer extending between the first and second capacitor electrodes. The capacitor dielectric layer includes a composite of a first dielectric layer extending adjacent the first capacitor electrode, a second dielectric layer extending adjacent the second capacitor electrode and an electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer extending between the first and second dielectric layers. The electrically insulating crystallization inhibiting layer is formed of a material having a higher crystallization temperature characteristic relative to the first and second dielectric layers.
US09059302B2
One or more embodiments relate to a floating gate memory device, comprising: a substrate; a floating gate disposed over the substrate; and a control gate substantially laterally surrounding at least a portion of the floating gate.
US09059291B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) substrate having a bulk substrate layer, an active semiconductor layer, and a buried insulator layer interposed between the bulk substrate layer and the active semiconductor layer. A first source/drain (S/D) region includes a first stand-alone butting implant having a first butting width. A second S/D region includes a second stand-alone butting implant having a second butting width. A gate well-region is interposed between the first and second S/D regions. The gate well-region has a gate width that is greater than the first and second butting widths.
US09059290B2
A method includes patterning a fin on a semiconductor substrate, depositing a local trench isolation (LTI) layer on the semiconductor substrate, patterning a gate stack over a channel region of the fin and over a portion of the LTI layer, depositing a first capping layer over exposed portions of the LTI layer, performing an etching process to remove oxide material from exposed portions of the fin, and epitaxially growing a semiconductor material from exposed portions of the fin to define active regions.
US09059287B2
A semiconductor device comprises a first substrate portion and a second substrate portion disposed a distance away from the first substrate portion. The first substrate portion includes a first active semiconductor layer defining at least one semiconductor fin and a first polycrystalline layer formed directly on the fin. The first polycrystalline layer is patterned to define at least one semiconductor gate. The second substrate portion includes a doped region interposed between a second active semiconductor region and an oxide layer. The oxide layer protects the second active semiconductor region and the doped region. The doped region includes a first doped area and a second doped area separated by the first doped region to define a depletion region.
US09059283B1
A semiconductor structure is provided. The semiconductor structure includes a first doped region, a second doped region, a field oxide layer, a gate structure, and a metal layer. The first doped region has a first type conductivity. The second doped region is formed in the first doped region and has a second type conductivity opposite to the first type conductivity. The field oxide layer is located on the first doped region. The gate structure includes a first gate portion and a second gate portion which are separated from each other, wherein the second gate portion is located on the field oxide layer and electrically connected to a source end. The metal layer is located on the gate structure and includes a first metal portion and a second metal portion which are separated from each other.
US09059275B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device that ensures both the breakdown voltage characteristic and specific on-resistance characteristic required for a high-voltage semiconductor device and that includes a gate over a substrate, a source region formed at one side of the gate, a drain region formed at the other side of the gate, and a plurality of device isolation films formed between the source region and the drain region, below the gate.
US09059269B2
An approach for sinking heat from a transistor is provided. A method includes forming a substrate contact extending from a first portion of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) island to a substrate. The method also includes forming a transistor in a second portion of the SOI island. The method further includes electrically isolating the substrate contact from the transistor by doping the first portion of the SOI island.
US09059268B2
A tunneling field effect transistor and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The tunneling field effect transistor comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a channel region formed in the semiconductor substrate, with one or more isolation structures formed in the channel region; a first buried layer and a second buried layer formed in the semiconductor substrate and located at both sides of the channel region respectively, the first buried layer being first type non-heavily-doped, and the second buried layer being second type non-heavily-doped; a source region and a drain region formed in the semiconductor substrate and located on the first buried layer and the second buried layer respectively; and a gate dielectric layer formed on the one or more isolation structures, and a gate formed on the gate dielectric layer.
US09059267B1
A structure and method for fabricating a III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure field-effect transistor (FET) with self-aligned and overlapped extensions using a replacement gate process is disclosed. The a III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure field-effect transistor (FET) structure may be formed by forming a III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure having multiple layers and a T-shaped gate structure using a gate replacement process. The T-shaped gate structure may be formed with a bottom surface substantially below an upper surface of the III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure and an upper surface above the III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure. An undoped region may be formed below the bottom surface of the T-shaped gate structure on a layer of the III-V compound semiconductor-containing heterostructure.
US09059255B2
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes forming a trench/via in a layer of insulating material, forming a non-continuous layer comprised of a plurality of spaced-apart conductive structures on the layer of insulating material in the trench/via, wherein portions of the layer of insulating material not covered by the plurality of spaced-apart conductive structures remain exposed, forming at least one barrier layer on the non-continuous layer, wherein the barrier layer contacts the spaced-apart conductive structures and the exposed portions of the layer of insulating material, forming at least one liner layer above the barrier layer, and forming a conductive structure in the trench/via above the liner layer.
US09059253B2
Embodiments of the invention include methods of forming gate caps. Embodiments may include providing a semiconductor device including a gate on a semiconductor substrate and a source/drain region on the semiconductor substrate adjacent to the gate, forming a blocking region, a top surface of which extends above a top surface of the gate, depositing an insulating layer above the semiconductor device, and planarizing the insulating layer using the blocking region as a planarization stop. Embodiments further include semiconductor devices having a semiconductor substrate, a gate above the semiconductor substrate, a source/drain region adjacent to the gate, a gate cap above the gate that cover the full width of the gate, and a contact adjacent to the source/drain region having a portion of its sidewall defined by the gate cap.
US09059249B2
An interconnect structure is provided which includes at least one patterned and cured low-k material located directly on a surface of a substrate; and at least one least one conductively filled region embedded within an interconnect pattern located within the at least one patterned and cured low-k material, wherein the at least one conductively filled region has an inflection point at a lower region of the interconnect pattern that is in proximity to an upper surface of the substrate and the interconnect region having an upper region that has substantially straight sidewalls.
US09059244B2
A method is disclosed for forming a semiconductor device. A first opening is formed for an STI on a semiconductor substrate and a first process is performed to deposit first oxide into the first opening. A second opening is formed to remove a portion of the first oxide from the first opening and second process(es) is/are performed to deposit second oxide into the second opening and over a remaining portion of the first oxide. A portion of the semiconductor device is formed over a portion of a surface of the second oxide. A semiconductor device includes an STI including a first oxide formed in a lower portion of a trench of the STI and a second oxide formed in an upper portion of the trench and above the first oxide. The semiconductor device includes a portion of the semiconductor device formed over a portion of the second oxide.
US09059239B2
An apparatus includes a bidirectional hetero junction field-effect power transistor having a gate between conduction electrodes, semiconductor layers, one formed on the other, and the two meeting at an electron gas layer interface, and a reference electrode embedded in one layer. The reference electrode connects to a potential of a zone of the gas layer that is plumb with the reference electrode, A distance between the reference electrode and one conduction electrode and between the gate and that conduction electrode is between 45 and 55% of a distance between the conduction electrodes. A control circuit connected to the reference electrode generates a switching voltage for switching the transistor from a reference electrode voltage, and to apply a control voltage to the gate.
US09059238B2
Some aspects of the invention include a trench gate structure including a p base layer, an n+ emitter region, a trench, a gate oxide film, and a doped polysilicon gate electrode is provided in an active region. A p-type extension region formed by extending the p base layer to an edge termination structure region can be provided in the circumference of a plurality of trenches. One or more annular outer trenches which are formed at the same time as the plurality of trenches are provided in the p-type extension region. The annular outer trenches can surround all of the trenches. A second gap between the annular outer trench and the outermost trench or between adjacent annular outer trenches is less than a first gap between adjacent trenches.
US09059233B2
Disclosed is a trench formation technique wherein an opening having a first sidewall with planar contour and a second sidewall with a saw-tooth contour is etched through a semiconductor layer and into a semiconductor substrate. Then, a crystallographic wet etch process expands the portion of the opening within the semiconductor substrate to form a trench. Due to the different contours of the sidewalls and, thereby the different crystal orientations, one sidewall etches faster than the other, resulting in an asymmetric trench. Also disclosed is a bipolar semiconductor device formation method that incorporates the above-mentioned trench formation technique when forming a trench isolation region that undercuts an extrinsic base region and surrounds a collector pedestal. The asymmetry of the trench ensures that the trench isolation region has a relatively narrow width and, thereby ensures that both collector-to-base capacitance Ccb and collector resistance Rc are minimized within the resulting bipolar semiconductor device.
US09059227B2
The present invention provides various aspects of support for a fabrication facility capable of routine placement and replacement of processing tools in at least a vertical dimension relative to each other.
US09059209B2
A method includes providing a silicon-on-insulator wafer (e.g., an ETSOI wafer); forming a sacrificial gate structure that overlies a sacrificial insulator layer; forming raised source/drains adjacent to the sacrificial gate structure; depositing an oxide layer that covers the raised source/drains and that surrounds the sacrificial gate structure; and removing the sacrificial gate structure leaving an opening that extends to the sacrificial insulator layer. The method further includes widening the opening so as to expose some of the raised source/drains, removing the sacrificial insulator layer and forming a spacer layer on sidewalls of the opening, the spacer layer covering only an upper portion of the exposed raised source/drains, and depositing a layer of gate dielectric material within the opening. A gate conductor is deposited within the opening.
US09059202B2
A Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) device is disclosed. The MOS device includes a substrate, a well region formed in the substrate, and a gate located on the substrate. The MOS device also includes a first lightly-doped region arranged in the well region at a first side of the gate and overlapping with the gate, and a second lightly-doped region arranged in the well region at a second side of the gate and overlapping with the gate. Further, the MOS device includes a first heavily-doped region formed in the first lightly-doped region, and a second heavily-doped region formed in the second lightly-doped region. The MOS device also includes a first high-low-voltage gate oxide boundary arranged between the first heavily-doped region and the gate, and a second high-low-voltage gate oxide boundary arranged between the second heavily-doped region and the gate. The gate covers the first high-low-voltage gate oxide boundary and the second high-low-voltage gate oxide boundary at the first side and the second side of the gate, respectively.
US09059194B2
Partial removal of organic planarizing layer (OPL) material forms a plug of OPL material within an aperture that protects underlying material or electronic device such as a deep trench capacitor during other manufacturing processes. The OPL plug thus can absorb any differences or non-uniformity in, for example, etch rates across the chip or wafer and preserve recess dimensions previously formed. Control of a lateral component of later removal of the OPL plug by etching also can increase tolerance of overlay error in forming connections and thus avoid loss in manufacturing yield.
US09059190B2
A plurality of diode/resistor devices are formed within an integrated circuit structure using manufacturing equipment operatively connected to a computerized machine. Each of the diode/resistor devices comprises a diode device and a resistor device integrated into a single structure. The resistance of each of the diode/resistor devices is measured during testing of the integrated circuit structure using testing equipment operatively connected to the computerized machine. The current through each of the diode/resistor devices is also measured during testing of the integrated circuit structure using the testing equipment. Then, response curves for the resistance and the current are computed as a function of variations of characteristics of transistor devices within the integrated circuit structure and/or variations of manufacturing processes of the transistor devices within the integrated circuit structure.
US09059182B2
An arrangement is employed in a semiconductor device having a semiconductor body, the semiconductor body having a surface. The arrangement includes a surface portion on which a first metallization layer is arranged, and an alignment pattern arranged between the surface portion and the first metallization layer.
US09059181B2
A wafer-leveled chip packaging method, comprising the steps of: providing a wafer; attaching at least one first chip to the wafer; forming a first insulating layer on the wafer; forming a plurality of first conductive vias penetrating the first insulating layer, wherein parts of the first conductive vias are electrically connected with the first chip; forming a conductive pattern layer on the surface of the first insulating layer wherein the conductive pattern layer is electrically connected with the first conductive vias; forming a plurality of through holes penetrating the wafer; filling a second insulating layer in the through holes; and forming a plurality of second conductive vias in the second insulating layer, wherein the second conductive vias are electrically connected with the first conductive vias.
US09059180B2
Disclosed herein an image sensor chip, including a substrate having at least one via extending through at least one inter layer dielectric (ILD); a first conductive layer over the ILD, wherein the first conductive layer has a first thickness; a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer, wherein the second conductive layer has a second thickness of less than the first thickness; a polymer layer over the second conductive layer, the polymer layer including a cavity; a plurality of cavity components in the cavity; and protective layer contacting the polymer layer and covering the cavity.
US09059175B2
In one embodiment, the invention provides a back-end-of-line (BEOL) line fuse structure. The BEOL line fuse structure includes: a line including a plurality of grains of conductive crystalline material; wherein the plurality of grains in a region between the first end and a second end include an average grain size that is smaller than a nominal grain size of the plurality of grains in a remaining portion of the line.
US09059165B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes: first lines formed on a first wiring layer extending in a first direction; second lines formed on a second wiring layer extending in a second direction; and conductor plugs connecting the first lines to the second lines such that the first and second lines form a mesh-structure wiring. The first lines include first enlarged portions at intersection positions where the first and second lines cross to each other, a width in the second direction of the first enlarged portions is wider than a line width of the first lines at other than the intersection position. The second lines include second enlarged portions at the intersection positions, a width in the first direction of the second enlarged portions is wider than a line width of the second lines at other than the intersection position.
US09059160B1
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a substrate having (i) a first side configured to receive a semiconductor die and (ii) a second side disposed opposite to the first side. The substrate comprises a printed circuit board material. The apparatus further comprises an interposer that is (i) disposed in the substrate and (ii) configured to electrically couple the first side of the substrate and the second side of the substrate. The interposer comprises a semiconductor material.
US09059159B2
A routing layer for a semiconductor die is disclosed. The routing layer includes pads for attaching solder bumps; bond-pads bonded to bump-pads of a die having an integrated circuit, and traces interconnecting bond-pads to pads. The routing layer is formed on a layer of dielectric material. The routing layer includes conductive traces at least partially surrounding some pads so as to absorb stress from solder bumps attached to the pads. Parts of the traces that surround pads protect parts of the underlying dielectric material proximate the solder bumps, from the stress.
US09059155B2
Various embodiments provide a chip package. The chip package may include a metallic chip carrier; at least one chip carried by the metallic chip carrier; encapsulation material encapsulating the at least one chip and the metallic chip carrier; and a plurality of redistribution layers disposed over the at least one chip opposite the metallic chip carrier, wherein at least one redistribution layer of the plurality of redistribution layers is electrically coupled with the at least one chip.
US09059148B2
A system and method for forming contacts is provided. An embodiment comprises forming the contacts on a substrate and then coining the contacts by physically shaping them using, e.g., a molding chamber. The physical shaping of the contacts may be performed using a patterned portion of the molding chamber or else by placing a patterned stencil around the contacts prior before a force is applied to physically reshape the contacts. The contacts may be reshaped into a cylindrical, oval, cuboid, or rectangular shape, for example.
US09059138B2
A heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) structure, method of manufacturing the same and design structure thereof are provided. The HBT structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a sub-collector region therein. The HBT structure further includes a collector region overlying a portion of the sub-collector region. The HBT structure further includes an intrinsic base layer overlying at least a portion of the collector region. The HBT structure further includes an extrinsic base layer adjacent to and electrically connected to the intrinsic base layer. The HBT structure further includes an isolation region extending vertically between the extrinsic base layer and the sub-collector region. The HBT structure further includes an emitter overlying a portion of the intrinsic base layer. The HBT structure further includes a collector contact electrically connected to the sub-collector region. The collector contact advantageously extends through at least a portion of the extrinsic base layer.
US09059134B2
A semiconductor structure is provided that includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of gate stacks located thereon. Each gate stack includes a high k gate dielectric layer, a work function metal layer and a conductive metal. A spacer is located on sidewalls of each gate stack and a self-aligned dielectric liner is present on an upper surface of each spacer. A bottom surface of each self-aligned dielectric liner is present on an upper surface of a semiconductor metal alloy. A contact metal is located between neighboring gate stacks and is separated from each gate stack by the self-aligned dielectric liner. The structure also includes another contact metal having a portion that is located on and in direct contact with an upper surface of the contact metal and another portion that is located on and in direct contact with the conductive metal of one of the gate stacks.
US09059128B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first heat spreader; a second heat spreader separated from the first heat spreader; a first semiconductor element on the first heat spreader and having a back face jointed to the first heat spreader; a second semiconductor element on the second heat spreader and having a back face jointed to the second heat spreader; a resin coating the first and second heat spreaders and the first and second semiconductor elements; and a reinforcing member provided across a region between the first and second heat spreaders in the resin, and having rigidity higher than rigidity of the resin.
US09059124B2
Provided is a display device, including: a substrate; signal lines including a gate line, a data line, and a driving voltage line that collectively define an outer boundary of a pixel area; a transistor connected to the signal line; a first electrode extending across the pixel area and formed on the signal line and the transistor, and connected to the transistor, the first electrode having a first portion overlying only the signal line and the transistor, and a second portion comprising all of the first electrode not included in the first portion; a pixel defining layer formed on only the first portion of the first electrode; an organic emission layer formed on substantially the entire second portion but not on the first portion; and a second electrode formed on the pixel defining layer and the organic emission layer.
US09059123B2
A hybrid integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate having a base substrate, a semiconductor layer and a dielectric layer disposed therebetween, the base substrate being reduced in thickness. First devices are formed in the semiconductor layer, the first devices being connected to first metallizations on a first side of the dielectric layer. Second devices are formed in the base substrate, the second devices being connected to second metallizations formed on a second side of the dielectric layer opposite the first side. A through via connection is configured to connect the first metallizations to the second metallizations through the dielectric layer. Pixel circuits and methods are also disclosed.
US09059119B2
A display device and a display apparatus including the same are disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate positioned opposite the first substrate, a seal member which attaches the first substrate to the second substrate and seals a display area positioned on the first substrate or the second substrate, and a plurality of pixels which are positioned in the display area and each include an organic light emitting layer. Each of the first and second substrates includes two first straight sides extending in a first direction, two second straight sides extending in a second direction crossing the first direction, and four edges where the two first straight sides and the two second straight sides intersect. The four edges of each of the first and second substrates are formed as curved edges.
US09059116B2
A method for etching features into an etch layer through a patterned mask in a plasma processing chamber is provided. A main etch gas is flowed into the plasma processing chamber. The main etch gas is formed into a main etch plasma. A bias greater than 600 volts is provided. The bias is pulsed at a frequency between 1 Hz and 20 kHz with a duty cycle less than 45%.
US09059114B2
Disclosed is a full-color LED display device and a manufacturing method thereof. The full-color LED display device includes 1) a plurality of first electrodes formed on a substrate, 2) at least five subminiature blue LED elements attached to each unit pixel site formed on the first electrode, 3) an insulation layer formed on the substrate and the blue LED element, 4) a plurality of second electrodes formed on the insulation layer, and 5) a green color conversion layer and a red color conversion layer formed on the second electrode corresponding to partial unit pixel sites selected from the unit pixel sites. The manufacturing method of a full-color LED display device includes 1) forming a plurality of first electrodes on a substrate, 2) attaching at least five subminiature blue LED elements to each unit pixel site formed on the first electrode, 3) forming an insulation layer on the substrate, 4) forming a plurality of second electrodes on the insulation layer, and 5) successively patterning a green color conversion layer and a red color conversion layer on the second electrode corresponding to partial unit pixel sites selected from the unit pixel sites.
US09059113B2
An organic light-emitting device includes a substrate; a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer on the substrate, in parallel to the substrate, and facing each other; an emission layer between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, where the emission layer includes a first emission region, a second emission region, and a third emission region, where the emission layer includes a first common emission layer in the first emission region, the second emission region, and the third emission region; a second emission layer in the second emission region between the first common emission layer and the second electrode layer; and a third emission layer in the third emission region between the first common emission layer and the second electrode layer, and where the first common emission layer includes a first host, a first dopant, and a p-type dopant.
US09059112B1
A display device includes a first insulating substrate including a display area, a peripheral area and a test area, a gate conductor including a test element group gate electrode, a gate electrode and a gate line on the first insulating substrate, a gate insulating layer on the gate conductor, a semiconductor layer including a test element group semiconductor layer and a pixel semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer, a data conductor including a test element group source electrode, a test element group drain electrode, a data line including a source electrode, and a drain electrode on the semiconductor layer, a first passivation layer on the data conductor, a test element group common electrode and a pixel common electrode on the first passivation layer, a second passivation layer on the test element group common electrode and the pixel common electrode, and a pixel electrode on the second passivation layer.
US09059111B2
A semiconductor structure, method of manufacturing the same and design structure thereof are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a substrate including a semiconductor layer and a plurality of TSVs embedded therein. At least one TSV has a TSV tip extending from a backside surface of the substrate. The semiconductor structure further includes a multilayer metal contact structure positioned on the backside surface of the substrate. The multilayer metal contact structure includes at least a conductive layer covering the backside surface of the substrate and covering protruding surfaces of the TSV tip. The conductive layer has a non-planar first surface and a substantially planar second surface opposite of the first surface.
US09059110B2
A method of reducing contamination of contact pads in a metallization system of a semiconductor device. Fluorine contamination of contact pads in a semiconductor device can be reduced by appropriately covering the sidewall portions of a metallization system in the scribe lane in order to significantly reduce or suppress the out diffusion of fluorine species, which may react with the exposed surface areas of the contact pads. The quality of the bond contacts is enhanced, possibly without requiring any modifications in terms of design rules and electrical specifications.
US09059107B2
Packaging methods and packaged devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of packaging a semiconductor device includes forming a first redistribution layer (RDL) over a carrier, and forming a plurality of through assembly vias (TAVs) over the first RDL. An integrated circuit die is coupled over the first RDL, and a molding compound is formed over the first RDL, the TAVs, and the integrated circuit die. A second RDL is formed over the molding compound, the TAVs, and the integrated circuit die.
US09059104B2
A method of selectively removing silicon nitride from a substrate comprises providing a substrate having silicon nitride on a surface thereof; and dispensing phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid onto the surface of the substrate as a mixed acid liquid stream at a temperature greater than about 150° C. In this method, water is added to a liquid solution of the mixed acid liquid stream as or after the liquid solution of the mixed acid liquid stream passes through a nozzle.
US09059098B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor device where, even in a case of stacking a plurality of semiconductor elements provided over a substrate, the stacked semiconductor elements can be electrically connected through the substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. According to one feature of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of selectively forming a depression in an upper surface of a substrate or forming an opening which penetrates the upper surface through a back surface; forming an element group having a transistor so as to cover the upper surface of the substrate and the depression, or the opening; and exposing the element group formed in the depression or the opening by thinning the substrate from the back surface. A means for thinning the substrate can be performed by partially removing the substrate by performing grinding treatment, polishing treatment, etching by chemical treatment, or the like from the back surface of the substrate.
US09059093B2
Methods for forming a variable fin FinFET cell wherein a plurality of fins is formed above a substrate, a portion of a fin is removed, forming a fin tip, a first area of a gate oxide layer is formed above the fin tip, and a second area of the gate oxide layer is formed above at least a remaining portion of the plurality of fins, wherein the first area is thicker than the second area.
US09059089B2
A metal-containing film capable of adjusting a work function is formed. A first source containing a first metal element and a halogen element and a second source containing a second metal element different from the first metal element and an amino group are alternately supplied onto a substrate having a high-k dielectric film to form a composite metal nitride film on the high-k dielectric film.
US09059083B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed. One embodiment includes a carrier, a semiconductor chip attached to the carrier, a first conducting line having a first thickness and being deposited over the semiconductor chip and the carrier and a second conducting line having a second thickness and being deposited over the semiconductor chip and the carrier. The first thickness is smaller than the second thickness.
US09059081B2
The present invention is generally directed to methods of selectively doping a substrate and the resulting selectively doped substrates. The methods include doping an epilayer of a substrate with the selected doping material to adjust the conductivity of either the epilayers grown over a substrate or the substrate itself. The methods utilize lithography to control the location of the doped regions on the substrate. The process steps can be repeated to form a cyclic method of selectively doping different areas of the substrate with the same or different doping materials to further adjust the properties of the resulting substrate.
US09059076B2
An electronic component includes a switching device comprising a source, a gate, and a drain, the switching device having a predetermined device switching rate. The electronic component further includes a gate driver electrically connected to the gate and coupled between the source and the gate of the switching device, the gate driver configured to switch a gate voltage of the switching device at a gate driver switching rate. The gate driver is configured such that in operation, an output current of the gate driver cannot exceed a first current level, wherein the first current level is sufficiently small to provide a switching rate of the switching device in operation to be less than the predetermined device switching rate.
US09059074B2
An integrated circuit package system includes: mounting an integrated circuit die adjacent to a lead; forming a first encapsulation around and exposing the integrated circuit die and the lead; and forming a planar interconnect between the integrated circuit die and the lead with the planar interconnect on the first encapsulation.
US09059057B2
An image sensor device including a semiconductor substrate that includes an array region and a black level correction region. The array region contains a plurality of radiation-sensitive pixels. The black level correction region contains one or more reference pixels. The substrate has a front side and a back side. The image sensor device includes a first compressively-stressed layer formed on the back side of the substrate. The first compressively-stressed layer contains silicon oxide, and is negatively charged. The second compressively-stressed layer contains silicon nitride, and is negatively charged. A metal shield is formed over at least a portion of the black level correction region. The image sensor device includes a third compressively-stressed layer formed on the metal shield and the second compressively-stressed layer. The third compressively-stressed layer contains silicon oxide. A sidewall of the metal shield is protected by the third compressively-stressed layer.
US09059056B2
A solid-state imaging device and an imaging device are capable of transferring a control signal to pixels formed in each chip of the solid-state imaging device, in which the plurality of chips are connected to each other, without an increase in a circuit size of the solid-state imaging device or an increase in the number of connectors between the chips. The solid-state imaging device, in which first and second substrates are electrically connected to each other via the connectors, includes a pixel unit in which a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element disposed in the first substrate and a reading circuit disposed in the second substrate are arrayed two-dimensionally, and a read control circuit that controls reading of a signal from the pixels. The read control circuit includes a pulse generation unit and a logical unit.
US09059055B2
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a first structure part, a second structure part, and a third structure part. The first structure part includes a first insulating body and a first photoelectric conversion part. The first photoelectric conversion part is periodically disposed in the first insulating body and selectively absorbs light in the first wavelength band. The second structure part includes a second insulating body and a second photoelectric conversion part. The second photoelectric conversion part is periodically disposed in the second insulating body and selectively absorbs light in the second wavelength band. The third structure part includes a third photoelectric conversion part. The third photoelectric conversion part absorbs light in a third wavelength band. When viewed in the light incidence direction, the first photoelectric conversion part, the second photoelectric conversion part, and the third photoelectric conversion part are disposed in this order.
US09059043B1
A gate cavity is formed over a semiconductor fin by forming a disposable gate structure and a planarization dielectric layer over the semiconductor fin, and by removing the disposable gate structure. A doped silicate glass spacer including an electrical dopant is formed on sidewalls of the gate cavity by deposition and an anisotropic etch of a conformal doped silicate glass layer. A gate spacer including a diffusion barrier material is formed on inner sidewalls of the doped silicate glass spacer. A replacement gate structure is formed within the gate cavity, and source/drain regions are formed in portions of the semiconductor fin by outdiffusion of the electrical dopant during an anneal. The source/drain regions are formed within the semiconductor fin, and are self-aligned to the replacement gate electrode.
US09059037B2
Methods and processes for establishing a rework threshold for layers applied after thermal processing during fabrication of semiconductor devices are provided. One method includes, for instance: obtaining a device after at least one laser annealing process is completed, the device including a substrate surface and at least one layer over the substrate surface; performing lithography on the at least one layer; positioning a first contact-to-gate layer over the at least one layer; checking alignment of electrical connections between the substrate surface and the first contact-to-gate layer; determining if an overlay error is present; and adjusting at least one subsequent fabrication process pursuant to the overlay error.
US09059027B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes first and second semiconductor layers of a first conductivity type above a substrate via a first film, a first electrode above the second semiconductor layer, and a second electrode disposed on a side of the first electrode or an opposite side of the first electrode with respect to the second semiconductor layer. The device further includes a first pad layer connected to the first electrode, a second pad layer connected to the second electrode and including a first upper portion contacting the second electrode, a second upper portion disposed at a level between upper and lower portions of the substrate, and a third upper portion opposed to the lower portion of the substrate, and a third semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type between the second upper portion of the second pad layer and a lower portion of the first film.
US09059022B2
A structure and method of forming the structure is disclosed. According to an embodiment, a structure includes three devices in respective three regions of a substrate. The first device comprises a first gate stack, and the first gate stack comprises a first dielectric layer. The second device comprises a second gate stack, and the second gate stack comprises a second dielectric layer. The third device comprises a third gate stack, and the third gate stack comprises a third dielectric layer. A thickness of the third dielectric layer is less than a thickness of the second dielectric layer, and the thickness of the second dielectric layer is less than a thickness of the first dielectric layer. A gate length of the third gate stack differs in amount from a gate length of the first gate stack and a gate length of the second gate stack.
US09059019B2
A semiconductor device having a doped well area includes a doped substrate layer formed on a substrate portion of the semiconductor device. The doped substrate layer extends along a first direction to define a length and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to define a width. A plurality of fins is formed on the doped substrate layer and an oxide substrate layer is formed between each fin. At least one gate is formed on the oxide substrate layer and extends across at least one fin among the plurality of fins.
US09059014B2
A method includes forming isolation regions in a semiconductor substrate to define a first field effect transistor (FET) region, a second FET region, and a diode region, forming a first gate stack in the first FET region and a second gate stack in the second FET region, forming a layer of spacer material over the second FET region and the second gate stack, forming a first source region and a first drain region in the first FET region and a first diode layer in the diode region using a first epitaxial growth process, forming a hardmask layer over the first source region, the first drain region, the first gate stack and a portion of the first diode layer, and forming a second source region and a second drain region in the first FET region and a second diode layer on the first diode layer using a second epitaxial growth process.
US09059013B2
A method for forming nanostructures includes bonding a flexible substrate to a crystalline semiconductor layer having a two-dimensional material formed on a side opposite the flexible substrate. The crystalline semiconductor layer is stressed in a first direction to initiate first cracks in the crystalline semiconductor layer. The first cracks are propagated through the crystalline semiconductor layer and through the two-dimensional material. The stress of the crystalline semiconductor layer is released to provide parallel structures including the two-dimensional material on the crystalline semiconductor layer.
US09059011B2
An integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate; mounting an integrated circuit above the substrate; connecting an interposer to the integrated circuit with a wire-in-film adhesive; connecting an exposed interconnect having an upper surface to the substrate; and encapsulating the integrated circuit with an encapsulation.
US09059009B2
Semiconductor chips are disposed on an insulating substrate with conductive patterns, and a printed circuit board with metal pins is disposed above the insulating substrate with conductive patterns, with the semiconductor chips therebetween. A plurality of external lead terminals is fixed to the insulating substrate with conductive patterns, with the plurality of external lead terminals disposed adjacent to each other in parallel. Furthermore, metal foil pieces formed on front and rear surfaces of the printed circuit board with metal pins respectively so as to face each other, are disposed above the semiconductor chips.
US09059006B2
After planarization of a gate level dielectric layer, a dummy structure is removed to form a recess. A first conductive material layer and an amorphous metal oxide are deposited into the recess area. A second conduct material layer fills the recess. After planarization, an electrical antifuse is formed within the filled recess area, which includes a first conductive material portion, an amorphous metal oxide portion, and a second conductive material portion. To program the electrical antifuse, current is passed between the two terminals in the pair of the conductive contacts to transform the amorphous metal oxide portion into a crystallized metal oxide portion, which has a lower resistance. A sensing circuit determines whether the metal oxide portion is in an amorphous state (high resistance state) or in a crystalline state (low resistance state).
US09059004B2
This invention provides a method for chip scale package and a chip scale package structure. The chip scale package structure includes: a semiconductor substrate, on which sets a plurality of contact bonding pads being connected with semiconductor devices; and a plurality of bumps respectively attached to all of the contact bonding pads. The semiconductor substrate is divided into several regions according to different distances from a central point. The contact bonding pads and the bumps in the region which is closest to the central point are the smallest, while the contact bonding pads and the bumps in the region which is farthest to the central point are the largest. The invention effectively improves the situation that the bumps at the edge tend to flake off easily; in addition, it avoids short-circuit caused by bridging between the bumps.
US09059000B2
Increased protection of areas of a chip are provided by both a mask structure of increased robustness in regard to semiconductor manufacturing processes or which can be removed with increased selectivity and controllability in regard to underlying materials, or both. Mask structures are provided which exhibit an interface of a chemical reaction, grain or material type which can be exploited to enhance either or both types of protection. Structures of such masks include TERA material which can be converted or hydrated and selectively etched using a mixture of hydrogen fluoride and a hygroscopic acid or organic solvent, and two layer structures of similar or dissimilar materials.
US09058992B2
A structure includes a fin having first end and second ends and a substantially intrinsic portion between the first and second ends. The structure further includes a first region of doped semiconductor material disposed on the first end of the fin and a second region of doped semiconductor material disposed on the second end of the fin. The first region has one of the same doping polarity or an opposite doping polarity as the second region. The structure also includes a third region of doped semiconductor material disposed on the intermediate portion of the fin adjacent to the first region and the second region. The third region has a doping polarity that differs from the doping polarity of at least one of the first and second regions and forms a p-n junction with the at least one of the first and second regions.
US09058991B2
Devices and methods are provided, wherein a diode string is provided in a well and the well is biased with an intermediate voltage between voltages applied to terminals of the diode string.
US09058986B2
Designs and fabrication of a FinFET are provided. In one implementation, the fabrication can include forming a dielectric stripe on a substrate; implanting ions to the substrate by using the dielectric stripe as a mask so as to convert a surface layer of the substrate to an amorphous layer; forming an amorphous semiconductor layer on the substrate covering the dielectric stripe and recrystallizing each of the amorphous layer and the amorphous semiconductor layer to be a monocrystalline layer; processing regions beside two ends of the dielectric stripe to form a protective layer, the regions being predesigned as source and drain regions; forming recrystallized semiconductor spacers at two sides of the dielectric stripe uncovered by the protective layer, and forming recrystallized semiconductor blocks on regions covered by the protective layer; removing the dielectric stripe between the spacers so that the spacers can be formed as Fin bodies.
US09058985B2
A method of manufacturing a graphene laminated structure includes plasma-treating a surface of a hexagonal boron nitride sheet using a fluorine-based gas plasma, depositing the hexagonal boron nitride sheet on a graphene sheet, and forming an insulating layer on a surface of the surface-treated hexagonal boron nitride sheet.
US09058976B2
Cleaning solutions and processes for cleaning semiconductor devices or semiconductor tooling during manufacture thereof generally include contacting the semiconductor devices or semiconductor tooling with an acidic aqueous cleaning solution free of a fluorine containing compound, the acidic aqueous cleaning solution including at least one antioxidant and at least one non-oxidizing acid.
US09058975B2
Presented is a cleaning solution according to one embodiment of the present invention that includes a corrosion inhibitor, a solubilizing agent, an oxygen scavenger, and a complexing agent also capable as a pH adjustor. Another embodiment of the present invention includes cleaning solutions that include a pH adjustor, an optional complexing agent, and a corrosion inhibitor. The cleaning solutions may have a solubilizing agent optionally present, may have a surfactant optionally present, and may have a dielectric etchant optionally present.
US09058970B2
The invention describes a gas-discharge lamp (1) comprising a vessel (5), which vessel is partially coated with an essentially rectangular stripe (Sv) arranged circumferentially on a surface of the vessel, and wherein a first long side (14) of the stripe is situated close to a base (6) of the lamp, and the width (wv) of the stripe is such that a first angle (αv2) subtended at a lamp center between a radius (r) and a point on the first long side (14) of the stripe comprises at most 55°, and a second angle (αv1) subtended at the lamp center between the radius and a point on a second long side (15) of the stripe comprises at most 50°. The invention also describes a reflector for a lamp, comprising a reflective interior surface realized to deflect light originating from the lamp outward to give a specific beam profile with a bright/dark cutoff line and a shoulder, and wherein the lamp, in particular a lamp as described above, is positioned horizontally in the reflector, and wherein the reflective interior surface comprises at least one beam-shaping region realized to deflect a portion of the light emitted from the lamp between 7.5° and 15° below a horizontal plane, at a specific region within the beam profile.
US09058968B2
A micro-reflectron for a time-of-flight mass spectrometer including a substrate and integrated with the volume of the substrate, means for application of a potential gradient in a volume suitable for constituting a flight zone of the ions. The means of application includes at least two polarization electrodes and a wall of at least one resistive material that can be polarized between these electrodes so as to generate a continuous potential gradient, itself providing the function of reflectron, this flight zone, these electrodes and this wall being obtained by the technology of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and this micro-reflectron having a thickness of less than 5 millimetres while its other dimensions are less than 10 times this thickness.
US09058962B2
A magnet unit has a first magnet element and a second magnet element. The first magnet element includes a first magnet which is provided to stand upright on a yoke plate, a second magnet which is provided to stand upright on the yoke plate and has a magnetic pole unlike the first magnet, and a third magnet which is provided with a tilt between the first magnet and the second magnet. The second magnet element includes a fourth magnet which is provided to stand upright on the yoke plate, a fifth magnet which is arranged to stand upright on the yoke plate and has a magnetic pole unlike the fourth magnet, and a sixth magnet which is provided with a tilt between the fourth magnet and the fifth magnet. The first magnet element and the second magnet element are alternately arranged in an endless shape.
US09058958B2
The present invention relates to a radiation generating apparatus which includes an envelope provided with a first window through which radiation is transmitted, a radiation tube housed in the envelope and provided with a second window through which the radiation is transmitted, the second window being located at a position opposite the first window, and an insulating fluid adapted to fill the space between the inner wall of the envelope and the radiation tube. Plural plates are arranged side by side between the first window including its periphery and the second window including its periphery, and overlapping one another with gaps between them. The gaps are formed among the plates, and thereby the withstanding voltage between the first window and second window is made larger.
US09058953B2
Disclosed is a manufacturing method for a spacer in a flat panel display device. The method comprises forming a color filter substrate including: defining pixel areas on a transparent substrate; forming black matrixes surrounding the pixel areas; forming a first color filter in a first area, and a first pigment layer having a first width on a spacer area in the black matrixes by depositing and patterning a first pigment on the substrate; forming a second color filter in a second area, and a second pigment layer having a second width on the spacer area in the black matrixes by depositing and patterning a second pigment on the substrate; and forming a third color filter in a third area, and a third pigment layer having a third width on the spacer area in the black matrixes by depositing and patterning a third pigment on the substrate.
US09058945B2
A method of producing an electrical switch which includes a rolling ball movable within a housing thereof to bridge and contact an array of pin terminals includes the steps of forming the pin terminals by using a punching process, wherein one or more smooth burr-free surfaces are formed on each of the pin terminals; and assembling the pin terminals, the housing and the rolling ball by spacing apart the pin terminals along a polygonal line and by arranging the smooth burr-free surfaces of the pin terminals to face toward each other substantially along diagonal lines such that the rolling ball contacts only the smooth burr-free surfaces when bridging the pin terminals.
US09058935B2
The invention relates to new compounds containing alkyl/alkenyl-cyano-borate or alkyl/alkenyl-cyano-fluoroborate anions, their preparation and their use, in particular as part of electrolyte formulations for electrochemical or optoelectronic devices.
US09058934B2
A method of forming a vinylidene fluoride (VDF) oligomer or co-oligomer film on a substrate is disclosed. The method comprises forming a VDF oligomer or co-oligomer precursor solution; depositing the VDF oligomer or co-oligomer precursor solution onto the substrate to form a preliminary VDF oligomer or co-oligomer film on the substrate; and applying uniaxial pressure on the preliminary VDF oligomer or co-oligomer film and the substrate at an elevated temperature to form the VDF oligomer or co-oligomer film on the substrate. The substrate may comprise a metal surface which may be used as a bottom electrode and a top electrode may be deposited on the VDF oligomer or co-oligomer film. The VDF oligomer or co-oligomer film, the bottom electrode on the substrate and the top electrode on the VDF oligomer or co-oligomer film form an electrical device.
US09058917B2
A submarine power cable (10) has an electrical conductor (1) surrounded by an insulation (2,3,4), said insulation being surrounded by a metallic moisture barrier (5) characterized in that the cable (10) further comprises a semi-conductive adhesive layer (6) surrounding said metallic moisture barrier (5), and a semi-conductive polymeric jacket (7) able to be in electrical contact with sea water surrounding said semi-conductive adhesive layer (6), the overlaying of the metallic moisture barrier (5), the semi-conductive adhesive layer (6) and the semi-conductive polymeric jacket (7) forming a 3-layer sheath.
US09058914B2
This oxide sintered compact is obtained by mixing and sintering powders of zinc oxide, tin oxide and indium oxide. As determined by X-ray diffractometry of this oxide sintered compact, the oxide sintered compact has a Zn2SnO4 phase as the main phase and contains an In/In2O3—ZnSnO3 solid solution wherein In and/or In2O3 is solid-solved in ZnSnO3, but a ZnxInyOz phase (wherein x, y and z each represents an arbitrary positive integer) is not detected. Consequently, the present invention was able to provide an oxide sintered compact which is suitable for use in the production of an oxide semiconductor film for display devices and has both high electrical conductivity and high relative density. The oxide sintered compact is capable of forming an oxide semiconductor film that has high carrier mobility.
US09058909B2
The present specification discloses a beam chopping apparatus, and more specifically, a helical shutter for an electron beam system that is employed in radiation-based scanning systems, and more specifically, a beam chopping apparatus that allows for variability in both velocity and beam spot size by modifying the physical characteristics or geometry of the beam chopper apparatus. The present specification also discloses a beam chopping apparatus which provides a vertically moving beam spot with substantially constant size and velocity to allow for substantially equal illumination of the target. In addition, the present specification is a beam chopping apparatus that is lightweight and does not cause an X-ray source assembly employing the beam chopper to become heavy and difficult to deploy.
US09058907B2
A method for extracting tritium from irradiated boiling water reactor control rods that have cruciform-shaped. Bands of a malleable metal are wrapped around the flat portions of the blades, one band near the top of each blade panel and a second band near the bottom. The bands are crimped and an inlet penetration is formed through one of the bands and the panel and an outlet penetration is formed through the second band and the panel. A termination of each end of a closed loop conduit is sealably connected to the inlet and outlet for transporting a carrier gas through the interior of the panel. The carrier gas passing through the interior transports the tritium out of the panel to a tritium getter filter to capture the tritium. The carrier gas then recirculates through the system.
US09058904B2
Systems for enhancing preignition conditions of a fusion reaction are disclosed. A first system includes a target chamber for receiving a fusion fuel, and energy driving means oriented to direct plasma confinement structure onto to the fusion fuel to facilitate ignition of a controlled fusion reaction of said fusion fuel. A plurality of electron sources provides electron beams of a predetermined energy and one of fluence and quantity, directed onto and illuminating, a fusion fuel-derived plasma for controlling the ratio of ion temperature and electron temperature of the plasma. A second system comprises a central target chamber for receiving a spherical pellet of fusion target material and at least first and second pluralities of energy drivers oriented to supply temporally-staged X-ray pulses to the fusion target material in a 3-dimensionally symmetric manner about said pellet. A third system combines aspects of the first and second systems.
US09058897B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including a plurality of regions accessed by first addresses, where the plurality of regions including at least two groups of regions having respectively different memory characteristics. The device further includes a nonvolatile array for nonvolatile storage of group information indicative of which of the least two groups each of the plurality of regions belongs.
US09058886B2
A power supply circuit includes a first circuit connected to a first line, to which a power supply voltage is applied, and a second line, and a power supply clamp circuit connected to the first and second lines. The power supply clamp circuit includes a current path circuit which connects the first and the second lines to each other, and a control circuit which outputs a control signal to the current path circuit. The current path circuit includes a transistor and a diode group. The power supply clamp circuit is driven during a period in which a first voltage is applied to the first line and controls a potential of the first line so as to become a potential lower than the first voltage.
US09058884B2
A memory includes storage elements, a signal holding part and a sense amplifier. A driving-method includes a read operation for reading target data stored in a first storage element of the storage elements. In the read operation, the signal holding part holds a first voltage according to the target data. First sample data of a first logic is written to the first storage element. The signal holding part holds a second voltage according to the first sample data. Second sample data of a second logic opposite to the first logic is written to the first storage element. The signal holding part holds a third voltage according to the second sample data. The sense amplifier compares a read signal based on the first voltage with a reference signal generated based on the second and third voltages to detect a logic of the target data stored in the first storage element.
US09058883B2
To record data in a flash memory, upon detecting that a current destination memory block is full, a control apparatus records data in a destination memory block one block by one block, with “in-advance” data erasure of the next memory block and by determining if data erasure of the next memory block is successful. When data erasure of the next memory block fails, such memory block is designated as broken, and such memory block is excluded from a group of blocks to be used as recording destination. After determining the data erasure result of a yet-next memory block is successful, the required data is copied to the yet-next memory block. Therefore, even when one of the blocks is broken, a sequential data recording in the flash memory is performed without increasing the number of data copy operations between blocks.
US09058882B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device of an embodiment includes a p-type semiconductor substrate, a first P-well formed in the semiconductor substrate, and on which a plurality of memory cells is formed, an first N-well surrounding the first P-well and electrically separating the first P-well from the semiconductor substrate, a first negative voltage generation unit configured to generate a first negative voltage, a boost unit configured to boost a voltage and generate a boosted voltage, and a well voltage transmission unit connected to the first negative voltage generation unit, the boost unit, and the first P-well, and configured to switch a voltage between the first negative voltage and the boosted voltage, the voltage being applied to the first P-well.
US09058869B2
Data is written to cells of a resistance-based, non-volatile memory. An activity metric is tracked since the writing of the data to the cells. In response to the activity metric satisfying a threshold, a bias signal is applied to the cells to reverse a resistance shift of the cells.
US09058855B2
Disclosed are various embodiments related to stacked memory devices, such as DRAMs, SRAMs, EEPROMs, and CAMs. For example, stack position identifiers (SPIDs) are assigned or otherwise determined, and are used by each memory device to make a number of adjustments. In one embodiment, a self-refresh rate of a DRAM is adjusted based on the SPID of that device. In another embodiment, a latency of a DRAM or SRAM is adjusted based on the SPID. In another embodiment, internal regulation signals are shared with other devices via TSVs. In another embodiment, adjustments to internally regulated signals are made based on the SPID of a particular device. In another embodiment, serially connected signals can be controlled based on a chip SPID (e.g., an even or odd stack position), and whether the signal is an upstream or a downstream type of signal.
US09058849B2
A hard disk frame for holding a hard disk drive can include a supporting plate defining a first opening, a first group of positioning portions and a second group of positioning portions. Each of the first and second group of the positioning portions can define a second opening. The second openings can communicate with the first opening. The first group of the positioning portions can enable the hard disk drive to be mounted to the supporting plate at a first direction, and a second group of the positioning portions can enable the hard disk drive to be mounted to the supporting plate in a second orientation different from the first direction. As a result, the hard disk can be arranged in the hard disk frame at different orientations.
US09058848B2
The disc device includes a picker which conveys, in a horizontal direction, a magazine tray in which a plurality of discs are stored, a lifter which pushes out the plurality of discs from the magazine tray, and a carrier which shifts in a vertical direction, which retains in a stacked manner the plurality of discs pushed out by the lifter, and which supplies the discs to a plurality of disc drives, respectively. The lifter is flexibly mounted such that the lifter shifts relative to the picker in the horizontal direction.
US09058837B2
An apparatus and/or system implements a method for storing and reproducing contents received through broadcast signals, where the method of managing content includes reconstructing a broadcast signal received from a broadcasting company, transmitting a content ID and predetermined authentication information to the broadcasting company, the content ID used to discriminate content contained in the broadcast signal, receiving content management information including a content key corresponding to the content ID from the broadcasting company, encrypting the content using the content key, and storing the encrypted content in a content storage apparatus.
US09058833B1
A spindle motor includes a shaft extending in an axial direction, and a base portion configured to define a portion of a housing, and including a through hole in which the shaft is inserted. The shaft includes a non-through hole portion, a first connection channel, and a second connection channel extending from the non-through hole portion in a radial direction. An upper portion of the hole portion includes a screw hole portion including a screw thread. A minimum diameter of the screw thread is greater than an inside diameter of the hole portion. A sealing member is located between the screw hole portion and the first connection channel.
US09058830B2
A bar mask for row bar processing includes at least a slider cover and at least a groove cover arranged adjacent to the slider cover. The groove cover is transparent, and the slider cover is opaque. The slider cover has two extending portions and an ABS portion arranged therebetween with some transparent patterns formed on the ABS portion. The ABS portion covers a single row bar, and the two extending portions each cover a row bar adjacent to the single row bar.
US09058828B1
A tape storage medium comprises at least one servo band (SB) along a longitudinal extension (x) of the tape storage medium (TP) for supporting to determine positional information. The servo band (SB) comprises a set of servo tracks (STx) extending along the longitudinal extension (x) of the tape storage medium (TP) and arranged next to each other. Each servo track (STx) of the set contains a servo pattern with magnetic transitions at a defined frequency (fx), wherein the frequencies (fx) of magnetic transitions of servo patterns of adjacent servo tracks (STx) are different from each other. The set of servo tracks (STx) contains at least three servo tracks (STx) with magnetic transitions of different frequencies (fx).
US09058815B2
A system, method, and apparatus for interfacing an operating management system with an operator is provided. The system provides a processor configured to execute workflow instructions; and an operator device in communication with the processor. The processor is configured to execute commands which convert the workflow instructions from a text command into an audible command and transmit the audible command to the operator device and the operator device is configured to receive the audible command, and is further configured to transmit an operator response to the processor.
US09058811B2
According to one embodiment, a method, apparatus for synthesizing speech, and a method for training acoustic model used in speech synthesis is provided. The method for synthesizing speech may include determining data generated by text analysis as fuzzy heteronym data, performing fuzzy heteronym prediction on the fuzzy heteronym data to output a plurality of candidate pronunciations of the fuzzy heteronym data and probabilities thereof, generating fuzzy context feature labels based on the plurality of candidate pronunciations and probabilities thereof, determining model parameters for the fuzzy context feature labels based on acoustic model with fuzzy decision tree, generating speech parameters from the model parameters, and synthesizing the speech parameters via synthesizer as speech.
US09058810B2
Speech recognition models are dynamically re-configurable based on user information, application information, background information such as background noise and transducer information such as transducer response characteristics to provide users with alternate input modes to keyboard text entry. Word recognition lattices are generated for each data field of an application and dynamically concatenated into a single word recognition lattice. A language model is applied to the concatenated word recognition lattice to determine the relationships between the word recognition lattices and repeated until the generated word recognition lattices are acceptable or differ from a predetermined value only by a threshold amount. These techniques of dynamic re-configurable speech recognition provide for deployment of speech recognition on small devices such as mobile phones and personal digital assistants as well environments such as office, home or vehicle while maintaining the accuracy of the speech recognition.
US09058798B2
Tunable polymer-based sonic structures (“TuPSS”) are made up of sonic structures and polymers. The TuPSS has three general requirements: a) The sonic structure is composed of one or materials engineered to behave as a lens, filter, cloak, or dampener; b) Stimulus sensitive polymer is incorporated into the sonic structure; and c) The actuation of the polymer tunes the acoustic behavior of the structure in a predictable manner. The tunable polymer-based sonic structures utilize stimuli-driven physical properties of the polymers in these acoustic structures to produce a stimulus driven, or tunable, sonic structure or device. The sonic structures actively modulate mechanical vibrations that propagate through the structures, but are passive in that they do not produce mechanical vibrations. The stimuli for the structures include electric, magnetic, electromagnetic, chemical, thermal, and shaking/orientation.
US09058794B2
A tool for musical string instruments that is to be mounted in contact with a vibrating part of the instrument, made up of two stably coupled portions (11, 13; 16, 17; 25, 26, 27, 28), one made of wood, the other made of a material different from wood.
US09058793B1
A key mechanism for a saxophone includes a lever, a sound-hole cover, an adjustment member, and a touch piece. The lever includes a connecting portion in which being formed a rotation-stop hole, and a slot in communication with and perpendicular to the rotation-stop hole. The adjustment member is rotatably and partially disposed in the slot and has a threaded hole in communication with the rotation-stop hole. The touch piece includes a press portion, a rotation-stop portion and a screw. The rotation-stop portion is engaged in the rotation-shaped hole, and the screw is screwed in the threaded hole of the adjustment member, so that rotating the adjustment member causes the screw to linearly move with respect to the adjustment member. Therefore, the height position of touch piece of the saxophone can be adjusted without using any hand tools.
US09058792B1
Sequential write operations to a unit of compressed memory, known as a compression tile, are examined to see if the same compression tile is being written. If the same compression tile is being written, the sequential write operations are coalesced into a single write operation and the entire compression tile is overwritten with the new data. Coalescing multiple write operations into a single write operation improves performance, because it avoids the read-modify-write operations that would otherwise be needed.
US09058791B2
An image processing device includes an image processing unit, an over-driving unit, and an up-sampler. The image processing unit receives a full-resolution 3D input image and outputs a half-resolution 3D image to a memory. The over-driving unit is coupled to the image processing unit and the memory for over-driving a current half-resolution 3D image outputted from the image processing unit according to a previous half-resolution 3D image stored in the memory. The up-sampler is selectively coupled to the over-driving unit for up-sampling an over-driven half-resolution 3D image outputted from the over-driving unit to output a full-resolution 3D output image.
US09058785B2
An exemplary image displaying method for a display device includes steps of: providing display data to pixels of the display device for displaying images; taking a special amount of frame of images as an image group, making polarities of a same pixel being of adjacent two frame of images in the image group and using a same polarity inversion in the adjacent two frame of images be different from each other, and making polarities of a same pixel being of the last frame of image in a former one of adjacent two image groups and of the first frame of image in a latter one of the adjacent two image groups and using the same polarity inversion in the last and first frame of images be the same with each other.
US09058783B2
This liquid crystal display device (100) includes a pixel defined by a plurality of subpixels that includes red, green, blue and yellow subpixels (R, G, B, Ye). As long as the sum of respective luminances of all of the subpixels but the blue subpixel (B) falls within the range of 0% to 50% while the color displayed by the pixel is changing from the color blue in which the blue subpixel (B) is at the highest grayscale level and the other subpixels are at the lowest grayscale level into the color white in which all of those subpixels are at the highest grayscale level substantially without changing its hue, the yellow subpixel (Ye) starts to increase its grayscale level at a different timing, and/or has its grayscale level increased at a different ratio with respect to an increase in the pixel's luminance, from the red and green subpixels (R, G) do.
US09058782B2
Disclosed herein is a display device with an adjustable viewing angle. The display device at least includes a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel adjacent to the first sub-pixel. When the display device is operated in a wide viewing angle mode, the first and second sub-pixels each have an on-axis brightness at a predetermined gray level. When the display device is operated in a narrow viewing angle mode, the first and second sub-pixels respectively have a on-axis brightness at a first gray level and a second on-axis brightness at a second gray level. The on-axis brightness at the first gray level is substantially less than the on-axis brightness at the predetermined gray level of the first sub-pixel.
US09058775B2
A method and system for driving an active matrix display is provided. The system includes a drive circuit for a pixel having a light emitting device. The drive circuit includes a drive transistor for driving the light emitting device. The system includes a mechanism for adjusting the gate voltage of the drive transistor.
US09058773B2
A DC-DC converter may include a voltage conversion unit and a short detection unit. The voltage conversion unit may be configured to generate a DC voltage for driving a display panel based on an input voltage. The short detection unit may be configured to generate a driving voltage based on the DC voltage and to output the driving voltage through a power line. The short detection unit may be configured to perform a short detection to detect whether the display panel is shorted based on a short detection reference that is adjusted according to an operation mode of the display panel.
US09058765B1
A system and methods for creating and sharing personalized virtual makeovers comprising algorithms for applying virtual cosmetics, hairstyles and accessories to a digital portrait of an individual using described techniques that produce a revised image with a realistic appearance. The system may calculate positions of the boundaries of facial features such as eyes, lips and hair, or provide the user a sophisticated adjustment method. The invention places and shapes virtual cosmetics, hairstyles and accessories to precisely calculated locations, blending colors and shading for a realistic and lifelike result. Accessories such as eyeglasses and jewelry are also realistically applied. The system comprises individual makeover editors for skin, eyes, lips, hair and accessories. Virtual makeovers may be shared, including allowing multiple users modify the same image simultaneously.
US09058757B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for image or video personalization with selectable effects. Image data, which can include video sequences or digital still images, can be received in a graphical personalization tool to perform various image processing and related operations to insert personalized objects into the image data. In aspects, the personalized object(s) can be or include graphical inputs such as, for instance, textual information, graphical information, and/or other visual objects. The graphical personalization tool can automatically perform one or more processing stages in the image path, such as identifying key regions in a still image and/or key frames in a video sequence, in which personalized objects will be generated and inserted. Personalized objects can be extended to additional regions of a still image, can be animated across multiple still images, and/or can be extended to additional frames of a video sequence, all on an automated or user-assisted basis.
US09058751B2
Disclosed herein, in certain embodiments, are computer-based language phoneme practice systems, products, programs, and methods comprising a digital processing device and a computer program that creates a language phoneme practice engine, wherein said engine comprises: a taxonomy of phonemes of a target language; a software module for providing an interface for practicing each said phoneme in said taxonomy, wherein said interface allows a learner to optionally access a visual representation and an auditory representation of each said phoneme in said taxonomy; and a software module for providing an interface for practicing each said phoneme in the context of the beginning, middle, and end of words of said target language, wherein said interface allows a learner to optionally access a visual and an auditory representation of each said word and each said phoneme in each said word.
US09058748B2
According to an embodiment, a learning apparatus includes a learning sample storage unit configured to store therein a plurality of learning samples that are classified into a plurality of categories; a selecting unit configured to perform, plural times, a selection process of selecting a plurality of groups each including one or more learning samples from the learning sample storage unit; and a learning unit configured to learn a classification metric for classifying the plurality of groups selected in each selection process and generate an evaluation metric including the learned classification metrics.
US09058731B2
A smoke detector system that includes an airflow barrier installed between a detector base unit and a mounting surface to ensure there is separation between the detector base unit and the mounting surface. The barrier isolates and seals the smoke detector to prevent the formation of condensation in or around the smoke detector. The barrier further includes a cavity that can collect condensation if condensation does occur. The condensation is then directed to a channel that extends around the periphery of the airflow barrier. Additionally, the channel includes weep holes so that condensation has a means to exit the detector.
US09058721B2
Embodiments of a wagering game system manager are described herein. In one embodiment, a wagering game system includes a plurality of wagering game machines. The wagering game system can also include a plurality of wagering game managers, wherein each of the wagering game managers is configured to acquire a different set of manufacturer-specific wagering game information from ones of the wagering game machines. Additionally, the wagering game system can include a multi-system manager configured to generate an interface including a plurality of views, each view to presents one of the different sets of manufacturerspecific wagering game information.
US09058718B2
A gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first display unit that includes a plurality of reels including a plurality of symbols thereon; and a controller configured to: determine whether a rendering effect activation is selected; execute a game by spinning and stopping the plurality of reels of the display device; and perform a rendering effect on the spinning and stopping of the plurality of reels when it is determined that the rendering effect activation is selected.
US09058713B2
The invention relates to a method for generating a ticket to participate in a lottery draw. The ticket combination of elements is generated using an outcome of a computer-controlled interactive game, preferably a video game, played by at least one player. The elements of the ticket combination are selected among a list of predetermined elements, the predetermined elements corresponding to possible outcomes for the interactive game. The ticket combination may depend on the success of the player in the computer-controlled interactive game. Some of the participants may purchase a ticket bearing a ticket combination without using an outcome of the computer-controlled interactive game. Subsequently, the elements of a winning combination are randomly drawn among the list.
US09058709B2
A settlement system includes a register having a reception unit that receives a manual input of information corresponding to at least a part of deposited money from a customer and a transmission unit that transmits a sum amount of money corresponding to the purchased product and manually input information manually input through the reception unit to a cash settlement device and the cash settlement device that calculates an amount of inserted money by recognizing and counting the inserted money, calculates a total amount of the money deposited from the customer by using the amount of the inserted money and the manually input information received from the register, calculates an amount of change based on the total amount of money and the sum amount of money received from the register, and dispenses change money.
US09058708B2
A utility cart for storage, transport and setup of voting devices into a completely-operational configuration, ready for use, while still on the cart. The utility cart employs a deployable privacy curtain that erects a 360 degree private voting environment around the equipment using the voting equipment. When loaded with a tabulator/ballot box, the cart may be wheeled from storage into a usable position in the precinct, onboard equipment plugged in, the utility cart deployed and privacy curtain erected, and the precinct is then ready for voting traffic. All the loaded equipment is fully protected during transport and restrained against lateral motion, and yet when deployed full access is given to the control panels, doors, etc. Moreover, the particular design maximizes strength and usability, and yet keeps weight to a minimum with a framework that is as light weight as possible.
US09058702B2
Methods and devices are described for providing localized secure navigation in conjunction with near field communication access control systems. In one potential embodiment, a mobile device such as a cell phone may communicate with a door access control point using near field communication to receive location access system information. The mobile device may then authorize download and execution of a local secure navigation module from a location access system using the location access system information for use in receiving location assistance data, based on an authentication level associated with the mobile device. Such location assistance data may be used by the local secure navigation module to provide location assistance when the mobile device is in a secure location. The location of the mobile device may then be tracked using at least the location assistance data and the communication with the door access control point.
US09058701B2
A meterless remote parking monitoring system, incorporating a plurality of vehicle detector and Radio Frequency Identification Reader (RFID) units deployed in individual parking spaces; a plurality of Cellular Gateway Radios, each Cellular Gateway Radio being connected to one of said plurality of vehicle detector and Radio Frequency Identification Units; a Command and Control Server; the plurality of Cellular Gateway Radios being connected to said Command and Control Server via the internet.
US09058696B2
A graph image generation unit 42 constructs a two-dimensional space and generates data of a graph image in the space, in which a graph G of a type is rendered. A coordinate receiving unit 43 receives an arbitrary coordinate in an arbitrary timeline TL designated by a user operation, among coordinates in at least two axes defining the space. A line image generation unit 44 acquires information of the space from the graph image generation unit 42, and generates data of the line image in the space, the line image passing through at least the coordinate in the received timeline TL. An image synthesis unit 45 generates data of the synthesized image by combining the data of the graph image with the data of the line image 111b in which the line is rendered. A display control unit 46 controls a display unit 17 to display the synthesized image.
US09058690B2
Some aspects of the disclosure include systems and methods for grouping rays into sets according to their directions. In some cases, the rays of the directional sets may then be organized into a hierarchy according to their origins and bounding cones are generated for the hierarchy nodes. The resulting bounding cone hierarchy may be intersected with a bounding volume hierarchy or other scene hierarchy.
US09058684B1
A set of nodes for rendering a 3D model using a set of camera parameters based on at least a threshold error value may be selected. Each node corresponds to a bundle of data for rendering a geographic area at a particular resolution and the camera parameters including a point of view for rendering the 3D model. For a given node of the set of nodes, a smallest circle of confusion within a bounding box of the geographic area of the given node may be determined using the set of camera parameters closest to a particular parameter of the set of camera parameters. A diameter of the smallest circle of confusion is compared to the threshold error value. Based on this comparison, the threshold error value is adjusted. The adjusted threshold error value is used to select a new node to replace the given node in the set of nodes.
US09058682B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for generating a virtual view in an image reconstruction system which uses multiple views. In the image reconstruction system which uses multiple views, the virtual view generating apparatus may receive original view projection images that are generated by emitting X rays toward an object via original views, three-dimensionally reconstruct the object by using the original view projection images, generate original view reprojection images by virtually emitting X-rays toward the reconstructed 3D object via the original views, estimate a motion of the reconstructed 3D object with respect to at least two of the original view reprojection images using a block-based motion estimation scheme, and generate an intermediate view projection image with respect to the at least two of the original view reprojection images by using information relating to the estimated motion.
US09058677B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for efficiently performing broad phase collision detection using parallel spatial subdivision. The technique involves organizing candidate objects according to a hashed representation of each object centroid, constructing a cell identification (ID) array, sorting the cell ID array, creating a collision cell list, and traversing the collision cell list. The result is a candidate list of object groups that may collide, based on an initial assessment of spatial proximity. Whether a given pair of objects actually collides is determined by a precise narrow phase collision analysis.
US09058674B1
A computing device can capture an image using a camera of the device. The computing device can also determine or receive an image property (i.e., information related to the image). The device can transmit the image and the information related to the image to a network service. The network service can communicate with an image patch library which includes a plurality of image patches. The network service can select a subset of image patches from the library based on the information related to the image. The network service can compare image portions of the image to the image patches in the subset to determine one or more image patches that match one or more image portions. In some embodiments, the one or more image patches can have corresponding higher resolution versions. The network service can modify image portions of the image using available higher resolution versions of matching image patches.
US09058665B2
Systems and method for identifying bone marrow in medical images are provided. A method includes obtaining a three-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT) volume data set corresponding to an imaged volume and identifying voxels in the 3D CT volume data set having a Hounsfield Unit (HU) value below a bone threshold. The voxels are identified without using image continuity. The method further includes marking the identified voxels as non-bone voxels, determining definite tissue voxels based on the identified non-bone voxels and expanding a region defined by the definite tissue voxels. The method also includes segmenting the expanded region to identify bone voxels and bone marrow voxels and identifying bone marrow as voxels that are not the bone voxels.
US09058659B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatuses for encoding/decoding high resolution images, which involve setting the size of the prediction unit to be encoded to an expanded macro-block size in accordance with the temporal frequency characteristics or spatial frequency characteristics among pictures to be encoded, and performing motion prediction motion compensation, and transformation on the basis of a set prediction unit size. In addition, the methods and the apparatuses of the present invention involve dividing a macro-block having a pixel size of 32*32 or 64*64 into at least one partition on the basis of an edge, and performing encoding processes for each partition. Accordingly, encoding efficiency can be improved for high definition (HD) or higher resolution high-resolution images.
US09058656B2
A system and a method for improving the quality of ultrasound images. The system comprises a processor being configured to subdivide the ultrasound image, determine a deconvolution factor for the ultrasound image and apply the deconvolution factor to the subdivided ultrasound image, resulting in a restored image.
US09058652B2
A method for reducing noise in a tomographic image, includes: acquiring phase information of a noise component signal, the signal being provided as a signal corresponding to a noise component of the tomographic image and included in a spectrum interference signal output from a detector of a swept source optical coherence tomography device; acquiring a tomographic image in response to a spectrum interference signal with a corrected phase deviation based on the acquired phase information; and reducing the noise component of this tomographic image.
US09058651B2
An analysis system and method for measuring soft organ functions in general and the liver specifically utilizing both measurement and imaging devices such as a SPECT system and a CT system. The two images utilize a common coordinate system and segment the liver image for enhanced functional analysis.
US09058650B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for identifying a region of interest within a mammogram image. A method may include applying a clustering algorithm to a histogram of the mammogram image to identify a predefined number of threshold values. The method may further include determining a predefined number of seed values based at least in part on the identified threshold values. The method may additionally include generating a kernel image for each of the seed values. The method may also include using the generated kernel images to identify a region of interest including a breast within the mammogram image. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US09058648B2
An image system for detecting chemiluminescence in a sample uses a highly binned, short exposure initial image to calculate the exposure time for a final image of the sample. After calculation of the exposure time, at least two final images are taken, with saturated pixels removed and replaced in a first image with corresponding unsaturated pixels from a second image. The corresponding pixels are adjusted to reflect the different intensity levels between the first and second images, and the first image becomes the final image reflecting the detected chemiluminescence.
US09058645B1
Watermarking techniques are described which can be performed at network edge locations such as a Content Delivery Network (CDN) point-of-presence (POP). An edge server can identify users by request and apply a watermark based on the user to media content stored locally. Performance is improved by moving the watermarking from a central location closer to the user in terms of network proximity. An edge server can receive instructions on what type of watermark to assign and how to assign it. The edge server can use requester's identity to create and apply watermarks at the time of transferring media content to the requester. Individualized watermarking is applied to the bits transmitted to the device, the watermark indicating the specific user downloading the stream, time of transmission, etc. Watermarking can be applied throughout all of the frames of the media content rather than merely attaching it at a specific place.
US09058636B2
A computer-implemented method for labeling and tracking a pathology specimen after collection and positive patient identification comprises the step of creating a pathology specimen record with a unique specimen identification code for at least one specimen. The method further includes the step of creating a label for application to a container holding the specimen, wherein the label includes the unique specimen identification code and creating an order with a unique accession number after the container is forwarded for processing, by scanning the label. The unique identification code is utilized for tracking purposes to ensure that pathology specimens for the positively identified patient are not lost in transit to the pathology laboratory for further processing. This improves quality to the patient by the elimination of transcription errors, identification of missing or lost specimens, and confirmation that pathology specimens are correctly matched to a patient.
US09058635B1
Systems and methods for mitigating breakdowns in communications among healthcare providers are described, among other features. A communications system can be provided for communicating patient information among health care providers, who may include clinicians, doctors, interns, residents, physician's assistants, nurses, or any other health care personnel. The communications system can enable tracking of the responsibility relationships between changing providers and patients. In addition, the communications system can allow rapid and reliable messaging between any provider and the provider responsible for the patient at any one time.
US09058620B1
A system and method for communicating between a mobile communication device and a venue apparatus is disclosed herein. The system comprises a mobile communication device, a venue apparatus, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) for a venue. The venue apparatus comprises a beacon for transmitting low energy BLUETOOTH transmissions. The mobile application is configured to verify a transmission from the venue apparatus in a registry when the mobile communication device is within three feet of the venue apparatus.
US09058619B2
The present invention generally relates to a system for measurement, planning, monitoring and execution of advertisements on out-of-home media. The invention provides a method by which greater eyeball content is ensured to out-of-home media assets thereby benefiting advertisers and ensuring efficient advertising budget spend.
US09058617B2
Examples to determine media impressions are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a cookie identifier established by a database proprietor at a computing device, determining an impression of media, wherein the impression occurs after the cookie identifier is established, determining a first panelist identifier associated with the impression based on the cookie identifier, determining a second panelist identifier associated with the impression based on determination of a user identity by a panelist meter associated with the computing device, and storing an adjustment factor determined by comparing the first panelist identifier and the second panelist identifier.
US09058613B2
Keywords and placement criteria related to a campaign are received. An advertisement request that specifies a web property, e.g., a web page, is received, and keywords and placement criteria that are satisfied by the web property are identified. Based on the identified keywords and placement criteria, an advertisement to be provided with the web property is selected.
US09058607B2
A fraud management system is configured to store rules for detecting fraud. The fraud management system is further configured to receive a transaction involving a consumer and a merchant; obtain network security information associated with malicious activity in a voice network or a data network, where the network security information indicates that the consumer has been involved in malicious activity in the voice network or in the data network; select a subset of rules based on the network security information and information associated with the transaction, the merchant, or the consumer; process the transaction using the subset of rules to generate alarms; process the alarms to generate a fraud score for the transaction; and output information regarding the fraud score to the merchant to assist the merchant in determining whether to accept, deny, or fulfill the transaction.
US09058599B1
A system, method, and computer readable medium for usage billing of one or more hosted applications serving one or more clients. The hosted applications are contained within one or more isolated environments or run without isolated environments. The system may include usage billing based on one or more of resources open, amount of data flowing through resources, number of open files, number of transactions, number of concurrent users, number of processes, CPU utilization and memory usage, The system may further include a management interface where administrators may add, remove and configure isolated environments, configure client policies and credentials, and force upgrades. If using isolated environments, the isolated environments may be isolated from other applications and the host operating system on the clients and applications within the isolated environments may run without performing an application-installation on the client.
US09058598B1
The invention provides systems and methods for transferring cash to and from branch banks. The method may include the steps of inputting first data relating to cash usage at a plurality of branch banks; inputting second data relating to cash usage at the particular branch bank, the second data including a known ending balance at the particular branch bank; and assimilating the first data and the second data to constitute forecasting data; and performing forecast processing to determine an amount of cash to be transferred to or from the branch bank. The forecast processing may include (1) forecasting a cash in amount and forecasting a cash out amount based on the forecasting data, and generating a projected ending balance based on the forecasted cash in amount, the forecasted cash out amount, and the known ending balance; (2) generating a forecasted ending balance; and (3) comparing the projected ending balance with the forecasted ending balance to determine a cash shipment amount. The method may also include generating a cash transfer request based on the cash shipment amount; and effecting a transfer of cash with the branch bank based on the cash transfer request.
US09058596B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a system and method for displaying the scheduling availability of a user. The system includes an occupancy module for analyzing the schedule of the user to determine the occupancy for a time period in the schedule. The time period includes an available time slot and/or an occupied time slot. A processor connected to the occupancy module determines whether the occupancy for the time period is above a threshold level of occupancy. The threshold level of occupancy includes a maximum number of occupied time slots, a maximum percentage of occupied time slots, a maximum amount of occupied time, and/or a maximum percentage of occupied time. A scheduling module connected to the processor automatically displays the scheduling availability of the user as unavailable for the time slot when the occupancy for the time period is above the threshold level of occupancy.
US09058591B2
An electronic commerce (e-commerce) system may send advertisement emails to customers that are registered with the e-commerce system. The advertisement emails may include mailto hyperlinks. Each mailto hyperlink describes an email message that may be generated when that hyperlink is selected. When a mailto hyperlink is selected, the generated email message may include one or more parameters related to a donation that be made by the customer to a non-profit organization. For example, the generated email message may include a customer identifier, and/or one or more parameters that indicate the non-profit to which a donation should be made, and an amount to be donated. The generated email message may then be transmitted to the e-commerce system. The e-commerce system may receive the message and, based on the parameters in the received message, communicate with a payment processing system to perform the donation indicated in the message.
US09058587B2
It is provided a communication support device, which analyzes communications among a plurality of persons who belong to an organization, comprising a recording module for storing data that indicates the communications among the plurality of persons, a network constructing module for constructing a network structure of the plurality of persons from the data that indicates the communications, a improvement candidate determining module for identifying a first person whose communication is to be improved from the data that indicates the communications, and a connection candidate determining module for identifying a second person and a third person who can help increase triangle structures around the identified first person in the network structure, based on the network structure. The communication support device outputs display data for prompting the second person and the third person to communicate with each other.
US09058577B2
The present invention is a network centric management and communications system and method enabling users with commitments to communicate, manage, notify, assign, link, and/or collaborate with other users. The system includes a database storing one or more user accounts corresponding to nodes on a network, user accounts connected by interdependencies forming social connections between individual users having responsibilities and structuring communications via dependency links between interdependent users. The system includes a data server, receiving responsibility data comprising requirements data for creating interdependencies, transmitting assigned commitments, and updating responsibility data. The system further includes a communications link to provide status updates and/or notifications of responsibilities to affected users regarding their status that appropriate corrective action may be taken before one or more commitments to requirements are broken, wherein one or more commitments of a responsibility are modified and/or updated. The system can host multiple projects simultaneously in the data server.
US09058576B2
Provided are a computer implemented method, computer program product, and system for partitioning a development environment. A development environment is divided into multiple project areas. Each of the multiple project areas is assigned to a different physical test environment. A solution is assigned to a project area among the multiple project areas. The solution is tested in the assigned physical test environment to modify the physical test environment. The physical test environment associated with the project area is re-initialized without re-initializing other physical test environments.
US09058574B2
A method for estimating the lifetime of a deep-submicron-generation integrated electronic component, linked to a wear mechanism occurring in previously defined special conditions of use, said component being of a deep submicron type, with very large-scale integration, commercially available off the shelf, wherein one assumes that the same sample population always experiences a failure due to: the most predominant failure mechanism, during the period of useful life, described by an exponential law, and the most critical wear mechanism, represented by a Weibull distribution at the end of the previous period.
US09058552B2
An RFID system and tag, and a method for identifying objects using an RFID system are disclosed. In an embodiment, an RFID tag comprises a microchip for storing an identification sequence, a tag antenna coupled with the microchip for receiving and transmitting the RF signal; and a ferrous metal portion disposed near the IC and the tag antenna. The ferrous metal portion is sensitive to, and heats up when subjected to, magnetic induction. The heat of the ferrous metal is propagated to the RFID tag such that the tag reaches its operating temperature more quickly.
US09058551B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a method for operating the RFID tag are provided. The method includes steps of receiving a read command, generating a mode parameter, selecting a simulation situation from a situation group according to the mode parameter, and selectively generating a response signal according to the simulation situation. The situation group includes a first situation and a second situation. The response signal includes virtual identification (ID) information or virtual content information stored in the RFID tag.
US09058543B2
A method of defining data patterns for object handling includes obtaining an image of an input data area, processing the image to obtain image data, and comparing the image data with a pattern, wherein the pattern identifies spatial information of corresponding pattern fields of the pattern. The method further includes determining a confidence level of the comparison of the image data according to a success in matching the image data with the pattern fields, comparing the confidence level with a confidence threshold associated with the pattern, and selecting the pattern. A pattern output associated with the selected pattern is identified, wherein the pattern output corresponds to a canonical return format, and the pattern output is applied to the image data.
US09058541B2
Object detection receives an input image to detect an object of interest. It determines feature matrices based on the received image, wherein each matrix represents a feature of the received image. The plurality of matrices are Fourier transformed to Fourier feature matrices. Fourier filter matrices are provided, each representing a feature of an object transformed in Fourier space. Each filter matrix is point-wise multiplied with one of the feature matrices corresponding to the same feature. The plurality of matrices are summed, resulting by point-wise multiplying each Fourier filter matrix with the corresponding Fourier feature matrix to obtain a Fourier score matrix. An inverse Fourier transform of the Fourier score matrix is performed, resulting in a score matrix, which is used to detect the object in the input image.
US09058539B2
Systems and methods for quantifying an image generate a grayscale histogram of an image, wherein the grayscale histogram includes a respective number of pixels for a plurality of histogram values; determine a respective percentage of pixels in each of the histogram values based on the numbers of pixels for the respective histogram value and a total number of pixels in the image; compare the respective percentages of the histogram values to a first threshold; add the respective percentages that exceed the first threshold to a total percentage; and compare the total percentage to a second threshold.
US09058536B1
Various embodiments enable a computing device to capture multiple images (or video) of text and provide at least a portion of the same to a recognizer to separately recognize text from each image. Each of the recognized outputs will typically include one or more text strings for each image. Substrings common to each of the one or more text strings are computed and compared to each text string within each image to determine an alignment consensus for each substring within the text. A template string is generated that includes each common substring in a position corresponding to a determined alignment for a respective substring. A character frequency vote is then applied to unresolved portions and the final text string is determined by filling the unresolved spaces with the character having the highest occurrence rate for a respective space.
US09058531B2
Method and apparatus of reading the screen of a mobile computing device. The apparatus is an imaging scanner that includes a NFC device having a NFC antenna. The imaging scanner also includes an illumination system operative to illuminate a target object with illumination light. Under a first condition that no NFC signal from the mobile computing device is received by the NFC device, the illumination system is configured to generate a first illumination light with a first intensity. Under a second condition that the NFC signal from the mobile computing device is received by the NFC device, the illumination system is configured to generate a second illumination light with a second intensity. The second intensity is less than the first intensity.
US09058515B1
A method involves: receiving an image comprising an ID; iteratively classifying the ID; and driving at least a portion of a workflow based at least in part on the classifying; wherein at least some of the classification iterations are based at least in part on comparing feature vector data, wherein a first classification iteration comprises determining the ID belongs to a particular class, and wherein each classification iteration subsequent to the first classification iteration comprises determining whether the ID belongs to a subclass falling within the particular class to which the ID was determined to belong in a prior classification iteration. Related systems and computer program products are also disclosed.
US09058512B1
A system, method and computer-readable medium are provided to enable digital bank endorsement. A digital image of a back side of a check may be placed in a computer memory. Appropriate coordinates for a bank endorsement may be determined. A bank endorsement may be automatically generated. The digital image may then be electronically altered by overlaying, merging, or rendering text of the generated bank endorsement. A modified digital image may be combined with an image of the front side of the check and stored and/or exported to check clearing operations.
US09058507B2
Original data to be a source for an encryption key is read from a memory cell array and stored in a buffer region. An encryption key generation unit generates a plurality of encryption keys by variously modifying the original data read from the buffer region based on a predetermined generation rule. The encryption unit generates an encrypted command by encrypting commands individually with an encryption key different for each command, out of the plurality of encryption keys generated by the encryption key generation unit.
US09058504B1
A self-protection application executes in kernel mode and manages access to processes and files related to an associated anti-malware application. The self-protection application monitors executing processes on the client device and detects the processes that are attempting to access files/processes related to the anti-malware software. These processes and files are verified by the self-protection application using digital signature authentication. Trusted processes such as those originating from the anti-malware software or other authorized programs are allowed access while other processes are restricted access.
US09058502B2
The present application is directed towards methods and systems for providing anonymous and traceable external access to internal linguistic assets. The methods and systems described allow users the freedom to use a linguistic resource with the security that their identities and interactions with the resource are shielded from other users. Simultaneously, the system maintains a mechanism to trace all user's interactions with a resource to ensure the integrity of the asset is not jeopardized and to easily identify a problem with a user's access without broadcasting their identity or actions.
US09058497B2
Cryptographic key management techniques are described. In one or more implementations, an access control rule is read that includes a Boolean expression having a plurality of atoms. The cryptographic keys that corresponds each of the plurality of atoms in the access control rule are requested. One or more cryptographic operations are then performed on data using one or more of the cryptographic keys.
US09058496B1
A method initiates boot of a multi-node system including a first compute node scaled together with a second compute node, wherein the multi-node system boots from a basic input output system of the first compute node that is identified as a primary node by a trusted platform module of the first compute node. The method further includes receiving a request to reconfigure the multi-node system so that the second compute node would become the primary node, and reconfiguring the multi-node system so that the second node is the primary mode only in response to a user manually asserting physical presence to a trusted platform module of the first compute node. A system provides compute nodes that each include a trusted platform module having first and second non-volatile indices for controlling the configuration of the multimode system.
US09058494B2
Technologies are provided in embodiments for receiving an enclave program for operation in an enclave, identifying at least one shared object dependency of the enclave program, determining whether the shared object dependency corresponds to at least one enclave shared object, causing association between the shared object dependency and the enclave shared object in circumstances where the shared object dependency corresponds to the enclave shared object, and causing association between the shared object dependency and an enclave-loadable non-enclave shared object in circumstances where the shared object dependency fails to correspond to the enclave shared object.
US09058492B1
Techniques for reducing executable code vulnerability are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for reducing executable code vulnerability comprising analyzing a binary file, using at least one computer processor, to identify a vulnerable executable code structure, and configuring the identified executable code structure to reduce vulnerability.
US09058489B2
Techniques for processing documents with executable text are disclosed. The techniques, among other things, can effectively address XSS attacks to Internet users when browsing web sites. Content deemed not to be trusted or fully trusted (“untrusted”) can be marked in a document that can include executable text. Remedial action, including not allowing execution of executable text marked as “untrusted” can be taken. In addition, when the document is processed, content deemed not to be trusted or fully trusted (“untrusted”) can be effectively monitored in order to identify executable text that may have been effectively produced by “untrusted” content and/or somehow may have been affected by “untrusted” content.
US09058480B2
A system and machine-implemented method for matching input gestures on a touch interface to a security pattern to allow user access to an electronic device or account. The security pattern may correspond to a combination of linear and non-linear input gestures relating to directional changes of the input gestures. A determination of the security pattern may be based on the end motion and speed of each input gesture.
US09058478B1
A system is provided that determines the likelihood of an account is being used by a computer program to automatically generate and send information to other accounts. In one aspect, the system calculates the likelihood for one account based on the amount of the account's social interaction with other accounts and the likelihood that such other accounts and are being used by a computer program to automatically generate and send information to other accounts.
US09058468B2
A method for protecting digital media content from unauthorized use on a client, is described. The method comprising the steps of receiving from a server on the client a list of processes, instructions, activity descriptions or data types that must not be active simultaneously with playback of the digital media content (“the blacklist”). The method further comprising checking, on the client, for the presence of any items on the list; and continuing interaction with the server, key management and playback of protected content only if no items on the list are detected on the client. A system is also described.
US09058464B2
A method and apparatus for managing options for an aircraft. A selected option for the aircraft is received. A number of engineering options is identified for the selected option. The number of engineering options is in an aircraft option database comprising engineering options for the options for the aircraft. An engineering option in the engineering options is a pre-certified design meeting a group of regulations pertaining to airworthiness of the pre-certified design in the aircraft. A final design including the number of engineering options associated with resources in which the final design is for building the selected option in the aircraft is generated using the number of engineering options identified in the aircraft option database for the selected option.
US09058455B2
A design structure for an integrated radio frequency (RF) filter on a backside of a semiconductor substrate includes: a device on a first side of a substrate; a radio frequency (RF) filter on a backside of the substrate; and at least one substrate conductor extending from the front side of the substrate to the backside of the substrate and electrically coupling the RF filter to the device.
US09058446B2
A method for performing a simulation of a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. Each cell in a reservoir model has an equation set representing a reservoir property. A stability limit is determined for each cell. Each cell is assigned to an explicit or implicit formulation. A solution to the system of equations is solved for using an initial guess and an explicit or implicit formulation. A stability limit is calculated for the converged cells. When the number of unconverged cells is greater than a predetermined amount, a reduced nonlinear system is constructed with a list of unconverged cells. The reduced nonlinear system is solved with the implicit formulation, and other cells are solved with the explicit formulation. Parts of the method are repeated until all equation sets satisfy a convergence criterion and a stability criterion, and the solved solution is output.
US09058444B2
A method for solving a two-stage non-linear stochastic formulation for the economic dispatch problem under renewable-generation uncertainty. Certain generation decisions are made only in the first stage and fixed for the subsequent (second) stage, where the actual renewable generation is realized. The uncertainty in renewable output is captured by a finite number of scenarios. Any resulting supply-demand mis-match must then be alleviated using high marginal-cost power sources that can be tapped in short time frames. The solution implements two outer approximation algorithms to solve this nonconvex optimization problem to optimality. Under certain conditions the sequence of optimal solutions obtained under both alternatives has a limit point that is a globally-optimal solution to the original two-stage nonconvex program. A further decomposition approach derived from the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers algorithm is implemented.
US09058437B2
Semiconductor memory device with high-speed data transmission capability, system having the same includes a plurality of address input circuits and a plurality of data output circuits and a training driver configured to distribute address information input through the plurality of address input circuits together with a data loading signal for a read training, and generate data training patterns to be output through the plurality of data output circuits.
US09058435B2
Provided is a labeling apparatus that generates a label for labeling a drug container. The labeling apparatus includes a code reader that interrogates a computer-readable code, and a local computer-readable memory that stores a drug formulary with a plurality of drug entries. A processing component identifies, from the formulary, a specific drug that corresponds to the computer-readable code read by the code reader and creates log entries in response to triggering events. The log entries include at least one of system information, user information, drug information, and patient information. And a printer is provided to print label content identifying the specific drug onto a label that is to be applied to the drug container.
US09058434B2
A synchronization method is provided for a peripheral apparatus. The peripheral apparatus comprises a first peripheral device and a second peripheral device, wherein the first peripheral device is coupled to a host and the first peripheral device runs in a first operation mode. The synchronization method comprises the following steps: when a second peripheral device is coupled to the host, the second peripheral device obtains a synchronization signal from the host; and the second peripheral device runs in a second operation mode based on the synchronization signal, wherein the second operation mode is same as the first operation mode.
US09058427B2
A method includes, by one or more computing devices, determining instructions for a computing device to be evaluated, creating a first symbolic test driver including one or more of the instructions to be evaluated and a designation of a symbolic variable corresponding to a portion of the instructions, symbolically executing the instructions with respect to the symbolic variable, determining a test case from the results of the symbolic execution including one or more commands to execute the instructions with a given value for the symbolic variable, determining one or more calls to an object-oriented-programming component in the commands, creating a new symbolic test driver including the calls based on the determined calls, and subsequently symbolically executing the new symbolic test driver.
US09058425B2
An apparatus of one embodiment evaluates a software change and includes an interface, a memory, and a processor. The interface is operable to communicate through a network with a mainframe and a database. The memory is operable to store metrics information. The processor is operable to determine that a job has executed on the mainframe, the job including a program on the mainframe that utilizes the software change and causes first database queries to be sent from the mainframe to the database. The processor is also operable to send a message identifying the job to the mainframe, receive job information associated with the first database queries from the mainframe, generate second database queries based on the job information, send the second database queries to the database, receive metrics associated with the first database queries, and determine whether the metrics information meets one or more compliance standards.
US09058417B2
A computer-implemented method of performing runtime analysis on and control of a multithreaded computer program. One embodiment of the present invention can include identifying threads of a computer program to be analyzed. With a supervisor thread, execution of the identified threads can be controlled and execution of the identified threads can be monitored to determine a status of the identified threads. An indicator corresponding to the determined status of the threads can be output.
US09058415B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for receiving a plurality of instructions, where the plurality of instructions comprise one or more first instructions from an application and one or more second instructions from a profiler that instruments the application with the one or more second instructions; identifying, for each of one or more instructions in the plurality of instructions, a respective prefix from one or more prefixes based on a category of the respective instruction; annotating each of the one or more instructions with the respective prefix; and for at least one of one or more hardware performance counters, configuring the respective hardware performance counter to count each instruction in the plurality of instructions that is annotated by one or more of the respective prefixes.
US09058413B2
A system for managing pharmacy kits comprises a reading station configured to read tag information from a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags associated with a pharmacy kit, and an information processing system operatively connected to the reading station and configured to receive the tag information from the reading station and determine a status of the pharmacy kit based on the tag information, a plurality of stored templates defining contents to be included in each of a plurality of pharmacy kits, and a plurality of kit records indicating the current contents of a plurality of pharmacy kits.
US09058412B2
A system for managing pharmacy kits comprises a reading station configured to read tag information from a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags associated with a pharmacy kit, and an information processing system operatively connected to the reading station and configured to receive the tag information from the reading station and determine a status of the pharmacy kit based on the tag information, a plurality of stored templates defining contents to be included in each of a plurality of pharmacy kits, and a plurality of kit records indicating the current contents of a plurality of pharmacy kits.
US09058411B2
A medical information device (1) and two dimensional bar code (2) for storing an individual's emergency medical information on and/or providing remote access to the medical information. The medical information device may be updated by an individual over the Internet by sending updated information to a central location that updates the information in a central database. The medical information device is capable of storing medical information directly therein and/or of providing remote access to medical information stored in a central database. This is accomplished by using a two-dimensional barcode 2, such as a Quick Response Code (“QR code”) (3) or other matrix barcode, that is capable of storing text and/or URL information that may be opened by an electronic device or other imaging device, such as a smart phone.
US09058409B2
A method for contextual data visualization includes receiving data selected by a user and meta-data associated with the data. The data is analyzed, using a processor of a computing device, to determine content and structure attributes of the data that are relevant to visualization of the data. The meta-data is analyzed, using a processor of the computing device, to determine a context in which the visualization of the data will be used. A database comprising an aggregation of visualization records from a plurality of users is accessed and at least one template from the data visualization records that matches the data attributes and context is selected. A data visualization is created by applying at least one template to the data.
US09058396B2
In one or more embodiments, a flip ahead input, such as a gesture, provides touch users with an ability to easily navigate various websites. The flip ahead input can be utilized to advance to the next portion of relevant content. In at least some embodiments, the flip ahead input resides in the form of a forward swipe. In one or more embodiments, the flip ahead input is configured to be utilized in association with an aggregated browsing history from multiple users. The aggregated browsing history is analyzed to generate rules that are then downloaded to a client device and used by a suitably-configured web browser to ascertain the next portion of content when a flip ahead input is received.
US09058391B2
Disclosed is a server computer and method that provides a first user interface to a first client computer operated by a first user for display by a first web browser. The first web browser displays web content to the first user. The server computer provides a second user interface to a second client computer operated by a second user for display by a second web browser. The server computer receives a feed request from the second client computer of the second user for a feed related to the first user. The server computer transmits the feed related to the first user to the second client computer to enable the second user to receive at least a portion of the web content.
US09058387B2
The patent describes and claims methods and systems for hosting and administering a forum for adversarial discussion. The invention consists of the underlying concepts, rules, and features of a distributed software program for conducting online debates. These concepts, rules, and features create a forum and an online tool for enforcing focused, rational debate. Rules are enforced that prevent digression, noise over content, and non-substantive, unproductive participation. In one embodiment, the method of hosting a debate includes the step of accepting a first statement from a topic author. By submitting the first statement, the topic author is creating a topic structure, which represents the basis for a debate on a particular topic. The topic author adds statements to the topic structure that can support the first statement and can proceed to build the topic structure which is comprised of debate structures containing specific statements and related data, such as critiques, rebuttals, a revision history, and scores. Other debate participants can react to the statements in a topic structure by submitting critiques of statements and can rank statements and rebuttals. A topic structure is manifested by at least two visual components: a statement map and a topic layout. These features of the present invention provide a context for the debate, whereby the ability to revise statements, critiques and rebuttals prevents digression allows for a rational debate in a controlled forum.
US09058381B2
Methods and systems provide tracking or logging requests to resolve non-existent textual identifiers and classifying the textual identifier into a predefined set of taxonomical categories to support the detection of machine generated textual identifiers. Detection includes calculating a measure of probability based on the analysis and classification of prior textual identifier requests from a set of requests for a specific textual identifier.
US09058375B2
Methods, computer-readable media, and systems for scheduling the association of metadata with content. In an embodiment, event information is obtained from a virtual calendar, wherein the event information comprises at least one event detail and one or more parameters defining a time period. First metadata is generated based on the event detail, and is stored, in association with the time period, in a memory. Then, subsequently, during the time period, the first metadata may be retrieved from the memory, and associated with one or more content items generated on the device.
US09058374B2
Mechanisms are provided for generating section metadata for an electronic document. These mechanisms receive a document and analyze the document to identify concepts present within textual content of the document. The mechanisms correlate concepts within the textual content with one another to identify concept groups based on the application of one or more rules defining related concepts or concept patterns. The mechanisms determine sections of text within the textual content based on the correlation of concepts within the textual content. Based on results of the determining, the mechanisms generate section metadata for the document and store the section metadata in association with the document for use by a document processing system.
US09058373B2
In a data storage and retrieval system wherein data arranged in nodes is stored and retrieved in pages, each page comprising a cluster of nodes, a method comprising: monitoring ongoing data retrieval to find retrieval patterns of nodes which are retrieved together and to identify changes in said retrieval patterns over time; and periodically reclustering the data nodes among said pages dynamically during usage of the data to reflect said changes, so that nodes more often retrieved together are migrated to cluster together and nodes more often required separately are migrated to cluster separately, thereby to keep small an overall number of page accesses of said data storage and retrieval system during data retrieval despite dynamic changes in patterns of data retrieval. The low number of page accesses allows the reclustering to be carried out concurrently with data access.
US09058367B2
A method and system for propagating database records from staging database to a production database so that the production database reflects record changes made in the staging database. The system of the present disclosure propagates record changes from the staging database to the production database in a flexible, customizable, and reliable way. The system consolidates database record changes to cull out any unnecessary record changes that do not need to be propagated. The system may also track the status of the database record changes, and send alerts related to the propagation status.
US09058362B2
With regard to searches and, more particularly, to searches performed on information repositories belonging to an enterprise, a centralized management system is used by the enterprise to manage the predictive search experience for users. A system offers a rich resolution experience to the end users based on user intent as determined from a variety of mechanisms, such as keywords, end user journey, clustered journey, etc. Also disclosed herein is a system that derives and offers various suggestions to end users to help them accomplish their objectives.
US09058360B2
A framework for extending the capabilities of an event processing system using one or more plug-in components referred to herein as data cartridges. In one set of embodiments, the data cartridge framework described herein can enable an event processing system to support one or more extension languages that are distinct from the native event processing language supported by the system. For example, certain “extension language” data cartridges can be provided that enable an event processing system to support complex data types and associated methods/operations that are common in object-oriented languages, but are not common in event processing languages. In these embodiments, an event processing system can access an extension language data cartridge to compile and execute queries that are written using a combination of the system's native event processing language and the extension language.
US09058354B2
Integrated multi-criteria decision frameworks disclosed herein can facilitate making good decisions when faced with a complex choice among several alternatives with different combinations of strengths and weaknesses. Some decision support systems using multi-criteria methods can combine multiple multi-criteria methods in a single adaptable decision support intervention. In some embodiments, the framework can include some or all of the following modules: a decision strategy module; a balance sheet module; an interactive decision dashboard module; an ordinal ranking module; a direct weighting module; and an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) module.
US09058344B2
Providing database support. A first group of data are received, the first group of data being expressed in a first format, and a second group of data are received, the second group of data being expressed in a second format, the second format being different from the first format. The first and second groups of data are merged, and are represented in at least one common column. Such representing includes: maintaining the first and second formats; and providing a tuple map which provides reference to the first and second formats.
US09058339B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for source control in a program, wherein the program includes hierarchical files for execution of processes, wherein the hierarchical files include parent files and child files. A revised process selected by a user on a graphical user interface is identified; and, files in the revised process are identified. The files in the revised process are locked with a source control processor. This includes disallowing revisions to the files in the revised process. One or more files that are descendents of a file in the revised process are identified. The one or more files that are descendents of a file in the revised process are locked with the source control processor. This includes disallowing revisions to the one or more files that are descendents of a file in the revised process.
US09058336B1
This disclosure relates to a system for managing virtual datacenters. The disclosure describes a system in which virtual datacenters may be self contained logical units. These units may be managed from a central management tool. This management tool is able to manage the virtual datacenters from any location. If the virtual datacenters are moved, the tool maintains communications with them.
US09058334B2
A treewalk for splitting a file directory is disclosed for parallel execution of work items over a filesystem. The given work item is assigned to a worker. Thereafter, a request is sent to split the file directory to share a portion of the file directory with another worker. The worker examines the file directory for a next splittable directory entry key after a current in-progress location within a key space for the file directory. If no key is detected, the file directory is identified as unsplittable. If an entry is detected, the key space is progressively searched for a next entry between a next available directory entry key and an upper boundary. The worker identifies the file directory as splittable if the next available entry is found, providing a range of entries within the file directory for which parallel execution of the work item.
US09058319B2
A method of classifying text input for use with a natural language understanding system can include determining classification information including a primary classification and one or more secondary classifications for a received text input using a statistical classification model (statistical model). A statistical classification sub-model (statistical sub-model) can be selectively built according to a model generation criterion applied to the classification information. The method further can include selecting the primary classification or the secondary classification for the text input as a final classification according to the statistical sub-model and outputting the final classification for the text input.
US09058315B2
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for generating a new workflow for an application. The method includes generating a parameter tree related to a current workflow, wherein the parameter tree includes a different node corresponding to each parameter included in one or more documents associated with the current workflow, modifying a value associated with a first node included in the parameter tree based on an input, wherein the first node corresponds to a first parameter included in a first document associated with the current workflow, evaluating a second document associated with the current workflow based on the modified value associated with the first node, and generating the new workflow based on the evaluated second document.
US09058304B2
Continuous workload availability between sites at unlimited distances, which includes receiving a unit of work data. Once the unit of work data has been received the workload that the unit of work data is directed to is determined, and a primary site of a plurality of sites to process the unit of work is chosen. If the processing of the unit of work data is successful, then one of one or more processing systems of the primary site are selected to process the unit of work data, and the unit of work data is replicated to at least one other site. The primary site is separated from each of the plurality of sites by a distance greater than a metropolitan area network (MAN) and operations occur within a customer acceptability window.
US09058294B2
A programmable logic controller of the invention comprises: a CPU unit; various kinds of units controlled by the CPU unit and coupled via common connectors, that is, input/output units, an end cover, a branch unit and an extension unit; an internal bus provided extending through the CPU unit and the various kinds of units to connect the CPU unit and the various kinds of units; and a bus I/F provided in each of the various kinds of units in common and holding anomaly detection data for detecting an anomaly in the internal bus. The CPU unit checks the anomaly detection data read out from the bus I/F of each of the various kinds of units, thereby to detect an anomaly place in the internal bus.
US09058289B2
Implementations include systems, methods and/or devices suitable for use in a memory system that use error control codes to improve the reliability with which data can be stored and read. Some implementations include systems, methods and/or devices enabled to generate and utilize soft information for decoding encoded data read from a storage medium. More specifically, some implementations utilize a collection of characterization vectors that include soft information values for bit-tuples that may be read from the storage medium for various combinations of the storage medium characterization parameter values. Some implementations are enabled to determine and utilize read comparison signal values associated with one or more storage medium characterization parameter values. And some implementations are enabled to determine and utilize shifted read comparison signal values associated with one or more storage medium characterization parameter values and an identified error condition.
US09058286B2
A digital infinite impulse response filter has a plurality of cascaded filter elements, with each filter element defining a pole of the filter and wherein the poles lie inside a unit circle. The filter elements are configured such that the p of the last filter element is a real number. In one embodiment the poles are arranged as complex conjugate pairs. In another embodiment the real part of the output of each filter element is extracted before being passed to the next filter element. This architecture offers improved idle tone with reduced complexity.
US09058281B2
A tiered memory system includes a memory controller for a primary memory and a secondary memory, where the secondary memory is used as a cache for the primary memory. The memory controller is configured to cause redundant data that is stored in the primary memory of the memory system to be stored in first memory locations of the secondary memory. The controller causes data that is not stored in the primary memory to be stored in second memory locations of the secondary memory. The second memory locations have at least one of lower bit error rate and higher access speed than the first memory locations.
US09058279B2
A method is disclosed including a client accessing a cache for a value of an object based on an object identification (ID), initiating a request to a cache loader if the cache does not include a value for the object, the cache loader performing a lookup in an object table for the object ID corresponding to the object, the cache loader retrieving a vector of execution context IDs, from an execution context table that correspond to the object IDs looked up in the object table and the cache loader performing an execution context lookup in an execution context table for every retrieved execution context ID in the vector to retrieve object IDs from an object vector.
US09058274B2
The disclosure is directed to a system and method for managing READ cache memory of at least one node of a multiple-node storage cluster. According to various embodiments, a cache data and a cache metadata are stored for data transfers between a respective node (hereinafter “first node”) and regions of a storage cluster. When the first node is disabled, data transfers are tracked between one or more active nodes of the plurality of nodes and cached regions of the storage cluster. When the first node is rebooted, at least a portion of valid cache data is retained based upon the tracked data transfers. Accordingly, local cache memory does not need to be entirely rebuilt each time a respective node is rebooted.
US09058271B2
A method and apparatus for preserving memory ordering in a cache coherent link based interconnect in light of partial and non-coherent memory accesses is herein described. In one embodiment, partial memory accesses, such as a partial read, is implemented utilizing a Read Invalidate and/or Snoop Invalidate message. When a peer node receives a Snoop Invalidate message referencing data from a requesting node, the peer node is to invalidate a cache line associated with the data and is not to directly forward the data to the requesting node. In one embodiment, when the peer node holds the referenced cache line in a Modified coherency state, in response to receiving the Snoop Invalidate message, the peer node is to writeback the data to a home node associated with the data.
US09058263B2
A mechanism is provided for handling incidents occurring in a managed environment. An incident is detected in a resource in the managed environment. A set of incident handling actions are identified based on incident handling rules for an incident type of the incident. From the set of incident handling actions, one incident handling action is identified to be executed based on a set of impact indicators associated with the set of incident handling rules. The identified incident handling action is then executed to address the failure of the resource.
US09058243B2
An abstraction for storage class memory is provided that hides the details of the implementation of storage class memory from a program, and provides a standard channel programming interface for performing certain actions, such as controlling movement of data between main storage and storage class memory or managing storage class memory.
US09058238B2
An electronic device comprising: a central processing unit; memory in data communication with the central processing unit; a network connector in data communication with the central processing unit; a firmware image stored in a compressed format within the memory, wherein the firmware image includes a plurality of software components; and an update agent stored within the memory and configured to provide a list of software components for communication out the network connector, wherein the electronic device is configured to communicate the list of software components out the network connector and receive a modified firmware image in a compressed format that includes at least one additional software component.
US09058235B2
Migrating a data-processing entity from a source software image installed on a mass memory of the data-processing entity to a target software image stored on an external source. A portion of mass memory is released. Memory blocks stored in boot locations of the target software image are relocated to the released portion, including memory blocks required to boot the data-processing entity to load a streaming function for downloading the target software image from the external source. The data-processing entity is booted from the boot blocks, thereby loading the streaming function. Each request for reading a selected memory block of the target software image is served by the streaming function, which downloads the selected memory block from the external source and stores it into the released portion when the selected memory block is not available in the mass memory, or retrieves the selected memory block from the mass memory.
US09058226B2
Example systems and methods of executing processes are described. In one implementation, a method identifies an event and accesses a business rule to identify and execute a process associated with the event. A decision table is accessed to identify multiple conditions associated with the event. The decision table is also accessed to identify multiple actions associated with the event. The multiple conditions and actions were previously defined by at least one user of the system. The event and the multiple conditions are evaluated to determine whether to perform at least one of the multiple actions.
US09058221B2
A method and an apparatus are disclosed that enable the offloading of some of the signal processing that has often been centralized in a telecommunications network, to one or more telecommunications endpoints. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a packet-based telecommunications endpoint that comprises processing and memory resources determines the resource availability of one or more of its resources. The endpoint transmits the resource availability information to a data-processing system, which then transmits a signal-processing computer program back to the endpoint. The computer program is based on the resources that are available at the endpoint. The endpoint then proceeds to use the computer program to process the signals that are received—for example, during the course of a phone call that involves the endpoint. The signal processing that is performed can include noise reduction, echo cancellation, muting, automatic gain control, and so forth.
US09058219B2
A resource stack managed by a resource stack provider is created based on a resource stack template that integrates a custom resource from a second provider into the resource stack using a notification system with the second provider. For example, a customer may create a template that defines a resource stack that comprises resources available from the resource stack provider and one or more custom resources provided by a second provider. When a resource stack is created, resources available from the resource stack provider may be provisioned. Custom resources may be initialized by notifying the provider of the custom resource of the requested integration of the custom resource with the resource stack and requested configuration details. The custom resource provider may respond with an indication of successful integration when the custom resource has been successfully initialized. After initializing the resources, the resource stack may be enabled for use.
US09058215B2
Various embodiments of systems and methods for integrating a calculation engine of an in-memory database with a software component are described herein. A control unit schedules and triggers jobs to be processed by an operational unit. The control unit and the operational unit are at an application level. The operational unit divides a job workload corresponding to a job trigger into work packages based on one or more parameters. The work packages are sent to a calculation engine in an in-memory database. At the in-memory database, operations are performed on the work packages and an output is generated. A log in the control unit is updated based on the output.
US09058213B2
The present technology concerns a cloud-based mainframe integration system for providing at least one client access to at least one mainframe, the at least one mainframe being accessible over a persistent communication connection. The cloud-based mainframe integration system comprises, at least one mainframe integration server, adapted for routing communications between the at least one client and the at least one mainframe. The at least one MIS is located within a cloud computing environment separate from a computer network in which the at least one mainframe is located. The at least one MIS also is adapted for communicating with the separate network over a non-persistent communication connection.
US09058205B2
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for automatically performing operations on applications based on dependencies on other applications are disclosed. A command to start a first application can be received. The first application is configured to use data provided by at least one another application. A determination is made whether the first application is configured to use data provided by a second application. This determining is performed in response to a receipt of the command. In response to a determination that the first application is configured to use data provided by the second application, execution of the second application is initiated.
US09058201B2
Extended features such as registers and functions within processors are made available to operating systems (OS) using an extended-state driver and by modifying instruction set extensions, such as XSAVE. A map-table designates a correspondence between memory locations for storing data relating to extended features not supported by the OS and called by an application. As a result, applications may utilize processor resources which are unsupported by the OS.
US09058199B2
A method for fast migrating of a source virtual machine located on a source host to one or more destination hosts is provided. A source migration manager receives an identity of a destination host. The source migration manager copies at least one data segment corresponding to a portion of a state of a source virtual machine to the destination host. The source migration manager remains in a warm-up phase and continues copying data segments corresponding to the state of the source virtual machine to the destination host, even if the entire state of the source virtual machine has been copied to the destination host. The source migration manager receives a command to migrate the source virtual machine to the destination host after copying the at least one data segment to the destination host. If a warm-up exit condition has been attained, the source migration manager exits the warm-up migration phase.
US09058196B2
A computing device receives a command to start a virtual machine, the virtual machine having a read-only layer and a copy-on-write (COW) layer. The computing device accesses the COW layer of the virtual machine from a network storage. The computing device determines whether the read-only layer of the virtual machine is cached in a local storage. Upon determining that the read-only layer of the virtual machine is cached in the local storage, the computing device starts the virtual machine based on a combination of the downloaded COW layer and the cached read-only layer of the virtual machine.
US09058195B2
Disclosed is a computer system (100) comprising a processor unit (110) adapted to run a virtual machine in a first operating mode; a cache (120) accessible to the processor unit, said cache comprising a plurality of cache rows (1210), each cache row comprising a cache line (1214) and an image modification flag (1217) indicating a modification of said cache line caused by the running of the virtual machine; and a memory (140) accessible to the cache controller for storing an image of said virtual machine; wherein the processor unit comprises a replication manager adapted to define a log (200) in the memory prior to running the virtual machine in said first operating mode; and said cache further includes a cache controller (122) adapted to periodically check said image modification flags; write only the memory address of the flagged cache lines in the defined log and subsequently clear the image modification flags. A computer cluster including such computer systems and a method of managing such a computer cluster are also disclosed.
US09058180B2
Systems and methods for efficient picking of instructions for out-of-order issue and execution in a processor. In one embodiment, a processor comprises a unified pick queue that is dynamically allocated. Each entry is configured to store age and dependency information relative to other decoded instructions. Also, each entry stores a picked field, which when asserted indicates the decoded instruction has already been picked for out-of-order issue and execution. When asserted, a trigger field indicates a result of a corresponding decoded instruction will be available a predetermined number of clock cycles afterward. A younger instruction dependent on a result of an older instruction is ready to be picked before the result of the older instruction is available. In this case, the older instruction has asserted picked and trigger fields.
US09058170B2
A method, apparatus or stored program for adjusting the clock throttle rate of a central processing unit (CPU) included in a computer, in which the usage of the CPU is measured, so that the clock throttle rate of the CPU can be automatically adjusted on the measured usage of the CPU, thereby reducing the consumption of electric power without any influence on the performance of the computer.
US09058168B2
A method includes, while a portable electronic device including a display is in a low-power condition, detecting, by the portable electronic device, a gesture and identifying any informational icons to be displayed. The display is progressively illuminated while displaying the identified informational icons. Progressive illumination optionally occurs as long as the gesture is detected.
US09058163B2
In one embodiment, a processor comprises a programmable map and a circuit. The programmable map is configured to store data that identifies at least one instruction for which an architectural modification of an instruction set architecture implemented by the processor has been defined, wherein the processor does not implement the modification. The circuitry is configured to detect the instruction or its memory operands and cause a transition to Known Good Code (KGC), wherein the KGC is protected from unauthorized modification and is provided from an authenticated entity. The KGC comprises code that, when executed, emulates the modification. In another embodiment, an integrated circuit comprises at least one processor core; at least one other circuit; and a KGC source configured to supply KGC to the processor core for execution. The KGC comprises interface code for the other circuit whereby an application executing on the processor core interfaces to the other circuit through the KGC.
US09058157B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display includes a display panel for displaying images, a bracket for supporting the display panel, a buffer member disposed between each corner region of the display panel and the bracket, and an adhesive member disposed between the display panel and the bracket to combine the display panel with the bracket.
US09058153B2
Embodiments are described for minimizing application windows displayed on one or more displays of a multi-screen device. A device may display a dual screen application which is displayed across both screens. Depending upon which screen is used to launch (or reopen) an application, the dual screen application may be minimized to the other screen.
US09058152B2
The present invention discloses a wireless communication module, comprising a substrate; at least one wireless module, disposed on the substrate; and a module which does not emit wireless signals can be disposed on the substrate as well. The wireless communication module forms a compact structure and removes the need for RF shielded coaxial cables within the communication module. The present invention further discloses a portable device, which comprises a display part comprising a communication module; and a host part coupled to the display part; wherein the communication module is deposited on top of display part for better reception.
US09058151B2
A handle module, a hard disk drive (HDD) assembly, and a server are provided. The server includes a case with a mounting hole, a main board, and the HDD assembly. The HDD assembly includes a tray with two slide rails and a fixing hole, a HDD, the handle module, and a rubber pad. The handle module includes a handle with a body plate and a sidewall, a backing sheet, and a switch button. The body plate has a first opening and an inner surface. The sidewall has a second opening. The switch button is disposed between the backing sheet and the inner surface and has a first protrusion protruded out of the first opening and a second protrusion. The number of components disassembled from the server relies on the relative position between the second protrusion and the second opening, the fixing hole, and the mounting hole.
US09058150B2
A server, for being disposed in a server cabinet removably, includes a shell, a mother board, a power input port and a connecting element. The mother board is disposed in the shell. The power input port, disposed on the shell, is electrically connected to the mother board. The power input port is used for inputting power to the mother board. The connecting element is disposed on the power input port and electrically connected to the mother board. The connecting element is used for making the mother board communicate with a rack management controller so the rack management controller determines the position of the server in the server cabinet according to the communication. With the server removed from the server cabinet, the power input port and the connecting element are separated from the electrically conductive component and the one of the connectors, respectively, to stop the electrical connection.
US09058149B2
A display apparatus comprises a plurality of display panels and a time controller electrically coupled to each of the display panels respectively. The time controller is configured for sending out at least two priority control signals to each of the display panels according to an image data, to select at least one of the display panels to displaying the image data.
US09058147B2
A printing device is registered at a cloud server and a secure connection is established with the printing device. A subscription packet is sent to the printing device. The subscription packet specifics at least one event to be reported by the printing device. A notification that indicates an occurrence of the at least one event is received from the printing device.
US09058146B2
A mobile terminal device includes a processor configured to output a first print instruction to print one or more images corresponding to one or more pieces of image data contained in a specific image data set in one case of a first case that a near field wireless communication unit establishes near field wireless communication with a printer when a display unit is showing a display created based on a first display data and a second case that the near field wireless communication unit establishes the near field wireless communication with the printer when the display unit is showing a display created based on a second display data, and output a second print instruction to print one image corresponding to one piece of image data contained in the specific image data set in the other case.
US09058133B2
When a communication port is occupied by a recording control unit, the communication port can be released as needed without causing an error or problem. A communication control unit 16 has a decision unit 44 that determines whether or not the USB port 18 can be released from the recording control unit 42 based on control commands input from the recording control unit 42 when the USB port 18 is occupied by the recording control unit 42 and an access request for the USB port 18 is received from another device, and a releasing unit 45 that releases the USB port 18 from the recording control unit 42 when the decision unit 44 determines that the USB port 18 can be released from the recording control unit 42.
US09058125B2
In the computer system, a storage system provides a storage level virtual volume based on thin provisioning technology, to a physical server on which a virtual machine is defined. The storage system releases the area of the logical volume corresponding to the storage level virtual volume accessed by a virtual machine which is specified to be deleted, on the basis of storage level virtual volume conversion information which is managed by the storage system.
US09058121B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for replicating tracks from a first storage to a second and third storages. A determination is made of a track in the first storage to transfer to the second storage as part of a point-in-time copy relationship and of a stride of tracks including the target track. The stride of tracks including the target track is staged from the first storage to a cache according to the point-in-time copy relationship. The staged stride is destaged from the cache to the second storage. The stride in the cache is transferred to the third storage as part of a mirror copy relationship. The stride of tracks in the cache is demoted in response to destaging the stride of the tracks in the cache to the second storage and transferring the stride of tracks in the cache to the third storage.
US09058118B1
Techniques for synchronizing storage areas are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for synchronizing storage areas comprising a module to identify one or more source storage areas associated with a virtual machine, a module to create one or more destination storage areas corresponding to the one or more source storage areas, a module to link the one or more source storage areas with the one or more destination storage areas, a module to synchronize the one or more source areas with the one or more destination areas, and when synchronization is complete, a module to associate the virtual machine with the one or more destination storage areas and disassociate the virtual machine with the one or more source storage areas.
US09058110B2
According to one embodiment, a system includes a virtual tape library having a cache, a virtual tape controller (VTC) coupled to the virtual tape library, and an interface for coupling multiple hosts to the VTC. The cache is shared by the multiple hosts, and a common view of a cache state, a virtual library state, and a number of write requests pending is provided to the hosts by the VTC. In another embodiment, a method includes receiving data from at least one host using a VTC, storing data received from all the hosts to a cache using the VTC, sending an alert to all the hosts when free space is low and entering into a warning state, sending another alert to all the hosts when free space is critically low and entering into a critical state while allowing previously mounted virtual drives to continue normally.
US09058107B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for facilitating dynamic provisioning of a virtual storage appliance in a cloud computing environment are presented herein. A storage system management component can provision storage from a storage medium to facilitate access of at least a portion of the storage by a virtual storage appliance (VSA) based on a request for at least one resource associated with the VSA. Further, a network management component can provision the VSA to facilitate the access of the portion of the storage by the VSA. Furthermore, a storage fabric management component can configure a network to facilitate the access of the portion of the storage by the VSA via the network.
US09058106B2
An apparatus, system and method that allow for context and language specific data entry via a user interface. A user interface is displayed on a display device, where the user interface includes a data entry menu having one or more menu selections. A menu selection is activated. A data entry method is displayed, where the data entry method is context and language specific to the activated menu selection. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09058105B2
A method and system for automatically adjusting input configuration are disclosed. The method may include monitoring information input by a user into a graphical user interface (GUI). The method may further include determining an input configuration state of the computing system set by the user for the information input into at least one field of the GUI at an initial input instance. The method may also include, at one or more subsequent input instances, automatically adjusting the input configuration state for the field to the determined input configuration of the initial input instance. A computer program product is also disclosed.
US09058099B2
A touch screen device and an operating method are provided in which only a specific position on a touch screen is activated to receive signals. The touch screen device includes a screen including a display configured to display menu images thereon and a detector configured to detect a screen touch, and a controller configured to control operations of the device according to the screen touch detected by the detector. The controller may cause the detector to be divided into an execution area configured to execute a menu when the menu placed on the execution area is touched, and a selection area configured to sequentially move the menu images to the execution area when the selection area is touched. Alternatively, the controller may cause the detector to be divided into a moving area configured to move a menu from a touch point along a drag line while the menu is dragged, and an execution area configured to execute the relevant menu when the touch on the execution area is released. With a touch screen device so configured, the menus are executed only in a limited execution area.
US09058091B2
Provided is an input device that may sense a first contact occurring along a planar coordinate axis among three-dimensional (3D) spatial coordinate axes to generate first contact information, to sense a second contact occurring along a vertical coordinate axis among the 3D spatial coordinate axes to generate second contact information, to analyze contact information including at least one of the first contact information and the second contact information to generate an input signal to control a predetermined display device, and to transmit the generated input signal to the display device. The display device may control an object that is displayed on the display device, based on the input signal.
US09058088B2
Methods and systems are provided for overcoming negative tradeoffs associated with providing remote access to a computer application, such as lack of control over functions of the computer application. Such tradeoffs are overcome by controlling the functions of the computer application provided to a thin client. The functions are controlled by an executable that displays a modified image of a session of the computer application. Specifically, the executable hides particular elements of the session and the limited image is then the image that is provided to a client, as opposed to the client accessing the full functionality of the computer application via remote computing.
US09058082B2
A method for detecting multiple objects on a touchpad having a grid of orthogonal electrodes, wherein all drive electrodes are simultaneously stimulated, and then frequency or electrode coding is used to separate each electrode junction and produce a capacitance image of the touchpad surface in a single measurement sequence.
US09058080B2
Detection of degradation of a user input device may allow for notifying a user of an impending failure of the user input device so that the device may be taken out of service or repaired. A method for detecting degradation of a user input device may carry out one or more operations including, but not necessarily limited to: determining that a portion of the user input device is degraded based on two or more received signals of the user input device, the two or more received signals being indicative of one or more user inputs; and providing a user notification indicative of a degradation of the user input device in response to determining that a portion of the user input device is degraded based on two or more received signals of the user input device.
US09058069B2
A writing instrument for an electrostatic capacitance type touch panel is provided which includes a main body shaft having a hollow portion and made of non-conductive material, a core portion composed of a member having base material made of non-conductive material and modified with conductive material, and a brush tip including conductive material. The core portion is provided in the hollow portion, and the brush tip and the core portion are in contact with each other. The member is a conductive fiber having base material made of polyester-based synthetic fiber, acrylic synthetic fiber, or polyamide-based synthetic fiber and covered with conductive material. Further, the core portion is formed by filling a cylindrical body with the conductive fiber. This writing instrument can employ non-conductive material for the main body shaft, and capable of performing touch-panel operation stably.
US09058068B2
An electronic device is configured to determine a location of a stylus with respect to a display screen dependent upon first and second timing signals. A change in state of a reference pixel cell is detected using a photodetector located in close proximity to the reference pixel cell and a change in state of a pixel cell in proximity to the stylus, in response to a stylus photodetector signal received from a photodetector of the stylus. The location of the stylus with respect to the display screen is determined from the time difference between the change in state of the reference pixel cell and the change in state of the pixel cell in proximity to the stylus.
US09058061B2
A touch panel 1 is arranged on the front face of a key display unit 2 and accepts an input to a numeric keypad displayed on the key display unit 2. When a key of the numeric keypad displayed on the key display unit 2 is pressed, the control unit 4 measures the time for which the key is kept pressed long with a timer 5 and updates characters assigned to the key one by one by regarding that the key is pressed once each time a predetermined period of time passes while the key is kept pressed long, and then displays each character on the display unit 3. Further, the control unit 4 notifies a vibration unit 6 of the timing of updating the character each time the predetermined time passes while the key is kept pressed long. The vibration unit 6 vibrates the touch panel 1 based on the timing of updating the character notified by the control unit 4. Thus a mobile terminal that enables a user to input a desired character without watching the mobile terminal is provided.
US09058058B2
Systems and methods for processing gesture-based user interactions within an interactive display area are provided. The display of one or more virtual objects and user interactions with the one or more virtual objects may be further provided. Multiple interactive areas may be created by partitioning an area proximate a display into multiple volumetric spaces or zones. The zones may be associated with respective user interaction capabilities. A representation of a user on the display may change as the ability of the user to interact with one or more virtual object changes.
US09058053B2
A method and apparatus for displaying a virtual environment. First eye position information for a first eye in a head of a person and second eye position information for a second eye in the head of the person is received. A first image of the virtual environment for the first eye is generated based on the first eye position information. A second image of the virtual environment for the second eye is generated based on the second eye position information for the second eye. The first image and the second image for display are sent to the person.
US09058051B2
A grip comprises a grip body forming a gripping control portion of a manually operable device to be held with the operator's palm and fingers. The grip body includes a ball-receiving surface coming into contact with the ball of the thumb, a palm-receiving surface coming into contact with a middle portion of the palm and the ball of the little finger, a finger-receiving surface coming into contact with the fingers, an open surface positioned between the tips of the fingers and the ball of the thumb for receiving the thumb when the grip body is held, and a switch mounted on a top portion of the grip body to be operable with the thumb. The grip body further comprises a thumb-guiding portion in the form of a shallow groove formed at an upper part of the ball-receiving surface of the grip body, the inside of the first joint of the thumb being placed along the thumb-guiding portion when the switch is operated, and a rising portion formed on at least either one of portions between the thumb-guiding surface and the open surface and between the thumb-guiding surface and the palm-receiving surface for applying resistance when the operator's hand advances into the switch.
US09058048B2
According to an embodiment, a voltage regulator having an output transistor, a voltage dividing circuit, an error amplifier, a detection circuit and a phase compensation capacitance circuit is provided. The output transistor has one end to which a power supply voltage is supplied, a control terminal to which a control signal is input, and the other end which outputs an output voltage. The voltage dividing circuit is connected between the other end of the output transistor and a first reference voltage. The error amplifier is configured to output the control signal according to the difference between a divided voltage and a second reference voltage. The detection circuit is configured to detect an operation environment. The phase compensation capacitance circuit is configured to adjust a phase compensation capacitance between the other end of the output transistor and an input terminal of the error amplifier, in accordance with the detected operation environment.
US09058043B2
A voltage converter includes a constant on time signal generator, a first transistor, a second transistor, an inductor, and a ripple injection circuit. The constant on time signal generator generates a first driving signal and a second driving signal. The ripple injection circuit receives an output signal and generates a ripple injection signal. The constant on time signal generator generates the first and second driving signals according to the ripple injection signal, the output signal, and a reference signal.
US09058032B2
Aspects describe an apparatus, method and system for constructing an application in an industrial automation system. An identification component can receive at least one requirement of the application. Based upon the at least one requirement, the identification component can select at least one service that satisfies the at least one requirement. The at least one service can be associated with at least one operational requirement. The identification component can match at least one host to the at least one service by matching the at least one operational requirement with at least one capability of the at least one service.
US09058023B2
A head rest system is disclosed. Said head rest system comprising a head rest assembly comprising a first side, a second side, a top side, a bottom side, a third side and a fourth side. Said top side and said bottom side are not parallel. Said top side comprises a tilted surface comprising a slope angle between said top side and said bottom side.
US09058013B2
A developer cartridge according to one aspect of the invention is attachable to a photoconductor unit that comprises a photoconductive drum. The developer cartridge may comprise a developing frame defining a developer container configured to contain developer, the developing frame having a first side and a second side; a developing roller located at the first side of the developing frame so as to receive developer conveyed from the developer container in a first direction; a contact terminal located at the second side of the developing frame; and a memory electrically connected to the contact terminal, wherein the first side is downstream in the first direction from the second side.
US09058003B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image bearer, a toner image forming unit, a detector, and a controller to adjust an image forming condition based on a detection result by the detector. During a non-printing period, multiple toner patterns are formed in an end and center portions of the image bearer in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the image bearer moves, and a smaller number of toner patterns selected from the multiple toner patterns are formed in a non-image area, in the end portion of the image bearer, during a printing period. The controller determines a target density X of the smaller number of toner patterns by X=H (a mean detected density of the multiple toner patterns formed in the end portion)×J (a predetermined reference value)/I (a mean detected density of the multiple toner patterns formed in the end portion and in the center portion).
US09057994B2
Provided are methods of printing a pattern of charge on a substrate surface, such as by electrohydrodynamic (e-jet) printing. The methods relate to providing a nozzle containing a printable fluid, providing a substrate having a substrate surface and generating from the nozzle an ejected printable fluid containing net charge. The ejected printable fluid containing net charge is directed to the substrate surface, wherein the net charge does not substantially degrade and the net charge retained on the substrate surface. Also provided are functional devices made by any of the disclosed methods.
US09057992B2
A fixing device includes an endless fixing belt, a heating unit, a supporting member, and a pressure roller. The pressure roller sandwiches the fixing belt to form a fixing nip portion between the pressure roller and the fixing belt. The fixing device is configured to insert a recording medium into the fixing nip portion to fix an unfixed toner image carried on the recording medium. The fixing belt includes a heating layer and a sliding layer. The heating layer is configured to generate heat using the heating unit. The sliding layer is laminated onto an inner circumferential surface of the fixing belt and sliding on the supporting member. The plurality of holes are formed in the sliding layer such that the sliding layer has a mesh pattern in plan view.
US09057988B2
A developing device having: a developing sleeve in which a magnetic member is inserted, transporting two-component developer to a developing area facing an image carrier; and a restriction member for restricting the amount of developer to be no greater than 250 g/m2. The average of absolute values of magnetic flux density within a restriction area falls within a range of 40 mT to 70 mT under a condition that no developer exists within the restriction area. The restriction area extends along the outer circumferential surface between a closest point on the outer circumferential surface, which is closest to the restriction member, and a point 2 mm upstream from the closest point in a rotational direction of the developing sleeve, and has a height that is half a minimum distance between the closest point and the restriction member.
US09057983B2
A developer container removably installable in an apparatus body of an image forming apparatus includes a container body to contain developer, a cap connectable to the container body, the cap including a supply opening, and a flange projecting beyond an outer circumferential surface of the cap in a radial direction extending from a center of a cross section of the container body. The flange is formed along a circumference of the container body and provided between the container body and the cap.
US09057976B2
An image forming apparatus includes a control unit controlling first and second voltage application mechanisms and shifting a difference Vdif (=Vrs−Vdr) between Vrs and Vdr toward polarity opposite to normal charge polarity of a developer as S decreases, where S is an absolute value of a speed difference between a circumferential speed of an image bearing member, which rotates while bearing an electrostatic latent image and a circumferential speed of a developer bearing member, which rotates at a constant circumferential speed ratio with respect to the image bearing member to develop the electrostatic latent image while bearing the developer, Vdr is a voltage that the first voltage application mechanism applies to the developer bearing member, and Vrs is a voltage that the second voltage application mechanism applies to the developer supply member.
US09057970B2
Provided is a method for producing core-shell structured resin particles, comprising the steps of: providing a dispersion liquid of hydrophobic resin particles in which the hydrophobic resin particles are dispersed into an aqueous medium containing an anionic surfactant A and an anionic surfactant B; providing a dispersion liquid of resin microparticles in which resin microparticles are dispersed into an aqueous medium; mixing the dispersion liquid of hydrophobic resin particles and the dispersion liquid of resin microparticles; adhering the resin microparticles to surfaces of the hydrophobic resin particles by adding a water soluble metal salt to a mixture resulting from above step, wherein the surfactant A and the surfactant B satisfy the specific conditions.
US09057962B2
A source-collector module for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system, the module including a laser-produced plasma (LPP) that generates EUV radiation and a grazing-incidence collector (GIC) mirror arranged relative thereto and having an input end and an output end. The LPP is formed using an LPP target system wherein a pulsed laser beam travels on-axis through the GIC and is incident upon solid, moveable LPP target. The GIC mirror is arranged relative to the LPP to receive the EUV radiation therefrom at its input end and focus the received EUV radiation at an intermediate focus adjacent the output end. An example GIC mirror design is presented that includes a polynomial surface-figure correction to compensate for GIC shell thickness effects, thereby improve far-field imaging performance.
US09057959B2
An aqueous solution containing 0.1-20 wt % of a substituted choline or thiocholine hydroxide is a useful developer for photosensitive resist materials. A resist pattern is formed by applying a chemically amplified positive resist composition onto a substrate to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, and developing the exposed resist film in an ammonium hydroxide-containing aqueous solution.
US09057949B2
A negative pattern is formed by applying a resist composition onto a substrate, prebaking, exposing to high-energy radiation, baking (PEB), and developing the exposed resist film in an organic solvent developer to dissolve the unexposed region of resist film. The resist composition comprising a polymer adapted to form a lactone ring under the action of an acid so that the polymer may reduce its solubility in an organic solvent developer, an acid generator, and an organic solvent displays a high dissolution contrast between the unexposed region of promoted dissolution and the exposed region of inhibited dissolution.
US09057948B2
A resist composition including a base component containing a polymer (A1) having a structural unit (a5) containing a group represented by general formula (a5-0-1) or (a5-0-2), wherein the amount of the monomer that derives the structural unit (a5) is not more than 100 ppm relative to (A1). In the formulas, each of Q1 and Q2 represents single bond or divalent linking group, R3, R4 and R5 represent organic groups, and R4 and R5 may be bonded to each other to form a ring in combination with the sulfur atom, provided that —R3—S+(R4)(R5) has a total of only one aromatic ring or has no aromatic rings, V− represents a counter anion, A− represents an organic group containing anion, and Mm+ represents an organic cation having a valency of m, wherein m represents an integer of 1 to 3, provided that Mm+ has only one aromatic ring or has no aromatic rings.
US09057947B2
The invention relates to the technical field of an alignment method, and discloses a method for aligning substrate and mask, including: firstly forming at least one set of alignment marks on a mask plate; selecting a certain number of large-size substrates as sample substrates; forming a plurality of sets of alignment marks on each sample substrate using the mask plate and the at least one set of alignment marks formed thereon to divide the sample substrate into a plurality of sub-substrate areas; and then performing mask process on the respective sample substrates, accurate alignment for each sub-substrate area can be realized by means of the plurality of sets of alignment marks on the sample substrate, and one sub-substrate area can be accurately aligned by means of at least two sets of alignment marks formed on the sample substrate. In the alignment, positions of the plurality of sets of alignment marks formed on the sample substrate are recorded and stored, and mask process on a non-sample substrate is performed based on parameters relating to the stored positions of the plurality of sets of alignment marks, thus the seaming degree between patterns in the same layer and the coincidence degree between patterns in different layers on the non-sample substrate are guaranteed, so that mass production for large-size substrates with good quality can be realized. The invention also discloses a method for preparing semiconductor device.
US09057946B2
The invention relates to compounds, of formula (I) in which X is CH3 or hydrogen, Z is a linear or branched C2 to C4 alkyl radical, R is a linear or branched, optionally heteroatom-substituted aliphatic, aromatic or araliphatic radical, Y in each occurrence is independently hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, tert-butyl, chlorine, bromine, iodine, methylthio, phenyl or phenylthio, n is from 0 to 4 and m is from 0 to 5. The invention further relates to the use of such a compound as writing monomer in a photopolymer formulation. In addition, a photopolymer formulation comprising as least a polyisocyanate component, a polyol component, a photoinitiator and a compound of formula (I) as writing monomer, and also the use of the photopolymer formulation for producing holographic media, are likewise subjects of the invention.
US09057935B2
The present invention discloses a stabilizing apparatus for a camera. The apparatus may comprise a mount supporting a camera; a support coupled to said mount with a movable joint; and a counterweight system extending outwardly from said mount. One or more counterweights of said counterweight system may be positioned on an opposite side of said movable joint to said mount. The counterweight system may be configured to surround a space occupied by the movable joint. The counterweight system may comprise one or more movable counterweights which can move reciprocally relative to said counterweight system in response to movement of the support relative to the mount making it possible to gently steer the direction of shooting without losing the stability of the video camera caused by rapid oscillations of the support.
US09057932B2
An imaging apparatus includes: a setting processor which sets an image area including a tracking shooting object image in a pan-blur shooting as a tracking object image as a tracking image area, with respect to a specific frame image; a searching processor, by respectively setting a scanning area for a plurality of frame images following the frame image used to set the tracking image area, and respectively moving the scanning area on each corresponding frame image of the frame images, and makes a comparison of a characteristic amount of an image between the tracking image area and the scanning area, which respectively obtains a scanning area where the characteristic amount of the image is similar to the image in the tracking image area as a tracking object existing area including the tracking object image, with respect to the frame images; a measuring processor, by dividing a difference between a coordinate of the tracking object existing area obtained with respect to one frame image of the frame images and that obtained with respect to a next one by a certain time interval, which measures a moving speed of the tracking object image on a monitor screen; and a displaying processor which displays a speed display mark corresponding to the moving speed of the tracking object image on the monitor screen.
US09057931B1
The experience of a user of a computing device for tasks such as videoconferencing and video chat can be improved by integrating a camera in a display screen of the computing device, which can enable the user to appear to be looking at the camera (and thus other users on the video session) while still looking at the display screen. The camera can be configured to look in between and/or through pixel elements of the display screen. In at least some embodiments the camera can be synchronized with the duty cycle of the display screen to capture image information between duty cycles of the display screen, such that the light from the display does not saturate the camera. Microlens arrays, diffractive lenses, and other such elements can be used to capture the light available through the display screen.
US09057927B2
Apparatus and method for high-power multi-function millimeter-wavelength (THz-frequency) signal generation using OPO and DFG in a single cavity. In some embodiments, the OPO-DFG cavity includes an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) non-linear material that receives pump light IP having pump-light frequency and generates two different lower intermediate frequencies of light—an OPO-signal beam IS and a spatially/temporally overlapping OPO-idler beam II. A difference-frequency generator non-linear material then receives the two intermediate-frequency beams II and IS, and the DFG then generates a THz-frequency output signal that has a frequency equal to the difference between the two intermediate frequencies. In some embodiments, a single-piece crystal of non-linear material is used for both OPO and DFG functions. Some embodiments use a bow-tie ring having four mirrors that define the optical path: an IP-beam-entry mirror, an IP-light-extraction mirror to remove unconverted IP-beam, an II-beam-extraction mirror, and an IS-beam-extraction mirror, and a fifth ITHz-beam-extraction mirror.
US09057921B2
A thin film transistor array panel includes a first substrate; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate; a storage electrode line on the first substrate where a constant voltage is applied thereto; a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor which are connected to the gate line and the data line; a third thin film transistor which is connected to the gate line, the second thin film transistor and the storage electrode line; a first subpixel electrode which is connected to the first thin film transistor; and a second subpixel electrode which is connected to the second thin film transistor.
US09057905B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a touch sensor, a manufacturing method thereof and a liquid crystal display having touch panel. The touch sensor comprises a substrate, a touch sensing layer in a first direction, a touch sensing layer in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an insulation layer and a metal bridge. The touch sensing layers in the first and second directions are provided on a surface of the substrate, the touch sensing layer in the first direction is discontinuous, and the touching sensing layer in the second direction is continuous. The insulation layer is provided on the substrate, the touch sensing layer in the first direction and the touch sensing layer in the second direction. The metal bridge is provided on the insulation layer and connects with the touch sensing layer in the first direction.
US09057903B2
A flat panel display such as an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display or a liquid crystal display (LCD) is disclosed. In one aspect, the OLED display includes: an OLED panel, a foam member attached to the bottom side of the panel by interposing an adhesive layer therebetween and a flexible circuit board electrically connected to the panel and curved and then attached to the foam member. The foam member includes a corresponding portion corresponding to the flexible circuit board and a non-corresponding portion not corresponding to the flexible circuit board, and the adhesive layer forms an air outlet path in at least the non-corresponding portion.
US09057902B2
A fixing device for connecting an optical film with a back plate is disclosed. The fixing device includes a supporting portion, and a protrusive portion. The supporting portion is for connecting to a sidewall of the back plate. The protrusive portion is for passing through a through hole on an extended portion of the optical film such that the optical film is fixed on the back plate. The extended portion extrudes from a main body of the optical film. The fixing devices relate to a pure mechanical or semi-mechanical connection. Such connection structure may prevent the optical film from falling off due to environment changes. In addition, the fixing devices may be used over and over. Furthermore, the connection structure is more compact than the typical ones. The fixing devices not only satisfy the trend toward narrower sidewall of liquid crystal modules, but also prevent the optical film from being bent due to thermal expansion and contraction.
US09057898B2
An array substrate and a liquid crystal display are disclosed. Each of the pixel cells includes a first, a second and a third pixel electrode, and a first, a second, a third, and a fourth switch. One corresponding scanning line are configured to turn on or off the four switches. The corresponding first data line inputs the first data signals to the first pixel electrode via the first switch. The corresponding second data line inputs the second data signals to the second pixel electrode and the third pixel electrode by the second switch and the third switch. The first end of the fourth switch connects to one of the second pixel electrode and the third pixel electrode. The second end of the fourth switch connects to the common electrode. In this way, the array substrate not only increases the aperture rate in the 2D display mode, but also decreases the cross talk effect in the 3D display mode. In addition, the number of the scanning drivers is reduced.
US09057895B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes: a liquid crystal; a pixel electrode, which applies a voltage to the liquid crystal; a switching device, which applies a voltage to the pixel electrode; a light shield part, which covers an area except for the pixel electrode, and which has an opening facing the pixel electrode; a color material, which is formed to overlap with a whole area of the opening; an inclusion part, which is a part of the light shield part and is adjacent to the color material; a black powder inclusion space, which is covered by the inclusion part; and a black powder, which is included in the black powder inclusion pocket.
US09057892B2
A thermochromatic element includes a sealed enclosure, an insulation layer and a first heating element. The insulation layer is received in the sealed enclosure, that divides the sealed enclosure into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first heating element is configured to heat the first chamber. The first heating element includes a carbon nanotube film including a number of carbon nanotube linear units and a number of carbon nanotube groups. Each carbon nanotube linear unit includes a number of first carbon nanotubes substantially oriented along a first direction, and are spaced from each other and substantially extending along the first direction. The carbon nanotube groups are combined with the carbon nanotube linear units by van der Waals force. The carbon nanotube groups between adjacent carbon nanotube linear units are spaced from each other in the first direction.
US09057879B2
A SPIM-microscope (Selective Plane Imaging Microscopy) having a y-direction illumination light source and a z-direction detection light camera. An x-scanner generates a sequential light sheet by scanning the illumination light beam in the x-direction. By an illumination optics having a zoom optics that is provided in the beam path of the illumination light beam the focal length of the illumination light beam can be varied.
US09057878B2
A light scanning unit includes: a light source unit; a polygon mirror for deflecting and scanning light emitted from the light source unit, in a main scanning direction, and having a plurality of deflection surfaces and a plurality of edges at which adjacent deflection surfaces meet one another; an image forming optical system for condensing the deflected light; and a synchronization detection optical system for detecting a portion of light that is divided and reflected at an edge of the polygon mirror. The light scanning unit may be incorporated into an image forming apparatus.
US09057877B2
An illumination optical apparatus has an optical unit. The optical unit has a light splitter to split an incident beam into two beams; a first spatial light modulator which can be arranged in an optical path of a first beam; a second spatial light modulator which can be arranged in an optical path of a second beam; and a light combiner which combines a beam having passed via the first spatial light modulator, with a beam having passed via the second spatial light modulator; each of the first spatial light modulator and the second spatial light modulator has a plurality of optical elements arranged two-dimensionally and controlled individually.
US09057876B2
A periscope construction having a ballistic guard formed inside a protective housing, and optical system mounted therein having first and second blocks of optical material mounted at opposite ends; first and second reflective surfaces, and the object and eyepiece viewing surfaces of the respective blocks being generally parallel and forming a parallelogram in cross section; the first and second end surfaces being spaced from each other within the housing with at least one layer of transparent armor therebetween to deflect incoming projectiles away from the object viewing section; and may include at least one layer of transparent armor rigidly positioned at an angle relative to the field of view no less than 300° to a maximum of 360° which is parallel to the field of view. It may further include a high grade metallic band rigidly formed around and adjacent the space between the first and second end surfaces.
US09057858B2
A component for a closure is disclosed herein. The component includes a collar extending around a central axis. The component also includes a first expansion housing positioned outside the collar in a radial direction relative to the central axis. The first expansion housing has an interior region in communication with an interior of the collar. The first expansion housing also includes a first adapter mounting wall defining a plurality of first adapter mounting openings in which a plurality of first fiber optic adapters are mounted. The first fiber optic adapters include first connector ports adapted for receiving connectors from outside the first expansion housing.
US09057854B2
An optical printed circuit board is provided. The optical printed circuit board includes an insulation member, an optical fiber disposed in the insulation member and having opposite end portions exposed to a side of the insulation member, and at least one supporting member provided with a guide portion coupled to the opposite end portions of the optical fiber and guiding bending of the optical fiber.
US09057850B2
The present invention provides an optoelectronic module including a substrate, an optoelectronic device and a control unit. The substrate includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a concave structure, a through hole structure and a conductive material. The concave structure is disposed on the top surface. The through hole structure passes through the substrate from the top surface to the bottom surface. The conductive material is filled into the through hole structure. The optoelectronic device is disposed on the substrate for providing or receiving an optical signal. The control unit is configured on the top surface and electrically connected to the conductive material and the optoelectronic device for controlling the optoelectronic device.
US09057848B2
An optical fiber connector includes a first surface, a second surface parallel with the first surface, a third surface, and a fourth surface parallel with the third surface. A groove and a fiber hole are defined in the optical fiber connector. The groove includes a bottom surface and a side surface connected with the bottom surface. A distance between the bottom surface and the bottom of the fiber hole is b. The optical fiber connector follows the relationship: d≦b≦α/tgθ, a is equal to the length of the optical fiber extending out of the fourth surface, d is equal to the diameter of an optical fiber for being received in the fiber hole, and θ is equal to a half of an angle of a laser which is used to cut the optical fiber.
US09057828B2
A multi-port light source of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) may include a light emission portion for generating light; and a plurality of waveguides on opposite sides of the light emission portion to guide the light. A multi-port light source of a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) may include a first layer including a first pattern and a second pattern that are different from each other; an insulating layer on at least a region of the first layer; an active layer on at least a region of the insulating layer; and a reflective layer on the active layer.
US09057825B2
A plurality of photonic crystal resonator optical trapping apparatuses and a plurality optical trapping methods using the plurality of photonic crystal resonator optical trapping apparatuses include located and formed over a substrate a photonic waveguide that is coupled (i.e., either separately coupled or integrally coupled) with a photonic crystal resonator. In a particular embodiment, the photonic waveguide and the photonic crystal resonator comprise a monocrystalline silicon (or other) photonic material absent any chemical functionalization. In another particular embodiment, the photonic waveguide and the photonic crystal resonator comprise a silicon nitride material which when actuating the photonic crystal resonator optical trapping apparatus with a 1064 nanometer resonant photonic radiation wavelength (or other resonant photonic radiation wavelength in a range from about 700 to about 1200 nanometers) provides no appreciable heating of an aqueous sample fluid that is analyzed by the photonic crystal resonator optical trapping apparatus.
US09057819B2
A light-emitting element driving apparatus comprising a light-emitting element, a driving unit including a control terminal for driving the light-emitting element based on a potential of the control terminal, and a controlling unit including a voltage holding unit, wherein the controlling unit controls the potential of the control terminal such that an emitted light amount approaches a target value and causes the voltage holding unit to hold a voltage corresponding to the potential of the control terminal, when the light-emitting element is in an emitting state, controls the potential of the control terminal to inactivate the driving unit, when setting the light-emitting element in a non-emitting state, and controls the potential of the control terminal by using the voltage of the voltage holding unit, when setting the light-emitting element in the emitting state again.
US09057818B2
An adjusting assembly for a lens of a camera has a hollow housing with a mounting portion, at least one driving ring mounted around the lens, at least one turning rod mounted through the mounting portion and engaging with the at least one driving ring, and at least one limiting ring. The at least one limiting ring is embedded in the mounting portion of the housing and prevents the at least one turning rod from dropping out of the housing. The mounting portion is integrally formed on the housing and has an enlarged thickness that allows the at least one turning rod to be stably mounted on the housing. The at least one turning rod is embedded in the housing, such that appearance of the housing is smooth and pleasing.
US09057811B2
A cooling structure for light emitting elements for a liquid crystal panel according to the present invention includes: a long-shaped substrate that is disposed so as to extend along an edge of a light guide plate provided on a rear surface of a liquid crystal panel, and in which a plurality of through-holes are formed; a plurality of light emitting elements that are disposed on a front surface of the substrate so as to face the light guide plate; and a chassis that is provided at a rear surface side of the substrate, and the through-holes are arranged at a higher density at a center portion of the substrate in a long direction than at end portions of the substrate in the long direction.
US09057806B2
A light source includes a carrier, a plurality of solid-state light-emitting devices, a light-incoupling component, a first reflector, and a plurality of second reflectors. The solid-state light-emitting devices and the light-incoupling component are configured on the carrier. The light-incoupling component has a bottom surface, a top surface, a plurality of side surfaces adjoining the bottom surface and the top surface, and a through hole extending from the bottom surface to the top surface. The solid-state light-emitting devices are located in the through hole. The first reflector covers the through hole. The second reflectors are configured on the side surfaces. Light emitted from the solid-state light-emitting devices enters the light-incoupling component via a sidewall of the through hole and leaves the light-incoupling component via the top surface thereof.
US09057801B2
A geophysical data acquisition system includes at least one geophysical sensor. The at least one geophysical sensor has associated therewith a signal generator configured to generate a signal corresponding to a type of the at least one geophysical sensor. The system includes at least one signal acquisition unit having a plurality of input channels. The at least one geophysical sensor is in signal communication with one of the plurality of input channels. The plurality of input channels each includes a detector for receiving and identifying the signal generated by the signal generator. The at least one signal acquisition unit includes amplification, filtering and digitizing circuits automatically configurable in response to the type of sensor identified by the detected signal.
US09057800B2
A marine cable for seismic surveys is described with a plurality of ceramic pressure sensors arranged in groups of at least two pressure sensors with a group output being representative of the vertical pressure gradient at the group location, and an inclinometric system including one or more transducers for determining the orientation of the sensors of the group in order to determine their true vertical separation.
US09057799B2
An apparatus for estimating a property of an earth formation penetrated by a borehole includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through the borehole; a transmitter antenna disposed at the carrier and configured to emit electromagnetic energy; a direction guidance antenna configured to receive the electromagnetic energy from the transmitter antenna and direct the electromagnetic energy into the formation and to receive a signal from the formation indicative of the property; a receiver antenna configured to receive the signal from the direction guidance antenna; and a processor configured to receive the signal from the receiver antenna and to estimate the property using the received signal.
US09057798B2
A sensor streamer stretch section includes at least one spring. A means for coupling the spring at each end to at least one of a sensor streamer and a lead in cable is included. A cable is coupled at its ends to the means for coupling. The cable is capable of carrying at least one of electrical and optical signals. The cable is formed such that the cable undergoes substantially no axial strain when the shock cord is elongated. An adjustable damper is coupled between the means for coupling at each end of the stretch section.
US09057792B2
The invention relates to a device and a method to determine whether a water leakage has occurred in ground by means of Doppler radar. The device comprises a radar emitting unit for emitting electromagnetic waves into the ground, a receiver unit for receiving signals reflected from a fluctuating water surface, a signal processing unit which band pass filters the received signal to obtain a signal that only comprises the Doppler shifted frequencies, creates a measure of the derivative of the reflected signal and, in a decision processor, compares this measure with a threshold value corresponding to the signal value of the background. If the measure of the derivative exceeds said threshold value a leakage is considered to have occurred.
US09057786B2
Described is an apparatus, method and machine-readable medium for determining radiation dosages based on a solution vector for each radiation field and an objective function.
US09057785B1
A method may include generating for transmission a repeating sequence of N constant-frequency pulses of width t seconds at interpulse intervals of T seconds, with each pulse in the sequence having a particular constant phase according to a quadratic phase sequence, which phase is applied to each pulse in a first sense of modulation. The method may further include modulating the phase of echo energy received from one or more objects reflecting the transmitted repeating sequence of N constant-frequency pulses with a second sense of modulation opposite to the first sense of modulation. The method may further include producing from the modulated received echo energy N unique and discrete frequency translations of the received echo energy as a function of range r of the reflecting objects, of magnitude equal to multiples of 1/NT Hz, which may preserve the spectrum of the received echo energy, forming in combination a composite signal frequency spectrum.
US09057783B2
A system and method for locating a moving target behind a wall or barrier comprising: providing a plurality of images of the region of interest; selecting a reference image from the plurality of images; forming a predetermined number of difference images by subtracting the absolute value of the pixels of the reference image from the absolute values of pixels in a predetermined number of the plurality of images; eliminating negative pixel values in the predetermined number of difference images; minimizing the side lobes to form a combined difference image for each reference frame, selecting another reference image from the plurality of images and performing the steps of forming a plurality of difference images, eliminating negative pixel values, averaging the resulting predetermined number of difference images and minimizing the side lobes for each selected reference image to form a set of combined difference images which contain the moving target signature.
US09057781B2
A position estimation device includes: a mathematical expression model processing unit that calculates a position of a mobile object, a condition quantity indicating a moving condition of the mobile object and an error in the condition quantity through filtering processing executed by using a probability model based upon an attitude information and a positioning information of the mobile object having been obtained from sensors and a specific mathematical expression model among a plurality of mathematical expression models expressing behavior of the mobile object; a threshold calculation unit that calculates a threshold candidate value for a threshold value to be used as a criterion when selecting the specific mathematical expression model, by using the error; a threshold value determining unit that determines the threshold value based upon the threshold candidate value; and a mathematical expression model selection unit that selects the specific mathematical expression model based upon the threshold value.
US09057779B2
A sensor device is proposed for monitoring a mobile moving element, guided in a guide, with respect to undesired collisions of the moving element with an object which is located in a monitoring range, having at least two sensors for sensing the object, wherein the sensors comprise a transmitter and a receiver for emitting and receiving electromagnetic rays, wherein the sensors are arranged one next to the other in such a way that they can be mounted parallel to the guide, and the sensors are also oriented in such a way that the rays emitted by them penetrate the monitoring range. In order to enable improved obstacle recognition, the sensors are embodied as distance sensors for determining the distance from the object. In addition, a safety device, a door and a method for monitoring the movement are proposed.
US09057778B2
A method and system for detecting composition of a physical space comprising: a laser beam source; an acoustic sensor; a beam focusing mechanism for focusing the laser beam at predetermined points in the physical space to generate a thermal inhomogeneity which results in the propagation of a pressure wave that propagates outward from the predetermined excitation point at a propagation velocity approximating the speed of sound for the particular composition of the media; at least one processor for controlling the timing for the laser beam focusing to generate thermal inhomogeneities; whereby the laser focal point is moved sequentially along the light-of-sight at various excitation points by the beam focusing mechanism approximately at the phase front velocity to define a series of predetermined excitation points and pressure wave propagations such that the series of pressure wave propagations combine to produce a coherent pressure wave detectable by the acoustic sensor.
US09057773B1
Systems and methods for displaying weather data relating to weather near an aircraft are provided. A method includes generating a three-dimensional weather profile of the weather near the aircraft based on reflectivity data from radar returns of a weather radar system of the aircraft. Generating the three-dimensional weather profile includes estimating weather data above a freezing layer height using a function that is based on a rate of reduction in reflectivity above the freezing layer. The method further includes transmitting weather display data to a display device, the weather display data being configured to cause the display device to display a visual representation of the three-dimensional weather profile.
US09057772B1
Disclosed is an apparatus for estimating the features of a radio frequency signal including a reference signal generator configured for generating a reference signal from a complex signal and one or more feature estimation units configured to generate one or more feature estimates from the reference signal and the complex signal. Techniques for creating reference signals from both signals spread by a scrambling code and FM signals are discussed.
US09057771B2
Wireless local area networks (WLANs) provide wireless communication between various wireless devices. Frames are acknowledged (ACKed) after a short and predefined MAC idle time. The MAC idle time varies with 1) the physical distance between wireless devices, caused by the delay of wireless signal propagation, and 2) the time to detect the ACK at the local wireless device, which varies with the signal strength of the incoming ACK. Embodiments present CAESAR (CArriEr Sense-bAsed Ranging), which combines time of flight (TOF) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurements to calculate the distance between two wireless devices. CAESAR measures the distance by estimating the MAC idle time in a data/ACK communication at a particular clock resolution and the ACK detection time on a per-frame basis. Performance measurements confirm the accuracy of the solution and show the capability to track the distance to WLAN smart phones at pedestrian speeds.
US09057766B2
A mechanism is provided for identifying a failing latch within an integrated circuit device. A test sequence is initiated on a set of scan chains associated with an identified failing multiple input signature register. For each test portion in a set of test portions in the test sequence, a comparison is performed between an output of the multiple input signature register and a corresponding value in a set of expected values. Responsive to determining a match, a value of a counter is incremented. Responsive to a failure to match, incrementing of the counter is stopped, and the value of the counter providing an indication of the failing latch in the integrated circuit device is read out.
US09057760B2
Detection circuits, methods of use and manufacture and design structures are provided herein. The structure includes at least one signal line traversing one or more metal layers of an integrated circuit. Circuitry is coupled to the at least one signal line, which is structured to receive a signal with a known signal from the at least one signal line or a signal from a different potential and, based on which signal is received, determine whether there is a structural defect in the integrated circuit.
US09057753B2
There is provided a sensing device including a circuit including at least a coil electromagnetically coupled to an outside; a temperature detection unit for detecting a temperature of the coil; a sensing unit for measuring a Q value of the circuit; and a correction unit for correcting the Q value measured by the sensing unit based on temperature information detected by the temperature detection unit.
US09057746B1
Electrical usage of devices in a building may be monitored to provide information about the operation of the devices to a user. The information communicated to a user may include historical information and real-time information. In determining the real-time information, it may be desired to provide the information quickly and use a smaller set of features that are available more quickly. In determining the historical information, it may be desired to provide more accurate information and use a larger set of features. A device may compute real-time information and historical information using different sets of features.
US09057739B2
A method for determining an unknown input measurand Punk of a sensor having a linear response at small input measurand levels and a non-linear response at large input measurand levels.
US09057738B1
A typical inventive device is self-contained and is designed for adjunctive placement at the unconnected end of a towed body in order to test dynamic motions of the towed body. The inventive device includes an IMU, a computer, wired/wireless communication electronics, a fluid-dynamically shaped member, and a cylindrical housing (which encloses the IMU, the computer, and the communication electronics). The housing is connected to the towed body aft of the towed body, and the shaped member is connected to the housing aft of the housing. Data is acquired that is indicative of the inertial dynamics of the towed body while in motion through a fluidic medium. Differently shaped members can be independently connected to the housing at different times, each influencing in its own way the inertial dynamics of the towed body and yielding its own set of data. Comparisons can thus be drawn between/among differently shaped members.
US09057735B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects suffering from or suspected of having a renal injury. In particular, the invention relates to using assays that detect one or more markers selected from the group consisting of cytochrome c and insulin-like growth factor IA as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in renal injuries.
US09057731B2
Methods for predicting a response to an erythropoietic agent in a subject include providing a biological sample from the subject, and determining an amount in the sample of at least one peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 1-17. If there is a measurable difference in the amount of the at least one peptide in the sample, when compared to a control level of the same peptide, the subject is then predicted to have a good response or a poor response to the erythropoietic agent. Kits for predicting a response to an erythropoietic agent are further provided and include one or more antibodies, or fragments thereof, that specifically recognize a peptide of SEQ ID NOS: 1-17.
US09057728B2
In certain embodiments, the method may comprises: a) contacting a population of permeabilized, cross-linked antibody-producing cells with a labeled antigen to produce a labeled sample in which cells that produce an antibody that specifically binds to said antigen are intracellularly labeled; b) using FACS to isolate cells that are intracellularly labeled, thereby producing labeled cells; c) uncrosslinking said labeled cells to produce uncrosslinked cells; and d) amplifying heavy and light chain-encoding nucleic acid from individual uncrosslinked cells, thereby obtaining nucleic acid that encodes the variable domain of antibody that specifically binds to said antigen.
US09057726B2
The invention relates to the identification of Neuropeptide Q as ligand of the GALR2 GPCR (G-protein coupled receptor). The invention encompasses the use of the interaction of GALR2 polypeptides and Neuropeptide Q polypeptides as the basis of screening assays for agents that modulate the activity of the GALR2 receptor. The invention also encompasses diagnostic assays based upon the GALR2/Neuropeptide Q polypeptide interaction, as well as kits for performing diagnostic and screening assays.
US09057711B2
An inspection apparatus and method, which can perform defect determination and estimate a defect on a mask and the resultant influence on a wafer. Each of the transfer images is reviewed in order of following (1) to (3): (1) when the degree of defect identified in the first comparing unit is at or exceeding a third threshold and an error ratio corresponding to the defect is at or exceeding a fourth threshold; (2) when the degree of a defect identified in the first comparing unit is less than the third threshold, and an error ratio corresponding to the defect is at or exceeding a fourth threshold; and (3) when the degree of a defect identified in the first comparing unit is at or exceeding a third threshold, and an error ratio corresponding to the defect is less than the fourth threshold.
US09057703B2
A particle detection device detects a biological particle. The particle detection device includes a collection unit that collects a particle to a collection substrate, a fluorescence detection unit that emits excitation light toward the particle collected on the collection substrate and receives fluorescence emitted from the particle, and a cleaning unit that removes the particle from the collection substrate at a refreshing position separated from a collection/heating position and a detection position. At the collection/heating position, the particle is collected onto the collection substrate by the collection unit. At the detection position, fluorescence is received by the fluorescence detection unit. With such a structure, the particle detection device in which the particle is highly accurately detected is provided.
US09057691B2
An alcohol fuel cell sensor and the resultant alcohol breath tester assembly. The disclosed housing creates an alcohol breath tester assembly that protects the electrode sensor from liquid ingress, maximizes the sample contact with the platinum electrode surface, and provides a smooth path facilitating laminar flow of the sample through the sensor. This, in turn, provides good flushing of the volume without creating eddies or other turbulence. Additionally, the housing can utilize a vapor barrier layer in the assembly and restricts the layer from touching the electrode surface.
US09057689B2
Methods are disclosed for determining a value associated with an analyte in a sample. The methods include: determining a set of spectra from a model for light attenuation in the sample, where the model includes contributions from at least two different sources of light attenuation in the sample; determining a set of spectral correction factors associated with the analyte in the sample based on the set of spectra; and using the set of spectral correction factors to determine the value associated with the analyte of interest.
US09057685B2
An x-ray analysis system having an x-ray engine with an x-ray source for producing an x-ray excitation beam directed toward an x-ray analysis focal area; a sample chamber for presenting a sample stream to the x-ray analysis focal area, the analysis focal area disposed within a sample analysis area defined within the chamber; an x-ray detection path for collecting secondary x-rays and directing the x-rays toward a detector; an x-ray transparent barrier on a wall of the chamber through which the x-rays pass; and a blocking structure partially blocking the sample analysis area, for creating sample stream turbulence in the sample analysis area and over the barrier. The blocking structure may be disposed asymmetrically about a central axis of the x-ray analysis focal area and/or the sample analysis area; and may be a rounded pin. A heating element may be used to heat the sample stream for improving flow.
US09057674B2
The invention provides a reagent reservoir system and disposable reaction cassettes using the same. In one aspect, such system comprises a chamber in which dried reagent, particularly lyophilized reagent, is constrained to remain in a defined region of the chamber by a retaining member that obstructs passage of such reagents to other regions of the chamber where they may escape hydration or activation.
US09057672B2
Sample application systems can include an extraction mechanism to remove a sample from sample containers, a sample vessel disposed on a deployment mechanism, where the deployment mechanism is arranged to move the sample vessel to receive a sample, an extraction mechanism washing station to wash the extraction mechanism, a sample applicator to remove a portion of the sample in the sample vessel and apply it onto a sample carrier, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to a sample application position, a sample vessel washing station to wash the sample vessel, where the deployment mechanism can move the sample vessel to the sample vessel washing station, a sample applicator washing station to wash the sample applicator after the sample has been dispensed onto the sample carrier, and a fluid control system to control flow of a fluid provided to the extraction mechanism and the sample applicator.
US09057667B2
Devices and methods are provided for testing and maintaining hydraulic tools and, in particular, devices and methods for testing and maintaining hydraulic forcible entry tools that are used to forcibly open locked doors, for example, in emergency situations.
US09057659B2
A process variable transmitter for measuring a pressure of a process fluid includes a sensor module, a pressure inlet formed in the sensor module, an isolation diaphragm positioned in the pressure inlet, a pressure sensor and an isolation tube containing a fill fluid to convey a process fluid related pressure from the isolation diaphragm to the pressure sensor. A hydrogen getter material is positioned in contact with the fill fluid between the isolation diaphragm and the pressure sensor to remove hydrogen from the fill fluid.
US09057657B2
A device for disinfecting, sterilizing, and/or maintaining medical, in particular dental instruments. The device is optimized in various areas, facilitating the fully automatic, reliable, and reproducible preparation of dental instruments.
US09057654B2
A pressure gauge including a hollow cylinder, a first housing member having a first pressure inlet disposed at a first end of the cylinder, and a second housing member having a second pressure inlet disposed at a second end of the cylinder. The pressure gauge also includes a piston slidably disposed in the first housing member. The piston includes a remote indicator coupled to an end of the piston. At least a portion of the remote indicator extends into the hollow cylinder. A spring is disposed in the cylinder abutting the remote indicator and urges the remote indicator toward the second housing member. An increased pressure difference between the first pressure inlet and the second pressure inlet causes the remote indicator to move away from the second housing member and toward the first housing member, and the remote indicator provides a measure of the pressure difference relative to indicia included on the pressure gauge.
US09057651B2
A device forming a pressure sensor is provided. The device includes: a substrate made of electrical insulation material including a first reservoir, a second reservoir in communication with the first reservoir and of which two internal walls are each equipped with an electrode, and a flexible membrane made of an electrical insulation material, including a protuberance and secured to the substrate so as to enable movement of the protuberance between a position in which it is at a distance from a liquid filling the first reservoir and at least one second position in which it exerts a pressure on the liquid, thus discharging it at least partially from the first reservoir toward the second reservoir with mechanical contact with the two electrodes, the mechanical contact of the liquid with the electrodes establishing a resistance or capacitance between the electrodes. Application in the production of a touch screen is also provided.
US09057648B2
A thermostatic element contains: a metal cover, a sleeve, a filler, a partition disc, and a piston. The metal cover has a covering head, at least two tubular legs, and a connecting portion between the covering head and the at least two tubular legs. The sleeve has a central channel and a seat, and the filler is filled in the metal cover. The partition disc is applied for separating the sleeve from the filler, and the piston is fixed in the central channel and couples with the filler by using the partition disc. Furthermore, each tubular leg has a cavity, and the connecting portion has a common room communicating with the cavity of each tubular leg, such that the filler is filled in each cavity and the common room. Furthermore, between the at least two tubular legs is defined at least one passage for flowing fluid.
US09057646B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit configured to form a measurement image on a sheet, a measurement unit configured to measure the measurement image formed on the sheet to output a measurement value, a white reference plate provided at a position facing to the measurement unit, and a correction unit configured to correct the measurement value output from the measurement unit according to a distance from the measurement unit to the white reference plate in a case where the measurement image formed on the sheet is measured.
US09057639B2
Spin coating a mixture of graphene oxide platelets, water, and an organic solvent by placing a drop of the mixture on a spinning substrate while blowing a drying gas onto the substrate and allowing the water and the organic solvent on the substrate to evaporate; and repeating the spin coating one or more times to form a graphene oxide film in contact with the substrate. An about 1-100 nm thick film of overlapping platelets of reduced graphene oxide.
US09057623B2
A navigation device includes a road periphery display change unit 3 that selects a road R which connects to, intersects with, or is adjacent to a guidance route/a travel plan route 21 from a map database 5, and displays the road in a high contrast on the inside of a predetermined distance from the guidance route/the travel plan route 21, displays the road in a low contrast on the outside of the predetermined distance, and displays the road by changing continuously or stepwise a gradation in an intermediate region between the inside and the outside.
US09057619B2
An optimal path search system, which optimizes a travel path of a moving object, comprising: a path information database; and a path search unit that searches for an optimal path that exhibits a minimum travel cost borne by the moving object, from among travel paths of the moving object, wherein: the path search unit is configured to: determine destination points on the path network; search for at least one nearest node to each of destination points, search for a second travel path along which the moving object travels by passing through the at least one nearest node and all of the at least one destination point, determine the second travel path for which a travel cost is minimum; and search for the travel paths followed by using each of a plurality of moving means, respectively, in a case where the moving object travels along the optimal path.
US09057610B2
A robotic laser-pointing apparatus has an instrument center, a first rotation axis, a second rotation axis, and a pointing axis, with the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis and the pointing axis in a known relationship to the instrument center. A laser source provides a pointing-laser beam along the pointing axis. A pointing drive system aims the laser beam by rotating the pointing axis about the instrument center in response to a pointing-direction control. Focusing optics having a focusing-optics drive serve to focus the pointing-laser beam in response to a focusing-optics control. A processor, responsive to target-position information, generates the pointing-direction control and the focusing-optics control. Some embodiments include an electronic-distance-measurement system having a measurement beam. Some embodiments provide for compensation of aiming errors of the pointing-laser beam and the measurement beam.
US09057601B2
An apparatus for three-dimensionally imaging a pipe centered on and extending along an axis has supports for supporting the pipe by engagement with only an inside surface of the pipe such that an outer surface of the pipe is entirely exposed. A scanner is spacedly juxtaposed with and around the outer surface of the pipe. The scanner and the pipe can be relatively axially displaced such that the scanner passes along a full length of the pipe for scanning of the entire outer surface.
US09057586B2
An actuating device for setting an optical parameter of an optical device including a telescopic sight. The actuating device includes a first coupling part rotatable about a rotation axis and an index element pushable onto the first coupling part for assuming an operating position. A guide arrangement guides the index element on the first coupling part and is configured to permit a push-on of the index element in the direction of the rotation axis and to permit a twisting of the index element relative to the first coupling part at least in a direction perpendicular to or tangential to the rotation axis. A second coupling part is configured to provide friction forces counteracting a twisting of the index element relative to the first and second coupling parts when the index element is in the operating position thereof.
US09057579B2
A holster for a handgun includes a plurality of projecting features for engaging receiving features on a handgun component. The holster includes a locking feature controlled by a mechanism to selectively engage or disengage the handgun component from the holster.
US09057577B2
A rifle lower receiver has a trigger well and a magazine well. A hammer is disposed in the trigger well and configured to pivot from a first hammer position to a second hammer position in response to moving a trigger from a first trigger position to a second trigger position. A gear member attached to the lower receiver has a predefined number of gear teeth and a locking pin extending from the gear member. A pawl is connected to the trigger and operationally engages the gear member to increment the gear member once per trigger pull. Upon reaching a predefined number of trigger pulls, the locking member locks the trigger. A release lever on the lower receiver is operably configured to advance the gear member one increment to unlock the trigger. A method of dry-fire training is also disclosed.
US09057576B2
A spring-loaded quick coupling barrel retaining system for a firearm. The firearm includes a receiver, a barrel nut, and barrel assembly rotatably mounted thereto. In one embodiment, the barrel assembly may include barrel locking lugs which rotatably engage and interlock with corresponding locking elements disposed on the barrel nut such as splines. The barrel assembly further includes a spring member forming a flexible interface with the barrel nut. The spring member self-tensions and tightens the lockup between the barrel assembly and barrel nut to promote a tight fit. Some embodiments may include a lock nut and a setting tool for adjusting the spring force to promote consistently proper lockup from one replacement barrel assembly to the next.
US09057575B2
A cleaning tool for maintaining a firearm includes a flexible brush adapter having a first end and an opposing second end. The flexible brush adapter includes a rotation-resistant cable characterized by two or more layers of strands having differing directions of lay. The cleaning tool further includes a brush attachment coupled to the flexible brush adapter at the second end thereof. The brush attachment includes a plurality of bristles. In one example, the brush attachment comprises a longitudinal twisted wire spine. The spine captures the plurality of bristles extending radially therefrom. The bristles include copper alloy bristles intermixed with stainless steel bristles.
US09057573B1
A pistol hammer has a pistol cam formed around a hammer pin axis and configured to accommodate a strut. A pistol rear portion is immediately adjacent to the pistol cam. A pistol spur is immediately adjacent to the pistol rear portion. A pistol head is immediately adjacent to the pistol spur. The pistol head has a flat face that terminates at a flat face point. A concave front face is immediately adjacent to the pistol head extending in a smooth arc from the flat face point through an offset point to a termination point immediately adjacent to the pistol cam. The concave front face is configured to make contact toward a center of the firing pin retainer with a moment arm configured to fire the pistol with minimal force.
US09057564B2
A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. The indirect evaporative heat exchange section is usually located above the direct evaporative heat exchange section, and an evaporative liquid is passed downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid that exits the indirect evaporative heat exchange section then passes downwardly across and through the direct heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid is collected in a sump and then pumped upwardly to be distributed again across the indirect heat exchange section. The indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger.An improved heat exchange apparatus is provided with indirect evaporative heat exchange section consisting of a plate type heat exchanger which provides more surface area per volume compared to other designs. The indirect plate style heat exchanger may be combined with one or more direct evaporative heat exchange sections in multiple arrangements.
US09057563B2
A heat exchange apparatus is provided with an indirect evaporative heat exchange section and a direct evaporative heat exchange section. The indirect evaporative heat exchange section is usually located above the direct evaporative heat exchange section, and an evaporative liquid is passed downwardly onto the indirect heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid that exits the indirect evaporative heat exchange section then passes downwardly across and through the direct heat exchange section. The evaporative liquid is collected in a sump and then pumped upwardly to be distributed again across the indirect heat exchange section. The indirect heat exchange section is comprised of a plate type heat exchanger.
US09057554B2
A household appliance such as a refrigerator includes a housing and a user interface operatively connected to the housing. The user interface includes a display and user inputs. The user interface is adapted for showing on the display a part number for a component part, contact information for use in acquiring the component part, and instructions for installing the component part. The contact information may include a phone number. The contact information may include a web site address. The component part may be a replacement part such as a filter or the component part may be an accessory part. The user interface may also be adapted for displaying instructions or service or maintenance tasks.
US09057552B2
A cooler includes a main body which includes a base, an upper rim, and one or more cooler walls extending therebetween. The cooler in some embodiments further includes a removable wheel assembly which includes two coaxial wheels, and an axle. The two coaxial wheels are removably securable to the axle. The cooler still further comprises a wheel fastening system configured to secure the removable wheel assembly to the base of the main body which includes a mount, a clip hingedly connected to the mount, and a locking clasp configured to lock the clip into a closed position to secure the wheel assembly. The cooler yet further comprises a lid including two wheel storage recesses, each being sized and dimensioned to receive and retain one of the coaxial wheel of the wheel assembly, and an axle storage recess sized and dimensioned to receive and retain the axle of the wheel assembly.
US09057546B2
A free-standing solar tracker comprises a base, a support frame, a panel assembly comprising one or more solar panels, and an actuator to rotate the panel assembly to track the movement of the sun. The solar tracker is designed to be free-standing and requires no foundation. When the solar tracker is deployed, the base forms a pan to contain a ballast material for holding the base in place. The base of the solar tracker is designed to serve as a “suitcase” to contain most of the components of the solar tracker, making it easier to transport the solar tracker 10 to a location where the solar tracker is installed.
US09057544B2
A solar panel mounting system has a plurality of mounting bases which have upper and lower mounting surfaces. In the minimum configuration, four mounting bases are used. A solar panel module is connected to the top portion of two bases and to the bottom portion so that the solar panel module is mounted at a selected angle. Each of the bases has attachment points which hold insert nuts and allows mounting brackets to be secured along the mounting surfaces. The mounting brackets allow the solar panel modules to be clamped utilizing their frames without additional hardware and to be attached from the top without access to the bottom of the panels. The brackets can be industry standard or specific to the system. The bases stack and nest for easy transport. The mounting bases may be secured to a selected surface using ballasts, mechanical attachments or a combination thereof.
US09057539B2
A method of tracking and collecting solar energy includes receiving solar energy on at least two solar energy receivers, measuring an energy output from each of the at least two solar energy receivers, comparing the energy output from one of the at least two solar energy receiver with the energy output from another of the at least two solar energy receivers, and shifting the at least two solar energy receivers until the energy output from the one of the at least two solar receivers is substantially equal to the another of the at least two solar receivers.
US09057538B2
In one embodiment a solar collector is provided. The collector has a modular heat transfer component which includes a heat transfer core to heat up a heat transfer fluid. The collector makes use of the heat transfer fluid itself to prevent heat loss through radiation.
US09057532B2
A return fan control system for an HVAC system comprises a supply fan control loop, a return fan control loop and a building pressure control system. The supply fan control loop comprises a duct pressure controller arranged to control a supply fan to a duct pressure setpoint. The return plenum pressure control loop comprises a return plenum pressure controller arranged to automatically control a return fan to a return plenum pressure setpoint determined by a setpoint reset function. The building pressure control system is operable to control a building pressure. The building pressure control system may comprise a building pressure control loop and an outside air control loop cooperatively arranged to control an exhaust damper in response to an outside air intake.
US09057528B2
A method of and system for preventing particulate matter, such as debris, precipitation, and condensation from occupying a space or accumulating upon a surface by directly engaging the surface or creating an air-curtain effect adjacent the space utilizing a selectively actuated gaseous flow.
US09057527B2
A range hood is provided that allows the user to select between venting to the exterior of a kitchen space versus recirculating air that is drawn over e.g., a cook top. Features are provided whereby the user can readily switch between such options for gas flow. A filter can also be provided whereby the user can readily select between different filter media depending upon the mode of gas flow selected.
US09057519B1
A chimney cap assembly capable of being secured to a chimney or flue of either air-cooled or non-air-cooled types, embodiments of the chimney cap assembly including a collar member and an overlap joint. The collar member having a compressible portion with an outside circumference that is compressible to a compressed circumference smaller than an opening of the chimney or flue. The collar member also having an overlap joint with a pivot whereby the compressible portion of the collar member can be compressed. Embodiments of the chimney cap assembly include the collar member being attached to a base. Embodiments of the cap assembly also include means to form a ledge on the chimney or flue and a lower mesh structure. Also disclosed are embodiments of kits to provide such means to form a ledge and a lower mesh structure.
US09057518B2
A reheat burner (1) includes a channel (2) with a lance (3) protruding thereinto to inject a fuel over an injection plane (4) perpendicular to a channel longitudinal axis (15). The channel (2) and lance (3) define a vortex generation zone (6) upstream of the injection plane (4) and a mixing zone (9) downstream of the injection plane (4) in the hot gas (G) direction. The mixing zone (9) includes a high speed area (16) with a constant cross section, and a diffusion area (17) with a flared cross section downstream of the high speed area (16) in the hot gas (G) direction.
US09057517B1
Systems and methods are disclosed that may include providing a dual fuel burner in a superheater truck to burn wellhead gas produced from a wellhead in a first fuel burner and burn at least one of methane, ethane, propane, butane, gasoline, diesel, liquified natural gas (LNG), natural gas liquids (NGLs), and wellhead gas in a second fuel burner to heat water and/or other chemicals used in hydrocarbon production and/or well completion processes, including, but not limited to hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The first fuel burner may be integrated with the second fuel burner such that fuel rail fingers of the first fuel burner are interstitially spaced with fuel rail fingers of the second fuel burner. The first fuel burner and the second fuel burner may be operated independently from each other. The first fuel burner and the second fuel burner may alternatively be operated simultaneously with each other.
US09057513B2
Quick-connect disconnect connectors are provided as part of an electrical assembly used to electrically couple components to the end of an electrical track section. The connectors have a tongue portion insertable into the end of the track only one way to ensure against cross-wiring and include structures for retaining electrical contacts and strain reliefs. The connectors readily disconnect from the end of the track when force is applied which might be sufficient to damage the track or electrical assembly to prevent such damage.
US09057510B2
A suspension device (101) for suspending objects (102), such as light fittings, at a distance from a ceiling (103). The suspension device comprises at least one rod member (104) and one flexible suspension line (105), wherein the rod member (104) is longer than 250 mm. The rod member has at least one attachment means (106) for at least one magnetic fastener (107, 108), and at least one alignment means (109) for slidably suspending (Z1) an upper portion (105′) of the suspension line relative to the longitudinal direction of the rod member. The suspension device further comprises at least one suspension means (110) for connection to both the suspension line (105) and the object (102), and a length-adjusting device (111) for adjusting the length (L1) of the suspension line between the rod member (104) and the suspension means (110).
US09057504B2
A LED strip light connector system for providing a reliable connection between a flexible LED light strip and a connector. The LED strip light connector system generally includes a connector adapted to receive an end of a light strip, and a support member extending outwardly from the connector to support the light strip near the connector. The light strip is attached to the surface of the support member thereby preventing movement of the light strip with respect to the connector.
US09057502B2
A lighting fixture includes a reflector reflecting light from a fluorescent lamp to a desired direction, and one or more lamp connectors connecting the reflector to rotatably and detachably coupling with the fluorescent lamp, wherein the reflector is adapted to selectively rotate with respect to an axis of the fluorescent lamp for reflecting light from the fluorescent lamp so as to change a light pattern of the fluorescent lamp towards an opening of the foldable housing. The foldable housing includes two side frames and a retention frame extended between the two side frames to retain a distance therebetween, wherein the side frames are pivotally coupled with the retention frame to fold between an unfolded position to retain the fluorescent lamp in longitudinal position and a folded position to form a compact size for storage and transportation.
US09057496B2
A vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing a spot portion of a light distribution pattern having a cutoff line to a cruising lane side is provided. The present invention includes semiconductor-type light sources 2L and 2R and lenses 3L and 3R. On emission surfaces 31L and 31R of the lenses 3L and 3R, peak portions 32L and 32R that form a spot portion SP of a light distribution pattern for low beam LP are respectively provided in given locations that are close to a cruising lane side with respect to optical axes ZL and ZR of the lenses 3L and 3R. As a result, the present invention can provide the vehicle headlamp that is capable of optically distributing the spot portion SP of the light distribution pattern for low beam LP having a cutoff line CL.
US09057490B2
A rechargeable portable light may comprise: a generally rectangular light body having a cavity therein; a rechargeable source of electrical power disposed in the cavity of the light body; a light source supported by the light body for producing light; a switch for selectively actuating the light source; a USB compatible connector on the light body electrically coupled for charging the rechargeable source of electrical power. The light source may be movable relative to the light body. The light may also include a clip attached to the light body for attaching the light to a person and/or object.
US09057487B2
An electronic incense censer includes an electronic incense which consists of a light guide for guiding light and a sheath coated on a circumferential periphery of the light guide, a light source arranged at a light incident end of the light guide, and a light emitting portion arranged at a light output end of the light guide. A color of light generated by the light source is adjustable by mixing light beams having different colors, wherein intensities of the light beams are adjustable. The light enters the light guide via the light incident end and reaches the light emitting portion via a guidance of the light guide.
US09057486B2
An optical touch device includes multiple optical touch modules and multiple L-shaped connection boards, which are assembled to form a frame body. Each L-shaped connection board is connected between two adjacent optical touch modules. Each optical touch module includes an LED circuit board and a control circuit board. Multiple LED components are disposed on one face of the LED circuit board. The other face faces the control circuit board. The other face of the control circuit board is connected with the L-shaped connection board. A first connector and a second connector are positioned in a space between overlapping sections of the LED circuit board and the control circuit board and mated with each other. The control circuit board has at least one third connector mated with a fourth connector of the L-shaped connection board. Electronic components and/or an extension section of a filter member are positioned in the space.
US09057485B2
A beam detector including a light source, a receiver, and a target, acting in cooperation to detect particles in a monitored area. The target reflects incident light, resulting in reflected light being returned to receiver. The receiver is capable of recording and reporting light intensity at a plurality of points across its field of view. In the preferred form the detector emits a first light beam in a first wavelength band; a second light beam in a second wavelength band; and a third light beam in a third wavelength band, wherein the first and second wavelengths bands are substantially equal and are different to the third wavelength band.
US09057478B2
The invention relates to a monitor supporting module including: two supporting stands fixed to a placing space, two fixing stands disposed on the rear of a flat panel display, two guide bars and two guide rails. The setting positions of the guide bars are corresponding to the guide rails. Each guide rail includes a notch, a first horizontal guide section, a vertical guide section and a second horizontal guide section. Each guide bar is guided to a corresponding notch through its protruded end edge and slides through the guide sections for completing the installation. The guide rails are respectively formed on corresponding supporting stands, and the guide bars are protruded from one side of corresponding fixing stands. Or, the guide bars are respectively disposed on corresponding supporting stands and the guide rails are formed on corresponding fixing stands.
US09057477B2
A projection display system includes: an image projection device projecting an image on a projection surface; an optical detecting device; and an attaching device, wherein the optical detecting device includes an irradiating section emitting an irradiation light toward a detection region which is set along the projection surface, a light receiving section receiving a reflected light generated as a result of the irradiation light being reflected from the object, and a detecting section detecting position information of the object based on the result of the light received by the light receiving section, and the attaching device includes a first attaching section attached to a support supporting the attaching device, a second attaching section attached to the image projection device, and a third attaching section attached to the optical detecting device.
US09057472B2
A flexible or rigid heat-insulation material consisting of a sheet of at least one layer of closed-cell gas bubbles 1/16 inch to 1 inch in size filled with a gas selected from helium, argon, neon, krypton, xenon, carbon dioxide, and chlorodifluoromethane, and mixtures thereof. At least one heat reflective layer of aluminum film is adhesively attached to the layer of gas bubbles or an aluminum film is vapor-deposited on the layer of gas bubbles.
US09057462B2
A method of laying a pipeline from a laying vessel into a body of water includes guiding the pipeline along a supporting structure of a laying ramp using a number of guide devices, and acquiring an image of the pipeline, in an acquisition plane crosswise to the axis of the pipeline, at the free end of the laying ramp. The method also includes determining whether the acquired image is within an acceptance range predetermined as a function of the configuration of the supporting structure and the size of the pipeline, and emitting an error signal when the acquired image is not within the acceptance range.
US09057461B2
A pipe includes a tubular pipe formed of a metal sheet that is spirally wound such that opposite edges of the metal sheet are joined by a crimped lock seam that extends helically along a length of the tubular pipe. A sealing arrangement includes a helically extending worked surface band extending along the crimped lock seam and to both sides of the crimped lock seam, the worked surface band having a surface roughness that is greater than a surface roughness of unworked surface portions outside of the worked surface band. A helically extending external coating band is applied over the crimped lock seam and bonded to the worked surface band.
US09057459B2
Spring band clip, removal tool, and method of operating spring band clip. The spring band clip includes an annular curved clip band having a first end portion and a second end portion, which are arranged to form an overlapping region and which are spaced radially from the clip band. A locking device, at least partially integrated in the first end portion, is structured and arranged to lock the clip band in an expanded state.
US09057457B2
A drain hose clip for securing a drain hose to a household appliance, and a household appliance having the drain hose clip and drain hose. The drain hose clip includes a body configured to be coupled to the drain hose and to secure the drain hose to the household appliance, and an orientation control feature on the body that engages a corresponding orientation control feature on the drain hose to maintain a fixed position of the drain hose with respect to the body of the drain hose clip.
US09057455B2
A crank for a valve linkage system includes a pin sleeve having a bore for receiving a connecting pin to connect the crank to a link; a shaft sleeve having a bore for receiving a shaft; an arm between the pin bore and shaft sleeve; and a first stiffening rib extending from the shaft sleeve toward the pin bore.
US09057447B2
An isolation tool assembly for use in isolating a section of a pipe has a seal unit in the form of spherical globe seal module and a lock arrangement. The seal module has a first body portion onto which are mounted two compression seal elements. In use, the seal elements engage the pipe to isolated the section of pipe and the lock arrangement prevents undesired deactivation of the seal elements where the pressure applied across the seal elements drops below a seal self-energization pressure.
US09057442B2
A structure of a piston ring to be installed in an engine includes a matrix. A laminated intermediate layer is formed on a surface of the matrix from hard chromium (Cr), chromium nitride (CrN) and titanium carbide (TiC) in order, and a diamond-like carbon film (DLC) is coated on an outer periphery of the intermediate layer. Thus, the piston ring is wrapped by a skin with a progressive structure having a gradient distribution of hardness. The structure formed from the diamond-like carbon film provides a low wear rate and a low friction coefficient, while applying a high bonding force to the matrix and making the piston ring have an improved normal service life that meets the related environmental regulations.
US09057441B2
A mechanism with an inner race, which has cams, an outer race and rollers between the cams and the outer race. The inner race has a first notch while the outer race has a second notch with a narrow portion and a wider portion. A member is disposed in the first and second notches. Positioning of the member in the first notch and the narrow portion of the second notch inhibits relative rotation between the inner and outer races and power is not transmitted between the outer race and a power transmitting member, such as a gear. Positioning of the member in the first notch and the wider portion of the second notch permits some relative rotation between the inner and outer races to cause the cams to urge the rollers outwardly so that the outer race frictionally engages the power transmitting member to facilitate transmission of rotary power therebetween.
US09057440B2
When a synchronizing sleeve that is driven by an actuator in response to gear shift request is stroked from a release position to an engagement position, a differential rotation speed between an input rotation and an output rotation is calculated at stroke positions after a synchronization completion position; and when the said differential rotation speed is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, a damage determination index is calculated based on the said differential rotation speed. Further, when a cumulative value of the damage determination index accumulated for each gear position becomes equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, the engagement operation of the gear position corresponding to the said cumulative value is disabled. This makes it possible to effectively determine the degree of damage when a gear whine occurs to a synchronized engaging device.
US09057424B2
A traction transmission capacity control device includes a one-direction turning-stop-position detecting means configured to detect a position at which the turning of a second roller stops after a second-roller turning means starts to turn the second roller in one direction; an another-direction turning-stop-position detecting means configured to detect a position at which the turning of the second roller stops after the second-roller turning means starts to turn the second roller in another direction; and a second-roller turning-motion reference-point setting means configured to set a center position between the position detected by the one-direction turning-stop-position detecting means and the position detected by the another-direction turning-stop-position detecting means, as a turning-motion reference point of the second roller. The traction transmission capacity control device is configured to perform a traction transmission capacity control based on a second-roller turning amount given from the turning-motion reference point of the second roller.
US09057420B1
The present invention relates to a protective guiding device for used in cable, including: a plurality of connection rack units for being connected and formed as a chain; and two turning and positioning structures, each of the structures includes an intermediate member and a fasten member, and adjacent surfaces defined on the two members are formed with a plurality of positioning concave parts and positioning convex parts capable of being mutually engaged; when the fasten member is outwardly pulled, and a buckle hole thereof is enabled to compress an elastic member relative to a buckle hook of the intermediate member, so the positioning convex parts and positioning concave parts are released and the fasten member can be turned to a desired angle then be released for allowing the elastic member to be stretched, so the positioning convex parts and the positioning concave parts are engaged for forming a positioning status.
US09057416B2
A bicycle can include a suspension system with a shock absorber. The shock absorber can have a sag position which can be adjustable. Sag refers to the amount of movement experienced by the suspension under a static load, such as that of the weight of a rider. Methods and systems to set sag can include at least one valve in fluid communication with a gas chamber of the shock absorber. In some embodiments, the at least one valve can be used to automatically set the sag position based on an individual's weight and riding position.
US09057414B2
The transmission mounting unit for a vehicle includes a mounting bracket in which a cylindrical mounting unit is formed, mounting ends fixed to a vehicle body that are integrally formed on both sides of the mounting unit, and a bush unit inserted into the mounting unit of the mounting bracket. The bush unit has a first outer pipe that forms an outer shell to be inserted into the mounting unit, a first insulator bonded to an internal circumference of the first outer pipe and integrated with a stopper protruding from the first through hole, a second outer pipe inserted into the first outer pipe, an inner core disposed in a center of the second outer pipe, and a second insulator having an external circumference bonded to an internal circumference of the second outer pipe while surrounding an external circumference of the inner core.
US09057407B2
A disconnect assembly is provided and includes a rotatably drivable input shaft including a first clutch portion, a rotating element including a second clutch portion, which is movable between a first position, at which the first and second clutch portions drivably register with each other, and a second position, at which the first and second clutch portions are displaced from each other and a disconnect bearing. The disconnect bearing is disposed at an inner diameter of the first clutch portion and configured to radially and axially secure the input shaft relative to the rotating element with the second clutch portion disposed in the first or second position.
US09057405B2
A cage segment for a rolling-element bearing has at least one pocket for a rolling element and is formed by a first segment part and a second segment part. The second segment part abuts the first segment part in an axial direction and is connected to the first segment part by an interference-fit or a friction-fit, or in a materially-bonded manner.
US09057404B2
A rolling bearing cage provides a circumferential spacing of a row of rolling elements and comprises first pockets configured to accommodate first rolling elements of the row of rolling elements. The first pockets are provided with axial retention portions configured to retain the rolling bearing cage on the first rolling elements. Second pockets are configured to accommodate second rolling elements of the row of rolling elements and not provided with axial retention portions configured to retain the cage on the second rolling elements. Separation portions are provided which between the separation portions delimit the first and second pockets. Each of the separation portions delimiting one of the first pockets comprises a notch open in an axial direction and open in opposing radial directions.
US09057402B2
A rolling bearing device, of the type including a central shaft and a hub (10) mobile in rotation relative to each other, the bearing including at least two rolling bearings (12, 13), one designated “lower” and the other designated “upper”, arranged between the central shaft (11) and the hub (10) in two positions spaced in the axial direction Z, these rolling bearings being fitted with inner (14, 16) and outer (15, 17) rings and with balls (18, 19), the rolling bearings being assembled back-to-back or face-to-face, a rigid preload being applied to these bearings along the axial direction Z, internal (22) and external (23) spacers being arranged between these rolling bearings, the inner (22) and outer (23) spacers have lengths adjusted to limit variations in rigid preload caused by temperature gradients from one point of the bearing to another to less than 30%, particularly thermal gradients in the radial direction.
US09057397B2
An organic-coated, chrome-plated fastener includes a fastener body having one or more friction regions that are adapted to slidably engage another structure when the fastener is used for fastening. Some or all of the fastener body may be chrome-plated, including at least one of the friction regions. The at least one chrome-plated friction region may be coated with an organic composition that is selected to control a coefficient of friction of the at least one chrome-plated friction region.
US09057392B2
A web-handling machine frame, at least partially built from reconfigurable interconnected blocks having precision alignment points. From such blocks, modular equipment web-handling lines for web-handling operations can be constructed ad hoc with their shaft mounted web-contacting devices in tram without the need for separate alignment procedures.
US09057383B2
A centrifugal compressor is disclosed. The centrifugal compressor comprises a first duct configured to receive a process gas, an impeller connected to the first duct and configured to compress the process gas, wherein the impeller has an outer surface, a first seal comprising, a first plurality of swirl brakes configured to have a tooth shape to reduce the inlet seal swirl of a flow of the process gas at an entrance to the first seal, wherein each swirl brake is disposed at a leading edge of the first seal and is configured to have a gap between the first plurality of swirl brakes and the outer surface of the impeller seal. A seal including a plurality of swirl brakes for reducing an inlet swirl and a method of manufacturing such a seal are disclosed.
US09057378B2
An intelligent air moving apparatus for cooling an electronics enclosure includes a motor for driving a fan at a variable rotational speed and a microcontroller for controlling the rotational speed of the motor. The microcontroller includes a speed sensor for sensing the rotational speed such that when the sensed rotational speed deviates below a target speed, the microcontroller detects a locked rotor condition.
US09057374B2
An oilless screw compressor incorporating water-cooled cooling units for cooling compressed air discharged from compressor bodies having a pair of male and female screw rotors which can be rotated in a contactless and oilless manner, the cooling units comprising a plate type heat-exchanger, and the amount of cooling water for the plate type heat-exchanger being adjustable. With this configuration, a difference between a temperature during load operation and a temperature upon automatic stopping and during unload operation of the compressor can be reduced, so that the cooling unit can be restrained from being damaged or broken within a short period, thereby it is possible to provide a highly reliable oilless screw compressor.
US09057369B2
A device for administering a fluid product, the device including a first housing part provided with a receiver for the product, a second housing part detachably connectable to the first housing part, a piston rod held such that it can be displaced for the exertion of an emptying movement, an actuatable or releasable drive element for the piston rod, a coupling element including a coupling input element that couples the drive element to the piston rod in a coupling engagement, transmits a driving force of the drive element to the piston rod, and triggers the emptying movement, and a decoupling element displaceably connected to the second housing part and coupled to the first housing part such that it is displaced, by a movement of the housing parts in relation to each other when the housing parts are separated into a decoupling position wherein the piston rod is decoupled from the coupling input element.
US09057365B2
Disclosed are a bush bearing, a fabricating method thereof and a hermetic compressor having the same. A lubricant member of the bush bearing can be adhered onto a housing or press-fitted therein so as to remarkably increase the thickness of the lubricant member, whereby the bush bearing can be more resistant to abrasion, and upon applying the same to the compressor, abrasion of a crank shaft or the bush bearing can be reduced.
US09057364B2
A bicycle air pump includes a cylinder portion, an inner piston, a piston rod, a head portion, a handle and a magnetic mechanism. The cylinder portion includes a first end, a second end and a chamber disposed between the first and second ends. The inner piston is movably disposed in the chamber of the cylinder portion. The piston rod has a first end and a second end coupled to the inner piston. The head portion is coupled to the cylinder portion. The head portion includes an outlet passage communicated with the chamber cylinder portion for supplying air to an object to be inflated. The handle is coupled to the piston rod to move within the chamber. The magnetic mechanism includes first and second closure members for engaging together magnetically to hold the piston rod stationary with respect to the cylinder portion.
US09057362B2
A vacuum pump may comprise a grating, and a sublimation element. The grating may have a grating opening and a grating interior that may be bounded by at least one grating surface. The sublimation element may be located within the grating interior and may be configured to sublimate and form a reactive film on the grating interior upon heating of the sublimation element above the sublimation temperature. The reactive film may be effective to capture gas molecules entering the grating interior through the grating opening and contacting the reactive film.
US09057351B2
Methods and systems are provided for restarting an engine when a high pressure fuel pump is degraded. In response to an indication of high pressure fuel pump degradation, fuel may be injected during an intake stroke, rather than a compression stroke, for a selected number of combustion events since the engine restart. By shifting to an intake stroke injection, the engine may be started even when sufficient fuel rail pressures are not available.
US09057349B2
A decoupling element for a fuel injection device provides a low-noise construction. The fuel injection device has at least one fuel injection valve and a receiving bore in a cylinder head for the fuel injection valve as well as the decoupling element between a valve housing of the fuel injection valve and a wall of the receiving bore. The spring rigidity of the decoupling element is so low and the decoupling element is placed between the valve housing of the fuel injection valve and the wall of the receiving bore in such a way that the decoupling resonance is located in the frequency range below 2.5 kHz. The fuel injection device is particularly suitable for the direct injection of fuel into a combustion chamber of a mixture-compressing spark-ignited internal combustion engine.
US09057339B2
A stochastic pre-ignition (SPI) mitigation system includes a detection module, an engine load module, and an evaluation module. The detection module generates a pre-ignition determination signal indicating detection of a SPI event in a cylinder of an engine. The engine load module determines load on the engine and generates an engine load signal based on the load. The evaluation module determines whether to operate in a single-pulse mode or a multi-pulse mode and generating a mode signal to operate in a selected one of the single-pulse mode and the multi-pulse mode based on the pre-ignition determination signal and the engine load signal. The single pulse mode includes injecting a single pulse of fuel into the cylinder during a first per combustion cycle of the cylinder. The multi-pulse mode includes injecting multiple pulses of fuel into the cylinder during a second combustion cycle of the cylinder.
US09057332B2
A start control system stores a map M1 that associates an accelerator position with an initial target speed of an engine and a map M2 that associates an accelerator position with a final target speed of the engine. If it is determined that a vehicle is in a start control period, a target speed of the engine is set to the initial target speed. When the engine speed reaches the initial target speed, the engine target speed is set to the final target speed. The initial target speed is set to a larger value than the final target speed for the same accelerator position.
US09057330B2
Various methods and system are described for determining ambient humidity via an exhaust gas sensor disposed in an exhaust system of a variable displacement engine. A reference voltage of a sensor coupled to an inactive engine bank is modulated between a first and second voltage to estimate ambient humidity. Concurrently, a reference voltage of a sensor coupled to an active engine bank is modulated between the first and second voltage, or at the first voltage, to estimate fuel alcohol content, or exhaust air-fuel ratio, respectively.
US09057324B2
A six-stroke engine system including an engine with a combustion chamber including an exhaust valve that expels exhaust gasses, a blowdown exhaust valve that expel blowdown exhaust gasses during recompression, and an intake valve and a blowdown compressor intake valve that introduce air. An exhaust line directs exhaust gasses to drive a turbine, which drives a compressor. An intake line receives compressed air from the compressor and directs it into the combustion chamber through the intake valve. A blowdown exhaust line, separate from the exhaust line, directs blowdown exhaust gasses from the blowdown exhaust valve to drive the blowdown turbine, which drives a blowdown compressor. A blowdown compressor line directs compressed air from the intake line into the blowdown compressor, and directs super-compressed air from the blowdown compressor through the blowdown compressor intake valve during recompression.
US09057323B2
The invention relates to a drive system provided with a cylinder shell with two end sections and, inside said cylinder shell, a central combustion chamber with two piston bodies arranged therein, that are displaceable in axially opposed directions within said combustion chamber, wherein a drive rod extending along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder shell is connected with each piston body and has a drive extension extending outwardly from each respective end section of said cylinder shell, wherein said drive rods are each connected via a drive element with a rotary body that can rotate around the cylinder shell, wherein said drive elements are provided with bearings that bear upon said rotary body and that, when in reciprocating motion, drive said rotary body in rotation about said longitudinal axis.
US09057322B2
A rotary engine rotary engine according to the present invention comprises a main housing assembly and a rotor assembly rotatably supported within the housing. The rotor assembly has two rotors, an intake/compression rotor rotatably disposed within the intake/compression housing, and a power/exhaust rotor rotatably disposed within the power/exhaust housing. The rotors have N number of apexes and sides, wherein N is an integer greater than 2. A rotating chamber is formed between each side of the each rotor and the inner wall of the respective housing. The stages of the thermodynamic cycle of the engine occur within these chambers. For example, if the rotors have three sides, the rotors will have a triangular-like shape with three apexes. The apexes form the outermost radial part of the rotors which engage the inner wall of the respective housing bore. Each of these chambers is split into two divided chambers by a reciprocating vane, thereby forming 2 times N divided chambers in each of the respective housing bores.
US09057319B2
The present invention relates to a multi-stage turbocharger arrangement (1), having a high-pressure turbocharger (20) which has a turbine housing (26A), a bearing housing (27A), a compressor housing (28A); and having a low-pressure turbocharger (21) which has a turbine housing (26B), a bearing housing (27B), a compressor housing (28B); wherein the turbine housings (26A, 26B) are provided with an integrated inner shell (23) for conducting exhaust gas.
US09057313B2
A muffler for an intake tract of a combustion engine is provided. The muffler includes a resonator housing, which according to a part segment of an annular body is formed with continuous cross section. The muffler also includes a resonator slide-in unit, which according to a part segment of an annular body is formed with a continuous cross section and which is configured in order to be slid into the resonator housing in a part circle-like movement.
US09057310B2
A catalysed soot filter comprising an oxidation catalyst for treating carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons (HCs) in exhaust gas from a compression ignition engine disposed on a filtering substrate, wherein the oxidation catalyst comprises: a platinum group metal (PGM) component selected from the group consisting of a platinum (Pt) component, a palladium (Pd) component and a combination thereof; an alkaline earth metal component; a support material comprising a modified alumina incorporating a heteroatom component.
US09057309B2
An aftertreatment system including a method which provides a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst disposed in an exhaust stream of an engine; determines that an ammonia pre-load condition for the SCR catalyst is present; determines a first amount of ammonia pre-load in response to the ammonia pre-load condition; injects an amount of ammonia or urea into the exhaust stream in response to the first amount of ammonia; and adsorbs a second amount of ammonia onto the SCR catalyst in response to injecting an amount of ammonia or urea, where the second amount of ammonia is either the injected amount of ammonia or an amount of ammonia resulting from hydrolysis from the injected amount of urea.
US09057293B2
A multiple variable valve lift apparatus may include a camshaft rotating by drive of an engine, at least two cam portions disposed on the camshaft to be movable along an axial direction of the camshaft and to be rotated together with the camshaft, and forming a high cam and a low cam, a valve opening/closing unit operated by one of the high cam or the low cam formed at the cam portion, an operating unit disposed on the camshaft to move together with one of the at least two cam portions, a solenoid selectively moving the operating unit along an axial direction of the camshaft, a interlock unit rotating together with the camshaft, and disposed between one and the other of the cam portions on the camshaft to be movable along an axial direction of the camshaft, and a pin operating unit selectively moving the interlock unit along the camshaft.
US09057288B2
A combined cycle power plant system and methods of operation so as to minimize consumption of cooling water utilizes exhaust from a combustion turbine to generate steam for power generation in a steam turbine topping cycle. The exhaust steam from the steam turbine topping cycle is utilized to vaporize an organic working fluid in an organic working fluid bottoming cycle, where vaporized organic working fluid expanded across a turbine generates additional power. Exhaust gas from the organic working fluid bottoming cycle is condensed utilizing an air-cooled heat exchanger. Heat exchange bundles of the air-cooled heat exchanger are preferably arranged horizontally relative to the ground to maximize efficiency. Turbine inlet cooling is employed at the combustion turbine to recapture energy lost in the system. A thermal energy storage tank may be utilized in conjunction with the turbine inlet cooling to supply chilling water to the system.
US09057286B2
A nacelle for a turbofan propulsion system that extends along a centerline includes a forward cowling and an aft cowling. To improve the fit of a turbofan propulsion system in the space between the wing and ground of a fixed-wing aircraft, the aft cowling of the nacelle is modified. The aft cowling has a non-circular cross-sectional geometry disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the centerline. The non-circular cross-sectional geometry includes a radially recessed section disposed between first and second curved sections. The first and the second curved sections each have a radius that is greater than a radial distance between the centerline and a center point of the radially recessed section.
US09057278B2
A turbine bucket including an integral rotation controlling feature is disclosed. In one embodiment, a turbine bucket includes: a blade section having an inner radial end and an outer radial end; an integral cover section connected to the outer radial end of the blade section; and a base section for engaging a rotor body, the base section connected to the inner radial end, wherein the base section includes: a central body; a set of tangs extending axially from the central body; a set of flanges radially inboard of the set of tangs and extending axially from the central body; and an integral rotation controlling feature extending from the central body, wherein the rotation controlling feature engages a radial opening in the rotor body. The integral rotation controlling feature is sized to limit rotation of the base section, when the turbine bucket is engaged with a rotor body.
US09057274B2
The invention relates to a housing system (10) for an axial turbomachine, in particular for an aircraft turbine, comprising a housing (12), at least one guide blade (14), which is fastened to the housing (12) by means of at least one fastening element (18),a scaling element (20) for reducing a leakage flow between the listening element (18) and the housing (12), wherein the sealing element (20) is arranged between a downstream wall (22) of the fastening element (18) with respect to a flow direction (I) of the axial turbomachine and a wall (24) of the housing (12), and a pressing means (36), by means of which an axial force can be applied to the scaling element (20) And the scaling element can be pressed against the wall (24) of the housing (12), at least during the operation of the axial turbomachine. The invention further relates to an axial turbomachine having such a housing system (10).
US09057271B2
A damaged portion of a superalloy material turbine blade body is removed, forming an excavated recess. A repair splice is formed of a same material with similar mechanical structural properties, having a mating outer profile conforming to the corresponding recess profile. The repair splice is inserted and captured within the recess, so that the blade body and repair splice are mechanically interlocked. Given similarities in mechanical properties of both the blade body and the mechanically interlocked splice the repaired blade's overall mechanical structural properties are similar to those of an undamaged blade. The repair splice is affixed to the blade body so that the interlocking respective portions of each do not separate. Localized affixation and subsequent cosmetic blade surface repair can be performed with softer, low temperature application braze and weld alloys.
US09057264B2
A screw shaft structure for a twin screw extruder includes a tapered section (20) provided between a ground section (6) and a screw piece inserting section (8), and a tapered ring (21) fitted onto the tapered section (20). The tapered ring (21) serves as a flange section. An object is to reduce the weight of raw material to be used for manufacturing a screw shaft by combining a tapered section and a tapered ring as a structure of a flange section.
US09057261B2
Methods and systems are provided for fracturing rock in a formation to enhance the production of fluids from the formation. In one exemplary method, one or more wells are drilled into a reservoir, wherein each well comprises a main wellbore with two or more lateral wellbores drilled out from the main wellbore. One or more explosive charges are placed within each of the two or more lateral wellbores, and the explosive charges are detonated to generate pressure pulses which at least partially fracture a rock between the two or more lateral wellbores. The detonations are timed such that one or more pressure pulses emanating from different lateral wellbores interact.
US09057257B2
A system for producing oil and/or gas from an underground formation comprising a miscible solvent source (202); an emulsion manufacturer (204) to produce an emulsion comprising the miscible solvent; an emulsion storage facility (206) adapted to store at least about 5000 gallons of the emulsion; a first array of wells (432) dispersed above the formation; a second array of wells (412) dispersed above the formation; wherein the first array of wells comprises a mechanism to inject the miscible solvent and/or the emulsion into the formation while the second array of wells comprises a mechanism to produce oil and/or gas from the formation.
US09057255B2
A gas lift system has mandrels deploying downhole and has gas lift valves deploying on the mandrels. In general, the mandrel can have an interior and can have at least one port communicating outside the mandrel. To achieve higher gas injection while maintaining component sizes in desirable ranges, the gas lift valve of the present disclosure has multiple injection outlets, and a common opening pressure can control the opening of each of the injection outlets in the valve. The valve can open in two places, allowing gas to flow through the nose of the valve as well as through a ported latch at the top of the valve. In this way, that valve can offer larger injection capabilities while keeping a suitable outside diameter.
US09057254B2
A method for detecting fluid ingress in a wellbore. An acoustic sensor is placed along a wellbore. The acoustic sensor is adapted to sense individual acoustic signals from a plurality of corresponding locations along the wellbore. The individual acoustic signals are analyzed to determine if there exists a common acoustic component in acoustic signals generated from proximate locations in the wellbore. If so, the acoustic signal having the common acoustic component which appears earliest in phase, by virtue of such acoustic signal's corresponding location in the wellbore, determines the location in the wellbore of likely fluid ingress. The acoustic sensor may be a fiber optic cable extending substantially the length of the wellbore, or alternatively a plurality of microphones situated at various locations along the wellbore.
US09057253B2
A liner top packer is configured to be secured in a liner string, such as in a liner drilling operation. The packer is actuated from within the liner or packer body. An actuator assembly includes an inner piston, an actuator housing, and an outer piston. A tubular setting tool is moved upwardly through the inner piston, and dogs on the setting tool allow for force to be applied to the inner piston, pressurizing fluid and forcing it to the outer piston to compress a pack off element. The actuator assembly is removed by upward force applied by a foot of the setting tool on the inner piston, the actuator housing, or any other component of the actuator assembly.
US09057244B2
A method for reversible temperature sensitive control of the flow of fluid in oil and/or gas production, involves a control device or an autonomous valve operating by the Bernoulli principle and includes a moveable disk or body provided within a housing for opening and closing the valve, involving use of the Curie-effect in order to position the body in a preferred position within the housing at a temperature below a certain, preferred transition or Curie temperature. An apparatus for reversible temperature sensitive control of the flow of fluid in oil and/or gas production including a control device or an autonomous valve operating by the Bernoulli principle and including a moveable disk or body provided within a housing for opening and closing the valve, the body and housing including a ferromagnetic material having a certain, preferred Curie temperature, the temperature being selected in order to position the body in a preferred position in the housing during installation or operation.
US09057226B2
A riser assembly and method of forming where the riser assembly is made up of tubular members joined together. A metal spray process applies a layer of cladding onto ends of the tubular members and the ends are threaded to form respective box and pin configurations. Grooves are provided onto the surface of the tubular members beneath where the metal spray is applied for enhancing adhesion of the cladding and tubular members. The layer of cladding provides sufficient material so that threads may be selectively formed on the outer or the inner surface of the tubular members.
US09057225B2
For holding a pipe, rod or the like, such as a section of a pipe string of an offshore oil drilling rig, an apparatus includes a clamping device insertable into a support body. The clamping device includes a device body with a central opening bounded by an inner circumferential surface that conically tapers at a cone angle. The device further includes clamp elements that are received in the central opening of the device body and that each have a radially outer surface sloping along the cone angle to slide along the inner circumferential surface of the device body, and a radially inner clamping surface to clamp against the coaxially arranged pipe. A holding element respectively connects each clamp element to a linear actuator stroke element that is similarly tilted at the cone angle. The linear actuator may be received in a receiver shaft of the device body.
US09057223B2
A technique facilitates drilling of wellbores or other types of bore holes in a variety of applications. A steerable system or other well tool is designed with a plurality of actuators which are positioned to provide controlled steering during a drilling operation. Each actuator includes at least one loose element or ball slidably mounted in a corresponding sleeve. Pressurized fluid is used to provide controlled movement of the elements along the corresponding sleeves of the actuators. The controlled movement of the elements assists in the provision of steering or other control over the well tool during the drilling operation.
US09057214B2
A hinge (10) for mounting a door (14) on a piece of furniture, comprising a hinge arm (12) fixable to a fixed part (11) of the piece of furniture and a box (13) fixable to a door (14) of the piece of furniture, swingably connected to each other; connected to the box (13) there is a decelerating device (22) comprising an actuating element (24) movable along a decelerating stroke between an initial position and a final position, return spring means (25) loadable during the decelerating stroke from a released condition in a loaded condition, and deactivating means (39) for deactivating the decelerating device (22) and comprising a blocking member (39) acting on the return spring means (25) so as to block the same spring means (25).
US09057212B2
A convertible top of a cabriolet adjustable between a closed position spanning a vehicle interior and a storage position opening the vehicle interior toward the top includes a forward rigid roof element. The roof element extends in the transverse direction of the convertible top and can be secured to a forward cowl by at least one lock arrangement in a closed position of the convertible top. The lock arrangement includes a locking hook adjustable between a locked position and an open position and which is engaged with a corresponding locking element in the locked position. A holding device ensures that the locking hook and the corresponding locking element remain engaged in the closed position of the convertible top and in the locked position of the locking hook if the cowl is offset with regard to the rigid roof element.
US09057210B2
A wireless access control system includes a remote access device and an electronic lock. The electronic lock communicates with the remote access device. The electronic lock controls the ability to lock and unlock a door in which the electronic lock is disposed. The electronic lock determines when the remote access device is at a distance less than or equal to a predetermined distance from the lock to enable the lock to be unlocked.
US09057202B2
A cable-securement member secured to a platform includes a longitudinal passage extending through open first and second longitudinal ends and is sized and shaped for allowing the cable to move through the longitudinal passage from the first longitudinal end to the second longitudinal end. The longitudinal passage has a curved portion adjacent the second longitudinal end configured to resiliently bend a cable body of a cable as the cable enters the curved portion. The cable is configured to automatically rebound toward its unloaded state in the curved portion as a stop of the cable moves past the slot and exits the passage through the second longitudinal end so that the cable body exits the curved portion through a longitudinal slot and the stop is engageable with the cable-securement member to releasably lock the cable relative to the cable securement member.
US09057200B2
An assembly for creating a three dimensional exterior structure incorporates a plurality of bodies inter-assembled via engaging tongue and groove profiles to create at least one of a multi-tier stepped or extending walkway surface. Each of the bodies further exhibits a hollowed interior to facilitate in-filling of a compactible material in order to weight said bodies during assembly. Either or both of thermal generating elements or effect lighting can be incorporated into one or more of the bodies. The bodies can also include tiered or stackable step blocks, each exhibiting an interior ledge for supporting a thermally conducting insert shelf or pad, additional rectangular assembled blocks providing tongue and groove engagement and supporting the underside of the step blocks.
US09057197B2
An artificial stone is disclosed for use in creating a covering for a supporting surface. The artificial stone includes a body for placement on the supporting surface, which is shaped for mating engagement with like stones with intermediate perimeter joints to produce a continuous surface covering. The stone has a facing surface on the body, which facing surface has a contour defining a surface area and is subdivided by at least one simulated joint into a major surface portion and at least one minor surface portion. The major surface portion is free of simulated joints and extends over at least about 60% of the total surface of the facing surface. The stone further includes at least one perimeter recess in the body for generating a gap between the stone and another like stone in mating engagement therewith, which gap is wider than adjacent the adjoining perimeter joint. Stones of this construction can easily be arranged in a regular, repeated pattern to generate a continuous covering for the supporting surface with the surface of the resulting covering having an irregular, natural appearance. The irregular top contours of the stones, the uneven division of the facing surface and the perimeter recesses and the resulting gaps between mating stones simulate the appearance of a natural stone surface covering for walkways, roadways, pavements or walls.
US09057193B2
A subfloor component comprises a hardboard panel having first and second opposing faces and a plurality of intersecting grooves to define, in cross-section, a plurality of pedestals having walls that extend into the panel from the first face generally toward the second face. At least one of the pedestals has at least one wall that is undercut. The subfloor component also comprises a film of substantially moisture-impervious material attached to the first face of the panel and that conforms to the tops and walls of the pedestals and to the bottoms of the grooves.
US09057192B2
A method is provided for producing a structure from prefabricated panels to be connected mounted on a free-standing supporting framework, each of the panels being made beforehand from a wood framework into which an inner insulation and inner and outer facings are capable of being built, the panels being connected together by a linking mechanism in a vertical direction and in a horizontal direction, wherein the method is characterized in that a subassembly is made from a quadrangular wood frame inside of which vertical posts are arranged on which mechanical connectors are placed, enabling the arrangement, support, and prepositioning of a metal reinforcement on the connectors that are in place. The thus-produced subassembly is placed in a mold so as to be overmolded from concrete constituting the inner facing.
US09057190B1
Deck systems, deck system components making up the deck systems, and methods of assembling and disassembling deck system components and the deck systems are described herein. A box-frame can be assembled from box-frame-segments, angle clips, and fasteners. A box-frame can be supported by posts attached to the box-frame using post brackets and fasteners. Joist assemblies can be assembled using joist segments, joist spacers, and fasteners. Joist assemblies can be positioned within the box-frame. The joist assemblies can be secured to box-frame-segments or another joist assembly using roll-lock tabs and roll-lock tab receivers and locking tabs and locking tab retainers that part of extrusions making up the box-frame-segments, joist spacers, or joist segments. Deck boards can be secured to the joist assemblies using deck screws or deck-clips. The post brackets can accommodate support posts below deck boards and railing posts extending above deck boards.
US09057185B2
Sinks and drains for sinks permitting the attachment of the drain to the sink such that the drain is substantially disposed below the top surface of the sink basin, and such that there is no discernable separation between the base of the sink basin and the drain when viewed from above the sink. A method of making a sink such that there is no discernable separation between the base of the sink basin and the drain when viewed from above the sink.
US09057184B2
An insulator base for an electronic faucet includes a housing supporting a light assembly and a connecting wire electrically coupled to the light assembly. A polymer overmold is coupled to the housing and secures the light assembly and the connecting wire within the housing.
US09057175B2
Provided is a construction machine including a first circuit with a boom cylinder, a second circuit with an arm cylinder and a third circuit with a slewing motor, first to third pumps discharging respective first to third pump fluids, a first flow combining valve having a first combining position for the third and first pump fluids and a first combination limiting position, a second flow combining valve having a second combining position for the third and second pump fluids and a first combination and a second combination limiting position, and a flow combination switching control section which switches the flow combining valves to their respective combination limiting positions during an arm attracting operation and switches the combining valves to their respective combination limiting positions during a single slewing operation or during a boom raising operation with no arm operation.
US09057171B2
A block for a retaining wall having a front face forming part of a visible side of a retaining wall, and a support face which supports at least one similar overlying block. The support face is angled with respect to the front face and traversed by a through opening which defines an internal abutment surface placed at a first predetermined distance from the front face. A reference element protrudes from the support face at a second predetermined distance from the front face, in order to abut, in use, against the at least one internal abutment surface of the similar overlying block and thus prevent the displacement thereof in only one of two directions which are transverse to the front face. The reference element includes a flattened engagement portion. An elongate slot is provided on the support face to receive the corresponding flattened engagement portion.
US09057141B2
The invention concerns an immersion tin plating bath which comprises at least one aromatic sulfonic acid, at least one first precipitation additive and at least one second precipitation additive. The at least one first precipitation additive is an aliphatic poly-alcohol compound, an ether thereof or a polymer derived thereof having an average molecular weight in the range of 62 g/mol and 600 g/mol. The at least one second precipitation additive is a polyalkylene glycol compound having an average molecular weight in the range of 750 to 10,000 g/mol.
US09057122B2
Disclosed is a high-strength steel plate having a predetermined chemical composition, in which a microstructure of the steel plate at a depth of one-fourth to one half the thickness from a surface has an area fraction of bainite of 90% or more, an average lath width of bainite of 3.5 μm or less, and a maximum equivalent circle diameter of martensite-austenite constituents in bainite of 3.0 μm or less. The steel plate exhibits high strengths and good drop weight properties and is useful as structural materials for offshore structure, ships, and bridges, as well as materials for pressure vessels in nuclear power plants.
US09057118B2
The present invention relates to a method, and apparatus for the recovery of precious metals. Accordingly, it provides a continuous process for obtaining a precious metal composition from a feedstock material, the process comprising the steps of: (i) heating a feedstock material in a plasma furnace to form an upper slag layer and a lower molten metal layer; (ii) removing the slag layer; (iii) removing the molten metal layer; (iv) allowing the removed molten metal layer to solidify; (v) fragmenting the solidified metal layer to form fragments; and (vi) recovering a precious metal composition from the fragments; wherein the feedstock material comprises a precious metal containing material and a collector metal, said collector metal being a metal or an alloy that is capable of forming a solid solution, an alloy or an intermetallic compound with one or more precious metals. This allows for high recovery yields of precious metals. The apparatus comprises a plasma furnace, a casting table enabling continuous casting of the molten metal pool to form a solidified sheet, a fragmentation device and a separation unit for recovering precious-metal-rich alloy from the sheet fragments.
US09057117B2
This invention relates to a method for the selective recovery of manganese and zinc from geothermal brines that includes the steps of removing silica and iron from the brine, oxidizing the manganese and zinc to form precipitates thereof, recovering the manganese and zinc precipitates, solubilizing the manganese and zinc precipitates, purifying the manganese and zinc, and forming a manganese precipitate, and recovering the zinc by electrochemical means.
US09057115B2
A soft magnetic alloy consists essentially of 10 percent by weight≦Co≦22 percent by weight, 0 percent by weight≦V≦4 percent by weight, 1.5 percent by weight≦Cr≦5 percent by weight, 0 percent by weight
US09057113B2
The invention relates to a fastening system for tiltable metallurgical processing vessels, in particular converters, the processing vessel (1) being mounted in a carrier ring (2) connected to the jacket of the processing vessel by means of plate fin elements (11), each plate fin element consisting of a plate fin connected to the carrier ring (2) by means of a sheet metal connector (16) and a first fastening bracket (14) and connected to the jacket of the processing vessel by means of a further sheet metal connector (17) and a second fastening bracket (15). According to the invention, the sheet metal connector (16, 17) is clamped by a wedge (20) between the flanges (18, 18a and 19, 19a, respectively) of the fastening bracket (14 and 15, respectively) with zero clearance, said bracket in turn abutting a tab (22) welded to the flanges of the fastening bracket and bridging same. The wedge (20) is actively connected to the tab (22) by means of a bolted connection (21).
US09057107B2
Embodiments of the present invention concern methods and compositions related to detection of ovarian cancer, including detection of the stage of ovarian cancer, in some cases. In particular, the invention encompasses use of expression of TFAP2A and in some embodiments CA125 and/or E2F5 to identify ovarian cancer, including detecting mRNA and/or protein levels of the respective gene products. Kits for detection of ovarian cancer are also described.
US09057105B2
A method for detecting a single nucleotide polymorphism in nucleic acids, characterized in that the method includes mixing (A) a nucleic acid probe comprising a nucleotide sequence complementarily hybridizable to an evaluation subject nucleic acid/an antisense strand thereof containing at least one single nucleotide polymorphism, and tagged with a nucleotide sequence of a hairpin structure having a bulge at a 5′-terminal thereof, wherein a guanine residue is introduced at an adjoining position of the bulge, and wherein a naphthyridine derivative compound is immobilized to the bulge; and (B) the evaluation subject nucleic acids; and detecting a signal ascribed to the naphthyridine derivative compound when the above nucleic acid probe and the above evaluation subject nucleic acids are hybridized, thereby evaluating the above single nucleotide polymorphism.
US09057099B2
A method for detecting target nucleic acids such as SNPs is provided. The method comprises performing a ligase detection reaction (LDR), performing surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on the LDR, and analyzing the outcome of the LDR using analysis and/or quantification of the SERS by detecting an emitted Raman signature. The LDR-SERS method can be used for sensitive and specific detection of any nucleic acid sequence of interest. A microfluidic SERS detection device is also provided. The device comprises electrokinetically active microwells for mixing and concentrating analytes and in which analytes can be quantified. The device can be used for performing the LDR-SERS method in optofluidic chip format.
US09057075B2
The present specification relates to the production of cotton plants and seeds and oil prepared therefrom having elevated levels of oleic and reduced levels of palmitic and linoleic acids. Furthermore, cottonseeds having low levels of cyclopropane and/or cyclopropene fatty acids and/or reduced levels of gossypol are described herein. The specification also describe FatB and CPA-FAS nucleotide and amino acid sequences derived from cotton facilitating, inter alia the direct modification of plant oil content and/or composition.
US09057070B2
Provided is an isolated B. fragilis bacterial cell producing a native capsular polysaccharide A (PSA), wherein the cell is incapable of producing capsular polysaccharides PSB, PSC, PSD, PSE, PSF, PSG, and PSH because the cell's biosynthetic genes for native capsular polysaccharides PSB, PSC, PSD, PSE, PSF, PSG, and PSH have been deleted from the cell's genome. The isolated or wild type B. fragilis cell, or an extract obtained from said B. fragilis cell, can be used to treat individuals with inflammation.
