US09064999B2
A solar cell and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The solar cell includes a substrate that contains first impurities of a first conductive type and is formed of a crystalline semiconductor, a first field region that is positioned on an incident surface of the substrate and contains second impurities of a second conductive type, an emitter region that contains third impurities of a third conductive type, is formed of a non-crystalline semiconductor, and is positioned on a non-incident surface of the substrate opposite the incident surface of the substrate, a first electrode electrically connected to the emitter region, and a second electrode electrically connected to the substrate.
US09064974B2
A method includes forming at least one shallow trench isolation structure in a substrate to isolate adjacent different type devices. The method further includes forming a barrier trench structure in the substrate to isolate diffusions of adjacent same type devices. The method further includes spanning the barrier trench structure with material to connect the diffusions of the adjacent same type device, on a same level as the adjacent same type devices.
US09064964B2
A field effect transistor includes a substrate, a first graphene (Gr) layer on the substrate, a second graphene (Gr) layer on the substrate, a fluorographene (GrF) layer on the substrate and between the first and second graphene layers, a first ohmic contact on the first graphene layer, a second ohmic contact on the second graphene layer, a gate aligned over the fluorographene layer, and a gate dielectric between the gate and the fluorographene layer and between the gate and the first and second ohmic contacts.
US09064962B2
The present invention provides a thin film transistor array substrate that can eliminate short-circuiting between a source electrode and a drain electrode, while ensuring electrical connection between the drain electrode and a pixel electrode. The thin film transistor array substrate has a thin film transistor, a first interlayer insulating film, a lower layer electrode, a second interlayer insulating film, and an upper layer electrode laminated therein in this order. The first interlayer insulating film has a first through hole in a region where the drain electrode of the thin film transistor is disposed, the second interlayer insulating film has a second through hole in a region where the first through hole is disposed, the lower layer electrode has a portion on the first interlayer insulating film and a portion in the first through hole separated from each other, the drain electrode has a portion covered with the first interlayer insulating film, and a portion in contact with a portion of the lower layer electrode in the first through hole, and the portion of the lower layer electrode in the first through hole is in contact with a portion of an upper layer electrode disposed in the second through hole.
US09064954B2
Semiconductor devices and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a first shielding layer on a substrate. The method further includes forming one of source and drain regions, which is stressed, with the first shielding layer as a mask. The method further includes forming a second shielding layer on the substrate, and forming the other of the source and drain regions with the second shielding layer as a mask. The method further includes removing a portion of the second shielding layer which is next to the other of the source and drain regions. The method further includes forming a gate dielectric layer, and forming a gate conductor as a spacer on a sidewall of a remaining portion of the second shielding layer.
US09064951B2
CMOS devices are fabricated with a channel layer having minimized dopant fluctuation and diffusion. Embodiments include forming a dummy gate, on a substrate, between a pair of spacers, forming, in the substrate, a source and drain separated by a ground plane layer, removing the dummy gate from the substrate, forming a cavity between the pair of spacers, forming, after removal of the dummy gate, a channel layer on the substrate, forming a high-k layer on the channel layer and on side surfaces of the cavity, and forming a replacement gate in the cavity.
US09064948B2
One method disclosed herein includes forming at least one sacrificial sidewall spacer adjacent a sacrificial gate structure that is formed above a semiconducting substrate, removing at least a portion of the sacrificial gate structure to thereby define a gate cavity that is laterally defined by the sacrificial spacer, forming a replacement gate structure in the gate cavity, removing the sacrificial spacer to thereby define a spacer cavity adjacent the replacement gate structure, and forming a low-k spacer in the spacer cavity. A novel device disclosed herein includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconducting substrate, wherein the gate insulation layer has two upstanding portions that are substantially vertically oriented relative to an upper surface of the substrate. The device further includes a low-k sidewall spacer positioned adjacent each of the vertically oriented upstanding portions of the gate insulation layer.
US09064945B2
A heterostructure field effect transistor (HFET) gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor power device comprises a hetero-junction structure comprises a first semiconductor layer interfacing a second semiconductor layer of two different band gaps thus generating an interface layer as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) layer. The power device further comprises a source electrode and a drain electrode disposed on two opposite sides of a gate electrode disposed on top of the hetero-junction structure for controlling a current flow between the source and drain electrodes in the 2DEG layer. The power device further includes a floating gate located between the gate electrode and hetero-junction structure, wherein the gate electrode is insulated from the floating gate with an insulation layer and wherein the floating gate is disposed above and padded with a thin insulation layer from the hetero-junction structure and wherein the floating gate is charged for continuously applying a voltage to the 2DEG layer to pinch off the current flowing in the 2DEG layer between the source and drain electrodes whereby the HFET semiconductor power device is a normally off device.
US09064939B2
A method of making an integrated circuit including forming a seal ring structure around a circuit where the seal ring structure has a first portion and a tilted portion. The first portion of the seal ring structure is substantially parallel with an edge of the circuit. The tilted portion of the seal ring structure forms an obtuse angle with the first portion. The method further includes forming a first pad which is electrically coupled with the seal ring structure. The method further includes disposing a leakage current test structure in an area enclosed by the seal ring where at least one portion of the leakage current test structure is substantially parallel with the tilted portion of the seal ring structure. The method further includes forming a second pad which is electrically coupled with the leakage current test structure.
US09064938B2
An integrated circuit including an ESD network including a portion located in ESD subareas of a plurality of I/O cells where the ESD subareas are arranged in a row traversing the plurality of I/O cells. The ESD network includes ESD clamp cells and ESD trigger circuit cells wherein a portion of the network is located in the row. In some examples, the row includes an ESD trigger circuit cell with a portion in one subarea of one ESD subarea of one I/O cell and a second portion in a second ESD subarea of another I/O cell. Also described herein is a method for producing an integrated circuit layout with an ESD network.
US09064937B2
A metallic dopant element having a greater oxygen-affinity than copper is introduced into, and/or over, surface portions of copper-based metal pads and/or surfaces of a dielectric material layer embedding the copper-based metal pads in each of two substrates to be subsequently bonded. A dopant-metal silicate layer may be formed at the interface between the two substrates to contact portions of metal pads not in contact with a surface of another metal pad, thereby functioning as an oxygen barrier layer, and optionally as an adhesion material layer. A dopant metal rich portion may be formed in peripheral portions of the metal pads in contact with the dopant-metal silicate layer. A dopant-metal oxide portion may be formed in peripheral portions of the metal pads that are not in contact with a dopant-metal silicate layer.
US09064933B2
Methods of forming a microelectronic assembly and the resulting structures and devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming a microelectronic assembly includes removing material exposed at portions of a surface of a substrate to form a processed substrate having a plurality of thinned portions separated by integral supporting portions of the processed substrate having a thickness greater than a thickness of the thinned portions, at least some of the thinned portions including a plurality of electrically conductive interconnects extending in a direction of the thicknesses of the thinned portions and exposed at the surface; and removing the supporting portions of the substrate to sever the substrate into a plurality of individual thinned portions, at least some individual thinned portions including the interconnects.
US09064932B1
One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming an uncut line-type gate structure above first and second spaced-apart active regions of a semiconductor substrate, forming a sidewall spacer around a perimeter of the line-type gate structure, performing at least one etching process to remove an axial portion of a gate cap layer and an axial portion of a gate electrode that are positioned above the isolation region so as to thereby define first and second cut end surfaces of first and second gate electrodes, respectively, and an isolation plug cavity and forming a gate cut isolation plug in the isolation plug cavity.
US09064927B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes forming a first capacitance film formed on the lower electrode; forming an intermediate electrode in a first region on the first capacitance film, wherein the first capacitance is interposed between the intermediate electrode and the lower electrode; forming a second capacitance film on the intermediate electrode to be interposed between the first capacitance film and the second capacitance film; and forming an upper electrode, wherein at least a portion of the second capacitance film is interposed between the upper electrode and the intermediate electrode; the upper electrode extending to a second region outside the first region, and having at least the first capacitance film interposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode in the second region.
US09064920B2
A manufacturing system includes a gantry module, having an end effector, for moving workpieces from a conveyor system to a working area, such as a swap module. The swap module removes a matrix of processed workpieces from a load lock and place a matrix of unprocessed workpieces in its place. The processed workpieces are then moved by the gantry module back to the conveyor. Due to the speed of operation, the end effector may build up excessive electrostatic charge. To remove this built up charge, grounded electrically-conductive brushes are strategically positioned so that, as the end effector moves during normal operation, it comes in contact with these brushes. This removes this built up charge on the end effector, without affecting throughput. In another embodiment, the end effector moves over the brushes while the swap module is moving matrix to and from the load lock.
US09064918B2
An article storage facility includes a controller for controlling operations of flow rate adjusting devices of inactive gas feeding sections and a specified feeding section selecting section for selecting one or some or all of a plurality of inactive gas feeding sections as specified feeding sections. For the inactive gas feeding sections of the storage sections storing the transport containers therein, the controller causes the flow rate adjusting devices to be operated according to a container storage mode in which mode the inactive gas is fed to the transport container in a predetermined feed manner. For the specified feeding sections selected by the specified feeding section selecting section, the controller causes the flow rate adjusting devices to be operated according to a specified feeding section feed mode in which mode the inactive gas is fed through the discharge openings thereof in a specified feeding section feed manner.
US09064917B2
A container for storing semiconductor devices is revealed. The container includes a receiving body, a seal plate, and a cover. At least one fastener and at least one driver are mounted in the receiving body. The seal plate is fastened under the receiving body and against the driver so as to fix the driver on the receiving body. When the driver is rotated, the fastener is driven to move in the receiving body by the driver. At least one fixing part of the fastener is moved toward at least one fastening part of the cover. By the fixing part locked in the fastening part, the cover is fixed on the receiving body. Thus a force opposite to the rotating shaft will not be generated around a periphery of the driver. Therefore stability of the rotating driver is improved and the container is opened and closed smoothly.
US09064912B2
A heating device includes: a heating element including a mountain part and a valley part alternately connected in plurality to form a meander shape, and a holding body receiving part an end of the valley part, where a width of the holding body receiving part is greater than that of the valley part; an insulating body installed at an outer circumference of the heating element with both ends of the heating element fixed thereto; and a staple pin penetrating the holding body receiving part and a neighboring holdings body receiving part to fix the heating element to the insulating body, where the staple pin is dislocated with respect to a center of the holding body receiving part and an amount of dislocation of the staple pin varies according to a distance between the holding body receiving part and the both ends.
US09064908B2
There is provided a liquid processing apparatus capable of efficiently processing a pattern formation surface of a wafer, while preventing diffusion of a chemical-liquid atmosphere which might possibly occurs during a chemical-liquid process.
US09064906B2
To provide a miniaturized transistor having favorable electric characteristics. An oxide semiconductor layer is formed to cover a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer, and then regions of the oxide semiconductor layer which overlap with the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer are removed by polishing. Precise processing can be performed accurately because an etching step using a resist mask is not performed in the step of removing the regions of the oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer. Further, a sidewall layer having conductivity is provided on a side surface of a gate electrode layer in a channel length direction; thus, the sidewall layer having conductivity overlaps with the source electrode layer or the drain electrode layer with a gate insulating layer provided therebetween, and a transistor substantially including an Lov region is provided.
US09064905B2
An array substrate includes a substrate; an oxide semiconductor layer on the substrate, the oxide semiconductor layer including an active area and source and drain areas at both sides of the active area; a gate insulating layer and a gate electrode sequentially on the active area of the oxide semiconductor layer; an inter insulating layer on the gate electrode and having first and second semiconductor contact holes that expose the source and drain areas respectively; and source and drain electrodes on the inter insulating layer and contacting the source and drain areas through the first and second semiconductor contact holes, respectively, wherein the first and second semiconductor contact holes are disposed in two regions.
US09064901B1
Methods and structures for fabricating fins for multigate devices are disclosed. In accordance with one method, a plurality of sidewalls are formed in or on a plurality of mandrels over a semiconductor substrate such that each of the mandrels includes a first sidewall composed of a first material and a second sidewall composed of a second material that is different from the first material. The first sidewall of a first mandrel of the plurality of mandrels is selectively removed. In addition, a pattern composed of remaining sidewalls of the plurality of sidewalls is transferred onto an underlying layer to form a hard mask in the underlying layer. Further, the fins are formed by employing the hard mask and etching semiconducting material in the substrate.
US09064897B2
The present disclosure describes a termination structure for a high voltage semiconductor transistor device. The termination structure is composed of at least two termination zones and an electrical disconnection between the body layer and the edge of the device. A first zone is configured to spread the electric field within the device. A second zone is configured to smoothly bring the electric field back up to the top surface of the device. The electrical disconnection prevents the device from short circuiting the edge of the device. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US09064895B2
Methods of fabricating vertical memory devices are provided including forming a plurality of alternating insulating layers and sacrificial layers on a substrate; patterning and etching the plurality of insulating layer and sacrificial layers to define an opening that exposes at least a portion of a surface of the substrate; forming a charge trapping pattern and a tunnel insulating pattern on a side wall of the opening; forming a channel layer on the tunnel insulating layer on the sidewall of the opening, the channel layer including N-type impurity doped polysilicon; forming a buried insulating pattern on the channel layer in the opening; and forming a blocking dielectric layer and a control gate on the charge trapping pattern of one side wall of the channel layer.
US09064894B2
A method of forming a device is disclosed. A substrate having a device region is provided. The device region comprises a source region, a gate region and a drain region defined thereon. A gate is formed in the gate region, a source is formed in the source region and drain is formed in the drain region. A trench is formed in an isolation region in the device region. The isolation region underlaps a portion of the gate. An etch stop (ES) stressor layer is formed over the substrate. The ES stressor layer lines the trench.
US09064887B2
According to an embodiment of a field-effect semiconductor device, the field-effect semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body and a source electrode. The semiconductor body includes a drift region, a gate region and a source region of a first semiconductor material having a first band-gap and an anode region of a second semiconductor material having a second band-gap lower than the first band-gap. The drift region is of a first conductivity type. The gate region forms a pn-junction with the drift region. The source region is of the first conductivity type and in resistive electric connection with the drift region and has a higher maximum doping concentration than the drift region. The anode region is of the second conductivity type, forms a heterojunction with the drift region and is spaced apart from the source region. The source metallization is in resistive electric connection with the source region and the anode region.
US09064882B2
There are provided a package substrate, a manufacturing method thereof, and a mold therefor. The method of manufacturing a package substrate includes: preparing a chip component and a substrate; mounting the chip component on a main surface of the substrate; preparing a mold having a cavity and protrusions formed on a ceiling surface thereof; disposing the substrate on a bottom surface of the mold such that the chip component is positioned within the cavity; and forming a resin sealing body that collectively hermetically seals the chip component and the main surface of the substrate by injecting a pressurized liquid resin into the cavity.
US09064867B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device provided with: lower-layer wiring formed on a substrate, an interlayer insulating film covering the lower-layer wiring, and a first upper-layer wiring line (18b) and a second upper-layer wiring line (18c) arranged on the interlayer insulating film and intersecting with the lower-layer wiring, and a level-difference adjustment protrusion is provided between the first upper-layer wiring line (18b) and the second upper-layer wiring line (18c) adjacent to a side section of the lower-layer wiring.
US09064863B2
To avoid problems of hydrolysis of the silicon oxide formed by PECVD at the surface of at least one wafer, it is proposed to cover, in the vacuum deposition chamber used to deposit the silicon oxide, said oxide with a temporary protective layer containing nitrogen. The protective layer thus protects the silicon oxide against the outer environment and especially against humidity when the wafer provided with the silicon oxide is stored outside of the vacuum deposition chamber. Afterwards, the protective layer is removed, for example, by chemical-mechanical. polishing, just before the two wafers are placed into contact. The protective layer may be formed by a PECVD silicon nitride deposition, by plasma nitriding or nitrogen doping of a superficial portion of the silicon oxide.
US09064861B2
An assembly (60) includes a substrate (1) that is provided with at least one electrical contact (3a), a flexible printed circuit membrane (51) including an electrically insulating film (6) and an electrically conducting layer (7) that is at least partially covering the insulating film (6). The conducting layer (7) is at least locally accessible from outside of the membrane (51). A connection element (10) is provided for electrically connecting the at least one electrical contact (3a) and the conducting layer (7) at a position where the conducting layer (7) is accessible, to form an electrical connection between the substrate (1) and the membrane (51). A chip package (70) includes a housing (15) having at least one electrically conducting terminal, and an assembly (60) as mentioned. The flexible printed circuit membrane (51) is arranged for electrically connecting the substrate and the at least one terminal of the housing (15).
US09064859B2
A semiconductor device has a prefabricated multi-die leadframe with a base and integrated raised die paddle and a plurality of bodies extending from the base. A thermal interface layer is formed over a back surface of a semiconductor die or top surface of the raised die paddle. The semiconductor die is mounted over the raised die paddle between the bodies of the leadframe with the TIM disposed between the die and raised die paddle. An encapsulant is deposited over the leadframe and semiconductor die. Vias can be formed in the encapsulant. An interconnect structure is formed over the leadframe, semiconductor die, and encapsulant, including into the vias. The base is removed to separate the bodies from the raised die paddle. The raised die paddle provides heat dissipation for the semiconductor die. The bodies are electrically connected to the interconnect structure. The bodies operate as conductive posts for electrical interconnect.
US09064858B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a plurality of composite bumps formed over a surface of the semiconductor die. The composite bumps have a fusible portion and non-fusible portion, such as a conductive pillar and bump formed over the conductive pillar. The composite bumps can also be tapered. Conductive traces are formed over a substrate with interconnect sites having edges parallel to the conductive trace from a plan view for increasing escape routing density. The interconnect site can have a width less than 1.2 times a width of the conductive trace. The composite bumps are wider than the interconnect sites. The fusible portion of the composite bumps is bonded to the interconnect sites so that the fusible portion covers a top surface and side surface of the interconnect sites. An encapsulant is deposited around the composite bumps between the semiconductor die and substrate.
US09064851B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip, multiple terminals arranged in a first direction, a resin portion sealing the semiconductor chip and the terminals. The terminals are projected from a side surface of the resin portion in a second direction, and include at least one subject terminal having a first portion and a second portion. In the subject terminal, a first longitudinal end of the first portion is positioned inside of the resin portion and a second longitudinal end of the first portion is positioned outside of the resin portion, and the second portion is arranged adjacent to the first portion. Further, a length of the first portion is greater than a length of the second portion in the third direction, and a length of the first portion is smaller than a length of the second portion in the first direction.
US09064850B2
A device include a substrate and an interconnect structure over the substrate. The interconnect structure comprising an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) and a first inter-metal dielectric (IMD) formed over the ILD. A through-substrate via (TSV) is formed at the IMD extending a first depth through the interconnect structure into the substrate. A metallic pad is formed at the IMD adjoining the TSV and extending a second depth into the interconnect structure, wherein the second depth is less than the first depth. Connections to the TSV are made through the metallic pad.
US09064845B2
A contact to a semiconductor including sequential layers of Cr, Ti, and Al is provided, which can result in a contact with one or more advantages over Ti/Al-based and Cr/Al-based contacts. For example, the contact can: reduce a contact resistance; provide an improved surface morphology; provide a better contact linearity; and/or require a lower annealing temperature, as compared to the prior art Ti/Al-based contacts.
US09064844B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatus for control of laser devices and safety features related to utilization of laser devices in substrate processing systems. In one embodiment, a system for processing a substrate is provided. The system includes a chamber having a processing volume, a first laser device to emit a beam at a first wavelength into the processing volume, and a second laser device to emit a beam at a second wavelength into the processing volume, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength, and the second laser device comprises a filter adapted to attenuate one or both of the first wavelength and the second wavelength.
US09064838B2
A BGA type packaged integrated circuit (IC) die has an exposed coronal heat spreader. The die, which is attached to a substrate, is encapsulated in a central segment of molding compound. The central segment is laterally surrounded by, and separated by a moat from a ring segment of molding compound, to a form a slot. The coronal heat spreader is inserted into the slot to cap the central segment. The coronal heat spreader is attached to the substrate and to the central segment with thermal glue. In operation, at least some of the heat generated by the die is dissipated through the coronal heat spreader.
US09064834B2
A display device includes a display panel including a display area to display an image, and a non-display area adjacent to the display area and having an opening; a driver on a rear of the display panel; and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) connecting the non-display area to the driver through the opening, and is bent at an angle less than 90 degrees from the non-display area to the driver.
US09064833B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting diode display including: a pixel unit including an organic light emitting diode for displaying an image; and a periphery surrounding the pixel unit. The periphery includes a gate common voltage line formed on the substrate and receiving a common voltage from an external circuit, an interlayer insulating layer covering the gate common voltage line and including a common voltage contact hole for exposing a part of the gate common voltage line, a data common voltage line formed on the interlayer insulating layer and contacting the gate common voltage line through the common voltage contact hole, and a plurality of protrusions provided in the common voltage contact hole and formed on the substrate.
US09064827B2
An object is to provide a semiconductor device with excellent reproducibility which is manufactured at low cost. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes steps of forming a first electrode over a substrate; forming an insulating layer over the substrate and the first electrode; pressing a mold against the insulating layer to form an opening in the insulating layer; separating the mold from the insulating layer in which opening is formed; hardening the insulating layer in which the opening is formed to form a partition wall; forming a light-emitting layer over the first electrode and the partition wall; and forming a second electrode over the light-emitting layer. As a method for forming the partition wall, nano-imprinting is used. An insulating layer contains polysilane. The partition wall formed of a silicon oxide film is formed by UV light irradiation and heating.
US09064826B2
The objective of the present invention is to provide: a circularly polarizing plate which comprises a λ/4 retardation film and has excellent visibility, excellent durability (resistance to image unevenness) and excellent resistance to panel deterioration (flatness) after storage in a high-temperature high-humidity environment for a long period of time; and an organic electroluminescent display device which uses the circularly polarizing plate. This organic electroluminescent display device comprises, from the viewing side, a protective film, a polarizer, a λ/4 retardation film and an organic electroluminescent element in this order, and is characterized in that at least one surface of the λ/4 retardation film has a layer A which has a storage modulus of from 100 MPa to 500 MPa (inclusive).
US09064824B2
Methods for packaging a functional chip, methods for annealing a functional chip, and chip assemblies. A functional chip and an annealing chip are located inside a package. The functional chip includes an integrated circuit. The annealing chip includes an annealing element source comprised of an annealing element or a light source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. The integrated circuit of the functional chip receives the annealing element, electromagnetic radiation, or both from the annealing chip in order to perform an annealing procedure that extends the useful lifetime of the packaged integrated circuit.
US09064822B2
An organic electroluminescent display includes: a first substrate including a plurality of pixel regions, each having three sub-pixel regions; a first electrode in each sub-pixel region on the first substrate; an organic light emitting layer in each pixel region on the first electrode; a second electrode on the organic light emitting layer; a second substrate facing the first substrate; and quantum dot layers on an inner surface of the second substrate and corresponding to at least two of the three sub-pixel regions.
US09064820B2
A method of forming an assembly of a substrate and a flip-chip having solder balls thereon, the method having steps of: placing the flip chip with the solder balls in contact with the substrate to form a first interim assembly at a first predetermined temperature; providing an encapsulant to the first interim assembly to form a second interim assembly at a second predetermined temperature that is lower than a melting temperature of the solder balls and higher than the first predetermined temperature; and subjecting the second interim assembly to an environment of a third predetermined temperature that is sufficient to melt the solder balls. An encapsulant for use in forming an assembly of a substrate and a flip-chip having solder balls thereon, the encapsulant consisting essentially of: an epoxy resin; an anhydride curing agent; a fluxing agent having a hydroxyl (—OH) group; and an inorganic filler.
US09064819B2
This disclosure relates to a post-etch treating method. An opening is formed by etching a stacked structure of a dielectric layer, an intermediate layer and a metal hard mask layer arranged in order from bottom to top. The treating method sequentially comprises steps of: performing a first cleaning process on the stacked structure with the opening so as to remove at least a part of the metal hard mask layer; and performing a second cleaning process on the stacked structure with the opening so as to remove etching residues.
US09064813B2
A method including forming a tetra-layer hardmask above a substrate, the tetra-layer hardmask including a second hardmask layer above a first hardmask layer; removing a portion of the second hardmask layer of the tetra-layer hardmask within a pattern region of a structure comprising the substrate and the tetra-layer hardmask; forming a set of sidewall spacers above the tetra-layer hardmask to define a device pattern; and transferring a portion of the device pattern into the substrate and within the pattern region of the structure.
US09064807B2
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for performing a dry plasma procedure, while mitigating internal contamination of a semiconductor substrate. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a semiconductor processing tool having a dry process stage with one or more dry process elements that perform a dry plasma procedure on a semiconductor substrate received from an input port. A wafer transport system transports the semiconductor substrates from the dry process stage to a wet cleaning stage located downstream of the dry process stage. The wet cleaning stage has one or more wet cleaning elements that perform a wet cleaning procedure to remove contaminants from a surface of the semiconductor substrates before the semiconductor substrate is provided to an output port. The wet cleaning procedure prior removes internal contaminants of the dry process procedure from the semiconductor substrate and thereby improves wafer manufacturing quality.
US09064801B1
A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a metal gate above a semiconductor substrate and gate spacers adjacent to the metal gate surrounded by an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer. The gate spacers and the metal gate are recessed until a height of the metal gate is less than a height of the gate spacers. An etch stop liner is deposited above the gate spacers and the metal gate. A gate cap is deposited above the etch stop liner to form a bi-layer gate cap. A contact hole is formed in the ILD layer adjacent to the metal gate, the etch stop liner in the bi-layer gate cap prevents damage of the gate spacers during formation of the contact hole. A conductive material is deposited in the contact hole to form a contact to a source-drain region in the semiconductor substrate.
US09064798B2
An optical device and method is disclosed for forming the optical device within the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate. The optical device is formed by directing a thermal energy beam onto a selected portion of the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate for changing an optical property of the selected portion to form the optical device in the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate. The thermal energy beam defines the optical and physical properties of the optical device. The optical device may take the form of an electro-optical device with the addition of electrodes located on the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate in proximity to the optical device for changing the optical property of the optical device upon a change of a voltage applied to the optional electrodes. The invention is also incorporated into a method of using the optical device for remotely sensing temperature, pressure and/or chemical composition.
US09064791B2
A method for producing a p-type ZnO based compound semiconductor layer including the steps of (a) supplying (i) Zn, (ii) O, (iii) optional Mg, and (iv) a Group 11 element which is Cu and/or Ag to form a MgxZn1-xO (0≦x≦0.6) single crystal film doped with the Group 11 element; (b) supplying at least one Group 13 element selected from the group consisting of B, Ga, Al, and In on the MgxZn1-xO (0≦x≦0.6) single crystal film; (c) alternately carrying out the steps (a) and (b) to form a laminate structure; and (d) annealing the laminate structure to form a p-type MgxZn1-xO (0≦x≦0.6) layer co-doped with the Group 11 element and the Group 13 element.
US09064787B2
A semiconductor module having one or more integrated antennas in a single package is provided herein. The semiconductor module has a bonding interconnect structure that connects an integrated package to a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein the integrated antenna structures are located at greater center-to-center distance from the IC device than the three dimensional interconnect structures. Therefore, the bonding interconnect structures are confined to a connection area that causes a part of the package containing the one or more antenna structures to extend beyond the bonding interconnect structure as a cantilevered structure. Such a bonding interconnect structure result in a package that is in contact with a PCB at a relatively small area that supports the load of the package.
US09064780B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a first semiconductor region, a second semiconductor region of a first conductivity type, a third semiconductor region of a second conductivity type and a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type. The first semiconductor region includes a silicon carbide crystal of 4H—SiC. The second semiconductor region includes a first portion opposing the gate electrode and is provided between the gate electrode and the first semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region has a lattice spacing different from a lattice spacing of the silicon carbide crystal of 4H—SiC and is provided between the gate electrode and the second semiconductor region. The fourth semiconductor region is selectively provided on the third semiconductor region.
US09064778B2
A method of manufacturing a thin-film transistor is provided, including preparing ink including a solution in which a graphene oxide, a reduced graphene oxide, or a combination thereof is dispersed, forming the ink on a substrate in the form of a pattern, and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode that are positioned at edges of the pattern and a semiconductor channel positioned between the electrodes by a coffee-ring effect in the ink by using the graphene oxide, the reduced graphene oxide, or the combination thereof within the formed pattern.
US09064774B2
Virtual substrates made by hydride vapor phase epitaxy are provided comprising a semiconductor growth substrate and a substantially strain-relaxed metamorphic buffer layer (MBL) structure comprising one or more layers of a semiconductor alloy on the growth substrate. The MBL structure is compositionally graded such that its lattice constant transitions from a lattice constant at the interface with the growth substrate that is substantially the same as the lattice constant of the growth substrate to a lattice constant at a surface opposite the interface that is different from the lattice constant of the growth substrate. The virtual substrates comprise relatively thick MBL structures (e.g., >20 μm) and relatively thick growth substrates (e.g., >0.5 mm).
US09064773B2
Embodiments provide a light emitting device package including a package body having a top-opened cavity disposed in at least a portion thereof, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer electrically isolated from the package body with an insulating layer interposed therebetween, the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer being electrically isolated from each other at a bottom surface of the cavity, a light emitting device placed on the bottom surface of the cavity configured to emit light through the open region of the cavity, and a sensor placed on at least a portion of the package body at the outside of the cavity configured to measure output of the light emitting device.
US09064771B2
By selectively anisotropically etching a stack film formed to cover a plurality of photodiodes and a gate electrode layer of a MOS transistor, the stack film remains on each of the plurality of photodiodes to form a lower antireflection coating and the stack film remains on a sidewall of the gate electrode layer to form a sidewall. Using the gate electrode layer and the sidewall as a mask, an impurity is introduced to form a source/drain region of the MOS transistor. After the impurity was introduced, an upper antireflection coating is formed at least on a lower antireflection coating. At least any of the upper antireflection coating fAh and the lower antireflection coating is etched such that the antireflection coatings on the two respective photodiodes are different in thickness from each other.
US09064758B2
Problems, such as increase in the electrical resistance in the junction(s) of the terminal(s) of a power semiconductor element and the electrode(s) of a peripheral circuit and decrease in the dielectric strength voltage between adjacent junctions, resulting from the insufficient alignment of the power semiconductor element terminal(s) and the the peripheral circuit electrode(s), in the high-capacity module which is intended to attain reduction in size and weight, reduction in surge, and reduction in loss by lamination of the peripheral circuit onto the power circuit, should be reduced. By preparing level difference(s) in the surface of the peripheral circuit board to more accurately align the peripheral circuit board electrode(s) and the power semiconductor element terminal(s) by contact of the level difference(s) and the lateral face(s) of the power semiconductor element at the time of lamination of the power circuit and the peripheral circuit, the above-mentioned problems can be reduced.
US09064754B2
A capacitor structure of gate driver in panel (GIP) includes a first metal layer, a first dielectric layer, a second metal layer, a second dielectric layer, a first and second transparent capacitor electrode layers. The first dielectric layer covers the first metal layer. The second metal layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer and coupled to the first metal layer. The second dielectric layer covers the second metal layer. The first transparent capacitor electrode layer is disposed on the first dielectric layer and connected to the second metal layer. The second transparent capacitor electrode layer is disposed on the second dielectric layer and coupled to the first metal layer, in which the second and first transparent capacitor electrode layers are arranged to be stacked in a thickness direction and mutually opposed across the second dielectric layer therebetween.
US09064751B2
Disclosed is a thin-film transistor array substrate including a Gate driver In Panel (GIP). The GIP includes a first wiring on a substrate, a first insulating film covering the first wiring, a second wiring on the first insulating film, a second insulating film covering the second wiring, a third insulating film over the second insulating film, first and second contact holes to expose the first and second wirings, and a third wiring on the third insulating film for connection of the first and second wirings. The third insulating film includes a first area corresponding to the first and second contact holes, a second area corresponding to a region between the first and second contact holes within a first thickness range, and a remaining third area within a second thickness range, the minimum value of the first thickness range being greater than the maximum value of the second thickness range.
US09064742B2
In a semiconductor device, a logic MOSFET and a switch MOSFET are formed in a high-resistance substrate. The logic MOSFET includes an epitaxial layer formed on the high-resistance substrate and a well layer formed on the epitaxial layer. The switch MOSFET includes a LOCOS oxide film formed on the high-resistance substrate, the LOCOS oxide film being sandwiched between trenches and thus having a mesa-shape in its upper part. The switch MOSFET further includes a buried oxide film and a SOI layer formed on the mesa-shape of the LOCOS oxide film. The upper surface of the mesa-shape of the LOCOS oxide film is positioned at the same height as the upper surface of the epitaxial layer.
US09064731B2
A semiconductor device including a substrate, the substrate including active regions; a pair of conductive lines spaced apart from the substrate such that an insulating layer is between the substrate and the pair of conductive lines; insulating spacers covering side walls of each of the pair of conductive lines such that contact holes having first widths in a first direction are defined between the pair of conductive lines; upper insulating patterns on the pair of conductive lines, the upper insulating patterns defining landing pad holes connected to the contact holes such that the landing pad holes have second widths in the first direction that are greater than the first widths; contact structures including contact plugs connected to the active regions by passing through the insulating layer, and first landing pads connected to the contact plugs, the first landing pads being in the landing pads holes such that the first landing pads vertically overlap with one of the pair of conductive lines; and capacitor lower electrodes connected to the contact structures.
US09064730B2
Techniques for forming a contact to a buried diffusion layer in a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. The techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device may comprise a substrate comprising an upper layer, an array of dummy pillars formed on the upper layer of the substrate and arranged in rows and columns, and an array of active pillars formed on the upper layer of the substrate and arranged in rows and columns. Each of the dummy pillars may extend upward from the upper layer and have a bottom contact that is electrically connected with the upper layer of the substrate. Each of the active pillars may extend upward from the upper layer and have an active first region, an active second region, and an active third region. Each of the active pillars may also be electrically connected with the upper layer of the substrate.
US09064726B2
Impurity atoms of a first type are implanted through a gate and a thin gate dielectric into a channel region that has substantially only the first type of impurity atoms at a middle point of the channel region to increase the average dopant concentration of the first type of impurity atoms in the channel region to adjust the threshold voltage of a transistor.
US09064720B2
A decoupling capacitor formed from a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) and method of using the same are provided. An embodiment decoupling capacitor includes a fin field-effect transistor (FinFET) having a semiconductor substrate supporting a gate stack, a source, and a drain, a first terminal coupled to the semiconductor substrate and to the gate stack, the first terminal configured to couple with a first power rail, and a second terminal coupled to the source and to the drain, the second terminal configured to couple with a second power rail having a higher potential than the first power rail.
US09064711B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device in which a lifetime control region can be formed within a predetermined range with high positioning accuracy is provided. In a semiconductor device, an IGBT element region and a diode element region may be formed in one semiconductor substrate. The IGBT element region may include a second conductivity type drift layer and a first conductivity type body layer. The diode element region may include a second conductivity type drift layer and a first conductivity type anode layer. A concentration of heavy metal included in the drift layer of the diode element region may be set higher than a concentration of the heavy metal included in the drift layer of the IGBT element region.
US09064705B2
Methods and apparatus for forming a semiconductor device package on an interposer using a micro-bump layer are disclosed. The micro-bump layer may comprise micro-bumps and micro-bump lines, where a micro-bump is used as a vertical connection between a die and the interposer, and a micro-bump line is used as a horizontal connection for signal transmission between different dies above the interposer. The micro-bump lines may be formed at the same time as the formation of the micro-bumps with little or no additional cost.
US09064704B2
An integrated circuit with ESD protection comprises at least one ESD protection circuit block, which comprises a DC blocking capacitor connected in parallel with at least one compound semiconductor enhancement mode FET as an ESD protection device. The ESD protection circuit block that is built in an integrated circuit provides ESD protection while minimizing the generation of unwanted nonlinear signals resulting from the ESD protection. An integrated circuit comprises a high frequency circuit, a switching element, and two ESD protection circuit blocks, in which the high frequency circuit is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal for inputting or outputting the RF signals, the first ESD protection circuit block is connected from a branch node between the first terminal and the high frequency circuit to the switching element, and the second ESD protection circuit block is connected from the switching element to the ground.
US09064701B2
Methods synthesizing nanowires in solution at low temperatures (e.g., about 400° C. or lower) are provided. In the present methods, the nanowires are synthesized by exposing nanowire precursors to metal nanocrystals in a nanowire growth solution comprising a solvent. The metal nanocrystals serve as seed particles that catalyze the growth of the semiconductor nanowires. The metal nanocrystals may be formed in situ in the growth solution from metal nanocrystal precursors. Alternatively, the nanowires may be pre-formed and added to the growth solution.
US09064677B2
The present invention relates to an MCP with sufficient physical strength and high detection efficiency. The MCP has a double cladding structure composed of first cladding glasses each of which has a through hole serving as a channel, and a second cladding glass having a high acid resistance and employing a honeycomb structure. In an entrance end face each first cladding glass has a tapered opening.
US09064676B2
A microchannel plate includes a substrate defining a plurality of channels extending from a top surface of the substrate to a bottom surface of the substrate. A resistive layer is formed over an outer surface of the plurality of channels that provides ohmic conduction with a predetermined resistivity that is substantially constant. An emissive layer is formed over the resistive layer. A top electrode is positioned on the top surface of the substrate. A bottom electrode positioned on the bottom surface of the substrate.
US09064667B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement carbon nanotube-based field emitters. In one embodiment, a method of fabricating a carbon nanotube field emitter includes: patterning a substrate with a catalyst, where the substrate has thereon disposed a diffusion barrier layer; growing a plurality of carbon nanotubes on at least a portion of the patterned catalyst; and heating the substrate to an extent where it begins to soften such that at least a portion of at least one carbon nanotube becomes enveloped by the softened substrate.
US09064662B1
A variable gap switch includes a first electrode having a first gap surface; a second electrode having a second gap surface, the second gap surface formed in an initial fluid state that hardens to substantially conform to the first gap surface, the first electrode being moveable with respect to the second electrode; an alignment guide providing substantially parallel and substantially opposed alignment of the first gap surface and the second gap surface; and a displacement mechanism positioned to provide selective movement of the first electrode with respect to the second electrode so that a gap between the electrodes is selectively adjustable.
US09064656B2
A safety switch is improved by the feature of staying in an open position in the event of breakage of a working rod or breakage or dropout of an operation portion and having a simple structure facilitating size reduction. Even if a rotary shaft is released from a supported state in an operation portion because an operating force of an operation or the number of operations of extracting an actuator from the operation portion exceeds a breakage tolerance, a working rod is permitted to move in an urging direction of a coil spring and is assuredly moved to the operation portion. Therefore, a switch can be assuredly set to an open position and, hence, the safety switch can achieve the safety improvement.
US09064645B2
In order to take maximum advantage of the modularity provided by a multipole circuit breaker with double enclosure (100), a new architecture is proposed. The outer case (48) of the switchgear apparatus (100) is formed directly when assembly of the breaking device (600) is performed by juxtaposition and securing between single-pole breaking units (10), spacers (46) and side walls (50), trip device (7) and cover (64). The spacers (46) can thus be used for various functionalities, and in particular to modify the external aspect of the switchgear apparatus (100) or the nature of the trip device (7) in delayed manner.
US09064631B2
A transformer for RF and other frequency through-chip-interface (TCI) applications includes multiple chips in wireless electronic communication with one another in three-dimensional integrated circuit, 3DIC, technology. Each of the chips includes an inductor coil and a matching network that matches the impedance of the inductor coil. The matching network is electrically coupled between the inductor coil and further components and circuits formed on the chip.
US09064629B2
A magnetic core including a winding core portion; and a flange portion provided on the axial end side of at least one of the winding core portion, wherein the flange portion is formed such that contour line OL1 of cross-section P, of the flange portion, which becomes perpendicular with respect to the axis line of the winding core portion forms a shape of a first irregular convex polygon which is substantially a non-regular polygon and also a convex polygon, and the contour line OL1 contacts with respect to all of sides Sb1, Sb2, Sb3 and Sb4 which are the four sides of a first circumscribed rectangle which becomes minimum within imaginary rectangles circumscribed with the contour line OL1 and also, the contour line OL1 includes side Sa1 and side Sat which respectively overlap with portions of respective ones of the side Sb1 and the side Sb2.
US09064628B2
A thin film coupled inductor, a thin film spiral inductor, and a system that includes an electronic device and a power supply or power converter incorporating one or more such inductors. A thin film coupled inductor includes a wafer substrate; a bottom yoke comprising a magnetic material above the wafer substrate; a first insulating layer above the bottom yoke; a first conductor above the bottom yoke and separated therefrom by the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer above the first conductor; a second conductor above the second insulating layer; a third insulating layer above the second conductor; and a non-planar top yoke above the third insulating layer, the top yoke comprising a magnetic material.
US09064627B2
The invention proposes a radio frequency circuit which comprises a transformer with a first primary circuit, a second primary circuit, and a secondary circuit, the secondary circuit comprising an integrated first inductor, this first inductor being positioned, on an axis orthogonal to a surface of the circuit, between an integrated second and third inductor respectively comprised in the first primary circuit and second primary circuit.
US09064612B2
An electrical ribbon cable includes at least one conductor set having at least two elongated conductors extending from end-to-end of the cable. Each of the conductors are encompassed along a length of the cable by respective first dielectrics. A first and second film extend from end-to-end of the cable and are disposed on opposite sides of the cable The conductors are fixably coupled to the first and second films such that a consistent spacing is maintained between the first dielectrics of the conductors of each conductor set along the length of the cable. A second dielectric disposed within the spacing between the first dielectrics of the wires of each conductor set.
US09064610B2
An apparatus includes a beta particle source configured to provide beta particles. The apparatus also includes a diamond moderator configured to convert at least some of the beta particles into lower-energy electrons. The apparatus further includes a PN junction configured to receive the electrons and to provide electrical power to a load. The diamond moderator is located between the beta particle source and the PN junction. The apparatus could also include an electron amplifier configured to bias the diamond moderator. For example, the electron amplifier could be configured to receive some of the beta particles and to generate additional electrons that bias the diamond moderator. Also, the diamond moderator can be configured to receive the beta particles having energies that are spread out over a wider range including higher energies, and the diamond moderator can be configured to provide the electrons concentrated in a narrower range at lower energies.
US09064609B2
A mechanical connection between adjacent components of a system may include a first component of the system, a second component of the system, and a multiple degree-of-freedom connection between the first and second components. The multiple degree-of-freedom connection may have at least four degrees of freedom. A method for establishing a mechanical connection between adjacent components of a system may include disposing a first component of the system adjacent to a second component of the system, and connecting the first component to the second component using a multiple degree-of-freedom connection. The multiple degree-of-freedom connection may have at least four degrees of freedom.
US09064598B1
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to one embodiment comprises: a memory cell array comprising a plurality of NAND strings, each NAND string comprising a memory string comprising a plurality of memory cells and a dummy transistor; a plurality of word lines; a dummy word line; a plurality of bit lines; a source line; and a control circuit performing an erase sequence, the erase sequence repeating an erase operation to the memory cells and the dummy transistor and an erase verify operation of confirming whether the memory cells and the dummy transistor are changed to an erased state. The control circuit is configured to be able to perform, when the erase verify operation is unpassed, a dummy transistor erase operation of selectively changing the dummy transistor to an erased state and a dummy transistor erase verify operation of confirming whether the dummy transistor is changed to an erased state.
US09064597B2
In a read step or a program (write) verification step of a semiconductor memory device, read voltages different from one another are applied to a pair of word lines respectively disposed on both sides of a selected word line to suppress the enlargement of program distribution.
US09064592B2
A shift register is used for solving the problem that the shift register in the prior art can only perform a forward scanning driving but can not perform a bi-directional scanning driving. The shift register includes: a first TFT(T1), a second TFT(T2), a reset unit and a pulling-up unit. The present disclosure further provides a display including the shift register. The shift register and the display can achieve a bi-directional scanning driving.
US09064590B2
In a memory, a signal holder holds voltages according to data in the storage elements. A busy-signal controller controls a busy-signal. The busy-signal determines whether to permit or reject reception of a read/write enable signal. During reception of the read/write enable signal is rejected, the signal holder holds a first to a third voltages. The first voltage corresponds to target data stored in a first storage element. The second voltage corresponds to first sample data of first logic written to the first storage element. The third voltage corresponds to second sample data of second logic. A sense amplifier detects logic of the target data by comparing a read signal of the first voltage with a reference signal generated by the second and third voltages. The write driver writes the target data/write data to the first storage element. After writing, the reception of the read/write enable signal is permitted.
US09064584B2
Provided are a non-volatile memory device and a method for erasing the non-volatile memory device having vertical channel layers formed with different widths varying by height and a plurality of memory cells stacked along the vertical channel layers, the method including increasing potentials of the vertical channel layers, and when potentials of word lines connected to the memory cells are increased, erasing the memory cells while lowering the potentials of the word lines beginning from a word line positioned in an area in which a width of the vertical channel layer is wide to a word line positioned in an area in which the width of the vertical channel layer is narrow.
US09064583B2
A Read Only Memory (ROM) and method for providing a high operational speed with reduced leakage, no core cell standby leakage, and low power consumption. The source of the ROM cell (NMOS) is connected to a virtual ground line (VNGD) instead of VSS. Thus, the ROM cell can be operatively coupled to the bit-line, the word-line, and the virtual ground, which also acts as a column select signal. The arrangement of the ROM is such that the virtual ground of the selected column is pulled down to a ground voltage. Non-selected columns virtual ground can be maintained at a supply voltage to ensure that unwanted columns will not have any sub-threshold current (as Vds=0). Since no pre-charging of bit-line comes in the access time path, the ROM achieves a high operational speed with reduced leakage and low power consumption.
US09064582B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory cell array, a page buffer unit which output a verify-read result, a reference current generating unit which generates a reference current signal, a page buffer decoding unit which outputs currents according to the verify-read result. The nonvolatile memory device further includes an analog bit counting unit which counts the currents, a digital adding unit which calculates an accumulated sum of the counting result, a pass/fail checking unit which outputs a pass signal or fail signal according to the calculation result, and a control unit controlling a program operation.
US09064581B2
A program method of a nonvolatile memory device according to example embodiments includes a operation (a) of detecting a level of a program voltage; and a operation (b) of providing a unselected word line voltage and a bit line precharge voltage having a variable level respectively according to the detected level of the program voltage.
US09064579B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a memory and a speed control unit. The speed control unit calculates a time-varying behavior of a permissible value of an accumulated amount of data written in the non-volatile semiconductor memory, where, after a start of a guaranteed period, data is written in the memory at a constant write speed so that the permissible value at an end time of the guaranteed period is equal to a sum of a first capacity and a second capacity. The first capacity is an accumulated amount of data written in the memory. The second capacity is an accumulated amount of data which is writable in the memory in a remaining time of the guaranteed period based on remaining rewritable times of existing blocks. The speed control unit controls a transmission speed of data from a host based on the permissible value.
US09064569B1
A method includes, in a data storage device that includes a non-volatile memory and a controller coupled to a non-volatile memory, the controller including a bus and a processor coupled to the bus, accessing a volatile memory included in the controller via a first interface. The volatile memory is coupled to the bus via the first interface. The data storage device further includes a resistive random access memory (ReRAM) having a second interface. The method also includes storing data at the ReRAM via the second interface. The ReRAM is coupled to the bus via the second interface. The controller is configured to store user data at the non-volatile memory via a dedicated controller-to-non-volatile memory interface.
US09064567B2
An electronic device includes a semiconductor memory unit. The semiconductor memory unit includes first lines extending along a first direction; second lines extending along a second direction that intersects with the first direction; a silicon-added metal oxide layer disposed in each intersection region of the first lines and the second lines; a metal oxide layer that is disposed alternately with the silicon-added metal oxide layer in the first direction and that is disposed in a region between two adjacent second lines and over a corresponding one of the first lines over which the silicon-added metal oxide layer is disposed; and a silicon oxide layer that is disposed alternately with the silicon-added metal oxide layer in the second direction and that is disposed in a region between two first lines and under a corresponding one of the second lines under which the silicon-added metal oxide layer is disposed.
US09064564B2
Provided are a variable resistive memory device, and methods of fabricating and driving the same. The variable resistive memory device includes a plurality of memory cells arranged in a first direction and in a second direction different from the first direction, each of the plurality of memory cells comprising a variable resistor and a selection device serially connected to the variable resistor. A common wiring is electrically connected to first ends of the plurality of memory cells to apply a common reference voltage. Each wiring line of a plurality of wiring lines is electrically connected to second ends of the plurality of memory cells arranged n the plurality of rows oriented in the first direction. A plurality of selection lines are respectively connected to the selection devices of the plurality of memory cells to select any one of the plurality of memory cells via the plurality of wiring lines.
US09064563B2
A data storage device may generally be constructed and operated with at least one variable resistance memory cell configured with non-factory operational parameters by a controller. The non-factory operational parameters are assigned in response to an identified variance from a predetermined threshold in at least one variable resistance memory cell.
US09064560B2
A nonvolatile storage or memory device is accessed over a memory bus. The memory bus has an electrical interface typically used for volatile memory devices. A controller coupled to the bus sends synchronous data access commands to the nonvolatile memory device, and reads the response from the device bus based on an expected timing of a reply from the nonvolatile memory device. The controller determines the expected timing based on when the command was sent, and characteristics of the nonvolatile memory device. The controller may not need all the electrical signal lines available on the memory bus, and could issue data access commands to different groups of nonvolatile memory devices over different groups of electrical signal lines. The memory bus may be available and configured for either use with a memory controller and volatile memory devices, or a storage controller and nonvolatile memory devices.
US09064557B2
A self powered memory system is disclosed. The system includes a volatile supply component, a battery component, a switch component, and a volatile memory component. The volatile supply component is configured to provide a time varying supply. The battery component is configured to generate a non-volatile supply. The switch component is configured to generate a persistent supply from the time varying supply and the non-volatile supply. The volatile memory component is configured to maintain data by using the persistent supply.
US09064549B2
A memory device including at least one bit-line decoding circuit, at least one word-line decoding circuit, a plurality of memory blocks, and a plurality of switches is provided. The sizes of the plurality of memory blocks include at least one first size and a second size, and the first size is greater than the second size. The plurality of memory blocks with the first size are grouped as at least one first group, and the plurality of memory blocks with the second size are grouped as at least one second group. Compared to the first group, the second group is closer to the bit-line decoding circuit and/or the word-line decoding circuit. The switches are controlled by at least one control signal, so as to enable or disable the first group and/or the second group.
US09064541B2
In one embodiment, a system for providing header protection in magnetic tape recording is adapted to write a codeword interleave (CWI) set on a magnetic tape including a plurality of CWIs equal to a number of tracks, wherein a data set includes a plurality of CWI sets, provide a CWI set header for the CWI set, the CWI set header including a CWI header for each CWI in the CWI set, each CWI header including at least a CWI Designation (CWID) which indicates a location of the CWI within the data set, calculate or obtain CWID parity for all CWIDs in the CWI set header, the CWID parity including error correction coding (ECC) parity, and store the CWID parity to one or more fields which are repeated for each CWI header in the CWI set header without using reserved bits in the CWI set header to store the CWID parity.
US09064540B2
In a recording mode for simultaneously recording moving image files onto a plurality of recording mediums, a recording apparatus adds same identification information to the respective moving image files to be simultaneously recorded onto the plurality of recording mediums and record the obtained files in such a manner that when a recording space capacity of one of the plurality of recording mediums is smaller than a predetermined value or when there is an instruction to stop the recording to a designated recording medium among the plurality of recording mediums, the respective moving image files which are being recorded onto the plurality of recording are closed.
US09064521B1
Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods for designing and manufacturing hard masks used in the creation of patterned magnetic media and, more particularly, patterned magnetic recording media used in hard disk drives (e.g., bit patterned media (BPM)). In some embodiments, the hard mask incorporates at least one layer of Ta (tantalum) and at least one layer of C (carbon) and is used during ion implantation of a pattern onto magnetic media. The hard mask can be fabricated with a high aspect ratio to achieve small feature sizes while maintaining its effectiveness as a mask, is robust enough to withstand the ion implantation process, and can be removed after the ion implantation process with minimal damage to the magnetic media.
US09064515B2
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed related to heat assisted magnetic recording. According to one embodiment, an apparatus that includes a heat sink region and a near field transducer region is disclosed. The near field transducer region is thermally coupled to the heat sink region. At least one of the heat sink region and the near field transducer region includes both an inner core and an outer shell. The inner core can be comprised of a non-plasmonic material and the outer shell can be comprised of a plasmonic material. In further embodiments, the inner core is comprised of a material having a relatively higher electron-phonon coupling constant and the outer shell is comprised of a material having a relatively lower electron-phonon coupling constant.
US09064508B1
The present disclosure generally relates to a structure for a perpendicular microwave-assisted magnetic recording head used in a magnetic disk drive. A first spin-torque oscillator and a second spin-torque oscillator are positioned between the main pole of a recording head and a trailing shield, and are separated by a spin torque shield layer. The first spin-torque oscillator comprises a first magnetic layer, a first non-magnetic interlayer, and a second magnetic layer. The second spin-torque oscillator comprises a third magnetic layer, a second non-magnetic interlayer, and a fourth magnetic layer. An applied current is adapted to flow in a direction from the second magnetic layer to the first magnetic layer, and from the fourth magnetic layer to the third magnetic layer.
US09064505B2
An optical pickup assembly includes a first optical pickup unit (OPU) and a second OPU. The OPUs are either stacked on each other in separate housings or integrated together in a common housing such that the OPUs are arranged laterally across a tape path and are positioned at a longitudinal position along the tape path.
US09064503B2
One or more audio signals are processed using a multi-stage (hierarchical) voice and/or signal activity detector (VAD/SAD). A first stage is capable of reducing the workload bandwidth by employing an inexpensive VAD/SAD processor. One or more subsequent stages may further process the audio signals from the first stage. Other implementations may include a first stage that also performs continuity preservation between last blocks of audio signal and the first blocks of audio after it is detected that relevant audio signals are resumed. In yet other implementations, the first stage may extract features from audio signals when they are presented in their coded domain, and possibly with little or no decoding of the audio signal.
US09064499B2
A method for processing multichannel acoustic signals which is characterized by calculating the feature quantity of each channel from the input signals of a plurality of channels, calculating similarity between the channels in the feature quantity of each channel, selecting channels having high similarity, and separating signals using the input signals of the selected channels.
US09064494B2
The present invention relates to a method of and a device (30) for automatic recognition of given keywords and/or terms within voice data (25) of a talk between at least two participants, said voice data (25) being continuously compared during said talk with said given keywords and/or terms (26) with regard to the occurrence of said given keywords and/or terms (26) within said voice data (25). In order to provide a solution which guarantees that topics which should be part of a talk are actually dealt with during said talk, the method is characterized in that a visualized representation (48) of the results (45) of said comparison is presented to at least one participant during the talk. A device (30) for automatic recognition of given keywords and/or terms (26) within voice data (25) of a talk between at least two participants comprises a comparator unit (41) for continuously comparing said voice data (25) with said given keywords and/or terms (25) during said talk with regard to the occurrence of said given keywords and/or terms (26) within said voice data (25); and means (46) for transforming the results (45) of said comparison into a visualized representation (48) and for presenting said visualized representation (48) of the comparison results (45) to at least one participant during the talk.
US09064482B2
Devices and methods for controlling an electronic system are provided. An embodiment of a device comprises a spring having a first end with a first handle and a second end with a second handle. A first sensor detects movement of the first end and a second sensor detects movement of the second end. Each sensor provides a control signal to the electronic system such that the electronic system can act according to the varying control signals. A method comprises providing a spring-based musical instrument and providing a computer having a speaker. The spring is altered by the musician in order to generate control signals to the computer. Sound is generated by the speaker and varied by the computer according to the received control signals.
US09064481B2
A pickup unit cavity for a stringed musical instrument is provided. The pickup unit cavity comprises a top, a bottom, at least one side, and at least one aperture in the cavity bottom, wherein the depth of the aperture allows for adjustment of a pole piece of a pickup unit. In some embodiments, the depth of the cavity from the top to the bottom is about ½ inch and the depth of the at least one aperture is ½ inch. In certain embodiments, the pickup unit cavity is in a housing. An electrical stringed musical instrument in combination with the pickup unit cavity is additionally provided.
US09064475B2
An image processing apparatus which includes an extension width determination unit for determining an extension width based on a depression time of the cursor at a reference position on an image display unit where a releasing operation of the cursor was performed, which is a time during which the cursor had been kept depressed until the releasing operation was performed, and an ornament piece arrangement unit for arranging the plurality of ornament pieces at positions radially extended away from the reference position with the extension width determined by the extension width determination unit.
US09064472B2
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) has first, second, and third pixels adjacent to one another in a column direction. The LCD includes a first gate line connected to each of the second and third pixels in common, a capacitance electrode line connected to each of the first and second pixels in common, a first data line connected to the second pixel, and a second data line connected to the first and third pixels.
US09064467B2
There are provided a liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof, which can reduce power consumption and improve image quality. A liquid crystal display device includes pixels, a data driver and at least one gate driver. The pixels are positioned at intersection portions of gate lines and data lines. The data driver supplies a data signal having a first or second polarity to the data lines. The at least one gate driver supplies, to the gate lines, a first gate signal corresponding to the first polarity and a second gate signal corresponding to the second polarity.
US09064465B2
The present invention provides an electronic device (100) comprising a homochromatic liquid crystal display (155), a color liquid crystal display (165), and a backlight (175) having a light-pipe (220), the homochromatic liquid crystal display, the color liquid crystal display and the light-pipe being positioned in overlapping relation to each other, the light-pipe arranged to direct light (230d) through both the homochromatic liquid crystal display and the color liquid crystal display, a homochromatic liquid crystal display driver (150) arranged to generate an image on the homochromatic liquid crystal display in response to an image signal, a color liquid crystal display driver (160) arranged to generate an image on the color liquid crystal display in response to an image signal, a processor (103) arranged to receive a light control signal (LS1), and to forward an image signal to one of the homochromatic liquid crystal display driver or the color liquid crystal display driver dependent on the light control signal.
US09064462B2
A method for compensating images, applied to an e-paper display where pixels are arranged as a pixel array displaying N-level grayscale images. Standard images from a first standard image to an N-th standard image which respectively correspond to a first-level grayscale value to the N-th-level grayscale value are provided. The e-paper display respectively displays the standard images. Actual grayscale values of each pixel of the e-paper display, from a first actual grayscale value corresponding to the first standard image to the N-th actual grayscale value corresponding to the N-th standard image, are obtained. Each m-th actual grayscale value is compared with an m-th-level grayscale value to generate an m-th compensating matrix, wherein m is a positive integer from 1 to N. Therefore, compensating matrices from a first compensating matrix to an N-th compensating matrix are generated and used to compensate an input image of the e-paper display.
US09064456B2
An organic light emitting diode display including a short detecting circuit and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting diode display includes a pixel unit including pixels coupled to scan lines and data lines, a DC-DC converter for outputting a first power source and a second power source when a start signal is supplied, a first power source line and a second power source line for supplying the first power source and the second power source output from the DC-DC converter to the pixel unit, and a short detecting circuit for determining whether the first power source line and the second power source line are shorted before the DC-DC converter is driven and for supplying the start signal to the DC-DC converter when the first power source line and the second power source line are not shorted.
US09064449B2
A method for adapting refresh behavior on an electronic device is described. The method includes operating according to an adaptive state that adapts a refresh rate for a display based on at least one frame. The method additionally includes transitioning from the adaptive state to a self refresh state based on a first self refresh state indication. The method further includes transitioning from the self refresh state to the adaptive state based on a second self refresh state indication.
US09064448B1
A method for digital image comparison includes, by a computer executing a single instance of an application program stored in a memory of the computer, receiving a first input from a user of the computer, identifying related portions of a first digital image and a second digital image. The method also includes receiving user interactions to view portions of the first digital image. The method also includes, responsive to the user interactions, changing a view of portions of the second digital image that are related to the first digital image.
US09064442B2
An optical transmission-type head mounted display apparatus includes an acquisition unit that acquires image data; an image display unit that generates image light based on the image data, and outputs the image light in order to cause a user to see the image light as a virtual image; and a control unit that performs control so as to reduces an output level of the image light corresponding to a part of regions of the virtual image from among the image light to a level at which the user cannot see the virtual image in a specific condition.
US09064441B2
A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes an image receiver for receiving an image signal; a data processor for generating an image frame by processing the image signal; a display unit for displaying the generated image frame; a User Interface (UI) generator for generating and displaying a UI to select a correction region in the displayed image frame; and a controller for controlling the data processor to generate an image frame with a corrected display attribute, using a preset correction value with respect to the selected correction region.
US09064439B2
According to one embodiment, a display control apparatus includes: a display controller configured to control display of stereoscopic display data that is based on pieces of image information which have a mutual parallax and an operation object that moves in accordance with a user's operation, in a screen; and a switch module configured to disable display of the operation object if the operation object moves to an area where the stereoscopic display data is displayed in the screen.
US09064433B2
A color changing display is provided that includes a frame structure having an inner surface, an outer surface, a front edge defining an open front portion of the frame structure, and a back edge defining an open back portion of the frame structure. A panel, having a front surface and a back surface, is attached to the back edge of the frame structure and covers the open back portion of the frame structure. One or more lights are secured to the inner surface of the frame structure and a light-transmitting substrate is attached to the front edge of the frame structure such that the light-transmitting substrate covers the open front portion of the frame structure. A combined image, comprising two or more images, is affixed to the light-transmitting substrate such that an appearance of the combined image changes in response to different colors of light.
US09064431B2
A flexible display device includes a housing including a first support and a second support, the first support and the second support being coupled with each other so as to be folded and unfolded by a folding device, and a flexible panel coupled with the housing. The folding device includes a plurality of link members for rotatably connecting the first support and the second support to each other.
US09064426B2
A method for a tactile presentation of perceivable content. The method comprises receiving a data representing perceivable content, selecting a plurality of electric currents according to the data, each the electric current is associated with at least one of a plurality of regions of a solution having a plurality of macromolecules, and changing a level of acidity (pH) of at least one of the plurality of regions by applying a respective the electric current thereto. A proton concentration in the plurality of regions tactilely presents the perceivable content.
US09064424B2
An audiovisual recording of a user reading a book aloud is generated for playback with a virtual book. A book reading user interface presents a virtual book concurrently with a current image of the user. The virtual book may be presented based at least in part on an aspect ratio of the virtual book. As the user reads the virtual book aloud, an audiovisual recording of the user is generated. In addition, synchronization information is recorded that enables the audiovisual recording to be synchronized with the presentation of pages of the virtual book during playback. The generated audiovisual recording is stored in a database and may be played back to a recipient on demand.
US09064415B2
Tracking traffic violations within an intersection and use of a destination location are disclosed. Initially, two or more first images from a first camera having a first field of view are received. Next, a first unique identifier of a first vehicle and a violated traffic restriction within the intersection are determined based on the two or more first images. Next, two or more second images from a second camera having a second field of view are received. A second unique identifier and a first characteristic of a second vehicle are determined based on the two or more second images. Next, two or more third images from a third camera having a third field of view are received. That the second vehicle is stopped in a destination location at a first time and that the second vehicle has left the destination location at a second time are determined based on the two or more third images.
US09064407B2
Systems and methods for use in identifying at least one alternate airport for an aircraft. One example method includes identifying a plurality of airports based on static data associated with the plurality of airports, and identifying, at a processing device, at least one preferred airport from the plurality of airports based on dynamic data associated with at least the at least one preferred airport, wherein the static data and/or the dynamic data is associated with at least one weight that enables at least one of the plurality of airports to be identified based on a relative importance of the static data and/or the dynamic data.
US09064401B2
A method of detecting leakage of a fluid from a tank is disclosed. The method may include determining cumulative commanded fluid consumption of the fluid in the tank over a selected time period, determining an actual change of a volume of the fluid in the tank over the selected time period, and comparing the cumulative commanded fluid consumption to the actual change of volume of the fluid. The method may further include producing a leak warning upon the actual change of volume of the fluid over the selected time period exceeding the cumulative commanded fluid consumption over the selected time period plus a threshold value.
US09064397B2
A verification value is calculated for an estimation result. The estimation result is corrected on the basis of the calculated verification value. This allows for output of a highly reliable estimation result. If it is determined that the class to which the state of a driver belongs has transitioned continuously, the estimation result is outputted. If it cannot be determined that the class to which the state of the driver belongs has transitioned continuously, a previous estimation result is outputted instead of the latest estimation result. This allows for output of a highly reliable estimation result.
US09064395B2
A checkout station includes an optional scale for weighing items; a composite cover or weigh platter supported by the scale, wherein the cover has a lower surface with a lower window having a horizontal perimeter, an upper surface including an upper window positioned transversely to the lower surface, a metallic plate surrounding a portion of the horizontal perimeter of the lower window, the metallic plate spaced apart proximal end sections, and a nonmetallic bezel positioned between the lower window and the upper surface and positioned between the spaced apart proximal end sections of the metallic plate; one or more imagers for obtaining views of an item within a viewing volume bounded by the lower and upper surfaces; and a surveillance tag deactivation system for deactivating an electronic surveillance tag in proximity to the viewing volume.
US09064384B2
A goods transmission system in a vending machine includes a vending cabinet and a goods output mechanism. A supporting plate with a cutout blocks goods from falling in the cabinet. The supporting plate bears against an upwardly-inclined bottom plate which, with separating plates, carries a plurality of goods. A plurality of first resisting brackets and a plurality of second resisting brackets on an endless toothed belt extend from the drive member and the drive member drives the plurality of first resisting brackets and the second resisting brackets around. The action of the first resisting brackets and the second resisting brackets push the plurality of goods to move on the supporting plate until one of the plurality of goods is pushed to being above the cutout and the item drops from the cutout for the customer.
US09064376B1
The invention described herein can be configured for securing communications against malware by utilizing two devices with differential or application-specific components during an online session. The invention can determine whether both a first device and a second device are accessible and if both the first and second devices are determined to be accessible, transmitting a first subset of the information to the first device from the server and transmitting a second subset of the information to the second device from the server.
US09064368B2
A gaming system and methods for conducting a wagering game allowing player selection of a base game and a game feature. A gaming system includes a display displaying a plurality of game icons and a plurality of game feature icons. Each of the game icons indicate a respective different base game and each of the game feature icons indicate a respective different game feature. An input device accepts a player selection of one of the plurality of game icons. The input device further accepts a player selection of one of the plurality of game feature icons. A controller selects a base game in response to the player selection of one of the plurality of game icons and selects a game feature in response to the player selection of one of the plurality of game feature icons. The controller operates the selected base game incorporating the selected game feature.
US09064363B2
An automated transaction apparatus is disclosed, which includes an identification section that, when a plurality of types of currency having mutually different currency units have been inserted, identifies the inserted currency; and a controller that effects control of a transaction with a user based on identification results determined by the identification section.
US09064361B2
A coin dispensing apparatus prevents excessive dispensing of coins without abruptly stopping a rotary disk. A movable guide member is provided in a carrying path of coins to be selectively located at a guiding position where the coins are guided toward a dispensing opening or a non-guiding position where the coins are not guided toward the dispensing opening. A movable stopper is provided in a dispensing passage communicating with the carrying path to be selectively located at a blocking position where the coins are blocked or a non-blocking position where the coins are not blocked to pass through the dispensing passage. During a dispensing operation, the guide member is located at the guiding position and the stopper is located at the non-blocking position. During a non-dispensing operation, the guide member is located at the non-guiding position and the stopper is located at the blocking position.
US09064359B2
A system for service queue management is disclosed including a terminal controlled by the system having a processing platform to generate service queue information for a user, and a mechanism for the user to request or receive the service queue information. The processing platform preferably transmits promotions related to goods and services associated with the service queue information to a user. The mechanism for the user to request or receive service queue information may preferably include a user's mobile communications device or a manually-activated device located on the terminal. Service queue information may include a queue number, next queue number to be issued, estimated wait time for service, a predicted time of service, time of issuance of ticket, predicted queue-waiting time, marketing messages, instructions for use of said ticket dispenser, and average queue-waiting time.
US09064355B2
The present invention concerns a method and a system for controlling and monitoring a point of sale, said point of sale having an opening (A), said method and system controlling the potential customers that pass through said opening (A) of said point of sale. Particularly, the system comprises a passage sensor (2), adapted to be disposed in the proximity of said opening (A) for generating a passage signal (Sp) when a person (P) passes through said opening (A), imaging means (5) adapted to be disposed in the proximity of said opening (A) for acquiring an image (6) of at least one person (P) that passes through said opening (A) and connection and control means, for connecting said passage sensor (2) with said imaging means (5) so that, upon generation of said passage signal (Sp), said imaging means (5) acquire the image of said person (P) that is passing through said opening (A).
US09064348B2
A method of processing an image involves detecting a face from a first image; determining a composition of the first image; selecting a composition of a second image according to the composition of the first image; and generating the second image including the face by trimming the first image, according to the composition of the second image.
US09064347B2
A method, medium, and system efficiently rendering 3 dimensional (3D) graphics data. The rendering method includes calculating the strength of a fog effect that is to be applied to graphics data, determining whether texture mapping must be performed on the graphics data, according to the strength of the fog effect, and performing the texture mapping according to the determination result. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of memory access operations for reading textures.
US09064342B2
A computer-implemented method is described. The computer-implemented method is used for populating data of a graphical user interface (GUI). The computer-implemented method includes generating one or more graphical elements of one or more activities captured by a monitoring device. The monitoring device is usable by a user during the capturing. The method further includes generating a timeline including a time period over which the activities are performed. The timeline includes a chronological order of time within the time period. The method further includes generating an activity symbol for one or more of the activities performed during the time period. The activity symbol has an image that is graphically overlaid on the graphical elements of the activities.
US09064341B2
Methods, systems and apparatus are described to render a map according to hybrid map data. A map may be generated by a map service and sent to a client device. Hybrid map data composed of raster graphics data and vector graphics data may be generated by a map service to be sent to and rendered on a client device. A client device obtains hybrid map data, renders the vector graphics data using vector graphics, renders the raster graphics data using raster graphics, and displays the map view. A client device may receive input modifying the zoom level of the displayed map. In response a client device may render the vector graphics data at the modified zoom level and scale the raster graphics data to the zoom level. Some embodiments may obtain update raster graphics data.
US09064339B2
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, and methods for updating and visualizing information stored in a database system. In various implementations, a request to search contact data is received, where the contact data provides contact information associated with at least one entity. Search parameters may be retrieved responsive to the search request, where the search parameters define the search and include a geographical location associated with a source of the request. In various implementations, a first contact is identified based on the retrieved search parameters, where the first contact is identified based at least in part on a geographical distance between the first contact and the source of the request. In some implementations, a geographical representation of the first contact is generated, where the geographical representation indicates a geographical location of the first contact, and where the geographical representation is capable of being displayed at a user interface of a computer system.
US09064334B2
An enhanced graphics pipeline is provided that enables common core hardware to perform as different components of the graphics pipeline, programmability of primitives including lines and triangles by a component in the pipeline, and a stream output before or simultaneously with the rendering a graphical display with the data in the pipeline. The programmer does not have to optimize the code, as the common core will balance the load of functions necessary and dynamically allocate those instructions on the common core hardware. The programmer may program primitives using algorithms to simplify all vertex calculations by substituting with topology made with lines and triangles. The programmer takes the calculated output data and can read it before or while it is being rendered. Thus, a programmer has greater flexibility in programming. By using the enhanced graphics pipeline, the programmer can optimize the usage of the hardware in the pipeline, program vertex, line or triangle topologies altogether rather than each vertex alone, and read any calculated data from memory where the pipeline can output the calculated information.
US09064325B2
Multi-mode video event indexing includes determining a quality of object distinctiveness with respect to images from a video stream input. A high-quality analytic mode is selected from multiple modes and applied to video input images via a hardware device to determine object activity within the video input images if the determined level of detected quality of object distinctiveness meets a threshold level of quality, else a low-quality analytic mode is selected and applied to the video input images via a hardware device to determine object activity within the video input images, wherein the low-quality analytic mode is different from the high-quality analytic mode.
US09064322B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for accessing display configuration information in a multi-graphics-processing-unit (multi-GPU) system, which includes the steps of asserting a select signal to steer the display configuration information of a display device, which is coupled to a discrete GPU (dGPU), to a motherboard GPU (mGPU) in the multi-GPU system if dGPU is unavailable, and validating the display configuration information prior to availing the dGPU or the display device as an option to be selected.
US09064319B2
An image processing apparatus including a region of interest (ROI) configuration unit may generate a visual attention map according to visual characteristics of a human in relation to an input three dimensional (3D) image. A disparity adjustment unit may adjust disparity information, included in the input 3D image, using the visual attention map. Using the disparity information adjusted result, a 3D image may be generated and displayed which reduces a level of visual fatigue a user may experience in viewing the 3D image.
US09064315B2
System and method for image improvement comprising providing a plurality of frames; determining the value of each pixel within each frame to form a first array of pixel values; selecting pixel locations within a frame; summing the intensity values of those pixels; multiplying the pixels in the first array by the summation of intensity values for selected pixel locations to produce a first product array for each frame; summing the first product arrays; determining the average of first product arrays; determining the average value of each pixel for the plurality of frames to form an a second array of averaged pixel values; determining the average of the summation of intensity values for the selected pixel locations; multiplying the array of average pixel values and the average of the summation of intensity values to form a second product array; subtracting the second product array from the average of first product arrays.
US09064311B2
The method for encoding/decoding three-dimensional meshes of dots or vertices connected in the form of facets delimited by edges; the mesh M is defined by connectivity data T and geometry data G includes the steps of: lossless encoding of the connectivity data T into encoded connectivity data Tc, iteratively generating a progressive mesh hierarchy, i.e. a set of meshes with progressive levels of detail, PM(M*), generating a piecewise smooth approximation M* of the original mesh M, from the mesh connectivity T; this smooth approximation M* being described as follows: a. compressed connectivity data Tc; b. a small number N of control dots and c. a number of indexes S of edges called protruding edges of the mesh M, identified beforehand, using the progressive mesh hierarchy PM(M*) to calculate a prediction of approximation errors in M* compared with the original mesh M.
US09064309B2
Implementations relate to relate to rectification of distortion in an image. In some implementations, a method includes extracting edgelets from an image, each edgelet defined by a location of a pixel having an edge depicted in the image and defined by a direction of the edge. The method finds at least one vanishing point in the image based on intersections of pairs of the edges of the edgelets. Each vanishing point is selected based on a plurality of the edgelets in the image having edges approximately aligned with the vanishing point. Found vanishing points are used to transform the image to reduce image distortion.
US09064302B2
Provided is a diagnosis assistance system. The system includes, an imaging unit, an analysis unit, an operation unit, and a display unit. The analysis unit extracts a subject region from each of the plurality of image frames generated by the imaging unit, divides the extracted subject region into a plurality of regions, and analyzes the divided regions correlated among the plurality of image frames, thereby calculating a predetermined feature quantity indicating motions of the divided regions. The operation unit allows a user to select a region serving as a display target of an analysis result by the analysis unit. The display unit displays the calculated feature quantity regarding the selected region.
US09064292B1
A client-server computing system includes a server that has a virtual display driver that classifies and, if necessary, translates graphics application programming interface (API) functions to a cross-platform format. Classification involves determining whether the graphics command(s) are platform-specific and/or client-supported functions. After classification and translation, the graphics command(s) are marshaled and transmitted to a client via a network. The client includes a client display driver that executes the functions using a client 3D library and renders the resulting image data to a display.
US09064289B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to processing service requests and responses using a service mediation model. A service transaction is received and one or more processing operations are performed on the service transaction. The one or more processing operations perform one or more operations on the service transaction based on requirements associated with a service consumer and a service provider associate with the service. The service transaction is transmitted once the processing operations are complete.
US09064288B2
A method, apparatus and system of determining neighborhood leads and forming government structures in an online geo-spatial social community are disclosed. A method of organizing a community network includes obtaining a region on a geo-spatial map, obtaining a first subset of members of the community network associated with the region, determining a second subset of the members with a highest number of points from the first subset, creating a representative body (e.g., based on an activity level of each of the first subset) from the second subset, and enabling the representative body to manage a portion of the community network associated with the region. A lead member user may be appointed or designated from the representative body from the second subset of the plurality of members with the highest number of points from the first subset based on an acceptance of the lead member (having additional access privileges).
US09064285B1
In some examples, a service provider may provide a payroll service in which an employer is able to obtain employee information from the payroll service for adding a new employee. For instance, the employee may be able to add or change employee information in an employee profile maintained by the service provider. When the employee is hired by a new employer, the new employer may receive the employee information from the employee profile for adding the employee to the new employer's payroll. For example, the employee may provide an employee authorization to authorize the service provider to add the employee information to the payroll information for the new employer. Accordingly, each employer may add the employee to the payroll of the employer without having to manually obtain and enter detailed employee information.
US09064284B1
A method, a system and a computer-readable medium for generating a financial investment recommendation plan to a customer is described. A financial questionnaire is provided to a customer and is completed by the customer or a customer service representative assisting the customer, and the questionnaire has several options available to the customer, to include selecting an option to indicate that a tax-advantaged recommendation is desired to minimize taxes owed. The customer enters financial asset information and receives a recommendation with product-level detail on specific financial products to invest in, along with an action plan to assist the customer with investing in the financial products suggested in the recommendation.
US09064266B2
The present invention relates to a computer implemented method of generating a relevant COMPETITORS list in response to a search inquiry, the method comprising a number of steps such as receiving a search inquiry from a client having a client domain having a plurality of client domain keywords; performing a search of a computer network for data satisfying a set of search parameters; obtaining a first set of SERP's, said first set of SERP's containing a list of competitors domains and associated competitors domain keywords. This date then forms the basis of further calculations of “Inwards Overlap” and “Outwards Overlap” to then calculate a competitor relevance score being the higher of the Inwards Overlap (as a percentage), and the Outwards Overlap (as a percentage).
US09064264B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a method for predicting visibility of web pages. The method comprises identifying web pages that include slots for presenting content. The method further comprises, for each slot, creating a fingerprint based on a URL associated with the page and structural information associated with the slot's location on the page, determining a likelihood of the slot being visible when the web page is initially presented, the likelihood in the form of a predictive model, and saving the fingerprint and predictive model in a data structure. The method further comprises receiving a request for content from a web page, creating fingerprints associated with the web page, and comparing the fingerprints to fingerprints in the data structure. When a matching fingerprint is located, prediction data is used that is associated with a matching fingerprint for the web page.
US09064257B2
The following is a system in which a person may use a Cellular (Mobile) Telephone, a PDA or any other handheld computer to make a purchase. This is an example only. The process may entail any type of transaction which requires authentication, such as any financial transaction, any access control (to account information, etc.), and any physical access scenario such as doubling for a passport or an access key to a restricted area (office, vault, etc.). It may also be used to conduct remote transactions such as those conducted on the Internet (E-Commerce, account access, etc.). In the process, a multi-factor authentication is used.
US09064253B2
Systems and methods for providing secure application support for NFC devices in both battery on and battery off modes are provided. A first application that requires available host battery supply and a second application that does not require available host battery supply are loaded onto a mobile device. When the second application is enabled, the reader requests user input on a POS device. The first application is enabled when host battery supply is available, and the second application is enabled when no host battery supply is available.
US09064243B2
A method and system are provided for computing a physiological presence of a user of a device. The method comprises obtaining a physiological measurement of the user of the device and computing a presence status based on physiological measurements.
US09064236B2
A method for aggregation and presentation of media data, includes the following steps: launching the application registered for interacting with internet community; authorizing the application in the external systems of the internet community using external Application Programming Interfaces; obtaining the permit from a media data keeper to access his/her media data in the internet community; retrieving the media data from the internet community through the application registered in that particular internet community to allow both the media data keeper and the registered application to access and use the aggregated data; selecting potentially presentable (supported) media data from the previously formed media data bank; presenting a series of the aggregated media data to an individual or corporate user (the recipient). The aggregation and presentation of the media data from the internet community is implemented through computer or telecommunication systems that provide the functioning of the application which obtains media data from various sources, aggregates it, filters, identifies the possibility of presenting the particular media data, sorts it out and implements its presentation.
US09064234B2
A computer-implemented method for analyzing and disseminating data within a networked community is described. It is determined whether to gather data from a variety of data sources. Members of the networked community may also contribute data. The data is gathered and provided to an administrator of the networked community. Upon being analyzed, the data is disseminated to the members of the networked community.
US09064227B2
A product management and sales system for managing product preparation and sales. The system includes a kitchen display and input device displaying a plurality of perishable food items to be produced and receiving a production indication signal indicating production of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items. The system further includes a digital menu board displaying the plurality of perishable food items available for sale, a sales counter terminal for completing a sale of at least one of the plurality of perishable food items and outputting a sold indication signal; and a controller receiving the sold indication signal. The controller compares the sold indication signal to a predetermined inventory level for the at least one perishable food item and outputs an item-to-be-produced signal to the kitchen display and input.
US09064226B2
A system and method for order fulfillment includes receiving an order for a plurality of items, initiating collection of the plurality of items for the order, detecting presence of a user at a selected one of a plurality of delivery locations when the plurality of items are ready for delivery, and initiating delivery of the items to the user at the selected delivery location.
US09064223B2
A system and method, the method including determining a quality score for at least one feature of a product, the quality score being a function of a priority of the at least one feature to the product, a relationship between the at least one feature and at least one design element comprising the at least one feature, and a complexity of the at least one design element; determining an overall quality score for the product based on a summation of each determined quality score for each of the at least one feature; and producing a report including the overall quality score for the product.
US09064218B2
An information processor includes: an information adding unit that adds to an electronic document as an object to be processed by a work in a work flow showing the flow of the work relative to a plurality of works additional information designating a connection to the electronic document to an address; and a first output unit that outputs the additional information by coordinating with the electronic document in a case where the electronic document is accessed by the operation of an operator corresponding to the address of the additional information added by the information adding unit.
US09064216B2
In general, techniques are described for automatically identifying likely faulty components in massively distributed complex systems. In some examples, snapshots of component parameters are automatically repeatedly fed to a pre-trained classifier and the classifier indicates whether each received snapshot is likely to belong to a fault and failure class or to a non-fault/failure class. Components whose snapshots indicate a high likelihood of fault or failure are investigated, restarted or taken off line as a pre-emptive measure. The techniques may be applied in a massively distributed complex system such as a data center.
US09064205B2
A method of controlling an image forming apparatus supporting a black optimization printing option in a host apparatus includes executing a printer driver of the image forming apparatus, setting the black optimization printing option in a user interface of the executed printer driver, generating a second color matching table by using an existing first color matching table and color properties corresponding to red, blue, and green values of a document to be printed based on the set black optimization printing option, selecting a first printing method to print the document by using the first color matching table or a second printing method to print the document by using the second color matching table, based on the red, green, and blue values of the document, and transmitting the document and print data of the document to which a color matching table corresponding to the selected printing method is applied to the image forming apparatus.
US09064197B2
The present invention is in the field of garment or apparel labels that includes RFID devices. More particularly, the garment or apparel tags or labels are enclosed in a flexible bag created by a fluid impervious material that protects the RFID device from maintenance and care treatments as well as garment and apparel processing conditions which may be used to provide certain aesthetic or other characteristics to the apparel item.
US09064196B1
An RFID tag is configured to adjust its current clock frequency to conserve tag power while receiving a reader signal and/or backscattering a signal. The tag may determine whether to adjust its current clock frequency based on one or more timing parameters, which may be determined from a reader command and/or from a signal to be backscattered. The counting rate and/or limit of a tag counter and/or the power supplied to a tag component may also be adjusted. The current tag clock frequency may be adjusted during the signal reception/backscattering process and optionally restored once the process is completed.
US09064195B2
A powered card may include a circuit board with multiple layers, and may include multiple reader communication devices. One of the layers may include an RFID antenna. The layer including the RFID antenna may occupy an entire region of a card outside of a region including a magnetic stripe communication device.
US09064183B2
In a method for identifying border lines of elements on an image of an object using a computing device, a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) name and one or more measuring parameters are received from the computing device. A DLL is obtained according to the received DLL name. Measuring functions of the obtained DLL are provided for selection. A constructed function of the DLL is obtained according to the number and types of the received measuring parameters to transmit the received measuring parameters to a selected measuring function. Coordinates of points on the image are computed according to the received measuring parameters using the selected measuring function, and a border line of an element on the image is fitted according to the coordinates of the points.
US09064178B2
In the conventional technology for edge detection by normalizing brightness value of a target pixel C for edge determination and brightness of peripheral blocks of the target pixel C, an effect on an image due to a camera lens has not been considered. Specifically, the camera lens has a circular shape and the photographed image is basically formed by circularly collected light. In the conventional technology, however, it has been difficult to carry out high-precision edge detection due to rectangular shape of the peripheral blocks. In order to solve the above deficiency, in an aspect of the present invention provides an edge detection apparatus having a function of weighting the pixel values in the ‘peripheral area’ to be compared with the target pixel C for edge determination, such that the peripheral area has the circular shape.
US09064174B2
Architecture that enables optical character recognition (OCR) of text in video frames at the rate at which the frames are received. Additionally, conflation is performed on multiple text recognition results in the frame sequence. The architecture comprises an OCR text recognition engine and a tracker system; the tracker system establishes a common coordinate system in which OCR results from different frames may be compared and/or combined. From a set of sequential video frames, a keyframe is chosen from which the reference coordinate system is established. An estimated transformation from keyframe coordinates to subsequent video frames is computed using the tracker system. When text recognition is completed for any subsequent frame, the result coordinates can be related to the keyframe using the inverse transformation from the processed frame to the reference keyframe. The results can be rendered for viewing as the results are obtained.
US09064168B2
An imaging apparatus can be operative to capture a frame of image data representing a scene having one or more decodable indicia and display image data corresponding to the one or more decodable indicia. The imaging apparatus can be operative so that responsively to a user input control decoded message data of a selected decodable indicia is selectively output. One or more processor executable program can be provided for facilitating selective output of decoded message data.
US09064164B2
Methods and systems for automatic provisioning of RFID devices in an RFID network are described. A device, such as a Reader, has within its read field a special EPC Identity (ID) Tag that is specifically encoded for that Reader. When the Reader boots up, it reads the special ID Tag. The Tag indicates that the Tag is an EPC ID Tag and the data contained in the Tag will be used to provision the Reader. The Reader transmits an IP multicast packet containing data to a personality class appliance. Upon receiving the packet, the appliance retrieves configuration parameters for the Reader. These parameters collectively make up a personality class for the Reader. The personality data are transmitted back to the Reader. Once the Reader receives the configuration data, it provisions itself, becomes connected to the RFID network.
US09064162B2
Pursuant to some embodiments, systems, methods, apparatus and means for operating two-part contactless card readers are provided. In some embodiments, the two-part contactless card reader is installed in association with a transaction counter, where the transaction counter has a first surface and a second surface. Pursuant to some embodiments, the device includes a customer-facing unit installed on a first surface of the transaction counter, a base unit installed on a second surface of the transaction counter, the second surface apart from the first surface, where the first surface and the second surface are separated by a substantially solid material with no aperture formed therethrough. The base unit includes electronic components for generating interrogation signals for interrogating contactless cards, the electronic components also for receiving card data signals from the contactless cards, the card data signals indicative of card data stored in the contactless cards. The customer-facing unit includes at least one indicia for indicating, to a user of a contactless card, a location at which the contactless card is to be presented to the contactless card reader.
US09064147B2
Handwriting interpretation tools, such as optical character recognition (OCR), have improved over the years such that OCR is a common tool in business for interpreting typed text and sometimes handwritten text. OCR does not apply well to non-text-only diagrams, such as chemical structure diagrams. A method according to an embodiment of the present invention of interpreting a human-drawn sketch includes determining a local metric indicating whether a candidate symbol belongs to a certain classification based on a set of features. The set of features includes, as a feature, scores generated from feature images of the candidate symbol. Also included is determining a joint metric of multiple candidate symbols based on their respective classifications and interpreting the sketch as a function of the local and joint metrics. Sketches can be chemical composition, biological composition, electrical schematic, mechanical, or any other science- or engineering-based diagrams for which human-drawn symbols have well-known counterparts.
US09064139B2
The present invention provides a large format fingerprint capture apparatus, system and method that is low power, compact, and lightweight and has a platen area greater than 3.0 square inches. The present system is typically powered, controlled, and exchanges data over a single data/control/power connection to a host PC, e.g., a desk top computer, PDA, or laptop computer although the system can also be used in a wireless fashion with a power subsystem so no physical connections are required. The system typically includes a light source, a prism, a camera (including the lens), and a case. Optional elements comprise holographic elements such as gratings and holographic optical elements (HOEs), a battery subsystem, magnetic stripe reader, barcode reader, platen heater, platen blower, and mirrors to divert the image beam.
US09064131B2
A system protects documents at rest and in motion using declarative policies and encryption. A document at rest includes documents on a device such as the hard drive of a computer. A document in motion is a document that is passing through a policy enforcement point. The policy enforcement point can be a server (e.g., mail server, instant messenger server, file server, or network connection server).
US09064126B2
Techniques are provided for delegating authority over licenses to use computer products in a disconnected network. In one example, a collector device receives a delegation of authority from a license manager device to manage entitlements for a plurality of computer products installed in a network infrastructure. The collector device receives an identifier from each computer product. The collector device receives a configuration state of each computer product, wherein each configuration state includes a set of features that are enabled on the first computer product. The collector device sends to the license manager device a report that includes each identifier and each configuration state.
US09064120B2
A computer-implemented method for directing application updates may include (1) identifying information that indicates a rate at which an earlier version of an application is exploited in attacks on computing system security, (2) identifying additional information that indicates a rate at which a later version of the application is exploited in attacks on computing system security, (3) determining how updating the application from the earlier version to the later version will impact computing system security by comparing the rate the earlier version of the application is exploited with the rate at which the later version of the application is exploited, and (4) directing a computing system with a determination about updating an installation of the earlier version of the application to the later version of the application based on determining how updating the application will impact computing system security. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09064119B2
Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for scanning information across multiple different devices. In one representative system, remote data-processing devices are provided with scanning applications that repeatedly scan information on their respective data-processing devices to identify matching data units that satisfy a specified matching criterion, the specified matching criterion including required matches against a set of screening digests, and then transmit characteristic information regarding the matching data units; and a central processing facility receives the characteristic information from the remote data-processing devices and determines whether the corresponding matching data units satisfy a policy criterion.
US09064117B1
A mobile provisioning device is configured for use in conjunction with a provisioning service/authority. Upon connection to a target computer, the mobile provisioning device emulates a boot device, and provides a boot image for booting by the target computer. The mobile provisioning device and/or the target computer may communicate with the provisioning service/authority for various purposes, including authentication, reporting, and provisioning.
US09064111B2
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method of providing security enforcements of widgets in a computer system having a processor and a memory is provided, comprising: extracting access control information from a widget process requesting a service, generating access control rules customized for the widget process, and providing the access control rules to a trusted portion of the computer system outside of the user code space of a Web Runtime (WRT) system; and for any static access control rule, delegating security checking of the widget process from the WRT system to the trusted portion of the computer system.
US09064108B2
According to one embodiment, a storage device that has a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes an authentication information storage unit that previously stores first apparatus authentication information to authenticate an authorized host device and first user authentication information to authenticate an authorized user. The storage device executes apparatus authentication on the basis of second apparatus authentication information received from a newly connected host device and the first apparatus authentication information in the authentication information storage unit and executes an invalidation process of user data stored in the nonvolatile semiconductor memory, when the apparatus authentication is failed.
US09064098B2
A method, apparatus and system are disclosed for software management, relating to the technical field of communications, and allowing software installed on a UPnP device by a service provider to be managed only by that service provider. The method comprises: receiving a software installation command sent by a first control device, installing software according to the software installation command and storing a first authentication information required during management of the software; receiving a software management command sent by a second control device, and acquiring a second authentication information corresponding to the software management command, which command is used in managing the software; when the second authentication information is consistent with the first authentication information, executing the software management command.
US09064097B2
A system and method for detecting an outlier in a usage pattern comprises a computer accessible to perform an operation. The system includes an audit forensics engine having an outlier detection module. When an instance occurs where the operation is performed, audit trail data is captured related to the operation. The outlier detection module determines for the instance where the operation is performed whether the instance is an outlier in a usage pattern based on a comparison of the audit trail data to the usage pattern.
US09064096B2
Systems and techniques for protection and delivery of content. Upon initiation of a user account for use in conducting transactions involving delivery of content to a user, digital rights management (DRM) information is created and stored in association with user information. A copy of the DRM information is provided to or made accessible to the user in such a way that the DRM information can made accessible to a suitable playback device to allow playing of content protected with the DRM information. When a user enters into a transaction to receive content, the DRM information associated with the user is used to protect the content before delivery to the user. When the user wishes to play the content, the removable media device storing the user's DRM information must be present in order to allow playing of the content.
US09064095B2
A collective content consisting of a plurality of partial contents holding license information including a use condition can be appropriately used according to the use condition contained in the license information in each of the partial contents. A content use control device includes an input/output I/F, license generation unit, output control unit, content reproduction unit, and use control unit. The partial content holding the license information including the use condition is inputted via the input/output I/F. License information is assigned to each of the partial contents inputted and constituting a collective content. Single license information collecting the assigned license information and its collective content are outputted to a recording medium. The content use control device reproduces a partial content contained in the collective content recorded on the recording medium and controls the use of the reproduced partial content according to its use condition.
US09064093B1
A system in which data signatures are used to identify copyrighted content passing through a network. The data signatures are derived from files containing copyrighted content to be identified. The signatures are used to search within peer-to-peer data streams flowing through one or more network nodes in a communications network. Any specific technique may be used for pattern recognition between the signatures and the monitored traffic. When a particular file of interest is identified, the system may operate to perform one or more of several possible actions, including stopping the transmission, allowing the transmission but recording the event, making an offer to the recipient allowing them to legally purchase the file, or sending alternative information or intentionally corrupting the information to render it useless to the recipient.
US09064090B2
A process for selecting a piston ring for a piston containing internal combustion engine such that the engine experiences a reduction in lubrication oil consumption (LOC) used therein. The process can include providing engine specifications for an engine for which the piston ring is to be selected and simulating engine temperatures for the engine as a function of the engine specifications. The process can also include simulating bore distortion for the engine as a function of the simulated engine temperatures and simulating piston ring dynamics for the engine as a function of the simulated bore distortion. Once the simulated piston ring dynamics have been obtained, the process can include calculating a plurality of LOC values and selecting a piston ring as a function of the calculated LOC values.
US09064077B2
The disclosed embodiments are directed to systems and method for floorplanning an integrated circuit design using a mix of 2D and 3D blocks that provide a significant improvement over existing 3D design methodologies. The disclosed embodiments provide better floorplan solutions that further minimize wirelength and improve the overall power/performance envelope of the designs. The disclosed methodology may be used to construct new 3D IP blocks to be used in designs that are built using monolithic 3D integration technology.
US09064062B2
A channel selection circuit in a serial audio communication device provides channel selection for insertion or extraction of data to or from a multiplexed serial data stream without the requirement of extra channel selection inputs. The channel selection circuit has multiple counters structured such that each counter represents a channel of the serial data stream. The input of each counter receives one of the multiple synchronizing timing signals. The input of the designated counter receives one timing signal that has the greatest frequency. The remaining counters receive the word select timing signals for determining which channel is being selected. A ready output of each counter is a channel indicator in communication with multiple signal selection circuits for selecting the multiple timing signals to be transferred to a data processing device for inserting or extracting data to or from the multiplexed serial data stream.
US09064059B2
Provided is a controller for a solid state disk, to control simultaneous switching of pads. The controller for the solid state disk may control simultaneous switching of a plurality of output pads or a plurality of input pads that correspond to a plurality of channels. In particular, the controller may properly delay signals driven to the output pads or input pads, to reduce power supplied to the pads, and to prevent ground bouncing, as well as, maintain a quality of signals.
US09064057B2
Processing automation scripts used for testing pages includes running the automation scripts using a processor, searching for an element on the page according to locating information in an instruction of the automation scripts, collecting element-related information of the element in response to finding of the element on the page according to the locating information, and associating the collected element-related information of the element with the instruction of the automation scripts. The element-related information associated with the instruction is saved.
US09064052B1
A device may receive an indication to evaluate a portion of program code. The device may cause the portion of program code to be evaluated based on receiving the indication to evaluate the portion of program code. The device may determine an intermediate result used to generate an overall result of evaluating the portion of program code based on causing the portion of program code to be evaluated. The intermediate result may be determined by evaluating a sub-portion of program code included in the portion of program code. The device may receive information that identifies a granularity level for displaying the intermediate result. The granularity level may indicate whether the intermediate result is to be provided for display. The device may selectively provide the intermediate result for display based on the granularity level.
US09064048B2
A method and apparatus for memory leak detection is described. The method may include collecting memory usage data for a software application running in a computer system. The method may also include determining from the data that the software application has a memory leak.
US09064041B1
Methods are classified as simple or complex. Complex methods are modified to add a tracer. Methods classified as simple are not modified to add a tracer. There are many different standards that can be used within the spirit of the present invention to classify methods as simple or complex. In one embodiment, a method is complex if it meets three criteria: (1) the method has an access level of public or package; (2) the method is non-synthetic and (3) the method calls at least one other method. Methods that do not satisfy all three criteria are classified as simple methods. In other embodiments, a method can be classified as complex if it satisfies two of the above criteria, or other similar criteria.
US09064039B2
A system, a method and a recording medium for calculating a physiological index are provided. The method includes: dividing a physiological data sequence into a plurality of windows; analyzing a data segment in each window to obtain metadata that represents data characteristics of the data segment; updating the metadata including the data characteristics of all data segments in the windows up to a previous window by using the metadata corresponding to one of the windows to obtain the metadata including the data characteristics of all data segments in the windows up to a current window; and finally, calculating the physiological index by using the updated metadata.
US09064038B2
Techniques are disclosed for combining multiple benchmarks for use in assessing characteristics of a computing system. For example, a method for configuring and running multiple benchmarks includes the following steps. A multiple benchmark specification is obtained. The multiple benchmark specification includes multiple individual benchmark specifications and a multiple benchmark workflow describing an ordering according to which the multiple individual benchmarks are to be configured and run. The multiple benchmarks are configured and run according to the ordering identified in the multiple benchmark workflow. Results of the multiple benchmark runs are recorded. One or more specifications or results associated with at least one of the multiple benchmarks are utilized as part of a benchmark specification for at least another of the multiple benchmarks so as to provide consistency between at least the one and the other of the multiple benchmarks.
US09064037B2
Embodiments allow a user to define event scenarios that are used to analyze callstack and context data. Scenarios that are delayed are flagged and reported to the user with an aggregated callstack of CPU samples taken during the delay. An aggregation is done for samples for the main user interface thread of the process that is being monitored. A user may select other threads to see the callstack aggregation for that thread. The user can identify which methods use the most time for a particular delay from the callstack presentation. An event analysis tool allows quick exploration of the responsiveness issues by visualizing delays as they happen and allowing the user to drill down into callstack details for selected delays.
US09064033B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a system and computer program product to intelligently provide consent to access a record in a shared pool of resources. Tools are provided to support policies to address and maintain restrictive access of a designated record, both with respect to local and non-local rules and regulations, as well as personal restrictions pertaining to personal and discretionary sharing decisions.
US09064025B2
A method and system of improving utilization of human searcher(s) in a search system provides an ambassador guide who may categorize and structure a request, interact with a user, provide a search result, and review a search result. The ambassador guide improves response time, automation, and efficiency of use of searchers and resources of the search system. A toolset may be provided to an ambassador to assist in rapidly executing relevant tasks.
US09064010B2
In embodiments, the present invention provides a method and system for encoding content for mobile media distribution determining an encoding format based on one or more of a consumption profile, a content profile, an ingestion profile, a network profile, a mobile device profile, a delivery profile, and a user profile, encoding content to provide an encoded content consistent with the determined encoding format, and providing the encoded content to one or more of a content host, a content cache, a distribution portal, a mobile carrier, and a mobile device.
US09064002B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for social identity clustering. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a connection graph representing public social data, where the nodes represent social identities and each edge is either a “me” edge between identities claimed to belong to the same person or a “friend” edge between identities claimed to belong to different identities. The method further includes converting the graph to a cluster graph in which each node initially corresponds to a single node of the connection graph. The method further includes updating the cluster graph by iteratively merging cluster nodes based on an analysis of the weight of the “me” edges connecting them, and then replacing the merged cluster nodes within the graph with a new cluster node containing the merged cluster nodes, where the edges of the new cluster node are the aggregated edges of the merged cluster nodes.
US09063999B2
An enhanced metadata structure and associated process is provided which captures and stores metadata gathered about the source and usage of a media asset or file. The source and usage metadata is integrated, such as by encoding within the enhanced media file, as the media asset is transferred and used. The integrated metadata accumulates, as a trail of source information and usage information in the enhanced media asset, and can be extracted upon arrival at a target computer system.
US09063998B2
An associated information system is provided that propagates visibility of associated information. The associated information system traces a data lineage of a data warehouse. The associated information system further identifies an association between a primary data element and an associated object, where the association between the primary data element and the associated object is identified as a primary link. The associated information system further stores a first associated object mapping system record within an associated object mapping system table that represents the primary link. The associated information system further identifies an association between a secondary data element and the associated object using the data lineage, where the association between the secondary data element and the associated object is identified as a secondary link, and where the secondary data element is related to the primary data element within the data lineage. The associated information system further stores a second associated object mapping record within the associated object mapping system table that represents the secondary link.
US09063995B2
In one embodiment, a method replicates data from a first database system to a second database system. A trigger table associated with the first database system is determined. The trigger table includes information for rows in tables of the first database system relevant to authorizations in the first database system. The method generates an access control list (ACL) report from the trigger table. The ACL report includes information for setting ACL rules for the second database system. An access context is determined for an entity from the ACL report. The method then generates an ACL rule based on the access context to restrict access to the replicated data in the second database system to users associated with the access context.
US09063989B2
A method and system for processing messages includes receiving a plurality of messages directed to a user. Each of the plurality of messages is associated with a respective conversation and list of conversations is displayed in an order determined in accordance with second predefined criteria, as a set of rows, where each row corresponds to one of the listed conversations and includes at least a sender list, a conversation topic and a date/time value. A user is enabled to identify one or more conversations in the list of conversations, to mark the identified conversations as belonging to a particular category, and to display another list of conversations comprising conversations marked as belonging to the particular category. A user may cause a conversation to be removed from certain displays, but to become visible again after the passage of a certain amount of time or the occurrence of an event.
US09063987B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for managing uncertain data is provided. The method includes specifying data uncertainty using at least one variable generation (VG) function. The VG function generates pseudorandom samples of uncertain data values. A random database based on the VG function is specified and multiple Monte Carlo instantiations of the random database are generated. Using a Monte Carlo method, a query is repeatedly executed over the multiple Monte Carlo instantiations to output a Monte Carlo method result and associated query-results. The Monte Carlo method result may then be used to estimate statistical properties of a probability distribution of the query-result.
US09063982B2
A query facility for database queries dynamically determines whether selective portions of a database table are likely to benefit from separate query execution strategies, and constructs an appropriate separate execution strategies accordingly. Preferably, the database contains at least one relatively large table comprising multiple partitions, each sharing the definitional structure of the table and containing a different respective discrete subset of the table records. The query facility compares metadata for different partitions to determine whether sufficiently large differences exist among the partitions, and in appropriate cases selects one or more partitions for separate execution strategies. Preferably, partitions are ranked for separate evaluation using a weighting formula which takes into account: (a) the number of indexes for the partition, (b) recency of change activity, and (c) the size of the partition.
US09063976B1
Data can be processed in parallel across a cluster of nodes using a parallel processing framework. Using Web services calls between components allows the number of nodes to be scaled as necessary, and allows developers to build applications on the framework using a Web services interface. A job scheduler works together with a queuing service to distribute jobs to nodes as the nodes have capacity, such that jobs can be performed in parallel as quickly as the nodes are able to process the jobs. Data can be loaded efficiently across the cluster, and levels of nodes can be determined dynamically to process queries and other requests on the system.
US09063972B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for engaging a user in a previously-submitted search query in a social networking system are disclosed. The method includes receiving a search query from a user, receiving search results responsive to the search query, providing search results for display to the user, receiving one or more user interactions associated with the search results, and generating a search interaction score based on the one or more user interactions. The method further includes determining that the search interaction score exceeds a threshold search interaction score, receiving a reminder event relating to the search query, and in response to determining that the search interaction score exceeds the threshold search interaction score and the reminder event, providing a notification to the user relating to the search query.
US09063968B2
A method begins by processing module in response to a read command, issuing at least a read threshold number of read requests regarding a set of encoded data slices and receiving at least the read threshold number of encoded data slices. The method continues where the processing module selects a unique combination of encoded data slices and decodes the unique combination to produce a recovered data segment. The method continues where the processing module verifies an integrity value for the recovered data segment and indicates whether the unique combination is valid. The method continues where the processing module selects other combinations producing more recovered data segments for further validity verification. The method continues where the processing module utilizes a verified recovered data segment as a response to the read command and identifies a compromised encoded data slice.
US09063960B2
A computer-implemented method for performing customized large-scale data analytics may include (1) providing a logical-data-model user interface to enable modifying a logical data model of a relational multi-dimensional analytic database, (2) receiving, via the logical-data-model user interface, user input to modify the logical data model of the relational multi-dimensional analytic database, (3) modifying the logical data model of the relational multi-dimensional analytic database based on the user input, (4) providing a visualization user interface, based on the logical data model, to enable performing online analytical processing operations, and (5) receiving, via the visualization user interface, a request to perform an online analytical processing operation that provides a view of data stored within the relational multi-dimensional analytic database in accordance with the logical data model. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09063959B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system decomposes a set of schema files. The system receives a set of schema files and automatically identifies a plurality of root schema files in the set, where a root schema file is determined based on remaining schema files in the set lacking a reference to that schema file. For each root schema file, the system creates a subset of the original set of schema files. The subset contains the root schema file, and at least one subset further includes one or more schema files that provide information for that root schema file. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for decomposing a set of schema files in substantially the same manners described above.
US09063953B2
A Mixed Media Reality (MMR) system and associated techniques are disclosed. The MMR system provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types (e.g., printed paper as a first medium and digital content and/or web link as a second medium). In one particular embodiment, the MMR system includes an MMR user, a MMR computer, a user printer that produces a printed document, a networked media server, an office portal, a service provider server, an electronic display that is electrically connected to a set-top box, a document scanner, a network, a capture device, a cellular infrastructure, wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) technology, Bluetooth® technology, infrared (IR) technology, wired technology, and a geo location mechanism. The MMR system of the present invention provides mechanisms for forming a mixed media document that includes media of at least two types, such as printed paper as a first medium and a digital photograph, digital movie, digital audio file, or web link as a second medium. Furthermore, the MMR system of the present invention facilitates business methods that take advantage of the combination of a portable electronic device, such as a cellular camera phone, and a paper document.
US09063948B2
An apparatus and a method for versioning a file of a file system is described. A versioning module stores multiple versions of the file. The file is opened for write access. The versioning module identifies an file mapping structure of a block associated with the file, copies the content of the file mapping structure of the file to a new file mapping structure of the file, and allocates a new block to the file as represented by the file mapping structure.
US09063947B2
To detect duplicative hierarchically arranged sets of files in a storage system, a method includes generating, for hierarchically arranged plural sets of files, respective collections of values computed based on files in corresponding sets of files. For a further set of files that is an ancestor of at least one of the plural sets of files, a respective collection of values that is based on the collection of values computed for the at least one set is generated. Duplicative sets according to comparisons of the collections of values are identified.
US09063946B1
Methods and apparatus for backoff-based scheduling of storage object deletions are disclosed. A storage medium stores program instructions that when executed on a processor, obtain an indication of a collection of storage objects of a network-accessible multi-tenant storage service to be deleted in accordance with specified deletion criteria. A deletion of a storage object comprises a metadata deletion operation and one or more other operations. The instructions initiate, corresponding to at least some objects of the collection, respective metadata deletion operations at a metadata node of the storage service. If a metric associated with the metadata node meets a threshold criterion, the instructions delay, by a particular amount of time, an initiation of an operation corresponding to a deletion of another storage object.
US09063944B2
A predefined number of matches is identified between records in a first file and records in a second file. For the matches, determine the span of the actual range of record positions in the second file relative to the positions of the operation records in the first file within which all matches were found. If the actual span is smaller than the span of a current defined range of record positions by at least a first threshold value, decrease the span of the current defined range. If the actual span is within a second threshold value of the span of the current defined range, increase the span of the current defined range. If an amount above a third threshold value of operation records in the first file are not matched to operation records in the second file, increasing the span of the current defined range.
US09063932B2
Systems and methods of electronic or digital document management allow satellite offices, sites or facilities to replicate some documents in a shared or common electronic document repository, while storing other documents only locally, while allowing document management functions seamlessly across an enterprise independent of whether the electronic or digital documents or files are replicated to a shared or common repository, for instance a central electronic or digital document repository.
US09063922B2
When testing or validating a hardware system, a script file representing a portion of the firmware may be used to test the system instead of using the firmware code itself. For example, the script file may be plurality of register commands that perform the same initialization sequence as the firmware. Before connecting the hardware system to firmware drivers, the script file may be used to debug the initialization sequence. Instead of generating this script file manually, a firmware testing tool may be used. While executing the firmware, the tool may record the different register access commands performed during the initialization process. The script file is then generated programmatically using these recorded commands without requiring input from the system designer. The generated script file may then be tested on the hardware system to determine whether the command sequence in the script file forces the hardware system into the desired state.
US09063905B2
Virtualized Shared Use Environment—database driven selector of specific a) company software, b) equipment location, and c) peripherals available. The selected elements together create a Virtualized Hypercart (VH) which carries all the variable elements necessary to select the appropriate running virtual machine. Derived from the above information, the system control software (SCS) selects from a table of available virtual machines that match the requirements of company software, equipment location, peripherals available and from the company software selection, the IP addressing schemes required and available for use by the virtual machine. Dynamic IP Address Injection—based on the VH, the IP addressing scheme is injected into the virtual machine that contains the appropriate company software for the type of location that made the request with the peripherals available for use by the virtual machine.
US09063902B2
A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing hardware assisted Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) repair in a computer system that supports ECC. A data register providing DRAM repair is selectively provided in one of the Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), a memory controller, or a memory buffer coupled between the DRAM and the memory controller. The data register is configured to map to any address. Responsive to the configured address being detected, the reads to or the writes from the configured address are routed to the data register.
US09063901B2
Disclosed herein is a method for preventing a loss of trip data of a vehicle during a substantial instantaneous voltage drop in a vehicle cluster. In the method, the trip data calculated by a processor of a trip computer are stored in a clear region of a memory and the trip data stored in the clear region are backed up in a nonvolatile region of the memory when new trip data is generated. The processor collects the trip data backed up in the nonvolatile region to rewrite the trip data in the clear region after a substantially instantaneous voltage drop occurs.
US09063894B2
A method comprises receiving one or more instructions initiating a plurality of backup processes from a single source storage volume to a plurality of target storage volumes, adding each target storage volume to a cascade of target storage volumes from the source storage volume, the target storage volumes added to the cascade in an order inversely proportional to the copy rate of the respective backup process, and starting each backup process in turn, the backup processes started in an order from the most recent target storage volume added to cascade to the first target storage volume added to cascade.
US09063890B2
An apparatus and a method is provided for the execution of a program by a program-controlled device, in which the program-controlled device receives instructions and automatically executes the program if it receives an access instruction for accessing a protected memory area. The invention further relates to a programmable transponder containing at least one such program-controlled device.
US09063887B2
A set of data structures are stored in a distributed shared memory (DSM) component and in persistent storage. The DSM component is organized as a matrix of page. The data structure of the set of data structures occupies a column in the matrix of pages. A recovery file is maintained in the persistent storage. The recovery file consists of entries and each one of the entries corresponds to a column in the matrix of pages by a location of each one of the entries.
US09063886B2
Systems and methods are provided for storing data to or reading data from a non-volatile memory (“NVM”), such as flash memory, using a metadata redundancy scheme. In some embodiments, an electronic device, which includes an NVM, may also include a memory interface for controlling access to the NVM. The memory interface may receive requests to write user data to the NVM. The user data from each request may be associated with metadata, such as a logical address, flags, or other data. In response to a write request, the NVM interface may store the user data and its associated metadata in a first memory location (e.g., page), and may store a redundant copy of the metadata in a second memory location. This way, even if the first memory location becomes inaccessible, the memory interface can still recover the metadata from the backup copy stored in the second memory location.
US09063870B1
A plurality of specialized processing blocks in a programmable logic device, including multipliers and circuitry for adding results of those multipliers, can be configured as a larger multiplier by adding to the specialized processing blocks selectable circuitry for shifting multiplier results before adding. In one embodiment, this allows all but the final addition to take place in specialized processing blocks, with the final addition occurring in programmable logic. In another embodiment, additional compression and adding circuitry allows even the final addition to occur in the specialized processing blocks. Circuitry that controls when an input is signed or unsigned facilitates complex arithmetic.
US09063867B2
Provided are a gravity search adaptive apparatus and method. The gravity search adaptive apparatus includes: a system configured to process and output a received signal; a system modeling unit configured to receive the same signal as a signal input to the system, to convert the signal using a system modeling parameter, and to output the converted signal; and an adaptive controller configured to use a gravity search adaptive algorithm to detect the system modeling parameter so that an error signal which is a difference between an output signal of the system and an output signal of the system modeling unit converges on a minimum value when the system modeling parameter is applied to the system modeling unit.
US09063863B2
Storage tracks are destaged from the write cache if the host(s) is/are idle and are not destaged from the write cache if one or more of the hosts is/are not idle. The storage tracks are refrained from being destaged from the write cache if the at least one host is not idle. Each rank is monitored for write operations from the at least one host, and a determination is made if the at least one host is idle with respect to each respective rank based on monitoring each rank for write operations from the at least one host such that the at least one host may be determined to be idle with respect to a first rank and not idle with respect to a second rank.
US09063852B2
A system and method is described for use with a data grid cluster to support death detection. A network ring is formed by connecting a plurality of process nodes in the data grid, wherein each node in the network ring watches another node. A death of a first process node in the network ring can be detected by a second process node, when the second process node notices that its connection to the first process node has closed. The first process node then informs other process cluster nodes in the network ring that the first node is dead. In accordance with an embodiment, machine level death detection can also be supported in the data grid cluster by using an Internet Protocol (IP) monitor.
US09063838B1
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of sectors. At least one alignment zone is defined in the non-volatile memory comprising a plurality of chunks including a plurality of data chunks and a plurality of pad chunks, wherein each chunk comprises a plurality of sectors. Each sector is operable to store X host blocks, the alignment zone comprises at least X−1 pad chunks, and control circuitry is operable to shift the data chunks of the alignment zone by a number of chunks equal to or less than X−1 plus a corresponding offset.
US09063837B2
The aim of the present invention is that of establishing a fault-tolerant global time in a fault-tolerant communication system of a distributed real-time system. For this purpose, a fault-tolerant message switching unit is provided, which is composed of four independent switching units. These four independent switching units jointly establish a fault-tolerant time. The terminal systems are connected to a fault-tolerant message switching unit via two independent fail-silent communication channels, so that the clock synchronization and network connections are preserved, even if a part of the fault-tolerant switching unit or of a communication channel fails.
US09063836B2
Methods and apparatus to protect segments of memory are disclosed herein. An example method includes intercepting an interrupt request indicating an error; determining whether a first segment of memory is corrupt, the first segment of memory being designated as a protected region of memory; when the protected region of memory is corrupt, repairing the corrupted region of memory using a parity block of code; and in response to validating the protected region of memory, generating an interrupt enabling a utilization of code stored in the protected region of memory to handle the error associated with the interrupt request.
US09063833B2
A portable transceiver for locking and locating an automobile, includes a remote keyless entry system for locking the automobile; a locating device determining a location of the transceiver, wherein the remote keyless entry system and the locating device are housed in a pocket sized housing; and a processor deriving directional information from a current location to a waypoint, wherein in response to an activation of the remote keyless entry system, the locating device determines the waypoint corresponding substantially to that of the automobile.
US09063827B2
In accordance with the present disclosure, a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) component is described. The DRAM component may comprise an integrated circuit, with the integrated circuit including an array of volatile memory cells. A first volatile memory cells of the array of volatile memory cells may be defective. The integrated circuit may also include non-volatile memory, and the non-volatile memory may contain a reference to the first volatile memory cell.
US09063823B2
A method and system facilitating the development and distribution of software is provided. The system includes tracking revisions to elements of a database on the computing device by establishing time stamps for each stored element changed at a specified time, enabling a user to select an applicable time period comprising a beginning time point and an end time point, and assembling elements for execution based on time stamps limited to the selected applicable time period.
US09063822B2
Embodiments are directed to efficiently backing up portions of data and to performing a scoped data recovery. In an embodiment, a computer system preloads data images with data corresponding to various different software applications or operating systems. The computer system chunks the data images, so that each data image is divided into multiple data chunks, and where each data chunk is represented by a hash value. The computer system then receives, from a user, portions of delta data representing data differences between the received user data and the data in the preloaded data images. The computer system also generates a logical backup representation that includes the data chunk hash values for the preloaded data images as well as the delta data received from the user. This logical representation allows restoration of the user's data using only the hash values and the delta data.
US09063816B2
A method, apparatus, and system are disclosed for updating firmware on a storage device. The apparatus includes a detection module and an update module. The detection module detects, during a boot sequence, an indicator of an available update of firmware controlling a storage device. The available update is stored on non-volatile storage media of the storage device. The update module updates the storage device with the available update in response to the detection module detecting the indicator of the available update.
US09063815B2
An embodiment of the invention directed to a method for provisioning a specified virtual machine from one or more selected images, sent over the network, includes the step of decomposing each of the selected VM images to provide a group of components, each component having specified information associated with it. The method further includes using a predetermined selection criterion to select components from the group for assembly into a specified VM image, and using the selected components of the specified VM image to provision the specified virtual machine at one or more locations.
US09063809B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to content space environment representation. An aspect of the invention includes selecting one or more platform attributes for a software content space. The software content space includes one or more noun spaces. A platform space is created for each noun space in the software content space. The platform space is compatible with the noun space. A set of user stories is generated on a computer using the software content space and platform specification compatible with existing content space system specifications.
US09063806B2
Systems and methods are provided that facilitate communication between an Flex application and a secure Enterprise Application System. An embodiment comprises the EAS, an ActiveX control container provided by the EAS to communicate via Javascript, and a container web page including a Flex application and a Javascript function to invoke the Flex application, wherein the EAS can invoke the Flex application.
US09063796B2
Managing task execution in a multi-core processor may be achieved by employing a spinlock and a multi-processor priority ceiling protocol. The spinlock may be employed to effect a dynamically enforceable mutual exclusion constraint. The multi-processor priority ceiling protocol may be employed to effect the dynamically enforceable mutual exclusion constraint to synchronize a plurality of tasks executing in the first and second processing cores of the multi-core processor.
US09063781B2
A method dynamically adjusts the resources available to a processing unit of a distributed computer process executing on a multi-node computer system. The resources for the processing unit are adjusted based on the data other processing units handle or the execution path of code in an upstream or downstream processing unit in the distributed process or application.
US09063780B2
A technique for scheduling tasks in a system is provided. A method implementation of this technique comprises the steps of providing at least one association between a task and a range of priorities for the task and using the at least one association for the task scheduling. The task scheduling may be provided by a task scheduling unit having access to a memory unit.
US09063773B2
Techniques are provided for automatic parallelism tuning. At least one batch of change records is assigned to one or more apply processes in a set of active apply processes. A first throughput value is periodically determined based on a number of processed change records in a first time interval. An increment adjustment is periodically performed, including adding an additional apply process, determining a second throughput value, and removing the additional apply process from the set of active apply processes if the second throughput value is not greater than a previous first throughput value by at least an increment threshold. A decrement adjustment is periodically performed, including removing an apply process, determining a third throughput value, and replacing the removed apply process in the set of active apply processes if the third throughput value is not greater than the previous first throughput value by at least a decrement threshold.
US09063770B2
A method for a mobile platform containing a mobile terminal having an operating system includes initializing a plurality of user environments (UEs) on the mobile terminal over the operating system, including a current UE running on the mobile terminal. The plurality of UEs are capable of being switched among one another based on one or more of predetermined conditions without changing the operating system. The method also includes collecting sensing data on certain parameters associated with operation of the mobile terminal, and processing the sensing data to indicate at least one of the predetermined conditions. Further, the method includes determining whether the current UE suits the at least one of the predetermined conditions indicated by processing the sensing data and, when the current UE does not suit the condition of the mobile terminal, switching the current UE to a desired UE from the plurality of UEs.
US09063764B2
A method and apparatus of creating a script are enclosed. One example method of operation may provide receiving a request to load a procedure in a procedure editor application and generating a list of predetermined statements based on the loaded procedure. The example method may include receiving at least one statement selection from the list of predetermined statements and at least one specified location in the procedure and inserting the at least one selected statement into the loaded procedure at the at least one specified location.
US09063760B2
Processing within an emulated computing environment is facilitated. Code used to implement system-provided (e.g., standard or frequently used) routines referenced in an application being emulated is native code available for the computing environment, rather than emulated code. Responsive to encountering a reference to a system-provided routine in the application being emulated, the processor is directed to native code, rather than emulated code, even though the application is being emulated.
US09063755B2
Embodiments of a system and method are described for generating and distributing programming to mobile devices over a network. Devices are provided with Players specific to each device and Applications that are device independent. Embodiments include a full-featured WYSIWYG authoring environment, including the ability to bind web components to objects.
US09063754B2
A system and associated methods are disclosed for profiling the execution of program code by a processor. The processor provides an instruction set with special profiling instructions for efficiently determining the bounds and latency of memory operations for blocks of program code. Information gathered regarding the bounds and latency of memory operations are used to determine code optimizations, such as allocation of memory for data structures in memory more local to the processor.
US09063747B2
In a processor, a decode unit identifies instructions needing a checkpoint and enables selected checkpoints. A register file unit includes a plurality of architectural registers. A first set of checkpoint registers correspond to a first checkpoint. Each checkpoint register corresponds to a corresponding architectural register. A first set of indicators correspond to the first set of checkpoint registers to indicate whether the corresponding architectural register has been modified or is intended to be modified prior to enabling of the first checkpoint. A second set of indicators correspond to the first set of checkpoint registers and indicate whether the corresponding architectural register has been modified or is intended to be modified after enabling the first checkpoint.
US09063731B2
An apparatus and method for waking up a main processor (MP) in a low power or ultra-low power device preferably includes the MP, and a sub-processor (SP) that utilizes less power than the MP to monitor ambient conditions than the MP, and may be internalized in the MP. The MP and SP can remain in a sleep mode while an interrupt sensor monitors for changes in the ambient environment. A sensor is preferably an interrupt-type sensor, as opposed to polling-type sensors conventionally used to detect ambient changes. The MP and SP may remain in sleep mode, as a low-power or an ultra-low power interrupt sensor operates with the SP being in sleep mode, and awakens the SP via an interrupt indicating a detected change. The SP then wakes the MP after comparing data from the interrupt sensor with values in storage or with another sensor.
US09063728B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for storing hibernation data in a non-volatile memory (“NVM”). Hibernation data is data stored in volatile memory that is lost during a reduced power event, but is needed to restore the device to the operational state it was in prior to entering into the reduced power event. When a reduced power event occurs, the hibernation data is stored in the NVM. When the device “wakes up” the hibernation data is retrieved and used to restore the device to its prior operational state.
US09063727B2
In an embodiment, a processor includes a first domain with at least one core to execute instructions and a second domain coupled to the first domain and including at least one non-core circuit. These domains can operate at independent frequencies, and a power control unit coupled to the domains may include a thermal logic to cause a reduction in a frequency of the first domain responsive to occurrence of a thermal event in the second domain. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09063718B2
Disclosed is a switching voltage regulator circuitry controlled to supply a voltage to at least a portion of an integrated circuit (IC). Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the IC is received. The switching voltage regulator circuitry is controlled to adjust the voltage to a different value based at least in part on the received information. Disclosed is a voltage received for a power state of at least a portion of an IC having first logic to perform one or more functions and second logic integrated with the first logic. Information corresponding to a current load for a different power state of at least a portion of the IC is sent from the second logic to voltage regulator control logic to adjust the voltage to a different value.
US09063715B2
A virtual power infrastructure for managing distribution of power to a plurality of power demanding units from a plurality of power generators includes a demand manager having logical descriptions of the power demanding units, in which the demand manager is configured to determine power load demands of the power demanding units using the logical descriptions of the power demanding units, and a capacity manager having logical descriptions of the power generators. The capacity manager is configured to determine allocation of power capacity supplied to the power generators from one or more of the power generators to meet the power load demands of the power demanding units, while satisfying one or more predetermined constraints associated with at least one of the power demanding units and the power generators.
US09063714B1
A digital device is disclosed comprising a memory, a microprocessor operable to access the memory, and a voltage regulator for ramping an output voltage supplied to the memory during a startup operation. During the startup operation, control circuitry monitors the output voltage, and when the output voltage remains above a first threshold for a predetermined interval, sets a flag. Thereafter, the voltage regulator is enabled to ramp the output voltage after the predetermined interval.
US09063708B2
In a method for validating speed of a fan of an electronic device, different speeds of the fan are set for validation. The method controls the fan to operate under each of the set speeds in turn, and controls a camera device to continuously capture images of the fan with a shutter speed of the camera device corresponding to the set speed. The images are transmitted to a comparison unit to be analyzed for sameness and clarity. The fan is determined to work abnormally if not all the images are sameness or if at least one image is unclear, and the fan is determined to work normally if all the images are sameness or clear. A validation report is generated to indicate whether the fan is normal or abnormal according to the determination.
US09063707B2
A request for a high voltage mode is received and a high voltage timer is started in response to determining that a remaining amount of high voltage credits exceeds a voltage switch threshold value. A switch to the high voltage mode is made in response to the request. A low voltage mode is switched to in response to an indication. The request may be received from an application running on a data processing system. If the indication is that the high voltage timer has expired, a low voltage timer is started in response to switching to low voltage mode. If the high voltage request is still active when the low voltage timer expires, a switch back to high voltage mode occurs and a new high voltage timer is started.
US09063706B2
A data storage device mounting apparatus includes a base, a securing member, and a cover engaged with the base. The base includes a receiving portion and a recess, the recess defines a through hole. The securing member is secured to a first data storage device and includes a securing piece. The securing piece defines a stopping hole. The cover is configured to cover a second data storage device. A stopping portion located on the cover. The receiving portion is adaptor to receive the first data storage device, the securing piece is received in the recess, and the stopping portion extends through the through hole to engage in the stopping hole, for preventing the first data storage device from disengaging from the receiving portion.
US09063702B2
An air supported frame is provided for supporting a large LED display wherein the frame includes upper, lower and side segments and has a front portion and a rear portion and the LED display is positioned when in use within the frame substantially midway between the front portion and rear portion. Further, an additional support structure may be attached to the upper and lower segments of the air supported frame wherein the additional support structure bends, curves, or angles away from the plane of the display so as to provide support to the upper segment without interfering with the display. In addition, the air supported frame may include vent seals that allow greater air pressure to be held within the air supported frame and a covering to block light along with a ventilation system.
US09063700B2
Electronic devices may be provided with conductive structures and antennas mounted near a gap between the conductive structures. A conductive member may be used to at least partially fill the gap in order to prevent emission from the antenna from entering the gap and interfering with the operation of the antenna. The conductive gap-filling member may include a conductive outer layer and a non-conductive inner layer. The inner layer may have opposing edge portions that are attached to each other or may be a continuous tubular insulating layer. The outer layer may be a layer of conductive fabric having opposing edge portions that are attached to each other or to opposing edge portions of the inner layer. An edge portion of the outer layer may be attached to a conductive structure. An insulating material may be formed between another edge portion of the outer layer and a second conductive structure.
US09063692B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided to facilitate sharing of content between various computing devices. In the context of a method, an image of a first external apparatus is received that includes information presented upon a display of the first external apparatus. The method also includes causing an identification request that includes a representation of the image of the first external apparatus including a representation of the information presented upon the display of the first external apparatus to be provided to a plurality of external apparatuses. The method also receives a response to the identification request from the first external apparatus indicating that the first external apparatus has presented the information upon the display of the first external apparatus.
US09063681B2
A printing system includes a host computer and a server computer communicable with the host computer via a network. The host computer includes a first transmitting unit that transmits image data and position data indicating a position of a storage area in a storage unit. The storage area stores supplementary image data. The server computer includes an image acquiring unit, a combining unit, and a second transmitting unit. The image acquiring unit acquires the supplementary image data from the storage area based on the position data. The combining unit combines the image data transmitted from the host computer and the acquired supplementary image data to create composite image data. The second transmitting unit transmits the composite image data to a printer to print an image corresponding to the composite image data.
US09063679B2
A print controller and method which include: a first step of waiting until one or more post-treatment functions is selected, or until a start instruction is entered; a second step of determining whether a specified post-treatment function of the post-treatment functions is selected, when the start instruction is detected; and a third step of enabling one or more of resource saving functions to be selected only if the specified post-treatment function is not selected, and of starting printing if another start instruction is detected after enabling the resource saving functions to be selected.
US09063676B2
The page descriptions in a document description describe individual document pages. Some of those pages require special processing. Special processing is accomplished by applying subtasks to page descriptions. The subtasks are associated with subset criteria. A subtask is applied to a page description if and only if the page description meets a subset criterion associated with that subtask. In essence, subtasks are prepress operations applied to and limited to the scope of individual page descriptions with the document description. As such, a modified prepress module is ideal for subtask application. In general, page descriptions are evaluated against the subset criteria and the subtasks applied before the more generalized prepress processing converts the document description into a print ready document description.
US09063673B2
A method for execution by a processing module begins with receiving application requirements and parameters. The method continues by generating application code based on the application requirements, the parameters, and the feedback. For a current implementation of the application code, the method continues by entering a loop that begins by selecting an implementation tool in accordance with implementation constraints and a previous implementation result. The loop continues by generating a current implementation result based on an application of the implementation tool, one or more of the application requirements, one or more of the parameters, and the previous implementation. The loop continues by receiving current feedback regarding the current implementation result. The loop continues by determining whether the current implementation result is at a desired level of correctness based on the current feedback. When the current implementation result is not at the desired level of correctness, the loop repeats otherwise it is exited.
US09063672B2
Systems and methods for verifying model equivalence are provided. In one implementation, a system includes: a memory device that stores a reference model (RM) and comparison model (CM), wherein the CM and the RM are constrained by a set of rules; and a processing unit that generates a reference model representation (RMR) from the RM and stores the RMR on the memory device; the processing unit further generates a comparison model representation (CMR) from the comparison model (CM) and stores the CMR on the memory device, wherein the processing unit further to: verifies that the CMR compatibly implements the RMR; verifies that a CM data flow diagram derived from the CMR compatibly implements a RM data flow diagram derived from the RMR; and verifies that every CM semantic unit implements a behavior that corresponds to a RM semantic unit and every RM semantic unit is accounted for in the CM.
US09063668B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for distributed memory allocation. The system identifies a consumer thread which allocates substantially more memory blocks than it deallocates and a producer thread which deallocates substantially more memory blocks than it allocates. The system establishes a dedicated channel for direct allocation and deallocation between the consumer thread and the producer thread.
US09063666B2
In one embodiment, a method includes loading a tape cartridge into at least one tape drive installed in an automated tape library, where a tape of the tape cartridge has at least two partitions; writing plurality of data blocks on a first of the partitions; and writing an index on a second of the partitions, wherein the index includes information about at least one of files and the blocks on the first partition.
US09063653B2
A method that includes receiving an input string, ranking, by the processor, a predicted string associated with the input string, wherein the ranking depends on whether the input string is a substring of the predicted string and at least on one of a typing speed and a typing confidence, and displaying the ranked predicted string.
US09063652B2
A method and device for performing a service. The method includes detecting whether an identifier approaches an approach recognition area, receiving identifier information from the identifier, when it is detected that the identifier approaches the approach recognition area, obtaining an address of a service provider based on the identifier information, and receiving a relevant service from the service provider based on the address of the service provider.
US09063644B2
The disclosure herein provides for interpreting and facilitating user input to virtual knobs on a touchscreen interface. Aspects of the disclosure provide for the interpretation of a contact with a virtual knob of a device represented on a touchscreen interface. In response to the contact, a state change associated with the virtual knob may be made, or an annular input icon displayed around the virtual knob. The annular input icon may guide an adjustment of the virtual knob.
US09063638B1
Video thumbnails are presented on the web page of a video hosting site, or an embedded player, or a client device. Uploaded videos are examined by a thumbnail generator, which generates thumbnails from each. A presentation engine displays the generated thumbnails, which allows interaction by the user of the client. Thumbnails are displayed at rest, in horizontal or vertical alignment. Arrows or other selectors are displayed in one embodiment, and when selected cause the displayed thumbnails to appear to move in the appropriate direction, with new video thumbnails appearing on one end to replace those that travel off-screen. In one embodiment, video thumbnails appear to roll on to and off of the display using a perspective view. In one embodiment, moving a selecting device over one of the video thumbnails causes it to be accentuated, for example by appearing to move toward the viewer and appearing to increase in size.
US09063623B2
A controller for use in a wet environment, such as a controller for a pool or spa, includes a sensor element that generates an electric field having an active region. For the controller, at least one flexible layer is positioned to overlay the sensor element and surround the active region. With this arrangement, a pocket is established between the flexible layer and sensor element. A control circuit that is responsive to the capacitance between the sensor element and the flexible layer is provided. When the flexible layer is deformed, the capacitance changes and the control circuit generates an output signal that corresponds to a particular switch state for a connected device (e.g. pump or heater). For the controller, the control circuit is designed and/or calibrated to maintain a current switch state output in response to the presence of water on the controller and near the active region.
US09063617B2
An interactive display system that may be implemented to provide an electronic whiteboard that enables users to input information to the system by engaging a display with one or more objects. The system may present an image via the display that reflects the inputs received from the user. For example, the display may be dynamically updated to mimic inputs made to a whiteboard by the user via one or more pens and/or an eraser. The interactive display system may implement an underlayer embedded within the display to guide electromagnetic radiation that emanates from an object engaged with the display to one or more detectors by total internal reflection. Due at least in part to the efficiency of the underlayer in guiding the electromagnetic radiation to the detectors, the interactive display system may enhance the speed and/or accuracy of the interpretation of the inputs made by the user.
US09063616B2
In an optical touch device and locating method thereof, light sensor modules are mounted on a panel body. Each light sensor module includes an array of light sensors each assigned with an individual index corresponding to angle information thereof. A look-up table includes the angle information corresponding to the indexes assigned respectively to the light sensors of the light sensor modules. A processing unit receives from each light sensor module a number of sensing signals generated by a series of the light sensors in response to touching of an object in a touch area of the panel body, and determines a position of a touch point of the object in the touch area based on the sensing signals from the light sensor modules, and the look-up table.
US09063610B2
A display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method includes providing a first tactile feedback to a first area of a display unit, the first tactile feedback corresponding to texture information of the first area, detecting one or more touch inputs applied to the first area, accumulating attribute information of the touch inputs applied to the first area and storing the accumulated attribute information, updating the texture information of the first area according to the accumulated attribute information, and providing a second tactile feedback corresponding to the updated texture information of the first area.
US09063604B2
A touch screen manufacturing method includes the following steps: providing a glass substrate; bombarding a surface of the glass substrate by plasma to expose Si—O-groups on the surface; coating and curing a jell on the surface of the glass substrate which is bombarded by plasma, forming a base material layer, the jell is bonded to the Si—O-groups on the glass substrate during curing; embossing the base material layer by embossing mold, forming a trench on the surface of the base material layer against the glass substrate; and filling metal into the trench, and forming metal mesh as a conductive layer. A touch screen is also disclosed. Compared to the traditional process using ITO as a conductive layer, mesh shape can be one-step formed, the process is simple, and the yield rate is high. And the cost is greatly reduced using metal instead of ITO, since not etching process is used, conductive material will not be wasted, and it reduces heavy metal emission in the waste.
US09063602B2
A display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a sensing electrode generating a sensing signal in response to an external stimulus, a sensing line connected to the sensing electrode, a sensing driver connected to the sensing line, receiving the sensing signal from the sensing line and storing the sensing signal as a specific register value, and outputting a position pulse according to the specific register value, and a signal controller determining a position of the external stimulus based on the position pulse and a predetermined clock signal.
US09063599B2
There is provided an input device including: means for performing zero point correction on the sensor outputs of the load sensors when an absolute value of an amount of output change of each load sensor is not more than a predetermined threshold a during a certain period of measurement time; means for calculating position data and calculating a total load Z of the load sensors by using the sensor outputs; means for determining that the calculation data pieces are normal when the absolute value |dZ/dt| of the amount of change in the total load Z is not more than the threshold β; means for determining that an input is present in the calculation data pieces when the absolute value |Z| of the total load is not less than the threshold γ; and means for removing a predetermined number of first and last data pieces in the calculation data pieces.
US09063595B2
Methods and devices employing circuitry for reducing power usage of a touch-sensitive display are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving power for a display of an electronic device. The method also includes powering a touch subsystem and a display subsystem of the display. The method includes, in a standard display mode, storing a frame of data in pixels of the display subsystem during a first period of time. The method also includes, in a low power display mode, storing a frame of data in pixels of the display subsystem during a second period of time. The second period of time is not equal to the first period of time. The method includes detecting a touch of the display via the touch subsystem between each synchronization signal of a plurality of synchronization signals received by the display.
US09063585B2
The present invention discloses a method for outputting a command by detecting a movement of an object, which includes the following steps. First, an image capturing device captures images generated by the movement of the object at different timings by. Next, a motion trajectory is calculated according to the plurality of images. Further next, a corresponding command is outputted according to the motion trajectory. The present invention also provides a system which employs the above-mentioned method.
US09063583B2
A mobile terminal includes a terminal body having a front surface and a rear surface, an input unit disposed at the rear surface to sense an input of a control command and a controller configured to process an input applied to the input unit. The input unit includes a first button portion exposed at an outside of the terminal body at the rear surface of the terminal body and configured to receive a push input corresponding to a first function and a second button portion surrounding the first button portion and configured to receive a push input corresponding to a second function different from the first function, the second button portion including keys disposed adjacent the first button portion.
US09063582B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for retrieving views extending a user's line of sight. A method includes determining a line of sight based at least in part on a user's location and orientation. The line of sight defines a first portion of a map representing information that is within the user's sight and a second portion of the map representing information that is out of the user's sight. The method further includes determining at least one image associated with at least one location within the second portion of the map. The method further includes causing the image associated with the at least one location to be presented to the user. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
US09063573B2
The present invention provides a system and computerized method for receiving image information and translating it to computer inputs. In an embodiment of the invention, image information is received for a predetermined action space to identify an active body part. From such image information, depth information is extracted to interpret the actions of the active body part. Predetermined gestures can then be identified to provide input to a computer. For example, gestures that can be interpreted to mimic computerized touchscreen operation. Also, touchpad or mouse operations can be mimicked.
US09063571B2
Systems and methods for shifting haptic feedback function between passive and active modes are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes receiving a first signal from a sensor, the first signal associated with a mode of interaction with a graphical user interface; receiving a second signal associated with an interaction with the graphical user interface; determining a haptic feedback effect based at least in part on the mode of interaction with the graphical user interface and the interaction with the graphical user interface; and generating a haptic signal configured to output the haptic feedback effect.
US09063566B2
Various embodiments are provided for a shared collaboration system and related methods for enabling an active user to interact with one or more additional users and with collaboration items. In one embodiment a head-mounted display device is operatively connected to a computing device that includes a collaboration engine program. The program receives observation information of a physical space from the head-mounted display device along with a collaboration item. The program visually augments an appearance of the physical space as seen through the head-mounted display device to include an active user collaboration item representation of the collaboration item. The program populates the active user collaboration item representation with additional user collaboration item input from an additional user.
US09063558B2
A current limiting circuit includes a limit current setting unit that sets a value of a limit current for limiting an output current from a driver circuit connected to the current limiting circuit, the limit current value including a first acceptable value and a second acceptable value larger than the first acceptable value; an excess current detecting unit that detects when the output current from the driver circuit exceeds the first acceptable value; and a limit current adjusting unit that replaces the first acceptable value with the second acceptable value in a period when the output current detected by the excess current detecting unit exceeds the first acceptable value.
US09063549B1
A light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device that scans through a scanning zone while emitting light pulses and receives reflected signals corresponding to the light pulses is disclosed. The LIDAR device scans the scanning zone by directing light toward a rotating mirror to direct the light pulses through the scanning zone. The rotating mirror is driven by a conductive coil in the presence of a magnetic field. The conductive coil is coupled to the rotating mirror and arranged in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the mirror. The axis of rotation of the mirror is oriented substantially parallel to a reflective surface of the mirror and passes between the reflective surface and the conductive coil.
US09063544B2
A method and apparatus for generating information about a forest. A number of locations in the forest are identified over which an electromagnetic energy sensor system in an unmanned aerial vehicle generates the information about the forest by generating a point cloud with a resolution that meets a point cloud threshold. A route is generated for the unmanned aerial vehicle to move to the number of locations and generate the information about the forest in the number of locations.
US09063540B2
Example methods and apparatus to limit a change of a drive value in an electro-pneumatic controller are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes determining a slew limit of a controller based on noise in at least one of a control signal or a feedback signal, calculating a drive value based on the control signal and the feedback signal, and changing the calculated drive value if a difference between the drive value and a previous drive value is greater than the slew limit of the controller.
US09063539B2
In a method and a device for entering control commands into a controller of a manipulator, such as a robot, a first force or movement or sequence of forces or movements is detected, and the detected force, movement or sequence is electronically compared with stored forces, movements or sequences, respectively. Each of the stored forces or movements or sequences has a control command associated therewith. Upon the comparison indicating a coincidence between the detected force or movement or sequence with one of the stored forces or movements or sequences, the control command associated with that one of the stored forces, stored movements or stored sequences is automatically supplied as an input to the controller for operating the manipulator.
US09063533B2
A numerical control device according to the invention is a numerical control device for a multi-spindle machine tool including a rotation axis and controlling a tool attitude relative to a machining workpiece, including a first storage device capable of recording a machining program; a second storage device capable of storing coordinate systems; and a central processing unit capable of executing the machining program, selecting a coordinate system suitable for machining from among the coordinate systems stored in the second storage device based on the tool attitude set by the machining program or an external input, and outputting data for machining the workpiece on the selected coordinate system.
US09063531B2
An automated programming system that includes providing a smart interface system for recognizing an intelligent module installed within the automated programming system. Configuring the intelligent module with a composite connection for transmitting information between the intelligent module and the smart interface system, and linking the intelligent module to the smart interface system for communicating information.
US09063520B2
An apparatus for inserting delay according to an embodiment includes a signal generating circuit, a plurality of carry elements, and a delay chain circuit. The delay chain circuit includes one or more delay modules selected from the plurality of carry elements, at least one feedback line connected between at least one of the delay modules and the signal generating circuit, and a plurality of enable inputs. Each of the plurality of enable inputs is provided in a respective one of the delay modules. The delay chain circuit is configured to generate an amount of delay based on a delay selection signal that is received at the enable inputs and that selects the amount of delay, and is configured to provide the selected amount of delay to the signal generating circuit, which is configured to incorporate the delay into the start signal.
US09063518B2
The solution according to the invention consisting in conversion of a time interval to a digital word of a number of bits equal to n by the use of the array (A) of binary-scaled capacitors (Cn-1, . . . , C0) is characterized in that the time interval whose both start and end are detected by the control module (CM) is first mapped to a portion of electric charge delivered by the current source (I) and successively accumulated in the capacitors ((Cn-1, . . . , C0)) in the order of decreasing capacitances starting from the capacitor (Cn-1) having the highest capacitance value in the array, and when the control module (CM) detects the end of the time interval, the charge accumulated in the capacitor (Cx) charged recently is successively transferred by the use of the current source (I) to the capacitors of lower capacitance values. The process of charge transfer is controlled by the control module (CM) on the basis of the output signals of the comparators (K1) and (K2) without the use of a clock while the value one is assigned to these bits (bn-1, . . . , b0) in the digital output word that correspond to the capacitors (Cn-1, . . . , C0) on which the reference voltage (UL) of a desired value has been obtained, and the value zero is assigned to the other bits.
US09063513B2
An image forming apparatus includes a housing, an image carrying body, an exposure device, a detachable body, and a movement device. The image carrying body installed in the housing carries an image formed on its surface. The exposure device is movable between exposure and retracted positions. The surface of the image carrying body is exposed to light at the exposure position. A distance between an installation position where the image carrying body is installed in the housing and the retracted position is larger than a distance between the installation position and the exposure position. The image carrying body is disposed in the detachable body attachable to and detachable from the housing. The movement device provided in the detachable body causes the exposure device to move from the retracted position side to the exposure position side along with a movement of the detachable body being inserted into the housing.
US09063510B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a cartridge, a collection member for collecting remaining toner which is attached to the image carrier after the toner image has been transferred from the image carrier to a recording medium; and a control device configured to selectively execute a first mode and a second mode. In a case of executing the first mode, the control device controls the collection member to return the remaining toner collected by the collection member to the image carrier with a first frequency. In a case of executing the second mode, the control device controls the collection member to return the remaining toner collected by the collection member to the image carrier with a second frequency that is smaller than the first frequency or to continuously hold the remaining toner collected by the collection member.
US09063500B2
A lubricant applicator includes a block of lubricant, a supply member contactable against the block of lubricant to scrape the block of lubricant, and a lubricant gauge to detect whether a remaining amount of lubricant is less than a threshold value. The lubricant gauge includes a rotary member rotatable about a pivot, a pressing member disposed opposite the rotary member to rotate the rotary member by pressing a contact part of the rotary member as the block of lubricant is consumed, and a detection part of the rotary member opposite to the contact part across the pivot of the rotary member. A length of the rotary member from the pivot to the detection part is longer than a length of the rotary member from the pivot to the contact part.
US09063497B2
In existing image forming apparatuses, it is difficult to maintain each of a primary transfer member and a secondary transfer member at an optimum potential.An image forming apparatus includes a voltage maintenance element connected to a secondary transfer counter roller and a primary transfer member. The voltage maintenance element maintains each of the secondary transfer counter roller and the primary transfer member at a predetermined potential or higher. By using the voltage maintenance element, each of a secondary transfer roller and the primary transfer member is set to an optimum potential by a single transfer power supply.
US09063495B2
A fusing unit and an image forming apparatus to form an image on a recording medium including a fusing unit are provided. The image forming apparatus includes a heating member having a surface divided into a plurality of heating regions and heating the recording medium, and a pressurizing member to apply pressure to the recording medium, the fusing unit fusing the image to the recording medium by applying heat and pressure to the recording medium, a driving unit to supply rotational force to the pressurizing member, and a power supply to supply power to the heating member and the driving unit, wherein the heating regions have different heating values per unit area. The image forming apparatus prevents overheating of a paper-contact heating region without idling the fusing unit in order to radiate heat accumulated in the paper-contact heating region.
US09063494B2
A penetrating hole is positioned facing a concave area between a separation guide and a separation guide of a sheet supporting the separation guides. When the front edge of a printing medium has passed through and emerged from a fixing clasp, water vapor generated from the printing medium by heating from a heating belt catches airflow flowing along a circulation movement surface of the heating belt and is sucked into a spatial region where a frame of the fixing device body is positioned from the penetrating hole.
US09063486B2
A fixing device includes a heat conductor disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of an endless belt to heat the endless belt. A nip formation pad is disposed opposite the inner circumferential surface of the endless belt and presses the endless belt against a pressing rotary body to form a fixing nip between the endless belt and the pressing rotary body through which a recording medium bearing a toner image is conveyed. A support is disposed opposite an inner circumferential surface of the heat conductor and contacts an abutment face of the nip formation pad to support the nip formation pad against pressure from the pressing rotary body. A heat insulator is interposed between the heater and the nip formation pad and the support to shield the nip formation pad and the support from the heater.
US09063483B2
According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus has a fixing unit which heats an image formed on a recording medium at a fixing temperature, to fix the image on the recording medium. When a heating temperature of the fixing unit becomes a temperature higher than the fixing temperature, the image forming apparatus switches image forming, from image forming by a first mode using a discolorable coloring material, to image forming by a second mode using a non-discolorable coloring material.
US09063481B2
Disclosed herein is a fixing device including: a fixing nip width changing section configured to change a fixing nip width of a fixing nip; and a control section configured to control the fixing nip width changing section such that the fixing nip width is smaller than a fixing nip width for use in a fixation, and to rotate a fixing side member and a back side supporting member at different circumferential speeds so as to restore a surface of the fixing side member, wherein the control section controls the fixing nip width such that a circumferential speed difference between the fixing side member and the back side supporting member is equal to a predetermined circumferential speed difference.
US09063477B2
An image forming apparatus includes: a photosensitive drum; a transfer belt configured to be charged to an opposite polarity to the surface of the photosensitive drum to electrostatically attract a recording paper sheet and convey the sheet while pressing the sheet against the photosensitive drum, thereby transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum to the sheet; a fixing section configured to apply heat to the recording paper sheet having the toner image transferred thereto and thus fix the toner image on the sheet; a toner collecting member disposed to face a separating position where the recording paper sheet is separated from the transfer belt and extending in a width direction of the sheet being conveyed, the toner collecting member being electrically grounded; and a thermally conductive member configured to collect heat near the fixing section and conduct the collected heat to the toner collecting member.
US09063457B2
A roller cover, which is to be attached to a housing, the roller cover comprising: a protecting portion, which faces the circumference of the roller when the roller cover is attached to the housing; a first end portion, which is provided at one side of the protecting portion in an orthogonal direction; a second end portion; a first opposite portion, which is formed continuously with the first end portion, wherein the first opposite portion is fitted to one side of the housing in the orthogonal direction; and a second opposite portion fitted to the other side of the housing, wherein a first distance between the first opposite portion and the second opposite portion increases during an attachment operation, and wherein, when the attachment operation is completed, a final distance between the first opposite portion and the second opposite portion is less than maximum value of the first distance.
US09063456B2
A device is disclosed. The device contains a roller, a housing configured to accommodate the roller, at least one seal comprising a first material, wherein the at least one seal is disposed between the roller and the housing, and at least one second material disposed adjacent to the seal.
US09063454B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a charging bias application section, a static eliminating bias application section, and a control section. In the case where the image forming unit causes an image carrier to be rotated without forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier, the control section performs a bias control to allow the charging bias application section to apply to a charging section a smaller charging bias than used in forming a toner image and allow the static eliminating bias application section to apply to a static eliminating section a smaller static eliminating bias than used in forming the toner image. The control section performs the bias control to increase respective values of the charging bias and the static eliminating bias every one revolution of the image carrier until the charging bias and the static eliminating bias in forming the toner image are reached.
US09063444B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a color erasable developing agent including preparing a dispersion containing a fine particle containing a leuco dye and a developer, a fine particle containing a color erasing agent, a toner binder resin fine particle and a medium, aggregating the fine particles in the medium, and heat fusing the aggregate to form a toner particle is provided.
US09063441B2
Provided is an electrophotographic photoconductor including an electroconductive substrate, a photoconductive layer on the electroconductive substrate, and a protection layer on the photoconductive layer, wherein the protection layer contains two or more metal oxides having different average primary particle diameters, a binder resin, and a charge transporting material, the content of the metal oxides in the protection layer is 50% by mass or higher, and the average primary particle diameters of the metal oxides satisfy all of formula (I) to (III) below: d(1)
US09063438B2
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes a projection system having a last optical element, the projection system projecting a beam onto a substrate through an immersion liquid; a movable stage having a holder by which the substrate is held; a measurement member provided on the movable stage, the measurement member having a measurement portion covered with a light-transmissive material; a first alignment system by which an alignment mark is detected not through the immersion liquid; and a second alignment system which optically obtains, using the measurement member, first positional information of the beam projected by the projection system through the immersion liquid. In order to obtain the first positional information, the movable stage is moved so that the measurement member is under the projection system and a gap between the projection system and the measurement member is filled with the immersion liquid.
US09063434B2
Sub-diffraction-limited patterning using a photoswitchable recording material is disclosed. A substrate can be provided with a photoresist in a first transition state. The photoresist can be configured for spectrally selective reversible transitions between at least two transition states based on a first wavelength band of illumination and a second wavelength band of illumination. An optical device can selectively expose the photoresist to a standing wave with a second wavelength in the second wavelength band to convert a section of the photoresist into a second transition state. The optical device or a substrate carrier securing the substrate can modify the standing wave relative to the substrate to further expose additional regions of the photoresist into the second transition state in a specified pattern. The method can further convert one of the first and second transition states of the photoresist into an irreversible transition state, while the other of the first and second transition states remains in a reversible transition state. The photoresist can be developed to remove the regions of the photoresist in the irreversible transition state.
US09063425B2
Topcoat compositions are provided that can be used in immersion lithography to form photoresist patterns. The topcoat compositions include a polymer system that includes a matrix polymer and a surface active polymer. The matrix polymer is present in the composition in a larger proportion by weight than the surface active polymer, and the surface active polymer has a lower surface energy than a surface energy of the matrix polymer. A solvent system includes a first organic solvent chosen from gamma-butyrolactone and/or gamma-valerolactone, and a second organic solvent. The first organic solvent has a higher surface energy than a surface energy of the surface active polymer, and a higher boiling point than a boiling point of the second organic solvent.
US09063423B2
Negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor a negative-working imageable layer and an outermost water-soluble overcoat layer that is disposed directly on the negative-working imageable layer. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer comprises: (1) one or more film-forming water-soluble polymeric binders, (2) organic wax particles, and (3) non-wax matte particles. The outermost water-soluble overcoat layer has a dry thickness (t) that is defined by the following equation (I): t=w/r wherein w is the dry coverage of the outermost water-soluble overcoat layer in g/m2, and r is 1 g/cm3. The organic wax particles have an average largest dimension D(wax) that is less than 0.9 of t (in μm), and the non-wax matte particles have an average largest dimension D(matte) that defined by the following equation (II): 1.5 times t≦D(matte)≦40 times t(in μm).
US09063418B2
A photosensitive resin composition which is high in thermal decomposition property of a photocured product thereof even in a case of being subjected to heat treatment in a non-oxygen atmosphere and is less likely to generate a residue of carbon and a photosensitive paste composed of the same are provided. The composition contains (a) a photopolymerization initiator, (b) an acryl monomer, and (c) polyalkylene carbonate, in which a ratio of polyalkylene carbonate to a total amount of the acryl monomer and polyalkylene carbonate is not lower than 50 weight % and not higher than 90 weight %. Polypropylene carbonate is used as polyalkylene carbonate. The photosensitive paste is obtained by blending the photosensitive composition, a solvent, and inorganic powders. Insulating inorganic material powders or conductive metal powders are employed as the inorganic powders.
US09063412B2
A photosensitive resin composition includes (A) an alkali-soluble resin, (B) a polysiloxane, (C) an ethylenically unsaturated compound, (D) a photo-initiator, (E) a first solvent, and (F) a black pigment dispersion. The alkali-soluble resin (A) includes an unsaturated-group-containing resin (A-1) obtained by subjecting a mixture containing (i) an epoxy compound having at least two epoxy groups and (ii) a compound having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group to polymerization. A weight ratio of the black pigment dispersion (F) to the polysiloxane (B) ranges from 5 to 35. Application of the photosensitive resin composition is also disclosed.
US09063404B2
A light source apparatus comprises: a plurality of light sources that emit light having a wide spread angle at a fast axis and a narrow spread angle at a slow axis, a first refractive optical element that converts light emitted from the plurality of light sources at the fast axis to parallel light, and a second refractive optical element that converts the light emitted from the plurality of light sources at the slow axis to parallel light. The plurality of light sources are arranged along the fast axis.
US09063398B2
A projector that performs projection in cooperation with another projector, the projector including a determining unit configured to determine an operation state of the other projector and a control unit configured to control the projector to shift to, when the determining unit determines that the operation state of the other projector is not a normal operation state, a limited operation mode for limiting execution of at least a part of functions.
US09063392B2
An imaging unit includes an image sensor, an imaging optical system which includes a prism that is positioned on the object side of the image sensor, wherein the prism bends an optical path of light emanating from an object to lead the light to the image sensor; a housing which accommodates and supports the image sensor and the prism; a light shield frame, which forms a part of the housing, provided on the object side of an incident surface of the prism, wherein the light shield frame shields a part of the light incident on the incident surface of the prism; and a prism positioning surface which is formed on the housing and contacts the prism to position the prism with respect to the housing.
US09063387B1
Systems and methods are provided for applying directed energy to an object. The system includes a first transmitter comprising a light source configured to emit a first light beam at a first frequency towards a focal point and a second transmitter comprising a light source configured to emit a second light beam at a second frequency towards the focal point. The first and second light beams cause a third light beam to be generated that has a third frequency that is coincident with at least one resonant frequency of the object.
US09063381B2
A liquid crystal display device comprises a TFT substrate, forming a wiring made of a material shutting off UV rays on a peripheral region thereof, and a sealing layer, including a UV ray curable resin therein, and being formed on peripheral regions of the substrate, to enclose the liquid crystal layer. The wiring and the sealing layer formed on the peripheral region are so provided that they are put on each other, at least in part thereof, on the wiring are provided plural numbers of opening portions formed in region where the wiring and the sealing layer are put on each other, and the opening portions are divided into a first area beside a display region and a second area outside the first area, and an opening ratio of the opening portions of the first area is larger than the opening ratio of the opening portions of the second area.
US09063377B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which is excellent in uniformity of visual angles even when divided alignment regions are distorted due to an external pressure such as pressing pressure. The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device comprising: a pair of substrates; and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates, wherein, as viewed in a plan view of a main surface of one of the substrates, the liquid crystal display device has an alignment division pattern in which each pixel is divided into four or more alignment regions, and each set of a plurality of pixels constitutes one unit, and each of the units of the alignment division pattern comprises, in at least one pixel, an alignment region whose alignment direction is different from alignment directions of alignment regions which are located at same vertical and horizontal positions in the other pixels.
US09063376B2
In an exposure device, picture elements or pixels of a liquid crystal display device are split into two parts in the width direction, and exposed from different directions, whereby an alignment material film is photoaligned. The exposure device causes two beams of exposure light outputted by two light sources (a first light source and a second light source to be transmitted through respectively different light transmission regions in a predetermined pattern of a mask, to irradiate regions of an alignment material film formed on a member for exposure, which regions correspond to split regions of pixels or picture elements. The exposure device causes the two beams of exposure light to mutually intersect on the optical path between the first and second light sources and the alignment material film.
US09063364B2
A piezo-capacitive effect-based printed flexible touch screen, comprising a printable layer, a printing ink layer, a transmissive layer, an electrode layer A, an electrically-controlled optical switch layer, an electrode layer B, a transparent flexible layer, and an electrode layer C disposed successively from bottom to top. The printable layer is a flexible insular material that is foldable and printable. The printing ink layer is a CMYK ink dot matrix printed on the printable layer. The transmissive layer is a flexible transmissive material. The transparent flexible layer is a TPE-thermoplastic elastomer. The electrically-controlled optical switch layer is a PDLC film. The electrode layer A, electrode layer B, and electrode layer C are all ITO conductive film layers having electrode array engraved thereon, while the electrode arrays of the electrode layer A and the electrode layer C are in same direction and are perpendicular in direction to the electrode array of electrode layer B. The screen is a touch screen and allows for facilitated colorization, rapid response time, reduced driving voltage, simplified manufacturing method, and reduced manufacturing costs.
US09063362B2
Disclosed is a display apparatus including a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a front cover including first latches and second latches, a back cover coupled with the first latches, and a guide panel, on which the LCD panel is seated. The guide panel is coupled with the second latches.
US09063359B2
One or more embodiments of a method and apparatus taught herein provide an electronic display projection assembly that comprises an electronic display configured to display an image, and a transparent glass layer positioned on one side of the electronic display on which the image is displayed. A projection layer is located on a surface of the glass layer. A projecting layer is positioned between the electronic display and the glass layer, and comprises a plurality of microlenses for projecting the displayed image onto the projection layer. The projecting and projection layers may be located on either opposing sides of the transparent glass layer, or on the same side beneath the glass layer. A corresponding method of providing an image from an electronic display is also disclosed.
US09063358B2
A multi-functional photochromic chiral nematic liquid crystal window comprises at least a photochromic chiral nematic liquid crystal layer. The windows are able to not only to darken in color upon exposure to sunlight irradiation but also control the light and the heat passing through them, which can be used as the windows of buildings, vehicles, and the like.
US09063353B2
A plasmonic optical device is provided operating in near ultra violet (UV) and visible wavelengths of light. The optical device is made from a substrate and nanoparticles. The nanoparticles have a core with a negative real value relative permittivity of absolute value greater than 10 in a first range of wavelengths including near UV and visible wavelengths of light, and a shell with an imaginary relative permittivity of less than 5 in the first range of wavelengths. A dielectric overlies the substrate, and is embedded with the nanoparticles. If the substrate is reflective, a reflective optical filter is formed. If the substrate is transparent, the filter is transmissive. In one aspect, the dielectric is a tunable medium (e.g., liquid crystal) having an index of refraction responsive to an electric field. The tunable medium is interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode.
US09063352B2
Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for implementing a telescopic contact lens. In one aspect, a telescopic contact lens includes an inner lens including optical apertures and aspheric reflectors, an outer lens of a biocompatible material, and a switching device that rapidly switches between normal and telescopic vision. The optical apertures of the inner lens includes a center aperture that allows light to pass through for normal vision and an annular aperture located on the periphery of the inner lens that allows light to enter for telescopic vision, The aspheric reflectors are configured between the annular aperture and the center aperture to reflect the light and magnify a visual image for telescopic vision.
US09063339B2
A stereoscopic display system and a driving method thereof are disclosed. The stereoscopic display system comprises a display unit, a pair of shutter glasses and a backlight unit. The pair of shutter glasses comprises a left eyeglass and a right eyeglass for watching a left-eye signal and a right-eye signal respectively at different times. Both the left eyeglass and the right eyeglass operate synchronously with the display unit and are turned on and off alternately to watch the left-eye signal and the right-eye signal at different times. The backlight unit provides planar light rays for the display unit. The backlight unit comprises a plurality of light emitting regions which are arranged in a direction identical to a scanning direction of the display unit. The light emitting regions are turned on sequentially in the scanning direction. A turn-on time of each of the light emitting regions corresponds to a transmissivity of the pair of shutter glasses. Light emission brightness of the light emitting regions is distributed asymmetrically in the scanning direction. The stereoscopic display system and the driving method thereof of the present disclosure can reduce the crosstalk and improve the user's experience when using the stereoscopic display system.
US09063336B2
An optical element for use in an illumination optical unit of an EUV microlithography projection exposure apparatus includes a plurality of reflective facet elements. Each reflective facet element has at least one reflective surface. In this case, at least one facet element is arranged in a manner rotatable about a rotation axis. The rotation axis intersects the at least one reflective surface of the facet element. With such an optical element, it is possible to alter the direction and/or the intensity of at least part of the illumination radiation within the illumination optical unit in a simple manner.
US09063328B2
Disclosed herein is a head-up display apparatus for a vehicle. The head-up display includes an information analysis unit, a first information determination unit, a second information determination unit, and an information display unit. The information analysis unit collects vehicle state information, driver state information, driving environment state information, driver gaze information, individual characteristic information and common characteristic information from a plurality of information collection units, and analyzes the collected information. The first information determination unit prioritizes the vehicle state information, the driver state information, and the driving environment state information. The second information determination unit determines a driver's field of view based on driver field of view information and driver individual and common characteristic information. The information display unit changes information to be displayed to the driver based on priorities and the driver's field of view, and then displays the changed information.
US09063324B2
An optical instrument of the present invention has a first lens group and a second lens group capable of moving in an optical axis direction in order to perform optical zooming, and comprises a storage section for storing first position information relating to positions of the first lens group and positions of the second lens group corresponding to identical focal lengths that fall within a focal length region range in which zoom operations of the optical instrument are carried out, and second position information relating to positions of the first lens group and positions of the second lens group corresponding to different focal lengths that fall within the focal length region, and establishes a second optical state of a higher shooting magnification than a first optical state, when establishing substantially the same focal length as a focal length of the first optical state based on the first position information.
US09063314B2
Embodiments of the present invention recite a data collector with expanded functionality and a method of enhancing revenue generation using a data collector with expanded functionality. In one embodiment, a central unit of a data collector is configured to receive a replaceable unit such that any one of a variety of replaceable units can be configure to be attached to said central unit.
US09063307B2
Printed circuit board assembly including an optical subassembly having a carrying face for carrying at least one optoelectronic component in a such way that light emitted from/directed to is transmitted through the optical subassembly; a printed circuit board having a supporting area for supporting the optical subassembly; wherein the printed circuit board supporting area includes a hole lodging at least one part of the optoelectronic component and wherein at least one part of the carrying face is fixed by flip-chip bonding to at least one part of the supporting area.
US09063305B2
A heat dissipation solution is provided that is suitable for use in, but not limited to use in, CXP modules. The heat dissipation solution allows the performance of a CXP module to be significantly improved without having to increase the size of the heat dissipation device that is currently used with known CXP modules. The heat dissipation solution thermally decouples the heat dissipation path associated with the laser diodes from the heat dissipation path associated with other heat-generating components of the module, such as the laser diode driver IC and the receiver IC. Decoupling these heat dissipation paths allows the temperature of the laser diodes to be kept cooler as they are operated at higher speeds while allowing the temperatures of the other components to run hotter, if desired or necessary.
US09063299B2
An apparatus includes a light source configured to provide radiation at a wavelength and a conduit configured to direct radiation at a wavelength from the light source to a target location of a patient. The conduit includes a first optical waveguide extending along a waveguide axis, the first optical waveguide being a flexible waveguide having a hollow core, the first optical waveguide being configured to guide the radiation at through the core along the waveguide axis; and a second optical waveguide extending along the waveguide axis, the second optical waveguide having a hollow core and being coupled to the first optical waveguide to receive the radiation from the first optical waveguide and to deliver the radiation to the target location. The first optical waveguide is a photonic crystal fiber and the second optical waveguide is not a photonic crystal fiber waveguide.
US09063298B2
Fiber optic connectors and adapters may be automatically secured and released via a management system. Such automation may inhibit accidental and/or unauthorized insertion of fiber optic connectors into adapter ports. The automation also may inhibit accidental and/or unauthorized removal of the fiber optic connectors from the adapter ports.
US09063297B2
A connector for an optical fiber includes a housing defining a lumen and having a proximal end and distal end, and an adjustable ferrule secured to the proximal end of the housing and rotatable with respect to the housing to translate a proximal end of the optical fiber longitudinally with respect to a proximal end of the adjustable ferrule.
US09063295B2
Methods of operating an optical circuit switch and optical circuit switches are disclosed. To make a connection between a first port and a second port, baseline voltages may be determined, baseline voltages being voltages that, if respectively applied to one or more electrode coupled to a first mirror element uniquely associated with the first port and one or more electrode coupled to a second mirror element uniquely associated with the second port, cause the first and second mirror elements to rotate to make the connection in the absence of accumulated mirror element drift. Accumulated drift data associated with one or both of the first mirror element and the second mirror element may be retrieved from a memory. One or more of the baseline voltages may be modified based on the accumulated drift data to provide corrected voltages, and the corrected voltages may be applied to the electrodes.
US09063294B2
A wavelength plate includes: a first quartz plate unit including a plurality of quartz plates which have main surfaces disposed in the same plane and are jointed with each other; and a second quartz plate unit including a plurality of quartz plates which have main surfaces disposed on a main surface of the first quartz plate unit and are jointed with each other in a position different from a joint position of the first quartz plate unit.
US09063285B2
A method of calibrating a fusion splicer, including: heating ends of a first and second fiber with an arc; measuring fiber end melt-back at a corner of the first fiber and a corner of the second fiber; increasing the heat of the arc and heating the ends of the first and second fibers with the arc; measuring fiber end melt-back at the corner of the first fiber and the corner of the second fiber; determining a slope of the fiber end melt-back; and based on said slope, setting a value to adjust the heat produced by the splicer.
US09063281B2
An optical connector includes a substrate, a light emitter, a case, an optical fiber, and a photo detector. The light emitter, the case, and the photo detector are positioned on the substrate, and the case covers the light emitter and the photo detector. The case defines a first slot and a second slot. The first slot is configured for splitting a light beam of the light emitter into a part transmitting to the optical fiber for data transmission and another part to a side surface of the second slot and directed to the photo detector for intensive and stability measurement of the light beam.
US09063270B2
A light-uniforming anti-glaring structure includes a light-polarizing reflection unit and a light-polarizing position adjusting unit. The light-polarizing reflection unit includes a multilayer reflector composed of a plurality of inter-stacked polymer films. One of the inter-stacked polymer films is a birefringence material layer that conforms to the condition of NX≠NY≠NZ, wherein NX is the index of refraction of light at X direction, NY is the index of refraction of light at Y direction, and NZ is the index of refraction of light at Z direction. The light-polarizing position adjusting unit is coupled with the light-polarizing reflection unit for adjusting the position of the light-polarizing reflection unit.
US09063268B2
Dual coated optical fibers and methods for forming dual coated optical fibers are disclosed herein. The dual coated optical fibers include a glass fiber comprising a core region, a cladding region and a dual coating layer surrounding the glass fiber. The dual coating layer includes an inner coating and an outer coating. The inner coating surrounds the glass fiber and includes a first polyimide material. In one embodiment the first polyimide material also includes an adhesion promoter. The outer coating surrounds and is in direct contact with the inner coating and includes a second polyimide material having a decomposition threshold temperature greater than the first polyimide material. The second polyimide material may also have a modulus of elasticity greater than the first polyimide material and a moisture uptake lower than the first polyimide material.
US09063266B2
A transparent liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel displaying an image in an image display mode and transparently implementing in a transparent mode; a backlight unit including a light guide plate disposed on a rear surface of the liquid crystal display panel and a light source array disposed at one side of the light guide plate; a light source driving unit supplying a driving current to the light sources; a cover bottom enclosing an edge of the side and rear surfaces of the backlight unit; and an illumination sensor measuring illumination of an external light incident to the rear surface of the cover bottom.
US09063261B2
A light-controlling element includes an illumination unit capable of controlling an amount of emitted light, and a light guide body on which the light emitted from the illumination unit is incident. The light guide body has a function of propagating the light while totally reflecting the light inside the light guide body, and the light guide body has a function of propagating the light emitted from the illumination unit at a plurality of different propagation angles inside the light guide body. The light guide body includes a plurality of light extraction regions having a function of extracting the light to the outside. At least two of the plurality of light extraction regions have different incidence angle ranges in which the light is capable of being extracted to the outside.
US09063250B2
A method and apparatus configured to perform an interference test while drilling, including the steps of computing a pressure history response at a monitoring well from a pulsing of a well remote to the monitoring well, determining a time interval and a location for conducting a pressure test along a monitoring well trajectory based on the computing of the pressure history response, initiating a pulsing of the well remote to the monitoring well, determining whether pressure data should be taken at the monitoring well, estimating a near wellbore pressure effect at the monitoring well if the pressure data is taken, adjusting a mud circulation flow rate in the monitoring well if the pressure data is taken, and measuring at least one pressure value at the monitoring well if the pressure data is taken.
US09063247B2
Methods for acquiring, cataloguing, and analyzing digital core samples taken of subterranean formations are disclosed. One embodiment provides a method that includes obtaining an image or a series of images of at least a portion of a subterranean formation; simulating, by a computing device, a fracturing characteristic of the subterranean formation based on the image or the series of images; and cataloguing the image or the series of images in a formation fingerprinting database.
US09063235B2
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.
US09063227B2
A signal processing method of a positioning apparatus includes receiving a wireless satellite signal to generate distance information; generating a distance correction quantity according to the distance information and reference coordinate information; processing the distance correction quantity through iteration by using an Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) method, to generate multiple mode functions; and analyzing the mode functions, so as to select a part of the mode functions as a modified distance correction quantity to be output.
US09063226B2
Disclosed herein are one or more embodiments that arrange a plurality of location entities into a hierarchy of location descriptors. One or more of the disclosed embodiments may determine whether one of the location entities is a spatial outlier based at least in part on presence of one or more other location entities within a predetermined distance of the one location entity. Also, the other location entities and the one location entity may share a location descriptor.
US09063225B2
An example radar apparatus has a transmission frequency modulated by a chirp waveform having three chirp segments, including increasing, decreasing, and a constant frequency segments. The chirp waveform may extend over the full revisit time of the radar beam. The frequency difference between the transmitted and echo signals are determined at least once per chirp segment. Example apparatus include a Doppler radar for vehicle use.
US09063217B2
A method of controlling a radar system by receiving a radar return signal from a target and generating a range-Doppler target image signature of the target; selecting a spectral line within the range-Doppler target image signature from a modulation feature on the target which includes an effective point scatterer; providing a range profile for the spectral line; obtaining a reference range profile of a reference point scatterer; determining a difference between a power at a range shorter than a peak corresponding to the modulation feature in the range profile and a power at a corresponding range of the reference range profile; and generating a first control signal or a second control signal arranged to provide or prevent provision of the range-Doppler target image signature based on the difference.
US09063213B2
An FMCW radar system is provided having a transceiver unit which is designed to transmit radar signals, which are modulated with the aid of at least one modulation parameter, and to receive radar signals, which are reflected from objects, and having an interference detector for detecting interferences in the received radar signals based on at least one frequency-dependent reception power threshold value corresponding to the particular modulation parameters, one of the modulation parameters being a modulation slope of the transmitted radar signal. An interference recognition method is also provided.
US09063211B2
A navigation system and associate methods are described that include a plurality of fixed terrestrial based reference devices that calibrate the system by tracking positional error between the fixed terrestrial based reference devices. A navigation system and associated methods are also described that include a laser positioning system. A navigation system and associated methods are described that include an RF positioning system. In one example, the laser positioning system, and the RF positioning system cross check one another to ensure reliability and accuracy of a position measurement.
US09063208B2
A method and a system for accurately positioning an electronic device located in an indoor area, generates a request signal for determining the indoor location of the device, and sends the signal to a server coupled to the device through a network. The request signal contains certain parameters pertaining thereto, including the signal strength, and the information of the cell towers through which the device sent the signal. The server uses the signal parameters to determine information pertaining to an approximate spatial position of the device, and sends and information to the device. Multiple positioning algorithms are embedded in the computing hardware of the device, and the device executes these algorithms to determine the exact indoor location thereof.
US09063206B2
A system and method for double inversion recovery for reduction of T1 contribution to fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging include a computer programmed to prepare a double inversion recovery (DIR) sequence comprising a pair of inversion pulses and an excitation pulse, execute the DIR sequence to acquire MR data from an imaging subject, and reconstruct an image based on the acquired MR data. The preparation of the DIR sequence comprises optimizing a first inversion time (TI1) between the pair of inversion pulses and a second inversion time (TI2) between one of the pair of inversion pulses and the excitation pulse to cause a first tissue of the imaging subject to be suppressed in the image and to reduce a T1 contrast between a second tissue and a third tissue of the imaging subject in the image.
US09063196B2
A slow Magic-Angle Spinning NMR device and method are detailed that provide high resolution and high sensitivity metabolic profiling of biological samples. A new 1H-PASS sequence suppresses line broadening in the various biological samples. The device and method allow metabolic changes in small animals to be tracked through continuous investigations of minimally-invasive blood and tissue biopsy samples over a sustained period and allow intact biological objects with sizes up to a few centimeters to be studied.
US09063188B2
An apparatus and method for identifying the presence of high conductivity or permittivity conditions in a wide range of electrically insulating materials is disclosed. The apparatus includes a grounded enclosure containing electronics for controlling measurement and communication processes and first and second spaced-apart electrode assemblies for engaging an insulator to be tested. The first and second electrode assemblies are mounted in the enclosure for linear movement such that pressing of the first and second electrodes against an insulator causes the electronics to initiate a measurement.
US09063186B2
A device for measuring electrical treeing of medium voltage cables. The device includes a plurality of test units connected in parallel. Each test unit includes: a test cup and an insulating base. The test cup includes an inner cavity for accommodating a salt solution, an insulating cover equipped with a first electrode, and an opening. The insulating base includes a side wall, an insulating washer, a second electrode, a conductor, and a through hole from top to bottom. The test cup is disposed on the insulating base. The lower part of the test cup is surrounded by the side wall and presses on the upper surface of the insulating washer. The lower part of the test cup is in threaded connection with the side wall. The space between the opening and the test sample is sealed by the insulating washer.
US09063183B2
A magnetic shield including a first layer and a second layer and shielding an environmental magnetic field is obtained by manufacturing the first layer that is configured by a first material and that includes a hollow portion on the inside and the second layer that is configured by a second material that is different from the first material and which is a hollow member and placing the second layer in the hollow portion of the first layer. With the magnetic shield, in regions between the first layer and the second layer, a material in which the relative magnetic permeability at the strength of the magnetic field at a region that is next to the second layer is high compared to the relative magnetic permeability of the first material at the strength of the magnetic field is selected as the second material that configures the second layer.
US09063180B2
A device includes an electromagnetic field sensor which detects an intensity of an electromagnetic field; and a single video camera which captures video of space in which the electromagnetic field sensor is included. A determining unit is configured to determine at least a two-dimensional location of the electromagnetic field sensor by analyzing the video captured by the video camera; and a visualizing unit is configured to visualize the space distribution of the electromagnetic field, based on the intensity of the electromagnetic field detected by the electromagnetic field sensor and the two-dimensional location determined by the determining unit.
US09063177B2
The electric power metering device comprises a pulse meter to provide an electric pulse or a closing of an electric circuit at each predefined quantity of electric power. A communication module is connected to said pulse meter to send electric power and/or consumed electric power information. Two inputs of the communication module receive the connection with the pulse meter. Said communication module comprises discrimination means connected to the inputs to differentiate power pulse information and status information of an electric apparatus connected to said inputs. The electric power metering method comprises a discrimination step to differentiate power pulse information and status information of an electric apparatus connected to said inputs of the communication module.
US09063163B2
The invention relates to a lyophilised form of dabigatran of formula (I) its use as a calibrator in the assays for the determination of pharmacodinamic effects of dabigatran etexilate as well as such assays per se. In the preparation of the lyophilised standards, dabigatran is dissolved in an aqueous acidic solution before freeze-drying.
US09063154B2
The present invention comprises a method for measuring the transport of analytes through a cell. The method comprises the steps of providing one or more cells containing at least 10 picograms of an analyte within a volume defined by the area of an x-ray excitation beam and a depth of live times the 1/e attenuation, depth for at least one characteristic x-ray signal of the analyte as attenuated by water. The method further comprises the step of removing at least a of portion of the analyte from the cells. The method also comprises the steps of exciting at least a portion of the analyte that has been removed from the cells with an x-ray beam; and using an x-ray detector to measure x-ray fluorescence.
US09063148B2
Methods and kits are provided for assessing radiation injury and exposure in a mammal. The methods comprise the steps of: obtaining one or more test samples from the mammal, contacting the test samples with an antibody immunoreactive with a citrullinated protein to form an immunocomplex; and detecting the immunocomplex with an ELISA; wherein a decrease in the quantity of the immunocomplex in the test samples, as compared to the quantity of immunocomplexes formed under identical conditions with the same antibody and a control sample from one or more mammals known to have a lower degree of radiation injury or exposure, indicates a higher degree of radiation injury and exposure to the mammal. The information obtained from such methods can be used by a clinician to accurately assess the extent of radiation injury/exposure in the mammal, and thus will provide a valuable tool for determining treatment protocols on a subject by subject basis.
US09063146B2
A device which supports identification of an integrated display and dynamic adjustments to operating parameters thereof includes: a port that receive a test strip having a reaction site for receiving a sample of fluid from a patient, a blood glucose (bG) meter cooperatively operable with a test strip inserted in the port to measure glucose in a sample of fluid on the test strip, and a display device having an electrically resistive component integrated therein and operable to display the glucose measurement in accordance with one or more operating parameters associated with the display device The system also includes a monitoring module electrically connected to the resistive component, wherein the monitoring module determines a type for the display device based on a resistance of the resistive component and a control module that selectively adjusts a given operating parameter of the display device in accordance with the type of display device.
US09063145B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to devices and methods for detecting opsonophagocytotic antibodies using detection particles having product-specific detection reagents and having a characteristic spectral feature. Detection substrates, include microwells. Phagocytic cells are grown in the microwells, and a sample of serum or other bodily fluid from a patient is introduced into the wells, along with a set of detection particles, each set having an antigen recognized by opsonophagocytotic antibodies. The detection particles bind to the antibodies present in the sample and the phagocytic cells then take up the detection particles, labeling the phagocytic cells. The cells are then visualized via image analysis, thereby detecting the presence of, and the types of the opsonophagocytotic antibodies in the sample.
US09063143B2
The phosphorylation status of the BAD protein is a determinant of ovarian cancer cell responsiveness to platinum chemotherapy. Indirect manipulation of BAD phosphorylation status influences cisplatin sensitivity. BAD phosphorylation represents a biomarker that predicts platinum sensitivity and is a therapeutic target to increase platinum sensitivity. The methods employ phospho-specific antibody against a particular amino acid residue or site. Phospho-specific protein characterization methods include immunohistochemical (IHC), flow cytometric, immunofluorescent, capture-and-detection, or reversed phase assay.
US09063140B2
The present invention relates to a novel isolated whitefly ecdysone receptor polypeptide. The invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the whitefly ecdysone receptor polypeptide, to vectors comprising them and to their uses, in particular in methods for modulating gene expression in an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system and methods for identifying molecules that modulate whitefly ecdysone receptor activity.
US09063135B2
Systems and methods for chip-integrated label-free detection and absorption spectroscopy with high throughput, sensitivity, and specificity are disclosed. The invention comprises packaged chips for multiplexing photonic crystal waveguide and photonic crystal slot waveguide devices. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09063134B2
This invention provides for multi-unit plates that comprise a layer of membrane, preferably nitrocellulose or PVDF membrane, on the surface of individual unit of the multi-unit plate. These multi-unit plates are particularly well suited for high throughput immunoblot analysis including Zestern analysis.
US09063125B2
The present invention relates to regulation of cold sensation and pain. More particularly, the present invention is directed to nucleic acids encoding a member of the transient regulatory protein family, CMR1, which is involved in modulation of the perception of cold sensations and pain. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and using agents that modulate cold responses and pain responses stimulated by cold via modulation of CMR1 and CMR1-related signal transduction.
US09063120B2
A device for measuring blood alcohol concentration for detecting the alcohol concentration from the blood of the unconscious driver as well as the driver's breath, comprises a first body including a coupling recess into which the blood collection module is coupled and a heater for heating the coupled blood collection module, and a second body including a detection probe to penetrate the blood collection module to suck the alcohol gas in the blood collection module, and an alcohol detection sensor to detect the alcohol concentration through the alcohol gas introduced through the detection probe.
US09063115B2
A method of monitoring a reformer unit is disclosed. The method includes analyzing at least one of the feedstock and the product stream. The analyzing includes performing a detailed hydrocarbon analysis of at least one of the feedstock and the product stream. The method further includes obtaining a one-dimensional output from the detailed hydrocarbon analysis and adjusting the one-dimensional output to produce a multi-dimensional equivalent output. Adjusting the one-dimensional output includes applying an appropriate correlation matrix to the one-dimensional output to produce the multi-dimensional equivalent output. The appropriate correlation matrix is selected based upon the characteristics of the feedstock and the particular refinery unit.
US09063113B2
An apparatus for detecting a chemical of interest in a fluid or estimating a concentration of the chemical in the fluid includes: a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating an earth formation; a first temperature sensor disposed at the carrier and configured to sense a temperature of the fluid and provide a first temperature output; and a second temperature sensor disposed at the carrier and covered with an exothermic reaction material that experiences an exothermic reaction when exposed to the chemical of interest and configured to sense a temperature and provide a second temperature output. The apparatus further includes a processor coupled to the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and configured to detect the chemical or estimate the concentration using the first temperature output and the second temperature output.
US09063110B2
A method, implemented by a software-controlled computer device and/or by dedicated hardware, for probing an electrically conductive target material, e.g. molten metal or semiconductor material, in a metallurgical vessel. In the method, a measurement signal is acquired from a sensor, which is inserted into the target material, during a relative displacement between the electrically conductive target material and the sensor, the measurement signal being indicative of electrical conductivity in the vicinity of the sensor. The measurement signal is generated to represent momentary changes in an electromagnetic field around the sensor, which is created by operating at least one coil in the sensor. Based on the measurement signal, a signal profile is generated to be indicative of the electrical conductivity as a function of the relative movement. The method enables a probing of the internal distribution of the target material in the vessel at any level of detail.
US09063088B2
Embodiments of the computer-implemented methods, storage mediums, and systems may be configured to determine locations of particles within a first image of the particles. The particles may have fluorescence-material associated therewith. The embodiments may include calculating a transform parameter, and the transform parameter may define an estimated movement in the locations of the particles between the first image of the particles and a second image of the particles. The embodiments may further including applying the transform parameter to the locations of the particles within the first image to determine movement locations of the particles within the second image.
US09063081B2
A system and method employing at least one semiconductor device, or an arrangement of insulating and metal layers, having at least one detecting region which can include, for example, a recess or opening therein, for detecting a charge representative of a component of a polymer, such as a nucleic acid strand proximate to the detecting region, and a method for manufacturing such a semiconductor device. The system and method can thus be used for sequencing individual nucleotides or bases of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). The semiconductor device includes at least two doped regions, such as two n-typed regions implanted in a p-typed semiconductor layer or two p-typed regions implanted in an n-typed semiconductor layer. The detecting region permits a current to pass between the two doped regions in response to the presence of the component of the polymer, such as a base of a DNA or RNA strand. The current has characteristics representative of the component of the polymer, such as characteristics representative of the detected base of the DNA or RNA strand.
US09063065B2
A method of sample analysis comprises irradiating a sample with electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays; collecting absorption data and scattering data; and combining the absorption and scattering data. The irradiation can be in the form of a tubular beam, a detector may be placed in a plane where Debye cones diffracted from the sample overlap at a central point for the collection of the scattering data.
US09063063B2
A method of making a low-dimensional material chemical vapor sensor comprising exfoliating MoS2, applying the monolayer flakes of MoS2 onto a SiO2/Si wafer, applying a methylmethacrylate (MMA)/polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) film, defining trenches for the deposition of metal contacts, and depositing one of Ti/Au, Au, and Pt in the trench and resulting in a MoS2 sensor. A low-dimensional material chemical vapor sensor comprising monolayer flakes of MoS2, trenches in the SiO2/Si wafer, metal contacts in the trenches, and thereby resulting in a MoS2 sensor. A full spectrum sensing suite comprising similarly fabricated parallel sensors made from a variety of low-dimensional materials including graphene, carbon nanotubes, MoS2, BN, and the family of transition metal dichalcogenides. The sensing suites are small, robust, sensitive, low-power, inexpensive, and fast in their response to chemical vapor analytes.
US09063062B2
Nuclear gauges and method of configuration and methods of calibrations of the nuclear gauges are provided. The nuclear gauges are used in measuring the density and/or moisture of construction-related materials. The nuclear gauge can include a gauge housing having a vertical cavity therethrough and at least one radiation detector located within the housing. The nuclear gauge can include a vertically moveable source rod and a radiation source operatively positioned within a distal end of the source rod.
US09063057B2
In general, the present disclosure is directed toward a novel hybrid spintronic device for converting chemical absorption into a change in magnetoresistance. This device uses a novel magnetic material which depends on the attachment of an organic structure to a metallic film for its magnetism. Changes in the chemical environment lead to absorption on the surface of this organometallic bilayer and thus modify its magnetic properties. The change in magnetic properties, in turn, leads to a change in the resistance of a magnetoresistive structure or a spin transistor structure, allowing a standard electrical detection of the chemical change in the sensor surface.
US09063055B2
An X-ray imaging apparatus for imaging a subject includes a diffraction grating configured to form an interference pattern by diffracting X-ray radiation from an X-ray source, a shielding grating configured to shield part of the interference pattern, a detector configured to detect the X-ray radiation passing through the shielding grating, and a moving unit configured to change an angle between each of the diffraction grating, the shielding grating and the detector and an optical axis, wherein the detector is configured to detect the X-ray according to a change in the angle between each of the diffraction grating, the shielding grating and the detector and the optical axis.
US09063052B2
An inline measuring apparatus (10) is operable to measure hydrate, wax, break-through of formation water and/or scale (150) on an inside surface of a wall (100) of a pipe (40) for guiding fluid. The apparatus (10) includes an electronics unit (30) coupled to a sensor arrangement (20) disposed in a spatial extensive manner into the wall (100) of the pipe (40) for sensing the growth (150). The electronics unit (30) in cooperation with the sensor arrangement (20) Is operable to perform a series of dielectric measurements at a plurality of interrogating frequencie s for determining a nature and spatial extent of the growth (150). The sensor arrangement (20) includes a plurality of sensors have mutually different sensing characteristics in relation to their spatial sensing region and/or their sensitivity to different fluid components present in operation within the pipe (40). Optionally, the apparatus (10) is capable of being operated synergistically in a plurality of different operating modes which enables detection of thin film formation at an inside wall of the pipe (40) as well as a measurement of bulk properties of fluid present within the pipe (40).
US09063047B2
A system and method is disclosed for extracting a sample from a sample surface. A sample is provided and a sample surface receives the sample which is deposited on the sample surface. A hydrophobic material is applied to the sample surface, and one or more devices are configured to dispense a liquid on the sample, the liquid dissolving the sample to form a dissolved sample material, and the one or more devices are configured to extract the dissolved sample material from the sample surface.
US09063042B2
A new type of indenter is described. This device combines certain sensing and structural elements of atomic force microscopy with a module designed for the use of indentation probes, conventional diamond and otherwise, as well as unconventional designs, to produce high resolution and otherwise superior indentation measurements.
US09063037B2
A system and method for eluting a sample from a swab are presented. The system includes a chamber dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the length of at least one swab, a fluidic channel connected to the chamber, and an actuator. The chamber has at least one wall being a flexible film. The fluidic channel is configured to at least one of introduce and expel liquids from the chamber. The actuator is configured to contact an outer surface of the flexible film such that movement of the actuator against the outer surface of the flexible film causes a respective movement of the at least one swab when the at least one swab is disposed next to an inner surface of the flexible film. The respective movement of the at least one swab elutes the sample from the at least one swab into the chamber.
US09063024B2
A bicycle rear hub includes a hub spindle, a drive part, a hub shell and a driving force measuring part. The drive part is rotatably supported on the hub spindle, and configured to receive a driving-force-input member. The hub shell is rotatably supported on the hub spindle and operatively coupled to the drive part for rotation by the drive part on the hub spindle. The driving force measuring part includes a magnetostrictive element disposed in a driving force transmission path between the drive part and the hub shell, and a detection coil disposed in opposition to the magnetostrictive element.
US09063023B2
A vibration transducer includes a silicon single crystal vibration beam provided over a silicon single crystal substrate, the vibration beam having a sectional shape that is longer in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the silicon single crystal substrate than in a direction parallel with it, a shell made of silicon, surrounding the vibration beam with a gap, and forming a vacuum room together with the silicon single crystal substrate, a plate-like first electrode plate disposed parallel with the surface of the silicon single crystal substrate, the first electrode plate having one end connected to the vibration beam, plate-like second and third electrode plates disposed parallel with the surface of the silicon single crystal substrate so as to be opposed to each other with the vibration beam interposed in between, and asperities formed on confronting side surfaces of the vibration beam and the second and third electrode plates.
US09063014B2
A photodetector control circuit in a photodetector for detecting light from a photodiode using a phototransistor and controls drive of the photodiode and detection of a current of the phototransistor has a received light amount detecting unit that detects a detection current, which flows through the phototransistor in accordance with a received light amount, by converting the detection current into a detection voltage, and compares the detection voltage with a reference voltage detected during reception of a reference light amount, to thereby detect a change in the received light amount, a diode current control unit for controlling a diode current that is caused to flow through the photodiode, and a control unit that detects a temperature based on a forward drop voltage of the photodiode and estimates a current change rate of the phototransistor based on the detected temperature.
US09063013B2
Provide is an infrared detector that has a simple configuration, has a high amplification factor, and is configured to operate at low voltage. An NMOS transistor at an output stage of a pyroelectric infrared detection element serves as a common source amplifier circuit in which a source is connected to GND via a resistor and a capacitor that are connected in parallel.
US09063012B2
An Infra Red detector system and method is disclosed. There is benefit in providing signal processing functions into each pixel of a 2D focal plane IR detector for applications such as hostile target detection. The thermal characteristics of muzzle flash or a projectile and it's trajectory for example are distinguishable from background scene. A technique to add a signal detection function to normal IR detector thermal imaging operation to a standard direct inject Integrate While Read (IWR) pixel circuit and for providing target detection at extremely high data rates is described.
US09063010B2
A method and an apparatus for adjusting a sensing threshold of an infrared proximity sensor are provided. The method includes: obtaining, through the infrared proximity sensor, a reflected infrared ray intensity value in an environment of a current light intensity; comparing the obtained reflected infrared ray intensity value with a pre-stored reflected infrared ray intensity value, so as to obtain a first difference; and when the first difference is greater than a preset first threshold, modifying the sensing threshold. It avoid misjudge of blocking of the mobile phone because a light transmittance of a lens is reduced, and the fault is solved by modifying the sensing threshold, so that a proximity sensing function of the mobile phone can be automatically repaired without changing hardware.
US09063008B2
A testing device includes a receiving unit for electromagnetic signals arranged on a carrier element to be tested to generate test data from received electromagnetic radiation. The test data are evaluated in a processing system in order to determine a deviation of the test data from a nominal state of the carrier element. The testing device is used to test a carrier element of an elevator installation on which the elevator car is suspended.
US09063001B2
Various embodiments related to monitoring for optical faults in an optical system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, in an optical system comprising a light source, a light outlet, and an optical element disposed between the light source and the light outlet, a method of monitoring for optical system faults. The method includes detecting, via a light sensor directed toward an interface surface of the optical element closest to the light source, an intensity of light traveling from the interface surface of the optical element to the light sensor, and comparing an intensity of light detected to one or more threshold intensity values. The method further includes identifying an optical system fault condition based on comparing the intensity of light detected to one or more threshold values, and modifying operation of the optical system.
US09062989B2
A sensor circuit is configured for operation under conditions susceptible to misalignment or movement. In connection with various example embodiments, an alignment-tolerant sensor arrangement includes a reference component and first and second magnetic sensors. The reference component influences a magnetic field as a function of a position of the reference component, such as via the positioning of a magnetic type of component. The first magnetic sensor is aligned with a first magnetic field sensitivity direction, and exhibits an electrical response to the presence of the magnetic field. The second magnetic sensor is aligned with a first magnetic field sensitivity direction and is configured to exhibit an electrical response to the presence of the magnetic field. The first and second magnetic field sensitivity directions being offset from one another to facilitate detection of magnetic fields at different relative alignments between the reference component and the first and second magnetic sensors.
US09062982B2
A method of downloading map data to a portable electronic device entails determining a route, identifying waypoints along the route, and downloading and caching map data for the waypoints along the route. The map data for areas around each of the waypoints (intersections, decision points) are thus preloaded prior to the device arriving at or near each waypoint. This ensures that the device has locally cached all the map data needed to render a navigationally useful map of the area around each waypoint.
US09062975B2
A carrier which automatically travels on a pathway. A carrier comprising: a carrier main body which travels on the pathway including a first area and a second area other than the first area; a distance measuring sensor which is provided in the carrier main body, measures an intensity of reflected light a plurality of times, and obtains a plurality of pieces of measured data; a map data storage unit which stores map data in which structures provided along the pathway are recorded; an approximate line calculation unit which calculates an approximate line based on a set of pieces of measured data having the light intensity equal to or more than a predetermined threshold among the plurality of pieces of measured data in the first area and calculates the approximate line based on the set of the plurality of pieces of measured data in the second area; and a position calculation unit which calculates a position of the carrier main body by collating the approximate line and the map data.
US09062973B2
One embodiment of the invention includes an atom beam gyroscope system. The system includes an atom beam system that generates an atom beam comprising alkali metal atoms along a length of a detection region orthogonal to a sensitive axis. The system also includes a detection system comprising a detection laser and photodetector. The detection laser can generate an optical detection beam that illuminates the detection region to pump the alkali metal atoms. The photodetector can measure an optical absorption of the optical detection beam by the alkali metal atoms in the atom beam and to generate an intensity signal associated with the measured optical absorption. The system further includes a gyroscope sensor configured to calculate rotation of the atom beam gyroscope system about the sensitive axis based on a magnitude of the intensity signal due to a Doppler-shift in energy of the alkali metal atoms in the atom beam.
US09062967B2
The present invention provides a measurement apparatus which measures a measurement surface based on an interference signal obtained by causing measurement light reflected by the measurement surface and reference light reflected by a reference surface to interfere with each other, the apparatus including an interference optical system including a lens for focusing the measurement light to be incident on the measurement surface, and configured to cause the measurement light and the reference light to interfere with each other, and an adjusting device configured to adjust a focusing state of the measurement light focused by the lens such that a measurement point on the measurement surface positions within a range of a depth of focus of the lens, wherein the interference signal is obtained with the focusing state adjusted by the adjusting device.
US09062966B2
In order to inspect a three dimensional shape, a predetermined inspection target component formed on a board is selected as the measurement target, a shape of the inspection target component is acquired, a reference point of the inspection target component is detected, relative location information of a polarity mark formed on the inspection target component with respect to the reference point is acquired, and it is judged whether the inspection target component is good or bad by checking whether the polarity mark exists or not by using the relative location information with respect to the reference point. Thus, the location of the polarity mark may be accurately known, and polarity inspection may be more easily and accurately performed.
US09062957B2
A multi-wavelength interferometer includes a beam splitter configured to split plural light fluxes into a reference beam and a measurement beam, a frequency shifter configured to shift a frequency of at least one of the reference beam and the measurement beam to make the frequencies of the reference beam and the measurement beam different from each other, an optical system configured to cause the measurement beam to be incident on a measurement surface and to cause the measurement beam reflected from the measurement surface to interfere with the reference beam to obtain interference light, a dividing unit configured to divide the interference light into a plurality of light beams, and a detection unit configured to detect the plurality of light beams divided by the dividing unit.
US09062956B2
A probe head includes a housing having a first housing unit to be affixed on a machine, and a second housing unit on which a stylus is supported so as to be deflectable. The second housing unit is movably supported on the first housing unit so as to allow a deflection. The probe head furthermore has a switching unit, which includes a first contact element and a second contact element, the contact elements being arranged such that when the second housing unit is deflected relative to the first housing unit, the contact elements are able to be brought into mutual contact at different points as a function of the direction of deflection, whereby an electrical switching signal is able to be triggered by this contact.
US09062946B2
According to the invention, this piece comprises: a base section piece (1) provided with a projecting longitudinal heel (4) delimiting a longitudinal groove (7); a longitudinal pyrotechnic cord laid in said groove; and a plurality of consecutive section piece portions (2) fixed one after the other to said base section piece (1) by first fixing means (9). Between the consecutive section piece portions (2) are second fixing means (18), distributed along said base section piece (1) and independent of said first fixing means (9), enabling said pyrotechnic cord to be fixed and positioned relative to said base section piece (1).
US09062942B1
A powered telescoping knife handle has an outer tubular section; inner tubular members; a discharge chamber; a cap; a firing pin; and a release mechanism. The outer tubular section is what is held in the hand of a person. The inner tubular members are nested within the outer tubular section to telescope out to form a spear-like extended handle. The discharge chamber therewithin is suitable to hold a blank cartridge. The cap is removably mounted to the outer tubular section. The firing pin is connected to the cap so as to be removable with the cap and when the cap is attached, the firing pin is positioned to strike the blank cartridge when released. The strike causes the primer charge to explode and propel the inner tubular members away from the cap. The release mechanism is the trigger that releases the firing pin to strike blank cartridge.
US09062935B2
Certain embodiments of the present disclosure deal with an archery sight mounted or mountable on an archery bow. The sight incorporates an indicator or adjustment assembly to indicate or control the desired position of one or more additional sight pins based on sighted in positions of two base sight pins.
US09062933B1
A tactical illuminating system for weapons. The tactical illuminating system for weapons has a grip body with a joystick button. The grip body has at least first and second illumination sources and at least one laser emitter. The grip body mounts onto a rail member of a quail rail hand guard. The tactical illuminating system also has an electrical system and at least first and second side illuminator housings with third and fourth illumination sources respectively. The at least first and second side illuminator housings mount onto the quail rail hand guard. The at least first and second, and third and fourth, illumination sources are positioned on both sides of a weapon, and are independently controlled by the joystick button to provide light sources on strong and/or advantageous sides of the weapon when cornering without having to change grip, sight picture, an angle of said weapon, or stance.
US09062932B2
A target marking system includes a light source emitting a thermal beam and an optics assembly directing the thermal beam to impact a target, the target directing radiation to the optics assembly in response to the impact. The target marking system further includes a detector, and an optics assembly optically connected to the detector.
US09062931B2
A firearm sight including a base coupled to a firearm receiver. The base includes a body having opposed side defining a void therebetween. A sight housing having an end coupled to the base and an opposing end carrying a sight structure. The end coupled to the base is bifurcated with spaced apart furcated portions defining a central gap therebetween. A threaded support member extends transversely between the opposed side portions and concurrently through apertures formed through the furcated portions. A wheel member has a threaded bore and is received on the threaded support member between the furcated portions within the central gap. Rotation of the wheel member moves the sight housing laterally between the opposed sides of the base.
US09062930B1
A combined flashlight and munition deploying device in which light sources are arranged around a munition-loadable crown of the device so that illumination is emitted in the same direction that the munition is deployed. The flashlight may be operated in a strobe mode. A common trigger is used to first operate the strobe and then to fire the munition. A toggle mechanism serves to cock the firing pin as the crown is being opened for loading a cartridge. An extendable battery compartment may be included, which also serves as an extendable handle. The device may be configured for many different types of less-than-lethal munitions.
US09062929B2
A small, lightweight multi-shot pistol, preferably includes a readily field removable receiver having two barrels in an over/under configuration. The butt of the pistol includes a storage chamber holding two spare cartridges. The single trigger is a double action trigger. The configuration of the pistol is such that two shots may be rapidly fired in a “double tap” manner, and the receiver can then be released using a thumb latch, whereby the receiver will be tilted upward and an auto-ejector will eject the spent cartridges. The spare cartridges are held together using a speed loader device which holds them so that they are properly aligned for speedy insertion into the breach of the tilted receiver.
US09062928B2
The pneumatic toy gun has a nozzle through which a soft ball travels. At one end of the nozzle there is an outlet from which the ball is expelled and at the other end there is an inlet for receipt of a stream of gas under pressure. A constriction such as fins or an annulus are mounted within the tube and function to inhibit the use of the gun to fire balls having a diameter smaller than that of balls which are intended to be shot from the toy gun.
US09062927B1
An attachment is provided for operably connecting a shotgun to a weapons station. The shotgun includes a trigger and a butt stock. The weapons station can accommodate one of a Mk19 grenade launcher, an M2 .50 cal machine gun and an M240G machine gun. The attachment includes a trigger module, a pump grip adapter, and a gun frame. The module actuates the trigger and includes an actuator for pulling the trigger and an adapter for engaging the butt stock. The pump grip adapter includes slots for traveling pins on the weapons station to absorb recoil. The gun frame enables installation of the shotgun therein and mounts the trigger module and the adapter to the weapon station.
US09062910B2
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a main body having at least one storage chamber, a drawer mount installed in the at least one storage chamber that guides at least one drawer provided therein so as to be inserted into and pulled out of the at least one storage chamber, a cover configured to cover an upper opening of the at least one drawer and including guide grooves formed at left and right edges of the cover and guide rails mounted in the guide grooves and formed of metal, a shelf supported by the cover so as to be slidable on the cover by the guide rails, and a pair of supports provided at both sides of a lower surface of the shelf.
US09062908B2
System for the operation and management of a fleet of refrigerated autonomous containers for transporting perishable goods, comprising: containers provided with a passive tag comprising identification information and with an active tag comprising a temperature probe and a recorder connected to said probe and capable of recording the measured temperature values; a gun or means for injecting a refrigerant into the container, which means is provided with a device capable of reading the passive tag of the container, so as to be cognizant of the identification number of the passive tag; and a data acquisition and processing unit capable of carrying out the following operations: receiving said identification information from said device and linking this identification number of the passive tag with the number of the active tag in the container; calculating, as a function of data associated with the logistic travel of the container and physical data of a refrigerant, an amount of liquefied gas to be injected into the container; and providing said gun or injection means with the characteristics of the injection of liquefied gas to be injected into the container.
US09062904B2
An improved method of supplying pressurized cold gas consistently of predominately N2 and He at low flow rate (typically under 1 g/s) with a desired N2 liquid fraction to an instrument requiring such is disclosed. Pressurized ultra-dry nitrogen gas of a controlled mass-flow rate is cooled inside fine coils bathed in liquid nitrogen to condense it to a vapor fraction less than about 20% and typically under 3%. A second gas stream consisting of predominately nitrogen plus helium, supplied from a controlled pressure, is cooled in a separate set of coils to an exit mean temperature significantly above the temperature of saturated nitrogen vapor in this mixture. The fluid from the first (condensed) mixture is injected into the cooled gas from the second mixture and transferred through a thermally insulated line to the input of the instrument needing a supply of cold gas of a target vapor fraction.
US09062895B2
An on demand tankless water heater system that is capable of quickly delivering water within a desired temperature range. The tankless water heater provides a hybrid heating method that contains a primary heating system and a secondary heating system disposed in a buffer tank that cooperate to facilitate control of output water temperature during water usage. A pressure differential switch detects low flow demand and allows the secondary heating system to provide immediate heating to the water. This secondary heating system provides a faster temperature response and fine tuning of output water temperature.
US09062889B2
An exemplary method of determining location information includes sensing a temperature of an object or person in a sensing field of at least one temperature sensor at each of a plurality of measurement periods. A relationship between the sensed temperature at a first one of the measurement periods and the sensed temperature at a second, later one of the measurement periods is determined. A determination is made from the determined relationship whether the object or person moved relative to the temperature sensor during a time from the first one of the measurement periods to the second one of the measurement periods.
US09062886B2
A gas turbine (1) includes a compressor (2) that feeds an oxidizer to one or more combustion devices (3, 5) in which fuel is injected and is combusted to generate hot gases that are expanded in a turbine (4, 6). The flue gases discharged from the turbine (4, 6) are partially recirculated into the compressor (2). The fuel is a gaseous fuel that is injected into the combustion devices (3, 5) via two or more stages (20, 22, 23). One of the stages is a pilot stage (20) in which the fuel is injected along a longitudinal axis (21) of the combustion device (3, 5) or an axis parallel thereto.
US09062883B2
A turbomachine fuel-air mixer component includes a first component portion formed from a non-additive manufacturing process. The first component portion includes a plurality of tube elements each having an end portion. A second, additively manufactured component portion is additively joined to the first component portion. The second, additively manufactured component portion includes a plurality of additively manufactured tube sections constructed at, and fluidically connected with, respective ones of each end portion of the plurality of tube elements. The first and second component portions collectively defining at least a portion of the turbomachine fuel-air mixer component.
US09062882B2
A grounded burner, actuators adjusting the supply of fuel and air to the burner, an ionization electrode in the flame region, a flame amplifier at the ionization electrode generating an ionization signal, and a final control device are included in a burner system. During air ratio control mode, the final control device sets a first actuator and adjusts a second actuator. During voltage control mode a voltage regulator controls the AC voltage source using the AC voltage measured by the voltmeter, in conjunction with an ionization current amplifier. The voltmeter is connected in parallel with a sequence of the ionization electrode, the flame region, the burner and the input of the ionization current amplifier. The voltage regulator is connected to the voltmeter such that, during voltage control mode, the time-averaged current caused by the voltmeter through the connection is less than 5% of the time-averaged current through the ionization electrode.
US09062875B2
An LED light source includes a plurality of longitudinal extrusions arranged in an array, the extrusions having an upper and lower end, an interior longitudinal slot, and outside longitudinal grooves. A printed circuit board is fitted and supported within the extrusion slots and has wiring. A plurality of LEDs is connected in series to the wiring, spacedly mounted along the board. High frequency electronic driver means is connected in series to the LEDs on the printed circuit boards and adapted to be further connected to a DC power source. A power supply for connection to and converting available AC to DC, is connected to the driver means. Lenses have ends fitted within the extrusion grooves, the lenses spaced from and covering the printed circuit boards and LEDs thereon. Upper and lower end caps are affixed to the upper and lower ends of the extrusions, respectively, and hold the printed circuit boards and lenses in place. A means is provided for connecting the light source to an external fixture. The driver means and power supply may be positioned within the extrusion array. Water and dirt resistant seals may be placed on the upper and lower end caps, a plug holding the upper seal in place and a disc positioned beneath the lower seal for preventing damage to same.
US09062874B2
An exemplary electronic censer includes a censer body, working fluid contained in the censer body, an incense branch, a fog generator, and a guiding tube. The incense includes a light guiding tube, a light source mounted on the light guiding tube, and a fog guiding tube surrounding the light guiding tube and spaced from the light guiding tube to define a chamber between the fog guiding tube and the light guiding tube. The fog generator is received in the censer body and converts the working fluid to fog. The guiding tube guides the fog from the censer body to the chamber to exhaust.
US09062872B2
An illuminating assembly includes a bracket, an engaging member, a light module, and a biasing member. The bracket includes a frame and a pressing panel rotatably located on the frame. The engaging member is attached to the bracket. The engaging member includes a first engaging portion which can be disengaged to release the light module. The light module is pivotally coupled to the bracket and is biased inwards when unreleased, and biased outwards and illuminated when released. The light module includes a base, a light source located on the base, and second engaging portion. The light module is movable from a closed position to an open position, to illuminate a keyboard.
US09062871B2
A LED lamp (1) having an air-cooled heat sink (6) enclosed in a housing (2) having a front section (3) and a rear section (4) that holds at least one LED (5) connected to the heat sink. A plurality of cooling vanes (7) extend from the heat sink and heat generated by the at least one LED travels through the heat sink and then through the cooling vanes. The cooling vanes create additional surface area for air to come into contact with, thereby allowing more efficient cooling of the at least one LED. Cooling channels (8) located between the cooling vanes allow for air flow between the cooling vanes. Further, the cooling vanes are angled so that a venturi effect is created as a fan (13) pulls air through the cooling channels, thereby increasing the airflow across the cooling vanes.
US09062870B2
A UV light and socket assembly having a pin and hole arrangement with a central pin and corresponding hole with peripheral pins and corresponding holes arranged approximately 120 degrees from each other from the central pin and opening. The light and socket assembly including a locating projection and corresponding locating opening that receives the projection that is positioned so as to be aligned with one of the peripheral pin and openings and the central pin and opening.
US09062867B2
A lamp comprises a LED lamp comprising a base. A plurality of LEDs are attached to a first side of the base. A lens covers the plurality of LEDs. A power supply provides power to the LEDs. A first electrical connector provides power to the power supply. A troffer housing comprises a wire way for receiving the power supply. A second electrical conductor is adapted to be connected to a source of power. The base is secured to the troffer housing where the power supply is located in the wire way and the first electrical conductor is connected to the second electrical conductor.
US09062866B1
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes an enclosure, a trim, and at least one attachment mechanism. The enclosure can include at least one heat-generating device and an enclosure collar, where the enclosure is made of a first thermally conductive material. The trim can include a trim collar and at least one wall that defines a passage, where the trim collar abuts the enclosure collar, and where the passage has a reflector and a LED is disposed therein. The least one attachment mechanism can removably couple the trim collar to the enclosure collar, where the at least one attachment mechanism includes a back plate that is mechanically coupled to an upper flange and a lower flange, where the upper flange contacts the enclosure collar and the lower flange contacts the trim collar.
US09062864B2
An illustrative lighting fixture provides a light housing, a thermally conductive inwardly facing annular surface, one of a selection of light reflectors, and an associated lens cover. Mounting pads defined by the annual surface and the light reflector together receiving a selected number of light emitters and associated heatsinks coupled to selected ones of the mounting pads. Each of the selection of light reflectors includes openings for the light emitters and reflective surfaces matching a number and combination of positions of light emitters on selected ones of the mounting pads.
US09062863B2
An illumination device, system, and method are disclosed. The illumination device includes an active cooling mechanism and a controller for the same. When the controller activates or deactivates the active cooling mechanism, one or more optical elements on the illumination device are automatically moved, thereby adjusting at least one characteristic of the light emitted by the illumination device.
US09062859B2
Wafer edge inspection approaches are disclosed wherein an imaging device captures at least one image of an edge of a wafer. The at least one image can be analyzed in order to identify an edge bead removal line. An illumination system having a diffuser can further be used in capturing images.
US09062855B2
A display device includes a substrate, a light emitting element layer that is on the substrate and that includes a light emitting element, an encapsulation thin film layer that is on the substrate and the light emitting element layer and that encapsulates the light emitting element layer, a buffer film on the encapsulation thin film layer and adhered to the encapsulation thin film layer, and an optical film on the buffer film and adhered to the buffer film.
US09062854B2
Lighting systems with heat extracting light emitting elements are disclosed based on the light emitting surface also functioning as the heat cooling surface. Lighting systems which have only their light emitting surfaces exposed to ambient are disclosed. A thermally conductive mostly reflective light transmitting element provides light diffusion, interconnect, and forms a light recycling cavity providing very low profile and lightweight solid state light sources. These properties make these light sources very useful in applications such as aircraft, rescue, temporary illumination, and automotive where weight directly impacts cost and utility. The integration of drivers and other electrical functions onto the heat extracting light emitting elements is also disclosed.
US09062852B2
An organic light emitting display panel with improved efficiency and lifespan and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting display panel according to the present invention includes a substrate having red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel regions, red, green, and blue color filters respectively formed in the red, green, and blue sub-pixel regions, an overcoat layer that is formed in the red and green sub-pixel regions except for the blue and white sub-pixel regions or is formed in the sub-pixel regions such that a thickness of the overcoat layer in the red and green sub-pixel regions is greater than a thickness of the overcoat layer in the blue and white sub-pixel regions; and organic emitting cells respectively formed in the red, green, blue, and white sub-pixel regions.
US09062847B2
A method for manufacturing a phosphor device may include: providing an optical transmitting member having a first end face and a second end face, whereby the optical transmitting member is designed for guiding exciting light entering through the first end face onto a phosphor layer arranged on the second end face, whereby at least a part of the exciting light is being wavelength-converted by the phosphor layer, and whereby the optical transmitting member is further designed for at least partially collecting and guiding the light converted by the phosphor layer; attaching an optically transparent electrode on the second end face of the optical transmitting member; providing a phosphor and a counter-electrode designed for electrophoretic deposition of the phosphor; and depositing a phosphor layer on the optically transparent electrode by means of electrophoretic deposition, thereby using the optically transparent electrode as a coating electrode.
US09062844B2
A clearance lamp (20) including a light source (21) and a light guide (23) that allows light from the light source (21) to enter from an end face of the light guide (23) and emits the light forward from an emitting surface (23b) while guiding the light in the interior of the light guide (23). The emitting surface (23b) extends along a direction in which the light guide (23) extends. The light guide (23) includes steps (23c) that reflect the light traveling through the light guide toward the emitting surface (23b), and it further includes a light-emitting surface (23d) that is formed at a position different from a position of the light-emitting surface (23b) and emits the light traveling through the light guide to the outside of the light guide.
US09062842B2
Disclosed is a lighting device for a street lamp, of which a structure is improved such that the diffusion degree of light may be effectively controlled by improving the directivity of a luminous element. To this end, the lighting device for a street lamp includes: a base member which is formed at an upper side of a street lamp body arranged above a ground surface; a plurality of luminous element units, which are comprised of at least one luminous element, and are arranged on the bottom surface of the base member; and a plurality of reflection units, which are arranged to be adjacent to the luminous element units, and are arranged mutually isolated from each other by a predetermined distance on the bottom surface of the base member to diffuse light radiated from the luminous element units in multiple directions.
US09062841B2
A lighting system having neural hubs that connect to other neural hubs in a manner that allows a lighting system to be configured in a two dimensional pattern that can propagate out from a single neural hub. Straight sections can be provided for use in connection with the neural hubs to enhance the configurability of the lighting system.
US09062836B2
A cassette includes a substantially planar base plate having a first or bottom side and a second or top side. A slide channel capture ring or other retention structure is provided on the first side of the base plate for releasably retaining a planar light source to this side of the base plate. Another slide pocket, or other slide-in retention structure is provided on the second side of the base plate for coupling the cassette to a connector structure.
US09062834B2
An illumination device having a first housing member with a threaded stem and a second housing member with a threaded bore wherein the threaded stem and the threaded bore are positioned at opposite ends of the device when the housing members are coupled together. An electrical power source, which may take the form of a battery, is disposed within the device and a selectively activated light source, which may take the form of an LED, is operably coupled with the power source. In some embodiments, the light source is selectively activated and deactivated by relative rotation of the first and second housing members.
US09062829B2
A fluid storage and dispensing apparatus including a fluid storage and dispensing vessel having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and an integrated gas cabinet assembly including such fluid storage and dispensing apparatus and/or a point-of-use ventilation gas scrubber in the vented gas cabinet. By the use of physical adsorbent and chemical sorbent media, the gas cabinet can be enhanced in safety of operation, e.g., where the process gas supplied from the gas cabinet is of a toxic or otherwise hazardous character.
US09062817B1
A mounting system provides an inexpensive and flexible system to suspend a display component from a ceiling. The system further provides a system to suspend multiple display components. An alternate arrangement provides integrated leveling and height adjustment controls. A method of adjusting a viewing angle of the display component is also disclosed.
US09062814B2
A device, kit, and method are provided for anchoring an element on an exterior face of a wall of a building. The method includes, from the inside of the wall, running a line into a hole passing through the wall and fixing said line to an element anchoring device. The device comprising a fastener of said element, a bearing means, a first fixing means and a guide able to guide a second fixing means that collaborates with said first means. The method includes, from the inside, pulling said line in order to introduce the guide into said hole and, from the inside and using the guide, fixing the two fixing means together to press the bearing means firmly against the exterior face of the wall.
US09062813B2
Embodiments include a cushion clamp support and assembly and related method. In one embodiment the cushion clamps support includes a support base and a support bracket for receiving the support base. The support base and the support bracket are substantially flat in selective corresponding areas that align when disposed adjacent to one another to prevent further rotation. The support base and the support bracket each have complementary retention features that correspond to one another such that the retention features engage one another to secure the support base to the support bracket. The support bracket has a plurality of opposing lips for receiving at least a portion of a cushion clamp.
US09062812B2
A holder for supporting a portable electronic device and includes a pedestal and a supporting board. The supporting board includes a resisting portion and at least one resonator portion. The resisting portion is mounted on and has a predetermined angle with a top surface of the pedestal. The resonator portion is connected to an edge of the resisting portion and extends from the edge towards a side contrary to the resisting portion a predetermined distance and then extends towards the resisting portion. The resisting portion and the top surface of the pedestal cooperatively support the portable electronic device. The resonator portion is configured to resonate and guide sounds generated by the portable electronic device.
US09062809B2
A heatable medium pipe having at least one pipe connector and heating element, wherein the heating element has a few wires, in particular two wires, and said wires extend continuously along the medium pipe and along the at least one pipe connector. In a method for producing such a heatable medium pipe, the heating element is continuously wound around a tubular medium pipe and the heating element is pre-assembled on the medium pipe in that the heating element is fastened or fixed by at least one fastening element, the medium pipe is cut to a first length for the particular application, the length corresponding to the desired medium pipe length (lR) plus the heating element length (lH) required for wrapping around the at least one pipe connector and the transition area the fastening element is removed in the region outside the desired medium pipe length (lR), the heating element is unwrapped from the medium pipe section cut from the first length, the medium pipe is cut to the desired medium pipe length (lR) to form a second medium pipe section, the medium pipe section is connected to the at least one pipe connector as the medium pipe, and the heating element is at least wrapped around the at least one pipe connector.
US09062808B2
A system for reducing buildup of solids in pipes used in underwater oil operations is disclosed. The system includes an annular pipe having an inner pipe wall and an outer pipe wall. The inner pipe wall defines an inner pipe configured to transport an oil. The outer pipe wall is displaced from the inner pipe wall. The outer pipe wall defines an outer pipe between the outer pipe wall and the inner pipe wall. The system includes an oxidizer delivery pipe having an oxidizer delivery outlet. The oxidizer delivery pipe is configured to supply an oxidizer to the outer pipe. The system further includes a fuel delivery pipe having a fuel delivery outlet. The fuel delivery pipe is configured to supply a fuel to the outer pipe. The oxidizer and the fuel release thermal energy in an exothermic reaction.
US09062800B2
A clamp for attaching an elongated member to a supporting surface includes a curved portion, a base strip and a securing strip. The base strip includes flanges that define a catch on opposite lateral sides of the base strip. The securing strip is received between the catches formed on the locking flange that engage upstanding locked flanges formed on the securing strip.
US09062793B2
Actuators for use with fluid control devices having multiple fluid flow control members are disclosed. An apparatus includes a housing including a first chamber and a second chamber. The apparatus also includes a first actuator assembly at least partially positioned in the first chamber. The first actuator assembly includes a first stem to be coupled to a first flow control member of a valve. The first flow control member is to control fluid flow through a first flow aperture. The apparatus also includes a second actuator assembly at least partially positioned in the second chamber. The second actuator assembly includes a second stem to be coupled to a second flow control member of the valve. The second flow control member to control fluid flow through a second flow aperture, the first stem independently moveable relative to the second stem.
US09062785B2
A valve arrangement includes a base part, having securing means for securing the valve arrangement to a place of use and an axially continuous bore with an inner wall, a valve insert part, which can be inserted with a stub into the bore, sealed by a seal with respect to the inner wall, and having at least one latching element with which the valve insert part can be latched in the inserted and sealed position by elastic engagement over a locking projection in the base part, and on which an actuating element is located for releasing and removing the valve insert part from the base part, and an adjustable valve element, which is mounted in a chamber of the valve insert part having a valve seat and with which a fluid connection all the way through the valve arrangement can be established or shut off.
US09062779B2
A valve assembly has a valve manifold which includes a housing having a central mixing chamber and a shell surface, and further has at least two diaphragm valves which are each adapted to be attached to a valve port provided on the shell surface. A first valve port has three openings, and the further valve ports each have at least two openings. A respective first opening of the valve ports is in direct fluid communication with the central mixing chamber and the second and third openings of the valve ports are each in fluid communication with an inflow or outflow via a duct. Each valve includes inlets or outlets which correspond with the openings of the valve ports and which are each in fluid communication with an opening. Each valve is adapted to shut or open the flow path between the first opening of a valve port and the second or third opening.
US09062777B2
The present invention relates to a chemical sprayer that includes a sprayer head assembly and a container. The container defines a cavity for storing a chemical to be sprayed. The sprayer head assembly includes a chemical passage, a carrier fluid passage, a vent passage, a valve chamber and a valve. The chemical passage is communication with the cavity. The carrier fluid passage is in communication with a carrier fluid source. Both the carrier fluid and chemical passages are in communication with the valve chamber. The valve is moveably positioned within the valve chamber and defines at least partially a first passage and a second passage. The first passage is configured so as to be in communication with the chemical passage when the valve is in an open position. The second passage is configured so as to be in communication with the carrier fluid passage when the valve is in the open position. The first and second passages are also configured so as to not be in communication with the chemical and carrier fluid passages when said valve is in a closed position. The valve also includes one or more seal portions positioned on the valve so as to block both the chemical and the carrier fluid passages when said valve is in the closed position. The sealing portions also preferably blocks a vent passage when the valve in the closed position. The second passage also preferably forms at least in part an outlet of the sprayer head assembly. A suction generating surface is also preferably defined by the valve.
US09062773B2
A radial shaft seal configured for receipt in a housing and about a shaft to sealingly isolate an air side of the seal from an oil side of the seal is provided. The seal includes a mounting portion and a seal lip having a sealing surface extending between an oil side end and a free air side end. An annular bridge is connected to the oil side end of the seal lip by a first hinge and to the mounting portion by a second hinge. The bridge extends in radially overlying relation to the seal lip. A projection extends from the first hinge away from the bridge. A plurality of ribs extend radially inwardly from the projection. The ribs minimize friction between the seal and the shaft during installation and prevent the seal lip from inverting during the oil-side installation assembly.
US09062770B2
A sealing device for a collet chuck has a tensioning nut, a sealing washer, a main sealing ring and a pressure space. The sealing washer is mounted in the tensioning nut and has a main ring groove, an abutting surface, a liquid-inlet surface, and a liquid inlet. The liquid inlet is formed between an imaginary surface extending from the abutting surface and the liquid-inlet surface. The main sealing ring is mounted and positioned in the main ring groove. The main sealing ring protrudes out of and abuts the main ring groove. The pressure space is formed between a rear side of the main sealing ring and the main ring groove. Therefore, a coolant poured into the sealing device can pressure the main sealing ring to deform the main sealing ring, such that the main sealing ring can tightly abut a tool shank.
US09062768B2
A piston for an internal combustion engine and method of construction thereof are provided. The piston includes a piston body having an upper combustion surface and an annular cooling gallery surrounding an undercrown region. An outer wall depends from the upper combustion surface. An annular ring belt region is formed in the outer wall adjacent the upper combustion surface. The ring belt region has at least one ring groove formed therein. At least one oil passage extends from the at least one ring groove to the cooling gallery. The oil passage has a first portion depending radially inwardly from the ring groove and a second portion ascending radially inwardly from the first portion to the cooling gallery.
US09062767B1
A multi-wheel drive system for a vehicle and a method of control. The system may include first and second inlet valves that may control the flow of fluid to a gerotor pump that may actuate a clutch to provide torque to a wheel set.
US09062765B2
A shift control device for a vehicle transmission is provided in which drive means for making a shift drum pivot is connected to the shift drum, wherein the drive means (112) includes a power source (113) disposed on at one end, in the axial direction, of the shift drum (104), and a transmission shaft (117) to which power from the power source (113) is transmitted at the one end, in the axial direction, of the shift drum (104), power from the transmission shaft (117) being transmitted to the other end, in the axial direction, of the shift drum (104). This enables an internal combustion engine to be made compact while avoiding a concentrated disposition of the drive means on one side, in the axial direction, of the shift drum.
US09062764B2
A clutch control system for a transmission for detecting if hydraulic control during shifting is not executed. A first clutch and a second clutch are switched from a disengagement state to an engagement state by receiving a predetermined pressure generated by a hydraulic pump. A transmission executes shifting to an adjacent gear step by operation of switching the engagement state of the first clutch and of the second clutch from one side to the other side. If an elapse time t from the start of clutch switching operation reaches a predetermined time and an input-output speed ratio which is a ratio between engine speed and counter shaft rotational number falls within a predetermined range corresponding to a gear step before shifting, the transmission control unit discontinues the clutch switching operation by stopping the supply of hydraulic pressure to the other side clutch to bring it into the disengagement state.
US09062758B2
A solitary chainring of a bicycle front crankset for engaging a bicycle drive chain, including a plurality of teeth formed about a periphery of the chainring. One or more clearance chamfer surfaces are formed on the chainring body, each of the chamfer surfaces substantially centered between adjacent pairs of the plurality of teeth.
US09062749B2
A hidden braking assembly provides a connecting unit disposed inside a main frame. The connecting unit comprises an upper stem connected to a brake handle, a lower stem connected to a brake unit, and an adjusting set fixed to the lower stem and penetrated by the upper stem. A locking part of the adjusting set is operated to quickly adjust a telescoping length of an upper and a lower frame of the main frame. The connecting unit is synchronically adjusted during the adjustment of the upper frame and the lower frame. After the adjustment, the locking part is fixed to a body part of the adjusting set so that the two frames and the two stems can be firmly positioned, thereby facilitating a rapid adjustment of the telescoping length of the main frame and the connecting unit, increasing a using convenience, and attaining a stable braking effect.
US09062747B2
A method and apparatus for locking an externally threaded member in place. An apparatus comprises a number of internally threaded members and a shape memory element associated with the number of internally threaded members. The number of internally threaded members is configured to engage the externally threaded member. Changing a baseline shape of the shape memory element to a modified shape either prevents or allows movement of the number of internally threaded members relative to the externally threaded member.
US09062746B2
An automatic transmission device that changes a relative speed between an input and output member. The transmission configured with a first planetary gear mechanism including first to third rotary elements, a second planetary gear mechanism including fourth to sixth rotary elements, a third planetary gear mechanism including seventh to ninth rotary elements, and a fourth planetary gear mechanism including tenth to twelfth rotary elements. A first coupling between the third and eighth rotary element, a second coupling between the fifth and eleventh rotary element, a third coupling between the sixth and twelfth rotary element, a fourth coupling between the seventh and tenth rotary element. A first clutch between the first and third coupling, a second clutch between the first rotary element and the third coupling element, a third clutch between the first and fourth rotary element.
US09062737B2
A shock absorber has a first pressure tube and a second pressure tube. A first piston is disposed within the first pressure tube and a second piston is disposed within the second pressure tube. Movement of the first and second pistons within their respective pressure tubes control both damping characteristics for the shock absorber and stiffness for the shock absorber. Valving in the pistons and/or external valving associated with each pressure tube generates both the damping characteristics and the stiffness.
US09062729B2
A device comprising one or more movable links adjacent to and spanning between two opposing brake pads along an axis, wherein the one or more movable links connect the two opposing brake pads so that the brake pads remain in a substantially parallel relationship as the two opposing brake pads move relative to each other along the axis when contacted by a rotor during a free running condition, and wherein dimensions of the one or more movable links remain constant during a brake apply, a brake retract, the free running condition, or a time therebetween.
US09062727B2
The present invention provides a disc brake caliper. The disc brake caliper has a housing and a piston for moving a friction element into contact with a rotor. A yoke is provided for at least partially guiding the piston, and the yoke is positioned within the housing and moveable relative to the housing. A guide member along which the yoke is slideable is provided, and the guide member is a component separate to the yoke and the housing, and is mounted to the housing.
US09062714B2
A bearing device includes: a journal part, a main bearing, a cylinder block, and a bearing cap. One half bearing held by the cylinder block includes: a first circumferential oil groove and a second circumferential oil groove being formed at positions opposite to an inlet of an oil passage of the journal part; a separation part separating the first circumferential oil groove and the second circumferential oil groove; and an oil hole penetrating from the first circumferential oil groove to an outer circumferential surface. A length L1 in a circumferential direction of the separation part at a position in the inner circumferential surface of the one half bearing is smaller than a length L2 in the circumferential direction of the inlet of the journal part.
US09062709B2
A roller bearing assembly includes a plurality of rollers (122), a cage (114) including a plurality of slots (118) for positioning the plurality of rollers, an outer race (134) positioned radially outside the plurality of rollers and the cage, and means (126, 130, 138) for retaining axial alignment between the cage and the outer race provided integrally with at least one of the cage and the outer race.
US09062702B2
A connecting element for forming a punch-riveted connection of at least two component sections is provided, wherein a foot section has at its free end a foot base with a basic shape which is cylindrical or at least approximated to the cylindrical shape. According to the invention, an annular circumferential elevated portion is formed in the foot section between the foot base and the shaft section.
US09062698B2
For handling and clamping a pipe, an apparatus includes plural clamping elements movably arranged in a device body configured as an annular shell. A positioning element is vertically movably arranged in the device body, and includes an obliquely sloping actuating surface that cooperates with a sliding surface of the clamping elements, so that a vertical or axial motion of the positioning element at least partially causes a horizontal or radial motion of the clamping elements. Also, a vertical or axial motion of the clamping elements is at least partially converted into a horizontal or radial motion thereof.
US09062692B2
The axial lengths of coupling portions of a flywheel, a rotor shaft, and a pump shaft are reduced to reduce the axial length of an entire power unit. A crankshaft 4 and a flywheel 8 are directly coupled to each other and the flywheel 8 and a rotor shaft 5 are directly coupled to each other. A coupling 20 is directly coupled to an end face of the rotor shaft 5 on the opposite side to the flywheel 8. A pump shaft 6 is connected to the coupling 20. Coupling surfaces of the flywheel 8 and the rotor shaft 5 and coupling surfaces the rotor shaft 5 and the coupling 20 are arranged within a width range of a coil 19.
US09062688B2
An apparatus that includes a chamber. The chamber includes an inlet via which process fluid enters the chamber and an outlet via which the process fluid exits the chamber. A diaphragm is fixed in position in the chamber at a periphery of the diaphragm. The diaphragm includes a magnetic fluid therein.
US09062684B2
A pumping system for evacuating an enclosure comprises a pumping mechanism (30), a motor (32) for driving the pumping mechanism, and a controller (36) for controlling the motor. The controller sets a maximum value for a rotational frequency of the motor and a maximum value for a current in the motor, and, to optimize the performance of the pumping system, independently adjusts the maximum values during evacuation of the enclosure.
US09062682B2
The present invention provides a processor or signal processing module that features one or more modules configured to receive an input signal containing information about the unsteady pressures or acoustic emissions caused by a medium flowing through a pump, and also configured to provide of an output signal containing information about the performance of the pump. The information about the performance of the pump may include information about pump performance monitoring by a slip flow measurement, about predicting impeller wear, about pump impeller cavitation monitoring, about pump monitoring through acoustic emissions, about pump leak detection, about pump efficiency monitoring and about positive displacement pump monitoring.
US09062666B2
The swash plate type variable displacement compressor includes a rotary shaft, a swash plate, a plurality of pistons, a first rotor, a second rotor, a solenoid and a cone clutch. The second rotor transmits the rotation of the first rotor to the swash plate. The solenoid produces electromagnetic force that acts on the first rotor or the second rotor so that the first rotor and the second rotor move toward each other. The cone clutch is engageable by energization of the solenoid. The cone clutch has a male cone portion and a female cone portion. The male cone portion has a conical surface provided on one of the first rotor and the second rotor. The female cone portion has a conical surface provided on the other. The conical surface of the female cone portion is connectable to and disconnectable from the conical surface of the male cone portion.
US09062665B2
A pump system has a piston pump. The piston pump has a cylinder block with an inlet port, an outlet port, and a plurality of cylinders. Each cylinder in the plurality of cylinders is connected to the inlet port by an inlet passage and to the outlet port by an outlet passage. The piston pump has a plurality of pistons disposed in the plurality of cylinders. A drive shaft drives the pistons within the cylinders. A throttle member independently throttles flow in each inlet passage. The pump system has an electrohydraulic actuator governing movement of the throttle member.
US09062663B2
A difference is arisen in the electric potential of the electrode layer between a fixed end portion and a displacement end portion of an actuator. The electrode layer includes a bundle of polymer fibers containing a conductive material. Longitudinal directions of the polymer fibers are arranged parallel to a direction from the fixed portion to the displacement end portion of the actuator.
US09062653B2
A method of operating a wind turbine has the following steps: receiving (13) multiple sensor signals being indicative of the state of the wind turbine (19); analyzing (14) the multiple sensor signals in order to determine whether a specific alarm condition is met as predefined in one of a plurality of different predefined alarm scenarios (30); further analyzing (15) at least one of the multiple sensor signals in accordance with analyzing steps as predefined in the alarm scenario (30) for which the specific alarm condition is met in order to determine (16) whether the wind turbine (19) is to be put into either a predefined safe mode, a shutdown mode or a continued operation mode.
US09062650B2
The invention concerns a Wells turbine, comprising a hub with a plurality of rotor blades having a drop-shaped profile orienting from a profile nose; the rotor blades are attached to the hub in a rotary fashion by means of a foot part such that the rotor blade angle is variable with respect to the plane of rotation, wherein the associated rotational axis intersects the chord for each profile section in a threading point, which is located in a region between the profile nose and the aerodynamic center of the profile; the adjustment of the blade angle is made passively by the equilibrium occurring during the operation of the wells turbine between the aerodynamic torque, acting on the rotor blades, and the centrifugal torque, wherein the average density of the rotor blade is selected to be less than 2700 kg/m3 and/or the mass distribution within the profile is selected such that the surface centrifugal torque of the rotor blade is reduced relative to a profile made from a solid and/or the surface centrifugal torque of the rotor blades is at least partially balanced by compensatory weights, disposed at a distance from the rotational axis and perpendicular to the chord.
US09062638B2
A filter element for filtering fluids has a support tube having a circumferential wall provided with passages for a fluid. A hollow elongate filter medium is arranged axially on the support tube. The passages are adapted in regard to size; distribution; or size and distribution to a fluidic configuration of the filter element such that non-uniform fluid flows that exist in operation of the filter element upstream of the support tube are compensated. The filter element is used in particular in air filters for internal combustion engines.
US09062632B2
In an internal combustion engine for a motor vehicle, having a first cylinder bank and a second cylinder bank and an exhaust tract including a first exhaust manifold and a second exhaust manifold with a first exhaust gas duct and a second exhaust gas duct and a first exhaust gas turbocharger including a first turbine situated in the exhaust tract and a second exhaust gas turbocharger including a second turbine arranged in the exhaust tract, the first turbine and the second turbine are selectively drivable in alternation by at least a portion of the exhaust gas via a valve device that is switchable between at least three positions and is situated upstream from the first turbine and the second turbine so that, in a first position of the valve device, the engine is operated in a pulse supercharging mode; in a second position of the valve device, the engine is operated in a ram charging mode and in a third position of the valve device, the engine is operated in a sequential supercharging mode.
US09062627B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling an electric motor actuating a mobile hood provided in a thrust reverser for a turboreactor, said method being characterized in that it comprises steps of: determining the operating state of the electric motor; interrupting the supply of the electric motor if said motor is not in operation during a defined period of time; reactivating the electric motor after an idle period and repeating the previous steps or definitively stopping the motor if the steps have already been repeated a pre-defined number of times. The invention also relates to a method for managing the electrical supply of a motor provided in a device arranged in the vicinity of a turboreactor.
US09062626B2
A propulsion unit comprising a turbofan engine faired by a nacelle, and held in suspension by at least one pylon, the turbofan engine including a fan; a duct, bounded by an internal surface of the duct and an inner surface of the nacelle, that channels air accelerated by the fan; and a thrust reverser including a first part and a second part, wherein the turbofan engine has a first circumferential sector and a second circumferential sector distinct from the first circumferential sector, wherein the first circumferential sector and the second circumferential sector span the entire turbofan engine, the first part is entirely within the first circumferential sector and includes doors that channel the air in the duct towards an exterior of the nacelle via openings, and the second part is entirely within the second circumferential sector and includes mobile elements that channel the air in the duct toward the doors.
US09062624B2
An injector for a fuel injection system comprising: input means for receiving drive signals from an injector drive circuit for controlling operation of the injector, and an ID chip wherein the injector further comprises an electronic latch means arranged to move between a first state in which the electronic latch means is arranged to be enabled such that the ID chip is in communication with the injector drive circuit via the input means, and a second state in which the electronic latch means is arranged to be disabled such that the ID chip is not in communication with the injector drive circuit via the input means wherein the electronic latch means is arranged to move from the first state to the second state upon receipt at the injector of a drive pulse signal from the injector drive circuit.
US09062617B2
A method of remotely performing a vehicle autostart function when starting a vehicle engine. A vehicle may be associated with a handheld communication device (HCD) using a vehicle mobile application (e.g., on the HCD). Using the application, a configuration of at least one vehicle function and autostart criteria may be received. The auto-start criteria may define a geographic area. It may be determined that the vehicle and the HCD are located within the geographic area at a time when it is desirable to autostart the vehicle. Weather data may be determined for the geographic area at that time. The vehicle's engine may be autostarted and at least one vehicle autostart function may be performed.
US09062610B2
A gas turbine engine exhaust cone (40) comprising one or more acoustic absorption chambers (48), each chamber (48) comprising two side walls (50) and an acoustic attenuation wall (62). The side walls (50) define the circumferential extent of the chamber (48). The acoustic attenuation wall (62) has one or more acoustic attenuators (64) and is positioned circumferentially intermediate the side walls (50). The side walls (50) extend axially along the exhaust cone (40) at least one of them with a circumferential progression. The acoustic attenuation wall (62) extends axially along the exhaust cone (40) with or without a circumferential progression.
US09062607B2
A method of operating a gas turbine power plant with a first gas turbine group, including a first turbine assembly, and a second gas turbine group, including a compressor assembly and a second turbine assembly which are mechanically coupled to one another, and useful work is extracted by a device being included in the plant, where a flue gas stream is produced by a combustion device, which is placed in a gas flow stream upstream of the second turbine assembly, where the second turbine assembly and compressor assembly are balanced to each other such that work produced by the second turbine assembly is consumed by the compressor assembly, and where the first turbine assembly is balanced to the device for the extraction of useful work such that work produced by the first turbine assembly is consumed by the device for the extraction of useful work.
US09062605B2
Bleeding cooling air to cool a subassembly, e.g. such as a turbine, with automatic adjustment of the air flow section as a function of the speed of the engine. According to the invention, a shutter element is fastened to co-operate with a bleed hole, with the material that constitutes either the shutter element or the wall in which the hole is formed being of a type in which it is possible to create eddy currents, and a magnet is mounted to move past said arrangement.
US09062602B2
A method of charging an internal combustion engine with a fuel air mixture, the engine having opposed pistons with a combustion chamber therebetween, wherein the method includes forcing induction air during a compression stroke between a first and a second cylinder via a contraction and expansion or a venturi disposed between the first and second pistons.
US09062598B2
In an internal combustion engine, a valve actuating mechanism actuates an intake valve member to open an intake port, and actuates an exhaust valve member to return a first part of exhaust gas with a high-temperature from a gas exhaust passage into a combustion chamber via an exhaust port. A cooling and recirculation system recirculates a second part of the exhaust gas from the gas exhaust passage into the gas intake passage via a recirculation passage while cooling the second part of the exhaust gas. This results in a stratified temperature distribution of a high-temperature mixture of first fresh air and the first part of the exhaust gas with the high temperature and a low-temperature mixture of second fresh air and the second part of the exhaust gas with a low temperature in the combustion chamber.
US09062590B2
An exhaust muffler includes a pair of base members disposed substantially parallel to one another and defining an exhaust entry and exhaust exit. At least one wall member is coupled to the base members. The at least one wall member is intermediate the base members and intermediate the entry and exit. The at least one wall member includes a linear portion coupled to a semicircular portion.
US09062589B2
A mixing device includes: an elbow pipe attached to an outlet pipe of a filter device, the elbow pipe changing a flow direction of an exhaust gas flowing from the filter device; a straight pipe connected to a downstream side of the elbow pipe, the straight pipe extending in a direction intersecting an axial line of the outlet pipe; an injector attached to the elbow pipe and injecting a reductant aqueous solution inside the elbow pipe toward the straight pipe; and a mixing pipe disposed in the elbow pipe to serve as a cover for the reductant aqueous solution, the mixing pipe being provided with openings on a circumferential wall thereof. A cutout is provided at a fixing portion of the mixing pipe with the elbow pipe at a position for allowing the exhaust gas entering through an inlet of the elbow pipe to flow toward the injection nozzle.
US09062588B2
A saddle-ride type vehicle that allows easy axle adjustment even if the exhaust system has such a structure wherein a muffler is close to an axle of a rear wheel. The exhaust system includes a tubular muffler connected to an exhaust pipe for discharging the exhaust of an engine. In the exhaust system, the muffler is disposed laterally to a rear wheel rotatably supported by swingarms via an axle. An end cap covering a muffler rear end portion of the muffler is detachably and attachably provided on the muffler rear end portion with the end cap being disposed on a vehicle outer side of the axle at such a position that the axle is invisible in a side view of the vehicle.
US09062583B1
A virtual space is provided to users. In views of the virtual space, avatars represent users, including a first avatar representing a first user, engaging in the virtual space. Individual avatars are visually associated with an emblem in views of the virtual space. Systems and methods to enable the use of emblems present an emblem visually associated with a second avatar in a view of the first avatar to indicate a relationship between the first user and the second user.