US09107272B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, an illumination system comprising a plurality of power strings features elements facilitating compensation for failure of one or more light-emitting elements connected along each power string.
US09107265B2
The present invention discloses a light emitting device array billboard and a control method thereof. The light emitting device array billboard includes a light emitting device array circuit, plural line switch circuits, plural channel switch circuits, plural ghost image compensation switch circuits, and a control circuit. The control circuit operates the line switch circuits and the channel switch circuit to turn ON a selected light emitting device for a duty period in a lighting period, and operates the plural ghost image compensation switch circuits to electrically connect a channel node corresponding to the selected light emitting device to a ghost image compensation voltage after the lighting period. The control circuit further adjusts a channel operation signal according to a gray scale compensation signal, to turn ON the selected light emitting device for a gray scale compensation period in addition to the duty period.
US09107263B2
An apparatus, method and system for controlling one or multiple lighting sources such as those powered by driver circuits or voltage splitting methods, to provide an alternative current path around a failed lighting source when one or more individual lighting sources fail.
US09107262B2
An illumination apparatus capable of controlling current amounts of LEDs and enabling various electrical connections is provided. An applied driving voltage is divided, and a divided voltage is compared with a reference voltage to generate sampling signals. A logic operation is performed on the sampling signals to generate a switch control signal and a current control signal. The switch control signal controls electrical connection of LEDs to which the driving voltage is applied. Also, the current control signal may select LEDs that are to perform light emitting operations. A target voltage is set by processing the sampling signals and used to determine driving currents of the LEDs that are to perform the light emitting operations.
US09107261B2
In order to further develop a circuit arrangement or circuit, in particular driver circuit, and a method for controlling at least one light-emitting component, in particular at least one electro-optical transducer, for example at least one light-emitting diode (LED) or electroluminescent diode or at least one laser, such as at least one semiconductor laser, by switching at least one switching element at least between a first switching position and a second switching position, at least one further circuit component is switched to active or switched on in the second switching position, so that current drain and output resistance are as low as possible, so that the highest possible frequency or switching speed as well as the highest possible output voltage for the light-emitting component can be achieved, it is proposed that the light-emitting component is controlled by varying its operating voltage.
US09107258B1
Methods and circuits for controlling LEDs are disclosed. In one embodiment, the light emitting diode (LED) integrated circuit controller includes a voltage regulator circuit configured to operate with an alternating current (AC) power source, where the voltage regulator circuit includes a depletion device configured to receive a varying AC voltage and to generate a unregulated voltage, and a band gap voltage reference circuit configured to received the unregulated voltage and to generate a substantially constant direct current (DC) voltage. The LED integrated circuit controller further includes a current setting circuit configured to receive the substantially constant DC voltage and to provide a substantially constant direct current to drive a series of light emitting diodes, and a second depletion device configured to protect the LED integrated circuit controller from external high voltages.
US09107255B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) light tube driving circuit includes a LED driver and a rectifier unit. The LED driver is configured for receiving an operating voltage to drive at least one LED. The rectifier unit has a first input/output terminal and a second input/output terminal and is electrically coupled to an external alternating-current power source selectively by the first input/output terminal and the second input/output terminal. The rectifier unit is configured for providing the operating voltage to the LED driver. The rectifier unit further includes a first rectifier diode and a second rectifier diode.
US09107251B2
A wake-up lamp system (100; 1000) comprises: a light source (130) having a nominal light output intensity (Lmax); and a control device (110) for controlling the light source, the control device receiving a clock signal from a clock device (120). The control device, when operating in a wake-up mode, controls the light source such that its light output intensity is gradually increased from a minimum intensity value (Lmin) to a maximum intensity value (Lmu) and such that the color point of the light output is gradually changed to travel a predefined chromaticity path, with the position of the color point on said chromaticity path being set as a function of the light output intensity. Said chromaticity path has a starting point having a color temperature between 400K and 1500K associated with the minimum intensity and an end point having a color temperature higher than 2700K associated with the nominal intensity.
US09107247B2
Provided is an electro-optic device including: a first pixel circuit that is provided corresponding to a position where one scanning line and a first data line are intersect with each other; a second pixel circuit that is provided corresponding to a position where the one scanning line and a second data line are intersect with each other; a first level shift unit circuit that shifts electric potential of a first data signal so as to compress electric potential amplitude of the first data signal with a first compression rate, and supplies the signal to the first data line; and a second level shift unit circuit that shifts electric potential of a second data signal so as to compress electric potential amplitude of the second data signal with a second compression rate different from the first compression rate, and supplies the signal to the second data line.
US09107237B2
The degree of freedom of the location in which a wireless LAN is built is raised. When a connection request to an external network from a user terminal is detected, a mobile communication terminal connects with the external network by mobile communication and relays the communication between the external network and the user terminal.
US09107230B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, device, and system for scheduling a data flow, which are used to improve the processing efficiency. A network side device marks a priority of a subsequent uplink and/or downlink data flow of a UE corresponding to a downlink data packet in the downlink data packet, and enables a downstream node to schedule an access network resource or air interface resource according to the priority. Therefore, a bearer does not need to be modified during the process of distinguishing different service flows and performing differentiation scheduling on different service flows, thereby reducing the workload and improving the processing efficiency.
US09107226B2
An apparatus for managing contention in a communications system, the apparatus comprising a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor. The programming may include instructions to receive a ranging code from a device in a ranging channel, the ranging code corresponding to a current ranging attempt. The programming may further include instructions to broadcast a message acknowledging reception of the ranging code. The programming may further include instructions to receive a ranging request message from the device, the ranging request message comprising a ranging retries parameter that specifies a number of ranging retries that the device performed during the current ranging attempt.
US09107220B1
A system and method for controlling a radio transmitter from the application layer is presented. The method includes monitoring an uplink state of a shared channel at a cell manager and processing the uplink state, at least in part, in the application layer in the cell manager to produce processed uplink state. The processed uplink state is then broadcast in a control packet on a downlink of the shared channel to a subscriber manager. The processed uplink state is then further processed, at least in part, at the application layer in the subscriber manager to produce transmitter control data. The transmitter control data is then used control the radio transmitter.
US09107214B2
A method of handling hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement responses in a network of a wireless communication system is disclosed. The method comprises assigning resources for a plurality of physical hybrid indicator channels (PHICHs) and a plurality of extended physical hybrid indicator channels (ePHICHs); and transmitting a HARQ acknowledgement response to a communication device of the wireless communication system on a channel selected from the plurality of PHICHs and the plurality of ePHICHs, after receiving an uplink transmission from the communication device.
US09107210B2
A method of communicating control information, performed by a communication device in a mobile telecommunication system in which each of a plurality of communication devices are allocated plural orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) resource allocation, includes receiving, in a control channel, from a base station and over an E-UTRA air interface, control information identifying a resource allocation including frequencies of a shared data channel, and receiving, in the identified resource allocation including frequencies of the shared data channel, from a base station and over an E-UTRA air interface, control information identifying a further resource allocation including frequencies to be used for the transmission of data in the shared data channel.
US09107204B2
Disclosed is a radio technology independent method for coexistence among dissimilar or independently operated TV Band Device (TVBD) networks and dissimilar TV Band Devices. A resource allocation method on distributed topology is disclosed, which comprises steps of receiving at least one available resource; performing a neighbor set calculation based on the received at least one available resource; calculating the resource according to the neighbor set calculation, where the calculated resource is negotiated among a plurality of coexistence manager (CM) entities and the resource is allocated to at least one device after the negotiation by the coexistence manager (CM) entities.
US09107202B2
An apparatus for providing coordination of device to device communication may include a processor. The processor is configured to communicate a request for a resource allocation to a network communication node (300). The resource allocation is related to resources usable for device to device communication between a first terminal communicating the request and a second terminal. The processor is further configured to receive a resource allocation including an amount and duration of resources to be used for the device to device communication in response to the request (310), and utilize the resource allocation for device to device communication with the second terminal (320).
US09107197B2
A method of operating a telecommunications system (20) comprises a radio access network node (34) offering plural parameter configurations to a wireless terminal (30) over a radio interface (32) and the wireless terminal (30) choosing a preferred parameter configuration from among the plural parameter configurations offered by the radio access network node. In an example embodiment and mode, the method further comprises the radio access network node (34) offering the plural parameter configurations as a list of discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration information elements, each discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration information element comprising one parameter value for each of the one or more corresponding discontinuous reception parameters defined for the configuration information element.
US09107189B2
A method of transmitting signals by a base station in a wireless communication system. The method includes transmitting, to a relay node, resource allocation information indicating a Virtual Resource Block (VRB) set through Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling; and transmitting a downlink subframe including at least one control channel element (CCE) related to the relay node. The at least one CCE is allocated from a specific Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol other than a first OFDM symbol of the downlink subframe. The VRB set is configured for a Relay Physical Downlink Control Channel (R-PDCCH).
US09107183B2
The disclosure relates to determining priority access with dual access barring classes. An aspect receives, at a client device, at least one high priority access barring class and at least one low priority access barring class, switches to the low priority access barring class, receives an access barring message, and switches to the high priority access barring class in response to receiving the access barring message. An aspect receives a call request for a high priority call among a group of client devices, transmits a notification to a network instructing it to transmit an access barring message in response to receiving the call request, wherein one or more members of the group of client devices switch to a high priority access class in response to receiving the access barring message, and suppresses call announcements for non-priority call requests after transmitting the notification.
US09107181B2
Provided are a location-based positioning method and system. The method comprises the following steps. A positioning request is received from a terminal and a location and a moving trajectory of the terminal are determined. A predicted trajectory is calculated according to the moving trajectory and road network information. A positioning request is received from the terminal at a position correction point, and a moving direction and a moving speed of the terminal is received in accordance with a location of the position correction point and the predicted trajectory. A next location of the terminal in the determined moving direction is determined based on the predicted trajectory.
US09107179B2
Provided are a position updating method and device for Machine To Machine (M2M) communication. An M2M device transmits a position update capability message including a mobility type and an M2M traffic type to a base station, and receives a position update capability confirmation message including a position update type from the base station. The MTC device performs a position update according to the position update type.
US09107175B2
A method and an apparatus for configuring uplink transmission power and apparatus in a mobile communication system supporting downlink and uplink carrier aggregation are provided. The method includes determining a per-terminal maximum transmission power and per-serving cell maximum transmission powers based on ΔTC,c as a value for allowing an adjustment of additional transmission power for multiple serving cells, Maximum Power Reductionc (MPRc) as a value determined according to an amount of transmission resources allocated to the terminal, and Additive-MPRc (A-MPRc) as a value determined according to local characteristics and frequency band characteristics, determining per-serving cell uplink transmission powers by restricting required transmission powers for respective serving cells to the corresponding per-serving cell maximum transmission powers, comparing a sum of the per-serving cell uplink transmission powers with the per-terminal maximum transmission power, and adjusting the per-serving cell uplink transmission powers according to comparison result.
US09107173B2
A method and system for access and uplink power control for a wireless system having multiple transmit points. In one aspect a method operating in a wireless network having a plurality of transmission points (TP) including a macro evolved Node B (eNB) and at least one low power node (LPN) having transmit power lower than that of the macro eNB, the method detecting, by the user equipment, a transmission point having a lowest path loss to the user equipment; and transmitting, by the user equipment, a physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble on a PRACH directed to the transmission points having the lowest path losses.
US09107172B1
The present disclosure allows for a wireless device that can include a transceiver that transmits a radio frequency (RF) signal at an RF power level. The RF signal can propagate through an RF environment that is shared by multiple interference-susceptible wireless devices. The wireless device can also include an interference-identifier module that determines if the RF signal decreases a measure of the integrity of another RF signal that is transmitted between two or more interference-susceptible wireless devices. The wireless device can also include a transmit power adjuster that adjusts the transmit power to increase the signal integrity metric when the interference-identifier module has determined that the RF signal has decreased the signal integrity metric. Alternatively, the wireless device may transmit a control message that is indicative of the identified coexistence interference to a remote transmitter. The control message may result in a transmit power adjustment of the remote transmitter.
US09107168B2
Apparatus and methods for power control management in a user equipment (UE) include establishing a first call and a second call at the UE, wherein the first call is associated with a first subscription and the second call is associated with a second subscription. Further, the apparatus and methods include determining concurrency of the first call and the second call. The apparatus and methods also includes adjusting a power level or operating frequency associated with at least one UE component based on determining the concurrency of the first call and the second call.
US09107166B2
This disclosure is directed to a method, computer program product and mobile communication device configured for managing radio states in a mobile communication device using device mobility information. A mobility state is determined from the number of cell changes over a predefined period of time. If the mobility state transitions to medium or high, such as when the user is in a vehicle, a Bluetooth radio is enabled. If a connection to a Bluetooth-enabled device is available, a connection is established. When the connection is disconnected, a configurable timer is started. If the timer expires without re-establishing the connection or the mobility state transitioning to medium or high, the Bluetooth radio is disabled to reduce power consumption. According to an embodiment, a Wi-Fi radio may then enabled to establish a Wi-Fi connection. Various configurations of computer program products and mobile communication devices are also described.
US09107159B2
A jitter buffer in a Voice over LTE receiver may be influenced by radio level feedback (RLF) from both local and remote endpoints to preemptively adjust the jitter buffer delay in anticipation of predicted future losses that have a high probability of occurring. The radio events of the RLF and the scenarios that trigger the preemptive adjustments may be identified, and their use may be expressed in terms of mathematical formulas. In prior art designs, the instantaneous jitter is derived from a weighted history of the media stream, and consequently only packets that have already arrived are used to compute the instantaneous jitter to adjust the length of the buffer. By providing and using RLF from both local and remote endpoints, the anticipated delay—for packets that have not yet arrived—may be used to preemptively adjust the buffer, thereby minimizing packet loss without introducing unnecessary delay.
US09107158B2
A robust downlink timing synchronization method for reducing the influence of initial frequency offset and ensuring the timing synchronization in a low signal-to-noise ratio interval in an LTE system, which includes: step 1: a receiving terminal continuously storing time domain signal sequences of M PSS transmission periods; step 2: performing narrowband filtering on the time domain signal sequences of the M PSS transmission periods; step 3: performing down-sampling on data obtained after the filtering; step 4: performing sliding differential mirror correlation on the down-sampling data of an mth PSS transmission period to obtain a correlation value of an ith instant; step 5: superposing correlation results to obtain a superposition result; and step 6: determining whether the superposition result has an obvious peak interval; if yes, completing capturing the primary synchronization signal, and obtaining timing information according to a position of a maximum correlation peak; otherwise, returning to step 1.
US09107156B2
A method for adjusting a timing offset value (CO) for a receiver (Node-B) is provided, the receiver being adapted to controlling and receiving reverse radio Sink transmissions from a transmitter (UE) according to predetermined response time requirements. The method comprising the steps of—estimating (11) at least one time budget map (TBM—116, 116′) according to which the available processing time in the receiver is given as a function of the possible timing off-set value (CO); —determining (15) a given timing offset value (CO—106) for the radio fink (RL) of the transmitter in accordance with the estimated time budget map (TBM), such as to provide an optimized offset (CO) value for the base station; —assigning (17) the determined timing offset value (CO) to the radio link.
US09107155B2
Various example embodiments are disclosed. According to one example embodiment, a method may include synchronizing, by an access node in a wireless network, with a first mobile station, synchronizing with a second mobile station, compiling a device-to-device group, the device-to-device group including at least the first mobile station and the second mobile station, sending a first connection message to the first mobile station, the first connection message including timing advance parameters of both the first mobile station and the second mobile station, and sending a second connection message to the second mobile station.
US09107150B2
A method scheduling link activations within a wireless communications network including at least one network cell including a base station providing radio coverage over the network cell and at least one relay node putting the base station into communication with a user equipment within the network cell over an access link. The relay node communicates with the base station over a backhaul link. The method includes estimating, for the relay node, an access link capacity according to status information indicative of a status of the user equipment associated with the relay node, estimating a backhaul link capacity of the relay node according to the status information, and scheduling, for the relay node, either a backhaul link activation or an access link activation such that one of the backhaul link and access link is activated, in a predetermined time interval, based on a comparison between the access capacity and backhaul capacity.
US09107149B2
A method for allowing a portable computer to adjust the load of a wireless base station autonomously is disclosed. The portable computer can communicate in an infrastructure mode and an ad-hoc mode. The portable computer includes a traffic table for storing the performance of various wireless stations and the traffic of other portable computers. Each portable computer measures its traffic to a wireless base station. Then, the portable computer transmits the measured traffic to the other portable computers in the ad-hoc mode and receives the traffic of the other portable computers. A newly connected portable computer acquires the traffic in the ad-hoc mode. When the newly connected portable computer enters into a cell overlap area to connect to any wireless base station, the newly connected portable computer selects a wireless base station having little traffic based on the performance and traffic of wireless base stations instead of a wireless base station that provides a stronger radio field.
US09107147B1
A computer-implemented method for dynamically modifying rules for selecting suitable mobile networks. The method may include (1) identifying a set of predefined rules for selecting suitable mobile networks with which to connect, (2) obtaining a training data set that includes data about at least one candidate mobile network, (3) using machine learning to dynamically adjust, based at least in part on the training data set, the set of predefined rules, and (4) connecting to a suitable mobile network identified by the dynamically adjusted set of predefined rules. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09107144B2
A method for searching wireless signal, a mobile electronic device using the same, and a non-transitory storage medium are provided. In the method, after a motion sensor of the mobile electronic device is activated, a motion status of the mobile electronic device is determined by using the motion sensor. Then, a frequency of the mobile electronic device performing a wireless signal searching procedure is adjusted according to the motion status, so as to reduce power wasted due to the unnecessary wireless signal searching procedure being performed.
US09107134B1
A wireless communication device comprises a processing system and a communication transceiver. The processing system is configured to determine a location and a velocity of the wireless communication device. The communication transceiver is configured to monitor an RF signal between the wireless communication device and a wireless access node to detect a reduction in RF signal quality. If the reduction in the RF signal quality is detected, the processing system is configured to process the location to determine if the wireless communication device is proximate to an edge sector of the wireless access node, and if so, process the velocity to determine if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node. The processing system is configured to inhibit a handoff to another wireless access node if the wireless communication device is moving towards the wireless access node, but if not moving towards the wireless access node, to initiate the handoff to the other wireless access node.
US09107131B2
A system and method is provided to manage wireless network mobility and wireless network resources. In one aspect of the invention, network equipment acquires samples associated with time that past user devices stayed in the coverage range of the network equipment and estimates a time that a user device currently stays in the cell based on the acquired samples. In another aspect, pre-authentication and pre-registration of the user device in another network are performed based on the estimated time. In yet another aspect, network resources reserved for the user device are released based on the estimated time.
US09107129B2
A relay communications system is described in which a base station receives a request from an MME that an overload procedure be started or stopped. The base station inserts the identity of the MME into the request and forwards the modified request to a relay node. The relay node then initiates or terminates the overload procedure in accordance with the request for mobile telephones which the MME that made the request serves, but not for mobile telephones which the MME does not serve.
US09107126B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a base station includes a first interface, a second interface, a third interface, and an allocator. The first interface communicates with a plurality of terminals via a licensed radio spectrum. The second interface communicates with the plurality of terminals via an unlicensed radio spectrum. The third interface receives from a central controller a licensed radio spectrum assignment including a set of assigned physical resource blocks associated with the licensed radio spectrum. The allocator allocates unlicensed radio spectrum resources and the physical resource blocks among the plurality of terminals.
US09107115B2
A second control apparatus (1B) is configured to be able to investigate handover possibilities of a plurality of cells including cells (41 B, 42A, and 42C) in response to receipt of a handover request message transmitted from a first control apparatus (1A). The second control apparatus (1B) is configured to transmit an acknowledge response message indicating handover acknowledgment to the first control apparatus (1A) when at least one of the plurality of cells can accept a handover of a mobile station (3). As a result, extra signaling related to a handover procedure can be reduced.
US09107101B2
There are disclosed a method of and a system for collecting information related to operation of a radio communication system inexpensively and easily. A mobile radio terminal monitors a communication status of user communication, and detects as a trigger when the communication status has satisfied a predetermined condition. When a trigger is detected, the mobile radio terminal acquires a reception status of a radio signal and the position of the mobile radio terminal. The mobile radio terminal sends measured information including the reception status and the position to an information collecting server. The information collecting server receives the measured information from the mobile radio terminal and records therein the measured information which has been received.
US09107099B2
Distributed signal field for communications within multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. In accordance with wireless communications, a signal (SIG) field employed within such packets is distributed or partitioned into at least two separate signal fields (e.g., SIG A and SIG B) that are located in different portions of the packet. A first of the SIG fields includes information that may be processed and decoded by all wireless communication devices, and a second of the SIG fields includes information that is specific to one or more particular wireless communication devices (e.g., a specific wireless communication device or a specific subset of the wireless communication devices). The precise locations of the at least first and second SIG fields within a packet may be varied, including placing a second of the SIG fields (e.g., including user-specific information) adjacent to and preceding a data field in the packet.
US09107098B2
Systems, processes, and structures allow enhanced near-field testing of the uplink and/or downlink performance of MIMO wireless devices (DUT), such as for any of product development, product verification, and/or production testing. Signal channels may preferably be emulated to test the performance of a device under test (DUT) over a range of simulated distances, within a near-field test environment. An enhanced process provides automated testing of a DUT over a wireless network, e.g. such as but not limited to a WLAN. The enhanced MIMO channel emulator may preferably be operated over a high dynamic range.
US09107088B2
A software obtaining method and a communication device are disclosed. The method includes: obtaining a working standard of a multi-mode base station; determining a first logic type corresponding to a Base-Band Unit (BBU) of the multi-mode base station according to the working standard of the multi-mode base station; determining a type of software required for running the BBU according to the determined first logic type and a hardware type of the BBU; and obtaining the software required for running the BBU according to the determined software type. Through the technical solution, the software of the BBU can be downloaded accurately, which improves efficiency and accuracy of software obtaining.
US09107079B2
An ultra-low power wireless communication apparatus and an ultra-low power wireless communication method are provided. The ultra-low power wireless communication apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to sense state information of frequency channels in a frequency band. The ultra-low power wireless communication apparatus further includes a channel determining unit configured to divide the frequency band into frequency bands based on an allowable output power, assign a priority to one of the frequency bands that includes an output power that is less than or equal to the allowable output power, and determine a communication channel based on the state information of the frequency channels.
US09107075B1
A computer-implemented method for providing secure access to a mobile device is disclosed according to one aspect of the subject technology. The method comprises detecting a presence of a computer at the mobile device, disabling a lockout mode of the mobile device upon detecting the presence of the computer, detecting when the mobile device has moved away from the computer, and enabling the lockout mode of the mobile device upon detecting that the mobile device has moved away from the computer.
US09107072B2
A method for execution by at least one server within a domain of a service provider. The method comprises receiving a first request from a communication device registered with the service provider. A response including a token is sent to the communication device. Then a second request is received, this one from an application server over a communication channel at least partly not within the domain of the service provider. The second request contains the token, which causes the at least one server to send a response to the application server, which response includes information about the communication device obtained based on the token. Use of the token facilitates customer access to data services and applications, while making the token anonymous safeguards the privacy of customer data.
US09107071B2
The disclosure provides a method and a system for transmitting wireless data streams. After a user equipment sends a packet data protocol context activation request signaling to a base station, the base station checks whether the user equipment is allowed to activate a local Internet protocol access (LIPA) function. If the base station decides that the user equipment is allowed to activate the LIPA function, the base station instructs a core network to execute authentication accordingly. The base station disconnects a signaling connection between the base station and the core network. The base station assigns a private IP address to the user equipment, so that the user equipment having the private IP address performs the LIPA function and is directly connected to an external network through the base station without going through the core network, and a data transmission is performed between the base station and the user equipment.
US09107063B2
Local breakout mechanisms can be performed by a femto access point (FAP) to facilitate efficient utilization of backhaul and/or macro networks. In particular, a slave Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN) can be integrated within the FAP to directly route the incoming traffic from a user equipment (UE) at the FAP. In one example, Internet bound traffic can be directly routed to the Internet, without employing macro network resources. Further, the system can avoid hairpinning by routing traffic between the UE and a home Local Area Network (LAN) by a anchoring a call or a session in the slave GGSN and facilitate integration of UEs with home applications by employing a UE Digital Home Agent. In addition, the FAP can perform UE-to-UE CS media breakout to facilitate communication between UEs attached to the FAP, without routing the traffic through the core macro network.
US09107061B2
A method for distributing multimedia emergency contact information using an access point of a wireless local area network (WLAN) is disclosed. The access point is configured to retrieve service contact information from a lookup table. The method includes receiving a first generic advertisement service (GAS) query from a WLAN device. The first GAS query includes a uniform resource name (URN) identifying at least one of the services. The method includes retrieving contact information for the at least one of the services identified in the first GAS query. The contact information includes a uniform resource identifier (URI). The URI is configured to include session initiation protocol (SIP) URIs, and telephone URIs. The method includes transmitting a GAS query response to the WLAN device. The GAS query response includes the contact information for the at least one of the services identified in the first GAS query.
US09107058B2
An approach is provided for placing an emergency call using a key. The key platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of sensor information to determine at least one emergency condition. Then, the key platform causes, at least in part, an initiation of at least one emergency call via at least one key in response to the at least emergency condition, wherein the at least one key is configured with one or more emergency phone functionalities.
US09107051B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium that facilitates delivery of mobile-terminated short message service messages to a mobile station attached with a femtocell system are provided. A convergence server deployed in a core network receives a short message for short message service delivery to a mobile station attached with a femtocell system. If there is no active traffic channel with the mobile station, or if the short message is to be delivered to the mobile station via a paging channel, the femtocell system triggers an authentication process. The convergence server constructs a short message service delivery request message, transmits the short message service delivery request message to the femtocell system, and receives one of an acknowledgement and a negative acknowledgment regarding delivery of the short message to the mobile station. The convergence server thereafter notifies the message center of the acknowledgment or negative acknowledgement received thereby.
US09107049B2
A method of making Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls, legacy circuit calls, sending/receiving Short Message Service (SMS) over Long Term Evolution (LTE) modem or a legacy modem on a mobile terminal with both kinds of modems, and providing all legacy modem functions is disclosed. In addition, methods for dynamic selection of radio in a mobile terminal capable of Rich Communications Services (RCS) capabilities, and a method for redirecting RCS traffic to an alternate network interface is also disclosed. Methods for Session Initiation Protocol module (SIP) stack functions to be distributed across different processors on a mobile terminal, and directed to different network interfaces is disclosed. Methods of adding video calling and RCS functions without encountering the dual registration problem are also disclosed.
US09107037B2
A method, a system, and a computer program product are provided for determining points of interest using intelligent agents and semantic data. The method is implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable storage medium having programming instructions operable for receiving a media data comprising a location data comprising where media was captured. The instructions are also operable for determining at least one point of interest based on the media data, tying the media data to the at least one point of interest, and providing the media data tied to the at least one point of interest to an end user.
US09107015B2
According to a method embodiment for performing a real ear measurement (REM), a stimulus signal is transformed into a frequency domain stimulus signal with a plurality of frequency ranges. The frequency domain stimulus signal is amplified with a desired gain for each of the plurality of frequency ranges to provide an amplified stimulus signal. The amplified stimulus signal is transformed into the acoustic signal in the ear canal, which is detected to provide a detected acoustic signal, and the detected acoustic signal is transformed into a frequency domain detected signal with the plurality of frequency ranges. A sound level for the plurality of frequency ranges is measured. The desired gain for the frequency ranges is automatically adjusted based on the measured sound levels and the desired sound pressure levels for the plurality of frequency ranges. The method can be performed within a hearing assistance apparatus.
US09107012B2
Techniques for ability enhancement are described. Some embodiments provide an ability enhancement facilitator system (“AEFS”) configured to enhance a user's ability to operate or function in a transportation-related context as a pedestrian or a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, the AEFS is configured perform vehicular threat detection based at least in part on analyzing audio signals. An example AEFS receives data that represents an audio signal emitted by a vehicle. The AEFS analyzes the audio signal to determine vehicular threat information, such as that the vehicle may collide with the user. The AEFS then informs the user of the determined vehicular threat information, such as by transmitting a warning to a wearable device configured to present the warning to the user.
US09107011B2
Headphones with acoustically resistant ear cups, an external noise sensor mounted thereto that monitors ambient noise, and internal sensors to monitor noise within each ear cup are disclosed. A processing system monitors the external and interior sound detected by the sensors and compares the level inside the ear cups with the detected level of ambient noise. It activates a transducer such as a vibrator, buzzer, or light as needed to indicate when the level within the ear cups has exceeded the predetermined criteria thereby indicating improper fit of the headphones. Alternative embodiments include wirelessly communicating the collected data to an auxiliary computer for remote data collection, storage and monitoring. The headphones may also provide a sound dosimeter; bandpass filtering; automatic noise reduction with feed forward and/or feed back; wireless voice and data communication; and a voice activated switch, all using elements of the headphone fit detection circuitry.
US09107007B2
There is provided a microphone unit having a plurality of miniature microphones for respectively recording audio signals and a carrier unit. The miniature microphones can be arranged on a side of the carrier unit.
US09107004B2
A communications headset includes bone vibrating transducers supported over the temporal bones of a wearer in front of each ear and an earpiece. The earpieces, when not in use, are magnetically couplable to a transducer housing. Radio signals received by a wearer or vehicular mounted radio are processed by and distributed through a communications interface to both the transducers and the earpiece speakers. Ambient or external noises picked up by one or more microphones on each earpiece are processed to reduce ambient noises above a certain level.
US09106999B2
Earphone apparatus (10) comprising: a body (20) configured to be inserted at least in part into an auditory canal of a user's ear, the body (20) housing a driver (30) and defining a passageway (40) connecting the driver (30) to an opening (50) in the body (20) for allowing sound generated by the driver (30) to pass into the auditory canal of the user's ear; and a sensing microphone (60) coupled to the body (20) for providing a feedback signal to a signal processor, the sensing microphone (60) comprising a sensing element (62)(62′)(62″) positioned to sense sound present in the auditory canal of the user's ear; wherein the sensing element (62) (62′)(62″) is spaced from the driver (30).
US09106993B2
In a sound processing apparatus, a likelihood calculation unit calculates an in-region coefficient and an out-of-region coefficient indicating likelihood of generation of each frequency component of a sound signal inside and outside a target localization range, respectively, according to localization of each frequency component. A reverberation analysis unit calculates a reverberation index value according to the ratio of a reverberation component for each frequency component. A coefficient setting unit generates a process coefficient for suppressing or emphasizing a reverberation component generated inside or outside the target localization range, for each frequency component of the sound signal, on the basis of the in-region coefficient, the out-of-region coefficient and the reverberation index value. A signal processing unit applies the process coefficient of each frequency component to each frequency component of the sound signal.
US09106992B2
Provided is a loudspeaker having a thin long structure, and the loudspeaker includes: a frame; a diaphragm having a hollow structure and in which a shape of a plane that is perpendicular to a vibration direction is an oblong shape having a long side and a short side; an edge vibratably supporting the diaphragm and being fixed to the frame; at least one cylinder-shaped voice coil bobbin connected to the diaphragm in a penetrating manner; a voice coil disposed inside the hollow structure of the diaphragm and attached to the voice coil bobbin; and a magnetic circuit disposed inside the voice coil bobbin and configured to drive the voice coil.
US09106981B2
Certain types of aggregation enclosures include cable input ports and downwardly angled cable output ports. A cover is pivotally coupled to the body so that the cover moves between an open position and a closed position. A modular component panel may be disposed within the enclosure. The component panel includes one or more distribution components (e.g., fiber distribution components or power distribution components) configured to connect at least a portion of an incoming cable to at least a portion of an outgoing cable.
US09106972B2
A method is disclosed for using social networking information to conserve bandwidth in a video-on-demand (VOD) system operated by a service provider. In a VOD server system, a request for a VOD content item is accepted from a first client system associated with a user of the VOD system. A list of social networking friends of the user is obtained. A node-sharing group of the list of social networking friends is determined. The node-sharing group includes the first client system and zero or more client systems sharing a distribution node of the VOD server system with the first client system. A video delivery start message is sent through the shared distribution node to each client system in the node-sharing group.
US09106964B2
Methods, devices, and computer program products are provided to enhance viewing of an entertainment content in the presence of advertisements. At a compliant device, an indication is received that the entertainment content is associated with a content policy information relating to presentation of advertisements during, or prior to, presentation of the entertainment content. A further indication is received that the entertainment content is associated with an advertisement award program. An advertisement award program message provides that the advertisements may be presented in a modified form in exchange for a specific number of award points. Upon receiving an indication agreeing to such an exchange, advertisements are allowed to be presented in a modified form. The content policy information can be ascertained through extraction of watermarks embedded in the advertisements or the entertainment content and/or through computation and matching of fingerprints associated with the advertisements or the entertainment content.
US09106962B2
To provide a content playback device capable of, when playing back a content distributed in a streaming format via a network whose view mode is selectable among a plurality of view modes, presenting to a user the switchability between the view modes, thereby to improve the user's convenience. The content playback device includes a reception unit that receives, from the content distribution system, control information indicating a plurality of view modes selectable for viewing the video content, a presentation unit that presents, to a user, the view modes as options of a view mode for viewing the video content, an input reception unit that receives an input selecting one view mode among the view modes from the user; and a request unit that requests the content distribution system to distribute the video content in the streaming format, by transmitting information indicating the selected view mode to the content distribution system.
US09106959B2
A video-on-demand (VOD) content delivery system has a VOD Application Server which manages a database of templates ordered in a hierarchy for presentation of video content elements of different selected types categorized in hierarchical order. The templates include those for higher-order displays which have one or more links to lower-order displays of specific content. A web-based Content Management System receives content uploaded online in industry-standard file formats with metadata for title and topical area, and automatically converts it into video data format compatible with the VOD content delivery system indexed by title and topical area. A User Interface for the system delivers listings data to the viewer's TV indexed by title and topical area.
US09106955B1
A system and method for displaying a multimedia content over a network is provided. The multimedia content comprises a standard-content part and a customized-content part. The customized-content part comprises one or more multimedia components. The method comprises the steps of selecting one or more of the multimedia components based on a predetermined set of preferences to obtain a multimedia component set comprising one or more multimedia components. The method further comprises customizing dynamically one or more of the multimedia components belonging to the multimedia component set based on the predetermined set of preferences. Thereafter, the method integrates the multimedia components to obtain the customized-content part. Further, the customized-content part is associated with the multimedia content and the multimedia content is displayed with the customized-content part.
US09106953B2
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture for media monitoring based on predictive signature caching are disclosed. Disclosed example methods to monitor media via a meter include comparing, at the meter, a set of site signatures generated by the meter for a first time period with a first set of reference signatures representative of reference media predicted to be presented during the first time period. Such example methods also include, when a first subset of the site signatures is determined to match a first subset of reference signatures from the first set, reporting, via the meter, metering data indicating that first reference media represented by the first subset of reference signatures was presented during the first time period. Such example methods further include, when the set of site signatures fails to match the first subset of reference signatures, reporting, via the meter, the set of site signatures.
US09106951B2
Shared television sessions are described. In embodiment(s), television content can be received via a tuner of a tuner device. A shared television session can be established between rendering devices that share the tuner of the tuner device to receive the television content. A tuner configuration input can be received when initiated at a rendering device, and the tuner configuration input can be communicated to the tuner device to change the television content. The tuner device can receive different television content via the tuner according to the tuner configuration input. Tuner update data associated with the tuner configuration input can then be communicated to update the rendering devices that further share the tuner of the tuner device to receive the different television content.
US09106938B2
A method for monetizing third-party recommended content is provided. The method includes receiving a programming feed from a recommender, receiving information regarding one or more items of advertising content from one or more advertising publishers, scheduling recording of video content identified in the programming feed for a user that follows the programming feed, sending the information regarding the one or more items of advertising content to a client device of the user, and receiving information regarding user playback actions that occurred during presentation of the video content identified in the programming feed and the advertising content.
US09106935B2
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting and playing complex content including a plurality of content. A method of playing the complex content includes receiving, from a server, the complex content and classification information corresponding to the complex content, classifying the plurality of content according to the classification information, and playing the complex content based on the classified plurality of content.
US09106931B2
Compensation offsets are provided for a set of reconstructed samples of an image. Each sample has a sample value. A method of providing the compensation offsets comprises selecting, based on a rate distortion criterion, a classification from among a plurality of predetermined classifications. Each predetermined classification has a classification range smaller than a full range of the sample values and is made up of a plurality of classes, each defining a range of sample values within the classification range, into which class a sample is put if its sample value is within the range of the class concerned. A compensation offset is associated with each class of the selected classification for application to the sample value of each sample of the class.
US09106930B2
The video encoding method comprises the steps of specifying a tile and a slice by partitioning an inputted picture; performing encoding on the basis of the tile and the slice, and transmitting the encoded video information. Here, the picture is partitioned into one or more tiles and one or more slices, and the restrictions for parallel processing can be applied to the tiles and the slices.
US09106925B2
Compression of a video by segmentation, transformation, transform encoding, difference encoding, and muxing. The segmentation looks at energies of the frames, in order to find three different things: black frames which have energy less than the specified amount, consecutive frames which have energy difference is less than the specified amount, and changes in scene which have energy difference is more than a specified amount. If there is little or no energy or energy difference, then the frame is replaced by an indication rather than information about the frame itself; either an indication of a black frames or an indication of no change between two adjacent frames. If there is much energy, then this is taken as the beginning of a new scene, and used as an area to change group of frames.
US09106920B2
A scalable video coding method for coding a video sequence (10) results in a bit stream (20} partitionable into two layer representations (201, 2O2) of the video sequence (10). The second layer representation (2O2) has an enhanced resolution compared to the first layer representation (2O1.). The method includes generating (si) predictive coding parameters for the second layer using previously reconstructed pixels (14) in the second layer. The method further includes performing (s2) prediction for the first layer, using the predictive coding parameters and the previously reconstructed pixels (14) in the second layer, to generate a first layer prediction signal. The method further includes generating (s3) a first layer residual, based on the difference between the original image and the first layer prediction signal. The predictive coding parameters and the first layer residual are coded (s4) as the first layer representation (2O1). An encoder (30) and computer program are also provided.
US09106917B2
A video encoding method and apparatus performing intra-frame prediction in units of a sub-block determined by any one of two or more block sizes is provided. The method includes generating a prediction image in each of a plurality of intra-frame prediction modes in units of the sub-block determined by each block size, calculating a first evaluation value on the basis of the difference images between an original image and the prediction images in the intra-frame prediction modes for the sub-blocks determined by each block size, accumulating values indicating frequency characteristics of the original image for the sub-blocks determined by each block size in units of a macroblock to obtain a second evaluation value, and selecting one of the two or more block sizes on the basis of the first evaluation values and the second evaluation values.
US09106916B1
A system, method, and computer program product for saturation insensitive weighted prediction coefficients estimation for video coding. The saturated pixels in frames of an input video are excluded from consideration in estimating weighted prediction coefficients that are then used to encode the input video. The saturated pixels include those having luma and/or chroma values above or below limits, and may be identified by use of a histogram. The saturated pixels may also be found by analyzing a lower resolution version of the frames, and/or sampling pixels in the frames. Embodiments enable improved video quality for a given bit rate, and increased coding efficiency, particularly for input video including frames with rapid pixel value changes. Separate portions of the frames may be processed separately, and the embodiments may execute within an optimization loop that minimizes a predetermined error function. The encoding format may include the H.264/AVC standard.
US09106905B2
A layout method of sub-pixel renderings includes the following steps: providing an RGB pixel rendering, wherein each pixel of the RGB pixel rendering includes a plurality of sub-pixels, and the plurality of sub-pixels have different colors from each other; and when displaying a stereo image, dividing the RGB pixel rendering into a first sub-pixel rendering corresponding to a left-eye image and a second sub-pixel rendering corresponding to a right-eye image; wherein at least one of each row and each column of the first sub-pixel rendering includes R, G, and B sub-pixels, and at least one of each row and each column of the second sub-pixel rendering includes R, G, and B sub-pixels.
US09106903B2
In some embodiments, a system for tracking with reference to a three-dimensional display system may include a display device, an image processor, a surface including at least three emitters, at least two sensors, a processor. The display device may image, during use, a first stereo three-dimensional image. The surface may be positionable, during use, with reference to the display device. At least two of the sensors may detect, during use, light received from at least three of the emitters as light blobs. The processor may correlate, during use, the assessed referenced position of the detected light blobs such that a first position/orientation of the surface is assessed. The image processor may generate, during use, the first stereo three-dimensional image using the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display. The image processor may generate, during use, a second stereo three-dimensional image using an assessed second position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display.
US09106898B2
An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to receive light beams split after passing through an aperture and output a plurality of stereopsis image data. When the object brightness falls within a predetermined range and the image capturing unit performs image capturing in which a plurality of stereopsis image data are output, the aperture is controlled to open much more than when the image capturing unit performs image capturing in which a plurality of stereopsis image data are not output at the same exposure.
US09106891B2
In one embodiment, the method includes determining a motion vector of a current image block equal to a motion vector of an image block based on a reference picture index indicating a reference picture for the image block. For example, the motion vector of the current image block may be equal to the motion vector of the image block if the reference picture index indicates a long-term reference picture for the image block.
US09106886B2
A method and apparatus for detecting leakage of a digital CATV channel signal from a CATV system. The digital CATV channel signal is amplitude modulated with a tag signal having a frequency in the range of about 3 Hz to about 35 Hz, and coupled to the CATV system. At a point of leakage from the CATV system, the amplitude modulated digital CATV channel signal can be detected using a leakage detector capable of recovering the tag signal.
US09106882B2
A terminal device 500 that is connected to a key distribution device 400 via a network, and in which a recording medium device 600 is mounted, the key distribution device 400 being for distributing a title key necessary for use of content, the recording medium device 600 being for storing therein the content and the title key. The recording medium device 600 and the key distribution device 400 perform mutual authentication and share shared keys that are identical to each other. The terminal device 500 comprises: a reception unit that receives an encrypted title key from the key distribution device 400, the encrypted title key being the title key encrypted with the shared key of the key distribution device 400; and a transfer unit 513 that transmits the encrypted title key to the recording medium device 600. Upon completion of the mutual authentication between the recording medium device 600 and the key distribution device 400, the reception unit and the transfer unit 513 refrain from any involvement with communication data except reception and transmission thereof, the communication data being exchanged between the recording medium device 600 and the key distribution device 400 with use of the shared keys.
US09106878B2
A method for adjusting the color point of a lighting unit including semiconductor-based lasers for generating an RGB signal. The method may include supplying at least one component of the RGB signal to a sensor via a filter; and actuating at least one of the semiconductor-based lasers by means of a signal detected by the sensor.
US09106860B2
An AD conversion circuit may include: a reference signal generation unit; a comparison unit; a clock generation unit; a latch unit; a counting unit; and an encoding unit including a detection circuit and an encoding circuit, the detection circuit performing a first detection operation of detecting logic states of n lower phase signals in a signal group that a plurality of lower phase signals latched in the latch unit are arranged in the same order as those of the signal group when the plurality of lower phase signals output from the clock generation unit are arranged to be the signal group the detection circuit outputting a state detection signal when the logic state of the n lower phase signals is detected to be a predetermined logic state in the first detection operation, the encoding circuit performing encoding based on the state detection signal output from the detection circuit.
US09106855B2
A radiological image detection apparatus includes an imaging unit, a storage unit, a correction data generating unit, a correction unit, a disturbance detection unit, and a determination unit. The imaging unit acquires radiological image data. The storage unit stores correction data for correcting the radiological image data. The correction data generating unit generates new correction data based on dark image data and updates the correction data stored in the storage unit. The correction unit performs a correction process for the radiological image data using the correction data. The disturbance detection unit detects a disturbance acting when the imaging unit acquires the dark image data. The determination unit determines whether the updating of the correction data stored in the storage unit is permitted, or whether the acquisition of the dark image data is permitted, based on the detection result of the disturbance detection unit.
US09106854B2
A reference pixel sensor cell (e.g., global shutter) with hold node for leakage cancellation, methods of manufacture and design structure is provided. A pixel array includes one or more reference pixel sensor cells dispersed locally throughout active light sensing regions. The one or more reference pixel sensor cells provides a reference signal used to correct for photon generated leakage signals which vary by locality within the active light sensing regions.
US09106848B2
An optical unit includes: a plurality of lenses that form an object image on an image plane that is a light-receiving surface of a CCD; an aperture diaphragm; and an infrared absorption filter disposed on the image plane side relative to the aperture diaphragm, the infrared absorption filter including coating surfaces resulting from a YAG laser cut-off film and an LD laser cut-off film that each cut off predetermined laser light being formed respectively, and an F number FNO, a maximum image height IH, and a distance Δd between a paraxial image formation position in a ghost optical path on which a light beam emitted from the aperture diaphragm BI is reflected by the image plane and further reflected by the coating surface and reaches the image plane again and the image plane satisfy (Expression 1): 0.75<|FNO·IH/Δd|<2.0 (Expression 1).
US09106842B2
A vehicle image display apparatus and method acquires captured images of an area around a vehicle captured by cameras at a plurality of positions on an outer portion of the vehicle, generates a single image based on the captured images and displays a composite image including the single image superposes with a first image showing boundary regions of the captured images in the single image and a second image showing end regions of the vehicle. When the composite image is displayed for the first time after an input operation is given to an ignition key of the vehicle, the first and second images are highlighted for a time period after the composite image starts to be displayed. After the time period elapses, the first image is non-highlighted and the second image is highlighted.
US09106841B2
In exemplary implementations of this invention, a light source illuminates a scene and a light sensor captures data about light that scatters from the scene. The light source emits multiple modulation frequencies, either in a temporal sequence or as a superposition of modulation frequencies. Reference signals that differ in phase are applied to respective subregions of each respective pixel. The number of subregions per pixel, and the number of reference signals per pixel, is preferably greater than four. One or more processors calculate a full cross-correlation function for each respective pixel, by fitting light intensity measurements to a curve, the light intensity measurements being taken, respectively, by respective subregions of the respective pixel. The light sensor comprises M subregions. A lenslet is placed over each subregion, so that each subregion images the entire scene. At least one temporal sequence of frames is taken, one frame per subregion.
US09106840B2
Devices having adjustable polarizers and related operating methods are provided. An exemplary electronic device includes one or more sensing arrangements, a polarization arrangement including a polarizer, and a control module coupled to the one or more sensing arrangements and the polarization arrangement. The control module determines an angle for the polarizer based at least in part on output from the one or more sensing arrangements and operates the polarization arrangement to achieve the angle. In one or more exemplary embodiments, the angle corresponds to an orientation of the polarizer in a plane substantially orthogonal to a line-of-sight that is configured to result in the polarizer absorbing incident light rays emanating from the sun that are aligned with the line-of-sight.
US09106839B2
Systems and methods for adjusting the frame rate or other settings of a video camera device operably connected to a computing device are discussed. Embodiments disclosed herein include features such as detecting a camera activation event, acquiring location information about the location of the computing device, determining an AC power frequency associated with the device location or with a power source used by the device, determining ambient lighting conditions near or around the device, identifying a camera frame rate meant to reduce or avoid flicker that would otherwise be caused by a mismatch between AC frequency and camera frame rate, and setting the frame rate of the camera to the identified rate. Embodiments may include some or all of the features noted above, as well as additional features described herein.
US09106835B2
Even when a posture of an imaging device changes, the imaging device can display a compass image in a natural mode when seen from a user's viewpoint and record a correct image capturing azimuth. Provided is an imaging device including: an image capturing unit which captures an image of a subject and outputs the captured image; an azimuth calculating unit which calculates an azimuth of the image capturing unit in an image capturing direction, based on geomagnetism information detected by a geomagnetic sensor and acceleration information detected by an acceleration sensor; an azimuth converting unit which calculates a rotation angle of the imaging device in a roll direction, based on the acceleration information, and converts the azimuth in the image capturing direction into a display azimuth based on the rotation angle in the roll direction; a display unit which displays a compass image representing the display azimuth and the captured image; and a recording unit which associates azimuth information representing the azimuth in the image capturing direction, with the captured image to record in a recording medium.
US09106809B2
A firearms pulverizer system is disclosed which comprises a pulverizer unit having an inlet chute, a cutting chamber, and an outlet, a first image capturing device positioned above the inlet chute for capturing an image of an identification number associated with a firearm, and a second image capturing device positioned above the cutting chamber for recording destruction of the firearm inserted into the cutting chamber.
US09106807B2
A device for noncontact determination of the edge profile at a thin disk-shaped object helps determining the edge profile at semiconductor wafers in which exact image recording is not impaired by specular reflections of the edge profile. A plurality of light sources in the form of laser radiation sources each emitting a line-shaped light bundle are arranged so as to be coplanar in a common plane representing a measurement plane oriented orthogonal to a base plane of the object and are directed from different directions to a common intersection of the laser radiation sources in the edge region of the object. A light sheet is formed in the measurement plane and at least one base camera is directed in the base plane lateral to the measurement plane to capture scattered light proceeding from a light line generated by the light sheet when impinging the object edge region.
US09106798B2
A method of sharing recording capability on a network, the network having a server supporting at least a recording DVR and a receiving DVR, the recording and receiving DVRs being in different households, the method comprising: (a) determining that the receiving DVR is unable to record the content at a certain time; and (b) identifying that the recording DVR is able to provide the receiving DVR with a recording of the content; (c) recording the content on the recording DVR at the certain time; and (d) transmitting the content from the recording DVR to the receiving DVR after the certain time.
US09106794B2
Various embodiments of systems, methods, and computer programs are disclosed for recording and playing back an online conference. One such method comprises: a conferencing system establishing an audio conference between a plurality of participants accessing the conferencing system via a communication network; the conferencing system presenting the audio conference and a conference interface displaying a participant object identifying each of the participants in the audio conference; synchronously recording the audio conference with content presented in the conference interface; storing the synchronized audio conference and content; and playing back the synchronized audio conference and content.
US09106789B1
Systems and methods for providing video visitation security to a controlled-environment facility are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method may include detecting an image of a face in a video stream transmitted between a resident (e.g., an inmate) of a controlled-environment facility (e.g., a jail or prison) and a non-resident of the controlled environment facility during a video visitation session. For example, the first image may occupy a given area on a display upon rendering of the video stream. As such, the method may include defacing (e.g., blurring, clouding, darkening, distorting, masking, shading, etc.) other areas on the display outside of the given area. Moreover, in various implementations, a method may also include detecting additional faces, determining and/or validating any number of visitors (e.g., via facial recognition), identifying certain attempts to circumvent security procedures, as well as taking pre-established corrective measures.
US09106784B2
Imager arrays, array camera modules, and array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention utilize pixel apertures to control the amount of aliasing present in captured images of a scene. One embodiment includes a plurality of focal planes, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data. In addition, the pixels in the plurality of focal planes include a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information, and the pixel stack defines a pixel area and includes a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area.
US09106770B2
A system and method are disclosed for embedding a timing controller on column drivers which, among other advantages, reduces power consumption and size constraints. A standalone timing controller is eliminated by splitting a video input signal and delivering the signal to each of the column drivers. Timing controller functionality is embedded in each of the column drivers to allow the column drivers to process the received video signal. An auxiliary input used for communication between column drivers and an external system is received by a master column driver. The master column driver communicates with slave column drivers to enable point to point communication between each column driver and the external system.
US09106766B2
An approach is provided to manage phone calls. The approach is implemented by an information handling system, such as a smart phone. A requestor sends a contact request to another device over a network. If the request is accepted, the requestor receives a token with the token including usage parameters controlling the requestor's ability to contact the recipient by telephone. When the requestor requests to make a call to the recipient, the call is only placed upon successful determination made by comparing the usage parameters included in the token to a set of current call data. If a successful determination is made, the call is placed to the recipient without revealing the recipient's telephone number. However, if the request is denied, the system prevents the requestor for placing a call to the recipient.
US09106758B2
A method and apparatus search for a place involving contents stored to a portable terminal. Operations of the portable terminal include receiving contents comprising a device address for short range communication; storing the device address; and searching for a short range communication device which uses the device address.
US09106752B2
The present invention provides a method, system, and program product for managing conference calls. Specifically, prospective conference call participants (e.g., moderators and/or invitees) will initially provide user profiles. A participant's profile will include, among other things, a set of contact numbers at which the participant can be reached. Thereafter, a moderator and a set of invitees of a conference call to be held are identified. This is typically done based on synchronization with a calendar application used to send and accept an invitation to the conference call. When the moderator later initiates the conference call, the present invention will access the profile of each invitee that accepted the invitation, and then call the invitees at the respective contact numbers set forth therein. When contact is made with an invitee, the call will be merged into the conference call with the moderator.
US09106751B2
A method and system for automatically pausing a remote voicemail recording to answer an incoming call and to notify an incoming caller of a user voicemail interaction. A command to pause the voicemail recording can be determined by the user prior to establishing the voicemail recording. Upon receiving an incoming call the user can be notified of the incoming call prior to terminating the voicemail recording. The command for pausing voicemail recording can be sent to a voicemail system to pause the voicemail recording if the user opts to receive the incoming call. When the call is concluded, the user can be returned to the voicemail system with options such as resume recording, playback, delete, or cancel the message.
US09106748B2
The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein facilitate optimizing routing decisions. The methods include retrieving and/or predicting a profile of a current customer and future customers, determining which agents are currently available and which agents are expected to be available, and providing a routing recommendation based on the profile retrieval or prediction for the current customer and the future customers, and the currently available agents' and expected available agents' proficiency at handling customers with the retrieved and/or predicted profiles.
US09106747B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for location based call routing to a subject matter specialist. A call request is received from a computing device which includes an identifier of a network page. A topic specialist for the network page is identified from the contents of the network page. The call request is completed by establishing a call between the computing device and another computing device which is operated by the topic specialist.
US09106744B2
In a click-to-call (C2C) communication environment, a web client of a computing terminal is configured to initiate a C2C call when a user selects a call tag provided in a web page being presented to the user. The call is intended to be established between a remote endpoint associated with the call tag and one of either the computing terminal or another terminal associated with the user. If the C2C call is directed to an automated system and placed in a queue or on hold, the present invention allows supplemental content intended for the user to be delivered to the web client from which the C2C call was initiated. The web client may present the supplemental content to the user.
US09106732B2
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide for enabling a user to select telephone numbers to which a wireless device may place calls and from which the wireless device may receive calls. One preferred embodiment of the present invention includes software for use on a general purpose computer allowing the user to input into the memory of a wireless device desired telephone numbers that may not be changed by the operator of the wireless device. The computer software also programs the wireless device to only place calls to, or receives calls from, the telephone numbers entered into the memory of the wireless device by the owner.
US09106730B2
An ornament holder for a cellphone has a securing member, a connecting member, a cover, an insertion member and a plurality of loops. The cover and the connecting member each has a connector comprising a column, a positioning portion and an engaging portion, and connecting member and the securing member each comprise a concave portion configured to engage with a connector on another of the cover and the connecting member, each concave portion comprising a positioning slot and an engaging slot; the plurality of the loops are used for connecting the securing member, the connecting member and the cover to the insertion member.
US09106723B2
Systems and methods allow playback of a placeshifted media stream received via a network. The placeshifted media stream is received and stored in a buffer prior to playback. Responsive to receiving the user command to change the content of the media stream, the buffer is flushed prior to receiving the changed content in the placeshifted media stream.
US09106718B2
Techniques are described to collect data via a client device, such as a mobile phone. The data, referred to as “lifespace data,” comprises one or more measurements of an individual's functionality, a transmitter identification associated with a transmitter positioned in a discrete area (e.g., a room in a subject's residence), and a timestamp indicating when the transmitter identification was transmitted or received. One or more transmitters can be positioned in one or more discrete areas (e.g., throughout an individual's residence or workspace), with each transmitter configured to transmit a unique transmitter identification. In implementations, a transmitter comprises a Bluetooth beacon, and a transmitter identification comprises a Bluetooth identification number. The client device may be configured to provide the lifespace data to a server for storage, analysis, and intervention functionalities.
US09106710B1
Various embodiments described herein relate to automatically associating and disassociating interests to a user. In some embodiments, an event associated with an entity indicated as interesting to a user is recognized. A linked entity that is related to the event is identified. The linked entity is automatically associated with the user. Content related to the entity indicated as interesting and content related to the linked entity are provided at about the occurrence of the event. The linked entity is automatically disassociated with the user upon the occurrence of the event.
US09106699B2
A method, computer readable medium, and device for handling requests between different resource record types includes receiving at a traffic management device a first resource record type from one or more server devices in response to a request from a client device. The traffic management device validates the first resource record type, and creates a second resource record type corresponding to the first resource record type after the validating. Signing the second resource record type at the traffic management device is carried out for servicing the request from the client device.
US09106693B2
This disclosure describes a global attacker database that utilizes device fingerprinting to uniquely identify devices. For example, a device includes one or more processors and network interface cards to receive network traffic directed to one or more computing devices protected by the device, send, to the remote device, a request for data points of the remote device, wherein the data points include characteristics associated with the remote device, and receive at least a portion of the requested data points. The device also includes a fingerprint module to compare the received portion of the data points to sets of data points associated with known attacker devices, and determine, based on the comparison, whether a first set of data points of a first known attacker device satisfies a similarity threshold. The device also includes an security module to selectively manage, based on the determination, additional network traffic directed to the computing devices.
US09106685B2
Methods, systems, and techniques for adding extensions to legacy tasks as part of modernizing such tasks are provided. A user can add dynamically add task extensions to an individual legacy task by configuring them, even while a task is running. Role extensions can be added to a home desktop of a role through configuration parameters. Task extensions can be made accessible to users through UI controls added as part of the modernization procedure when a legacy task data stream is received from a host computing system. Example embodiments provide a Role-Based Modernization System (“RBMS”), which uses these enhanced modernization techniques to provide role-based modernization of menu-based legacy applications.
US09106683B2
Systems and methods for providing security services during a power management mode are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method comprises detecting with a mobile security system a wake event on a mobile device, providing from the mobile security system a wake signal, the providing being in response to the wake event to wake a mobile device from a power management mode, and managing with the mobile security system security services of the mobile device. Managing security services may comprise scanning a hard drive of the mobile devices for viruses and/or other malware. Managing security services may also comprise updating security applications or scanning the mobile device for unauthorized data.
US09106681B2
Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to determining a reputation of a network address. A long-term reputation of the network address is determined. A short-term reputation of the network address is determined based on the long-term reputation and trend information associated with the long-term reputation.
US09106671B2
Presented are methods and apparatus for optimizing access to service capabilities information for clients associated with user in a communication system. Communications requesting service capabilities information is directed through one or more capabilities application servers for inspection before forwarding the requests to their destination user's client device. If the capabilities application server has previously stored the information then the reply is generated from information stored on the capabilities application server and no request is forwarded to the user's client device, optimizing the process by reducing network communications.
US09106670B2
A system and method for selectively securing data from unauthorized access on a client device storing a plurality of data types with reference to an authorization level indicated in a command. A command is received at a client device comprising an authorization level indicator. Based on at least one predefined rule, which may be implemented in an IT policy stored at the client device, each of the plurality of data types to be secured is determined, and then the data corresponding to those types is secured. The data may be secured by encrypting and/or deleting the data at the client device. The predefined rules associated with each authorization level may be configured by a user or administrator having an authorization level that exceeds the associated authorization level.
US09106667B2
An SIP message processing method is disclosed. It may be performed by a node of a telecommunications network having a home gateway connected to an IMS network core via an access connection, at least a first SIP terminal and a second SIP terminal locally connected to said home gateway. It may include obtaining a bandwidth of the access connection, receiving a first SIP message concerning the first SIP session, determining the bandwidth in use by the first SIP session as a function of the first SIP message, receiving a second SIP message concerning the second SIP session, determining a bandwidth authorized for the second SIP session as a function of the second SIP message, of the bandwidth of the access connection, and of the bandwidth in use by the first SIP session, and sending a third SIP message to the first terminal, the second terminal, or the IMS network core.
US09106662B2
An apparatus for controlling load allocation in a cluster system includes a cluster module having a plurality of target nodes and a cluster power management module. The cluster power management module analyzes resource usage of the target nodes by monitoring the load states of the target nodes. The cluster power management module adaptively allocates loads to the target nodes based on the analyzed resource usage and N allocation thresholds settled in response to an increase of the analyzed resource usage. The cluster power management module controls the target nodes so that the power state can be changed with the adaptively allocated loads.
US09106660B2
Methods and systems for facilitating distribution of application functionality across a multi-tier client-server architecture are provided. According to one embodiment, multiple data points from a database associated with a server computer system are cached into a hierarchical data map representing a random access memory-resident data structure. Each of the data points includes a field name and a calculated value. A request, containing input values that are to be stored within the hierarchical data map, is received by the server computer system from a client computer system. Responsive to the request: (i) the input values are transferred to target data points of the multiple data points; (ii) the calculated value of at least one of the data points is updated based on the target data points and a formula corresponding to the calculated value; and (iii) changed contents within the hierarchical data map are persisted to the database.
US09106657B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for managing participants of a web conference that follows a first web conference. A computer determines that a second web conference will use a web conference channel continuously following the completion of a first web conference using the web conference channel. The computer determines that a participant of the first web conference that is connected to the web conference channel at the start of the second web conference is not authorized to attend the second web conference and the computer disconnects from the web conference channel the participant that is not authorized to attend the second web conference.
US09106639B2
Within an access services network (ASN) operable for providing wireless access services to an access terminal and including a base station communicatively coupled to an ASN gateway, a new management protocol is provided for managing the R6 communications. The protocol includes a common set of message types that may be used for data plane, control plane, and individual peer applications communicating over the control plane. In one embodiment, a keepalive procedure or process is used to manage the R6 interface between the ASN gateway and the base station by sending keepalive messages through an established data path tunnel and maintaining one or more keepalive timers.
US09106637B2
A method and computer program product for identifying a protocol used in a message are presented. The message is received at a socket associated with a port in a communication system. A portion of the message containing protocol information is identified in response to the message being received at the socket. The protocol used in the message is identified from the protocol information in the portion of the message. The message is forwarded to a process configured to process the protocol.
US09106618B2
A method for providing control plane encryption in layer 3 networks is disclosed. The method for providing control plane encryption in layer 3 networks includes for a network having a subset of network elements forming a secured domain; the steps of at a network element which is in the secured domain, encrypting all unencrypted Layer 3 packets as they egress an encryption enable egress interface; unencrypting all encrypted Layer 3 packets as they egress an egress interface is not enabled for encryption; and leaving encrypted all encrypted Layer 3 packets as they egress an encryption enable egress interface. A system and machine readable storage media are also disclosed.
US09106615B2
Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for providing user information to a merchant. Embodiments may receive and store user information in a user file, receive a request from a merchant for some or all of the user information stored in the user file in response to the merchant reading a readable indicia presented by a user using a mobile device; and, in response to the request for some or all the user information, retrieve the requested information and transmit the requested information to the merchant. Embodiments may receive and store a plurality of profiles, where each profile is associated with some or all the user information stored in the user file. Some embodiments may receive user input, through the merchant, selecting one of the profiles; where retrieving the requested information comprises retrieving the user information associated with the selected profile.
US09106604B2
A method and arrangement in a first web server (202) of a first local network (200) for snaring local services with other local networks (204). The first web server (202) detects (2:1) local services configured in one or more devices (D1, D2, D3 . . . ) present in the first local network, and creates (2:2) an aggregated service record (I) that includes a selection of detected local services to become available remotely for devices in the other local networks. The first web server (202) then distributes (2:3) the aggregated service record to web servers (WS) of the other local networks for exposure to devices in the other local networks. Thereby, users in the other networks (204) can discover what services are available in the first local network (200) without requiring a connection to the first local network.
US09106601B2
A method that includes identifying a first electronic mail (email) addressed to at least two groups of recipients, the first email comprising content. The method further can include communicating the first email comprising the content to a first group of recipients. The method also can include generating a second email different than the first email and not comprising the content, the second email comprising information that indicates a contact that the second group of recipients are to contact regarding subject matter associated with the first email, and communicating the second email to a second group of recipients.
US09106599B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for receiving from responders conversation selection criteria and mode of communication information. A request for a conversation is received, from an initiator using a first communication mode, that identifies a topic, but does not identify any responders. A conversation identifier is created. Possible responders are determined based on the topic and the conversation selection criteria. The topic of the conversation is sent to the possible responders, without identifying the initiator. A first response from a first responder is received using a second communication mode that is different than the first communication mode. The first response is mapped to the conversation based in part on the conversation identifier. The response is sent to the initiator using the first communication mode.
US09106595B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a communication network interconnecting a plurality of synchronized nodes, where regular frames including time-critical data are transmitted periodically or cyclically, and sporadic frames are transmitted non-periodically or occasionally. For example, each node can transmit a regular frame at the beginning of a transmission period common to, and synchronized among, all nodes. Another node then receives regular frames from its first neighboring node, and forwards the frames within the same transmission period and with the shortest delay, to a second neighboring node. Furthermore, each node actively delays transmission of any sporadic frame, whether originating from an application hosted by the node itself or whether received from a neighboring node, until forwarding of all received regular frames is completed.
US09106593B2
An example system and method for multicast flow reordering in a network is provided and includes receiving a data packet at an egress of a node, the data packet associated with a descriptor including at least one parameter; determining the at least one parameter of the descriptor; and processing the data packet for reordering based on the determining of the at least on parameter of the descriptor.
US09106591B2
Allocation of resources across multiple consumers allows efficient utilization of shared resources. Observed usages of resources by consumers over time intervals are used to determine a total throughput of resources by the consumers. The total throughput of resources is used to determine allocation of resources for a subsequent time interval. The consumers are associated with priorities used to determine their allocations. Minimum and maximum resource guarantees may be associated with consumers. The resource allocation aims to allocate resources based on the priorities of the consumers while aiming to avoid starvation by any consumer. The resource allocation allows efficient usage of network resources in a database storage system storing multiple virtual databases.
US09106587B2
A network control system for managing several switching elements. The network control system includes first and second controllers for generating data for managing first and second sets of switching elements. The first controller is further for serving as a master controller of the first set of switching elements. The second controller is further for serving as a master controller of the second set of switching elements. The master controller for a particular set of switching elements is the only controller that is allowed to propagate data to the particular set of switching elements data for managing the particular set of switching elements.
US09106583B2
An architecture for providing service mediation in a network having a Layer-2 domain and an MPLS domain includes at least one Layer-2 provider edge device in communication with a first customer site; at least one Layer-2 edge device in communication with the Layer-2 provider edge device; at least one MPLS mediation edge device in communication with the Layer-2 edge device; and at least one MPLS provider edge device in communication with both the MPLS mediation edge device and a second customer site. An end-to-end connection is established using native Layer-2 signaling, if any, in the Layer-2 domain and PWE3 signaling protocols in the MPLS domain. The MPLS mediation edge device resolves associations between Layer-2 edge devices and MPLS provider edge devices. The service is “mediated” in the sense that native Layer-2 signaling is terminated at the MME, and a new domain, i.e., pseudowire, is established across the MPLS domain.
US09106573B2
A method and system provide in-band protection switch signaling in a communication system arranged as a point-to-multipoint tree. The point-to-multipoint tree includes a root node communicatively coupled to a plurality of leaf nodes through both a working link and a protection link. Data is transferred through a current link of the point-to-multipoint tree. The current link is either the working link or the protection link. A fault is detected in the current link in the point-to-multipoint tree. Each leaf node in the point-to-multipoint tree is notified of the fault using the current link. Upon receiving the notification, the root node and each leaf node switch to the other link of the working link and the protection link.
US09106551B2
A method of determining a representative frequency for data packets, each data packet having an associated time, the method comprising: receiving a sequence of time-differentials, wherein a time-differential represents a difference between the time associated with a corresponding first data packet and the time associated with a corresponding second data packet; and determining the representative frequency based on the steps of: grouping a predetermined number N of the time-differentials into one or more groups based on the magnitudes of the N time-differentials; selecting one or more of the one or more groups for use in determining a representative time-differential; determining the representative time-differential as a function of the time-differentials of the selected one or more groups; outputting an inverse of the representative time-differential as the representative frequency.
US09106550B2
Described is a system and method for determining a classification of an application that includes initiating a stress test on the application, the stress test including a predetermined number of stress events, wherein the stress events are based on a network impairment. A response by the application to each stress event is identified and the application is classified as a function of the response into one of a first classification and a second classification, the first classification indicative of a normal application and the second classification indicative of an undesired application. If, the application is in the second classification, a network response procedure is executed.
US09106538B1
A method and system for enabling data usage accounting is described herein. The method can be practiced on a computing device that has secure applications and unsecure applications installed thereon. Initially, a request for a data session that includes a final endpoint can be received through a secure application. The request for the data session can be intercepted and modified to cause the request to be re-directed back to the secure application. A connection with a relay server can be initiated instead of the final endpoint such that data usage accounting for the data session is to be conducted at a remote location.
US09106536B2
The present principles are directed to identifying and classifying web traffic inside encrypted network tunnels. A method includes analyzing network traffic of unencrypted data packets to detect packet traffic, timing, and size patterns. The detected packet, timing, and size traffic patterns are correlated to at least a packet destination and a packet source of the unencrypted data packets to create at least one of a training corpus and a model built from the training corpus. The at least one of the corpus and model is stored in a memory device. Packet traffic, timing, and size patterns of encrypted data packets are observed. The observed packet traffic, timing, and size patterns of the encrypted data packets are compared to at least one of the training corpus and the model to classify the encrypted data packets with respect to at least one of a predicted network host and predicted path information.
US09106535B2
A method and apparatus manage a buffer of a lower network node in a communication system. A current queue length of the buffer is monitored in every measurement time. A logical region in which the current queue length is included is determined, among a plurality of logical regions included in the buffer. Each of the logical regions corresponds to a queue length determined by using an upper threshold and a lower threshold of a total queue length of the buffer. A congestion state of a network is detected, and a first queue length is readjusted when the current queue length is included in the first queue length which corresponds to a first logical region that exceeds the upper threshold. And a network congestion state signal that represents the detected congestion state of the network is transmitted to the upper network node.
US09106530B1
In general, techniques are described for ensuring the distribution of Virtual Private Network (VPN) routes in a service provider network configured with multiple VPN services. In some examples, a network device receives configuration data that defines a VPN service associated with a route target. The network device, responsive to receiving the configuration data, sends a request for routes that match a type of the VPN service to a routing protocol speaker. The network device receives routes that match the type of the VPN service and are associated with the route target, installs the routes that match the type of the VPN service and are associated with the route target to the routing information base. The network device forwards traffic for the VPN service in accordance with the installed routes.
US09106526B2
Traversing a firewall. A method embodiment includes receiving, from behind the firewall, an electronic mail message with instructions to establish a connection with a device located outside the firewall. A connection is then established through the firewall with the device outside the firewall according to the instructions in the electronic mail message.
US09106516B1
In one embodiment, a central service request management system for managing service requests across a plurality of ticketing systems. The central service request management system includes translation logic for receiving service request messages from the plurality of ticketing systems and translating the service request messages to a standardized format, where each service request message is associated with a respective service request. Additionally, the central service request management system includes data storage logic for maintaining a status of service requests based on the translated service request messages. The central service request management system further includes routing logic for identifying one of the plurality of ticketing systems to transmit each translated service request message to based on the maintained status of the service request associated with the service request message, and for transmitting the translated service request message to the identified ticketing system.
US09106514B1
Various example embodiments are methods and devices for providing an application from at least one remote machine to at least one local machine. The local machine may execute a local executable that has access to local resources of the computer device. The local machine may also execute a browser configured to communicate with the at least one remote machine through a firewall. A connection may be generated between the browser and the local executable. The local machine may download code for implementing a portion of the application from the at least one remote machine through the firewall. The code may be executed in the browser. The browser may generate an instruction directing the local executable to act on the local resources of the computer device. The instruction may be communicated to the local executable via the connection. The local executable may act on the local resources of the computer device in response to the instruction and return to the browser results of the action on the local resources.
US09106513B2
Unified Communication and Collaboration (UC&C) systems are enabled to dynamically enlighten a set of network elements (NEs) and/or network infrastructure with application awareness so that an accurate set of rules or actions can be applied for a given session without needing to lookup the payload of every packet or applying a somewhat ineffective expensive heuristic mechanisms. Taking advantage of typically longer communication session durations and separate control and media planes, a UC&C control point programs a set of NEs for a given UC&C media flow within a scalable and timely manner. Quality of Service (QoS), security, monitoring, and similar functionality may also be programmed into the NEs through the UC&C control point.
US09106511B1
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for managing and optimizing end-to-end communication sessions involving the delivery of application data (e.g., audio data, audio/video data, electronic file download data, etc.) over third party networks using an optimized communication system (OCS), as described herein. Embodiments of the disclosed system enable optimal quality (e.g., reduced delay, packet loss, jitter, etc.) of communication sessions. In one example, the system provides a real-time or close to real-time evaluation of network conditions, e.g., network congestion, nodes best-suited for application data transfer, etc., and other factors associated with geographically diverse and unpredictable routing infrastructure characteristics of the Internet to enable optimized communication sessions.
US09106503B1
A method for recovering a quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signal is disclosed. The method includes receiving a QAM signal at a demultiplexers, where the QAM signal comprises multiple modulation schemes, splitting the QAM signal into k branches, where k is the number of QAM modulation schemes of the signal, passing the branch having the lowest order QAM modulation scheme to a first equalizer for recovering and tracking polarization and compensating polarization mode dispersion (PMD), updating a tap updating algorithm with a recovery value determined by the first equalizer, and recovering and tracking polarization and compensating PMD for all other branches based on the recovery value.
US09106502B2
Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of In-phase/Quadrature (I/Q) imbalance compensation. For example, an apparatus may include an I/Q imbalance calibrator to determine, based on first and second phasors, a plurality of calibration parameters for calibrating I/Q imbalance of both a Radio Frequency (RF) Receive (Rx) path of a transceiver and a RF Transmit (Tx) path of the transceiver, the first phasor including a phasor of an image component of a first signal transmitted via the Tx path, shifted by a first phase shift and received via the Rx path, and the second phasor including a phasor of an image component of a second signal transmitted via the Tx path, shifted by a second phase shift, different from the first phase shift, and received via the Rx path.
US09106499B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for frequency-domain frame synchronization for multi-carrier communication systems. Received signals are sampled and converted into frequency domain components associated with subcarriers within the multi-carrier communication signals. A sliding-window correlation (e.g., two-dimensional sliding window) is applied to the received symbols represented in the frequency domain to detect frame boundaries for multi-carrier signals. The sliding-window frame synchronization can be applied by itself or can be applied in combination with one or more additional frame synchronization stages. The disclosed embodiments are particularly useful for frame synchronization of multi-carrier signals in PLC (power line communication) systems.
US09106491B2
A receiver circuit includes a first mixer that performs frequency conversion on a first signal containing a first frequency entered from outside to output the resulting frequency-converted first signal, and a first selector that selects one out of an output signal of the first mixer and a second signal containing a second frequency entered from outside. A filter removes a pre-set frequency band of the signal selected by the first selector, and a second selector selects between outputting the signal removed of the frequency band to outside and outputting the signal to a subsequent side circuit. A second mixer performs frequency conversion of the signal output from the second selector to output the resulting frequency-converted signal. The second mixer is the subsequent side circuit. The second frequency has a carrier frequency of a radio signal.
US09106489B2
Method and apparatus for updating a network address of an audio/video node to a communication device
A method for updating a network address of an audio/video node of a communication network to a communication device is provided. In the method, a communication identifier associated with the communication device is received at the audio/video node. Also received at the audio/video node, by way of the communication network, is a network address of the audio/video node. In response to receiving the network address, a message is transferred from the audio/video node to the communication device using the communication identifier, wherein the message comprises the network address. A request for audio/video data is transferred from the communication device over the communication network to the audio/video node using the network address. In response to receiving the request, the audio/video data is transferred from the audio/video node over the communication network to the communication device.
US09106488B1
A method and a highway addressable remote transducer (HART) soft modem device for modulating and demodulating analog signals with HART messages are provided. A phase coherent frequency shift keying (FSK) modulator modulates and transmits analog signals with HART messages, and a phase coherent FSK demodulator receives and demodulates the analog signals with the HART messages. The FSK modulator is a digital modulator that outputs 1 or 0 for transmission. With oversampling and low pass filtering, the digital modulation results in low jitter and good signal to noise ratio. The FSK demodulator applies a fast energy detect algorithm and dynamically reduces or increases a clock speed of a central processing unit (CPU) of the HART soft modem device for reducing power consumption of the CPU. Furthermore, the HART soft modem device uses direct memory access (DMA) to further reduce the power consumption, thereby reducing the overall power consumption by around 50%.
US09106478B2
A scanning system, method and computer program product are provided. In use, portions of data are scanned. Further, access to a scanned portion of the data is allowed during scanning of another portion of the data.
US09106470B2
A receiver circuit, including a multi-stage QAM de-mapper, for receiving a QAM data signal is disclosed. A first de-mapper circuit recovers a set of encoded data bits from the QAM data signal by calculating a plurality of distances between a received QAM symbol and each of a plurality of possible constellation points. A second de-mapper circuit then generates a set of unencoded data bits for the received QAM symbol based, at least in part, on the plurality of distances calculated by the first de-mapper circuit. The receiver circuit may further include a decoder circuit to decode the set of encoded data bits recovered by the first de-mapper circuit. The second de-mapper circuit may identify a subset of the plurality of possible constellation points based on a result of the decoding and select a constellation point that is associated with the shortest distance of the plurality of distances.
US09106464B2
Distortions of both amplitude and phase along a transmission line are compensated for by a trace canceller inserted between a transmitter and a receiver. The trace canceller has an equalizer that compensates for a trace length between the transmitter and the trace canceller. A variable gain amplifier between the equalizer and an output buffer has its gain controlled by an automatic gain control circuit that compares low-frequency swings of the input and output of the trace canceller. The gain of the variable gain amplifier is reduced to prevent the output buffer from saturating and clipping peak voltages on its output. Thus both the variable gain amplifier and the output buffer remain in the linear region. Training pulses from the transmitter are passed through the trace canceller without clipping of peak voltages, allowing the transmitter and receiver to adjust transmission parameters to best match the transmission line.
US09106463B2
The disclosure discloses a method for decoding a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) in a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) system, which includes: performing de-Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) processing on received data frames respectively according to antenna modes supported by the TDD system and buffering the data frames; descrambling the data frames which are buffered and subjected to the de-MIMO processing and combining, in unit of frame, the data frames descrambled in respective antenna modes; and decoding the data frames combined. The disclosure further discloses an apparatus for decoding a PBCH in a TDD system. The disclosure greatly improves the speed, correctness and performance for decoding PBCH data frames.
US09106458B2
A phase detection method includes providing by a controller a second control signal having two or more neighboring pulses when the time during which a state of a second control signal is retained is a predetermined time or more, receiving by the controller phase detection results of a phase of a first control signal different from the second control signal in response to the second control signal, and determining by the controller a phase detection result based on a first pulse of the two neighboring pulses of the second control signal, of the phase detection results.
US09106449B2
A method and system for obtaining logon information are provided, and the method includes: receiving a request for logon information from a value-added service client; sending the request for the logon information to an Instant Messaging (IM) client corresponding to the value-added service client; receiving the logon information from the IM client; and sending the logon information to the value-added service client.
US09106444B2
A method is proposed for transmitting a multi-channel data stream comprising frames comprising a plurality of channels, the transmitting being done through a multi-transport tunnel from a first tunnel end-point to a second tunnel end-point, the multi-transport tunnel implementing a first carrier supporting a transport protocol with acknowledgement and a second carrier supporting a transport protocol without acknowledgement.The invention aims more specifically at averting or limiting the phenomena of interruptions in the rendering of a multi-channel stream in transit on a tunnel, and more particularly at providing a transport technique enabling regular and uninterrupted delivery of the multi-channel stream while at the same time reducing the memory resources needed at reception.
US09106439B2
A network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising promoting the communication of a frame of octet-sized timeslots, wherein the timeslots are configured to carry a plurality of data types. Also disclosed is a method comprising communicating a high priority data and a low priority data in a frame comprising a plurality of octet-sized timeslots, wherein each timeslot is assigned to the high priority data or the low priority data, wherein the high priority data is provided in the timeslots assigned to the high priority data, and wherein the low priority data is provided in the timeslots assigned to the low priority data. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising recognizing the reception of a plurality of data streams each having a priority, and promoting the multiplexing of the data streams based on the priority of each data stream.
US09106437B2
A STB, communicatively coupled to a server, receives a web page request when, for example, a URI, is entered into a web browser running in the STB. In response, the STB sends a processing assistance request to the server for processing the entire web page regardless of processing capability of the STB. The STB receives processed information resources or contents associated with the entire web page from the server. The server retrieves information resources or contents associated with the entire web page from a web server based on the received processing assistance request. The server determines content type such as video and/or graphics of the retrieved information resources or contents for corresponding content processing. The server determines content formats supported by the STB for content encoding. The STB decodes the resulting encoded information resources or contents from the server to render the entire web page in the STB.
US09106433B2
Applicants have discovered that error detection techniques, such as Forward Error Correction techniques, may be used to predict the degradation below a certain threshold of an ability to accurately convey information on a communication channel, for example, to predict a failure of the communication channel. In response, transmission and/or reception of information on the channel may be adapted, for example, to prevent the degradation below the threshold, e.g., prevent channel failure. Predicting the degradation may be based, at least in part, on data transmission error information corresponding to one or more blocks of information received on the channel and may include determining an error rate pattern over time. Based on these determinations, the degradation below the threshold may be predicted and the transmission and/or reception adapted. Adapting may include initiating use of a different error encoding scheme and/or using an additional communication channel to convey information.
US09106417B2
According to one embodiment, a communication apparatus includes a reception protocol processing unit, a control information queue, and a transmission protocol processing unit. The reception protocol processing unit performs a protocol process using control information included in a received frame, acquires the control information from the received frame, and acquires data when the data is included in the frame. The control information queue stores control information including at least one of a reception window size of other communication apparatus, area information representing an area of data received by the other communication apparatus, the reception window size of the communication apparatus, and area information representing an area of data received by the communication apparatus. The transmission protocol processing unit performs a protocol process using the control information stored in the control information queue, generates a frame of a transmission target, and transmits the frame through the network interface unit.
US09106413B2
To address the security requirements for cyber-physical systems, embodiments of the present invention include a resilient end-to-end message protection framework, termed Resilient End-to End Message Protection or REMP, exploiting the notion of the long-term key that is given on per node basis. This long term key is assigned during the node authentication phase and is subsequently used to derive encryption keys from a random number per-message sent. Compared with conventional schemes, REMP improves privacy, message authentication, and key exposure, and without compromising scalability and end-to-end security. The tradeoff is a slight increase in computation time for message decryption and message authentication.
US09106408B2
The object is to provide an attribute-based signature scheme which is flexible in the design and which supports a non-monotone predicate. An access structure is constituted by applying the inner-product of the attribute vectors to a non-monotone span program. This access structure is flexible in the design of the span program and in the design of the attribute vectors, providing high flexibility in the design of access control. By incorporating the concept of secret distribution in the access structure, the attribute-based signature scheme which supports the non-monotone predicate is realized.
US09106406B2
According to an embodiment, a communication apparatus includes a key storage unit configured to store therein a cryptographic key; a receiving unit configured to receive a message; an analyzing unit configured to analyze whether the message includes an access request for the cryptographic key; a generating unit configured to, when the message includes the access request, generate request information used to request an access to the cryptographic key requested by the access request; and an access controller configured to control the access to the cryptographic key based on the request information.
US09106405B1
Secret information, such as seeds, codes, and keys, can be automatically renegotiated between at least one sender and at least one recipient. Various mechanisms, such as counters, events, or challenges, can be used to trigger automatic renegotiations through various requests or communications. These changes can cause the current secret information to diverge from older copies of the secret information that might have been obtained by unintended third parties. In some embodiments, a secret can be configured to “decay” over time, or have small changes periodically introduced that can be determined to be valid by an authorized party, but can reduce the effectiveness of prior versions of the secret information.
US09106402B2
A signal delay estimator includes an adjustable delay element for delaying a first signal to obtain a delayed first signal, a delay amount estimator for estimating a delay amount between the delayed first signal and a second signal that is similar and delayed relative to the first signal, and a leading signal determiner for determining whether the delayed first signal leads the second signal or vice versa, and for generating a corresponding binary signal. A selective inverter is provided for selectively inverting the delay amount depending on the binary signal. The signal delay estimator also includes a feedback element to the adjustable delay element for controlling a delay based on an output of the selective inverter. Another exemplary signal delay estimator includes a closed control loop with an adjustable delay element and separate first and second processing paths for absolute delay amount and delay direction, respectively.
US09106400B2
An apparatus for coarse phase alignment of an analog signal comprising: a tapped delay line, a coarse phase alignment logic circuit coupled to the tapped delay line, and a selector coupled to the tapped delay and the coarse phase alignment logic circuit. An apparatus for timing and data recovery for burst mode receivers comprising: a receiver, a coarse phase alignment circuit coupled to the receiver, at least one analog to digital converter (ADC) coupled to the coarse phase alignment circuit such that the coarse phase alignment circuit is positioned between the receiver and the ADC, and a fine phase alignment circuit coupled to the ADC such that the ADC is positioned between the coarse phase alignment circuit and the fine phase alignment circuit, wherein the fine phase alignment circuit produces a recovered data output.
US09106399B2
A circuit for performing clock recovery according to a received digital signal 30. The circuit includes at least an edge sampler 105 and a data sampler 145 for sampling the digital signal, and a clock signal supply circuit. The clock signal supply circuit provides edge clock 25 and data clock 20 signals offset in phase from one another to the respective clock inputs of the edge sampler 105 and the data sampler 145. The clock signal supply circuit is operable to selectively vary a phase offset between the edge and data clock signals.
US09106386B2
Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) involves multiple transmission points or cells coordinating their individual transmissions so that a target user equipment (LTE) experiences enhanced signal reception and/or reduced interference. In order to optimally implement downlink CoMP, a serving cell needs to obtain channel state information (CSI) for the downlink channels from the multiple transmission points to the UE. This disclosure deals with radio resource control (RRC) signaling for configuring the UE to obtain and report CSI for those downlink channels.
US09106384B2
Provided is a receiver apparatus that can improve the flexibility of setting resource candidates used for transmitting a reference signal. In this apparatus, a setting unit (101) sets a reference signal resource candidate group including a desirable SRS resource candidate group in a macro cell and also including a desirable SRS resource candidate group in a pico cell. The setting unit (101) further generates cancel information used for canceling, from the reference signal resource candidate group, an excessive resource that is included in the reference signal resource candidate group but not included in a first desirable resource candidate group. Then, ID information of a resource pattern, which determines the reference signal resource candidate group, and the cancel information are sent to a terminal (200).
US09106379B2
A method of transmitting a control signal using efficient multiplexing is disclosed. The present invention includes the steps of multiplexing a plurality of 1-bit control signals within a prescribed time-frequency domain by code division multiple access (CDMA) and transmitting the multiplexed control signals, wherein a plurality of the 1-hit control signals include a plurality of the 1-bit control signals for a specific transmitting side. Accordingly, reliability on 1-bit control signal transmission can be enhanced.
US09106377B2
The present invention relates to a method for sending and receiving a reference signal for a backhaul subframe in a wireless communication system in which a relay is present and also to a device therefor, constituted in such a way that common reference signals for a plurality of receiving devices and reference signals dedicated to separate receiving devices are allocated dispersed in a subframe, and the common reference signals and the dedicated reference signals are generated and are sent and received via the subframe. The present invention can improve the channel estimation performance for subframes in a wireless communication system. In this way, communications efficiency in wireless communication systems can be improved.
US09106368B2
A mobile station apparatus 2 is assigned multiple component carriers in an uplink and a downlink by a base station apparatus and communicates with the base station apparatus by using the component carriers. The mobile station apparatus 2 includes a downlink control channel detector 67 and a carrier component identifying unit 53a. The downlink control channel detector 67 detects a downlink control channel from multiple search spaces where to detect the downlink control channel. From the search space where the downlink control channel detected by the downlink control channel detector 67 is arranged, the carrier component identifying unit 53a identifies the component carriers controlled with downlink control information transmitted in the downlink control channel and addressed to the mobile station apparatus. This makes it possible to identify the component carrier controlled with the downlink control information (DCI) transmitted in the downlink control channel (PDCCH) without increasing the coding ratio of the downlink control channel (PDCCH).
US09106360B2
A Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) multi-mode switching system and method and method provides concurrent switching in various switching modes including, but not limited to, an electronic packet switching (EPS) mode, optical circuit switching (OCS) mode, and optical burst switching (OBS) mode. Edge routers in the WDM multi-mode switching systems may provide a traffic management module that processes incoming data and routes the data for transmission in an electronic packet switching (EPS), optical burst switching (OBS), or optical circuit switching (OCS) modes via a WDM link.
US09106358B2
Multi-cell interference management (MCIM) for interference management among multiple cells in a wireless communication network is provided. In some embodiments, MCIM includes collecting data (e.g., CQI measurements and/or subband usage statistics) from a neighborhood of base stations; determining local and neighborhood system utility metrics; and determining interference managing directives (e.g., that can be communicated to the MAC layer of a base station in the neighborhood of base stations).
US09106346B2
Proposed is a method of deriving differentially decoded data values from a received differentially encoded phase modulated optical signal. The method uses an estimation algorithm in order to find derive a sequence of differentially decoded data values. The algorithm stipulates transition probabilities between hypothetical first states, representing differentially encoded data symbols assuming that no phase slip has occurred, and transition probabilities towards hypothetical second states, which represent differentially encoded data symbols assuming that a phase slip has occurred. The transition probabilities between the first and second states are weighted on the basis of a predetermined phase slip probability value.
US09106337B2
A terminal apparatus for auto pairing and a remote control apparatus and method thereof are provided. The terminal apparatus includes an IR receiving unit configured to receive an IR signal including first identification information of an external apparatus from the external apparatus, a radio frequency (RF) communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with the external apparatus which transmit the IR signal including the first identification information, a storage unit configured to store a pairing list including identification information of at least one external apparatus, and a control unit configured to control the RF communication unit to perform pairing for wireless communication with the external apparatus according to whether or not identification information of at least one external apparatus in the pairing list corresponds to the received first identification information.
US09106329B2
A semiconductor chip comprises an internal clock circuit, a first phase shift device, a second phase shift device, a multiplexer, a first output pad, and a controllable pad. The internal clock circuit generates an internal clock signal. The first phase shift device shifts the phase of an external clock signal and outputs a phase shifting clock signal. The multiplexer selectively outputs one of the internal clock signal and the phase shifting clock signal to be a first clock signal. The second phase shift device shifts the phase of the first clock signal and outputs a second clock signal. The first output pad outputs the first clock signal. The controllable pad is controlled to selectively act as an input pad for receiving the external signal, or act as a second output pad for transmitting the second clock signal.
US09106323B1
A network device includes a receiver that receives a first signal on a channel. A demodulator outputs demodulated data based on the first signal. A gain device, based on a change in a gain of the first signal, generates a second signal. A validating device determines whether the first signal is a valid direct sequence spread spectrum signal and based on whether the first signal is a valid direct sequence spread spectrum signal, generates a third signal. An assessment device: determines whether the demodulated data includes a predetermined header, where the predetermined header includes a predetermined sequence; determines whether the channel is busy based on the second signal, the third signal, and whether the demodulated data includes the predetermined header with the predetermined sequence; and generates a channel signal indicating whether the channel is busy. A transmitter, based on the channel signal, transmits a fourth signal on the channel.
US09106322B2
In apparatus for the acoustic transmission of power or data through a solid barrier such as a ships hull, assembly of an acoustic transducer to the hull is facilitated by bonding it first to an intermediate element by a thin layer of bonding adhesive and then bonding the intermediate element to the barrier using a second bonding layer. Acoustic matching of the transducer to the intermediate element is achieved by the thin layer, and the mechanically more robust base of the intermediate element can be rubbed on the barrier surface to displace or abrade away any unwanted debris or imperfections which might otherwise prevent the achievement of a thin second bonding layer. This makes the mounting and bonding process more tolerant of imperfections in the barrier surface due to either surface defects or particulate contamination. The transmit and receive transducers may be positioned relative to each other so as to suppress or attenuate multiple-transit signals. Thus the intermediate element may be wedge shaped to aid suppression of triple-transit signals. Transmit and receive transducers may have different wedge angles.
US09106318B1
The present invention provides a technology for remote control of a power supply and construction of a power line communication infrastructure. The data transmission principle is based on an idea in which only a boosting part is configured in an electronic type using a 1 V boosting principle in a process of obtaining secondary 100 V and a data power supply and a power line supply are matched to utilize as on/off digital data. A power line coil at the side of a transformer and a coil at the side of a consumer home form a pair, allowing the coil at the side of the consumer home to receive the flux change of data at the side of the transformer and allowing the coil at the side of the transformer to receive the flux change of data at the side of the consumer home to implement a two-way communication.
US09106304B2
Correction of quadrature errors associated with digital communications systems. A correction network may correct a difference between a transmission characteristic of an in-phase signal path and a transmission characteristic of a quadrature signal path. The quadrature signal path may be for the transmission of in-phase and quadrature parts of a signal and the signal comprising frequency components within a baseband. The correction network may include an in-phase input port, a quadrature input port, an in-phase output port and a quadrature output port. Each input port may be connected to each output port by a digital filter network, which may include a set of filter tap coefficients and configuration means for configuring values of the coefficients. Frequency dependent quadrature impairments, e.g., due to the analogue components of a quadrature up-converter or down-converter, may be corrected by suitable control of the coefficients.
US09106293B2
An envelope tracking power amplifier system time-aligns a supply voltage to an input signal to a power amplifier. The power supply operates in a static mode for low amplitude input signals and operates in a dynamic mode for high amplitude input signals. In the static mode, the power supply produces a substantially constant supply voltage independent of the amplitude of the input signal. In the dynamic mode the power supply produces a dynamically varying envelope tracking supply voltage based on the amplitude of the input signal. A first delay is determined based on portions of the input and output signals captured during static operation of the power supply and a second delay is determined based on portions of the input and output signals captured during dynamic operation. A delay mismatch is estimated based on a difference between the first and second delays.
US09106292B2
Methods and systems are provided for coarse phase estimation for highly-spectrally efficient communications. An example method may include, equalizing, in a receiver, a received inter-symbol correlated (ISC) signal to generate an equalized ISC signal. A phase adjustment signal may be generated based on an ISC feedback signal. The ISC feedback signal may be generated using a sequence estimation process and a non-linearity model. A phase of the equalized ISC signal may be adjusted using the generated phase adjustment signal, to generate a phase adjusted partial response signal. The phase adjustment signal may be generated based on a phase difference between the equalized ISC signal and the partial response feedback signal.
US09106291B2
A method for correcting errors in a multiple antenna system based on a plurality of sub-carriers and a transmitting/receiving apparatus supporting the same are disclosed. The method includes determining a phase shift based precoding matrix phase shifted at a predetermined phase angle, initially transmitting each sub-carrier symbol to a receiver in a packet unit by using the phase shift based precoding matrix, reconstructing the phase shift based precoding matrix to reduce a spatial multiplexing rate if a negative reception acknowledgement (NACK) is received from the receiver, and retransmitting the initially transmitted sub-carrier symbol by using the reconstructed phase shift based precoding matrix or by changing the phase shift based precoding matrix using offset information fed back from the receiver or random offset information.
US09106289B2
An antenna device and method for precoding data in a MIMO system. The antenna device comprises a plurality of physical antennas in a distributed antenna system and a MIMO precoder. The MIMO precoder has a plurality of inputs for a plurality of data streams and a plurality of outputs for the plurality of data streams. A second precoder is disposed in series with the MIMO precoder. The second precoder maps a data stream to an output associated with a physical antenna port associated with at least one of the plurality of physical antennas.
US09106287B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate constructing unitary matrices that may be utilized in linear precoding for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication systems. Each unitary matrix may be generated by combining (e.g., multiplying) a diagonal matrix with a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) matrix. The unitary matrices may be utilized to provide feedback related to a channel and/or control transmission over a channel based upon obtained feedback.
US09106271B2
The invention relates to a system including a lock (10) provided with electronic NFC transceiver circuits and electric circuits for controlling mechanical locking/unlocking members, and a portable telephone (16) provided with circuits for NFC mode of operation. The telephone comprises means for initializing the lock, said means including means for: downloading, from a remote site (20), an applet and elements required for initializing the lock; verifying, using the telephone, the identifier and the transport key stored in the lock against the downloaded ones; deactivating the transport key of the lock; loading, onto the lock, a unique random algorithm and a cryptographic key that have been downloaded; and generating a message notifying of the termination of the initialization of the lock.
US09106266B2
A stopping criterion for a turbo-coding method. The criterion is based on states of a trellis determined by forward-backward recursion. If, for at least one elementary decoding stage, a transition ending state of a previous symbol is found identical to a transition starting state of a current symbol, for every symbol of the block but a first one and a last one, the decoding path is considered as consistent, a hard decision on the extrinsic information is made, and the turbo-decoding stops.
US09106265B2
Data flow control in a television receiver controls the output of the frequency deinterleaver (FDI) and the time deinterleaver (TDI) to prioritize processing control information having transmission parameters needed for processing data, thereby facilitating use of one FEC decoder.
US09106255B1
A continuous time delta sigma modulator includes a quantizer and a reference module. The quantizer includes: a first comparator that generates a first digital output based on a comparison of a first reference potential with an input generated based on a sample of an analog signal; and a second comparator that generates a second digital output based on a comparison of a second reference potential with the input generated based on the sample of the analog signal. The reference module varies the first and second reference potentials based on the first and second digital outputs.
US09106250B2
An image coding method includes: a predictive pixel generation step of generating a predictive value from at least one surrounding pixel located near a compression target pixel; a code conversion step of code-converting the pixel data to generate a Gray code; and quantizing bit change information (exclusive OR) between the generated Gray code and a Gray code of the predictive value to a quantization value, to compress the pixel data. This prevents significant image quality degradation, so that high image quality can be achieved.
US09106236B2
A phase locked loop (PLL) circuit and a method thereof are provided. In an embodiment, the PLL circuit includes: a switched capacitor circuit, in which the switched capacitor circuit generates a modulation waveform, and the modulation waveform is injected into the PLL circuit in a current form, so that a PLL output frequency is modulated. Compared with the spread spectrum phase locked loop (SS-PLL) in the prior art, the SS-PLL in embodiments of the present invention is simple in structure, low in power consumption, low in silicon overhead, and flexible both in spreading factor and modulation frequency.
US09106232B2
A method for fast data erasing an FPGA including a programmable logic core controlled by a plurality of SONOS configuration memory cells, each SONOS configuration memory cell including a p-channel SONOS memory transistor in series with an n-channel SONOS memory transistor, which includes detecting tampering with the FPGA, disconnecting power from the programmable logic core, and simultaneously programming the n-channel device and erasing the p-channel device in all cells.
US09106231B2
Bidirectional buffer 20D includes: multiplexer 30 that is equipped with rewriteable variable-resistance nonvolatile switch elements for each input terminal; tristate buffer 51 that is equipped with rewriteable variable-resistance nonvolatile switch elements for each output terminal and that receives the output of multiplexer 30 as input; demultiplexer 31 that receives the output of tristate buffer 51 as input; programming transistor tr0 whose drain terminal is connected to the input terminal of tristate buffer 51; and programming transistor tr1 whose drain terminal is connected to the output terminal of tristate buffer 51. Input terminals i1 and i3 of multiplexer 30 are connected to respective output terminals t1 and t2 of demultiplexer 31.
US09106226B2
The power switching apparatus includes an output arranged to provide a sense current depending on a load current, a power switching device, a sense device, and a difference amplification device. The difference amplification device includes a first and a second amplifier input, at least one amplifier output connected to a current sense feedback loop arranged to reduce a difference of potentials between the first and the second amplifier input. A terminal of the power switching device and a terminal of the sense device are connected to an input and another terminal of the power switching device and a second terminal of the sense device are coupled to a first cross-coupling switching module.
US09106213B2
A bit generation apparatus includes a glitch generation circuit that generates glitch signals which include a plurality of pulses, and T-FF bit generation circuits which input the glitch signals, and based on either rising edges or falling edges of the plurality of pulses included in the glitch signals, generate a bit value of either 0 or 1. Each of the T-FF bit generation circuits generates a respective bit value based on either the parity of the number of rising edges or the parity of the number of falling edges of the plurality of pulses. As a result of employment of the T-FF bit generation circuits, circuits that are conventionally required but not essential for the glitch become unnecessary. This serves to prevent expansion in circuit scale and increase in processing time of bit generation for the bit generation circuit.
US09106207B2
A switching power amplifier for multi-path signal interleaving includes a signal splitter configured to split a multi-bit source signal from a digital source into a plurality of multi-bit signals, one or more fractional delay filters configured to delay one or more signals of the plurality of signals by a selected time, a plurality of bit-stream converters, each bit-stream converter configured to receive one of the multi-bit signals, each bit-stream converter further configured to generate a single-bit signal based on a received multi-bit signal, a plurality of switching power amplifiers, each switching power amplifier configured to receive a single-bit signal from one of the bit-stream converters, and an interleaver configured to generate an interleaved output by interleaving two or more outputs of the switching power amplifiers, wherein a sampling frequency of the interleaved output of the interleaver is greater than the selected sampling frequency of the multi-bit source signal.
US09106203B2
A medical device-powering wireless receiver for use with a first electromagnetic resonator coupled to a power supply includes a load configured to power the medical device using electrical power, and a second electromagnetic resonator adapted to be housed within the medical device and configured to be coupled to the load, wherein the second electromagnetic resonator is configured to be wirelessly coupled to the first electromagnetic resonator to provide resonant, non-radiative wireless power to the second electromagnetic resonator from the first electromagnetic resonator; wherein the square root of the product of the respective Q factors is greater than 100; and an authorization facility to confirm compatibility of the resonators and provide authorization for initiation of transfer of power.
US09106200B2
A piezoelectric vibrating device and a piezoelectric vibrating piece including an excitation unit, a framing portion and a connecting portion are provided. The excitation unit includes a first side extending in a first direction and a second side extending in a second direction. The connecting portion has a thickness of a first thickness in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The excitation unit includes a first region, a second region and a third region. The pair of excitation electrodes are disposed on the first region. The second region with the first thickness is directly connected to the connecting portion. The third region is disposed between the first region and the second region. The third region has a thickness in the third direction of a second thickness. The second region has a thickness in the third direction that is thicker than the second thickness.
US09106198B2
A high power tunable capacitor is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a capacitor coupled to an input signal, a body contacted switch coupled to the capacitor, the body contacted switch coupled to a body bias signal, and a floating body switch coupled between the body contacted switch and a ground, the floating body switch configured to decouple the body bias signal from the ground.
US09106194B2
An electronic device includes a force sensor that is configured to generate a force signal that indicates an amount of force being exerted thereon by a user, and a controller circuit that is configured to control a volume and/or rate that an audio signal is broadcast by a speaker responsive to the force signal.
US09106185B2
Amplifiers with inductive degeneration and configurable gain and input matching are disclosed. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes a gain transistor, an inductor, and an input matching circuit for an amplifier. The gain transistor has a variable gain determined based on its bias current. The inductor is coupled between the gain transistor and circuit ground. The input matching circuit is selectively coupled to the gain transistor based on the variable gain of the gain transistor. For example, the input matching circuit may be coupled to the gain transistor in a low-gain mode and decoupled from the gain transistor in the high-gain mode. In an exemplary design, the input matching circuit includes a resistor, a capacitor, and a second transistor coupled in series. The resistor is used for input matching of the amplifier. The second transistor couples or decouples the resistor to or from the gain transistor.
US09106179B2
Apparatus are provided for voltage-controlled oscillators and related systems. An exemplary voltage-controlled oscillator includes an active-circuit arrangement that facilitates generation of an oscillating signal, and a resonator arrangement capacitively coupled to the active-circuit arrangement to influence an oscillation frequency of the oscillating signal based on a difference between a first control voltage and a second control voltage.
US09106178B2
An apparatus controlling an electric vehicle motor and a method to reduce torque ripple using the same are provided.A field current flowing in a rotor field coil is controlled by generating a negative phase ripple current with respect to torque ripple according to each position of the rotor, allowing torque ripple of the motor to be reduced without degrading output torque. Additionally, in an operation region of a high torque section, torque ripple is reduced by controlling a field current by increasing an AC component of a negative phase ripple current, and in an operation region of a low torque section, torque ripple is reduced by controlling a field current by decreasing an AC component of a negative phase ripple current. That is, torque ripple of a motor can be reduced by controlling only a field current.
US09106176B2
A motor control apparatus to control a motor external to the motor control apparatus includes a microcontroller unit (MCU). The MCU includes mixed signal motor control circuitry adapted to perform back electromotive force (EMF) motor control in a first mode of operation. The mixed signal motor control circuitry is further adapted to perform field oriented control (FOC) in a second mode of operation.
US09106175B2
A diagnostic system and method for an electric power steering system are provided. The diagnostic system includes a first microprocessor that determines a first relative position value indicating the relative rotational position of the rotatable shaft at the first time based on the signals from first and second position sensors. A second microprocessor determines a second relative position value indicating the relative rotational position of the rotatable shaft at the first time based on the signals from third and fourth position sensors. The first microprocessor determines whether the first relative position value is an acceptable value based on a difference between the first relative position value and the second relative position value.
US09106173B2
A motor driving device includes a motor driving circuit, an element temperature sensor, a control circuit, an ambient-temperature estimator, and an overheat protection processor. The motor driving circuit has a plurality of switching elements. The element temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of each of the switching elements. The ambient-temperature estimator is configured to estimate an ambient temperature around the control circuit based on a temperature of at least one of the switching elements detected by the element temperature sensor if the at least one of the switching elements is not performing the switching operation. The overheat protection processor is configured to execute a first overheat protection process to protect the control circuit from overheating if the ambient temperature around the control circuit estimated by the ambient-temperature estimator exceeds a first overheat criterion temperature.
US09106171B2
A mechanism for compensating power to a motor or actuator. Compensation may counter the effects of changing voltage levels of power to the motor and varying temperatures at the motor. An output of a wave generator may be input to a comparator along with a level of voltage representing the temperatures and voltage levels. An output may be a power signal for driving the motor at a constant speed and/or torque which can increase a maintenance-free lifetime of the motor and actuator.
US09106169B2
A controller structure for more than two drive units coupled mechanically to a movable element includes a position measuring device for determining an actual position of the movable element and a position controller for calculating a setpoint speed from a setpoint position and the actual position, the position measuring device and the position controller jointly serving all drive units. Each drive unit, however, has a speed controller of its own. The drive units are configured either as master or as slave, individual drive units also being able to assume both functions. A torque-master-slave controller ensures a compensation of the torques between the drive units.
US09106167B2
A method for driving a BLDC motor comprising at least three stator windings, comprising: a) determining a time period, and energizing during the time period two of the windings and leaving a third winding un-energized, based on a first motor state; b) measuring a first voltage representative for the back-EMF generated in the un-energized winding shortly before expiry of the time period; c) applying a commutation at expiry of the current time period; d) measuring a second voltage shortly after the commutation, and calculating a subsequent time period; e) repeating steps b) and c). An electrical circuit and a controller are provided for performing these methods.
US09106158B2
A piezoelectric rotary drive for a shaft, is disclosed which can include a piezoelectric actuator and a coupling portion for driving the shaft as a stick-slip drive. To transmit greater contact forces between the frame and the shaft, at least one piezoelectric actuator and an adjustable and/or deformable frame with at least one coupling portion can be coupled to the shaft in a force-locked manner so as to accomplish a stick-slip drive, wherein the frame translates a piezoelectric deformation of the actuator mechanically such that the coupling portion rotates about the axis of the shaft over at least a part of the circumference of the shaft.
US09106157B2
This invention relates to a method for generating switching signals for inverters using wavelet basis functions as a means to determine switching times, pulse duration, shifting and scale; and to a three phase, six pulse wavelet modulated inverter employing the method as a switching technique.
US09106152B2
A method for grid support by means of an inverter is disclosed, wherein the grid is supported by feeding in compensation currents. The method includes measuring a prevailing grid state, and breaking down voltages measured for measuring the prevailing grid state into symmetrical components of the grid state including positive sequence system components and negative sequence system components. The method further includes determining symmetrical components of a compensation current including positive sequence system components and negative sequence system components of the compensation current as functions of deviations of the positive sequence system components and negative sequence system components of the grid state from reference values, and feeding-in a compensation current as the vector sum of the determined symmetrical components of the compensation current.
US09106151B2
A power-factor-improving circuit and method for an offline converter block the DC component and obtain the AC component of an input voltage of the offline converter. The AC component is superpositioned onto a DC bias signal to generate a dimming signal for the offline converter to adjust an output current of the offline converter. The offline converter has a high power factor due to the dimming signal with the AC component of the input voltage. In addition, the average of the dimming signal is determined by the DC bias signal, hence the output current can be precisely controlled according to the DC bias signal.
US09106135B2
A voltage boosting/lowering circuit according to an aspect of the present invention includes an output voltage generation circuit 15 that includes a switch element 2 connected between an input terminal 1 and a choke coil 3 and a switch element 7 connected between the choke coil 3 and a ground, and generates an output voltage by switching the switch elements 2 and 7 between an on-state and an off-state and thereby boosting/lowering an input voltage input to the input terminal 1, a first switch control unit that outputs a first pulse signal to the switch element 2, a duty detection circuit 32 that detects a duty of the first pulse signal, and a second switch control unit that outputs a second pulse signal to the switch element 7 according to the detected duty.
US09106128B2
Provided is a charge pump circuit having a current mirror structure, including a first voltage controller including a plurality of first resistors and a plurality of first switches, and in response to a switching control signal corresponding to a bias current, driving the plurality of first switches to allow a current path passing through the plurality of first resistors to bypass, thereby controlling a voltage level of an output end, a second voltage controller including a plurality of second resistors and a plurality of second switches, and in response to the switching control signal, driving the plurality of second switches to allow a current path passing through the plurality of second resistors to bypass, thereby controlling a voltage level of an output end to correspond to the voltage of the output end of the first voltage controller.
US09106119B2
A support ring for a rotor having a core and a plurality of windings. The support ring includes an annular base, a plurality of fingers, and a plurality of loaded edges. The plurality of fingers extend radially outward from the annular base, and each generally corresponds to one of the windings. The plurality of loaded edges extend axially from the fingers and are disposed radially outward of the windings.
US09106118B2
A rotor includes a rotor core having an outer circumferential surface provided with projections extending in a direction of a rotational axis and projecting outwardly in a radial direction, and a plurality of permanent magnets arranged between the projections. The projections extend at an angle with respect to the direction of a rotational axis. The permanent magnets have inclined sides on both side faces, which incline with respect to the direction of a rotational axis. Side faces of the projections and the inclined side of the permanent magnets which face each other incline so as to define the same angle with respect to the direction of a rotational axis. An electric motor including such a rotor is also provided.
US09106111B2
In an electromechanical energy converter having an outer body and an inner body, which are mounted movably relative to one another about an axis of rotation, an outer body according to the invention surrounds an annular structural element, a permanent magnet and a support ring which is received concentrically in the structural element. The support ring comprises a recess to receive the permanent magnet, and the recess has a boundary surface which extends parallel as to a radius of the axis of rotation.
US09106109B2
A generator includes a stationary stator and a rotor disposed rotatably about an axis of rotation. The stator has a fan drawing air from the ambient air around the generator, wherein the inlet channel is disposed such that air drawn in by the fan is distributed at the core of the stator by the channel over the length of the core in the direction of the axis of rotation. Cooling channels running in the circumferential direction of the core and distributed over the length of the core are disposed on the core, wherein the stator comprises an outlet channel disposed offset in the circumferential direction of the core with respect to the inlet channel. The inlet channel is connected to the outlet channel by the cooling channels, such that air from the inlet channel flows through the cooling channels into the outlet channel.
US09106103B2
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes first and second busses, a first switching circuit configured to selectively couple an AC source to the first and second busses and a second switching circuit configured to selectively couple the first and second busses to a load. The system also includes a storage capacitor and a third switching circuit configured to couple the storage capacitor between the first and second busses. The system further includes a control circuit configured to control the first, second and third switching circuits to generate an AC voltage at the load.
US09106101B2
Electrical distribution network (EDN) improvement method for plug-in electric vehicles receives and stores in a database EDN configuration information, demography information and load information for simulating load of the EDN assets. The method dynamically updates the EDN configuration, demography information and/or load information to provide an efficient and customizable method of simulating a PEV load impact on an EDN configuration and apply improvements to the EDN in real time.
US09106094B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless charging system and a control method thereof, as well as a portable electronic device and a charging device, all of which are capable of performing charging at an appropriate charging level. The wireless charging system includes: a battery charger 100; and a cellular telephone device 1. The cellular telephone device 1 includes: a plurality of power receiving units 10; a charging state monitoring unit 21; and a cellular telephone device side communication unit 14. The battery charger 100 includes: a plurality of power transmitting units 110 that transmit power to the cellular telephone device 1; a battery charger side communication unit 140; and a power transmission control unit 121 that controls transmission of power by the power transmitting units 110, based on a result of monitoring by the charging state monitoring unit 21.
US09106087B2
The invention is a device and method for eliminating core excitation losses in a distribution transformer when the transformer is not supplying power to loads. The invention consists of sensors, a control circuit, a user interface and a power contactor. The power contactor is connected on the line side of a transformer and is opened or closed automatically based on preprogrammed time or load criteria determined by the control circuit. In one operational mode and when the transformer is disconnected from the line, the control board generates low power pulses at the transformer load connection points in order to “search” for loads. If a load is detected, the transformer is reconnected by way of contactor closure. If the transformer load drops to zero, for a predetermined amount of time, the transformer is again disconnected and the pulsed load search is reestablished.
US09106086B2
Exemplary embodiments are directed to detecting and limiting power transfer to non-compliant devices. A method may include detecting one or more non-compliant devices positioned within a charging region of a wireless power transmitter. The method may further include limiting an amount of power delivered to at least one of the one or more non-compliant devices.
US09106078B2
A method is disclosed of controlling the operation of a system for providing electrical power to one or more electrical devices, the system comprising an adjustable power source root node and a plurality of adjustable power source remote nodes located remotely from the root node.
US09106070B2
A display unit is configured for use with a circuit interrupter which outputs a trip notification, trip information, and direct current power to the display unit The display unit comprises: a processor having a routine; a secondary power source configured to output secondary power; a memory display configured to receive the direct current power or the secondary power; and a power source selection circuit configured to switch the memory display from the direct current power to the secondary power in response to the display unit receiving the trip notification, wherein the routine of said processor is structured to control the memory display to display the trip information in response to the display unit receiving the trip notification.
US09106056B1
According to various embodiments, the present teachings include an array of nanowire devices. The array of nanowire devices comprises a readout integrated circuit (ROIC). An LED array is disposed on the ROIC. The LED array comprises a plurality of LED core-shell structures, with each LED core-shell structure comprising a layered shell enveloping a nanowire core, wherein the layered shell comprises a multi-quantum-well (MQW) active region. The LED array further comprises a p-side electrode enveloping the layered core-shell structure and electrically connecting the ROIC, wherein each p-side electrode has an average thickness ranging from about 100 nm to about 500 nm. A dielectric layer is disposed on the plurality of LED core-shell structures, with each nanowire core disposed through the dielectric to connect with an n-side semiconductor that is situated on the dielectric.
US09106054B2
A laser beam combining and power scaling device and method. A first highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the first optical axis reflecting radiation emitted from the first laser head. A first Q-switch in alignment with the first optical axis interposed between the first highly reflective mirror and the first laser head. A second highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the second optical axis reflecting radiation emitted from the second laser head. The second Q-switch in alignment with the second optical axis is interposed between the second highly reflective mirror and the first laser head. A third optical axis is coincident with the first optical axis. A third highly reflective mirror residing perpendicular to the third optical axis in alignment therewith. The third optical axis may include a third diode pumped laser head and Q-switch. A beam splitter resides at the intersection of the axes.
US09106053B2
A semiconductor surface emitting laser (SEL) includes an active zone comprising quantum well structures separated by spacer layers. The quantum well structures are configured to provide optical gain for the SEL at a lasing wavelength, λlase. Each quantum well structure and an adjacent spacer layer are configured to form an optical pair of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). The active zone including a plurality of the DBR optical pairs is configured to provide optical feedback for the SEL at λlase.
US09106049B1
A system and method for providing laser diodes with broad spectrum is described. GaN-based laser diodes with broad or multi-peaked spectral output operating are obtained in various configurations by having a single laser diode device generating multiple-peak spectral outputs, operate in superluminescene mode, or by use of an RF source and/or a feedback signal. In some other embodiments, multi-peak outputs are achieved by having multiple laser devices output different lasers at different wavelengths.
US09106045B2
A long range laser illuminator is disclosed that is suitable for providing illumination for camera systems at ranges up to approximately 20 km. The illuminator incorporates a diverger that allows for a compact, low F-number optical arrangement that improves eye safety by reducing the power density across a primary optical element, such as a spherical or parabolic mirror. The diverger may be located at an end of an optical fiber feed, or between a pair of optical fibers. The diverger may incorporate a diffuser, such as a “top hat” diffuser. The optical fiber feeds may be highly multi mode, to provide for a more even illumination. The illuminator incorporates means for altering a focus of the output light beam, to allow an illuminated spot size to be altered. The illuminator is particularly suitable for use at night, where it may be used alongside a camera system.
US09106035B2
A radio frequency (RF) connector is provided. The connector includes a first socket member. The first socket member includes a conductive sleeve comprising a top portion, a bottom portion, and a plurality of springs connecting the top portion and the bottom portion. The first socket member also includes a base inside the conductive sleeve comprising a first matching hole configured to match to a first conductive pin of a first plug member. The connector also includes a second socket member. The second socket member includes a second matching hole configured to match to a second conductive pin of a second plug member, and a conductive body having outer threads configured to match to inner threads of the second plug member. The connector further includes a middle portion connected between the first socket member and the second socket member, the middle portion extending radically outwardly from a periphery of the middle portion.
US09106032B2
A stacking connector comprises an insulating body, a plurality of connection terminals and a USB connector. The insulating body has a first containing space and a second containing space. A plurality of terminal slots is defined in a connection port of the insulating body and communicates with the first containing space. The plurality of connection terminals is configured in the first containing space, and exposed to the connection port to constitute a RJ-45 connector with the connection port. The USB connector is configured in the second containing space. Power pin and ground pin of the USB connector are electrically connected to NC pins of the plurality of connection terminals separately. Therefore, the USB connector receives power from a mainboard to provide to the RJ-45 connector. In contrary, the RJ-45 connector receives power by way of PoE to provide to the USB connector.
US09106031B2
A dual orientation connector having a connector tab with first and second major opposing sides and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the connector tab. The plurality of contacts includes a first set of external contacts formed at the first major side and a second set of external contacts formed at the second major side. Each individual contact in the first plurality of contacts is electrically connected within the tab or body to a corresponding contact in the second plurality of contacts. In some embodiments contacts in the first and second pluralities of contacts that are directly opposite each other are coupled together. In some other embodiments, contacts in the first and second pluralities of contacts that are in a cater cornered relationship with each other are coupled together. The first plurality of contacts are symmetrically spaced with the second plurality of contacts and the connector tab is shaped to have 180 degree symmetry so that it can be inserted and operatively coupled to a corresponding receptacle connector in either of two insertion orientations.
US09106028B2
A connector for a card having a housing for housing a card equipped with a terminal member, a connection terminal attached to the housing for contacting the terminal member of the card and a detecting switch equipped with a first contact member and a second contact member for detecting separation from each other and the insertion of a card into the housing, wherein at least the first contact member or the second contact member is equipped with a fixed portion fixed to the housing and a moving portion displaceable by the housing and unevenly mated with the housing.
US09106022B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating body having multiple signal receiving slots and at least one grounding receiving slot, multiple signal terminals and at least one grounding terminal respectively received in the signal receiving slots and the grounding receiving slot, a first conducting layer disposed in the grounding receiving slot for shielding the signal terminals, and a solder located in the grounding receiving slot and contacts the first conducting layer and the grounding terminal. The electrical connector may further includes an upper conducting layer and a lower conducting layer, respectively disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the insulating body, and multiple through holes surrounding each signal receiving slot. Each through hole has an internally disposed second conducting layer. The upper conducting layer, the lower conducting layer, the first conducting layer and the second conducting layer are conducted.
US09106009B2
Electrical contact having a body portion and a compliant contact tail that is coupled to the body portion and configured to be inserted into a plated thru-hole (PTH). The contact tail extends from the body portion along a central axis to a leading end. The contact tail includes first and second compliant regions that are located between the leading end and the body portion. The contact tail has a joint region that joins the first and second compliant regions. Each of the first and second compliant regions is dimensioned to mechanically engage the PTH when inserted therein. The joint region is dimensioned smaller than the first and second compliant regions such that the joint region moves freely through the PTH.
US09106006B2
A connector, the connector comprises a tabulate main body and a plurality of tabulate conductors provided on the main body, nested with a pairing connector. Each conductor includes a tabulate terminal located in the main body and engaged with a pairing terminal of the pairing connector, and a rear end outwardly extended to the main body and connected to a terminal connecting part provided on the surface of a mounting part. A face of the rear end on the side of the mounting part is more distant to the surface of the mounting part than a face of the main body on the side of the mounting part. The rear end is connected to the terminal connecting part through an anisotropic conductive film provided between its face on the side of the mounting part and the terminal connecting part.
US09105998B2
A device-side connector (10) is connected to a wire-side connector (50) by being mounted into a shield case (14) of a device (11) including a base member (12) and the shield case (14) fixed to the base member (12), and includes first terminals (21), a first housing (25) fixed in position with respect to the base member (12) and configured to hold the first terminals (21), second terminals (22) connected to the first terminals (21) via flexible conductive members (23), and a second housing (33) configured to hold the second terminals (22) and engageable with the first housing (25) with a predetermined clearance (CL) defined therebetween by the engagement of engaging frames (30) of the first housing (25) and engaging protrusions (40A) of the second housing (33).
US09105994B2
A contact probe having a plunger; a top contacting member which is provided at a tip end of the plunger and is brought into contact with an electrode of a semiconductor device; a bottom contacting member which is brought into contact with an electrode of a testing board; and an elastic member for urging the top contacting member and the bottom contacting member in opposite directions away from each other. The plunger is formed into a cylindrical shape and includes a through-hole which penetrates through the plunger in an axial direction thereof. The top contacting member includes a plurality of mountain-shaped sharp portions at a tip end thereof, and each of the sharp portions is asymmetrical with respect to a straight line that passes through a peak of the sharp portion and extends along an axial direction of the plunger, and is bent toward a center line of the plunger.
US09105989B2
A connection structure includes a column electrode; a first connecting portion connected to one end of the column electrode; and a second connecting portion connected to another end of the column electrode via solder, wherein a height of the column electrode is a width of the first connecting portion or greater.
US09105988B2
A coaxial cable connector including a continuity bus extending a ground circuit between a coaxial cable outer conductor and a coaxial cable connector part such as a coaxial cable connector fastener.
US09105986B2
Multi-antenna systems, including mobile devices having multiple antennas, are provided herein. A first antenna and a second antenna are operable at two or more of the same non-overlapping communication frequency bands. The first antenna and the second antenna are closely spaced and have different fundamental modes of operation such that the first antenna and second antenna are substantially isolated at the two or more non-overlapping communication frequency bands. The first antenna and second antenna having different fundamental modes can be a linear antenna, such as a monopole, dipole, PIFA, or PILA, and an aperture antenna, such as a slot or loop antenna.
US09105985B2
An antenna system for mobile communication includes a transportation device and an antenna module installed on the transportation device. The antenna module has a first polarized antenna unit and a second polarized antenna unit. The polarized direction of first polarized antenna unit is perpendicular to the polarized direction of second polarized antenna unit, such that when the transportation device moves along a first direction, the first and the second polarized antenna units are coupling to each other, and each has an 8-shaped radiation pattern. The longitudinal direction of the radiation pattern of the first polarized antenna unit and the longitudinal direction of the radiation pattern of the second polarized antenna unit are parallel to a second direction, and the second direction is not parallel to the first direction. Thus, the instant disclosure provides the antenna system capable of restraining the multipath fading of mobile communication.
US09105983B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing an antenna operating in a given frequency band, from a dual-band antenna. According to the method, the dual-band antenna is a broadband slot antenna that receives and/or transmits electromagnetic signals at a first frequency and at a second higher frequency. The antenna is powered by a single power supply line, and the free end of the power supply line is connected, by a connection means that can be opened or closed, to at least one means for rejecting one of the frequencies. This invention can be used in producing generic electronic boards.
US09105980B2
A radio communication apparatus (100) includes an antenna device (40) that faces at least a part of a conductor plate of a conductor surface (second casing) or a conductor layer of an interconnect substrate (30); and a plurality of conductor components (36) that are located between the antenna device (40) and the conductor surface and are arranged in a repetitive manner so as to intersect in a surface-normal direction of the conductor surface. The radio communication apparatus is, for example, a slide opening and closing type cellular phone and includes a first casing (10), a second casing (20), and a flexible interconnect substrate (30). The first casing (10) and the second casing (20) are slid relatively so that the radio communication apparatus (100) is switched between first and second states. In the first state, the interconnect substrate (30) is folded. The interconnect substrate (30) is extended further in the second state than in the first state.
US09105972B2
Directional wide band antenna that may be utilized to enhance cell phone coverage within a building, and/or for signals intelligence collection (SIGINT). Includes a spiral antenna with feed-point configured to transfer energy to/from the antenna. Includes an energy absorbent backing and an energy absorbent siding coupled with the spiral antenna. Includes a cavity behind the log-spiral slot antenna and in front of the energy absorbent backing. Includes a cable connector coupled to a tapered microstrip line coupled to the feed-point wherein the tapered microstrip line is configured to transform the input impedance to the antenna impedance. Housed in a container configured to hold the above listed components. Energy absorbent siding, cavity and energy absorbent backing greatly reduces back lobes. Another embodiment has log-spiral shaped slots at an outer portion of the log-spiral slot antenna overlap with the energy absorbent siding and wherein the feed-point overlaps the cavity.
US09105971B2
Systems, apparatuses and methods for providing FM phase diversity capabilities are provide. In some aspects, a vehicle system includes a first FM antenna positioned externally of a vehicle and adapted to receive a first FM signal, a radio unit positioned internally of the vehicle and including a display and at least one user control, a cable electrically coupled to the first FM antenna and the radio unit to communicate the first FM signal to the radio unit, and a second FM antenna positioned internally of the vehicle and adapted to receive a second FM signal that is communicated to the radio unit. In another aspect, a radio unit positioned internally of the vehicle may include a printed wire board and a second FM antenna may be positioned on the printed wire board internally of the vehicle and adapted to receive a second FM signal.
US09105965B2
A near field communications (NFC) device is disclosed that interacts with other NFC devices to exchange information and/or the data. An operator may touch, or be sufficiently proximate to, an antenna module of the NFC device to operate and/or control the NFC device. The antenna module includes antenna components that are characterized by a corresponding characteristic impedance. The touch, or sufficient proximity, of the operator changes the corresponding characteristic impedance of antenna components. The NFC device may determine a location of the touch, or proximity, of the operator based upon this change. The NFC device may interpret the location of the touch, or proximity, of the operator as information from the operator to operate and/or control the NFC device.
US09105961B2
GNSS signals are centered around two bands, L1 and L2, and antennas must cover both these bands for good RTK performance. GPS is at a lower frequency in both bands than the Russian GLONASS system. What is described herein is a method of constructing a low profile dual frequency wideband antenna with excellent polarization and signal reception for both GPS and GLONASS. This technique minimizes the impact of tolerances of the dielectrics, thicknesses and tuning by optimal construction.
US09105960B2
A method of radiometric image generation is provided using a series of isochronous revolutions of a multi-beam antenna with a dispersion characteristic. The antenna is combined with a multi-channel receiver with frequency channel separation to form an imaging unit. The method comprising cyclically executing the following phases: two separate calibration phase; using first and second standards; external radiation reception phase; data processing phase and data transformation phase.
US09105952B2
A waveguide-configuration adapter is provided. The waveguide-configuration adapter includes a horizontal waveguide and a vertical waveguide. The horizontal waveguide includes a first-interface port spanning a first X-Y plane and a first-coupling port spanning a Y-Z plane with a first-coupling-port width parallel to the y axis. The vertical waveguide includes a second-interface port spanning a second X-Y plane and a second-coupling port spanning a third X-Y plane with a second-coupling-port width parallel to the x axis. When an E-field is input at the first/second coupling port in the plane of the first/second coupling port, respectively, and oriented perpendicular to the first/second coupling-port width, respectively, the E-field is output from the second/first coupling port, respectively, in the plane of second/first coupling port, respectively, and oriented perpendicular to the second/first coupling-port width, respectively.
US09105934B2
A superior, industrially scalable one-pot ethylene glycol-based wet chemistry method to prepare platinum-adlayered ruthenium nanoparticles has been developed that offers an exquisite control of the platinum packing density of the adlayers and effectively prevents sintering of the nanoparticles during the deposition process. The wet chemistry based method for the controlled deposition of submonolayer platinum is advantageous in terms of processing and maximizing the use of platinum and can, in principle, be scaled up straightforwardly to an industrial level. The reactivity of the Pt(31)-Ru sample was about 150% higher than that of the industrial benchmark PtRu (1:1) alloy sample but with 3.5 times less platinum loading. Using the Pt(31)-Ru nanoparticles would lower the electrode material cost compared to using the industrial benchmark alloy nanoparticles for direct methanol fuel cell applications.
US09105932B2
A lithium ion battery includes at least one battery cell. The battery cell includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a separator. The separator is sandwiched between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode. At least one of the cathode electrode and the anode electrode includes a current collector. The current collector is a carbon nanotube layer consisting of a plurality of carbon nanotubes.
US09105929B2
A battery having high output voltage, high energy density and excellent charge and discharge cycle characteristics is achieved through the use of one of the following negative electrode base members as a negative electrode base member for lithium ion secondary batteries: a negative electrode base member where a metal film is formed on a support having an organic film; such a negative electrode base member where the surface layer of the organic film is covered with a metal oxide film; a negative electrode base member where a metal film is formed on a support having a composite film formed from a composite film-forming material containing an organic component and an inorganic component; and a negative electrode base member where a silica coating is formed, on a support having a photoresist pattern, from a silica film-forming coating liquid and a metal film is formed on the support after removing the photoresist pattern.
US09105924B2
Provided is a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery includes a lithium transition metal composite oxide having an α-NaFeO2-type crystal structure and represented by the composition formula of Li1+αMe1−αO2 (Me is a transition metal including Co, Ni and Mn and α>0). The positive active material contains Na in an amount of 900 ppm or more and 16000 ppm or less, or K in an amount of 1200 ppm or more and 18000 ppm or less.
US09105918B2
A safety element assembly is disclosed. The safety element assembly comprises a first thin metal sheet coupled to the secondary battery; a safety element coupled to the first thin metal sheet; and a second thin metal sheet coupled to the safety element, wherein the first thin metal sheet comprises a first region on which the safety element and the second thin metal sheet are stacked, and a second region on which the safety element and the second thin metal sheet are not stacked.
US09105916B2
A fuel cell module includes: in a casing, a fuel cell stack that is formed by stacking a plurality of unit cells; and an oxidant gas distributing member that is disposed at a side surface, that extends in a stack direction, of the fuel cell stack, that extends in a direction from one end to another end of each of the unit cells, and that supplies the oxidant gas along the oxidant gas distributing member from the one end to the another end to supply the oxidant gas to the another end of each unit cell. The oxidant gas distributing member includes a heat exchange restraint portion that restrains heat exchange between the unit cells and the oxidant gas in at least one of end portions of the fuel cell stack in the stack direction, in comparison with the heat exchange thereof in other portion in the fuel cell stack.
US09105906B2
Disclosed is a separator having surface energy of about 45 mN to about 50 mN/m which can be prepared by radiating plasma on a polymer film under a current of from about 1800 mA to about 2000 mA and electric power of from about 2750 W to about 3000 W. Further disclosed is a rechargeable battery comprising the separator having a surface energy of about 45 mN to about 50 mN/m.
US09105894B2
A fuel cell system includes at least one fuel cell stack, a fuel inlet conduit, and a fuel heat exchanger containing a fuel reformation catalyst. The fuel heat exchanger is connected to the fuel inlet conduit and to at least one fuel cell system exhaust conduit which in operation provides a high temperature exhaust stream to the fuel heat exchanger. The fuel heat exchanger is thermally integrated with an anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) exhaust conduit such that in operation an ATO exhaust stream in the ATO exhaust conduit heats a fuel inlet stream passing through the heat exchanger.
US09105889B2
In order to cause a plurality of cells in a fuel cell to be recovered to a desired humidity state, it is configured to determine that the cells present a mixture of dry and overly humid states in the case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, and in the case where it is determined that the cells present the mixture, humidifying control is carried out to cause all the cells to attain the overly humid state, and thereafter, drying control is carried out to dry all the cells, to thereby cause the plurality of cells to be recovered to a predetermined humidity state.
US09105883B2
The flow field plates in a bipolar plate assembly for a fuel cell can be both bonded and sealed appropriately using microencapsulated adhesives. This offers several advantages over using other adhesives which may have limited pot life and/or require lengthy curing periods at elevated temperature during which time the plates must be stably positioned and under compression.
US09105877B2
An organic light-emitting diode display includes a substrate, a first electrode which is disposed on the substrate, a trench defined in a top surface of the first electrode, and a hole injection layer which is disposed in the trench.
US09105874B2
A light-emitting component may include: a first electrode; an organic electroluminescent layer structure on or over the first electrode; a second translucent electrode on or over the organic electroluminescent layer structure; and a mirror layer structure on or over the second electrode, wherein the mirror layer structure has a lateral thermal conductance of at least 1*10−3 W/K.
US09105857B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an organic electroluminescent element suitable for both food lighting at a high temperature and indoor lighting at room temperature. The organic electroluminescent element according to the present invention has such characteristics that: an element temperature at which a general color rendering index Ra has its maximum in an element temperature range of 5° C. to 60° C. is present in a range of 15° C. to 35° C.; and an element temperature at which at least one of a color rendering index R8 a special color rendering index R9, a special color rendering index R14, and a special color rendering index R15 has its maximum in the element temperature range of 5° C. to 60° C. is in a range of temperatures higher than the element temperature at which the general color rendering index Ra has its maximum.
US09105856B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an organic light-emitting device which can emit white light by easily controlling dopant concentrations. The organic light-emitting device has a first electrode (112) and second electrode (111) which hold a light-emitting layer (113) in-between, wherein the light-emitting layer contains a host material (104), red-light-emitting dopant (105), green-light-emitting dopant (106) and blue-light-emitting dopant (107), the red-light-emitting dopant containing a first functional group for transferring the dopant toward the first electrode and the green-light-emitting dopant containing a second functional group for transferring the dopant toward the second electrode.
US09105855B2
There has been a problem that difference in refractive index between an opposite substrate or a moisture barrier layer provided thereover, and air is maintained large, and light extraction efficiency is low. Further, there has been a problem that peeling or cracking due to the moisture barrier layer is easily generated, which leads to deteriorate the reliability and lifetime of a light-emitting element. A light-emitting element comprises a pixel electrode, an electroluminescent layer, a transparent electrode, a passivation film, a stress relieving layer, and a low refractive index layer, all of which are stacked sequentially. The stress relieving layer serves to prevent peeling of the passivation film. The low refractive index layer serves to reduce reflectivity of light generated in the electroluminescent layer in emitting to air. Therefore, a light-emitting element with high reliability and long lifetime and a display device using the light-emitting element can be provided.
US09105852B2
A light-emitting element having good characteristics can be obtained by using a bipyridine compound having at least one 2,2′-bipyridine structure and at least two anthracene skeletons as light-emitting element materials. In particular, a bipyridine compound in which an anthracene skeleton is bonded to each of the 5-position and the 6-position of 2,2′-bipyridine through an arylene group can be synthesized and a light-emitting element having good characteristics can be obtained in the case where the bipyridine compound is used as a light-emitting element material.
US09105850B2
A system is provided for the manufacture of carbon based electrical components including, an ultraviolet light source; a substrate receiving unit whereby a substrate bearing a first layer of carbon based semiconductor is received and disposed beneath the ultraviolet light source; a mask disposed between the ultraviolet light source and the carbon based semiconductor layer; a doping agent precursor source; and environmental chemical controls, configured such that light from the ultraviolet light source irradiates a doping agent precursor and the first carbon layer.
US09105840B2
According to embodiments, a semiconductor memory may include: a variable resistance pattern disposed over a substrate and extended in a first direction; first and second structures including a plurality of interlayer dielectric layers and a plurality of conductive layers which are alternately stacked over the substrate, and contacted with one side surface and the other side surface of the variable resistance pattern, respectively, wherein the first stacked structure has a line shape extended in a first direction and the second stacked structure has a pillar shape; and a pillar-shaped conductive pattern contacted with one side surface of the second stacked structure, which is not contacted with the variable resistance pattern.
US09105837B2
Bipolar memory cells and a memory device including the same are provided, the bipolar memory cells include two bipolar memory layers having opposite programming directions. The two bipolar memory layers may be connected to each other via an intermediate electrode interposed therebetween. The two bipolar memory layers may have the same structure or opposite structures.
US09105834B2
A piezoelectric actuated device includes one or more areas of piezoelectric material coupled to a substrate. The piezoelectric material may be placed on regions of the substrate that exhibit the greatest curvature and stress when the device is vibrating according to a desired structural Eigenmode of vibration. The piezoelectric material may have a non-uniform density.
US09105832B2
An ST-MRAM structure, a method for fabricating the ST-MRAM structure and a method for operating an ST-MRAM device that results from the ST-MRAM structure each utilize a spin Hall effect base layer that contacts a magnetic free layer and effects a magnetic moment switching within the magnetic free layer as a result of a lateral switching current within the spin Hall effect base layer. This resulting ST-MRAM device uses an independent sense current and sense voltage through a magnetoresistive stack that includes a pinned layer, a non-magnetic spacer layer and the magnetic free layer which contacts the spin Hall effect base layer. Desirable non-magnetic conductor materials for the spin Hall effect base layer include certain types of tantalum materials and tungsten materials that have a spin diffusion length no greater than about five times the thickness of the spin Hall effect base layer and a spin Hall angle at least about 0.05.
US09105815B2
Aspects include Light Emitting Diodes that have a GaN-based light emitting region and a metallic electrode. The metallic electrode can be physically separated from the GaN-based light emitted region by a layer of porous dielectric, which provides a reflecting region between at least a portion of the metallic electrode and the GaN-based light emitting region.
US09105799B2
An light apparatus used in forming a solar cell includes a housing separate from other processing in a deposition processing system, a transport mechanism for carrying a solar cell into the housing after deposition of a front contact layer in the deposition processing system, and one or more light source elements arranged to apply light on the solar cell after deposition of the front contact layer. A method of making a solar cell includes forming a back contact layer on a glass substrate, forming an absorber layer on the back contact layer, forming a buffer layer on the absorber layer, and forming a front contact layer above the buffer layer, the glass substrate, back contact layer, absorber layer, buffer layer, and front contact layer forming a first module. The method includes applying a light source to the first module after forming the front contact layer separate from other processing.
US09105796B2
The present invention relates to coated binary and ternary chalcogenide nanoparticle compositions that can be used as copper zinc tin chalcogenide precursor inks. In addition, this invention relates to coated substrates comprising binary and ternary chalcogenide nanoparticle compositions and provides processes for manufacturing these coated substrates. This invention also relates to compositions of copper zinc tin chalcogenide thin films and photovoltaic cells comprising such films. In addition, this invention provides processes for manufacturing copper zinc tin chalcogenide thin films, as well as processes for manufacturing photovoltaic cells incorporating such films.
US09105795B2
Disclosed is a composite superconductor comprising a superconductor and a metal member. The metal member is composed of one or more members to be joined together in such manner that the one or more members cover the superconductor, and at least one member is made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
US09105788B2
A cell for a silicon-based photoelectric multiplier may comprise a first layer of a first conductivity type and a second layer of a second conductivity type formed on the first layer. The first layer and the second layer may form a first p-n junction. The cell may be processed by an ion implantation act wherein parameters of the ion implantation are selected such that due to an implantation-induced damage of the crystal lattice, an absorption length of infrared light of a wavelength in a range of ˜800 nm to 1000 nm is decreased.
US09105781B2
A method for the low-cost production of sheet-like thermocouples comprises the following steps: —providing an electrically and thermally conductive substrate having at least one clearance, which subdivides the substrate into substrate regions, —fitting thermolegs onto the substrate, wherein each thermoleg is connected to a region of the substrate on a hot side and on a cold side, —applying an encapsulation, so that at least each thermoleg is enclosed and the encapsulation enters into a material bond with the regions of the substrate, —separating parts of the substrate in such a way as to prevent a flow of electric current between the regions of the substrate through the at least one clearance. The invention also relates to a substrate that is suitable for carrying out the method and to a thermocouple that can be produced by the method.
US09105780B2
A simple and easy method for fabricating graphene quantum dots with uniformed size and high quality of emission property comprises steps of, mixing graphite powders with metallic hydrate salts, forming an intercalation compound of graphite wherein metal ions are inserted by heating the mixed solution, and removing the metal ions from the intercalation compound of graphite. The graphene quantum dots is applicable to the development of electronic products in next generation such as display devices, recording devices, various sensors and nanocomputers and is applicable to biological and medicinal field as well.
US09105773B2
The invention relates to a photo-detector comprising a light sensitive element (101) and a wavelength converter (103) arranged in front of the light sensitive element, the wavelength converter being configured to convert light of a first wavelength into light of a second wavelength and to direct the light of the second wavelength to the light sensitive element. The advantage is that a stable reading across the entire visible spectrum may be provided.
US09105772B2
A method for manufacturing a photodetector including growing a quantity of germanium within an optical pathway of a waveguide. The detection of a current caused by an interaction between the optical signal and the germanium is used to indicate the presence of an optical signal passing through the waveguide.
US09105769B2
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a first contact on a crystalline substrate, by epitaxially growing a first doped layer having a doping concentration of 1019 cm−3 or greater, a dislocation density of 105 cm−2 or smaller, a hydrogen content of 0.1 atomic percent or smaller, and a thickness configured to reduce Auger recombination in the epitaxially grown doped layer. A first passivation layer is formed on the first doped layer. A second contact is formed on the crystalline substrate on a side opposite the first contact by epitaxially growing a second doped layer having a doping concentration of 1019 cm−3 or greater, a dislocation density of 105 cm−2 or smaller, a hydrogen content of 0.1 atomic percent or smaller and a thickness configured to reduce Auger recombination in the second epitaxially grown doped layer. A second passivation layer is formed on the second doped layer.
US09105768B2
Formulations and methods of making solar cells are disclosed. In general, the invention presents a solar cell contact made from a mixture wherein the mixture comprises a solids portion and an organics portion, wherein the solids portion comprises from about 85 to about 99 wt % of a metal component, and from about 1 to about 15 wt % of a lead-free glass component. Both front contacts and back contacts arc disclosed.
US09105761B2
A light emitting device is provided, including a substrate and a light emitting structure on the substrate, comprising a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first and second semiconductor layers. The substrate has at least one side surface extending outwardly. The at least one side surface includes a first portion, a transition portion connected to the first portion, and a second portion connected to the transition portion, the first portion provides a first obtuse inclination angle with reference to the bottom surface of the substrate and the transition portion provides a second obtuse inclination angle with reference to the bottom surface of the substrate, the second obtuse inclination angle is larger than the first obtuse inclination angle. The second portion includes a vertical side surface with reference to the bottom surface of the substrate.
US09105757B2
The present invention discloses a junction barrier Schottky (JBS) diode and a manufacturing method thereof. The JBS diode includes: an N-type gallium nitride (GaN) substrate; an aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN) barrier layer, which is formed on the N-type GaN substrate; a P-type gallium nitride (GaN) layer, which is formed on or above the N-type GaN substrate; an anode conductive layer, which is formed at least partially on the AlGaN barrier layer, wherein a Schottky contact is formed between part of the anode conductive layer and the AlGaN barrier layer; and a cathode conductive layer, which is formed on the N-type GaN substrate, wherein an ohmic contact is formed between the cathode conductive layer and the N-type GaN substrate, and the cathode conductive layer is not directly connected to the anode conductive layer.
US09105747B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit device is disclosed. A polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in direct contact with a dielectric material so that the dielectric material induces a stress in the polycrystalline silicon layer as the polycrystalline silicon layer is formed. A MOS transistor that includes a gate including the polycrystalline silicon is then completed.
US09105740B2
A method for fabricating a nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The method includes forming a first oxide layer on a surface of a substrate. The first oxide layer is exposed to a first decoupled plasma nitridation process having a first bias. Subsequently, a charge-trapping layer is formed on the first oxide layer. The charge-trapping layer is exposed to an oxidation process and then to a second decoupled plasma nitridation process having a second, different, bias.
US09105721B2
A high voltage/power semiconductor device using a low voltage logic well is provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first well region formed by being doped in a first location on a surface of the substrate, a second well region formed by being doped with impurity different from the first well region's in a second location on a surface of the substrate, an overlapping region between the first well region and the second well region where the first well region and the second well region substantially coexist, a gate insulating layer formed on the surface of the first and the second well regions and the surface of the overlapping region, a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating layer, a source region formed on an upper portion of the first well region, and a drain region formed on an upper portion of the second well region. The semiconductor device may also include a separating unit, which is formed in the second well region on the drain side and may be formed as a shallow trench isolation (STI) region having a lower depth than the second well region.
US09105718B2
A structure, a FET, a method of making the structure and of making the FET. The structure including: a silicon layer on a buried oxide (BOX) layer of a silicon-on-insulator substrate; a trench in the silicon layer extending from a top surface of the silicon layer into the silicon layer, the trench not extending to the BOX layer, a doped region in the silicon layer between and abutting the BOX layer and a bottom of the trench, the first doped region doped to a first dopant concentration; a first epitaxial layer, doped to a second dopant concentration, in a bottom of the trench; a second epitaxial layer, doped to a third dopant concentration, on the first epitaxial layer in the trench; and wherein the third dopant concentration is greater than the first and second dopant concentrations and the first dopant concentration is greater than the second dopant concentration.
US09105714B2
A method and structure for stabilizing an array of micro devices is disclosed. The array of micro devices is within an array of staging cavities on a carrier substrate. Each micro device is laterally retained between a plurality of staging bollards of a corresponding staging cavity.
US09105710B2
In embodiments, a hybrid wafer or substrate dicing process involving an initial laser scribe and subsequent plasma etch is implemented for die singulation while also removing an oxidation layer from metal bumps on the wafer. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a mask over the semiconductor wafer covering the plurality of ICs, the plurality of ICs including metal bumps or pads with an oxidation layer. The method includes patterning the mask with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the ICs. The method includes plasma etching the semiconductor wafer through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the plurality of ICs and remove the oxidation layer from the metal bumps or pads.
US09105708B2
A wafer processing method divides a wafer along a plurality of crossing streets formed on the front side of the wafer to thereby partition a plurality of regions where a plurality of devices are respectively formed. The method includes a division groove forming step of cutting the back side of the wafer along each street by using a cutting blade to thereby form a division groove along each street with a predetermined thickness left between the bottom of the division groove and the front side of the wafer, a wafer supporting step of attaching the back side of the wafer to a dicing tape supported by an annular frame, and a wafer dividing step of applying an external force to the wafer attached to the dicing tape to thereby divide the wafer into the individual devices along the streets where the division grooves are respectively formed.
US09105702B2
A carbon nanotube field-effect transistor is disclosed. The carbon nanotube field-effect transistor includes a first carbon nanotube film, a first gate layer coupled to the first carbon nanotube film and a second carbon nanotube film coupled to the first gate layer opposite the first gate layer. The first gate layer is configured to influence an electric field within the first carbon nanotube film as well as to influence an electric field of the second carbon nanotube film. At least one of a source contact and a drain contact are coupled to the first and second carbon nanotube film and are separated from the first gate layer by an underlap region.
US09105697B2
A method embodiment includes forming a hard mask over a dielectric layer, patterning the hard mask to form an opening, forming a passivation layer on sidewalls of the opening, and forming a trench in the dielectric layer by extending the opening into the dielectric layer using an etching process. The sidewalls of the opening are etched to form a rounded profile in the hard mask and a substantially perpendicular profile in the dielectric layer.
US09105692B2
A method for fabricating an interconnection structure in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) includes forming an opening in a dielectric layer over a substrate and forming a dummy electrode in a first portion of the opening in the dielectric layer. The method further includes filling a second portion of the opening with a second work-function metal layer, wherein a top surface of the second work-function metal layer is below a top surface of the opening and removing the dummy electrode. The method further includes depositing a first work-function metal layer in the first and second portions, whereby the first work-function metal layer is over the second work-function metal layer in the opening and depositing a signal metal layer over the first work-function metal layer in the first and second portions.
US09105685B2
A method of forming a shallow trench isolation structure is disclosed. Hard mask patterns are formed on a substrate. A portion of the substrate is removed, using the hard mask patterns as a mask, to form first trenches in the substrate, wherein a fin is disposed between the neighboring first trenches. A filling layer is formed in the first trenches. A patterned mask layer is formed on the filling layer. A portion of the filling layer and a portion of the fins are removed, using the patterned mask layer as a mask, to form second trenches in the substrate. A first insulating layer is formed on the substrate filling in the second trenches.
US09105682B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor component that includes a semiconductor body, a first emitter region of a first conductivity type in the semiconductor body, a second emitter region of a second conductivity type spaced apart from the first emitter region in a vertical direction of the semiconductor body, a base region of one conductivity type arranged between the first emitter region and the second emitter region, and at least two higher doped regions of the same conductivity type as the base region and arranged in the base region. The at least two higher doped regions are spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction of the semiconductor body and separated from one another only by sections of the base region.
US09105679B2
In a semiconductor device a barrier region is sandwiched between a drift region and a charge carrier transfer region. The barrier and charge carrier transfer regions form a pn junction. The barrier and drift regions form a homojunction. A mean impurity concentration in the barrier region is at least ten times as high as an impurity concentration in the drift region. A control structure is arranged to form an inversion layer in the drift and barrier regions in an inversion state. No inversion layer is formed in the drift and barrier regions in a non-inversion state.
US09105670B2
A method comprises forming a trench in a substrate. The method also comprises depositing a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure within the trench. The method further comprises planarizing the MTJ.
US09105656B2
The present invention discloses a high voltage device and a manufacturing method thereof. The high voltage device includes: a first conductive type substrate in which isolation regions are formed for defining a device region; agate formed on the first conductive type substrate; a source and a drain formed in the device region and located at both sides of the gate respectively, and doped with second conductive type impurities; a second conductive type well, which is formed in the first conductive type substrate, and surrounds the drain from top view; and a first deep trench isolation structure, which is formed in the first conductive type substrate, and is located in the second conductive type well between the source and the drain from top view, wherein the depth of the first deep trench isolation structure is deeper than the second conductive type well from the cross-sectional view.
US09105651B2
Provided is a method of fabricating a MOS device including the following steps. A gate structure is formed on a substrate and a first spacer is formed at a sidewall of the gate structure. A first implant process is performed to form source and drain extension regions in the substrate. A spacer material layer is formed on the gate structure, the first spacer and the substrate. A treatment process is performed so that stress from the spacer material layer is applied onto and memorized in a channel between two source and drain extension regions. An anisotropic process is performed to remove a portion of the spacer material so that a second spacer is formed. A second implant process is performed to form source and drain regions in the substrate.
US09105641B2
The profile of a via can be controlled by forming a profile control liner within each via opening that is formed into a dielectric material prior to forming a line opening within the dielectric material. The presence of the profile control liner within each via opening during the formation of the line opening prevents rounding of the corners of a dielectric material portion that is present beneath the line opening and adjacent the via opening.
US09105637B2
A method including a first interconnect level including a first electrode embedded in a first dielectric layer, a top surface of the first electrode is substantially flush with a top surface of the first dielectric layer, a second interconnect level including a via embedded in a second dielectric layer above the first dielectric layer, a third dielectric layer in direct contact with and separating the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, an entire top surface of the first electrode is in direct physical contact with a bottom surface of the third dielectric layer, and an interface between the first dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer extending from the top surface of the first electrode to the via, the interface including a length less than a minimum width of the via, a bottom surface of the via is in direct physical contact with the first dielectric layer.
US09105635B2
A metal surface feature, such as a pad, terminating a vertical transition through a substrate, such as an IC package substrate, includes one or more stubs providing high edge surface area to couple with one or more complementary stubs on an adjacent metal surface feature to provide a desired amount of mutual capacitance that may at least partially cancel crosstalk for an overall channel crosstalk (e.g., FEXT) reduction. In embodiments, capacitive coupling of adjacent pads is provided for more than two pads to achieve crosstalk reduction of more than one victim-aggressor pair and/or to achieve crosstalk reduction of more than two aggressors. In embodiments, the pads have a large pitch (e.g., 1000 μm) suitable for interfacing to an interposer or PCB socket, while the gap between the stubs is small (e.g., 15 μm), as limited only by the minimum spacing allowed for metal features on the opposite side of the package employed for interfacing to the IC.
US09105628B1
Through substrate via (TSuV) structures and method of making the same are disclosed herein. In embodiments, TSuV structures are metal filled selectively to avoid forming significant metal overburden on non-via surfaces of the substrate. In certain embodiments, post-fill metal removal/planarization operations are eliminated for reduced process complexity and manufacturing cost. In embodiments, selective metal fill entails selective electroless or electrolytic deposition. Both front side and back side selective deposition methods are described along with features of through substrate via structures made with such methods.
US09105626B2
A bare-die first package includes a patterned insulating layer that exposes first package balls in vias. The vias enable a second package to be positioned on the first package in a proper ball-to-ball alignment without the need for flattening or coining.
US09105624B2
A semiconductor device with a metal gate is disclosed. An exemplary semiconductor device with a metal gate includes a semiconductor substrate, source and drain features on the semiconductor substrate, a gate stack over the semiconductor substrate and disposed between the source and drain features. The gate stack includes a HK dielectric layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of barrier layers of a metal compound formed on top of the HK dielectric layer, wherein each of the barrier layers has a different chemical composition; and a stack of metals gate layers deposited over the plurality of barrier layers.
US09105622B2
A barrel-plating quad flat no-lead (QFN) package structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The method includes: providing a metal substrate for a plurality of QFN components; forming a first photoresist film on a top surface of the substrate; forming a plating pattern in the first photoresist film; forming a first metal layer containing a plurality of inner leads; etching the substrate from the back surface of the substrate to form a plurality of I/O pads; filling sealant in the etched areas; attaching at least one die in a predetermined region on the top surface of the substrate; connecting the die and the inner leads using metal wires; sealing the die, the inner leads, and the metal wires with a molding compound; separating the resulting joint QFN components into individual QFN components; and forming a second metal layer on the back surface of the I/O pads.
US09105621B2
A method for flip chip bonding a GaN device formed on a silicon substrate is described. The method includes providing a silicon substrate having a GaN device thereon, the GaN device comprising at least one gallium-nitride layer near the silicon substrate and remote from the silicon substrate a dielectric layer comprising at least one via configured to electrically contact the at least one gallium-nitride layer, forming a stiffener layer over the GaN device leaving the at least one via exposed, flip chip bonding the GaN device to a submount, wherein the stiffener layer physically contacts the submount and the submount is electrically connected to the at least gallium-nitride layer through the via, and completely removing the silicon substrate exposing the GaN device. Preferably, the material of the stiffener layer comprises silicon, such as silicon, silicon-germanium, or silicon-carbide.
US09105619B2
A semiconductor package that includes a semiconductor die and a heat spreader thermally coupled to the semiconductor and disposed at least partially within the molded housing of the package.
US09105616B2
Disclosed herein are an external connection terminal part, a semiconductor package having the external connection terminal part, and a method for manufacturing the same. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the external connection terminal part includes an insulating material and metal plating pattern formed on both surfaces of the insulating material.
US09105606B2
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a gate structure that is present on a channel portion of a semiconductor substrate that is present between a source region and a drain region. The gate structure includes at least a gate conductor and a gate sidewall spacer that is adjacent to the at least one gate conductor. An upper surface of the gate conductor is recessed relative to an upper surface of the gate sidewall spacer. A multi-layered cap is present on the upper surface of the gate conductor. The multi-layered cap includes a high-k dielectric material and a dielectric cap spacer that is present on a portion of the high-k dielectric material that is present on the sidewall of the gate sidewall spacer.
US09105601B2
Disclosed herein is a power module package including: a substrate including a metal layer, a first insulation layer formed on the metal layer, a first circuit pattern formed on the first insulation layer and including a first pad and a second pad spaced apart from the first pad, a second insulation layer formed on the first insulation layer to cover the first circuit pattern, and a second circuit pattern formed on the second insulation layer and including a third pad formed on a location corresponding to the first pad and a fourth pad spaced apart from the third pad; a semiconductor chip mounted on the second circuit pattern; one end being electrically connected to the semiconductor chip, and another end protruding from the outside, wherein the first pad and the third pad, and the second pad and the fourth pad have different polarities.
US09105598B2
An insulating body embeds an integrated circuit and has a mounting surface, an opposite free surface, and at least one pin exposed along an edge of the mounting surface and electrically connected to a terminal of the integrated circuit. A heatsink configured to dissipate heat produced by the integrated circuit is provided in correspondence of the free surface. The heatsink includes at least one protruding element including a connection portion partly extending in contact with the free surface and partly protruding beyond a boundary of the free surface (the connection portion having a free end being distal from the insulating body), and a mounting portion extending from the free end at least up to a plane of the mounting surface. The heatsink is further electrically connected to a terminal of the integrated circuit chip. The protruding element is placed in correspondence of the at least one pin.
US09105596B2
A motor controller, including: a control box (1), the control box (1) including a bottom, the bottom including a plurality of first bosses (11); a control panel (2); a plurality of IGBT modules (3); and a heat dissipation boss (12), the heat dissipation boss (12) including an end surface. The control panel (2) is disposed and fixed on the first bosses (11) by screws. The IGBT modules (3) are disposed on the control panel (2). The heat dissipation boss (12) is disposed on the bottom of the control box (1) outside the control panel (2). The IGBT modules (3) are attached to and fixed on the end surface of the heat dissipation boss (12) by a locking device.
US09105588B2
A conductive feature on a semiconductor component is disclosed. A first passivation layer is formed over a substrate. A bond pad is formed over the first passivation layer. A second passivation layer overlies the first passivation layer and the bond pad. The second passivation layer has a first opening overlying the bond pad and a plurality of second openings exposing a top surface of the first passivation layer. A buffer layer overlies the second passivation layer and fills the plurality of second openings. The buffer layer has a third opening overlapping the first opening and together exposes a portion the bond pad. The combined first opening and third opening has sidewalls. An under bump metallurgy (UBM) layer overlies the sidewalls of the combined first opening and third opening, and contacts the exposed portion of the bond pad. A conductive feature overlies the UBM layer.
US09105587B2
Methods of forming a semiconductor device structure and sulfur dioxide etch chemistries. The methods and chemistries, which may be plasma chemistries, include use of sulfur dioxide and a halogen-based compound to form a trimmed pattern of a patterning material, such as a resist material, at a critical dimension with low feature width roughness, with low space width roughness, without excessive height loss, and without substantial irregularities in the elevational profile, as compared to trimmed features formed using conventional chemistries and trimming methods.
US09105585B2
An etching method can selectively etch a second region formed of silicon oxide in a target object with respect to a first region formed of silicon in the target object. The etching method includes (a) processing the target object with plasma of a first processing gas containing fluorocarbon and fluorohydrocarbon by generating the plasma of the first processing gas with a microwave, and (b) after the processing of the target object with the plasma of the first processing gas, processing the target object with plasma of a second processing gas containing fluorocarbon by generating the plasma of the second processing gas with the microwave.
US09105583B2
A material can be locally etched with arbitrary changes in the direction of the etch. A ferromagnetic-material-including catalytic particle is employed to etch the material. A wet etch chemical or a plasma condition can be employed in conjunction with the ferromagnetic-material-including catalytic particle to etch a material through a catalytic reaction between the catalytic particle and the material. During a catalytic etch process, a magnetic field is applied to the ferromagnetic-material-including catalytic particle to direct the movement of the particle to any direction, which is chosen so as to form a contiguous cavity having at least two cavity portions having different directions. The direction of the magnetic field can be controlled so as to form the contiguous cavity in a preplanned pattern, and each segment of the contiguous cavity can extend along an arbitrary direction.
US09105579B2
A method for fabricating a vertical gallium nitride (GaN) power device can include providing a GaN substrate with a top surface and a bottom surface, forming a device layer coupled to the top surface of the GaN substrate, and forming a metal contact on a top surface of the vertical GaN power device. The method can further include forming a backside metal by forming an adhesion layer coupled to the bottom surface of the GaN substrate, forming a diffusion barrier coupled to the adhesion layer, and forming a protection layer coupled to the diffusion barrier. The vertical GaN power device can be configured to conduct electricity between the metal contact and the backside metal.
US09105576B2
In some embodiments, a memory array is provided that includes (1) a first memory cell having (a) a first conductive line; (b) a first bipolar storage element formed above the first conductive line; and (c) a second conductive line formed above the first bipolar storage element; and (2) a second memory cell formed above the first memory cell and having (a) a second bipolar storage element formed above the second conductive line; and (b) a third conductive line formed above the second bipolar storage element. The first and second memory cells share the second conductive line; the first bipolar storage element has a first storage element polarity orientation within the first memory cell; the second bipolar storage element has a second storage element polarity orientation within the second memory cell; and the second storage element polarity orientation is opposite the first storage element polarity orientation. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US09105555B2
The present invention provides stretchable, and optionally printable, semiconductors and electronic circuits capable of providing good performance when stretched, compressed, flexed or otherwise deformed. Stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention preferred for some applications are flexible, in addition to being stretchable, and thus are capable of significant elongation, flexing, bending or other deformation along one or more axes. Further, stretchable semiconductors and electronic circuits of the present invention may be adapted to a wide range of device configurations to provide fully flexible electronic and optoelectronic devices.
US09105550B2
Novel imaging arrangements are detailed. One comprises an optical array sensor with plural photo-electron generating regions dispersed at two or more layers in the structure. Two of these photo-electron generating regions are vertically separated by at least 10 microns—making the sensor useful for sensing objects at focal distances ranging from less than ten inches, out to infinity. The photosites may be spectrally selective. One such arrangement includes a top CMOS sensor array that passes 25% or more of the visible incident light into the structure. A second CMOS sensor array can be provided at a bottom of the structure, for receiving light that was not transduced to photo-electrons elsewhere in the sensor. Another arrangement involves movement of a camera sensor, in a repetitive tracking/pop-back motion, to reduce motion blur in individual frames of a video sequence. A great number of other arrangements are also detailed.
US09105548B2
A method and device for imaging or detecting electromagnetic radiation is provided. A device structure includes a first chip interconnected with a second chip. The first chip includes a detector array, wherein the detector array comprises a plurality of light sensors and one or more transistors. The second chip includes a Read Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) that reads out, via the transistors, a signal produced by the light sensors. A number of interconnects between the ROIC and the detector array can be less than one per light sensor or pixel.
US09105547B2
A solid state imaging device including: a plurality of sensor sections formed in a semiconductor substrate in order to convert incident light into an electric signal; a peripheral circuit section formed in the semiconductor substrate so as to be positioned beside the sensor sections; and a layer having negative fixed electric charges that is formed on a light incidence side of the sensor sections in order to form a hole accumulation layer on light receiving surfaces of the sensor sections.
US09105545B2
An imaging device includes a silicon substrate having a photoelectric conversion element therein, and a wiring layer on a front-surface side of the silicon substrate. The photoelectric conversion element performs photoelectric conversion on light which enters the photoelectric conversion element from the front-surface side through the wiring layer, and performs photoelectric conversion on light which enters the photoelectric conversion element from a back-surface side of the silicon substrate without going through the wiring layer.
US09105540B2
Provided is a solid-state imaging device capable of ranging with high precision even when the pixel size is small. The solid-state imaging device includes: an optical waveguide having multiple regions with different refractive indices; and a photoelectric conversion unit for converting light guided through the optical waveguide into an electrical signal. The optical waveguide includes a main waveguide located on a light incident side, and a first sub waveguide and a second sub waveguide connected to the main waveguide and located on the photoelectric conversion unit side. The main waveguide guides light which enters from a first direction and light which enters from a second direction. The first sub waveguide and the second sub waveguide guide light which has entered from the first direction and has passed through the main waveguide and light which has entered from the second direction and has passed through the main waveguide, respectively.
US09105539B2
The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and a manufacturing method of the same, and an electronic apparatus, capable of more reliably suppressing occurrence of color mixing.A trench is formed between PDs so as to be opened to a light receiving surface side of a semiconductor substrate on which a plurality of the PDs, each of which receives light to generate charges, are formed, an insulating film is embedded in the trench and the insulating film is laminated on a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. Then, a light shielding portion is formed so as to be laminated on the insulating film and to have a convex shape protruding to the semiconductor substrate at a location corresponding to the trench. The present technology can be applied to a back surface irradiation type CMOS solid-state imaging device.
US09105524B2
A thin film transistor array substrate including a gate line and a data line formed on a substrate, the gate and data lines crossing each other; a gate insulation film formed between the gate and data lines; a gate electrode formed at an intersection of the gate and data lines; an active layer formed on the gate insulation film to overlap the gate electrode; an etch stop layer formed on the active layer to define a channel region of the active layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the active layer to partially overlap the active layer. The etch stop layer is between the source and drain electrodes, and the source and drain electrodes are spaced apart from the etch stop layer.
US09105517B2
A method for wafer alignment includes forming a first alignment circuit within a first semiconductor wafer; the first alignment circuit is configured to emit an optical signal. Next, the first alignment circuit is activated upon receiving a first activation signal from a wafer bonding tool then the optical signal is sent to a second alignment circuit in a second semiconductor wafer in overlapping relation to the first semiconductor wafer. The second alignment circuit transmits a second activation signal to the wafer bonding tool and consequently the wafer bonding tool initiates an alignment technique between the first and second semiconductor wafers. The alignment technique uses the first and second alignment circuits for optical alignment.
US09105516B2
A polishing apparatus includes: a polishing table for supporting a polishing pad; a substrate holder having a substrate holding surface and a pressure chamber formed by a flexible membrane, the substrate holder being configured to hold a substrate on the substrate holding surface and press the substrate against the polishing pad via pressure in the pressure chamber; a substrate separation assisting device configured to eject a fluid to a contact portion between the substrate and the flexible membrane so as to release the substrate from the substrate holding surface; and a vertically-moving mechanism configured to vertically move the substrate holder. The substrate holder is moved vertically in accordance with an amount of descent of the contact portion and then the substrate separation assisting device ejects the fluid to the contact portion.
US09105503B2
A package-on-package device includes memory chips side-by-side on a package substrate. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a thickness of a semiconductor package. Further, data and command pads of a logic chip may be located to be adjacent to data and command pads of the memory chips. Accordingly, a routing distance between pads can be contracted and thus signal delivery speed can be improved. This makes it possible to improve an operation speed of the device.
US09105501B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, an internal circuit including a plurality of transistors provided over the substrate, an insulating film provided over the substrate, a bonding pad provided over the insulating film, an inductor being formed in the insulating film, the inductor carrying out a signal transmission/reception to/from an external device in a non-contact manner by an electromagnetic induction and being electrically coupled to the internal circuit. The inductor includes a first conducting layer, and the bonding pad includes a second conducting layer. The first conducting layer includes a lower level layer than the second conducting layer in a thickness direction of the substrate. In a plan view, the inductor includes a first portion overlapping the bonding pad and a second portion not overlapping the bonding pad.
US09105495B2
Semiconductor device structures and related fabrication methods are provided. An exemplary semiconductor device structure (100) includes a trench gate structure (114), a lateral gate structure (118), a body region (124) having a first conductivity type, a drain region (125) and first and second source regions (128, 130) having a second conductivity type. The first and second source regions (128, 130) are formed within the body region (124). The drain region (125) is adjacent to the body region (124) and the first source region (128) is adjacent to the trench gate structure (114), wherein a first portion of the body region (124) disposed between the first source region (128) and the drain region (125) is adjacent to the trench gate structure (114). A second portion of the body region (124) is disposed between the second source region (130) and the drain region (125), and the lateral gate structure (118) is disposed overlying the second portion of the body region (124).
US09105493B2
A layout pattern of a high voltage metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor device includes a first doped region having a first conductivity type, a second doped region having the first conductivity type, and an non-continuous doped region formed in between the first doped region and the second doped region. The non-continuous doped region further includes a plurality of third doped regions, a plurality of gaps, and a plurality of fourth doped regions. The gaps and the third doped regions s are alternately arranged, and the fourth doped regions are formed in the gaps. The third doped regions include a second conductivity type complementary to the first conductivity type, and the fourth doped regions include the first conductivity type.
US09105488B2
A semiconductor structure includes a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) including a collector layer located over a substrate, the collector layer including a semiconductor material, and a field effect transistor (FET) located over the substrate, the FET having a channel formed in the semiconductor material that forms the collector layer of the HBT. In some implementations, a second FET can be provided so as to be located over the substrate and configured to include a channel formed in a semiconductor material that forms an emitter of the HBT. One or more of the foregoing features can be implemented in devices such as a die, a packaged module, and a wireless device.
US09105487B2
A super junction semiconductor device includes a substrate layer of a first conductivity type and an epitaxial layer adjoining the substrate layer and including first columns of the first conductivity type and second columns of a second conductivity type. The first and second columns extend along a main crystal direction into the epitaxial layer and have vertical dopant profiles perpendicular to the first surface. The vertical dopant profile of at least one of the first and second columns includes first portions separated by second portions. In each of the first portions a dopant concentration varies by at most 30% of a maximum value within the respective first portion. In the second portions the dopant concentration is lower than in the adjoining first portions. A ratio of a total length of the first portions to a total length of the first and second portions is at least 50%.
US09105483B2
A microelectronic package can include wire bonds having bases bonded to respective ones of conductive elements exposed at a surface of a substrate. The wire bonds may have exterior edge surfaces disposed at an angle between 25° and 90° relative to the bases, and ends remote, e.g., opposite, from the bases, and remote from the ends which are connected to the bases. A dielectric encapsulation layer extends from the substrate and covers portions of the wire bonds such that covered portions of the wire bonds are separated from one another by the encapsulation layer, wherein unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds are defined by portions of the wire bonds that are uncovered by the encapsulation layer, the unencapsulated portions including the ends of the wire bonds.
US09105480B2
Methods of fabricating patterned substrates, including patterned graphene substrates, using etch masks formed from self-assembled block copolymer films are provided. Some embodiments of the methods are based on block copolymer (BCP) lithography in combination with graphoepitaxy. Some embodiments of the methods are based on BCP lithography techniques that utilize hybrid organic/inorganic etch masks derived from BCP templates. Also provided are field effect transistors incorporating graphene nanoribbon arrays as the conducting channel and methods for fabricating such transistors.
US09105479B2
An integrated circuit and a method of making the same. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate including at least one environmental sensor. The integrated circuit also includes a cap layer located on a major surface of the substrate. The integrated circuit further includes at least one elongate channel for allowing access of said sensor to an environment surrounding the integrated circuit.
US09105477B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection structure and an ESD protection circuit are provided. A PMOS transistor is located in a first region of a first N-type well region of a semiconductor substrate. A first doped base region located in a second region of a first N-type well region is N-type doped and connected to an external trigger-voltage adjustment circuit. An NMOS transistor is located in a third region of a first P-type well region. A second doped base region located in the fourth region of the first P-type well region is P-type doped and connected to the external trigger-voltage adjustment circuit. The external trigger-voltage adjustment circuit can be configured to pull up an electric potential of the second doped base region when the power supply terminal generates an instantaneous electric potential difference.
US09105468B2
A 3D memory array having a vertically oriented thin film transistor (TFT) selection device that has a body formed from a wide energy band gap semiconductor is disclosed. The wide energy band gap semiconductor may be an oxide semiconductor, such as a metal oxide semiconductor. As examples, this could be an InGaZnO, InZnO, HfInZnO, or ZnInSnO body. The source and drains can also be formed from the wide energy band gap semiconductor, although these may be doped for better conduction. The vertically oriented TFT selection device serves as a vertical bit line selection device in the 3D memory array. A vertical TFT select device has a high drive current, a high breakdown voltage and low leakage current.
US09105465B2
The present invention relates to a method for minimizing breakage of wafers during or after a wafer thinning process. A method of forming a rounded edge to the portion of a wafer remaining after surface grinding process is provided. The method comprises providing a semiconductor wafer having an edge and forming a recess in the edge of the wafer using any suitable mechanical or chemical process. The method further comprises forming a substantially continuous curved shape for at least the edge of the wafer located above the recess. Advantageously, the shape of the wafer is formed prior to the backside grind process to prevent problems caused by the otherwise presence of a sharp edge during the backside grind process.
US09105462B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor apparatus includes a substrate, a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip and a first converter. The first semiconductor chip includes a first surface and a second surface and is mounted on the substrate, the first surface is opposed to the substrate, the second surface is opposed to the first surface. The second semiconductor chip includes a first area and is stacked on the second surface. The first converter is arranged in the first area, the first converter is configured to perform at least one of analog-to-digital conversion and digital-to-analog conversion and arranged in the first area. A part of the first area does not overlap the first semiconductor chip when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the second surface.
US09105438B2
Applicants have found that energetic neutral particles created by a charged exchange interaction between high energy ions and neutral gas molecules reach the sample in a ion beam system using a plasma source. The energetic neutral create secondary electrons away from the beam impact point. Methods to solve the problem include differentially pumped chambers below the plasma source to reduce the opportunity for the ions to interact with gas.
US09105437B2
Provided is a field emission X-ray tube. The field emission X-ray tube includes a cathode electrode provided on one end of a vacuum container, including a field emission emitter; a gate electrode provided inside the vacuum container to be adjacent to the cathode electrode, including a first opening; a focusing electrode electrically connected to the gate electrode and provided on one surface of the gate electrode to be farther from the cathode electrode than the gate electrode while including a second opening with a greater width than that of the first opening; and an anode electrode provided inside the vacuum container on another end thereof in a direction where the vacuum container is extended. A height of the focusing electrode is identical to the width of the second opening, and wherein the width of the first opening is ⅓ or less of the second opening.
US09105429B2
A thermal protection device includes a heating circuit that develops a first heat magnitude when exposed to a temperature below a threshold and further develops a second heat magnitude greater than the first heat magnitude when exposed to a temperature above the threshold. A thermal circuit breaker is disposed in heat communication with the heating circuit and has component having a holding temperature greater than the threshold and a trip temperature greater than the holding temperature.
US09105424B2
A removable rocker switch unit (1) has a housing (7) and an ON- and an OFF-position removably fixed to the first end of the housing (2). The rocker switch (3) has two pairs of vertically and horizontally aligned connector elements (4). The housing (7) provides two chambers, each chamber for each phase of the rocker switch (7) including a first and a second connecting elements (5, 8) in each chamber arranged to be connected by a fuse (9), a current limiter (9) or both in a series connection and/or by a varistor (9) between connecting elements (5, 8) of the two different phases.
US09105417B2
A method of controlling the opening or the closing of an AC electric circuit in an electricity meter by means of a relay is provided. The method times relay activation commands so as to take account of the inertial delay (di) of the relay, in such a manner that the actual activation command applied to the relay causes the relay actually to take action on the electric circuit when an electrical parameter of said circuit reaches a zero value, in order to limit the formation of electric arcs in the relay.
US09105412B2
A rivet-shaped electrical contact for relay is used as a movable contact for the relay. The rivet-shaped electrical contact includes a heavy-load contact portion formed of a first silver-oxide type contact material; and a light-load contact portion formed of a second silver-oxide type contact material. The hardness of the first silver-oxide type contact material is set to be higher than that of the second silver-oxide type contact material.
US09105409B2
Dye-sensitized solar cell and a manufacturing method for the same are disclosed. Dye-sensitized solar cell according to one embodiment of this document can comprise a first substrate including a first electrode, a photo-absorption layer positioned on the first substrate, and a second substrate including a second electrode, the second substrate positioned on the photo-absorption layer and the photo-absorption layer including a middle layer where a plurality of holes are formed.
US09105408B2
A resin composition constituting dielectric resin films of a film capacitor includes a first atom group including at least one functional group selected from among a methylene group, an aromatic ring and an ether group and having a relatively small molar polarizability, and a second atom group including at least one functional group selected from among a hydroxyl group, an amino group and a carbonyl group and having a relatively large molar polarizability. The resin composition satisfies the condition that a value calculated from the formula (sum of absorption band intensities of first atom group)/(sum of absorption band intensities of second atom group) is 1.0 or more. Herein, as absorption band intensities of the functional groups, peak intensities detected in specific wavenumber ranges are employed.
US09105398B2
A stacked-type solid electrolytic capacitor package structure includes a capacitor unit, a package unit and a conductive unit. The conductive unit includes a plurality of stacked-type capacitors stacked on top of one another and electrically connected with each other, and each stacked-type capacitor has a positive portion and a negative portion. The package unit includes a package body for enclosing the capacitor unit. The conductive unit includes a first conductive terminal and a second conductive terminal. The first conductive terminal has a first embedded portion electrically connected to the positive portion and enclosed by the package body and a first lateral exposed portion connected to the first embedded portion. The second conductive terminal has a second lateral exposed portion, a second front exposed portion, a second rear exposed portion, and a second embedded portion electrically connected to the negative portion and enclosed by the package body.
US09105393B2
An amorphous core transformer is provided which is capable of effectively suppressing influences, fluctuation, displacement or the like of a coil caused by an electromagnetic mechanical force or the like. In an amorphous core transformer 100 including an amorphous core 101, a plurality of coils 102 in which the amorphous core 101 is inserted and a fixing metal frame 110 that assembles the coils 102 and the amorphous core 101, the inter-coil member 106 is interposed between the neighboring coils 102 and the inter-coil member 106 is positioned and held by a positioning member 107. Thus, it is possible to prevent the coils 102 from being deformed or displaced beyond the inter-coil member 106 and maintain the shape of the coils 102.
US09105392B2
An improved structure of transformer's lead frame includes at least a lead frame module consisting of a lead frame main body and a lead frame cover, the lead frame main body has a through hole furnished at the center thereof; a bobbin formed at the side of the circumference of the through hole, and a pair of oppositely configured and reversely salient extension parts furnished at sides of the circumference of the through hole, each of the extension parts is combined to the mid-section of the wire connecting seats that have a plurality of wire connecting posts, a plurality of clip indentations are furnished at intervals and at the mid-section of the edge of the two sides of the corresponding extension parts and at the positions covered by the width of the corresponding extension parts.
US09105389B2
The disclosure is related to a dry transformer, which includes a transformer core with at least two parallel limbs and upper and lower yokes, and at least two hollow cylindrical coils, each arranged as neighbored coils around a limb of the at least two parallel limbs. A cooling system can include at least one wall-like diaphragm in-between the neighbored coils, which is in parallel to the orientation of the limbs.
US09105386B2
A method of setting an air gap between an electromagnetic coil and an armature of an electro-mechanical device to be within a desired range includes applying a sensing signal to the electromagnetic coil and monitoring at least one electrical characteristic of the electromagnetic coil. The at least one electrical characteristic is related to a size of the air gap and the sensing signal. The method further includes moving the armature towards the electromagnetic coil to reduce the size of the air gap and stopping movement of the armature towards the electromagnetic coil when the at least one electrical characteristic indicates the size of the air gap is within the desired range.
US09105384B2
Magnetic structure production may relate, by way of example but not limitation, to methods, systems, etc. for producing magnetic structures by printing magnetic pixels (aka maxels) into a magnetizable material. Disclosed herein is production of magnetic structures having, for example: maxels of varying shapes, maxels with different positioning, individual maxels with different properties, maxel patterns having different magnetic field characteristics, combinations thereof, and so forth. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a second maxel may be printed such that it partially overwrites a first maxel to produce a magnetic structure having overlapping maxels. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, a magnetic printer may include a print head comprising multiple parts and having various properties. In certain example implementations disclosed herein, various techniques for using a magnetic printer may be employed to produce different magnetic structures. Furthermore, description of additional magnet-related technology and example implementations thereof is included herein.
US09105383B2
A ferrite powder according to the present invention includes a laminar structure exhibiting a state where W-type ferrite phases are laminated in an easy direction of magnetization, the W-type ferrite phases including a compound expressed by AM2Fe16O27, where A, M, Fe, and O represent a first metal element (Sr, Ba, Ca, Pb, etc), a second metal element (Fe, Zn, Cu, Co, Mn, Ni, etc), iron, and oxygen, respectively. This ferrite particle is obtained through: a shape forming step that shapes a mixed powder in a magnetic field to obtain a compact, the mixed powder including for example an M-type ferrite particle including a compound expressed by AFe12O19 and a spinel-type ferrite particle (S-type ferrite particle) including a compound expressed by MFe2O4; a calcination step that calcines the compact to obtain a calcined substance; and a milling step that mills the calcined substance.
US09105381B2
Disclosed is an inductor structure. The inductor structure includes a base material, a plurality of bottom spiral conductors disposed on the base material, and at least one top spiral conductor disposed on the at least one bottom spiral conductor, and dielectric material separating the bottom, middle and top spiral conductors. A current path for high frequency operation is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for determining the number of turns in the at least one top spiral conductor and the at least one bottom spiral conductor.
US09105362B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cleaning a nuclear fuel element in a liquid filled space. The fuel element comprises an inner space with an opening. The apparatus comprises a connecting element, which is adapted to be connected to a portion of the fuel element, which comprises said opening and flow means, which is adapted to create, at least during a part of a cleaning process of the fuel element, a liquid flow through inner space of the fuel element via said opening.
US09105359B2
A data processing method is provided for processing data read from a nonvolatile memory. The data processing method includes receiving first bit data from the nonvolatile memory at a memory controller, and performing erasure decoding based on the first bit data and second bit data stored in the memory controller. The first bit data indicates a memory cell that is erasure, and the second bit data is read using a read voltage during previous error correction decoding.
US09105352B2
A semiconductor memory device, including a plurality of word lines, a plurality of pairs of bit lines, a plurality of memory cells coupled to the plurality of word lines and the plurality of pairs of bit lines, a plurality of sense amplifiers each coupled between a corresponding pair of bit lines, a plurality of first driver transistors coupled between the plurality of sense amplifiers and a first power supply line, a plurality of second driver transistors coupled between the plurality of sense amplifiers and a second power supply line, a pair of common data lines, and a plurality of column selection gates each coupled between the corresponding pair of bit lines and the pair of common data lines, wherein the number of the first driver transistors is more than the number of the second driver transistor.
US09105349B2
When data from a portion of a three dimensional NAND memory array is determined to be uncorrectable by Error Correction Code (ECC), a determination is made as to whether data is uncorrectable by ECC throughout some unit that is larger than the portion. If modified read conditions provide ECC correctable data, the modified read conditions are recorded for subsequent reads of the larger unit.
US09105348B2
An electronic device according to the present technique includes a non-volatile memory in which a program is stored, a volatile memory in which the program read from the non-volatile memory is stored, a controller part for controlling operations of the non-volatile memory and the volatile memory, and a power supply controller for controlling power to the controller part and the volatile memory. The controller part includes a power supply part and a signal fixing part. The power supply part is separated from another power supply line, and power for an interface signal of the volatile memory is supplied from the power supply part thereto. A voltage is supplied from the power supply part to the signal fixing part, and the signal fixing part fixes an output logic of the signal supplied to the volatile memory according to the signal from the power supply controller.
US09105344B2
Described herein are technologies related to self-disabling feature of a integrated circuit device to avoid unauthorized access to stored data information.
US09105342B2
Embodiments are directed to detecting a state of a memory element in a memory device, comprising: applying a pulse of a predetermined magnitude and duration to the memory element to induce a transition in the state of the memory element when a polarity of the pulse is opposite to the state, monitoring, by a device, a signal associated with the memory element to detect a presence or absence of a transition in the signal in an amount greater than a threshold, and determining the state of the memory element based on said monitoring.
US09105337B2
Apparatus and methods for adjusting programming for upper pages of memories are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a threshold voltage distribution upper limit is determined after a single programming pulse for lower page programming, and upper page programming start voltages are adjusted based on the determined upper limit of the threshold voltage distribution.
US09105332B2
Provided is a variable resistance element (Rij) the resistance state of which is reversibly changed by applying electrical signals of different polarities; and a current steering element (Dij) in which a first current is larger than a second current, the first current being a current which flows when a voltage of the first polarity having a first value is applied, the first value being less than a predetermined voltage value and having an absolute value greater than zero, the second current being a current which flows when a voltage of the second polarity having an absolute value which is the first value is applied, the second polarity being different from the first polarity, in which Rij and Dij are connected in series such that the polarity of a voltage to be applied to Dij is the second polarity when the resistance state of Rij is changed to high resistance state.
US09105322B2
Provided is a solid state drive suitable for an increase in capacity. The solid state drive includes a flash memory, and a capacitor electrically connected to the flash memory. The capacitor is composed of an electric double layer capacitor including an electrolyte solution containing propylene carbonate.
US09105321B1
A memory device and a driving circuit adopted by the memory device are disclosed. The driving circuit includes a power line, a ground line, and first and second data lines coupled between the power line and the ground line. Each data line comprises 4 driver groups. For the first data line, the first driver group contains an even-stage inverter driver, the second driver group contains the even-stage inverter driver, the third driver group contains an odd-stage inverter driver, and the fourth driver group contains the odd-stage inverter driver. For the second data line, the first driver group contains the odd-stage inverter driver, the second driver group contains the even-stage inverter driver, the third driver group contains the even-stage inverter driver, and the fourth driver group contains the odd-stage inverter driver. The even-stage inverter driver comprises an even number of inverters. The odd-stage inverter driver comprises an odd number of inverters.
US09105320B2
The present disclosure includes memory devices and methods of operating the same. One such device includes an array of groups of memory cells, a group selector configured to select a particular group of memory cells from within the array, and a cell selector configured to select a particular memory cell from within the selected particular group of memory cells.
US09105317B2
Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a memory system including the same, which may calibrate a level of an output voltage in consideration of channel environment and a mismatch in on-die termination (ODT) resistance of a memory controller. The memory system includes a memory controller and a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device is configured to generate a reference voltage based on driving information of the memory controller, and calibrate an output voltage level based on a reference voltage when the semiconductor memory device is electrically connected to the memory controller.
US09105314B2
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to memory operations regarding programming bits into a memory array.
US09105305B2
A Solid-State Disk (SSD) controller enables dynamic higher-level redundancy mode management with independent silicon elements to provide graceful degradation as non-volatile (e.g. flash) memory elements fail during operation of an SSD implemented by the controller. Higher-level error correction provides correction of lower-level uncorrectable errors. If a failure of one of the non-volatile memory elements is detected, then the higher-level error correction is dynamically transitioned from operating in a current mode to operating in a new mode. The transition includes one or more of reducing free space available on the SSD, rearranging data storage of the SSD, recovering/storing failed user data (if possible), and determining/storing revised higher-level error correction information. Operation then continues in the new mode. If another failure of the non-volatile memory elements is detected, then another transition is made to another new mode.
US09105291B1
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first array of transducers having a longitudinal axis defined between outermost transducers thereof, and a second array of transducers having a longitudinal axis defined between outermost transducers thereof. The longitudinal axes of the arrays are not parallel to one another. A method according to another embodiment includes determining an extent of tape dimensional instability. A tilt angle of a first array of transducers is adjusted to perform a readback operation based on the determined extent. The readback operation is performed. The first array of transducers has a longitudinal axis defined between outermost transducers thereof. A second array of transducers has a longitudinal axis defined between outermost transducers thereof. The longitudinal axes of the arrays are not parallel to one another.
US09105288B1
A flexible electrical circuit such as for use in a hard disk drive dual stage actuated (DSA) suspension has a dimple or other raised feature such as a jog formed in an electrical contact pad. The dimple raises up at least part of the contact pad in height so as to reduce the distance that an electrical bridging component or material such conductive epoxy, solder paste, or jet dispensed solder must traverse in order to complete an electrical connection from the contact pad to an adjacent piezoelectric microactuator or other electrical component for which the electrical circuit carries an electrical signal or electrical power. The reduced distance improves the cleanliness and reliability of the electrical and physical bond, and can allow for electrical connection types that would otherwise be impractical.
US09105275B2
The method adapted for a disc burner for sensing/computing the maximum allowable capacity of a disc for overburn purpose where an accurate capacity of the disc based on the outermost-edge wobble signal is obtained, resulting in more data written on the disc with an amount of the data smaller than the physically-recordable maximum capacity of the disc and decreasing the failure rate of data overburning.
US09105274B2
An optical disc library apparatus, on which plural optical discs and plural optical drives are mounted, has the ability to reduce the degradation of recording/reproduction capability owing to the variation of temperature. In the optical disc library apparatus, causes for the quality degradation of the optical discs are analyzed; temperature inside the optical disc library apparatus is measured in order to make recoveries in accordance with the causes; an inspection cycle for inspecting the optical discs is determined on the basis of the measured temperature; and the inspection of recording qualities of optical discs on which data have already been recorded and that are stored in the optical disc library apparatus is performed by the optical drives on the basis of the measured temperature.
US09105260B1
A method including receiving a first set of performance data corresponding to a first plurality of MIDI-based notes in a first rhythmic order. The first plurality of MIDI-based notes may form a first arpeggio, with each of the first plurality of notes having a corresponding first performance data. The method further includes receiving input data indicating a change to the first performance data corresponding to a note in the first plurality of notes, changing the first performance data for the corresponding note using the input data, receiving a second set of performance data corresponding to a second plurality of MIDI-based notes, and applying the changed first performance data to the second performance data. Applying the first changed performance data includes editing the second set of performance data in real-time by replacing the second performance data with the changed first performance data.
US09105255B2
A mutual capacitance touch sensor includes a substrate, and an array of electrode elements formed on the substrate. Each electrode element includes at least one of a first electrode group having at least two drive electrodes and at least one sense electrode, or a second electrode group having at least two sense electrodes and at least one drive electrode. The respective electrodes of the first or second group are arranged to form multiple capacitances over different coupling distances. A controller is operatively coupled to the array of electrode elements, the controller configured to assign an input object as a conductive object when measurements of the multiple capacitances decrease as the input object approaches the touch sensor, and assign the input object as non-conductive object when measurements of at least one of the multiple capacitances increase as the input object approaches the touch sensor.
US09105253B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is disclosed. The LCD device comprises a plurality of pixel units arranged in the form of a matrix. Each of the pixel units comprises: a scan line; a data line; a first storage capacitor; a liquid crystal capacitor; and a first TFT, having a source electrically connected to the data line, a gate electrically connected to the scan line, and a drain electrically connected to the first storage capacitor. Each of the pixel units further comprises a second TFT, having a gate, a source electrically connected to the drain of the first TFT, and a drain electrically connected to the liquid crystal capacitor. The gates of the second TFTs are electrically connected with each other to control the second TFTs to be turned on simultaneously so as to tilt the liquid crystal molecules. Because this shortens the time to wait for scanning of the gates is shortened and increases the time duration in which the backlight can emit light, the number of LEDs can be reduced to lower the cost.
US09105250B2
A method for compressing graphics data, the method comprising sorting a plurality of coverage masks into an order of descending number of samples covered by the plurality of coverage masks. A first coverage mask is identified. The first coverage mask comprises a greatest number of covered samples. Additional coverage masks of the plurality of coverage masks are compacted in the order of descending number of samples covered. Compacting additional coverage masks comprises removing samples from the coverage mask that are covered by any other compacted coverage mask.
US09105248B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an array substrate comprising a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and pixel regions each of which is defined by intersecting one gate line and two neighboring data lines among the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines wherein two thin film transistors (TFTs) are formed at the intersections between the gate line and the two neighboring data lines in each pixel region, a first pixel electrode and a second pixel electrode are alternately arranged in each pixel region. A first thin film transistor of the two thin film transistors is coupled to the first pixel electrode, a second thin film transistor of the two thin film transistors is coupled to the second pixel electrode. The two neighboring data lines participating in defining a pixel region comprise a first data line coupling to the first thin film transistor and a second data line coupling to the second thin film transistor. Voltages having the same absolute value and opposite polarities are applied to the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode respectively via the first thin film transistor and the second thin film transistor.
US09105243B2
A liquid crystal driving circuit controls operations of display areas in a liquid crystal display panel based on a plural pieces of divided image data which are prepared by dividing image data for a single screen in accordance with the display areas in the liquid crystal display panel. In response to an luminance signal corresponding to an LED resolution generated by an LED resolution signal generating circuit based on image data for a single screen which is not divided, the LED driving circuit controls operations of LEDs provided in a backlight unit. With the configuration of at least one embodiment, according to a liquid crystal display device including a backlight, in a case where display image data for a single screen is divided into a plural pieces of divided image data for a plurality of areas of a display screen and images to be displayed in the plurality of areas are controlled based on the plural pieces of divided image data, display quality in a border area of the plurality of areas can be improved.
US09105240B2
Array of light emitting device is provided as the backlight for a display apparatus. A control means and drive method are provided utilizing a multiple scan selection drive scheme and a relaxation operation to eliminate the flicker and to enhance the speed of LC response and contrast ratio.
US09105238B2
A pixel circuit for an active matrix organic light-emitting diode display system includes a first input node, a second input node, first power supply node, a second power supply node, a triode switch circuit, a storage capacitor, an organic light emitting diode, and a resistive element. The triode switch circuit is connected to the first and second input nodes. The storage capacitor is connected between an output of the triode switch circuit and the second power supply node. The organic light-emitting diode is connected between the output of the triode switch circuit and the second power supply node. The first resistive element is connected between the output of the triode switch circuit and the first power supply node.
US09105236B2
Disclosed herein is a light emitting display device capable of minimizing a difference in current driving capability between driving switching elements so as to improve image quality of the display device.
US09105229B2
A display apparatus comprises: a display unit in which each pixel is formed from a self-luminous element, and a controller that reduces a luminance of a pixel which has not changed for a predetermined period of time or more.
US09105224B2
A stereoscopic display device includes: a parallax barrier in which light transmission parts that transmit light and light shielding parts that block light are formed alternately, and a display panel that displays a stereoscopic image. A plurality of pixels for displaying the stereoscopic image are formed on the display panel. Each pixel includes a plurality of color forming subpixels that contribute to the color formation of the stereoscopic image, and a contrasting subpixel that contributes to the contrast of the stereoscopic image. In each pixel, the contrasting subpixel is positioned at both ends of the pixel in a direction in which the light transmission parts and the light shielding parts are arranged alternately. In each pixel that overlaps the light shielding part when the display panel is viewed from front, the contrasting subpixel is positioned at both ends of the light shielding part.
US09105223B2
Provided is a display device and a display method for the display device with which a three-dimensional stereoscopic image with reduced crosstalk and a two-dimensional planar image with high brightness can be displayed. In a display device that is capable of displaying an stereoscopic image by displaying an image for the right eye and an image for the left eye, pixel lines for the right eye for displaying the image for the right eye and pixel lines for the right eye for displaying the image for the left eye are alternately arranged in the vertical direction with black pixel lines for displaying a black image therebetween.
US09105218B2
A display device capable of controlling an external light and a control method are provided. Image display of the display device and the external light are synchronously controlled through a synchronization signal generated by a control module in the display device. The control module generates a first and a second light source control signal during first cycles and second cycles of the synchronization signal. The first and the second light source control signal are used to control the external light to operate at a first operation state and at a second operation state respectively. Through the techniques of controlling the external light by the display device, i.e. turning off or reducing illumination intensity of the external light every other specific period, both influence of the external light on contrast ratio and light reflection from the display device are reduced. Power of the external light is also saved.
US09105217B2
A method and system for accurate and precise representation of color for still and moving images, particularly sequences of digitized color images. Spectral and/or extended dynamic range information is retained as images are captured, processed, and presented during color adjustment. Using this extra spectral information, various methodologies for further presenting or processing the color within these images can be optimized. Presentation-device independence is achieved not by attempting to discover a device-independent intermediate representation, but rather by deferring the binding and mapping of color representation onto a presentation device until its actual use.
US09105214B2
Disclosed herein are a flat panel display which is capable of reducing consumption of standby power, and a method for driving the same. The flat panel display includes a display unit for displaying an image, a driving circuit for controlling driving of the display unit, a receiver for receiving a user command, and a power supply unit for setting a power mode to a driving mode or a standby mode according to a predefined power setting or the user command, and supplying driving power to the display unit, driving circuit and receiver in the driving mode and only to the receiver in the standby mode. When the power mode is set to the standby mode, the power supply unit generates the driving power using a battery contained therein and supplies the generated driving power to the receiver, and cuts off input of external power.
US09105210B2
A system for identifying an AR tag and determining a location for a virtual object within an augmented reality environment corresponding with the AR tag is described. In some environments, including those with viewing obstructions, the identity of the AR tag and the location of a corresponding virtual object may be determined by aggregating individual identity and location determinations from a plurality of head-mounted display devices (HMDs). The virtual object may comprise a shared virtual object that is viewable from each of the plurality of HMDs as existing at a shared location within the augmented reality environment. The shared location may comprise a weighted average of individual location determinations from each of the plurality of HMDs. By aggregating and analyzing individual identity and location determinations, a particular HMD of the plurality of HMDs may display a virtual object without having to identify a corresponding AR tag directly.
US09105208B2
A method and apparatus for graphic processing using multi-threading includes at least one context task, mediation task, and control task executed by a processor. The at least one context task sequentially generates graphic commands. The mediation task mediates processing of the graphic commands. The mediation task may process a particular graphic command on behalf of the at least one context task, and change a processing order of the graphic commands. The control task transmits the graphic commands to a graphic hardware.
US09105204B2
A labeling tag (10, 210, 410, 510, 610, 710), comprising a tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712), and a film (28, 228, 428, 528, 628, 728) disposed over the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712) and bonded to the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712) at multiple locations to define a pocket (16, 216, 416, 516, 616, 716) between the film and the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712). The labeling tag (10, 210, 410, 510, 610, 710) further comprising an elastomer portion (14, 214, 414, 514, 614, 714) secured to the tag portion (12, 212, 412, 512, 612, 712), and having an expandable loop (34, 234, 434, 534, 634, 734).
US09105200B2
Systems, methods and software are provided that simulate or facilitate imaging of medical procedures for purposes of optimized performance, simulation, training and/or accreditation. More particularly, aspects of the invention relate to a system, apparatus and/or subsystems for generating 3D and/or 4D imaging from 2 or more 2D images and/or projections for use in performing, simulating, training, and/or facilitating medical-access procedures. Such procedures use semi-automated and/or fully automated, network and/or web-based, 3D and/or 4D imaging of anatomy and corresponding medical devices or treatment for performing, training, rehearsing and/or conducting medical procedures, using multiple (e.g., >2 and/or >3) standard 2D x-ray and/or other radiation or sound imaging projections without a need for special hardware and/or systems (e.g., rotational runs) and/or pre-processing/analysis of a captured image data.
US09105193B2
The present invention is related to a motion platform and aircraft simulator comprising the same. According to the invention, a motion platform is provided using at least three uprights and a sub-frame connected to the uprights by connecting members. A cabin in which a person can be accommodated is connected to the sub-frame. By restricting the way the various components are capable of moving relative to each other a motion platform is obtained which is able to offer the desired simulation of motion such as translational movement, pitch, roll, and yaw of the cabin.
US09105183B2
Presented herein is a system and method for graphically displaying aircraft traffic information. The system comprises an Operating Company Symbology database and a display system coupled to a processor that is configured to (1) receive traffic information; (2) determine the Operating Company Symbology from the received traffic information; (3) receive a selection of an aircraft or traffic information including at least one of the Flight ID, Operating Company, or Surface Traffic; (4) graphically render aircraft symbology and the associated traffic information on the display.
US09105179B2
The communication method applies to a home-automation installation comprising at least one sending element, a self-powered receiving element and an element for substituting for the receiving element. The method is such that, when the receiving element is in a sleep mode, the substitution element receives and records information sent by the sending element for the attention of the receiving element and such that, when the receiving element is no longer in sleep mode, the substitution element sends the information for the attention of the receiving element.
US09105177B2
Disclosed is a mobile device, a control method thereof, a message sending apparatus and a message sending method. The mobile device includes a wireless communication unit which performs wireless communication via a wireless network; a signal processing unit which processes a signal transmitted/received by the wireless communication unit; a display unit which displays an image based on the signal processed by the signal processing unit; and a control unit which receives a message from a counterpart device, displays the received message on the display unit, remotely accesses a remote device, and controls the remote device to allow the mobile device to access information stored in the remote device.
US09105175B1
A water sensor and alarm system for storage water heaters comprising an alarm housing, embedded battery, annunciator, and two bottom exposed fluid sensors separated by a stand-off. The system is designed for prompt owner notification when fluid is detected adjacent to a hot water heater tank. Notification is audible, and optionally may be in the form of remote notification, such as but not limited to a signal transmitted to the home security device connected to a 24-hour security monitoring network, or a smart phone, tablet, or other smart device. The alarm housing can be easily and quickly mounted to the side of the water heater tank. Ultra low power consumption is an important benefit provided by the alarm system, which continues during low battery warnings and water detection alarming. Also, the audible alarm may optionally include a boost circuit to amplify annunciator loudness, but at a tradeoff with conserving power.
US09105166B1
An anti-theft bracket for interactively displaying electronic gadgets. An electronic sensor is attached to the back of the gadget. An annular base surmounts the sensor. A circumferential channel is disposed on a lateral surface of the annular base. At least one arm is slidingly received within the circumferential channel, whereby the arm can move radially about the annular base. A clamp is in sliding communication with the arm forming an arm-clamp assembly. The overall length of the assembly is adjustable by sliding the clamp along the arm. A clamping member is attached to the clamp. A corner of the gadget is received within the space between the clamping member and the clamp, thereby securing the gadget within anti-theft device. The distance between the clamping member and the clamp may be adjustable to accommodate the thickness of the gadget.
US09105161B2
A gaming system provides a bonus gaming session that is activated during a play of a five-card draw poker base game when a predetermined plurality of the first set of five cards dealt meets a predetermined criteria, for example at least four of the five cards dealt and held by the player share a common suit. When activated, the gaming system repeats plays of the game in the bonus gaming session until a winning draw poker outcome has been generated. In the bonus gaming session, the card that is not co-suited with the plurality of the held first set of cards is discarded and randomly replaced until a winning five-card hand is generated, upon which the gaming device provides an award. The gaming system provides a correspondingly larger award for a winning flush hand for each additional re-drawn fifth card required to achieve a winning five-card flush hand.
US09105157B2
A gaming machine is provided that provides games in which a plurality of symbols are selected from a group of symbols and displayed on a display and, if a winning combination occurs, the gaming machine awards an award. The gaming machine comprises a user interface in communication with a game controller. The game controller is configured to provide a first game in which an event counter is maintained by the game controller and modified by the game controller each time a counter event occurs, and to provide a second game in which the game controller modifies the group of symbols to include a number of specific symbols. The number of specific symbols is dependent on the value of the event counter.
US09105149B2
A cylindrical reel for a slot machine, which includes a plurality of symbols having different patterns is provided. A reel according to an embodiment includes: a reel frame configured to receive rotational force from a rotational axis of a motor; a reel stripe disposed on an entire circumference of the reel frame and having a front surface including a group of the symbols thereon; a symbol piece including: a first surface having a flange shape; and a second surface protruding from the first surface and including one of the plurality of symbols thereon, wherein the reel stripe has at a least one opening exposing the second surface of the symbol piece, and the first surface of the symbol piece is attached to a rear surface of the reel stripe.
US09105136B2
To improve the visibility of a sequence of a plurality of images corresponding to a sequence of a plurality of pieces of information. According to the contents of a scroll operation, a display controller (1) displays to move each of a sequence of a plurality of card images (81 to 87) along a first direction and displays to move back and forth along a second direction. Furthermore, the display controller (1) determines a superimposing order for displaying each of a sequence of a plurality of the card images (81 to 87) according to a displacement of a display position of each of the sequence of the plurality of card images (81 to 87) in the second direction, and displays on a display unit (17) each of the sequence of a plurality of card images to be superimposed in accordance with the order.
US09105134B2
In one embodiment, a method includes displaying, in two dimensions, a business analytics report containing various data elements, wherein each data element has data associated therewith. The method further enables generation of a three-dimensional representation of the business analytics report by adding a time axis to the data elements. Once the three-dimensional representation is generated, the method displays, on the time axis, update points identifying when data associated with the data elements was updated. In some cases, depending on the length of the time axis, several update points may be displayed for each data element. A corresponding computer program product and apparatus are also described.
US09105126B2
Computationally implemented methods and systems include acquiring one or more first augmentations for inclusion in a first augmented view of a first scene, displaying the first augmented view including the one or more first augmentations, and transmitting augmentation data associated with the one or more first augmentations to facilitate remote display of one or more second augmentations in a second augmented view of a second scene, the second scene having one or more visual items that are also included in the first scene. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
US09105120B2
A display system of electronic manual which allows easy identification of wirings. The display system of electronic manual is provided with a storage device in which stored is an electronic manual provided with a wiring diagram described in a vector image description language and constituted so as to allow reading by a browser program. In response to user's selection of a component on the wiring diagram displayed on a display, a wiring display system highlights the selected component. In response to user's operation of selecting the highlight, the wiring display system highlights wirings extending from the selected component. Moreover, while the wiring is highlighted, in response to user's operation of selecting gray display, the wiring display system switches the elements other than the selected component and the wirings extending from the component on the wiring diagram displayed on the display to be displayed in weak gray.
US09105110B2
A method of digitally simulating an imaging effect on a base digital image being displayed by a computing device, which is representative of a print or document including the image effect, is provided. In one aspect, the imaging effect is displayed in association with the base digital image as a function of the position of the display of the computing device relative to a first or normalized position of the display. In another aspect, the imaging effect is displayed in association with the base digital image as a function of the position of an object being captured by a camera of the computing device. In both instances, the imaging effect becomes more visible as the display of the device moves further from its first position, or the object captured by the camera moves from its original position.
US09105108B2
A system for making a panoramic image includes a digital camera (20) for capturing a first image (30) defining a first overlap region (115) and a second image (40) defining a second overlap region (215). Two points (150, 151) in the first overlap region are identified and a first vector (175) overlap region connecting the two points is defined. Two points (250, 251) in the second overlap region which correspond to the two points in the first overlap region are identified and a second vector (275) of the two points is defined. If the points in the first vector match points in the second vector, determine if the first and second vectors are parallel. If the vectors are not parallel, rotate the second vector image until the second vector is parallel to the first vector.
US09105101B2
An image tracking device and an image tracking method thereof are provided. The image tracking device includes an image capture interface, a storage means, and a processor means. The storage means has a multi-dimensional storage space for storing a plurality of first images, each dimension of the multi-dimensional storage space being corresponding to a feature-related variance of a multi-dimensional variance. The processor means is configured to execute the following operations: marking a second image in the picture frame; calculating a multi-dimensional variance between the second image and each of the first images separately; determining whether the second image contains the object according to the multi-dimensional variance calculated; and if the second image is determined as one containing the object, storing the second image as one of the first images, in a specific subspace of the multi-dimensional storage space according to the multi-dimensional variance calculated.
US09105098B2
A system and computer program product for performing visual surveillance of one or more moving objects include registering one or more images captured by one or more cameras, wherein registering the one or more images comprises region-based registration of the one or more images in two or more adjacent frames, performing motion segmentation of the one or more images to detect one or more moving objects and one or more background regions in the one or more images, and tracking the one or more moving objects to facilitate visual surveillance of the one or more moving objects.
US09105090B2
A system for correcting distortion effects in a distorted image includes a memory controller for reading pixels (corresponding to a subset region in a destination image) of the distorted image from a system memory to local memory. A look-up table stores an offset and interpolation weight for each pixel, and an ALU computes, using stored values only in the local memory, values of each of the pixels in the region in the destination image.
US09105088B1
Implementations relate to blurring an image while preserving details in the image. In some implementations, a method includes receiving an input image and creating a blurred image from the input image by averaging pixel intensities of a plurality of pixels in the input image. The method creates a transparency mask from the input image, where the transparency mask indicates transparency values for pixel positions of the input image based on edges detected in the input image. The pixel intensities of the input image and pixel intensities of the blurred image are composited based on the transparency values of the transparency mask to create an output image having greater blur than the input image in areas outside the detected edges.
US09105086B2
Method and device for generating a super-resolution version of a low resolution input data structure
The invention relates to an improved robustness in upscaling the resolution of regularly sampled multi-dimensional signals, where a single low-resolution signal is available. These methods are referred to as example-based super-resolution or single-image super-resolution. A method for super-resolving a single image comprises three stages. First, an interpolation-based up-scaling of the input image is performed, followed by a Local De-noising step in contour regions. The second stage comprises extrapolation through cross-scale block matching, wherein an extrapolated high-frequency band is obtained that is de-noised through regularization in the same contour regions. The third stage comprises adding the contributions of the low-frequency band of the high-resolution image and the extrapolated high-frequency band.
US09105083B2
Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09105080B2
A system (1) for calibrating an image capture device (2) mounted on a motor vehicle for offset from an ideal position and an ideal angular orientation while the vehicle is moving comprises selecting an image (12) in a captured image frame (10) of a stationary object relative to the motor vehicle, which is capable of being tracked through a plurality of successively captured image frames (14a,14d), predicting the locations at which the target image (12b) should appear in the respective successively captured image frames (14a,14d), comparing the actual location of the target image (12a) in the respective successively captured image frames (14a,14d) with the respective predicted locations (12b) and determining calibration values for the camera (2) from the results of the comparison, in the event that the actual (12a) and predicted locations (12b) of the target image in the respective image frames (14a,14d) do not coincide.
US09105079B2
A method may be implemented for obtaining calibration data for use in calibrating an optical proximity correction model. The method may include capturing an image for each portion of a plurality of portions of a wafer to obtain captured images. The method may further include assembling at least portions of the captured images to form an assembled image. The method may further include mapping layout data of the wafer with the assembled image. The method may further include selecting portions of the assembled image based on the layout data of the wafer. The method may further include obtaining data associated with the portions of the assembled image as the calibration data.
US09105078B2
Systems and methods for local tone mapping are provided. In one example, an electronic device includes an electronic display, an imaging device, and an image signal processor. The electronic display may display images of a first bit depth, and the imaging device may include an image sensor that obtains image data of a higher bit depth than the first bit depth. The image signal processor may process the image data, and may include local tone mapping logic that may apply a spatially varying local tone curve to a pixel of the image data to preserve local contrast when displayed on the display. The local tone mapping logic may smooth the local tone curve applied to the intensity difference between the pixel and another nearby pixel exceeds a threshold.
US09105074B2
A global bit stream comprising at least a first and a second bit stream is generated using an original visual bit stream. The first bit stream is generated by compressing the original visual bit stream using a JPEG-LS compression technique with a lossy factor ‘n’. The second bit stream is generated by compressing a difference bit stream using a JPEG-LS lossless compression technique, wherein the difference bit stream comprises a difference between the original visual bit stream and the first bit stream. The visual display is recreated using a reconstructed bit stream after receiving the global bit stream over a channel, wherein the reconstructed bit stream is generated by decompressing at least the first bit stream using a JPEG-LS lossless compression technique. The second bit stream is decompressed using JPEG-LS lossless compression technique and the quality of the display may be enhanced by adding the decompressed second bit stream.
US09105069B2
A system may include a network interface, a user interface, and a recommendation engine. The user interface may be configured to receive a company characteristic of a company profile of a company posted to the social network and a company bid from an entity related to company to the social network. The recommendation engine may be configured to determine an aggregate company score for the user based on a relevance of the company characteristic to a user characteristic and the company bid. The network interface may be configured to transmit a message related to the company to the user based, at least in part, on the aggregate company score.
US09105065B2
A computer implemented method and system that implements a benefit product that provides a guaranteed income amount for a participant, the benefit product generates the guaranteed income amount by participating in a plurality of guaranteed income products (GI products). The system may comprise: (1) an income aggregator portion; (2) a savings recordkeeper portion that maintains an investment account associated with the benefit product, the investment account into which the payments to the benefit product pass; and (3) at least one income recordkeeper portion, each income recordkeeper portion administering one or more GI products, each income recordkeeper portion: determining, based on an attributable allocation to a particular GI product, a guaranteed income associated with such particular GI product, each guaranteed income being an amount, attributable to the particular GI product, that is payable to a participant. The income aggregator performs allocation processing, the allocation processing being performed based on funds transfer data, the funds transfer data including (1) first funds transfer data that reflects activity of the investment account and benefit product associated therewith, and (2) second funds transfer data that reflects activity of a respective GI product.
US09105057B2
A method of correlating voice calls with received electronic messages includes sending an electronic message associated with a second party to a first party; subsequently receiving a voice call from the first party by the second party; automatically determining whether the voice call resulted from the electronic message, based on electronically stored information about the sending of the electronic message and about the subsequently received voice call; and if it is determined that the voice call resulted from the electronic message, flagging the voice call to have a different status from voice calls not determined to have resulted from an electronic message.
US09105054B2
In one example, we describe methods and systems for automated online merchant charity donations. In one embodiment, a donation agent interacting with a merchant website can offer an online user an option to allocate at least a portion of a payment for or price of a purchase, associated with a transaction made by the user via the merchant website, to be donated by a merchant corresponding to the merchant website on behalf of the user to a charity of the user's choosing. If the online user exercises the option, the donation agent can calculate an amount of the donation to be made and store the calculated donation amount in a database. The donation agent can disburse the calculated donation amount to the charity selected by the customer. The method also works for the off-line model. The system and method describe authentication and the way the charity funding is distributed, with respect to a calendar date and a specific event.
US09105046B1
Application content information is obtained from a mobile device application server. An ad server log includes at least application identifiers for applications that have requested advertisements from an ad network. If identifying information included in the application content information is the same as an application identifier found in the ad server log, the application content information is analyzed to determine whether the corresponding mobile device application is appropriate to be served an advertisement, based on predetermined content criteria. An application registry includes a database of mobile device applications that are registered in the ad network. The application registry record for a mobile device application is updated to indicate the determined appropriateness of the mobile device application corresponding to the analyzed application content information.
US09105045B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for altering an experience of a user, based on information associated with a party to a communication associated with the user. In use, a communication associated with a user is identified. Additionally, at least one other party to the communication is identified. Further, information associated with the at least one other party is collected. Further still, an experience of the user is altered, based on the information.
US09105044B2
A computer server system provides an online community for customers of a business entity. A first level feedback module provides visual feedback to each user in a user interface for the online community, which quantifies each user's interaction with the community. A notification module sends an electronic message to a user when the user's interaction is below a predefined threshold rate. A second level feedback module calculates second level metrics that quantify other users' evaluations of postings to the online community by a first user. Visual feedback of the second level metrics is provided. A third level feedback module awards a designated achievement badge to users whose interaction metrics exceed predefined threshold values, and displays the achievement badge in the user interface. The system promotes a high level of user participation in the online community and thereby contributes to a low cost of technical support provided by the business entity.
US09105034B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for enhancing computer interaction challenge-response tests (e.g., Completely Automatic Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart, or CAPTCHA). Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for introducing advertising in such challenge-response tests, such that users are presented with opportunities to learn about or reinforce brands. In a typical embodiment, when a user attempts to access content (e.g., web content), the user will be presented with a CAPTCHA test. The CAPTCHA test typically includes an advertisement (e.g., logo, label, etc.) and an associated question for the user to answer. Along these lines, the advertisement is generally selected based on the user's demographics (e.g., interests, gender, age, etc.). If the user successfully responds to the question and/or responds within a certain amount of time, a reward can be determined (e.g., access to the content, preferred placement in a queue for computing resources, etc.). In one embodiment, a cumulative points total can be maintained for the user based on cumulative responses to CAPTCHA tests. In this embodiment, the CAPTCHA tests presented to the user can have increasing levels of difficulty with corresponding rewards.
US09105033B2
A method and system receives a first data feed from at least one third-party computerized device by way of a computerized network connected to the customer computerized device. This first data feed is displayed through the display item. The graphic user interface receives customer interaction information when the customer interacts with the display item. The method transmits such customer interaction information to the third-party computerized device by way of the customer computerized network. The customer computerized device then receives a second data feed from the third-party computerized device by way of the computerized network. The second data feed is different than the first data feed and the second data feed is based on the customer interaction information and/or the group usage statistics.
US09105030B2
A gift system for selecting and purchasing products or services at a fixed price, including: a box containing a plurality of samples for presentation of a product or service of a single type, each product or service for which a sample is contained having an identical fixed price paid by the acquirer of the system; and a voucher for ordering a product or service chosen from among those for which a sample is contained in the box.
US09105027B2
Apparatuses, methods, and systems pertaining to the verification of portable consumer devices for 3-D Secure Systems are disclosed. In one implementation, a verification token is coupled to a computer by a USB connection so as to use the computer's networking facilities. The verification token reads identification information from a user's portable consumer device (e.g., credit card) and sends the information to a validation entry over a communications network using the computer's networking facilities. The validation entity applies one or more validation tests to the information that it receives from the verification token. If a selected number of tests are passed, the validation entity sends a 3-D Secure datum to the verification token. The verification token may enter the 3-D Secure datum into a hidden field of a Purchase Authentication Page appearing on the computer's display.
US09105023B2
Embodiments of the systems, devices, and methods described herein generally facilitate transmission and reception of activation data for use in activating a mobile device to operate with a server. In accordance with one example embodiment, an activation barcode is received from a server by reading an image comprising the activation barcode via a computing device, wherein the image is displayed on a display associated with the computing device, and wherein the activation barcode encodes activation data comprising an activation password. The activation barcode is decoded at the mobile device to obtain the activation password, and an authentication is performed using the activation password after a device activation request is transmitted to the server, wherein the mobile device is activated to operate with the server if the authentication is successful.
US09105022B1
A financial institution can provide a best price guarantee to debit or credit card account holders. By providing a consolidated system including automatic price monitoring of purchased products and automatic claim form generation upon identifying a lower price, the consumer is relieved of the burden typically associated with conventional price matching. An exemplary method comprises receiving, by a server, purchase information from a financial customer, wherein the purchase information comprises a purchase price and purchased product description and wherein the customer has a credit or debit card issued by the financial institution; storing, by the server, the purchase information in a first database; locating, by the server, from a second database, stored product information corresponding to the received purchased product description, wherein the stored product information comprises a lowest price datum; comparing, by the server, the lowest price datum to the purchase price; and, if the lowest price datum is less than the purchase price, generating a claim form for the financial customer.
US09105019B1
A method for depositing funds into a financial account. The method includes obtaining a deposit request by a point of sale (POS) terminal, where the deposit request includes a virtual account number and a deposit amount, where the deposit amount matches an amount of funds received; identifying a financial account number associated with the virtual account number; and depositing funds matching the deposit amount into a financial account corresponding to the financial account number.
US09105016B2
A method, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium are. In one embodiment, a method is provided for receiving tracking data regarding a delivery item, determining, based on the tracking data, whether supplemental content is associated with the delivery item, and automatically scheduling delivery of the supplemental content when supplemental content is associated with the delivery item.
US09105015B2
Scheduling events with multiple invitees includes: identifying a plurality of invitees for an event in a calendar system having at least one processor; searching an availability associated with each of the invitees to determine a number of periods of availability in the calendar system, at least some of the invitees being available during each period of availability; creating a separate instance of the event in the calendar system for each identified period of availability; and for each invitee available during at least one of the periods of availability, assigning the invitee to one said instance of the event for which that invitee is available with the calendar system.
US09105012B2
Account information associated with a mobile device is obtained through a mobile wireless communication network from a database of subscriber account records for mobile wireless communication service subscribers. The account information may identify the previous mobile device, the mobile device, and/or length of usage of the mobile device. Advice information is selected from a database of advice regarding operation of the mobile devices such that the selected advice information is adapted for the account, and the selected advice information is then provided via a user interface element of the mobile device. Additionally, multiple levels of search related phrases, in which the phrases at each level correspond to a user-selected phrase at the previous level, are presented via a user element of a mobile device.
US09105010B2
Techniques for sharing user interactions are disclosed. A user can effectively share content with a group of users in as little as one action by using a sharing control associated with the content. The sharing control can be implemented using links or voice activated commands. Other users can specify interest in user particular events and be automatically alerted to the occurrence of the events. The shared content may include many types of content such as news, alerts, messages, tables and/or charts. The sharing control can be displayed as a part of a web page, or in a display of a local application that is not a browser. The local application can be installed on a wireless PDA.
US09105003B2
An electronic system for managing items in a supply chain. The system generally includes item information capturing means, such as a handheld device, adapted for capturing identification information associated with an item identified for supply chain management; mode specifying means adapted for receiving user input representative of a selection of at least one of a plurality of capturing modes, wherein each capturing mode is adapted for creating associated information by associating the captured item information with supply chain information; and transferring means adapted for transferring the associated information to an electronic storage device.
US09104990B2
An article vending machine in a network of article vending machines capable of exchanging an inoperable rental article received from a user for an operable replacement article. The article dispensing machine checks customer identification information against one or more customer rental criteria to determine if the customer is eligible to exchange an inoperable article for an operable one. The article vending machine searches for an identical replacement article within an inventory of the machine itself and within inventories of the networked article vending machines. Alternatively, the article vending machine may provide a refund for the inoperable article.
US09104984B2
A method and an arrangement for use in a device, such as a communication device, may be configured to generate an assembly based on one or more images. The system may include an image retrieval portion for retrieving the one or more images from an image source, an arrangement for fetching data corresponding to the one or more images, and converting the data to presentable information, and an arrangement for generating the assembly including the one or more images and the presentable information provided with description.
US09104974B2
An apparatus and a method for transmitting and receiving a spike event in a neuromorphic chip. A transmission apparatus of the neuromorphic chip outputs addresses sequentially and repeatedly to an address bus, and when a spike generated by a neuron is detected by the transmission apparatus, outputs a strobe at a first time when one of the addresses being output sequentially and repeatedly becomes identical to an address of the neuron that generated the spike. A receiving apparatus of the neuromorphic chip inputs an address through the address bus at a strobe detection time when the strobe is detected by the receiving apparatus.
US09104972B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for classifying resources using scores from multiple classifiers. In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving identifying a collection of documents to classify; receiving a plurality of classifiers for scoring a document with respect to a specified property; for each document in the collection, applying each of the plurality of classifiers, each classifier generating a score associated with a likelihood that the document has the specified property, combining the scores from each classifier including applying a multiple classifier model that uses monotonic regression to combine the plurality of classifiers, and classifying the document as having the specified property based on the combined score.
US09104967B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for processing abstract rules with limiting criteria. In one embodiment, limiting criteria may specify requirements for characteristics of sets of input or output values of processing abstract rules. For example, limiting criteria may specify requirements for statistical validity of a set of input values, such as a minimum record count. In one aspect, limiting criteria may include input criteria applied to input data prior to being processed in a rule engine. In another aspect, limiting criteria may include output criteria applied to an output of a rule engine. In the event that limiting criteria are not satisfied, the processing of the abstract rule may be terminated.
US09104956B2
An image processing apparatus includes a first storage device, a second storage device, a rendering unit, and a data handling unit. The rendering unit is configured (a) to generate intermediate data from image data, store the intermediate data in at least one of the first storage device and the second storage device, and (b) to generate bitmap image data on the basis of the intermediate data. The data handling unit is configured to select one of the first storage device and the second storage device as a storing place of the intermediate data on the basis of free area sizes of the first storage device and the second storage device and data transfer rates of the first storage device and the second storage device.
US09104954B2
The invention relates to a radiofrequency device comprising a passive antenna tuned or intended to be tuned in frequency with at least one transponder, said transponder comprising an integrated circuit chip linked to an antenna interface defining an electromagnetic coupling surface periphery, said passive antenna comprising a main loop formed of turns comprising at least one portion of surface (B) inside the loop, at least one recess of the main loop, oriented from the interior to the exterior of the main loop, said portion of surface (B) being located in said recess so as to effect an electromagnetic coupling with a transponder circuit; the device is distinguished in that it comprises two recesses receiving or intended to receive a transponder each.
US09104932B2
Systems and methods read machine readable symbols, the systems and methods capture multiple images of the symbol and can locate symbol data region(s) from an image even when the symbol data is corrupted and not decodable. Binary matrices are generated of the symbol data regions obtained from the multiple images and can be accumulated to generate a decodable image. A correspondence can be established among multiple images acquired on the same symbol when the symbol has moved from one image to the next.
US09104925B2
In one embodiment a UHF RFID reader is adapted to operate in either a reader mode or in a tag emulation mode, wherein in the reader mode the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one RFID tag to access the at least one tag's memory contents and in the tag emulation mode the UHF RFID reader communicates with at least one other UHF RFID reader to share memory content with the at least one other UHF RFID reader. Furthermore, an RFID network and a method for communication in an RFID network are described.
US09104915B2
Portable devices are equipped with a variety of technologies by which existing functionality can be improved, and new functionality can be provided. One claim recites a method comprising: receiving data representing imagery that depicts an object, the imagery captured by a portable device, the portable device comprising a camera and a microphone; determining one or more descriptors relating to the object in the imagery, the determining including collecting descriptors associated with other imagery or audio; processing the descriptors in discerning whether the imagery depicts an object that is likely of a first class or a second class or a third class, the processing being performed by one or more electronic processors configured to perform such act; and taking an action dependent on whether the imagery depicts an object that is likely of a first class or a second class or a third class. Of course, other claims and combinations are provided as well.
US09104902B2
A system and method for registering three-dimensional images with two-dimensional intra-operative images includes segmenting (24) a tubular structured organ in a three-dimensional image of the organ, and projecting (26) the three-dimensional image of the organ into two-dimensional space to provide a projected image. A medical instrument depicted in a two-dimensional image of the medical instrument is segmented (28). A similarity score is computed between the projected image and a shape of the medical instrument depicted in the two-dimensional image to determine a best match. The projected image is registered (30) to the two-dimensional image based on the best match.
US09104898B2
For utilizing force information to improve fingerprint reading, a fingerprint scanner generates a digital representation of a fingerprint for a finger in contact with the fingerprint scanner. A pressure sensor is in physical communication with the fingerprint scanner and measures a finger force of the finger.
US09104890B2
A data processing device includes a first register unit, a second register unit and a data handling unit. The first register unit generates an address signal based on a first control signal. The address signal points to a region in an external storage device where first data is stored. The second register unit receives the first data output from the external storage device, generates second data based on the first data and a second control signal, and selectively generates a detectable error in the second data according to an operating mode when a fault is injected into the first data. A bit number of the detectable error in the second data is larger than a bit number of the fault injected into the first data. The data handling unit selectively processes the second data depending on whether the detectable error is generated.
US09104886B1
Systems and approaches are provided for automating privacy control for a computing device based on a privacy or security context of the device. The privacy or security context of the computing device can be determined by analyzing sensor data or other input data captured by the device. The sensor and other input data can provide information such as a location of the computing device or the presence of other persons within the vicinity of the device to indicate whether the user is situated within a private or secure setting or a public or unsecure setting. A privacy or security control can be updated based on the determined privacy or security context, such as modifying a manner of displaying a pin or password during entry, elements of a home screen of the computing device, or preview content of user applications.
US09104874B2
An exemplary technique is provided for detecting a hijacking of computer resources, located in an internal network implementing security criteria and confidentiality criteria specific to the internal network, connected to an external network with no security criteria and confidentiality criteria, through a connection managed by a service provider. The technique includes storing, at the internal network, a connection parameter implemented by the computer resources to communicate with the external network; processing, at the internal network, the stored connection parameter based on an irreversible function to generate a unique code that corresponds to the stored connection parameter but which does not allow the identification of the stored connection parameter from the corresponding generated unique code; and sending, at the internal network, the generated unique code to a server located on the external network so that the server can analyze an activity of the computer resources from the unique code and detect any hijacking of the computer resources.
US09104872B2
An enhanced whitelisting module associated within a system whitelists unknown files for execution on the system. The whitelisting module may oversee the computation of a hash of a file loaded into the memory and comparison of the hash to hashes within a hash table generated from clean files located on a clean system. The whitelisting module may communicate to a device internal and/or external to the system to retrieve the hash table of clean files. In certain embodiments, a rolling hash (or other piecewise hash) may be used to determine the location and/or extent of the differences between a modified file and a clean file.
US09104870B1
An example of candidate malware is data that potentially includes one or more malicious elements. Candidate malware is received. The received candidate malware is analyzed using a virtual machine. A determination is made that the candidate malware has attempted to perform an anti-virtual machine action. Output that indicates that the candidate malware is malicious is generated.
US09104862B2
A computing device includes a central processing resource, memory, a network interface, and a security control module. The security control module is operable to determine to change at least a portion of a program of the computing device. When the program, or portion thereof, is to be changed, the security control module sends a request to a software generation module for a new version of the program, or portion thereof. The security control module then receives the new version of the program, or portion thereof, and replaces, within the memory, the program, or portion thereof, with the new version of the program, or portion thereof. When the program is evoked, the central processing resource uses the new version of the program, or portion thereof, such that execution of the program is changed, which changes internal operation of the computing device thereby reducing adverse impact of malicious software.
US09104854B2
Disclosed is a method for visual verification a Captcha's source. In the method, a Captcha is served to a user. The Captcha includes visual information related to a characteristic of a source of the Captcha and related to a puzzle question of the Captcha. The visual information is for visual verification by the user of the Captcha's source. A response is received from the user based on the served Captcha. A determination is made as to whether the received response is a solution of the puzzle question of the served Captcha.
US09104847B2
The invention relates to a method for generating an identifier for identifying a pair, wherein the pair comprises a cryptographic device (100) and a computer system (1, 2, . . . , i, . . . I), wherein the cryptographic device has a first secret key (102), wherein a second secret key (118.i) is associated with the computer system, wherein a blocking system (120) for accessing the second secret key of the computer system is provided, wherein the blocking system has a third secret key (126), and wherein the following steps are carried out for generating the identifier: Generating a second public key (116.i) from the second secret key and a third public key (128) associated with the third secret key by means of the blocking system, Transmitting the second public key (116.i) to the computer system (i), and Generating the identifier from the first secret key and the second public key, using the cryptographic device.
US09104834B2
Methods and systems for qualifying a single cell with product path delay analysis are provided. A method includes designing a product using a model from an initial test site. The method also includes creating performance path tests for one or more paths on the product. The method further includes measuring performance path parameters of the product. The method includes determining that the measured performance path parameters match predicted performance path parameters.
US09104831B2
Disclosed herein is a system and method for producing semiconductor devices using overlays, the method comprising associating one or more patterned overlays with respective ones of reserved regions in a layer template, receiving a layer design based on the layer template, identifying the reserved regions in the layer design, generating a production layer design based on the layer design, the production layer design describing at least one production overlay in one of the reserved regions, and fabricating one or more devices based on the production layer design.
US09104829B2
A method of validating timing issues in a gate-level simulation (GLS) of an integrated circuit design including multiple cells includes running a simulation routine of a behavioral model of the design and obtaining a first simulation result. If there is a possible timing violation at a cell corresponding to a forcing indeterminate value, the simulated output of the cell is forced to a first value and a second simulation result obtained. If this result is negative, a report of apparent timing violations at the cell is generated. If the second simulation result is positive, the output of the cell is then forced to a second value and a third simulation result is obtained. If this result is negative, a report of apparent timing violations at the cell is generated but, if it is positive, a report of no apparent timing violation is generated.
US09104824B1
A register transfer level (RTL) design is received which models a digital circuit in terms of the flow of digital signals. A power intent description is received which may include a description of power domains, identification of retention flops for each power domain, a list of isolation signals, and power switch definitions. A transformed RTL is produced accounting for functionality described in the power intent description. The transformed RTL includes flops designated as retention flops and non-retention flops. A retention flop module analyzes the flops to ensure that flops are properly designated as retention or non-retention flops. A verification module performs power aware sequential equivalence checking on various RTL and power intent descriptions to verify that RTL and power intent description outputs behave the same when accounting for power states.
US09104823B2
A method of optimizing production of wells using choke control includes generating, for each well, an intermediate solution to optimize the production of each well. The generating includes using an offline model that includes a mixed-integer nonlinear program solver and includes using production curves based on a choke state and a given wellhead pressure. The method further includes calculating, using a network model and the intermediate solution of each well, a current online wellhead pressure for each well. The method further includes setting the intermediate solution as a final solution based on determining that a difference between the current online wellhead pressure of each well and a prior online wellhead pressure of each well is less than a tolerance amount. The method further includes adjusting, using the final solution of each well, at least one operating parameter of the wells.
US09104816B2
A memory card is disclosed including first and second host interfaces facilitating the communication of data between the memory card and a host using, respectively, first and second protocols, wherein the first protocol defines low-speed operations and the second protocol defines high-speed operations for the memory card. The second host interface is only enabled in response to an indication by the host device of a high-speed memory card operation.
US09104808B2
SMAPs are generated for use in debugging visual paradigms. A system can debug a non-Java source, or a visual paradigm, embedded inside another distinct paradigm. The system may include a visual object ordering system that determines an order number for each of a plurality of visual objects in the visual paradigm, and a mapping system that maps the order number of each visual object to a set of line numbers in the associated code output.
US09104798B2
Enabling remote debugging of virtual machines, in one aspect, may comprise attaching a debug virtual machine to a target virtual machine deployed in a virtualized environment. Interactions and/or access to the target virtual machine may be performed via the attached debug virtual machine. The debug virtual machine may be created and attached to the target virtual machine in response to receiving a request to debug the target machine, for example, from a remote user of the target virtual machine.
US09104796B2
The present arrangements relate to analyzing a software error. At least one dump file created in response to a crash of software executing on a processing system can be accessed. Based on the dump file, a base version of at least one software module that was loaded when the crash occurred can be identified. Based on the dump file, maintenance that has been applied to the at least one software module also can be identified. A report recommending new corrective maintenance to be applied to the at least one software module can be generated.
US09104786B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for iterative refinement of cohorts using visual exploration and data analytics. A cohort comprised of multiple data objects is defined by obtaining an initial cohort seeding; visualizing the initial cohort using a selected view to present a current cohort; reducing the current cohort using one or more visual filters; visualizing the current cohort using a selected view; expanding the current cohort using one or more selected analytics; and determining whether the current cohort should be further modified using one or more of additional reductions and additional expansions. Cohorts can be passed between views and analytics via drag-and-drop interactions as an analysis unfolds.
US09104783B2
The invention relates to the field of man-machine interfacing. In particular, it relates to a user interface allowing a unified approach for organizing and navigating data on a computing device, such as a work station, a desktop computer, a tablet PC, a laptop computer and/or a mobile device. A user interface method executed on a processor for displaying, on a screen, indicia for a set of entities along a time line represented by a linear indicia is described, wherein an entity of the set of entities is associated with a time instant on the time line. The method comprises the steps of: displaying on the screen a first indicia for a first entity associated with a first set of entities; displaying on the screen a second indicia for a second entity associated with a second set of entities; determining the distance on the screen between the first indicia and a set operation area associated with a set operation; determining the distance on the screen between the second indicia and the set operation area; determining a third set of entities based on the determined distances and based on the set operation performed on the first and second set of entities; and displaying on the screen indicia for the third set of entities along the time line at time instants associated with the third set of entities.
US09104782B2
A system and method for searching real estate uses non-traditional techniques. A selection of suggestive imagery may be rated by a user in order to indicate that user's subjective tastes. The suggestive images may relate to particular keywords which also may be related to real estate listings. This way, properties which appeal to a user's tastes may be identified and sorted accordingly.
US09104770B2
An optimized method of processing queries requesting a description of a spatial relationship between a test geometry and a query geometry, such as points, lines, polygons, and collections thereof, is disclosed. A first part of the method finds a first spatial relationship between a minimum bounding rectangle (MBR) of the test geometry and an In-Memory R-tree (IMR-tree) built to describe the query geometry. If the first relationship does not specify the requested description, then a second part of the method uses the IMR-tree of the query geometry to find a second spatial relationship between the test geometry itself and the query geometry. Optimizations are applied to the first part and to the second part. Optimizations in the second part depend on the test geometry.
US09104769B2
Techniques are provided for a metasearch infrastructure. The metasearch infrastructure supports one or more of the following: hotel matching, backend support of user queries, frontend support for user queries, a cache layer that groups or organizes cached data in storage based on hotel location, scoring and ranking on the client side, experiments and rankers, duplicate booking prevention, blacklisting hotels, and indexing that utilizes a document-independent data structure to store index values.
US09104768B2
Techniques are described for aggregating person-based information on a computing device. The computing device includes a display device and one or more processors. The processors are configured to determine a context of the computing device, and identify a contact associated with the currently-executing application and a plurality of contact identifiers associated with the contact. The processors are configured to receive, from two or more different sources and based on at least one contact, information associated with the contact that includes a respective portion of information received from each of the different sources, determine, based on the context of the computing device, a respective priority value for each of the portions of the information, select, based on the respective priority value, one or more portions of the information, and output, for display, a graphical user interface including at least the selected one or more portions of the information.
US09104765B2
A system and method for automatically analyzing and characterizing Internet search results and annotating a search results page according to specific characteristics of each webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Such characteristics include the composition of each search results webpage as well as which search term elements are present in a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result out of those search term elements that were submitted to a search engine to produce the search results webpage. Further, search results are annotated to indicate which search term elements are present in a descendent webpage of a webpage located at a URL corresponding to a search result. Search results may also be optionally filtered according to specific characteristics of a webpage located at a search results URL such that certain categories of webpage are excluded from being referenced in the displayed search results.
US09104759B1
The subject matter of this specification can be implemented in, among other things, a computer-implemented method for identifying and storing stem variants of search query terms. The method includes receiving a first query and a user selection of a first search result from the first query. The method further includes receiving a second query and a user selection of a second search result from the second query. The method further includes determining that the first search result and the second search result have the same category. The method further includes identifying a first term in the first query and a second term in the second query as stem variants of one another by determining that the first term is within a threshold edit distance of the second term. The method further includes storing the first term and the second term in a stem-variant repository.
US09104746B1
A system and method for identifying contrarian terms is disclosed. The system and method includes identifying a plurality of websites describing a product or service, analyzing content in the plurality of websites, the content relating to the described product or service, identifying contrarian terms based on the website content using a processing circuit, wherein the contrarian terms comprise descriptions of a product or service, associating the identified contrarian terms with a category, within which the product or service has been categorized in at least one of the plurality of websites, and storing the contrarian terms and the associated category in a memory.
US09104737B2
Both search criteria and a friends list associated with a user are obtained. One or more data items that satisfy the search criteria are identified as search results. An order of the search results is adjusted based at least in part on multiple additional friends lists, each of which is associated with a data item of the one or more data items. Each of the multiple additional friends lists can also be updated to reflect changes in the friends lists made by users associated with the friends lists.
US09104726B2
A method of searching for sets of data in a very large columnar database is described. The method comprises carrying out a first query by querying the very large columnar database for a first desired set of data, the database having a range of possible data storage locations; creating a compressed columnar representation of the locations within the very large columnar database of members of the first desired set of data; wherein the compressed columnar representation comprises a plurality of representations covering the entire range of the very large database, wherein each representation provides a descriptor describing a distribution of the desired data results within the sub-range of the entire range; storing the compressed columnar representation in a data cache; and applying a logical operation on first desired set of data stored within the very large columnar database by using the compressed columnar representation stored in the data cache in preference to data stored within the very large columnar database.
US09104723B2
A data storage system may contain a changeable database that includes: advisory information that includes the content of at least one advisory statement for addressing an issue with equipment; query information that includes the content of at least one query delivered to the equipment; and flow logic information indicating a sequence for the delivery of the advisory statements and the queries based on the equipment's responses to the queries. An information delivery engine may deliver the queries and the advisory statements to the equipment in a sequence based on the equipment's answers to the queries and the flow logic information. This system may be adapted to troubleshoot equipment, such as an optical network terminal.
US09104713B2
Embodiments provide an approach for efficiently searching a temporal key index as well as enforcing key distinctiveness property in a database table corresponding to the index. For example, by addressing time range overlaps in an index having a sort order for temporal keys, a database management tool of a server system may efficiently process client requests while enforcing a temporal key property in the database table.
US09104712B2
Database elements are inserted into a database object by processing each of a plurality of operations in a sequential order within a first processing round to insert the database elements into the database objects, where processing for at least one operation in the order becomes suspended due to a resource request, and where at least one successive operation is initiated in response to suspension of one or more prior operations to enable prefetching of information for processing the operations. Each suspended operation is re-processed with the prefetched information in one or more additional processing rounds until processing of the operations is completed.
US09104711B2
Disclosed is a database system capable of effectively updating data in a database at a high speed. The database system includes: a storage unit that stores a database including an entity data group and at least one identifier table having only a plurality of fixed-length data; and a data processing unit that receives a query and performs data processing on the database on the basis of the received query. The identifier table has a plurality of data identifiers that uniquely indicates the plurality of entity data as the fixed-length data.
US09104710B2
A method for correlating information across distinct domains without requiring feature co-occurrence. The disparate information collections are broken down into features, and a correlation index with correlation score is created. To determine the correlation between distinct domains, an information artifact collection is reduced to a representational set of features, these features are replaced with correlated features using the correlation index, and the new set of features is matched against the second information artifact collection using an appropriate comparison technique. The correlation method allows a single input artifact to be matched against an existing collection, resulting in a set of correlated artifacts from the disparate collection, each ranked by correlation score.
US09104709B2
According to one embodiment of the present invention, a system controls cleansing of data within a database system, and comprises a computer system including at least one processor. The system receives a data set from the database system, and one or more features of the data set are selected for determining values for one or more characteristics of the selected features. The determined values are applied to a data quality estimation model to determine data quality estimates for the data set. Problematic data within the data set are identified based on the data quality estimates, where the cleansing is adjusted to accommodate the identified problematic data. Embodiments of the present invention further include a method and computer program product for controlling cleansing of data within a database system in substantially the same manner described above.
US09104707B1
Systems and methods for iteratively generating a partial column schema indicative of semantic relationships in a corpus of key-value data are disclosed. A set of textual values is extracted from a pre-existing corpus of key-value data and potential column names are generated. Value reassignment and potential column pruning proceeds based on semantic fit quality, potential column utilization and random factors influenced by a decreasing system temperature.
US09104705B2
Image display method, image display apparatus, image recording apparatus, and image pickup apparatus
Data elements are extracted from data elements stored in a storage medium in accordance with two conditions and grouped into first and second groups. The data elements in the first group and those in the second group are displayed in regions distinguished from each other on a screen. In response to user manipulation, the screen is switched to a screen that allows searching data elements in the first or second group displayed in a region corresponding to the manipulation. In searching many diverse data elements stored in a data storage, the user can select a group from groups of data elements extracted by different conditions and search the data elements in the selected group. Accordingly, the user can search data elements more readily even when many diverse data elements are stored in the storage medium.
US09104694B2
A method of searching in a collection of data items stored in association with data representative of locations includes obtaining data representative of co-ordinates defining a location. Data representative of a direction are obtained. A system (22,28) for searching in the collection is caused to use the data representative of the direction and the co-ordinates to identify data items stored in association with data representative of locations within a spatial range determined by at least the direction and the co-ordinates.
US09104693B2
An approach for visualizing versions of a hierarchically organized object is provided. A visualization is generated to include first and second versions including information from multiple hierarchical levels of trees representing the versions. The visualization is generated so that the second version highlights a value of a dimension for a labeled path of the tree representing the second version. The highlighted value differs from a corresponding value of a dimension for a labeled path of the tree representing the first version based on a vector space constructed to have multiple dimensions for each labeled path of the trees. A similarity measure between the first and second versions is computed by normalizing a first vector associated with the first version, normalizing a second vector associated with the second version, and determining a product of the normalized first vector and the normalized second vector.
US09104682B2
An automated, embedded & intelligent E-mail Attachment Document manager automatically tracks email and their associated attachments and assists users in locating an email message (email-chain/thread) that is the original source from where the email attachment document. The present invention can perform the tracking action using the given name of the saved attachment file.
