US09131645B2
A method of improving the growth and/or pathogen resistance of a plant, comprising the step of exposing at least part of the plant to a transient period of high intensity illumination providing a photon flux at the plant surface having at least one of the following characteristics: (a) a red photon flux comprising at least 100 micromoles photons per square meter per second, and having a wavelength of between 600 and 700 nm; (b) a blue photon flux comprising at least 100 micromoles photons per square meter per second, having a wavelength of between 420 and 480 nm. The Invention also provides apparatus for providing such conditions to growing plants.
US09131640B2
A braking system for a rotating chopper drum (14) of a forage harvester (10) driven from an engine (11) via a drive train including a disengageable clutch (21). The drive train also drives a first pump (28) connected with the drum (14) which pumps fluid around a hydraulic circuit which includes an openable restriction (40). The system is arranged to brake the chopper drum (14) by disengaging the clutch (21) and arranging the first pump (28) to pump fluid around the circuit via the openable restriction (40) as the drum (14) continues to rotate to convert the energy of the rotating drum (14) into heat.
US09137926B2
An electronic device includes: a semiconductor device; a heat-conductive resin, disposed above the semiconductor device, including a heat conductor and a resin; a linear carbon piece, disposed above the heat-conductive resin, to be thermally in contact with the heat conductor; and a heat spreader, disposed above the linear carbon piece, including a depressed portion having the heat-conductive resin.
US09137918B2
An electronic apparatus including a housing, a motherboard, a battery module and a display module is provided. The housing has at least an opening and an accommodating space. The motherboard is disposed in the accommodating space. The battery module is disposed in the accommodating space and stacked over the motherboard. The motherboard is located between the housing and the battery module. The display module is disposed in the accommodating space and stacked over the battery module. The battery module is located between the motherboard and the display module. At least one edge of the battery module in a width direction of the battery module is closer to a corresponding side of the housing than a corresponding edge of the motherboard in a width direction of the motherboard.
US09137906B2
A mobile terminal includes a display configured to output visual information, a window unit configured to cover the display, a frame configured to accommodate the display therein, and having a mounting portion for supporting the window unit, a through hole formed at the mounting portion, and a channel portion configured to communicate a space between the display and the window unit with the through hole.
US09137896B2
A wiring substrate includes a first insulating layer, an adhesion insulating layer formed under the first insulating layer and an outer face of the adhesion insulating layer is made to a roughened face, a first wiring layer formed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer formed on the first insulating layer, and in which a first via hole reaching the first wiring layer is provided, a second wiring layer formed on the second insulating layer, and connected to the first wiring layer through the first via hole, a second via hole formed in the adhesion insulating layer and the first insulating layer, and reaching the first wiring layer, and a third wiring layer formed on the outer face of the adhesion insulating layer, and connected to the first wiring layer through the second via hole.
US09137892B2
A laminated structure includes a first substrate, an adhesive, a graphene, and a second substrate. The adhesive is provided on a principal surface of the first substrate, and the adhesive has a storage elastic modulus of 7.2*104 Pa or more and 6.1*105 Pa or less at 23° C. The graphene is bonded to the adhesive, and the graphene has one or a plurality of layers. The second substrate is bonded to the graphene.
US09137874B2
An illumination and grow light system and associated methods are provided to produce an emission spectrum which may be optimized for plant response curve, as well as provide high quality light with respect to the human response curve. Embodiments of the present invention may include highly efficient tunable lamps and associated modulation controls that allow specific radiation wavelength bands to be manipulated, the emission direction and intensity to be varied, and the output power to be coordinated to create high fluxes of photosynthetic active radiation while maintaining a desirable color temperature and high color rendering index.
US09137862B2
A gate driver circuit providing a slew-rate controlled gate control signal while minimizing the stretching of the gate control signal relative to the input control pulse. Control logic effects two threshold voltage levels. When the gate control signal is between the two threshold voltage levels, the slew rate of the gate control signal is controlled such that the gate of the transistor being driven is driven softly. When the gate control signal is less than the first threshold voltage level or greater than the second threshold voltage level, the gate of the transistor being driven is driven hard. In one embodiment, the first and second threshold voltage levels are set such that the on/off threshold of the transistor being driven is between the two threshold voltage levels. Thus the slew rate of the gate control signal is controlled such that the gate of the transistor being driven is driven softly when the transistor being driven is transitioning from off to on, or from on to off, thereby minimizing harmonics. At all other times, the gate control signal rises and falls rapidly so as to minimize the stretching of the gate control signal relative to the input control pulse.
US09137860B2
A light bulb-shaped lamp according to the present invention includes: a board on which an LED is mounted; a circuit board on which a drive circuit that turns on the LED is mounted; output wires for supplying power for turning on the LED from the drive circuit to the LED; a pedestal; and a potential-stabilizing wire electrically connecting the pedestal to a circuit ground of the drive circuit.
US09137848B2
A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which an operable time of the mobile terminal can be increased in a manner of raising CPU power efficiency of the mobile terminal. The present invention includes a plurality of cores, a multicore adjuster configured to obtain a frequency of an active core of the plurality of cores, determine whether the obtained frequency exceeds a first threshold value for N consecutive times, wherein N is a positive integer, and activate at least one inactive core of the plurality of cores when the obtained frequency exceeds the first threshold value for N consecutive times, and a frequency adjuster configured to determine a workload of the active core, and adjust the obtained frequency of the active core according to the determined workload.
US09137847B1
Computer-implemented methods are disclosed for the application of potential field methods in directing agents. A task is assigned for each of a plurality of mobile communication nodes. A dynamic model is assigned for characterizing a behavior of the nodes. Potential fields are applied to the dynamic model to direct movement of each of the nodes such that the nodes each perform the assigned task with the plurality of mobile communications nodes providing a communications network to serve a communications area.
US09137846B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for selecting an optimal transport protocol. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for selecting a transport protocol, the method including: detecting a network state with another node connected to a node; and selecting a transport protocol between the node and the other node using the network state, the selected transport protocol being a modified transport protocol'.According to the present invention, the modified transport protocol' may be used even in varying network circumstances, and the modified transport protocol' may be widely used in a shared communication network.
US09137825B2
A user device comprising a communication interface; one or more memories to store instructions; and one or more processors to execute the instructions to receive channel-availability information that indicates one or more channels supported by and available to the user device; store the channel-availability information; scan one or more channels indicated in the channel-availability information; and connect to a network using one of the one or more channels.
US09137819B2
One embodiment is directed to a method implemented by a mobile station for establishing a downlink temporary block flow (TBF) from a base station subsystem (BSS). Cell re-selection is performed while a READY timer of the mobile station has not expired. A cell update message that includes a radio link control (RLC) data block containing a remaining ready timer value indicating a remaining time of the READY timer, which has not expired, is sent to the BSS for use in determining when a mobile station supports the assignment of a TOI, sending an assigned TOI to that mobile station and establishing subsequent downlink TBFs using the assigned TOI instead of a legacy mobile station identity. Another related embodiment is directed to a method implemented by a BSS for establishing downlink TBFs to a plurality of mobile stations.
US09137803B2
The present invention provides a radio communication control method, in a communication system in which the system band is widened by aggregating a plurality of fundamental frequency blocks, that is suitable to transmit a downlink shared channel and its downlink control channel in different fundamental frequency blocks. According to this radio communication control method, a normal component carrier and an concatenated component carrier are selected for radio communication with a user terminal, and resources are allocated such that, in the event the user terminal is a terminal of LTE specifications which can support up to a fundamental frequency block, communication is made possible based on the LTE specifications using only the fundamental frequency block, and, in the event the user terminal is a terminal of the LTE-A specifications which can support up to the concatenated frequency block, communication is performed based on the LTE specifications using the concatenated frequency block.
US09137772B2
Systems and methods for location tracking in a communication network. Base stations transmit downlink signals to a plurality of subscriber terminals to define a mapping between geographical locations and respective sets of signal strengths of the downlink signals received from the base stations at the geographical locations. A subset of the subscriber terminals may be selected, and for each subscriber terminal in the subset, first measurements of a geographical location of the subscriber terminal irrespective of the downlink signals is made. Second measurements of the downlink signals received at the subscriber terminal at the geographical location is made and the mapping of the subscribers terminals is updated responsively to the first and second measurements. The geographical locations of the subscriber terminals is updated using the updated mapping.
US09137771B2
Methods and apparatuses for microcell beacon assisted position determination. In one embodiment, microcell beacons that are based on low cost, mass market electronics for wireless local area data communication (e.g., Bluetooth or WiFi) are used to broadcast to mobile stations location information and/or identification information, which can be used to look up for the location information, to improve the precision of position solutions in a wide area position determination system (e.g., a GPS system, an AFLT system, or a hybrid system). In one embodiment, the location information and/or the identification information are site specific; and, the distribution and the transmission strength of the microcell beacons are adjusted to prevent misidentification. In one embodiment, the microcell beacons have the transmission capability but not the receiving capability for wireless local area data communication; and, the mobile station has the receiving capability but not the transmission capability for wireless local area data communication.
US09137765B2
Methods and arrangements for adjusting timing of transmissions in a radio communication system in which aggregation of component carriers is employed are disclosed. A base station sends a first TA command applicable to a first component carrier to a user equipment. A need to maintain different uplink transmission timing for the first user equipment component carrier and second uplink component carrier is detected by the base station. The base station then sends a second TA command based on the detected need to maintain different uplink transmission timing. The second TA command is applicable to uplink transmissions on the first component carrier and/or the second component carrier. The user equipment adjusts uplink transmissions on the first component carrier and/or the second uplink component carrier based on the second timing advance command.
US09137762B2
Provided are a method for transmitting an uplink and a wireless device. The wireless device decides a first wireless resource through which a sounding reference signal (SRS) will be transmitted from a first serving cell, and decides a second wireless resource through which an uplink channel will be transmitted from a second service cell. When all or a portion of the first wireless resource and the second wireless resource overlap, and a total transmission power with respect to the SRS and the uplink channel from the overlapping wireless resources exceeds a predetermined maximum transmission power, the wireless device drops the transmission of the SRS and transmits the uplink channel through the second wireless resource from the second service cell.
US09137759B1
A power control command (PCC) transmission scheme is disclosed. In one embodiment, the PCC transmission scheme may involve an access network engaging in a respective communication session with each of a plurality of access terminals on a given wireless link and sending a respective series of PCCs directed to each of the plurality of access terminals on the given wireless link. Based on a power utilization of the given wireless link, the access network may then decide to adjust a transmission rate at which to send PCCs directed to a set of access terminals in the plurality of access terminals. In turn, the access network may send the respective series of PCCs directed to each of the set of access terminals at the adjusted transmission rate.
US09137754B2
A system and method for wireless communication reduces the number of number of preambles transmitted in a random access channel (RACH) process. The RACH preamble is transmitted at a maximum transmit power. When a RACH response has not been received, the maximum transmit power is adjusted.
US09137741B2
A method of scanning neighboring target RATs (Radio Access Technology). The method according to one embodiment includes transmitting a message including a field indicating whether or not the mobile station supports the inter-RAT handover while performing a network entry process; transmitting a request for information about another RAT only if the inter-RAT handover is supported by the mobile station; and, in response to the request, receiving information about a recommended RAT from the base station. The information about the recommended RAT is selected based on the location information. The method according to the embodiment further includes performing the scanning of the neighboring target RATs using the information about the recommended RAT; and reporting a result of the scanning. The performing of the scanning is triggered when channel quality falls below a certain threshold. The receiving information is in response to, both, the transmitted message, and the transmitted request.
US09137738B2
A method of transmitting management information, performed by an access point (AP), in a wireless local area network system. The method according to one embodiment includes transmitting, to a station, a frame including a basic service set (BSS) load information element, the BSS load information element including a multi user (MU) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) capable station (STA) count field and a plurality of bandwidth utilization fields. The MU-MIMO capable STA count field indicates a total number of STAB with MU reception capability currently associated with a candidate BSS managed by the AP. Each of the plurality of bandwidth utilization fields includes information about time that each corresponding channel width is busy.
US09137737B2
Systems, methods, and devices for implementing a communication access policy are described herein. In some aspects, a wireless device is configured to execute a plurality of applications and to communicate with a communication network. The wireless device comprises a receiver configured to receive a plurality of rules specifying how one or more of the plurality of applications should communicate with the communication network. The wireless device comprises a processor configured to delay communication by one or more of the plurality of applications in compliance with the rules. The processor is further configured to allow transmission of the communication by one or more of the plurality of applications after termination of the delay. In one aspect, the processor is configured to separately record communication statistics based on whether the device is in a background or foreground state.
US09137729B2
A satellite-based communication system (1) comprises a router system (6) which receives from a switching unit (3) via a satellite system (4) network addressing information associated with communication terminals (2) connected to the switching unit (3). The network addressing information of the communication terminals (2) are stored in the router system (6) assigned to telephone numbers associated with the communication terminals (2). For enabling an exchange unit (7) to route via the satellite link (40) received data to the communication terminal (2), the router system (6) transmits to the exchange unit (7) the network addressing information associated with the communication terminals (2) connected to the switching unit (3). Hence, data can be routed flexibly in the satellite-based communication system (1) between communication terminals (2, 2′) which are not configured for satellite communication and which are used by mobile users who may move in areas covered by different satellites (43).
US09137726B2
Disclosed is a method for selecting an adaptive CoMP scheme for a user equipment. The user equipment selects a first CoMP set which can maximize a signal to interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) from among CoMP sets while performing a first coordinate multi-point (CoMP) scheme. Then, the user equipment compares the current data transmission rate thereof and the required minimum data transmission rate thereof and the required minimum data transmission rate while performing the first CoMP scheme and selecting the first CoMP set. Subsequently, the user equipment which performs the first CoMP scheme selects a second CoMP scheme on the basis of the result of the comparison in accordance with a predetermined sequence of CoMP schemes.
US09137724B1
A method includes receiving a signal indicative that a first access point can transmit data over a first number of spatial streams, and a second access point can transmit data over a second number of spatial streams. The method includes receiving a probe request from a set of client devices. A first portion of the set of client devices is configured to transmit data over the first number of spatial streams and a second portion of the client devices is configured to transmit data over the second number of spatial streams. The method includes sending a signal to the first portion associated with authorizing the first portion to connect to the first access point and sending a signal to the second portion associated with authorizing the second portion to connect to the second access point.
US09137719B2
A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. A time sensitive data stream is sent to a wireless device via a first wireless station. A handoff criteria is determined to have been satisfied. Based on the handoff criteria being satisfied, at least one control message is sent that instructs the wireless device to increase a buffer size associated with the time sensitive data stream.
US09137713B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for causing active hand-in of a device from a macrocell base station to a femto node, which can be an inter-frequency hand-in. The femto node can broadcast a beacon over an operating frequency of the macrocell base station, and the macrocell base station, and/or one or more network components, can identify the femto node based on one or more parameters reported by the device from receiving the beacon. The beacon can be transmitted at varying powers to ensure active hand-in triggering, mitigate interference and/or can be powered on and off for such purposes. In addition, a macrocell base station can regulate compressed mode periods during which a device can measure the femto node based on receiving information regarding device proximity to the femto node, or a device can generate proximity indication messages base on measuring the beacon signals, etc.
US09137712B2
The invention provides a method of controlling LA-based update procedure in a mobile radio communications network, and including the step of determining the reason for the LA-based update request, and varying connection procedures upon receipt of such request and responsive to the determination, and so can also provide a mobile radio communications network device arranged for operation in the network including plural terminal devices, the network device being arranged to forward to a target network device an indication of reasoning for a LA-based update procedure (during CSFB to the legacy system for example). Further the invention can also be embodied in a mobile radio communications network target device arranged for operation in the network including plural terminal devices and further arranged to monitor for an indication from a network device for reasoning for a LA-based update procedure, and further arranged to vary a connection procedure responsive to the said monitoring.
US09137711B2
Various methods for implementing a wait period for single radio continuity transfers are provided. One example method includes obtaining a timer value, where the timer value is based on a communications delay to a far end device. The communications delay to the far end device may be determined during session establishment with the far end device. The example method also includes implementing a wait period for a duration of the timer value, and, in response to completion of the wait period, triggering a single radio continuity network transfer. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
US09137704B2
When using a multi-receiver aggregation protocol in a wireless communications network, a sub-header may be used to identify groups of data units that share common parameters, such as destination addresses, acknowledgement modes, modulation/coding rates, lengths, etc. The layout of this sub-header may permit each receiving device to identify the portion of the aggregated payload that is addressed to that receiving device, where that portion is located, how long that portion is, and how to demodulate it. In addition, by controlling the selection and timing of various acknowledgement modes used by the mobile stations, a base station may improve overall network efficiency and throughput.
US09137701B2
A wireless end-user device has wireless wide-area network (WWAN) and wireless local-area network (WLAN) modems. One or more processors determine when an application is running in a background state or as a foreground application. The processors control application access for Internet service activities through an application program interface (API). At a time when Internet service activities are communicated through the WWAN modem, the processors use a differential traffic control policy to selectively block and allow network access for an application based on the determination as to whether the application is running in a background state or as a foreground application. A different policy may apply to WLAN modem usage.
US09137697B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for performing logged measurement in a wireless communication system. A terminal receives measurement setup and a terminal selection parameter from a base station. The terminal determines whether to apply the measurement setup on the basis of the terminal selection parameter. If it is determined that the measurement setup is to be applied, the terminal performs measurement logging on the basis of the measurement setup.
US09137693B2
A system (10) includes a telecommunication network node (12), a first unit (14) configured for sending information (15i) relating to the status of the node (12), and a second unit (16) configured for receiving information (16i) for controlling the node (12). A management unit (18) of the node (12) is connected with the second unit (16) and is configured for controlling the node (12) according to the information (16i) received by the second unit (16). The form of the information (14i) sent by the first unit (14) and/or the information (16i) received by the second unit (16) either does not include, or includes more than, only text. The invention also relates to use of such a system (10), and methods and computer programs implementing the invention. In one embodiment, the first unit includes a camera configured for taking pictures of at least an outer surface of the telecommunication network node. This enables sending information of the telecommunication network node to be controlled, monitored and/or managed, so as to enable the detection, for instance, of any light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which would therefore provide evidence of an abnormal condition within telecommunication network node.
US09137691B2
A method and an apparatus for estimating a long-term transfer rate of a terminal are provided. The method for estimating the long-term transfer rate includes: calculating a burst transfer rate of each pilot signal which is transmitted from a base station to a target terminal to calculate a long-term transfer rate; and calculating a long-term transfer rate of the target terminal using distribution of the calculated burst transfer rates and the number (N) of terminals that are serviced by the base station.
US09137690B2
A mapper for use in processing messages captured from a telecommunications network is disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more LTE messages are received from a LTE network, and one or more CDMA messages are received from a CDMA network. An LTE/CDMA mapper entry associated with the LTE and CDMA messages is identified. The LTE/CDMA mapper is associated with UE that is capable of operating on both the LTE and CDMA networks. The LTE and CDMA messages are processed using the LTE/CDMA mapper. The processing of the LTE and CDMA messages may comprise extracting parameters from the LTE or CDMA messages and storing the parameters to the LTE/CDMA mapper. The content in the LTE or CDMA messages may be deciphered using authentication parameters stored in the LTE/CDMA mapper. A generic client library may be used, for example, to access the LTE/CDMA mapper.
US09137686B2
The present invention relates to an arrangement, a communication network node and method for cell outage compensation in a communication network system comprising a plurality of communication network nodes (15a, 15b) communicating with user equipments (18), where each network node (15a, 15b) is serving at least one cell (19a, 19b), in which the user equipments (18) are situated, via two or more reconfigurable physical antennas (15a1, 15a2, 15b1, 15b2) configured according to an initial antenna parameter set. Cell outage is determined in a network node (15b). One of the reconfigurable physical antennas (15a2) of at least one cell (19a) is made temporarily available for compensation. The available antenna (15a2,) is prepared for compensation by reconfiguring one or more antenna parameters thereof in accordance with a compensating antenna parameter set. A new compensating cell (20) is transmitted from the prepared antenna (15a2). Upon cell recovery the compensating cell (20) is removed and the reconfigurable physical antennas (15a2) of the compensating cell (20) returned to the initial antenna parameter set.
US09137684B2
A method and system architecture for a self-organizing network (SON) includes a first cell having a first user equipment classifier for determining one of cell edge and cell central. The SON also includes a second cell having a second user equipment classifier for determining one of cell edge and cell central. The system architecture and method provide a first transmit time interval (TTI) schema for user equipment within the area of coverage associated with the first cell and a TTI schema for user equipment within the area of coverage associated with the second cell, the second TTI schema differing from the first TTI schema. The user equipment is classified as cell center or cell edge in dependence upon at least one of QoS requirement, geometry, periodic PSMM and CQI reports. The TTI schemas are used for “cell edge” user equipment by the respective cells.
US09137679B2
Disclosed are methods, circuits, systems and associated computer executable code for detecting the presence of a mobile computing device in a specific area. Included are means for receiving a message from the mobile device including a coarse location indicator, determining that the received coarse location indicator is in proximity with one or more local (e.g. retailer) stations, and causing at least one of the one or more local stations to transmit a mobile device specific poling signal to the device.
US09137675B2
Methods and systems having improved capabilities are described for providing communications to a plurality of cellular mobile devices through generating m different sets of fixed position patterns of N RF beams across the ten contiguous one-millisecond LTE sub-frames of each LTE time-division duplexing (TDD) frame from an agile beam forming antenna system of a cellular LTE base transceiver station. The cellular LTE base transceiver station is in RF TDD communication with the plurality of cellular mobile devices within a cell coverage area of the cellular LTE base transceiver station. Each RF beam covers a sub-area of the cell coverage area where the m times N RF beam patterns cover the area of the cell coverage area. The value of m is 1≦m≦3 and each one of the m sets of N RF beam patterns is generated in one or more of the non-S one-millisecond sub-frames of an LTE frame. The m sets of N RF beams are generated across any ten contiguous one-millisecond sub-frames. The value of m is determined at least in-part from a selected LTE TDD uplink/downlink (U/D) configuration.
US09137674B2
Disclosed are a method, a system, and a device for transmitting a startup phase indicator and gateway node selection, relating to the technical field of wireless communications, for use in solving the problem in the prior art of the manner of selecting gateway nodes for a relay node (RN) by a mobility management entity (MME). In the present invention, during an attach process between the RN and the MME, the MME confirming whether or not a piece of information indicating the startup phase which the RN is currently performing is received, if yes, then on the basis of the information, confirming the startup phase which the RN is currently performing, if not, on the basis of a preconfigured rule of judging the startup phase of the RN, confirming the startup phase which the RN is currently performing; selecting the gateway nodes for the RN on the basis of the startup phase which the RN is currently performing. Employment of the present invention allows the MME to select the appropriate gateway node for the RN on the basis of the startup phase which the RN is currently performing.
US09137671B2
The invention relates to a method for use in a radio communication system (RCS), the radio communication system (RCS) comprising at least three base stations (SBS1, MBS1, MBS2), a first one (SBS1) of the at least three base stations (SBS1, MBS1, MBS2) hereinafter called first slave base station, a second one (MBS1) of the at least three base stations (MBS1, MBS2, SBS1) hereinafter called first master base station, and a third one (MBS2) of the at least three base stations (SBS1, MBS1, MBS2) hereinafter called second master base station, the method comprising the step of controlling a first part (P1) of a radio resource allocation domain at the first slave base station (SBS1) by the first master base station (MBS1), wherein the method further comprises the step of controlling at least a second part (P2) of the radio resource allocation domain at the first slave base station (SBS1) by the second master base station (MBS2), and wherein the first part (P1) and the at least second part (P2) of the radio resource allocation domain are disjoined.
US09137657B2
A method of improving a session in which a remote terminal is linked to a mobile device, the method comprising determining a performance profile for each of said remote terminal and said mobile device, said performance profiles including a set of parameters which determine performance of a session when said remote terminal is linked to a mobile device to receive and display an image of data currently displayed on said mobile device; estimating performance of a session between the remote terminal and the mobile device whilst there is no live connection; identifying a change to a parameter from said set of parameters; changing said identified parameter; re-evaluating said estimate based on the changed parameter; including said identified parameter change in said appropriate performance profile if performance is improved; reiterating, if necessary, said estimating, identifying, changing, re-evaluating and adopting steps until termination; and storing said changed performance profiles for said mobile device and said remote terminal.
US09137655B2
Methods and apparatus for supporting peer to peer and infrastructure, e.g., cellular, communication in a multimode device which can operate in a cellular system are described. Methods and apparatus for supporting peer to peer devices are also described. Peer to peer communication occurs within a switching time period during which infrastructure signaling does not occur and devices switch between an uplink and a downlink mode of infrastructure operation. The time period set for the switching time period is intentionally set larger, e.g., 10, 50, 100 or even more times larger than that required based on maximum cell size. Thus, a peer to peer communications period can be introduced into a TDD system and use the same frequency band as the TDD system in a manner that can remain compliant with a cellular communications protocol which allows for a switching time period, e.g., set in the system by a parameter.
US09137654B1
Systems and methods of operating a communication system are provided. A network node of the first network can receive a request from a wireless device associated with the first network to establish a data communication session over a second network through an access node of the second network. A status of the access node of the second network can be determined based on an access node identifier. A location of the wireless device can be determined at the network node of the first network. A network condition of the first network can be determined based on the location of the wireless device. The request to establish the data communication session over the second network can be granted when the network conditions of the first network are less than a threshold and the access node of the second network does not have an approved roaming status.
US09137651B2
A system and method are provided for generating a mobile software program for prospective users. Telecommunications data is received from a telecommunications source. Snapshot data is generated that is related to one or more software programs downloaded to an electronic device. A relevance matrix is generated from the generated snapshot data and the telecommunications data to determine a first software program of the one or more software programs for a predetermined first consumer of the electronic device users or to determine a plurality of second consumers of the electronic device users for receiving data related to a second software program of the plurality of the one or more software programs.
US09137650B2
A network targets an individual operating a microcomputer that is linked to an Internet to offer this individual goods or services appropriate to his needs that are available at a place within reach of the individual's present location. The microcomputer is provided with a GPS receiver that indicates the present location of the individual, this location and the identity of the individual being transmitted from the microcomputer to a web site. At the web site, a computer associated with a data bank storing the profiles of a multitude of consumers is programmed to find out whether the identified individual is included in the data bank, and to determine from his profile whether there are available at a place reachable from his present location appropriate goods or services. If a match is found, an offer to supply such goods or services is conveyed from the web site to the microcomputer.
US09137649B2
Techniques for managing assignment and reassignment of short codes are described herein. One or more computing devices may assign a short code to a first messaging campaign for a first time period. After expiration of the first time period, the one or more computing devices may then reassign the short code to a second messaging campaign for a second time period.
US09137641B2
A wireless communication system including: a terminal, and a base station that forwards a traffic flow to the terminal, wherein the terminal includes a plurality of first wireless interfaces, and a first processor that selects a first wireless interface from among the plurality of first wireless interfaces, the first wireless interface from which to transmit a response packet in response to a multicast packet or broadcast packet, based on first information indicating the operational states of the plurality of first wireless interfaces, and the preferability of link aggregation on the traffic flow that follows the response packet.
US09137635B2
A group of wireless device users are notified of an event. A location data determination algorithm is provided to a wireless device, where the algorithm determines a frequency at which the device interacts with network elements to determine its location. The location data is stored in a notification server and used to identify a user at a specific location. When a governmental or commercial entity wishes to issue a notification, a message is provided to those users whose location is identified as being in an area defined by the entity.
US09137631B2
Methods and systems that allow a user to receive location-based services for user selected businesses while maintaining the privacy of his/her location when not in the vicinity of a user selected business. A user designates selected businesses to the LBS provider. The user's mobile device sends its location, in encrypted form, to the LBS provider. The LBS provider performs a computation on the encrypted location and returns an encrypted result to the user's mobile device. The user's mobile device decrypts the result and determines whether the user is near any selected businesses based on the decrypted result. Only if the decrypted result indicates the user is near an approved location will the users mobile device return its location, in an unencrypted form, to the LBS provider. Thus, the LBS provider will only know the user's location if and only if the use is near a business selected by the user.
US09137621B2
A mobile device may retrieve service information about a network prior to associating with the network. Utilizing an advertisement protocol to transmit service query messages, a mobile device may receive service query responses from a network that identify the services available prior to establishing network capability. In other words, the messaging is prior to the exchange of any authentication parameters between the device and the network as well prior to the establishment of a recognized session between the device and the network.
US09137608B2
A viscoelastic body is interposed between a vibrating membrane vibrating in association with a piezoelectric vibrator composed of a piezoelectric element and a base and a support member supporting the vibrating membrane. The viscoelastic body attenuates vibration transmitted from the support member to the vibrating membrane and converts vibration of the vibrating membrane in the surface direction parallel to its main surfaces to vibration of the vibrating membrane in the direction nearly perpendicular to the surface direction. The vibrating membrane is annular with an opening at the center, and the base is joined to the vibrating membrane coaxially with opening.
US09137603B2
In summary, this application describes a psycho-acoustically motivated, parametric description of the spatial attributes of multichannel audio signals. This parametric description allows strong bitrate reductions in audio coders, since only one monaural signal has to be transmitted, combined with (quantized) parameters which describe the spatial properties of the signal. The decoder can form the original amount of audio channels by applying the spatial parameters. For near-CD-quality stereo audio, a bitrate associated with these spatial parameters of 10 kbit/s or less seems sufficient to reproduce the correct spatial impression at the receiving end.
US09137601B2
An acoustic processing apparatus and an audio adjusting method for the acoustic processing apparatus are provided. The acoustic processing apparatus is electrically connected with a microphone and a speaker. The acoustic processing apparatus includes an input unit, a storing unit, a computing unit, an adjusting unit, and an output unit. The audio adjusting method includes steps of: receiving a feedback audio from the microphone, calculating a current residue audio according to the feedback audio, a stored residue audio and an offset parameter, performing a correlation calculation to find out a relationship between the feedback audio and the stored residue audio, selectively modifying the offset parameter according to a result of the correlation calculation, and outputting the current residue audio to the speaker.
US09137599B2
A system and method for linearizing underwater sensor arrays is disclosed. The sensor array comprises slightly positive or negative buoyant sensors that are positioned along a cable. A weight is positioned at a deep end of the cable or a buoyant object is positioned at a shallow end of the cable, but not both. Distributing buoyant elements throughout the length of the array generates more consistent, uniformly distributed tension, enabling the sensor array to maintain a linear shape in currents of all strengths and speeds.
US09137596B2
A set of earphones includes a splitter having a splitter body, having first and second ends. A signal wire extends from the first end of the splitter. Left and right earphone wires extending from the second end of the splitter. A sleeve projecting from the second end of the splitter, surrounding the left and right earphone wires. A cinch is slidably mounted on the left and right earphone wires, a portion of the cinch is adapted to fit in the sleeve projecting from the second end of the elongate body, for stowing the cinch when not in use.
US09137594B2
A microphone unit is provided which includes a microphone for picking up sound of a unit which sound is to be picked up, a clamping unit having a first end configured to clamp to the unit and a second end for holding the microphone, a contactless vibration sensor configured to detect vibrations of the unit, and an audio gate unit coupled to the output of the microphone and to the output of the contactless vibration sensor as a trigger signal to allow the output of the microphone to be forwarded to an output terminal.
US09137586B2
A method and a media cloud server for creating content are disclosed. The method includes: recording and storing a real-time broadcast content transmitted through a broadcaster system; dividing the stored broadcast content according to a predetermined method and storing the segments; storing metadata including descriptions of the segments; and creating a user content by extracting at least one segments using the metadata and synthesizing the extracted segments in response to a request from a client device.
US09137585B2
A video on demand server includes a video pump an ad management system interface to disable fast forwarding during commercials and allow fast forwarding during play of content. A playlist generator configures the disabling and allowing of fast forwarding and compiles the playlist from (a) separately provided breakpoints for the commercials during presentation of the content, and (b) an ad map including trick mode instructions that define commands for enabling and disabling trickmode during presentation of the commercials.
US09137584B2
Methods and apparatus for connecting, e.g., bridging, a cable network to other networks and/or devices is described. A bridge device facilitates the distribution of cable provider content to end users operating IP based devices. The bridge device performs one of more of the following: interface protocol conversions, user device controlled tuner selection, transcoding of data, transrating of a data stream, decryption in accordance with a conditional access protocol and re-encryption in accordance with an authorized service domain protocol.
US09137575B2
A video server delivers video on demand (VOD) and other video services responsive to a remote selection application over an IP network from a personal communication device of a user, such as a cellphone or smartphone. The remote selection application drives a user interface of available content, and transmits a user selection request to the video delivery server via a public access network such as the Internet. The video server correlates the identity of the requesting user with a video services channel in communication with a settop box or similar device of the user, and delivers the content to the client video device for rendering. In contrast to conventional VOD, in which the video services request emanates from the settop box on the same communication path (QAM channel) as the downstream signals containing the VOD content, the remote selection application is independent of the client device on an HFC network.
US09137574B2
Briefly, embodiments of a method or system of predicting media content preferences are disclosed.
US09137572B2
A communication system includes a plurality of Digital Visual Interface (DVI) ports. A content provider forwards a single DVI diagnostic request to a receiver, which includes a controller configured to receive the single DVI diagnostic request. The controller is further configured to collect DVI status information associated with each of the plurality of DVI ports in response to the single DVI diagnostic request.
US09137564B2
Embodiments described herein provide for intelligently extending media playback. According to an embodiment, a playback queue for an audio player is established. The playback queue contains one or more playable items. At least one additional playable item that corresponds in substantial likeness to the list of playable items is determined, without additional user effort, and placed in the playback queue, which extends play time.
US09137551B2
Audio and video streams of a media file are transcoded just-in-time by keeping the transcoding process synchronized to a wall clock. The transcoding is initially configured slightly faster than real-time. The transcoded frames are pushed from the transcoder through a variable bandwidth connection as soon as they are transcoded. Transcoding is then monitored periodically to assess the bandwidth that was available during the transmission of a transcoded buffer. Two time intervals are measured: a buffer interval which is the difference in the transcoded buffer timestamps of the previous two transmissions, and a clock interval corresponding to the real time transmission time of the last transcoded buffer. If a significant difference is observed, the transcoder bit rate is adjusted by a factor that is derived from that difference.
US09137548B2
A distributed image/video processing system is disclosed herein wherein one or more of digital image/video recorders (e.g., a digital cameras, video recorders, or smart phones, etc.) are in network communication with central network site for transmitting image or video data thereto. The recorders process their image/video data dependent upon an estimate of a measurement of network bandwidth that is available for transmitting image or video data to the central network site.
US09137541B2
System(s) and method(s) for a video data cache are presented herein. During decoding, the video decoder fetches portions of a reference frame. The video data cache is first checked for the portions of the reference frame. If the portion of the reference frame is found in the video data cache, the portion is fetched from the video data cache. The foregoing avoids a DRAM fetch and cycles associated with the DRAM fetch.
US09137540B2
Information needed to generate an encoded version of a matrix of j transform coefficients c0 . . . cj−1 representing a block of digital video data is determined by forming a numerical signature σ of the matrix and looking up a value for the information needed in an array employing the signature σ as an index to the array.
US09137539B2
An image coding apparatus to reduce data involved in coding a picture having a bit-depth higher than a bit-depth supported by an encoder, includes a down-converter which generates a base layer picture by down-converting a target picture to reduce the bit-depth of the target picture by a first value, a first encoder codes the base layer picture to generate a reconstructed picture by decoding the coded base layer picture, a subtractor performs shift amount adjustment on the reconstructed picture to increase the bit-depth of the reconstructed picture by a second value, and generates, based on the reconstructed picture on which the adjustment has been performed and the target picture, an enhancement layer picture for enhancing the quality of the base layer picture, a second encoder codes the enhancement layer picture; and an output unit outputs the coded base layer picture and the coded enhancement layer picture.
US09137538B2
A moving picture coding method includes partitioning a picture into blocks each of which includes pixels, selecting a scanning scheme from among plural scanning schemes, scanning the blocks according to the selected scanning scheme, and coding the blocks in an order in which the blocks are scanned. In the partitioning, the picture is partitioned into rows and columns of macroblocks each of which is partitioned into the blocks. The plural scanning schemes include a first scanning scheme for scanning the blocks in the macroblock per row of blocks.
US09137536B2
A method and apparatus for decoding a video and a method and apparatus for encoding a video are provided. The method for decoding the video includes: receiving and parsing a bitstream of an encoded video; extracting, from the bitstream, encoded image data of a current picture of the encoded video assigned to a maximum coding unit, and information about a coded depth and an encoding mode according to the maximum coding unit; and decoding the encoded image data for the maximum coding unit based on the information about the coded depth and the encoding mode for the maximum coding unit, in consideration of a raster scanning order for the maximum coding unit and a zigzag scanning order for coding units of the maximum coding unit according to depths.
US09137534B2
An apparatus for decoding an image includes an encoding information extractor which extracts split information indicating whether to split a coding unit of an upper depth into coding units of deeper depths and skip information indicating whether a prediction mode of a current coding unit is a skip mode, from image data and a decoding unit which determines a split structure of a maximum coding unit, according to the split information so that the maximum coding unit is hierarchically split as a depth increases and determines whether the prediction mode of the current coding unit is the skip mode according to the skip information.
US09137530B2
The present invention relates to a video communication method for dynamically modifying video encoding, which includes: obtaining a video window size change signal in a video receiver; generating an encoding modification signal according to the change signal; transmitting the encoding modification signal to a video sender; the video sender receiving the modification signal and modifying encoding parameters of a encoder in real time according to the modification signal. The present invention also relates to a video communication system for dynamically modifying video encoding. Once video window size changes, the video receiver immediately sends a signal to the video sender to inform the video sender to modify encoding parameters. The video sender modifies the encoding parameters according to the signal, and adaptively modifies bandwidth and CPU requirement of each channel according to the RTCP feedback.
US09137529B1
An exemplar dictionary is built from exemplars of digital content for determining predictor blocks for encoding and decoding digital content. The exemplar dictionary organizes the exemplars as clusters of similar exemplars. Each cluster is mapped to a label. Machine learning techniques are used to generate a prediction model for predicting a label for an exemplar. The prediction model can be a hashing function that generates a hash key corresponding to the label for an exemplar. The prediction model learns from a training set based on the mapping from clusters to labels. A new mapping is obtained that improves a measure of association between clusters and labels. The new mapping is used to generate a new prediction model. This process is repeated in order to iteratively refine the machine learning modes generated.
US09137528B1
Techniques for generating synchronized dictionaries for sparse coding to facilitate coding of video content are presented. During a communication session, an encoder associated with a first terminal generates a dictionary that is synchronized with a corresponding dictionary maintained by a decoder associated with a second terminal. The decoder uses the dictionary to facilitate decoding video content, based on sparse coding, received from the encoder. During a subsequent communication session between the first terminal and a third terminal, the dictionary is made available to a decoder associated with the third terminal. The encoder associated with the first terminal and decoder associated with the third terminal signal each other to identify the dictionary as being common between the encoder and decoder, and this common dictionary is used for coding content communicated between the encoder and decoder. The encoder and decoder can update the dictionary based on the subsequent video session.
US09137526B2
The description relates to enhancing images. One device includes a lens configured to focus images on an image sensor. The device also includes point spread function (PSF) lens data relating to manufacturing specifications of the lens and a PSF measurement of the lens associated with a test image of a planar calibration pattern at a single depth of field.
US09137524B2
Described herein is a system and method for displaying a stereoscopic plenoptic image or video to a user, with eye-tracking capabilities. A display device displays a plenoptic image or video on a screen, and focuses the plenoptic image or video at the depth plane corresponding to the eye-coordinates of the user's gaze. The focused depth plane in the displayed plenoptic frame updates as the frames progress in the video stream, thereby constantly re-focusing the depth plane of the currently displayed plenoptic frame depending on the location of the user's gaze.
US09137523B2
The present description discloses a method and apparatus for displaying images. An image display method according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps: generating, from an inputted source, 3D image data to be outputted; taking, as an input, first information on whether or not there are a plurality of viewers, and, in the event there are a plurality of viewers, on the number of viewers, and second information on the viewing mode of each viewer based on the first information; generating individual synchronization information for the generated 3D image data in response to the viewing mode of each viewer in accordance with the inputted first information and second information; and outputting the generated 3D image data via a screen, and transmitting the generated synchronization information to the 3D eyeglasses of each viewer. In addition, an image display method according to another embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps: generating, from an inputted source, 3D image data to be outputted and first synchronization information; outputting the generated 3D image data via a screen, and transmitting the generated first synchronization information to each viewer; generating second synchronization information on the basis of the generated first synchronization information in accordance with a received viewing mode switch request; and transmitting the generated second synchronization information to the 3D glasses of the corresponding viewer.
US09137521B2
A depth sensing apparatus and method for acquiring a depth image of a target object may calculate a difference voltage between a first floating diffusion node and a second floating diffusion node, based on a voltage of a photodiode stored in the first floating diffusion node in a first phase interval and a voltage of the photodiode stored in the second floating diffusion node in a second phase interval, using a sub-integration period, may feed back the difference voltage to one of the first floating diffusion node and the second floating diffusion node, and may calculate a depth value of a pixel based on difference voltages accumulated during an integration period including sub-integration periods.
US09137520B2
A stereoscopic image display device includes an image dividing module dividing an input image including a two dimensional (2D) image and a depth information image into a plurality of divisions, wherein each of the divisions includes a portion of the 2d image and a portion of the depth information image corresponding to the portion of the 2D image, an image rendering module rendering the divisions to output a plurality of rendered images, and a display panel assembly combining the plurality of rendered images.
US09137519B1
A system and methodology provide for generation of a stereo video from a mono video. A mono video is partitioned into shots, where each shot including one or more frames of the mono video. The mono video frames are used as the left frames in the stereo video. Depth parameters are determined for each shot. A pixel depth map is created for each frame of each shot. The right frames for the stereo video are created by shifting pixels from the left frames laterally to occupy new locations in the right frames. A pixel's shift is based on the depth parameters and the pixel depth. In aggregate, pixel shifts will cause objects to appear in different locations in the right frame relative to where they appeared in the left frame. The effect upon the viewer is that the stereo video will provide an enhanced illusion of depth for the viewer.
US09137512B2
A depth estimation and conversion apparatus and method is provided. Depth of an video may be estimated by extracting feature information from the input video, and estimating the depth of the input video based on the extracted feature information.
US09137509B2
A method for navigating instructional video presentations is disclosed. The method includes determining a pause mode of a video presentation, and playing the video presentation on a display device. The video presentation has one or more predetermined pause positions. The method also includes, while playing the video presentation, determining that the video presentation has reached one of the one or more pause positions. The method further includes, in accordance with a determination that the video presentation is in a first pause mode, pausing the video presentation at the one of the one or more pause positions and maintaining a display of a paused frame of the video presentation, and, in accordance with a determination that the video presentation is in a second pause mode distinct from the first pause mode, continuing to play the video presentation through the one of the one or more pause positions.
US09137490B2
A systems and methods for video transmission scheduling are provided. A method of video transmission scheduling may include selecting a first video transmission event associated with first content to be blacked out based on a first geographic access restriction. The method may also include selecting a second video transmission event associated with second content to be blacked out based on a second geographic access restriction. The method may further include linking the first video transmission event to the second transmission event to control a blackout of the second content based at least partially on a trigger related to the first content.
US09137487B2
Various embodiments of the invention provide an apparatus and method for providing a video call in a portable terminal. The method includes displaying a plurality of first image data in a predetermined first area; transmitting the a plurality of the first image data; receiving a plurality of second image data from another portable terminal; and displaying the plurality of the second image data in a predetermined second area.
US09137486B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream.
US09137483B2
A video playback device includes a storage unit, a sound-attached video playback control unit, a pause control unit, a text display control unit and a playback restart control unit. The sound-attached video playback control unit controls to play a sound-attached video on the basis of a user operation. The pause control unit controls to pause the sound-attached video on the basis of a user operation while the sound-attached video is played. When the sound-attached video is paused, the text display control unit controls to read from the storage unit a text correlated with a sound-attached video portion including a point at which the sound-attached video is paused to display the text. The playback restart control unit controls to restart the sound-attached video from the paused point on the basis of a user operation.
US09137482B2
An exemplary method includes maintaining recording instructions received from a user to automatically record a first resolution version of a media content instance scheduled to be transmitted during a first time period by way of a first content channel, determining that a second resolution version of the media content instance is scheduled to be transmitted during a second time period by way of a second content channel, presenting an option to the user to record the second resolution version of the media content instance instead of the first resolution version of the media content instance, and automatically modifying, in response to a selection of the option by the user, the recording instructions to record the second resolution version of the media content instance instead of the first resolution version of the media content instance. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
US09137480B2
An embodiment of a method for secure escrow and recovery of media device content keys includes generating, with a first processor of a media device, an escrow key for encrypting a plurality of content keys, the content keys for encrypting instances of media content. The first processor of the media device encrypts the escrow key with a public key of a key clearinghouse. The escrow key, encrypted with the public key of the key clearinghouse, is stored in a storage location outside of the first processor of the media device.
US09137475B2
A method for providing notifications relating to a digital video recorder (DVR), may include identifying an issue or conflict associated with the DVR. It may be determined whether to generate a notification message relating to the identified issue or conflict. The notification message may be generated when it is determined to generate a notification message relating to the identified issue/conflict. The notification message may be transmitted to a user device separate from the DVR.
US09137471B2
Each of pixels in a pixel array includes a photoelectric converter and a readout circuit which outputs a signal in accordance with charges generated in the photoelectric converter. The readout circuit includes a group of transistors which are disposed so as to form a current path fed by a current source. The readout circuit of a pixel in a first line in the array and the readout circuit of a pixel in a second line in the array are disposed between the photoelectric converter of the pixel in the first line and the photoelectric converter of the pixel in the second line. Directions of currents respectively flowing through the group of transistors in the readout circuit of the pixel in the first line and the plurality of transistors in the readout circuit of the pixel in the second line are the same.
US09137465B2
An image pickup device without a light shielding device for blocking light received by a solid-state image pickup element, the image pickup device including: a supplying section configured to supply a signal for resetting a charge of a floating diffusion disposed so as to correspond to one or a plurality of pixels in the solid-state image pickup element; and a detecting section configured to detect a pixel in which change in output of the pixel after passage of a certain time from the resetting of the charge of the floating diffusion is larger than a predetermined threshold value.
US09137463B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a time of flight 3D camera comprising a photosensor having a plurality of pixels that generate and accumulate photoelectrons responsive to incident light, which photosensor is tiled into a plurality of super pixels, each partitioned into a plurality of pixel groups and a controller that provides a measure of an amount of light incident on a super pixel responsive to quantities of photoelectrons from pixel groups in the super pixel that do not saturate a readout pixel comprised in the photosensor.
US09137453B2
A control apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a cycle from a first irradiation start timing to a second irradiation start timing to be shorter than a cycle of each of first and second picture periods. The first irradiation start timing is a timing at which a light source device starts radiating pulsed illumination light in the first picture period in which an image pickup device performs reading. The second irradiation start timing is a timing at which the light source device starts radiating the illumination light in the second picture period succeeding the first picture period and having the same cycle as the first picture period.
US09137451B2
Electronic apparatuses and adjustment methods thereof are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a camera module and a processor. The camera module is enabled into an HDR mode and captures a reference frame according to a first exposure setting, wherein the reference frame corresponds to a plurality of luminance values. The processor calculates a weighted luminance value of the reference frame according to the luminance values, generates a comparison result by comparing the weighted luminance value and a luminance target of the HDR mode, and decides a second exposure setting according to the comparison result.
US09137446B2
An imaging device, a method of capturing an image, and a program product used to capture a plurality of images, reduce the captured images, transfer second image data correspondent to each of the reduced images, display first images and identify a second image correspondent to the first image, which is instructed by a user.
US09137439B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, from an image capture device, a first image of an article and a background surface, the background surface being illuminated by one or more light sources, generating a grayscale image from the first image, determining a brightness level of the article in the grayscale image based on a first luminous intensity representing the background surface, determining one or more control parameters for the image capture device based on the brightness level of the article, and sending the control parameters to the image capture device, causing the image capture device to configure, for capturing a second image of the article, one or more settings based on the control parameters.
US09137438B2
A biometric image sensor system and method is disclosed which may comprise a first light source having a first wavelength λ1, a second light source having a second wavelength λ2, a photodetector configured and positioned to receive light of the first wavelength λ1 and light of the second wavelength λ2 reflecting from a biometric object being imaged and to produce a first output indicative of the amount of reflectance of the light of the first wavelength λ1 and a second output indicative of the amount of reflectance of the light of the second wavelength λ2, and a computing device configured to compare the difference between the first output and the second output with an authenticity threshold.
US09137435B2
A focus detection apparatus for performing phase difference detection type focus detection includes sensor units each configured to generate a signal used for detecting a phase difference, a setting unit configured to set one or more sensor units as determination targets, a determination unit configured to sequentially select a sensor unit from the determination targets, and repeatedly determine whether a signal generated by the selected sensor unit satisfies a termination condition of having a peak value greater than a threshold, and a detection unit configured to perform focus detection using the signal that satisfies the termination condition. The apparatus operates in a first mode and then shift to a second mode. The setting unit includes, in the determination targets in the second mode, a sensor unit that is not included in the determination targets in the first mode.
US09137433B2
In one aspect, the invention provides an imaging system including an optical system adapted to receive light from a field of view and direct the received light to two image planes. A fixed image detector is optically coupled to one of the image planes to detect at least a portion of the received light and generate image data corresponding to at least a portion of the field of view. A movable (e.g., rotatable) image detector is optically coupled to the other image plane to sample the received light at different locations thereof to generate another set of image data at a higher resolution than the image data obtained by the fixed detector. The system can include a processor for receiving the two sets of image data to generate two images of the field of view.
US09137428B2
Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of tools and techniques for using storyboards in controlling a camera for capturing images, photographs, or video. According to one exemplary technique, at least two storyboards are stored. In addition, at least one storyboard identifier from a camera application is received. Also, using the storyboard identifier, a storyboard of the stored at least two storyboards is retrieved. The retrieved storyboard includes a sequence of control frames for controlling a camera. Additionally, a sequence of image frames is captured at least by controlling a camera using the retrieved storyboard.
US09137426B2
An optical device where an image of an object is formed on an image pickup element and where an image restoration process is performed on the image obtained by the image pickup element, comprising a MTF that satisfies the following conditional expression (1): 0.001
US09137423B2
There is provided a color printing system including: a specification unit that specifies an area which has predetermined colors from printing target image data; a printing unit that prints the image data; a color measurement unit that measures the colors of the area, which is specified by the specification unit, with regard to a printed matter; a recording unit that records color measurement results whenever the image data is printed; and a color adjustment unit that, when a predetermined number of color measurement results of the predetermined colors are completed, executes color adjustment using the color measurement results. Therefore, it is possible to prevent accuracy from being lowered while the color adjustment is effectively executed.
US09137421B2
An image reading device for reading an image of an object includes a multi-color light source which projects light rays with at least three colors onto the object, at least three monochrome image sensor rows, and at least a lens row provided between the object and the monochrome image sensor rows, wherein reflected light rays are imaged directly onto the monochrome image sensor rows through the lens row, and wherein switching between any two colors occurs only once every time the multi-color light source, the image sensor rows, and the lens row are moved for a predetermined distance. The image reading device is able to read color and monochrome images.
US09137417B2
A method includes storing raw or normalized video data in a computer accessible storage medium; analyzing portions of the video data with a first analytic engine to: determine whether the raw video data is within a first set of parameters; and generate with the first analytic engine a first set of processor settings; processing the raw or normalized video data with the first set of processor settings; and analyzing portions of the processed data with a second analytic engine to determine whether the processed data is within a second set of parameters; generating with the second analytic engine a second set of processor settings to reprocess the raw or normalized video data, sending the second set of processor settings to the first analytic engine; and reprocessing the raw or normalized video data with the first analytic engine using the second set of processor settings.
US09137407B2
A power supply apparatus includes a display control unit configured to display external devices allowed to receive power from the power supply apparatus, an input reception unit configured to receive, from a user, an input for selecting an external device as a power supply target from among the displayed external devices, and a power supply target device identification unit configured to identify the selected external device as a power supply target.
US09137406B2
The present invention is directed to an information processing apparatus operable in any of a plurality of power states including a first power state and a second power state in which power consumption is lower than power consumption in the first power state. The information processing apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive a shift instruction to shift to the second power state, and a control unit configured to shift the information processing apparatus to the second power state in a case where the reception unit receives the shift instruction while an application that does not support the second power state is not running, and not to shift the information processing apparatus to the second power state in a case where the reception unit receives the instruction while an application that does not support the second power state is running.
US09137405B2
To print a certified document, a user may select or a system may receive a selection of a document to be certified. The system identifies a security template to be used based on the document and/or capabilities of the print device on which the document will be printed. The system may display the document with a non-secure overlay of the selected security template, add a unique security element to the document according to the template, and cause the document to be printed at the selected print device with the added security element without permitting the added security element to be fully displayed or printed on any other device.
US09137403B2
An image forming apparatus includes a first conveying path which connects between a sheet feed portion and a sheet discharging portion, and on which a image forming portion is arranged. The image forming apparatus further includes a second conveying path configured to guide the sheet on which the image has been formed on one surface thereof by the image forming portion to the first conveying path again, a document conveying path, and a reading portion. The document conveying path includes a document feeding path, a document discharging path, and a common conveying path which serves as at least a part of the second conveying path, and guides the document from a document feed portion to a document discharging portion through the document feeding path, the common conveying path and the document discharging path without causing the document to pass through the image forming position. The reading portion reads a first face and a second face of the document which is fed from the document feed portion.
US09137393B2
The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that executes process according to a job flow in which cooperation process in a plurality of apparatuses is defined, and that, when a function has been added that is equivalent to process that has been defined in the job flow, can utilize the equivalent added function in the job flow without a user manually re-editing the job flow. The present invention also provides a method for controlling such an image processing apparatus. To accomplish this, the present image processing apparatus, in a job flow in which a plurality of processes are executed cooperatively by a plurality of apparatuses, executes the job flow in an optimized manner using priority information that indicates the priority of apparatuses that execute each process, and mount function information that indicates the function mounted by each apparatus.
US09137390B2
A communication apparatus includes a processor to perform determining whether a current state of the communication apparatus is a master station state or a slave station state; controlling to perform, in a first case where it is determined that the current state of the communication apparatus is the master station state, a first type communication with the target apparatus to enable the target apparatus to participate in the specific wireless network, and controlling to transmit, in a second case where it is determined that the current state of the communication apparatus is the slave station state, transmits a communication request to perform a second type communication to enable the target apparatus to participate in the specific wireless network between the master station apparatus and the target apparatus.
US09137389B2
A master account system for managing one or more electronic devices through the establishment and enforcement of policies associated with the devices. Enforcement policies may be determined by characteristics of space, time and/or other criteria relating to a user(s) and/or administrator(s), or in relation to one another, or some other general circumstance. The master account may be established on a pre-paid or postpaid basis with limits applied in real-time or near-real-time. The policies may apply across any number of devices associated with the master account. The addition and decrement of units of measure associated with the master account and device account(s) may be limited to the master account, to the master account and one or more device accounts at the same time, or allocated in numerous other ways. Content and other activity filtering may also be established and managed at the master account and/or device account level.
US09137380B2
Novel tools and techniques for providing a subscriber with converged voice services, in which calls to one of the subscriber's telephone numbers is routed to some or all of the subscriber's telephone numbers (e.g., sequentially or simultaneously, depending on system configuration and/or subscriber preference). Some implementations employ a VoIP switch to handle call distribution among the subscriber's various phone lines, even if some (or all) of the subscribers telephone lines are not VoIP lines. In such implementations, upon receiving an incoming call directed to one of the subscriber's lines, a service switching point will route the call to a VoIP switch. Instructed by an application server, the VoIP switch will set up call legs (e.g., via the PSTN) to one or more of the subscribers' telephone numbers. Optionally, when one of the call legs is answered, the application server will instruct the VoIP switch to disconnect the other call legs.
US09137376B1
A method for joining a teleconference includes receiving a schedule for the teleconference at a conferencing system. The schedule may include a start time for the teleconference and one or more conference rooms for attendees to use during the teleconference. A first message is sent from the conferencing system to the at least one communication device. The first message indicates to the at least one communication device to provide a user notification associated with the teleconference. A second message is received at the conferencing system. The second message is sent in response to an action by an attendee of the teleconference. The second message indicates to the conferencing system to initiate the teleconference with the at least one communication device or to join the at least one communication device to the teleconference.
US09137373B2
The methods, apparatus, and systems described herein are designed to route customer communications to the best agent or best available agent. The methods include receiving a customer communication, predicting a personality type of the customer associated with the customer communication, and providing a routing recommendation to route the customer to an agent based on the personality type prediction and historical customer data.
US09137369B1
A more accurate determination of the disposition of a call origination is made in a contact center by mapping ISDN cause codes to reflect whether a call attempt was made to a remote party. Certain cause codes reflect various conditions where a call may originate from a contact center, but for various reasons, was not offered to the remote party, or more specifically, to an interface associated with the telephone number of the remote party. Reflecting these calls as incomplete calls, as opposed to call attempts, allows the contact center to more accurately reflect the number of call attempts. Accurately tracking the number of call attempts is important to comply with various state and federal regulations regulating the number of call attempts during a given time period. Further, incomplete calls may be symptomatic of a facility failure requiring attention, for which an alert may be generated to an administrator.
US09137357B2
A method for implementing Customized Ringing Signal (CRS) services is provided. The method includes: receiving a call request initiated by a caller terminal; obtaining a policy of playing a CRS tone according to the call request, where the policy is a policy of playing a CRS tone, namely, a caller CRS tone or a callee CRS tone, or a policy of filtering the CRS tone; and playing the CRS tone to a callee according to the policy. By setting a policy of playing the CRS tone to the callee in the network or the callee terminal, the users enjoy the CRS services at their own discretion.
US09137355B2
Method and apparatus for enabling collaberative interactions among devices on a peer-to-peer network
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for collaboratively communications among device are provided in which a communications device is operable to receive a message from a peer device in the communications environment which indicates that an event associated with the peer device has occurred. Further, based on reception of the message, the device may be operable to change at least one of functionality from a normal operating state to a modified operating state. Similarly, a device may be operable to receive a message indicating various functionalities active on a peer device. When the device detects occurrence of an event, it may determine whether any of the various functionalities associated with the peer device may be affected. Where any of the functionalities are affected, the device may generate a message for the peer device associated with the affected functionality and may transmit the message to the peer device.
US09137348B2
A mobile device and corresponding method and program. The mobile device comprises: a transceiver for accessing a packet-based network; a screen; communication processing apparatus coupled to the transceiver and screen, for conducting a packet-based video call with a remote device via a channel established over the packet-based network; and a sensor for sensing a spatial state of the mobile device. The communication processing apparatus is coupled to the sensor and configured so as to detect, during the video call, whether the mobile device is in a first spatial state or a second spatial state, and to suppress a video function of the call when in the second spatial state but not in the first spatial state.
US09137346B2
The disclosure is directed to recording voice data transmissions between mobile communication devices. An embodiment of the disclosure receives, at a first mobile communication device, an indication that a subsequent voice transmission segment may or may not be recorded by at least one other mobile communication device, and transmits, from the first mobile communication device, an indication to said at least one other mobile communication device that the subsequent voice transmission segment may or may not be recorded. Another embodiment receives an indication from at least one other mobile communication device that a subsequent voice transmission segment may or may not be recorded by said mobile communication device, and if the received indication indicates that the subsequent voice transmission segment may be recorded, records at least a portion of the subsequent voice transmission segment, and stores the recorded portion in a memory associated with said mobile communication device.
US09137343B1
A computerized method and related system and software for simplifying telephonic calling, comprising: designating a default destination area code; the user specifying a destination telephone number; and as a default, causing the call to be signaled using the designated default destination area code in combination with the specified destination telephone number, without the user entering the designated default destination area code when specifying the destination telephone number.
US09137341B1
A system and method are disclosed for communicating transmit parameters to a data transmitter for transmitting a data frame. Two or more levels of transmit parameters are associated with each data frame and are accessible and adjustable by a processor, such as a firmware processor. A data transmitter retrieves the transmit parameters of a level only if all attempts (initial attempt and retransmissions) at the previous level were unsuccessful. Each level includes a continuation data element, such as a designated bit, to indicate to the data transmitter that a subsequent level exists. The processor may adjust the transmit parameters in a transmit control table and may add levels of transmit parameters to the transmit control table based on transmission performance information.
US09137339B2
Applications that run on an overlay network-based managed service achieve high performance gains using a set of TCP optimizations. In a first optimization, a typical single TCP connection between a client and an origin server is broken into preferably three (3) separate TCP connections. These connections are: an edge-to-client connection, an edge-to-edge connection, and edge-to-origin connection. A second optimization replicates TCP state along the connection to increase fault tolerance. In this approach, preferably a given TCP connection is maintained on two servers. When a packet is received by one server, called the primary, its state is updated and then passed to a second server, called the backup. Only when the backup sends an acknowledgement back to the primary can it then send a TCP acknowledgement back to the host that originally sent the packet. Another optimization reduces connection establishment latency.
US09137326B2
Caching techniques are described. An example network device positioned between an optical line terminal (OLT) and a service provider device includes a hot cache, a wide cache controller, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to receive, from a first service delivery platform, a request for digital content, and determine whether the requested digital content is stored on the hot cache. The control unit is further configured to, when the requested digital content is not stored on the hot cache, determine, using the wide cache controller, whether the requested digital content is stored on a wide cache of a second service delivery platform, receive, from the second service delivery platform, the requested digital content, and responsive to the request received from the first delivery platform, send the received digital content to the first delivery platform.
US09137325B2
Embodiments are directed to efficiently routing data requests from a plurality of tenants and to using smart routing to limit service denials. In an embodiment, a gateway node receives data requests from a tenant subscriber requesting data for an indicated service. The gateway node determines which server node the received data requests are to be routed to. The determination evaluates various criteria associated with the data request. The gateway node queries the determined server node to determine the health of the server nodes and receives a reply from the determined server node indicating the server node's current operating status. The gateway node also, based on the determined server node's reply, routes the received data requests to the determined server node, according to the evaluated criteria.
US09137323B2
Disclosed in some examples are methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums which provide a relevance engine for determining a relevance of an individual (either a non-member or another member) to another individual (either a non-member or another member). This relevance engine may use signals in the form of data that the social networking service may learn about the individuals to determine how relevant the individuals are to each other. Example applications may include ordering of connection invitations in a social networking service.
US09137316B2
In one embodiment, a request for content is received. An electronic advertisement is associated with the content. A status of a device that transmitted the request for the content is determined. Data corresponding to the status is included in the request for the content. The electronic advertisement or receipt of the electronic advertisement is provided as a function of the included data.
US09137311B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for negotiating a version of Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) between a network entity and a SUPL enabled terminal. In a particular implementation, a SUPL initiation message is transmitted from a network entity to a SUPL entity, where the SUPL initiation message identifies a plurality of SUPL versions capable of supporting a desired service. A response is received from the SUPL entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of versions.
US09137297B2
The present invention relates to information management systems for a home appliance, and more particularly, to an information management system for a home appliance which is embodied to enable to communicate between the home appliance and a server system for providing information a user requires, quickly. The information management system for a home appliance includes a home appliance having a predetermined ID, and a server system having the ID of the home appliance recorded thereon, and provided to be able to communicate with the home appliance for transmitting/receiving predetermined information with the home appliance upon request from the home appliance with the ID recorded thereon, already.
US09137292B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to an IPMI Compatible Digital Media Controller (DMC). The IPMI Compatible DMC includes: a processor, a network interface controller, and a memory. The memory contains a firmware, and when the it is executed at the processor, the firmware is configured: (a) to be in communication with a number of digital media devices in a local DLNA network, (b) to receive an IPMI message from a remote management device through the network interface controller; and (c) to execute, in response to the IPMI message, an DLNA operation of the DMR or DMS. The digital media devices include at least one digital media renderer (DMR) and at least one digital media server (DMS).
US09137291B2
According to embodiments described in the specification, a method, system and apparatus for processing alerts and acknowledgments is provided. The method, in a communication device having a processor, a memory, an input device and an output device, comprises: detecting a notification message at the processor; determining whether the communication device is a primary device; and, when the determination is affirmative: controlling the output device with the processor to generate an alert; receiving an acknowledgement at the processor from the input device; and transmitting an acknowledgment message to an other communication device for causing the other communication device to interrupt alert generation.
US09137286B1
In a method of classifying streaming media data, one or more media servers are identified. In response, the media servers are added to a list of media servers. It is determined that one or more messages sent by one or more clients are sent to a first media server included on the list of media servers. In response, the one or more clients are added to a list of clients that is associated with the first media server. It is determined that a request for streaming media is sent to the first media server by a first client included on the list of clients. In response, a rule to determine whether subsequent traffic between the first media server and the first client is utilized. Data packets within the subsequent traffic are classified as high priority when the data packets satisfy the rule.
US09137284B1
A network device includes a receiving device, a detector, and a circuit. The receiving device receives a first signal. The first signal includes first and second packets. The first packets correspond to intervals of the first signal containing voice activity. The second packets correspond to intervals of the first signal not containing voice activity. The detector detects the first packets and generates an indication signal identifying the first packets. The circuit, based on the indication signal, inserts a bit in either each of the first packets and not the second packets or each of the second packets and not the first packets. The bit inserted into each of the first packets or the second packets indicates which of the packets in the first signal correspond to intervals of the first signal containing voice activity.
US09137283B2
An information processing apparatus includes a first communication unit that receives management data including at least identification information of content data from a different device by using a first communication method. The apparatus also includes an output unit that outputs a first display based on the management information received by the first communication unit. Further, the apparatus includes a selection acceptation unit that accepts a selection of the content data according to a selection operation on the first display. The apparatus additionally includes a second communication that sends a request for the content data of which the selection acceptation unit accepts the selection to the different device and receives the content data corresponding to the request by using a second communication method whose communication range is wider than that of the first communication method.
US09137273B2
A Virtual Collectible Distribution Network generates and distributes Virtual Collectible objects, each potentially possessing unique properties, over a computer network such as the Internet, to a group of users. The Distribution Network utilizes a client-server system. The client software can be standalone or embedded in another application, such as a web browser or game. In one scenario, the client software observes certain behaviors of the user, and communicates such behavior to the server, which process is transparent to the user. The server, based on the communications from the client, predefined algorithm, and other factors, may decide to award the user with a Virtual Collectible.
US09137270B2
A TCP/IP socket extension may bind a single socket to more than one IP address. The socket API extension may allow a user to bind a socket to a list of IP addresses instead of a single IP address. Additional socket APIs may allow applications to bind an existing socket to one or more additional IP addresses. Bind-specific support may enhance a user's capability to specify one or more IPv4 addresses and/or IPv6 addresses or other addresses to bind to a generic server information handling system (IHS). The method may convert a generic server IHS into a bind-specific server IHS that accepts new connections over both the IPv4 and IPv6 network transports and/or other network transports without requiring changes to the server IHS. A modified TCP/IP stack may provide support for multiple sockets. The method may map multiple address/port/protocol tuples to the same socket.
US09137267B2
Methods for secure transmission of data during a communication session are provided herein. In some embodiments, the method includes establishing a secure voice communication session between a first electronic device and second electronic device in a communications network, and sending secure data over the established voice communication session using information associated with the established voice communication session.
US09137265B2
Generating role-based access control policies is provided. A user-permission relation is generated by extracting users and permissions assigned to each of the users from a stored access control policy. A user-attribute relation is generated by mapping the users to attributes describing the users. A permission-attribute relation is generated by mapping the permissions to attributes describing the permissions. The set of risk-averse roles, assignment of the set of risk-averse roles to the users, and assignment of the permissions to the set of risk-averse roles are determined based on applying a risk-optimization function to the generated user-permission relation, the generated user-attribute relation, and the generated permission-attribute relation. A role-based access control policy that minimizes a risk profile of the set of risk-averse roles, the assignment of the set of risk-averse roles to the users, and the assignment of the permissions to the set of risk-averse roles is generated.
US09137240B2
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for simplifying the process of access to a network for a roaming computer user, divides the responsibility of servicing a given user wanting to access the network between multiple parties wanting to access the network between multiple parties and minimizes the possibility of improper dissemination of email header data as well as improper use of network resources (including server systems) by non-clients.
US09137238B1
Authentication techniques, and in particular, authentication techniques which can be used in conjunction with input constrained devices are described herein. A plurality of words is received. The received words are parsed. A credential is authenticated by determining a match based on information associated with at least one of the received words in the plurality.
US09137225B2
A way of providing seamless remote data storage and access with a universal encryption key is provided. Data may be able to be uploaded from and/or downloaded to a variety of user devices and/or types of user devices. During transfer of data, a secure communication channel may be established between a user device and a destination storage. Data may be compressed and/or encrypted before being passed to the destination storage. Such compression and/or encryption may be performed at the user device or an intermediate processing module. Likewise, when downloading data, the data may be decompressed and/or decrypted before being made available to a destination user device. Such decompression and/or decryption may be performed at the destination device or the intermediate processing module. In any case, the universal encryption key may be utilized by all user devices to generate uniformly encrypted data.
US09137221B2
A method of exchanging data between a data processing system and an electronic entity, characterized by the following steps: the electronic entity sending the data processing system a certificate (CASD_CERT) associating an identifier of the electronic entity with a public key (CASD_PK) associated with a secret key (CASD_SK) stored in the electronic entity in a set of reserved keys associated with a first security domain; the data processing system verifying the association of the identifier and the public key (CASD_PK) via the certificate (CASD_CERT); and an application of the electronic entity separate from the first security domain and the data processing system exchanging data encrypted by the public key (CASD_PK) or signed by the first security domain by the secret key (CASD_SK) stored in the electronic entity.
US09137218B2
An origin server selectively enables an intermediary (e.g., an edge server) to shunt into and out of an active TLS session that is on-going between a client and the origin server. The technique allows for selective pieces of a data stream to be delegated from an origin to the edge server for the transmission (by the edge server) of authentic cached content, but without the edge server having the ability to obtain control of the entire stream or to decrypt arbitrary data after that point. The technique enables an origin to authorize the edge server to inject cached data at certain points in a TLS session, as well as to mathematically and cryptographically revoke any further access to the stream until the origin deems appropriate.
US09137217B1
This present disclosure generally relates to managing encrypted network traffic using Domain Name System (DNS) responses. One example method includes requesting an address associated with the a domain name from a resolution server, the domain name included in a predetermined set of domain names for which secure requests are to be identified domain name from a resolution server; receiving a response from the resolution server including one or more addresses associated with the domain name; associating with the domain name a particular address selected from the received one or more addresses; receiving a request to resolve the domain name; sending a response to the request to resolve the domain name, the sent response including the particular address associated with the domain name; receiving a secure request for a resource, the secure request directed to the particular address associated with the domain name; and determining that the secure request is directed to the domain name based on the association between the particular address and the domain name.
US09137212B2
A method of exchanging a series of communication primitives during one or more communication sessions between two or more communication units is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a first communication primitive including at least a first destination ID identifying at least a first communication unit as a receiver of the first communication primitive. The method also includes providing first data in the first communication primitive that reflects a first return destination ID identifying at least a second communication unit as a sender of the first communication primitive. Further, using the first data, a second destination ID is determined that is included in a second communication primitive sent from the first communication unit to the second communication unit. Also, the method includes determining, by the second communication unit during the one or more communication sessions, second data indicating a second return destination ID, wherein the second data differs from the first data and providing a third communication primitive including the second data.
US09137201B2
Disclosed is a synchronized adaptive infrastructure (SAIN) network. Switches, synchronized nodes, and persistent connections can be used. Also described are methods and apparatus for the following functions: disjoint partitioning; data aggregation and disaggregation; interfacing with packet-based networks; bandwidth management; use of control vectors for security, addressing, error control, routing, etc. Synchronized networks are disclosed which enable fast connection set up and release in a tiered hierarchy of circuit switched nodes. Methods of synchronizing and transforming data streams are disclosed, as well as overcoming Doppler, environmental, and frequency offset effects.
US09137198B2
The present disclosure discloses a network device and/or method for centralized configuration with dynamic distributed address management. The disclosed network device receives, at a first network node, a range of sub network addresses and a specified size for a sub network. The disclosed network device then divides the range of sub network addresses into a plurality of sub-ranges of sub network addresses based on the specified size. Further, the network device allocates the plurality of sub-ranges of sub network addresses to a plurality of sub networks, and transmits an allocated sub-range of sub network addresses to a corresponding sub network at a second network node through an established secure communication channel. Moreover, the network device can retrieve a profile template that includes the range of sub network addresses and the specified size of the sub network; and create a profile based on the profile template.
US09137195B2
The present invention provides a method, a network device, and a user equipment for switching a MAC address. The network device provides a first port and a second port, each port being connected to at least one user equipment. After switching from the first port to the second port, the network device sends a first packet to the user equipment. The first packet carries a second MAC address, so that the user equipment switches a first MAC address to the second MAC address according to the first packet; receiving a second packet returned by the user equipment. After determining, according to the second packet, that the user equipment switches to the second MAC address, the locally used first MAC address is switched to the second MAC address.
US09137192B2
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for generating web pages for members.
US09137191B2
The claimed subject matter provides a method for communicating with a client. The method includes receiving a notification token that identifies the client. The method further includes registering the client to receive a message when the client is not connected to the server. The method also includes sending the message to the client when the client does not have a connection to the server, based on the registering and the notification token. The message may be sent using a notification channel.
US09137179B2
Systems and methods for providing network interface controllers (NICs) with memory-mapped buffers are described. A processing system includes a plurality of processing cells, each including at least one processor and at least one system memory. A NIC is associated with each of the processing cells for transmitting and receiving data between the processing cells. Each of the cells further includes a memory interconnect to which the NIC is directly connected and the NIC includes at least one memory-mapped buffer.
US09137176B2
A scaled-out fabric coupler (SFC) chassis includes a plurality of root fabric cards installed on the one side of the SFC chassis. Each root fabric card has a plurality of electrical connectors. A plurality of line cards is installed on the opposite side of the SFC chassis. Each line card is one of two types of line cards. One of the two types of line cards is a switch-based network line card having network ports for connecting to servers and switches. The other of the two types of line cards is a leaf fabric card having fabric ports for connecting to a fabric port of a network element. Each of the two types of the line cards has electrical connectors that mate with one electrical connector of each root fabric card installed in the chassis.
US09137172B2
A system and method for managing a plurality of proxy servers in a multi-tenant database system is provided. The method, for example, may include, but is not limited to, receiving, by a processor, a first command, generating, by the processor, a second command for each of the plurality of proxy servers based upon the first command, and transmitting each of the generated second commands to the respective proxy server.
US09137168B2
A device, system and method for packet transmission over internet protocol (IP) networks in which redundant IP packet streams are generated by an IP transmitter and transmitted using separate network paths to one or more IP receivers, and at each IP receiver duplicate IP packets are overwritten to form a single combined packet stream with redundant IP packet streams reducing the negative effects of packet loss and of network congestion.
US09137159B2
An apparatus comprising a processor configured to store a first upstream label in a forwarding table upon receipt of a first message encapsulating the first upstream label from a first adjacent node, store a first downstream label in the forwarding table upon receipt of a second message encapsulating the first downstream label from a second adjacent node, send a third message encapsulating a second downstream label to the first adjacent node, send a fourth message encapsulating a second upstream label to the second adjacent node; and forward data received from a plurality of adjacent nodes over a MP2MP LSP using at least a portion of the labels stored in the forwarding table, wherein each adjacent node is associated with only one upstream label and only one downstream label, and wherein the maximum state complexity of the forwarding table is linear relative to the number of adjacent nodes.
US09137157B2
An internet packet comprises a header field including a field identifying a source address of the internet packet, a field identifying the destination address of the internet packet and a next header field identifying whether an extension header follows the header and a type of the extension header. The extension header indicates a hop-by-hop option header including a router alert option header type indicating that the extension field is optional for a router to read, and a field providing information for a gateway support node of a packet radio system network. A gateway support node is provided with information, which may be required for example to support a mobile internet protocol (IP). By providing the router alert option field, a router is not required to read the remainder of the hop-by-hop option field.
US09137143B2
A multiprocessor computer system comprises a dragonfly processor interconnect network that comprises a plurality of processor nodes and a plurality of routers. The routers are operable to adaptively route data by selecting from among a plurality of network paths from a target node to a destination node in the dragonfly network based on one or more of network congestion information from neighboring routers and failed network link information from neighboring routers.
US09137142B2
This disclosure describes techniques to reduce traffic loss for a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) session by delaying re-advertisement of routes received from a newly re-established multi-homed router by a primary router until all the routes are installed in a forwarding plane of the primary router. The techniques of this disclosure make use of a BGP marker received from the multi-homed router that indicates the end of a route download for an address family. Upon receiving the BGP marker, a control plane of the primary router requests a route acknowledgement message (Route-ACK) from the forwarding plane for only the last route of the address family received before the BGP marker. When the control plane receives the Route-ACK indicating that the last route has been installed in the forwarding plane, the primary router initiates re-advertisement of the routes to other BGP peer routers.
US09137130B2
The present disclosure involves computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for optimizing the utilization of network infrastructure resources through predictive analysis. A computer-implemented method includes calculating, using at least one hardware processor, at least one user network load profile for each user profile of a set of user profiles, calculating a predicted dynamic network load using the at least one user network load profile for each user profile of the set of user profiles, transferring the predicted dynamic network load to an at least one network infrastructure resource, and adjusting the capacity of the at least one available network infrastructure resource.
US09137126B2
Improved approaches to domain name monitoring. The monitoring of domain names, e.g., registrations therefor, is beneficial to holders of similar domain names, trademark owners, and competitors. Such monitoring can be automatically performed.
US09137112B2
The present invention relates to methods for indicating a bonding configuration mismatch of lines of bonding groups. The methods are performed in different nodes of a communications network. Said method comprises sending a Bonding Configuration Value via one line of the bonding group of lines, said Bonding Configuration Value being unique for said bonding group, and receiving a Bonding Configuration Value via each of the lines of the bonding group. It further comprises checking each received Bonding Configuration Value for diverging values. If a diverging Bonding Configuration Value is identified, an alarm message is generated and sent to Element Manager of the communications network.
US09137111B2
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for automatically validating and configuring an inventory of hardware to interact seamlessly with a cloud-computing fabric of a data center are provided. Initially, devices internal to the hardware inventory are located by sending and receiving messages via out-of-band communication channels and network communication channels, respectively. Locating the internal devices involves establishing communication from a user device to the hardware inventory and selecting at least one of the internal devices for conducting a discovery process thereon. The discovery process involves receiving a first network identifier via the out-of-band communication channel and receiving a second network identifier via the network communication channel. When the first and second network identifiers match, the interconnection of the selected device is validated. Otherwise, one or more remedial measures are initiated with respect to the selected device. Validation involves conducting a server boot within the MOS and executing validation and configuration tools.
US09137105B2
The invention relates to a method for generating, on the fly and on demand, at least one virtual network (402, 404, 406), adapted for a specific use, on a physical network (200), referred to as an infrastructure network, including physical nodes (204, 206, 208, 210), each of said physical nodes (204, 206, 208, 210) runs at least one network operating system, said method including the following steps: determining, on at least one computer device (202), referred to as a virtual network server, data related to said virtual network (402) to be generated in accordance with said particular use; transmitting, on the basis of said data and to at least a portion of said physical nodes (204, 206, 208, 210), referred to as active nodes, of said infrastructure network (200), a request for creating a virtual node; and creating a virtual node on each of said active nodes by installing a virtual device in each of said active nodes, said virtual network consisting of all of said virtual nodes thus created. The invention also relates to a system implementing such a method.
US09137097B1
Methods and systems are directed to dynamically mirroring a connection between network devices. Mirroring is managed by forwarding a packet between a first network device and a second network device. In one method, the first network device receives the packet from a client and communicates the packet to the second network device. A forwarding device, pre-determined from the first and second network devices, forwards the packet to a server. The first network device receives a response from the server, and communicates it to the second network device. The forwarding device forwards the response packet to the client. In one configuration, the first network device and forwarding device is an active device, and the second network device is a standby device. In another configuration, the first network device is a standby device, and the second network device and forwarding device is an active device.
US09137095B2
The invention proposes methods and devices for managing domains. The domains comprise a plurality of member devices, and the method comprises the steps of: storing (S500, S501), by a first domain manager (M1), domain management information (P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5) in said plurality of member devices; and obtaining (S510, S511), by a second domain manager (M2), said domain management information from at least one of said plurality of member devices. In comparison with the prior art, where the domain management information is maintained in the domain authority, the embodiment decreases the work load of the domain authority and provides conveniences.
US09137091B2
Systems and methods are provided that allow a media streaming device to dynamically control the quality of service associated with streaming media content being presented to a user. To dynamically control the quality of service associated with the streaming media content, the local environment in which the media streaming device, and one or more downstream devices which may be configured to receive the streaming media content, if present, operate, is monitored. Feedback regarding the status of the local environment can be gleaned based on the monitoring, and based on the feedback, the quality of service associated with the streaming media content can be adjusted accordingly, or the streaming media content may be paused, altogether terminated, maintained, or initiated/re-initiated. To further refine the feedback, user behavior may also be monitored, which can be suggestive of a user's attentiveness to the streaming media content.
US09137089B2
A method of assembling a plurality of frames including cell/packet-formatted data according to a predetermined frame format for transmission in a communication signal in a wireless or satellite environment. The method begins by assembling a data payload for each frame having a first variable size, including at least one of a partial data cell/packet and a complete data cell/packet. Then, for each frame a block code having a second variable size is generated for use in error correction. Each frame is provided with a frame header which defines aspects of the frame. Finally, the data payload, the block code and the format header are combined to form a frame corresponding to the plurality of frames, the format header defining a first portion of the frame, the data payload defining a second portion of the frame and the block code defining a third portion of the frame.
US09137084B2
A Digital-to-Time (DTC) for a Digital Polar Transmitter (DPT) comprises a coarse delay/phase segment and a fine delay/phase segment. The coarse delay/phase segment generates an even delay/phase signal and an odd delay/phase signal. The fine/phase delay segment receives the even coarse phase signal and the odd coarse phase signal, and is responsive to a fine delay/phase control signal to generate a fine delay/phase output signal that is an interpolation of the even delay/phase signal and the odd delay/phase signal. In one exemplary embodiment, the fine delay/phase control signal comprises a binary signal having 2N values, and the fine delay/phase segment comprises 2N interpolators. Each interpolator is coupled to the even and odd coarse phase signals and is controlled by the fine delay/phase control signal to be responsive to the even coarse phase signal or the odd coarse phase signal based on a value of the fine delay/phase control signal.
US09137070B2
An apparatus and method to control signal phase in a radio device includes a phase rotator configured to control a phase of a local oscillator. A phase error determination module is configured to determine phase error information based on received in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) (IQ) signal values. A phase correction module is configured to derive from the received IQ signal values a correction signal and apply the correction signal to the phase rotator in a path of the local oscillator.
US09137061B2
Methods and circuits for transmitting data are disclosed. An embodiment of a method includes transmitting a predetermined number of pulses during predetermined period of time. A first predetermined number of pulses transmitted during the predetermined period of time represents a first value and a second predetermined number of pulses transmitted during the predetermined period of time represents a second value.
US09137060B2
Disclosed are a method of cancelling inter-subcarrier interference in a distributed antenna system, and a device for performing the same. The method of cancelling the interference performed in a receiver includes: generating a first signal and a second signal by performing a fast Fourier transform (FFT) operation on a received signal received from a first transmission antenna and a second transmission antenna; acquiring first symbols by combining the first signal and the second signal; generating a first interference signal and a second interference signal based on the first symbols; generating a third signal by cancelling the first interference signal from the first signal, and generating a fourth signal by cancelling the second interference signal from the second signal; and acquiring second symbols by combining the third signal and the fourth signal.
US09137058B2
It is disclosed to insert an anti-whitened data block, which is obtainable from a specific data block by anti-whitening, into a data block that is to be whitened by a whitening to yield a whitened data block, wherein the anti-whitening compensates the whitening so that the whitened data block will comprise the specific data block in non-whitened form. It is further disclosed to output, in a first operating mode, an output data block generated by one of whitening and de-whitening an input data block in its entirety, and outputting, in a second operating mode, one of: an output data block generated by one of whitening and de-whitening all parts of an input data block under exclusion of a specific data block contained in the input data block.
US09137052B2
A network control system for interconnecting several separate networks. The system includes i) several interconnection switching elements, each of which is for connecting one of the separate networks to a common interconnecting network, ii) a first set of network controllers for managing a first set of the interconnection switching elements at a first set of separate networks in order for machines at different networks within the first set to communicate with each other, iii) a second set of network controllers for managing a second set of interconnection switching elements at a second set of separate networks in order for machines at different networks within the second set to communicate with each other, and iv) a third set of network controllers for managing the first and second sets of network controllers in order for machines at networks in the first set to communicate with machines at networks in the second set.
US09137050B2
A system and approach for utilizing a graphical processing unit in a demand response program. A demand response server may have numerous demand response resources connected to it. The server may have a main processor and an associated memory, and a graphic processing unit connected to the main processor and memory. The graphic processing unit may have numerous cores which incorporate processing units and associated memories. The cores may concurrently process demand response information and rules of the numerous resources, respectively, and provide signal values to the main processor. The main processor may the provide demand response signals based at least partially on the signal values, to each of the respective demand response resources.
US09137041B2
A network adapter has a first and second virtual local area network (“VLAN”) device configured on each of first and second physical ports of the network adapter. The second VLAN devices are configured as a logically bonded, virtual device.
US09137040B2
Method of controlling the access of devices to the communication media in distributed networks of CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) type is characterized by that each time before the packet transmission attempt, if the communication medium is detected to be idle, the prespecified fixed time interval equal to the minimum interpacket space is timed out during which the random numbers of time slots defining the order of media access are selected from the fixed number of slots of equal width using the pseudorandom number generator in every node where the probability of a selection of a particular slot is geometric with a characteristic parameter defined as the ratio of the probability of a selection of a given slot to the probability of a selection of the next slot, which changes from zero to one as a discrete function of the state of the node's counter, and after that the time interval of random delay corresponding to the selected random is assigned. After the minimum interpacket space the phase of known sequential priority access is started and subsequently, the random delay assigned previously is timed out and at the same time the state of the communication medium is sensed again, and if the communication medium is still sensed idle, it is made available to the node with the lowest number of the slot randomly selected. After completing a given packet reception, the states of the counters in all the nodes in a given network segment are increased by the increment defining the number of expected packets that will be generated in a result of the reception of the transmitted packet reduced by one, and next, the cycle is repeated. During the data packet transmission the collisions are detected optionally in the communication medium by the collision detectors, and next, the states of the counters are changed in the nodes with the use of the corresponding control signals obtained from the collision detectors, and in case the communication medium is detected to be idle after the time equal to the sum of the minimum interpacket space and the time delay defined by the prespecified fixed maximum number of slots, the states of the counters in all the nodes in a given network segment are decreased by one with the use of the control signals obtained from the communication medium state detectors.
US09137036B2
Provided are a method and apparatus for notifying a specific device, which requests a service, of an event if the event relating to the service occurs in a home network. An event notification message that is multicasted in the home network includes a device ID that requests a service relating to an event, and devices discard the event notification message when the device ID included in the event notification message is not identical to IDs of the devices, thereby preventing all devices that are not related to the service from being notified of the event relating to the service.
US09137030B1
First data units corresponding to a first multicast group (MCG) and second data units corresponding to a second MCG are stored in a first queue of a network switching device. At least one first data unit retrieved from the first queue and at least one second data unit retrieved from the first queue are aggregated into a first frame. The first frame is transmitted by the network switching device to a superset MCG that includes at least the first MCG and the second MCG. Only third data units corresponding to a third MCG are stored in a second queue of the network switching device. Third data units retrieved from the second queue are transmitted by the network switching device to the third MCG.
US09137022B2
A method begins by a processing module sending list digest requests to a set of dispersed storage (DS) units. The method continues with the processing module receiving list digest responses from at least some of the set of DS units and determining whether an inconsistency exists between first and second list digest responses of the list digest responses. The method continues with the processing module requesting at least a portion of each of the slice name information lists from first and second DS units of the set of DS units and identifying a slice name information error associated with the inconsistency based on the at least a portion of each of the slices name information lists of the first and second DS units when the inconsistency exists between first and second list digest responses of the list digest responses.
US09137014B2
One exemplary embodiment involves receiving a request for a document key for accessing a document on a client device. The request comprises a user identity identifying a requester requesting access to the document. The request also comprises information about the document. The exemplary embodiment further involves determining, at the server, whether access to the document by the requester is permitted. And, the exemplary embodiment further involves, if access to the document is permitted computing, at the server, the document key using the user identity and using the information about the document. The document key is document specific and, prior to the computing of the document key, the document key is not stored for access by the server. The exemplary embodiment further involves responding to the request by providing the document key for use in accessing the document on the client device.
US09137013B2
Disclosed method, system and computer readable storage medium embodiments for providing hardware-efficient universal hashing functions include performing a first hash function on a received input key or a bit sequence derived from the received input key to generate a hashed input key, selecting a plurality of input key portions from the hashed input key, accessing, a respective permutation table for each of the input key portions from a group of permutation tables to generate a permuted key portion, and combining at least the generated permuted key portions to form a hash value.
US09137012B2
A first processing device, which may be, for example, a wireless authentication token or an RFID tag, transmits information in a wireless network in a manner that emulates standard communications of an access point of the wireless network, although the first processing device is not configured to operate as an actual access point of the wireless network. A second processing device, which may be, for example, a computer or other station of the wireless network, receives the transmitted information and is able to determine therefrom that the information originates from an emulated access point rather than an actual access point. The second processing device responds to this condition by utilizing the transmitted information in a manner distinct from its utilization of similar information received from the actual access point of the wireless network.
US09137009B1
A portable encryption key installation system is disclosed that includes a portable keying device for installing a data communications encryption key in an electronic terminal. The portable keying device securely reprograms the encryption key in the electronic terminal without having to remove the terminal from its shipping container or ship the electronic terminal offsite. Furthermore, the portable keying device securely reprograms the encryption key in the electronic terminal without having to dismantle the terminal, deactivate any anti-tampering features, or re-bond the terminal.
US09137006B1
Apparatus and method for performing entirely digital timing recovery for high bandwidth radio frequency communications. The received digital data source can be sampled from any (minimum 2×) non-integer oversampled transmitted data. This method re-samples the data through interpolation and phase adjustment. The output phase error adjusts the receiver's Analog-to-digital Convertor sampling clock to improve synchronization with the transmitter's Digital-to-analog Convertor clock phase, thus improving transmitted symbol recovery.
US09137001B2
Disclosed is a method and corresponding apparatus for enhanced scheduling of resources based on use of carrier aggregation. The method involves determining that (i) an individual UE is being served with carrier aggregation or with greater than a threshold amount of frequency and (ii) a processor load of the base station is greater than a threshold load. The method then involves, responsive to the determining that the individual UE is being served with carrier aggregation or with greater than a threshold amount of frequency and that the processor load of the base station is greater than the threshold load, causing the base station to allocate an extent of resources to the individual UE without using FSS.
US09136998B2
According to an embodiment a user equipment UE transmits uplink control signals using one or more chunks of uplink frequency spectrum that contain a simultaneous uplink shared channel; and for the case where there is no simultaneous uplink shared channel available, the UE transmits uplink control signals using only a single chunk of uplink frequency spectrum. In various embodiments the control signals are ACK/NACK control signals transmitted on an uplink control channel, the uplink shared channel comprises a chunk-specific uplink control channel, and each chunk comprises a component carrier of a LTE-A system. Downlink assignment index bits may be included in a downlink grant to the UE which indicates how many chunks in total are allocated in a current downlink subframe. The UE can also use ACK/NACK control signal bundling over chunks in addition to either or both of chunk-specific ACK/NACK control signals or ACK/NAK control signal multiplexing.
US09136997B2
In a wireless communication system, a wireless device is identified as being a relay device. A channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration is selected such that at least one CSI-RS can be transmitted to the wireless device in a subset of subframes assigned to relay backhaul transmissions.
US09136988B2
A method of transmitting data using hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) is provided. The method includes transmitting an initial data, receiving a retransmission request for the initial data, generating a retransmission data by shifting the phase of the initial data on signal constellation and transmitting the retransmission data. Inter-cell interference or intra-cell interference can be mitigated.
US09136985B2
In a terminal, a control unit transmits a bundle response signal using a resource in a basic region of an uplink control channel in an uplink unit band of a unit band group when no error is detected in each of a plurality of pieces of downlink data of the unit band group, the uplink control channel in the uplink unit band being associated with a downlink control channel in a basic unit band that is a downlink unit band in which a broadcast channel signal including information relating to the uplink unit band is transmitted, and the control unit transmits the bundle response signal using a resource in an additional region of the uplink control channel when an error is detected in each of the plurality of pieces of downlink data.
US09136984B2
Collisions in wireless networks may be avoided by limiting competing transmissions at the same time or within a temporally proximate time range. A relay schedule may be transmitted with each frame in a transmission chain, the relay schedule containing transmission time information such that each participating node in the transmission chain has designated transmission times. The transmission times may be different such that transmissions are spaced out in an effective manner. A non-participant node may receive the transmission with the relay schedule and may delay transmissions during conflicting times based on the relay schedule.
US09136981B2
A method of mapping m individual objects to source symbols for delivering data from a transmitter to a receiver in a communication system, the m individual objects ordered from object 1 to object m, wherein m>1, includes: aggregating the m individual objects into an aggregate object, including for each individual object j, calculating a number of source symbols S(j) for containing data of the individual object j; and partitioning the aggregate object into Z source blocks, including for each source block k and each individual object j, calculating a number of source symbols NSS(j, k) of individual object j in source block k, wherein the S(j) source symbols for each individual object j are arranged consecutively within consecutive source blocks, starting from a first source block for which NSS(j, k)>0 to a last source block for which NSS(j, k)>0.
US09136979B2
The present invention provides a carrier wave reproduction device in which bit-error characteristics are improved without decreasing transmission capacity. The carrier wave reproduction device is equipped with an interpolation filter that estimates a phase error for a received symbol on the basis of a pilot symbol included in the received symbol, a first phase rotation machine that rotates a phase of the received symbol in response to the phase error estimated by the interpolation filter and then outputs the rotated symbol as a first output symbol, a phase error compensating unit that compensates for the phase error remaining in the first output symbol and then outputs the result of the compensation as a second output symbol, a QAM symbol demapping unit that calculates both a first bit string corresponding to the first output symbol and a second bit string corresponding to the second output signal, and an error correction decoder which performs error correction on the bit error in the first bit string and outputs the result. The phase error compensating unit refers to the first bit string after error correction has been performed thereon and then compensates for the phase error remaining in the first output symbol.
US09136964B2
A method and system that computes viewing statistics for a digital video content stream received at a set-top box. The digital video content stream includes a first segment of video content, a second segment of video content, a third segment of video content, a first timing mark that indicates a transition from the first segment to the second segment, and a second timing mark that indicates a transition from the second segment to the third segment. The method initiates a transmission of the digital video content stream at the set-top box, monitors the transmission of the digital video content stream relative to the first timing mark and the second timing mark, and computes view data for the second segment based on the monitoring of the transmission. The method stores the view data at the set-top box.
US09136963B2
A wireless transmission method for broadcasting packets to a plurality of receiving devices includes: broadcasting a plurality of packets to the receiving devices, receiving signals transmitted from the receiving devices, generating a plurality of estimation results according to the signals transmitted from the receiving devices where each of the estimation results corresponds to a receiving quality while each of the receiving devices receives the packets, determining whether each of the receiving devices is suitable for receiving the packets according to each of the estimation results and a recipient condition and storing information of at least one of the receiving devices suitable for receiving the packets, and determining whether the at least one of the receiving devices needs to receive a broadcasted packet again according to the information and signals transmitted from the at least one of the receiving devices suitable for receiving the packets.
US09136959B2
A vehicular communication apparatus includes: a first acquisition portion acquiring a first content delivered by a radio wave from a broadcast station; a second acquisition portion acquiring a second content delivered by a communication line network; a reproduction portion reproducing the first and second contents; a determination portion determining whether a radio wave reception condition is poor; and a controller changing a content to be reproduced by the reproduction portion from the first content to the second content when the determination portion detects poor radio wave reception condition under a condition that the reproduction portion reproduces the first content, the second content being a same or a similar type of the first content.
US09136950B2
An exemplary system may comprise a first and second device and a first and second power splitter coupled to a single cable. The first device may be configured to receive a first noise signal of a first polarization, and to adaptively cancel, based on the first noise signal, first noise from the noisy signal associated with an orthogonal polarization. The second device may be configured to receive a second noise signal of a second polarization, and to adaptively cancel second noise from the noisy signal associated with an orthogonal polarization based on the second noise signal. The first power splitter may be configured to receive the first noise signal from the single cable and provide the first noise signal to the first device. The second power splitter may be configured to receive the second noise signal from the single cable and provide the second noise signal to the second device.
US09136946B2
A transceiver comprising a plurality of CMOS chips, a first chip comprising optical and optoelectronic devices and at least a second chip comprising electronic devices may be operable to communicate an optical source signal from a semiconductor laser into the first CMOS chip. The optical source signal may be used to generate first optical signals that may be transmitted from the first CMOS chip to optical fibers. Second optical signals may be received from the optical fibers and converted to electrical signals via photodetectors. The optical source signal may be communicated from the semiconductor laser into the CMOS chip via optical fibers in to a top surface and the first optical signals may be communicated out of a top surface of the CMOS chip. The first optical signals may be communicated from the first CMOS chip via optical couplers, which may comprise grating couplers.
US09136943B2
An automated method of characterizing distortion detected by equalization on a channel of a network is provided. Equalization stress of an observed channel equalization response of an end device of the network is estimated, and equalization stress is calculated for a theoretical channel equalization response of the end device mathematically based on the observed channel equalization response and a theoretical removal of a suspected impairment from the network. The above referenced calculating step is separately repeated for each of a plurality of suspected impairments stored in a database of suspected impairments. A highest ranking suspected dominant impairment is determined from the database of suspected impairments such that removal of the highest ranking suspected dominant impairment from the network would provide a greatest reduction of equalization stress of a channel equalization response of the end device.
US09136936B2
A transmission apparatus and method for implementing frequency selectivity in a multi-beam satellite system that transmits a signal to user equipment through one or more antenna feed groups. The transmission apparatus includes: an antenna feed group selecting unit configured to select one or more antenna feed groups from the one or more antenna feed groups; a cyclic delay offset determining unit configured to determine a cyclic delay offset according to a determination result of the antenna feed group selecting unit; and a transmitting unit configured to apply the cyclic delay offset determined by the cyclic delay offset determining unit to a signal to be transmitted through the one or more antenna feed groups selected by the antenna feed group selecting unit, and to transmit a resultant signal.
US09136931B2
A cooperative multi-user multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) system coordinates wireless client devices to provide cooperative uplink transmissions. A group of wireless client devices is selected based on their channel state information such that their uplink transmissions are uncorrelated. All of the client devices in the group transmit data on the same set of OFDM subcarriers. Channel state information is also communicated to at least one base transceiver along with the data. The channel state information may be measured by the wireless client devices, or the channel state information may be determined from pilot tones transmitted by the wireless client devices and received by at least one base transceiver. A cooperative-MIMO processing system communicatively coupled to at least one base transceiver processes the received uplink transmissions and the channel state information to separate received interfering signals via subspace de-multiplexing.
US09136923B2
A codebook C is provided in a MIMO transmitter as well as a MIMO receiver. The codebook C will include M codewords ci, where i is a unique codeword index for each codeword ci. Each codeword defines weighting factors to apply to the MIMO signals, and may correspond to channel matrices or vectors to apply to the MIMO signals prior to transmission from the respective antennas of the MIMO transmitter. The present invention creates codeword subsets S1 for each codeword c1 of the codebook C. Each codeword subset S1 defines L codewords cj, which are selected from all the codewords ci in the codebook C. The codewords cj in a codeword subset S1 are the L codewords in the entire codebook that best correlate with the corresponding codeword ci.
US09136918B2
Systems and methods provide for applying a clustering based assignment algorithm (CbAA) in a telecommunication system. A method includes: receiving strength information for transmission points belonging to an associated Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP)-cell; determining the clustering subsets, wherein the step of determining the clustering subsets includes: applying a k-means algorithm to the strength information to form K clusters; identifying the cluster associated with each UE; associating a cluster to each transmission point in accordance to a pre-defined rule; and selecting the UEs to be serviced; and reporting the clustering formations.
US09136912B2
A non-contacting rotary interface has a first core with a first pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the first core and a second core moveable in relation to the first core with a second pair of balanced transmission lines coupled to the second core and configured to receive signals from the first pair of balanced transmission lines. The first pair of balanced transmission lines has a first transmit wire coupled to a termination point at a first end of the first transmit wire, a first transmitter coupled to the first transmit wire at a second end of the first transmit wire, a second transmit wire coupled to the termination point at a first end of the second transmit wire, and a second transmitter coupled to the second transmit wire at a second end of the second transmit wire. The balanced transmission lines may be electrical traces on a circuit board.
US09136904B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure enable bandwidth extension of receiver front-end circuits without the use of inductors. As a result, significantly smaller and cheaper receiver implementations are made possible. In an embodiment, bandwidth extension is achieved by virtue of very small floating capacitors that are coupled around amplifier stages of the receiver front-end circuit. Each of the capacitors is configured to generate a negative capacitance for the preceding stage (e.g., equalizer or amplifier), thus extending the bandwidth of the preceding stage. A capacitively-degenerated cross-coupled transistor pair allows bandwidth extension for the final (e.g., amplifier) stage. Embodiments further enable DC offset compensation with the use of a digital feedback loop. The feedback loop can thus be turned on/off as needed, reducing power consumption.
US09136897B2
One piece co-formed exterior hard shell case with an elastomeric liner for mobile electronic devices
A one-piece co-formed exterior hard shell case with an elastomeric liner formed on the interior of the exterior hard shell for mobile electronic devices. This hard protective exterior shell allows the device maximum protection from impacts with sharp objects while the interior elastomeric portion that provides shock protection for the device from impacts. The exterior hard shell part is formed to fit the device closely with a small offset from the devices surface. The exterior hard shell raps around the edges of the device. To allow the shell to be able to be mounted on the device the corners of the hard shell are cut open. This allows each sidewall to flex away when a device is inserted and snap back once it is in place. The elastomeric material fills in the gaps created at the corners of the exterior hard shell to allow flex for mounting.
US09136892B2
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program are disclosed, which can enable a wireless user equipment (UE) to reduce or avoid system losses, such as decode failures and the unavailability of page messages, which might otherwise result in a poor user experience. By way of example and not limitation, a UE may be configured to switch from a low-sensitivity receiver to a high-sensitivity receiver, or to a receive diversity configuration, when operating under poor channel conditions.
US09136885B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to wireless communications networks, and more specifically to an antenna apparatus for cellular wireless systems. Increasing data capacity of cellular wireless systems places increasing demands on the capacity of the two way connection, known as backhaul, between a cellular base station and a telecommunications network such as the PSTN backhaul, since this is the connection that has to convey the wireless-originating traffic to its destination, often in an entirely different network. Known backhaul links include leased lines, microwave links, optical fiber links or radio resources for relaying backhaul traffic between base stations. The fixed line solutions are expensive to implement and maintain, while the radio solutions antenna configurations that are not ideal for relaying data between base stations. In embodiments of the invention, communication between base stations occurs in a first timeslot by use of a first antenna system and communication between a given base station and a user equipment occurs in a second timeslot using a second antenna system. The benefit of this method is that the first antenna system can be optimized for use in communication between base stations, whereas the second antenna system can be optimized for communication with user equipment which preferably occurs within the area of cellular wireless coverage of the sector served by the second antenna system.
US09136884B2
A communication node receiving and/or transmitting radio communications according to a first and a second communication protocol simultaneously. It has a first, second, respectively digital processing stage performing operations specific to the first, second protocol, respectively, operating in parallel. A first, second receiving stage, respectively, operating according to the first, second communication protocol, a transmission stage operating according to the first and second communication protocols, having a digital/analog converter converting a digital signal provided by the first or second digital processing stage into an analog signal, a modulator modulating said analog signal, an amplifier and a radiofrequency transmitter transmitting a radio frequency signal corresponding to the modulated analog signal, and a control module selecting, based on a rule and a detected event, the first or second communication protocol and commanding the transmission stage to operate selectively according to the selected protocol and no longer operate according to the non-selected protocol.
US09136882B2
A system and method for uplink channel estimation for a software defined radio is disclosed. The method comprises dividing an allocated bandwidth for a received signal on the uplink channel into N segments. The uplink channel estimation is processed for each of the N segments as a separate process. The uplink channel estimation includes pre-processing each of the N segments of the received signal; Wiener filtering the pre-processed segments of the received signal in the frequency domain; and Wiener filtering each of the frequency filtered segments in the time domain to determine a channel estimate for each of the N segments for use in equalizing the received signal.
US09136878B2
A method of encoding data operates on an ordered set of input symbols and includes generating redundant symbols from the input symbols, and includes generating output symbols from a combined set of symbols including the input symbols and the redundant symbols, wherein the number of possible output symbols is much larger than the number of the combined set of symbols, wherein at least one output symbol is generated from more than one symbol in the combined set of symbols and from less than all of the symbols in the combined set of symbols. The redundant symbols are generated from an ordered set of input symbols in a deterministic process such that a first set of static symbols calculated using a first input symbol has a low common membership with a second set of static symbols calculated using a second input symbol distinct from the first input symbol.
US09136854B1
In one embodiment of the invention, a digital to analog convertor (DAC) is disclosed for converting a digital input signal into an analog output signal. The DAC includes a switch controller coupled to a digital input signal; a bias voltage generator coupled to a first terminal of an analog voltage power supply; and a switched current source array coupled to the switch controller and the bias voltage generator. The bias voltage generator generates a bias voltage. The switch controller generates a plurality of digital enable signals. The switched current source array includes a plurality of hybrid switched current cells coupled to the switch controller and the bias voltage generator. The plurality of hybrid switched current cells are coupled together at an analog output terminal to sum unit currents together, if any, and form the analog output signal in response to the digital input signal.
US09136846B2
In a level shift circuit, input signals are input into gates of a first and a second MOS transistors whose sources are coupled to a first supply voltage VSS. Gates of a third and a fourth MOS transistors whose sources are coupled to a second supply voltage are coupled to drains of the second and the first MOS transistors. A first voltage generation circuit is coupled between the drains of the first and the third MOS transistors, and a second voltage generation circuit is coupled between the drains of the second and the fourth MOS transistors. The gate of the fifth MOS transistor is coupled to a connection node NDB, and the source of the fifth MOS transistor is coupled to the second supply voltage.
US09136845B2
A level shifter includes a first branch and a second branch. A trigger of the first branch is coupled to a low voltage input, an inverted high voltage output and a ground. A latch of the first branch is coupled to the inverted high voltage output and a high voltage output. A power gate of the first branch is coupled to an inverted low voltage input, the latch of the first branch and a high voltage supply. A trigger of the second branch is coupled to the inverted low voltage input, the high voltage output and the ground. A latch of the second branch is coupled to the high voltage output and the inverted high voltage output. A power gate of the second branch is coupled to the low voltage input, the latch of the second branch and the high voltage supply.
US09136840B2
A method of activating a proximity switch is provided. The method of activating the proximity switch includes the step of sensing a signal associated with a proximity sensor and sensing a dynamic parameter. The method also includes the step of tuning a threshold value based on the sensed dynamic parameter. The method further includes the step of activating the switch based on the signal and the threshold value.
US09136838B2
A dual pole dual through switch for switching between at least four states. The switch comprises four transistors such as N-channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor transistors, such that at each state at most one transistor is in “on” state, and the others are in “off” state. Each transistor has its own control circuit, which provides zero or negative voltage to the drain of the transistor, positive voltage to the source of the transistor, and control alternating voltage to the gate of the transistor. The switch can be used on-chip for devices. Such devices may include a base station or a handset of a cordless phone.
US09136835B2
According to one embodiment, a switch circuit includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a signal through a transistor, in which a back gate and a source are connected by way of a resistor; and a back gate control unit configured to connect the back gate of the transistor to a fixed potential when the transistor is turned OFF, and to separate the back gate of the transistor from the fixed potential when the transistor is turned ON.
US09136834B2
A switching apparatus that switches a connection state between two terminals, comprising a switch that switches the connection state between the two terminals according to a control voltage supplied thereto; a first power supply section that generates power supply voltage with a first voltage value; a second power supply section that generates power supply voltage with a second voltage value; and a driving section that, upon receiving switching instructions to switch the switch from a first state to a second state, uses power generated by the first power supply section to change the control voltage to be the first voltage value, and then uses power generated by the second power supply section to further change the control voltage from the first voltage value to the second voltage value, in the same direction and with a rate of change over time that is less than a rate of change over time used when changing to the first voltage value.
US09136831B2
According to the invention, there is provided a frequency to voltage converter for generating an output voltage proportional to the frequency of input signal. It comprises a switched capacitor circuit for receiving input signal and generating an input current proportional to said frequency, the switched capacitor having a capacitor charging and discharging at said frequency; an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) for receiving at least one control voltage representative of the input current and generating current proportional to the at least one control voltage; at least one negative feedback circuit connecting input and output of the OTA, each negative feedback circuit comprising: a control transistor coupled to a node of the OTA; a diode connected transistor coupled to the control transistor for sensing current flowing through the control transistor; and a feedback transistor coupled to another node of the OTA.
US09136825B2
A tracking circuit has first and second filters controlled by clock signals and a combiner. Each filter has N paths in parallel between an input and an output, each path comprising a respective first/second sub-circuit and a switch (N is an integer >1). The clock signals selectively control each of the N switches of the first and second filters at a same frequency, and in variously described embodiments the first and second on-time durations may be different, the first and second sub-circuits may be different, or both first/second on-time durations and first/second sub-circuits may be different. Signals output from the first and second filter are added at a combiner. In certain examples each path in the first and second filter is controlled by same-phase clock signals, and every path on either filter are controlled with different-phase clock signals.
US09136821B2
A surface mount device-type low-profile oscillator is provided. A main surface of an IC chip unit is joined to a bottom surface where the external terminals of a crystal unit section are formed. An integrated circuit portion includes a circuit forming, together with the crystal unit of the crystal unit section, an oscillator circuit on the main surface of the IC chip unit, and IC terminals formed with a plurality of IC electrode terminals, and two connection terminals connecting the external terminals of the crystal unit section are provided. The IC electrode terminals and mounting terminals are electrically connected with electrical columns provided in via holes penetrating in the direction of thickness of a silicon plate of a bare chip. The crystal unit section and the IC chip unit are joined with an anisotropic conductive adhesive applied to the main surface of the IC chip unit.
US09136807B2
Apparatus and methods for electronic amplification are provided. In one embodiment, an amplifier includes first and second input terminals, an amplification circuit, a feedback circuit, and a current mirror. The amplification circuit includes a non-inverting voltage input electrically connected to the first input terminal and to a bias voltage, an inverting voltage input electrically connected to the second input terminal, a voltage output, and a current output. The amplifier includes a first feedback path from the voltage output to the inverting voltage input through the feedback circuit and a second feedback path from the current output to the inverting voltage input through the current mirror, which can mirror a current from the current output to generate a mirrored current. A current source such as a transducer can provide an input current between the first and second input terminals, and the mirrored current can substantially match the input current.
US09136799B2
An amplifier is capable of reducing the quantization error caused by conversion accuracy in an A/D converter circuit and, particularly, capable of improving the S/N ratio and distortion rate when an input audio signal is small. In an amplifier (1) using a voltage variable power supply (73) as a power supply to follow an input audio signal level (S1) to the amplifier (1) in order to increase or decrease the level of supply voltage supplied to a power amplifier stage (4), when the level of source power of the power amplifier stage (4) is changed, the voltage level of a reference voltage supplied to an A/D converter (62) of a negative feedback circuit is controlled.
US09136797B2
Techniques are described herein that adaptively suppress harmonic distortion in an amplifier utilizing negative gain. The amplifier includes a first amplifier stage and a second amplifier stage, which are coupled in parallel. The first amplifier stage has a positive gain. The second amplifier stage has a negative gain to suppress total harmonic distortion of a system that includes the amplifier. The amplifier further includes shunt-peaking circuitry coupled to the first amplifier stage and the second amplifier stage to increase a maximum operating frequency at which the amplifier is capable of operating.
US09136791B2
A motor driving device includes a communication path selection unit, to which operation command information for controlling driving of a motor is input in a serial data format or a parallel data format via a common input path, a communication unit which includes a serial interface unit for the serial data format and a parallel interface unit for the parallel data format, and outputs a control signal based on the operation command information input via the communication path selection unit, and a driving control unit which controls driving of the motor based on the control signal. The communication path selection unit selects between outputs path to the serial interface unit and the parallel interface unit, which corresponds to the data format of the input operation command information, and outputs the input operation command information to the serial interface unit or the parallel interface unit through the selected output path.
US09136788B2
Disclosed is a motor control apparatus for controlling a synchronous motor, which includes a receiver section for receiving the value detected by a temperature sensor installed inside the synchronous motor. The synchronous motor is started up with the current fed into it, whose magnitude is changed in accordance with the temperature received by the receiver section at the time of starting up the synchronous motor. In this way, the stable startup of the synchronous motor can be guaranteed and the useful life of the semiconductor elements can also be prolonged.
US09136784B2
A universal control unit for driving a brushed or a brushless DC motor, such as the type commonly employed in a vehicle fuel pump or other vehicle application. According to exemplary embodiments, a universal control unit includes a processing device and an output stage, and is connected to either a brushed or a brushless DC motor in a manner that accommodates the two different motor types so that a common or universal controller can be used.
US09136783B2
When an ECU disconnects a second power storage device BAT2 from a drive device 90 while a hybrid vehicle is traveling, ECU disconnects one of a contact point B1 and a contact point G2 of a system main relay SMR2 and causes the vehicle to continue traveling using electric power supplied from a first power storage device BAT1 to drive device. After the vehicle finishes traveling, ECU performs a discharging operation for discharging a charge remaining in a first capacitor C1 and a second capacitor C2 with the one contact point of system main relay SMR2 being disconnected. If the charge is not discharged appropriately, ECU determines that welding occurs in at least one of system main relay SMR1 and system main relay SMR2.
US09136779B2
A computer program product including computer usable program code embodied on a computer usable medium for controlling a temperature within a computer system using a fan. The computer program product includes computer usable program code for monitoring the temperature within the computer system; dynamically selecting a fan speed step in response to the temperature, wherein the fan speed step is selected from a fan speed table defining a finite number of fan speed steps each having an associated fan speed; operating a fan at the dynamically selected fan speed step; measuring a fan output variation is measured over a prescribed time interval; and automatically modifying the fan speed table to change the fan speeds associated with each fan speed step, wherein the fan speeds are changed as a function of the measured fan output variation while continuing to drive the fan.
US09136778B2
A piezoelectric motor including a rotor and a piezoelectric actuator positioned relative to the rotor in such manner that a working end of the actuator is in linear, frictional, resilient and forced contact with a working surface of the rotor. The actuator includes a piezoelectric a longitudinal prism shaped resonator with a trapezoidal cross-section and the working end of the actuator is a flat pusher insert set at an angle to the plane of the resonator base. An electronic generator is connected to electrodes of the piezoelectric actuator to excite periodic mechanical oscillations in the actuator wherein the electrodes are applied onto the longitudinal lateral trapezoidal surfaces of the resonator and the piezoelectric resonator is polarized across its width and the electronic generator outputs an alternating electrical voltage signal at a frequency matching the frequency of the first-order natural longitudinal mode of mechanical oscillation along the length of the resonator.
US09136757B2
A power converter includes step-up means for varying a voltage applied by a power supply to a predetermined voltage, commutating means for performing a commutation operation for allowing a current flowing through the step-up means to flow through a second path, smoothing means for smoothing a voltage related to outputs of the step-up means and the commutating means to produce power and supplying the power to a load side, and control means for performing control related to voltage varying, such as stepping up, by the step-up means and controlling the commutation operation of the commutating means on the basis of at least one of a voltage and a current related to the step-up means.
US09136745B2
A side cover 82 which covers a side surface portion of an electric motor 7 is formed of a resin, and a lubricant is ejected from plural ejecting holes 95 of an oil path 90 formed in the side cover 82 to a stator 71 of the electric motor 7 so as to cool the stator.
US09136735B2
In a rotary electric machine laminated core, a rotating shaft portion is disposed closer to an outer circumferential surface than an inner circumferential surface of a back yoke portion. A notch portion is disposed on at least one of first and second end portions of the back yoke portion so as to form a gap between a vicinity of the rotating shaft portion of a projecting portion and a recess portion when core segments are arranged in an annular shape or a circular arc shape. The first end portion and the second end portion of the back yoke portion are configured such that a predetermined gap that connects from the outer circumferential side to the inner circumferential side is formed between adjacent projecting portions and recess portions when the core segments are expanded rectilinearly such that magnetic pole tooth portions are parallel to each other.
US09136718B2
In a charge and discharge control circuit, a mode control part manages a normal mode in which voltages at a power terminal and an overcurrent detection terminal are monitored, a time-shortening mode in which predetermined delay times for detecting an overcharge, an overdischarge, and an overcurrent are shortened, and a protection mode in which a signal to stop a charge current or a discharge current is output when an abnormality is detected in the normal mode. A transition is made from the normal mode to the time-shortening mode when the voltage at the power terminal exceeds a predetermined value, and a transition is made from the time-shortening mode to the protection mode when one of the overcharge, overdischarge, and overcurrent is detected.
US09136695B2
Aspects of the invention are directed to a protection control system of the invention is a protection control system for a multilevel power conversion circuit of a flying capacitor type, the power conversion circuit including six semiconductor switches of first through sixth semiconductor switches sequentially connected in series from a positive terminal to a negative terminal of a DC power supply, a first capacitor connected between the connection point of the second and third semiconductor switches and the connection point of the fourth and fifth semiconductor switches and a second capacitor connected between the connection point of the first and second semiconductor switches and the connection point of the fifth and sixth semiconductor switches, wherein the protection control system of the invention turns ON the second semiconductor switch or maintains the second semiconductor switch in an ON state, in the case of short-circuit fault of the third semiconductor switch.
US09136692B2
A low fault current isolation arrangement senses a loss of voltage and automatically isolates and de-energizes a down live primary wire if overcurrent protection devices have not cleared the high impedance fault in an electric power distribution network. Incorporating an operator selectable time delay response, the low fault current isolation arrangement permits overcurrent protection devices to attempt to detect and shut down the affected conductor, and then isolates and shuts down the low current fault if the overcurrent devices are not successful. The isolation arrangement continuously monitors AC voltage as remotely provided by smart meters even after a fault location is de-energized, and serves as a back up, and not as a replacement, for existing overcurrent protection schemes. A host computer operates in conjunction with plural smart meters each coupled to an associated customer distribution transformer in conjunction with the fault isolator to detect and shut down high impedance faults.
US09136691B2
An electrical circuit for protection of a solid-state relay includes a switch element connected between an input signal source and an input terminal of the solid-state relay. The solid-state relay includes an output terminal for connection to a load. A sensing element is associated with the solid-state relay to sense an operating parameter associated with the solid-state relay. A feedback element controls the switch element to switch an operating state in response to the operating parameter exceeding a reference parameter. The solid-state relay changes state in response to the switch element to control an output current of the solid-state relay between an energized or de-energized state.
US09136684B2
A license plate electrical cord winding apparatus with a housing, an inner cavity, a generally cylindrical spindle affixed to said housing within said inner cavity, a reel assembly mounted to the housing within the inner cavity circumferentially about the spindle. There is also an urging member connected to the reel assembly, and an extension cord, wound around the reel assembly. A guiding roller mounted within the inner cavity guides the cord as it winds or unwinds about the reel assembly.
US09136683B2
A support system for supporting one or more transmission lines and for mitigating sagging or swinging of the transmission lines may comprise support lines coupled to the transmission lines by adjustable risers. The adjustable risers may be dynamically adjustable in length to compensate for the sagging or swinging of the transmission lines. Various embodiments of the adjustable risers, support lines, and support system are contemplated. These embodiments may include adjustment mechanisms, sensors, shock absorbers, positioning mechanisms, zero gap connections, guy wires, lateral members, and various different arrangements of the elements.
US09136676B2
Various arrangements for remotely manipulating a wire may be presented. A wire pilot may be presented that is configured to be coupled with the wire and to move in response to a magnetic field created by a remote guide when the wire pilot is within a wall and the remote guide is external to the wall. The remote guide may include a magnetic field generator configured to create the magnetic field and a metal detector configured to detect wires through a wall.
US09136667B2
A method and apparatus for providing a high peak power optical beam. The method includes interleaving pulse trains of different wavelengths and spatially and temporally overlapping the different wavelengths to produce an amplified output beam with very high peak power.
US09136665B1
An apparatus comprising a ferromagnetic conductive material including a magnon gain medium (MGM) and a tunnel junction coupled to the ferromagnetic conductive material are provided. The magnon gain medium (MGM) further comprises a conduction band that is split into two sub bands separated by an exchange energy gap, a first sub band having spin up, and a second sub band having spin down. The applied bias voltage is configured to shift the Fermi level of the external metallic contact with respect to the Fermi level of the ferromagnetic conductive material so that the injected electrons are configured to tunnel into the second sub band having spin down.
US09136660B2
A female terminal includes a terminal connection portion for a male terminal to be inserted and an electric wire connection portion connecting with an electric wire to be electrically connected to the male terminal. The terminal connection portion includes a male terminal entrance for the male terminal to be inserted and a male terminal exit for a tip of the male terminal passing through the male terminal entrance to be inserted. At least one of the male terminal entrance or the male terminal exit includes a support portion configured to contact with the male terminal to support the male terminal.
US09136657B2
An annular signal feed module is composed of a jack and a plug. The annular signal feed module includes the signal feed function of the traditional headphone. Besides, there is no jack hole in construction so that the moisture, water and dust intrusion are incapable to corrode and immerse the contacts and internal circuit parts, therefore, prolong the durability of the headphone signal feed device and the related electronic apparatuses such as televisions, stereos, cell phones and so forth. The present annular signal feed module is designed to integrate the features pertaining to no jack hole in construction of previous model patent certification no. M419356, and simplify the structural complexity, more than those, less modifications from traditional molds make it easier and convenient to be manufactured than product of patent no. M419356.
US09136653B2
Power outlets adapted for installation within an enclosure are provided. Power outlets are provided having a safety interlock adapted to prevent the creation of a hazardous condition within the enclosure as a result of the continued operation of an electrical device within the enclosed space. The safety interlock may include current limiting circuitry and hardware, hazard sensing devices interconnected with such current limiting circuitry and hardware or other circuit breaker switches, and combinations of such safety interlocks. The power outlets may also be adapted for installation within a movable enclosure, such as, for example, a drawer.
US09136649B2
The present invention provides a HDMI type-D connector with a shield; a housing having a tongue with first terminal slots disposed on a first side and second terminal slots disposed on an opposing second side; a shield component; a first conductive set of pins disposed in the first terminal slots; and a second conductive set of pins disposed in the second terminal slots, wherein each of the conductive terminals of the first conductive set of pins and the second conductive set of pins has a contact portion, a bend portion, and a soldering portion, where contact portions of the first conductive set of pins are disposed in the first terminal slots and the second conductive set of pins are disposed in the second terminal slots wherein the bend portions extend from the contact portions, bend multiple times, and end at coplanar soldering portions.
US09136645B1
The present invention is an improved structure of plug, socket connector and the combination thereof. The plug and socket connectors may butt mutually, and both comprise a insulating frame provided with multiple hook buckles and heat dissipation holes; multiple power terminals provided in the insulating frame in an one to one correspondence match, each of the power terminals being joined with hook hole and hook buckle; and multiple signal terminals joining with the insulating frame; wherein one end of each of the power terminals of the plug connector is provided with multiple elastic clips, and the other end thereof and one side of each of the elastic clips are provided with two heat sinkers, respectively, while each of the power terminals of the socket connector is provided with a heat sinker on the rear end thereof, respectively. Thereby, each of the power terminals is allowed to join with the hook buckle of the insulating frame with the hook hole in order to prevent from looseness, and the elastic clips of each of the power terminals provided by the plug connector after the plug and the socket connector butt together may be used to increase solid contact points and area in order to reduce resistance of the contact points, and the heat dissipation capability during operation is enhanced with the heat sinkers of each of the power terminals. In addition, the convection is improved by the heat dissipation holes and the heat dissipation channel opened by each insulating frame.
US09136644B2
A connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a receptacle insulative housing and a number of female contact groups fixed in the receptacle insulative housing. The receptacle insulative housing includes a receiving portion, a plurality of mating portions and a pair of locking arms integrally formed at opposite lateral sides of the receptacle insulative housing. The plug connector includes a plug insulative housing and a number of male contacts fixed in the plug insulative housing. The plug insulative housing includes a mating surface, a plurality of cavities and a pair of locking walls located at opposite lateral sides of the plug insulative housing. When the plug connector the receptacle connector are mating with each other, the locking arms are in locking with the locking walls for fixation.
US09136639B2
An electrical connector receptacle for mounting within an explosion proof enclosure includes a flange portion having a first side, a second side and a centrally disposed aperture. Also included is a cylindrical member integrally formed with the flange portion and extending away from the first side. Further included is a plurality of apertures extending from the first side to the second side, wherein the plurality of apertures are configured to receive a mechanical fastener for mounting the electrical connector receptacle to a printed wiring board. Yet further included is an o-ring groove disposed within the first side and spaced radially outwardly from an outer surface of the cylindrical member. Also included is a plurality of mounting feet integrally formed with the flange portion and extending away from the second side to form an electrical bonding path to the printed wiring board.
US09136638B2
The invention relates to a device (1) for connecting/disconnecting a submersible connector (100) provided with a male portion (101) and a female portion (102), to a related connection/disconnection method, as well as to the various possible uses of said device. The device includes means (11, 12) for moving said male and/or female portions of the connector (100) between a connection position and a disconnection position, and vice versa, and is characterized in that the device further includes a system (16) for injecting a fluid (20) around said male (101) and female (102) portions of the connector (100) when the latter is moved from the connection position to the disconnection position and vice versa, in order to insulate the male and female portion from the water surrounding the connector (100), the injection system (16) being located outside the connector (100).
US09136634B2
In one embodiment, an electrical connector includes a plurality of leadframe assembly assemblies, each having a leadframe housing and a plurality of electrical contacts carried by the leadframe housing. At least a pair of adjacent leadframe assemblies includes respective first and second conductive member portions of a conductive bar that reduces cross talk. The first and second portions are each seated in their respective leadframe housings and face each other such that the electrical connector is devoid of electrical contacts between the first and second portions.
US09136623B2
A connector includes a housing and terminal fittings attached to a printed circuit board. The terminal fittings form two terminal rows. In the terminal rows, one end parts of the terminal fittings are piled in a fitting plate part of the housing to which a mate side connector is fitted in a mutually parallel state and arranged in parallel with a surface of the printed circuit board. Central parts of the terminal fittings are bent. The other end parts are connected to a conductor pattern of the printed circuit board. In the other end parts of the terminal fittings, outward bent parts are provided which are bent outward in the direction of width of the housing. Tip ends of the other end parts of all the terminal fittings are arranged with spaces left between them along the direction of width of the housing.
US09136613B2
An electric connection terminal includes a contact section for electrical connection to an opposite terminal and a crimping section with the contact section being crimped to cover the conductor and cover of a covered electric wire. The crimping section includes a conductor crimping part to be tightly attached to and crimped around the conductor, a cover crimping part to be tightly attached to and crimped around the cover of the covered electric wire, and a boundary crimping part to be tightly attached to and crimped around the vicinity of a boundary between the cover and conductor. A compression ratio of the boundary crimping part in a state of crimped around the covered electric wire is set to be higher than that of the cover crimping part.
US09136612B2
Disclosed is a front-end apparatus of an RF transceiver connected with an antenna in a wireless communication system. The front-end apparatus of an RF transceiver using radio-frequency passive elements includes: a plurality of band pass filters configured a transmission signal and a reception signal; a first circulator configured to output a first transmission signal to a second terminal and output a second reception signal input; a second circulator configured to output a second transmission signal input into the first terminal to the second terminal and output a first reception signal input into the second terminal to the third terminal; a passive directional double pole and double throw switch configured to process a route to be changed depending on directions of an input and an output; a first antenna configured to transmit the first transmission signal; and a second antenna configured to transmit the second transmission.
US09136611B2
A directional antenna system for an aircraft is disclosed. The directional antenna system may include an enclosure, a linear antenna array disposed within the enclosure and a controller. The linear antenna array may include a plurality of antenna elements physically oriented in the same orientation. The plurality of antenna elements may be positioned along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance center-to-center. The controller may be in communication with each of the plurality of antenna elements of the linear antenna array. The controller may be configured for independently controlling a RF phase angle of each of the plurality of antenna elements based on a position of the aircraft and at least one ground station available to the aircraft, allowing the linear antenna array to concentrate RF radiations in a particular wavelength toward a general direction.
US09136610B2
A satellite antenna adapter comprising a bottom plate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface, a reflector mounting plate coupled to the bottom plate. The bottom surface of the bottom plate is constructed to removably couple to a tripod. The top surface of the bottom plate is constructed to removably couple to a satellite antenna feed. The reflector mounting plate is constructed to removably couple to a satellite reflector and is substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the bottom plate.
US09136607B2
The present invention relates to a method of, and corresponding apparatus for, electronically steering an antenna beam. Beam steering is accomplished by altering the electric-field distribution at the open-end of one or more overmoded waveguides through the controlled mixing of multiple modes. An example method includes propagating a signal in multiple modes in a waveguide, and controlling the relative phase and amplitude of the respective modes, relative to each other, to steer the beam. A further example includes a common waveguide enabling the propagation of multiple modes, first and second waveguides enabling the propagation of respective first and second modes, a splitter/combiner coupling the first and second waveguides to the common waveguide, and a controller for controlling a propagation characteristic of the modes relative to each other in a least one path to steer the beam. Electronically steering a beam is useful for fine-tuned angle adjustments and tight beam scanning.
US09136604B2
An antenna comprises a medium substrate and grounding units attached on the medium substrate. The antenna further comprises a metal structure attached on the medium substrate. The metal structure comprises an electromagnetic response unit, a metal open ring enclosing the electromagnetic response unit and a feeding point connected to an end of the metal open ring. The electromagnetic response unit comprises an electric-field coupling structure. This design increases the physical length of the antenna equivalently, so an RF antenna operating at an extremely low frequency can be designed within a very small space. This can eliminate the physical limitation imposed by the spatial area when the conventional antenna operates at a low frequency, and satisfy the requirements of miniaturization, a low operating frequency and broadband multi-mode services for the mobile phone antenna. Meanwhile, a solution of a lower cost is provided for design of the antenna of wireless communication apparatuses.
US09136602B2
A wireless communication device includes a cover, an antenna, and an adjusting member. The antenna includes a first radiator and a second radiator separate from the first radiator. The adjusting member is slidably mounted to the cover and is made of conductive materials. The adjusting member is positioned between and connecting the first radiator and the second radiator. The adjusting member is slid relative to the cover to change connection positions of the adjusting member relative to the first radiator and the second radiator.
US09136593B2
The invention relates to a panel antenna comprising: a ground plane (P); a dielectric substrate (11) having a permittivity (∈1), the substrate (11) being located on the ground plane (P); at least one radiating source (Si), each radiating source consisting of a plurality of antenna elements (Eij), the antenna elements (Eij) being located on the substrate (11) and furthermore consecutively spaced apart, relative to one another, by a distance (de) shorter than one wavelength λ, the wavelength λ corresponding to the antenna operating frequency. The antenna is characterized in that it furthermore comprises a dielectric superstrate (12) having a permittivity (∈2) higher than the permittivity (∈1) of the substrate (11), the superstrate being located above the antenna elements (Eij), and in that the antenna elements (Eij) are all identical and have, in operation, identical radiation characteristics.
US09136590B2
In an electronic device, a first housing for receiving a wireless circuit unit and a ground part, a second housing in which a ground part, a hinge mechanism which connects the first and second housings to each other to allow the first and second housings to be rotated, and first and second antennas which resonate for the same frequency band. The first and second antennas are provided in an intermediate portion of the hinge mechanism, and arranged side by side and apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of the mechanism. In the mechanism, one of end portions of the mechanism is made electrically conductive, and the other end portion is decreased in electrical conductivity.
US09136576B2
A connecting structure of a waveguide converter includes a circuit substrate in which a hollow waveguide that propagates a high frequency signal is formed in a pierced manner; and an antenna substrate that is layered on the circuit substrate, and in which a converter that is arranged at a connecting point with the hollow waveguide and a strip line that extends from the converter and that propagates the high frequency signal are provided. A choke circuit to shield a leak of the high frequency signal is arranged around the hollow waveguide on a surface of the circuit substrate opposing to the antenna substrate so as to surround the hollow waveguide keeping a predetermined interval from the hollow waveguide, and the circuit substrate and the antenna substrate are fixed to each other by adhesive that is arranged at a position outside the choke circuit, between the substrates.
US09136569B2
Microwave radiation may be applied to electrochemical devices for rapid thermal processing (RTP) (including annealing, crystallizing, densifying, forming, etc.) of individual layers of the electrochemical devices, as well as device stacks, including bulk and thin film batteries and thin film electrochromic devices. A method of manufacturing an electrochemical device may comprise: depositing a layer of the electrochemical device over a substrate; and microwave annealing the layer, wherein the microwave annealing includes selecting annealing conditions with preferential microwave energy absorption in the layer. An apparatus for forming an electrochemical device may comprise: a first system to deposit an electrochemical device layer over a substrate; and a second system to microwave anneal the layer, wherein the second system is configured to provide preferential microwave energy absorption in the device layer.
US09136568B2
Alkali (or other active) metal battery and other electrochemical cells incorporating active metal anodes together with aqueous cathode/electrolyte systems. The battery cells have a highly ionically conductive protective membrane adjacent to the alkali metal anode that effectively isolates (de-couples) the alkali metal electrode from solvent, electrolyte processing and/or cathode environments, and at the same time allows ion transport in and out of these environments. Isolation of the anode from other components of a battery cell or other electrochemical cell in this way allows the use of virtually any solvent, electrolyte and/or cathode material in conjunction with the anode. Also, optimization of electrolytes or cathode-side solvent systems may be done without impacting anode stability or performance. In particular, Li/water, Li/air and Li/metal hydride cells, components, configurations and fabrication techniques are provided.
US09136562B2
Electrode assemblies for use in electrochemical cells are provided. The negative electrode assembly comprises negative electrode active material and an electrolyte chosen specifically for its useful properties in the negative electrode. These properties include reductive stability and ability to accommodate expansion and contraction of the negative electrode active material. Similarly, the positive electrode assembly comprises positive electrode active material and an electrolyte chosen specifically for its useful properties in the positive electrode. These properties include oxidative stability and the ability to prevent dissolution of transition metals used in the positive electrode active material. A third electrolyte can be used as separator between the negative electrode and the positive electrode.
US09136547B2
A fuel cell system, and a method of operating the fuel cell system to measure a performance difference of unit cells via an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and to drive the ASIC with a low voltage from a separately included power source supply device.
US09136544B2
Methods for fabrication of electronic systems and systems therefrom are provided. An electronic system includes a first substrate (202) having a first surface (202a) and a second substrate (208) having a second surface (208a) facing the first surface. The system also includes a plurality of battery cell layers (106-112) disposed on a plurality of laterally spaced areas on the first and second surfaces (203, 209). In the system, portions of the battery cell layers on the first surface are in physical contact with portions of the battery cell layers on the second surface and the battery cell layers on the first surface and the second surface form a plurality of electrically interconnected battery cells (206, 212) on the first and the second surfaces that are laterally spaced apart and that define one or more batteries (200).
US09136539B2
The invention relates to a half-cell including an electrode formed of an electron collector containing one or more transition metals from groups 4 to 12 of the Period Table of the Elements, and of an electrochemically active material present on the surface of the electron collector in the form of a nanostructured conversion film containing nanoparticles having an average diameter of between 1 nm and 1000 nm. The electrochemically active material contains at least one compound of the transition metal or the transition metals present in the electron collector. The invention further includes a continuous film of a lithium-ion conductive, solid electrolyte that is water- and air-impermeable and that is deposited directly onto, covering totally, the surface of the nanostructured active material of the electrode. The continuous film of solid electrolyte having a thickness of between 1 μm and 50 μm.
US09136536B2
Cohesive carbon assemblies are prepared by obtaining a functionalized carbon starting material in the form of powder, particles, flakes, loose agglomerates, aqueous wet cake, or aqueous slurry, dispersing the carbon in water by mechanical agitation and/or refluxing, and substantially removing the water, typically by evaporation, whereby the cohesive assembly of carbon is formed. The method is suitable for preparing free-standing, monolithic assemblies of carbon nanotubes in the form of films, wafers, discs, fiber, or wire, having high carbon packing density and low electrical resistivity. The method is also suitable for preparing substrates coated with an adherent cohesive carbon assembly. The assemblies have various potential applications, such as electrodes or current collectors in electrochemical capacitors, fuel cells, and batteries, or as transparent conductors, conductive inks, pastes, and coatings.
US09136534B2
A method of forming a powder MjXp wherein Mj is a positive ion or several positive ions selected from alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or transition metal; and Xp is a monoatomic or a polyatomic anion selected from Groups IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA or VIIA; called complexometric precursor formulation or CPF. The method includes the steps of: providing a first reactor vessel with a first gas diffuser and an first agitator; providing a second reactor vessel with a second gas diffuser and a second agitator; charging the first reactor vessel with a first solution comprising a first salt of Mj; introducing gas into the first solution through the first gas diffuser, charging the second reactor vessel with a second solution comprising a salt of Mp; adding the second solution to the first solution to form a complexcelle; drying the complexcelle, to obtain a dry powder; and calcining the dried powder of said MjXp.
US09136516B2
A separator substrate include a substrate having a bulk portion and a surface portion, the surface portion having at least one porous area with a net charge; and ionic particles coupling to at least a part of the at least one porous area. The ionic particles have a net charge of an opposite sign to the net charge of the at least one porous area. The coupling between the part of the at least one porous area and the ionic particles may result in at least one of a good electrochemical performance, chemical stability, thermal stability, wettability, and mechanical strength of the separator substrate.
US09136509B2
A battery includes a battery cell having a pair of cell electrodes that are encased in a laminated pouch. The laminated pouch has a conductive moisture barrier layer that is sandwiched between respective electrically insulating layers. Several terminals are integrated with the pouch, including a first terminal and a second terminal that are directly connected to the first and second cell electrodes, respectively, and a third terminal that is directly connected to the conductive moister barrier layer. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US09136497B2
An electroluminescence generating device comprising a channel of organic semiconductor material, said channel being able to carry both types of charge carriers, said charge carriers being electrons and holes; an electron electrode, said electron electrode being in contact with said channel and positioned on top of a first side of said channel layer or within said channel layer, said electron electrode being able to inject electrons in said channel layer; a hole electrode, said hole electrode being spaced apart from said electron electrode, said hole channel and positioned on top of within said channel layer, said hole electrode being able to inject holes into said channel; a control electrode positioned on said first side or on a second side of said channel; whereby light emission of said electroluminescence generating device can be acquired by applying an electrical potential difference between said electron electrode and said hole electrode.
US09136493B2
A technology having resistance to moisture and oxygen, and in which the occurrence and expansion of non-light-generating portions, such as dark spots, are suppressed is provided. An organic EL element in which an organic functional layer including at least one or more light-emitting layers is arranged between a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the organic functional layer includes a bipolar charge generation layer which generates electrons and holes, and one of the first electrode and the second electrode is a hole-receiving electrode.
US09136489B2
The objects are to provide a method for producing a durable organic photoelectric conversion device by a coating process or to produce an organic photoelectric conversion device superior in photoelectric conversion characteristics to the conventional devices. In the production method for an organic photoelectric conversion device including a substrate, a pair of electrodes which are formed on the substrate and at least one of which is transparent, and an active layer formed between the pair of electrodes, the active layer is formed by coating; and the active layer contains a pigment.
US09136474B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes forming semiconductor patterns on a semiconductor substrate, such that sides are surrounded by a lower interlayer insulating layer. A lower insulating layer is formed that covers the semiconductor patterns and the lower interlayer insulating layer. A contact structure is formed that penetrates the lower insulating layer and the lower interlayer insulating layer and is spaced apart from the semiconductor patterns. The contact structure has an upper surface higher than the semiconductor patterns. An upper insulating layer is formed covering the contact structure and the lower insulating layer. The upper and lower insulating layers form insulating patterns exposing the semiconductor patterns and covering the contact structure, and each of the insulating patterns includes a lower insulating pattern and an upper insulating pattern sequentially stacked. After the insulating patterns are formed, metal-semiconductor compounds are formed on the exposed semiconductor patterns.
US09136472B2
Resistive memory and methods of processing resistive memory are described herein. One or more method embodiments of processing resistive memory include forming a resistive memory cell material on an electrode having an access device contact, and forming a heater electrode on the resistive memory cell material after forming the resistive memory cell material on the electrode such that the heater electrode is self-aligned to the resistive memory cell material.
US09136466B2
A phase change random access memory device includes a bottom electrode contact formed within a bottom electrode contact hole, a phase-change material pattern formed to surround a side of an upper portion of the bottom electrode contact, and an insulating layer buried within the phase-change material pattern and formed on an upper surface of the bottom electrode contact.
US09136458B2
An elastic wave element includes a piezoelectric substrate, an IDT electrode, and a first dielectric film. The IDT electrode includes a first bus bar electrode, a second bus bar electrode, first electrode fingers, and second electrode fingers. The piezoelectric substrate includes a bus bar electrode region, an alternately disposed region, and an intermediate region. The first dielectric film is formed in at least a part of the intermediate region, and formed of a medium in which acoustic velocity of a transverse wave propagating in the first dielectric film is lower than acoustic velocity of a main elastic wave in the alternately disposed region.
US09136453B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a body, a first electrode installed in the body and a second electrode separated from the first electrode, a light emitting chip formed on one of the first and second electrodes, and electrically connected to the first and second electrodes, and a protective cap projecting between the first and second electrodes.
US09136443B2
Damage of a color filter due to erosion or the like in a process of patterning a light-shielding film to form a black matrix laminated on the color filter of a display device is prevented. Plural color filters are formed on a second substrate correspondingly to pixels. Protection films laminated on upper surfaces of the respective color filters are formed. A light-shielding film is laminated on a surface of the second substrate on which the protection films are formed. The light-shielding film is processed while the protection films are used as damage stoppers, and light-shielding members made of the light-shielding film selectively left along boundaries of the pixels are formed.
US09136442B2
The present disclosure involves a light-emitting diode (LED) packaging structure. The LED packaging structure includes a submount having a substrate and a plurality of bond pads on the substrate. The LED packaging structure includes a plurality of p-type LEDs bonded to the substrate through a first subset of the bond pads. The LED packaging structure includes a plurality of n-type LEDs bonded to the substrate through a second subset of the bond pads. Some of the bond pads belong to both the first subset and the second subset of the bond pads. The p-type LEDs and the n-type LEDs are arranged as alternating pairs. The LED packaging structure includes a plurality of transparent and conductive components each disposed over and electrically interconnecting one of the pairs of the p-type and n-type LEDs. The LED packaging structure includes one or more lenses disposed over the n-type LEDs and the p-type LEDs.
US09136440B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a substrate, an encapsulation member facing the substrate, a plurality of pixels between the substrate and the encapsulation member, each pixel including a light emission area and a non-emission area, a first electrode overlapping at least the light emission area, an intermediate layer on the first electrode and including an organic emission layer, a second electrode on the intermediate layer, and a reflective member on a bottom surface of the encapsulation member, the bottom surface of the encapsulation member facing the substrate, and the reflective member including an opening corresponding to the light emission area, and a reflective surface around the opening and corresponding to the non-emission area.
US09136439B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a first interconnection section, a second interconnection section, and a varistor film. The semiconductor layer includes a light emitting layer. The first electrode is provided in a emitting region on the second surface. The second electrode is provided in a non-emitting region on the second surface. The first interconnection section is provided on the first electrode and electrically connected to the first electrode. The second interconnection section is provided on the second electrode and on the first electrode and electrically connected to the second electrode. The varistor film is provided in contact with the first electrode and the second interconnection section between the first electrode and the second interconnection section.
US09136435B2
A semiconductor light-emitting element includes a support substrate, a semiconductor film including a light-emitting layer provided on the support substrate, a surface electrode provided on a light-extraction-surface-side surface of the semiconductor film, and a light-reflecting layer provided between the support substrate and the semiconductor film, forming a light-reflecting surface. The surface electrode includes a first electrode piece and a second electrode piece. The light-reflecting layer includes a reflection electrode including a third electrode piece and a fourth electrode piece. The first electrode piece and the third electrode piece are arranged so as to not overlap when projected onto a projection surface parallel to a principal surface of the semiconductor film, and the shortest distance between the first electrode piece and the fourth electrode piece, is greater than the shortest distance between the first electrode piece and the third electrode piece.
US09136432B2
Disclosed herein is a high efficiency light emitting diode. The light emitting diode includes: a semiconductor stack positioned over a support substrate; a reflective metal layer positioned between the support substrate and the semiconductor stack to ohmic-contact a p-type compound semiconductor layer of the semiconductor stack and having a groove exposing the semiconductor stack; a first electrode pad positioned on an n-type compound semiconductor layer of the semiconductor stack; an electrode extension extending from the first electrode pad and positioned over the groove region; and an upper insulating layer interposed between the first electrode pad and the semiconductor stack. In addition, the n-type compound semiconductor layer includes an n-type contact layer, and the n-type contact layer has a Si doping concentration of 5 to 7×1018/cm3 and a thickness in the range of 5 to 10 um.
US09136431B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor layer stack including a nitride compound semiconductor material on a carrier substrate, wherein the semiconductor layer stack includes an active layer that emits an electromagnetic radiation, the semiconductor layer stack being arranged between a layer of a first conductivity and a layer of a second conductivity, the layer of the first conductivity is adjacent a front of the semiconductor layer stack, the layer of the first conductivity electrically connects to a first electrical connection layer covering at least a portion of a back of the semiconductor layer stack, and the layer of the second conductivity type electrically connects to a second electrical connection layer arranged at the back.
US09136426B2
A method of processing quantum dots is disclosed. The method comprises applying energy to excite the quantum dots to emit light and placing the quantum dots under vacuum after excitation of the quantum dots. Also disclosed is a method of processing a component including quantum dots comprising applying energy to the component including quantum dots to excite the quantum dots to emit light; and placing the component including quantum dots under vacuum after excitation. A method for processing a device is further disclosed, the method comprising applying energy to the device to excite the quantum dots to emit light; and placing the device under vacuum after excitation of the quantum dots. A method for preparing a device is also disclosed. Quantum dots, component, and devices of the methods are also disclosed.
US09136423B1
A method to deposit CIGS thin film for solar panel construction comprising: providing a first chamber; providing a substrate and placing said substrate inside said first chamber; providing a metallic target wherein said metallic target is made with elements and/or compounds selected from the group consisting of Cu, CuGa, In, CuIn and CuInGa; placing said metallic target inside said first chamber; reducing pressure within said first chamber to a pressure of less than 1×10−6 Torr; adding sputtering gas into said first chamber after reducing pressure within said first chamber to a pressure of less than 1×10−6 Torr until said pressure in said chamber is increased to about 100 mTorr or less, sputtering said elements and/or compounds from said metallic target to said substrate; providing a second chamber; transferring said substrate from said first chamber to said second chamber after said substrate is sputtered with said elements; proving a Se vapor into said second chamber; perform vapor deposition as to allow said Se to be deposited on said substrate. In one aspect, Cu is sputtered onto a back contact coated substrate in said first chamber, then the Cu coated substrate is transferred to a second chamber kept under reduced pressure of less than 1×10−6 Torr where it gets heated to the CIGS crystallization temperature at the same time while delivering In, Ga and Se vapors onto said heated and Cu-coated substrate to form CIGS. Said In, Ga and Se vapors can be produced using thermal evaporation, Vapor Transport Deposition (VTD); and/or Close Space Sublimation (CSS).
US09136418B2
Embodiments generally relate to optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as solar cells. In one aspect, a device includes an absorber layer made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and having only one type of doping. An emitter layer is located closer than the absorber layer to a back side of the device and is made of a different material and having a higher bandgap than the absorber layer. A heterojunction is formed between the emitter layer and the absorber layer, and a p-n junction is formed between the emitter layer and the absorber layer and at least partially within the different material at a location offset from the heterojunction. An intermediate layer is located between the absorber layer and the emitter layer and provides the offset of the p-n junction from the heterojunction, and includes a graded layer and an ungraded back window layer.
US09136417B2
Embodiments generally relate to optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, a method for forming a device includes forming an absorber layer made of gallium arsenide (GaAs) and having one type of doping, and forming an emitter layer made of a different material and having a higher bandgap than the absorber layer. An intermediate layer can be formed between emitter and absorber layers. A heterojunction and p-n junction are formed between the emitter layer and the absorber layer, where the p-n junction is formed at least partially within the different material at a location offset from the heterojunction. A majority of the absorber layer can be outside of a depletion region formed by the p-n junction. The p-n junction causes a voltage to be generated in the cell in response to the cell being exposed to light at a front side.
US09136416B2
A solar light concentration photovoltaic conversion system, uses a solar light collector to focus collected light onto a termination of at least one multi-fiber cable. A wavelength splitter is optically coupled to the other termination of the multi-fiber cable for producing light beams of different wavelengths, each illuminating the optical termination of one or more lambda-dedicated tap fibers or multi-fiber cables. From the wavelength splitter depart a number of lambda-dedicated groups of tap fibers adapted to convey the radiation to remotely arranged lambda-specific photovoltaic cells, configured for efficiently converting light energy of the specific wavelength spectrum carried along respective fiber or group of fibers into electrical energy. The lambda-specific photovoltaic cells are formed onto light spreading structures optically coupled to a respective tap fiber or multi-fiber cable, adapted to trap the injected light and convert it into electricity.
US09136404B2
The present invention relates to a solar cell that can recycle a substrate, and a manufacturing method thereof. The solar cell includes: i) a plurality of nano-structures distanced from each other and extended in one direction; ii) a first conductive layer covering a first end of at least one of the plurality of nano-structures; iii) a second conductive layer distanced from the first conductive layer and covering a second end of the nano-structure; and iv) a dielectric layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
US09136399B2
A semiconductor device package is assembled using a jig that alters the shape of gel material disposed in a cavity in the package. In one embodiment, a jig having a concave bottom surface is inserted onto uncured gel material disposed within a cavity in a housing of the package to change a top surface of the gel from having a concave shape to a convex shape. The gel is then cured with the jig in place. When the jig is subsequently removed, the cured gel retains the convex shape, which helps to avoid any bond wires from being exposed. The re-shaped gel material reduces internal stresses during thermal cycling and can therefore reduce permanent damage to the package otherwise resulting from such thermal cycling.
US09136389B2
An object is to control composition and a defect of an oxide semiconductor. Another object is to increase field effect mobility of a thin film transistor and to obtain a sufficient on-off ratio with off current suppressed. The oxide semiconductor is represented by InMO3(ZnO)n (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al, and n is a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 1 and less than 50) and further contains hydrogen. In this case, the concentration of Zn is made to be lower than the concentrations of In and M (M is one or a plurality of elements selected from Ga, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Al). In addition, the oxide semiconductor has an amorphous structure. Here, n is preferably a non-integer number of greater than or equal to 50, more preferably less than 10.
US09136384B2
A semiconductor material is patterned to define elongated fins insulated from an underlying substrate. A polysilicon semiconductor material is deposited over and in between the elongated fins, and is patterned to define elongated gates extending to perpendicularly cross over the elongated fins at a transistor channel. Sidewall spacers are formed on side walls of the elongated gates. Portions of the elongated fins located between the elongated gates are removed, along with the underlying insulation, to expose the underlying substrate. One or more semiconductor material layers are then epitaxially grown from the underlying substrate at locations between the elongated gates. The one or more semiconductor material layers may include an undoped epi-layer and an overlying doped epi-layer. The epitaxial material defines a source or drain of the transistor.
US09136378B2
A semiconductor device includes a first conductive-type semiconductor layer, a second conductive-type body region formed in a surficial portion of the semiconductor layer, a first conductive-type source region formed in a surficial portion of the body region, a gate insulating film provided on the semiconductor layer and containing nitrogen atoms, the gate insulating film including a first portion in contact with the semiconductor layer outside the body region, a second portion in contact with the body region, and a third portion in contact with the source region, and a gate electrode provided on the gate insulating film in an area extending across the semiconductor layer outside the body region, the body region, and the source region. The third portion of the gate insulating film has a thickness greater than the thickness of the first portion and the thickness of the second portion.
US09136377B2
A high density trench-gated MOSFET array and method are disclosed. It comprises semiconductor substrate partitioned into MOSFET array area and gate pickup area; epitaxial region, body region and source region; numerous precisely spaced active nitride-capped trench gate stacks (ANCTGS) embedded till the epitaxial region. Each ANCTGS comprises a stack of polysilicon trench gate with gate oxide shell and silicon nitride cap covering top of polysilicon trench gate and laterally registered to gate oxide shell. The ANCTGS forms, together with the source, body, epitaxial region, a MOSFET device in the MOSFET array area. Over MOSFET array area and gate pickup area, a patterned dielectric region atop the MOSFET array and a patterned metal layer atop the patterned dielectric region. Thus, the patterned metal layer forms, with the MOSFET array and the gate pickup area, self-aligned source and body contacts through the inter-ANCTGS separations.
US09136376B2
A junctionless vertical gate transistor includes an active pillar vertically protruding from a substrate and including a first impurity region, a second impurity region and a third impurity region sequentially formed over the first impurity region; gate electrodes coupled to sidewalls of the second impurity region; and bit lines arranged in a direction of intersecting with the gate electrodes and each contacting the first impurity region. The first to the third impurity regions include impurities of the same polarity.
US09136358B2
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: a stacked body including a plurality of electrode layers and a plurality of first insulating layers; a first channel body layer penetrating the stacked body; a memory film; an interlayer insulating film provided on the stacked body; a selection gate electrode provided on the interlayer insulating film; a second channel body layer penetrating the selection gate electrode and the interlayer insulating film and connected to the first channel body; a gate insulating film provided between the selection gate electrode and the second channel body layer; a second insulating layer provided on the gate insulating film and on the selection gate electrode; a contact layer provided on the second insulating layer; and a diffusion layer provided between the contact layer and the second insulating layer and connected to the second channel body layer and the contact layer.
US09136357B1
A method for fabricating a multigate device includes forming a fin on a substrate of the multigate device, the fin being formed of a semiconductor material, growing a first conformal epitaxial layer directly on the fin and substrate, wherein the first conformal epitaxial layer is undoped or lightly doped, growing a second conformal epitaxial layer directly on the first conformal epitaxial layer, wherein the second conformal epitaxial layer is highly doped, selectively removing a portion of the second epitaxial layer to expose a portion of the first conformal epitaxial layer and thereby form a trench, and forming a gate within the trench.
US09136356B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming two isolation structures in a substrate to define a fin structure between the two isolation structures in the substrate. A dummy gate and spacers are formed bridging the two isolation structures and over the fin structure. The two isolation structures are etched with the dummy gate and the spacers as a mask to form a plurality of slopes under the spacers in the two isolation structures. A gate etch stop layer is formed overlying the plurality of slopes. The dummy gate and the two isolation structures beneath the dummy gate are removed to create a cavity confined by the spacers and the gate etch stop layer. A gate is then formed in the cavity.
US09136348B2
A semiconductor structure includes a gate structure disposed on a substrate and having an outer spacer, a recess disposed in the substrate and adjacent to the gate structure, a doped epitaxial material filling up the recess, a cap layer including an undoped epitaxial material and disposed on the doped epitaxial material, a lightly doped drain disposed below the cap layer and sandwiched between the doped epitaxial material and the cap layer, and a silicide disposed on the cap layer and covering the doped epitaxial material to cover the cap layer together with the outer spacer without directly contacting the lightly doped drain.
US09136337B2
A group III nitride composite substrate includes a support substrate and a group III nitride film. A ratio st/mt of a standard deviation st of the thickness of the group III nitride film, to a mean value mt of the thickness thereof is 0.001 or more and 0.2 or less, and a ratio so/mo of a standard deviation so of an absolute value of an off angle between a main surface of the group III nitride film and a plane of a predetermined plane orientation, to a mean value mo of the absolute value of the off angle thereof is 0.005 or more and 0.6 or less. Accordingly, there is provided a low-cost and large-diameter group III nitride composite substrate including a group III nitride film having a large thickness, a small thickness variation, and a high crystal quality.
US09136334B2
A semiconductor device includes: a channel layer made of a compound semiconductor; a barrier layer provided above the channel layer and made of a compound semiconductor in which an energy band on a carrier travel side in a junction with respect to the channel layer is farther from an intrinsic Fermi level in the channel layer than in the channel layer; a low-resistance region provided in a surface layer of the barrier layer, in which resistance is kept lower than portions around by containing impurity; a source electrode and a drain electrode connected to the barrier layer at positions sandwiching the low-resistance region; a gate insulating layer provided on the low-resistance region; and a gate electrode provided above the low-resistance region through the gate insulating layer.
US09136333B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a vertical type trench gate MOS transistor; a Schottky barrier diode; multiple trenches having a stripe pattern to divide an inner region into first and second separation regions; and a poly silicon film in each trench. The first separation region includes a first conductive type region for providing a source and a second conductive type layer for providing a channel region. The first conductive type region is adjacent to a first trench. The poly silicon film in the first trench is coupled with a gate wiring. A second trench is not adjacent to the first conductive type region. The poly silicon film in the second trench is coupled with a source or gate wiring. The substrate in the second separation region is coupled with the source wiring for providing a Schottky barrier.
US09136332B2
A transistor device and method for forming a field effect transistor device are provided. An example transistor device includes a semiconductor substrate and a device layer. The device layer includes a source region and a drain region that are connected by a channel region that comprises a portion of a nanowire. The channel region is formed by providing a sacrificial layer over the semiconductor substrate. The nanowire is formed over the sacrificial layer, and the sacrificial layer is etched. The etching is selective to the sacrificial layer to prevent the removal of the nanowire, and the etching causes the portion of the nanowire to be suspended over the semiconductor substrate. A gate region is formed that surrounds at least the portion of the nanowire. The gate region is deposited in a conformal manner over all sides of the portion, and the portion is no longer suspended over the semiconductor substrate.
US09136327B1
Deep trench isolation structures and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The systems include a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor body, a device region, and the deep trench isolation structure. The deep trench isolation structure is configured to electrically isolate the device region from other device regions that extend within the semiconductor body. The deep trench isolation structure includes an isolation trench, a dielectric material that extends within the isolation trench, a first semiconducting region, and a second semiconducting region. The methods include methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device that includes the disclosed deep trench isolation structures. The methods also include methods of operating an integrated circuit device that includes a plurality of semiconductor devices that include the disclosed deep trench isolation structures.
US09136324B2
A power semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a first drift layer, and a second drift layer. The first drift layer includes a first epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type, a plurality of first first-conductivity-type pillar layers, and a plurality of first second-conductivity-type pillar layers. The second drift layer is formed on the first drift layer and includes a second epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type, a plurality of second second-conductivity-type pillar layers, a plurality of second first-conductivity-type pillar layers, a plurality of third second-conductivity-type pillar layers, and a plurality of third first-conductivity-type pillar layers. The plurality of second second-conductivity-type pillar layers are connected to the first second-conductivity-type pillar layers. The plurality of second first-conductivity-type pillar layers are connected to the first first-conductivity-type pillar layers. The plurality of third second-conductivity-type pillar layers are arranged on the first epitaxial layer.
US09136323B2
A method of fabricating a transistor includes forming a field isolation region in a substrate. After forming the field isolation region, dopant is implanted in a first region of a substrate for formation of a drift region. A drain region is formed in a second region of the substrate. The first and second regions laterally overlap to define a conduction path for the transistor. The first region does not extend laterally across the second region.
US09136319B2
Generally, the subject matter disclosed herein relates to various methods of making a capacitor with a sealing liner and a semiconductor device including such a capacitor. In one example, the method includes forming a layer of insulating material, forming a capacitor opening in the layer of insulating material, forming a sealing liner on the sidewalls of the capacitor opening and forming a first metal layer in the capacitor opening and on the sealing liner by performing a process using a precursor having a minimum particle size, wherein the sealing liner is made of a material having an opening size that is less than the minimum particle size of the precursor.
US09136314B2
A method for manufacturing an organic electroluminescence display including multilayer structures that are each formed in a respective one of pixel areas in an effective area of a substrate and are each formed by a lower electrode, an organic layer, and an upper electrode, the organic electroluminescence display having a common electrode that electrically connects the pixel areas, the method including the steps of: forming a protective electrode and an outer-peripheral electrode that are electrically connected to the common electrode; forming the multilayer structures; and carrying out film deposition treatment involving electrification of the substrate.
US09136311B2
A flexible substrate includes: a flexible substrate main body including an organic material; a plurality of separation patterns distributed across one side of the flexible substrate main body; and a separation groove on the one side of the flexible substrate main body adjacent to at least one of the separation patterns, and the separation groove being recessed from a surface of the one side of the flexible substrate main body.
US09136308B2
The invention relates to an illumination device (1000) comprising an at least partially transparent solar cell (200) that is arranged at the back side of an at least partially transparent light source (100). Preferably, the light source (100) is an OLED that is structured into a plurality of electroluminescent zones (131) and inactive zones (132). The electroluminescent zones are preferably aligned with reflective zones (311) of a mirror layer (310) that is disposed between the light source (100) and the solar cell (200).
US09136306B2
Some embodiments include memory structures having a diode over a memory cell. The memory cell can include programmable material between a pair of electrodes, with the programmable material containing a multivalent metal oxide directly against a high-k dielectric. The diode can include a first diode electrode directly over one of the memory cell electrodes and electrically coupled with the memory cell electrode, and can include a second diode electrode laterally outward of the first diode electrode and not directly over the memory cell. Some embodiments include memory arrays comprising the memory structures, and some embodiments include methods of making the memory structures.
US09136303B2
A method of protecting a CMOS device within an integrated photonic semiconductor structure is provided. The method may include depositing a conformal layer of germanium over the CMOS device and an adjacent area to the CMOS device, depositing a conformal layer of dielectric hardmask over the germanium, and forming, using a mask level, a patterned layer of photoresist for covering the CMOS device and a photonic device formation region within the adjacent area. Openings are etched into areas of the deposited layer of silicon nitride not covered by the patterned photoresist, such that the areas are adjacent to the photonic device formation region. The germanium material is then etched from the conformal layer of germanium at a location underlying the etched openings for forming the photonic device at the photonic device formation region. The conformal layer of germanium deposited over the CMOS device protects the CMOS device.
US09136302B2
A backside illuminated image sensor comprises a photodiode and a first transistor located in a first chip, wherein the first transistor is electrically coupled to the photodiode. The backside illuminated image sensor further comprises a second transistor formed in a second chip and a plurality of logic circuits formed in a third chip, wherein the second chip is stacked on the first chip and the third chip is stacked on the second chip. The logic circuit, the second transistor and the first transistor are coupled to each other through a plurality of boding pads and through vias.
US09136297B2
A method for driving a semiconductor device which enables three-dimensional imaging is provided. The method for driving the semiconductor device also enables a reduction in the size of a pixel, two-dimensional imaging concurrently with the three-dimensional imaging, and/or accurate three-dimensional imaging of a fast-moving object. The distance from a light source to an object is measured by performing a first imaging and a second imaging with respect to the timings of the first irradiation and the second irradiation, respectively. A first photosensor absorbing visible light and a second photosensor absorbing infrared light are overlapped with each other and enable the two-dimensional imaging and the three-dimensional imaging, respectively, to be performed concurrently. Adjacent photosensors detect light reflected off substantially the same point of an object, preventing a reduction in the accuracy of the three-dimensional imaging of a fast-moving object.
US09136296B2
A photodiode includes a first semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer having a second conductivity type that is opposite to the first conductivity type of the first semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer interposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. An edge of the first semiconductor layer is inset from an edge of the second semiconductor layer.
US09136294B1
An image sensor includes: a photoelectric conversion layer; and a pixel lens, including a plurality of light condensing layers, formed over the photoelectric conversion layer, wherein upper layers of the plurality of light condensing layers have shorter widths than lower layers of the plurality of light condensing layers, wherein the light condensing layers of the pixel lens have their sidewalls of one side aligned with each other.
US09136276B1
A method for forming a memory cell structure includes following steps. A substrate including at least a memory cell region defined thereon is provided, and a first gate stack is formed in the memory cell region. A first LDD implantation is performed to form a first LDD at one side of the first gate stack in the memory cell region, and the first LDD includes a first conductivity type. A second LDD implantation is performed to form a second LDD at one side of the first gate stack opposite to the first LDD in the memory cell region, and the second LDD includes the first conductivity type. The first LDD and the second LDD are different from each other.
US09136267B2
An integrated circuit chip includes CMOS integrated circuit cells arranged in a semiconductor layer, each including first and second active regions, having first and second polarities, respectively. A first power rail is routed along boundaries of the CMOS integrated circuit cells proximate to the first active regions. A second power rail is routed over second active regions. Global routing channels are routed over the second active regions such that the second power rail is disposed between the global routing channels and the first power rail. The global routing channels are coupled between the CMOS integrated circuit cells to couple the CMOS integrated circuit cells together globally in the integrated circuit chip.
US09136266B2
In various aspects, methods of forming a semiconductor device and semiconductor devices are provided. In some illustrative embodiments herein, a silicon/germanium layer is provided on a semiconductor substrate. On the silicon/germanium layer, at least one insulating material layer is formed. After having performed a thermal annealing process, the at least one insulating material layer is removed in subsequent process sequences such that the silicon/germanium layer is at least partially exposed. In further processing sequences which are to be subsequently applied, a gate electrode is formed on the exposed silicon/germanium layer.
US09136264B2
A MOS transistor includes a gate electrode disposed over an active region without overlapping with an isolation region, the active region including a channel region, the isolation region defining the active region, a source region and a drain region disposed in first and second portions of the active region, respectively, the first and second portions being disposed at first and second sides of the gate electrode, respectively, the first side opposing the second side, a first blocking region disposed in a third portion of the active region between a third side of the gate electrode and the isolation region and between the source and the drain region, and a second blocking region disposed in a fourth portion of the active region between a fourth side of the gate electrode and the isolation region and between the source and the drain region, the fourth side opposing the third side.
US09136248B2
The present disclosure relates to a multi-chip stacked package and a method for forming the same. The package comprises a chip carrier and multiple levels of chips, with one or more chips being arranged in each level, wherein one or more levels of chips, except for the topmost chips, have conductive vias, a patterned conductor layer is arranged on a back surface of a lower one of two chips in two adjacent levels, conductive bumps are provided between two adjacent levels of chips, and the conductive vias of a lower chip are electrically coupled to an upper chip by means of the patterned conductor layer and the conductive bumps. In the present disclosure, electrical connections are redistributed by means of the patterned conductor layer, and are further used for coupling multiple levels of chips by means of the conductive bumps. The resultant chip has a reduced chip size and can be used for electrically coupling various levels of chips, which achieves flexible electrical connections.
US09136242B2
An electronic component including one or more legs for attachment to a circuit board, wherein at least one of said legs includes a spring-acting kink, arranged so as to offers resilience to relative displacement between the end of said leg and the body of said component. The kink may be substantially S-shaped, Z-shaped, U-shaped, wave-shaped or coil-shaped.
US09136236B2
Embodiments of a system and methods for localized high density substrate routing are generally described herein. In one or more embodiments an apparatus includes a medium, first and second circuitry elements, an interconnect element, and a dielectric layer. The medium can include low density routing therein. The interconnect element can be embedded in the medium, and can include a plurality of electrically conductive members therein, the electrically conductive member can be electrically coupled to the first circuitry element and the second circuitry element. The interconnect element can include high density routing therein. The dielectric layer can be over the interconnect die, the dielectric layer including the first and second circuitry elements passing therethrough.
US09136235B2
Methods and apparatuses for wafer level packaging (WLP) semiconductor devices are disclosed. A redistribution layer (RDL) is formed on a first passivation layer in contact with a conductive pad over a surface of a die. The RDL layer is on top of a first region of the first passivation layer. A second passivation layer is formed on the RDL layer with an opening to expose the RDL layer, and over the first passivation layer. An under bump metallization (UBM) layer is formed over the second passivation layer in contact with the exposed RDL layer. A second region of the first passivation layer disjoint from the first region is determined by projecting an outer periphery of a solder ball or other connector onto the surface.
US09136229B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device is provided. A proper trigger voltage is determined by providing an ESD doped injection layer into a PNPN structure and adjusting the injection energy and dosage of the ESD doped injection layer; a proper holding voltage is obtained by adjusting the size of the ESD doped injection layer, thus preventing the latch-up. The self-isolation effect of the electrostatic discharge protection device is formed on the basis of an epitaxial wafer high voltage process or a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer high voltage process, the ESD protective device of the present invention can prevent the device from being falsely triggered due to noise interference. Compared with other known ESD protection devices, the device has the same electrostatic protection ability, much smaller area, and much lower cost.
US09136223B2
Methods for forming an alignment mark and the resulting mark are disclosed. Embodiments may include forming a first shape having rotational symmetry; forming a second shape; and forming an alignment mark by combining the first shape and one or more of the second shape, wherein the alignment mark has rotational symmetry.
US09136220B2
A semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip including a target circuit surface and a side surface, a first sealing insulating layer including a first surface positioned toward the target circuit surface and configured to seal the target circuit surface and the side surface, at least one wiring layer formed on the first surface of the first sealing insulating layer, at least one insulating layer formed on the at least one wiring layer, a second semiconductor chip mounted on the at least one insulating layer, and a second sealing insulating layer formed on the at least one insulating layer and configured to seal the second semiconductor chip.
US09136218B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip having a wire and a passivation film formed on the outermost surface with an opening partially exposing the wire. A resin layer is stacked on the semiconductor chip and provided with a through-hole in a position opposed to a portion of the wire facing the opening. A pad is formed on a peripheral portion of the through-hole in the resin layer and in the through-hole so that an external connection terminal is arranged on the surface thereof. The peripheral portion of the resin layer is formed more thickly than the remaining portion of the resin layer other than the peripheral portion.
US09136212B2
A circuit board includes a laminated body including a laminate of a plurality of insulating-material layers made of a flexible material. External electrodes are provided on the top surface of the laminated body. An electronic component is mounted on the external electrodes. A plurality of internal conductors, when viewed in plan in the z-axis direction, are overlaid on the external electrodes and are not connected to one another in regions in which the internal conductors are overlaid on the external electrodes.
US09136210B2
An interposer includes a substrate includes a plurality of penetrating electrodes, and a wiring portion formed on the substrate, in which the wiring portion includes a wiring layer electrically connected to the penetrating electrodes and an insulating layer covering the wiring layer. The interposer includes a plurality of first UBM structures provided at a side opposite the substrate of the wiring portion, in which the first UBM structures are electrically connected to the wiring layer. The interposer includes a plurality of bumps provided at the side opposite the wiring portion of the substrate, in which the plurality of bumps is electrically connected to each of the penetrating electrodes via a plurality of second UBM structures.
US09136207B2
Disclosed herein are chip packaging structures for packaging multiple assemblies therein. In one embodiment, a chip packaging structure can include: (i) a first assembly located at a bottom layer of the chip packaging structure; (ii) at least one second assembly located above the first assembly, where the second assembly is electrically connected to the first assembly by a plurality of first protruding structures located under the second assembly; (iii) at least one third assembly located above the second assembly, where the third assembly is electrically connected to the first assembly by a plurality of second protruding structures located outside of the second assembly; and (iv) where a first portion of the third assembly and the plurality of second protruding structures form a bent structure substantially perpendicular to a second portion of the third assembly.
US09136203B2
To provide a semiconductor device comprising a first layer that is provided on a semiconductor substrate and includes a first wiring pattern planarized by CMP and a plurality of first dummy patterns made of a same material as the first wiring pattern and a second layer that is provided above the semiconductor substrate and includes a second wiring pattern planarized by CMP and a plurality of second dummy patterns made of a same material as the second wiring pattern. A central axis of each of the second dummy patterns coincides with that of a corresponding one of the first dummy patterns in a direction perpendicular to the semiconductor substrate.
US09136200B2
A heat radiating component includes a base including a first metal, a first plating layer formed on the base and including a second metal and carbon material structures dispersed in the second metal, and a second plating layer formed on the first plating layer. The first plating layer includes protruding parts that are parts of the carbon material structures protruding from a surface of the second metal. The second plating layer is formed on the first plating layer to cover surfaces of the protruding parts and the surface of the second metal without filling spaces between the protruding parts.
US09136197B2
A microelectronic assembly includes an interconnection element, a conductive plane, a microelectronic device, a plurality of traces, and first and second bond elements. The interconnection element includes a dielectric element, a plurality of element contacts, and at least one reference contact thereon. The microelectronic device includes a front surface with device contacts exposed thereat. The conductive plane overlies a portion of the front surface of the microelectronic device. Traces overlying a surface of the conductive plane are insulated therefrom and electrically connected with the element contacts. The traces also have substantial portions spaced a first height above and extending at least generally parallel to the conductive plane, such that a desired impedance is achieved for the traces. First bond element electrically connects the at least one conductive plane with the at least one reference contact. Second bond elements electrically connect device contacts with the traces.
US09136195B2
Oxygen barrier compositions for electrical devices and their related methods are provided. In certain embodiments, the oxygen barrier compositions comprise a meta-substituted aromatic resin and an additional aromatic epoxy resin. In some embodiments, the compositions have a chlorine content of less than approximately 1000 ppm. The compositions may have an oxygen permeability of less than approximately 0.4 cm3·mm/m2·atm·day at approximately 0% relative humidity and approximately 23° C. In certain embodiments, methods of curing the oxygen barrier compositions comprise partially curing the composition where, the partial cure is achieved through ultraviolet radiation or heat.
US09136194B2
The present invention provides a resin composition for encapsulating electronic components that contains a phenol resin curing agent and an epoxy resin, in which either the phenol resin curing agent or the epoxy resin has a biphenyl structure; a resin composition for encapsulating electronic components that contains a phenol resin curing agent and an epoxy resin, in which a glass transition temperature of a cured material is equal to or higher than 200° C., and a weight reduction rate of the cured material is equal to or lower than 0.3%; and an electronic device that includes an electronic component encapsulated with the resin composition.
US09136190B2
According to one embodiment, a wafer processing device includes a processed number counting unit that counts a number of processed wafers, and a maintenance post-processing unit that executes a dummy lot process and a QC lot process after a maintenance process. A wafer preparation device prepares the dummy lot and the QC lot, when a first processed number is counted by the processed number counting unit. When a second processed number is counted by the processed number counting unit, a carrier device carries the dummy lot and the QC lot to the wafer processing device simultaneous with the maintenance process, before the maintenance process is completed.
US09136189B2
A surface observation apparatus is achieved, which enables even a beginner to easily select an optimal evaluation indicator for each of various patterns to be evaluated without a trial and error approach. A plurality of images to be evaluated are input from an image processing unit (114) to an evaluation image input unit (113a) (in step 901). The input images to be evaluated are displayed on a display (115). A user rearranges the images in accordance with an evaluation criterion of the user while referencing the display (115), and defines an evaluation criterion (in step 902). Evaluation values are calculated for the input images (to be evaluated) using a plurality of evaluation indicators (in step 903). The evaluation values for each of the evaluation indicators are compared with the evaluation criterion defined by the user, and correlation coefficients are then calculated (in step 904). An evaluation indicator having the maximum absolute value of a correlation coefficient is automatically selected as an evaluation criterion that is closest to the evaluation criterion defined by the user (in step 905). The images are rearranged in order of correlation coefficient and a list of the images is displayed on the display (115) so that the images are arranged in order of evaluation value (in step 906).
US09136176B2
A method of fabricating one or more semiconductor devices includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, performing a cycling process to remove contaminants from the trench, and forming an epitaxial layer on the trench. The cycling process includes sequentially supplying a first reaction gas containing germane, hydrogen chloride and hydrogen and a second reaction gas containing hydrogen chloride and hydrogen onto the semiconductor substrate.
US09136169B2
A method is described for producing an electrical feedthrough in a substrate, and a substrate having an electrical feedthrough. The method has the following operations of forming the electrical feedthrough so that it extends through the substrate from the front side to the back side of the substrate, forming a first closing layer on a front side of the substrate, forming an annular isolation trench in the substrate which encloses the electrical feedthrough, using an etching process starting from the back side of the substrate, the etching process terminating at the first closing layer, and closing off the annular isolation trench in the substrate by forming a second closing layer on the back side of the substrate.
US09136164B2
Semiconductor devices and fabrication methods are provided. First metal layers are provided in a substrate including a first region and a second region. An interlayer dielectric (ILD) layer formed over the substrate includes a top surface in the second region coplanar with a bottom of a trench in the ILD layer in the first region. Through-holes are formed in the ILD layer. A polymer layer fills the through-holes and the trench in ILD layer and covers top surface of ILD layer in both regions. The polymer layer is exposed and developed to form vias, each including an upper via in the polymer layer and a lower via in ILD layer. A second metal layer is formed to fill each via on a corresponding first metal layer in both regions. The polymer layer between adjacent second metal layers is removed to form air gaps in the second region.
US09136163B2
A step of forming a connecting member configured to electrically connect a first conductive line and a second conductive line includes a phase of perforating a laminate from a first semiconductor wafer to form a plurality of connection holes that reach the second conductive line and a phase of filling the plurality of penetrating connection holes with a conductive material to form conductive sections in contact with the second conductive line.
US09136158B2
A lateral trench MOSFET comprises a dielectric isolation trench formed over a silicon-on-insulator substrate. The lateral trench MOSFET further comprises a first drift region formed between a drain/source region and an insulator, and a second drift region formed between the dielectric isolation trench and the insulator. The dielectric trench and the insulator help to fully deplete the drift regions. The depleted regions can improve the breakdown voltage as well as the on-resistance of the lateral trench MOSFET.
US09136149B2
A loading port includes a housing and a plurality of stations defined in the housing configured to receive a front opening universal pod (FOUP). The loading port further includes a connector configured to receive an inert gas. At least one of the plurality of stations is configured to deliver the inert gas to the FOUP to purge an interior of the FOUP of moisture. A system including the loading port and a method of using the system are also described.
US09136148B2
A process gas supply cycle pattern that will adversely affect the result of processing is changed beforehand. Based on information supplied from a setting input section, a pattern computation section obtains the result of computation of a process gas supply cycle pattern that includes a rotation cycle of a substrate rotation mechanism, a supply cycle of a process gas, a supply time of the process gas, and a supply count of the process gas. Based on information supplied from the setting input section, a simulator simulates the shape of a supply region of the process gas to be supplied onto a substrate. A comparison section compares the result of computation of the process gas supply cycle pattern determined by the pattern computation section against the result of referencing of a process gas supply cycle pattern that adversely affects the result of processing and is obtained from a storage section.
US09136147B2
Provided are an apparatus and method for treating a substrate. More particularly, an apparatus and method for treating a substrate through a supercritical process are provided. The apparatus includes: a housing having an entrance in a predetermined surface thereof and providing a space for performing a high pressure process; a support member disposed in the housing to support a substrate; a door for opening and closing the entrance; and a pressing member configured to apply a force to the door so as to close the housing during the high pressure process.
US09136145B2
Provided is a semiconductor integrated circuit device having flexible pin arrangement. A semiconductor integrated circuit is bonded to a die pad with an insulating paste, and the potential of the die pad is fixed through a bonding wire from an Al pad provided on the surface of the semiconductor integrated circuit. In the case of a P-type semiconductor substrate, the die pad is set as a terminal other than a terminal having a minimum operating potential of the semiconductor integrated circuit.
US09136142B2
A device is disclosed. The device includes a carrier substrate having first and second major surfaces. The first surface includes a die region and contact pads and the second surface includes package contacts. The carrier substrate includes a patterned lead frame which defines a line level with conductive traces and a via level with via contacts. The patterned lead frame provides interconnections between the contact pads and package contacts. The carrier substrate further includes a dielectric layer isolating the conductive traces and via contacts. The device includes a die mounted on the die region of the first surface.
US09136138B2
Disclosed is an apparatus for processing a semiconductor and a method for generating a seasoning process of a reaction chamber. The method may include generating plasma in the reaction chamber using a production process recipe, obtaining at least one reference measurement value related to a byproduct of the generated plasma, performing a plurality of seasoning tests on the chamber to obtain a plurality of test results, generating an empirical model by forming at least one relational expression correlating variables manipulated during the performing of the plurality of seasoning tests to the plurality of test results, and estimating a seasoning process by using the at least one relational expression to estimate at least one estimated calculation value.
US09136136B2
Embodiments relate to structures, systems and methods for more efficiently and effectively etching sacrificial and other layers in substrates and other structures. In embodiments, a substrate in which a sacrificial layer is to be removed to, e.g., form a cavity comprises an etch dispersion system comprising a trench, channel or other structure in which etch gas or another suitable gas, fluid or substance can flow to penetrate the substrate and remove the sacrificial layer. The trench, channel or other structure can be implemented along with openings or other apertures formed in the substrate, such as proximate one or more edges of the substrate, to even more quickly disperse etch gas or some other substance within the substrate.
US09136135B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a gate pattern on a substrate, and etching sides of the gate pattern using a first wet-etching process to form a first recess. The first wet-etching process includes using an etchant containing a first chemical substance including a hydroxyl functional group (—OH) and a second chemical substance capable of oxidizing the substrate. The concentration of the second chemical substance is 1.5 times or less the concentration of the first chemical substance.
US09136134B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices include forming a metal silicide in a portion of a crystalline silicon layer, and etching the metal silicide using an etchant selective to the metal silicide relative to the crystalline silicon to provide a thin crystalline silicon layer. Silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrates may be formed by providing a layer of crystalline silicon over a base substrate with a dielectric material between the layer of crystalline silicon and the base substrate, and thinning the layer of crystalline silicon by forming a metal silicide layer in a portion of the crystalline silicon, and then etching the metal silicide layer using an etchant selective to the metal silicide layer relative to the crystalline silicon.
US09136132B2
A manganese metal film forming method includes: degassing an underlying layer formed on a processing target by thermally treating the processing target, the underlying layer containing silicon and oxygen; and forming a manganese metal film on the degassed underlying layer by chemical deposition using a gas containing a manganese compound. Forming a manganese metal film includes introducing a gas containing an oxidizing agent to form a partially-oxidized manganese metal film.
US09136128B2
Various embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the same. One such apparatus can include a first dielectric material and a second dielectric material, and a conductive material between the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material. A charge storage element, such as a floating gate or charge trap, is between the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material and adjacent to the conductive material. The charge storage element has a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surfaces are substantially separated from the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material, respectively, by a first air gap and a second air gap. Additional apparatuses and methods are disclosed.
US09136119B2
Disclosed are a non-polar hetero substrate, a method for manufacturing the same, and a nitride-based light emitting device using the same. The non-polar hetero substrate includes a non-polar base substrate, a nitride base layer disposed on the substrate, a defect reduction layer disposed on the nitride base layer, the defect reduction layer including a plurality of air gaps, and a nitride semiconductor layer disposed on the defect reduction layer.
US09136118B2
An iridium-doped carbon nanotube has an atomic ratio of iridium to carbon on a surface thereof ranging from 1×10−4 to 3.5×10−4 as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A working electrode including the aforesaid iridium-doped carbon nanotube and a sensor including the working electrode are also disclosed in the present invention.
US09136117B2
A method for making semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) includes providing a substrate. A single walled carbon nanotube film including metallic SWCNTs and semiconducting SWCNTs is located on the substrate. At least one electrode is located on the single walled carbon nanotube film and electrically connected with the single walled carbon nanotube film. A macromolecule material layer is located on the single walled carbon nanotube film to cover the single walled carbon nanotube film. The macromolecule material layer covering the metallic SWCNTs is removed by an electron beam bombardment method, to expose the metallic SWCNTs. The metallic SWCNTs and the macromolecule material layer covering the semiconducting SWCNTs are removed.
US09136111B1
A field effect transistor and method for making such a transistor is provided, the field effect transistor comprising: a gate layer stack comprising a layer of a first metal is disposed proximate to at least one layer of a second metal, wherein the first metal alloys with the second metal to form a shape memory alloy. The shape metal allow may be NiTi, and at the contact plane between the layers, the alloy is formed when the transistor is heated to an elevated temperature.
US09136095B2
There is provided a method for controlling a plasma processing apparatus that eliminates a preliminary study on a resonance point while maintaining a low contamination and a high uniformity even in multi-step etching. In a method for controlling a plasma processing apparatus including the step of adjusting a radio frequency bias current carried to a counter antenna electrode, the method includes the steps of: setting a reactance of a variable element to an initial value; detecting a bias current carried to the counter antenna electrode; searching for a maximum value of the detected electric current; and adjusting a value of the reactance of the variable element from the maximum value to the set value and then fixing the value.
US09136091B2
An electron beam apparatus for inspecting a pattern on a sample using multiple electron beams includes a plurality of primary electro-optical systems and a plurality of secondary electro-optical systems associated with the respective primary electro-optical systems. The primary electro-optical systems are for irradiating multiple primary electron beams on a surface of the sample, and each includes an electron gun having an anode and an objective lens. The secondary electro-optical systems are for inducing secondary electrons emitted from a surface of the sample by irradiation of the primary electron beams. Detectors are each for detecting the secondary electrons and generating electric signals corresponding to the detected electrons. The anodes of the electron guns of the primary electro-optical systems comprise an anode substrate in common having multiple holes corresponding to the axes of the respective primary electro-optical systems. The anode substrate has metal coatings around the respective holes.
US09136087B2
A system of investigating aberrations in a charged particle lens system, wherein a charged particle beam is directed from a multitude of directions through a pivot point on a sample stage. An image figure is recorded for each of multiple focus settings at each beam direction setting, creating a set of registered images. This set of images is compared to reference images to derive aberrations present in the lens system without the use of an amorphous sample present.
US09136080B2
The present invention provides an electromagnet device including: an electromagnet block having a spool around which a coil is wound and an iron core inserted in a central hole of the spool; a yoke connected to an end portion of the iron core via a permanent magnet; a movable iron piece pivotably supported on a pivoting shaft center located at an end face edge portion of the yoke, the movable iron piece is adapted to pivot on a basis of magnetization and demagnetization of the electromagnet block, and a protrusion having a linear edge portion which extends in parallel to the pivoting shaft center and the protrusion protrudes from at least either the movable iron piece or the iron core, the protrusion protrudes in a facing direction in which the movable iron piece and the iron core face each other.
US09136079B2
An electronic trip unit having a number of trip unit settings includes: a first input member; a second input member; a multi-position selector configured to select one of plurality of positions corresponding to values of the trip unit settings; a plurality of indicators each corresponding to one of the plurality of trip unit settings; and a processor having a routine, wherein the routine of the processor is structured to, in response to actuation of the first input member, increment a ring counter value and selectively activate one of the indicators corresponding to the ring counter value; and wherein the routine of the processor is further structured to, in response to actuation of the second input member, set a value of the trip unit setting corresponding to the activated indicator based on the selected position of the multi-position selector.
US09136077B2
A three-phase vacuum interrupter switch assembly for power distribution systems comprises an outer case having at least one window and containing a plurality of component assemblies. The case interior is preferably free of oil and/or SF6 gas. Each component assembly comprises three internal disconnect switch assemblies, three vacuum interrupter bottle switch assemblies and three ground switch assemblies. Each vacuum interrupter bottle switch is coupled in electrical series with a corresponding internal disconnect switch assembly. Because the open/closed state of a bottle switch is not directly observable owing to its sealed interior, a direct visible indication of the state of the three-phase vacuum interrupter switch assembly is provided by a visually detectable contact rod of the corresponding internal disconnect switch that is visible through the case window. To prevent potentially serious damage caused by arcing between the contacts of the internal disconnect switch, the internal disconnect switch is prevented from opening or closing when the bottle switches are closed.When the component assembly is deactivated, some residual current may still remain. The ground switch assembly associated with the component assembly grounds such residual current as part of the deactivation process so that it is safe to have maintenance work performed. An interlocking mechanism ensures that the disconnect switch assembly, vacuum interrupter bottle switch assembly and ground switch assembly of each component assembly are opened and closed in a sequence that ensures proper and safe operation.
US09136076B2
There is provided a mechanically operated cell (MOC) switch of a vacuum circuit breaker, which is uniformly operated regardless of an insertion stroke of a push rod that operates a MOC switch of a vacuum circuit breaker. The MOC switch outputting an ON/OFF state of a vacuum circuit breaker when the vacuum circuit breaker operates includes: a main bracket; a rotational shaft installed in the main bracket; a connection lever rotatably coupled to the rotational shaft and having one end connected to an auxiliary switch; a roller coupled to the other end of the connection lever; and a horizontal moving unit installed in a portion of the to main bracket and making a horizontal movement to rotate the roller and allowing the other end of the connection lever to make an ascending and descending movement.
US09136072B2
In an indicator apparatus, a prism member includes: a prism member side surface; and a transmitting and reflecting surface that is inclined relative to the prism member side surface, and into which light from a light source is admitted. An adjacent member has an adjacent surface that is adjacent to the prism member side surface. The light from the light source is admitted into the transmitting and reflecting surface when the light source is lit, and passes through the prism member. If the prism member is viewed frontally when the light source is not lit, the adjacent surface is visible by optical reflection at the transmitting and reflecting surface.
US09136068B2
An electrical contactor has a first terminal having an electrically-conductive fixed member with fixed contacts on opposite faces thereof, and a second terminal having a terminal body and an odd-number of electrically-conductive movable arms extending from the terminal body. Each movable arm has a movable contact thereon remote from the terminal body. The movable arms are arranged to oppose each other such that their movable contacts are on either side of the fixed member and aligned with the fixed contacts. The arrangement of the fixed member and the movable arms is such that, when the contacts close, current flowing through the movable arms produces a force which urges the movable arms towards each other thereby increasing a force between the fixed and movable contacts. The number of movable arms at each side of the fixed member is different.
US09136064B2
A method for producing activated carbon includes heating a phenolic novolac resin carbon precursor at a carbonization temperature effective to form a carbon material, and reacting the carbon material with CO2 at an activation temperature effective to form the activated carbon. The resulting activated carbon can be incorporated into a carbon-based electrode of an EDLC. Such EDLC can exhibit a potential window and thus an attendant operating voltage of greater than 3V.
US09136059B2
There is provided a multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic body including dielectric layers and having first and second main surfaces facing each other, first and second side surfaces facing each other, and first and second end surfaces facing each other; a capacitor part formed in the ceramic body and including a first internal electrode having a lead exposed to the first side surface and a second internal electrode exposed to the second end surface; first to third internal connecting conductors formed in the ceramic body and having at least one polarity; and first to fourth external electrodes electrically connected to the first and second internal electrodes and the first to third internal connecting conductors, wherein the first and second internal connecting conductors and the third internal connecting conductor are connected in parallel, and the first to third internal connecting conductors and the capacitor part are connected in series.
US09136058B2
A laminated ceramic capacitor including a laminated body having a plurality of stacked ceramic layers and internal electrodes located between the ceramic layers. The internal electrodes have a plurality of ceramic columnar members formed therein, which project into the internal electrodes from interfaces between the ceramic layers and the internal electrodes, but do not penetrate in the thickness direction of the internal electrodes.
US09136052B2
Divergent flux path magnetic actuation is a technique employed to move and magnetically hold an armature in electromechanical actuator devices. These actuators are typically used for linear and reciprocating application with a shaft firmly fixed to the armature to convey movement and forces. By incorporating a bearing in the armature about the shaft, rotation can also be conveyed. Further these actuators are more adaptable to energy saving applications than conventional solenoids, specifically when the control coils are parallel connected to reduce the input voltage from a power source and electrically pulsed activated from a capacitor to reduce the power drain from the power source. Thus a divergent flux path magnetic actuators with reciprocating and rotatable shaft can be used for multipurpose applications and be adapted to a variety of devices for energy savings over convention solenoids.
US09136048B2
A protector includes a trunk wire insertion portion and a branch wire insertion portion that projects from a peripheral edge of a branch wire outlet provided to one or two side walls in a center length direction of the trunk wire insertion portion. Cuts are provided from upper end side to the two side walls of the peripheral edge of the branch wire outlet of the branch wire insertion portion. Engagement tabs project from the upper end of one side wall of the opposing two side walls of the trunk wire insertion portion, and engagement holes are provided to the other side wall of the opposing two side walls so as to engage with the engagement tabs. After a trunk wire and a branch wire are inserted, the engagement tabs are inserted to and engaged with the engagement holes to close the upper end of the two side walls.
US09136042B2
A differential signal transmission cable includes an insulated wire including a pair of differential signal transmission conductors coated with an insulation, a shield tape conductor made of a band-like member including an electrically conductive metal layer, and wrapped along an outer surface of the insulated wire so that its ends in a width direction are overlapped together, a first resin tape spirally wound along an outer surface of the shield tape conductor and around an outer side of the shield tape conductor, and a second resin tape spirally wound along an outer surface of the first resin tape and around an outer side of the first resin tape. The shield tape conductor, the first resin tape and the second resin tape are wound in a same circumferential direction around a center axis of the insulated wire.
US09136040B2
Joint including two sections of a power cable and a method for joining two sections of a power cable
A joint including two sections of an electric power cable, each cable section including at least one core member surrounded by a first armoring layer for protecting the core member from tensile forces acting on the cable, the first armoring layer including a plurality of armoring wires arranged along the length of the cable and twisted in a first direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the cable. The joint includes at least one core joint between the core members of the cable sections, and an outer mechanical casing surrounding the at least one core joint and mechanically connected to the first armoring layers of the cable sections, and a second armoring layer positioned in an area neighboring the casing, surrounding at least one of the cable sections, and having one end mechanically connected to the casing and the other end terminated at a distance from the casing.
US09136039B2
A cell connector for the electrically conductive connection of a first cell terminal of a first electrochemical cell and a second cell terminal of a second electrochemical cell of an electrochemical device is provided, the cell connector including a first contact region for connection to the first cell terminal and a second contact region for connection to the second cell terminal, where the cell connector allows a large relative displacement between the first contact region and the second contact region even under the influence of only small deformation forces. The cell connector can include a base body made of two or more material layers, at least two material layers being connected to one another in one piece along a fold line.
US09136038B2
The invention relates to a moisture-proof and insulating coating material comprising a block copolymer or hydrogenated copolymer thereof (A), an adhesive resin (B) and a solvent (C). The block copolymer or hydride (A) comprises at least two vinyl aromatic polymer blocks and at least one conjugated diene polymer block, and in the moisture-proof and insulating coating material, the content of residual vinyl aromatic monomer is less than 300 ppm, and the content of vinyl aromatic oligomer is less than 300 ppm. The moisture-proof and insulating coating material according to the invention has good reworkability. A moisture-proof and insulating film and a method for producing the same and an electrical component comprising the moisture-proof and insulating film and a method for producing the same are also provided in the invention.
US09136020B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes semiconductor memory chips in which data requested to be written. The data has one or more pieces of first data in a predetermined unit. The device includes a write controller that writes the first data and redundancy information calculated by using a predetermined number of pieces of the first data and used for correcting an error in the predetermined number of pieces of the first data into different semiconductor memory chips; and a storage unit that stores identification information and region specifying information so as to be associated with each other. The identification information associates the first data and the redundancy information, and the region specifying information specifies a plurality of storage regions in the semiconductor memory chips to which the pieces of the first data and the redundancy information associated with each other are written.
US09136018B2
An internal voltage generation circuit includes a reference voltage generator and an internal voltage generator. The reference voltage generator is configured to adjust resistance values according to test signals and to generate an upper limit reference voltage and a lower limit reference voltage whose levels are determined according to the resistance values. The internal voltage generator is configured to generate an internal voltage which is driven according to the levels of the upper and lower limit reference voltages.
US09136014B2
A method for replacing the address of some bad bytes (bad columns) of the data area and the spare area to the good address of bytes (good columns) in non-volatile storage system is disclosed. The steps of the method are: waiting for a command from a host; judging if there is still some data to be processed; if no, go back to the previous step; if yes, go to next step; judging if a bad column is used; if no, process data access and go back to the step of judging if there is still some data to be processed; and if yes, process data accessing as original operation and increase the address by one.
US09136010B2
A method and system for generating a physical identifier in a storage device that includes a plurality of storage regions is provided. The method includes determining a number of reference storage regions for uniquely identifying the storage device; comparing the number of reference storage regions to a threshold; generating auxiliary storage regions for uniquely identifying the storage device, such that a number of the auxiliary storage regions corresponds to a result of the comparison; generating location distribution information of the reference storage regions and auxiliary storage regions; and storing the location distribution information in the storage device.
US09136008B1
A flash memory apparatus and a data reading method thereof are provided. A boost voltage greater than a pre-charge voltage is provided to a gate of a source discharge transistor when a data reading operation is performed on a memory unit, so as to enhance discharge capability of the source discharge transistor.
US09136006B2
A method is provided for sensing data in a memory device. The memory device includes a block of memory cells coupled to a plurality of bit lines. The method includes precharging the plurality of bit lines to a first level VPRE. The method includes enabling current flow through selected memory cells on the plurality of bit lines to a reference line or to reference lines coupled to a reference voltage. The method includes preventing a voltage change as a result of the current flow on the bit lines from causing a bit line voltage to pass outside a range between the first level and a second level VKEEP, where the second level is lower than the first level and higher than the reference voltage. The method includes sensing data in the selected memory cells.
US09135994B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a memory array having multiple nonvolatile memory cells, a first read circuit and a second read circuit. The first read circuit is configured to read first data from the memory array during a first read operation and to provide one or more protection signals indicating a victim period during the first read operation. The second read circuit is configured to read second data from the memory array during a second read operation and to provide one or more check signals indicating an aggressor period during the second read operation.
US09135991B2
A semiconductor memory device according to the embodiment comprises memory cells each having asymmetrical voltage-current characteristics, wherein the memory cell has a first state, and a second state and a third state of higher resistances than that in the first state, wherein the memory cell, (1) in the second state, makes a transition to the first state on application of a first voltage of the first polarity, (2) in the first state, makes a transition to the second state on application of a second voltage of the second polarity, (3) in the first state, makes a transition to the third state on application of a third voltage of the second polarity (the third voltage
US09135986B2
A sectioned bit line of an SRAM memory device, an SRAM memory device having a sectioned bit line, and associated systems and methods are described, including embodiments having sectioned bit lines with hierarchical aspects. In one illustrative implementation, each sectioned bit line may comprise a local bit line, a memory cell connected to the local bit line, and a pass gate coupled to the local bit line, wherein the pass gate is configured to be coupled to a global bit line. Further, in some embodiments, the sectioned bit lines are arranged in hierarchical arrays. In other implementations, SRAM memory devices may be configured involving sectioned bit lines (including hierarchical) and a global bit line wherein the pass gates are configured to connect and isolate the sectioned bit line and the global bit line.
US09135981B2
A memory device comprises at least two memory ranks sharing input/output lines, at least one mode register configured to store bits used to tune delays of data signals of the at least two ranks output through the input/output lines, a controller configured to determine tuning parameters for the data signals based on the stored bits in the at least one mode register, the tuning parameters comprising at least the delays of the data signals, and at least one nonvolatile memory disposed in at least one of the at least two memory ranks and configured to store the tuning parameters.
US09135973B2
Provided are a magnetoresistance effect element with a stable magnetization direction perpendicular to film plane and a controlled magnetoresistance ratio, in which writing can be performed by magnetic domain wall motion, and a magnetic memory including the magnetoresistance effect element. The magnetoresistance ratio is controlled by forming a ferromagnetic layer of the magnetoresistance effect element from a ferromagnetic material including at least one type of 3d transition metal or a Heusler alloy. The magnetization direction is changed from a direction in the film plane to a direction perpendicular to the film plane by controlling the film thickness of the ferromagnetic layer on an atomic layer level.
US09135971B2
One or more techniques or systems for boosting a read word line (RWL) or a write word line (WWL) of a two port synchronous random access memory (SRAM) bit cell array are provided herein. In some embodiments, a boosted control block is configured to generate a boosted word line signal configured to operate a RWL, a WWL, or a read write word line (RWWL). In some embodiments, the boosted word line signal includes a first stage and a second stage. For example, the first stage is associated with a first stage voltage level at a positive supply voltage (Vdd) voltage level and the second stage is associated with a second stage voltage level above the Vdd voltage level. In this manner, a read or write operation is boosted for an SRAM bit cell, because the second stage boosts a corresponding transistor in the SRAM bit cell, for example.
US09135968B2
A semiconductor memory device is operated by, inter alia, selecting an even bit line or an odd bit line in response to a read command, and precharging the selected bit line by applying a precharge voltage to the selected bit line; changing potential of the selected bit line in response to a threshold voltage of a selected memory cell coupled to the selected bit line; precharging a non-selected bit line by applying a precharge voltage to the non-selected bit line; and sensing read data in accordance with the potential of the selected bit line.
US09135960B2
The signal receiver circuit includes a selection signal generator generating first and second selection signals in response to at least one of an electrical open/short state of a fuse and test mode signals, an internal reference voltage generator amplifying an external reference voltage signal after reducing static electricity created by the external reference voltage signal to generate a plurality of internal voltage signals and generating an internal reference voltage signal using the plurality of internal voltage signals in response to the first and second selection signals, and a buffer buffering an internal signal in response to the internal reference voltage signal to generate a control signal for controlling an internal circuit.
US09135959B2
A magnetic random access memory includes multiple gate lines that are divided into a first gate line group and a second gate line group and arranged to be parallel to one another; multiple magnetic random access memory cells that are bonded to the gate lines in a direction intersected with the gate lines, respectively; multiple source lines that are bonded to one ends of switching devices included in the magnetic random access memory cells and arranged to be parallel to one another; and multiple bit lines that are bonded to one ends of magnetic tunnel junction devices included in the magnetic random access memory cells and arranged to be parallel to one another.
US09135952B2
One exemplary embodiment involves receiving identifications of audio problems in a segment of audio and identifications of corrections for applying to attempt to correct the audio problems, wherein the audio problems were identified by a device applying one or more audio problem detection algorithms to the segment of audio. The exemplary embodiment further involves displaying a user interface comprising representations of the audio problems and representations of the corrections and, in response to receiving a command through the user interface to initiate application of a correction of the corrections, initiating application of the correction.
US09135947B2
There are provided a spindle motor and a hard disk drive including the same. The spindle motor includes a shaft fixedly installed on a base member and including an upper thrust member, a sleeve rotatably supported by the shaft, a hub extended from the sleeve in an outer diameter direction, and a sealing cap mounted on the hub, wherein the upper thrust member and the sleeve or the hub include a liquid-vapor interface formed therebetween, wherein a gap between facing surfaces of the sealing cap and the upper thrust member in the axial direction is narrow enough to form a labyrinth seal, and wherein the sealing cap includes a curved part curved so that a gap between the sealing cap and the upper thrust member at a portion of the sealing cap facing the upper thrust member in the axial direction is varied in a radial direction.
US09135945B2
A disk rotating motor is provided with: a stator including a stator core and a bracket for fixing the stator core; a rotor that can be rotated with respect to the stator and includes a rotary shaft; and a bearing that rotatably supports the rotary shaft on the outer diameter side of the rotary shaft, the bearing being supported by the bracket. The bracket includes a cylindrical portion extending along the rotary shaft, and a folded portion formed by folding the upper end of the cylindrical portion onto the outer diameter side such that at least a coaxial part of the folded portion extends coaxially along an outer surface of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion and the folded portion are sandwiched by the stator core and the bearing in a radial direction.
US09135936B1
In an electrical connection to a microactuator in a disk drive suspension, an electrical lead is adhered to a microactuator using conductive adhesive and is also mechanically pressed up against the microactuator using a bias mechanism. The bias mechanism may be a spring finger that is welded to the suspension, or it may be a stainless steel finger that is formed integrally with the trace gimbal assembly. The resulting bias force that presses the contact against the microactuator surface reduces the small failure rate that can occur when the conductive adhesive separates from the microactuator's surface as a result of stress such as induced by thermal cycling.
US09135932B2
A magnetic recording apparatus includes a write element and an optical device for heating a portion of a magnetic medium. The optical device and the write element are arranged to generally prevent the write element from affecting the optical fields generated by the optical device.
US09135912B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for updating phonetic dictionaries. In one aspect, a method includes accessing a phonetic dictionary that identifies terms and one or more phonetic representations associated with each term, determining that a particular term that is identified in the phonetic dictionary is a spelling correction for another term that is identified in the phonetic dictionary, and storing, in the phonetic dictionary, one or more of the phonetic representations associated with the other term, with the particular term that is a spelling correction for the other term.
US09135909B2
A speech synthesis information editing apparatus is provided. The speech synthesis information editing apparatus includes a phoneme storage unit that stores phoneme information, which designates a duration of each phoneme of speech to be synthesized. The speech synthesis information editing apparatus also includes a feature storage unit that stores feature information, which designates a time variation in a feature of the speech. In addition, the speech synthesis information editing apparatus includes an edition processing unit that changes a duration of each phoneme designated by the phoneme information with an expansion/compression degree, based on a feature designated by the feature information in correspondence to the phoneme.
US09135905B2
Describes a mobile communication device (1, 20, 55, 111, 150, 200, 220, 335) having musical instrument (percussion, keyboards, string and blow) function, which “can be scrapped onto the user's body through an adjustable elastic belt (151). It is also able to receive commands from a remote sensor (4, 70, 75, 160, 210, 257, 392,412), which has a musical instrument interface (percussion, keyboards, string and blow), preferably scrapped onto the user's body by means of an adjustable elastic belt (151). A sound system (6) or an audio/video equipment might receive audio and/or video from the mobile communication device (1, 20, 55, 111, 150, 200, 220, 335) through an adapter (5, 56, 63, 68). The use of this device is intended to be an occupational therapy, satisfying, entertaining and relaxing for the user, which will provide user's mental and physical health benefits. Its technical classification is under “electronics”.
US09135898B1
A finger pick for being retained on a user's finger and for aiding in the playing of a stringed musical instrument includes a base portion, sizing wings, a spoon portion, and an opening defined by the base portion and the sizing wings. The sizing wings are bent upward from the base portion to define an interior space into which a user's finger is received to attach the finger pick to the finger. The opening extends transversely across the base portion and upward into the sizing wings when the sizing wings are bent upward. When the finger pick is inserted on the finger of a user, the soft tissue of the finger will protrude outwardly from the sizing wings and also through the opening, providing for three points of contact to the retain the finger pick on the finger.
US09135878B2
A shift register is provided that outputs a gate driving pulse even if a start pulse provided to a first stage is not synchronized with a clock pulse. The shift register has multiple stages that sequentially output gate driving pulses. At least one stage includes a first switching device turned-on by a first clock signal and applying the start pulse to a first node. A second switching device is turned-on by the first clock signal and applies a first supply voltage to a second node. A third switching device is turned-on by the start pulse applied to the first node and outputs a second clock signal. A fourth switching device is turned-on by the first supply voltage and outputs a second supply voltage. A fifth switching device is turned-on by the start pulse and applies the start pulse to the first node.
US09135876B2
The invention relates to an anti-streaking method for liquid crystal display, comprising: generating a periodic pulse voltage signal; applying the periodic pulse voltage signal to a common electrode of liquid crystal display, periodically fully biasing all pixels during the pulse generation, to generate periodic black picture. All pixels are fully biased during the pulse generation, causing the light transmissivity to be nearly lowest, thus generating periodic black screen, by applying the periodic pulse voltage signal to the common electrode of LCD, thus effectively mitigates the streaking phenomena of moving image due to the persistence of vision. Meantime, since the periodic black screen intermittently damages the fixed voltage applied on the liquid crystal, the liquid crystal molecules are subject to a strong reordering process periodically, thus the appearance of remnant image can be mitigated.
US09135872B2
To provide a plural-viewpoint display device having an image separating optical element such as a lenticular lens or a parallax barrier, which is capable of achieving a high image quality by suppressing deterioration in the display image quality caused when a block division driving method is employed, and to provide a terminal device, a display panel, and a driving method thereof, which can be preferably used for those devices. A pixel group configured with pixels for displaying a right-eye image includes a pixel connected to a data line phase-deployed in the first phase of a block division driving method, and a pixel connected to a data line phase-deployed in the third phase, and a pixel connected to a data line phase-deployed in the second phase. In this manner, it is designed to have no deviation in the phase deployment orders in the pixel groups for each viewpoint.
US09135866B2
A display apparatus, according to the present invention, that displays an image by causing a backlight to emit light at an emission brightness value in accordance with brightness of the image, the display apparatus comprises: an input unit that inputs an image signal; a division unit that divides one frame period into a plurality of sub-frame periods when one frame of the image signal includes a plurality of images having different brightness; and a display controlling unit that performs control of switching between the plurality of images for each sub-frame period and displaying the images.
US09135862B2
Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device, which is capable of compensating for variations in the characteristics of driving transistors, comprising a display panel including a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a driving transistor for operating a light emitting device to make the light emitting device emit light with a data current corresponding to a data voltage; a panel driver for detecting the characteristics of the driving transistors including at least one of mobility and threshold voltage of the driving transistor included in each pixel during a time period when there exists no user around the display panel, generating compensated input data by compensating input data according to the characteristics after the detection of the characteristics is completed, and generating data voltage through the use of the compensated input data; and a sensor for sensing whether or not there exists a user around the display panel, and supplying the sensing result to the panel driver.
US09135861B2
An organic light emitting device having an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel that displays an image corresponding to a data signal, a data driver that receives image data and a gamma voltage and generates the data signal, and a gamma voltage generator that generates a gamma voltage corresponding to one selected from a plurality of gamma sets corresponding to a plurality of coordinates on the color coordinate system, wherein when a first gamma set corresponding to a first coordinate on the color coordinate system and the image data corresponds to the first coordinate, and the OLED panel displays an image corresponding to a second coordinate different from the first coordinate, the gamma voltage generator generates the gamma voltage corresponding to a second gamma set corresponding to a third coordinate symmetrical to the second coordinate with respect to the first coordinate.
US09135860B2
An array substrate for a gate-in-panel (GIP)-type organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display device is provided. A plurality of circuit blocks are formed on gate circuit units and separated into pixel lines in which respective gate lines are disposed, and a plurality of clock lines formed in each of signal input units. Each of the signal input units includes at least one group. Each of the groups includes the plurality of clock lines. Each of the circuit blocks includes one or two partial circuit blocks, which are sequentially disposed in a row in a lengthwise direction of the gate line in each of the pixel lines. Each of the partial circuit blocks is included in a signal input unit disposed most adjacent thereto, and connected to a clock line formed in one group disposed most adjacent thereto through a plurality of first connection lines.
US09135857B2
The display device including a pixel circuit has a first line, a transistor, a light emitting element, and a second line. The transistor is located between the second line and an electrode of the light emitting element. Either the first line or the second line is wired in a region that overlaps a light emitting region of the light emitting element in a lamination direction of layers. The second line intersects the first line outside of the light emitting region and overlaps a non-light emitting region of the light emitting element.
US09135855B2
A display device includes a pixel circuit that supplies current to a light emitting diode (LED) and a driver circuit. The pixel circuit includes a constant current circuit including a first transistor and a capacitor connected to a gate terminal of the first transistor, and a switch circuit including a second transistor. The driver circuit controls the pixel circuit such that the LED emits light by connecting the anode of the LED diode and the first power line under a non-light emission state of the LED, connecting the gate terminal of the first transistor and the anode after the anode is disconnected from the first power line, setting the gate terminal of the first transistor to a voltage corresponding to an amount of a supply current from the first power line, and after setting the gate terminal, switching a state of the LED into a light emission state.
US09135853B2
A gradation voltage generator for applying a gradation voltage according to gamma characteristics of a display panel includes a reference gamma selector that receives a maximum reference voltage, a minimum reference voltage, and a first reference voltage, and selects and outputs a maximum gamma voltage and a minimum gamma voltage from among voltages between the maximum reference voltage and the minimum reference voltage, wherein when the maximum reference voltage changes, the minimum gamma voltage is compensated by a difference the changed maximum reference voltage and the first reference voltage and a gamma curve controller that receives the maximum gamma voltage and the minimum gamma voltage, and generates and outputs a plurality of gradation voltages.
US09135851B2
The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for measuring and correcting electronic visual displays. A method in accordance with one embodiment of the present technology includes generating a series of patterns for illuminating proper subsets of the light emitting elements of the display, such as regular grids of nonadjacent activated light emitting elements with the elements in between deactivated. For each generated pattern, an imaging device captures information about the activated light emitting elements. A computing device analyzes the captured information, comparing the output of the activated light emitting elements to target output values, and determines correction factors to calibrate the display to better achieve the target output values. In some embodiments, the correction factors may be uploaded to firmware controlling the display or used to process images to be shown on the display.
US09135849B2
Disclosed is a system and method for managing variable operating mode applications that vary a cognitive load of the output of the applications presented to users wearing head mounted display devices. A tolerance level is indicative of the cognitive load of each operating mode of an application is established. In a vehicle setting, the operating mode of the application is selected to enable the safe operation of the vehicle based in part upon the tolerance level associated with the operating mode. If errant operations of vehicles are detected, then an application server modifies the tolerance level and synchronizes the modified tolerance level with head mounted display devices including the application.
US09135841B2
An advertisement assembly is configured to be removably secured to a structure. The assembly includes a mounting sub-assembly configured to be removably secured to the structure, and a plurality of advertising members secured to the mounting sub-assembly. The plurality of advertising members are configured to be perpendicular to a surface of the structure. Each of the plurality of advertising members may include planar surfaces connected to front and rear edges. Graphics are displayed on the planar surfaces. The graphics are configured to be viewed from a first point of view or perspective. The plurality of advertising members provide a relatively unobstructed view through the assembly from a second point of view or perspective.
US09135839B2
A unique scrolling backlit display used for advertising or the like features two sets of spools carrying separate webs thereon that respectively contain background and foreground imagery, whereby scrolling of one web relative the other increases the number of distinct visuals that can be attained with the device, and also allows dynamic animation-like displays in which foreground images change over a maintained background, or vice-versa. Multi-color LED light sources in the backlighting device are operable to create vibrant, dynamic lighting effects, while illumination of the display housing further increases the visual appeal of the display.
US09135832B2
A method for learning reduction techniques using an anatomical model for training aid is provided. The method for learning the reduction techniques uses the anatomical model for training aid which comprises bone members, the bone members comprising a first bone member and a second bone member, either one of the first bone member or the second bone member being provided with a magnet and the other being provided with a magnet material, and has two connection statuses including a normal connection status where the first bone member and the second bone member are connected in a status similar to a normal connection status of human bones and an abnormal connection status where they are connected in a status different from the normal connection status of human bones.
US09135813B2
A remote lock-out/tag-out system and method allow a remote service technician to remotely lock-out a machine via a remote wireless control device. In one aspect, the lock-out initiation request is sent from the remote wireless control device to the machine. The remote wireless control device then receives from the machine an indication that the machine location and state are suitable for lock-out. In response, the remote wireless control device sends a lock-out command to the machine.
US09135809B2
A remote control device includes a digital audio storage device, a talk button, and an optical distance measurer. The digital audio storage device is configured to continually record an audio input for a specific amount of time. The talk button is coupled to the digital audio storage device and is configured to initiate a transmission of the audio input to a set-top box device. The optical distance measurer is coupled to the talk button and is configured to automatically measure a distance to a user in response to the talk button being pressed.
US09135789B2
A product recognition system comprises a product image data collector arranged to capture image data which is representative of an image of a product item. The product recognition system also comprises an acoustic energy source arranged to emit acoustic energy towards the product item. The product recognition further comprises a product acoustic data collector arranged to (i) capture acoustic energy deflected from the product item, (ii) process the captured acoustic data which has been deflected from the product item to provide product acoustic data which is representative of one or more characteristics of the product item, and (iii) compare the product acoustic data with a store of reference acoustic data to provide one or more subsets of items against which the captured image data can be compared to identify the product item.
US09135788B2
An automated banking machine is operable to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The machine includes a card reader that can read from cards, user data that corresponds to financial accounts. The machine can operate responsive to the read card data to carry out transactions that transfer and/or allocate funds between accounts. The machine can provide a transaction receipt. The machine includes a cash dispenser to dispense cash to machine users. Value of dispensed cash can be assessed to an account which corresponds to read card data. The machine also includes a check acceptor device that can receive checks from users. The machine can image a received check and then read check data from the check image. An account determined from read card data can be credited the amount of the check.
US09135785B2
The gaming device and method disclosed herein produces an indication of an appearance of a notable or designated symbol in a symbol display region while at least one reel is spinning. The indication continues while the notable symbol appears in the symbol display region and while the at least one reel is spinning. Different indications are produced for the different notable symbols when appearing in the symbol display region while the at least one reel is spinning.
US09135784B2
A gaming device and method for controlling operating the gaming device is disclosed. The gaming device initiates a paid play, and determines an outcome of the play. The outcome is visually displayed using at least two graphical displays. The graphical displays comprise a first and second visual continuum, without discrete reel stops. The outcome is represented by the relative positions of the first and second visual continuums. The outcome may also be based on the relative position of the first and second continuums to a payline. A payout corresponding to the outcome is determined by the device, and is awarded to the player.
US09135767B2
A self-service kiosk enables customers to conduct rental transactions for carpet cleaning machines without the need of assistance from store personnel. The kiosk comprises a housing having several stalls or bays that hold and display carpet cleaning machines and carpet cleaning accessories for rental. The kiosk controls whether such carpet cleaning machines and carpet cleaning accessories can be removed from or returned to the kiosk. The kiosk also optionally includes a control panel for conducting a rental transaction. The self-service kiosk may also include automatic dispensing of cleaning products purchased by the customer at the kiosk. Still further, the self-serve kiosk may include shelving for holding cleaning products that can be purchased separately at a checkout counter.
US09135765B2
A coin validator apparatus includes an inclined coin chute interconnecting the coin outlet gate with a coin rejection outlet via a validation sensor module and a coin diverter mechanism, the coin chute defining a coin transport path and including a radially outer curved guide wall, such that in operation a coin exiting the coin outlet gate and traversing the coin transport path is subjected to a centripetal acceleration that constrains the coin to follow and abut the contour of the radially outer curved guide wall between the coin outlet gate and a coin diverter sensor disposed downstream in the coin transport path.
US09135761B2
Methods and apparatus for updating secure access credentials are provided. More specifically, data from one or more RFID credentials can be read and subsequently written to one of the original RFID credentials reducing multiple RFID credentials to a single credential. The RFID transponder on the credential that has new data written thereon does not necessarily need to have the same functionality as the RFID transponder on the other RFID credentials that was read.
US09135760B2
An information sharing system (1) including a plurality of on-vehicle diagnosis terminals (10) and one or a plurality of display terminals (20) and sharing diagnostic information over wireless communication. The terminals (10, 20) include a first determination unit S7, S8 and a second determination unit S34, S35 configured to determine whether or not predetermined times T1, T2 have passed from stored clock times C1, C2 at which data sets DS are acquired from the any of the other terminals (10, 20). When the predetermined times have passed, new data sets DS are acquired and the storing into an other-vehicle data storing unit 15B and a data storing unit 25A is performed. When the predetermined times have not passed, new wireless communication is established with communication units (13, 23) of the terminals (10, 20) capable of establishing wireless communication.
US09135759B2
A vehicle driver is provided with a display interface a smartphone, tablet, PC, or any telematics or in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle. The display interface presents a real-time target for the driver to follow to maximize fuel economy and safety, achieved by modulating the accelerator pedal appropriately.
US09135756B2
A vehicle head unit may receive a request, from a user device and by the head unit, to establish communication with a control device of a vehicle. The control device may be in communication with the head unit via a vehicle communication network associated with the vehicle. The head unit may establish communication between the user device and the control device based on the received request. The head unit may forward a message between the user device and the control device based on the established communication. The message may be forwarded between the user device and the control device via the head unit.
US09135754B2
Generating a virtual model of environment in front of a vehicle based on images captured using an image capturing. The Images captured on an image capturing device of a vehicle are processed to extract features of interest. Based on the extracted features, a virtual model of the environment is constructed. The virtual model includes one or more surfaces. Each of the surfaces may be used as a reference surface to attach and move graphical elements generated to implement augmented reality (AR). As the vehicle moves, the graphical elements move as if the graphical elements are affixed to the one of the surfaces. By presenting the graphical elements to move together with real objects in front of the vehicle, a driver perceives the graphical elements as being part of the actual environment and reduces distraction or confusion associated with the graphical elements.
US09135746B2
An image processing apparatus configured to perform an appropriate blurring processing in which a height difference in the surface shape with fine unevenness is taken into consideration, and to reproduce the surface shape faithfully corresponding to an original image. The image processing apparatus for generating computer graphics expressing an object includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire height information representing a relative height difference in a surface of the object, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire at least one scattering function representing an internal scattering characteristic of light in the object, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance value of the object based on the height information and the scattering function.
US09135723B1
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with efficient visually lossless compression are described. According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a transform logic configured to receive image data divided into segments and generate a matrix of transform coefficients corresponding to a segment. The apparatus also includes a rate control logic configured to select (i) a set of quantization levels from a plurality of sets of quantization levels and (ii) a quantization level from the selected set of quantization levels based, at least in part, on a desired visual quality. Each set of quantization levels corresponds to a different target compression ratio for the image data. The apparatus further includes a quantization logic configured to quantize the matrix of transform coefficients according to the selected quantization level to produce an array of integers. The apparatus also includes an encoding logic configured to encode the array of integers as a bit stream.
US09135722B2
A system and method of color data compression may perform variations of MRC compression including taking into consideration means and/or variances within k×k cells of an image, background texture, background smoothed color, and gradient components for determination of which parts of an image belong to the background and foreground MRC layers, for calculating thresholds values for such determinations, and determining correctness of determined thresholds and polarity, and may determine the background and foreground layer colors based on the variances, the gradient components, and neighboring pixels of non-color-assigned pixels of the background and foreground layers.
US09135721B2
A method for coding a block of pixels is described. The coding method comprises: determining a prediction block for the pixel block from a motion vector; calculating a residue between the pixel block and the prediction block; and code the residue. The determination of the prediction block comprises the following steps: determining an intermediate prediction block of size strictly greater than the size of the pixel block; transforming the intermediate prediction block into a first block transformed with a first transform; and transforming the first transformed block into a second block transformed with a second transform of inverse the first transform whose basis functions are shifted by at least a part of each component of the motion vector, the prediction block being extracted from the second transformed block.
US09135720B2
A system for determining an aspect ratio of image content based on an analysis of the content. In an embodiment, an analyzer is configured to receive a data input corresponding to an image in a stream of images that constitute a video sequence of images. The analyzer is further configured to determine a mathematical representation of the image content based on a power spectrum analysis of vertical components of the image in comparison to a power spectrum analysis of horizontal components of the image. Based on this comparison of the vertical frequency components to the horizontal frequency components, a determination about the original aspect ratio of the image may be determined. This determination may be used by a video processor to correctly apply aspect ratio conversion for final image output.
US09135715B1
Methods and systems for extraction of 3D geometry from a plurality of generalized camera images by a device that comprises an electronic circuit are provided. Methods include identifying an x and y coordinate, an orientation, and a scale for each of one or more feature locations in each of the generalized camera images, extracting a local image feature at each feature location, generating a feature camera centered on each feature location, identifying groups of feature cameras providing consistent triangulation opportunity, and triangulating each identified feature camera group by finding the 3D point that minimizes an error term.
US09135705B2
Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, method, computer program products, and other implementations, including a method that includes capturing an image of a scene by an image capturing unit of a device that includes at least one sensor, determining relative device orientation of the device based, at least in part, on determined location of at least one vanishing point in the captured image of the scene, and performing one or more calibration operations for the at least one sensor based, at least in part, on the determined relative device orientation.
US09135704B2
It is described a method for spatially characterizing a device positioned within an object, e.g. a patient's body, under examination that e.g. allows a clinician to easily assess the deployment state and position of the device. The method comprises the steps of acquiring (26) a set of images of the device, reconstructing (28) a three-dimensional model of the device from the set of images, comparing (30) the model of the device with an ideal model of the device in a predetermined deployment state inside the object and displaying (36) the model of the device on a display unit. For optical indication deviation areas of the deployed device relative to an ideal model of the deployed device can be determined and color-coded depending on the strength of deviation.
US09135702B2
An image display device such as a medical image display device is provided for supporting that information necessary for diagnosis is sufficiently displayed and the diagnosis without any error is conducted in a short period of time. The medical image display device 1 performs a region of interest setting process for setting a region of an observation site in volume data and a lesion candidate region relating to the observation site, a display image generating process for generating a display image that allows a size of the lesion candidate region to be distinguishable, being adjacent to the observation site on a projection line of interest, when a pixel having a reference pixel value on the projection line of interest corresponds to a pixel of the region of the observation site, and an image displaying process for displaying the display image being generated.
US09135688B2
The present invention provides a method for brightness equalization of a plurality of images to equalize brightness when composing, into a single image, a plurality of images acquired from a plurality of cameras.
US09135683B2
A method for improving quality of low light video images including: receiving a current video frame; temporally enhancing it by applying a first weight matrix including higher weight factors for stationary regions and lower weight factors for moving regions to the received frame and a reference frame to generate an enhanced temporal video frame; spatially enhancing the enhanced temporal video frame by applying a second weight matrix including higher weight factors for stationary regions and lower weight factors for moving regions to generate an enhanced spatial video frame; and motion enhancing the enhanced temporal video frame by extracting matched rigid moving objects in a previous or future frame and processing each of the extracted matched rigid moving objects with a corresponding rigid object in the enhanced temporal or spatial or raw current video frame.
US09135680B2
A method for the reduction of noise in an image including identifying neighboring pixel values in pixels proximate to a subject pixel; comparing the neighboring pixel values to a preset tolerance range; using neighboring pixel values within the tolerance range to calculate a pixel intensity correction value; and applying the pixel intensity value to the subject pixel.
US09135676B2
An image interpolation processing apparatus includes a motion vector generating module, for generating a first reference motion vector and a second reference motion vector for an interpolated block of an interpolated frame according to the interpolated block and a plurality of blocks adjacent to the interpolated block; a blurred block processing module, for determining an area property of the interpolation block being one of an image covered area, an image uncovered area and a non-blurred area according to the first reference motion vector and the second reference motion vector, and a representative motion vector of the interpolated block being one of the first reference motion vector and the second reference motion vector; and a frame interpolation module, for generating an image content of the interpolated block according to the representative motion vector and the area property.
US09135672B2
A display system and a data transmission method thereof are provided. When a first frame stored in a frame buffer is identical to a second frame to be output from an audio and video (AV) source, the AV source is set an AV control signal corresponding to a self-refresh mode, and a timing controller reads the first frame to output a display data controlled by the AV control signal. When the first frame is differed from the second frame, the AV source is set the AV control signal corresponding to a data update mode and a AV data signal corresponding to the second frame, and the timing controller stores the second frame in the frame buffer controlled by the AV control signal and outputs the display data corresponding to the first frame or the second frame according the timing sequences of the AV data signal and the display data.
US09135667B2
Systems and methods for using an energy use model of a building for benchmarking is shown and described. An exemplary method includes receiving building data indicative of one or more characteristics of the building. The method further includes generating an energy use model for the building based on the building data and using the energy use model to generate statistics for the building. The method also includes identifying one or more other buildings having the same classification as the building. The method yet further includes comparing the generated statistics for the building to statistics for the identified one or more other buildings and providing an indication of the comparison.
US09135661B2
The present invention relates to a credit index, a system and method for structuring a credit index, a system and method for operating a credit index, and a system and method for determining the liquidity of a credit.
US09135658B2
Techniques are disclosed for prioritizing a plurality of clusters. Prioritizing clusters may generally include identifying a scoring strategy for prioritizing the plurality of clusters. Each cluster is generated from a seed and stores a collection of data retrieved using the seed. For each cluster, elements of the collection of data stored by the cluster are evaluated according to the scoring strategy and a score is assigned to the cluster based on the evaluation. The clusters may be ranked according to the respective scores assigned to the plurality of clusters. The collection of data stored by each cluster may include financial data evaluated by the scoring strategy for a risk of fraud. The score assigned to each cluster may correspond to an amount at risk.
US09135657B2
A method embodiment includes receiving data indicative of a person accessing at least one of a first network-available electronic content or a second network-available electronic content. Also, receiving data indicative of an involvement with respect to possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. The involvement being independent of the person activating a link to a site owned by the third-party that is included in the first network-available electronic content or in the second network available electronic content. Further, assessing a behavioral influence by the first network-available electronic content and/or the second network-available electronic content on the indicated involvement with respect to the possible matters of interest between the person and a third-party. Also, facilitating delivery of a benefit to an owner of the first network-available electronic content and/or an owner of the second network-available electronic content in response to the assessed behavioral influence.
US09135656B2
Foreclosure auction information received from each of a plurality of sources of such information via respective Internet bots, manual updates, or other sources, is used to populate a database according to a predefined schema and ruleset. The database is updated in near real time (from any or all of the datasources), and actionable auction information that meets user-determined criteria for accuracy, timeliness and/or relevancy is extracted from the database and presented for use by a user.
US09135652B2
A system and method for automatically importing retail grocery products into an electronic shopping list by importing the ingredients listed on a recipe card, page in a recipe book, or the like. The recipe card may contain an identifier code that is uniquely associated with that recipe. The identifier code may be presented on the recipe card as a bar code. The system includes a database of recipes that returns a list of products when queried with a recipe identifier code. A user may scan or otherwise import the recipe identifier code through a mobile computing device, which then presents the ingredients as products in an electronic shopping list. The electronic shopping list may be implemented in a smartphone app.
US09135648B2
A method, terminal, server, and a system for providing a service are provided. In a method of providing a plurality of applications pursuant to identifying a tag by a user terminal, the user terminal identifies the tag to obtain tag information and transmits a request for a service to a service providing server, which then obtains a plurality of application identification information corresponding to the tag information and generates and provides to the user terminal an applications list corresponding to the plurality of application identification information.
US09135646B2
The disclosure includes a system and method for identifying advertising content and providing a user of a mobile device with a channel related to the advertising content. A recognition application receives advertising content comprising a series of frames, identifies images corresponding to the frames within the advertising content, identifies a first set of feature points from a first image of the advertising content, determines whether the first set of feature points matches a second set of feature points stored in a database, and in response to determining that the first set of feature points fails to match the second set of feature points, identifies the first image as being unique, indexes the first image and the first set of feature points and associates the first image with a channel.
US09135641B2
A method for personalizing content for a particular user in a computing system comprising a user interface configured to display content. The method comprises identifying one or more features of a short term profile of a user that are not included in a long term profile of the user, using the one or more features to identify one or more third party profiles having features that substantially match the one or more features of the user's short term profile, accessing the identified one or more third party profiles, and providing one or more content items included in the third party profile to the user, the one or more content items having associated features that match the one or more features of the short term profile. An alternative method comprises accessing one or more third party profiles that are not a profile of the user, and using the accessed third party profile to identify a plurality of content items for recommendation to the user based on a feature set of the third party profile.
US09135637B1
Systems and methods are provided for electronically managing content. In one embodiment, information identifying content items found on a page is received from a client system through code embedded on the page. Systems and methods for associating advertisement data with content items are also disclosed.
US09135634B1
Implementations of a static discharge station are provided. In some implementations, the static discharge station may be employed by a user to discharge a build-up of static electricity prior to pumping gas. In some implementations, the static discharge station may have advertising thereon. In this way, a user or a passerby may be exposed to the displayed advertisement(s). In some implementations, the static discharge station may be comprised of a body portion having a button thereon, a support pole, a base, a wire, and a grounding rod. In some implementations, the button may be configured to selectively make contact with the support pole of the static discharge station. In some implementation, a user may discharge a static electricity build-up by touching the button. In this way, the static build-up may travel through the button, support pole, base, and wire into the grounding rod. In some implementations, the base may serve to ground the static discharge station without the use of a wire and/or grounding rod.
US09135619B1
Novel features to be used in a proxy card payment system include a real-time request to override a declined transaction or to select a different financial account and the insertion of user identification information into the transaction approval message sent to the merchant. A payment request is forwarded to the payment system, which maintains the proxy card account and determines whether the transaction violates a user-defined rule. If the transaction is declined by the issuer that maintains the financial account, or the payment system for violation of a user-defined rule, the payment system sends a real-time message to the user. The user is prompted to override the rule causing the transaction to be declined or to select a new account to process the transaction. Once the payment system receives authorization for the transaction, it inserts the user identification information in an approval message before transmitting the approval to the merchant.
US09135609B2
A system and method to allow users to purchase software applications for point of sale (POS) terminals from an application server via a network (e.g., the Internet) utilizing the POS terminal itself. One or more menus providing portals to available applications and their respective demonstration applications are provided to users on POS terminals. The demonstration applications may be directly downloaded from the application server onto the POS terminals. In addition, the user is able to purchase the application via the POS terminal either before or after the user has viewed/downloaded the demonstration application. After purchase, the application may be downloaded directly from the application server onto the POS terminal. Further, information associated with the demonstration applications downloaded to each POS terminal may be reported to a manufacturer of each demonstration application.
US09135606B2
A request to change an addressee category of a received email is received by a computing device. An indication of a changed addressee category is also received by the computing device. The changed addressee category is propagated to one or more instances of the received email.
US09135604B2
Synchronizing real and virtual software environments. A first input of an entity identifier that identifies a software development entity and a second input of an operation identifier that identifies a software development operation that has been performed on the entity in a physical environment are received. The entity identifier and the operation identifier are on a first and second physical medium, respectively. The entity and the operation are identified in response to receiving the inputs. A virtual software development environment is updated to reflect that the operation has been performed on the entity in the physical environment. The entity and the operation are associated with a software development model that is also associated with the virtual environment.
US09135598B2
An anonymous reporting system (10) is provided for use in reporting and following up on incidents, accidents and the like. The system (10) is initiated by a system provider (12) on behalf of an institutional participant/client (14) for access by any number of individual users (16). The most common implementation is a web based interface (24) including a web site (27). The interface (24) includes an anonymizer (38) for safeguarding the identity of each individual user (16). The system (10) permits the user (16) to enter a report (28) and then assigns a random number identifier (74) associated with the report (28). The report (28) is forwarded to selected recipients (22) and to one or more administrators (32) associated with the participant/client (14). The administrators (32) may request follow up comments or send messages (64) associated with the report (28) by the access number (74) so that the user (16) may continue dialog, all while remaining totally anonymous. The system (10) is especially adapted for use in school or large company situations.
US09135593B2
Embodiments of the invention provide for systems, devices, apparatus, methods, and computer program products for allowing a first agent associated with an entity to initiate contact with a second agent associated with the entity via a contact entry point. The contact entry point is displayed on an interface page and enables a first agent to contact other agents associated with the entity in a faster, more efficient, and better informed manner.
US09135592B2
A device management system is equipped with a storage section, a detecting component, and a calculating component and manages an installation device. The storage section stores operating rules of the installation device. The detecting component detects a violating action of the installation device running counter to the operating rules. The calculating component calculates a violating quantity that quantitatively expresses the violating action.
US09135588B2
The invention relates to a method for controlling state transition of an electronic object in a workflow. The method comprises receiving a request for a state transition for an electronic object from a user; determining the current state of the object from a metadata of the electronic object; determining the next state after the state transition from the request; determining one or more pseudo-users that are allowed to perform a state transition from the current state to the next state; retrieving at least one person identity by utilizing at least one property in a metadata of the electronic object, which person identity is retrieved from a value of a property corresponding to the determined one or more pseudo-users; comparing the identity of the requesting user to the retrieved person identity, and if they match; performing a state transition according to the request.
US09135581B1
The use of linear programming may enable the achievement of real-time task execution prioritization. A linear model may be constructed based at least on a set of computing tasks, a linearly expressible goal for the set of computing tasks, one or more linear resource constraints, and one or more computing task dependencies. The linear model is then used to calculate a shadow price for each of a plurality of resource time prediction constraints, in which each shadow price may represent a priority value for a corresponding computing task. When a computing resource becomes available, a computing task with a highest priority value that is able to use the computing resource may be executed.
US09135575B2
The present invention provides systems, methods and computer program-product for calculating and storing time and distance information in an economical and efficient manner. The time and distance information may be used in the development of traversable networks for the delivery and retrieval of items from multiple locations in a timely and efficient manner.
US09135574B2
Disclosed herein is a method of managing decision logic. The method includes receiving data, storing the data, and receiving a set of rules. A decision is generated based at least in part on the data and on the set of rules, and is a part of the decision logic. The decision logic is managed in a first mode or a second mode. When in the first mode or the second mode, the set of rules is managed in the context of the data by a first user. The managing includes reviewing and editing the set of rules for the decision logic in the context of the data. The editing is done by at least one of (i) modifying a rule in the set of rules, (ii) creating another rule and adding it to the set of rules and (iii) making an exception to a rule in the set of rules.
US09135567B2
Various embodiments select features from a feature space. In one embodiment, a set of training samples and a set of test samples are received. A first centered Gram matrix of a given dimension is determined for each of a set of feature vectors that include at least one of the set of training samples and at least one of the set of test samples. A second centered Gram matrix of the given dimension is determined for a target value vector that includes target values from the set of training samples. A set of columns and rows associated with the at least one of the test samples in the second centered Gram matrix is set to 0. A subset of features is selected from a set of features based on the first and second centered Gram matrices.
US09135564B2
A method for determining an optimum policy by using a Markov decision process in which T subspaces each have at least one state having a cyclic structure includes identifying, with a processor, subspaces that are part of a state space; selecting a t-th (t is a natural number, t≦T) subspace among the identified subspaces; computing a probability of, and an expected value of a cost of, reaching from one or more states in the selected t-th subspace to one or more states in the t-th subspace in a following cycle; and recursively computing a value and an expected value of a cost based on the computed probability and expected value of the cost, in a sequential manner starting from a (t−1)-th subspace.
US09135563B2
A method for determining an optimum policy by using a Markov decision process in which T subspaces each have at least one state having a cyclic structure includes identifying, with a processor, subspaces that are part of a state space; selecting a t-th (t is a natural number, t≦T) subspace among the identified subspaces; computing a probability of, and an expected value of a cost of, reaching from one or more states in the selected t-th subspace to one or more states in the t-th subspace in a following cycle; and recursively computing a value and an expected value of a cost based on the computed probability and expected value of the cost, in a sequential manner starting from a (t−1)-th subspace.
US09135560B1
The automatic selection and usage of a parser is disclosed. Raw data is received from a first remote device. At least a portion of the raw data is evaluated using a plurality of rules. A confidence measure is determined for at least some of the rules. An indication that the raw data pertains to a source is provided as output when the confidence measure exceeds a threshold.
US09135559B1
Disclosed are methods and systems of creating, evaluating, and tuning a predictive engine for machine learning, including steps to deploy the predictive engine with an initial parameter set; receive queries to the deployed engine variant and in response, generate predicted results; receive corresponding actual results; associate the queries, the predicted results, and the actual results with a replay tag; evaluate the performance of the deployed engine variant; generate a new engine parameter set based on tuning of one or more parameters of the initial engine parameter set, according to the evaluation results; deploy the new engine variant to replace the initial engine variant; receive a replay request from an operator specifying the currently or a previously deployed engine variant; and in response to the replay request, replay at least one of the queries, the corresponding predicted results, the actual results, and the evaluation results.
US09135555B2
Particular embodiments may retrieve information associated with one or more nodes of a social graph from one or more data stores. A node may comprise a user node or a concept node. Each node may be connected by edges to other nodes of a social graph. A first user may be associated with a first user node of the social graph. Particular embodiments may detect that the first user is entering an input term. Predictive typeahead results may be provided as the first user enters the input term. The predictive typeahead results may be based on the input term. Each predictive typeahead result may include at least one image. Each predictive typeahead result may correspond to at least one node of the social graph.
US09135548B2
Systems and methods for providing security for authentication devices—such as electronically readable cards or ID badges with embedded RFID chips or NFC capability—may include an envelope or pocket-like case for carrying an electronically readable card, having an electrically conductive, non-opaque sleeve that can be moved to cover or expose the electronically readable card and that prevents information on the card from being electronically read when covered yet still allows the card to be seen when covered. In one or more embodiments, the sleeve may be a wire mesh that is flexible enough to be compressed to expose the card yet stiff (or rigid) enough to be extended to cover the card and that is transparent enough to allow reading visual information on the surface of the card when covering the card. Protection can be switched off by a mechanical switch that leaves the protection normally on.
US09135541B2
Provided is an image forming apparatus, including a nonvolatile memory writing unit configured to write into the nonvolatile memory, at every predetermined time period in which change data is written into the volatile memory within that predetermined time period, the change data written into the volatile memory, a temporary area writing unit configured to write new change data into a temporary area while a primary area writing unit is writing any change data into the primary area, and a primary area transfer unit configured to transfer any change data written into the temporary area by the temporary area writing unit to the primary area when the primary area writing unit completes writing the change data into the primary area.
US09135537B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of skipping printing of an appropriate margin area based on information on a header or footer at the time of performing printing. In the present invention, header/footer information including at least one of header information and footer information for a document, which is set to an application that creates the document, is acquired, and based on the acquired header/footer information, a margin area of the document is calculated. Then, a setting is performed to a printer driver capable of giving a printing apparatus instructions to perform printing by skipping printing of a margin area so that the printing apparatus skips printing of the margin area calculated in the calculation step.
US09135534B2
A printer driver 12 has an image data acquisition unit 120 that acquires first image data containing a symbol image or text information at a first resolution, an analyzer 130 that analyzes the symbol image or text information, and an image data generator 160 that generates second image data containing a symbol image or text information at a second resolution based on the result from the analyzer 130.
US09135528B2
A user inputs information, such as a user identification (ID), on a printer by using an operation unit included in the printer. The printer inputs a print request for printing an intermediate print job corresponding to the user ID to the printer driver of an application server. When the request is received from the printer, a print request receiving function of the printer driver starts a series of print processing. The printer driver extracts an intermediate print job corresponding to a target user ID stored on a print job storage memory. A print setting final determination function finally determines print setting information to the extracted intermediate print job.
US09135520B2
A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications.
US09135512B2
A scanned image of a document includes a pair of fiducial marks, and a code mark between and at least substantially collinear with the pair of fiducial marks. A location of a feature within the scanned image of the document, other than the pair of fiducial marks and the code mark, is determined based on the pair of fiducial marks and the code mark within the scanned image.
US09135504B2
A method and a system for providing a text-based representation of a portion of a working area to a user are provided. The method includes acquiring an image of the entire working area and performing a fast OCR process on at least a region of interest of the image corresponding to the portion of the working area, thereby rapidly obtaining an initial machine-encoded representation of the portion of the working area and immediately presenting it to the user as the text-based representation. Parallelly to the fast OCR process, a high-precision OCR process is performed on at least the region of interest of the image, thereby obtaining a high-precision machine-encoded representation of the portion of the working area. Upon completing the high-precision OCR process, the high-precision machine-encoded representation of the portion of the working area is presented to the user as the text-based representation, in replacement of the initial machine-encoded representation.
US09135485B1
A barcode reader for providing decoded data to a remote computing system includes barcode reading hardware, including an image sensor which captures an image of a barcode within a field of view and a communication interface for output of the decoded data to a remote computing system. The barcode reader also includes volatile memory, non-volatile memory comprising start-up instructions, and a processor. The processor is configured to, upon power-up of the barcode reader, execute the start-up instructions to obtain firmware for operating the barcode reader from a remote configuration server, load the firmware to the volatile memory, and commence execution of the firmware to commence barcode reading functions of the barcode reader without performing a re-boot operation.
US09135484B2
Light sources are contained in a data reader housing that also contains an imager. In one embodiment, one light source includes a number of LEDs placed in a number of hollow reflectors located toward the rear of a data scanner, where the hollow reflectors have substantially flat reflective surfaces to project light through a window and into a read volume. Other embodiments include additional light sources located proximate sidewalls of the data scanner and also include a number of LEDs placed in hollow reflectors to project light through the window and into the read volume. In other embodiments, additional LEDs are included outside the hollow reflectors to project light through the window and into a different portion of the read volume than the LEDs located in the hollow reflectors.
US09135474B2
An intrusion detection switch is attached directly to a printed circuit board and utilized within an enclosure. Wires are not used to extend the switch to the top of the enclosure. An extension mechanism is used to extend a triggering portion of the intrusion detection switch to an engaging surface at the top of the enclosure. When the enclosure lid is properly shut, the engaging service is directed downward, thereby pushing an activation switch of the intrusion detection switch down. Switches may be assembled to an internal main printed circuit board where the switch is completely protected. Therefore, routing and maintaining of wiring to a switch is eliminated. A linkage system or mechanism can be mounted to the main chassis of the enclosure and act as an interface to an enclosure top cover. This eliminates potential damage to switches and wires and provides for a more reliable switch.
US09135471B2
Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with traditional approaches to encryption and decryption of data are provided. A method for encryption and decryption of data, may include encrypting or decrypting data associated with an input/output operation based on at least one of an encryption key and a cryptographic function, wherein at least one of the encryption key and the cryptographic function are selected based on one or more characteristics associated with the data to be encrypted or decrypted. Another method may include encrypting an item of data based on at least one of a first-layer encryption key and a first-layer cryptographic function to produce first-layer encrypted data and encrypting the first-layer encrypted data based on at least one of a second-layer encryption key and a second-layer cryptographic function to produce second-layer encrypted data.
US09135469B2
A method and a system to protect information are provided. For example, a system comprises a parser to parse user interface information to be included within a user interface to be displayed to a user by an information display application. The parser also identifies at least one field, within the user interface, to receive user information from a user. A detection module is provided to determine whether the user interface information is associated with fraudulent activity. A form fill module, in response to determining that the user interface is associated with fraudulent activity, provides a warning indicia in or over the at least one field, when the user interface is presented to a user by the display application. The form fill module may also disable the functionality of a user display application to automatically form fill the identified fields.
US09135463B2
A storage device that stores data accessed by a host device via an interface includes a deactivation executing part performing a plurality of deactivating processes deactivating access to the data at different levels via the interface; a setting information storing part storing setting information which includes deactivation identifying information identifying the deactivating process and a condition under which the deactivating process is performed; a judging part referring to the setting information stored on the setting information storing part, comparing the condition represented by the setting information with an operation state of the storage device, and judging whether the condition represented by the setting information is satisfied or not; and a deactivation control part ordering the deactivation executing part to execute one of the plurality of deactivating processes identified with the deactivation identifying information represented by the setting information when the judging part has judged that the condition is satisfied.
US09135459B2
A method of operating a host controller interface includes receiving a buffer descriptor including sector information from a main memory, fetching data by using a source address included in the buffer descriptor, selecting one of a plurality of entries included in a security policy table by using the sector information, and determining whether to encrypt the fetched data by using a security policy included in the selected entry.
US09135457B1
A technique for determining which permissions are required to perform certain administrative tasks efficiently records the required permissions between record and stop signals. An administrator presses a record button on a graphical user interface (GUI) and subsequently enters commands to perform the administrative tasks. After the last command is entered, the administrator presses a stop button on the GUI. Commands need not actually execute between the record and stop signals, but rather permissions for each command need to be recorded by an administration application, which is able to organize sets of permissions as roles. When a given user is associated with a particular role, the user is assigned all permissions for the role. Using this technique, the administrator may delegate administrative tasks to the user without the inefficiencies of conventional trial and error methods.
US09135454B2
A system and method for enabling searchable encryption of encrypted documents stored by a client on one or more storage providers includes a broker server in communication with the client and the one or more storage providers. The broker server is adapted to transfer the encrypted documents between the client and the one or more storage providers and to maintain information indicating where the encrypted documents are transferred. The broker server further stores information for at least one encrypted index for the encrypted documents and a test function for a searchable encryption mechanism used to encrypt the at least one encrypted index.
US09135446B2
Systems and method to provide secure storage are disclosed. An example method includes establishing a secure tunnel between a storage device and an agent, transferring first data from the storage device to the agent via the secure tunnel, the secure tunnel to prevent software executing in an operating system from modifying the data, and identifying a data modification by comparing the first data to second data.
US09135445B2
A method for installing an offered web application or browser extension in a web browser includes receiving a user action on a website located at a first internet domain. Information about the offered web application or browser extension not currently installed in the web browser is displayed in response to the user action. The displayed information is provided by a digital marketplace located at a second internet domain distinct from the first internet domain. A correspondence of the displayed information to the offered web application or browser extension is ensured through functionality provided by the web browser. An indication to install the offered web application or browser extension is received from a user, and the web application or browser extension is installed in response to the received indication.
US09135438B2
Systems and methods for correlating and distributing intrusion alert information among collaborating computer systems are provided. These systems and methods provide an alert correlator and an alert distributor that enable early signs of an attack to be detected and rapidly disseminated to collaborating systems. The alert correlator utilizes data structures to correlate alert detections and provide a mechanism through which threat information can be revealed to other collaborating systems. The alert distributor uses an efficient technique to group collaborating systems and then pass data between certain members of those groups according to a schedule. In this way data can be routinely distributed without generating excess traffic loads.
US09135434B2
The creation of an application for any mobile appliance, for example Apple's iPhone, requires several elements to be present at compile time. In the Apple example of an enterprise application where an entity wishes to develop applications internally for its staff, two of these elements are the source code and a digital certificate. These must be combined in the compiler so that the application may be properly authorized to run in the appliance. Where the owner of the source code and the owner of the digital certificate are not the same, serious concerns arise because each element must be secured. An intermediating system and method are described that allows each party to cooperate securely through a third party escrow service to produce the complied application while leaving no unwanted residue of the independent parts.
US09135425B2
A method and system of authenticating a computer resource such as an application or data on a mobile device uses a contactless token to provide user authentication. User credentials are stored on the token in the form of private keys, and encrypted data and passwords are stored on the device. When application user requires access to the resource an encrypted password is transmitted to and decrypted on the token using a stored private key. An unencrypted data encryption key or password is then transmitted back to the device under the protection of a cryptographic session key which is generated as a result of strong mutual authentication between the device and the token.
US09135424B2
A system includes a tag having a machine readable tag identifier (Tag ID) configured to be read by a reader; and a device to be identified by the tag, in which: the device is configured to communicate with the reader; the device has access to a secure Tag ID; and the device communicates a verification to the reader if the machine readable Tag ID communicated to the device from the reader matches the secure Tag ID. A method includes: reading a Tag ID from a tag attached to a device; communicating the Tag ID read from the tag to the device; comparing a secure Tag ID of the device to the Tag ID read from the tag; and responding with a “match” or “no-match” message from the device, according to which the device is either trusted or not trusted as being identified by the Tag ID. A method of verifying a trusted agent (TA) on a device includes: storing a digital signature of the TA in a secure vault of the device; and verifying the TA by verifying the digital signature of the TA each time the TA is used.
US09135408B2
Provided is a method for managing an authorization of digital rights, the method performed by a first server and comprising: receiving from a second server a drop domain authorization trigger message for an initiation of an authorization protocol to cease creating a domain rights object (RO) for a domain for which the first server has an authorization to create the domain RO, the trigger message including information on the domain; the domain being managed by the second server and the authorization being obtained by the first server from the second server checking status of the authorization; transmitting to the second server, a drop domain authorization request message including the ID of the domain; and receiving from the second server, a drop domain authorization response message including a status element indicating a result of processing of the request message based on content included in the request message.
