US09173620B2
An imaging system including a scanner having scanning components for creating an image of an interior portion of an object; an outer cover disposed over the scanning components; an opening formed in the outer cover; and a rigid mount which is rigidly mounted to the scanning components and extends through the opening formed in the outer cover.
US09173618B2
A diagnostic imaging system and method using multiple types of imaging detectors are provided. The imaging system includes a gantry having a rotor and a stator and a pair of gamma detectors coupled to the rotor. The imaging system further includes a gamma detector coupled to the stator. The gamma detector coupled to the stator is different than the pair of gamma detectors coupled to the rotor.
US09173606B2
Devices and methods are described for providing continuous measurement of an analyte concentration. In some embodiments, the device has a sensing mechanism and a sensing membrane that includes at least one surface-active group-containing polymer and that is located over the sensing mechanism. The sensing membrane may have a bioprotective layer configured to substantially block the effect and/or influence of non-constant noise-causing species.
US09173605B2
A fully integrated small size implantable sensing device is described, which can include a sensor and an electronic circuit to interface with the sensor and communicate with an external device. Various fabrication methods for the sensing device are described, including provision of wells, created using same fabrication technology as the electronic circuit, to contain electrodes of the sensor and corresponding functionalization chemicals. Such implantable sensing device can be used for a variety of electrochemical measuring applications within a living body as well as actuation by injecting a current into the living body.
US09173602B2
An apparatus comprises a detection indicator, a housing, and an exoskeleton in which the housing nests. The detection indicator is configured to furnish a visual indication upon contact with a fluid responsive to a characteristic of the fluid. The housing comprises an interior chamber configured to receive the fluid and to provide contact between the fluid and the detection indicator. The housing is configured to removably engage a conduit coupled to a source of a fluid sample, which may be a lumen inserted into a patient to receive fluid therefrom. In methods for use with the apparatus, a sample is collected, a characteristic is measured by the apparatus, and the apparatus is disconnected so as to avoid leakage of the sample and exposure of personnel.
US09173598B1
A device for piercing the skin to obtain a blood sample includes a sleeve which has an open first end and a cavity. A piercer is disposed within the cavity, and has a tip which is positioned near the open first end of the sleeve. The user applies opposing finger pressure to the device so that the skin of one finger enters the cavity and is pierced by the piercer. During this operation the piercer does not move with respect to the sleeve.
US09173592B2
A method of communicating with an ingestible capsule includes detecting the location of the ingestible capsule, focusing a multi-sensor acoustic array on the ingestible capsule, and communicating an acoustic information exchange with the ingestible capsule via the multi-sensor acoustic array. The ingestible capsule includes a sensor that receives a stimulus inside the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, a bidirectional acoustic information communications module that transmits an acoustic information signal containing information from the sensor, and an acoustically transmissive encapsulation that substantially encloses the sensor and communications module, wherein the acoustically transmissive encapsulation is of ingestible size. The multi-sensor array includes a plurality of acoustic transducers that receive an acoustic signal from a movable device, and a plurality of delays, wherein each delay is coupled to a corresponding acoustic transducer. Each delay may be adjusted according to a phase of a signal received by the corresponding acoustic transducer.
US09173589B2
A system and method for performing a magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) procedure using an MRI system to monitor operation of a medical device performing a medical procedure. The driver system includes a housing, a port located in the housing and connected to a driving power, and an inertial driver moved within the housing by the driving power. A passage is formed in the housing and extends from a first opening in the housing, through the inertial driver, and to a second opening in the housing. The inertial driver receives a medical device extending through the passage and engages the medical device to impart oscillatory motion thereto as the inertial driver is moved by the driving power. The imparted oscillatory motion travels along the medical device as a waveguide to deliver the oscillatory motion to tissue receiving the medical procedure to perform the MRE procedure.
US09173587B2
An apparatus comprising a sensing unit configured to detect a physiological response from a user of a breast pump and to trigger a change in an operation of the breast pump in dependence of the detected physiological response, the sensing unit being located separately from a funnel of the breast pump.
US09173585B2
This method of determining an intracochlea tissue impedance comprises using at least two stimulating electrodes to apply an electrical stimulus to intracochlea tissue. A voltage caused by the stimulus is measured between two measuring electrodes distinct from the stimulating electrodes. From the voltage a stimulus-response characteristic of tissue between the two measuring electrodes is determined. This allows the tissue/electrode interface impedance and potential and the tissue impedance and potential to be uniquely determined. In turn, modiolus currents can be estimated in monopolar stimulation mode. Also provided is automated initiation of re-mapping of the device when tissue characteristics change.
US09173584B2
An imaging and recordation system is provided. The system includes a high-power, focusing antenna for illuminating biological tissue. The system further includes a power source for powering the antenna. The system further includes a data acquisition module, for recording the dielectric properties of tissues illuminated by the high-power, focusing antenna. The system illuminates the tissues using ultrashort electrical pulses.
US09173576B2
A system comprising a biometric monitoring device including a housing including a platform to receive at least one foot of the user, a body weight sensor to generate body weight data, processing circuitry to calculate user weight data which corresponds to the user's weight, using the body weight data, and communication circuitry to: (a) receive user identification data which identifies the user or a portable activity monitoring device, and (b) transmit the user weight data to data storage associated with the user identification data. The system further includes the portable activity monitoring device including a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user's body, a sensor to generate sensor data, and communication circuitry to receive physiologic data which is based on the user weight data, and processing circuitry to calculate activity data using the sensor data and physiologic data.
US09173574B2
A probabilistic data signal processor used to determine health of a system is described. Initial probability distribution functions are input to a dynamic state-space model, which iteratively operates on probability distribution functions, such as state and model probability distribution functions, to generate a prior probability distribution function, which is input to a probabilistic updater. The probabilistic updater integrates sensor data with the prior to generate a posterior probability distribution function passed to a probabilistic sampler, which estimates one or more parameters using the posterior, which is output or re-sampled and used as an input to the dynamic state-space model in the iterative algorithm. In various embodiments, the probabilistic data signal processor is used to filter output from any mechanical device using appropriate physical models, which optionally include chemical, electrical, optical, mechanical, or fluid based models. Examples to valve bearings and pipe systems are provided.
US09173572B2
Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, method and computer accessible medium can be provided which can facilitate a determination of at least one characteristic of a structure. For example, it is possible to use at least one first arrangement which can be structured to provide at least one first transmitted radiation along a first axis and at least one second transmitted radiation along a second axis. The first and second transmitted radiations can impact the structure and generate respective first and second returned radiation. The first and second axis can be provided at a predetermined angle with respect with one another which is greater than 0. Further, at least one second arrangement can be provided which can be configured to receive data associated with the first and second returned radiations, and determine at least one relative velocity between the structure and the first arrangement along the first and second axes.
US09173569B2
The invention is directed to a probe-type imaging device useful to visualize interior surfaces, e.g., the lumen of blood vessels. Specifically, the probe-type device is particularly useful for direct tissue imaging in the presence or absence of molecular imaging agents.
US09173568B2
The invention provides a system and method for detecting or monitoring neuropathy in an individual. The system of the invention includes a platform having a surface in which a plurality of stimulators is embedded. Each stimulator is configured to stimulate a region in a skin area when the skin area is applied to the platform. The stimulators may deliver thermal and/or vibrational energy to the skin region. In the method of the invention, a skin area is applied to platform and one of the stimulators is activated. A minimal stimulation is determined that is sensed by the individual in a skin region in contact with a stimulator. Neuropathy in the skin region in contact with the stimulator is detected if either the determined minimal stimulation is above a predetermined threshold, or if a stimulation is not sensed before a magnitude of the stimulation reaches a predetermined maximal magnitude. The process is then repeated with other stimulators.
US09173565B2
This invention is related to a self-service vision screening kiosk that allows individuals to screen their eyesight without assistance. The device includes subjective and/or objective tests via an interactive video and software program that measures visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. The invention is designed to provide a report with test results. The device and method may also provide a means for making referrals, scheduling appointments, ordering lenses, dispensing lenses and/or forwarding prescriptions to eye care professionals or lens manufacturers.
US09173557B2
Aspects are disclosed for determining refractive error. In an aspect, a line pattern is displayed to a user, and a distance between the line pattern and the user is ascertained. The line pattern includes a first and second line in which an aspect of the line pattern is varied, and where refractive error is quantified based on the distance and a selected variance of the line pattern. In another aspect, the varied aspect of the line is at least one of a width between the first and second line, a thickness of the first or second line, a darkness of the first line or the second line, or a color of the first line or the second line. An input corresponding to a focused line pattern variance selected by the user is then received, and a refractive error is quantified based on the input and an approximate distance between the line pattern and the user.
US09173553B2
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling pressure during percutaneous and endoscopic surgeries, including percutaneous renal procedures, endoscopic uterine procedures, transurethral endoscopic procedures for the bladder or prostate, or any percutaneous or endoscopic procedure. The system can include a sheath and/or endoscope each having an inflow port providing access to an inflow channel extending from the inflow port to a distal portion of the sheath, and an outflow port providing access to an outflow channel extending from the outflow port to the distal portion of the sheath. The sheath can also include a pressure sensor configured to generate a pressure measurement, and an electronic processor configured to control fluid through at least one of the inflow port and the outflow port based on the pressure measurement.
US09173548B2
A medical robot system has a plurality of first robot arms supporting respective manipulators thereon; a second robot arm supporting an endoscope thereon; and a controller for controlling the first robot arms and the second robot arm. The manipulators and endoscope are inserted into a body cavity through a common trocar supporting member, wherein each of said manipulators includes a rod-shaped member for insertion through the trocar supporting member into the body cavity, a distal-end working unit mounted on a distal end of the rod-shaped member and having at least one joint, and at least one intermediate joint disposed in the rod-shaped member for bending said rod-shaped member.
US09173543B2
A basin which stackably interlocks with 20-inch square racks that hold dish and glassware washed in commercial dishwashers. The basin has substantially the exterior configuration of a commercial dishwasher rack and receives a plurality of dishwasher racks slacked above. The basin solid on its base and sides for prohibiting substances which drip down into it from racks stacked above from dripping onto the floor. The basin has circular indentations in the top surface or the base, trapping water and preventing it from sloshing from side to side of the basin when it is carried or moved. The basin may be loaded into a dolly used to transport commercial dishwasher racks, as the dollies typically have an open bottom. Thus, the basin can provide the water-catching function for racks loaded onto a dolly. Grooves in the basin's bottom surface permit stacking on top of a rack or other basins for storage.
US09173540B2
The invention relates generally to an improved mop having A support arm having a handle, a mop head that is pivotally attached to said support arm, a pair of rollers disposed in said mop head, a cleaning pad rotatably carried by said rollers so that a first roller carries said cleaning pad and a second roller draws sections of said cleaning pad across a cleaning area defined by said mop head, a spray nozzle carried by said mop head that is fluidly connected to a cleaning solution container for allowing the user to select and spray a cleaning solution on the surface being cleaned, and an ultra violet light source disposed on said mop head for disinfecting said cleaning pad.
US09173534B2
A brush includes a bristle section and a base. The bristle section includes fiber bundles and binding fibers, which bind and couple the fiber bundles together. The base has a clamping part, which clamps part of the bristle section. The fiber bundles are arranged in a row in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which fibers of the fiber bundles extend. The binding fibers are sequentially adjacent in a direction in which the fibers of the fiber bundles extend. The clamping part clamps part of the bristle section to cover the binding fibers.
US09173531B2
A dual-purpose vacuum cleaner includes a self-walking carriage including three or more wheels, an accommodation chamber providing at least one bearing face, a roller brush, a dust guide, a passageway connected to the accommodation chamber and a plurality of first contacts disposed in the accommodation chamber, a hand-held vacuum cleaner detachably accommodated in the accommodation chamber and including at least one abutment face, a handle, a dust suction entrance attached to the passageway and a plurality of second contacts respectively physically kept in contact with the first contacts, and a cover covered on the self-walking carriage to conceal the hand-held vacuum cleaner in the self-walking carriage.
US09173529B2
A bath chair having a reclining mechanism with enhanced operability and durability. A backrest is rotatable provided to bearing members at a rear of a base, an operating shaft is laid across a back of the backrest, a lever is provided to a center of the operating shaft. The operating shaft is biased so that the lever is pressed downward; abutment members fixed to both ends of the operating shaft and a step member having a plurality of steps provided to a rear of the bearing member abut against each other to support the backrest. When the lever is pulled up, the abutment members are rotated upward, the abutment between the step members and the abutment members are released, and then the backrest can be adjusted its inclination angle.
US09173512B1
A simulated bowl plate with a bowl placed at the middle or center and a plate placed around the periphery. The plate is connected to the rim of the bowl. The plate has sections for different foods. The bowl plate is capable of being used as a bowl, as a plate or bowl and plate combined. Cold and hot food can be served together on the same dish. The bowl plate saves storage space as less space is occupied as compared to storing bowls and plates.
US09173507B2
Wall mounting assemblies and methods are disclosed. The assembly includes a bracket that has two frame members coupled at a hinge. Each frame member has a hook for engaging a recess or slot on a panel. The assembly further includes a panel that has edges that are configured to engage the edges of adjacent panels, without the need for tilting the panel to engage. Each panel has two slots for receiving the bracket. Bending the two frame members on the bracket causes the bracket's hooks to lock into the slots on the panel.
US09173505B2
A product management display system for merchandising product on a shelf includes using a trackless pusher mechanism that travels along a surface on which product is placed and one or more dividers for separating product into rows. The one or more dividers may be engaged to a front rail in two different conditions, locked and unlocked. In a locked condition, the relationship between the divider and the front rail resists alteration in any direction with respect to each other. In the unlocked condition, the dividers may be freely slid laterally along the front rail, while remaining perpendicular to the front rail. The one or more dividers may lock to the front rail through the use of corresponding teeth, resilient surfaces, a locking tab, a locking bar and/or a cam.
US09173499B2
An adjustable armrest having a base and an armrest that are coupled together through an articulating joint assembly. The joint assembly includes a body with a first articulating ball joint and a second articulating ball joint. The first articulating ball joint is coupled to the armrest with the second articulating ball joint being coupled to the base.
US09173493B1
An outdoor blanket having a water-resistant bottom layer, a cover layer, and an inflatable pneumatic chamber affixed to of the bottom layer. The pneumatic chamber has a nozzle for receiving air. The cover layer is affixed to the bottom layer and a there is a backrest having a shade assembly affixed to the cover layer. The shade assembly carries a solar panel. A collapsible support frame supports the backrest. The blanket also includes an insulated cooler having an interior cooler pocket, an interior first pocket, and an electrical system in electrical communication with the solar panel. The electrical system also includes a charging circuit for charging an internal battery. The collapsible support frame supports the backrest, the shade assembly, and the solar panel while the cover layer includes receivers for receiving bottom ends of the collapsible support frame. The cover layer also supports a cup holder.
US09173489B2
A divider kit for constructing and installing a divider system on a storage rack system of the type having a pair of parallel header elements at a top of a storage volume with a front-to-back depth and a side-to-side length to be divided by the assembled kit comprises components for constructing a plurality of main beams dimensioned to extend between and be supported upon the header elements in a spaced apart relationship and a pair of rails for mounting in a spaced relationship along the side-to-side length upon the main beams. The kit further comprises at least one u-shaped divider with two legs mountable upon the rails and depending therefrom to divide the storage volume into at least two sub-volumes. A variety of differently-sized divider systems may be assembled from the components.
US09173483B2
An article of furniture includes a base, an intermediate member positioned above the base, a top member positioned above the intermediate member, and an adjustability mechanism that is attached to the base, the intermediate member, and the top member such that the intermediate member and the top member are each moveable relative to the base and such that the intermediate member is moveable relative to the top member and the top member is moveable relative to the intermediate member.
US09173482B2
A table may be sized and configured to nest with another table to reduce a height of a plurality of stacked tables in a nested configuration. The table may include a nesting portion formed in an upper surface and sidewall of the table top. The table may also include a frame with one or more engaging portions sized and configured to be disposed in the nesting portion of an adjacent table when the tables are nested together. In addition, the table top may include a compression edge sized and configured to be disposed in a nesting portion of an adjacent table when the tables are nested together. The compression edge and engaging portions may be sized and configured to be simultaneously disposed in the nesting portion of the adjacent table when the table is nested with the adjacent table.
US09173477B2
An oral care system comprising an oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, and dispenser containing a fluid detachably coupled to the tooth-brush. The invention is an oral care system comprising: a toothbrush having a cavity; a dispenser comprising a reservoir containing a fluid; a cap detachably coupled to the dispenser; wherein when the cap is coupled to the dispenser, the cap prohibits the dispenser from being inserted into the cavity; and wherein when the cap is detached from the dispenser, the dispenser can be inserted into the cavity and detachably coupled to the toothbrush.
US09173473B2
Shoulder strap retention devices that are used to secure the shoulder straps of an article in position relative to a separate chest panel or protector so that they do not slip off the chest panel or the shoulders of a user carrying the article are disclosed. In one embodiment, the shoulder strap retention devices include a retention strap and anchoring strips that are secured to the retention strap and used to attach the shoulder strap retention device to an article having shoulder straps.
US09173454B2
A belt head includes a seat, a buckle portion, an engaging portion and a button. The seat has a front side portion having two narrow side surfaces facing to each other and a rear side portion used to connect and fix an end of a strap. The buckle portion has a connecting base connected with the front side portion and a fastening base which has a passage enabling the other end of the strap to pass through and a fastener for fastening or releasing the strap. The engaging portion is disposed on the front side portion and is movable between a first and second positions to engage with and release from a blocking member of the connecting base. The button is located on one of the narrow side surfaces of the front side portion for controlling the engaging portion to move between the first and second positions.
US09173452B2
An apparatus for measuring feet, for the purpose of gathering measurements for custom shoes, is disclosed. The apparatus is shaped like a shoe, and has an opening where the shoe lace opening is normally present on the shoe, in addition to openings near the big toe and the little toe. Each opening has holes for laces that are tightened so that the gap, or overlap, of the openings can be measured. Additionally, mats of known thickness can be used to measure the distance between the heel of the shoe and the heel of the foot. Furthermore, markings are used to identify the different shoe lace holes so measurements can be taken at multiple places along the top of the foot. Furthermore, a size indicator can be shown on the shoe, so that measurements can be taken on a picture of the foot in the shoe rather than on the foot and shoe themselves, and then scaled to actual size with reference to the size indicator.
US09173450B2
A traction element arrangement for a sole structure of an article of footwear is described. Traction elements of a first group are associated with a lateral side of the sole structure. Traction elements of a second group are associated with a medial side of the sole structure. Traction elements of the second group include multiple medial rotational traction elements that each have a plurality of individual traction elements arranged in a circular grouping. Each circular grouping is a different size to provide more or less rotational movement to the associated portion of the sole structure. In one embodiment, the shape of the traction elements corresponds to the shape of the circular grouping.
US09173449B2
The present invention generally relates to therapeutic footwear such as sandals, conventional shoes, and corrective inserts that may be inserted into conventional shoes. Specifically, the therapeutic footwear may be used for maintaining, correcting, or repositioning the great toe to decrease pressure on the first metatarsal-phalangeal joint or bunion. Additional therapeutic features may include spreading of the wearer's toes, supporting the wearer's arch to control excessive pronation, and providing sustained heel cord stretch at rest, during ambulation, pedicure, and before, during, or after medical treatment.
US09173445B1
An integrated helmet having blunt force trauma protection includes a helmet shell, an inner impact layer and the replaceable impact layer. The helmet shell is preferably fabricated from carbon fiber or a high impact plastic. A plurality of openings are formed through the helmet shell to reduce weight. The inner impact layer is attached to an inside surface of the helmet shell. The inner impact layer includes a plurality of deformable cells, which communicate with each other through a plurality of gas channels. The inner impact layer will not burst upon impact. The plurality of deformable cell chambers are filled with air to allow air to be displaced from one area to another area. The replaceable impact layer is attached to an outside surface of the helmet shell. The replaceable impact layer will burst upon impact.
US09173444B2
A device (100) for determining an appropriately sized medical undergarment for a wearer includes a housing (101) and a wheel (102). A first body mass index factor alignment indicator (108) can be aligned with a first body mass index factor, such as weight of a wearer, thereby revealing color coded symbols (109) aligned with a plurality of second body mass factor alignment indicators (110). A user selects the appropriate size by determining which color is aligned with a second body mass factor alignment indicator of the wearer. An optional second side (205) of the device (100) can be used to determine an appropriate type of medical undergarment based upon urinary output, wearer mobility, or combinations thereof.
US09173441B2
A protective pocket is provided for a substantially two-dimensional object, such as a race bib. The protective pocket includes cooperating first and second lightweight fabrics, and an opening for receiving the object. The first fabric may be an item of a race participant's apparel or a backing that itself is attached to such an apparel item. The second fabric may be a mesh member having spaced apertures through which the object is visible and exposed to elements. The protective pocket is configured to maintain the object in a substantially vertical planar orientation, and thereby in an “upright” position, such that it that is (a) substantially parallel to the plane defined by the adjacent surface of the race participant's apparel item, and (b) substantially parallel to the plane defined by the adjacent body part of the race participant (e.g., a torso or leg). This positioning also improves the visibility of the indicia printed on the object through the mesh member. In order to facilitate this positioning, the mesh member is tightly secured to the first fabric so as to allow limited movement between open and closed positions.
US09173440B1
A decorative strap cover that is fastened to a strap on an article of clothing that may cover a portion of a bra, a dress, lingerie, shirt, tank top, halter top, pants, belt loops or belt and may provide a decorative compartment. The decorative strap cover may be worn as a single component or combined with others as desired.
US09173435B2
An adjustable bra is provided permitting the wearer to adjust how the bra provides support to the wearer. The bra includes at least one shoulder strap and a rear band. Attachment of the shoulder strap to the rear band can be configured at a plurality of positions along the rear band. The bra can include a second shoulder strap also configured to attach at a plurality of positions along the rear band.
US09173427B2
Compositions for preventing or treating kidney disease comprising one or more food ingredients containing relatively low amounts of protein, sodium, and potassium, typically protein in amounts of from about 5% to about 40%, sodium in amounts of from about 0.01% to about 1%, and potassium in amounts of from about 0.01% to about 1%, and methods comprising administering such compositions to patients susceptible to or suffering from kidney disease for the purpose of preventing or treating kidney disease.
US09173420B2
A food additive composition for ruminants of the dispersion type and a method of continuously producing the same. This food additive composition for ruminants, which contains 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid and has rumen bypass properties, is formulated into granules in an arbitrary shape which are scarcely classified when added to a silage or another feed. Thus, attempts have been made to develop a method of producing granules by which the milk yield of a lactation cow can be increased. Namely, it is intended to provide a food additive composition for ruminants which contains at least one protecting agent selected from among a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. but lower than 90° C., 0.05 to 6% by weight of lecithin, water and 40% by weight or more but less than 65% by weight of a basic amino acid. It is also intended to provide a method of producing a food additive composition for ruminants characterized by comprising solidifying a molten mixture, which comprises at least one protecting agent selected from among a hardened vegetable oil and a hardened animal oil having a melting point higher than 50° C. but lower than 90° C., lecithin and a basic amino acid, by dipping in water.
US09173417B2
Blended fluid concentrates are provided that can be reconstituted into an instant coffee plus dairy beverage using either hot or cold liquids. The blended fluid concentrates include a blend of at least a dairy component, a coffee component, and a stabilizing component to form a shelf-stable pourable liquid.
US09173411B2
A product which contains acid magnesium pyrophosphate (magnesium dihydrogen diphosphate) and at least magnesium orthophosphate, producible by removal of water from an aqueous solution or suspension of a magnesium phosphate compound which has a molar ratio of Mg:P of 0.4-0.6:I, wherein the product has a loss on ignition of 7.5 to 13.5% and its method of preparation and its use in a leavening agent for bakery products.
US09173410B2
An apparatus for manipulating a food item, the apparatus having a chassis, an actuator, a first jaw, and a second jaw. The actuator is connected to the chassis and rotatable about a pivot. The first jaw is connected to the chassis and mechanically linked to the actuator. The first jaw is further adapted to move along a first arc. The second jaw is also connected to the chassis and mechanically linked to the actuator. The second jaw is also further adapted to move along a second arc. Rotation of the actuator about the pivot in a first direction brings together the first jaw and the second jaw, the first and second jaws moving along the first and second arcs, respectively. Rotation of the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction brings apart the first jaw and the second jaw, the first and second jaws moving along the first and second arcs, respectively.
US09173399B2
The present invention relates to fungicidal benzocycloalkene carboxamides or their thiocarboxamide derivatives of formula (I), their process of preparation and intermediate compounds for their preparation, their use as fungicides, particularly in the form of fungicidal compositions and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi of plants using these compounds or their compositions.
US09173393B2
The invention relates to a chitosan as a micronized powder, to its use for controlling certain yeasts, such as Brettanomyces, and to a method for treating a liquid food.The invention in particular relates to a water-insoluble chitosan as a micronized powder, for which the grain size is comprised between 5 and 50 microns, and to its use in the treatment of liquid foods and/or for controlling Brettanomyces.
US09173390B2
A trap clip (10, 20) for securely holding a trap (T) in a desired place until the trap is set off. The trap clip is of a one-piece carbon spring wire construction and in one embodiment (10) has a generally U shape. The trap clip includes a set of wound coils (1) formed along and centered on a base (3) of the trap clip. The trap clip further includes a pair of legs (2) one of which extends at generally right angles from respective end of the base, so to form the U shape of the trap clip. When installed, the legs both support and firmly grip the trap to hold in place on a pole (P) until the trap captures an animal.
US09173379B1
A body collar is configured to fit around a body of an animal and comprises a collar strip, a first ring and a buckle. The first ring is attached to the collar strip. First and second portions of the buckle are attached to respective first and second ends of the collar strip. The first portion of the buckle and the second portion of the buckle are configured to be removably attached to each other in a configuration of the body collar being fitted around the body of the animal. The first portion of the buckle to be inserted through a second ring of a neck collar and fit around the body of the animal through a third ring of the neck collar to be removably attached to the second portion of the buckle.
US09173378B2
A deployment unit for an electronic control device (ECD) used as a weapon provides a current from a signal generator of the ECD through tissue of a human or animal target. The deployment unit includes a housing, an interface, a filament, and an electrode. The interface couples the housing to the signal generator. The filament includes a first end coupled to the interface for receiving the current and comprises a second end. The filament conducts the current for inhibiting voluntary movement by the target. The electrode, stored in the housing prior to deployment, mechanically couples the filament to the target when deployed. The electrode includes an assembly of a first part and a second part that after assembly cooperate to bind the second end of the filament to the electrode.
US09173377B2
An animal feeder includes a feed container containing animal feed for use in spreading the animal feed onto the ground over which the animal feeder is positioned. A housing moves between open and closed positions, wherein the closed position, the housing is positioned so that it substantially encloses a motorized animal feed dispenser positioned in proximity to a hole in the feed container through which the animal feed passes from the container. In the closed position, the sides of the housing completely block the dispensing of the animal feed onto the ground. In an open position, the housing is positioned so that the motorized animal feed dispenser is exposed for dispensing of the animal feed onto the ground. Also, in the closed position, physical access from outside of the housing to the animal feed residing on the animal feed dispenser and through the hole is prevented.
US09173372B2
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-348 RZ, which exhibits resistance against downy mildew races B1:1 to B1:28 and CA-I, CA-IIA, CA-IIB, CAIII, CA-IV, CA-V, CA-VI, CA-VII, CA-VIII (Bremia lactucae), resistance to Nasonovia ribisnigri, resistance to LMV, and an extraordinary high number of oakleaf-shaped leaves of substantially equal size with a semi-erect adult leaf attitude. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-348 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-348 RZ.
US09173370B2
The present invention relates to a Lactuca sativa seed designated 79-190 RZ or 79-107 RZ, which exhibits resistance to downy mildew (Bremia lactucae Regel.) races B1:1 to B1:28 and currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri), as well as an extraordinary high number of red-colored, elongated leaves of substantially equal size. The present invention also relates to a Lactuca sativa plant produced by growing the 79-190 RZ or 79-107 RZ seed. The invention further relates to methods for producing the lettuce cultivar, represented by lettuce variety 79-190 RZ or 79-107 RZ.
US09173369B1
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated D400401. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety D400401. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety D400401 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety D400401 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09173366B2
A novel canola variety designated NS6266 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a canola plant that comprise crossing canola variety NS6266 with another canola plant. Methods for producing a canola plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into NS6266 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the canola seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid canola seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the canola variety NS6266 or a locus conversion of NS6266 with another canola variety.
US09173361B1
A novel maize variety designated X75D854 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X75D854 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X75D854 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X75D854, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X75D854. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X75D854.
US09173358B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH397792. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH397792, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH397792 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH397792.
US09173350B1
Lawn and garden edging segments for end-to-end adjacent installation on an outdoor ground surface, with each edging segment comprising an elongate member having a pair of laterally extending arms defining separate sides of the edging segments and extending along the elongate length of the edging segments. The arms each include a lower wall, an upper wall on a top side of the edging segment and an edge wall. A lower projecting member extends outwardly from a bottom side of the edging segment between the lower walls of the arms the projecting member extending beyond planes defined by the lower walls. The edging segments are configured for installation such that the projecting members are positioned within a groove formed in the ground with the lower walls of the arms extending outwardly adjacent the groove.
US09173344B2
An apparatus for cutting grass including: a lawn mower equipped with: a movement device for movement of the lawn mower at least inside a cutting area (S), one or more blades for cutting grass in the cutting area (S), a power supply unit for supplying electrical power to one or more of the movement device and the one or more blades; a recharging base for the lawn mower, including at least a first inductive element (E1) and a first control unit associated with the first inductive element (E1) and configured to enable the flow of a certain current (I) in the first inductive element (E1). The lawn mower comprises has a second inductive element (E2) associated with the power supply unit and coupleable to the first inductive element (E1) for a recharging of the power supply unit, and a second control unit. The second control unit is configured to generate a charge signal (CS) representative of a charge level of the power supply unit; transmit the charge signal (CS) to the first inductive element (E1) through the second inductive element (E2). The first control unit is configured to receive the charge signal (CS) through the first inductive element (E1); regulate the current (I) based on the charge signal (CS).
US09173343B2
An apparatus for cutting grass comprising: a lawn mower equipped with wheels and one or more blades for cutting grass; a perimeter cable delimiting a cutting area; a management device for generating an electrical signal (ES) in the cable; a recharging base. The lawn mower further comprises a control unit equipped with: sensor to detect the electrical signal (ES); a memory to store a maximum value (Vmax) and a minimum value (Vmin); a calculation module to determine, for intensity of detection, a target value (Tv) that is non-null and comprised between the maximum (Vmax) and minimum value (Vmin), the target value (Tv) being different from a preceding target value; an operative module to command the wheels so as to move the lawn mower in such a manner that the sensor detects the electrical signal (ES) at an intensity equal to the target value (Tv).
US09173341B2
Equipment for the placement or positioning of one or more items in or on the ground is provided. In one form, an apparatus includes a toolbar, a container, a metering unit configured to selectively control release of one or more items from the container and an application member configured to deliver the one or more items released from the container to the ground. In one aspect of this form, the metering unit is configured to selectively control release of one or more spherical items having a diameter in the range of about 0.25 inches to about 1.0 inches, and more particularly, but not exclusively, in the range of about 0.5 inches to about 0.75 inches, from the container to the application member. In another more particular aspect, the spherical items are capsules that include a shell wall encapsulating a pesticide composition and including a gelatin material.
US09173339B2
A system and method for determining the appropriate downforce on an agricultural planter row unit that minimizes soil compaction while maintaining desired furrow depth. A load sensor is disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to loading on a depth regulation member of the row unit. In one method a load margin is calculated based on a minimum detected load value. In another method, a load margin is derived through a statistical analysis of the detected load values. The load margin calculated or derived by any of the methods is indicative of the amount of supplemental down force that should be increased or decreased to bring the load margin toward zero. A ground contact parameter may also be used in connection with the load margin to provide further confidence on the proper amount of downforce required to ensure furrow depth while minimizing soil compaction.
US09179582B2
An exemplary electronic device with connectors and fasteners for alignment of the connectors includes a panel, a printed circuit board, and a shell. The printed circuit board includes a number of connectors arranged thereon. A number of holes are defined in the shell for expose the connectors. The printed circuit board defines a number of through holes therein. The panel defines a number of positioning holes therein. The shell forms a number of positioning posts thereon, and each positioning post defines an engaging hole therein. The present disclosure also includes a number of fasteners. Each fastener includes a first and a second positioning part. The first positioning part inserts through a corresponding through hole and a corresponding positioning hole to connect the printed circuit board and the panel. The second positioning part is engagingly received in the engaging hole of a corresponding positioning post of the shell.
US09179577B2
Disclosed are a flat heat pipe which has a structure integrated with a heat sink, and a facilitated fabrication method thereof. The flat heat pipe includes: a flat body portion including a plurality of heat sink fins formed on an outer surface thereof, and a plurality of through-holes formed therein and being separated by at least one separation film; and at least one groove formed in at least one surface from among a top surface and a bottom surface of one side portion of each of the plurality of through-holes.
US09179572B2
A server includes a shell and at least one server assembly. The shell has a first accommodation space. The server assembly includes a motherboard tray, a motherboard module, a bearing frame and a storage device. The motherboard tray is detachably located in the first accommodation space. The motherboard module is located on the motherboard tray. The motherboard module includes a motherboard and at least one central processing unit which are located on the motherboard. The bearing frame having a loading plate is fastened to the motherboard tray and is located above the motherboard module. The storage device is detachably located on the loading plate.
US09179567B2
An electronic device having a calculation function and suitable for being detachably connected to a portable electronic device having a calculation function is provided. The electronic device includes a body, a connecting base and a supporter. The body has a first surface. The connecting base is disposed at the body and has a containing cavity. The portable electronic device is suitable for being disposed in the containing cavity to be electronically connected to the electronic device. A back surface of the portable electronic device leans against the first surface. The supporter is connected to the body and supports the body, and an angle is formed therebetween.
US09179564B2
Cable rack assembly including first and second stacks of cable connectors. The cable connectors of the first and second stacks have respective front ends that face in a common mating direction and respective back ends that are coupled to corresponding cables. The first and second stacks are adjacent to each other and form a two-dimensional array of the cable connectors. The cable rack assembly also includes a shared support panel that is positioned between the first and second stacks of the cable connectors. The shared support panel coincides with a panel plane that extends transverse to the two-dimensional array. The cable connectors of the first and second stacks directly engage the shared support panel therebetween.
US09179561B2
An apparatus including a glass window, a front cover, a back cover, and an elastic frame. The elastic frame is configured to form at least a first neutral plane and a second neutral plane.
US09179552B2
To obtain a wiring board that allows improving flowability of an underfill to be filled up a clearance between an electronic component and the wiring board. The present invention is a wiring board with a laminated body where one or more layer of each of an insulating layer and a conductor layer are laminated. The wiring board includes a plurality of connecting terminals formed separately from one another on the laminated body, a filling member filled up between the plurality of connecting terminals, and a solder resist layer laminated on the laminated body. The filling member is in contact with at least a part of each side surface of the plurality of connecting terminals. The solder resist layer includes an opening that exposes the plurality of connecting terminals. The filling member has a surface roughness rougher than a surface roughness of a top surface of the solder resist layer.
US09179551B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a printed-wiring board in a semi-additive process, comprising the steps of: providing a chemical copper plating 4 on an insulation layer 3 or forming a copper thin film on the insulation layer 3 using a sputtering method; subjecting the obtained copper surface 4 to a roughening treatment using an etching solution containing 0.1 to 3% by mass of hydrogen peroxide, 0.3 to 5% by mass of sulfuric acid, 0.1 to 3 ppm of halogen ion and 0.003 to 0.3% by mass of tetrazoles; attaching a dry film resist 5 to the copper surface 4 after the roughening treatment to perform exposure and development and providing an electrolytic copper plating 7 to an opening 6 after the exposure; and subjecting the remaining dry film resist to a stripping treatment using a resist stripping liquid containing 0.5 to 20% by mass of monoethanolamine, 0.2 to 10% by mass of quaternary ammonium hydroxide, 0.01 to 10% by mass of ethylene glycols and 0.01 to 0.5% by mass of azoles.
US09179548B2
Controlled-impedance out-of-substrate package structures employing electrical devices and related assemblies, components, and methods are disclosed. An out-of-substrate package structure may be used to electrically couple an electrical device to an electrical substrate, for example a printed circuit board. The out-of-substrate package structure may be electrically coupled to the electrical substrate. Ground paths of the out-of-substrate package structure may be arranged proximate to the electrical device and arranged symmetric with respect to at least one geometric plane intersecting the electrical device. In this regard, electric field lines generated by current flowing into the electrical device tend to terminate at the return or ground paths allowing for impedance to be more easily controlled. Accordingly, the out-of-substrate package structure may be impedance matched in a better way with respect to power provided from the electrical substrate enabling faster electrical device speeds.
US09179546B2
An information handling system circuit board interfaces storage device surface connectors and storage device controllers disposed on opposing sides by coupling a first circuit board portion having a controller press in connector to a second circuit board portion having plural surface connectors. The first and second circuit board portions couple to each other with an adhesive activated by curing. Resistant ink is printed over openings of the first circuit board portion where adhesive is applied in order to prevent the adhesive from flowing into the openings at or before the curing of the adhesive.
US09179544B1
In an embodiment, an apparatus for reducing the mechanical load on the electrical terminals of a capacitor includes a plate having a planar body and one or more deflectable tabs connected to the planar body, one or more capacitors respectively mounted to the plate via the one or more deflectable tabs, and a busbar electrically connected to the one or more capacitors such that the one or more capacitors are arranged intermediate the plate and the busbar. The deflectable tabs are configured to support the capacitors, and to move towards and away from the planar body for accommodating size variances in the capacitors relative to a fixed spacing between the busbar and an enclosure.
US09179533B2
A method includes identifying projection data generated during an x-ray tube arc event, determining x-ray tube voltages for data points of the identified projection data, correcting the identified data points based on the determined x-ray tube voltages for the data points, and reconstructing projection data that includes projection data generated during non x-ray tube arc events and the corrected projection data, and a system includes a projection data processor (116) that corrects projection data corresponding to data acquired during an x-ray tube arc event.
US09179531B2
A super capacitor (SC) and methods are disclosed, forming massive embedded capacitors connected in parallel over very wide radii varying from a few square feet to hundreds of square miles. The SC is enclosed within a water proof housing to keep out water by depositing a plurality of alternating layers of dielectric material between each conducting layer, whereby one or more electrodes are situated on each dielectric layer, and having at least one probe electrode exuding from said housing, and connected to the one or more electrodes, for receiving electric charge from a lightning source, for example. The dielectric layers separating each conducting layer may vary from a few layers to thousands, and possibly even millions or more layers, for example, to define a multilayer capacitive structure capable of providing electric power to supplement or replace other sources of electric power that harm the environment.
US09179524B2
A method for open-loop and closed-loop control of a lighting busway with a primary luminaire and at least one secondary luminaire for an interior space, involves measuring a brightness at the location of the primary luminaire, determining a primary ambient light percentage for the primary luminaire, determining a secondary ambient light percentage for at least one secondary luminaire based on the primary ambient light percentage, and determining a secondary manipulated variable for at least one secondary luminaire based on the secondary ambient light percentage and a setpoint value for this secondary luminaire.
US09179521B2
An operating device (1) for light-emitting device (5), where the operating device (1) has an interface circuit (2) and a drive circuit (3), where the interface circuit (2) generates an interface signal (21, 31, 41, 51) depending on a control signal (Vn, 10), and where the drive circuit (3) drives at least one light-emitting device (5) depending on the interface signal (21, 31, 41, 51). The control signal (Vn, 10) is an AC voltage control signal generated outside the operating device (1). The interface circuit (2) detects overshooting of an upper threshold value of only one of two half-waves of the control signal (Vn, 10), and the interface circuit (2) generates a first signal pulse (22, 55) in the interface signal (21, 31, 41, 51) for each detection of overshooting of an upper threshold value and identifies overshooting of a lower threshold value for the other half-wave.
US09179512B2
A solid state lighting apparatus can include a Light Emitting Diode (LED) string that includes a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) segments that are coupled in series with one another wherein a ratio of respective numbers of LEDs in each of the segments is about equal to a ratio of respective average powers for each of the respective segments. Other configurations are also disclosed.
US09179507B2
What is specified is: a lighting apparatus, with a piezoelectric transformer (1), which has a mounting face (10), on which at least two output-side connection points (11) are arranged, and at least one substrateless light-emitting diode (2), which is designed to generate electromagnetic radiation, wherein the at least one substrateless light-emitting diode (2) is fitted at least indirectly to the mounting face (10) and fastened mechanically to the mounting face (10), and the at least one substrateless light-emitting diode (2) is electrically conductively connected to at least two of the output-side connection points (11).
US09179502B2
Communications are coordinated between different respective wireless communication device groups in a multiple delivery traffic indication map (DTIM) per device signaling scheme. Different respective wireless communication devices (e.g., wireless stations (STAs)) may communicate with a manager/coordinator wireless communication device (e.g., access point (AP)) at different times and for different reasons. The manager/coordinator wireless communication device generates and transmits beacons to the wireless communication devices specifying times during which communications may be supported with the manager/coordinator wireless communication device. A restricted access window (RAW) information element (IE) within a beacon includes at least one restricted access window (RAW) to specify a wireless communication device authorized to communicate with the manager/coordinator wireless communication device. Different wireless communication device groups may communicate with the manager/coordinator wireless communication device at different periodicities, and any one wireless communication device may be included in more than one wireless communication device group.
US09179492B2
An electronic device and method for half duplex data transmission in a long range keyless entry and go system, and more specifically to an RFID transponder, a corresponding read/write (R/W) unit and methods for operating the RFID transponder and the R/W-unit. There is a first coil, a second coil and a third coil, being arranged as a three-dimensional antenna, a first capacitor, a second capacitor and a third capacitor couplable in parallel to the first coil, the second coil and the third coil, respectively, for selectively forming a first, a second and a third parallel-resonant circuit for receiving radio signals, a series-resonant circuit for transmitting radio signals and a control stage configured to either use one of the first, second or third parallel-resonant circuits for receiving radio signals or the series-resonant circuit for transmitting signals.
US09179487B2
A method for handling call originations is provided. The method includes sending origination information from a mobile device to an application server in an enterprise network using Short Message Service (SMS) and determining whether a hotline feature is present in a subscriber profile associated with the mobile device. Data is then routed from the mobile device to a predetermined destination based on the hotline feature.
US09179483B2
A technique is disclosed in which an MN (mobile node) 100 notifies, to a CN (correspondent node), home network connection information indicative of whether or not it is currently in connection with a home network which has allocated its own plurality of HoAs (home addresses), an address of each HA (home agent) and an ID of each HA in a state associated with the plurality of HoAs. Based on the information received from the MN, the CN grasps the home network with which the MN is currently in connection and makes an inquiry about the condition of the HA and sets an appropriate HoA, judged on the basis of the grasping result or the inquiry result, as a destination address of a packet to be transmitted to the MN.
US09179481B2
Techniques are provided for managing simultaneous unicast and multicast/broadcast services. For example, there is provided a method operable by a user equipment (UE) or the like, that involves transmitting, upon initial connection with a wireless communication system, a first message indicating one or more capabilities of the UE. The method may further involve transmitting a second message indicating that the UE is receiving or is about to receive a multicast/broadcast service. The method may also involve receiving, as a result of the second message, data scheduled in accordance with one or more predetermined rules.
US09179478B2
There is provided a method of operating a communication system, the communication system comprising a user equipment and a receiver, the method in the system comprising generating a random access transmission in a user equipment and transmitting the random access transmission to the receiver in the communication system, the random access transmission including a preamble; receiving the random access transmission from the user equipment at the receiver; processing the random access transmission in the frequency domain to detect the preamble. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the preamble has a cyclic prefix, or is preceded by a plurality of zero-valued symbols.
US09179473B2
A method for processing one or more bursts including receiving at least a portion of a first burst comprising one or more protocol data units. The method includes receiving a sequence number for the first burst. The method includes writing the sequence number and the first burst to a physical-layer queue, such that the first burst is concatenated to the sequence number in the physical-layer queue. The sequence number may identify the first burst from one or more second bursts written to the physical-layer queue preceding or following the first burst.
US09179471B2
The invention relates to Coordinated Scheduling for a Time Division Duplex (TDD) network. In a method for User Equipment (UE) scheduling by a base station in a TDD network, the base station receives scheduling decision from at least one neighboring cell of the base station, and schedules a UE among a plurality of UEs in the serving cell of the base station based on the scheduling decision from the at least one neighboring cell and based on smart antenna information. The inter-cell interference is suppressed and therefore the network performance is improved.
US09179470B2
A method for selecting the state of a reconfigurable antenna installed at either the receiver or transmitter of a communication system is provided. The proposed method uses online learning algorithm based on the theory of multi-armed bandit to perform antenna state selection. The selection technique utilizes the Post-Processing Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PPSNR) as a reward metric and maximizes the long-term average reward over time. The performance of the learning based selection technique is empirically evaluated using wireless channel data. The data is collected in an indoor environment using a 2×2 MIMO OFDM system employing highly directional metamaterial Reconfigurable Leaky Wave Antennas. The learning based selection technique shows performance improvements in terms of average PPSNR and regret over conventional heuristic policies.
US09179464B2
A method and device for transmitting a reference signal in a wireless communication system is provided. A base station maps each demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of each of a plurality of layers into a first resource element (RE) set and a second RE set including four REs over four orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols within a subframe, allocates first orthogonal cover codes (OCCs) having a length of 4 to each DMRS mapped into the first RE set, allocates second OCCs having a length of 4 to each DMRS mapped into the second resource element set and transmits each DMRS mapped into the first RE set and the second RE set. The subframe includes two slots and each slot includes six OFDM symbols. The second OCC are formed by swapping positions of bits that constitute the first OCCs.
US09179459B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, antennas or antenna nodes spaced away from each other by a predetermined distance or more are configured to be able to transmit control information of mutually different user equipment groups, thereby increasing the efficiency in the operation of control channels. In addition, according to another aspect of the present invention, a resource region for transmitting control information for an improved user equipment, which is a target of a multi-node cooperative transmission, is set differently from a resource region for transmitting control information for a legacy user equipment, thereby increasing the efficiency in the transmission of the control information for the improved user equipment.
US09179455B2
Logic may comprise hardware and/or code to select a narrow band from a wider channel bandwidth. Logic of communications between devices may select, e.g., a 1 or 2 MHz sub-channel from a wider channel bandwidth such as 4, 8, and 16 MHz and transmit packets on the selected 1 or 2 MHz channel. For instance, a first device may comprise an access point and a second device may comprise a station such as a low power sensor or a meter that may, e.g., operate on battery power. Logic of the devices may facilitate a frequency selective transmission scheme. Logic of the access point may transmit sounding packets or control frames across the sub-channels of the wide bandwidth channel, facilitating selection by the stations of a sub-channel and subsequent communications on the sub-channel between the access point and the station.
US09179449B2
Systems, methods, and devices for communicating frames having a plurality of types are described herein. In some aspects, the frames include a compressed frame, such as a compressed management frame or a compressed control frame. In some aspects, a method of communicating in a wireless network includes generating a management frame including a local identifier or a global identifier for a transmitter of the management frame based on a link type over which the management frame is transmitted, a local identifier or a global identifier for a recipient of the management frame based on the link type, a frame check sequence, and information indicating the link type. The method further includes transmitting the management frame.
US09179448B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and a device for reporting channel state information, wherein the method comprises the steps of: receiving, from a first eNode B, a plurality of pieces of configuration information for a periodic report of CSIs that are set according to each eNode B; and transmitting, to said first eNode B, CSIs for the downlink of the corresponding eNode Bs through subframes that are periodically set according to each piece of the configuration information, wherein the subframes that are periodically set according to the configuration information for said first eNode B are used to transmit a CSI for the downlink of said first eNode B, and at least a portion of subframes that are periodically set according to configuration information for a second eNode B is used to transmit information which indicates the relationship between the downlink of said first eNode B and the downlink of said second eNode B.
US09179442B2
Provided are a wireless communication system, communication apparatus, communication method, and communication program able to more reliably decode transmit signals at a receiver without more complex processing, even when resource blocks are overloaded. A communication apparatus configured to decode data received on each of at least two streams comprises: a resource block allocation determiner configured to determine an allocation of resource blocks for each stream; and a control information determiner configured to determine control information regarding data transmission on at least one stream, on the basis of the overload ratio of resource blocks among at least one group of streams.
US09179441B2
The present invention discloses a resource allocation method and apparatus, wherein the method comprises: determining a first resource block group size corresponding to a first resource allocation type in the common resource area; and dividing all resource blocks in the common resource area of the carrier into one or more resource block groups; determining a second resource block group size corresponding to the first resource allocation type in the dedicated resource area; and according to the second resource block group size, dividing resource blocks in the dedicated resource area of the carrier into one or more resource block groups.
US09179439B2
Methods, apparatus, and computer readable storage media are described. The apparatus may receive a next cell broadcast message or a schedule message according to schedule information in first-received cell broadcast message. The schedule information may indicate timing of the next cell broadcast message or the schedule message. The first cell broadcast message may be received before timing information associated with a cell broadcast channel is known, including after a reselection procedure or after termination of a voice call. The schedule information may relate to a discontinuous reception schedule defined in a missed schedule message. Presence of the schedule information in the first cell broadcast message may be indicated in a page parameter of a header of the first cell broadcast message or in a block identifier of the first cell broadcast message. A network entity is described that adds the schedule information to the first cell broadcast message.
US09179428B2
A communications device having a communication channel interface between a cellular communications module and a Global Navigation system (GNSS) module is provided. The communication channel interface can be used to forward one or more of: a frequency offset correction message, a fine time assistance (FTA) message, and an assisted-GNSS (A-GNSS) message from the cellular communications module to the GNSS module; to forward timing and frequency information from the GNSS module to the cellular communications module to enable a delayed sleep mode wake up of the cellular communications module; to enable hybrid data fusion between the cellular communications module and the GNSS module; and/or to offload processes from the GNSS module to the cellular communications module.
US09179423B2
The disclosure relates to a method for a user equipment to report a transmission power capability to an e Node B. The user equipment operates in carrier aggregation. The method comprises determining, by the user equipment, that the transmission power capability of at least one power amplifier of the user equipment reaches at least one defined threshold, and triggering a generation of a power headroom report based on the determining step. The disclosure also relates to the corresponding user equipment and e Node B.
US09179405B2
Provided is control information related to polarizations of antennas for MISO communication. The control signal generator generates polarization information indicating whether antennas used for transmission by MISO have only a first polarization or have a second polarization as well as the first polarization. With this structure, the present invention allows for the use of combinations of SISO, MISO and MIMO, taking the polarization of antennas. Furthermore, the present invention enables the receiver to reduce the power consumption.
US09179397B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for assisting discovery of a wireless local area network (WLAN). A timing reference originating from a first radio technology is identified by a user equipment (UE). A WLAN receiver of the UE is woken up according to a beacon transmission schedule to listen for a beacon on the WLAN. The first radio technology is a non-WLAN radio technology, and the beacon transmission schedule is based at least in part on the timing reference. The timing reference originating from the first radio technology is identified by a Wireless Access Point (WAP). The WAP broadcasts a beacon on the WLAN according to the beacon transmission schedule.
US09179384B2
A map-based mobility robustness optimization (MRO) capability is provided for improving one or more aspects related to mobility in a wireless communication network. The map-based MRO capability may use one or more reference signal strength map associated with a wireless network to determine at least one management function for the wireless network. The at least one management function may include determining at least one configuration action adapted to satisfy a handover failure rate for the wireless network based on the one or more reference signal strength maps, preventing handover race conditions in a cluster of wireless cells covered by the one or more reference signal strength maps, or the like. The one or more management functions may be adapted to improve or optimize one or more of handover failure rate, prevention of handover race conditions, or the like.
US09179382B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for supporting RLC layer handover between WAN supported D2D communications and direct D2D communications. In one example, a first UE may be operable to transmit a WAN handover request including a peer identifier and a cell identifier associated with a second UE to an eNB, where the first UE and the second UE are engaged in direct D2D communications. The eNB may be equipped to communicate the WAN handover request to a second eNB associated with the second UE and receive a RLC parameter indicating a last successful reception by the second UE. The eNB may transmit the RLC parameter to the first UE. The first UE may be equipped to determine a subsequent content item based on the received RLC parameter and may transmit the subsequent content item to the second UE via the eNB.
US09179377B2
The invention relates to handover of a mobile station (12) from a source cell to a target cell when the identity of the target cell in a wireless communication network (10, 11) is ambiguous, a source base station (14) defining the source cell receives an event from the mobile station comprising a cell identifier, investigates if there are more cells in the neighborhood sharing the same cell identifier and sends a handover instruction to the mobile station comprising an identity ambiguity indicator if there are more cells sharing the same cell identifier. The mobile station autonomously initiates establishment of a connection to a target base station defining the target cell based on the identity ambiguity indicator in order to effect handover.
US09179375B2
Disclosed is a method for controlling connections between a terminal and one or more neighbor base station (BSs) by a serving BS with respect to the terminal. The method for controlling a configuration of connections between a terminal and one or more neighbor BSs includes: receiving, by the serving BS and from a control station, information regarding radio access technologies (RATs) which are supported and have been activated or deactivated by the one or more neighbor BSs from a control station; transmitting an activation request message from the serving BS to the control station in order to activate the radio access technology in the deactivated state if there is a need for activating the deactivated RAT to connect the terminal to the one or more neighbor BSs; receiving, by the serving BS and from the control station, an activation response message including information regarding the neighbor BSs and information regarding the at least one specific radio access technology which is activated according to the activation request message; and transmitting a connection request message from the serving BS to the terminal to allow the terminal to be connected to the one or more BSs according to the one or more activated radio access technologies using the at least one specific RAT.
US09179368B2
The present invention discloses a method and policy enforcement functional entity (PE-FE) for implementing quality of service (QoS) request information. The method comprises the following steps: a PE-FE sends a policy decision functional entity (PD-FE) a QoS request message including predetermined parameters which are used to represent the QoS request information of the transport layer. The technical solutions mentioned above enable the QoS request information of the transport layer to be accurately represented, and implement the resource request process in the pull mode.
US09179351B2
A method of receiving a signal of a user equipment in a multi-node system including a plurality of nodes and a base station for controlling the plurality of nodes is provided. The method includes: receiving a reference parameter from the base station; and receiving a node-specific signal from at least one node among the plurality of nodes, wherein a virtual cell parameter required for decoding of the node-specific signal is determined based on the reference parameter, and the node-specific signal is identified by each of the plurality of nodes.
US09179342B2
A system acquisition is initiated to perform inter radio access technology (IRAT) measurement. A waiting period of time is provided before aborting the system acquisition. The period of time is adjustable based on at least one metric. The metric can be a frequency of available measurement gaps, a total number of available measurement gaps, and/or a length of each measurement gap within a subframe. The metric could also be an absolute signal strength of a single neighbor cell and/or a relative signal strength between neighbor cells. The metric could also be a user equipment (UE) measured signal strength compared to a network indicated threshold value for triggering an IRAT measurement report. The metric could also be a percentage of a tone that falls within a measurement gap.
US09179334B2
The technology described automatically resolves cell identity collisions/conflicts in a cellular radio communications network. A detecting node determines that a first cell identifier associated with a first conflicting cell is the same as a second cell identifier associated with a second conflicting cell. One of the first and second conflicting cells is selected to change its cell identifier. A different cell identifier is determined for the selected cell. The different cell identifier is then provided to other cells and preferably to user equipment (UE) terminals without disrupting ongoing UE communications.
US09179323B2
A technique for a wireless device to obtain white space information from a component configured for cellular communication, such as a cellular phone. The wireless device and cellular phone may communicate using a short-range connection, such as a peer-to-peer connection, ensuring that the white space information, which is location based, generated by the cellular phone is also accurate for the location of the wireless device. With such white space information, the wireless device can comply with regulatory requirements for white space use by accessing a regulatory database identifying, by location, available white space channels. When the cellular phone is configured for accessing a wide area network, the cellular telephone may provide the white space information as a set of channels available for white space communication. Channels of the set may be prioritized based on one or more parameters, including frequency, permitted transmit power or detected noise.
US09179320B2
A method of assigning and managing reference signals in a multi-cell environment, and a network device and a terminal for applying the method, are provided. Reference signal patterns may be assigned to multiple femtocells through a long term coordination of a central control unit that is used to control multiple cells.
US09179317B2
The invention relates to an M2M device comprising a communication unit and a SIM card, the said SIM card comprising a controller or microcontroller (A), characterized in that the SIM card comprises at least one sensor (B; C), the said at least one sensor being a sensor selected from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, a movement sensor, a displacement sensor, an inertia or acceleration sensor, a sound sensor, a pressure sensor, an impact sensor and a vibration sensor, the said controller or microcontroller (A) comprising an element for deactivating at least some of its functions following the receipt from the said at least one sensor (B,C) of at least one signal indicating that an environment status value is outside a predetermined range, thus preventing the malicious use of the said SIM card.
US09179314B2
Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically establishing secure connections to wireless networks using a wireless local area network access point which calls for acceptance of terms and conditions of use. During an initial connection, the user is prompted to review and accept terms and conditions associated with use of that wireless network. Once accepted, future connections at that or other access points, which use those same terms and conditions, occur free from user intervention.
US09179313B2
In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a request to access a shared device. The request may include data uniquely identifying a first user of the social-networking system. The first user may be represented by a first user node in a social graph associated with the social-networking system, and wherein the social graph comprises a plurality of user nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the user nodes. The method may further include determining that a social-networking account for each of one or more second users of the social-networking system was compromised, wherein each of the second users previously accessed the shared device. Each of the second users may be respectively associated with second user nodes in the social graph. The method may further include sending, to the shared device, a message indicating that the social-networking accounts for the second users were compromised.
US09179309B2
A method of detecting an error in a security mode configuration procedure conducted at a radio access network is provided. A cell update message is transmitted which causes the radio access network to abort a security mode configuration procedure. After the transmission of an update message, a new security mode configuration is received and the original security mode configuration is replaced with a new security mode configuration. A security mode configuration check is performed on a received downlink message using the new security mode configuration. If the security mode configuration check fails, a further security mode configuration check is performed on the downlink message to detect an error in the security mode configuration procedure. If it is determined there has been an error in the security mode configuration procedure, security mode configuration checks are performed on further downlink messages received from the network using the original security mode configuration.
US09179306B2
Techniques for third-party content delivery via a unique mobile application address are presented. A mobile application on a mobile device of a consumer generates or is assigned a unique address. The consumer uses the mobile application to communicate with an enterprise over a network. The enterprise delegates delivery of content to the mobile application to a third-party service and provides the unique address. The third-party service directly sends the content over the network to the mobile application of the mobile device on behalf of the enterprise.
US09179305B2
Aspects describe enabling two peers that have already paired together under some circumstances to re-identify themselves under different circumstances so that the peers can bypass performing another pairing only to discover that they are already paired. A Bloom filter is constructed from an available pool of locally selected identifiers and is sent to a peer node in a first message. Upon receiving the message with the Bloom filter, peer node checks all its known identifiers. If peer node finds that one of its identifiers is a member of the Bloom filter, peer node sends a reply in order to achieve a mutual identification.
US09179300B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques and apparatus for using a Media Access Control (MAC) address of a station (STA) sending a direct link multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission such that one or more STAs receiving the transmission may interpret a group identifier (ID) indicating a group to which the STAs belong. Using the group ID and the MAC address allows a STA to independently manage its group IDs, independent of an access point (AP) or other STAs in a Basic Service Set (BSS).
US09179294B2
A mobile data communications system that includes a mobile device having a reconfigurable user identification module that stores a mobile identity and provides mobile data communication via a mobile network, subject to the mobile identity being registered with the mobile network, and an account control server that includes memory to store identification and payment details for a user of the mobile device and a mobile identity provider to provide a mobile identity to the mobile device and to an authorization server of a mobile network. In response to a request by a user of the mobile device to obtain data access by a particular mobile network, the account control server provides a mobile identity to the mobile device for storage by the user identification module, provides the same mobile identity to the authorization server of that mobile network, and provides user identification and payment details to that mobile network.
US09179289B2
The invention provides a method and system for remotely accessing. A mobility management device receives a remote access requesting message sent by User Equipment (UE), determines whether the UE possesses right for accessing a home network under the control of a home base station according to contents in the remote access requesting message, when determining the UE possesses the right, selects a GateWay (GW) device. Technical scheme of the invention enables a subscriber to remotely access a home network, even if the subscriber is not in the home network.
US09179285B1
There is provided a system including a mobile device configured to transmit a first advertisement to a listening device and a repeater device, receive a data advertisement from the listening device in response to transmitting the first advertisement to the listening device, the data advertisement including a time difference between the listening device receiving the first advertisement and the listening device receiving a second advertisement transmitted from the repeater device in response to transmitting the first advertisement from the mobile device to the repeater device, and determine a location of the mobile device using the data advertisement including the time difference. In the system, the listening device and the repeater device may each include Bluetooth low energy devices.
US09179283B2
A device may obtain resource utilization data associated with a machine-to-machine device. The resource utilization data may include information identifying a quantity of data transmitted by the machine-to-machine device during a particular period of time, and an amount of network resources utilized by the machine-to-machine device during the particular period of time. The device may determine a billing metric based on the quantity of data and the amount of network resources utilized by the machine-to-machine device. The device may determine, based on the billing metric, a cost associated with the amount of network resources utilized by the machine-to-machine device. The device may charge the fee associated with the utilization of the network resources by the machine-to-machine device to an account of a subscriber associated with the machine-to-machine device.
US09179278B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method comprising displaying in a camera view of a mobile device a captured image of one or more items listed in a menu of items available for selection at a point of interest identifiable, at least in part, by a location. A method may further include transmitting a message comprising parsed text of the one or more items and information representative of the location, and receiving, in response to the transmission of the message, annotations to be displayed in the camera view.
US09179272B2
The method of processing short messages within a wireless communication system comprises an assignment to said short messages of indicators transmitted with said short messages, an initialization (11), upon the transmission of a short message initiating a discussion, of the content of the indicator (IND) associated with this initiating short message, with an initial content comprising an identification of said discussion, and an update (15) of the content of the indicator of each short message sent in response to a received short message and relating to said discussion on the basis of the content of the indicator of said received short message.
US09179267B2
A method of and a system for broadband/infrastructure providers to set, control, operate a coercive/disruptive controller (CDC) to manage and provide broadband content to an end user device. A controller controls broadband content and communication from a broadband network access device to an end user device. The controller utilizes content-specific quality of service (QoS) parameters and operation logic to selectively process broadband content transmitted to the end user devices. The controller operates independently or is dynamically set and controlled by a remotely coupled controller or server. Broadband content is managed and administered according to the QoS parameters, where the QoS parameters are content specific. As such, the QoS parameters are set/reset, assigned/reassigned based on the broadband content, making the QoS related to the broadband content independent of the content provider.
US09179258B1
Location data that corresponds to one or more user devices each associated with a user may be obtained. Based on the location data, the particular location of a user may be determined. Similarities between various users may be identified when it is determined that those users have visited the same locations. Upon at least two users visiting a threshold amount of the same locations, one or more recommendations may be provided to the users, whereby the recommendations relate to places that those users have yet to visit. In addition, the users may have the opportunity to reveal information about themselves to other users, while maintaining their anonymity. As a result, the users may meet people and learn about new places that are likely to be of interest to those users.
US09179256B1
A user can be notified of certain events or occurrences according to time and location information specified by the user. In some embodiments, a user can specify a location such as an office or warehouse, and can select an automatic range such that whenever the user is within the automatic range of that location, notifications are automatically delivered to the user. The user can also specify a management range, such that when the user is outside the automatic range but inside the management range the user will not receive the notification unless the notification has been pending for a specified delay period. Such an approach enables notifications to be delivered when the notifications are most relevant. If the maximum delay has passed or the user is outside the management range, the notification can be automatically delivered to the user or another user can be selected to receive the notification.
US09179250B2
A user's context history is analyzed to identify transitions between contexts therein. The identified transitions are used to build a routine model for the user. The routine model includes transition rules indicating a source context, a destination context, and, optionally, a probability that the user will transition from the source context to the destination context, based on the user's historical behavior. A customized recommendation agent for the user is built using the routine model. The customized recommendation agent selects recommendations from a corpus to present to the user, based on the routine model and the user's current or predicted future context.
US09179242B2
Methods of registering a Machine Type Communications (MTC) device for scheduling MTC device transmissions by a network element are provided. The method includes registering a MTC device. The registering includes assigning at least one resource block to the MTC device for transmitting at least one MTC device transmission. The registering includes establishing a triggering mechanism that detects when a trigger event occurs, such that when the trigger event occurs, the MTC device transmits the at least one MTC device transmission on the assigned at least one resource block. The registering includes configuring the network element to receive the at least one MTC device transmission based on the assigned resource block and the established triggering mechanism. The method includes allowing the MTC device to transmit the at least one MTC device transmission over the resource block that is assigned during the registration.
US09179227B2
An embodiment of a hearing assistance device comprises a housing, a power source, a radio circuit, an antenna and a transmission line. The radio circuit is within the housing and electrically connected to the power source. The antenna has an aperture, and the radio circuit is at least substantially within the aperture. The transmission line electrically connects to the antenna to the radio circuit. Various antenna embodiments include a flex circuit antenna.
US09179226B2
A partially implantable hearing device comprises a microphone assembly to be worn by the user for capturing audio signals from ambient sound, an audio signal processing unit for processing the audio signals captured by the microphone and an implantable assembly with a power supply and an electromechanical output transducer for stimulating the user's hearing according to the audio signals processed by the audio signal processing unit. Also a microphone assembly provides for transcutaneous transmission of audio signals captured by the microphone assembly to the implantable assembly and for transcutaneous transmission of power to microphone assembly from the implantable assembly.
US09179223B2
An audio system includes a signal processor for processing an audio signal, and a feedback suppressor circuit configured for modelling a feedback signal path of the audio system by provision of a feedback compensation signal based on sets of feedback model parameters for the feedback signal path that are stored in a repository.
US09179213B2
A speaker apparatus for producing sound comprising of a housing, a plurality of covers, a speaker driver, a radiator, a resonator and a resonator stand which in combination provide an enhanced low frequency sound output.
US09179211B2
An earpiece including an external surface having a first fixed configuration disposable within the outer ear and having a passage adapted for retention of an in ear device a portion of which extends outwardly to releasably couple to an earplug adjacent the earpiece, the earpiece heatable to achieve a moldable condition which allows reconfiguration of the external surface by engagement with the outer ear to dispose the external surface in a second fixed configuration in greater conformity to the outer ear.
US09179207B2
A speaker box is disclosed. The speaker box includes a housing and a speaker unit. The housing includes a bottom, a side connected with the bottom, and a rear volume formed by the side and the bottom, the side including a first side and a second side connecting with the first side. The speaker unit includes a frame, a magnetic circuit unit accommodated in the frame, a vibration unit positioned above the magnetic circuit unit and fixed to the frame, and a front volume. The frame includes a first sidewall abutting against the first side, and a second sidewall connecting with the first sidewall. The first side includes a first mounting portion, the first sidewall includes a second mounting portion engaging with the first mounting portion.
US09179204B2
A normal system OSU, a redundancy system OSU, an optical switch, a concentration switch, and a controller which detects a command input by operation control and performs control according to the command are provided, and in such a state that the controller detects a redundancy system switching command indicating that the normal system OSU is switched to the redundancy system OSU, the controller induces the concentration switch to change a storage destination of a down signal, instructs the normal system OSU which is the switching source OSU to stop transmission of a transmission permission message, instructs the optical switch to switch a path after receiving remaining data processing completion notifications from the concentration switch and the normal system OSU which is the switching source OSU, writes accumulated information about the normal system OSU, which is the switching source OSU, in the redundancy system OSU, and notifies the concentration switch of completion of switching, whereby a down signal is transmitted from the concentration switch.
US09179199B2
Pausing and resuming playback of a media item across a group of devices that belong to a user. A server maintains a media queue that includes playback records that contain a unique media item identifier and a bookmark position. When a pause instruction is received on a client device, the pause instruction is transmitted to the server as a playback record. The server in turn transmits the received playback record to other client devices within a group of client devices that belong to the user account of the client device.
US09179191B2
An information processing apparatus includes a sight line detecting unit configured to detect a sight line of a viewer who is viewing content data and output sight line information which is a result of the detection, a viewing condition estimating unit configured to estimate a viewing condition of the viewer based on the output sight line information and visual attention information relating to the content data, and a content suggesting unit configured to make various suggestions with respect to the content data for the viewer based on the estimated viewing condition.
US09179190B2
There is described a method for providing a video signal to a user, comprising: sampling said video signal at a user specific sampling rate, thereby obtaining temporally organized sample amplitudes; removing a time interrelation between said temporally organized sample amplitudes, thereby obtaining sample amplitudes having no time interrelation; transmitting said sample amplitudes having no time interrelation to said user; and reconstructing said video signal by inserting a user-specific sampling interval between successive ones of said sample amplitudes, said user-specific sampling interval corresponding to said user-specific sampling rate.
US09179185B2
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to determine the number of people in an area. An example method includes collecting media identification information corresponding to media presented at a location, responding to a received request to register a mobile device with a base station by storing device identification information for the mobile device at the base station, timestamping the device identification information, determining a number of mobile devices located in an area based on the stored device identification information, and identifying a number of persons exposed to the media based on the media identification information and the device identification information.
US09179184B1
Methods, systems, and media for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided. In accordance with some implementations, methods for detecting a presentation of media content on a display device are provided, the methods comprising: detecting, using a light sensor, light levels in the light sensor's surroundings; generating a signal representing the light levels; detecting, using a hardware processor, at least one variation in light levels indicative of a presentation of a video scene based on the signal; detecting at least one variation in light levels indicative of a scene change subsequent to the video scene based on the signal; and determining that media content is being presented on a display device in response to detecting the variation in light levels indicative of the presentation of the video scene and the variation in light levels indicative of the scene change.
US09179177B2
A digital television (DTV) receiver includes a receiver to receive a digital television signal including a plurality of extended text table (ETT) instances that appear in transport stream packets with common PID values, the ETT instances having common table ID values, each ETT instance comprising a section header and a message body, the section header containing a table identification (ID) extension field that serves to establish uniqueness of each ETT instance, the message body containing an extended text message (ETM) which provides detailed descriptions of a virtual channel or an event associated with each ETT instance, wherein the section header further contains a protocol version field indicating a protocol version and a section syntax indicator field indicating a section syntax indicator, a demodulator to demodulate the digital television signal and an identifier to identify at least one pertinent ETT instance from the plurality of ETT instances.
US09179176B2
A method for operating a data receiver for audio and/or video data, wherein a planned and variable program title sequence having program titles is recorded, audio and/or video data relating to at least one program title are received via a data link and are buffered, and audio and/or video data of at least one program title are reproduced. The transmission resources of the data link for audio and/or video data to be transmitted and to be buffered are distributed over at least two program titles that have not yet been reproduced by the data receiver. Also disclosed are a data receiver associated with the method and a media reproduction system connected thereto, in particular in a vehicle.
US09179157B2
The present principles relate to a hypothetical reference decoder (HRD) for a Scalable Video Coding extension for a compression algorithm. One such implementation proposes to modify the H.264/AVC HRD for use with the SVC of AVC. That implementation defines HRD constraints for each interoperability point of SVC. One implementation in particular is described, but other implementations are possible and are contemplated by the present principles. The changes for spatial, temporal, and SNR scalability are shown. There are also changes to the related HRD parameters followed that are shown. The several mentioned implementations provide rules for an HRD for SVC. At least one implementation proposes the SVC-HRD rules as modifications to the AVC-HRD rules. A user may use the proposed SVC-HRD rules to build an SVC-HRD and test a bitstream for SVC compliance.
US09179146B2
The present disclosure relates to encoding and decoding apparatus and method using intra prediction. The encoding apparatus includes a reference pixel characteristics extractor for receiving reference pixel(s) included in neighboring blocks of a target block to encode to determine a reference pixel characteristic and determining whether adaptive filtering is applied to the reference pixel(s), based on reference pixel characteristic; a first intra predictor responsive to when the adaptive filtering is determined by the reference pixel characteristics extractor to be applied for comparing between results of performing intra prediction using high-frequency filtered reference pixel and intra prediction using high-frequency-unfiltered reference pixel to output the cost-efficient result along with filtering information indicating whether to perform filtering; and a second intra predictor for outputting the result of performing the intra prediction using the high-frequency-unfiltered reference pixel when the reference pixel characteristics extractor determines that the adaptive filtering is not to be applied.
US09179143B2
A method of compressing digital data comprising the steps of: (i) reading digital data as series of binary coded words representing a context and a codeword to be compressed; (ii) calculating distribution output data for the input data and assigning variable length codewords to the result; and (iii) periodically recalculating the codewords in accordance with a predetermined schedule, in order to continuously update the codewords and their lengths.
US09179141B2
According to one embodiment, a three-dimensional image display apparatus displays, when an event of requesting a check of a viewing position occurs, a three-dimensional image for testing, by displaying on the display a three-dimensional display image which is obtained by using a left-eye image and a right-eye image included in the three-dimensional still image data for testing in a storage device. The three-dimensional image for testing includes such a first image that when the three-dimensional image for testing is viewed from a predetermined viewing area, stereoscopic images of a plurality of vertical rods disposed at different depth positions are perceived.
US09179139B2
A method for viewing of a three dimensional image of a scene with a monocular device on one eye for viewing a first two-dimensional image of the scene and providing a second display for viewing a second two-dimensional image of the scene in a stereo image pair with the other eye. Using a camera to provide an image of the second display to determine the position of the second display relative to the first display. Adjusting the alignment of the first two-dimensional image in correspondence to the determined position of the second display relative to the first display, whereby the viewer perceives a three dimensional image of the scene and one or more other viewers that are not wearing monocular devices can view the second display with both eyes so that they can perceive a two-dimensional image of the scene.
US09179138B2
An image display apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: an IR emitter controller for recognizing a pair of 3D glasses connected to the image display apparatus; a video multiplexer for receiving a plurality of displayed video data using a plurality of pairs of 3D glasses, setting a frame rate for the plurality of video data to assign a frame period thereto, and multiplexing the plurality video data according to the frame period assigned at the set frame rate, when the plurality of pairs of 3D glasses is connected to the image data apparatus; and a display unit for frame-sequentially displaying the multiplexed video data.
US09179135B2
A display apparatus and a method for controlling thereof are provided. A display apparatus having a multi-view mode to concurrently provide different contents to different viewers includes a plurality of receivers operable in the multi-view mode to receive a plurality of different contents selected by multiple viewers, a video processor operable in the multi-view mode to process video data of the plurality of different contents received by the plurality of receivers; a video output which receives the video data processed by the video processor to display the plurality of different contents, an audio processor operable in the multi-view mode to process audio data corresponding to the selected contents, received by the receivers, and an audio output which outputs the processed audio data to a plurality of eyeglasses apparatuses for viewing the plurality of different contents, wherein a number of channels associated with the processed audio data output to the eyeglasses apparatus is different from a number of channels associated with the audio data received by the receivers.
US09179127B2
This 3D image capture device includes: a light transmitting section 1 with first and second light transmitting areas 1L and 1R; an image sensor 2a with a plurality of unit blocks; an imaging section 3; and an image processing section which generates multi-viewpoint images based on photoelectrically converted signals supplied from the image sensor 2a. If functions representing the respective spectral transmittances of the first light transmitting area 1L, the second light transmitting area 1R, a first type of pixel, and a second type of pixel with respect to the wavelength λ of visible radiation are identified by TL(λ), TR(λ), T1(λ), and T2(λ), respectively, TL(λ)≠TR(λ) and T1(λ)≠T2(λ) are satisfied, and each of TL(λ), TR(λ), T1(λ) and T2(λ) has at least one local maximum value and at least one local minimum value within each of red, green and blue wavelength ranges.
US09179118B2
Techniques are described for determining whether a stream is in a stable state and permitting adjustment of the PTS value when the stream is in a stable state. The stream can be in a stable state when PTS values received over a period of time do not change unexpectedly. For example, when the stream is in a stable state, the PTS value for audio or video can be adjusted based on system buffer levels, i.e., over flow or under flow. The amount of adjustment of the PTS value can be based on whether the buffer level appears to be moving into greater overflow or underflow. In some cases, when the stream is not in a stable state, the audio is permitted to be played back at a sample rate and video is permitted to be played back at a frame rate instead of being controlled by PTS.
US09179109B1
A doorbell system can include a remote computing device and a doorbell that has a camera. The doorbell can enter a camera sleep mode wherein the camera is configured not to record. The remote computing device can be used to override a power setting of the doorbell to enable the doorbell to record a video. Then, the remote computing device can receive the video that was recorded by the doorbell.
US09179105B1
Techniques and systems for controlling a network video camera with physical privacy feedback are provided. For example, computing device, a method, and a computer-program product may be provided. The computing device may include one or more lenses and one or more blocking mechanisms, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms are configured to selectively block the one or more lenses from capturing video images, and wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms include a physical body that provides visible feedback that the one or more lenses are blocked. The computing device, method, and computer-program product may include detecting an occurrence of an event, and activating the one or more blocking mechanisms to block the one or more lenses from capturing video images, wherein the one or more blocking mechanisms are activated to block the one or more lenses when the occurrence of the event is detected.
US09179103B2
A digital video management device enables controllably viewing digital video streams captured by remote surveillance cameras on a display device, such as a mobile display device. The device is coupled to a packet-switched network to receive a digital video stream captured by a remote surveillance camera. The device buffers packets of the digital video stream and then controls a packet output flow rate of the buffer between a zero output rate and a faster-than-real-time output rate. For example, the packet output flow rate can be set to the zero output rate at a first time and the faster-than-real-time output rate at a second time subsequent to the first time.
US09179100B2
A method of video conferencing among two or more video conference endpoints is provided, wherein the method comprises steps of: processing media data of the video conference into unified coding formats while switching media data of the video conference between the two or among more video conference endpoints; and saving the processed media data into recording files of continuous presence mode and lecture mode, wherein the recording file of continuous presence mode saves media data generated by the two or more video conference endpoints, the recording file of lecture mode saves media data generated by a video conference endpoint who is the lecturer in the video conference. Accordingly, a device of video conferencing is provided.
US09179099B2
A method and system for implementing a video conference and a broadband mobile hotspot device are disclosed in the present document. The method includes: each broadband mobile hotspot device participating in the conference sending a local panorama video image and voice signals to a multipoint conference server; the multipoint conference server sending the received panorama video images and voice signals to other broadband mobile hotspot devices participating in the conference except a sender; and after receiving panorama video images and voice signals of the other broadband mobile hotspot devices participating in the conference, each broadband mobile hotspot device participating in the conference mosaicking the local panorama video image and the received panorama video images as a conference panorama video image, and synchronizing the conference panorama video image with the received voice signals to send to a terminal device participating in the conference under the broadband mobile hotspot device.
US09179096B2
Described are systems and methods that allow a video conference participant to efficiently review semantically meaningful events within the video streams shared by their peers. Because participants are engaged in real-time communication, it is important to provide tools that let them quickly jump back to past events that were shown previously, not requiring them to manipulate a standard video timeline. Our techniques thus find meaningful events in the video stream such as scrolling pages, moving windows, typing text, etc. Using these techniques, a participant can then easily go back to e.g. the last PDF page shown by a peer, while still listening to the live audio.
US09179094B2
A method of controlling a photographing apparatus having a voice call function is described. A determination of whether the voice call function is being performed is made upon an input of a shutter release signal of the photographing apparatus. A distance between the photographing apparatus and an object is sensed when the voice call function is being performed upon the input of the shutter release signal. A barrel driving mode is disabled based on the shutter release signal when the sensed distance is equal to or less than a predetermined value.
US09179089B2
An electronic device includes a body, a disc cover, a button, at least one guiding post, at least one first hook and a number of resisting elements, and a button securing structure. The button securing structure defines a button groove for receiving the button and includes at least one sleeve, a sliding bar, and an elastic element. The button groove includes a sidewall detachably clasped by the first hooks. The sleeve defines a pivot hole defining at least one groove containing lubricant on its inner wall. The sliding bar is slidably coupled to the body and detachably clasps the disc cover. One end of the sliding bar resists against the resisting elements. The elastic member includes one end clasped by a clasping member protruding from the sliding bar, and an opposite end being clasped by a second hook protruding from the body.
US09179080B2
Methods, devices, and computer program products for capturing images with reduced blurriness in low light conditions are contained herein. In one aspect, a method of capturing an image is disclosed. The method includes capturing a plurality of first images with a first exposure length. The method further includes aligning each of the plurality of first images with each other and combining the aligned plurality of first images into a combined first image. The method further includes capturing a second image with a second exposure length, wherein the second exposure length is longer than the first exposure length and using the second image to adjust the brightness of the combined first image.
US09179075B2
A photographic stage is provided that includes at least one camera, a scanner, and a computer configured to capture a plurality of images from the at least one camera. The computer is also configured to detect a tagged item based on data from the scanner and to identify the tagged item in at least one of the images. A method of using the photographic stage and an apparatus is also provided.
US09179069B2
A photographing device includes a display unit, a movement detection unit and a display control unit. The display unit displays a preview image of being a target to photograph. The movement detection unit detects the preview image being moving from status at which the preview has been photographed as a reference photographed image. The display control unit displays a reference line on the preview image. The reference line has been set in the reference photographed image. The display control unit changes a display position and a direction of the reference line in the display unit based on a detected result by the movement detection unit.
US09179065B2
An image processing apparatus includes: an imaging device; a main memory that stores motion picture data acquired by the imaging device; a motion picture compressing unit that compresses the motion picture data stored in the main memory; a still image frame acquiring unit that acquires a still image frame at arbitrary timing from the motion picture data acquired by the imaging device; a line memory that stores still image data that is a part of the still image frame acquired by the still image frame acquiring unit; and a still image compressing unit that performs a compression process of the still image data stored in the line memory. The still image compressing unit compresses the still image data in real time. The main memory stores the motion picture data and stores compressed data that is compressed in real time by the still image compressing unit.
US09179059B2
An image capture element includes phase difference pixel groups (first and second pixel groups) corresponding to first and second images with a phase difference according to a focus shift, includes a third pixel group corresponding to a normal third image, outputs a first image and a second image with Bayer arrays from the first and second pixel groups, and outputs a third image with the same color array as a RAW image from the third pixel group. A color split image is generated based on the first and second images acquired from the image capture element, a color image for display is generated based on the third image, and the color split image is synthesized with part of the generated color image for display to thereby display a live-view image in which the split image is synthesized.
US09179051B1
A voice-activated hands-free camera holder system is removably-installable to a patient operating station for adjustably-positioning a micro-camera via a plurality of verbal commands to assist a medical provider, such as a surgeon, during a surgical procedure. The voice-activated hands-free camera holder system includes a voice-activation assembly and a manual controller unit enabling the user to manipulate the micro-camera such that both hands of the user remain free for use during the procedure while providing the user with an ideal vantage angle for observation.
US09179050B2
The electronic device includes: a display section including a monitor unit having a display panel; a slide unit having a space in which the display section can be accommodated, the slide unit slidably supporting the display section; and a slide piece adjacent to the slide unit in a slide direction of the display section, the slide piece slidably supporting the display section. The display section slides between a retracted position at which the display section is accommodated in the space of the slide unit and an extended position to which the display section is pulled out from the slide unit.
US09179046B1
A method for processing a source frame is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a intermediate video frame by de-mosaicing the source frame, wherein (i) the source frame has a source resolution and has a source color space and (ii) the intermediate video frame has the source resolution and has an intermediate color space, (B) generating a video stream by compressing the intermediate video frame with a video compression technique and (C) generating a still picture from the source frame, wherein (i) the still picture has the source resolution and comprises a raw picture and (ii) generating the still picture occurs substantially simultaneously with generating the video stream.
US09179043B2
Methods and systems present, to a user, different versions of sample images. Each of the sample images is classified into at least one image-element category of multiple image-element categories. Such methods and systems request the user to select preferred versions of the sample images from the different versions of the sample images, and receive in response a user selection of preferred images. The methods and systems determine user-specific preferences for each of the image-element categories based on the user selection of the preferred images. The methods and systems receive an image-processing request relating to user images from the user, and classify the user images into the image-element categories. When processing the image-processing request, the methods and systems alter renditions of the user images according to the user-specific preferences for each image-element category.
US09179041B2
A method of determining one or more representative color encodings is disclosed. A set of color encoding clusters is determined for a plurality of candidate color encodings based on a clustering criterion related to one or more desired perceptual attributes of the plurality of candidate color encodings. Each candidate color encoding is assigned to one cluster within the set of color encoding clusters. A representative color encoding is determined for each cluster within the set of color encoding clusters depending on the candidate color encodings assigned to each cluster.
US09179036B2
Image data corresponding to a plurality of documents placed on a document plate is individually output. In this case, if an inclined document is included in the documents, the document is output after being subjected to inclination correction. However, if a document which does not accept the inclination correction is included, documents other than the document are output.
US09179033B2
The present disclosure relates to digital watermarking. One claim recites a method to detect two or more different digital watermarks in media. The method includes: receiving captured imagery of the media, the captured imagery comprising a plurality of image frames; for a first image frame applying a first watermark detector to search for a first digital watermark hidden within the first image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the first watermark detector; and for a second image frame applying a second, different watermark detector to search for a second, different watermark hidden within the second image frame, in which an electronic processor is programmed as the second watermark detector. Other claims and combinations are provided too.
US09179021B2
Photos are shared among devices that are in close proximity to one another and for which there is a connection among the devices. The photos can be shared automatically, or alternatively based on various user inputs. Various different controls can also be placed on sharing photos to restrict the other devices with which photos can be shared, the manner in which photos can be shared, and/or how the photos are shared.
US09179018B2
Scanner-driven push operation realized by image forming apparatus having no auxiliary storage device
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus coupled to the network. The image forming apparatus stores, in a memory device, an information processing apparatus identifier that is assigned to a button of the image forming apparatus and transmits, to the information processing apparatus, press-down information of the button that includes the information processing apparatus identifier. The image forming apparatus additionally reads, if, in the information processing apparatus, it is determined the information processing apparatus identifier in the press-down information matches an information processing apparatus identifier stored within the information processing apparatus, a document image set in a scanner, in response to a scan execution request that is received from the information processing apparatus via the network. The image forming apparatus further transmits image data of the document image to the information processing apparatus via the network, and resets the press-down information.
US09179006B2
A modified end user network access point includes a switching module and a controller to track usage of the end user network access point by wirelessly connected end user devices. The tracked usage information is transmitted from the end user network access point to a remotely coupled data center. The data center collects usage information from a plurality of different end user network access points. The collected usage information is in turn transmitted from the data center to a network carrier. The network carrier uses the received usage information to bill users for accessing the end user network access points and using any services provided by the end user network access points. An owner of each end user network access point is compensated by the network carrier each instance that an end user device utilizes the end user network access point to access the network carrier's communications network.
US09179004B2
A method and an apparatus for charging, related to the technical field of communications, are invented in an attempt to enhance charging accuracy of a charging system. A method for charging comprises: acquiring an IMEI number of a target charging terminal; determining a type of the target charging terminal by utilizing the IMEI number of the target charging terminal, according to a corresponding relationship between relevant information of a terminal identifier and a terminal type; and charging the target charging terminal according to the type of the target charging terminal.
US09178999B1
A method may include receiving, at a call center, a call from a customer, identifying an agent to handle the call and forwarding the call to the agent. The method may also include monitoring the call to identify whether one or more particular words or phrases was voiced by the customer or the agent, determining, based on the monitoring, that a first word or phrase of the one or more particular words or phrases was voiced and generating an alert or message to forward to a workstation associated with a supervisor in response to determining that the first word or phrase or was voiced. The method may further include forwarding the alert or message to the workstation associated with the supervisor.
US09178988B2
A user device may identify a received a signal indicating an incoming call; determine that another user device has answered the call; generate call log information that indicates that the other user device has answered the call; and store or output the generated call log information. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of user devices may receive a ring signal indicating an incoming call; a particular user device, in the set of user devices, may answer the call; and another user device, in the set of user devices, may store a unified call log. The unified call log may indicate that the particular user device answered the call, and may further indicate that the other user device did not miss the call.
US09178986B2
The present invention refers to a method (45) for identification (53, 73) of an impairment (59) within a telecommunication line (13), the method (45) comprising determining (49) first measurement data (Hlog) that characterize a transfer function of the telecommunication line (13). In order to provide a method (45) for identification of an impairment (59) within the telecommunication line (13) that can be applied on the telecommunication line (13) without interrupting the operation of the line (13) and that can easily be implemented in connection with existing system such as existing DSL systems, it is suggested that the method (45) further comprise determining (55) at least one periodicity interval (Δf1, Δf2) of oscillations of the transfer function and that the impairment (59) be identified depending on said determining (55).
US09178979B1
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for receiving, by a system comprising a processor, a first request to transition a communication device between a hearing mode and a teletype mode, and transmitting, by the system, a SIP command to a telecommunication network to switch between registration and deregistration of the communication, where the SIP command is transmitted responsive to expiration of a period for disabling switching between the registration and the deregistration. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09178971B2
Erroneous input operations are more surely inhibited than usual erroneous input operations, by an electronic device 1 including a contact detection unit 40, a pressure detection unit 60 and a control unit 10, in a manner that the contact detection unit 40 detects a contact, the pressure detection unit 60 detects a pressure on the contact detection unit 40, the control unit 10 receives an input, and the control unit 10, based on data having already been input, sets a threshold of the pressure for receiving the input.
US09178968B2
Frame formatting for communications within single user, multiple user, multiple access, and/or MIMO wireless communications. A signal is processed within a communication device using at least two respective downclocking ratios (e.g., a first downclocking ratio applied to a first portion of the signal such as a frame or packet extracted there from, a second downclocking ratio applied to a second portion of the signal). Alternatively, a signal is divided into more than two respective portions, and different respective downclocking ratios are applied to those different respective portions (e.g., a first downclocking ratio applied to a first portion of the signal, and so on up to an n-th downclocking ratio applied to an n-th portion of the signal). Some implementations apply a singular or common downclocking ratio to more than one portion of the signal (which may be contiguous/adjacent or non-contiguous/non-adjacent within the signal).
US09178963B2
A system and method for facilitating asynchronous transmission of digital data between at least two parties over a communication network. The system comprises a digital data facilitator having a digital storage device for storing digital data transmitted over the communication network from a first party, the digital data facilitator having the ability to review a request transmitted from a second party, the digital data having an associated first and second identifier, the second identifier being associated with the second party, the second identifier being associated with a telephone number, the first identifier being associated with an electronic identifier of the first party.
US09178960B2
Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for recovering resource connections using persistent subscriptions. In one illustrative embodiment, the method comprises subscribing to an event of a predefined resource to create a persistent subscription, wherein upon receiving notification of the event indicating the predefined resource is unavailable, and responsive to receiving the notification, reconnecting to the predefined resource. The method further comprises creating a new listener for receiving event notifications from the predefined resource, obtaining subscription information related to the predefined resource from the persistent subscription, and re-subscribing to the event of the predefined resource.
US09178959B2
The invention includes a method and apparatus for predicting value of caching content items. In one embodiment, a method for selecting ones of a plurality of content items to be cached includes, for each of the content items, determining a probability of use of the content item comprising a probability that the content item will be used if cached, determining a value of caching the content item, and computing a caching value estimate associated with the content item using the probability of use of the content item and the value of caching the content item. The content items to be cached may then be selected using the respective caching value estimates of the content items.
US09178941B2
In a method for requesting media replication in a collaborative communication session, a message is sent which specifies that a communication medium for a collaborative communication session, which is currently being transmitted to at least one terminal, should additionally be transmitted to at least one other terminal, with the at least one other terminal being indicated in the message as the recipient of the communication medium. In a method for assigning a communication medium for a collaborative communication session, a corresponding message is received, and the communication medium is assigned to the at least one other terminal as the recipient of the communication medium. The methods are carried out by appropriately designed apparatuses.
US09178936B2
Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for selected alert delivery in a distributed processing system are provided. Embodiments include receiving a plurality of events from one or more event producing components of the distributed processing system; creating, by an incident analyzer, in dependence upon the events a truth space representing events that make one or more conditional event processing rules true, the truth space including a set of truth points, each truth point including a set of events and a set of event locations; creating, by the incident analyzer, in dependence upon the truth space one or more alerts; and sending, by the incident analyzer, the alerts to at least one component of the distributed processing system.
US09178928B2
Some embodiments provide a scalable content streaming system that performs server-side archiving. The content streaming system includes a set of streaming server clusters, a remote storage server, and a set of distributed servers. Each streaming server cluster includes at least one streaming server and a local storage server. Each streaming server of a particular cluster distributes a content stream that is uploaded to the streaming server while also recording the content stream to the local storage server of that particular cluster. The remote storage server stores files from the local storage servers that are transferred when recording to those files is complete. The set of distributed servers distribute a live stream of content from a particular streaming server when the content is being uploaded to the particular streaming server and distribute a recorded stream of the content from the remote storage server when the upload is complete.
US09178920B2
The saving device for image sharing includes an image acquiring unit configured to acquire the images offered by a sharer of the images, a sharee information storing unit configured to store sharee information with respect to at least one sharee, a subject assessing unit configured to assess whether or not a person subject is included in the acquired images, an image associating unit configured to associate the images assessed as not including a person subject with the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information, and a shared image determining unit configured to determine the images to be shared with the sharee or sharees from among the associated images and the images assessed as including a person subject, based on the sharee information. The image sharing system and an image sharing method use such a device.
US09178911B2
A device, method, computer program product, and network subsystem are described for associating a first mobile agent with a first security policy and a second mobile agent with a second security policy or for providing a first agent with code for responding to situational information about the first agent and about a second agent and for evaluating a received message at least in response to an indication of the first security policy and to an indication of the second security policy or for deploying the first agent.
US09178900B1
A computer executes a suspicious software sample directly on its CPU in order to detect if the software sample is malicious. The software sample does not execute within a sandbox or virtual machine. Before the sample executes, a memory state of the computer is saved and a virtual disk file is created to bootstrap the computer at a later time. Malicious behavior of the software sample is collected while it executes and a report is generated. Hard disk access requests are redirected to a virtual disk file. The software sample does not detect that it is being analyzed. After execution of the sample, the computer is reverts to a clean state by bootstrapping the computer from the saved virtual disk file and then restoring the computer's volatile and non-volatile virtual memory from the saved memory state. A new software sample may then be executed and analyzed on the clean computer.
US09178897B2
Methods and apparatus for use in identifying cyber-security threats for an aircraft are provided. The method includes storing parts information relating to each hardware and software component used on the aircraft in an aircraft parts database, receiving, by a computing device, a cyber-security threat, and determining, by the computing device, a threat is relevant to the aircraft by comparing the received threats to the stored parts information.
US09178893B2
A method for rapid peer-to-peer link establishment among a set of mobile devices includes operating a first second device, advertising system attributes in a wireless beacon by the second device, receiving the system attributes from the wireless beacon at the first device, comparing the system attributes to a service needed by the first device, and, if the second device is compatible based on the comparing, establishing a wireless link by the first device to the second device. A system and wireless device for rapid peer-to-peer link establishment among a set of mobile devices are also described.
US09178886B2
A virtualization manager receives a permission request indicating a user and an entity in a virtual machine system. The virtualization manager flattens a permissions database to generate a flattened database view. Using the flattened database view, the virtualization manager determines whether the user has permission to access the entity in the virtual machine system and returns an indication of whether the user has permission to access the entity in the virtual machine system.
US09178881B2
A cryptographic process is provided which allows a server to verify that a client device is genuine. The client device is provisioned with first and second data elements and a key which can be stored in fuses at the time of manufacture. When the client device requests digital content such as multimedia from the server, the server issues a genuineness challenge to the client device. The genuineness challenge is a message which includes a message authentication code (MAC) derived from a secret key of the server, in addition to an encrypted timestamp nonce. The client device prepares a response which includes a MAC derived from the client's key and the genuineness challenge. The response also includes the first and second data elements but not the client's key. The server processes the response to confirm that the client device is genuine.
US09178877B1
A first device may receive a first password from a second device. The first password may be generated based on first time information and first location information identifying a geographic location of the second device. The first device may, determine a second password based on second time information and second location information identifying the geographic location of the second device. The first device may determine that the second device is located at the geographic location at a particular time when characters in the first password match characters in the second password, and may provide a service based on determining that the second device is located at the geographic location at the particular time.
US09178861B2
Systems and methods are described for off-site user access control to communications services via a site-based communications network. Embodiments operate in context of sites, each having one or more site-based networks in communication with external networks via one or more on-site routers. User devices are provided with controlled access to those external networks via wired or wireless connections between those user devices and the site based networks. In some embodiments, on-site routers maintain route maps that indicate which user devices are authorized. Standard routing functions are used so that traffic from authorized devices is routed normally, while traffic from unauthorized devices is automatically forwarded to an off-site (e.g., cloud-based) authentication system. As devices become remotely authenticated, the off-site authentication system can remotely update route maps of the on-site routers to add those devices.
US09178855B1
Systems and methods for multi-function and multi-purpose cryptography are described, including obtaining, by a cipher engine executing on a computing system, a message and an identifier of a server, the message is to be encrypted by the cipher engine, which is configured to perform at least one of decryption and encryption using a plurality of cryptographic schemes associated with a plurality of servers; determining a cryptographic scheme of the plurality of cryptographic schemes based on the identifier of the server, the cryptographic scheme is associated with the server and defines an encryption scheme; encrypting, by the cipher engine, the message using the encryption scheme to produce a ciphertext; and sending the ciphertext to the server.
US09178853B1
External network connectivity of an internal host can be measured by giving an external computer a payload identifying the internal host and instructions to deliver the payload to an external host. The external host may receive the payload and contact the internal host. The internal host's response and receipt of the payload may then determine the Internet connectivity of the internal host. The path from the computer through the trusted host to the internal server shows external network connectivity without exposing the internal host to the external network directly.
US09178841B2
A geographically limited communications system comprises a server for receiving one or more posts or messages from one or more location-enabled portable devices. The server may store these posts and retrieve them based on location information stored along with the posts. This allows only posts left at a particular location to be viewed by users at that location. In addition, posts may only be left at a user's current location in one or more embodiments. The server may notify a user when another user leaves a post near or at one of the user's previous posts.
US09178831B2
Some embodiments relate to a network comprising two RBridges connected by a link where the two RBridges are not the ingress and egress RBridge for said frames, wherein said RBridges automatically exchange information as to their support of hop-by-hop reversible frame aggregation, reversible header compression, and reversible data compression, and wherein if both RBridges support any or all of these features in the same fashion, one or more of said features are automatically applied to appropriate frames at the transmitting RBridge and removed at the receiving RBridge, increasing the throughput of the link.
US09178825B2
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies and discloses a data processing method and apparatus to obtain a DPD non-linear distortion compensation coefficient under a QPSK mode. The embodiments of the present invention receive a first data flow, and perform interpolation into the first data flow to obtain a second data flow; receive a third data flow, and calculate a data flow signal quality difference between the third data flow and the second data flow; and obtain a DPD non-linear distortion compensation coefficient according to the data flow signal quality difference and the third data flow or the second data flow. The embodiments of the present invention are applicable to the scenarios of obtaining a DPD non-linear distortion compensation coefficient in QPSK mode.
US09178813B2
A network system has: a node performing transmission/reception of a frame based on FCoE; a network; a controller performing management of the node and the network; and a gateway provided with respect to the node. The frame is classified into a control frame and a data frame. The gateway determines whether a frame received from the node is the control frame or the data frame, forwards the control frame to the controller, and forwards the data frame to the network. The controller performs the management based on the control frame received from the gateway. The network transfers the data frame received from the gateway to a destination node without through the controller. The node has a retransmission control and reordering unit configured to perform retransmission control and reordering processing with respect to the data frame.
US09178805B2
The present application is directed towards policy based routing for intelligent traffic management via multiple next hops. In some embodiments, the systems and methods disclosed herein may provide management of inbound and outbound traffic across multiple network links, and may further provide reliability in case of link failure, and provide balancing of traffic, responsive to the latency and bandwidth requirements of various applications. Accordingly, these systems and methods may provide intelligent policy-based routing and network and port address translation, sensitive to application traffic types, protocols, source IP addresses and ports, destination IP addresses and ports, or any combination thereof, and can balance traffic loads among multiple available paths based on multiple traffic characteristics. The routing may performed on a packet-by-packet basis, a transaction-by-transaction basis, or a session-by-session basis, and the systems and methods may include capabilities for application-aware health monitoring of available network paths.
US09178802B2
Mobile network services are performed in a mobile data network in a way that is transparent to most of the existing equipment in the mobile data network. The mobile data network includes a radio access network and a core network. A breakout component in the radio access network breaks out data coming from a basestation, and hosts device-specific edge applications that perform one or more mobile network services at the edge of the mobile data network based on the broken out data.
US09178801B1
In general, techniques are described for automatically discovering services in computer networks. A service node comprising a control unit and an interface may implement the techniques. The control unit determines services provided by the service node and generates a routing protocol message that includes service discovery information related to the services. The interface transmits the routing protocol message to enable network devices of the network to discover the services provided by the service node based on the service discovery information. The interface then receives traffic via a path established based on the service discovery information included in the routing protocol message and configured so that the service node applies at least one of the services to the traffic received via the path. The control unit then applies the one or more services to the traffic received via the path.
US09178796B2
In one embodiment, a stateful computing entity in a computer network determines underlying network information (physical and/or optical) for the computer network, and also determines topologies (Internet Protocol (IP) and/or Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)) for the computer network and associated resource information. Further, the stateful computing entity determines label switched path (LSP) state information for the computer network. The stateful computing entity may then build network state knowledge by aggregating the underlying network information, the topologies and associated resource information, and the LSP state information, and establishes communication within a dynamic network of other stateful computing entities sharing network state knowledge for parallel computation performance. Accordingly, the stateful computing entity may perform network computation based on the network state knowledge.
US09178791B2
A communication network system for monitoring data traffic is disclosed, in which at least one switch serving as an intermediary to a plurality of data input streams and a plurality of data output streams; a capture server in communication with the switch; and a data acquisition control engine operable to receive data acquisition instructions from a user and cause the received instructions to be implemented at the switch.
US09178790B2
A first node that transmits TCP packets to and receives TCP packets from a second node splits a target TCP packet throughput across multiple consecutive time slots, each slot having a target throughput value. If a current slot's achieved throughput value does not match the current slot's target throughput value, the target throughput value for the current slot and/or a subsequent slot is adjusted. Transmit throughput from the first node to the second node is controlled by transmitting TCP packets from the first node to the second node according to a target throughput value for the current slot. Receive throughput from the second node to the first node is controlled by dynamically calculating an advertised receive window size according to a target throughput value for the current slot and communicating the advertised receive window size to the second node.
US09178785B1
Methods and systems for measuring the usage of a runtime engine that supports the software platform of a software or integration application. The method comprises identifying a software or integration application that is componentized into a plurality of units of work, wherein the units of work are based on an abstract runtime unit of work processed by the runtime engine, receiving a request from the software or integration application for the runtime engine to perform a particular unit of work for the supported software or integration application, performing the particular unit of work in response to the request, incrementing a count for the particular unit of work performed in response to the request from the software or integration application to define a usage for the particular unit of work, and displaying the usage for the particular unit of work.
US09178781B1
In general, techniques are described to enable selective viewing of data output in response to a command. The techniques provide generic mechanisms to filter output solicited by commands supported by current and future implementations of an interface. An example device receives from a client device an input comprising an operational command a selection request that specifies a field identifier. A schema enumeration module of the device assigns a unique element number to each element of a class of elements defined by a schema, forming an enumerated schema. An interface of the device receives data conforming to a data description language, and a filtering module filters the textual output by mapping the field identifier specified in the selection request to a unique element number of the enumerated schema. A rendering module renders the filtered data into filtered textual output. The device transmits the filtered textual output to the client device.
US09178776B2
A method includes providing at least one target bandwidth for bandwidth usage on an interconnect, the target bandwidth being for traffic associated with a traffic initiator. The method also includes measuring a served bandwidth and resetting the measuring of served bandwidth in response to an occurrence of an event.
US09178773B1
In some embodiments, the present invention provides for a computer-implemented method, including: causing, by a specifically programmed computer call management communication system, to transform, over a computer network, computing devices of users, into corresponding specialized call management devices, by having each computing device to execute a specialized call management client software application being in electronic communication with the specifically programmed computer call management communication system over the computer network by utilizing SIP; where the specialized call management client software application generates specialized graphical user interfaces configured to allow each user to concurrently initiate and maintain, over the computer network, a plurality of voice communications of distinct types with other users, by, for example, allowing each user to independently and dynamically divert, in real-time, any voice communication of any type to any audio device associated with a corresponding specialized call management device of such user.
US09178772B2
In one embodiment, a message instructing a particular node to act as a heartbeat relay agent is received at the particular node in a network. The particular node is selected to receive the message based on a centrality of the particular node. Heartbeat messages are then collected from child nodes of the particular node in the network. Based on the collected heartbeat messages, a heartbeat report is generated, and the report is transmitted to a collecting node in the network.
US09178768B2
Methods, systems, and computer readable media for combining VoIP call data with geographical information are disclosed. According to one method, VoIP subscriber device call quality information and VoIP subscriber device status information are determined for a plurality of VoIP subscriber devices. Geographic information is obtained regarding a geographic area in which the VoIP subscriber devices are deployed. The VoIP subscriber device status and the call quality information are combined with the geographic information and, based on the combined VoIP subscriber device status and the geographic information, a map that illustrates the geographic locations of the VoIP subscriber devices and an indication of the current status and the call quality of each VoIP subscriber device is graphically displayed on a display device associated with a computer.
US09178751B2
There is provided a system and method for resilient routing based on a multi-channel model for emergency management. The system includes a packet delivery anomaly detector for determining an existence of an anomaly in a mandated routing infrastructure for a packet that renders the packet incapable of reaching a destination node designated for the packet through the mandated routing infrastructure. The system further includes a dynamic alternate route identifier for dynamically identifying alternate routes for the packet responsive to a determination of the existence of the anomaly. The alternate routes are outside the mandated routing infrastructure, are provided using one or more mobile devices external to and not part of the mandated routing infrastructure, and are dynamically identified responsive to at least geographic location information. The system also includes a wireless transmitter for wirelessly routing the packet using at least one of the alternate routes.
US09178750B2
A method and apparatus for post-silicon repair of on-die networks is disclosed. In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a first network node of an on-chip network configured to couple each of a plurality of functional units to at least one other one of the plurality of functional units. The first network node includes a plurality of ports. Each of the plurality of ports includes a plurality of multiplexers configured to substitute a spare channel of the network node into the network responsive to a test determining that another one of a plurality of channels is defective.
US09178749B2
A method of correlating nameserver addresses is implemented in a multi-tier name server hierarchy comprising a first level authority for a domain, and one or more second level authorities to which the first level authority delegates with respect to a particular sub-domain associated with the domain. Preferably, the first level authority is IPv4-based and at least one second level authority is IPv6-based. The first level authority responds to a request issued by a client caching nameserver (a “CCNS”) and returns an answer that includes both IPv4 and IPv6 authorities for the domain. The CCNS is located at an IPv4 source address that is passed along to the first level authority with the CCNS request. According to a feature of this disclosure, the first level authority encodes the CCNS IPv4 source address in the IPv6 destination address of at least one IPv6 authority. Then, when the CCNS then makes a follow-on IPv6 request (with respect to the sub-domain) directed to the IPv6 authority, the IPv6 authority knows both the IPv6 address of the CCNS (by virtue of having received it in association with the request) as well as its IPv4 address (by virtue of the encoding). The IPv6 authority maintains the IPv4-IPv6 correlation. Over time (i.e., as other CCNSs make requests), the IPv6 authority builds up a database of these CCNS IPv6-IPv4 associations.
US09178748B2
Methods of transmitting information relating to a quality of service are shown, which information is to be transmitted in at least one direction between a first device 30 and a second device 20. A first method comprises at least at one of the devices 20, 30 assembling a protocol message containing information other than the information relating to a quality of service and attaching the quality of service related information to the protocol message. A second method comprises forming the information relating to a quality of service inside at least one of a header field and an attribute of a protocol message. The disclosure relates equally to corresponding software codes, devices 20, 30, network elements and systems.
US09178740B1
A peak-to-average power reduction method includes: (a) quadrature amplitude modulating a signal including a set of subcarriers with a set of data to produce an OFDM modulated symbol vector; (b) limiting the magnitude of the modulated symbol vector to produce a first limited OFDM modulated symbol; (c) demodulating the first limited OFDM modulated symbol to recover distorted QAM constellations; (d) constraining points in the distorted QAM constellations recovered from the first limited OFDM modulated symbol to produce constrained QAM constellations; (e) modulating an OFDM symbol vector with the constrained QAM constellations to produce a modified modulated OFDM symbol; and (f) output the modified modulated OFDM symbol. A transmitter that implements the method is also provided.
US09178739B2
A method of transmitting data between a transmitter furnished with M>=1 transmission antenna(s) and a receiver furnished with N>=2 reception antennas, in which said data are coded using an OFDM/OQAM modulation having L>=1 subcarriers. The method combines a specific coding/decoding with a precoding by Time Reversal, which can be used in high speed radio communications.
US09178736B2
A method of selecting resource element for UCI transmission and countering a ping-pong effect includes adjusting transmission parameters without adjusting a channel quality indicator/pre-coding matrix index. The transmission parameters include a modulation coding set of a transport block and a transport block size. Another method of selecting resource element for UCI transmission and countering the ping-pong effect includes selecting a transport block having a highest modulation coding set index or the transport block having a lowest modulation coding set index. Alternatively, the evolved Node B may select the transport block having a largest size or the transport block having the smallest size.
US09178732B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate transmitting beacon symbols of a beacon message such that a sequence of symbols can satisfy a linear constraint over a field where the field elements can be identified with carriers. In this regard, a coding scheme can be applied to a beacon message; the coding scheme can produce a plurality of beacon symbols to transmit on given subcarriers. A receiving device of the beacon symbols can decode a beacon message by receiving less than the total number of symbols in a beacon message and determining the remaining symbol subcarriers based on the linear constraint. Thus, more efficient decoding of beacons is facilitated as well as resolving beacon ambiguity by figuring out which symbols satisfy linear constraints for the symbols, and resolving time and frequency shift by detecting an offset that would result in satisfaction of the linear constraint.
US09178729B2
A wireless communication apparatus includes a wireless section configured to receive a plurality of signals via a plurality of antennae from a transmitting device having another plurality of antennae; and a demodulation section configured to apply QR decomposition to a channel matrix generated based on the received signals from the wireless section, to extract a plurality of weight coefficients corresponding to a symbol to be demodulated from a unitary matrix Q, to filter the received signals weighted with the weight coefficients, and to separate the filtered received signals based on a submatrix of an upper triangular matrix R.
US09178724B2
In order to avoid deterioration in sound quality caused by band shortage between an HNB-GW and an HNB, in a femto system 100, an HNB-GW 140 is connected to an HNB 120 via a network 130, and relays at least one of transmission and reception of voice data between an MGW 170 and the HNB 120. A narrow band determination unit 150 in the HNB-GW 140 determines whether the band of the network 130 is a narrow band which is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold. When it is determined that the band is a narrow band by the narrow band determination unit 150, a conversion unit 160 converts the voice data to decrease a bit rate of the voice data transferred to the HNB 120 from the MGW 170.
US09178711B2
A method of transmitting data streams representing stimuli of at least one particular type, including a first step of setting up transmission of a particular stream Vstr1 from an interface device INFD to a terminal LT1 initially selected as the destination terminal. The method further includes a step of identifying terminals CTj compatible with said particular stream Vstr1; a step of selecting as the new destination terminal LT2 of said particular stream Vstr1 a terminal that has been identified as compatible, and a second step of transmitting said particular stream Vstr1 to the new destination terminal LT2. The method authorizes dynamic control of stream sharing or transfer between two or more terminals with no branch connection between said terminals.
US09178709B2
A wireless communication system performs high-quality communication using Multicast communication where re-transmission processing is performed. The wireless communication system includes a program distribution unit for distributing a program using the Multicast communication; a first communication path for transmitting the program distributed from the program distribution unit; first communication units; user terminals; and a second and the user terminal and is also a wireless communication path where the re-transmission of a frame is performed, wherein the first communication unit selects a Multicast frame of a program requested by the user terminal from the first communication path, converts the selected Multicast frame into a Unicast frame, and transmits the converted Unicast frame to the user terminal.
US09178706B1
A traffic management device (TMD), system, and processor-readable storage medium are directed to determining that an end-to-end encrypted session has been established between a client and an authentication server, intercepting and decrypting subsequent task traffic from the client, and forwarding the intercepted traffic toward a server. In some embodiments, a second connection between the TMD and server may be employed to forward the intercepted traffic, and the second connection may be unencrypted or encrypted with a different mechanism than the encrypted connection to the authentication server. The encrypted connection to the authentication server may be maintained following authentication to enable termination of the second connection if the client becomes untrusted, and/or to enable logging of client requests, connection information, and the like. In some embodiments, the TMD may act as a proxy to provide client access to a number of servers and/or resources.
US09178704B2
Server-assisted secure function evaluation (SFE) is performed with input consistency verification for two parties that want to evaluate a function. The server computes a garbled circuit corresponding to the function. A predefined bit of the 0-secret of wire i in the garbled circuit is set to a random bit bi and a predefined bit of the 1-secret of wire i in the garbled circuit is set to bi. The server communicates with each party using an Oblivious Transfer (OT) to provide encrypted versions of the respective inputs of each party. Each party receives the encrypted wire secret of the other party and the garbled circuit for computation of a respective output and stores the predefined bit of a wire of interest of the other party. A given party can verify input consistency by the other party over at least two executions by comparing the values stored by the given party for the at least two executions with corresponding values obtained from the server.
US09178699B2
In some aspects, an encryption method comprises encrypting a first portion of a message using a first secret key. The first secret key is generated based on the public key of an entity. A one-way function is used to generate a second secret key from the first secret key, and the first secret key is subsequently discarded. A second portion of the message is encrypted using the second secret key. The encrypted first portion of the message and the encrypted second portion of the message are provided to the entity.
US09178691B2
An apparatus for correcting a signal, includes a correction value calculator that determines a transmission distance of a transmission path through which a timing signal is propagated, the timing signal having a periodically changing frequency, and determines a deviation between a frequency of the timing signal and a frequency of received data, as a correction value, from the transmission distance; and a corrector that corrects the frequency of the timing signal by the correction value for synchronizing transmitted data with the timing signal.
US09178681B2
A method is provided for sending at least a first data signal and a second data signal, the data being divided into data blocks of fixed size including a header field of predetermined size, the data signals being sent to at least one data processing device adapted to apply a cyclic autocorrelation function with parameter k enabling the first and second data signals to be identified. The value of the parameter k is a function of a ratio between the size of the data blocks and the predetermined size of the header field. The method includes modifying the size of the header field of the data blocks before sending the first data signal, the value of the parameter k and the size of the data blocks remaining unchanged. A method is also provided for processing signals sent in accordance with the sending method.
US09178675B2
A platform to facilitate updating an equalizer in addition to other receiver functionality is disclosed. A transmitting entity transmits one or more pilot tones in each protocol data unit (PDU) such as a packet. A receiving entity is able to derive a sufficiently accurate channel response estimate with the pilot tones under most channel conditions. The method and apparatus rotates the pilot tones through each of the subcarriers over the packet. The pilot tones would be separated by some number of data subcarriers so that estimation of slope and intercept for subcarrier tracking could be maintained. As the pilot tones are swept across the subcarriers, the taps for the equalizer for the subcarriers for which the pilot tones currently populate would be updated as well. This approach allows the system to track channel changes over time.
US09178665B2
Any packet loss is detected very quickly by means of only a series of sequence number in a multi-path environment where a transmitter and a receiver are connected to each other by way of a plurality of networks when no inversion of sequence arises in any of the networks. A communication apparatus includes a plurality of sequence buffers arranged at each network to accumulate packets until a sequence acknowledgement and an absence detecting section adapted to determine the occurrence of an absence of a packet when one or more packets are accumulated in all the sequence buffers. With this arrangement, the absence detecting section of the receiver monitors the packets staying in the sequence guaranteeing buffer arranged in each of the network, paying attention to the characteristic that packets are stored in the sequence buffers of all the networks when a packet loss takes place.
US09178650B2
An encoder outputs a first bit sequence having N bits. A mapper generates a first complex signal s1 and a second complex signal s2 with use of bit sequence having X+Y bits included in an input second bit sequence, where X indicates the number of bits used to generate the first complex signal s1, and Y indicates the number of bits used to generate the second complex signal s2. A bit length adjuster is provided after the encoder, and performs bit length adjustment on the first bit sequence such that the second bit sequence has a bit length that is a multiple of X+Y, and outputs the first bit sequence after the bit length adjustment as the second bit sequence. As a result, a problem between a codeword length of a block code and the number of bits necessary to perform mapping by a set of modulation schemes is solved.
US09178642B2
This disclosure is directed to optical-to-electrical receiver and transceiver integrated circuits that can be used to send and receive multiple optical signal data streams using at least one optical bus. In one aspect, a fan-in integrated circuit of a node includes an arbiter/multiplexer, and at least one receiver. Each receiver is electronically connected to the arbiter/multiplexer. Each receiver receives at least one optical signal over an optical broadcast bus and converts the optical signals into a data stream encoded in electronic signals. The arbiter/multiplexer selects one receiver at a time to send an electronic signal to the arbiter/multiplexer and outputs the electronic signal to the node for processing.
US09178639B2
A technique for receiving and transmitting downlink reference signals is disclosed. When transmitting downlink data demodulation reference signals (DMRS) (or reference signals for downlink data demodulation) by using two or more layers, the DMRS of each layer may be multiplexed by using a code division multiplexing method and then transmitted. The DMRS for each of the two or more layers may be used for one user equipment or for two or more user equipments. And, downlink control signals for transmitting and receiving such DMRS may be configured to have the same format regardless of a single-user mode (or SU-MIMO mode) or a multi-user mode (or MU-MIMO mode), thereby being used.
US09178623B2
The present invention utilizes a high-speed serial data transceiver to generate two high-speed electric pulse signals. After passing through a gain network, the signals are used for driving an electro-optic phase modulator (PM) so as to realize phase modulation of photon signals. The present invention may directly use a high-speed digital signal to realize a four-phase modulation function needed by the BB84 quantum key distribution protocol without using a digital to analog converter or an analog switch. This can prevent modulation rate from being restricted by links including digital-to-analog conversion, switching of the analog and the like. A dual-electrode electro-optic phase modulator scheme can also effectively reduce requirements for amplitude of a modulation driving signal, thus facilitating realization of high-speed phase modulation, which meets requirements of quantum key distribution.
US09178619B2
A Passive Optical Network (PON)-based system and method for providing handover between Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) are provided. The PON-based system may include an Optical Line Terminal (OLT), and an ONT to relay communication between the OLT and a mobile terminal. When the mobile terminal is connected to the ONT, the ONT may transmit a WiFi location update alarm message to the OLT, and the OLT may update a Look-Up Table (LUT) in response to the WiFi location update alarm message.
US09178618B2
An interconnect component is provided fabricated as a preassembled optoelectronic interconnect structure. The interconnect structure has an optical waveguide link with first and second optoelectronic circuits attached to first and second ends of the waveguide link. The optoelectronic circuits include active optical componentry which facilitates optical signal communication across the optical waveguide link. Further, first and second pluralities of electrical contacts are associated with the first and second optoelectronic circuits, respectively, to facilitate electrically, operatively connecting the interconnect structure between first and second components of an electronic assembly as, for instance, a single, field-replaceable unit. The first and second components of the electronic assembly may be, for instance, stacked electronic components of the electronic assembly, or laterally offset components of a substantially planar electronic assembly.
US09178615B2
A light transmitter transmits multiple light packets, each formatted to include a predetermined phase synchronization field (PSF) and a same message comprising a series of bits. The PSF and each bit are each represented as light that is intensity modulated over a bit period at a corresponding frequency. The light packets are transmitted at different start-times to cause a receiver to sample each packet with a different phase of a fixed, asynchronous sample timeline. The PSF and message are demodulated from each of the sampled light packets. If the demodulated PSF matches the predetermined PSF, then the corresponding demodulated message is declared valid.
US09178608B2
Nodes, network and methods for communicating utilizing radio in a network including nodes. The method includes broadcasting from a center node, transmitting from a first primary peripheral node, and transmitting from an intermediate node to the center.
US09178605B2
A method of reducing adjacent satellite interference, the method comprising monitoring, by a processor, a power spectral density (PSD) of a signal transmitted by a remote transmitter, determining, by the processor, that the PSD of the signal transmitted by the remote transmitter is above a predetermined level, and reducing the PSD of the signal transmitted by the remote transmitter by adjusting at least one of a spread spectrum spreading factor, a power level, a modulation factor, and a forward error correction (FEC) rate using a modulator while maintaining a constant spectral allocation and center frequency of the signal.
US09178604B2
A data delivery system leverages existing satellite infrastructure to deliver massive data sets (e.g., genomic data) to last-mile, remote or rural, locations. The system repurposes existing high-capacity satellite links normally used to broadcast entertainment content by creating customized channels specifically adapted to delivering large data sets to be stored upon computer systems.
US09178601B1
Method and apparatus for emergency communications using dual satellite communication systems for redundancy and a means of providing additional information to rescue services support emergency response. The system combines the Cospas-Sarsat emergency system for 406 beacons with a secondary means of distress alerting over a commercial satellite system as well as permitting the government agencies responsible for emergency services to directly interface with the person in distress to know about his/her location and to communicate with him or her to resolve the emergency in the best possible way.
US09178598B2
In a codebook-based closed loop type MIMO, improvement for complexity in a mobile station apparatus, and reduction of amount of overhead needed for notification from the mobile station apparatus should be provided. A wireless transmission apparatus that includes a plurality of transmission antennas, performs precoding on a data signal for each of a plurality of reception apparatuses and spatially multiplexes and transmits the signal after the precoding. The wireless transmission apparatus performs sharing a codebook describing a plurality of linear filters associated with each other is shared with the each reception apparatus, and precoding on the data signal for each reception apparatus, based on a first linear filter that is extracted from the codebook in each reception apparatus based on the association and that is notified from each reception apparatus.
US09178593B1
A method in a communication network including a communication channel includes generating a first message, where the first message includes a field indicative of a direction along which a quality of the communication channel is to be measured, causing the first message to be transmitted to a target device, and receiving a second message responsive to the first message, where the second message includes at least one channel quality metric.
US09178592B1
Systems and methods are disclosed that implement multiple inter-chip (IC) links to communicate digital signals and data between multiple tuner circuit chips of a radio frequency (RF) antenna diversity system. The multiple IC communication links may be employed, for example, to simultaneously communicate different signals and/or data between individual tuner circuit chips of a multi-signal type antenna diversity system in an asynchronous manner, and may be employed to achieve simultaneous antenna diversity for multiple RF signal types using a scalable IC communication link architecture that includes multiple IC communication links to interconnect a varying number of RF tuner circuit chips.
US09178591B2
A method in a mobile communication terminal includes holding a definition of a sub-sampled codebook identifying precoding matrices to be used for providing precoding feedback by the terminal. The precoding matrices in the sub-sampled codebook are selected from a master codebook that is made-up of a long-term sub-codebook and a short-term sub-codebook. The definition defines a first subset of the long-term sub-codebook and a second subset of the short-term sub-codebook. A Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) signal is received in the terminal via multiple receive antennas. Based on the received MIMO signal, a precoding matrix is selected from the sub-sampled codebook for precoding subsequent MIMO signals transmitted to the terminal. The precoding feedback indicating the selected precoding matrix is calculated.
US09178583B2
Methods and apparatuses for providing feedback by a UE. A method includes receiving a first set of CSI-RS and a second set of CSI-RS, calculating a CQI using a received power of the first set of CSI-RS and a channel matrix estimated based on the second set of CSI-RS, and sending feedback based on the calculated CQI. A method includes measuring signals received on a plurality of CSI-RS ports; calculating CQI values for each of applications of precoding matrixes to each of the selected combinations of CSI-RS ports; selecting a SPN, a SPI, a PMI, and a RI that yields a highest CQI from among the calculated CQI values; and sending feedback indicating the SPI, the highest CQI value, the PMI, and at least one of the SPN or the RI.
US09178580B2
A method and apparatus for selecting an antenna mapping in multiple-in/multiple-out (MIMO) enabled wireless communication networks. A candidate set of currently available antenna mappings is determined based upon measured long term channel conditions. An antenna mapping is selected from the candidate set, and the mapping is calibrated with a selected antenna mapping of a receiving wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU). When the selected mappings are calibrated, packet data transmission begins. In an alternative embodiment, a calibration training frame (CTF) is used to calibrate multiple antenna mappings simultaneously or sequentially. Also disclosed are physical layer and medium access control layer frame formats for implementing antenna mapping selection according to the invention.
US09178573B2
An RF/digital signal-separating receiver is provided for GNSS and other RF signals. The receiver includes a first master antenna and a second slave antenna, which are positioned in spaced relation for directional, radio compass applications. First and second downconverters and first and second ADCs are located under the first and second antennas in analog signal areas, which configuration minimizes cross-coupling RF signals from the antennas and reduces noise. The first and second ADSs are connected to respective first and second correlators in a digital signal location, which is centrally located relative to the antennas. The correlators are connected to a microprocessor for computing distances for the received signals, from which the receiver's orientation or attitude is determined. A method of manufacturing receivers with this configuration is also disclosed.
US09178566B2
A wireless communication terminal may include a first interface that receives urgency data indicating urgency of an event detected by an implantable medical device and being transmitted from the implantable medical device using a first wireless communication protocol, and detailed data indicating details of the event and having a greater data size than the urgency data and being transmitted from the implantable medical device using a second wireless communication protocol, a second interface that transmits the detailed data to an external device using the second wireless communication protocol, a display unit that displays information, and a control unit that performs control to cause the display unit to display summary information based on the urgency of the event, and the second interface to transmit the detailed data received by the first interface to the external device based on the urgency data received by the first interface.
US09178563B2
The voltage regulator device has a wide band amplifier having an input reference voltage, Vref and an input feedback voltage, Vfbk. The device has a source follower coupled to the wide band amplifier, the source follower coupled to an output of the wide band amplifier. The device has a VDD source, a regulator output, and a current source coupled to the source follower and the VDD source. The device has a low frequency path comprising a first transistor. The first transistor has a first gate, a first source, and a first drain. The first source is coupled to the VDD source. The first gate is coupled to a slow node, and the first drain is coupled to the regulator output. The low frequency path comprises a RC network, which has a capacitor, a resistor, and the slow node configured between the resistor and the capacitor. The device has a high frequency path comprising a second transistor. The second transistor has a second gate, a second source, and a second drain. The second source is coupled to the VDD source. The second gate is coupled to a fast node, and the second drain is coupled to the regulator output.
US09178562B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with dynamic selection of a UE receiver. In one example, a communications device is equipped to obtain one or more channel impulse response (CIR) estimates, generate a delay spread metric value that characterizes a multipath delay spread of a channel based on the obtained one or more CIR estimates, and select a receiver option with a first power consumption value, for use by the UE, from a plurality receiver options with different optimal power consumption values, based on the generated delay spread metric value. In an aspect, a comparatively more complex receiver option may be selected when the channel is rich in multipath. In another aspect, a comparatively less complex receiver option may be selected when the channel exhibits flat fading.
US09178559B2
The method of calibration of a second order intermodulation intercept point (IIP2) of a radio transceiver comprises the steps of: generating a second order intermodulation (IM2) reference signal (STXIM2-REF) from a transmission baseband signal (STXBB-REF); estimating a second order intermodulation power from the second order intermodulation reference signal (STXIM2-REF) and a radio transceiver output signal (Output); tuning a second order intermodulation intercept point tuner to find a lowest second order intermodulation power; extracting an optimum second order intermodulation intercept point corresponding to the lowest second order intermodulation power.
US09178557B2
The invention provides an antenna switching method for a wireless communication apparatus. The wireless communication apparatus includes a first antenna, a second antenna, a first modem, a switch, and a second modem. The first modem generates a control signal; the switch is coupled to the first antenna, the second antenna, the first modem, and the second modem. The switch receives the control signal and performs switching according to the control signal to make the first antenna to be coupled to one of the first modem and the second modem, and to make the second antenna to be coupled to the other one of the first modem and the second modem.
US09178554B2
A method for differential buffer phase correction comprises generating a pair of differential signals from a local oscillator, applying one of the signals to a first inverter and the other signal to a second inverter of a buffer through a differential pair of lines, applying a first positive feedback signal to the first inverter through a first feedback capacitor, wherein the first positive feedback signal is generated from an output of the second inverter and applying a second positive feedback signal to the second inverter through a second feedback capacitor, wherein the second positive feedback signal is generated from an output of the first inverter.
US09178545B2
A digital filter receives a sequence of input signal values. A filtering block performs a filtering operation on sequence of input signal values that is controlled by filter coefficients. A control block also receives the sequence of input signal values. The control block evaluates detected changes over time with respect to the sequence of input signal values and selects values for the filter coefficients based on the detected changes. The detected change over time provides an indication of the whether the sequence of input signal values is changing signal state. If so, the filter coefficients are selected to emphasize signal response time over signal noise filtering for the filtering operation. Otherwise, the filter coefficients are selected to emphasize signal noise filtering over signal response time for the filtering operation.
US09178543B2
A receiving apparatus in a wireless communication system is provided. The receiving apparatus includes a first interference cancellation unit configured to cancel interference from a received signal that is received through an antenna according to a first scheme, a second interference cancellation unit configured to cancel interference from the received signal that is received through the antenna according to a second scheme, and a combination unit configured to combine the signal from which interference is cancelled according to the first scheme and the signal from which interference is cancelled according to the second scheme.
US09178542B1
One embodiment relates to an apparatus for generating a data output signal. The apparatus includes a pre-emphasis filter and an edge-shape filter. The edge-shape filter includes a non-linearity correction stage that applies a non-linearity correction and a linear filter that applies linear filtering. Another embodiment relates to a method of generating tap coefficients for a pre-emphasis filter. A summation of products of tap coefficients and time-shifted base single-bit response waveforms is used to form a first waveform, and a measured single-bit response waveform is used to provide a second waveform. The tap coefficients are adjusted to fit the first waveform to the second waveform. Other embodiments, aspects, and features are also disclosed.
US09178534B2
In one embodiment, a method includes writing data to a storage medium of a data storage system using a partial reverse concatenated modulation code by encoding data sets using a C2 encoding scheme, adding a header to each subunit of the data sets, encoding the headers of the data sets with a first modulation encoding scheme, encoding data portions of the data sets with a second modulation encoding scheme, encoding portions of the one or more C2-encoded data sets using a C1 encoding scheme, combining the C1-encoded portions with the modulation-encoded headers of the C2-encoded data sets using a multiplexer, and writing the one or more combined C1- and C2-encoded data sets to data tracks of the storage medium. Other methods for writing data to a storage medium of a data storage system using a partial reverse concatenated modulation code are presented according to more embodiments.
US09178533B2
A method of setting a number of iteration counts of iterative decoding, and an apparatus and method of iterative decoding. The iterative decoder including a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimation unit that estimates an SNR of a received signal, an iterative decoding count setting unit that sets a minimum number of iteration counts for the received signal based on the estimated SNR, and a decoding unit that iteratively decodes the received signal using tentative decoding and error check, and selectively performs the error check based on the minimum number of iteration counts.
US09178532B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide a decoding method and a decoding device for a polar code cascaded with CRC. The decoding method includes: performing SC-List decoding on a Polar code according to the number of survival paths L to obtain L survival paths, where L is a positive integer; performing cyclic redundancy check on the L survival paths respectively; and increasing the number of survival paths when all the L survival paths fail to pass the cyclic redundancy check, and acquiring a decoding result of the Polar code according to the increased number of survival paths. In the embodiments of the present invention, the path number of survival paths is adjusted according to a result of the cyclic redundancy check, so as to output paths as much as possible, where the output paths can pass the cyclic redundancy check, thereby improving decoding performance.
US09178523B2
A switching circuit, comprising: a main switch having a control terminal; and a clock-path portion connected to the control terminal of the main switch to apply a driving clock signal thereto so as to drive the main switch, wherein the circuit is configured to controllably apply a biasing voltage to the clock-path portion so as to bias a voltage level of the driving clock signal as applied to the control terminal of the main switch.
US09178519B2
A clock generator suitable for use with memory devices enables generation of memory clock signals having odd or even division ratios, an optional phase shift and a 50% duty cycle. First and second clock gate circuits receive a base clock signal and an inverted version thereof, respectively, and are both gated by the output of two comparators that are set when a value of a down counter receiving the base clock signal reaches a predetermined value. The clock gate circuits each include a multiplexer and D-type flip-flop. The output from either flip-flop, or both their outputs ‘ORed’ together, may be used as a memory clock depending on the desired division ratio and phase shift. The generator is particularly suitable for DDR memory applications that require both edges of the clock signal are evenly placed for launching data on both rising and falling edges.
US09178513B1
An integrated circuit may have configurable storage blocks. Multiple configurable storage blocks may share one or more internal address busses with selected configurable storage blocks having access a given address bus. An address bus may be unidirectional or bidirectional and may convey the same address signal from one configurable address block to another or to several other configurable storage blocks. Tri-state buffers or multiplexers may selectively couple or decouple the address bus between configurable storage blocks. Redundant address bus paths may bypass configurable address blocks in neighboring rows or columns allowing for disabling the respective row or column. The address bus may further have pipeline registers to allow for pipelined access to configurable storage blocks.
US09178512B2
A capacitive coupling based sensor is disclosed. In some embodiments, a sensor comprises a transmitter and a receiver that are configured to be capacitively coupled when a coupling condition is satisfied as well as a circuit configured to determine whether a received signal that is received by the receiver matches a transmitted signal that is transmitted by the transmitter.
US09178510B2
Techniques for using multiple sampling frequencies to detect the location of touch inputs of a user at a touch panel of a touch device. A determination is made as to which of and second sampling frequencies is provided to a receiver for use in sampling the touch inputs from the touch panel. The user touch inputs are first sampled from the touch panel during first and second successive time frames using first and second different sampling frequencies, respectively.
US09178505B2
A cross point switch, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes a plurality of tri-state repeaters coupled to form a plurality of multiplexers. Each set of corresponding tri-state repeaters in the plurality of multiplexers share a front end module such that delay through the cross point switch due to input capacitance is reduced as compared to conventional cross point switches.
US09178504B2
A signal transmission device includes: at least one of a first communication device that transmits a control signal as a wireless signal and a second communication device that receives the wireless signal transmitted from the first communication device to reproduce the control signal, wherein the wireless signal for the control signal is transmitted separately from a wireless signal for a transmission subject signal which is transmitted between a third communication device and a fourth communication device.
US09178501B2
A digital signal processing method has steps of pre-emphasizing a digital signal, and then processing the pre-emphasized digital signal through a non-linear device. In the pre-emphasizing step, an undershoot is applied to a first level of the digital signal at a positive signal transition or an overshoot is applied to the digital signal at a negative first signal transition.
US09178498B2
A ring oscillator comprising three or more delay cells, each of which comprises a plurality of differential input leads and a differential output lead, wherein each of the plurality of differential input leads comprises one or more inverters, wherein the three or more delay cells are inter-connected forming a plurality of loop paths, wherein each loop path connects the differential output lead of each delay cell to a corresponding differential input lead of another delay cell, wherein each loop path provides an inverter strength determined by a number of inverters in a corresponding differential input lead of each delay cell, wherein the plurality of loop paths are configured to generate an oscillating signal with an operating frequency, and wherein the operating frequency is tunable by digitally adjusting one or more inverter strengths in one or more of the plurality of loop paths.
US09178492B2
A variety of circuits, methods and devices are implemented for providing an adjustable resistance. According to one such implementation an adjustable resistive device includes a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor having a gate, a drain, a source, and a body. First circuitry controls a resistance from drain to source by applying a gate voltage that is a function of a variable control input. Second circuitry adjusts a voltage at the body according to a drain voltage and a source voltage, whereby the resistance from drain to source is substantially linear for a given value of the variable control input and over a voltage range.
US09178489B2
Isolators are disposed such that DC magnetic fields of permanent magnets intensity with each other, and thus, the input impedance of non-reciprocal circuits 3a and 3b (regulating means 3) is reduced. Accordingly, the impedance conversion ratio between the output impedance of amplifying means 2 and the input impedance of the regulating means 3 is reduced to be relatively small. Thus, by simplifying the configuration of matching means 4 disposed between the amplifying means 2 and the regulating means 3, the insertion loss of the matching means 4 can be reduced, thereby enhancing the efficiency of a circuit module 1. Additionally, it is possible to dispose the non-reciprocal circuits 3a and 3b close to each other so that the DC magnetic fields of the permanent magnets can intensity with each other, thereby increasing the design flexibility of the circuit module 1 and accordingly reducing the size of the circuit module 1.
US09178487B2
Systems and techniques for filtering of radiofrequency signals. A plurality of tunable cross-couple resonators are connected using capacitive coupling elements to form a cross-coupled bandpass filter. A center frequency of the filter may be set based on frequencies of the resonators and a fractional bandwidth of the filter may be set based on states of the capacitive coupling elements. Programmable zeroes of the filter may be set based on states of reactive elements coupling selected pairs of the resonators. The reactive elements may be capacitive, for zeroes below the center frequency, or inductive, for zeroes above the center frequency.
US09178480B2
Systems and methods for audio difference detection include a memory component that stores logic that, when executed by a processor, causes a vehicle amplifier to receive a test input signal for a generic test sequence to determine a standard input signal for producing a desired output response signal, store the standard input signal with standard amplifier settings associated with the standard input signal, and receive an audio signal from a head unit of the vehicle, where the head unit is part of the vehicle audio system for the vehicle in which the vehicle amplifier is utilized. In some embodiments, the logic causes the vehicle amplifier to determine whether there is a difference between the audio signal and the standard input signal and in response to determining there is a difference, and adjust vehicle amplifier settings of the vehicle amplifier, such that vehicle speakers output the desired output response signal.
US09178479B2
Filters 106-1-106-N divide an input signal 100 into N band-limited signals 107-1-107-N, and multipliers 108-1-108-N carry out dynamic range control of the N band-limited signals 107-1-107-N, respectively. After that, filters 111-1-111-N eliminate odd harmonics caused by the dynamic range control, and a signal synthesis unit 113 combines the signals passing through the filters 111-1-111-N into a single output signal 114.
US09178478B2
A method and apparatus for providing privacy for telephone conversations over communication networks is disclosed. For example, a telephony endpoint device comprises a microphone for receiving an audio signal and a gain boost circuit, coupled to the microphone, for applying a gain boost to the audio signal. The telephony endpoint device also comprises a switch, coupled to the gain boost circuit, wherein operating the switch will control whether the gain boost is to be applied to the audio signal.
US09178465B2
The present invention relates generally to photovoltaic devices. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic roofing products in which a photovoltaic element is joined to a roofing substrate. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a photovoltaic roofing element comprising: an encapsulated photovoltaic element having a top surface and a bottom surface, a top layer material at its top surface and a bottom layer material at its bottom surface; a roofing substrate having a top surface; and a tie layer system disposed between the encapsulated photovoltaic element and the roofing substrate and joining the bottom surface of the encapsulated photovoltaic element to the top surface of the roofing substrate.
US09178463B2
An inverter control device is equipped with an inverter and a command value calculation unit calculates command values for the alternating current voltage output from the inverter. A phase compensation unit compensates the phase of the command values or the phase of the detected values. An inverter control unit controls the inverter on the basis of the command values or detected values that have been compensated by the phase compensation unit. A motor rotational velocity detector detects the rotational velocity of a motor. The phase compensation unit calculates the phase lead amount on the basis of a phase compensation time that is set for the purpose of obtaining a prescribed phase margin and on the basis of the rotational velocity and, in accordance with the phase lead amount, compensates the phase that is based on the specific characteristics of the motor.
US09178461B2
A back electromotive force monitoring circuit has a speed detection voltage generator which biases a back electromotive force generated by a voice coil motor with a predetermined reference voltage to generate a speed detection voltage, and a calculator which generates a motor control signal in accordance with the speed detection voltage. The calculator includes a subtracter which subtracts the reference voltage from the speed detection voltage prior to generation of the motor control signal.
US09178459B2
The present disclosure provides a vector control apparatus that operates by a diameter computation-free winder velocity control algorithm with enhanced operational reliability. The vector control apparatus configured to control tension of a motor free from diameter computation includes a tension velocity generator configured to generate command velocity information for constantly maintaining a tension of the motor by adding a PID (Proportional Integral Differential) output value to a value computing a compensation gain value substituting a diameter computation value of a motor to be controlled and a command linear velocity provided from outside, and a vector controller configured to perform a tension control of the motor by receiving a command velocity information provided the tension velocity generator.
US09178458B2
A controller of an AC motor includes a d-axis voltage command section to generate a d-axis voltage command on a d axis of a d-q coordinate system. A d-axis non-interactive control section removes, from the d-axis voltage command, an interference component resulting from a current on a q axis of the system. A first current deviation arithmetic section obtains a deviation between a current command on the q axis and the current on the q axis flowing through the AC motor. A q-axis integral control section outputs an integral value of the deviation. A q-axis voltage command section generates a q-axis voltage command based on the deviation. A constant output control section outputs a correction voltage command based on the integral value. A d-axis voltage command correction section subtracts the correction voltage command from the d-axis voltage command after non-interactive control to correct the d-axis voltage command.
US09178441B2
A switched-mode power conversion circuit can include a switch control circuit including switch control outputs coupleable to switches included in a bridge network, the switches controllably coupling power input nodes to an isolation transformer according to switch states established by the switch control circuit. A current monitoring circuit can be coupled to the isolation transformer, the current monitoring circuit including an output indicative of a current flowing through a winding of the isolation transformer. A sampling circuit can be coupled to the output of the current monitoring circuit to obtain information indicative of a first current peak during a first sampling duration corresponding to a first current polarity established by the bridge network and a second current peak during a second sampling duration corresponding to an opposite second current polarity established by the bridge network.
US09178439B2
A switching power supply comprises one or more power supply stages configured to receive power from an input power source and to generate an output voltage for powering a load by alternately opening and closing a set of switches. An output current sensor is configured to monitor a level of an output current of the switching power supply. The opening and closing of the set of switches is controlled so as to maintain the output voltage at a desired level when the level of the output current is below the threshold and so as to limit the output current when the level of the output current exceeds the threshold.
US09178435B2
A switching power supply is provided including a transformer that transforms an AC voltage converted by a bridge circuit, and outputs the transformed voltage from a center tap between secondary coils, and two second switches that respectively cause both ends of the secondary coils to be brought in contact with and be separated from a fixed electrical potential. By the second switches being switched on/off, the switching power supply outputs the rectified DC voltage from the center tap. The switching power supply further includes two diodes connected to the both ends of the secondary coils, and cause the currents to flow from the both ends, a capacitor that stores the currents caused to flow, and a third switch that is connected between the capacitor and the center tap, in which, by the third switch being turned on, the capacitor is discharged to the smoothing circuit.
US09178433B2
A regulated switching power converter generates a converter output having first and second regulated output values under corresponding operating conditions. The converter output transitions between the first and second output values in response to transition of a trigger signal in a transition window between first and second trigger values. A transition step function is based on transition amplitude, transition interval and number of steps, the transition amplitude being a difference between the first and second regulated output values, and the transition interval being a difference between the first and second trigger values. The transition step function generates a step-like transition signal based on values of the trigger signal between the first and second trigger values. During operation in the transition window, the step-like transition signal is included in the regulation reference value to generate a step-like transition of the converter output between the first and second regulated output values.
US09178432B2
An example switched mode power supply includes a timer, a threshold adjust circuitry, a comparator, and a control circuitry. The timer times a duration between crossings of a phase-dimmed signal across a first threshold. The threshold adjust circuitry adjusts a second threshold representative of a desired output of the switched mode power supply, where the second threshold is adjusted responsive to the timed duration between crossings. The comparator compares a feedback signal with the second threshold and generates a comparison result. The control circuitry controls switching of a power switch responsive to the comparison result to regulate the output of the switched mode power supply.
US09178430B2
A DC/DC converter has DC input terminals to which a DC power is inputted, a transformer, and a bidirectional switching device on the primary side of the transformer.
US09178428B2
The step-down switching circuit includes an amplifier capacitor having a first end connected to the feedback terminal and a second end connected to a second input of the amplifier. The step-down switching circuit includes a first resistor having a first end connected to the first end of the amplifier capacitor. The step-down switching circuit includes a second resistor having a first end connected to a second end of the first resistor and a second end connected to an output of the amplifier. The step-down switching circuit includes a third resistor having a first end connected to the second end of the first resistor and a second end connected to the second end of the amplifier capacitor.
US09178417B2
A DC-DC converter is provided. When a load of the DC-DC converter is too light, the DC-DC converter can raise a frequency of its PWM signal, and reduce a pulse width of the PWM signal, so as to avoid the frequency of the PWM signal falling into a frequency range that can heard by human's ear and maintain high conversion efficiency of the DC-DC converter.
US09178411B2
A controller includes a first controller terminal, a second controller terminal, a first p-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, and a second pMOS transistor. The first controller terminal is to be coupled to a bypass capacitor coupled to a secondary side of an isolated power converter. The second controller terminal to be coupled to an output node of the secondary side. The first pMOS transistor includes a first source terminal coupled to the second controller terminal, a first drain terminal, and a first body diode. The second pMOS transistor includes a second source terminal coupled to the first controller terminal, a second drain terminal coupled to the first drain terminal, and a second body diode. A cathode of the second body diode is coupled to the second source terminal. An anode of the second body diode is coupled to the second drain terminal.
US09178393B2
Provided is a means for mitigating strict constraints between a virtual polyhedron inscribed in a rotor and a virtual polyhedron inscribed in a stator of a spherical stepping motor and a spherical AC servo motor and drastically increasing the degree of freedom in design. The above problem is solved by disposing permanent magnets at points of division of the sides of the virtual polyhedron inscribed in the rotor and electromagnets at points of division of the sides of the virtual polyhedron inscribed in the stator. A multiple pole spherical stepping motor and a multiple pole spherical AC servo motor include a rotor with permanent magnets disposed at the vertexes of a virtual polyhedron inscribed in a sphere and at points of division of arcs corresponding to the sides connecting the vertexes, and a stator with electromagnets disposed at the vertexes of a virtual polyhedron inscribed in a sphere containing the sphere of the rotor and at points of division of arcs corresponding to the sides connecting the vertexes.
US09178389B2
Disclosed herein is a wireless power transmission system, including: a transmission unit generating and transmitting power for charging a battery; a reception unit receiving the transmitted power and charging the battery with power; and a transmission control unit detecting a charging status of the battery by using the transmitted power, and, if the charging status of the battery is in a damage section due to reflective power, controlling the transmission unit to transmit power lower than power of a normal operation, whereby damage of transmission and reception devices due to a reflective wave can be minimized.
US09178386B2
A state-matrix-independent dynamic process estimation method in real-time for weakly observable measurement nodes without Phasor Measurement Unit(PMU) is only dependent on real-time measurement dynamic data of measurement nodes with PMU and measurement data of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) system in electric power system or state estimation data. According to the SCADA measurement data or state estimation data at some continuous moments, the method utilizes recursive least squares solution to find a linear combination relationship between variation of measurement parameter to be estimated of nodes without PMU and variation of corresponding measurement parameter of nodes with PMU. Using the linear combination of relationship, the dynamic process of measurement nodes without PMU is estimated in real-time. The method provides high estimation precision and meets error requirements of engineering application.
US09178376B2
A non-contact charging station with a planar-spiral power transmission core, a non-contact power-receiving apparatus, and a method for controlling the same. A primary core of the non-contact charging station transmitting a power signal to a portable device using an induced magnetic field and a secondary core of the non-contact power-receiving apparatus are configured as a power transmission Printed Circuit Board (PCB) core in which a planar-spiral core structure is formed on a core base. The power transmission PCB core has a simplified shape along with improved applicability that facilitates its mounting on a non-contact charger. In addition, the receiving core has a reduced volume to reduce the entire size of the power-receiving apparatus so that it can be easily mounted onto a portable device.
US09178370B2
A coverage robot docking station includes a base having a robot receiving surface. The base defines a power receptacle for receiving a power supply. The base also defines a beacon receptacle for receiving a beacon. A side wall extends from the base, where the side wall and the receiving surface of the base define a robot holder. At least one charging contact is disposed on the robot receiving surface for charging a received robot.
US09178362B2
A voltage adjusting circuit includes an inducing circuit configured to induce a voltage from electromagnetic waves, a first rectifying circuit configured to rectify an output signal of the inducing circuit, a second rectifying circuit configured to rectify the output signal of the inducing circuit, a first regulator configured to regulate an output signal of the first rectifying circuit, and a second regulator configured to regulate an output signal of the second rectifying circuit.
US09178361B2
Methods and systems are described for using detection coils to detect metallic or conductive foreign objects that can interfere with the wireless transfer of power from a power transmitter to a power receiver. In particular, the detection coils are targeted to foreign objects that are smaller than a power transmitter coil in the power transmitter.
US09178358B2
A system for managing distribution of electrical power includes a power management circuit, power control units, a first keyline and a second keyline. The power management circuit includes a device configured to measure power consumed by an electrical load, and a comparator comparing the measured power with a power limit. Each power control unit includes an outlet for delivering power to a load; a timing control circuit coupled to each outlet and configured to deliver an enabling signal to each outlet individually with a time delay; a signal input; and a signal output. The first keyline connects the power management circuit with the signal input of one power control unit; the second keyline connects the signal output of that power control unit with the signal input of another power control unit. Each power control unit is configured to propagate a signal to another power control signal via the second keyline.
US09178354B2
The Electric Power Converter functions as an uninterruptable power supply, battery management, energy conversion, micro-grid formation, and Power Factor Correction including Total Harmonic Distortion correction in real time. Uninterruptable power supply's use is for always-on, real-time, reduced distortion with functions of load reduction and management during peak load events. The Electric Power Converter is able to establish and sustain a micro-grid with multiple and varying sources of power generation and load conditions. The Electric Power Converter achieves dynamic, real-time, interactive Power Factor Correction (PFC) and advanced voltage harmonic distortion correction with a high efficiency ratio. The Electric Power converter is designed to function with the emerging Smart Grid technologies and provide an overall higher level of operating efficiency and higher quality of electrical power.
US09178343B2
The present invention is directed to a cable routing system with brackets that join cable trays to form the cable routing system. A bracket that joins perpendicular cable trays includes a main body and a securing clip. The main body has a bottom and two sides extending upwardly therefrom. Each side of the main body includes a deflectable side latch that engages a bottom longitudinal wire of the cable tray. The securing clip engages the main body to secure the bracket to the cable tray.
US09178342B2
A wire trough includes a body having back walls that engage the surfaces of a wall and a ceiling in a room. Side walls extend from the back walls to provide a horizontal and a vertical surface for stubbing in conduits. The trough also includes a cover that is used to permit access to an interior space in the wire trough. Multiple troughs may be assembled together to extend the length of the trough. Conduits may also be stubbed into the ends of the trough.
US09178340B2
A line stringing apparatus includes in combination an electric motor, motor controller and a processor switchable between a pulling mode and a tensioning mode. An electric motor expends electrical energy when pulling the line and generates electrical energy when tensioning the line. The processor outputting commands to the motor controller for control thereof and for application of electrical energy from the batteries to the electric motor when in the pulling mode and for application of electrical energy generated by the electric motor to the plurality of batteries when in tensioning mode. The processor limits electric motor torque and speed based on operator commands for speed and torque in said pulling mode; and, the processor controlling electric motor torque in the tensioning mode.
US09178336B2
A spark plug is provided having a resistor. The resistor is made from resistor glass material containing an alkali free barium alumino-silicate glass mixed with mullite. In one embodiment, the resistor is a 15 to 30 wt % alkali free barium alumino-silicate glass and 10 to 25 wt % mullite. The resistor material provides for a greater processing kiln temperature range with reduced resistor variability and improved durability performance.
US09178332B2
A housing for an optoelectronic semiconductor component includes a housing body having a mounting plane and a leadframe with a first connection conductor and a second connection conductor. The housing body deforms the leadframe in some regions. The leadframe has a main extension plane which extends obliquely or perpendicularly with respect to the mounting plane. A semiconductor component having such a housing and a semiconductor chip and a method for producing a housing are also disclosed.
US09178326B2
The movable portion of the first terminal of the first connector is formed to be larger in the width direction than in the thickness direction, so as to be elastically deformed in the front-back direction of the connector, and the movable portion of the second terminal of the second connector is formed to be larger in the thickness direction than in the width direction, so as to be elastically deformed in the width direction of the connector. Therefore, the movable portions can be formed with an increased cross-sectional area, thereby enabling the allowable current of the terminals to be increased, unlike a configuration in which the movable portion is elastically deformable to a sufficient extent both in the front-back direction and in the width direction of the connector.
US09178313B2
An electric vehicle charging port control device yields a locked state in which disengagement between an active-engagement part of a charging connector and a passive-engagement part of a charging port is restricted by a restricting member and an unlocked state in which disengagement is permitted. The restricting member is moved to in front of a predetermined position for yielding the locked state or the unlocked state by being energizingly driven by a motor. Before the active-engagement part and the passive-engagement part are engaged, the restricting member is moved in a locking direction, and subsequently in an unlocking direction.
US09178305B2
Arrangement for establishing and/or breaking a connection between a plug and a complementary mating plug, wherein a lever which can be pivoted about an axis is arranged on the plug. The connection between the plug and the mating plug can be broken when the lever is pivoted into a disconnection position and/or can be established when the lever is pivoted into a connection position. The plug is, in particular, a switch module, for example a tripping module for a mating plug which is in the form of a circuit breaker.
US09178303B2
A cable connector includes a housing, a first screwed cable gland for receiving a first cable, and a second screwed cable gland for receiving a second cable. The first cable can be connected to the second cable using a contact device. The cable connector also includes a locking device which, when screwing at least one screwed cable gland to the housing, locks said screwed cable gland to the housing so that the cables are mounted on the housing in a protected manner.
US09178300B1
A power plug assembly has: a protective casing having a cavity defined in the protective casing; a positive electrode prong terminal mounted in the cavity of the protective casing and extending out of the protective casing; a protecting assembly mounted in the cavity and having a bimetal contacting plate mounted in the protective casing and having a fixing end mounted securely in the cavity; and a free end being opposite to the fixing end and contacting the positive electrode prong terminal, wherein the bimetal contacting plate deforms and bends to make the free end separated from the positive electrode prong terminal when suffering sufficient heat; a negative electrode prong terminal mounted outside the protective casing; and a ground prong terminal mounted outside the protective casing. The negative electrode prong terminal and the ground prong terminal outside the protective casing would not negatively affect the bimetal contacting plate.
US09178298B2
The present invention discloses a subscriber identity module connector which places a detecting terminal and a grounding terminal into a same contact area. The above placement of the detecting terminal and the grounding terminal form a circuit to determine if a SIM card is inserted appropriately. As a result, there is no need to set conventional detecting unit, and the space of the subscriber identity module connector are advantageously saved. It not only simplifies the placement of circuit board (PCB) and but also reduces the manufacturing cost.
US09178289B2
A joint body for protecting an electrical cable connection including an electrical cable includes an expandable, elastomeric bladder sleeve and an electrically insulating gel. The bladder sleeve defines a gel cavity and a cable passage to receive the electrical cable. The gel is disposed in the gel cavity and surrounds at least a portion of the cable passage. The joint body is configured to be installed on the connection such that the connection is disposed in the cable passage and is surrounded and electrically insulated by the gel.
US09178288B2
Bus bar or power connector connections that are reliable and provide a reduced connection impedance. One example may provide a reliable connection by providing a spring plate. The spring plate may be arranged to hold a bus bar or other power conductor to a printed circuit board. The spring plate may further include an opening for a fastener, where the fastener is used to secure the bus bar to the printed circuit board. In this way, the spring plate may secure the bus bar to the printed circuit board in the event that the fastener is loosened or missing, thereby increasing the reliability of the bus bar connection. Further, the spring plate may provide an additional current path, thereby reducing the impedance of the bus bar connection.
US09178287B2
A multi-core cable assembly is formed by arranging a plurality of cables side by side and connecting the cables to a substrate 30 which is a connection member. The plurality of cables configure flat cable units 10, 20 for each diameter of cables, and ground bars 16, 27 are fixed thereto so as to be electrically connected with a shield member included in the cable. Each of ground bars 16, 27 are electrically connected to a ground pad 31 of the substrate 30. The ground bars 16, 27 adjacent to each other are disposed to be shifted in a longitudinal direction of the cable. In addition, two ground bars 16, 27 interposing the other one ground bar and positioned at both sides thereof are disposed in a position overlapped in the longitudinal direction of the cables.
US09178284B2
The present disclosure relates to an electromagnetically transparent metamaterial, which comprises a substrate and a plurality of man-made metal microstructures arranged periodically inside the substrate. When an electromagnetic wave propagates through the metamaterial, each of the man-made metal microstructures is equivalent to two identical two-dimensional (2D) circuits, which are placed respectively in a direction perpendicular to an incident direction of the electromagnetic wave and in a direction parallel to the incident direction of the electromagnetic wave, and each of which comprises an inductor branch and two identical capacitor branches that are symmetrically connected in parallel with the inductor branch. The 2D circuits are associated with a waveband of the electromagnetic wave so that both a dielectric constant and a magnetic permeability of the metamaterial are substantially 1 when the electromagnetic wave propagates through the metamaterial.
US09178280B2
A loop antenna adapted for a communication device is provided. The loop antenna includes a feed, a ground, a circular loop, at least one first tuning element, and at least one second tuning element. The circular loop is connected to the feed and the ground. The first tuning element is extended from the circular loop and corresponds to a first frequency band. The second tuning element is extended from the circular loop and corresponds to a second frequency band. Bandwidths of the first frequency band and the second frequency band of the loop antenna are changed by adjusting the first tuning element and the second tuning element, respectively.
US09178278B2
Electronic devices may be provided with antenna structures such as distributed loop antenna resonating element structures. A distributed loop antenna may be formed on an elongated dielectric carrier and may have a longitudinal axis. The distributed loop antenna may include a loop antenna resonating element formed from a sheet of conductive material that extends around the longitudinal axis. A gap may be formed in the sheet of conductive material. The gap may be located under an opaque masking layer on the underside of a display cover glass associated with a display. The loop antenna resonating element may have a main body portion that includes the gap and may have an extended tail portion that extends between the display and conductive housing structures. The main body portion and extended tail portion may be configured to ensure that undesired waveguide modes are cut off during operation of the loop antenna.
US09178274B2
A communication device includes a ground element and an antenna element. The antenna element is close to an edge of the ground element, and includes a first metal portion and a second metal portion. The first metal portion has a plurality of bends, and includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment and the second segment are close to each other, and are substantially parallel to the edge of the ground element. The first segment is disposed at the outmost periphery of the antenna element from the edge of the ground element. The second segment is disposed between the first segment and the edge of the ground element, and has a shorted point coupled to the ground element. The second metal portion is disposed between the second segment and the edge of the ground element, and has a feeding point coupled to a signal source.
US09178263B1
A divider may include a first node, a second node, a third node, at least a first divider section, and a first bridging assembly. The first divider section may include associated first and second transmission lines that respectively include first and second conductors that couple the first node to the second and third nodes. The first bridging assembly may include first and second resistors, and third, fourth, fifth, and sixth conductors. First ends of the third and fourth conductors may be respectively connected to the first and second conductors. Second ends of the third and fourth conductors may be grounded. The fifth and sixth conductors may be connected together and their opposite ends may be respectively terminated to ground by the first and second resistors. The third and fifth conductors may be closely inductively mutually coupled, and the fourth and sixth conductors may be closely inductively mutually coupled.
US09178252B2
Disclosed is a sealed structure for an electrochemical device having a hollow space therein, further comprising a material generating gases via thermal decomposition in the hollow space. Also, disclosed is an electrochemical device comprising a cathode, an anode, a separator, an electrolyte, a casing for the device, and the structure for the electrochemical device.
US09178251B2
A button cell has a housing closed in a liquid-tight manner including a cup, cover and seal, the cell cup having a base, circumferential casing, an edge area connecting the base and casing, and an end cut edge, the cell cover has a base, a circumferential casing, an edge area connecting the base and casing, and an end cut edge, the cover is inserted into the cup with the cut edge in front such that the casing of the cup and casing of the cover at least partially overlap and form a double-walled casing area, the seal is arranged between the cup and cover between the overlapping casing area such that they are isolated from one another, and at least one hole passes through the casing of the cup in the area which overlaps the casing of the cover.
US09178247B2
The present invention provides a lithium composite metal oxide containing Li and at least one transition metal element, wherein at least one lithium composite metal oxide particle constituting the lithium composite metal oxide has both hexagonal and monoclinic crystal structures. Further, the present invention also provides a lithium composite metal oxide containing Li, Ni and M (where, M represents one or more kinds of transition metal elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co and Fe), having a diffraction peak (diffraction peak A) at an angle 2θ in a range from 20° to 23° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern of a lithium composite metal oxide which is obtained by powder X-ray diffraction measurement made in the condition that CuKα is used as a radiation source and the measurement range of diffraction angle 2θ is in a range from 10° to 90°.
US09178238B2
A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell includes an anode catalyst layer, a cathode catalyst layer, and an ion conducting membrane. The ion conducting membrane is interposed between the anode catalyst layer and the cathode catalyst layer. The ion conducting membrane includes an ion conducting polymer having sulfonic acid groups and rubber particulates. Characteristically, the rubber particulates have an average spatial dimension less than about 600 nanometers. A fuel cell incorporating the membrane electrode assembly is also provided.
US09178235B2
One embodiment of the present invention is a unique reducing gas generator. Another embodiment is a unique method for generating a reducing gas. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for generating reducing gas. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
US09178228B2
The invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system, wherein planar fuel cells are arranged in stacked form and in this respect an integrated post-combustion of non-oxidized components, or of not fully oxidized components, in the exhaust gas can take place. The fuel cells of a system in accordance with the invention have a cathode-electrolyte-anode unit. A bipolar plate is arranged between two respective fuel cells and channels for the supply and removal of a fuel gas to anodes and of an oxidizing agent to cathodes are present. The exhaust gases at the anode side or at the cathode side are introduced via internal additional channels or directly into an afterburner in which a catalytic post-oxidizing of the exhaust gas mixture formed with the exhaust gas at the anode side and at the cathode side takes place. In this respect, a catalytic afterburner is associated with every single fuel cell or with a group formed of a plurality of fuel cells and the afterburners are arranged so that exhaust gas discharged from a fuel cell at the anode side or at the cathode side can enter directly into an afterburner.
US09178222B2
Disclosed is a titanium fuel cell separator having excellent conductivity and durability. In the disclosed titanium fuel cell separator (10), a carbon layer (2) is formed on the surface of a substrate (1) formed from pure titanium or a titanium alloy. The carbon layer (2) comprises graphite which is orientated so as to be parallel to the (002) plane of the carbon layer (2). The deposition amount of the carbon layer (2) is at least 2 μg/cm2.
US09178217B2
A multiply-conductive matrix (MCM) for a current collector/electrode and a method of making the MCM are disclosed. The MCM includes a frame, preferably including a lug, the frame preferably made from a reticulated polymer foam substrate, and a body preferably made from the same substrate. The specific surface area of the frame is greater than the specific surface area of the body, resulting in greater rigidity and strength of the frame when the body and frame are joined to form an assembled matrix. Electrically conductive material is applied to the matrix to form the current collector. Optionally, a bonding material is also applied. Electro-active paste is applied to current if collector. The resulting MCM-based electrodes are ultra light and may be used as anode or cathodes in a lead-based battery, lithium ion battery, and nickel metal hydride battery for improved performance.
US09178214B2
An anode active material for a lithium rechargeable battery, the anode active material including: a base material which is alloyable with lithium and a metal nitride disposed on the base material.
US09178204B2
A rechargeable battery includes: a case; an electrode assembly housed in the case and including a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first electrode and the second electrode, the first electrode having a coated portion coated with a first active material and an uncoated portion absent the first active material; a safety assembly including a first electric conductive plate and a first supporting protrusion extending from the first electric conductive plate and physically coupled to the uncoated portion; a current collecting tab electrically coupling the electrode assembly with the terminal and physically coupled to the uncoated portion; and a first auxiliary plate physically coupled to the uncoated portion at a surface of the uncoated portion opposite to where the first supporting protrusion is physically coupled to the uncoated portion.
US09178202B2
The present invention provides a polyolefin microporous membrane in which a degree of crystallinity is from 60 to 85%, and a tie molecular volume fraction is from 0.7 to 1.7%.
US09178186B2
A cell in which thermal welding of a laminate packaging is performed so that the thickness of a thermal welded portion including an electrode terminal is larger than that of a thermal welded portion including no electrode terminal.
US09178180B2
Provided is a display device, including: a plurality of pixels that are provided between a first substrate and a light-transparent second substrate, the plurality of pixels each including a light-reflective first electrode, an organic layer, and a light-transparent second electrode in order from the first substrate side, the organic layer including at least a light-emission layer; a first light-shielding layer that is provided in a region between the plurality of pixels on one side of the second substrate; and a second light-shielding layer that is provided between the first light-shielding layer and the first substrate, the second light-shielding layer facing at least part of the first light-shielding layer.
US09178177B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device, which has a high operating performance and reliability.A third passivation film 45 is disposed under an EL element 203 which comprises a pixel electrode (anode) 46, an EL layer 47 and a cathode 48, to make a structure in which heat generated by the EL element 203 is radiated. Further, the third passivation film 45 prevents alkali metals within the EL element 203 from diffusing into the TFTs side, and prevents moisture and oxygen of the TFTs side from penetrating into the EL element 203. More preferably, heat radiating effect is given to a fourth passivation film 50 to make the EL element 203 to be enclosed by heat radiating layers.
US09178173B2
The present invention relates to an organic light emitting device that includes a layered structure including a substrate, a bottom electrode and a top electrode, wherein the bottom electrode is closer to the substrate than the top electrode, the region between the bottom electrode and the top electrode defining an electronically active region, wherein the electronically active region includes a scattering layer having a thickness of less than 50 nm; and an organic light emitting device additionally having at least one light emitting layer in the electronically active region, and this device can also include a specific chemical compound outside of the electronically active region.
US09178169B2
A substrate having a thin film transistor includes a buffer layer on a substrate, source and drain electrodes on the buffer layer, a portion of the buffer layer exposed between the source and drain electrodes, a small organic semiconductor layer on the source electrode and the drain electrode, the organic semiconductor layer contacting the exposed portion of the buffer layer, a gate insulating layer on the organic semiconductor layer, the gate insulating layer having substantially the same size as the organic semiconductor layer, a gate electrode on the gate insulating layer, a passivation layer over the surface of the substrate including the gate electrode; and a pixel electrode on the passivation layer, the pixel electrode electrically connected to the drain electrode.
US09178159B2
The present invention relates, inter alia, to copolymers, preferably conjugated polymers, formulations comprising the copolymers and electronic devices comprising the copolymers.
US09178158B2
A novel organic compound which can be used as a host material for a phosphorescent compound is provided. A light-emitting element containing the organic compound is provided. A light-emitting device, an electronic device, and a lighting device each of which includes the light-emitting element are provided. In the light-emitting element including a light-emitting layer interposed between a pair of electrodes, the light-emitting layer contains at least an organic compound and a phosphorescent compound. In the organic compound, a dibenzo[f,h]quinoxaline skeleton and an amino group having two substituents are bonded to each other through an arylene group. The substituents are separately an aryl group or a heteroaryl group.
US09178149B2
This disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device layer and associated memory cell structures. By performing a surface treatment process (such as ion bombardment) of a semiconductor device layer to create defects having a deliberate depth profile, one may create multistable memory cells having more consistent electrical parameters. For example, in a resistive-switching memory cell, one may obtain a tighter distribution of set and reset voltages and lower forming voltage, leading to improved device yield and reliability. In at least one embodiment, the depth profile is selected to modulate the type of defects and their influence on electrical properties of a bombarded metal oxide layer and to enhance uniform defect distribution.
US09178148B2
Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells, each having three or more resistive states and being capable of storing multiple bits of data, as well as methods of fabricating and operating such ReRAM cells. Such ReRAM cells or, more specifically, their resistive switching layer have wide range of resistive states and are capable of being very conductive (e.g., about 1 kOhm) in one state and very resistive (e.g., about 1 MOhm) in another state. In some embodiments, a resistance ratio between resistive states may be between 10 and 1,000 even up to 10,000. The resistive switching layers also allow establishing stable and distinct intermediate resistive states that may be assigned different data values. These layers may be configured to switching between their resistive states using fewer programming pulses than conventional systems by using specific materials, switching pluses, and resistive state threshold.
US09178141B2
A memory element and method of forming the same. The memory element includes a first electrode within a via in a first dielectric material. An insulating material element is positioned over and in contact with the first electrode. A phase change material is positioned over the first electrode and in contact with sidewalls of the insulating material element. The phase change material has a first surface in contact with a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the first dielectric material. A second electrode is in contact with a second surface of the phase change material, which is opposite to the first surface.
US09178134B2
According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element is disclosed. The element includes a first magnetic film, a second magnetic film, and a first nonmagnetic layer formed between the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film. The second magnetic film includes a first magnetic layer formed on a side of the first nonmagnetic layer, a second magnetic layer formed on a side opposite to the first nonmagnetic layer, and a second nonmagnetic layer formed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer and containing TiN.
US09178113B2
A method for making a LED comprises following steps. A substrate having a first surface and a second surface is provided. A patterned mask layer is applied on a first surface. A number of three-dimensional nano-structures are formed on the first surface and the patterned mask layer is removed. A first semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second semiconductor layer are formed on the second surface. A first electrode and a second electrode are formed to electrically connect with the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor pre-layer respectively.
US09178112B2
A light emitting device having a light extraction structure, which is capable of achieving an enhancement in light extraction efficiency and reliability, and a method for manufacturing the same. The light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer having a multi-layered structure including a light emission layer; and a light extraction structure formed on the semiconductor layer in a pattern having unit structures. Further, the wall of each of the unit structures is sloped at an angle of −45° to +45° from a virtual vertical line being parallel to a main light emitting direction of the light emitting device.
US09178107B2
A method for fabricating a wafer-level light emitting diode structure is provided. The method includes: providing a substrate, wherein a first semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, and a second semiconductor layer are sequentially disposed on the substrate; subjecting the first semiconductor layer, the light emitting layer, and the second semiconductor layer with a patterning process to form a first depressed portion, a second depressed portion, a stacked structure disposed on the second depressed portion and a remained first semiconductor layer disposed on the depressed portion, wherein the stacked structure comprises a patterned second semiconductor layer, a patterned emitting layer, and a patterned first semiconductor layer; forming a first electrode on the remained first semiconductor layer of the first depressed portion; and forming a second electrode correspondingly disposed on the patterned second semiconductor layer of the second depressed portion.
US09178103B2
A method and system for forming chalcogenide semiconductor absorber materials with sodium impurities is provided. The system includes a sodium vaporizer in which a solid sodium source material is vaporized. The sodium vapor is added to reactant gases and/or annealing gases and directed to a furnace that includes a substrate with a metal precursor material. The precursor material reacts with reactant gases such as S-containing gases and Se-containing gases according to various process sequences. In one embodiment, a selenization operation is followed by an annealing operation and a sulfurization operation and the sodium vapor is caused to react with the metal precursor during at least one of the annealing and the sulfurization steps to produce a chalcogenide semiconductor absorber material that includes sodium dopant impurities.
US09178101B2
A device including at least one heterostructure p/n diode, including a substrate based on HgCdTe including for each diode: a first part having a first cadmium concentration; a concentrated part, having a second cadmium concentration, greater than the first concentration, forming a heterostructure with the first part; a p+ doped zone situated in the concentrated part and extending into the first part, forming a p/n junction with an n-doped position of the first part, or a base plate; and the concentrated part is only located in the p+ doped zone and forms a substantially constant cadmium concentration well.
US09178089B1
A strain-balanced photodetector is provided for detecting infrared light at an extended cutoff wavelength in the range of 4.5 μm or more. An InAsSb absorber layer has an Sb content is grown in a lattice-mismatched condition to a GaSb substrate, and a plurality of GaAs strain-compensating layers are interspersed within the absorber layer to balance the strain of the absorber layer due to the lattice mismatch. The strain-compensation layers allow the absorber to achieve a thickness exhibiting sufficient absorption efficiency while extending the cutoff wavelength beyond that possible in a lattice-matched state. Additionally, the strain-compensation layers are sufficiently thin to be substantially quantum-mechanically transparent such that they do not substantially affect the transmission efficiency of the absorber. The photodetector is preferably formed as a majority carrier filter photodetector exhibiting minimal dark current, and may be provided individually or in a focal plane array.
US09178077B2
Some embodiments include a semiconductor construction having a stack containing alternating levels of control gate material and intervening dielectric material. A channel material panel extends through the stack and along a first direction. The panel divides the stack into a first section on a first side of the panel and a second section on a second side of the panel. Memory cell stacks are between the channel material panel and the control gate material. The memory cell stacks include cell dielectric material shaped as containers having open ends pointing toward the channel material panel, and include charge-storage material within the containers. Some embodiments include methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
US09178074B2
Provided is a semiconductor device that includes: a transistor; an oxide semiconductor film; a first conductive film electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film; and a first insulating film provided between the first conductive film and the oxide semiconductor film.
US09178068B1
A method for inducing stress within the channel of a semiconductor fin structure includes forming a semiconductor fin on a substrate; forming a fin hard mask layer, multiple isolation regions, and multiple spacers, on the semiconductor fin; forming a gate structure on the semiconductor fin; and oxidizing multiple outer regions of the semiconductor fin to create oxidized stressors that induce compressive stress within the channel of the semiconductor fin. A method for inducing tensile stress within the channel of a semiconductor fin by oxidizing a central region of the semiconductor fin is also provided. Structures corresponding to the methods are also provided.
US09178064B2
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes preparing a structure body. In the structure body, a fin extending in a first direction is formed on an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate, a lower-side mask member is provided on the fin, and an upper-side mask member that is wider than the fin and the lower-side mask member is provided on the lower-side mask member. The method includes implanting an impurity into the semiconductor substrate with the upper-side mask member and the lower-side mask member as a mask, removing the upper-side mask member, forming a gate insulator film on a side surface of the fin, forming a conductive film that covers the fin and the lower-side mask member, forming a mask for gate having a pattern extending in a second direction, and removing selectively the conductive film to form a gate electrode.
US09178046B2
Embodiment of the present invention disclose an array substrate and a manufacturing method thereof, and the manufacturing method of an array substrate comprises the following steps: Step S1: a gate electrode metal layer, an insulating layer and an active layer are deposited successively on a substrate, and gate electrodes, gate lines and an active layer pattern are formed through a first mask process; Step S2: a protective layer is deposited on the substrate after completion of the step S1, and via-holes are formed in the protective layer through a second mask process; and Step S3: a pixel electrode layer and a source/drain electrode metal layer are deposited sequentially on the substrate after completion of the step S2, and source/drain electrodes, pixel electrodes and data lines are formed through a third mask process.
US09178039B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate trench across an active region of a semiconductor substrate, a gate structure filling the gate trench, and source/drain regions formed in the active region at respective sides of the gate structure. The gate structure includes a sequentially stacked gate electrode and insulating capping pattern, and a gate dielectric layer between the gate electrode and the active region. The gate electrode is located at a lower level than an upper surface of the active region and includes a barrier conductive pattern and a gate conductive pattern. The gate conductive pattern includes a first part having a first width and a second part having a second width greater than the first width. The barrier conductive pattern is interposed between the first part of the gate conductive pattern and the gate dielectric layer.
US09178037B2
An integrated circuit is formed by removing a sacrificial gate dielectric layer and a sacrificial gate to form a gate cavity. A conformal dielectric first liner is formed in the gate cavity and a conformal second liner is formed on the first liner. A first etch removes the second liner from the bottom of the gate cavity, leaving material of the second liner on sidewalls of the gate cavity. A second etch removes the first liner from the bottom of the gate cavity exposed by the second liner, leaving material of the first liner on the bottom of the gate cavity under the second liner on the sidewalls of the gate cavity. A third etch removes the second liner from the gate cavity, leaving an L-shaped spacers of the first liner in the gate cavity. A permanent gate dielectric layer and replacement gate are formed in the gate cavity.
US09178036B1
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, performing at least one recess etching process such that a first portion of a high-k oxide gate insulation layer and a first portion of a metal oxide layer is positioned entirely within a first gate cavity and a second portion of the high-k oxide gate insulation layer, a conformal patterned masking layer and a second portion of the metal oxide layer is positioned entirely within a second gate cavity, performing at least one heating process to form a composite metal-high-k oxide alloy gate insulation layer in the first gate cavity, while preventing metal from the metal oxide material from being driven into the second portion of the high-k oxide gate insulation layer in the second gate cavity during the at least one heating process, and forming gate electrode structures in the gate cavities.
US09178030B2
A thin film transistor is provided. The transistor includes a gate; a first passivation layer covering the gate; a channel layer disposed on the first passivation layer; a source and a drain that are disposed on the first passivation layer and contact two sides of the channel layer; a second passivation layer covering the channel layer, the source, and the drain; first and second transparent electrode layers that are disposed on the second passivation layer and spaced apart from each other; a first transparent conductive via that penetrates the second passivation layer and connects the source and the first transparent electrode layer; and a second transparent conductive via that penetrates the second passivation layer and connects the drain and the second transparent electrode layer. A cross-sectional area of the gate is larger than a cross-sectional area of the channel layer, the source, and the drain combined.
US09178021B1
A silicon carbide semiconductor device includes a silicon carbide layer, a body region, a source region, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, a source electrode, a first impurity region, and a second impurity region. The second impurity region is disposed within the silicon carbide layer so as to connect the body region and the first impurity region to each other, and has a second conductivity type. An impurity concentration in the second impurity region is equal to or higher than an impurity concentration in the silicon carbide layer and equal to or lower than a lower limit of an impurity concentration in the body region.
US09178020B2
A graphene structure and a method of manufacturing the graphene structure, and a graphene device and a method of manufacturing the graphene device. The graphene structure includes a substrate; a growth layer disposed on the substrate and having exposed side surfaces; and a graphene layer disposed on the side surfaces of the growth layer.
US09178016B2
A semiconductor device includes a III-nitride semiconductor substrate having a two-dimensional charge carrier gas at a depth from a main surface of the III-nitride semiconductor substrate. A surface protection layer is provided on the main surface of the III-nitride semiconductor substrate. The surface protection layer has charge traps in a band gap which exist at room temperature operation of the semiconductor device. A contact is provided in electrical connection with the two-dimensional charge carrier gas in the III-nitride semiconductor substrate. A charge protection layer is provided on the surface protection layer. The charge protection layer includes an oxide and shields the surface protection layer under the charge protection layer from radiation with higher energy than the bandgap energy of silicon nitride.
US09178010B2
A method for doping a dielectric material by pulsing a first dopant precursor, purging the non-adsorbed precursor, pulsing a second precursor, purging the non-adsorbed precursor, and pulsing a oxidant to form an intermixed layer of two (or more) metal oxide dielectric dopant materials. The method may also be used to form a blocking layer between a bulk dielectric layer and a second electrode layer. The method improves the control of the composition and the control of the uniformity of the dopants throughout the thickness of the doped dielectric material.
US09178000B1
Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells having extended conductive layers operable as electrodes of other devices, and methods of fabricating such cells and other devices. A conductive layer of a ReRAM cell extends beyond the cell boundary defined by the variable resistance layer. The extended portion may be used a source or drain region of a FET that may control an electrical current through the cell or other devices. The extended conductive layer may be also operable as electrode of another resistive-switching cell or a different device. The extended conductive layer may be formed from doped silicon. The variable resistance layer of the ReRAM cell may be positioned on the same level as a gate dielectric layer of the FET. The variable resistance layer and the gate dielectric layer may have the same thickness and share common materials, though they may be differently doped.
US09177999B2
A vertical chain memory includes two-layer select transistors having first select transistors which are vertical transistors arranged in a matrix, and second select transistors which are vertical transistors formed on the respective first select transistors, and a plurality of memory cells connected in series on the two-layer select transistors. With this configuration, the adjacent select transistors are prevented from being selected by respective shared gates, the plurality of two-layer select transistors can be selected, independently, and a storage capacity of a non-volatile storage device is prevented from being reduced.
US09177987B2
A binary complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes a pixel array and a readout circuit. The pixel array includes at least one pixel having a plurality of sub-pixels. The readout circuit is configured to quantize a pixel signal output from the pixel using a reference signal. The pixel signal corresponds to sub-pixel signals output from sub-pixels, from among the plurality of sub-pixels, activated in response to incident light.
US09177986B2
A system and method for isolating semiconductor devices is provided. An embodiment comprises an isolation region that is laterally removed from source/drain regions of semiconductor devices and has a dielectric material extending over the isolation implant between the source/drain regions. The isolation region may be formed by forming an opening through a layer over the substrate, depositing a dielectric material along the sidewalls of the opening, implanting ions into the substrate after the deposition, and filling the opening with another dielectric material.
US09177980B2
Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging device including, a first semiconductor region of the first conduction type, a photoelectric conversion part having a second semiconductor region of the second conduction type formed in the region separated by the isolation dielectric region of the first semiconductor region, pixel transistors formed in the first semiconductor region, a floating diffusion region of the second conduction type which is formed in the region separated by the isolation dielectric region of the first semiconductor region, and an electrode formed on the first semiconductor region existing between the floating diffusion region and the isolation dielectric region and is given a prescribed bias voltage.
US09177973B2
A flexible display device includes: a flexible substrate having a lower substrate including a prominence pattern, a barrier layer pattern on the prominence pattern, and a planarization film; a gate line on the flexible substrate; a data line crossing the gate line with having a gate insulation film therebetween to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor formed at an intersection of the gate line and the data line; and a passivation layer on the flexible substrate including the thin film transistor. With this configuration, the flexible substrate and the flexible display device can be enhanced by preventing property deterioration of the elements due to bending stresses.
US09177967B2
Techniques are disclosed for heteroepitaxial growth of a layer of lattice-mismatched semiconductor material on an initial substrate, and transfer of a defect-free portion of that layer to a handle wafer or other suitable substrate for integration. In accordance with some embodiments, transfer may result in the presence of island-like oxide structures on the handle wafer/substrate, each having a defect-free island of the lattice-mismatched semiconductor material embedded within its upper surface. Each defect-free semiconductor island may have one or more crystalline faceted edges and, with its accompanying oxide structure, may provide a planar surface for integration. In some cases, a layer of a second, different semiconductor material may be heteroepitaxially grown over the handle wafer/substrate to fill areas around the transferred islands. In some other cases, the handle wafer/substrate itself may be homoepitaxially grown to fill areas around the transferred islands.
US09177960B2
A method of forming semiconductor device includes forming a landing pad, forming a stopping insulating layer on the landing pad, forming a lower molding layer including a first material on the stopping insulating layer, forming an upper molding layer including a second material different from the first material on the lower molding layer, forming a hole vertically passing through the upper molding layer and the lower molding layer and exposing the landing pad, forming a first electrode in the hole, removing the upper molding layer to expose a part of a surface of the first electrode, removing the lower molding layer to expose another part of the surface of the first electrode, forming a capacitor dielectric layer on the exposed parts of the surface of the first electrode, and forming a second electrode on the dielectric layer.
US09177950B2
Described herein is a protective structure. The protective structure includes a semiconductor substrate, a first diode disposed at least one of in or on the semiconductor substrate and a diode arrangement disposed at least one of in or on the semiconductor substrate. The diode arrangement includes a stack of a second diode and a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diode connected in series with the second diode. The diode arrangement is in parallel with the first diode.
US09177949B2
In an aspect of the present invention, an ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection element includes a bipolar transistor comprising a collector diffusion layer connected with a first terminal and an emitter diffusion layer; and current control resistances provided for a plurality of current paths from a second terminal to the collector diffusion layer through the emitter diffusion layer, respectively. The bipolar transistor further includes a base diffusion region connected with the second terminal through a first resistance which is different from the current control resistances.
US09177941B2
A semiconductor chip 109 is mounted on a substrate 100, first wire group 120 and a second wire group 118 having a wire length shorter than the first wire group are provided so as to connect the substrate 100 and the semiconductor chip 109 to each other, and a sealing resin 307 is injected from the first wire group 120 toward the second wire group 118 so as to form a sealer 401 covering the semiconductor chip 109, the first wire group 120, and the second wire group 118.
US09177930B2
A flip chip semiconductor package has a substrate with a plurality of active devices. A contact pad is formed on the substrate in electrical contact with the plurality of active devices. A passivation layer, second barrier layer, and adhesion layer are formed between the substrate and an intermediate conductive layer. The intermediate conductive layer is in electrical contact with the contact pad. A copper inner core pillar is formed by plating over the intermediate conductive layer. The inner core pillar has a rectangular, cylindrical, toroidal, or hollow cylinder form factor. A solder bump is formed around the inner core pillar by plating solder material and reflowing the solder material to form the solder bump. A first barrier layer and wetting layer are formed between the inner core pillar and solder bump. The solder bump is in electrical contact with the intermediate conductive layer.
US09177925B2
In one general aspect, a method can include forming a redistribution layer on a substrate using a first electroplating process, and forming a conductive pillar on the redistribution layer using a second electroplating process. The method can include coupling a semiconductor die to the redistribution layer, and can include forming a molding layer encapsulating at least a portion of the redistribution layer and at least a portion of the conductive pillar.
US09177918B2
Methods and apparatus for a low k dielectric layer of porous SiCOH. A method includes placing a semiconductor substrate into a vapor deposition chamber; introducing reactive gases into the vapor deposition chamber to form a dielectric film comprising SiCOH and a decomposable porogen; depositing the dielectric film to have a ratio of Si—CH3 to SiOnetwork bonds of less than or equal to 0.25; and performing a cure for a cure time to remove substantially all of the porogen from the dielectric film. In one embodiment the porogen comprises a cyclic hydrocarbon. The porogen may be UV curable. In embodiments, different lowered Si—CH3 to SiOnetwork ratios for the deposition of the dielectric film are disclosed. An apparatus of a semiconductor device including the low k dielectric layers is disclosed.
US09177916B1
Provided are resistive switching memory cells having selectors and methods of fabricating such cells. A selector may be disposed between an electrode and resistive switching layer. The selector is configured to undergo an electrical breakdown when a voltage applied to the selector exceeds a selected threshold. The selector is formed from amorphous silicon doped with fluorine. The concentration of fluorine may be between about 0.01% atomic and 3% atomic, such as about 1% atomic. Amorphous silicon has a larger band gap than, for example, crystalline silicon and, therefore, has a lower leakage. Dangling bond and weak bond states appearing in the mid-gap position of amorphous silicon are eliminated by adding fluorine. Fluorine binds to and passivates defects. In some embodiments, a fluorine reservoir is positioned in a low current density region of the memory cell to counter diffusion of fluorine from the selector into other components.
US09177913B2
Various embodiments provide semiconductor structures and fabrication methods. In an exemplary method, a semiconductor substrate can contain a shallow trench isolation (STI) structure that includes a fuse region. A protective layer can be provided on the high-K dielectric layer, which is provided on the semiconductor substrate. A portion of each of the protective layer and the high-K dielectric layer can be removed from the fuse region to expose the STI structure. A fuse layer can be formed on the exposed surface of the STI structure. A portion of the fuse layer, the remaining portion of the protective layer, and a remaining portion of the high-K dielectric layer outside of the fuse region can be removed from the semiconductor substrate to form a fuse structure.
US09177908B2
The present invention discloses a capacitor in an integrated circuit which comprises a first and second conductive lines substantially parallel to each other and having a thickness equals substantially to a sum of a via thickness and an interconnect thickness, the first and second conductive lines, the via and the interconnect being formed by a single deposition step, and at least one dielectric material in a space horizontally across the first and second conductive lines, wherein the first and second conductive lines serve as two conductive plates of the capacitor, respectively, and the dielectric material serves as an insulator of the capacitor.
US09177893B2
In various embodiments, a semiconductor component may include a semiconductor layer having a front side and a back side; at least one electronic element formed at least partially in the semiconductor layer; at least one via formed in the semiconductor layer and leading from the front side to the back side of the semiconductor layer; a front side metallization layer disposed over the front side of the semiconductor layer and electrically connecting the at least one electronic element to the at least one via; a cap disposed over the front side of the semiconductor layer and mechanically coupled to the semiconductor layer, the cap being configured as a front side carrier of the semiconductor component; a back side metallization layer disposed over the back side of the semiconductor layer and electrically connected to the at least one via.
US09177890B2
A three-dimensional integrated circuit comprising top tier nanowire transistors formed on a bottom tier of CMOS transistors, with inter-tier vias, intra-tier vias, and metal layers to connect together the various CMOS transistors and nanowire transistors. The top tier first begins as lightly doped regions on a first wafer, with an oxide layer formed over the regions. Hydrogen ion implantation forms a cleavage interface. The first wafer is flipped and oxide bonded to a second wafer having CMOS devices, and the cleavage interface is thermally activated so that a portion of the lightly doped regions remains bonded to the bottom tier. Nanowire transistors are formed in the top tier layer. The sources and drains for the top tier nanowire transistors are formed by in-situ doping during epitaxial growth. After oxide bonding, the remaining process steps are performed at low temperatures so as not to damage the metal interconnects.
US09177889B2
A method and apparatus are provided for implementing microscale thermoacoustic heat and power control for processors and three dimensional (3D) chip stacks. A thermoacoustic heat engine is integrated with a 3D chip-stack and high power processors. The thermoacoustic heat engine is used in cooperation with a heat sink associated with the 3D chip-stack. Predefined connecting layers connect the 3D chip-stack to a cooling end of a thermoacoustic stack of the thermoacoustic heat engine, allowing the cooled end of the resonator to maintain temperature within the 3D chip-stack and to increase the efficiency of the heat sink.
US09177886B2
A semiconductor package includes a circuit board comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A first semiconductor chip is stacked on the first surface and a second semiconductor chip stacked on the first semiconductor chip. A region of the second chip protrudes beyond a side of the first semiconductor chip. A support underpins the protruding region of the second chip. The support may be, for example, dry film solder resist dam.
US09177884B2
A two-sided-access (TSA) eWLB is provided that makes it possible to easily access electrical contact pads disposed on both the front and rear faces of the die(s) of the eWLB package. When fabricating the IC die wafer, metal stamps are formed in the IC die wafer in contact with the rear faces of the IC dies. When the IC dies are subsequently reconstituted in an artificial wafer, portions of the metal stamps are exposed through the mold of the artificial wafer. When the artificial wafer is sawed to singulate the TSA eWLB packages and the packages are mounted on PCBs, any electrical contact pad that is disposed on the rear face of the IC die can be accessed via the respective metal stamp of the IC die.
US09177878B2
Indexing a plurality of die obtainable from a material wafer comprising a plurality of stacked material layers. Each die is obtained in a respective position of the wafer. A manufacturing stage comprises at least two steps for treating a respective superficial portion of the material wafer that corresponds to a subset of said plurality of dies using the at least one lithographic mask through the exposition to the proper radiation in temporal succession. The method may include providing a die index on each die which is indicative of the position of the respective die by forming an external index indicative of the position of the superficial portion of the material wafer corresponding to the subset of the plurality of dies including said die and may comprise a plurality of electronic components electrically coupled to each other by means of a respective common control line.
US09177870B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. A high-k dielectric layer is formed over a substrate. A first capping layer is formed over a portion of the high-k dielectric layer. A second capping layer is formed over the first capping layer and the high-k dielectric layer. A dummy gate electrode layer is formed over the second capping layer. The dummy gate electrode layer, the second capping layer, the first capping layer, and the high-k dielectric layer are patterned to form an NMOS gate and a PMOS gate. The NMOS gate includes the first capping layer, and the PMOS gate is free of the first capping layer. The dummy gate electrode layer of the PMOS gate is removed, thereby exposing the second capping layer of the PMOS gate. The second capping layer of the PMOS gate is transformed into a third capping layer.
US09177868B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure by forming an oxide layer above a substrate; optionally annealing the oxide layer to densify the oxide layer; forming a first sacrificial gate above the substrate; removing the first dummy gate; optionally annealing the first gate oxide layer; and forming a first replacement metal gate above the gate oxide layer. In some embodiments selective nitridation may be performed during the annealing step.
US09177850B2
The present invention provides a substrate carrying mechanism, a substrate processing apparatus, and a semiconductor device manufacturing method that, when carrying a substrate, suppress the generation of scratches and particles caused by substrate deformation, suppress a decrease in substrate holding force due to substrate deformation, and realizes stable high-speed carriage. Namely, the substrate carrying mechanism, the substrate processing apparatus, and the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention include: a plate-like body that becomes a support base body of a substrate that is a carrying subject; and substrate support portions in which plural convex portions disposed on a surface of the plate-like body are placed on a circumference of a circle that is smaller than the diameter of the substrate.
US09177847B2
A member 20 for semiconductor manufacturing equipment includes a base portion 22 and a ceramic member 30 formed on the base portion 22. The ceramic member 30 of the present invention includes a ceramic base 32 containing at least one of magnesium oxide, a magnesium oxide solid solution in which a predetermined component is dissolved in magnesium oxide, and zirconium oxide; and an electrode 34 which is arranged on part of the ceramic base 32 and which contains a ruthenium-aluminum alloy as an electrode component. The ceramic member 30 is a plate-like member and has a structure in which the electrode 34 is embedded therein. The electrode 34 is connected to a feeding member 26 inserted from the underside of the ceramic member 30. Electric power is supplied from the feeding member 26.
US09177846B2
Provided is a holding stage structure which holds a substrate and disposed in a process chamber that is vacuum-evacuatable and allows a predetermined process to be performed on the substrate therein. The holding stage structure includes: a holding stage body on which the substrate is placed; an elevation pin mechanism lowering the substrate on the holding stage body or raising the substrate from the holding stage body; and a stepped portion formed on the holding stage body so that a peripheral portion of a rear surface of the substrate placed on the holding stage body is exposed to a processing gas supplied into the process chamber.
US09177844B2
A process-line-to-process-line transport apparatus transports a transport subject between corresponding two of process lines. A first transport vehicle transports the transport subject in a first process line, and a second transport vehicle transports the transport subject in a second process line. A relay stocking apparatus is placed in a corresponding location, at which the relay stocking apparatus receives the transport subject from one of the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle and passes the received transport subject to the other one of the first transport vehicle and the second transport vehicle.
US09177835B1
A method includes placing an underfill-shaping cover on a package component of a package, with a device die of the package extending into an opening of the underfill-shaping cover. An underfill is dispensed into the opening of the underfill-shaping cover. The underfill fills a gap between the device die and the package component through capillary. The method further includes, with the underfill-shaping cover on the package component, curing the underfill. After the curing the underfill, the underfill-shaping cover is removed from the package.
US09177832B2
A semiconductor device has a carrier with a semiconductor die mounting area. A plurality of conductive posts is formed in a periphery of the semiconductor die mounting area and in the carrier. A first portion of the carrier is removed to expose a first portion of the plurality of conductive posts such that a second portion of the plurality of conductive posts is embedded in a second portion of the carrier. A first semiconductor die is mounted to the semiconductor die mounting area and between the first portion of the plurality of conductive posts. A first encapsulant is deposited around the first semiconductor die and around the first portion of the plurality of conductive posts. A second portion of the carrier is removed to expose the second portion of the plurality of conductive posts. An interconnect structure is formed over the plurality of conductive posts and the first semiconductor die.
US09177824B2
Methods for reducing the line width roughness on a photoresist pattern are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of processing a patterned photoresist layer disposed atop a substrate includes flowing a process gas into a processing volume of a process chamber having the substrate disposed therein; forming a plasma within the process chamber from the process gas, wherein the plasma has a ion energy of about 1 eV to about 10 eV; and etching the patterned photoresist layer with species from the plasma to at least one of smooth a line width roughness of a sidewall of the patterned photoresist layer or remove debris.
US09177820B2
Fin structures and methods of manufacturing fin structures using a dual-material sidewall image transfer mask to enable patterning of sub-lithographic features is disclosed. The method of forming a plurality of fins includes forming a first set of fins having a first pitch. The method further includes forming an adjacent fin to the first set of fins. The adjacent fin and a nearest fin of the first set of fins have a second pitch larger than the first pitch. The first set of fins and the adjacent fin are sub-lithographic features formed using a sidewall image transfer process.
US09177818B2
According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method includes: forming a block copolymer layer containing a polystyrene derivative and an acrylic having 6 or more carbon atoms on a side chain in an opening of a resist layer provided on an underlayer and having the opening; forming a first layer containing the polystyrene derivative and a second layer containing the acrylic in the opening by phase-separating the block copolymer layer; and removing the second layer.
US09177813B2
In MOSFET having SBD as a protection element, a TiW (alloy having tungsten as a main component) film is used as an aluminum-diffusion barrier metal film below an aluminum source electrode in order to secure properties of SBD. The present inventors have found that a tungsten-based barrier metal film is in the form of columnar grains having a lower barrier property than that of a titanium-based barrier metal film such as TiN so that aluminum spikes are generated relatively easily in a silicon substrate. In the present invention, when a tungsten-based barrier metal film is formed by sputtering as a barrier metal layer between an aluminum-based metal layer and a silicon-based semiconductor layer therebelow, the lower layer is formed by ionization sputtering while applying a bias to the wafer side and the upper layer is formed by sputtering without applying a bias to the wafer side.
US09177803B2
The present disclosure provides semiconductor device structures with a first PMOS active region and a second PMOS active region provided within a semiconductor substrate. A silicon germanium channel layer is only formed over the second PMOS active region. Gate electrodes are formed over the first and second PMOS active regions, wherein the gate electrode over the second PMOS active region is formed over the silicon germanium channel.
US09177796B2
The embodiments herein provides methods for forming a PVD silicon oxide or silicon rich oxide, or PVD SiN or silicon rich SiN, or SiC or silicon rich SiC, or combination of the preceding including a variation which includes controlled doping of hydrogen into the compounds heretofore referred to as SiOxNyCz:Hw, where w, x, y, and z can vary in concentration from 0% to 100%, is produced as a hardmask with optical properties that are substantially matched to the photo-resists at the exposure wavelength. Thus making the hardmask optically planarized with respect to the photo-resist. This allows for multiple sequences of litho and etches in the hardmask while the photo-resist maintains essentially no optical topography or reflectivity variations.
US09177795B2
A method of forming nanostructures may include forming a block copolymer composition within a trench in a material on a substrate, wherein the block copolymer composition may comprise a block copolymer material and an activatable catalyst having a higher affinity for a first block of the block copolymer material compared to a second block of the block copolymer material; self-assembling the block copolymer composition into first domains comprising the first block and the activatable catalyst, and second domains comprising the second block; generating catalyst from the activatable catalyst in at least one portion of the first domains to produce a structure comprising catalyst-containing domains and the second domains, the catalyst-containing domains comprising the first block and the catalyst; and reacting a metal oxide precursor with the catalyst in the catalyst-containing domains to produce a metal oxide-containing structure comprising the first block and metal oxide.
US09177791B2
Embodiments provided herein describe systems and methods for forming semiconductor devices. A semiconductor substrate is provided. The semiconductor substrate is exposed to bromine radicals, hydrogen radicals, or a combination thereof. An oxide layer is formed above the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is held within a controlled atmosphere at least from the completion of the exposing of the semiconductor substrate to bromine radicals, hydrogen radicals, or a combination thereof and the beginning of the forming of the oxide layer.
US09177786B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a thin film on a substrate by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes supplying a source gas to the substrate, and supplying excited species from each of a plurality of excitation units provided at a side of the substrate to the substrate. Each of the plurality of excitation units generates the excited species by plasma-exciting a reaction gas. In supplying the excited species from each of the plurality of excitation units, an in-plane distribution of the excited species supplied from at least one of the plurality of excitation units in the substrate differs from an in-plane distribution of the excited species supplied from another excitation unit, other than the at least one excitation unit, among the plurality of excitation units, in the substrate.
US09177784B2
Embodiments related to methods for forming a film stack on a substrate are provided. One example method comprises exposing the substrate to an activated oxygen species and converting an exposed surface of the substrate into a continuous monolayer of a first dielectric material. The example method also includes forming a second dielectric material on the continuous monolayer of the first dielectric material without exposing the substrate to an air break.
US09177779B1
An electrode-less plasma lamps, comprising generally of a bulb containing a gas-fill that is excited to produce light using radio-frequency (RF) energy. In specific embodiments, the use of grounded coupling-elements with integrated bulb assemblies simplifies manufacturability, improves resonant frequency control, and enables the use of solid, partially filled, and hollow lamp bodies. In an example, the lamp is configured with an rf feed that is substantially normal to a direction of the bulb and associated support member.
US09177778B2
A mercury-free low-pressure lamp having a bulb is provided. The bulb includes an emissive material and one or more phosphors. The emissive material includes at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, wherein when the bulb is in a non-operational state, the emissive material condenses into a liquid or solid, and when the bulb is in an operational state the emissive material forms an emitter, the emitter in combination with one or more gases generate photons when excited by an electrical discharge. The one or more phosphors are configured to convert at least a portion of the photons to other visible wavelengths.
US09177775B2
An object of the present invention is to prevent lowering of introduction efficiency of ions and to reduce labor for a cleaning operation. In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a mass spectrometer where ion introduction hole of an electrode is divided into a first region, a second region, and a third region, a central axis direction of the ion introduction hole in both or either one of the first region and the third region is different from a flow direction axis of the ion inside the ion introduction hole in the second region, and axes of the ion introduction hole in the first region and the third region are in an eccentric position relationship.
US09177767B2
A mass spectrometer has a particle introduction system and a vaporizer, atomizer, and ionizer configured to produce ions from elements associated with the particle. An ion mass-to-charge ratio analyzer is configured to separate ions according to their mass-to-charge ratio. A detector is positioned to detect at least some of the separated ions. A digital processor is configured to: (a) acquire data from the detector including at least first data in a primary detection group defined to comprise one or more mass-to-charge ratio channels of the mass spectrometer; (b) determine whether or not ions detected during at least one sampling cycle meet at least one selection criterion indicating a presence of a particle in the mass spectrometer; and (c) determine whether or not to use data in a secondary detection group based on whether or not the at least one selection criterion is met.
US09177761B2
A structure of a plasma CVD apparatus for forming a dense semiconductor film is provided. Further, a technique for forming a dense crystalline semiconductor film (e.g., a microcrystalline semiconductor film) without a cavity between crystal grains is provided. An electrode supplied with electric power for generating plasma is included in a reaction chamber of the plasma CVD apparatus. This electrode has a common plane on a surface opposite to a substrate, and the common plane is provided with depressed openings. Gas supply ports are provided on the bottom of the depressed openings or on the common plane of the electrode. The depressed openings are provided in isolation from one another.
US09177755B2
A transmission x-ray tube comprising an end window hermetically sealed to a flexible coupling. The flexible coupling can allow the window to shift or tilt in one direction or another direction to allow an electron beam to impinge upon one region of the window or another region of the window.A method of utilizing different regions of an x-ray tube target by tilting an x-ray tube window at an acute angle with respect to an electron beam axis to cause an electron beam to impinge on a selected region of the window and tilting the window in a different direction to allow the electron beam to impinge on a different selected region of the window.
US09177748B2
A high power RF device has an electron beam cavity, a modulator, and a circuit for feed-forward energy recovery from a multi-stage depressed collector to the modulator. The electron beam cavity include a cathode, an anode, and the multi-stage depressed collector, and the modulator is configured to provide pulses to the cathode. Voltages of the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector are allowed to float as determined by fixed impedances seen by the electrode stages. The energy recovery circuit includes a storage capacitor that dynamically biases potentials of the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector and provides recovered energy from the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector to the modulator. The circuit may also include a step-down transformer, where the electrode stages of the multi-stage depressed collector are electrically connected to separate taps on the step-down transformer.
US09177741B2
A fail-safe motorized switching system includes: (a) a motorized loadbreak switch system, the motorized loadbreak switch system adapted for opening and closing contacts between a high voltage power source and a load; (b) an energy storage device connected to the motorized loadbreak switch system; and (c) a controller connected to the energy storage device, the controller programmed with control logic to ensure that the motorized loadbreak switch system opens the contacts between the high voltage power source and the load once the power source is removed.
US09177735B2
A safety interlock switch with coded interlocking to provide tamper resistance, the coded interlocking having two differently coded technologies 8,10; 16,18. In a preferred embodiment one technology is mechanical in the form of a coded-cam system operated by a coded-tongue 8, the other is electronic comprising a non-contact coded RFID sensor 16,18, and wherein the switch is only enabled when the two different codes have been correctly applied.
US09177734B2
The instant invention teaches a protective cover for an electrical switch forming part of an electrical circuit having three key components: a fastening flange adapted to be secured to a cover plate for the switch, a shield portion connected to the fastening flange which serves to help block accidental contact, activation and/or access to the electrical switch, but does not totally prevent intentional movement of the switch by a user (especially via a hand-held tool), and a snap off tab or tabs forming part of the shield portion, with the snap off tab or tabs being adapted to be snapped off and removed to allow freer access to and movement of the electrical switch by a user while still providing significant protection against accidental contact and activation.
US09177730B2
A terminal is provided for an electrical switchgear. The terminal includes: a housing arrangement including an electrically insulating material and having an inner surface defining a cavity; and a first terminal electrical contact contained in the housing arrangement for making an electrical connection with an electrical component insertable into the cavity. The first terminal electrical contact is located in a first recess formed in the inner surface, the first terminal electrical contact being flush with the inner surface.
US09177726B2
With a multilayer ceramic capacitor whose average grain size of the dielectric grains present at the outermost layer position P1 in the laminate is given by D1, average grain size of the dielectric grains present at the center position P2 in the laminate is given by D2, and average grain size of the dielectric grains present at the 25%-penetrated position P3 which is a position penetrated into the laminate by 25% is given by D3, growth of the dielectric grains occurring as a result of sintering is partially suppressed in such a way that the relationships of average grain sizes D1, D2, and D3 satisfy the conditions of 1.5×D1
US09177723B2
A high voltage high current transmission line for transmitting high voltage high current energy in the 10 kV and 200,000 A range from a power source to an end item to which the power is delivered. The high voltage high current transmission line includes two generally parallel configured conductive plates with an overlapping dielectric layering configuration. Each of the conductive plates are encompassed by a first dielectric material, both of the conductive plates encompassed by a second dielectric material, and the conductive plates are encompassed by an outer dielectric sheathing. The dielectric layering configuration may also include a dielectric material applied to the edges of the conductive plates. At one or both ends of the high voltage high current transmission line, a plug assembly may be provided for connecting to the power source and/or the discharge device. The high voltage high current transmission line may also include an exposed conductive plate surface with a staggered configuration such that the exposed surfaces of the conductive plates do not overlap.
US09177715B2
A transformer includes first and second semiconductor substrates. The first semiconductor substrate includes a first circuit, a first coil providing a first impedance, and a first capacitor coupled in parallel with the first coil. The second semiconductor substrate includes a second circuit, a second coil providing a second impedance and inductively coupled with the first coil, and a second capacitor coupled in parallel with the second coil.
US09177708B2
A magnet having an annular coolant fluid passage is generally described. Various examples provide a magnet including a first magnet and a second magnet disposed around an ion beam coupler with an aperture there through. Each of the first and second magnets including a metal core having a cavity therein, one or more conductive wire wraps disposed around the metal core, and an annular core element configured to be inserted into the cavity, wherein an annular coolant fluid passage is formed between the cavity and the annular core element. Furthermore, each annular core element may have a first diameter and a middle section having a second diameter, the second diameter being less than the first diameter. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US09177701B2
A chip resistor includes first and second electrodes spaced apart from each other, a resistor element arranged on the first and the second electrodes, a bonding layer provided between the resistor element and the two electrodes, and a plating layer electrically connected to the resistor element. The first electrode includes a flat outer side surface, and the resistor element includes a side surface facing in the direction in which the thirst and the second electrodes are spaced. The outer side surface of the first electrode is flush with the side surface of the resistor element. The plating layer covers at least a part of the outer side surface of the first electrode in a manner such that the covering portion of the plating layer extends from one vertical edge of the outer side surface to the other vertical edge.
US09177690B2
An insulating film-coated metal foil having on one or both surfaces thereof an organic-inorganic hybrid layer containing dimethylsiloxane and a metalloxane comprising a metal other than Si. Relative to the concentration [Si]1/4t of the Si at a depth of ¼t from the surface of the organic-inorganic hybrid layer in the thickness direction of the hybrid layer, the concentration [Si]3/4t of the Si at a depth of ¾t from the surface of the organic-inorganic hybrid layer in the thickness direction of the hybrid layer satisfies [Si]1/4t<[Si]3/4t, and ([Si]3/4t−[Si]1/4t)/[Si]3/4t is 0.02-0.23. Provided is a metal foil that can be used in solar cell substrates, flexible circuit substrates, etc., that exhibits surface flatness, pliability, insulating properties and thermal resistance properties, and that has a layer having a surface which is not susceptible to scratching by processes in which substrates are handled, such as conveyance and transshipment.
US09177686B2
The present invention relates to a copper alloy having high strength, high electrical conductivity, and excellent bendability, the copper alloy containing, in terms of mass %, 0.4 to 4.0% of Ni; 0.05 to 1.0% of Si; and, as an element M, one member selected from 0.005 to 0.5% of P, 0.005 to 1.0% of Cr, and 0.005 to 1.0% of Ti, with the remainder being copper and inevitable impurities, in which an atom number ratio M/Si of elements M and Si contained in a precipitate having a size of 50 to 200 nm in a microstructure of the copper alloy is from 0.01 to 10 on average, the atom number ratio being measured by a field emission transmission electron microscope with a magnification of 30,000 and an energy dispersive analyzer.
US09177679B2
The invention provides a method using accelerators to produce radio-isotopes in high quantities. The method comprises: supplying a “core” of low-enrichment fissile material arranged in a spherical array of LEU combined with water moderator. The array is surrounded by substrates which serve as multipliers and moderators as well as neutron shielding substrates. A flux of neutrons enters the low-enrichment fissile material and causes fissions therein for a time sufficient to generate desired quantities of isotopes from the fissile material. The radio-isotopes are extracted from said fissile material by chemical processing or other means.
US09177678B2
An improved method of inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor involves collecting historic data regarding the tube sheet transition regions of each tube for use during a subsequent analysis to create a new simpler signal from which historic artifacts have been removed.
US09177674B2
A pressurized water nuclear reactor (PWR) includes a once through steam generator (OTSG) disposed in a generally cylindrical pressure vessel and a divider plate spaced apart from the open end of a central riser. A sealing portion of the pressure vessel and the divider plate define an integral pressurizer volume that is separated by the divider plate from the remaining interior volume of the pressure vessel. An internal control rod drive mechanism (CRDM) has all mechanical and electromagnetomotive components including at least a motor and a lead screw disposed inside the pressure vessel. Optionally CRDM units are staggered at two or more different levels such that no two neighboring CRDM units are at the same level. Internal primary coolant pumps have all mechanical and electromagnetomotive components including at least a motor and at least one impeller disposed inside the pressure vessel. Optionally, the pumps and/or CRDM are arranged below the OTSG.
US09177670B1
Example embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and a system for improving performance of flash cache memory, such as in a host of a storage environment, for example, by preventing a cache cell from reaching an operation limit. The method includes determining that a number of operations to a first cell of a flash memory has reached a threshold and managing the flash memory according to the determination to prevent a failure of a second cell of the flash memory.
US09177666B2
The present disclosure relates to a shift register unit and a driving method thereof, a shift register and a display apparatus. The shift register unit includes a carry signal output terminal (CA(n)); a driving signal output terminal (OUT(n)); a staged output module (33) connected to the pulling-up node (PU), the pulling-down node (PD), the carry signal output terminal (CA(n)) and the driving signal output terminal (OUT(n)), respectively, for outputting a carry signal and a driving signal in stages so that the driving signal maintains a high level in the evaluating phase and a low level in the resetting phase; a pulling-up node level maintaining module (34) for, in the evaluating phase, maintaining the level at the pulling-up node (PU) at a high level via the first output control module (31) so that the driving signal maintains the high level. It removes the effect of the leakage current of the depletion type TFT on the shift register by using staged output and maintaining the pulling-up node level, which increases stability and reliability thereof and decreases power consumption.
US09177657B2
In a nonvolatile memory device (4) provided in a semiconductor device, when data is erased based on a band-to-band tunneling scheme, supply of a boosted voltage to a memory cell (MC) to be erased is ended when a condition that an output voltage (VUCP) of a charge pump circuit (52) has recovered to a predetermined reference voltage is satisfied and additionally a condition that a predetermined reference time has elapsed since start of supply of the boosted voltage (VUCP) to the memory cell (MC) to be erased is satisfied.
US09177651B2
Methods of programming a memory and memories are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a memory is programmed by determining a pretarget threshold voltage for a selected cell, wherein the pretarget threshold voltage is determined using pretarget threshold voltage values for at least one neighbor cell of the selected cell.
US09177646B2
A content-addressable memory (CAM) with computational capability is described. The CAM includes an array of CAM cells arranged in rows and columns with a pair of search lines associated with each column of the array and a match line associated with each row of the array. The array of CAM cells is configured to implement, for a given cycle, either a read operation of data contained in a single selected column, or one of a plurality of different bitwise logical operations on data contained in multiple selected columns. All of the pairs of search lines in the columns of the array are configured to a certain state to implement the read operation or one of the plurality of different bitwise logical operations. A result of the read operation or one of the plurality of different bitwise logical operations is outputted onto all of the match lines in the array.
US09177645B2
A 10T NVSRAM cell is provided with a bottom HV NMOS Select transistor in each 3T FString removed from traditional 12T NVSRAM cell. A Recall operation by reading a stored ΔVt state of flash transistors into each SRAM cell uses a charge-sensing scheme rather than the current-sensing scheme, with all other key operations unchanged. The Recall operation works under any ramping rate of SRAM's power line voltage and Flash gate signal which can be set higher than only Vt0 or both Vt0 and Vt1. Alternatively, the Store operation can use a current charging scheme from a Fpower line to the paired Q and QB nodes of each SRAM cell through a paired Flash Voltage Follower that stored ΔVtp≧1.0V. The Recall operation in this alternative embodiment is to use a 7-step approach with the FN-channel erase, FN-channel program and FN-edge program schemes, including 2-step SRAM amplification.
US09177642B1
A method for programming a non-memory device comprising a plurality of resistive switching device. Each of the plurality of resistive switching device includes a resistive switching material characterized by a resistance characterized by a state depending on a conductive filament structure. A first programming code file to configure a system to perform a predetermined task is provided. The programmability of each of the plurality of resistive switching device is maintained. The system receives the first programming code file, executing the first programming code file, and verifies and validates that the system performs the predetermined task. Once the first programming code file is validated, the conductive filament in one or more resistive switching device is fixed spatially in a portion of the resistive switching material of the respective one or more resistive switching device by applying joule heating programming. The programmability of each of the memory device is removed.
US09177641B2
According to one embodiment, a memory device includes a memory cell, a sense amplifier, and a resistor. The sense amplifier includes a first input and a second input, outputs a signal in accordance with a difference between the first and second inputs, and is selectively coupled at a second input to the memory cell. The resistor is in a first path between the first input of the sense amplifier and a ground node.
US09177640B2
A phase-change device capable of realizing a multi-level record in a superlattice phase-change memory cell in which a superlattice phase-change material is used as a recording film, and thereby achieving the reduction in power consumption and the capacity increase is provided. To a phase-change memory cell composed of GeTe/Sb2Te3 superlattice or SnTe/Sb2Te3 superlattice, a SET pulse is once applied to form a SET state (low resistance state). Thereafter, recording pulses having respectively different voltage values between a voltage value forming the SET state and a voltage value forming a RESET state (high resistance state) are respectively applied to the superlattice phase-change memory cell twice or more. In this manner, a read resistance (SET resistance) corresponding to a recording pulse (SET pulse) and read resistances corresponding to each of the recording pulses are obtained, so that the multi-level record can be realized.
US09177635B1
Single-ended read circuits for SRAM devices are disclosed for high performance sub-micron designs. One embodiment is an SRAM device that includes a memory cell array and a bit line traversing the memory cell array for reading data from memory cells of the memory cell array. A read circuit coupled to the bit line translates data stored in a memory cell from a cell voltage of the memory cells to a peripheral voltage of an output of the SRAM device while bypassing a level shifter in the read data path.
US09177632B2
A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.
US09177625B2
A semiconductor system including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a semiconductor chip, and a method of driving the semiconductor system are described. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of semiconductor chips, at least one first chip through via suitable for penetrating through the plurality of semiconductor chips and interfacing a source ID code between the plurality of semiconductor chips, a plurality of second chip through vias suitable for penetrating through the plurality of semiconductor chips and interfacing a plurality of chip selection signals between the plurality of semiconductor chips, wherein the semiconductor chip uses one of chip selection signals as an internal chip selection signal in response to a chip ID code by selecting one of a unique ID code for the semiconductor chip and an alternative ID code for a preset semiconductor chip when the semiconductor chip fails.
US09177616B2
Devices and methods that allow dynamic management of throughput in a memory device based on a power supply voltage are provided. According to various embodiments, the power supply level can be monitored. Based on the result of the monitoring, an appropriate throughput can be determined. Once the appropriate throughput is determined, an appropriate control signal based on the determined throughput can be generated. The control signal can be configured to cause a bitline driver circuit in a memory array to activate a number of bitlines consistent with the determined throughput.
US09177611B2
An apparatus includes a first semiconductor device including a three-dimensional (3D) memory. The 3D memory includes multiple memory cells arranged in multiple physical levels above a substrate. The 3D memory further includes circuitry associated with operation of the multiple memory cells. The apparatus includes a second semiconductor device coupled to the first semiconductor device. The second semiconductor device includes a charge pump, and the 3D memory does not include a charge pump.
US09177609B2
An apparatus includes a first memory die including a first memory core, a second memory die including a second memory core, and a periphery die coupled to the first memory die and to the second memory die. The periphery die includes periphery circuitry corresponding to the first memory core and periphery circuitry corresponding to the second memory core. The periphery die is responsive to a memory controller and configured to initiate a first memory operation at the first memory core and a second memory operation at the second memory core.
US09177608B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided an optical disc apparatus of a slot loading type, including a photosensor disposed near a disc insertion port and configured to change an output therefrom when an optical disc is inserted, a memory configured to record an output signal from the photosensor, and a controller configured to estimate a transparent clamp area of the optical disc based on the output signal, estimate a position of a center hole part of the optical disk based on the estimated clamp area, and detect presence of a foreign matter in the center hole part when a light-blocking percentage in the center hole part indicated by the output signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.
US09177607B2
An apparatus includes a controller capable of being coupled to a magnetic data storage media and a cache. The cache includes non-volatile, solid-state memory. The controller is configured to detect a defect in the data storage media requiring a recovery operation and allocate a portion of the cache for storage of a journal to be used in the recovery operation. The controller is further configured to log steps of the recovery operation to the journal.
US09177605B2
A first user interface may be presented comprising a single selection option that enables recording of multiple television channels. A first user input, in response to the first user interface may be received enabling the option for recording of the multiple television channels. Data indicating a time period during which a television channel of the multiple television channels is to be recorded may be received from a television service provider. A record timer for the television channel of the multiple television channels may be set based on the user input enabling recording of multiple television channels and the data indicating the time period. The television channel of the multiple television channels may be recorded based on the record timer.
US09177598B2
A device may be provided. The device includes a media including a servo layer and a data recording layer, and a recording head including a dimension sized to produce a magnetic writing field to write servo information on the servo layer.
US09177592B2
The present disclosure provides systems and methods associated with data storage using atomic films, such as graphene, boron nitride, or silicene. A platter assembly may include at least one platter that has one or more substantially planar surfaces. One or more layers of a monolayer atomic film, such as graphene, may be positioned on a planar surface. Data may be stored on the atomic film using one or more vacancies, dopants, defects, and/or functionalized groups (presence or lack thereof) to represent one of a plurality of states in a multi-state data representation model, such as a binary, a ternary, or another base N data storage model. A read module may detect the vacancies, dopants, and/or functionalized groups (or a topographical feature resulting therefrom) to read the data stored on the atomic film.
US09177578B1
A voice coil actuator utilizes an eddy current magnet configured for positioning proximal to the outer perimeter side face of one or more recording disk, and which cooperates with the conductive side face to generate an eddy current force to rotate a latch lever to an unlatched position. Embodiments may include an end cam on a base on which the latch lever is rotatably disposed, and the latch lever includes a cam follower capable of rotatably engaging with the end cam, whereby the magnetic attraction between the eddy current magnet and the voice coil actuator yoke generates a latch bias force which causes the end cam and cam follower to engage or mesh in order to hold the latch lever in a latched position.
US09177576B2
A disk drive includes a disk including a magnetizable layer of material, and a transducer. The transducer has a read element that includes a first shield layer, a pinned layer, a metallic spacer, an AP (anti-parallel) free layer, and a second shield layer. The pinned layer has a surface area which is greater than the area of the AP free layer. The read element also includes an anti-ferromagnetic layer for substantially fixing the magnetic orientation of a plurality of domains in the pinned layer. The ferromagnetic layer is adjacent the pinned layer. The pinned layer, and the anti-ferromagnetic layer both have surface areas which are greater than the area associated with the AP free layer. The anti-ferromagnetic layer, in one embodiment, has a pinning strength in the range of 0.5 erg/cm2 to 1.5 erg/cm2.
US09177573B1
A tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) device has a thin MgO tunneling barrier layer and a free ferromagnetic multilayer. The free ferromagnetic multilayer includes a CoFeB first ferromagnetic layer, a face-centered-cubic (fcc) NiFe compensation layer with negative magnetostriction, and a body-centered-cubic (bcc) NiFe insertion layer between the CoFeB layer and the fcc NiFe compensation layer. An optional ferromagnetic nanolayer may be located between the MgO barrier layer and the CoFeB layer. An optional amorphous separation layer may be located between the CoFeB layer and the bcc NiFe insertion layer. The bcc NiFe insertion layer (and the optional amorphous separation layer if it is used) prevents the fcc NiFe layer from adversely affecting the crystalline formation of the MgO and CoFeB layers during annealing. The bcc NiFe insertion layer also increases the TMR and lowers the Gilbert damping constant of the free ferromagnetic multilayer.
US09177571B2
In a method for operating a tape storage system, readback signals are simultaneously received from a set of data readers reading from data tracks of a set of adjacent data tracks extending along a longitudinal extension of a tape storage medium, wherein each data track of the set has a width and each data reader of the set has a width equal to or less than the width of a data track. Simultaneously to receiving the readback signals from the set of data readers readback signals are received from a servo reader arrangement containing at least one servo reader arranged laterally offset from one of the data readers by less than the width of a data track. At least one of lateral position, velocity, gain and timing information is determined dependent on the readback signals of each servo reader in the servo reader arrangement.
US09177541B2
A method for operating an active noise reduction system that is designed to reduce the harmonic or sinusoidal noise emanating from a rotating device, where there is an active noise reduction system input signal that is related to the frequency of the noise to be reduced, and where the active noise reduction system comprises one or more adaptive filters that output a generally sinusoidal noise reduction signal that is used to drive one or more transducers with their outputs directed to reduce the noise. Distortions of the noise reduction signal are detected. A distortion is based at least in part on differences between the frequency of the noise reduction signal and the frequency of the harmonic noise. The noise reduction signal is altered based on the detected distortion.
US09177540B2
A system and method for conforming an audio input to a musical key. Audio input is received and the musical key is determined. Sequentially for each consecutive note, a pitch value for each note and an interval between each preceding and subsequent note is determined; alternative subsequent notes based on the musical key and the pitch value of the subsequent note are determined; each interval between each alternative subsequent note and each respective note of the alternative subsequent notes corresponding to the preceding note is scored based on the interval between the preceding note and the subsequent note of the audio input; and a best interval is selected for each alternative subsequent note. A best-match note is selected for each note of the audio input based on the best intervals of all the notes, and each audio input note is conformed to a frequency of the best-match note.
US09177537B2
A percussion attachment is provided to be detachably installed on a percussion instrument. The percussion attachment includes a main body part having a struck part to be struck by a player, an extended part extending from a side surface of the main body part to be locked to one of the tension bolts, and a restricting part protruding from the side surface of the main body part near the extended part and supporting the percussion instrument to restrict a displacement of the main body part in a state that the extended part is tightened together with the hoop by one of the tension bolts.
US09177536B1
A string adjustment apparatus includes an outer shell, an adjustment stem member, a winding shaft member and a base. The outer shell includes a housing recess and a recess opening. The adjustment stem member includes a stem and a turning peg. The winding shaft member includes a shaft, a worm gear portion and a string hole portion. The base includes a plate corresponding to the recess opening and a first tube extended from the plate towards a direction remote from the outer shell. The worm gear portion and the stem are located in the housing recess and coupled with each other. The shaft runs through the first tube to make the string hole portion to pass through the first tube and also make the plate to cover the recess opening. Thus, a simpler structure is formed to make assembly easier.
US09177534B2
Data transmission for display partial update. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a display controller to transfer pixel data from a frame buffer to a video display and to select a granularity of a plurality of granularities for units of data for the transfer of the pixel data, and a detection element to track updates to the frame buffer, the detection element to identify at least a first damage area of the pixel data that has been changed from a previous image, wherein the display controller is to provide the video display with the identified first damage area of the pixel data in more or more units of data of the chosen granularity.
US09177529B2
A method for determining the afterimage level of a display is used for solving the problem in the conventional technology that the accuracy is very low as the afterimage level of the display can only be determined by human-eye observation. The method comprises: determining a brightness variation index and an area index of an afterimage displayed by the display device after an afterimage test; and determining the afterimage level of the display device according to the determined brightness variation index and the determined area index. Because both the brightness variation index and the area index of the afterimage can be determined objectively, the means of human-eye subjective observation is not required any more and the afterimage level of the display can be determined objectively, and hence the accuracy of determining the afterimage level of the display can be improved.
US09177526B2
An apparatus for setting a display device includes a target value obtainer, a measured value obtainer, and a determiner. The target value obtainer acquires a target value of a display setting including color temperature and brightness for a display device configured to display an image. The measured value obtainer acquires a measured value of display characteristics including the color temperature and the brightness in each of multiple states specific to the display device, from the display device for which the display setting is sequentially changed to the multiple states. The determiner determines a setting value in the display setting including the color temperature and the brightness from among the multiple states, on the basis of the target value and multiple measured values acquired by the measured value obtainer.
US09177518B2
Pixel electrodes in odd-numbered rows and even-numbered rows of a liquid crystal display panel are connected to source lines arranged on the left side of the pixel electrodes and source lines on the right side of the pixel electrodes, respectively. A DA converter switches between whether a potential higher than a common electrode potential is output from an odd-numbered output terminal and a potential lower than the common electrode potential is output from an even-numbered potential output terminal, and whether a potential lower than the common electrode potential is output from the odd-numbered potential output terminal and a potential higher than the common electrode potential is output from the even-numbered potential output terminal. A switch mechanism switches between whether a pixel electrode potential is set using the source line on the left side or is set using the source line on the right side.
US09177517B2
A sum of the number of frames constituting a scanning period and the number of frames constituting a pause period is an even number. A polarity of a POL signal in each frame in each of the scanning period and the pause period is reversed every frame. Further, the polarity of the POL signal is reversed at a timing when switching from the scanning period to the pause period is carried out, and is maintained at a timing when switching from the pause period to the scanning period is carried out. Alternatively, the polarity of the POL signal is maintained at a timing when switching from the scanning period to the pause period is carried out, and is reversed at a timing when switching from the pause period to the scanning period is carried out.
US09177506B2
A display apparatus includes: a pixel array section including a row of scanning lines, a column of signal lines, and pixels in a matrix, each of the pixels disposed at an intersection of both of the lines; and a drive section. The drive section performs line progressive scanning on the pixels. The pixel includes a light emitting device, a sampling transistor, a driving transistor, a switching transistor, and a holding capacitor. The sampling transistor samples a video signal in the holding capacitor, the driving transistor changes the device to a luminous state, the switching transistor becomes ON in advance of the sampling of the video signal to change the light emitting device to a non-luminous state, and the sampling transistor takes in the OFF voltage from the signal line to the driving transistor, thereby preventing a penetration current from flowing from the power source toward the fixed potential.
US09177498B2
A display panel includes a gate driving circuit and a control circuit. The gate driving circuit includes a plurality of circuit stages. An Nth-circuit stage of the circuit stages includes a start unit, a drive unit, a first pull-down unit, a second pull-down unit, and a current detecting unit. The drive unit is configured to provide a dock signal to an Nth-output terminal. The first pull-down unit is configured to make an enable node have a first pull-down voltage. The second pull-down unit is configured to provide a disable node with a second pull-down voltage. The current detecting unit is configured to detect an error current passing through the first pull-down unit and output an error signal according to the error current. The control circuit is configured to adjust the second pull-down voltage according to the error signal of the Nth-circuit stage.
US09177495B2
In one unit period of a display period, each pair of two scanning lines is selected and a gray scale potential corresponding to an image signal of pixels of one scanning line of each pair of scanning lines is supplied to each signal line. In another unit period, the other scanning line of each pair of scanning lines is selected and a gray scale potential corresponding to an image signal of the pixels of the other scanning line is supplied to each signal line.
US09177492B2
Light emitting diode (LED) display modules, display screens comprising a plurality of display modules and methods of forming display screens are disclosed. Each display module 10 forming a display screen comprises a flexible substrate 11 supporting a plurality of LEDs 14. A set of connectors 16, 50, 52, 54 comprising male connectors and female connectors are coupled to the flexible substrate for connecting the display module to a respective set of connectors 16, 50, 52, 54 of an adjacent display module along at least one first edge 18 of the display module such that horizontal and vertical alignment of the display modules and the LED pitch size is maintained during flexing of the display screen.
US09177490B2
A display may include a body having a first peripheral edge, a second peripheral edge, a third peripheral edge, and a fourth peripheral edge, the body may further include a first fold line defining a first panel and a second panel, a second fold line defining a first flap, a third fold line defining a second flap, a first notch disposed along the first or the second peripheral edge between the first fold line and the second fold line, and a second notch disposed along the first or the second peripheral edge between the first fold line and the third fold line, wherein, when folded, the third peripheral edge is aligned within the first notch and the fourth peripheral edge is aligned within the second notch to define an angle between the first panel and the second panel.
US09177486B2
A shifter simulator for driver training includes a shaft with a handle affixed to a first end of the shaft and a distal second end of the shaft being interfaced to a shifter mechanism. A first force sensing device is interfaced to the shaft, outputting a value representative of an amount of force applied to the handle in a forward/rearward direction and a second force sensing device is interfaced to the shaft outputting a value representative of an amount of force applied to the handle in a lateral direction.
US09177484B2
An electronic music display and methods of using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the electronic music display comprises a display configured to display one or more pages of a music file, a first indicator imposed on a page of the music file to guide a user to issue a user command to display a next page, a receiver configured to receive the user command to display the next page wirelessly from a remote controller, and a controller configured to display the next page in response to the user command received is within a predetermined duration.
US09177481B2
A method for determining a suitable landing area for an aircraft includes receiving signals indicative of Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) information for a terrain via a LIDAR perception system; receiving signals indicative of image information for the terrain via a camera perception system; evaluating, with the processor, the LIDAR information and generating information indicative of a LIDAR landing zone candidate region; co-registering in a coordinate system, with the processor, the LIDAR landing zone candidate region and the image information; segmenting, with the processor, the co-registered image and the LIDAR landing zone candidate region to generate segmented regions; classifying, with the processor, the segmented regions into semantic classes; determining, with the processor, contextual information in the semantic classes; and ranking and prioritizing the contextual information.
US09177472B2
Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for providing traffic information of public transportation means, such as a bus, and utilizing the provided information. A method of encoding public traffic information according to the present invention creates an identifier of bus information system, an ID of bus route, and information on all of bus stops pertaining to the bus route. The created information is organized to status information that is in turn incorporated into a transfer message. A sequence of transfer messages, each being constructed as described above, is wirelessly transmitted.
US09177462B1
A system and method for consolidating data collected using a hierarchical scanning system and assessing security risks regarding the shipping containers is provided. The hierarchical scanning system collects information from distributed and repeated screening throughout a container journey and enables pattern analysis over groups of containers. During the journey of a container, risk profiles are created at short term events based on information collected via non-intrusive rapid inspections. Using combined information from the risk profiles, the initial manifest, and group based statistical intelligence, a risk quotient for each container is determined based on deviations calculated at each point of the journey. Accordingly, authorities are alerted when the risk quotient indicates that a specific container is at risk.
US09177454B2
A hard cover product with a pair of cover boards attached to an outer liner in spaced-relation to define a spine, with a thin-film ink-circuit security device printed on a laydown area, and having an inner liner. The laydown area can be defined in the spine, and the inner liner or an inner body attached to the cover boards conceals the printed security device from casual observation of its presence. The laydown area can be defined on a surface of a sheet laminated to another sheet to define one of cover boards. The laminated sheets sandwich the printed security device without a surface indication of the presence of the ink-circuit printed security device therein. In another aspect, the thin-film ink-circuit security device printed on a surface of the cover board is concealingly covered by the inner or the outer liner.
US09177438B2
Methods and apparatus for servicing wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving, over a wagering game network, service information originating from a wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game machine is configured to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The method can also include, based on the service information and a service plan associated with the wagering game machine, determining a service action. The method can also include performing the service action.
US09177437B2
A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine, may be configured to provide both in-person and remote play. A command from a remote client device is provided to the gaming machine to initiate a round of gameplay. A result of the gameplay is communicated back to the client device.
US09177436B2
Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality
An apparatus and method for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device is disclosed. The apparatus uses a second processor communicatively coupled between a legacy display and audio device to modify interrupted display and audio signals and provide substitute signals to provide the modified functionality of the gaming device.
US09177428B2
There is provided a method of predicting defects likely to occur in a vehicle over a predetermined period. The method includes receiving vehicle characteristic data regarding a vehicle under consideration, and comparing the received vehicle characteristic data with a defect database. The defect database includes information related to defects that have occurred in different vehicles and the mileage at which such defects occurred. The method additionally includes identifying defects that occurred in vehicles corresponding to use vehicle under consideration, and the mileage at which such defects occurred. Detects which fail to satisfy minimum count requirements are then filtered out, and the defects are then sorted in order of the highest defect count.
US09177419B2
A simulation application models a surface of a fluid in motion. The simulation application selects a mesh point from a plurality of mesh points that is associated with the surface of the fluid. The simulation application retrieves a first texture element from a set of uv texture maps, and attaches a first displacement value to the mesh point based on the first texture element. The simulation application advects the first displacement value over a first duration represented by a first quantity of image frames such that the first displacement value remains attached to the mesh point as the plurality of mesh points moves in response to a motion of the fluid.
US09177409B2
A method of animating a virtual object within a virtual world, wherein the virtual object comprises a plurality of object parts, wherein for a first object part there is one or more associated second object parts, the method comprising: at an animation update step: specifying a target frame in the virtual world; and applying control to the first object part, wherein the control is arranged such that the application of the control in isolation to the first object part would cause a movement of the first object part in the virtual world that reduces a difference between a control frame and the target frame, the control frame being a frame at a specified position and orientation in the virtual world relative to the first object part, wherein applying control to the first object part comprises moving the one or more second object parts within the virtual world to compensate for the movement of the first object part in the virtual world caused by applying the control to the first object part.
US09177407B2
One aspect of the invention is a method for automatically assembling an animation. According to this embodiment, the method includes accepting at least one input keyword relating to a subject for the animation and accessing a set of templates. In this embodiment, each template generates a different type of output, and each template includes components for display time, screen location, and animation parameters. The method also includes retrieving data from a plurality of websites or data collections using an electronic search based on the at least one input keyword and the templates, determining which retrieved data to assemble into the set of templates, coordinating assembly of data-populated templates to form the animation, and returning the animation for playback by a user.
US09177402B2
The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for optimally determining, for a layout of windows on a display wall of a display system, the quality of display content to display in each window without exceeding system resources. The display system receives display content from at least one source, at least one of the at least one source providing display content at multiple qualities. Displaying display content uses system resources, and displaying high quality display content uses more system resources than displaying low quality display content. A received layout defines an arrangement of windows on the display wall, each window directed to displaying display content from one source. An objective function defines the quality of display content displayed in each window. The objective function is optimized to determine an optimized layout that does not exceed system resources.
US09177399B2
In one aspect, a method for displaying measurement information from at least one sensor of a machine is provided. In another aspect, a computing device for displaying measurement information from at least one sensor of a machine is provided. In another aspect, a system for displaying measurement information from at least one sensor of a machine is provided.
US09177398B2
For supporting fault diagnosis of an industrial installation having a plurality of installation components connected via a pipeline system, provision is made for assigning each installation component to one of a plurality of abstract component types, where a weighted directed component graph is in turn assigned to each component type. A piping and instrumentation flow diagram of the industrial installation is processed component by component proceeding from a start point along a pipeline system. Here, in the case of each installation component, the component graph of the installation component assigned according to the component type is accessed. The individual component graphs are joined together to form a system of weighted directed overall graphs of the industrial installation, the nodes of which are each assigned to a plurality of individual installation components.
US09177386B2
There are provided an apparatus and a method for executing calculation of a global motion vector (GMV) with a high degree of reliability. Local motion vectors (LMV) corresponding to blocks and block weights as reliability indicators of the LMVs of the respective blocks are calculated, and the global motion vector (GMV) is calculated on the basis of the block weights. By calculating a degree of reliability of the local motion vector (LMV) corresponding to each block of a target block and near-field blocks adjacent to the target block and a degree of similarity between the local motion vectors (LMV) of the target block and each near-field block, the block weight is calculated through arithmetic processing to which the degree of reliability and the degree of similarity are applied. With the present configuration, it is possible to efficiently calculate the global motion vector (GMV) with a high degree of reliability.
US09177373B2
A method, system, computer program product, and computer readable media for a semi-automated surface extraction approach to delineating an object of interest (OOI) from 3-D medical image data sets. This approach is imaging modality independent and results in enhanced displays of blob-like anatomies, including internal organs (e.g., cardiac chambers, liver) or disease processes (e.g., tumor masses). In an embodiment of the method: (I) the user provides multiple representative points located on the surface of the OOI using a Multi-Planar Reconstruction (MPR) tool; (2) those Cartesian points are translated into polar coordinates (each 3-D point is represented via two angles and a height), which uniquely define the surface points for a radial object, (3) a Radial-Basis Function (RBF) interpolator, with a Thin Plate Spline (TPS) radial function, finds the height function for the polar domain, and (4) polar domain representation of the OOI surface is converted back to Cartesian coordinates.
US09177370B2
Systems and methods for providing micro defect inspection capabilities for optical systems are disclosed. Each given wafer image is filtered, treated and normalized prior to performing surface feature detection and quantification. A partitioning scheme is utilized to partition the wafer image into a plurality of measurement sites and metric values are calculated for each of the plurality of measurement sites. Furthermore, transformation steps may also be utilized to extract additional process relevant metric values for analysis purposes.
US09177368B2
Methods and systems for reducing or eliminating distortion in an image are described. The approach generally involves determining the distortion introduced by a lens, and modifying a captured image to reduce that distortion. In one embodiment, the distortion information associated with a lens is determined. The distortion information is stored. A captured image taken by that lens is processed, with reference to the distortion information.
US09177358B2
An information processing apparatus is provided that includes an obtaining section and a selecting section. The obtaining section obtains information of first and second images that each have an overlapped region where the first image and the second image are overlapped and constitute a taken image including an image part of a subject by being connected with each other with the overlapped region as a reference. The selecting section determines pixels other than the image part of the subject based on information of a plurality of pixels that belong to the overlapped region of the first image where the first image is overlapped with the second image, the information of the plurality of pixels being included in the obtained information of the first image, and selects, out of the determined pixels, a connection pixel corresponding to a position where the first image and the second image are connected in the overlapped region.
US09177357B2
An image scaling processor includes a coefficient table storing interpolation coefficients, a multiplier that multiplies each of pieces of pixel data constituting input image data and each of the interpolation coefficients stored in the coefficient table, an adder that repeatedly adds pieces of multiplied data output from the multiplier and obtains a total sum of the pieces of multiplied data for a predetermined number of the pieces of pixel data, a selector that outputs a total sum of the pieces of multiplied data at a timing at which the total sum of the pieces of multiplied data is obtained for the predetermined number of the pieces of pixel data, and a shift circuit that shifts an output of the selector to adjust a bit count of the output image data to a bit count of the input image data.
US09177349B2
A statistical patent rating method and system is provided for independently assessing the relative breadth (“B”), defensibility (“D”) and commercial relevance (“R”) of individual patent assets and other intangible intellectual property assets. The invention provides new and valuable information that can be used by patent valuation experts, investment advisors, economists and others to help guide future patent investment decisions, licensing programs, patent appraisals, tax valuations, transfer pricing, economic forecasting and planning, and even mediation and/or settlement of patent litigation lawsuits. In one embodiment the invention provides a statistically-based patent rating method and system whereby relative ratings or rankings are generated using a database of patent information by identifying and comparing various characteristics of each individual patent to a statistically determined distribution of the same characteristics within a given patent population. For example, a first population of patents having a known relatively high intrinsic value or quality (e.g. successfully litigated patents) is compared to a second population of patents having a known relatively low intrinsic value or quality (e.g. unsuccessfully litigated patents). Based on a statistical comparison of the two populations, certain characteristics are identified as being more prevalent or more pronounced in one population group or the other to a statistically significant degree. Multiple such statistical comparisons are used to construct and optimize a computer model or computer algorithm that can then be used to predict and/or provide statistically-accurate probabilities of a desired value or quality being present or a future event occurring, given the identified characteristics of an individual patent or group of patents.
US09177348B2
A component in a network system includes an energy consumption component capable of communicating with a home area network and capable of consuming an energy generated from an energy generation unit of a utility area network, and the energy consumption component including at least one control unit to drive the energy consumption component; and a communication module to allow communication between the energy consumption component and an external component constituting the utility area network or the home area network, wherein the communication module is disposed on a path through which a power is supplied to the at least one control unit.
US09177344B1
In various embodiments, systems, methods, and techniques are disclosed for generating a collection of clusters of related data from a seed. Seeds may be generated based on seed generation strategies or rules. Clusters may be generated by, for example, retrieving a seed, adding the seed to a first cluster, retrieving a clustering strategy or rules, and adding related data and/or data entities to the cluster based on the clustering strategy. Various cluster scores may be generated based on attributes of data in a given cluster. Further, cluster metascores may be generated based on various cluster scores associated with a cluster. Clusters may be ranked based on cluster metascores. Various embodiments may enable an analyst to discover various insights related to data clusters, and may be applicable to various tasks including, for example, tax fraud detection, beaconing malware detection, malware user-agent detection, and/or activity trend detection, among various others.
US09177342B2
A method and apparatus for use by a buyer for a store includes a software application computer that is provided to the buyer at a buyer show. The application displays product features and pricing information and receives product order information from the buyer. The application displays information regarding sales of the products by the store. After completing an order, the application submits the order, and prints or transmits confirmation copies. The buyer leaves the computer at the show prior to departing. A virtual shopping cart is displayed on the computer into which goods are placed prior to submittal of the order. Multiple shopping carts can be opened by the user with differing shipping priorities and different shipping destinations for each cart. Multiple shopping carts can be used while the user is browsing an on-line catalog of products to be ordered.
US09177337B2
A method, system, and computer-readable medium for providing a secure computer network for the real time transfer of data are provided. The data is grouped and stored as per user preferences. The data being transmitted is encrypted, decrypted, and validated by the system (assuming user identifications/passwords are verified).
US09177334B2
A method of providing an ad extension includes selecting an advertisement for display. The method also includes selecting additional information related to the advertisement. The method also includes transmitting data representing the advertisement to a browser. The browser interacts with an expandable API to render an inline frame having an advertisement slot. The browser renders and displays the advertisement in the frame. The method also includes transmitting display data representing the additional information related to the advertisement to the browser. The browser receives an input to activate the ad extension. In response to the input, the browser interacts with the expandable API system to expand and render the frame. The browser renders, in the frame, the advertisement slot containing the advertisement. The browser also renders, in the frame, the additional information. The browser displays the expanded inline frame, such that the displayed frame covers a portion of the content.
US09177329B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for retargeting content in a search environment. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request for a content item to be provided with a search results page and determining that one or more retargeted content items are eligible for presentation with the search results page. Each of the retargeted content items is a content item that is eligible for presentation with the search results page based on: (1) the search query matching a targeting keyword for the retargeted content item, and (2) the user identifier matching a retargeted identifier that is included in a retargeting set for the retargeted content item. A responsive content item to be presented with the search results page is selected, based at least in part on bids that are associated with the retargeted content items, and data specifying the responsive content item are provided.
US09177327B2
User data and a plurality of micro-segment definitions are received. Each micro-segment definition in the plurality of micro-segment definitions corresponds to one or more offers in an offer provider campaign. Further, a micro-segment parser parses each micro-segment definition from the plurality of micro-segment definitions into a plurality of parsed expression segments that indicate a plurality of micro-segment condition rules. In addition, a compiler compiles the plurality of parsed expression segments into an executable object that indicates a plurality of instructions to determine if the user data matches the plurality of micro-segment definitions. Each micro-segment definition is also serially processed, with a sequential evaluation engine, to apply the plurality of micro-segment condition rules to the user data to determine a match of a user belonging to a micro-segment. Further, the sequential evaluation engine assigns a score to indicate the strength of each match. In addition, the process ranks, with the sequential evaluation engine, each match according to the score for each match.
US09177322B2
The present invention provides a system (10) for linking network content (12n) over a communications network (14n). The system (10) including: at least one memory or storage unit (20n) operable to store and/or maintain a plurality of linked-content facilities (30n), each of the linked-content facilities (30n) being independently associated with a network location that contains network content (12n); at least one processor operable to execute software that generates, maintains and/or controls access to the linked-content facilities (30n) for a plurality of users (24n); and, at least one input/output device (22n) operable to provide an interface for the users (24n) to operate the software in order to retrieve and/or view the linked-content facilities (30n) for selected network locations from the memory or storage unit (20n), via the communications network (14n). Wherein the linked-content facilities (30n) stored and/or maintained on the memory or storage unit (20n) include system generated link content (32n,32An), and/or user generated link content (32n,32An) received from at least one user (24n), regarding network content (12n) related to the respective network locations. The present invention also provides associated methods (100) for linking network content (12n) for use with the system (10) of the invention.
US09177312B1
A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include an attachment with a near field communication antenna, a secure element, a plug capable of connecting the attachment to an audio jack on a mobile device. Further, a system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving a payment initiation instruction from a customer, using a near field communication antenna, sending payment information to a point of sale device, using one or more computer processors, encoding data related to the payment as audio data, and transmitting the data related to the payment through an audio jack.
US09177305B2
Electric vehicles that use replaceable and exchangeable batteries, applications for communicating with a service that provides access to kiosks of batteries, and methods and systems for finding charged batteries, reserving batteries, and paying for use of the batteries, are disclosed. One example is an electric vehicle having an electric motor and at least two receptacle slots formed in the electric vehicle. The receptacle slots having at least one connection to the electric motor and at least two batteries configured for hand-insertion into the receptacle slots to enable electrical engagement of the batteries with the at least one connection when disposed in the receptacle slots and each of the batteries are further configured for hand-removal out of the receptacle slots. The vehicle further includes wireless communication circuitry configured for wireless communication between the electric vehicle and a device when linked for wireless communication with an application of the device. A computer on-board the electric vehicle is interfaced with the wireless communications circuitry and is configured to interface with the batteries via the connection to the receptacle slots to access a level of charge of the batteries present in the receptacle slots to enable data regarding the level of charge to be accessed by the application. A display panel of the electric vehicle is configured to display information regarding the level of charge of the batteries in the receptacle slots.
US09177297B2
A method of automatically distributing data messages to members of a user community involves selecting, from a list of distribution rules, a rule which meets certain criteria in terms of message distribution characteristics. The selected rule determines which members of the user community will receive the message and when. For example, in a first round, a first subset of the user community receive the message and each is prompted to provide feedback data in relation to the message, for example to say that the message is offensive, already answered or if there is someone else who can deal with the message. This feedback data is applied to the selected distribution rule to determine to whom the message is sent in the next round. The process continues over a number of rounds until a termination criterion is met.
US09177296B2
The present invention provides a computer implemented method for communicating a signature in a received email. Initially, a server receives a source email from a source client, the source email comprising a signature index entry, and a body. The server determines for a first recipient that a first associated destination client is capable of rendering a signature of the signature index entry in response to a selection of an indexed signature. The server, responsive to a determination that the destination client is capable of rendering the signature index entry, forwards the source email to the first recipient as a delivered email using the body of the source email such that an indexed signature is present in the body of the delivered email. In addition, a method for generating a signature header is shown that provides a many to one correspondence between indexed signatures and a signature index entry.
