US09184628B2
A standalone portable solar power system includes a trailer, solar panels mounted on rotating beams, a battery, a battery management system, an inverter and a power outlet. The trailer can be towed and the first and second groups of solar panels are locked in a vertically orientation for transportation. At the use site, the trailer can be positioned with the rotating beams parallel with the equator and the solar panels rotated to captures the maximum amount of sunlight.
US09184626B2
According to one embodiment, the photovoltaic system includes a memory configured to store power generator characteristics to be applied to the photovoltaic system, a calculation section configured to calculate an output target value to be output by the photovoltaic system using the power generator characteristics read from the memory, an operation target value, system data of a power system, and output data from the photovoltaic system to the power system, and a photovoltaic section configured to supply a corresponding power to the power system based on the output target value calculated by the calculation section.
US09184624B2
An energy storage system supplies electric energy to consuming devices in a vehicle, particularly in a motor vehicle. The system includes a first power grid having a first energy accumulator and a second power grid having a second energy accumulator, the first and second power grids being electrically coupled such that electric energy from the first power grid is feedable to the second power grid for regenerating the second energy accumulator. The energy storage system is operatively configured such that it is detected when a number of conditions has been met, the number of conditions including at least that an external charging device is connected to the first power grid for charging the first energy accumulator. In the event that the number of conditions has been met, regeneration of the second energy accumulator is carried out.
US09184620B2
A method, apparatus and computer program product for wireless charging are provided. An indicator displayed on a wireless device may assist a user in placing the device in a more efficient position on a wireless charger. The indicator may comprise an image, and moving the device such that the image aligns with an image on a wireless charger places the device is in a more efficient charging position. Other types of indicators may be displayed to assist a user in moving a device to a more efficient position on the wireless charger.
US09184613B2
A secondary battery state detecting apparatus for detecting a state of a secondary battery installed in a vehicle is provided, which includes a current detecting unit that detects an electric current flowing to the secondary battery, a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage of the secondary battery, and a determining unit that determines, in a case where an external device is directly connected to terminals of the secondary battery and the secondary battery is charged or discharged without passing through the current detecting unit, whether or not an irregular charging-discharging has occurred, in accordance with a change in a current value and a voltage value detected by the current detecting unit and the voltage detecting unit.
US09184607B2
A battery module and an overcharge protecting method are provided. The overcharge protecting method includes following steps: detecting a battery voltage of a rechargeable battery during a charging process; determining whether the battery voltage is larger than or equals to an upper limit voltage; if no, continuously charging the rechargeable battery until the battery voltage reaches a charging cut-off voltage and then the charging process is ended; if yes, stopping the charging process, reducing the value of the charging cut-off voltage and using the reduced charging cut-off voltage as the charging cut-off voltage in the next charging process. In the subsequent charging process, once the overcharge occurs, the value of the charging cut-off voltage is continuously reduced until the overcharge of the rechargeable battery does not occur during the charging process.
US09184605B2
In one embodiment, a battery management system comprising a first circuit comprising a first plurality of circuit elements arranged in series, the first plurality of circuit elements comprising: a direct current (DC) voltage source, and first plural switching devices, each of the first plural switching devices connected to, and operably switched by, a first detection device associated with a battery module to cause a voltage difference responsive to detection of an event corresponding to operation of the battery module.
US09184604B2
An electronic device includes a first battery, a first charging unit, a first voltage adjustment unit, a power detection module, and a first control module. The first charging unit charges the first battery according to a supply voltage and a first charging enable signal. The first voltage adjustment unit outputs a first output voltage according to the supply voltage and a first battery voltage of the first battery. The power detection module generates a power consumption information according to the first output voltage. The first control module sets a charging time according to the supply voltage and the power consumption information, in which the first control module generates the first charging enable signal to control the first charging unit to charge the first battery according to the charging time.
US09184592B2
Electrically powered equipment and a method of powering the equipment. In one embodiment, the equipment includes: (1) an electric power consuming apparatus, (2) a mains input coupled to the apparatus and configured to be coupled to a branch circuit extending from a distribution panel and allow electric power from the branch circuit to flow to the apparatus and (3) a grid-tied power source input at least intermittently couplable to the mains input and configured to receive electric power from at least one premises power source and allow the electric power to flow to the apparatus or the distribution panel. In a more specific embodiment, the equipment is an outdoor unit.
US09184591B2
This invention relates to a multiple phase electrical system, including: a first and a second electrical lane, each lane having a generator and a load connected by a bus system, and a rectifier between the generator and load; and, a transformer connected between the two lanes, the transformer having a plurality of power windings across each of which corresponding phases of the first and second lanes are connected, and a plurality of phase shift windings.
US09184587B2
A power feeding device receives power from a vehicle and feeds the received power to a load external to the vehicle. A communication unit communicates between the vehicle and the power feeding device. A power supply unit supplies the communication unit with power. When an external power supply has failed, the power feeding device supplies the power that is received from the vehicle to the power supply unit to activate the communication unit, and the power feeding device also transmits via the communication unit to an ECU a specification regarding power supplied from the external power supply to the load. While the ECU follows a predetermined specification to control the power feeding unit, once the specification regarding power supplied from the external power supply to the load has been received, the ECU follows the received specification, rather than the predetermined specification, to control the power feeding unit.
US09184578B2
A cable tray accessory section adapted to combine two or more sections of a cable tray system. The cable tray accessory section includes a base and side walls adapted to removably combine with each other via a locking tab connection means. The ends of the accessory section combine with the cable tray sections by weaving flexible members between cross members of the tray sections.
US09184568B2
A wavelength variable light source according to the present invention includes: an MMI that includes an input side and an output side, the input side connecting to one end of each of a plurality of MMI input waveguides, and the output side connecting to a plurality of MMI output waveguides, the MMI multiplexing light input from each of the MMI input waveguides and outputting the multiplexed light to each of the MMI output waveguides; a plurality of DFB-LDs connected to the other end of each of the MMI input waveguides, each of the MMI output waveguides performing a single mode oscillation at a different wavelength; and two SOAs respectively connected to two MMI output waveguides of the MMI output waveguides, and having different gains from each other.
US09184566B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor laser element includes forming an etching end point detection layer on part of a substrate, forming an substrate exposed portion and forming a lower cladding layer, an active layer, and an upper cladding layer on the etching end point detection layer and on the exposed portion, forming an insulating film pattern at a distance corresponding to a clearance region, from directly above a boundary between the substrate exposed portion and the etching end point detection layer, etching the upper clad layer, the active layer, and the lower cladding layer using the insulating film pattern as a mask and stopping etching at a time when the etching end point detection layer is exposed or after a predetermined time duration after the time.
US09184563B1
A gallium- and nitrogen-containing laser device including an etched facet with surface treatment to improve an optical beam is disclosed.
US09184560B2
A semiconductor-laser-device assembly includes a mode-locked semiconductor-laser-element assembly including a mode-locked semiconductor laser element, and a dispersion compensation optical system, on which laser light emitted from the mode-locked semiconductor laser element is incident and from which the laser light is emitted; and a semiconductor optical amplifier having a layered structure body including a group III-V nitride-based semiconductor layer, the semiconductor optical amplifier configured to amplify the laser light emitted from the mode-locked semiconductor-laser-element assembly.
US09184555B2
A laser system may include: a master oscillator configured to output pulsed laser light; an amplification device for amplifying the pulsed laser light from the master oscillator; a first timing detector configured to detect a first timing at which the master oscillator outputs the pulsed laser light; a second timing detector configured to detect a second timing at which the amplification device discharges; and a controller configured to, based on results of detection by the first timing detector and the second timing detector, control at least one of the first timing and the second timing so that the amplification device discharges when the pulsed laser light passes through a discharge space of the amplification device.
US09184548B2
A hand operated crimping tool comprising a body arranged between a distal end and a proximal end of the crimping tool, a tool head arranged distally on the crimping tool, and handles arranged proximally on the crimping tool, where at least one handle is pivotally arranged, and where the relative movement of the tool handles is connected to the relative movement of crimping dies, between which crimping dies at least one workpiece is arranged to be crimped. The tool head comprises a main head part and a pivotable head part, where the movement of the pivotally arranged handle(s) is connected to the movement of the pivotable head part via the body and a mechanism, whereby the pivotable head part of the tool head is movable between an open head position and a closed head position depending on the relative position of the tool handles.
US09184544B2
A ground terminal and a connector provided therewith where the ground terminal includes a terminal portion that is electrically connected to an outside device and elastic arms that extend in an identical direction from both ends of a central coupling portion, where a pair of latching pawls is provided in at least one of an inner circumferential edge of the central coupling portion and inner circumferential edges of the elastic arms.
US09184542B2
A connector with a cover (1) includes a connector housing (11) and a cover (21) fitted in the connector housing. The connector housing has a regulating rib (16) provided projecting in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction where the fitted cover is pulled away from the connector housing. The cover has a regulating groove (26) that is formed into a shape corresponding to the regulating rib, and into which the regulating rib is inserted when the cover is fitted in the connector housing. The regulating rib is formed to become larger in width in the first direction from a base end toward a tip in the second direction. Release of the fitting of the cover in the connector housing is regulated by the regulating groove and the regulating rib inserted into the regulating groove in a state where the cover is fitted in the connector housing.
US09184536B2
A port of a computing system includes a connector movable between a recessed position and an extended position. The connector is extended from the recessed position to the extended position in response to a plug.
US09184533B2
A method for electrically connecting an offshore first electrical plant to a second electrical plant, the offshore first electrical plant being an offshore wind turbine generator, the method comprising providing a transition cable terminated at one end with a first connector part, the transition cable being connected or connectable at the other end to the offshore wind turbine generator above the water surface, and providing a cable terminated at one end with a second connector part and connected or connectable at the other end to the second electrical plant, the second connector part being adapted to mate with the first connector part to form a connector.
US09184529B2
The invention relates to an electric contact spring having a resilient section, an assembly portion, and a transition portion. The resilient section includes a first resilient portion, a second resilient portion extending from the first resilient portion, and a third resilient portion extending from the second resilient portion. The assembly portion extends from the first resilient portion and includes a catch device. The transition portion extends downward from the assembly portion.
US09184524B2
A solenoid includes a coil, an after-formation terminal, and a yoke. The after-formation terminal includes an internal connection part and an external connection part. The internal connection part is conductively-joined to a conductor from which the coil is formed, or to a conductor which is connected to the coil. The external connection part is fitted and connected to a counterpart terminal. The yoke forms a magnetic circuit together with the coil. The after-formation terminal is disposed at an upper surface of the yoke. The external connection part is configured integrally with the internal connection part. The after-formation terminal is formed through application of bending or twisting to an intermediate part between the internal connection part and the external connection part of a before-formation terminal, which projects outward from the upper surface of the yoke in a direction of a central axis of the coil.
US09184523B2
An intermediate electrical connector is to be connected to a mating connecting member. The intermediate electrical connector includes an intermediate connecting member; a blade disposed in the intermediate connecting member; and a supporting member for supporting the intermediate connecting member. The intermediate connecting member includes a supported portion disposed on a side surface portion thereof and supported on the supporting member. The supporting member is formed of a plate member facing the side surface portion of the intermediate connecting member. The supporting member includes a supporting portion accommodated in the supported portion or receiving the supported portion with a space in between.
US09184522B1
A latch apparatus for retaining a flexible circuit cable within a receptacle mounted on a circuit board comprises a latch body having a second planar side comprising opposing alignment pins positioned at a first edge and a second edge of the body. A second end of the body comprises alignment protrusions extending from the second end in a first direction. The second end also comprises clamping protrusions extending from the second end in the first direction. The clamping protrusions are a distance from the alignment protrusions equal to a thickness of the circuit board. A latch member extends from the second end. The latch member comprises a linear clip surface extending from the latch in a direction perpendicularly away from the second planar side, and the linear clip surface runs in a second direction and has a length less than a width of the receptacle.
US09184519B2
A chip card connector includes a housing and a plurality of terminals. The housing has a partition part and a plurality of openings formed on two sides of the partition part. The terminals are disposed in the openings. Each of the terminals has a first end embedded in or movably attached to the partition part, a second end penetrating a side surface of the housing and exposed from the housing, and a protruding contact part disposed between the first and second end for making contact with a chip card. Therefore, the problem of the prior art is solved that a chip card is likely to hook the contact part pf a conventional chip card connector that has the contact part extending from a cantilever of a terminal when the chip card is plugged into or unplugged from the chip card connector and the terminal are easily deformed or damaged.
US09184509B2
The antenna device includes a first antenna 11 that includes a first ground terminal 12; a second antenna 18 that includes a second ground terminal 20; a ground conductor 28 to which the first antenna 11 is connected through the first ground terminal 12 and the second antenna 18 is connected through the second ground terminal 20; and a phase shifter 24 that controls a phase difference between a first current ie1 and a second current ie2. The phase shifter 24 controls the phase difference between the first current ie1 and the second current ie2 so that the first current ie1 and the second current ie2 have components to cancel each other.
US09184496B2
In various embodiments, an inductance of an inductor is tuned by adjusting a position of a conductor and/or a magnetic material with respect to a conducting wire of the inductor, thereby changing the electro-magnetic characteristics of the conducting wire. The conductor and/or magnetic material can be disposed in a microfluidic channel and can be moved within the microfluidic channel using a suitable actuator mechanism.
US09184494B1
A mobile device including a housing having a distal end, and electronics disposed in the housing configured to operate the mobile device. A connector is coupled to the electronics, and a Pi-shaped antenna has a coupling coupled to the connector to create a resonance using the connector. The Pi-shaped antenna and the connector are configured to wirelessly send and receive the wireless signals. An impedance matching network matches the impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna. In some embodiments, the impedance matching network is switchable by the electronics and is configured to match an impedance of the electronics to the Pi-shaped antenna in at least two states, over multiple RF bands.
US09184484B2
Described is a directional coupler for forward coupling energy from an input port to a coupling port. The directional coupler has a coupling factor and an operating frequency and an operating wavelength corresponding to the operating frequency.
US09184479B2
A multi-mode filter for realizing wide band using capacitive coupling and inductive coupling and capable of tuning coupling value is disclosed. The multi-mode filter includes a housing; a first cavity and a second cavity formed in the housing; a first resonator located in the first cavity, a second resonator located in the second cavity, a wall configured to separate the first cavity from the second cavity; and a first coupling element, wherein a groove is formed between the housing and the wall, the first coupling element is inserted in the groove in crossing direction to the wall, one part of the first coupling element is disposed in the first cavity, another part of the first coupling element is disposed in the second cavity, and the first coupling element is connected to a ground.
US09184477B2
Disclosed is a battery pack including battery modules arranged in two or more rows, each of the battery modules including a plurality of battery cells or unit modules, each of which has two or more battery cells mounted therein, stacked in an upright or upside-down fashion, wherein the battery modules are individually mounted in pack cases, the pack cases are provided at upper parts and lower parts thereof with coolant inlet ports and coolant outlet ports such that a coolant to cool the battery cells flows to one side to the other side of the battery modules in a direction perpendicular to the stacked direction of the battery cells or the unit modules, the pack cases are further provided with flow spaces (‘coolant introduction parts’).
US09184473B2
A temperature control method is used for controlling a temperature of an electric storage device 5 mounted on a vehicle 1 at the time when the vehicle 1 runs on a track 2. In the method, when a minimum voltage value Vmin corresponding to an internal resistance R of the electric storage device 5 reaches a first predetermined voltage value Vp near a minimum allowable voltage value VL of the electric storage device 5, the electric storage device 5 is controlled such that the electric storage device 5 has a temperature at which the minimum voltage value Vmin is maintained at the first predetermined voltage value Vp.
US09184467B2
Provided are electrochemical cells and electrolytes used to build such cells. An electrolyte includes at least one salt having a molecular weight less than about 250. Such salts allow forming electrolytes with higher salt concentrations and ensure high conductivity and ion transport in these electrolytes. The low molecular weight salt may have a concentration of at least about 0.5M and may be combined with one or more other salts, such as linear and cyclic imide salts and/or methide salts. The concentration of these additional salts may be less than that of the low molecular weight salt, in some embodiments, twice less. The additional salts may have a molecular weight greater than about 250. The electrolyte may also include one or more fluorinated solvents and may be capable of maintaining single phase solutions at between about −30° C. to about 80° C.
US09184452B2
A method of assembly of a fuel cell plate includes forming channels in a body to provide a flow field. A porous media is inserted into the flow field. The fuel cell plate is a non-porous body including a side having the flow field providing a fluid flow path. The porous media is provided in the fluid flow path.
US09184445B2
According to one embodiment, a nonaqueous electrolyte battery is provided. The battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes lithium iron phosphate having an olivine structure as positive electrode active material. The negative electrode includes lithium titanate having a spinel structure and a monoclinic β-type titanium complex oxide as a negative electrode active material.
US09184443B2
A cathode active material including at least two agglomerates of primary particles and a cathode and a lithium secondary battery containing the same are disclosed. In the cathode active material, a secondary particle includes a nickel-based lithium transition metal oxide, an average particle diameter of each primary particle is in a range from about 2 to about 3 μm, and an average particle diameter of the secondary particle is in a range from about 5 to about 8 μm.
US09184441B2
According to one embodiment, a battery electrode includes an active material layer and a current collector is provided. The active material layer contains particles of a monoclinic β-type titanium complex oxide and particles of a lithium titanate having a spinel structure. When a particle size frequency distribution of particles contained in the active material layer is measured by the laser diffraction and scattering method, a first peak P1 appears in a range of 0.3 μm to 3 μm and a second peak P2 appears in a range of 5 μm to 20 μm in the frequency distribution diagram. The ratio FP1/FP2 of the frequency FP1 of the first peak P1 to the frequency FP2 of the second peak P2 is 0.4 to 2.3.
US09184439B2
Providing a noble negative-electrode active material including silicon, and a production process for the same.A negative-electrode active material for non-aqueous-system secondary battery including a silicon phase and a composite oxide phase (a CaSiO3 phase, for instance) is obtained by mixing a silicon oxide (SiO, for instance) with a silicon compound (CaSi2, for instance), which includes silicon and at least one member of elements being selected from the group consisting of Group 2 (or Group 2A) elements in the Periodic Table, to prepare a mixed raw material, and then reacting the mixed raw material. The composite oxide phase demonstrates the advantage of inhibiting electrolytic solutions from decomposing in a smaller amount than does the conventional SiO2 phase.
US09184434B2
A battery pack including a bare cell; a protection circuit module electrically coupled to the bare cell; an outer frame accommodating the bare cell and the protection circuit module, wherein a first surface of a first side of the outer frame contacts the protection circuit module; and a first projection on a second surface of the first side of the outer frame opposite to the first surface.
US09184426B2
A battery connection member 25 configured to connect a plurality of batteries 29 in parallel includes a main conductive path portion 25a and a plurality of connection terminals 25b each configured to connect the main conductive path portion 25a to one of electrodes of each battery 29. The connection terminals 25b include fuse portions 25c configured to be blown when a current equal to or higher than a predetermined value flows. When the plurality of batteries 29 are connected in parallel by the battery connection member 25, the fuse portions 25c are arranged in space between the main conductive path portion 25 and the batteries 29.
US09184419B2
A first device and methods for manufacturing the first device are provided. The first device may comprise a flexible substrate and at least one organic light emitting device (OLED) disposed over the flexible substrate. The first device may have a flexural rigidity between 10−1 Nm and 10−6 Nm, and the ratio of the critical strain energy release rate to the material density factor for the first device may be greater than 0.05 J m/Kg.
US09184418B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one aspect, the display includes a substrate having a plurality of pixel areas, color filters respectively disposed in the pixel areas, a passivation layer disposed on the color filters, a first electrode disposed on the passivation layer. The display also includes a light emitting layer disposed on the first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the light emitting layer. At least a portion of the color filters is provided with a concavo-convex pattern formed on an upper surface thereof.
US09184408B2
According to one embodiment, a display panel includes a substrate, a switching element, a pixel electrode, an organic light emitting layer, an opposite electrode, a detecting electrode, and an insulating layer. The substrate has a major surface. The switching element is provided on the major surface. The switching element includes a semiconductor layer. The pixel electrode is provided on the major surface. The pixel electrode is electrically connected to the switching element. The organic light emitting layer is provided on the pixel electrode. The opposite electrode is provided on the organic light emitting layer. The detecting electrode is provided between the substrate and at least a part of the pixel electrode. The detecting electrode includes at least one element included in the semiconductor layer. The insulating layer is provided between the pixel electrode and the detecting electrode.
US09184407B2
An organic light emitting device including: a first electrode, a hole injection layer on the first electrode, a hole transport layer on the hole injection layer, an organic light emitting layer on the hole transport layer, a first electron transport layer on the organic light emitting layer, a second electron transport layer on the organic light emitting layer, an electron injection layer on the second electron transport layer and a second electrode on the electron injection layer, where the first electron transport layer includes a first material for improving a thermal stability, a second material for improving a luminous efficiency and a third material for reducing a driving voltage, and the second electron transport layer is laminated with the first electron transport layer, and the second electrode faces the first electrode.
US09184401B2
Disclosed is an electrode body for a solar cell, which is capable of being used as a component of both an organic thin-film solar cell and a dye-sensitized solar cell, and has excellent heat resistance. This electrode body for a solar cell is provided with a substrate with a conductive part at least on the surface and a conductive polymer layer located on the conductive part of the substrate, in which the conductive polymer layer includes: a polymer which is obtained by polymerizing a monomer selected from the group consisting of 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes; and an anion as a dopant to the polymer generated from at least one organic non-sulfonate compound having an anion with the molecular weight of 200 or more. Since the anion of the organic non-sulfonate compound is included as a dopant in the conductive polymer layer, the heat resistance of the conductive polymer layer is improved.
US09184400B2
Methods of making a photovoltaic device with an organic liquid precursor having electron donor, electron acceptor, and liquid carrier are provided. The liquid precursor is applied to an electrode. A gas permeable layer/stamp contacts and applies pressure to the organic liquid precursor removing liquid carrier to form a solid active material with uniform interpenetrating network domains of electron donor/acceptor materials. A two-step process is also contemplated. A liquid precursor with either electron donor or acceptor is applied to an electrode, contacted under pressure with a first stamp having a nanoscale pattern, thus forming a solid with a patterned surface. Then, a second liquid precursor with the other of the electron donor or acceptor is applied to the patterned surface, contacted with a second stamp under pressure to form the active material. A transparent conducting electrode with material nanograting can be formed. The methods also include continuous processing, like roll-to-roll manufacturing.
US09184394B2
Ionic compounds comprising: (a) a cationic radical of a charge transporting compound which has one or more reactive groups; and (b) a counter anion. The ionic compound may have the following formula: The reactive functional groups on the cation allow the ionic compound to cross-link with a host charge transport compound. Such ionic compounds may have various properties, such as thermodynamic stability, hole injection/transport capabilities, electrochemical durability, and/or solubility in organic solvents that allows them to be useful in organic electronic devices. Also provided are electronic devices made using the ionic compounds of the present invention, and methods of making an electronic device.
US09184391B2
A compound including at least one type of an optionally substituted indolocarbazole moiety and at least one divalent linkage.
US09184388B2
The present invention provides: a layered structure having a substrate and a hole injection and/or hole transport layer comprising an aromatic compound having, on a side chain, at least one type of group having a cationic center; an electronic device having the layered structure; an aromatic compound having, on a hydrocarbon side chain, at least one type of group having a cationic center; an aromatic compound having a leaving group on a hydrocarbon side chain; and a method for manufacturing the aromatic compound having, on a hydrocarbon side chain, at least one type of group having a cationic center, the method comprising reacting the aromatic compound having a leaving group on a hydrocarbon side chain with a specific nitrogen compound, phosphorus compound, sulfur compound, or a combination of two or more of these compounds, thereby converting the aromatic compound into an onium salt thereof. When used as an electronic device material, and particularly as a hole transport and/or hole injection material, the aromatic compound can achieve a higher current density at a given voltage.
US09184382B2
Memristor systems and method for fabricating memristor system are disclosed. In one aspect, a memristor includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a junction disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The junction includes at least one layer such that each layer has a plurality of dopant sub-layers disposed between insulating sub-layers. The sub-layers are oriented substantially parallel to the first and second electrodes.
US09184381B2
A variable resistance nonvolatile storage element includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; and a variable resistance layer having a resistance value that reversibly changes based on an electrical signal applied between the electrodes, wherein the variable resistance layer has a structure formed by stacking a first transition metal oxide layer, a second transition metal oxide layer, and a third transition metal oxide layer in this order, the first transition metal oxide layer having a composition expressed as MOx (where M is a transition metal and O is oxygen), the second transition metal oxide layer having a composition expressed as MOy (where x>y), and the third transition metal oxide layer having a composition expressed as MOz (where y>z).
US09184373B2
A manufacturing method of an ultrasonic generating device includes calculating performance value based on a first electromechanical coupling factor in thickness directions and a second electromechanical coupling factor in diametrical directions for each of existing piezoelectric elements, calculating, for each of temporary conditions, a temporary influence value on the basis of a deviation of temporary amplitude of the ultrasonic vibrations, generated by the supply of the current having the predetermined current value, from a target amplitude in a target condition. The manufacturing method includes selecting the corresponding mounted piezoelectric element to be mounted on each of the element mounting portions from the existing piezoelectric elements so that the sum of actual influence values of all the element mounting portions is within a predetermined range with respect to the target amplitude.
US09184367B2
An elastic wave device includes a piezoelectric substrate and an interdigital transducer electrode. The piezoelectric substrate includes a principal surface with a groove tapered in lateral cross section. The interdigital transducer electrode is arranged on the principal surface such that at least one portion thereof is located in the groove. The interdigital transducer electrode is a laminate including a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a diffusion-preventing layer located between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer and made of an oxide or nitride of Ti or Cr.
US09184358B2
An exemplary lead frame includes a substrate and a bonding electrode, a first connecting electrode, and a second connecting electrode embedded in the substrate. A top surface of the bonding electrode includes a first bonding surface and a second bonding surface spaced from the first bonding surface. A top surface of the first connecting electrode includes a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface spaced from the first connecting surface. Top surfaces of the bonding electrode, the first connecting electrode and the second connecting electrode are exposed out of the substrate to support and electrically connect with light emitting chips. Light emitting chips can be mounted on the lead frame and electrically connect with each other in parallel or in series; thus, the light emitting chips can be connected with each in a versatile way.
US09184355B2
Provided are curable resin compositions capable of giving cured articles that have high light reflectivity, are satisfactorily resistant to heat and light, are tough, and less suffer from light reflectivity reduction with time. A curable resin composition for light reflection includes an alicyclic epoxy compound (A), rubber particles (B), a white pigment (C), a curing agent (D), and a curing accelerator (E). Another curable resin composition for light reflection includes an alicyclic epoxy compound (A), rubber particles (B), a white pigment (C), and a curing catalyst (F).
US09184345B2
A light emitting diode is provided by the present invention which includes a pn junction-type light emitting unit having a light emitting layer (10) composed of n layers of a strained light emitting layer (12) and n−1 layers of a barrier layer (13), wherein when a barrier layer exists, the light emitting layer (10) has a structure in which one strained light emitting layer (12) and one barrier layer (13) are laminated alternately, n represents an integer of 1 to 7, and the thickness of the light emitting layer (10) is not more than 250 nm.
US09184327B2
A cell connection piece for a photovoltaic module is disclosed herein. The cell connection piece includes an interconnect bus, a plurality of bus tabs unitarily formed with the interconnect bus, and a terminal bus coupled with the interconnect bus. The plurality of bus tabs extend from the interconnect bus. The terminal bus includes a non-linear portion.
US09184326B2
A solar cell module, having a solar cell panel including a front-surface light-transmitting member, a rear-surface light-transmitting member, and a solar cell arranged between these members, and a terminal box for taking out an electric current from the solar cell panel, and further having a bus bar laid to transmit an electric current generated from the solar cell inside the solar cell panel through an end of the solar cell panel to a terminal plate inside the terminal box, wherein the terminal box is fitted to the panel in a manner so as to cover the end of the solar cell panel, through which the bus bar is passed, and further cover a light-receiving surface side region of the front-surface light-transmitting member, and a light-receiving surface side region of the rear-surface light-transmitting member, these regions being adjacent to the end.
US09184321B2
A concentrating solar mirror panel assembly having a reflective sheet with a reflective major surface and an opposing major surface and a corrugated stiffener having ridges and troughs each having an outer surface with land areas, wherein the land areas of at least a portion of the ridges are joined to at least a portion of the opposing major surface of the reflective sheet. The concentrating solar mirror panel assembly is non-planar and substantially rigid. The concentrating solar mirror panel assembly is assembled such that a desired non-planar shape is maintained: either using a locking sheet or having the corrugated stiffener attached so that its principal axes of corrugation are substantially perpendicular to the axis of curvature of the assembly. Methods of making the concentrating solar mirror panel assembly are also disclosed. Concentrated solar power systems and solar collection devices are also disclosed.
US09184318B2
The present invention relates to a solar cell element that comprises: a semiconductor substrate; and a collector electrode including a plurality of conductor portions elongated in a first direction on one main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the plurality of the conductor portions comprise: a linear first conductor region; and a linear second conductor region including a plated surface, the linear second conductor region being electrically connected to the first conductor region.
US09184313B1
Methods and devices for removing entrapped bubbles or air in photovoltaic solar cells during a manufacturing process including an encapsulation process include, for example, wiggling the photovoltaic solar cells or pushing out air bubbles by applying vibrations and/or light pressures. Optional additional steps include liquid wetting or dispensing to or around the photovoltaic solar cell matrix for air releasing before the placement of the matrix into a liquid for encapsulation.
US09184312B2
A transmitting circuit is connected to a power line at current flow-in sides to solar battery strings, and a receiving circuit is connected to the power line at current flow-out sides to the solar battery strings. An attenuating circuit connected in series to a bypass diode is provided in a bypass circuit. The transmitting circuit transmits a periodic signal of a predetermined frequency to the power line. The receiving circuit receives via the solar battery strings a transmission signal transmitted from the transmitting circuit to the power line. A determining circuit determines that, when it is detected that an amplitude of a transmission signal received by the receiving circuit is attenuated by a predetermined value or more, direct-current power is conducted to the bypass circuit.
US09184310B2
The present invention is premised upon a connector device and method that can more easily electrically connect a plurality of PV devices or photovoltaic system components and/or locate these devices/components upon a building structure. It also may optionally provide some additional sub-components (e.g. at least one bypass diode and/or an indicator means) and may enhance the serviceability of the device.
US09184305B2
A vertical III-nitride field effect transistor includes a drain comprising a first III-nitride material, a drain contact electrically coupled to the drain, and a drift region comprising a second III-nitride material coupled to the drain and disposed adjacent to the drain along a vertical direction. The field effect transistor also includes a channel region comprising a third III-nitride material coupled to the drift region, a gate region at least partially surrounding the channel region, and a gate contact electrically coupled to the gate region. The field effect transistor further includes a source coupled to the channel region and a source contact electrically coupled to the source. The channel region is disposed between the drain and the source along the vertical direction such that current flow during operation of the vertical III-nitride field effect transistor is along the vertical direction.
US09184298B2
The interconnect structure of the present invention includes at least a gate insulator layer and an oxide semiconductor layer on a substrate, wherein the oxide semiconductor layer is a layered product having a first oxide semiconductor layer containing at least one element (Z group element) selected from the group consisting of In, Ga, Zn and Sn; and a second oxide semiconductor layer containing at least one element (X group element) selected from the group consisting of In, Ga, Zn and Sn and at least one element (Y group element) selected from the group consisting of Al, Si, Ti, Hf, Ta, Ge, W and Ni, and wherein the second oxide semiconductor layer is interposed between the first oxide semiconductor layer and the gate insulator layer. The present invention makes it possible to obtain an interconnect structure having excellent switching characteristics and high stress resistance, and in particular, showing a small variation of threshold voltage before and after the stress tests, and thereby having high stability.
US09184296B2
The semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor film having a first region and a pair of second regions facing each other with the first region provided therebetween, a gate insulating film over the oxide semiconductor film, and a first electrode overlapping with the first region, over the gate insulating film. The first region is a non-single-crystal oxide semiconductor region including a c-axis-aligned crystal portion. The pair of second regions is an oxide semiconductor region containing dopant and including a plurality of crystal portions.
US09184284B2
A method for operating a field-effect transistor having a source terminal, a drain terminal, a gate terminal, a drift region and a dielectric region adjoining the drift region, is provided. The method includes: connecting at least one of the drain terminal and the source terminal to a load; applying a sequence of voltage pulses between the gate terminal and the source terminal to repetitively switch the field-effect transistor such that the field-effect transistor is driven in an avalanche mode between the voltage pulses, during the avalanche mode avalanche multiplication occurring in the drift region close to the dielectric region; and applying at least one relaxation pulse to the field-effect transistor to reduce an accumulation of charges in the dielectric region due to hot charge carriers generated in the avalanche mode. Further, a field-effect transistor and a circuit configuration including the field-effect transistor are provided.
US09184278B2
A planar vertical DMOS transistor uses a conductive spacer structure formed on the sides of a dielectric structure as the gate of the transistor. The planar vertical DMOS transistor with a conductive spacer gate structure reduces the parasitic gate-to-bulk or gate-to-drain overlap capacitance by eliminating the conductive gate material that is formed above the bulk of the semiconductor layer. Meanwhile, the desired distance between the body regions formed on opposing sides of the conductive spacer gate structure is maintained.
US09184276B2
A method of manufacturing an SiC semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a first oxide film on a first surface of an SiC semiconductor, removing the first oxide film, and forming a second oxide film constituting the SiC semiconductor device on a second surface exposed as a result of removal of the first oxide film in the SiC semiconductor. Between the step of removing the first oxide film and the step of forming a second oxide film, the SiC semiconductor is arranged in an atmosphere cut off from an ambient atmosphere.
US09184273B2
An embodiment of a compound semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a compound semiconductor stacked structure of nitride over the substrate; a passivation film that covers the compound semiconductor stacked structure; a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode at a level above the compound semiconductor stacked structure; and an Si—C bond containing film that contains an Si—C bond and includes a part between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The part contacts at least a part of an upper surface of the compound semiconductor stacked structure or at least a part of an upper surface of the passivation film.
US09184271B2
A semiconductor device has a stacked structure in which a p-GaN layer, an SI-GaN layer, and an AlGaN layer are stacked, and has a gate electrode that is formed at a top surface side of the AlGaN layer. A band gap of the AlGaN layer is wider than a band gap of the p-GaN layer and the SI-GaN layer. Moreover, impurity concentration of the SI-GaN layer is less than 1×1017 cm−3. Semiconductor devices including III-V semiconductors may have a stable normally-off operation.
US09184269B2
Among other things, one or semiconductor arrangements, and techniques for forming such semiconductor arrangements are provided. For example, one or more silicon and silicon germanium stacks are utilized to form PMOS transistors comprising germanium nanowire channels and NMOS transistors comprising silicon nanowire channels. In an example, a first silicon and silicon germanium stack is oxidized to transform silicon to silicon oxide regions, which are removed to form germanium nanowire channels for PMOS transistors. In another example, silicon and germanium layers within a second silicon and silicon germanium stack are removed to form silicon nanowire channels for NMOS transistors. PMOS transistors having germanium nanowire channels and NMOS transistors having silicon nanowire channels are formed as part of a single fabrication process.
US09184265B2
Methods and apparatus for bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) are disclosed. A BJT comprises a collector made of p-type semiconductor material, a base made of n-type well on the collector; and an emitter comprising a p+ region on the base and a SiGe layer on the p+ region. The BJT can be formed by providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a collector, a base on the collector, forming a sacrificial layer on the base, patterning a first photoresist on the sacrificial layer to expose an opening surrounded by a STI within the base; implanting a p-type material through the sacrificial layer into an area of the base, forming a p+ region from the p-type implant; forming a SiGe layer on the etched p+ region to form an emitter. The process can be shared with manufacturing a polysilicon transistor up through the step of patterning a first photoresist on the sacrificial layer.
US09184264B2
To provide a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including a memory cell having a higher reliability.First and second stacked structures in a memory cell formation region are formed so as to have a larger height than a third stacked structure in a transistor formation region, and then an interlayer insulating layer is formed so as to cover these stacked structures and then polished.
US09184260B2
Methods for fabricating an integrated circuit are provided herein. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes forming a gate electrode structure overlying a semiconductor substrate. First sidewall spacers are formed adjacent to sidewalls of the gate electrode structure, and the first sidewall spacers include a nitride. An oxide etchant is applied to a surface of the semiconductor substrate after forming the first sidewall spacers. A second spacer material that includes a nitride is deposited over the semiconductor substrate and the first sidewall spacers to form a second spacer layer after applying the oxide etchant to the surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second spacer layer is etched with a second spacer etchant to form second sidewall spacers.
US09184254B2
A field-effect transistor comprises a substrate, a gate dielectric layer, a barrier layer, a metal gate electrode and a source/drain structure. The gate dielectric layer is disposed on the substrate. The barrier layer having a titanium-rich surface is disposed on the gate dielectric layer. The metal gate electrode is disposed on the titanium-diffused surface. The source/drain structure is formed in the substrate and adjacent to the metal gate electrode.
US09184244B2
A high voltage gallium nitride based semiconductor device includes an n-type gallium nitride freestanding substrate, and an n-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer including a drift layer formed on the surface of the n-type gallium nitride freestanding substrate so as to have a reverse breakdown voltage of not less than 3000 V. The drift layer is configured such that a carbon concentration is not less than 3.0×1016/cm3 in a region which has an electric field intensity of not more than 1.5 MV/cm when a maximum allowable voltage where there occurs no breakdown phenomenon is applied as a reverse bias voltage.
US09184242B2
A nitride semiconductor wafer includes a silicon substrate, a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a fourth layer, a fifth layer, and a sixth layer. The first layer is provided on the silicon substrate. The second layer is provided on the first layer. The third layer is provided on the second layer. The fourth layer is provided on the third layer. The fifth layer is provided on the fourth layer. The sixth layer is provided on the fifth layer. A composition ratio x4 of the fourth layer decreases in a first direction from the third layer toward the fifth layer. A maximum value of the composition ratio x4 is not more than a composition ratio of the third layer. A minimum value of the composition ratio x4 is not less than a composition ratio of the fifth layer.
US09184232B2
A semiconductor device includes an isolation layer defining an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate. A first recessing process is performed on the isolation layer to expose edge portions of the active region. A first rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region. A second recessing process is performed on the isolation layer. A second rounding process is performed to round the edge portions of the active region.
US09184230B2
A silicon carbide vertical field effect transistor includes a first-conductive-type silicon carbide substrate; a low-concentration first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer formed on a surface of the first-conductive-type silicon carbide substrate; second-conductive-type regions selectively formed on a surface of the first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer; first-conductive-type source regions formed in the second-conductive-type regions; a high-concentration second-conductive-type region formed between the first-conductive-type source regions in the second-conductive-type region; a source electrode electrically connected to the high-concentration second-conductive-type region and a first-conductive-type source region; a gate insulating film formed from the first-conductive-type source regions formed in adjacent second-conductive-type regions, onto the second-conductive-type regions and the first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a drain electrode on the back side of the first-conductive-type silicon carbide substrate, wherein an avalanche generating unit is disposed between the second-conductive-type region and the first-conductive-type silicon carbide layer.
US09184221B2
An object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing semiconductor devices that are flexible in which elements fabricated using a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are separated from a substrate. After a molybdenum film is formed over a glass substrate, a molybdenum oxide film is formed over the molybdenum film, a nonmetal inorganic film and an organic compound film are stacked over the molybdenum oxide film, and elements fabricated by a comparatively low-temperature (less than 500° C.) process are formed using existing manufacturing equipment for large glass substrates, the elements are separated from the glass substrate.
US09184213B2
A nanoscale switching device has an active region containing a switching material capable of carrying a species of dopants and transporting the dopants under an electrical field. The switching device has first, second and third electrodes with nanoscale widths. The active region is disposed between the first and second electrodes. A resistance modifier layer, which has a non-linear voltage-dependent resistance, is disposed between the second and third electrodes.
US09184212B2
A magnetic storage element according to an embodiment includes: a magnetic nanowire having a cross-sectional area varying in a first direction, the magnetic nanowire having at least two positions where the cross-sectional area is minimal; first and second electrode groups having the magnetic nanowire interposed in between, the magnetic nanowire including at least one of a first region where the first electrodes overlap the second electrodes with the magnetic nanowire interposed in between and a second region where neither the first electrodes nor the second electrodes exist with the magnetic nanowire interposed in between, the magnetic nanowire including at least one of a third region where the first electrodes exist and the second electrodes do not exist with the magnetic nanowire interposed in between and a fourth region where the first electrodes do not exist and the second electrodes exist with the magnetic nanowire interposed in between.
US09184209B2
In a TDI-type linear image sensor in which pixels are constituted of CCDs (Charge Coupled Devices) of n phases (n being an integer not smaller than 3), a gate opening portion and a gate non-opening portion functioning as a TDI transfer channel (15) are formed in all of transfer gates of the CCDs of n phases constituting the pixels. Within one pixel pitch in a TDI transfer direction, n microlenses (18) are formed such that light is concentrated at the gate non-opening portion formed at the transfer gate of each phase.
US09184206B1
A method for manufacturing a backside illuminated color image sensor includes (a) modifying the frontside of an image sensor wafer, having pixel arrays, to produce electrical connections to the pixel arrays, wherein the electrical connections extend depth-wise into the image sensor wafer from the frontside, and (b) modifying the backside of the image sensor wafer to expose the electrical connections.
US09184205B2
There is provided a back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup unit, in which a pad wiring line is provided on a light reception surface, capable of improving light reception characteristics in a photoelectric conversion section by thinning an insulating film in the back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup unit. A solid-state image pickup unit according to the present technology to accomplish such a purpose includes a sensor substrate having a pixel region in which photoelectric conversion sections are formed in an array, and a drive circuit is provided on a surface opposed to a light reception surface for the photoelectric conversion sections of the sensor substrate. Moreover, a through hole via reaching the drive circuit from the light reception surface of the sensor substrate is provided in a peripheral region located outside the pixel region. Further, a pad wiring line directly laminated on the through hole via is provided on the light reception surface in the peripheral region.
US09184204B2
A multi-spectrum photosensitive device comprises two, three, or four composite sensing pixels arranged in layers up and down in a base layer of P-type or N-type silicon by means of single-sided processing or double-sided processing, each composite sensing pixels can sense respectively spectrum orthogonal or complementary to each other in visible light or visible and infrared light. The basic sensing pixels on different layers of the composite sensing pixels can be designed to sense different colors or spectrums, so that a multi-spectrum photosensitive chip can be achieved by repeatedly arranging the macro units consisting of more than one composite sensing pixel. The present disclosure also includes a new multi-layer sensing pixel, and examples of which used in a single-sided double-layer, or a double-sided double-layer, or a double-sided three-layer, or a double-sided four-layer, or a single-sided mixed double-layer, or a double-sided mixed with double-layer or a multi-layer multi-spectrum sensing device. A multi-spectrum photosensitive device according to the present disclosure has the advantage of better color sensing performance, integration of color sensing and infrared sensing, and a simple processing technique.
US09184203B2
An image sensor includes a substrate including photoelectric conversion regions, a magnetic layer disposed on a back side of the substrate and suitable for generating a magnetic field, and color filters and microlenses disposed on the magnetic layer.
US09184198B1
A color sensitive image sensor includes first, second, and third image sensor layers vertically aligned in an image sensor stack. Each of the image sensor layers includes a pixel array oriented to generate image data in response to light incident on the image sensor stack and readout circuitry coupled to the pixel array to readout the image data. A first optical filter layer is disposed between the first image sensor layer and the second image sensor layer and has a first edge pass filter characteristic with a first cutoff wavelength. A second optical filter layer is disposed between the second image sensor layer and the third image sensor layer and has a second edge pass filter characteristic with a second cutoff wavelength offset from the first cutoff wavelength.
US09184192B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a radiation detector comprising a pixel element, the pixel element comprising: a first diode element having a node capacitance associated therewith, the element being operable to pass electrical charge therethrough between terminals thereof in response to incident radiation; and an auxiliary charge storage reservoir, wherein the detector is operable by means of charge transfer between the auxiliary charge storage reservoir and a first terminal of the first diode element to reduce a rate at which an electrical potential VX of the first terminal changes in response to a cumulative amount of incident radiation.
US09184190B2
This photodiode array 10 includes quenching resistors 7 which are connected in series to respective avalanche photodiodes APDs, a peripheral wiring WL which surrounds a region in which the plurality of avalanche photodiodes APDs are formed, and a plurality of relay wirings 8 which are electrically connected to the peripheral wiring WL, so as to respectively connect at least two places of the peripheral wiring WL. One of an anode and a cathode of each avalanche photodiode APD is electrically connected to any one of the relay wirings 8 via the quenching resistor 7, and the other of the anode and the cathode of each avalanche photodiode APD is electrically connected to another electrode 6 provided on a semiconductor substrate.
US09184189B2
To reduce adverse effects on actual operation and to reduce adverse effects of noise. A structure including an electrode, a wiring electrically connected to the electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer overlapping with the electrode in a plane view, an insulating layer provided between the electrode and the oxide semiconductor layer in a cross-sectional view, and a functional circuit to which a signal is inputted from the electrode through the wiring and in which operation is controlled in accordance with the signal inputted. A capacitor is formed using an oxide semiconductor layer, an insulating layer, and a wiring or an electrode.
US09184185B2
An object is to reduce the manufacturing cost of a semiconductor device. An object is to improve the aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. An object is to make a display portion of a semiconductor device display a higher-definition image. An object is to provide a semiconductor device which can be operated at high speed. The semiconductor device includes a driver circuit portion and a display portion over one substrate. The driver circuit portion includes: a driver circuit TFT in which source and drain electrodes are formed using a metal and a channel layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor; and a driver circuit wiring formed using a metal. The display portion includes: a pixel TFT in which source and drain electrodes are formed using an oxide conductor and a semiconductor layer is formed using an oxide semiconductor; and a display wiring formed using an oxide conductor.
US09184183B2
A first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor are provided. In the first transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a first wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fifth wiring. In the second transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a third wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a sixth wiring. In the third transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fourth wiring. In the fourth transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to the second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the sixth wiring; a gate terminal is connected to the fourth wiring.
US09184174B2
Semiconductor devices are provided. A semiconductor device may include a substrate and a plurality of lines on the substrate. The semiconductor device may include a dielectric layer on the substrate and adjacent the plurality of lines. The semiconductor device may include a connection element in the dielectric layer. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device may include a plurality of contacts on the connection element, and a conductive interconnection on one of the plurality of contacts that are on the connection element and on a contact that is spaced apart from the connection element.
US09184172B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a field region that defines an active region in a semiconductor substrate, a floating gate pattern on the active region, a dielectric layer on the floating gate pattern and a control gate on the dielectric layer. The control gate includes a first conductive pattern that has a first composition that crystallizes in a first temperature range, and a second conductive pattern that has a second composition that is different from the first composition and that crystallizes in a second temperature range that is lower than the first temperature range, the first conductive pattern being between the dielectric layer and the second conductive pattern.
US09184169B2
In one example, the method includes performing at least one process operation to form a first plurality of active fins and at least one sacrificial fin in a first area of a substrate while forming only a second plurality of active fins in a second area of said substrate, forming a fin removal masking layer that covers all of the active fins in both said first and second areas and exposes said at least one sacrificial fin in the first area, with the fin removal masking layer in position, performing at least one etching process to remove the at least one sacrificial fin in the first area and removing the fin removal masking layer.
US09184168B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a cell region and a peripheral region, a cell gate electrode buried in a groove crossing a cell active portion of the cell region, a cell line pattern crossing over the cell gate electrode, the cell line pattern being connected to a first source/drain region in the cell active portion at a side of the cell gate electrode, a peripheral gate pattern crossing over a peripheral active portion of the peripheral region, a planarized interlayer insulating layer on the substrate around the peripheral gate pattern, and a capping insulating layer on the planarized interlayer insulating layer and a top surface of the peripheral gate pattern, the capping insulating layer including an insulating material having an etch selectivity with respect to the planarized interlayer insulating layer.
US09184161B2
A method of forming an apparatus includes forming a plurality of deep trenches and a plurality of shallow trenches in a first region of a substrate. At least one of the shallow trenches is positioned between two deep trenches. The shallow trenches and the deep trenches are parallel to each other. A layer of conductive material is deposited over the first region and a second region of the substrate. The layer of conductive material is etched to define lines separated by gaps over the first region of the substrate, and active device elements over the second region of the substrate. The second region of the substrate is masked and the lines are removed from the first region of the substrate. Elongate trenches are etched where the lines were removed in the while the second region of the substrate is masked.
US09184160B2
A semiconductor device having high electric characteristics and in which a capacitor is efficiently formed even if the semiconductor device has a miniaturized structure. In a top-gate (also referred to as staggered) transistor using an oxide semiconductor film as its active layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode has a two-layer structure (a first electrode film and a second electrode film). Then, a capacitor is formed using a film formed using a material and a step similar to those of the first electrode film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode. Accordingly, the transistor and the capacitor can be formed through the same process efficiently. Further, the second electrode is connected onto the oxide semiconductor film between a first electrode and a channel formation region of the transistor. Accordingly, resistance between source and drain electrodes can be reduced; therefore, electric characteristics of the semiconductor device can be improved.
US09184159B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises patterning a layer of photoresist material to form a plurality of mandrels. The method further comprises depositing an oxide material over the plurality of mandrels by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further comprises anisotropically etching the oxide material from exposed horizontal surfaces. The method further comprises selectively etching photoresist material.
US09184153B2
A chip stack structure taking a wafer as a stacking base and stacking chips thereon is provided. The chip stack structure is capable of achieving high density electrode bonding and breaking the bottleneck of requiring interposer to serve as a transferring interface in three dimensional chip package. The chip stack structure is easily fabricated and compatible with wafer level process, so as to reduce processing time and manufacturing cost. A method for fabricating the chip stack structure is also provided.
US09184152B2
A semiconductor package and a method for making the same are provided. In the method, a clip is used to conduct a lead frame and at least one chip. The clip has at least one second connection segment, at least one third connection segment, and at least one intermediate connection segment. The second connection segment is electrically connected to a second conduction region of the chip and a second pin of the lead frame respectively, and the third connection segment is electrically connected to a third conduction region of the chip and a third pin of the lead frame respectively. The intermediate connection segment connects the at least one second connection segment and the at least one third connection segment, and is removed in a subsequent process. Thereby, the present invention does not need to use any gold wire, which effectively saves the material cost and the processing time.
US09184150B2
An electronic device includes a chip with an integrated electronic component and a terminal made of a first metal material. The device further includes a lead made of a second metal material different from the first metal material. A bonding wire made of a selected one of the first and second metal materials has opposite ends coupled with the terminal and the lead. An interface element having a first layer made of a selected one of the first and second metal materials and a second layer made of an unselected one of the first and second metal materials has the first layer coupled with the bonding wire and the second layer coupled with a component, wherein the component is ether the terminal or the lead.
US09184145B2
A semiconductor device packaged adapter for electrically coupling contacts on a first circuit member to contacts on a second circuit member. The adapter typically includes first and second substrates, each with arrays of terminals. Proximal ends of the first terminals on the first substrate are arranged to be soldered to the contacts on the first circuit member and proximal ends of the second terminals on the second substrate are arranged to be soldered to the contacts on the second circuit member. Complementary engaging structures located on distal ends of the first and second terminals engage to electrically and mechanically couple the first circuit member to the second circuit member.
US09184143B2
A semiconductor device having a semiconductor substrate is provided. The semiconductor device has a metal structure over the semiconductor substrate. The metal structure is configured to receive a bump. The semiconductor device further has a conductive trace between the semiconductor substrate and the metal structure. The conductive trace is configured to connect to a power source. When an electric current from the power source passes through the conductive trace, an electromagnetic field is generated at the conductive trace. The position of the bump is adjusted in response to the electromagnetic field.
US09184132B2
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating layer laminated on the semiconductor substrate, a first metal wiring pattern embedded in a wire-forming region of the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer laminated on the first insulating layer, a second metal wiring pattern embedded in a wire-forming region of the second insulating layer and first dummy metal patterns embedded each in a wire-opposed region opposing to the wire-forming region of the second insulating layer and in a non-wire-opposed region opposing to a non-wire-forming region other than the wire-forming region of the second insulating layer, the wire-opposed region and the non-wire-opposed region each in a non-wire-forming region other than the wire-forming region of the first insulating layer.
US09184115B2
The purpose of the present invention is to increase the reliability of a semiconductor device in which a semiconductor element and a substrate are connected by solder and which is molded by resin.Solder containing easily volatized metals (Zn, Mg, Sb) is used for a solder material 106, and after a semiconductor element 104 is connected to a lead frame 102 and wire bonding is carried out, vacuum heat treatment is applied, the easily volatized metals in the solder are volatized to adhere to a substrate surface, and an alloy 103 with the lead frame is formed, thereby roughening the substrate surface and improving the adhesive strength of a sealing resin 101 and the substrate.
US09184111B2
A wafer-level chip scale package is disclosed, including a chip including a substrate and a GaN transistor disposed on the substrate. The GaN transistor includes a first electrode, a dielectric layer disposed on the chip, and a redistribution trace disposed on the first dielectric layer and electrically connected with the first electrode, wherein the redistribution trace has a linear side and a curved side on opposite sides along its longitudinal direction.
US09184106B2
A heat sink includes a frame having an opening, the opening extending in a thickness direction of the frame, the opening having a first opening part and a second opening part, the second opening part being larger than the first opening part in a plan view perpendicular to the thickness direction, a wall standing on the frame at an edge of the opening, a groove formed in the frame beside the wall, and a plate member including a first plate disposed in the first opening part and a second plate disposed in the second opening part and larger than the first plate in the plan view, wherein the second opening part is larger than the second plate in the plan view to leave a gap therebetween, and the wall is bent toward the opening to be in contact with an edge along a perimeter of the second plate.
US09184104B1
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die disposed over the substrate. A conductive via is formed partially through the substrate. An encapsulant is deposited over the semiconductor die and substrate. An insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor die and encapsulant. The insulating layer includes an organic or inorganic insulating material. An adhesive layer is deposited over the insulating layer. The adhesive layer contacts only the insulating layer. A carrier is bonded to the adhesive layer. The insulating layer provides a single CTE across the entire bonding interface between the adhesive layer and semiconductor die and encapsulant. The constant CTE of the insulating layer reduces stress across the bonding interface. A portion of the substrate is removed by backgrinding to expose the conductive via. An insulating layer is formed over the substrate around the conductive via. An interconnect structure is formed over the conductive via.
US09184099B2
A sensing apparatus for sensing target materials including biological or chemical molecules in a fluid. One such apparatus includes a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structure having an electrically-insulating layer, a fluidic channel supported by the SOI structure and configured and arranged to receive and pass a fluid including the target materials, and a semiconductor device including at least three electrically-contiguous semiconductor regions doped to exhibit a common polarity. The semiconductor regions include a sandwiched region sandwiched between two of the other semiconductor regions, and configured and arranged adjacent to the fluidic channel with a surface directed toward the fluidic channel for coupling to the target materials in the fluidic channel, and further arranged for responding to a bias voltage. The sensing apparatus also includes an amplification circuit in or on the SOI and that is arranged to facilitate sensing of the target material near the fluidic channel.
US09184091B2
First dopant regions and second dopant regions are provided at both sides of the gate structures. Conductive lines cross over the gate structures and are connected to the first dopant regions. Each of the conductive lines includes a conductive pattern and a capping pattern disposed on the conductive pattern. Contact structures are provided between the conductive lines and are connected to the second dopant regions. Each of the contact structures includes a lower contact pattern disposed on the second dopant region and an upper contact pattern disposed on the lower contact pattern. A bottom surface of the upper contact pattern is lower than a top surface of the conductive pattern.
US09184090B2
A TFT display panel having a high charge mobility and making it possible to obtain uniform electric characteristics with respect to a large-area display is provided as well as a manufacturing method thereof. A TFT display panel includes a gate electrode formed on an insulation substrate, a first gate insulting layer formed of SiNx on the gate electrode, a second gate insulting layer formed of SiOx on the first gate insulting layer, an oxide semiconductor layer formed to overlap the gate electrode and having a channel part, and a passivation layer formed of SiOx on the oxide semiconductor layer and the gate electrode, and the passivation layer includes a contact hole exposing the drain electrode. The contact hole has a shape in which the passivation layer of a portion directly exposed together with a metal occupies an area smaller than the upper passivation layer.
US09184088B2
A method of making shallow trench isolation (STI) structures includes forming a first opening in a substrate and filling the first opening with silicon oxide to form a first STI structure. The method further includes doping a top surface of the silicon oxide with carbon, wherein a bottom portion of the silicon oxide is free of carbon. The method further includes planarizing the silicon oxide so that the top surface of the silicon oxide is at substantially a same level as a surface of the substrate surrounding the silicon oxide.
US09184084B2
A wafer handling traction control system is provided that is able to detect slippage of a semiconductor wafer with respect to an end effector and is able to adjust the end effector's movement in order to minimize further slippage. Upon the detection of relative motion of the semiconductor wafer with respect to the end effector past a threshold amount, the end effector's movements are adjusted to minimize slippage of the semiconductor wafer. The wafer handling traction control system may include a sensor that detects relative motion between the semiconductor wafer and the end effector.
US09184081B2
Each of electrostatic chucks 1A to 1F includes a susceptor 11A having an adsorption face 11a of adsorbing a semiconductor, and an electrostatic chuck electrode 4 embedded in the susceptor. The susceptor includes a plate shaped main body 3 and a surface corrosion resistant layer 2 including the adsorption face 2. The surface corrosion resistant layer 2 is made of a ceramic material comprising magnesium, aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen as main components. The ceramic material comprises a main phase comprising MgO—AlN solid solution wherein aluminum nitride is dissolved into magnesium oxide.
US09184066B2
A chip arrangement is provided, the chip arrangement including: a carrier; a chip disposed over the carrier, the chip including one or more contact pads, wherein a first contact pad of the one or more contact pads is electrically contacted to the carrier; a first encapsulation material at least partially surrounding the chip; and a second encapsulation material at least partially surrounding the first encapsulation material.
US09184062B2
A metal filling apparatus fills molten metal into a minute space formed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer. The apparatus has a processor body with a chamber in which the wafer is held, a molten metal supply, and a molten metal recovery mechanism. The supply includes a tank in which molten metal is stored, a supply pipe connected between the chamber and the tank, a supplier interposed in the supply pipe to supply molten metal from the tank to the processing chamber, and the recovery mechanism recovers molten metal from the processing chamber.
US09184057B2
A method for manufacturing integrated circuit devices, optical devices, micromachines and mechanical precision devices, the said method comprising the steps of (1) providing a substrate having patterned material layers having line-space dimensions of 50 nm and less and aspect ratios of >2; (2) providing the surface of the patterned material layers with a positive or a negative electrical charge by contacting the substrate at least once with an aqueous, fluorine-free solution S containing at least one fluorine-free cationic surfactant A having at least one cationic or potentially cationic group, at least one fluorine-free anionic surfactant A having at least one anionic or potentially anionic group, or at least one fluorine-free amphoteric surfactant A; and (3) removing the aqueous, fluorine-free solution S from the contact with the substrate.
US09184051B2
A method of producing a nitride compound semiconductor component includes providing a growth substrate having a silicon surface, growing a buffer layer containing an aluminum-containing nitride compound semiconductor onto the silicon surface, growing a stress layer structure that produces a compressive stress, and growing a functional semiconductor layer sequence onto the stress layer structure, wherein the stress layer structure includes a first GaN semiconductor layer and a second GaN semiconductor layer, a masking layer is embedded in the first GaN semiconductor layer, an Al(Ga)N-intermediate layer that produces a compressive stress is disposed between the first GaN semiconductor layer and the second GaN semiconductor layer, and the stress layer structure does not contain further Al(Ga)N-intermediate layers.
US09184049B2
A semiconductor device and methods for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor stack structure attached to a wafer handle having at least one aperture that extends through the wafer handle to an exposed portion of the semiconductor stack structure. A thermally conductive and electrically resistive polymer substantially fills the at least one aperture and contacts the exposed portion of the semiconductor stack structure. One method for manufacturing the semiconductor device includes forming patterned apertures in the wafer handle to expose a portion of the semiconductor stack structure. The patterned apertures may or may not be aligned with sections of RF circuitry making up the semiconductor stack structure. A following step includes contacting the exposed portion of the semiconductor stack structure with a polymer and substantially filling the patterned apertures with the polymer, wherein the polymer is thermally conductive and electrically resistive.
US09184042B1
A method of particle mitigation which includes obtaining a semiconductor wafer having a nonfunctional backside and a functional frontside on which semiconductor devices are formed by one or more lithography processes; coating the backside with a mitigating layer comprising silicon or amorphous carbon; patterning the mitigating layer to form indentations in the mitigating layer; placing the semiconductor wafer onto a wafer chuck such that the wafer chuck makes direct contact with the coated and patterned backside mitigating layer; and while maintaining the coated and patterned backside mitigating layer in direct contact with the wafer chuck, performing a first lithographic process on the frontside.
US09184039B2
A mass analyzer (2) is provided comprising a plurality of electrodes having apertures through which ions are transmitted in use. A plurality of seudo-potential corrugations are created along the axis of the mass analyzer (2). The amplitude or depth of the pseudo-potential corrugations is inversely proportional to the mass to charge ratio of an ion. One or more transient DC voltages are applied to the electrodes of the mass analyzer (2) in order to urge ions along the length of the mass analyzer (2). The amplitude of the transient DC voltages applied to the electrodes is increased with time and ions are caused to be emitted from the mass analyzer (2) in reverse order of mass to charge ratio.
US09184035B2
A data acquisition system and method are described that may be used with various spectrometers. The data acquisition system may include an ion detector, an initial processing module, and a spectra processing module. The initial processing module is provided for processing the ion detection signals and for supplying processed signals to the spectra processing module. The spectra processing module generates spectra from the processed signals and supplies the generated spectra to an external processor for post-processing. The spectra processing module may include an ion statistics filter and/or a peak histogram filtering circuit.
US09184022B2
A modulated-bending recirculating system that avoids CSR-driven breakdown in emittance compensation by redistributing the bending along the beamline. The modulated-bending recirculating system includes a) larger angles of bending in initial FODO cells, thereby enhancing the impact of CSR early on in the beam line while the bunch is long, and 2) a decreased bending angle in the final FODO cells, reducing the effect of CSR while the bunch is short. The invention describes a method for controlling the effects of CSR during recirculation and bunch compression including a) correcting chromatic aberrations, b) correcting lattice and CSR-induced curvature in the longitudinal phase space by compensating T566, and c) using lattice perturbations to compensate obvious linear correlations x-dp/p and x′-dp/p.
US09184018B2
A high-power magnetron assembly includes a high-power magnetron and a compact magnetic field generator. The high-power magnetron includes a cathode configured to emit electrons in response to receiving a supply of voltage from a power supply. The high-power magnetron includes an anode configured to concentrically surround the cathode and to attract the emitted electrons across an interaction region between the cathode and the anode. The compact magnetic field generator includes a plurality of permanent magnets including: a cathode magnet that has a longitudinal axis of symmetry annularly and that is surrounded by the cathode and disposed within the magnetron; and an anode magnet configured to annularly surround an outer perimeter of the magnetron. An arrangement of the plurality of permanent magnets concentrically about the longitudinal axis of symmetry forms a specified magnetic field within the interaction region that bounds the electrons emitted within the interaction region.
US09184011B2
Disclosed are a small fuse and a method of manufacturing the same. A cover made from thermosetting resin is coupled with is a base to receive a fusing element therein. The fusing element does not cause damage to the cover even if the fusing element makes contact with an inner wall of the cover due to size reduction of the cover.
US09184010B2
The invention relates to a rapid tri-state bidirectional switching device with three switching states of forward, backward and idle connection positions, comprising a shell and a movable electrode arranged within the shell for switching among the three states, wherein the movable electrode is provided with a movable contact point at either end thereof, the shell is provided with a fixed contact point at the front and rear sides thereof respectively corresponding to the movable contact points, a driving solenoid shaft is arranged above and connected to the movable electrode housing, and provided with a front locking notch and a rear locking notch, the device further comprises a release lock cooperating with a front locking notch and a rear locking notch to lock the movable electrode housing. The rapid bidirectional tri-state switching device is advantageous for its short switching time, small size and contact reliability.
US09184004B2
A switchgear includes a switching device, which is driven by a propellant chemical charge or fast acting switch. The switchgear includes a current or fault current detection unit, and an optical sensor unit for light arc or fault light arc detection, without the need of having an auxiliary voltage applied. In order to reduce the closing time of an earthing switch, the electrical circuit of an inductive current detection unit is electrically connected in series with a light sensing switching path, and a current signal directly ignites the propellant chemical charge or fast acting switch by using a limited electronic device.
US09184003B2
A circuit breaker comprising a first dc line electrically connectable to first incoming and first outgoing dc lines, wherein the first dc line comprises a first fault-interrupting switch contact system and a first switching aid network. The first switching aid network comprises first and second rectifier strings, wherein each rectifier string comprises one or more series connected reverse blocking power electronic devices that define a first H-bridge rectifier. The first switching aid network further comprises a snubber string, the snubber string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a capacitor. The first switching aid network further comprises a pre-charge string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a resistor, and a surge arrester connected between the first and second dc output terminals of the first H-bridge rectifier.
US09183994B2
A lithium-ion capacitor may include a cathode, an anode, a separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, a lithium composite material, and an electrolyte solution. The cathode and anode may be non-porous. The lithium composite material comprises a core of lithium metal and a coating of a complex lithium salt that encapsulates the core. In use, the complex lithium salt may dissolve into and constitute a portion of the electrolyte solution.
US09183991B2
A wet electrolytic capacitor that contains a casing within which is positioned an anode formed from an anodically oxidized sintered porous body and a fluidic working electrolyte is provided. The casing contains a conductive coating disposed on a surface of a metal substrate. The casing contains a metal substrate coated with a conductive coating. The conductive coating contains a conductive polymer layer formed through anodic electrochemical polymerization (“electro-polymerization”) of a colloidal suspension on the surface of the metal substrate. The conductive coating also contains a precoat layer that is discontinuous in nature and contains a plurality of discrete projections of a conductive material that are deposited over the surface of the metal substrate in a spaced-apart fashion so that they form “island-like” structures.
US09183983B2
A modular truss assembly for mechanically and electrically mounting system components of a modular equipment center (MEC). A plurality of MECs is spatially distributed throughout the vehicle to service equipment loads. The modular truss assembly provides different voltage levels for powering the system components of the MEC and for powering the equipment loads. In one or more configurations, a MEC incorporate inductive power coupling for powering a line replaceable unit (LRU) in proximity to the modular truss assembly without exposed electrical connections and such that the MEC may forgo power conversion equipment. In one or more configurations, a sensor is embedded in one or more transfer layers of the truss for measuring a power trace embedded in the modular truss assembly.
US09183982B2
The present invention provides a fault current limiter which can reduce an abnormal current, such as a fault current, in a power system through the magnetic turn-off which increases the reactance of an electric circuit by changing the magnetic circuit. The fault current limiter for limiting a current supplied through a power supply path, according to the present invention, includes: an iron core having three legs of which the upper and lower portions are connected to each other; a primary winding wound around each of the three legs of the iron core and having both ends connected to the power supply path; and a secondary winding wound around each of the three legs of the iron core and having both ends connected to each other through a first switching device.
US09183981B2
A reactor comprises a reactor core in which two U-shaped core members are connected in a ring shape with a gap section therebetween, a primary insert-molded resin part provided covering at least an outer peripheral surface of a leg part of the core member other than an adhesion surface of the core member, a coil placed around the gap section and the leg part of the core member, and a secondary insert-molded resin part made of a thermoplastic resin and which is insert-molded around the coil to fix the coil on the reactor core and fix the leg parts of the core members in a connected state. A positioning section which determines a relative position of opposing leg parts and a window section which allows a melted thermoplastic resin for forming the secondary insert-molded resin part to flow into the gap section are formed on an end of the primary insert-molded resin part connected in a state where core members are placed connected in a ring shape.
US09183977B2
A method for manufacturing an electronic device and an electronic device are disclosed. In an embodiment the method comprises forming an opening in an isolation layer, isotropically etching the opening thereby forming an extended opening with curved sidewalls, and forming a conductive material in the opening.
US09183971B1
A method for controllable layer-by-layer removal of graphene layers is provided. The method includes the steps of: disposing a single-layer or multi-layer graphene on a heat source, arranging graphene layer or layers in a sealed chamber filled with ozone gas, and removing a targeted area of graphene with a laser. The method provides low-temperature removal of graphene layer-by-layer. The heat source, laser, and the highly oxidizing ozone gas selectively control the removal of graphene layers.
US09183969B2
The present invention relates to an insulation composition for a DC power cable and the DC power cable prepared using the same. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improved insulation composition for a DC power cable, which can prevent decrease of DC dielectric strength and decrease of impulse strength caused by accumulation of space charges, and the DC power cable prepared using the same.
US09183967B2
An electroconductive paste comprising first copper particles having a specific surface area of about 0.15-1.0 m2/g, second copper particles having a specific surface area of about 0.5-2.5 m2/g, glass frit and an organic vehicle. According to another embodiment of the invention, the first copper particles are about 60-80 wt. % of the paste, while the content of the second copper particles is up to about 20 wt. % of the paste. According to another embodiment, the glass frit is lead-free and is about 1-10 wt. % of the paste. Preferably, the glass frit comprises a boron-zinc-barium oxide glass frit. According to another embodiment, the paste further comprises copper oxide. Another embodiment of the invention relates to an electroconductive paste comprising about 60-95 wt. % copper component, a boron-zinc-barium oxide glass frit, and an organic vehicle.
US09183965B2
A film is formed under vacuum by a step of purifying and/or flattening the base material (13) by irradiating the base material (13) with a gas cluster ion beam (4a); by a step of forming an intermediate layer film by evaporating/vaporizing an intermediate layer film forming material, allowing the evaporated/vaporized material to adhere to the surface of the base material (13), and irradiating the intermediate layer film forming material with a gas cluster ion beam (4a); and by evaporating/vaporizing a carbon film forming material containing a carbonaceous material containing substantially no hydrogen, and a boron material, allowing the evaporated/vaporized material to adhere to the surface of the intermediate layer film, and irradiating the carbon film forming material with a gas cluster ion beam (4a).
US09183963B2
The present invention refers to a method for arranging a window foil to an electron exit window assembly of an electron beam generating device, comprises the steps of: arranging a foil support plate on a housing of the electron beam generating device, bonding a window foil to the foil support plate along a continuous bonding line, attaching a skirt of said window foil extending radially outside of the bonding line to the housing along a continuous attachment line. The invention also relates to an electron exit window assembly of an electron beam generating device.
US09183960B2
A power converter comprises a first die and a second die. Each die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a junction for converting nuclear radiation particles to electrical energy, the junction of each semiconductor substrate comprising a first side and a second side, a first electrode comprising a nuclear radiation-emitting radioisotope deposited on the semiconductor substrate, the first electrode being electrically connected to the first side of the junction, and a second electrode deposited on the semiconductor substrate, the second electrode being electrically connected to the second side. A bond is formed between one of the first electrode or the second electrode of the first die and one of the first electrode or the second electrode of the second die, wherein the bond forms an electrical contact between the bonded electrodes.
US09183952B2
Apparatuses and methods for compressing data responsive to a plurality of memory accesses is described. An example compression circuit includes a comparator configured to compare data provided by a group of memory cells associated with a repair address. Each subset of one or more bits of the data is sequentially provided by the group of memory cells responsive to a respective memory access of a plurality of memory accesses. The example compression circuit further including an error bit latch coupled to the comparison circuit. The error bit latch configured to, responsive to an output received from the comparison circuit indicating an error, compress the data to an error bit by setting the error bit to an error detected state and latching the error bit having the error detected state.
US09183941B2
A memory controller can provide current to a heater in a flash memory to reduce cycling induced errors. If necessary, after heating, the memory may be refreshed. In non-battery powered systems, data may be removed from the memory prior to heating and restored to the memory after heating.
US09183940B2
A HiNAND array with a hierarchical-BL scheme configured to divide a large global bit line (GBL) capacitance into J number of small local bit line (LBL) capacitances for reducing bit line precharge voltage and discharge time to achieve faster Read and Program-Verify speed, lower power consumption, lower latency, and lower word line disturbance for a reliable DRAM-like latch sensing. A reduced precharge voltage can be increased by M-fold (M≧2) using a Multiplier between each bitline and each Latch sense amplifier (SA). Between each Multiplier and each Latch SA, there is a Connector with two optional designs for either fully passing a sense voltage to the Latch SA with a same-polarity and value or reversing the polarity the sensing voltage with additional amplification. The Latch SA is configured to transfer stored threshold states of a memory cell into a bit of a page buffer.
US09183939B2
A method of reading a nonvolatile memory device including: applying a read voltage to a selected wordline of the nonvolatile memory device; applying a read pass voltage to unselected wordlines of the nonvolatile memory device; sensing a state of a memory cell connected to the selected wordline; and applying the read pass voltage to the selected wordline after the sensing.
US09183923B2
A memory cell power supply circuit for each column includes a first PMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor connected together in series between a first power supply and a second power supply. A connection point between the first and second PMOS transistors is output as a memory cell power supply. A control signal which is based on a column select signal and a write control signal is input to a gate terminal of the first PMOS transistor. A signal which is an inverted version of the signal input to the gate terminal of the first PMOS transistor is input to a gate terminal of the second PMOS transistor.
US09183922B2
Disclosed are devices, systems and/or methods relating to an eight transistor (8T) static random access memory (SRAM) cell, according to one or more embodiments. In one embodiment, an SRAM storage cell is disclosed comprising a word line, a write column select line, a cross-coupled data latch, and a first NMOS switch device serially coupled to a second NMOS switch device. In this embodiment, the gate node of the first NMOS switch device is coupled to the word line, a source node of the first NMOS switch device is coupled to the cross-coupled data latch, a gate node of the second NMOS switch device is coupled to the write column select line, and a source node of the second NMOS switch device is coupled to the cross-coupled data latch.
US09183913B2
Provided is a data writing method of a magnetic memory device. The method may include flowing first and second currents near left and right sides, respectively, of a selected memory cell to apply an ambient magnetic field to the selected memory cell. Here, directions of the first and second currents may be anti-parallel to each other.
US09183910B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a cell array including one or more bank groups, where each of the one or more bank groups includes a plurality of banks and each of the plurality of banks includes a plurality of spin transfer torque magneto resistive random access memory (STT-MRAM) cells. The semiconductor memory device further includes a source voltage generating unit for applying a voltage to a source line connected to the each of the plurality of STT-MRAM cells, and a command decoder for decoding a command from an external source in order to perform read and write operations on the plurality of STT-MRAM cells. The command includes a combination of at least one signal of a row address strobe (RAS), a column address strobe (CAS), a chip selecting signal (CS), a write enable signal (WE), and a clock enable signal (CKE).
US09183908B2
An interleaver or deinterleaver comprises a memory having M logical memory units arranged in groups of N memory units such that accesses to memory units within a group are faster after a first access to a memory in that group using first access. An address generator is arranged to write consecutive data items a number of memory units apart that is less than the size of groups N of memory units so that two or more data items are written within groups. The arrangement provides fast interleaving without increasing memory size.
US09183893B2
According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a semiconductor memory devices includes: a plurality of memory blocks that each include a plurality of stack structures, global bit lines connected in common to the plurality of memory blocks, block selection lines configured to control electrical connect between the global bit lines and one of the plurality of memory blocks, and vertical selection lines configured to control electrical connected between the global bit lines and one of the plurality of stack structures. Each of the plurality of stack structures includes a plurality of local bit lines, first vertical word lines and second vertical word lines crossing first sidewalls and second sidewalls respectfully of the plurality of stack structures, first variable resistive elements between the plurality of stack structures and the first vertical word lines, and second variable resistive elements between the plurality of stack structures and the second vertical word lines.
US09183892B2
A first memory device and second memory device have a same input/output layout configuration. To form a stack, the second memory device is secured to the first memory device. To facilitate connectivity, the second memory device is rotationally offset with respect to the first memory device in the stack to align outputs of the first memory device with corresponding inputs of the second memory device. The rotational offset of the second memory device with respect to the first memory device aligns one or more outputs of the first memory device with one or more respective inputs of the second memory device. Based on links between outputs and inputs from one memory device to another in the stack, the stack of memory devices can include paths facilitating one or more series connection configurations through the memory devices.
US09183885B2
Various embodiments are described for skipping, filtering, or replacing content from an audio/video stream using text data associated with the stream, wherein the stream has segments of a show interspersed with commercial breaks. A method for processing the stream determines that a commercial break is currently being output for presentation, and monitors for receipt of a user-initiated command to skip the commercial break. When a user-initiated skip command is received during the commercial break, the method automatically skips to a location in the stream that is at or near an end of the commercial break, and seamlessly continues presentation of the stream from that location. If a skip command is not received during output of the commercial break, then output of the current commercial break continues as usual. This methodology is repeated for all subsequent commercial breaks in the stream.
US09183879B2
A suspension board with circuit for mounting a slider unit including an electron device, the electron device being mounted so as to form, when projected in the thickness direction with respect to the slider provided with a magnetic head, an overlapping portion that overlaps with the slider, and a protruding portion that protrudes from the slider. The suspension board with circuit is formed with a first opening penetrating in the thickness direction and accommodates the overlapping portion, and a second opening that communicates with the first opening and accommodates the protruding portion.
US09183873B2
A damping circuit having an input terminal and an output terminal is described. The damping circuit comprises a driver having an input and an output; an RC circuit coupled between the input terminal and the output; and a resistor coupled between the output and the output terminal, wherein the RC circuit delays passing a signal from the output terminal to the input terminal and a low impedance associated with the driver generally reduces ringing.
US09183867B1
Systems and methods for forming implanted capping layers in magnetic media for magnetic recording are provided. One such method includes providing an underlayer, providing a magnetic recording layer on the underlayer, the magnetic recording layer including a bottom surface and a top surface where the bottom surface is between the top surface and the underlayer, and implanting a capping material in the top surface of the magnetic recording layer using a direct implantation technique or an indirect implantation technique.
US09183864B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, the head comprising a fly height actuator (FHA). A fly height of the head is measured, and a closed-loop fly height control signal is generated based on the measured fly height and a target fly height. The target fly height is adjusted based on a delta generated based on a change in an environmental condition, and an FHA control signal is applied to the FHA based on the closed-loop fly height control signal.
US09183858B2
The present disclosure generally relates to a read head sensor in a magnetic recording head. The read head sensor comprises a dual capping layer in a sensor stack that may reduce magnetic coupling so as to enhance magnetic bias field, e.g., domain control, in the read head sensor. Furthermore, an upper shield with multiple film stack having different film properties may also be utilized to enhance bias field generated to the read head sensor. Additionally, a coil structure may be positioned adjacent to a side shield to enhance bias field generation in the read head sensor.
US09183850B2
A system and method may be configured to analyze audio information derived from an audio signal. The system and method may track sound pitch across the audio signal. The tracking of pitch across the audio signal may take into account change in pitch by determining at individual time sample windows in the signal duration an estimated pitch and an estimated fractional chirp rate of the harmonics at the estimated pitch. The estimated pitch and the estimated fractional chirp rate may then be implemented to determine an estimated pitch for another time sample window in the signal duration with an enhanced accuracy and/or precision.
US09183848B2
A person can use a portable electronic device to electronically purchase or otherwise request a product, service or other deliverable related to audio programming to which the person is listening at the time they initiate the request. The request is fulfilled by a service that analyzes the audio content to identify the deliverable the person desires.
US09183847B2
An apparatus and method for encoding and decoding a signal for high frequency bandwidth extension are provided. An encoding apparatus may down-sample a time domain input signal, may core-encode the down-sampled time domain input signal, may transform the core-encoded time domain input signal to a frequency domain input signal, and may perform bandwidth extension encoding using a basic signal of the frequency domain input signal.
US09183846B2
A method and device for adaptively adjusting sound effect, and the method comprises: obtaining an energy value of the current ambient noise; receiving a first trigger instruction and adjusting the current output volume based on the energy value of the current ambient noise; while judging that the energy value of the current ambient noise is bigger than a first threshold, processing treble enhancement; while judging that the energy value of the current ambient noise is less than a second a sound threshold, processing bass enhancement. By collecting the voice data and detecting the speech activity on the voice data, when the first trigger instruction is received, the method can adjust the current volume and adjust the frequency response by the treble enhancement or the bass enhancement based on the energy value of the current ambient noise, thereby obtaining the better sound effect and easy to achieve.
US09183845B1
A first device obtains first audio from one or more microphones. The first device generates a first audio signal from the first audio. The first device analyzes the first audio signal to determine noise associated with the first audio. The first device receives a second audio signal from a second device, and processes the second audio signal based at least in part on the determined noise by identifying one or more frequencies of the second audio signal that are between 1-2 Kilohertz. The first device then outputs a modified second audio signal to a speaker.
US09183844B2
Systems and methods for cancelling a near-field noise signal. The methods generally involve: receiving (604), from a first acoustic sensing device (120), a first signal (214) comprising a near-field noise signal (206); synthesizing (320, 420, 520, 606) a replica signal (322, 422, 522) which replicates the near-field noise signal; and communicating (608) the replica signal and the first signal to a far-field noise cancellation process (150). Prior to communicating the replica signal to the far-field noise cancellation process, at least one characteristic of the replica signal is controlled (606) so that the far-field noise cancellation process will identify the near-field noise signal as far-field noise. The far-field noise cancellation process cancels (610) the near-field noise signal and generates (612) an output signal (360, 460, 560) in which the near-field noise signal is reduced in amplitude.
US09183843B2
Techniques for combining the results of multiple recognizers in a distributed speech recognition architecture. Speech data input to a client device is encoded and processed both locally and remotely by different recognizers configured to be proficient at different speech recognition tasks. The client/server architecture is configurable to enable network providers to specify a policy directed to a trade-off between reducing recognition latency perceived by a user and usage of network resources. The results of the local and remote speech recognition engines are combined based, at least in part, on logic stored by one or more components of the client/server architecture. An indication of the availability of the remote speech recognition to perform speech recognition at a point in time may be provided to a user of the client device via a user interface of the client device.
US09183841B2
There are provided methods and systems for identifying watermarked content. In one implementation, such a method includes receiving content including a digital watermark, and detecting the digital watermark, the detecting being performed without use of a decoder configured to read the digital watermark. In implementations in which the content includes an audio watermark, detecting the audio watermark includes filtering an audio frequency spectrum of the content, sampling the audio frequency spectrum to generate data corresponding to the content, determining a first audio level for searching the data based on the sampling, and searching the data at the first audio level. The content may be identified as watermarked content including an audio watermark when multiple, single frequency tones are detected.
US09183837B2
An apparatus and a method for determining a bit rate of audio content, and more particularly, an audio content bit rate determining apparatus and a method capable of quickly and correctly identifying audio content compressed at a constant bit rate from among audio content compressed at a variable bit rate and a constant bit rate, are provided. The apparatus includes a first bit rate determiner for determining a bit rate type of audio content having frames with the same frame size by skipping a predetermined number of frames with respect to the audio content, and a second bit rate determiner for determining a bit rate type of audio content having frames with different frame sizes by skipping a predetermined number of frames with respect to the audio content.
US09183835B2
A method of providing hands-free services using a mobile device having wireless access to computer-based services includes carrying out a completed speech session via a mobile device without any physical interaction with the mobile device, wherein the speech session includes receiving a speech input from a user, and obtaining from a cloud service a service result responsive to the speech input, and providing the service result as a speech response presented to the user.
US09183832B2
A display apparatus and a method for executing a link and a method for recognizing a voice thereof are provided. The method for executing a link of the display apparatus includes displaying a user interface, determining a text included in a link included in the user interface, displaying the text determined in the link to be distinguished from other texts, recognizing a voice input from a user, and if the voice uttered by the user matches the text determined in the link, executing the link associated with the matching text. Accordingly, possibility of misrecognition of a voice input by the user is reduced, and the user controls a display apparatus using more exact voice recognition.
US09183821B2
A method and system for analyzing patterns in the relationships of notes of an input piece of music. The method comprises generating a set of the most frequently occurring note pitches in ascending pitch order that matches an interval pattern, and detecting out-of-key pitches that lie outside of this interval pattern. One or more potential key sequence bifurcations are identified which represent a list of possible key sequences according to forwards and backwards analysis. By finding patterns of repetition in the chordal sequences that may be generated according to these key sequence bifurcations, a key sequence that allows the most frequently recurring chord sequences may be chosen. Chord sequences may be analyzed by using ghost chords, temporary harmonic structures that are created, updated and finalized over time according to a combination of essential and inessential note fragments. The method further comprises identifying non-harmony pitches according to the analyzed chord sequence.
US09183812B2
Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed herein for adjusting the operation of a display based on ambient lighting conditions. One such apparatus includes a sensor input for receiving sensor data indicative of an ambient lighting condition, output logic and color gamut correction logic. The output logic is configured to simultaneously cause light sources of at least two colors to be illuminated to form each of at least three generated primary colors. The color gamut correction logic is configured to cause the output logic to adjust the output of at least one display light source for each of the at least three generated primary colors to change the saturation of each of the at least three generated primary colors based on the received ambient light sensor data.
US09183810B2
We describe an architecture for a large-area, touch-sensitive electronic document reading device which is able to tolerate bending. In broad terms, a control circuit board is mounted behind a flexible display structure in the housing and at respective points of attachment of first and second laminar connectors to the control circuit board each laminar connector has a plurality of electrical connections running along a longitudinal direction of the laminar connector and disposed alongside one another in a transverse direction across the laminar connector. At the respective points of attachment of the first and second laminar connectors to the control circuit board the longitudinal directions of the laminar connectors are aligned such that, when said device is flexed, a relative displacement in said longitudinal direction between said control circuit board and of said display structure can be tolerated without damage to the control electronics, touch sensitive display screen or connections therebetween.
US09183805B2
In the case where input terminals of a display driver circuit are compatible with two or more types of interface specifications, an LSI chip, which is the display driver circuit, has some input terminals connected to parallel data lines and its output terminals connected to display lines, and these input terminals and output terminals are arranged along a long side located on the display portion side. In at least one example embodiment, the rest of the input terminals, which are intended for parallel interface, are arranged along a long side located on the FPC board side. With this configuration, the long sides of the LSI chip can be rendered shorter (than in the case where all input terminals are arranged in a row) without causing malfunction.
US09183802B2
A displayer and a pixel circuit thereof are provided. The displayer comprises the pixel circuit and a driving circuit for supplying a driving voltage to the pixel circuit. The pixel circuit belongs to a two data lines and one gate line architecture and comprises two pixel electrodes at least. The two pixel electrodes belong to the same pixel type and are positioned adjacent to each other. Thereby, the pixel circuit can improve the color shift effectively.
US09183782B2
An image display device includes: an organic EL element, a first electrostatic capacitor, a driving transistor having a gate connected to a first electrode of the first electrostatic capacitor and a source connected to an anode of the organic EL element, a second electrostatic capacitor having an electrode connected to a second electrode of the first electrostatic capacitor, a negative power source line which determines the potential of a cathode of the organic EL element, and a scanning line driving circuit which controls a first switching transistor, a second switching transistor, and a third switching transistor. In a non-light-emitting period, the scanning line driving circuit sets, during a period from a start of a reset period to an end of the non-light-emitting period, a fixed voltage corresponding to the potential of the negative power source line to the source electrode of the driving transistor.
US09183781B2
A stage circuit includes an output unit for outputting the voltage of a first or second power source to a first output terminal, corresponding to a voltage at a first or second node; a bidirectional driver for receiving sampling signals of previous and next stages; a first driver coupled to the bidirectional driver to control the voltages at the first and second nodes, corresponding to first and second clock signals; and a second driver coupled to the bidirectional driver to output a sampling signal corresponding to the first and second clock signals. The first driver includes a first transistor coupled between the first power source and the second node; a second transistor coupled between the second node and the second power source; a third transistor coupled between the bidirectional driver and the first node; and a first capacitor coupled between the second node and a second input terminal.
US09183780B2
An organic light emitting display includes a display panel including data lines, gate lines crossing the data lines, and pixels and a panel driving circuit which supplies a data voltage to the pixels of the display panel during a power-on period and then is additionally driven for a predetermined power-on delay duration time delayed from a power-off start time of a power input signal. The panel driving circuit supplies a reverse polarity recovery voltage having a polarity opposite the data voltage to the pixels or supplies a recovery voltage, which is different from a gate voltage of a driving element of each of the pixels, to a source terminal of the driving element of each pixel for the predetermined power-on delay duration time.
US09183779B2
The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for estimating ambient light conditions for an OLED display. Embodiments of the method and apparatus use one or more columns of OLEDs in the display to perform two functions: their typical function of emitting light in a display mode, and the additional function of sensing light in a sense mode. To perform the additional sense mode functionality, the one or more columns of OLEDs in the display are temporarily placed into a photovoltaic and/or photoconductive mode. A sensing circuit is used to measure this current produced by the one or more columns of OLEDs while operating in the sense mode and report it back to a controller. The controller can then use this information to estimate the ambient light conditions of the environment where the OLED display is currently operating and to perform a touch and/or proximity sensing function.
US09183774B2
A display apparatus is disclosed. In one aspect the apparatus includes an encoder configured to encode a Nth first image data, where N is an integer of 2 or greater and a (N−1)th second image data at different rates. The display further includes a memory configured to store the encoded Nth first image data and the encoded (N−1)th second image data, a decoder configured to decode the encoded Nth first image data and the encoded (N−1)th second image data received from the memory and, an image processor configured to perform color processing on the decoded Nth first image data. It also includes an image converter configured to convert the Nth first image data received from the image processor into Nth second image data and an image quality enhancer configured to enhance image quality of the Nth second image data based on the decoded (N−1)th second image data.
US09183773B2
The method for the representation of video and audio signals on a low-resolution display panel, which includes the steps of: scaling the video or audio frame to fit the display panel, quantization of the video or audio signals to predetermined level values, temporal representation of video data by using the pulse density modulation, sending the signal pulses to the display panel. In further aspect the step of temporal representation contains the anti-flickering signal manipulation technique incorporating maximization of separation of the pulses during the pulse density modulation.
US09183767B2
The disclosure provides apparatus and methods of use pertaining to the display of yard or lawn signage. One embodiment provides a two-part system for displaying signage. The system includes a flexible sign panel having installation tabs and a rigid, injection-molded stake having holding portions configured to receive and retain the installation tabs of the sign panel. The rigid stake also includes retention barbs to facilitate ground stability and a strike pad designed to absorb and distribute impact forces applied during stake installation. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US09183764B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a three-dimensional molded model that can reproduce the feel of an organ. A three-dimensional shape of a body site subject to molding is extracted from brightness information of two-dimensional data obtained from medical diagnostic devices, and three-dimensional molding data of the body site and the internal structure site thereof is created. The three-dimensional shape data is edited using a modeling function. Respective touch equivalent parameter tables are created. The material type and the formulation ratio of the modeling material used for molding each body site and internal structural site are defined, and added to the touch equivalent parameter tables. Primitive shape data is generated from the parameters of the touch equivalent parameter tables, and a Boolean operation is performed on the body site data and internal structure site data as well as on the primitive shape data. Molding is performed using the defined materials.
US09183759B2
A Braille display system and a method for operating a refreshable Braille display 14 is provided. A string of characters is assigned to a drive signal for specifying the activation or deactivation of a tuple of dots which are raised through holes in a touch and sense surface of the Braille display 14 upon activation and which are retracted upon deactivation. The Braille display 14 is driven by a drive signal which is configured to activate and/or to deactivate the tuple of dots so as to generate a dynamic tactile display of said string of characters. The time dependent characteristic of activation and/or deactivation of the tuple of dots is defined by the string of characters.
US09183755B2
The present invention discloses a system and method for learning, composing, accessing and playing music. The system includes a plurality of physical objects each includes an identifier and assigned a music-related indicator. The system further includes an interactive surface configured to recognize the identifier and location information relative to the interactive surface of a physical object placed on top of the interactive surface. Upon a plurality of objects being placed on the interactive surface to form a structural pattern, the processor is configured to derive a music piece from the structural pattern.
US09183751B2
A travel control device includes rear obstacle detection sensors; side obstacle detection sensors; a warning unit providing warning about an obstacle detected by the sensors; and a control unit controlling the warning unit so that the warning is provided if a distance to an obstacle detected by the rear obstacle detection sensors is equal to or less than a first risk, or if a parameter based on a distance to the obstacle detected by the sensors is equal to or less than a second risk. If the parameter based on the distance to the obstacle detected by the sensors is greater than the second risk, the control unit increases a first warning threshold until a hold time elapses after the sensors become unable to detect the obstacle.
US09183747B2
Pedestrian and motorist warning system that is powered from vehicle generated movement where there is little or no access to a power grid. Pedals maybe disposed on the road such that when a vehicle passes over it, it informs a controller system to activate a warning board or light to notify people of the oncoming vehicle, the signs or lights maybe placed besides a pedestrian crossing to alert pedestrians of the risk of an oncoming vehicle. Illuminating road corner LEDs, roadside lights and road arrows disposed in various sections of the road are also powered from vehicle generated movement operate on a set of programmed criteria's. Variables such as time of day, the speed of the vehicle, the weather, the temperature or fog all determine the way all the connected devices operate. Warning signals with built-in messaging systems can be disposed in strategic locations for motorists to see, the signals are self-powered and have the ability to store messages either by directly recording them onto the warning signal or by transferring a recorded message through a wired or wireless network.
US09183738B1
An apparatus and method for sensing body temperature and wirelessly communicating measured data to at least one electronic device. The device includes a sensor device having a housing base, a housing cover releasably mountable on the housing base, and components for sensing body temperature and wirelessly communicating the measured temperature, including a temperature sensor, a power supply, a microprocessor, and a transmitter and receiver. The electronic device can include an application that communicates with the sensor device and provides a user interface.
US09183729B2
A reporting panel reports a selected basis for hand care. The reporting panel may be mounted at a location near one or more hand care product dispensers and may be associated with one or more hand care product dispensers. The reporting panel may communicate with a monitoring system or with a hand care product dispenser.
US09183727B2
A system may include a platform manager device including a memory and a platform application installed thereon. The platform application may be configured to cause the platform manager device to identify a last known location of a tracked device according to a detection of a disconnection of the tracked device due to lack of receipt of presence indications; identify an owner communications device, among a plurality of communications devices, to receive a platform notification message indicative of the disconnection of the tracked device according to device associations of the tracked device and the communications devices; and send the platform notification message to the identified owner communications device informing of the detected disconnection.
US09183722B1
In one aspect, a device includes a battery, a display, a processor, and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to detect a rate of charge of the battery or a rate of discharge of the battery and, based at least in part on the detected rate, actuate at least one of the display and a light on the device other than the display to indicate the detected rate. The display and/or light are actuated based on the detected rate without user input to actuate the display or the light to indicate the detected rate, and without user input to detect or determine the rate of charge of the battery or discharge of the battery.
US09183720B2
A system for improving medical device management for a patient is also provided. The system can include a portable wireless device having an ECU, memory and an interactive remote patient monitoring module (IRPMM) for at least one medical device. The IRPMM has a medical device data request module that is operable to request and receive medical device data input from the at least one medical device. The medical device data can be input by the patient, or in the alternative, be automatically received without input from the patient. The IRPMM also has a medical device data supply module receives medical device information from an outside third party and provides the medical device information to the patient.
US09183711B2
The invention concerns a maritime anti-piracy system, for the recognition of suspect watercrafts around one or more co-operating ships to be protected. The system includes a shore-based control system having one or more centers, geographically distributed, with shore sensors for detecting watercrafts surveillance data. The system also includes a central station for collecting and elaborating watercrafts surveillance data and a bi-directional communication network between the one or more centers and the central station, in such a way that the central station be able to send commands to the shore-based sensors. The system also includes a communication system between the one or more centers and the one or more co-operating ships to be protected.
US09183708B2
The multisensor system for the blind includes a cane, a boot, a headband, and a central control device. The cane, the boot, and the headband may each include one or more sensors to detect obstructions in the path of the user. Each sensor may be configured to detect obstructions at a level corresponding generally to an elevation at which it is carried on the user. Once an obstruction is detected, the sensors may transmit signals to the central control device. The central control device may process the signals and activate an appropriate auditory device to alert the user of the presence and/or distance of the obstruction.
US09183702B2
A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The gaming machine further comprises a game feature where, upon being awarded at least one prize in the feature, a player is offered a choice and, if the choice results in a successful outcome, the player has the option of continuing with the feature but, if the choice results in an unsuccessful outcome, the feature ends and a portion, but not all, of a total prize accumulated up to termination of the feature is forfeited.
US09183699B2
A gaming system of the present invention includes: a plurality of gaming machines; and a common display device connected to the gaming machines, each of the gaming machines, comprising: a display device for displaying a plurality of symbols; a controller, which performs processes of: (a) executing a base game in which symbols arranged on the display device are rearranged after a gaming medium has been betted, and thereafter a payment is made in accordance with the rearranged symbols; (b) counting number of times of executing the base game; (c) causing the display device to display a countdown effect image stored in a memory, while the counted number of times of executing the base game reaches a second predetermined value after reaching a first predetermined value; and (d) transferring the base game to a free game executed without betting a gaming medium, in a case where the number of times of executing the base game reaches the second predetermined value; and a communication interface for notifying to the common display the controller-counted number of times of executing the base game, the common display device, comprising: a communication interface for receiving notification from each of the gaming machines; a memory for storing a countdown effect image for each of the gaming machines; and a controller, which performs processes of: (a′) judging whether or not there exist a plurality of gaming machines at which number of times of executing the base game reaches the first predetermined value, based upon the number of times of executing the base game, which is notified from each of the gaming machine; and (b′) preferentially displaying a countdown effect image for a gaming machine with a smaller number of times of executing the base game, which is to be executed until a transfer to the free game.
US09183693B2
Systems and methods for verifying the eligibility of players attempting to participate in gaming events are disclosed. Communication objects having RFID tags and closed electrical circuits are individually assigned to and worn by players within a gaming player verification system, which can be administered by a casino desk, hotel concierge, or other operating entity. These RFID tags are adapted to communicate with associated player tracking units attached to gaming machines and other devices via radio frequency waves, and each communication object is adapted to alter its communication pattern in response to any break of its closed electrical circuit. Bracelets, wristwatches or collars can be used as communication objects, such that the removal of such an object from a player cannot be accomplished without breaking the closed electrical circuit contained therein, thereby disabling or de-authenticating the device. Communication objects, such as bracelets, may further include patterns, colors, designs, or other markings to indicate a player status. A computer server having a player verification program and database may also be used.
US09183692B2
Assisting users with controlling, navigating and performing any number of other operations for a secure storage apparatus is contemplated. The assistance may be in the form of easily navigable instructions/menus/screen and/or printed instructions, which may be optionally tailored to the particular operation contemplated for performance.
US09183681B2
A graphical user interface is provided that can be used on a diagnostic too. The graphical user interface allows a technician to operate various functions of the diagnostic tool including searching for additional information on the Internet, receiving weather information that is relevant to certain diagnostic tests, and displaying in certain formats the retrieved vehicle data and when certain vehicles were last scanned or diagnosed. The graphical user interface alerts the technician that a part solution is available for a particular retrieved diagnostic trouble code and allows the technician to order a part.
US09183678B2
There is provided an image processing device including: a data storage unit storing feature data indicating a feature of appearance of one or more physical objects; an environment map building unit for building an environment map based on an input image obtained by imaging a real space and the feature data, the environment map representing a position of a physical object present in the real space; a control unit for acquiring procedure data for a set of procedures of operation to be performed in the real space, the procedure data defining a correspondence between a direction for each procedure and position information designating a position at which the direction is to be displayed; and a superimposing unit for generating an output image by superimposing the direction for each procedure at a position in the input image determined based on the environment map and the position information, using the procedure data.
US09183676B2
Technology is described for displaying a collision between objects by an augmented reality display device system. A collision between a real object and a virtual object is identified based on three dimensional space position data of the objects. At least one effect on at least one physical property of the real object is determined based on physical properties of the real object, like a change in surface shape, and physical interaction characteristics of the collision. Simulation image data is generated and displayed simulating the effect on the real object by the augmented reality display. Virtual objects under control of different executing applications can also interact with one another in collisions.
US09183674B2
The invention is directed to a computer-implemented method for designing a three-dimensional modeled assembly of objects in a three-dimensional scene, wherein the method comprises the steps of: positioning and orienting a predefined set of trihedrals in the three-dimensional scene, each trihedral defining a position and an orientation; providing a set of objects; attaching each object of the set of objects to one corresponding trihedral of the predefined set of trihedrals; and positioning and orienting each object according to the position and the orientation of the corresponding trihedral of the predefined set of trihedrals.
US09183671B2
An image rendering method comprising the steps of: (a) performing a noisy estimation of a given view of a given scene of said image using a Monte-Carlo stochastic renderer, wherein general information of each ray sample, such as color and position in the image plane, is stored, (b) calculating a similarity measure between two sets of samples cast from two pixels of said scene and their neighbors, and (c) generating an output image wherein each pixel color is a weighted combination of the pixel colors generated from (a) with weights based on the similarity measure of (b) between the respective set of samples cast from the pixels and their neighbors.
US09183669B2
Disclosed are a virtual viewpoint combination method and device in a multi-viewpoint video, improving the quality of the virtual viewpoint images and improving the display effects of the virtual viewpoint images under the premise of not introducing geometrical distortion. The method includes: taking two viewpoint images provided by a first camera and a second camera as reference viewpoint images, and respectively performing 3D image conversion, pinhole filling, image compensation and image convergence processing on the two viewpoint images to obtain a main virtual viewpoint image; then respectively performing depth-image processing, 3D image conversion, pinhole filling, image compensation and image convergence processing on the two viewpoint images to obtain a subordinate virtual viewpoint image; and performing filling the remaining holes in the main virtual viewpoint image on the basis of the subordinate virtual viewpoint image to obtain a final virtual viewpoint image to be combine.
US09183666B2
A method for augmenting a three-dimensional (3D) scene with two-dimensional (2D) map data includes receiving 3D map data having a 3D geometry data and imagery texture data. For a specified perspective of a virtual camera in a 3D coordinate system, geometry of the 3D scene is rendered using the 3D geometry data, wherein the specified perspective includes a position and orientation relative to the 3D scene. A map texture is generated using the 2D map data in accordance with the perspective of the virtual camera in the 3D coordinate system, and the imagery texture and map texture are applied to the rendered geometry.
US09183665B2
A method and an apparatus for applying film grain to stereoscopic or multi-view images or sequences of stereoscopic or multi-view images are described. After retrieving an image pair or a set of multi-view images a depth map for the image pair or the set of multi-view images and a confidence map for the depth map are obtained. Film grain is then applied to non-occluded areas of the images in accordance with depth values of the depth map and confidence values of the confidence map. Occluded areas of the images are processed separately by first deriving depth values for these areas and then applying film grain to these areas in accordance with the derived depth values.
US09183663B1
A client-server computing system includes a server that has a virtual display driver that classifies and, if necessary, translates graphics application programming interface (API) functions to a cross-platform format. Classification involves determining whether the graphics command(s) are platform-specific and/or client-supported functions. After classification and translation, the graphics command(s) are marshaled and transmitted to a client via a network. The client includes a client display driver that executes the functions using a client 3D library and renders the resulting image data to a display.
US09183661B2
The application programming interface operates in an environment with user interface software interacting with multiple software applications or processes in order to synchronize animations associated with multiple views or windows of a display of a device. The method for synchronizing the animations includes setting attributes of views independently with each view being associated with a process. The method further includes transferring a synchronization call to synchronize animations for the multiple views of the display. In one embodiment, the synchronization call includes the identification and the number of processes that are requesting animation. The method further includes transferring a synchronization confirmation message when a synchronization flag is enabled. The method further includes updating the attributes of the views from a first state to a second state independently. The method further includes transferring a start animation call to draw the requested animations when both processes have updated attributes.
US09183658B2
An animation timeline is analyzed to determine one or more discrete states. Each discrete state includes one or more animation effects. The discrete states represent scenes of a slide in a slide presentation. The concepts of scenes allows user to view a timeline of scenes, open a scene, and direct manipulate objects in the scene to author animations. The animations can include motion path animation effects, which can be directly manipulated utilizing a motion path tweening method. To aid in direct manipulation of a motion path of an object, a ghost version of the object can be shown to communicate to a user the position of the object after a motion path animation effect that includes the motion path is performed. The ghost version may also be used to show a start position when a start point is manipulated.
US09183652B2
Cache thrashing or over-accessing of a cache can be reduced by reversing the order of traversal of a triangle on different granularities. In the case where triangles are not grouped, the traverse order may be reversed on each triangle. In cases where triangles are grouped, the traversal order may be reversed with each group change. However, when motion is excessive, for example beyond a threshold, then the traversal order reversal may be disabled.
US09183650B2
Data point calculations on a chart are provided. A user control may be displayed adjacent to a chart by a computing device. A selection of data points on the chart may then be received the user control. A calculation may then be performed by the computing device on the data points selected by the user control. The results of the calculation may then be displayed by the computing device on the chart.
US09183649B2
A method for selecting an analysis procedure for a value series, including displaying a value series on a computer display monitor, receiving one or more sequences of user provided annotations, where the annotations overlay at least a sub-interval of the value series on the computer display monitor, using the sequences of user provided annotations to select an optimal value series analysis method from a set of value series analysis methods, where selecting an optimal value series analysis method includes determining parameter values for the optimal value series analysis method, and presenting the selected optimal value series analysis method and parameters, and the optimal reconstruction of the annotation sequences to the user.
US09183648B2
Method and system for high-resolution transforms of frequency-space and image/audio/video-space data
A method and system for data processing and reconstruction, uses arbitrary frequency-space or image/audio/video-space (inverse frequency-space) sample points in N dimensions. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a subset of optionally pre-processed and pre-conditioned N-dimensional frequency-space (or image/audio/video-space) data is acquired (102) by a processing device (360), the data is optionally transformed (115) by region scaling factors, and the data is optionally reduced (116) in numerical significant digits. A “horizontal key” of data elements is calculated (120) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, for each of an arbitrary set of x-coordinates in image/audio/video-space (or frequency-space). Image/audio/video-space “color” data (or frequency-space data) are calculated (130) on a processor (361), preferably in parallel, at the x-coordinates corresponding to the horizontal keys. The image/audio/video-space coordinates (or the frequency-space coordinates) are arbitrary, and the reconstruction's calculated image/audio/video data (or the deconstruction's calculated frequency-space data) are optionally transposed (141) (such as for display purposes), and are thus formed (150) in a memory (363) or on an output device (365). The method can be applied to other subsets, such as in the N-dimensional case.
US09183643B2
According to one embodiment, an acquisition unit acquires a pixel block having a predetermined size from image data to be coded. A comparison unit calculates a distance between a color of a target pixel in the pixel block and each of a plurality of typical colors, and selects a typical color of which the distance is a minimum distance from the plurality of typical colors. A decision unit assigns a first index representing the selected typical color to the target pixel if the minimum distance is smaller than a first threshold, assigns a second index representing a new typical color to the target pixel if the minimum distance is larger than the first threshold, and adds the color of the target pixel as the new typical color when the second index is assigned. A coding unit codes the selected typical color, the new typical color, the first index and the second index.
US09183641B2
The method and system may be used to provide an indication of a color value for a particular siding sample and to color match a specific siding product to the color value of the siding sample. The system receives a digital image of a siding sample and a desired color value to be matched. A color query module plots this desired color value as a desired color point in a multidimensional color space together with a plurality of color reference points. Each color reference point represents the color value of an existing siding product. The system determines a “distance” between the desired color point and each plotted color reference point within the color space and identifies the siding product associated with the color reference point that is located the shortest distance to the desired color point within the color space.
US09183640B2
A method includes calculating a Fourier transform of an image, extracting a plurality of arrays, from the Fourier transform utilizing, for each of the plurality of arrays, one of a plurality of templates each of said templates corresponding to a texture orientation, calculating a maximum value for each of the plurality of arrays, identifying each of the plurality of arrays having a calculated maximum value greater than a predetermined threshold and determining, for each of the plurality of identified arrays, the texture orientation of the template utilized to extract the identified one of the plurality of arrays.
US09183638B2
A method and apparatus for identifying a position of a platform. Features are identified in a series of images generated by a camera system associated with the platform while the platform is moving. A shift in a perspective of the camera system is identified from a shift in a position of the features in the series of images. A change in the position of the platform is identified based on the shift in the perspective.
US09183633B2
An image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus which derives an angle of inclination of an image and includes: an edge angle calculation unit which calculates a plurality of edge angles corresponding to a plurality of pixels in the image by calculating, in each of the pixels, an edge angle that is an angle of an edge; a use angle identification unit which identifies one or more use angles that are each the edge angle and are each a candidate for the angle of inclination, using the edge angles and a plurality of depth values that correspond to the pixels and each indicate a depth of a corresponding one of the pixels; and an inclination angle derivation unit which derives the angle of inclination from the one or more use angles.
US09183632B2
The present approach enables an impression of the atmosphere of a scene or an object present in the scene at the time of photography to be pictured in a person's mind as though the person were actually at the photographed scene. A feeling-expressing-word processing device has: a feeling information calculating unit 11 for analyzing a photographed image, and calculating feeling information which indicates a temporal change in a scene shown in the photographed image or a movement of an object present in the scene; and a feeling-expressing-word extracting unit 12 for extracting, from among feeling-expressing words which express feelings and are stored in a feeling-expressing-word database 21 in association with the feeling information, a feeling-expressing word which corresponds to the feeling information calculated by the feeling information calculating unit 11.
US09183630B2
A method for processing a three-dimensional image file captured directly from a live subject, the file including the cranium of the subject, comprises: providing a vertex point cloud for the three-dimensional image file; determining a median point for the vertex point cloud; determining a point on the cranium; and utilizing the median point and the cranium point to define a z-axis for the three-dimensional image file.
US09183626B2
Systems and methods for accelerated arterial spin labeling (ASL) using compressed sensing are disclosed. In one aspect, in accordance with one example embodiment, a method includes acquiring magnetic resonance data associated with an area of interest of a subject, wherein the area of interest corresponds to one or more physiological activities of the subject. The method also includes performing image reconstruction using temporally constrained compressed sensing reconstruction on at least a portion of the acquired magnetic resonance data, wherein acquiring the magnetic resonance data includes receiving data associated with ASL of the area of interest of the subject.
US09183621B2
Provision can be made of a high-speed image processing apparatus that eliminates poor visibility in a dotted configuration or a superimposed portion of two streaks upon removing a false image due to statistical noise. That is, provision can be made of a high-speed image processing apparatus capable of outputting a processed image of high visibility in accordance with a shape of a configuration of a subject appearing in an original image upon removing a false image associated with the statistical noise. A band image noise extract generating unit performs image processing by superimposing a band image, an isotropic blur image, and an anisotropic blur image while changing weighting for each pixel in accordance with edge reliability. Such a construction eliminates poor visibility in the dotted configuration or the superimposed portion of two streaks upon removing the false image in the original image.
US09183593B2
An automated insurance quote system allows users to apply for one or more insurance quotes through a self-service communication channel. The system includes an interface that may receive applicant data from a remote location. A front-end processor selectively passes applicant data to a record keeping system retained in a memory. A controller or quote processors selects and transmits one or more insurance policies that are allowed under a user's governmental law and are tailored to the user's price and/or coverage preferences. The system conveys coverage details to users through the interface.
US09183590B2
Methods and systems using a single centralized database to manage postal accounting data are provided. The central database may interface with remote postal meters by way of one or more transient data collectors, which cache data from associated meters and transmit the data to the central database. The data collectors also validate postage accounts to the associated meters. The use of local transient data collectors allows for a single centralized database to be used without requiring data replication among databases local to each computer that manages postal meters.
US09183570B2
Systems and methods of providing information via a computer network responsive to a request are provided. Keyword terms including a content keyword and a geographic location operator can be received via a computer network. A geographically modified keyword can be determined from the keyword terms. The geographically modified keyword indicates a product or service, and indicates a geographic location associated with the geographic location operator. A search query can be received from a user interface of a computing device, and a geographic location term in the search query can be identified. A geographic location term in a search query can be matched with the geographically modified keyword, with the geographic location term being a variant of the geographic location operator. Content can be obtained and provided from a data processing system to the user interface via the computer network, for display at the user interface.
US09183559B2
Methods and systems for converting a call generated from an advertisement. One embodiment includes: establishing a real time communication connection between a first entity and a second entity via a communication reference embedded in an advertisement that is presented on behalf of the second entity; billing the second entity for the advertisement in response to the communication connection being established via the communication reference; monitoring the communication connection between the first entity and the second entity to detect a pre-defined indication; and charging the first entity, on behalf of the second entity, for communications with the second entity over the communication connection in response to a detected occurrence of the pre-defined indication.
US09183558B2
Systems and methods disclosed herein include systems and methods for delivering secondary content to a plurality of portable devices, the secondary content comprising events synchronized to primary content, the process including delivering an application to a plurality of portable display devices, the application configured to execute events on the portable display devices; and causing the events executed on the portable display devices to be synchronized with primary content.
US09183553B2
A once card transaction system comprises a once card embedded with a once card number generator. The embedded once card number generator is able to communicate a once card number with a swipe card reader through the magnetic stripe emulator interface on the back of the card for in-store transaction or display it at the front of the card for online transaction. The embedded once card number generator is capable of generating an unpredictable once card number inside the once card without communicating with a central server. This distributedly generated once card number can be approved by an authentication entity by a valid OCN hashing list, and once the number is transacted, it is put on a rejection list.
US09183550B2
System and method to enable and facilitate purchases through mobile communications on mobile devices, smartphones, feature phones, tablet computers, etc by allowing the user to interact with native interface and/or by eliminating the need of entering the MSISDN identifier by the user. MSISDN value is required to identify mobile subscriber and request a mobile billing transaction through carrier's infrastructure. A system comprises at least one data computing facility, which is connected to mobile carrier billing, short code and networking infrastructure and a plurality of converters to communicate and interface with a plurality of controllers for various mobile device types and platforms.
US09183549B2
A system and method for secure payment transactions is provided. The system may include an adaptive payment server including one or more processors configured to receive a first communication including first identification information from a first communication device on a first communication channel. The adaptive payment server may identify a second communication device based on the first identification information and initiate a second communication to the second communication device on a second communication channel, which may be discrete from the first communication channel. The adaptive payment server may receive second identification information from the second communication device on the second communication channel and authenticate the payment transaction using the first identification information and the second identification information.
US09183546B2
A downloadable reminder application uses object recognition technology to recognize one or more objects appearing on a display screen of the mobile computing device and matches them to a set of known target objects. The downloadable reminder application process any associated trigger conditions for the target object. The downloadable reminder application then sets the future reminder for the target object to activate. The downloadable reminder application when it detects that a mobile computing device is satisfying the trigger condition for a target object for which it has set a future reminder on, then the downloadable reminder application in the mobile computing device fires the future reminder that was set for that target object and provides the alert to the user along with any triggerable contributions associated with that target object.
US09183545B2
Methods and systems to schedule delivery of advertisements. In one embodiment, an indication of one or more periods of time during which the advertiser is callable to receive real time communications generated from advertising is received. Delivery of an advertisement for the advertiser is then managed according to the indication of one or more periods of time.
US09183541B2
When an image of content reproduced by a first reproduction device is shot, a content display support device obtains the shot image and positional information that specifies the position and orientation of a shooting device. The content display support device generates combination content by visualizing and embedding the positional information in the shot image and transmits the combination content to a second reproduction device. A portable terminal obtains the positional information from an image obtained by shooting the combination content reproduced by the second reproduction device. The portable terminal requests supplementary information by transmitting the positional information to the content display support device. The supplementary information associated with the positional information is transmitted from the content display support device to the portable terminal and displayed at the portable terminal.
US09183537B2
Content authoring and deployment, in which mobile authoring templates that enable a user to make updates to a subset of a web page using a mobile device are generated and provided to a mobile device application. Configuration data that defines operations needed to publish content updates received through the mobile authoring templates is stored. When input defining a content update entered into a particular mobile authoring template is received, the configuration data associated with the particular mobile authoring template is accessed and content management services needed to publish the received content update to a web page are invoked. Content is published to the web page to reflect the received content update made on the mobile device using the particular mobile authoring template.
US09183536B1
The present disclosure provides apparatus, systems, and methods for service representative and remote location document communication. One or more embodiments include a memory, and a processor configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to identify a remote location of a customer, identify a type of device available to be utilized at the remote location, and provide to the device at the remote location instructions for capturing information from a document.
US09183533B2
A path-based identifier is provided. An entity identifier is generated at an entity of a supply chain and the entity identifier is based on a reliability of the entity of the supply chain at which the entity identifier is generated. In addition, an updated path-based identifier is stored based on a predetermined function, where the entity identifier is an input to the predetermined function.
US09183532B2
A method for detecting and determining a presence of at least one object in at least one storage location without a special reflection surface includes providing a bar code reading device which is connected to a control unit configured to manage an allocation of the at least one object to the at least one storage location. The bar code reader is used in an attempt to detect a bar code in the at least one storage location. Using information from which a grey value is derivable, it is determined whether the at least one object is in the at least one storage location upon the bar code reader being unsuccessful in detecting the bar code. A result is provided to the control unit.
US09183530B2
An onboard starter-interrupt device incorporates Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality in addition to payment schedule enforcement functions. In response to certain events, and/or on a periodic basis, the onboard device transmits vehicle location data to an operations center. In one aspect, a “geo-fence”, or virtual boundary, can be defined; if the vehicle is driven outside the geo-fence, the location information is transmitted to the operations center and/or other action is taken. In response to receiving vehicle location data, the operations center can send a message to cause the onboard device to disable the vehicle, or to present a warning to the vehicle owner, or to notify a third party of the event and/or vehicle location, or any combination thereof.
US09183526B2
A system is provided that reports audit data. The system defines metadata that defines security conditions for a business object. The system further receives a request from a user to retrieve audit data contained within a database table, where the audit data includes a history of modifications to an attribute of the business object. The system further retrieves the audit data from the first database table. The system further applies the security conditions to the audit data based on the metadata. The system further displays the audit data within a user interface when the security conditions are satisfied.
US09183525B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for identifying and visualizing the patterns of work transfers for service delivery using financial data. Within a service firm, work is often transferred from one delivery center to another, which results in additional costs and delays in service delivery. To control unnecessary work transfers, sustained patterns of work transfer are identified so that steps can be taken to limit their occurrence. The disclosed methods and systems analyze the relations among the costs transferred from one location to another.
US09183523B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system, method, and program product for recommending a digital publication. A computing device identifies a time interval for consuming a digital publication, based on schedule information in an electronic calendar. The computing device determines, based on characteristics of the time interval and a criteria, a digital publication, from a plurality of digital publications, for human consumption within the identified time interval.
US09183517B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides apparatus and methods for queuing access by large numbers of Internet or other network-based users to networked systems and resources with limited capacity. In one example embodiment, a queuing system provides user access to network resources, such as that of a ticketing system. A ticket queue queues a request received from a client system. A request processing module causes the client system to repeatedly transmit messages to the system during a first period, and in response to determining that the client system has ceased transmitting messages during the first period, the request is remove from the queue and/or cause the request goes unfulfilled.
US09183516B2
Methods and systems for use in locating and prioritizing cargo are provided. The system includes a communications unit configured to receive location information and content information for each of a plurality of pieces of cargo from a cargo location and classification sensor (CLCS). The system also includes a cargo pickup planner module configured to determine a priority listing of pieces of cargo based on mission information, the location information, and the content information. The system also includes a cargo approach planner module configured to transmit a set of waypoints for specified pieces of cargo selected from the priority listing to a control system (FCS) configured to maneuver a vehicle to a position above a specified piece of cargo. The system further includes a cargo pickup overlay generator module configured to generate an overlay for a pilotage system (PS) display to assist a user in maneuvering the vehicle above each piece of cargo for pickup.
US09183514B2
Methods and systems for presenting information regarding multiple categories of content are provided. In addition, methods and systems that suggest activities by a user in relation to content and determined affinity for content in relation to user contacts are provided. A user interface application is provided that operates to display status and/or historical information regarding content, suggested activities, and suggested contacts. The user can interact with the interface to access detailed information and to act on suggestions. In addition the user can interact with the interface to share content to other users, including users participating in real time communication sessions.
US09183510B1
A browser-based personalized recommendation system and method for lifestyle items comprising style dimension mapping, inputs, outputs, and a computer-algorithm is described. The system gathers information about a user's unique lifestyle preferences, which is then correlated to clothing and lifestyle items. The recommendation system uniquely and directly matches users to discrete items without the need for historic user data.
US09183500B2
A computing device receives a plurality of media files. Further, the computing device associates an item with a media file from the plurality of media files according to an association. The item is displayed during display of the media file. The association has a predetermined playback time during playback of the media file at which item data is displayed in addition to the display of the media file. In addition, the computing device generates a hierarchical logic model for media playback. The hierarchical logic model organizes the plurality of media files for playback into a hierarchy according to a predetermined set of conditions. A set of code is provided to a media player for media playback based upon the logic model and the association between the item and the media file.
US09183499B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus for computing quality scores based on neighbor features. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining a quality model that was trained using a set of training entities; identifying a set of candidate entities that are different from each of the training entities; for each candidate entity: obtaining a first quality score for the candidate entity; obtaining one or more neighbor features for neighbor entities of the candidate entity, where each neighbor entity of the candidate entity is linked to the candidate entity; obtaining one or more entity specific feature values for the candidate entity, where each entity specific feature value is determined independent of the neighbor entities of the candidate entity; and determining a second quality score for the candidate entity using the quality model, the second quality score being computed based on the first quality score, the neighbor features, and the entity specific feature values.
US09183494B2
Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing a competitive BCM learning rule used in a neural network. Such a method includes identifying a maximally responding neuron with respect to a feature of an input signal. The maximally responding neuron is the neuron in a group that has a response with respect to the feature of the input signal that is greater than a response of each other neuron in the group. Such a method also includes applying a learning rule to weaken the response of each other neuron with respect to the feature of the input signal. The learning rule may also strengthen the response of the maximally responding neuron with respect to the feature of the input signal.
US09183491B2
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.
US09183487B2
A smart card assembly with at least two chips. In some embodiments, the at least two chips are on the same major surface and define mutually-perpendicular, respective directions of insertion with respect to a standard reciprocating card reader. In some embodiments, the at least two chips are respectively mounted on opposite major surfaces of the smart card body.
US09183477B2
A user preregisters to a printing apparatus IPP print settings used when printing print data received through IPP. Upon reception of the print data through IPP, the printing apparatus prints the print data based on the preregistered IPP print settings. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit configured to perform printing, a storage unit configured to store settings regarding printing using a specific print protocol, a reception unit configured to receive print data transmitted from an external apparatus, a determination unit configured to, when the reception unit receives print data by using the specific print protocol, determine whether a communication method used for receiving the print data is a specific communication method, and a control unit configured to, based on a result of determination by the determination unit, determine whether the settings stored in the storage unit are to be used when printing the print data.
US09183473B2
An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of buffers, an auxiliary storage unit, a data receiving unit, a data transmitting unit, an asynchronous data write unit, a data prefetch unit, a data deletion unit, and an image forming unit. The data receiving unit inputs data into one of the plurality of buffers. The data transmitting unit outputs the stored data. The asynchronous data write unit stores the stored data into the auxiliary storage unit. The data prefetch unit prefetches, if no data to be output exists in another one of the plurality of buffers, the data stored in the auxiliary storage unit to the another one of the plurality of buffers. The data deletion unit deletes the data, transmitting of which has been completed. The image forming unit performs image formation for the data as page data.
US09183472B2
A control apparatus, comprising a reception unit configured to receive image data, a setting unit configured to set an operation mode, an image processing unit configured to generate print data based on the image data, a print control unit configured to cause a printing unit to perform printing on a printing medium based on the print data, a determination unit configured to determine whether reception of all the image data is complete before the printing unit completes predetermined printing, and a change unit configured to change the set operation mode to another operation mode in a case where the set operation mode is an operation mode in which printing based on the print data starts if the image processing unit generates the print data.
US09183471B2
An image processing device, includes: an output unit that outputs a reference signal for every page break when a continuous recording medium is conveyed; and a control unit that controls an image forming unit which forms an image on the recording medium with a resolution which is different from a resolution in conveyance of the recording medium so as to adjust an image forming position onto the recording medium for every page based on the reference signal.
US09183469B2
A commodity sales data processing apparatus comprises a stationary type docking station provided with a printer and a portable information terminal which is freely mounted on or separated from the docking station. The information terminal accepts the input of the data related to the sales of a commodity and processes the accepted data. Further, if a print job is designated, the information terminal, when mounted on the docking station, prints printing data using the printer of the docking station or stores the printing data when not mounted on the docking station. Moreover, the stored printing data is printed using the printer of the docking station when the information terminal is mounted on the docking station.
US09183467B2
Some examples of a sketch-based image segmentation system may segment a hand-drawn sketch based on proximity, intuitive clues and semantic information. For instance, the system may cluster line segments of the sketch if the line segments are within a threshold distance. Further, the system may cluster line segments of the sketch based on a set of intuitive clues. In some implementations, a sketch-based search engine may be utilized to search an image collection to identify images with shape features similar to the sketch and to segment the sketch based on the semantic information associated with the identified images.
US09183457B2
A method for shadow detection in an image comprising multiple color channels is disclosed wherein said image is compared with a background image. Said image and said background image comprises the same multiple color channels, have an exposure of a common background and are divided into a plurality of corresponding evaluation areas. For each combination of two color channels, a shadow region is defined in the two-dimensional coordinate system spanned by the two color channels. For each image evaluation area to be evaluated and for each combination of two color channels, the method comprises checking if a difference value between a first value pair defining values of said two color channels in the image evaluation area and a second value pair defining the values of said two color channels in the corresponding background evaluation area falls within said shadow region in said coordinate system.
US09183456B2
A method includes: acquiring a first level value in a first color area; acquiring a second level value in a second color area; calculating a first corrected level value by adding X % of a difference between the first level value and the second level value to the first level value; calculating a second corrected level value by subtracting Y % of the difference from the second level value; specifying a first corrected level position and a second corrected level position at a boundary between the first color area and the second color area; and measuring a bokeh amount of the image at the boundary between the first color area and the second color area by multiplying the distance between the specified first corrected level position and the specified second corrected level position by 100/(100−X−Y).
US09183448B2
An approaching-object detector for detecting an object approaching an own vehicle includes: a memory; and a processor configured to perform a process, the process including extracting a plurality of corresponding feature points from chronologically captured images, which are obtained by capturing the object using an imaging device provided for the own device, detecting a behavior among the captured images in regard to each of the plurality of feature points, determining whether or not the behavior is random in regard to each of the plurality of feature points, and determining whether or not the object is approaching the own vehicle based on a behavior of a feature point whose behavior is determined to be not random among the plurality of feature points, and outputting a result of the determination.
US09183443B2
Disclosed are systems and methods for configuring a vision detector, wherein a training image is obtained from a production line operating in continuous motion so as to provide conditions substantially identical to those that will apply during actual manufacturing and inspection of objects. A training image can be obtained without any need for a trigger signal, whether or not the vision detector might use such a signal for inspecting the objects. Further disclosed are systems and methods for testing a vision detector by selecting, storing, and displaying a limited number of images from a production run, where those images correspond to objects likely to represent incorrect decisions.
US09183441B2
Disclosed are various embodiments for a data aggregation application. Operational data and image data may be captured from a client device. Odometer readings can be extracted from the image data. The operational data and image data can be verified by comparing an instrument panel depicted in the image data to a known instrument panel depiction.
US09183437B2
A dynamic area search device includes: a search condition obtainment unit that obtains information on search objects and a condition for a search scope for searching for the search objects; an on-map operation detection unit that detects a first user-specified point on a map displayed on a display; a content search unit that searches for elements associated with locations on the map, based on the information on the search objects; a display area determination unit that determines a first area that has the user-specified point at the center, and includes, among the elements searched for by the content search unit, elements that meet the condition for the search scope; and an area boundary display unit configured to dynamically display, on the map, the user-specified point and the first area determined by the display area determination unit.
US09183436B2
Text in web pages or other text documents may be classified based on the images or other objects within the webpage. A system for identifying and classifying text related to an object may identify one or more web pages containing the image or similar images, determine topics from the text of the document, and develop a set of training phrases for a classifier. The classifier may be trained and then used to analyze the text in the documents. The training set may include both positive examples and negative examples of text taken from the set of documents. A positive example may include captions or other elements directly associated with the object, while negative examples may include text taken from the documents, but from a large distance from the object. In some cases, the system may iterate on the classification process to refine the results.
US09183432B2
The people counting device includes an image acquisition unit to acquire an image from an imaging device, a head coordinate detection unit to detect a head coordinate of a target person from the image, a foot coordinate estimation unit to estimate a foot coordinate of the target person from the detected head coordinate, an individual region detection unit to perform region segmentation of the image and to give an attribute to each of regions, a foot coordinate correction unit to determine whether the target person overlaps another person based on the given attribute and to correct the foot coordinate of the target person estimated by the foot coordinate estimation unit when the persons are determined to overlap each other, a foot coordinate region inside/outside determination unit to determine whether the foot coordinate exists in a detection region set in the image, and a people counting unit to count foot coordinates.
US09183430B2
A portable electronic apparatus and an interactive human face login method are disclosed. The portable electronic apparatus comprises a face database, a user interface, an image capturing device, and a recognition circuit. The face database stores a plurality of facial expression feature information. The user interface randomly generates a plurality of facial expression indications used for guiding a user to sequentially show a plurality of facial expressions. The image capturing device captures the facial expressions to output a plurality of facial expression images. The recognition circuit receives a login request and determines whether the facial expressions are consistent with the facial expression indications according to the facial expression feature information and the facial expression images. The login request is allowed if the facial expressions are consistent with the facial expression indications.
US09183429B2
Apparatus and methods for facial detection are disclosed. A plurality of images of an observed face is received for identification. Based at least on two or more selected images of the plurality of images, a template of the observed face is generated. In some embodiments, the template is a subspace generated based on feature vectors of the plurality of received images. A database of identities and corresponding facial data of known persons is searched based at least on the template of the observed face and the facial data of the known persons. One or more identities of the known persons are selected based at least on the search.
US09183425B2
There is described in one embodiment an indicia reading terminal having an image sensor pixel array incorporated therein, wherein the terminal is operative for decoding of decodable indicia and for providing color frames of image data for storage or transmission. An image sensor based terminal in one embodiment can include an image sensor having a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor pixel array wherein the image sensor pixel array includes a first subset of monochrome pixels and a second subset of color pixels. In one embodiment, an output response curve for the image sensor pixel array can include a logarithmic pattern.
US09183416B2
System and method for conducting a forensic analysis of electronic data having files and information indicative of a location of each of the files. The system has processors and a controller. The controller is configured to characterize the electronic data based, at least in part, on the files and the information indicative of the location of each of the files to obtain a characterization and distribute segments of the electronic data to the processors based, at least in part, on the characterization, each of the processors corresponding to at least one of the segments and each of the segments corresponding to at least one of the processors. Each one of the processors is configured to process each corresponding one of the segments to identify at least one characteristic of each corresponding one of the segments.
US09183410B2
A computer or microchip including protected and network portions; an internal hardware firewall between the protected and network portions, and hardware communications components in the network portion. The firewall denies access to the protected portion from the network. The network portion has a connection for a network of computers including the World Wide Web and/or the Internet. Microprocessor(s) that are not hardware network communications components are located in the network portion and are separate from the firewall. One or more microprocessors and a volatile memory are located in the protected portion. A master controlling device is configured to control the computer or microchip, the non-volatile memory and the microprocessor(s) located in the network and protected portions. The firewall permits unrestricted access by the network of computers to the network portion so that processing operations, other than network communications and firewall operations are executed by microprocessor(s) in the network portion.
US09183409B2
A security method in an electronic device is provided. The method includes pairing the electronic device with an Access Point (AP), obtaining at least one item of information about the AP, and setting a security level of the electronic device according to the at least one item of information.
US09183404B2
An image sending apparatus includes a first authentication unit configured to perform processing for first authentication to authenticate a user, a storage unit configured to store authentication information used when the first authentication unit authenticates the user, a sending unit capable of sending image data by a plurality of kinds of sending methods, a destination setting unit configured to set a destination to which the sending unit sends the image data, a second authentication unit configured to perform processing for second authentication required for the sending unit to send the image data to the destination set by the destination setting unit, and a determination unit configured to determine whether to use the authentication information stored in the storage unit when the second authentication unit performs the processing for the second authentication, based on the sending method by which the sending unit sends the image data to the destination.
US09183400B2
According to one embodiment, an IC card includes a communication unit, data memory, selector, and inheriting unit. The communication unit performs data communication with an external apparatus. The data memory stores files managed by a hierarchical. structure, a folder as an upper layer of the files, and information concerning the inheritance of a security status between a plurality of folders. If information indicating the inheritance of a security status from the first folder to the second folder exists, the inheriting unit inherits, even while the second file is selected, the security status established while the first folder is selected.
US09183393B2
In one embodiment, a mobile device performs an over-the-air firmware update by writing the updated firmware to a inactive system image partition, and rebooting the device. The security of the OTA update is maintained through checking a plurality of security signatures in an OTA manifest, and the integrity of the data is maintained by checking a hash value of the downloaded system image.
US09183392B2
A method, apparatus, and computer program for monitoring security of a mobile apparatus are disclosed. The method includes executing a security application in a mobile apparatus; monitoring, by the security application, user interface locking status of the mobile apparatus; determining, as a result of said monitoring, that the user interface has been locked; identifying an application that has caused said locking of the user interface; checking a reputation status of the identified application; upon detecting, as a result of said reputation status check, that the identified application has a bad reputation status, restricting operation of the identified application and unlocking the user interface.
US09183389B1
Disclosed are various embodiments for inspecting malware with little or no user interruption. A first computing device may compare a source code of an application to a fingerprint stored locally on the first computing device. The first computing device may transmit the source code to a second computing device to determine whether the source code resides in a database comprising approved applications. If the source code does not reside in the database, a thorough scan of the source code may be conducted.
US09183385B2
A computer receives entry of a proposed security rule during a security rule entry or editing session and determines that the proposed security rule requires review of a type of security data. The number of matches of the proposed security rule to the logged security data is determined and a user is notified as to the number of matches. The computer searches the security data and applies the proposed security rule to the security data to determine the predicted performance of the proposed security rule. The computer generates a report that may include warnings, recommendations, and information correlated to the security data. The report is presented to a user during the rule editing session, and based on the report a modification to the proposed security rule can be made.
US09183381B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting tampering of devices such as fiscal printers. A memory module includes a volatile memory that stores multi-bit data. An operation module allows operation of an electronic device, such as a fiscal printer, in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is stored in the volatile memory. A detection module detects an attempt to access the enclosed device where access to the enclosed device is restricted by an enclosure. A tamper switch module disconnects power to the volatile memory such that the predefined multi-bit data stored in the volatile memory is erased in response to the detection module detecting an attempted access to the enclosed device. A shutdown module disables operation of the electronic device in response to determining that the predefined multi-bit data is not stored in the volatile memory.
US09183377B1
A possibly pre-infected system is inspected for the existence of tracked application-specific accounts. In a tracked application-specific account is found, the system is further audited to verify that only authorized processes are using the account and that the authorized account creation application is installed on the host computer system.
US09183376B2
A communication system includes a client apparatus and a relay apparatus. The client apparatus includes an acquisition unit and a request unit. The acquisition unit acquires permission information indicating permission to access a service provider apparatus, from the service provider apparatus. The request unit transmits the permission information and user identification information which has been input, to the relay apparatus so as to request access to the service provider apparatus. The relay apparatus includes a storage controller and an access unit. The storage controller stores the permission information and the user identification information which are received from the client apparatus, in a storage unit in such a manner that the permission information and the user identification information are associated with each other. The access unit accesses the service provider apparatus by using the permission information stored in the storage unit.
US09183368B2
A requester requests a domain zone control validation from a validating entity. The validating entity generates a pass string. The requester enters the pass string into a domain zone. The validating entity determines if the pass string was entered in the domain zone. If the pass string is present in the domain zone, the domain zone control was successfully validated.
US09183365B2
A system and method may comprise providing a database comprising a user list and a user device list, the user list comprising a list of user biometric identifiers, each extracted from and unique to a respective template of a user biometric of a verified user, and the user device list comprising a list of user biometric identifiers each extracted from and unique to a respective template of a user biometric of a verified user device associated with the verified user; and determining one of (1) whether a user biometric identifier of a known user biometric received from an unverified user device matches a user biometric identifier on the user device list and (2) whether a user biometric identifier extracted from and unique to a new user biometric template received from a verified user device matches a user biometric identifier in the stored user list.
US09183363B1
A method and system of verifying and authenticating personal history data of a subject comprising requesting the personal history data of the subject from a data base provider, searching the data base for the personal history data of the subject, transmitting the requested personal history data to the requester, reviewing the personal history data by the subject and verifying the accuracy of the personal history data by the subject and authenticating the verified personal history data by the subject.
US09183358B2
A game playing system includes a use permission tag provided for use in a game disk for a user of a game, a disk drive, and a reproduction device for reproducing the game. The disk drive reads out a disk ID from the game disk. When the game is to be played, the reproduction device conveys the disk ID and a player ID to the use permission tag. The use permission tag stores the terms of use of the game and determines whether a combination of the disk ID and the player ID conveyed from the reproduction device fulfills the terms of use or not.
US09183357B2
A memory card and a recording/playback device are provided that are capable of deterring a memory card manufacturer from illicitly storing a same media ID on a plurality of memory cards. A memory card (100) includes a media ID storage module unit (610) and a memory unit (120). The media ID storage module unit (610) includes a media ID storage unit (611) that stores therein a media ID that is specific to the memory card, and a certification unit (609) that generates certification information that certifies the validity of the memory card based on the media ID. The memory unit (120) includes an encrypted content storage unit (122) for storing encrypted digital content. The recording/playback device (200) includes a memory card verification unit (200) that acquires the certification information from the memory card (100), verifies the validity of the memory card (100) based on the acquired certification information, and when the verification has failed, prohibits decrypting an encrypted content or encrypting a content, and a content encryption unit (209) that, when the verification has succeeded, encrypts the digital content or decrypts the encrypted digital content.
US09183349B2
According to various embodiments, aspects of the invention provide a highly efficient meta-analysis infrastructure for performing research queries across a large number of studies and experiments from diverse sequencing technologies as well as different biological and chemical assays, data types and organisms, as well as systems to build and add to such an infrastructure. The methods, systems and apparatuses described enable combining orthogonal types of data and available public knowledge to elucidate mechanisms governing normal development, disease progression, as well as susceptibility of individuals to disease or response to drug treatments.
US09183343B1
Various embodiments implement high current carrying multi-strands of interconnects between two pins in a region of interest within an electronic circuit by performing area-based searches for viable routing solutions using valid intervals. Certain pins that are within a predetermined proximity to each other may be optionally clustered to form a single, wide pin. The region of interest may be first processed to form one or more sets of spacetiles, or the geometries in the region of interest may be projected onto a boundary of the region of interest, to determine the valid interval(s) on along the boundary. The valid intervals may then be used by a router to implement the multi-strands of interconnects. The router also considers the physical, electrical, and manufacturing requirement(s) in implementing the multi-strands of interconnects.
US09183342B2
A recursive solution to a bin-packing algorithm provides efficient placement of objects in a physical layout. The algorithm determines requirement vectors for the objects that specify requirement for placement of the object in multiple dimensions, thereby forming a multi-dimensional bin-packing problem. The algorithm assigns the objects to physical partitions or “bins” by recursively exploring partial solutions that place the objects in the partitions by extending the partial solutions via recursion until the objects are placed. The bin-packing algorithm tests requirements vectors for remaining unassigned ones of the objects for both assignment and non-assignment to a current partition in a current partial solution until the current partial solution becomes a complete solution that satisfies the requirement vectors for the plurality of objects.
US09183340B2
An electronic device includes an integrated circuit, a connector, and a circuit board. The integrated circuit includes a first signal processing circuit, a second signal processing circuit, and an interface multiplexer having a first input port electrically connected to the first signal processing circuit, a second input port electrically connected to the second signal processing circuit, and an output port arranged to be electrically connected to the first input port or the second input port. The circuit board carries the integrated circuit and has a plurality of connector placement sites, including at least a first connector placement site each dedicated to the first signal processing circuit and at least a second connector placement site each dedicated to the second signal processing circuit. The connector placement sites and the output port of the interface multiplexer are electrically connected in series. The connector is installed on one of the connector placement sites.
US09183326B2
A method for computing or estimating fractional, multi-phase/multi-component flow through a porous medium employing a 3D digital representation of a porous medium and a computational fluid dynamics method to calculate flow rates, pressures, saturations, internal velocity vectors and other flow parameters is described. The method employs a unique method of introducing non-wetting and wetting fluids into the pores at the inlet face of the 3D digital representation of a porous medium and a novel process control application to achieve quasi-steady state flow at low inlet concentrations of non-wetting fluid. In addition, the method of the present invention reduces the time required to simulate to complete the fluid dynamic calculations. The resulting values of flow of non-wetting fluid, wetting fluid, saturation, and other parameters are used to generate plots of relative permeability imbibition and drainage curves. Computerized systems and programs for performing the method are also provided.
US09183322B2
Techniques are provided for optimizing storage of address information in switch device databases. A control packet is received from a source host. An address associated with a host is determined. The address comprises a first and second address component. The first address component is stored in a first database and is mapped to an index value that is stored in the first database. The index value is also stored in a second database along with the second address component. The first database may also be examined to determine whether the first address component is stored in the first database. If the first address component is stored in the first database, the index value mapped to the first address component is retrieved. The second database is examined to determine whether the index value and the second address component are stored in the second database.
US09183319B2
A request is received at a proxy server for a web page, the request originating from a client network application of a client device. The requested web page includes multiple references to multiple images. The proxy server retrieves the requested web page. The proxy server modifies code of the retrieved web page such that the client network application will not, for each one of images, request that image until the location where that image is to be displayed is within a viewport of the client network application or within a defined distance from the viewport of the client network application. The proxy server transmits the modified web page to the client device.
US09183317B1
A technique for exporting results from a reporting system report in a format type including a datamart, PDF file, flat file, Excel™ file, HTML file, and XML file or in another relational database management system (RDBMS) format. In one embodiment, the technique is realized through a method and a system for automatically exporting results from a business intelligence, OLAP, or other reporting system. One embodiment of the present invention involves a method of enabling a user to designate a report desired for execution as an export-report. When the report is processed, the report is exported into a datamart or other format and made available for access by the user through one or more different types of user devices. The user may then further manipulate or export the results from the datamart to a file type as desired.
US09183315B2
QR codes or the like are used in hardlink applications, by which different users may receive different information in response to a scan of the same code that is displayed at one or more locations in the real world. The content delivered to a particular user may be dependent on the time of the scan, the geographic location of the user, a weather condition at the geographical location, personal information associated with the user, a number of previous scans of the code by prior individuals, and any combination of the these or other variables, which may be determined by an originator of the QR code or other party.
US09183314B2
A technique is provided for capturing browsing history of a webpage. A processor receives a webpage from a server, determines that a trigger associated with a user is fulfilled, and captures a page of the webpage responsive to the trigger associated with the user being fulfilled.
US09183312B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for displaying search results referencing resources of two different types. In an aspect, a search system receives a search query for a search of a first resources. The search system determines a second resource score for the search query. The second resource score is measure of relatedness of the query to the second resources and is independent of a search property ratio of the query. If the second resource score meets a threshold, then the search system conducts a full search of second resources in addition to the search of the first resources.
US09183311B2
A system and method for providing preferred language and/or country ordering of search results is described. A search query describing potentially retrievable information provided in a plurality of search result languages and/or countries is received. A search is executed by evaluating the search query against information characteristics maintained in a searchable data repository. At least one preferred language and/or country applicable to search results generated is dynamically determined responsive to the executed search. At least some of the search results are ordered in consideration of the at least one preferred language and/or country.
US09183309B2
Systems and methods described herein may operate to receive, at a search service, a first query from a user device corresponding to a current user of the search service, analyze existing search queries performed by users of the search service, and selectively provide, to the user device, a second query of the existing search queries as at least one of: a refinement of the first query based on determining that the second query includes all keywords in the first query, or an alternative to the first query based on determining that the second query lacks at least one keyword in the first query.
US09183306B2
A system filters received messages (e.g., unsolicited advertisements) to determine if they are appropriate for a user based on the non-static, constantly evolving, context of the user. The system can track the user's context by monitoring various environmental parameters, such as related to the user's physical, mental, computing and data environments, and can model the current context of the user based at least in part on the monitoring. The system selects a set of one or more filters to apply to incoming messages based on the user's context, and the selected filters can be updated as the user's context changes. Messages that survive the filters are then evaluated against the user's context to determine whether they should be presented immediately or stored for delayed presentation.
US09183298B2
The invention relates to a method and system for processing a search request. A search request including a sequence of data strings and representing a plurality of search parameters is received. The strings are parsed and the search request is interpreted so as to define search parameters by recognizing items reflecting search criteria within the sequence of data strings. A query is built based on the result of the preceding process and at least one travel data service can be interrogated. This improves the search for information based on free-text input from the user.Application to methods for travel data service interrogation and to search engines.
US09183297B1
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that considers lexical synonyms for terms while processing a query. During operation, the system receives a query containing one or more terms. Next, the system identifies one or more lexical synonyms for the one or more terms. The system then generates an altered query using the one or more lexical synonyms and processes the altered query to produce search results.
US09183289B2
A toolbar in a document creation application provides the ability to classify documents based on specific properties such as security classification. The toolbar through dropdown selections allows users to select the appropriate classification and properties based upon the content of the document and have appropriate classifiers added to the document. Document classification properties are generated that are associated with the document in the document properties and by inserting visual markings that allow users to quickly identify the security, sensitivity, intended distribution or retention. By utilizing the classification toolbar a user can classify an document by one or more classification levels and be ensured that the classification will be visible to any person viewing the document.
US09183280B2
Methods and systems for using a demand metric for disambiguating a keyword entered from a client machine, the keyword identifying a product brand and ambiguously identifying a product category of the product brand; computing the dominant product category that indicates the probable identity of the product category; and providing signals representing selectable images of aspects of the dominant product category for rendering at the client machine.
US09183278B2
A system and method for generating patent data summary reports for target entity identified by user. The information system contains database with patent document records. After user selects target entity, system issues query to database to identify all entities having association with patent documents associated with specified target entity. For example, user may wish to receive report on all clients of specific attorney. The system would search database to locate all assignees of all patents prosecuted by that attorney and return ranked list of such assignees to user. Optionally, system may generate graphical representation of information in report and provide it to user. Report provided to user may be interactive in a sense that various items of information within report may be connected by links to additional reports with more specific information. Additionally, system may automatically update patent document database with new records as they become available.
US09183277B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for providing intent sensitive search results. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a current query for a current search session that is associated with a user identifier. One or more potential refinements for the current query are identified, each potential refinement being one or more terms and based on previous queries associated with the user identifier and previous queries associated with other user identifiers. One or more secondary queries are generated, each secondary query including the current query and one of the potential refinements, each secondary query matching a query-refinement pair in a trigger map that includes a plurality of query-refinement pairs. Secondary search results are identified for the secondary queries. Search results are provided including at least one of the secondary search results.
US09183275B2
A data profiling method and system for reading an input data entry set and labeling semantic fragments according to fragments of data entries and semantic features of fragments and, based on the labeled semantic fragments performing a semantic-level data analysis of the input data entry set to obtain analysis results. According to the method and system of the present invention, it is able to obtain better data analysis of free text and make corresponding statistics and analysis of free-text data entry sets according to semantics.
US09183274B1
Systems, methods, and data structures are disclosed for discovering and representing object-properties associations using textual data. The object can be a physical object or an abstract object. A system comprises a storage medium configured to store a data package containing one or more terms each comprising a word or phrase as names of properties or attributes associated with the object. The terms in the data package can collectively serve as an associative representation of the object. The data package can be used in a system for searching and classifying information based on concepts. The data package can be obtained by analyzing a plurality of text contents each containing a term defined as the object name, and other terms that are not the object name, and counting the number of occurrences of the text contents containing the object name and non-object name, or using a weighting co-efficient based on the grammatical roles of the terms, or using the frequencies of the terms in the external documents.
US09183273B2
Implementations relate to systems and methods for processing workflow data and providing location-based and/or entity-based workflow statistics. A processing module or other logic can receive workflow data related to operations of vehicles though a supply chain network comprising a set of locations. The processing module can process the workflow data by generating various context views, filtering out some of the data, and other functions. A user or entity can request the processing module for different views or results of the workflow data to gauge efficiencies or inefficiencies in the supply chain. The user or entity can perform modifications to components of the supply chain based on results of the workflow data.
US09183265B2
A database query gateway includes a query request interface configured to receive a query request and extract query parameters from the query request and a database endpoint interface configured to modify a stored query based on the query parameters, to transmit the modified query to a database endpoint, and to receive from the database endpoint query results based on the modified query. The database query gateway further includes a reporting engine interface configured to convert the query results into a reporting engine format.
US09183261B2
A computer image search system for rapid retrieval of media files images corresponding to a sequence of input display commands, the system comprising: a programmable data processor operating under the control of a program to convert the display commands into data entries in an array of multi-bit data characters and words, each entry of the array corresponding to a set of descriptions of the image to be displayed; and a scanned-raster display device for generating illuminated points on a display surface in response to applied data signals causing the programmable data processor to perform a set of operations.
US09183259B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer-readable storage medium, and including a method for displaying content. The method comprises receiving content items that are publishable to an activity stream in a social networking application for a user in a social network. The method further comprises evaluating the received content items using social criteria, including determining a social quality score for each content item. The method further comprises filtering the received content items to remove content items having social quality scores below a predetermined threshold. The method further comprises ranking remaining content items according to their associated social quality scores. The method further comprises publishing the remaining content items in the activity stream for the user in an order based at least in part on the ranking.
US09183257B1
The specification relates to a method of receiving a first query and a second query. The method analyzes the second query for a presence of anaphora. If anaphora is present, the method analyzes the first query for a presence of an entity that can be associated with the anaphora. If the analysis analyzing the first query returns two or more associated entities, the method forms a third query wherein the anaphora of the second query is replaced with one of the associated entities and forms a fourth query wherein the anaphora is replaced with the other of the associated entities. The third query and the fourth query are sent to a query-ranking engine. The third query and the fourth query receive a ranking and the higher-ranked query is sent to a search engine.
US09183246B2
A file system uses data integrity techniques that are a selectable attribute of a file system object. Some file system objects have integrity on for various accesses, while other file system objects do not. Different default settings can be provided for different file system objects. Such a setting for a file system object can be changed to and from having integrity on. Given a file system object with an attribute, the file system provides file system operations for which the data integrity operation used on the file system object depends on this attribute. Such operations include, but are not limited to, operations for changing the attribute, creating file system objects with such attributes, providing and changing default settings for such attributes, and writing data to and reading data from files, which use different data integrity techniques based on this attribute.
US09183243B2
Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for building a metadata index from source metadata records when creating a target volume for subsequent metadata access from the target volume. A copy operation is initiated to copy the source volume to the target volume, wherein the target volume is created with a target volume name different from a source volume name of the source volume. Source volume metadata having records including information on data sets in the source volume is copied to target volume metadata. A metadata index is generated indicating locations of the records in the target volume metadata having information on the data sets in the target volume. The metadata index is used to access the records in the target volume metadata when accessing data sets in the target volume.
US09183241B2
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a “lazy” approach in caching a hierarchical navigation tree with one or more associated permission trees. In one embodiment, only a portion of a cached permission tree is updated. One embodiment of a method may comprise determining whether a dirty node exists by comparing tree timestamps of the permission tree and the master tree. If the tree timestamp of the master tree is temporally more recent than the tree timestamp of the permission tree, the permission tree has a dirty node and the method may operate to check node timestamps of the master and permission trees. This process may be repeated until the dirty node is found, at which time a portion of the permission tree associated with the dirty node may be reconstructed, rather than the entire permission tree itself, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing access time to the cached permission tree.
US09183239B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for indexing electronic content to be served to users' mobile and/or stationary communications and computing devices. An index is composed of multiple slices, with each slice storing multiple entries and each entry representing one content item or one campaign or collection of content items. An entry is populated with tokens representing attribute/value pairs of a target audience of the content item and/or property/value pairs of the item or the item's campaign. A query or request to identify content items for serving to a particular user is similarly formatted with tokens representing attribute/value pairs of the user and/or item/campaign. Queries can then be executed rapidly across any or all index entries in any or all slices. Within a slice, entries may be sorted by value or score, and integer components within an individual entry may be sorted to facilitate rapid comparison with a query.
US09183236B2
A method for retrieving versioned data in a non-volatile memory is provided. The method includes: (1) receiving a read request for a data object, (2) in response to the request, determining, via an object table, whether one or more versions of the data object exist in memory, (3) in accordance with a determination that one or more versions exist in memory, obtaining, via the object table, a respective location where each of the one or more versions of the data object are stored, and (4) reading at least one of the one or more versions of the data object from the respective location into volatile memory.
US09183231B2
In one embodiment, a first selection of a data item in an interactive table is received. Further, one or more data items related to the first selected data item in the interactive table are identified. The interactive table is modified to render the data items identified as related to the first selected data item. Furthermore, a second selection of a data item within the data items identified as related to the first selected data item is received and one or more data items related to the second selected data item within the data items identified as related to the first selected data item are identified. Further, the previously modified interactive table is again modified to render the data items identified as related to the second selected data item.
US09183224B2
A server system receives a visual query from a client system. The visual query is an image containing text such as a picture of a document. At the receiving server or another server, optical character recognition (OCR) is performed on the visual query to produce text recognition data representing textual characters. Each character in a contiguous region of the visual query is individually scored according to its quality. The quality score of a respective character is influenced by the quality scores of neighboring or nearby characters. Using the scores, one or more high quality strings of characters are identified. Each high quality string has a plurality of high quality characters. A canonical document containing the one or more high quality textual strings is retrieved. At least a portion of the canonical document is sent to the client system.
US09183219B1
Technologies are described for implementing a default migration mechanism in a storage system containing multiple tiers of storage with each tier having different cost and performance parameters. Data that is accessed more frequently can be migrated toward higher performance storage tiers while data that is accessed less frequently can be migrated towards lower performance storage tiers. Default migration behavior can be overridden by user-specified values for tier age residency policy, demotion policy, tier occupancy of volumes, and tier assignment. Data migration can be paused by the user and resumed by the user.
US09183215B2
A computer image search system for rapid retrieval of media files images configured to determine a grid width attribute, and a height attribute, a width attribute and an aspect ratio attribute for each media file. The system configured to iteratively process each media file by determining a next media file, an average height and average width of the media files, reconfiguring the media files such that each of the reconfigured media files has the average height and the average width attribute, determining a total image width attribute of the media files by adding the average width attribute for each of the media files, and configured to assign a designated position to a next media file on the grid while the total image width attribute is less than the grid width attribute, and to dynamically display each processed media file at a corresponding designated position on the grid.
US09183195B2
System, method, and computer program product to autocorrect text for the purpose of matching words from an approved corpus, by: responsive to receiving a text input comprising a first word, validating the first word against a content corpus, wherein the content corpus comprises a plurality of words approved for display in an online chat, validating the first word against a set of rules, and upon determining that the first word of the text input is not validated against at least one of the content corpus and the set of rules, modifying the text input by replacing the first word with a first approved word from the content corpus.
US09183192B1
The translator allows input of text entries into an input box and displays the translated text in an output box. The user enters text to be translated into an input box. The translator displays the translated text in the output box. The translator utilizes a dictionary to translate the entered text. The user may personalize the dictionary by adding, removing, and/or editing entries and dictionaries into a customizable dictionary. The user may add, remove, and/or edit entries and meanings of the dictionary. The user may also merge multiple dictionaries to create a single customized dictionary. The translator enables the user to save the dictionary for later use, delete a dictionary, and print a dictionary. The user may also send a dictionary to others to assist with translation.
US09183187B2
Advertisement information (45, 46) and a character string which is set in advance are stored in association with each other (S2), display data are obtained (S3), link information including a character string is specified from among link information included in the obtained display data (S8), a display position 42 for displaying the specified link information is specified (S9), an advertisement display area for displaying advertisement information is specified on the basis of the specified display position (S10), advertisement information corresponding to a character string included in the specified link information is specified (S11), and the specified advertisement information is displayed in the specified advertisement display area (43, 44) (S14).
US09183183B2
A method of inferring user intent in search input in a conversational interaction system is disclosed. A method of inferring user intent in a search input includes providing a user preference signature that describes preferences of the user, receiving search input from the user intended by the user to identify at least one desired item, and determining that a portion of the search input contains an ambiguous identifier. The ambiguous identifier is intended by the user to identify, at least in part, a desired item. The method further includes inferring a meaning for the ambiguous identifier based on matching portions of the search input to the preferences of the user described by the user preference signature and selecting items from a set of content items based on comparing the search input and the inferred meaning of the ambiguous identifier with metadata associated with the content items.
US09183164B2
A Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub for allowing communication between a host device and one or more peripheral devices. The USB hub is configured to allow the host device to communicate with the peripheral devices in at least two communication modes and to automatically switch between communication modes in response to the type of connection between the host device and the USB hub. In a first communication mode, the host device is wirelessly coupled to the USB hub and in a second communication mode, the host device is physically coupled (wired-connection) to the USB hub.
US09183163B2
A local controller maintains a local database which stores information associated with a set of interfacing devices of a local-area network. The local database can include a database mirror for a remote database, of a remote controller, that stores information for a set of provisioned interfacing devices. During normal operation, a remote controller hosting the remote database can have primary control of interfacing devices within the local area network and/or other network domains, and the local controller maintains the local database to include at least a subset of the remote database. However, when the local controller determines that the remote controller has gone offline, the local controller can obtain primary control of interfacing devices within the local area network.
US09183162B2
An electronic device includes an earphone port, an audio amplifier, a digital processor, a multi-way selection switch, and an earphone detection response circuit. The earphone port includes left and right channel pins. The audio amplifier includes an earphone left channel output pin and an earphone right channel output pin. The digital processor includes a data transmission pin and a data receive pin. The multi-way selection switch includes four switches electrically connected between the data transmitting pin and the left channel pin, the data receive pin and the right channel pin, the earphone left channel output pin and the left channel pin, and the earphone right channel output pin and the right channel pin, respectively. The earphone detection response circuit turns on a first switch and a second switch, and turns off a third switch and a fourth switch when the earphone port does not receive an earphone.
US09183161B2
An apparatus and method for managing a protection table by a processor. For example, a processor according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: protection table management logic to manage a protection table, the protection table having an entry for each protected page or each group of protected pages in memory; wherein the protection table management logic prevents direct access to the protection table by user application program code and operating system program code but permits direct access by the processor.
US09183154B2
Disclosed is a system and method for performing reconstruction or on-line capacity expansion, background tasks, on a disk group configured on a controller with minimal impact on the other disk groups configured on the same controller. A user is enabled to continuously experience increased performance on all source virtual disks configured on the controller since the DRAM is always dedicated for I/O performance.
US09183153B2
A system and method of managing time-series data for smart grids is disclosed. Data is collected from a plurality of sensors. An index is modified for a newly created block. A one disk operation per read or write is performed. The one disk operation per read includes accessing and looking up the index to locate the data without movement of an arm of the disk, and obtaining the data. The one disk operation per write includes searching the disk for free space, calculating an offset, modifying the index, and writing the data contiguously into a block of the disk the index points to.
US09183152B2
Before initializing a memory of an information handling system, a method includes loading an image of a video option ROM code for a graphics interface device to a cache associated with a processor of the information handling system, and executing the video option ROM code to initialize the graphics interface device. The method also includes executing a memory reference code to initialize the memory, and while executing the memory reference code, providing status information from the graphics interface device.
US09183150B2
A method of memory sharing implemented by logic of a computer memory control unit, the control unit comprising at least one first interface and second interfaces and is adapted to be connected with a main physical memory via the first interface, and a set of N≧2 non-cooperative processors via the second interfaces, the logic operatively coupled to the first and second interfaces. The method includes receiving, via the second interfaces, a request to access data of the main physical memory from a first processor of the set; evaluating if a second processor has previously accessed the data requested by the first processor; and deferring the request from the first processor when the evaluation is positive, or, granting the request from the first processor when the evaluation is negative.
US09183140B2
Higher-level redundancy information computation enables a Solid-State Disk (SSD) controller to provide higher-level redundancy capabilities to maintain reliable operation in a context of failures of non-volatile (e.g. flash) memory elements during operation of an SSD. A first portion of higher-level redundancy information is computed using parity coding via an XOR of all pages in a portion of data to be protected by the higher-level redundancy information. A second portion of the higher-level redundancy information is computed using a weighted-sum technique, each page in the portion being assigned a unique non-zero “index” as a weight when computing the weighted-sum. Arithmetic is performed over a finite field (such as a Galois Field). The portions of the higher-level redundancy information are computable in any order, such as an order based on order of read operation completion of non-volatile memory elements.
US09183136B2
A storage control apparatus comprises a storage unit, an association unit, and an execution unit. The storage unit stores association information showing multiple physical chunks which are configured in a physical address space of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, multiple logical storage areas which are configured in a logical address space of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory, multiple logical chunks which are respectively associated with the multiple physical chunks, and an association between a logical storage area and a logical chunk. The association unit changes the association by changing the association information in accordance with a state of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory, and identifies based on the association information a physical storage area corresponding to a logical storage area specified in an input/output request from a computer. The execution unit executes the input/output request with respect to the identified physical storage area.
US09183132B2
A storage device enabling realization of a new storage configuration enabling apparent elimination of the overhead and enabling high speed access all the time particularly when constructing a high parallel configured high speed flash memory system, that is, a storage device having a flash memory as a main storage and having the function of rewriting at least a partial region of the flash memory by additional writing update data in an empty region and invalidating original data and, at the time of standby of the device where there is no access from the outside, performing processing for automatically restoring the invalidated region to an empty region, and a computer system and a storage system using the same.
US09183119B2
Techniques are described herein that are capable of automatically allocating clients for testing a software program. For instance, a number of the clients that are to be allocated for the testing may be determined based on a workload that is to be imposed by the clients during execution of the testing. For example, the number of the clients may be a minimum number of the clients that is capable of accommodating the workload. In accordance with this example, the minimum number of the clients may be allocated in a targeted environment so that the test may be performed on those clients. Additional clients may be allocated along with the minimum number of the clients in the targeted environment to accommodate excess workload.
US09183118B2
A method for simulating a real on-board system for testing an operating software program. The disclosed embodiments include preparation of a test to be carried out on the operating software program, by adding and/or removing control functions to/from a library; execution of the operating software program of the real on-board system in a simulated environment; simulation of a dedicated peripheral by activating functions from the library; transmission of the test results from the dedicated peripheral to the results folders stored on the host platform and recording of the aforementioned results.
US09183102B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: identifying a hardware failure of a failed component of a plurality of hardware components; determining a set of agent devices currently configured to utilize the failed component; reconfiguring an agent device to utilize a working component of the plurality of hardware components. Various exemplary embodiments additionally or alternatively relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: projecting a failure date for the hardware module; determining whether the projected failure date is acceptable based on a target replacement date for the hardware module; if the projected failure date is not acceptable: selecting a parameter adjustment for a hardware component, wherein the parameter adjustment is selected to move the projected failure date closer to the target replacement date, and applying the parameter adjustment to the hardware component.
US09183095B1
A plurality of write data is received and combined to obtain backup write data. The plurality of write data is stored in storage. On a storage controller, the plurality of write data is released without waiting for a confirmation associated with writing the plurality of write data to the storage. The backup write data is stored.
US09183087B2
Apparatus for storing and retrieving data such as in a computer network. A plurality of local data storage units each comprise a local control circuit and a housing which encloses a moveable data transducer adjacent a data storage medium. A shared resource module physically interconnects each of the local units, and includes shared circuitry that supplies a resource required by the local control circuits to transfer data to and from the data storage media. In some preferred embodiments, the resource comprises a programming instruction set that is utilized by a programmable processor in each of the local control circuits, such as servo code used to provide data transducer positional control. Alternatively, the resource comprises a shared buffer memory space utilized by read/write channels in each of the local control circuits. Preferably, data are stored across the data storage media using RAID techniques (redundant array of independent discs/devices).
US09183083B2
According to one embodiment, a controller includes a generator and a creator. The generator generates a channel matrix by counting a number of times a combination of a correct bit value and a read level appears for each bit forming a decoded first frame, based on readout data indicating a read level of each of a plurality of bits forming a frame and the decoded frame. The creator creates a table by statistically calculating a likelihood of a correct bit value of each read level based on the channel matrix.
US09183064B2
An example method to mediate messages in a product integration platform includes receiving a message request from a source healthcare system where the message request contains a message payload. The example method includes determining an interface to be used to route the message to a target healthcare system. The example method includes creating a platform message based on the message request. The example method includes adapting the platform message into a message format expected by the interface and routing the platform message to the interface.
US09183059B1
Systems and methods for providing a virtual machine client administrative interface are provided. In some aspects, a method includes providing for display of a virtual machine creation console via operation of a virtual machine hosting environment, the virtual machine creation console indicating a set of predetermined available resources for virtual machine creation. The method includes facilitating receiving, from a user, an input via the virtual machine creation console, the input defining a portion of the set of predetermined available resources and one or more virtual machines to be created with the portion of the set of predetermined available resources. The method includes facilitating creating the one or more virtual machines.
US09183056B2
A system, and computer usable program product for expanding memory size are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A desired size of an expanded memory and a first information about a workload in the data processing system are received. A size of a compressed memory pool to use with the memory to make the desired size of the expanded memory available is computed. A representation of the memory is configured, the representation of the memory appearing to be of a size larger than the size of the memory, the representation of the memory being the expanded memory, and the size of the representation being the size of the expanded memory. The expanded memory is made available such that the memory in the data processing system is usable by addressing the expanded memory.
US09183044B2
A method and apparatus to provide a scheduler comprising determining a current use characteristic for the mobile device based on motion information and active applications, and scheduling a task based on the current use characteristics.
US09183039B2
Methods and apparatus related to associating a task completion step with one or more tasks. A task group is determined based on similarity between the tasks of the task group, a task completion step of one of the tasks of the task group is identified, and one or more of the other tasks of the task group are associated with the task completion step. In some implementations, the task group is determined based on similarity between entities that are associated with the tasks of the task group. In some implementations, the task group is determined based on textual representations that are associated with the tasks of the task group.
US09183032B2
A method and system for migration of multi-tier virtual application across different clouds hypervisor platforms. The principal object of the embodiment is to provide migration of multi-tier virtual application from one vendor to another vendor cloud platforms. Another object of the embodiment is to convert entire multi-tier virtual application of a source vendor cloud platforms, along with the virtual machines, configuration and properties into a format suitable for a destination vendor cloud platforms. Another object of the embodiment is to verify the migrated application after completion of conversion and migration.
US09183028B1
Systems and method for the management of virtual machine instances are provided. A network data transmission analysis system can host virtual machine networks. The hosted virtual machine networks are configured in an manner such that at least a portion of the components of the hosted virtual machine network have overlapping network addresses. Through the utilization of addressable proxy IP addresses in each of the hosted virtual machine networks, the hosted virtual machine networks can exchange data.
US09183022B2
Each time a currently scheduled virtual machine (VM) accesses a hardware resource over a bus for the hardware resource via the currently scheduled VM running on a processor, a hardware component adjusts a bandwidth counter associated with usage of the bus for the hardware resource, without involvement of the currently scheduled VM or a hypervisor managing the currently scheduled VM. Responsive to the bandwidth counter reaching a threshold value, the hardware component issues an interrupt for handling by the hypervisor to maintain bandwidth quality-of-service (QoS) of bus bandwidth related to the hardware resource. Upon expiration of a regular time interval prior to the bandwidth counter reaching the threshold value, the hardware component resets the bandwidth counter to a predetermined value associated with the currently scheduled VM, without involvement of the currently scheduled VM or the hypervisor; the hardware component does not issue an interrupt. The hardware resource can be memory.
US09183016B2
A control module is introduced to communicate with an application workload scheduler of a distributed computing application, such as a Job Tracker node of a Hadoop cluster, and with the virtualized computing environment underlying the application. The control module periodically queries for resource consumption data, such as CPU utilization, and uses the data to calculate how MapReduce task slots should be allocated on each task node of the Hadoop cluster. The control module passes the task slot allocation to the application workload scheduler, which honors the allocation by adjusting task assignments to task nodes accordingly. The task nodes may also activate and deactivate task slots according to the changed slot allocation. As a result, the distributed computing application is able to scale up and down when other workloads sharing the virtualized computing environment change.
US09183009B2
The present invention provides a policy update apparatus which can update a software policy appropriately corresponding to the configuration change in a resource. The policy update apparatus includes policy retrieving means which receives a resource identifier, reads out an install destination resource identifier corresponding to the resource identifier from resource management means which stores with providing a mapping between the resource identifier and the install destination resource identifier which indicates an install destination resource in which the resource identified by the resource identifier is installed, and reads out the software policy corresponding to the resource identifier and the install destination resource identifier, and policy update means which updates the software policy, correlates the updated software policy to the resource identifier and the install destination resource identifier, and stores to policy storage means.
US09183007B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic selection of a runtime classloader for a generated class file. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic selection of a runtime classloader for a generated class file is provided. The method includes extracting meta-data from a program object directed for execution in an application server and determining from the meta-data a container identity for a container in which the program object had been compiled. The method also includes selecting a container according to the meta-data. Finally, the method includes classloading the program object in the selected container.
US09183005B2
Methods and apparatuses for resizing buffered windows. In one aspect of the invention, a method to resize a buffered window on a data processing system includes: determining an estimated size for a window which has a first pixel image of a first size buffered in a first window buffer; allocating a second window buffer which is large enough to buffer the window in the estimated size; and buffering a second pixel image of the window in a second size in the second window buffer. In one example according to this aspect, a portion of a frame buffer is updated to the second pixel image to display the window in the second size. A portion of the second window buffer, storing the data that represents the second pixel image, is clipped to update the corresponding portion of the frame buffer.
US09182996B2
A USB tunnel apparatus is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the USB tunnel apparatus may include a USB printer class interface operatively received by an application specific USB peripheral. The USB printer class interface is configured to identify the application specific USB peripheral as a printer class device to the host during Plug and Play enumeration, and the USB printer class interface is configured to generate a response during Plug and Play enumeration that alters the process of PnP enumeration to create a partially instantiated printer driver stack on the host when the application specific USB peripheral is in USB communication with the host, in various aspects. Related methods and compositions of matter are also disclosed. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the apparatus, methods, and compositions of matter disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.
US09182986B2
An apparatus is described having an out-of-order instruction execution pipeline. The out-of-order execution pipeline has a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit is to hold a pointer to physical storage space where information is kept that cannot yet be confirmed as being free of potential dependencies on the information. The second circuit is to hold the pointer if the pointer existed in the first circuit when a non speculative region of program code ended and upon retirement of a following speculative overwriter instruction originally coded to overwrite the information.
US09182983B2
A processor of an aspect includes a register file including a first register to hold a first packed data including a first low data element and a first high data element, a second register to hold a second packed data including a second low data element and a second high data element, and a third register. The processor also includes a decoder to decode an unpack instruction. The processor also includes a functional unit coupled with the decoder and the register file. The functional unit, in response to the decoder decoding the unpack instruction, is to transfer the first low data element to a high position of the third register and the second low data element to a low position of the third register.
US09182980B2
An automated programming tool can receive program source code and can expand portions of the program source code to make to make identifiers explicit, insert sets of parenthesis and so on. Expansions can be kept track of so that reductions after refactoring can be confined to altered portions of the program source code.
US09182979B2
In some example implementations, there is provided a method. The method may include generating a first page for presentation at a user interface, wherein the first page further comprises a first portion presenting one or more lines of code being developed and a toolbar portion, wherein the toolbar portion includes a comment element configured to generate a comment window and a propose change element configured to generate a change window; and receiving, in response to the generated first page, metadata including at least one of a comment and a proposed change associated with the one or more lines of code. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also provided.
US09182978B2
Embodiments provide rule-based application configuration using a network service. A configuration parameter associated with an application includes a rule that specifies configuration data based on one or more criteria, such as by selecting a configuration value from a plurality of available configuration values. A request for configuration data corresponding to the configuration parameter is received from a client. The request includes one or more criteria describing a user associated with the client. Customized configuration data is determined based on the rule and the criteria of the request, and the customized configuration data is provided to the client. The client executes the application (e.g., a game) based on the customized configuration data.
US09182975B2
A method for updating an application on a mobile device includes accessing, at the mobile device, application management information. The application management information identifies a plurality of applications installed on the mobile device and one or more granted permission settings associated with each installed application. The method also includes sending, from the mobile device to a server, a request for update information regarding each installed application and receiving, at the mobile device from the server, the update information. The update information identifies an update package for a respective application of the plurality of installed applications. The method also includes installing the update package without user interaction from a user of the mobile device if one or more required permission settings associated with the update package are included in the one or more granted permission settings associated with the respective application of the plurality of installed applications.
US09182974B1
Disclosed are systems, methods and computer readable medium for updating software of templates of virtual machines. An example method includes determining a first coefficient indicative of a level of importance of a continuous operation of one or more virtual machines created from a virtual machine template; determining a second coefficient indicative of a level of criticality of software updates on the one or more virtual machines created from the virtual machine template; determining a third coefficient as a function of the first coefficient and the second coefficient; and when the third coefficient exceeds a threshold, updating the software on the virtual machine template to generate an updated virtual machine template.
US09182970B2
Systems, methods and products directed toward creating device preloads via employing base and additional image content. One aspect includes communicating an aspect of an information handling device, and assimilating additional image content at the information handling device responsive to communication of the aspect of the device, wherein a base image and the additional image content are combined to form a unitary device image. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09182969B1
The present invention provides tools and techniques for facilitating (314) management of storage (122), software (118), and other resources of a computer (102) at a distinct management computer (110) using a disassociated ample image (104) of the managed computer's storage. Ample images may be searched (310) to identify (414) infected files or illegal files, to extract (410) disk usage information, or for other reasons. Ample images may be modified (312) and then deployed (316) back to the original imaged computer and/or to other computers outside the management node. Modifications may change (502, 504, 506) application software, change (508, 510, 512) hardware drivers to match hardware changes on the target computer(s), manipulate (520) partitions, and/or perform other steps to optimize storage, software, or other resources.
US09182943B2
One feature pertains to a method that reduces the computational delay associated with generating prime numbers. The method includes generating a first random number having a plurality of bits. A first primality test is then executed on the first random number. Then, it is determined whether the first random number generated fails or passes the first primality test. If the first random number fails the primality test then a portion but not all of the plurality of bits of the first random number are replaced with an equal number of randomly generated bits to generate a second random number. Next, a primality test is again executed on the second random number. This process is repeated until a prime number is detected.
US09182942B2
A Dynamic Motion Element for use in testing crash avoidance technologies in a subject vehicle is disclosed. The Dynamic Motion Element includes a body comprising an upper surface wherein the upper surface is adapted to support a soft-body having the size and shape of a vehicle. The body has at least one tapered side so as to allow the subject vehicle to drive up to and on the upper surface with minimal to no damage to the subject vehicle or the Dynamic Motion Element. The body is supported by at least two rotational structures, including at least one driven rotational structure coupled with an electronically-controlled power source. The electronically-controlled braking system applies braking force to at least one of the rotational structures.
US09182937B2
A dual-screen user device and methods are disclosed for revealing a combination of desktops on single and multiple screens. A determined number of desktops and/or running applications are displayed on dual screen displays conditioned upon inputs received and the state of the device. Desktop displays and applications can be shifted between the screens by user gestures, and/or selected desktop displays. Applications can be moved off of the screens by other user gestures and therefore hidden. Hidden desktops and screens can be re-displayed by other gestures. Desktops and applications are arranged in a window stack that represents a logical order therefore providing a user with an intuitive ability to manage multiple applications and desktops running simultaneously. The user gestures prevent the user from having to open and close the running desktops and applications that otherwise may require laborious efforts by the user to manage the multiple running desktops and applications.
US09182936B2
Disclosed is an interaction mobile displaying device for jointly displaying one virtual screen image with other interaction mobile displaying devices, comprising display means for displaying a physical screen image corresponding to a portion of the virtual screen image; computing means for executing computations of the interaction mobile displaying device; and communication means for communicating with other interaction mobile displaying devices, so that those interaction mobile displaying devices are capable of interacting with each other via the virtual screen image.
US09182935B2
Methods and devices for selectively presenting a user interface on a second screen. More particularly, the method includes a change in the display mode of a multiple screen device from a first screen to a second screen while the device is closed. The change in the display mode may be made in a menu. The menu can be rendered in response to a request. The change to the second screen can be received by the selection of a user interface device in the menu. In response to the selection, the device can render the user interface in the second screen.
US09182930B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a printer user interface (UI) component configured to handle presentation of information to a user during printing operations. The printer UI component may de-couple the rendering and configuration functionality provided by a printer driver from the presentation of information to end users, thereby reducing the risk that applications may crash or hang due to printer driver malfunction. In some embodiments, a registry of events upon which information should be presented to the user is established, and the printer UI component may be registered for some or all of these events, so that when the specified events occur the printer UI component may be invoked to cause information to be presented to the user.
US09182923B2
The storage system includes a progress status detection unit that detects respective progress statuses representing proportions of the amounts of processing performed by respective processing units to the amount of processing performed by the entire storage system, each of the processing units being implemented in the storage system and performing a predetermined task; a target value setting unit that sets target values of processing states of the processing units, based on the detected progress statuses of the respective processing units and ideal values of the progress statuses which are preset for the respective processing units; and a processing operation controlling unit that controls the processing states of the processing units such that the processing states of the processing units meet the set target values.
US09182918B2
A clustered network-based storage system includes a host server, multiple high availability system controller pairs, and multiple storage devices across multiple arrays. Two independent storage array subsystems each include a quorum drive copy and are each controlled by a HA pair, with remote volume mirroring links coupling the separate HA pairs. The host server includes a virtualization agent that identifies and prioritizes communication paths, and also determines capacity across all system nodes. A system storage management agent determines an overall storage profile across the system. The virtualization agent, storage management agent, quorum drive copies and remote volume mirroring link all operate to provide increased redundancy, load sharing, or both between the separate first and second arrays of storage devices.
US09182917B1
Described are methods, systems, and apparatus for reducing storage system polling when collecting and providing storage system state data. A plurality of poll requests for storage system state data is received. For each poll request of the plurality of poll requests, a poll request arrival time associated with the poll request is stored. A first poll is initiated to collect first storage system state data for a first poll request of the plurality of poll requests. A first poll start time associated with the first poll is stored. The first poll is completed, forming the first storage system state data. For each poll request of the plurality of poll requests, the first storage system state data is provided for the poll request provided that the poll request arrival time is before the first poll start time.
US09182915B2
A data access system including a processor having (i) one or more levels of cache, and (ii) a storage system that includes a main memory and a cache module. The cache module includes a controller and a final level of cache to be accessed by the controller prior to accessing the main memory. In response to data required by the processor not being cached within the one or more levels of cache of the processor, the processor generates an address of a physical location within the storage system. The controller converts the address of the physical location within the storage system into an address of a virtual location within the final level of cache. The address of the virtual location is useable by the cache module to determine whether the data required by the processor is cached within the final level of cache.
US09182913B2
A cloud based storage system and methods for uploading and accessing 3-D data partitioned across distributed storage nodes of the system. The data cube is processed to identify discrete partitions thereof, which partitions may be organized according to the x (e.g., inline), y (e.g., crossline) and/ or z (e.g., time) aspects of the cube. The partitions are stored in unique storage nodes associated with unique keys. Sub-keys may also be used as indexes to specific data values or collections of values (e.g., traces) within a partition. Upon receiving a request, the proper partitions and values within the partitions are accessed, and the response may be passed to a renderer that converts the values into an image displayable at a client device. The request may also facilitate data or image access at a local cache, a remote cache, or the storage partitions using location, data, retrieval, and/or rendering parameters.
US09182912B2
The present invention is directed to a method for providing storage acceleration in a data storage system. In the data storage system described herein, multiple independent controllers may be utilized, such that a first storage controller may be connected to a first storage tier (ex.—a fast tier) which includes a solid-state drive, while a second storage controller may be connected to a second storage tier (ex.—a slower tier) which includes a hard disk drive. The accelerator functionality may be split between the host of the system and the first storage controller of the system (ex.—some of the accelerator functionality may be offloaded to the first storage controller) for promoting improved storage acceleration performance within the system.
US09182904B2
An embodiment provides a method, comprising: detecting an object positioned relative to a touch surface of an information handling device; determining a position on the touch surface at which the object is located; associating the position on the touch screen with a cue type; and providing a cue of the cue type associated with the position, the cue indicating the determined position of the touch surface. Other aspects are described and claimed.
US09182903B2
A method on an electronic device is described. A set of graphics and a set of stored keywords are received in a higher-power mode of operation, each graphic corresponding to one or more of the stored keywords. The higher-power mode of operation is discontinued to enter a lower-power mode of operation. In the lower-power mode: audio signals are listened for; it is detected whether any keywords of the set of stored keywords are present in the audio signals; detected keywords present in the audio signals are stored; a graphic is selected from the set of graphics based on a comparison between the set of detected keywords and the set of stored keywords; a first portion of the selected graphic is displayed, in response to the at least one control signal, on a first area of a touch screen display that is within a first portion of the touch screen display.
US09182902B2
Disclosed is a controlling method for fixing a scale ratio of browsing images of a touch device. The controlling method comprises the steps of: determining a zooming region on a display screen, which is determined by pinching the browsing image from a selected position to thus zoom in or zoom out the browsing image, and the scale ratio of zooming is accordingly determined; displaying a screen-locking icon on the display screen, wherein the scale ratio is locked when the screen-locking icon is triggered to be in a locking state; and displaying the other browsing images with the same scale ratio of zooming and with a viewing size same as the zooming region.
US09182898B2
A method for operating a display device of a motor vehicle, by which image content in a shift step or in a plurality of shift steps which are carried out one after another with an image repetition frequency are shifted to a target position on a screen, and in the process the target position is predefined by a memory content of a target position memory, and the memory content is changed as a function of signal pulses which are generated by an operator control element, activated by a user, the pulse rate of which is lower than the image repetition frequency. The scrolling is intended to take place uniformly. For this purpose, a sequence composed of a plurality of component pulses is generated for at least one of the signal pulses, and the memory content is changed with the image repetition frequency on the basis of the component pulses.
US09182894B1
In a method for displaying information on a screen, information configured as a first element and a second element, in a separate space from the latter, for simultaneous display on the same screen page is supplied. The first element and the second element are separated from one another again in a second step and are then displayed on a screen at separate times.
US09182892B2
A method and apparatus for identifying a condition of assembly. A model for an aircraft is identified. A state from states of assembly for the aircraft is identified. Parts present in the aircraft for the state selected for the aircraft are identified. Sections of the aircraft with the parts present in the aircraft are displayed for the state selected in a graphical user interface on a display device.
US09182890B2
An image display apparatus and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The method for operating the image display apparatus includes displaying a home screen including at least one card object including a content list, displaying a card object generation screen if card object generation input is received, and, if at least one content item displayed on the card object generation screen is selected, adding the selected content item to a card object to be generated. Therefore, it is possible to increase user convenience.
US09182885B2
At least one additional menu layer can be selected in a menu layer and be displayed on a display unit by means of at least one control element. The additional menu layer selected via the control element is displayed in the display unit as a preview when an object approaches the control element that is equipped with a proximity sensor or when an object touches the control element that is fitted with a tactile sensor. The additional menu layer disappears again when the object, e.g. a person's finger, is removed, and the originally represented menu layer is automatically displayed again. This prevents the control elements from being repeatedly actuated, thus significantly increasing user friendliness and improving customer acceptance.
US09182881B2
A method and computer system for rapid and accurate automatic vectoring of a graphical user interface pointer to a selectable item on a display. Based upon pointer movement input from a pointing device (e.g., a mouse, touchpad or specially configured keyboard), a direction of travel vector from an initial anchor position towards a target item is determined. The location of the target item is extrapolated and the pointer is automatically moved to that target item. To ensure that the pointer moves to the intended target item, the location of the target item is extrapolated based upon the direction of travel vector and default and/or user defined parameters. Optional user defined parameters include initial pointer anchor position, vector sensitivity, automatic selection of target item, and user defined pointer limitations.
US09182880B2
A method of displaying images via touching and an electronic apparatus thereof are provided. The method includes the following steps. A basic input/output system (BIOS) is loaded to execute an initialization program of the electronic apparatus, where the electronic apparatus has not loaded an operating system. The touch display module is defined to include a human interface device, and the touch display device has a virtual input area, and an input interface is displayed at the virtual input area. A touch event is generated when the touch display device is touched, and a coordinate value is generated according to the touch event. When the coordinate value locates in the input interface, the coordinate value corresponds to a functional code of the human interface device, and a corresponding operation is executed according to the functional code.
US09182869B2
A touch panel includes a first sensor panel including at least one receiving electrode, a second sensor panel including at least one transmission electrode, and overlaid on the first sensor panel, and a third sensor panel including a predetermined electrode at least a part of which overlaps with the one transmission electrode, and overlaid on the second sensor panel. A transmission signal identical to that for the one transmission electrode can be applied on the predetermined electrode.
US09182864B2
A projected capacitive touch panel that can detect touch pressure. The cover layer of projected capacitive touch panel has protrusions with gaps that fill up partially when finger is pressed, thereby registering a large change in projected capacitance. A keyboard using such device with optional mechanical switches underneath the touch surface for tactile feedback. Haptic feedback is coupled to detection of touch pressure. Reconfigurable keyboard and trackpad regions on a touch panel sensitive to touch pressure with tactile feedback from underlying mechanical switches. A mouse with left and right click support using projected capacitive touchpad with pressure detection for mouse click. Human finger based mimicking of mouse operation in combination with touch pressure detection. Supporting gestures that use touch pressure. Providing a visual feedback in an underlying display when touch pressure is detected. Providing an audio feedback when touch pressure is detected.
US09182863B2
A portable electronic device includes a touch control module and a processing module. The touch control module has a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, a conductive decoration pad, a decoration layer and a non-transparent conductive layer. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the substrate. The conductive decoration pad is disposed on the transparent conductive layer. The decoration layer is disposed on the conductive decoration pad and the transparent conductive layer, and has an opening. The non-transparent conductive layer is disposed on the decoration layer and electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer via the opening. The processing module is electrically connected with the touch control module.
US09182850B2
A touch type electrophoretic display apparatus, including: at least one photo-controlled voltage source, used for generating at least one reference voltage, wherein the level of the at least one reference voltage gets lower/higher as the intensity of environmental light increases/decreases; and a plurality of photo sensing circuits, each of which including: a photo transistor, generating a channel current according to an incident light; a light intensity storing capacitor, used for integrating the channel current to generate a photo sensing voltage; and an output switch, used for providing an output signal.
US09182845B2
A sensor for, and a method of, generating electrical signals indicating a positional property and an extent property of a mechanical interaction within a sensing zone. The sensor comprises a plurality of conductive layers. At least one conductive layer is a pressure-sensitive conductive layer comprising a quantum tunnelling conductance (qtc) material. Contact between conductive layers is allowed during the absence of a mechanical interaction within said sensing zone. The sensor may be configured to provide a three-terminal sensing functionality or a four-terminal sensing functionality. The sensing zone may be substantially two-dimensional or substantially three-dimensional. The sensor may be substantially flexible or substantially rigid.
US09182841B2
An input apparatus includes a pointing device which has a main unit and an operation unit, and a fixing unit which fixes the pointing device to a hand. The pointing device is attached to the hand via the fixing unit when the input apparatus is used. The fixing unit fixes the main unit to the thumb side or the back side of the hand when the input apparatus is attached to the hand.
US09182839B2
A communication link may be managed between the user interface and a system, where the user interface allows a user to select the system. The user interface is determined to be capable of being used with the system. It is communicated that the user interface may be used with the system. The user requests that the user interface be allocated for use with the system. The user interface is allocated for use with the system.
US09182831B2
A system for implementing the sliding input of a text based upon an on-screen soft keyboard on an electronic equipment is provided, and the system comprises a feature lexicon module, a feature lexicon establishment module, a user interface module, a sliding trajectory feature extraction module, a rough classifying and filtering module, a rough matching and filtering module and an accurate matching and sorting module. A method for implementing the sliding input of a text based upon an on-screen soft keyboard on an electronic equipment according to the system is also provided. The system and the method for implementing the sliding input of a text based upon an on-screen soft keyboard on an electronic equipment not only can ensure a speed, but also can input a word according to the preorder trajectory of the input portion, and cleverly use a forecasting-between-slidings input, decrease a sliding distance, effectively improve the input speed and accuracy of words, reduce the operation complexity of users, which realize a simple implementation process, convenient and fast utilization, stable and reliable working performance and an extensive applicable scope, bringing the work and life of people huge convenience.
US09182816B2
An information processing apparatus includes an imaging unit, a display, a detection unit, and controller. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image to acquire a captured image. The imaging unit is configured to capture an image to acquire a captured image. The display has a display surface that faces in the same direction as an imaging direction of the imaging unit. The detection unit is configured to perform imaging processing on the captured image to detect an opening degree of eye of a user in the captured image. The controller is configured to control a presentation of the display based on a result of the detection by the detection unit.
US09182815B2
The technology provides embodiments for making static printed content being viewed through a see-through, mixed reality display device system more dynamic with display of virtual data. A printed content item, for example a book or magazine, is identified from image data captured by cameras on the display device, and user selection of a printed content selection within the printed content item is identified based on physical action user input, for example eye gaze or a gesture. A task in relation to the printed content selection can also be determined based on physical action user input. Virtual data for the printed content selection is displayed in accordance with the task. Additionally, virtual data can be linked to a work embodied in a printed content item. Furthermore, a virtual version of the printed material may be displayed at a more comfortable reading position and with improved visibility of the content.
US09182813B2
Image-based object tracking system includes at least a controller with two or more color clusters, an input button, a processing unit with a camera, an object tracking algorithm and a display. Camera is configured to capture images of the controller, the processing unit is connected to display to display processed image contents, the controller is directly interacting with displayed processed image content. The controller can have two or three color clusters located on a side surface thereof and two color clusters having concentric circular areas located at a top surface thereof, the color of the first color cluster can be the same as or different from the color of the third color cluster. An object tracking method with or without scale calibration is also provided, which includes color learning and color relearning, image capturing, separating and splitting of the controller and the background, object pairing procedure steps on the controller.
US09182812B2
Methods and systems for detecting activation of a virtual sensor in a scene are proposed, wherein the virtual sensor comprises data representing a geometric form, data representing a position in the scene and data representing one or several trigger conditions. A data representation of the scene is captured, and a determination of whether a virtual sensor trigger condition is fulfilled is made, based on an analysis of the captured data representation in an area corresponding to the geometric form and position of the virtual sensor.
US09182811B2
A method and apparatus for interfacing dynamic hardware power managed blocks and software power managed blocks is disclosed. In one embodiment, and integrated circuit (IC) may include a number of power manageable functional units. The functional units maybe power managed through hardware, software, or both. Each of the functional units may be coupled to at least one other functional unit through a direct communications link. A link state machine may monitor each of the communications links between functional units, and may broadcast indications of link availability to the functional units coupled to the link. Responsive to a software request to shut down a given link, or a hardware initiated shutdown of one of the functional units coupled to the link, the link state machine may broadcast and indication that the link is unavailable.
US09182792B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a cellular telephone terminal in which intuitive operation is possible, by providing a rotary dial portion. A cellular telephone terminal is provided with: a body that includes an operation unit side body, a display part side body, and a hinge mechanism that connects the operation unit side body and the display part side body; a rotary dial portion, which is rotatable around a rotational axis, and which is attached to the body with a standard position; a mark which serves as an indicator for a rotation amount of the rotary dial portion; and a control part that causes one application among a plurality of applications to enter a state in which activation thereof is possible, based on the rotation amount of the rotary dial portion.
US09182785B2
Disclosed is a protective case for an electronic device. The protective case has two layers, an inner cushion insert that surrounds a portion of the electronic device and an outer elastomeric shell. The cushion insert includes raised impact portions that extend through the cover, and that are capable of absorbing shocks from impacts.
US09182774B2
A method for operating an accelerator pedal unit for motor vehicles, wherein a change in position of the pedal plate, which is brought about by a corresponding activation force, with respect to the starting position of said pedal plate counter to a restoring force of a pedal restoring spring brings about an increase in the driving force of the drive motor of the motor vehicle, and when the activation force diminishes the restoring force of the pedal restoring spring moves the pedal plate back in the direction of its starting position, wherein an electromechanical actuator which can be actuated externally is arranged in such a way that an additional restoring force acting on the pedal plate can be set.
US09182768B2
A voltage margin controller, an IC included the same and a method of controlling voltage margin for a voltage domain of an IC are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the voltage margin controller includes: (1) monitoring branches including circuit function indicators configured to indicate whether circuitry in the voltage domain could operate at corresponding candidate reduced voltage levels and (2) a voltage margin adjuster coupled to the monitoring branches and configured to develop a voltage margin adjustment for a voltage regulator of the voltage domain based upon an operating number of the circuit function indicators.
US09182758B1
A computer-implemented system and method for capability zone-based manufacturing quality control are provided. A specification for manufacturing a part feature is obtained, the specification including a nominal and a tolerance. A plurality of measurements for the feature are obtained. A difference is determined between the nominal and each of the measurements. The difference for each of the measurements is compared to the tolerance. Each of the measurements is assigned into one of a plurality of capability zones of measurements based on the comparison. Visual representations of the capability zones into which the measurements were assigned are displayed.
US09182753B2
A method controls an operation of a system. The system is operated by a controller. The controller is model-based controller determined according to a model of the system. The method updates the model, during the operation, based on an extremum seeking, and updates the controller based on the updated model.
US09182741B2
A bearing member engageable and disengageable from a recessed portion of an image forming apparatus body is included. While the bearing member is engaged into the recessed portion, a cross-sectional area occupancy ratio which is a degree of area occupied by a cross-section of the bearing member to a cross-section of the recessed portion is 15% or higher and 75% or less. An outer peripheral shape of the bearing member in a cross-section is a hexagon, and assuming that a radius of a circumscribed circle of the hexagon is r1g, and when a hexagon is formed by sides enclosed by a triangle formed at an opening of the recessed portion when the recessed portion is viewed from a front in the axial direction and a triangle formed at a bottom of the recessed portion, a radius of an inscribed circle of the hexagon is r2h, r1g−r2h>0.
US09182735B2
A developer cartridge is described. The developer cartridge detachably mountable on a tandem type photosensitive unit slidable to a drawn-out position and a mounted position with respect to an image forming apparatus body may include a casing; a developer carrier rotatably supported on one end portion of the casing for carrying a developer; a pair of upright portions arranged on another end portion of the casing at an interval from each other in the axial direction of the developer carrier to extend from another end portion of the casing in a detaching direction for the developer cartridge; and an elastically deformable coupling portion extending in the axial direction of the developer carrier for coupling the upright portions with each other.
US09182722B2
A serial tandem image forming system is described which is capable of inhibiting both the degradation of image quality and the reduction of the productivity. This system consists mainly of the control units of upstream and downstream apparatuses. When a preceding sheet differs from the subsequent sheet in sheet type, a control unit for controlling the image forming system has the subsequent sheet stand by at a paper stop roller of the upstream apparatus, and performs the operation of switching the operating states of the upstream and downstream apparatuses in accordance with the sheet type of the subsequent sheet. Also, the control unit predicts the timing of finishing the switching of the operating state, and then re-starts the conveyance of the subsequent sheet, in advance of finishing the switching of the operating state, by controlling the paper stop roller on the basis of the predicted finishing timing.
US09182718B2
An image forming apparatus capable of toggling between image formation mode and energy conservation mode, the image formation mode allowing image formation on a recording medium, and the energy conservation mode having power consumption lower than that of the image formation mode, the image forming apparatus including: a constantly-energized portion that is energized both in the image formation mode and the energy conservation mode; a non-constantly-energized portion that is energized only in the image formation mode; and an opening/closing member capable of exposing an internal mechanism held inside a casing of the image forming apparatus, in which the constantly-energized portion toggles from the energy conservation mode to image formation mode when the opening/closing member is closed from an opened state in the energy conservation mode.
US09182717B2
Image recording devices, such as electrophotographic devices, laser printers, copiers, and fax machines, often have a cartridge that utilizes an encoder wheel assembly in addition to or instead of a chip for determining toner load. It may be desirable to alter the encoder wheel or part of the cartridge, either by the printer or the cartridge, to permit a deliberate end of life function situation that requires the replacement of the cartridge, encoder wheel, or encoder wheel assembly components. This thereby controls the remanufacture or replacement of the toner cartridge in a way that is desirable to the manufacturer and prevents unauthorized refilling of the cartridge.
US09182713B2
In one aspect of the invention, a fixing apparatus that heats a recording material having a toner image while conveying the recording material at a nip portion to make the toner image fix onto the recording material includes a cylindrical belt having a heat generating layer that generates heat by being energized and a contact for supplying electricity to the heat generating layer. The contact is in contact with one of an outer surface and an inner surface of an end of the belt in the generatrix direction of the belt. An electrically conductive layer is provided, along the direction of rotation of the belt, on a surface of the heat generating layer opposite to a surface of the heat generating layer at which the contact is present.
US09182711B2
An image forming device includes a toner-image forming unit; a heating unit; and a processor. The toner-image forming unit is configured to form a toner image on a sheet using toner. The heating unit is configured to generate heat for thermally fixing the toner image to the sheet. The processor is configured to perform a first fixing process to control the heating unit to start generating heat in a first mode, and a second fixing process to switch the first mode to a second mode at a switch timing ahead of an estimated end timing at which thermal fixing of toner images to all sheets to be consecutively printed is completed. The heat amount per unit time generated by the heating unit in the second mode is smaller than a heat amount per unit time generated by the heating unit in the first mode.
US09182704B2
A developer conveyance device includes a developer reservoir for containing developer, and a positive-displacement pump to alternately generate positive pressure and negative pressure by varying a volume of space therein to transport developer from the developer reservoir to a destination. When Qp represents a volume of developer moved by a single pumping action of the pump, calculated by multiplying a maximum flow amount of the pump per unit time by an operation time of the pump; Qd represents a volume of developer contained in the developer reservoir; and Qe represents a volume of developer present in a virtual columnar space defined by vertically raising the developer outlet to a level of developer contained in the developer reservoir, either Qp>Qd or Qp>Qe is satisfied.
US09182700B2
A cleaning member for an image forming apparatus, includes a core, a foamed elastic layer disposed by winding a strip-shaped foamed elastic member on an outer peripheral surface of the core in a helical form so as to extend from one end of the core to the other end, and a bonding layer for bonding the core and the foamed elastic layer together, wherein the area of a region within a surface at one or both ends at least in a longitudinal direction of the foamed elastic layer on a side facing the outer peripheral surface of the core, contacting the outer peripheral surface of the core via the bonding layer is substantially 35% or more by area ratio per unit area.
US09182699B2
A developing device causes toner to be discharged from a foam layer by an intrusion member configured to intrude into the foam layer of a supply roller, and to be supplied to above a contact region between a developing roller and the supply roller.
US09182695B2
An external additive for toner that contains a resin particle and two or more kinds of particulates having different compositions present on the resin particle.
US09182693B2
A toner to develop an electrostatic charge image, the toner including at least a binder resin, a colorant, and a releasing agent, wherein a weight average molecular weight of the toner measured by using a gel permeation chromatography (GPC) method on a tetrahydrofuran (THF) soluble fraction is in a range of about 30,000 to about 80,000 g/mol, wherein a molecular weight distribution curve of the toner obtained by using the GPC method on the THF soluble fraction has at least one peak in a molecular weight range of 100 to 1,000 g/mol, a peak in a molecular weight range of 1,000 to 5,000 g/mol, and a main peak in a molecular weight range of 5,000 to 20,000 g/mol, a method of preparing the toner, a device to supply the toner, and an apparatus and method of forming an image by using the toner. The toner has more than certain levels of low-temperature fixability, an anti-hot-offset property, a charging ability, a gloss property, and a heat storage ability. The toner has a long lifetime, and thus, provides a high-quality image in a stable and energy-saving manner.
US09182692B2
An electrostatic image developing toner including: first toner particles which contain a first binder resin and a brightness pigment; and second toner particles which contain a second binder resin and do not contain a brightness pigment, wherein the proportion of the second toner particles is in a range from 5% by number to 80% by number with respect to a total number of all toner particles.
US09182688B2
An image forming apparatus, including: an electrostatic latent image bearing member; an electrostatic latent image forming unit configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the electrostatic latent image bearing member; and a developing unit containing a toner and configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with the toner to thereby form a visible image, wherein the developing unit is a contact type one-component developing unit which includes a toner bearing member being in contact with the electrostatic latent image bearing member, wherein a contact pressure between the electrostatic latent image bearing member and the toner bearing member is 2.0×104 N/m2 to 7.5×104 N/m2, wherein the toner contains a binder resin and a releasing agent, and wherein an extracted amount of the releasing agent extracted with hexane from the toner is 10 mg/g to 25 mg/g.
US09182687B2
Provided is an electrophotographic photoreceptor including a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate, wherein an outermost surface layer includes a cured film of a composition containing inorganic particles having polymerizable groups and at least one selected from the reactive compounds represented by the following formulae (I) and (II): wherein F represents a charge transporting skeleton; L represents a divalent linking group; and m represents an integer of 1 to 8, wherein F represents a charge transporting skeleton; L′ represents an (n+1)-valent linking group; m′ represents an integer of 1 to 6; and n represents an integer of 2 to 3.
US09182686B2
Spacers arranged on opposite sides of an article to be processed into an EUV pellicle support the article. Plates on opposite ends of the spacer-article combination include respective electrodes. The plates, article, and spacers can be held together with a vacuum retention system. A center hole of each spacer forms a chamber with surfaces engaged by the spacer. A fluid entry extending from an outer surface of each spacer to its center hole allows delivery of fluid to each chamber. Additional spacers can be used to support additional articles. Additional plates and electrodes can also be used.
US09182670B2
A polymer comprising 0.5-10 mol % of recurring units having acid generating capability and 50-99.5 mol % of recurring units providing for dissolution in alkaline developer is used to formulate a chemically amplified negative resist composition. When used in a lithography process, the composition exhibits a high resolution and forms a negative resist pattern of a profile with minimized LER and undercut.
US09182663B2
A photoresist composition comprising: a resin which shows an increase in solubility in an aqueous alkali solution by an action of an acid; an acid generator; a compound represented by formula (I); and a solvent the amount of which is from 40 to 75% by mass of the total amount of the photoresist composition: wherein the ring W1 is a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring, or a benzene ring having a substituted or unsubstituted amino group, A1 represents a phenyl group or a naphtyl group, and n represents an integer of 2 or 3.
US09182658B2
An ultrasound system comprises a probe including a two-dimensional (2D) array of transducer elements that form an aperture having a plurality of receive elements that are configured to receive ultrasound signals. The transducer elements form at least one transmit sub-aperture that is configured to be interconnected with a fixed group of the transducer elements within the aperture. Transmitters generate electrical transmit signals, and at least one transmit sub-aperture processor (tx SAP) maps the transducer elements within the fixed group of the transducer elements to the transmitters in a transmit configuration based on a beam steering direction.
US09182657B2
A computerized system for displaying and making measurements based upon captured oblique images. The system includes an image-capturing device capturing oblique aerial images at image-capturing events and issuing image-data signals corresponding to captured images; at least one geo-locating device issuing a corresponding at least one geo-locating signal indicative at least in part of a geo-location of said image-capturing device during each image capturing event; a computer system receiving and storing said image-data signals and said at least one geo-locating signal; and the computer system executing image and data acquiring software reading the image-data signals and the at least one geo-locating signal, and associating each of the image-data signal with a corresponding at least one geo-locating signal for each image-capturing event.
US09182651B2
An image pickup apparatus arranged to set a correction value for adjusting a focus position obtained by a predetermined detection method at a time of photographing, is arranged such that if a limitation processing is executed with respect to selection of an AF frame at the time of photographing, a display manner at the time of selection of an AF frame which is to be used when the correction value is set and stored is made different between a selectable AF frame and an unselectable AF frame or is made by applying the same limitation as the limitation processing at the time of photographing.
US09182637B2
A liquid crystal display panel comprise a first substrate, a second substrate and a electrode structure. The electrode structure is disposed on the first substrate. The electrode structure further comprises a first sub-electrode having a first stem electrode with a first end edge and a first branch electrode nearest the first end edge, and a second sub-electrode having a second stem electrode with a second end edge and a second branch electrode nearest the second end edge. The first sub-electrode and the second sub-electrode are adjacent to each other, and the first end edge are adjacent to the second end edge. A first distance between the first end edge and the first branch electrode is different from a second distance between the second end edge and the second branch electrode.
US09182625B2
A display having high re-workability, a method for producing the display, and a transparent resin filler, are provided. A transparent resin filler (5), in which a value obtained on multiplying a hardness of an as-cured resin, expressed as Shore E, with a bonding strength, is not greater than 400, is used as a material of a transparent resin layer (4) to be charged between a picture image display panel (2) and a front side panel (3). In case an undesirable situation, such as mixing of foreign matter in the transparent resin layer (4), has occurred, a re-working member may be moved with ease through a space between the picture image display panel (2) and the front side panel (3) to separate picture image display panel (2) and the front side panel (3) from each other.
US09182621B2
A multicolor electronic display is based on an array of luminescent semiconductor nanocrystals. Nanocrystals which emit tight of different colors are grouped into pixels. The nanocrystals are optically pumped to produce a multicolor display. Different sized nanocrystals are used to produce the different colors. A variety of pixel addressing systems can be used.
US09182611B2
A lens barrel (1) comprises an actuator (430), and an image blurring correction device (500) provided near the actuator (430). The image blurring correction device (500) has a magnetic sensor (524), a magnet (515), and a shield plate (514). The shield plate (514) comprises a main body (514a) that is opposite the magnet (515), and a protrusion (514b) that protrudes from the main body (514a). The main body (514a) is provided at a position through which pass lines of magnetic force generated from a first magnetic pole, out of the lines of magnetic force produced from the actuator (430). The protrusion (514b) is provided at a position through which pass lines of magnetic force generated from a second magnetic pole, out of the lines of magnetic force produced from the actuator (430).
US09182610B2
An image blur correction apparatus including a lens unit configured to include at least one lens and configured to be turnable in a first direction which is a direction about a first supporting axis that is orthogonal to a light axis of the lens with respect to an outer housing, and in a second direction which is a direction about a second supporting axis that is orthogonal to the light axis and the first supporting axis, a fixed member configured to be arranged on an outer periphery side of the lens unit and configured to turnably support the lens unit in the first direction and the second direction, a first drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the first direction, and a second drive unit configured to turn the lens unit in the second direction.
US09182609B2
An integrator includes a plurality of rectangular lens cells arranged in a direction x and a direction y. Laser light emitted from a laser source is projected onto an integrator. A beam irradiation position moving unit is configured to cause the laser light to scan the surface of the integrator in the directions x and y so that the laser light is sequentially projected onto a plurality of lens cells. A reflective liquid crystal device is configured to modulate the laser light emitted from the integrator. A projection lens is configured to project the laser light modulated by the reflective liquid crystal device.
US09182605B2
A front-projection 3D autostereoscopic display system using time-sequencing approach is configured for forming a plurality of perspective views of 3D images of an object or scene in a field of view. The 3D displays system comprises a display component, an optical scanning assembly, a sensor and a controller. The optical scanning assembly includes a first lens array, an optical beam shifting device, an optical projection block and a reflection screen. The reflection screen comprises a second converging lens array and a mirror. In the first and second embodiments of the present invention the reflection screen is made respectively flat or curved. The present invention can be used with a wide range of screen sizes especially for large screens and allows significant reduction or elimination of optical cross-talk and also reduces mechanical complexity of 3D display system.
US09182604B2
A minimized-thickness angular scanner of electromagnetic radiation includes an optical sandwich having a two-dimensional (2D) image source, and a scanning assembly that includes a first optic and a second optic, wherein at least one of the first optic and the second optic are oscillatorily translating. Translation of the optics provides for generation of a three-dimensional (3D) image, while the optical sandwich design provides for compact implementation of 3D displays.
US09182603B2
A projector includes a light source that emits light containing first wavelength light and second wavelength light of which light intensity is lower than that of the first wavelength light when the light source is driven at predetermined electric power, a light separation unit that separates the light from the light source into the first and the second wavelength light, an image formation unit that modulates the first wavelength light in accordance with a first image and modulates the second wavelength light in accordance with a second image, a control unit that supplies the light source with first electric power when the first image is formed, whereas supplying the light source with second electric power that is higher than the first electric power when the second image is formed, and a projection unit that projects the first image and the second image.
US09182600B2
An image display apparatus includes a plurality of light source sections, a light combining section that combines light fluxes, an optical scan section that swings around a first axis and a second axis to deflect a combined light from the light combining section for scanning, and a controller that controls an amplitude of the optical scan section around the first axis to be greater than that of the optical scan section around the second axis, wherein an optical axis of each of the light fluxes from the plurality of light source sections to the optical scan section and the first axis are present in a first plane, the optical scan section has a light reflection surface configured to be perpendicular to the first plane, and the light reflection surface is irradiated with the combined light and traveling in a direction inclined to a normal to the light reflection surface.
US09182599B2
A head mounted display (HMD) is disclosed. The HMD comprises a screen, a processing circuit and an eyeglass frame. The screen displays a coded data associated with an exchange information. The processing circuit outputs the coded data to the screen. The eyeglass frame carries the screen and the processing circuit.
US09182597B2
The general field of the invention is that of optical guides for collimated images comprising a first and a second image conductor functioning by total reflection, each conductor comprising a plurality of plates that are planar, semi-reflective, mutually parallel and inclined with respect to the plane of the external faces of the image conductors. The two conductors are arranged so as to deliver a collimated image to a large pupil. The optical guide according to the invention comprises an optical beam doubler element having substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In its basic version, it comprises four external planar facets, two internal semi-reflective planar mirrors, said mirrors being mutually perpendicular, a planar entrance face intended to receive a collimated image, and an exit face adhesively bonded to the injection section of one of the image conductors. The invention also relates to the whole of the display device associated with this optical guide.
US09182591B2
An electrowetting system and method for the movement of a droplet across the surface of a substrate, utilizing an applied voltage. The actuation of the droplet is achieved by introducing a diode into the idealized electrical circuit of the electrowetting system. The diode is in parallel with a capacitor (dielectric) and effectively shorts the droplet on the side of a lower potential electrode so that the entire voltage drop is across the dielectric over the higher potential electrode. This difference in potential creates an energy imbalance that is effective in moving the droplet towards the higher potential electrode. If the voltage polarity is reversed, the direction of actuation will also be reversed.
US09182583B2
A structured illumination microscopy optical arrangement includes a projection path and an imaging path. The imaging path includes an imaging sensor and imaging optical elements. The projection path includes a light generator, a pattern generating element such as a spatial light modulator (SLM), and projection optical elements including an output lens and a projector artifact suppression element (PASE) located in the projection path between the SLM and the output lens. The PASE may include birefringent material which splits respective light rays of the structured illumination pattern source light to provide at least one replication of the structured illumination pattern with an offset transverse to the projection path. The offset replication of the structured illumination pattern increases the accuracy of the system by reducing spatial harmonic errors and spurious intensity variations due to projector pixel gap artifacts which may otherwise produce errors in resulting Z-height measurements.
US09182581B2
The microscope apparatus includes a light source which outputs linear polarization having a first wavelength, a polarization conversion element which includes a liquid crystal layer, and by causing linear polarization to pass the liquid crystal layer, converts linear polarization to radial polarization, an objective lens which focuses the radial polarization onto an object surface, a condenser lens which collimates the light reflected from the object surface, a light receiving element which receives light collimated by the condenser lens and outputs signal in accordance with the intensity of light, and a controller which applies electric voltage in accordance with the first wavelength to the liquid crystal layer of the polarization conversion element. The polarization conversion element is disposed in the pupil plane of the objective lens on the light source side.
US09182580B1
An optical probe system includes a sample plate for holding a target device comprising an integrated circuit, and a rotational stage that includes a plurality of ports configured to receive and hold a plurality of optical objective systems that can collect reflected or emitted light from the integrated circuit. At least one of the ports includes a centering plate mounted on the rotational stage and configured to conduct a translational movement on the rotational stage. The port also includes a gimbal plate mounted on the centering plate and that can be tilted relative to the centering plate. A first optical objective system that is mounted on the gimbal plate can be centered by the center plate and aligned by the gimbal plate.
US09182578B2
An imaging optical system has a plurality of mirrors, which image an object field in an object plane into an image field in an image plane. A reflection face of at least one of the mirrors is configured as a free form face which cannot be described by a rotationally symmetrical function. The object field has an aspect ratio greater than 1. A ratio of a minimal and a maximal transverse dimension of the object field can be less than 0.9.
US09182572B2
A photographing optical lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The third lens element has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof.
US09182571B2
An imaging lens is composed of a first lens having a negative meniscus shape with a convex surface on the object side, a negative second lens, a positive third lens, an aperture stop, a negative fourth lens, and a positive fifth lens disposed in order from the object side. The fourth and the fifth lens are cemented with an interface which is convex on the object side and has an aspherical shape. If the radius of curvature is taken as R9 and the focal length of the entire system is taken as f, the imaging lens satisfies a conditional expression given below: 1.0
US09182567B2
An optical connector includes a first sub-assembly that is factory-installed to a first end of an optical fiber and a second sub-assembly that is field-installed to the first end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and first sub-assembly can be routed through a structure (e.g., a building) prior to installation of the second sub-assembly. The second sub-assembly interlocks with the first sub-assembly to inhibit relative axial movement therebetween. Example first sub-assemblies include a ferrule, a hub, and a strain-relief sleeve that mount to an optical fiber. Example second sub-assemblies include a mounting block; and an outer connector housing forming a plug portion.
US09182560B2
A curable polymeric composition is herein disclosed. According to one embodiment, a curable polymeric composition comprises a thermoplastic block copolymer containing at least two polymer blocks A separated by at least one polymer block B. Each polymer block A is primarily a poly(monovinyl aromatic hydrocarbon) block, and polymer block B includes hydrogenated conjugated didne. The solid curable polymeric composition further comprises a curable functional compound compatible with polymer block A. The solid curable polymeric composition optionally comprises an initiator, a plasticizer, an antioxidant; a tackifyer and an aromatic resin.
US09182559B2
A light-receiving package for flat-plate mounting which can make monitor reception sensitivity of an optical signal constant without increasing the size of a module. The light-receiving package for flat-plate mounting is provided with a first subassembly in which a photo diode is fixed to a front surface of a retaining holder, a back surface of the retaining holder is a flat surface capable of moving parallel on a plane parallel to a light-receiving surface of the photo diode and a second subassembly which has a rectangular U-shaped concave holder for retaining the retaining holder, and a flat-plate base disposed on a substrate and in which a surface of the flat-plate base that is mounted on the substrate is a flat surface capable of moving parallel to a substrate surface, the rectangular U-shaped concave holder and the flat-plate base are fixed, at least one of surfaces of the concave holder having a rectangular U-shape being a flat surface is a flat surface capable of moving parallel to the back surface of the retaining holder.
US09182558B2
A communication module includes a housing member, an electronic module, and a slidable mechanism. The housing member includes at least one fastening and releasing region, which is disposed on an external surface thereof. The fastening and releasing region has a first slant. The electronic module is partially disposed within the housing member. The slidable mechanism includes at least one extension arm with a second slant. The extension arm is accommodated within the corresponding fastening and releasing region. The second slant is aligned with the first slant, and a slope of the second slant is larger than a slope of the first slant.
US09182554B2
An optical connector includes a connector housing, a retaining plate, and two pins. The connector housing has two bores extending between rearward and forward ends of the connector housing. The retaining plate has a central opening with notches in two of its sides. Each pin extends through one of the notches, which engages the respective groove. The pins extend through the respective bores in the connector housing.
US09182546B2
A monolithic optoelectronic device has a spot-size converter optically connected to a waveguide. The overclad extending over the core of the waveguide is thinner and more highly doped that the overclad of the spot-size converter. This structure can be made by applying a process of selective etching and enhanced regrowth to create selective regions of the overclad of different thickness or doping.
US09182541B2
Provided is a graphene optical device. The optical device includes a lower clad, an optical waveguide extended on the lower clad in a first direction, a first dielectric layer disposed on the optical waveguide, and a graphene layer extended on the first dielectric layer in a second direction.
US09182538B2
A planar light source device with highly uniform intensity and high light utilization efficiency, and a display apparatus incorporating the same, are provided. A light guide plate, configured by a material such as plate-shaped and transparent acryl resin, polycarbonate resin, or glass, causes incident light to propagate within the light guide plate and then to exit the light through an exit surface as a surface emitting light. A first recess is formed substantially in the center of the exit surface. The first recess is cylinder-shaped, and on a bottom thereof is provided a lens that refracts incident light from a light source, in a direction away from the center of a circle on the bottom.
US09182529B2
A light guide element and a lamp are described. The light guide element has a length and an angle of total reflection. The light guide element includes a light-incident surface, a light-emitting surface, a first reflecting surface, and a second reflecting surface. The light-incident surface includes a first outer peripheral edge and a first inner peripheral edge. The light-emitting surface includes a second outer peripheral edge and a second inner peripheral edge. The first reflecting surface connects the first outer peripheral edge and the second outer peripheral edge. The second reflecting surface connects the first inner peripheral edge and the second inner peripheral edge. An angle is formed between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface. The angle is smaller than the angle of total reflection, and the length is greater than a predetermined distance divided by tan the angle of total reflection).
US09182528B2
The subject of the present disclosure is a multilayer nanoparticular, mesoporous structure that has properties of a Bragg reflector or of a unidimensional photonic crystal in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared ranges close to the electromagnetic spectrum. The unidimensional photonic crystal is formed by laminae with different indices of refraction and of a controlled size, made up of nanoparticles, which can be deposited on different types of substrates using a simple and reliable method. The periodic alternating of laminae with different indices of refraction gives rise to a high reflection factor which can easily be observed with the naked eye and can be measured with a spectrophotometer. In contrast to other, dense, reflective structures, the mesoporous structure of this reflector allows the passage of liquids.
US09182486B2
Sonar rendering systems and methods are described herein. One example is an apparatus that includes a transducer element, position sensing circuitry, processing circuitry, and a display device. The processing circuitry may be configured to receive raw sonar data and positioning data, convert the raw sonar data into range cell data based at least on amplitudes of the return echoes, make a location-based association between the raw sonar data and the positioning data, plot the range cell data based on respective positions derived from the positioning data and rotate the range cell data based on a direction of movement of the watercraft to generate adjusted range cell data. The processing circuitry may be further configured to convert the adjusted range cell data into sonar image data, and cause the display device to render the sonar image data with a presentation of a geographic map.
US09182485B1
An electronically steered weather radar system comprises a plurality of transmit/receive modules, a plurality of antenna modules, and a system signal processor. Each transmit/receive module may be configured to adjust the phase of a radio frequency (RF) signal to be transmitted and received. Each antenna module may be in communication with one transmit/receive module. The antenna modules may form an antenna array configured to transmit a system beam in a direction determined by the phase of the RF signal from each transmit/receive module and to generate the RF signal from the received system beam. The system signal processor may be configured to perform a first scan to detect meteorological formations wherein the system signal processor communicates with each transmit/receive module to adjust the phase of the RF signals such that the antenna array transmits and receives the system beam through a plurality of azimuth angles and a plurality of elevation angles.
US09182483B2
A synthetic aperture radar image is generated by directing randomly a beam of transmitted pulses at an area using a steerable array of antennas, wherein the area is uniformly by the transmitted pulses while the array of antennas moves along a path. A sparse reconstruction procedure is applied to received signals from the area due to reflecting the transmitted pulses to generate the image corresponding to the area. The radar system can operate in either sliding spotlight mode, or scan mode. The area can be of an arbitrary shape, and a resolution of the image can be increased.
US09182479B2
A radar system comprises a transmitting device comprising a reference frequency source, for generating a reference frequency signal; a direct-digital synthesizer, coupled to the reference frequency source, for generating a synthesized frequency signal according to the reference frequency signal; a phase lock loop, coupled to the direct-digital synthesizer, for converting the synthesized frequency signal to an output signal; a transmitting antenna, coupled to the phase lock loop, for emitting the output signal to the air; and a loop switch module, coupled to the phase lock loop, for switching the phase lock loop between an open loop mode and a closed loop mode; and at least one receiving device, for receiving at least one wireless signal, and processing the at least one wireless signal according to the output signal generated by the phase lock loop.
US09182478B2
A radar device includes a signal generator that generates an intermittent signal having a prescribed signal width and signal interval, a transmission signal position adjuster that outputs a transmission signal while adjusting positions of the intermittent signal on the time axis, an RF transmitter that transmits the transmission signal, an RF receiver that receives a reception signal including reflection waves reflected from an object in a measurement subject space, an AD converter that converts the reception signal into a digital signal, and an object detector that detects the object based on the reception signal. The transmission signal position adjuster outputs a transmission signal in which positions of respective signal units of the intermittent signal on the time axis are adjusted in units of a time adjustment amount that is shorter than a sampling interval of the AD converter.
US09182473B2
A system, method and product for determining a vehicle key fob location. The system may include a control unit for mounting in a vehicle and configured to receive multiple signals, each representing a strength of a wireless signal transmitted between the fob and one of multiple antennas located on a vehicle, and multiple neural networks having a cascade topology. The neural networks may include a first neural network for determining one of a vehicle internal position and a vehicle external position of the fob based on the wireless signal strengths, a second neural network in communication with the first neural network for determining one of multiple vehicle interior positions of the fob based on the wireless signal strengths, and a third neural network in communication with the first neural network for determining one of multiple vehicle exterior positions of the fob based on the wireless signal strengths.
US09182472B2
A method and apparatus are provided for on-device positioning using compressed fingerprint archives. The method and apparatus may be configured to provide compression of localization fingerprints, to facilitate efficient on-device positioning based on the RF fingerprint model, and to estimate the physical distance between two or more devices. Embodiments of the method may receive a space-to-access point histogram that corresponds to an access point as observed in a space. A mean, standard deviation, and weight may be calculated and assigned for each of a plurality of access points as observed within a space. The mean, standard deviation, and weight of each access point may be combined to form a data triple. The data triples may be combined to form a fingerprint of access points observed from that space. The data triple or plurality of data triples with the lowest assigned weight(s) may be removed from the fingerprint.
US09182469B2
A method for locating a point in a first region based on receipt of a rf signal from the point. An antenna array is in the first region at a first position rotatable about an axis. A series of phase-array patterns is provided for implementation with the antenna array to provide measures of rf signal strength. Each pattern provides a plurality of reference values as a function of angle. A plurality of the phase-array patterns are used to acquire, in the first region, a plurality of rf signal strength values based on reception of the rf signal. A set of correlation values is determined where each value is a correlation between signal strength reference values and rf signal strength values acquired based on reception of the rf signal from the point. The correlation values identify a direction relative to the first position along which the point is located.
US09182464B2
A current lead assembly for minimizing heat load to a conduction cooled superconducting magnet during a ramp operation is provided. The current lead assembly includes a vacuum chamber having a through hole to enable a retractable current lead having a retractable contact to penetrate within the vacuum chamber. A superconducting magnet is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber and includes a magnet lead. A current contact is arranged inside of the vacuum chamber beneath the through-hole and is coupled to the magnet lead via a thermal connector. The current contact is supported by a thermal isolation support structure coupled to an inside wall of the vacuum chamber. An actuator assembly is provided to contact the retractable contact with the current contact, where connection occurs at ambient temperature inside of the thermal isolation support structure.
US09182458B2
A magnetoresistive sensing device includes a substrate, a magnetic layer, a first electrode and a second electrode. The substrate has a reference plane. The first electrode and a second electrode are disposed over the reference plane. The magnetic layer is disposed over the reference plane and has a magnetization direction. A non-straight angle is formed between the magnetic layer and the reference plane. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected with each other through an electric pathway of the magnetic layer. An included angle is formed between the electric pathway and the magnetization direction. Consequently, the magnetoresistive sensing device is capable of measuring a magnetic field change in a Z-axis direction, which is perpendicular to a reference plane.
US09182456B2
A magnetic field sensor uses an angle sensor to measure and angle of rotation of a target object to which a magnet is attached. The angle sensor in combination with electronics can generate an angle sensor output signal related to a direction of a magnetic field of the magnet. The angle sensor output signal can be compared to thresholds to generate a magnetic field sensor output signal the same as a known true power on state (TPOS) sensor output signal. A corresponding method is also described.
US09182452B2
First and second microcomputers are connected to a ground. A first reference voltage generation circuit is connected between a first power supply and the first microcomputer, and supplies a first reference voltage to the first microcomputer when voltage of the first power supply is higher than the first reference voltage. A first monitoring circuit is connected between a second power supply and the first microcomputer, and supplies the first microcomputer with a first monitoring voltage for monitoring the second power supply. The first microcomputer includes a part configured to perform an operation based on the supplied first reference voltage and the supplied first monitoring voltage, wherein the operation includes detecting abnormality in the voltages of the first and second power supplies, and determining which one of the voltage of the first power supply and the voltage of the second power supply is abnormal.
US09182447B2
A discharge location determination unit includes: discharge detection circuits connected to metal electrodes, respectively, and to which a signal due to discharge is input; and a calculation circuit to which signals output from the discharge detection circuits are input, wherein, if the intensity difference or intensity ratio between the two output signals is within a predetermined value, the calculation circuit determines that the discharge location is inside a tank, otherwise the calculation circuit determines that the discharge location is outside the tank.
US09182440B1
Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for operating a testing system to test a device, wherein the testing system comprises a pressing module, the method comprising attaching the device to the pressing module of the testing system; while the testing system operates in a first mode of testing, pressing the pressing module to a first position such that (i) the device is electrically coupled to a first component via a first pin, and (ii) the device is electrically isolated from a second component via a second pin; and while the testing system operates in a second mode of testing, pressing the pressing module to a second position such that (i) the device is electrically isolated from first component via the first pin, and (ii) the device is electrically coupled to the second component via the second pin.
US09182430B2
A device for measuring the value of a resistor has a first RC element with a first time constant and a second RC element with a second time constant. The first RC element has a first capacitor and a resistor. The second RC element has a second capacitor and the resistor to be measured. An evaluation circuit charges the first and second capacitors to a first and a second voltage, respectively, and initiates their discharge. The evaluation circuit measures the time that elapses from the start of the discharge to the instant at which the voltages across the capacitors are equal, and determines the value of the resistor from the values. In the event that the first time constant is larger than the second time constant, the first voltage is smaller than the second voltage, and vice versa.
US09182429B2
A power distribution monitoring system is provided that can include a number of features. The system can include a plurality of monitoring devices configured to attach to individual conductors on a power grid distribution network. In some embodiments, a monitoring device is disposed on each conductor of a three-phase network and utilizes a split-core transformer to harvest energy from the conductors. The monitoring devices can be configured to harvest energy from the AC power grid and apply a DC bias to core halves of the split-core transformer to maintain a positive magnetic force between the core halves. Methods of installing and using the monitoring devices are also provided.
US09182425B2
An apparatus for testing electrical characteristics of a device, having one or more testing sites. The apparatus comprises a nonconductive plate having a through-hole. The through-hole is positioned such that it at least partially overlays one of the one or more testing sites when at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nonconductive plate is adjacent to the device to be tested. The apparatus also comprises an adhesive on at least a portion of the bottom surface of the nonconductive plate for attaching the bottom surface of the nonconductive plate to the device to be tested. The apparatus also comprises a probe positioning body protruding from the top surface of the nonconductive plate and having a through-hole. The probe positioning body is positioned such that the through-hole of the probe positioning body at least partially aligns with the through-hole of the nonconductive plate.
US09182421B2
This invention is directed to provision of high-performance inertial sensor that can sustain SNR even in an environment where vibration disturbance exists. A vibration type inertial sensor comprises: two deadweights (2, 3); means (C1, C2, C3, C4, +vd, −vd) for displacing the two dead weights in the anti-phase; two sets of electrodes (C5, C6, C7, C8) for detecting, as capacitance changes, the displacements of the two dead weights; and a C/V converting unit (53) for converting the capacitance changes of the electrodes to electric signals. In the vibration type inertial sensor, a set of electrodes (e.g., C5 and C8), which exhibit an increased electrostatic capacitance therebetween in the case where the two dead weights (2, 3) are displaced in the anti-phase, are electrically connected to each other, and a set of electrodes (e.g., C6 and C7), which exhibit a reduced electrostatic capacitance therebetween in the foregoing case, are electrically connected to each other, and further these sets of electrodes are connected to the C/V converting unit (53).
US09182418B2
A bodily fluid analyzer including a dry test strip impregnated with a reagent providing a non-precipitating reaction to exclude non-desired analytes. The reagent complexes the non-desired analytes so they remain in solution but cannot participate in the test reaction. Red blood cells are removed from the detection area by slowing their vertical movement and stopping flow when the detection membrane is saturated.
US09182416B2
A method of monitoring thrombus formation is described, which comprises flowing anticoagulated blood into a thrombus formation chamber, in at least a part of which a thrombus formation inducer inducing thrombus formation is provided, while releasing the anticoagulant treatment or promoting blood coagulation to thereby monitor thrombus formation in the thrombus formation chamber.
US09182414B2
The present invention concerns combination of an amount of a BRS-3 agonist with an amount of a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor such that the combination provides an effect in lowering a blood glucose level or in increasing a blood GLP-1 level in a subject over that provided by the amount of the BRS-3 agonist alone and by the amount of the DPP-IV inhibitor alone and the use of such a combination for treating or preventing obesity and diabetes and conditions related thereto and conditions ameliorated by increasing a blood GLP-1 level. The present invention also relates to the use of a G protein-coupled receptor to screen for GLP-1 secretagogues.
US09182412B2
The present invention provides methods of detecting Borrelia species in a sample (e.g., a sample from a patient suspected of being infected). In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for detecting the presence of Borrelia proteins, nucleic acid sequences encoding these proteins, and subject antibodies to these proteins, where the proteins are selected from those listed in Table 3, including: BB0279 (FLiL), BBK19, BBK07, BB0286 (FlbB), BBG33, BBL27, BBN34, BBP34, BBQ42, BBQ34, BBM34, BBN27, and BBH13.
US09182411B2
The present invention is directed to methods and devices for detection of cerebrospinal fluid leaks by detection of the CSF protein beta-2 transferrin. The microfluidic devices and methods of the invention combine capture and specific labeling of transferrin from a sample with a subsequent step of isoelectric focusing to separate transferrin isoforms for detection. Microfluidic channels and chambers are patterned on a substrate, designed so that on one region (i.e., a microfluidic channel or chamber) of the substrate transferrin is selectively captured from the sample and labeled, and in a second region of the substrate, transferrin isoforms are separated using isoelectric focusing. Detection of two transferrin bands, indicating the presence of beta-2-transferrin, indicates the presence of CSF in the sample. The devices and methods of the invention provide a safe, efficient, and ultrarapid modality with high specificity and sensitivity for the detection of CSF in the acute care setting.
US09182409B2
The invention relates to a method for identifying and quantifying by mass spectrometry imaging at least one target analyte in a tissue sample, comprising the following steps: a) depositing the tissue sample to be analyzed on a support; b) analyzing the sample by mass spectrometry imaging, so as to obtain the mass spectrum of the target analyte in said tissue sample; c) weighting a signal associated with the mass spectrum of the target analyte in said tissue sample by a tissue extinction coefficient (TEC) specific to the target analyte and to the tissue sample which is obtained by using a control tissue sample; and d) using the weighted signal of the target analyte to determine the quantity of target analyte in the tissue sample.
US09182399B2
Specific applications of particles and particle agglomerates with semiconductor surfaces are provided. The particles and particle agglomerates display a high affinity for viral particles, and may be used therapeutically and/or prophylactically to treat or prevent viral infections. The particles and particle agglomerates may also be used to remove viral particles from a surface or fluid, e.g., as an absorbent in a filter, applied to surfaces to render them virostatic, and as tool to handle viral particles, e.g., for research, diagnostic, or decontamination purposes.
US09182398B2
The invention relates to a method of identifying a specific fungal species in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering DNA of the fungal species from the patient tissue or body fluid, amplifying the DNA, hybridizing a probe to the DNA to specifically identify the fungal species, and specifically identifying the fungal species. The invention also relates to a method of identifying a mycotoxin in patient tissue or body fluid. The method comprises the steps of extracting and recovering the mycotoxin from the patient tissue or body fluid, contacting the mycotoxin with an antibody directed against the mycotoxin, and identifying the myocotoxin. Both of these methods can be used to determine if a patient is at risk for or has developed a disease state related to a fungal infection, and to develop an effective treatment regimen for the patient.
US09182396B2
A method for treating an individual at risk for a complement-associated disorder is provided, including: (a) obtaining a sample of a body fluid from the individual; (b) measuring a complement activation level in the sample via a point-of-care lateral flow immunoassay; (c) correlating the complement activation level in the sample to a risk of a complement-associated disorder by comparing the complement activation level in the sample to a reference level in a control, wherein a deviation in complement activation level in the sample compared to the reference level in the control indicates the individual is at risk for a complement-associated disorder; (d) selecting a treatment for the individual, based on the correlating of step (c); and (e) treating the individual with the treatment selected in accordance with step (d). Lateral flow immunoassays and a method of monitoring an individual suffering from a complement-associated disorder are also provided herein.
US09182385B2
This invention is directed to methods and compositions for diagnosis, prognosis and for determining methods of treatment. The physiological status of cells present in a sample (e.g. clinical sample) can be used in diagnosis or prognosis of a condition (e.g. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), in patient selection for therapy, to monitor treatment and to modify or optimize therapeutic regimens. The physiological status of a cell can be determined by comparing the intracellular status of one or more activation elements (e.g. the phosphorylation status of a signaling molecule) in a cell (e.g. a cancer cell) to that of another cell (e.g. a normal cell). The physiological status of a cell can be further classified by adding one or more modulators (e.g. an inhibitor or activator) to the cell in question. In some embodiments, the invention is directed to methods of determining a phenotypic profile of a population of cells.
US09182383B2
Compositions and methods for use in methods and kits for the detection of an increased risk of pancreatic cancer are provided. Cyst fluid samples isolated from patients that are positive for at least three of the following markers, mucin 1, mucin 2, mucin 5AC, mucin 5B, mucin 6, CEA CAM 1, CEACAM 5, CEACAM 6, CEACAM 7, CEACAM 8, S100-A6, S100-A8, S100-A9 and S100-A11 indicate that such patients are at greater risk for development of pancreatic cancer when compared to cyst fluid samples isolated from patients lacking these markers.
US09182382B2
The invention consists of a method for determining Total Dietary Fiber (TDF) and its sub-fractions, Insoluble Dietary Fiber (IDF) and Soluble Dietary Fiber (SDF) in food and feed samples which utilizes flexible reaction/filtration containers that can be divided into one or more sections for capturing the IDF and SDF fractions separately or for capturing TDF in its entirety. Each container is fashioned as a bag that can be temporarily sealed in multiple locations to create multiple sections and is made of non-porous and porous material. Use of these containers eliminates the need for problematic transfers of mixtures from beaker to filter, and vastly improves the filtration process.
US09182381B2
A probe for measuring an agent in gas and liquid form comprising: a body including an inner chamber and comprised of a porous material; and a heating element in thermal communication with the porous material.
US09182378B2
An apparatus for monitoring and detecting material deposited onto a substrate during a deposition process in a processing chamber includes a storage structure having a primary axis extending between respective first and second ends and an exterior lateral surface between the first and second ends extending about the primary axis. A plurality of monitor crystals are supported by the storage structure at spaced positions along said exterior lateral surface and in which a drive mechanism advances the storage structure rotatably and axially relative to the primary axis such that at least one monitor crystal is advanced or retracted relative to at least one measuring position. A retained crystal that is advanced to the measuring position can be electrically connected, using a brush contact or other mechanism, in order to excite the crystal using a resonance circuit.
US09182375B2
A pulse laser oscillator (11) outputs a first laser beam, a beam splitter splitting the first laser beam into split beams, optical paths (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) propagating light of split beams split, respectively, taking different times for light propagation thereof, a condenser superimposing light of split beams propagated through the optical paths, respectively, on an identical spot of a measuring material (100), for irradiation therewith, a laser interferometer (30) irradiating the measuring material (100) with light of a second laser beam, having light intensity variations resulted from interferences between reference light and light of the second laser beam reflected or scattered, as bases to detect ultrasonic waves energized by light of the first laser beam and transmitted in the measuring material (100), a waveform analyzer (32) calculating a metallic microstructure or a material property of the measuring material (100) based on ultrasonic waves.
US09182374B1
Defects in a pipeline may be detected by an in-line inspection tool passing therethrough. However, as the tool travels through the pipeline, errors associated with certain onboard components may accumulate. These errors may reduce the accuracy with which the locations of detected defects can be determined. Accordingly, markers may be positioned at various locations along the pipeline. Each marker may include a radio receiver to receive signal transmitted by an in-line tool passing thereby and one or more magnetic flux detection systems that may detect a magnetic field emanating from the in-line tool. The radio receiver may include an antenna comprising two or more coils connected in series and positioned side-by-side. The flux detection system may include one or more flux concentrators to amplify the strength of the magnetic field. Signals received through the antenna or flux detection system may be used to correct any errors associated with the onboard components charting the progression of the in-line tool through the pipeline.
US09182372B2
The present inventions relate to micro-fluidic devices and related methods of fractionating samples of analytes, such as peptides or proteins, according to their isoelectric points. The disclosed micro-fluidic devices and related methods provide a fractionation sufficient to enhance the performance of immunochemistry and/or tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry workflows. Such methods and devices are capable of fractionating complex samples in a short time, using a small amount of sample, do not require high voltages and are further characterized by their high degree of reproducibility and ease of use.
US09182367B2
The electroanalytical method for determination of phenols is a method for determining the concentration of phenolic compounds and their chloro-derivatives, on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and/or square-wave stripping voltammetry (SWASV) using a redox active polymer film that is formed on the surface of the GCE when the electro-polymerization potential is reached. The electroanalytical method comprises contacting an aqueous sample containing a phenolic compound(s) with an electrode assembly having a working electrode; generating a voltammogram of the analyte by varying an applied accumulation potential or applied potential, and measuring the size of voltammogram peaks corresponding to a redox-active polymeric film that develops at the working electrode at the electro-polymerization potential in order to determine the concentration of the phenolic compound.
US09182362B2
A radiation detector assembly and a method for using the same are provided. The radiation detector assembly includes an aperture, a window covering the aperture, the window is configured to permit radiation to pass through, the window is configured to prevent the passage of fluids and particles through the aperture, and a protective device covers the window. The protective device includes a plurality of holes at least partially aligned with the aperture, is configured to permit at least some radiation to pass through the holes, is configured to prevent objects larger than the holes to contact the window and is configured to withstand external forces and prevent those forces from damaging the window.
US09182356B2
Provided is an image processing apparatus which can easily perform focus adjustment only by switching a program in accordance with a kind of an inspection object. The image processing apparatus according to the invention includes: an imaging unit for imaging a region including an inspection object; a focus adjustment mechanism; and a control unit for controlling a operation of the focus adjustment mechanism. A plurality of pieces of inspection condition data are set, the data being made up of a plurality of setting items including a focus position data. When the switching instruction from one inspection condition data to another inspection condition data is accepted, the operation of the focus adjustment mechanism is controlled based on focus position data included in another inspection condition data after switching.
US09182352B2
A method for detecting crude oil or gas in a drilling sample includes introducing a drilling sample into a sample solution containing nano particles, illuminating the sample solution comprising the drilling sample and the nano particles by a laser beam, collecting light scattered by the drilling sample and the nano particles in the sample solution, obtaining a Raman spectrum from the light scattered by the drilling sample and the nano particles in the sample solution, identifying, in the Raman spectrum, a spectral signature associated with a substance around a predetermined Raman shift, and detecting targeted chemicals correlated with crude oil or gas existence underground from where the drilling sample, based on the spectral signature of the substance in the Raman spectrum.
US09182340B2
An optical measuring apparatus comprising at least one light emitting unit, a stage, at least one lens, and at least one light detector is provided. The light emitting unit emits a light beam. The stage contains accommodating spaces. The accommodating spaces move to the transmission path of the light beam in turn. The lens is located between the light emitting unit and the stage, whose orthogonal projection on the stage appears substantially to be a polygon. When one of the accommodating spaces moves to the transmission path of the light beam, a perpendicular bisector half line of each side of the polygon is not overlapped with another adjacent accommodating space of the accommodating spaces. An optical measuring method is also provided.
US09182326B2
The invention relates to a device and a method for filtering a liquid sample, wherein first capillary-driven filtration occurs and, after initial filling, pressure-operated filtration is performed by applying a vacuum or a positive pressure.
US09182324B2
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the present invention allow for the automatic control and scheduling of a staining apparatus for biological samples on slides present within the apparatus. In some embodiments, the actions of a robot coupled to the staining apparatus, which performs some of the staining tasks on the individual slides in accordance with their respective protocols, may be prioritized and scheduled. In some embodiments, the scheduling may result in increasing or maximizing the throughput of slides. In some embodiments, robot scheduling ensures that the individual slides are processed substantially within the tolerances specified by their respective protocols. In some embodiments, the robot scheduler may respond to spontaneous user actions and adaptively schedule or re-schedule robot actions.
US09182323B2
An apparatus for processing a biological sample is provided. The biological sample being arranged on a first planar surface of a carrier, the apparatus having a second planar surface arranged substantially parallel to said first planar surface and at a first distance from said first planar surface. The first planar surface and said second planar surface are arranged at an angle (A) greater than zero degree from the horizontal plane (HP). The apparatus having a supply for supplying an amount of a liquid that is to be applied to said biological sample. The first planar surface and said second planar surface are configured to be arranged at a second distance from each other, said second distance being such that said supplied amount of liquid is distributed over said biological sample when said first planar surface and said second planar surface are brought to said second distance from each other.
