US09202957B2

A photoelectric converter device includes a front surface glass plate, a photoelectric conversion unit formed on the front surface glass plate and serving to generate electric power in response to incidence of light, and a back surface glass plate arranged so as to cover the photoelectric conversion unit. The front surface glass plate and the back surface glass plate are fused and joined in at least a part of a peripheral portion of the glass plates.
US09202956B2

A solar cell backsheet including: a support which has a thickness of 120 μm to 350 μm; a first polymer layer which is formed on one surface of the support by coating, which includes a polymer, and which has a thickness of 0.5 μm to 12.0 μm; and a second polymer layer which is formed, by coating, on the opposite side of the side of the support provided with the first polymer layer, which includes a fluorinated resin or a silicone-based resin, and which has a thickness of 0.2 μm to 15.0 μm.
US09202952B2

In general, the invention relates to a unit that includes a semiconductor and a plasmonic material disposed on the semiconductor, where a potential barrier is formed between the plasmonic material and the semiconductor. The unit further includes an insulator disposed on the semiconductor and adjacent to the plasmonic material and a transparent conductor disposed on the plasmonic material, where, upon illumination, the plasmonic material is excited resulting the excitation of an electron with sufficient energy to overcome the potential barrier.
US09202938B2

A method for manufacturing a transient voltage suppressing (TVS) array substantially following a manufacturing process for manufacturing a vertical semiconductor power device. The method includes a step of opening a plurality of isolation trenches in an epitaxial layer of a first conductivity type in a semiconductor substrate followed by applying a body mask for doping a body region having a second conductivity type between two of the isolation trenches. The method further includes a step of applying an source mask for implanting a plurality of doped regions of the first conductivity type constituting a plurality of diodes wherein the isolation trenches isolating and preventing parasitic PNP or NPN transistor due to a latch-up between the doped regions of different conductivity types.
US09202926B2

Provided is a thin film transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer that has high mobility, excellent stress resistance, and good wet etching property. The thin film transistor comprises at least, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor layer, source-drain electrode and a passivation film, in this order on a substrate. The oxide semiconductor layer is a laminate comprising a first oxide semiconductor layer (IGZTO) and a second oxide semiconductor layer (IGZO). The second oxide semiconductor layer is formed on the gate insulating film, and the first oxide semiconductor layer is formed between the second oxide semiconductor layer and the passivation film. The contents of respective metal elements relative to the total amount of all the metal elements other than oxygen in the first oxide semiconductor layer are as follows; In: 25% or less (excluding 0%); Ga: 5% or more; Zn: 30.0 to 60.0%; and Sn: 8 to 30%.
US09202924B2

A semiconductor device comprising a gate electrode; an insulating layer in electrical connection with the gate electrode; a source electrode and a drain electrode; and a semiconducting channel layer configured to selectively allow electrically connection between the source electrode and the drain electrode based on the voltage on the gate electrode; wherein the semiconducting channel layer comprises metal nanoparticles; and the semiconducting channel layer is in contact with the source electrode, the drain electrode and the insulating layer. A method of manufacturing the semiconductor device of the present invention is also disclosed.
US09202923B2

A more convenient and highly reliable semiconductor device which has a transistor including an oxide semiconductor with higher impact resistance used for a variety of applications is provided. A semiconductor device has a bottom-gate transistor including a gate electrode layer, a gate insulating layer, and an oxide semiconductor layer over a substrate, an insulating layer over the transistor, and a conductive layer over the insulating layer. The insulating layer covers the oxide semiconductor layer and is in contact with the gate insulating layer. In a channel width direction of the oxide semiconductor layer, end portions of the gate insulating layer and the insulating layer are aligned with each other over the gate electrode layer, and the conductive layer covers a channel formation region of the oxide semiconductor layer and the end portions of the gate insulating layer and the insulating layer and is in contact with the gate electrode layer.
US09202921B2

A dual channel transistor includes a semiconductor island isolated by a first shallow trench isolation (STI) extending along a first direction and a second STI extending along a second direction, wherein the first direction intersect the second direction. The dual channel transistor further includes a gate trench recessed into the semiconductor island and extending along the second direction. A gate is located in the gate trench. A first U-shaped channel region is formed in the semiconductor island. A second U-shaped channel region is formed in the semiconductor island, wherein the second U-shaped channel region is segregate from the first U-shaped channel region by the gate. During operation, the gate controls two U-shaped channel regions simultaneously.
US09202920B1

Methods and structures for forming short-channel finFETs with vertical and abrupt source and drain junctions are described. During fabrication, source and drain regions of the finFET may be recessed vertically and laterally under gate spacers. A buffer having a high dopant density may be formed on vertical sidewalls of the channel region after recessing the fin. Raised source and drain structures may be formed at the recessed source and drain regions. The raised source and drain structures may impart strain to the channel region.
US09202915B2

The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a trench in the substrate, where a bottom surface of the trench has a first crystal plane orientation and a side surface of the trench has a second crystal plane orientation, and epitaxially (epi) growing a semiconductor material in the trench. The epi process utilizes an etch component. A first growth rate on the first crystal plane orientation is different from a second growth rate on the second crystal plane orientation.
US09202911B2

One illustrative device includes a source region and a drain region formed in a substrate, wherein the source/drain regions are doped with a first type of dopant material, a gate structure positioned above the substrate that is laterally positioned between the source region and the drain region and a drain-side well region positioned in the substrate under a portion, but not all, of the entire lateral width of the drain region, wherein the drain-side well region is also doped with the first type of dopant material. The device also includes a source-side well region positioned in the substrate under an entire width of the source region and under a portion, but not all, of the drain region and a part of the extension portion of the drain region is positioned under a portion of the gate structure.
US09202906B2

The present invention is directed to a device comprising an epitaxial structure comprising a superlattice structure having an uppermost 2DxG channel, a lowermost 2DxG channel and at least one intermediate 2DxG channel located between the uppermost and lowermost 2DxG channels, source and drain electrodes operatively connected to each of the 2DxG channels, and a plurality of trenches located between the source and drain electrodes. Each trench has length, width and depth dimensions defining a first sidewall, a second sidewall and a bottom located therebetween, the bottom of each trench being at or below the lowermost 2DxG channel. A crenelated gate electrode is located over the uppermost 2DxG channel, the gate electrode being located within each of the trenches such that the bottom surface of the gate electrode is in juxtaposition with the first sidewall surface, the bottom surface and the second sidewall surface of each of said trenches.
US09202902B2

A semiconductor element encompasses a charge-transfer path defined in a semiconductor region (34.35), configured to transfer signal charges, (b) a pair of first field-control electrodes (42a, 42b) laminated via an insulating film on the semiconductor region so as to sandwich the charge-transfer path in between, and a pair of second field-control electrodes (43a, 43b) arranged separately from and adjacently to the first field-control electrodes (42a, 42b). By applying field-control voltages differing from each other, to the first and second field-control electrodes (43a, 43b), a depleted potential in the charge-transfer path is changed, and a movement of the signal charges transferring in the semiconductor region is controlled. Because electric field can be made constant over a long distance along the charge-transfer direction, a semiconductor element and a solid-state imaging device, in which problems caused by interface defects and the like are avoided, can be provided.
US09202901B2

The present invention discloses a metal silicide self-aligned SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor, which is designed to overcome the shortcomings such as the large base resistance RB of the prior art products. The metal silicide self-aligned SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor of the present invention mainly comprises an Si collector region, a local dielectric region, a base region, a base-region low-resistance metal silicide layer, a polysilicon emitter region, an emitter-base spacer dielectric region composed of a liner silicon oxide layer and a silicon nitride inner sidewall, a monocrystalline emitter region, a contact hole dielectric layer, an emitter metal electrode and a base metal electrode. The base-region low-resistance metal silicide layer extends all the way to the outside of the emitter-base spacer dielectric region. The present invention discloses a method of forming a metal silicide self-aligned SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor, which is used to form the aforesaid bipolar transistor. The metal silicide self-aligned SiGe heterojunction bipolar transistor and the method of forming the same of the present invention can reduce the base resistance RB, and feature a simple process and a low cost.
US09202892B2

A manufacturing method of a TFT array substrate is provided. The method includes the following steps: respectively forming a metal oxide semiconductor layer, an etching barrier layer, a source electrode, a data line, a drain electrode, a pixel electrode, a gate insulating layer, a contact hole, a gate electrode and a gate scanning line on a substrate by patterning processes, wherein the metal oxide semiconductor layer and the etching barrier layer are formed by a same patterning process, and the source electrode, the drain electrode, the pixel electrode and the data line are formed by another same patterning process.
US09202889B2

An embodiment of the invention reduces the external resistance of a transistor by utilizing a silicon germanium alloy for the source and drain regions and a nickel silicon germanium self-aligned silicide (i.e., salicide) layer to form the contact surface of the source and drain regions. The interface of the silicon germanium and the nickel silicon germanium silicide has a lower specific contact resistivity based on a decreased metal-semiconductor work function between the silicon germanium and the silicide and the increased carrier mobility in silicon germanium versus silicon. The silicon germanium may be doped to further tune its electrical properties. A reduction of the external resistance of a transistor equates to increased transistor performance both in switching speed and power consumption.
US09202888B2

A method for producing a solid state device, including forming a first dielectric layer over an epitaxial layer at least partially covering the a Silicon substrate and depositing a photoresist material thereover, removing a predetermined portion first dielectric layer to define an exposed portion, implanting dopants into the exposed portion to define a doped portion, preferentially removing Silicon from the exposed portion to generate trenches having V-shaped cross-sections and having first and second angled sidewalls defining the V-shaped cross-section, wherein each angled sidewall defining the V-shaped cross-section is a Silicon face having a 111 orientation, and forming a 2DEG on at least one sidewall.
US09202885B2

Methods and devices associated with a phase change memory include Schottky diodes operating as selectors having a low turn-on voltage, low sneak current and high switching speed. A method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a diode array region and a peripheral device region, forming an N+ buried layer in the diode array region, forming a semiconductor epitaxial layer on the N+ buried layer, and forming deep trench isolations through the epitaxial layer and the N+ buried layer along a first direction. The method also includes forming shallow trench isolations in the diode array region and in the peripheral region along a second line direction. The method also includes forming an N− doped region between the deep and shallow trench isolations and forming a metal silicide on a surface of the N− doped region.
US09202882B2

Disclosed is a power device, such as a power MOSFET device and a method for fabricating same. The device includes a field plate trench. The field plate trench has a predetermined width and a predetermined sidewall angle. The device further includes a single trench dielectric on sidewalls of the field plate trench and at a bottom of the field plate trench. The single trench dielectric has a bottom thickness that is greater than a sidewall thickness. The device also includes a field plate situated within the single trench dielectric.
US09202881B2

One embodiment provides a semiconductor component including a semiconductor body having a first side and a second side and a drift zone; a first semiconductor zone doped complementarily to the drift zone and adjacent to the drift zone in a direction of the first side; a second semiconductor zone of the same conduction type as the drift zone adjacent to the drift zone in a direction of the second side; at least two trenches arranged in the semiconductor body and extending into the semiconductor body and arranged at a distance from one another; and a field electrode arranged in the at least two trenches adjacent to the drift zone. The at least two trenches are arranged at a distance from the second semiconductor zone in the vertical direction, a distance between the trenches and the second semiconductor zone is greater than 1.5 times the mutual distance between the trenches, and a doping concentration of the drift zone in a section between the trenches and the second semiconductor zone differs by at most 35% from a minimum doping concentration in a section between the trenches.
US09202867B2

Described are CdTe/CdS/ZnS core/shell/shell nanocrystals, methods for making the same, and their use in biomedical and photonic applications, such as sensors for analytes in cells and preparation of field effect transistors. In particular, the disclosure provides a nanocrystal having a CdTe core, a CdS coating over the core, and a ZnS core over the CdS coating, where the nanocrystal has a photoluminescence maximum between about 650 nm and 900 nm.
US09202859B1

An integrated circuit containing a well resistor has STI field oxide and resistor dummy active areas in the well resistor. STI trenches are etched and filled with trench fill dielectric material. The trench fill dielectric material is removed from over the active areas by a CMP process, leaving STI field oxide in the STI trenches. Subsequently, dopants are implanted into a substrate in the well resistor area to form the well resistor. An integrated circuit containing a polysilicon resistor has STI field oxide and resistor dummy active areas in an area for the polysilicon resistor. A layer of polysilicon is formed and planarized by a CMP process. A polysilicon etch mask is formed over the CMP-planarized polysilicon layer to define the polysilicon resistor. A polysilicon etch process removes polysilicon in areas exposed by the polysilicon etch mask, leaving the polysilicon resistor.
US09202857B2

A display device in which pixels each including an emission area are arranged in a form of a matrix, the display device including: a first electrode formed from the emission area of the pixels to a non-emission area on a periphery of the emission area; a second electrode formed so as to be common to the pixels; and a light emitting material layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein film thickness in the non-emission area of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is larger than film thickness in the emission area.
US09202846B2

A resistance random access memory device according to one embodiment includes an interlayer insulation film which a trench is made therein, an ion supply layer provided along a bottom surface and a side surface of the trench, a portion of the ion supply layer provided along the bottom surface is thicker than a portion of the ion supply layer provided along the side surface, and a resistance change layer provided at least below the ion supply layer.
US09202834B2

A method of manufacturing an electronic device includes forming a structure including a member, and a first film arranged on at least a surface of the member, the member including an insulating film, a passivation film arranged on the insulating film and having an upper surface, and a trench positioned from the passivation film to the insulating film; forming a second film to cover the first film; and patterning the second film by a photolithography process using a photomask. In the forming the second film, an alignment mark including a concave portion corresponding to the trench is formed in a region above the trench in the second film. In the patterning the second film, the photomask is aligned with the structure by using the alignment mark.
US09202829B2

A light sensor is formed by an array of photodiodes comprising a plurality of regions of a first conductivity type that have been formed in a semiconductor layer or a substrate of a second conductivity type, and deep trenches placed between regions of the first conductivity type. Trenches extend deep into the substrate and have a high density of interface traps at the trench-silicon interface. A large portion of photocarriers generated by infrared recombines at the trench-silicon interface, and as a result, the spectral sensitivity of the light sensor is diminished in the infrared spectrum.
US09202821B2

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for forming electromechanical systems (EMS) displays where the area of a substrate occupied by a pixel circuit can be reduced if portions of the pixel circuit can be built in three dimensions. In some aspects, certain EMS displays can incorporate structures that are substantially normal to the surface of a substrate. Incorporating circuit components, such as transistors, into such structures, can reduce the area they occupy within the plane of the substrate. In some aspects, the components of a transistor can be fabricated directly into a MEMS anchor that supports a light modulator or a portion of an actuator over the substrate. In some other aspects, the transistor can be fabricated on one or more sidewalls of any MEMS structure.
US09202817B2

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, at least one split gate memory device, and at least one logic device. The split gate memory device is disposed on the substrate. The logic device is disposed on the substrate. At least one of a select gate and a main gate of the split gate memory device and a logic gate of the logic device are made of metal. The method for manufacturing the semiconductor device includes forming at least one split gate stack and at least one logic gate stack and respectively replacing at least one of a dummy gate layer and a main gate layer in the split gate stack and the dummy gate layer in the logic gate stack with at least one metal memory gate and a metal logic gate.
US09202809B2

A semiconductor device is provided including a substrate and a plurality of gate stacks. The gate stack includes a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate, a first capping layer disposed on the dielectric layer, a second capping layer disposed on the first capping layer, and a gate electrode layer covering the second capping layer. The first capping layer having a roughened surface may enhance the formation of the second capping layer. The second capping layer has a bottom portion and a sidewall portion, and the thickness of the bottom portion is formed to be greater than the thickness of the sidewall portion, so that the dielectric property of the second capping layer may be significantly improved. Further, a method for manufacturing the semiconductor device also provides herein.
US09202801B2

Thin substrates and mold compound handling is described using an electrostatic-chucking carrier. In one example, a first part of a plurality of silicon chip packages is formed on a front side of a silicon substrate wafer at a first processing station. An a carrier wafer of an electrostatic chuck is attached over the front side of the silicon wafer. The substrate wafer is moved to a second processing station. A second part of the plurality of silicon chip packages are formed on a back side of the silicon wafer at a second processing station. The electrostatic chuck is then released.
US09202797B1

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a lead frame for accommodating a semiconductor die. The lead frame includes a die attach pad, a first plurality of conductive finger ends, and a second plurality of conductive finger ends. The first plurality of conductive finger ends are arranged within a first elongated region. This first elongated region is located along the first edge of the die attach pad. The second plurality of conductive finger ends is arranged within a second elongated region. The second elongated region has an end adjacent to an end of the first elongated region. The second elongated region is positioned at an angle that is greater than ninety degrees from the first elongated region.
US09202792B2

A method of providing a redistribution layer (RDL) and a through-silicon via (TSV) for a semiconductor package is disclosed. The method comprises preparing a wafer for bonding to a semiconductor package. The wafer comprises a low resistance substrate containing a RDL and a TSV for making an input/output (I/O) connection point of the semiconductor package available at another location. The RDL comprises a conduction path through the low resistance substrate that is bounded on two sides by an isolation trench. The TSV is bounded by the isolation trench and the RDL. Preparing the wafer for bonding may comprise preparing the isolation trench that bounds the conduction path for the RDL through the low resistance substrate and bounds a vertical conduction path in a pillar for the TSV in the low resistance substrate, filling the isolation trench with isolation trench material, and preparing a wafer bonding surface.
US09202790B2

A semiconductor device for electrostatic discharge protection includes a substrate, a first well and a second well formed in the substrate. The first and second wells are formed side by side, meeting at an interface, and have a first conductivity type and a second conductivity type, respectively. A first heavily doped region and a second heavily-doped region are formed in the first well. A third heavily doped region and a fourth heavily-doped region are formed in the second well. The first, second, third, and fourth heavily-doped regions have the first, second, second, and first conductivity types, respectively. Positions of the first and second heavily-doped regions are staggered along a direction parallel to the interface.
US09202778B2

An integrated circuit package having a die attach paddle, a power die mounted on the die attach paddle and a controller die mounted on the die attach paddle. The die attach paddle has at least one recessed portion at least partially underlying the controller die.
US09202767B2

Provided are a semiconductor device including a through via plug and a method of manufacturing the same. In the semiconductor device, since a redistributed interconnection pattern is disposed on a protection film of a convex-concave structure having a protrusion and a recessed portion, the semiconductor device may have improved reliability while preventing a leakage current. In the method of manufacturing the semiconductor device, since an end surface of through via structure is exposed by removing a protection film and an insulating film liner using a selective etching process, damage to the through via structure is minimized, thereby preventing copper contamination in a substrate.
US09202761B2

The semiconductor integrated circuit device has a hybrid substrate structure which includes both of an SOI structure and a bulk structure on the side of the device plane of a semiconductor substrate. In the device, the height of a gate electrode of an SOI type MISFET is higher than that of a gate electrode of a bulk type MISFET with respect to the device plane.
US09202760B2

Devices, semiconductor structures and methods are provided, where a substrate is around a semiconductor device is biased via a resistive element.
US09202754B2

A wafer is formed having a plurality of laser-to-slider submount features on a first surface. An etching process is used to form scribe lines between the submounts on the first surface of the wafer. The wafer is separated at the scribe lines to form the submounts.
US09202746B2

Integrated circuits with reduced shorting and methods for fabricating such integrated circuits are provided. In an embodiment, a method for fabricating an integrated circuit includes depositing a gap fill dielectric overlying a semiconductor substrate. The gap fill dielectric is formed with an upper surface having a height differential. The method includes reducing the height differential of the upper surface of the gap fill dielectric. Further, the method includes depositing an interlayer dielectric overlying the gap fill dielectric. Also, the method forms an electrical contact to a selected location overlying the semiconductor substrate.
US09202742B1

An integrated circuit packaging system, and a method of manufacture thereof, including: a substrate; a device attached on a top surface of the substrate; a mold encapsulating the device, the mold having a through via and a recessed pattern characterized by being formed in a single process; and a conductive via in the through via and a conductive pattern in the recessed pattern characterized by being formed in another single process.
US09202739B2

A holder for a flat substrate, such as for example a semiconductor wafer or a glass slide, has a fixture with a sample insertion groove for holding the flat substrate, or multiple sample insertion grooves for holding multiple flat substrates. The fixture also has a channel milled perpendicular to the sample insertion groove. The channel may be machined such that two portions of the channel open to opposite sides of the fixture. Positioned in the channel of the fixture is a cantilever spring for securing the flat substrate in the sample insertion groove. The channel may contain a single cantilever spring that extends an entire length of the channel, or multiple cantilever springs. The fixture may include a post, dove tail, screw, or clamp for mounting the holder on a stage inside a vacuum chamber of an instrument.
US09202734B2

A manufacturing system includes a gantry module, having an end effector, for moving workpieces from a conveyor system to a working area, such as a swap module. The swap module removes a matrix of processed workpieces from a load lock and place a matrix of unprocessed workpieces in its place. The processed workpieces are then moved by the gantry module back to the conveyor. Due to the speed of operation, the end effector may build up excessive electrostatic charge. To remove this built up charge, grounded electrically-conductive brushes are strategically positioned so that, as the end effector moves during normal operation, it comes in contact with these brushes. This removes this built up charge on the end effector, without affecting throughput. In another embodiment, the end effector moves over the brushes while the swap module is moving matrix to and from the load lock.
US09202733B2

A substrate handling robot drive includes a drive chassis for one or more robot arms. A first housing is movable with respect to the chassis and includes at least a first shaft and a first motor subsystem for driving the first shaft. A Z-axis drives the first housing. A second housing is movable with respect to the chassis and includes at least a second shaft and a second motor subsystem for driving the second shaft. A Z-axis drive for the second housing is independently movable with respect to the Z-axis drive for the first housing.
US09202730B2

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to RTP chambers. The chambers generally include a chamber body and chamber lid. The chamber body includes a substrate support having multiple zones of resistive heaters to heat substrates positioned on the substrate support. The chamber body also optionally includes a cooling channel to mitigate thermal stress and a thermally insulating liner disposed therein for containing heat generated during thermal processing. The chamber lid includes a lid body having an opening therethrough, and a reflective plate disposed within the opening. A plurality of pyrometers are positioned within the reflective plate to measure the temperature of a substrate at a plurality of locations across the substrate corresponding to the zones of the substrate support. The temperature of each zone is adjusted in response to the signals from the plurality of pyrometers.
US09202726B2

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device including arranging a compound semiconductor above a stage of a chamber, supplying an etching gas into the chamber, and generating a plasma in the chamber is provided. The compound semiconductor includes a group-III element nitride as a main component. A surface of the compound semiconductor is processed by a dry etching. Light is irradiated into the chamber during the generating of the plasma. A dry etching apparatus including a chamber including a stage, on which a compound semiconductor is mounted, and a light source irradiating light into the chamber is provided. The chamber is supplied with an etching gas. A plasma is generated in the chamber. A surface of the compound semiconductor is an object of a dry etching.
US09202725B2

A substrate holding and rotary driving mechanism, e.g., for a cleaning chamber with vertical orientation of the wafer, that is comprised of a three-armed spider which is rotatingly installed on the outer side of the cleaning chamber and rotatingly supports on the outer ends of its arms outer shafts with eccentrically arranged inner shafts. The inner shafts pass through the outer shafts into the cleaning chamber where they support contact rollers, while the opposite ends of the inner shafts support gears driven into rotation by a synchronous belt. The contact rollers can be moved apart for insertion or removal of wafers from and into the chamber. This is achieved by turning the spider with eccentric inner shafts in one or another direction.
US09202715B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a substrate; attaching a connection post to the substrate, the connection post having a post top and a post side; mounting an integrated circuit die on the substrate, the integrated circuit die having a top die surface; and forming a package body on the substrate, the connection post, and the integrated circuit die.
US09202708B1

A method of etching exposed silicon oxide on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a gas phase etch using plasma effluents formed in a remote plasma. The remote plasma excites a fluorine-containing precursor in combination with an oxygen-containing precursor. Plasma effluents within the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents combine with water vapor or an alcohol. The combination react with the patterned heterogeneous structures to remove two separate regions of silicon oxide at distinct etch rates. The methods may be used to remove doped silicon oxide faster than undoped silicon oxide or more lightly-doped silicon oxide. The relative humidity in the substrate processing region may be low during the etch process to increase the etch selectivity of the doped silicon oxide.
US09202702B2

A semiconductor device having a substrate, and at least one contact, situated on and/or above a surface of the substrate, having at least one layer made of a conductive material, the conductive material including at least one metal. The layer made of the conductive material is sputtered on, and has tear-off marks on at least one outer side area between an outer base area facing the surface and an outer contact area facing away from the surface. A manufacturing method for a semiconductor device having at least one contact is also described.
US09202700B2

Methods of forming memory cells having conductive nanodots over a charge storage material are useful in non-volatile memory devices and electronic systems.
US09202697B2

A method includes forming a gate structure by growing an interfacial layer on a substrate, depositing a High K layer on the interfacial layer, depositing a TiN Cap on the High K layer and forming a thin barrier layer on the TiN Cap. The gate structure is annealed.
US09202695B2

A method includes providing a dummy gate structure on a substrate. The dummy gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a dummy gate electrode layer, and is laterally defined by inner sidewalls of a set of spacers. The method also includes laterally embedding the dummy gate structure, removing the dummy gate electrode, and providing a final gate electrode layer in between the inner sidewalls of the set of spacers. Providing the final gate electrode layer further includes providing a diffusion layer that extends on top of the gate dielectric layer, on inner sidewalls of the spacers, and on a portion of a front surface of embedding layers for the dummy gate structure. Providing the final gate electrode also includes providing a metal on top of the diffusion layer, applying an anneal step, and filling the area in between the inner sidewalls of the set of spacers with a final gate metal filling layer. The present disclosure also relates to an associated transistor.
US09202685B2

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of fabricating a semiconductor substrate, the method including growing a first compound semiconductor layer on a first surface of a substrate, etching the first compound semiconductor layer using HF, KOH, or NaOH to roughen a first surface of the first compound semiconductor layer, forming cavities in the first compound semiconductor layer, separating the first compound semiconductor layer from the first surface of the substrate, flattening the first surface of the substrate after separating the first compound semiconductor layer, and growing a second compound semiconductor layer on the flattened first surface of the substrate.
US09202684B2

A system and method for forming graphene layers on a substrate. The system and methods include direct growth of graphene on diamond and low temperature growth of graphene using a solid carbon source.
US09202681B2

A method for mass analyzing ions comprising a restricted range mass-to-charge (m/z) ratios comprising performing a survey mass analysis using a mass analyzer to measure a flux of ions having m/z ratios within said restricted range and performing a dependent mass analysis of an optimal quantity of ions having m/z ratios within said restricted range, said optimal quantity collected for a time period determined by the measured ion flux, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT: the time period is determined using a corrected ion flux that accounts for one or more of: (a) imperfect restriction of collected ions to the range of m/z ratios, (b) inclusion of ions within the range of m/z ratios that are undetected by the survey mass analysis, (c) different mass analyzers used for the dependent and survey mass analyses, and (d) different ion pathways used during dependent and the survey mass analyses.
US09202667B2

Disclosed is a charged particle radiation device having a charged particle source which generates a charged particle as a probe, a charged particle optical system, a sample stage, a vacuum discharge system, an aperture which restricts a probe, a conductive film, and a charged particle detector, wherein the conductive film is provided at a position excluding the optical axis of the optical system between the sample stage and the aperture; and the distance between the sensing surface of the surface of the charged particle detector and the sample stage is larger than the distance between the sample stage and the conductive film, so that the surface of the conductive film and the sensing surface of the detector are inclined.
US09202665B2

Provided is a charged particle beam apparatus adapted so that even when an additional device is not mounted in the charged particle beam apparatus, the apparatus rapidly removes, by neutralizing, a local charge developed on a region of a sample that has been irradiated with a charged particle beam.After charged particle beam irradiation for measurement of the sample, the apparatus controls a retarding voltage or/and an accelerating voltage at a stage previous to a next measurement, and then neutralizes an electric charge by reducing a difference between a value of the retarding voltage and that of the accelerating voltage to a value smaller than during the currently ongoing measurement.The charged particle beam achieves neutralizing without reducing throughput, since the local charge developed on the region of the sample that has been irradiated with the charged particle beam is removed, even without an additional device mounted in the apparatus.
US09202664B2

Finned anode. In one example embodiment, an anode suitable for use in an x-ray tube includes a hub, a front side, and a target surface disposed on the front side. The hub is configured to attach to a bearing assembly and the front side substantially faces the bearing assembly. The anode further includes a rear side substantially opposite the front side, as well as two or more annular anode fins extending from the rear side. The annular anode fins are positioned radially outward from the hub to an outer periphery of the rear side.
US09202650B2

A quick-disconnect connector assembly includes a housing having a bore that extends up to but not through a first end of the housing. The connector assembly also includes a proximity switch disposed within the bore, and the proximity switch includes a switch body, a first contact member, and a second contact member. A portion of each of the first and second contact members extends from the switch body towards a second end of the housing. In a first switch position, a contact of a displaceable switching assembly is in contact with the first contact member, and in a second switch position, the contact is in contact with the second contact member. The connector assembly also includes an external connection assembly including a first pin that is electrically coupled to the first contact member and a second pin that is electrically coupled to the second contact member.
US09202647B2

A switching controller for circuit breaker in which a switching control arithmetic operation unit performs arithmetic operations to determine for each circuit breaker a synchronous delay count value which is sent to each switching command control unit of the corresponding circuit breaker, which upon receiving a switching command signal from a superordinate device, counts the synchronous delay count value D, to turn on a semiconductor switch of the switching command output unit after counting completes. The switching command signal (circuit breaker drive current) is output after the synchronous switching control to the circuit breaker drive coil of the circuit breaker. The switching controller can implement cost saving and space saving, even if switching of a circuit breaker in a lower branch system, such as a power distribution system, is controlled.
US09202643B2

The present invention relates to a device D for controlling the poles of an electric protective apparatus capable of driving a shaft (1), called the first shaft, for supporting the movable contacts between an open position of the pole in which the movable contacts and the fixed contacts of the apparatus are separated and a closed position of the pole in which these movable and fixed contacts are closed, the said device D comprising a closure spring (2) controlled by an operating shaft (3), called the second shaft, the said spring (2) being capable of transmitting closure energy to the said shaft called the first shaft (1) after compression and passing of the said spring (2) beyond a neutral point line of passage, by means of a cam (8) rotated by the said shaft called the second shaft (3), and interacting with a roller (5) secured to the shaft called the first shaft (1), means (13) for holding the control shaft called the first shaft in the closed position, and means (18, 5) for unlocking the aforementioned holding means (13) allowing the rapid opening of the contacts of the apparatus, this device being characterized in that the aforementioned holding means (13) are supported by the said cam (7, 8).
US09202641B2

A locked state for a movable part (11) of switchgear is created by deflected spring wires (15) entering a recess (12). Said device is reversible and has the advantage of being safe since it is completely passive, and it improves the dynamics of the movement of the movable part in particular by damping impacts when entering the abutment state. The invention can be applied to the drive rod of a vacuum circuit-breaker.
US09202639B2

An apparatus including a layer of electrically conductive material with an open interconnected wall structure of electrically conductive material formed thereon, the open interconnected wall structure having a gyroid structure including one or more open pores into which an active material for use in generating and/or storing electrical charge can be deposited, wherein the layer of electrically conductive material and the open interconnected wall structure together form a charge collector which provides an electrical path from the active material for the generated and/or stored electrical charge.
US09202632B2

A double-center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid having the structural formula (I), wherein n=2, 3 or 6, Y− is BF4−, PF6−, (FSO2)2N−, (CF3SO2)2N− or CF3S3−. Also provided is a method for preparing a double-center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid. The double-center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid has high stability, and thus an electrolyte containing the double center quaternary ammonium salt ion liquid has a high decomposition voltage.
US09202631B2

Provided is a porous film that can contribute to improving the cycle characteristics of an electric cell by improving binding characteristics, for a porous film provided on a surface of an electrode used in a secondary cell and the like. The porous film comprises a water-soluble polymer, an inorganic filler, and a water-insoluble particulate polymer including 0.5-40 mass % of a monomer unit having a hydrophilic group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid groups, hydroxyl groups, and sulfonate groups.
US09202623B2

A coil system for a burner management system and coil housing is provided having recessed terminals and a housing lid to cover the terminal recesses for reducing exposure of coil system terminals to air and unwanted contacts.
US09202619B2

A coiled power device including a magnetic core including a first leg and a second leg which are parallel to each other, the device including a first coil and a second coil to generate mutual inductance between the coils, the first coil including a first winding of conducting wires around the first leg and a second winding of conducting wires around the second leg, the second coil including at least a third winding of conducting wires around the second leg and a fourth winding of conducting wires around the first leg, the first winding and the fourth winding covering the same portion of the first leg to limit leakage inductance of the coiled power device.
US09202616B2

An intelligent magnetic system includes a first piece of ferromagnetic material having magnetically printed field sources having a multi-polarity pattern that extend from a first side to a second side that is magnetically attached to a second piece of ferromagnetic material, where a shunt plate disposed on the first side that routes magnetic flux through the first piece of ferromagnetic material from said first side to said second side. The system also includes at least one simple machine for amplifying an applied force into a detachment force that creates an angled spacing between the first piece of ferromagnetic material and the second piece of ferromagnetic material, at least one sensor for producing sensor data; and a control system for monitoring the sensor data and managing the use of the first piece of ferromagnetic material.
US09202615B2

A detachment system includes a first piece of ferromagnetic material, a shunt plate, and at least one simple machine. The first piece of ferromagnetic material has a first side and a second side opposite the first side and has magnetically printed field sources that extend from the first side to the second side. The magnetically printed field sources have a first multi-polarity pattern. The first side of the first piece of ferromagnetic material is magnetically attached to a second piece of ferromagnetic material. The shunt plate is disposed on the second side of the first piece of ferromagnetic material. The shunt plate routes magnetic flux through the first piece of ferromagnetic material from the second side to the first side of the first ferromagnetic material. The at least one simple machine is configured to amplify an applied force into a detachment force to create an angled spacing between the first piece of ferromagnetic material and the second piece of ferromagnetic material.
US09202612B2

A cold shrink assembly includes a first member, a second member, a shrink fit joint and a band. The first member has a tapered shape and includes a first opening or first notch. The second member has a tapered shape and includes a second opening or second notch. The shrink fit joint is disposed over a portion of the first and second members. The band is configured to secure the first and second members in a predetermined position. The band extends through the first opening or first notch, along a first portion of an outer surface of the cold shrink assembly, through the second opening or second notch, and loops back to the first opening or first notch along a second portion of the outer surface of the cold shrink assembly.
US09202604B2

Disclosed is a cathode active material for a lithium ion secondary battery which includes a lithium manganese borate compound and a manganese oxide. The lithium manganese borate compound contains a larger amount of lithium than conventional lithium manganese borate compounds. Therefore, a larger amount of lithium is deintercalated in a battery including the cathode active material, and as a result, the specific capacity of the battery reaches 100-160 mAh/g, which is much higher than that of conventional lithium ion secondary batteries (<80 mAh/g). Also disclosed is a method for producing the cathode active material.
US09202603B2

A sputtering target including indium, tin, zinc and oxygen, and including a hexagonal layered compound, a spinel structure compound and a bixbyite structure compound.
US09202595B2

An apparatus for post package repair can include memory cells in a package. A storage element can store information responsive to a post-package repair mode being activated. The information can identify an address mapped to a portion of the memory cells to be repaired. The storage element can store the information responsive to data received from nodes of the package. A walking token circuit can interrogate the information stored in the storage element in a serial fashion responsive to the post-package repair mode being activated. A mapping circuit can remap, responsive to the interrogation, the address to be repaired to another portion of the memory cells.
US09202583B2

Read margin measurement circuitry for measuring the read margin of floating-gate programmable non-volatile memory cells. In some embodiments, the read margin of a cell with a floating-gate transistor in a non-conductive state is measured by periodically clocking a counter following initiation of a read cycle; a latch stores the counter contents upon the cell under test making a transition due to leakage of the floating-gate transistor. Logic for testing a group of cells in parallel is disclosed. In some embodiments, the read margin of a cell in which the floating-gate transistor is set to a conductive state is measured by repeatedly reading the cell, with the output developing a voltage corresponding to the duty cycle of the output of the read circuit.
US09202581B1

A sensing method for a flash memory to improve read time of separate sensing in each bit line pair is introduced herein. The sensing method improves read time of even/odd BL separate sensing by, for example, charge time saving for sensing each of the bit lines during reading. In the method, both of the even bit line and the odd bit line are charged to a charge level. The voltage level of the odd bit line is maintained at the charge level and memory cells associated with the even bit line are sensed for reading data stored in the memory cells. The voltage level of the even bit line is discharged to ground, and the voltage level of the odd bit line is maintained at the charge level and sensed for reading data stored in the memory cells associated with the odd bit line.
US09202580B2

The memory cells storing a group of codewords are read to obtain respective read signals each comprising N signal components corresponding to respective symbols of a codeword. The components of each read signal are ordered according to signal level to produce an ordered read signal. Correspondingly-positioned components of the ordered read signals are then ordered according to signal level to produce ordered component sets for respective component positions in a said ordered read signal. Each ordered component set is partitioned into subsets corresponding to respective memory cell levels, wherein the subsets of the ordered component sets contain respective numbers of components dependent on predefined probabilities of occurrence of different symbol values at different positions in a said codeword whose symbols are ordered according to symbol value. The reference signal level is determined in dependence on the signal components in the subsets corresponding to that memory cell level.
US09202578B2

A three-dimensional integrated circuit non-volatile memory array includes a memory array with multiple vertical gate NAND memory cell strings formed in a different vertical layers over a substrate which share a common set of word lines, where different groupings of NAND memory cell strings formed between dedicated pairings of source line structures and bit line structures form separately erasable blocks which are addressed and erased by applying an erase voltage to the source line structure of the erase block being erased while applying a ground voltage to the other source line structures in the array and a high pass voltage to the bit line structures in the array.
US09202573B2

A partial voltage level read is made on memory cells of a solid state memory device during a voltage settling time after the memory cells are charged (e.g., by a pulse from a charge pump). Digital values representing partial voltage levels are checked for errors (e.g., by an error correction code (ECC) engine). If the values can be corrected, then the values are released for host access. If the values cannot be corrected, then a full voltage read is performed on the memory cells after the voltage levels have substantially settled. Digital values corresponding to the full voltage reads can be released for host access. The use of partial voltage reads results in faster read of solid state memory devices.
US09202570B2

A three-dimensional semiconductor device includes a substrate having a cell array region between first and second contact regions. A first stack includes a plurality of first electrodes vertically provided on the substrate, and a second stack includes a plurality of second electrodes vertically provided on the first stack. The second stack is arranged to expose end portions of the first electrodes on the first contact region and overlap end portions of the first electrodes on the second contact region.
US09202569B2

Methods for providing redundancy and apparatuses are disclosed. One such method for providing redundancy performs a mapping of data between an address of a memory determined to indicate a defective memory cell and an address of a redundant area of the memory, only after the data has been loaded into a buffer. The direction of the mapping is determined by the operation (e.g., programming or reading).
US09202562B2

A method for operating a memory device includes performing a single read operation that includes additional one or more combinations of read and/or write cycles, and performing a single write operation that includes additional one or more combinations of read and/or write cycles. For example, a method for auto-correcting errors in a memory device having plurality of memory cells includes performing a first read operation of the memory cell to obtain a first read data value, performing a first write operation to the memory cell to write a second data value, which is a complement of the first data value, into the memory cell, performing a second read operation of the memory cell to obtain a third data value, and performing a second write operation to the memory cell to write a fourth data value, which is a complement of the third data value, to the memory cell.
US09202560B2

There are provided a memory element and a memory device excellently operating at a low current, and having the satisfactory retention characteristics. The memory element includes a first electrode, a memory layer, and a second electrode in this order. The memory layer includes a resistance change layer disposed on the first electrode side, and being in a single- or multi-layer structure including a layer containing a highest percentage of tellurium (Te) as an anionic component, and an ion source layer disposed on the second electrode side, and containing a metallic element and one or more chalcogen elements including tellurium (Te), sulfur (S), and selenium (Se) with aluminum (Al) of 27.7 atomic % or more but 47.4 atomic % or less.
US09202557B2

A semiconductor memory includes a read port array disposed on a first layer of a three-dimensional integrated circuit and a bit cell array disposed on a second layer of the three-dimensional integrated circuit. The second layer being vertically positioned above or below the first layer. At least one bit cell of the bit cell array is coupled to at least one read port cell of the read port array by a via extending from the first layer to the second layer.
US09202553B2

Provided is a semiconductor storage device including first and second load transistors, first and second drive transistors, first and second transfer transistors, and first and second cell node lines each serving as a storage node. A portion where a cell node line and a bit line corresponding to the cell node line overlap each other when viewed from above is formed between the cell node line and the bit line.
US09202547B2

In an embodiment, a memory controller may determine that one or more neighboring memory cells associated with a target memory cell in a memory device are to be refreshed. The controller may generate a command associated with refreshing the one or more neighboring memory cells. The controller may transfer the command from the memory controller to the memory device containing the target memory cell. The command may direct the memory device to refresh the neighboring memory cells and/or return one or more addresses associated with the neighboring memory cells.
US09202546B2

The semiconductor device includes: a transistor having an oxide semiconductor layer; and a logic circuit formed using a semiconductor material other than an oxide semiconductor. One of a source electrode and a drain electrode of the transistor is electrically connected to at least one input of the logic circuit, and at least one input signal is applied to the logic circuit through the transistor. The off-current of the transistor is preferably 1×10−13 A or less.
US09202541B2

A semiconductor apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention includes first and second bus-interface circuits, a mode information storage unit that stores first and second mode information, the first and second mode information being able to be set through the first bus-interface circuit, a first memory core that operates based on the first mode information, the first memory core being connected to the first bus-interface circuit and supplied with a first clock signal, a second memory core, the second memory core being supplied with a second clock signal and a select circuit that selectively connects the second memory core to the first or second bus-interface circuit based on predetermined switching information, in which the second memory core operates based on the second mode information when the second memory core is connected to the second bus-interface circuit.
US09202540B1

A semiconductor memory device includes an active state detector suitable for detecting whether or not a predetermined time passes after a moment when a normal active command or an additional active pulse is activated in an active state detection mode, and generating an additional precharge pulse based on a detection result, a column controller suitable for generating the additional active pulse based on the additional precharge pulse, a column address, and an external column command in the active state detection mode, and a core region suitable for being activated based on the normal active command or an additional active command corresponding to the additional active pulse, and being precharged based on an additional precharge command corresponding to the additional precharge pulse or a normal precharge command.
US09202539B2

A method is provided for programming a memory cell having a first terminal coupled to a word line and a second terminal coupled to a bit line. During a first predetermined time interval, the word line is switched from a first standby voltage to a first voltage, the bit line is switched from a second standby voltage to a predetermined voltage, and a voltage drop across the first and second terminals is a safe voltage that does not program the memory cell. During a second predetermined time interval, the word line is switched from the first voltage to a second voltage, and a voltage drop across the first and second terminals is a programming voltage that is sufficient to program the memory cell. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US09202537B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a sense amplifier section. The sense amplifier section includes first n-type diffusion layers, second n-type diffusion layers, first to fifth gates, and first to eighth contacts. The first to fourth contacts are formed over the first n-type diffusion layers. The fifth to eighth contacts are formed over the second n-type diffusion layers. The first and fourth gates are formed in a region between the first n-type diffusion layers. The third gate is formed in a region between the first n-type diffusion layers and in a region between the second n-type diffusion layers. The second and fifth gates are formed in a region between the second n-type diffusion layers.
US09202522B2

A computer implemented method and apparatus for subtitle display. The method comprises determining a second display speed in response to a command to change a first display speed of digital content, wherein the digital content comprises a plurality of frames and a plurality of subtitles, and wherein the plurality of subtitles are displayed for a pre-defined length of time determined by an association with the digital content at the first display speed; identifying at least one subtitle associated with a frame of the digital content at a location nearest in time to the frame; presenting for display frames of the digital content at the second display speed; and presenting for display the at least one subtitle in a new association with the frames of digital content being displayed at the second display speed.
US09202505B2

A method for manufacturing a glass substrate for a magnetic recording medium, including a polishing step of polishing a principal surface (12) of a glass substrate (10) having a chamfered surface (16) formed on an end surface of the glass substrate (10), with use of a polishing pad (24) having a concave groove (31) formed in a surface (24a) for supplying a polishing solution, the polishing step is performed in the following condition: 10°≦θp<θd≦80° where θd is an angle defined by the chamfered surface (16) and a plane in parallel to a thickness direction of the glass substrate (10) on an inner side portion of the glass substrate (10), and θp is an angle defined by a concave groove side surface (31a) and a plane in parallel to a thickness direction of the polishing pad (24) on an inner side portion of the polishing pad (24).
US09202499B2

An apparatus is arranged to detect contact between an air bearing surface of a transducer and a medium using a modulated thermal sensor signal. A laser source produces modulated laser light. A thermal sensor is disposed at or near the air bearing surface and is subject to cyclic heating by the modulated laser light. The thermal sensor is configured to produce the modulated sensor signal in response to the cyclic heating.
US09202494B1

An NFT is used in a HAMR magnetic write head. The NFT functions as a resonant circuit when in operation. The resonant circuit, which comprises the NFT, is a split-ring resonator (SRR) that has a capacitive portion and an inductive portion. The inductance and the capacitance results in a very well focused ultra-small spot-size concentrated on the magnetic media. The focus occurs at the capacitive area of the NFT with minimal to no impact upon the write pole of the HAMR magnetic head.
US09202482B2

A magnetic sensor having a novel pinning structure resulting in a greatly reduced gap spacing. The sensor has a magnetic free layer structure that extends to a first stripe height and a magnetic pinned layer structure that extends to a second stripe height that is longer than the first stripe high. A layer of anti-ferromagnetic material is formed over the pinned layer structure in the region beyond the first stripe height location. In this way, the antiferromagnetic layer is between the pinned layer and the second or upper shield and does not contribute to gap spacing.
US09202466B2

The invention presents a method for analyzing speech in a spoken dialog system, comprising the steps of: accepting an utterance by at least one means for accepting acoustical signals, in particular a microphone, analyzing the utterance and obtaining prosodic cues from the utterance using at least one processing engine, wherein the utterance is evaluated based on the prosodic cues to determine a prominence of parts of the utterance, and wherein the utterance is analyzed to detect at least one marker feature, e.g. a negative statement, indicative of the utterance containing at least one part to replace at least one part in a previous utterance, the part to be replaced in the previous utterance being determined based on the prominence determined for the parts of the previous utterance and the replacement parts being determined based on the prominence of the parts in the utterance, and wherein the previous utterance is evaluated with the replacement part(s).
US09202455B2

Uses of an enhanced sidetone signal in an active noise cancellation operation are disclosed. In one example, a method of audio signal processing includes producing an anti-noise signal based on information from a first audio signal. A target component of a second audio signal is separated from a noise component of the second audio signal to produce at least one among a separated target component and a separated noise component. Based on at least one among the separated target component and the separated noise component, an audio output signal is produced.
US09202448B2

Systems and methods for creating customized music arrangements based on multiple criteria are provided herein. A user selects a musical composition and provides ensemble information about an ensemble, such as the number of instruments, instrument types, and playing ability of each member of an ensemble to the system. When inputted instrumentation or proficiency does not work within the pre-determined parameters of the musical selection, notification is provided to the user, and the system rebalances the arrangement to accommodate the proficiencies of the ensemble. In embodiments, the system is configured to transpose portions of a musical score into a range suitable for a substitute instrument or a player of limited skill. The user receives a conductor's score arrangement that has been adapted for each member of the ensemble and tailored to balance the entire ensemble. The system is capable of receiving ensemble information and creating customized musical arrangements in real-time.
US09202423B2

A method for driving a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel includes: driving the LCD panel according to a location of a pixel of the LCD panel and a corresponding compensation value of the pixel of the LCD panel. The compensation value of the pixel corresponds to an offset value of a reference brightness corresponding to brightness of a light spot of the LCD panel before compensation of the light spot of the LCD panel.
US09202418B2

A projection system is provided that uses an additional light valve in series with the conventional color splitting-converging prism in order to increase the contrast of a projected image, wherein bit sequences are generated for the additional light valve that do not result in interference with the conventional color light valve bit sequences.
US09202417B2

A driving method of an electrophoretic display device, which has a plurality of pixels where an electrophoretic layer is interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode, including supplying a first voltage pulse with one polarity of a first polarity or a second polarity to a first pixel in a third display state between a first display state and a second display state, supplying a second voltage pulse with the other polarity of the first polarity or the second polarity to the first pixel, supplying a third voltage pulse, which has the same polarity as the polarity of the first voltage pulse and has a duration different from a duration of the first voltage pulse, to a second pixel which is in the third display state, and supplying the second voltage pulse to the second pixel.
US09202416B2

A display apparatus includes: an edge processing section extracting an edge component of a display data signal; a display data signal processing section changing the display data signal according to a level conversion signal and adding the edge component thereto; a level conversion signal generating section changing the level conversion signal according to the display data signal and a signal output from the display data signal processing section; and a display section performing a display operation according to the signal output from the display data processing section.
US09202414B2

An organic light-emitting diode pixel circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a signal loading module, an organic light-emitting diode, a drive transistor connected to the signal loading module and configured to provide a current to the organic light-emitting diode. The circuit also includes a storage capacitor connected to the drive transistor, and first and second switch modules configured to selectively control current to and from the drive transistor. In addition, a display panel including the organic light-emitting diode pixel circuit and a display device comprising the display panel are also disclosed.
US09202412B2

A method of fabricating an organic EL display apparatus includes: obtaining a representative current (I)-voltage (V) characteristic of a display panel including pixels each having an organic EL device and a driving transistor; dividing the display panel into a plurality of divided regions, and calculating a light-emitting efficiency and an offset luminance value for each of the divided regions calculated by an I-luminance (L) characteristic of the divided region; measuring luminance of light emitted from each of the pixels and calculating an L-V characteristic of each of the pixels; calculating an L-V characteristic of each divided region by dividing each current value of the representative I-V characteristic by light-emitting efficiency, and by adding an offset luminance value; and calculating a correction parameter for each pixel such that the L-V characteristic of each pixel is corrected to the L-V characteristic of the divided region including the pixel.
US09202411B2

Disclosed is an organic light emitting display device. The organic light emitting display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels formed in intersection areas between a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of sensing lines, a gate driver supplying a gate signal to the gate lines, a plurality of data driving ICs including a data driver, supplying data voltages to the data lines, and a sensing unit including a plurality of ADCs that each sense characteristic change of a driving transistor included in a corresponding pixel to generate sensing data, a memory storing a gain error and offset error of each ADC, and a timing controller correcting the sensing data on a basis of the gain error and offset error, modulating input data on a basis of the corrected sensing data, and supplying the modulated data to the data driving ICs.
US09202407B2

An organic light emitting diode display apparatus and a pixel circuit thereof are provided. The pixel circuit includes a switch unit, a capacitor, a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor and an organic light emitting diode. In a pre-charging period, a first terminal of the capacitor receives a data voltage through the switch unit, and a second terminal of the capacitor receives a high voltage through the turned-on first transistor. In a programming period, the first terminal of the capacitor receives the data voltage through the switch unit, and the second terminal of the capacitor receives the high voltage that is encoded through the turned-on second and third transistors. In a display period, the first terminal of the capacitor receives a ground voltage through the switch unit, and the first and third transistors are turned-off.
US09202405B2

A display panel including a plurality of unit regions is provided. The unit regions are arranged along a first direction and a second direction to form a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows. Each of the unit regions of the display panel includes a plurality of first color sub-pixels, a plurality of second color sub-pixels, and a plurality of third color sub-pixels. In any of the rows, a first pitch between any one of the first color sub-pixels and a next of the first color sub-pixels has at least four kinds of distances.
US09202401B2

The present invention relates to a decoration, toy technical scheme and the like, particularly to a touch sensitive crystal ball comprises a hollow glass ball and a base, which is characterized in that the hollow glass ball is used in the form of an opening in its lower part, where a conductive resin is disposed; the base is provided with an operating circuit; an electrode plate is arranged under the conductive resin and connected to the operating circuit, a touch switch is composed of the electrode plate, the glass ball and the conductive resin, since the user touch the glass ball, the operating circuit is opened by activating the electrode plate through static electricity from human body.
US09202396B2

The present invention relates to a solar power generation assembly and method for providing same involving an array of solar generating modules on a dual-incline structure, which can achieve high energy yields over a wide range of azimuths/orientations. The assembly consists of canopy wings providing for the dual-incline structure, where, depending on specifications, the canopy wings can differ in length, width, angle of inclination, structural material and solar module or other material mounted on the surface. The canopy wings may be pivoted or hinged to enhance the energy generation and/or other functional benefits of the assembly or system, including display elements, advertising, rainwater/precipitation and snow drainage and collection and energy transmission. The assembly or system is modular and may be assembled in a long continuous configuration in which the inclination, width and tilt of the canopy wings may vary of a long distance to maintain substantially consistent energy yields as the assembly or system orientation changes.
US09202385B2

A method and simulator for training a crew member of a vehicle, especially a military vehicle, in the interior of the vehicle. A camera films the vehicle interior and is to be fixed to the head of the crew member. A display device is to be disposed in the field of view of the crew member and is to be fixed to the crew member's head. Via markers in the vehicle interior, the position of a view is defined, and at the position of the view, a detail of a virtual vehicle external environment is overlaid in the display device as a function of the position and viewing direction of the crew member.
US09202375B2

In a method for operating a navigation system for a motor vehicle having an offboard data memory, spatially separated from the motor vehicle, having data packets of visual map information, divided by region, as well as a display arranged in the motor vehicle, a selection of data packets provided for transmission to the motor vehicle and/or their sequence occur as a function of the resolution of the display, the location of the motor vehicle, an assumed route of the motor vehicle and/or the bandwidth of a communication connection provided for the transmission, the selected data packets being transmitted to the motor vehicle (e.g., in the selected sequence), and visual map information from data packets transmitted to the motor vehicle being represented by the display.
US09202353B1

The disclosure includes a system and method for switching vibration modalities based on conditions to provide navigation guidance. The system includes a tactile belt and a computing device. The computing device includes a modality module for receiving path data describing a path planned for a user associated with a tactile belt and location data describing a location of the user associated with the tactile belt, determining condition data based on the path data and the location data and determining a vibration modality based on the condition data. The condition data describes a direction change. The vibration modality describes a pattern for vibration and indicates a vibration signal. The system applies the vibration signal indicated by the vibration modality to the tactile belt to instruct the user associated with the tactile belt to follow the path.
US09202352B2

A system is provided that automatically adjusts a haptic effect. The system generates a haptic effect based on one or more haptic parameters. The system measures an affective state of a user that experiences the haptic effect. The system adjusts at least one haptic parameter of the one or more haptic parameters based on the measured affective state. The system generates a new haptic effect based on the one or more haptic parameters, where the at least one haptic effect parameter causes the new haptic effect to be different from the haptic effect.
US09202350B2

An apparatus and method for enabling the provision of differential haptic feedback to a user based on a particular degree of spatial interaction between a plurality of different user interface elements of a graphical user interface.
US09202349B2

A light signal device includes at least one light sensor and a signal generator which has a light source and a shutter disk. An inner side of a screening stop, which protects the shutter disk, holds at least one reflector element which reflects a portion of the light emitted by the light source in the direction of the at least one light sensor. A method for ascertaining the degree of soiling of a shutter disk for a signal generator is also provided.
US09202339B2

A gaming device displays a symbol matrix including a plurality of symbol positions and at least two symbol staging areas, each symbol staging area including at least one supplemental symbol potentially shiftable into the symbol matrix. The gaming device displays a symbol staging area indicator. For a play of a game, the gaming device generates a symbol in each symbol position of the symbol matrix. Upon an occurrence of a triggering condition, the gaming device indicates one of the symbol staging areas using the symbol staging area indicator and removes at least one symbol from at least one symbol position of the symbol matrix. The gaming device re-populates the empty symbol positions by shifting any appropriate symbols of the symbol matrix any appropriate empty symbol positions, and thereafter shifting at least one supplemental symbol from the indicated symbol staging area into at least one remaining empty symbol position.
US09202328B2

Authentication verifying for an object to be certified is carried out. An authentication verifying chip in which authentication verifying information is stored is mounted non-removably on a certificate. A confirmation chip in which the authentication verifying information is encrypted by a crypt key of a certificate issuer and is stored is mounted non-removably on the object to be certified. When verifying the authenticity of the object to be certified, the encrypted authentication verifying information in the confirmation chip is decrypted by the crypt key of the certificate issuer, and it is compared to the authentication verifying information in the authentication verifying chip.
US09202324B1

The present invention relates generally to a system and method of interactive verification of an immigration card holder's identity and using a communication device to provide a covert alarm to alert immigration personnel in the event of immigration security breaches. Specifically, using an electronic immigration card with a coded frame displayed thereon that includes one or more hot corners and hyperlinks or icons embedded within the coded frame, which is activated for display when image capturing means scans the coded frame. Upon activation, a hyperlink or icon may be engaged for controlling interactive media content pursuant to a control command associated with the one icon or hyperlink. The media content may include authenticating information, e.g. security questions, photographs and the like. Because the interactive media content is not visible prior to the coded frame being scanned, the immigration card has varied layers of securing the information electronically stored thereon.
US09202321B2

A multi-camera vehicular image recorder has a hollow body and a first image capturing module and a second image capturing module mounted in the body. The body has a first lens opening and a second lens opening formed through a front cover thereof. A lens of the first image capturing module is pivotally oscillated up and down within the first lens opening. The second image capturing module is fixed to be adjacent to the second lens opening. The body further has a third lens opening formed through a rear cover thereof. A third image capturing module is pivotally oscillated up and down within the first lens opening. As the first image capturing module is pivotable upwards and downwards, a view angle images taken by the first image capturing module is broader in collaboration with the second image capturing module and more complete driving conditions can be captured and provided.
US09202320B2

An event information collecting system installed on a vehicle includes a status information acquiring device that acquires and generates vehicle status information, a control device that receives the vehicle status information generated from the status information acquiring device, a storage device connected to the control device, a main power supply that supplies electric power to the control device, and an auxiliary power supply that supplies electric power to the control device when supply of power from the main power supply is stopped. In the event information collecting system, the control device stores, in the storage device, the vehicle status information generated from the status information acquiring device and a condition of power supply from the main power supply, at the time of occurrence of a given event.
US09202313B2

Embodiments that relate to providing a low-latency interaction in a virtual environment are provided. In one embodiment an initial image of a hand and initial depth information representing an initial actual position are received. The initial image is projected into the virtual environment to an initial virtual position. A segmented version of the initial image is provided for display in the virtual environment at the initial virtual position. A subsequent image of the hand and depth information representing a subsequent actual position are received. The subsequent image is projected into the virtual environment to a subsequent virtual position. A segmented version of the subsequent image is provided for display at the subsequent virtual position. A collision is detected between a three-dimensional representation of the hand and a virtual or physical object.
US09202312B1

Methods and systems are provided for generating/simulating hair on a 3D model taking into consideration some information from an image of a person, such as for example, the stage of hair loss, to determine which methodology or algorithm to use to generate the hair. The methods and systems of the present application are especially useful in those applications where it is desirable to display the existing hair together with newly simulated hair.
US09202310B2

A three-dimensional relief can be produced from one or more two-dimensional digital (2D) images. A height field is computed from the 2D images and illumination direction information. The height field comprises a multiplicity of geometric surface elements arrayed in a 2D field corresponding to the pixels of the one or more 2D images. Each geometric surface element corresponds to a pixel of each of the digital images and has at least one height parameter representing a displacement from a surface floor. Once the height field is computed, optimizations can be made to the height field including adding and adjusting albedo and glossy surface finishing. The height field can be used to fabricate relief elements in a material, such that each relief element corresponds in shape, position in the height field, and height above the surface floor, to one of the geometric surface elements in the height field.
US09202307B2

Systems and methods for browsing images of points of interest (POIs) are provided. Indication of selection of POI from among multiple POIs is received. Image graph associated with POI is identified. Image graph includes multiple images of POI. Tour path for POI is defined within image graph. Specific image from tour path defined within image graph is provided for display. Previous image and next image relative to specific image along tour path defined within image graph are determined. First set of additional images from image graph based on specific image is determined. First set of additional images corresponds to set of images in image graph proximate to specific image. Link to previous image or next image, and link to each member of first set of additional images for display with specific image are provided.
US09202291B1

In various embodiments, an ray-marched-tangent space shader is provided which uses adaptive, curved ray marching of an implicit weave/thread procedural texture to create the appearance of individual cloth yarns complete with sub-fibers which separate rather than stretch over the surface. The volumetric surface shader shades cloth by performing adaptive curved ray marching of an implicit tangent space distance field.
US09202269B2

A user terminal device, a server device, a system and a method for assessing quality of media data are described. The user terminal device is used for extracting artifact features from the media data and for communicating the features to the server device which is then used for determining a quality score using the artifacts and an artifact/quality score database accessible by the server device. The score, transmitted to the user terminal device, is presented to a user from which a subjective quality score and a request for re-determination are received which the user terminal device communicates to the server device. This in turn is used for re-determining the quality score and for transmitting back the re-determined quality score wherein the quality score is re-determined using the received artifacts, the received subjective quality score and the artifact/quality score database.
US09202266B2

In accordance with an example embodiment a method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method comprises determining a plurality of first pixels having resemblance with a second pixel associated with an image based on a depth information of the image. The method further comprises replacing the second pixel by at least one first pixel of the plurality of first pixels based on a determination that the at least one first pixel is not associated with the at least one image defect.
US09202265B2

A PSF cost function used for determining a PSF kernel (438) of at least a portion of an image (16) includes (i) a first fidelity term having a first direction derivative, (ii) a first fidelity term weight for the first fidelity term, (iii) a second fidelity term having a second direction derivative, and (iv) a second fidelity term weight for the second fidelity term. Another PSF cost function for determining a PSF kernel (638) includes (i) a first fidelity term with a first derivative in a dominant edge direction (d), and (ii) a second fidelity term having a second derivative in a perpendicular direction(p) to the dominant edge direction.
US09202264B2

An image processing apparatus includes: a processor coupled to a memory, configured to: perform an analysis of resolution in at least two directions of an image which is taken from a subject having a radial pattern, and determine filter data containing an adjusted weight coefficient which is obtained by adjusting a weight coefficient in one of the two directions, whichever has lower resolution, based on a result of the analysis of the image corrected by filtering on the image in accordance with a blurring function of the image.
US09202262B2

The solution disclosed herein reduces the amount of time and computational resources necessary to determine a dominant gradient direction of an image area comprising a plurality of pixels of an image. To that end, the dominant gradient direction of an image area is determined based on two gradient magnitudes determined from four sample points in the image area, where a direction of one of the gradient magnitudes is perpendicular to a direction of the other of the gradient magnitudes. The dominant gradient direction is then determined by taking the arctangent of the computed gradient magnitudes.
US09202259B2

Automatic generation of a mosaic comprising a plurality of geospatial images. An embodiment of the automatic mosaic generation may include automated source image selection that includes comparison of source images to base layer image to determine radiometric similar source images. Additionally, an embodiment of an automatic cutline generator may be provided to automatically determine a cutline when merging two images such that radiometric differences between the images along the cutline are reduced. In this regard, less perceivable outlines may be provided. Further still, an embodiment of a radiometric normalization module may be provided that may determine radiometric adjustments to source images to match certain properties of the base layer image. In some embodiments, when processing source images, the source images may be downsampled during a portion of the processing to reduce computational overhead. Additionally, some highly parallel computations may be performed by a GPU to further enhance performance.
US09202255B2

Embodiments of identifying multimedia objects based on multimedia fingerprints are provided. Query fingerprints are derived from a multimedia object according to differing fingerprint algorithms. For each fingerprint algorithm, decisions are calculated through at least one classifier corresponding to the fingerprint algorithm based on the query fingerprint and reference fingerprints, the reference fingerprints being derived from reference multimedia objects according to the same fingerprint algorithm. Each of the decisions indicates a possibility that the query fingerprint and the reference fingerprint are not derived from the same multimedia content. For each of the reference multimedia objects, a distance is calculated as a weighted sum of the decisions relating to the reference fingerprints. The multimedia object is identified as matching the reference multimedia object with the smallest distance less than a threshold.
US09202253B2

Devices, systems, methods, and software for providing remote medical diagnosis and therapy to a subject comprising: a module for conducting telecommunications with a telemedicalist; a module for applying a diagnostic or a therapeutic analysis; an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items, the inventory of medical items risk profiled to a subject, a population, a venue, or a situation; and optionally, a biosensor apparatus.
US09202250B1

A method and system for providing early payment for earned, accrued wages to a worker that includes receiving over an electronic network, from at least one of the worker and an employer's tracking and payment system, earnings data for the worker; receiving, from the worker, data for accessing and effecting transactions in an account associated with the worker; calculating an hourly wage for the worker; calculating the hours for which payment can be accelerated and for which payment cannot be accelerated; calculating a value of funds to be transferred to the worker based on the hourly wage and accelerated hours; and debiting the account associated with the worker based upon the calculated value of funds.
US09202246B1

Various embodiments of a system and method for providing substitute item recommendations in order status messages are described. In various embodiments, a customer may submit an order for one or more items to a merchant. In various cases, the merchant may fulfill the order by preparing a shipment that includes the one or more ordered items and shipping that shipment to the customer. In some cases, at least one item of the order may be delayed or canceled for a variety of reasons. In various embodiments, the merchant may utilize an exception management component to generate an orders status message (for the customer) that specifies the item has been delayed or canceled. The merchant may also utilize the exception management component to generate the order status message such that the order status message also includes a recommendation of one or more substitute items that the customer may be interested in.
US09202242B2

Particular embodiments provide an order procurement application to allow users to search for items in an order procurement catalog. A classification of items in the order procurement catalog is determined. A plurality of different types of items are classified. The different types may be characterized by different methods of ordering that are needed to order an item of the type. During searching, a query for the order procurement catalog may be received. A classification position may be determined based on the query. For example, a node in a hierarchy may be determined. Ancestor and descendant positions in the classification may also be determined, such as ancestor and descendant nodes for the current node. A plurality of items is then determined for the classification position, ancestor position, and descendant position. The plurality of items that are determined may then be displayed to a user in response to the query.
US09202240B2

A greeting card stored-value card combinations and methods of forming said combinations are provided. In one embodiment, these combinations include a greeting card comprising means for affixing a stored-value card thereto. These combinations also include a stored-value card affixed to the greeting card. A single identifier, such as a Stock-Keeping Unit (SKU) or a Universal Product Code (UPC), is assigned to the bundle that uniquely identifies the bundled greeting card and stored-value card. The single identifier provides identification means allowing the stored-value card to be activated. A single capture of the single identifier enables the customer to both purchase the greeting card stored-value card combination product as well as to activate the store-value card.
US09202237B2

In one embodiment, a method includes receiving a plurality of communication sessions of a transaction associated with a postpaid end user. The method includes associating the plurality of communication sessions with the transaction and extracting data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction. The method includes generating a single billing record after the transaction is completed, the single billing record comprising the extracted data from the plurality of communication sessions associated with the transaction.
US09202236B2

A method for associating a financial transaction with an electronic advertisement including obtaining unique electronic tokens for each potential financial transaction resulting from an electronic advertisement of an advertiser to consumers; storing the unique electronic tokens as stored tokens associated with the electronic advertisement; transmitting the unique electronic tokens as distributed tokens to the advertiser; receiving at least one of the distributed tokens that has been passed from the advertiser to a consumer in relation to a financial transaction based on the electronic advertisement; and associating each financial transaction identified by the received distributed token with the electronic advertisement identified by the stored tokens, if the received distributed token matches with the stored token.
US09202232B2

The present invention provides techniques for use in electronic and online advertising. Techniques are provided in which an advertiser provides information specifying a time-spaced sequence of advertisements to be targeted and served to a particular user, across a number of different devices and screens. Each advertisement in the sequence may be served to the user while the user is using a particular electronic device. The sequence of advertisements as a whole may be optimized with regard to eliciting a particular response from the user, and each advertisement may be optimized regarding its order in the sequence and the type of device or screen on which it is to be served.
US09202230B2

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of offering anonymous incentive based context to service providers, comprising delivering context information of a user to the service provider, wherein prior to delivery of the context information to the service provider, the context is anonymized by removing identifying information and aggregating it with context from additional users.
US09202224B2

A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and a memory structure for providing advertisements with a media program transmitted to a user device are described. The method permits the user to manage the provision of user information such as surveys and advertisement feedback to the media program provider to improve the advertising experience.
US09202221B2

Architecture for dynamically tracking information about a first-time or inactive user to a website and expeditiously presenting targeted content back to the user to maintain the user interest in the website. A visceral connection is created with the user based on immediately relevant content and functionality, and without requiring user-entered profile information about the user. Based on a few pieces of browsing information collected while at the website an action-oriented initial scenario is provided that is interesting to the user, and gets the user invested in the content (e.g., product) as a whole. Services can be recommended to users in the context of a social application or an online service provider, for example. The architecture also facilitates the up-selling, cross-selling of services, features, and products, for example, to users based on the current user browsing activity.
US09202213B2

A system and method are provided for communication between a communication device and a content provider associated with an internet domain name and a server. The system includes a network with a user interface, an internet connection, and an interface to the content provider's internet domain. A communication device user enters a concise message request which includes a channel, a designator and, optionally, a request instruction. The combination of the channel and the designator specify a location on the internet at which routing instructions reside for responding to the concise message request and generating a concise message response for output to the communication device. Concise message documents can be generated for effecting financial transactions such as purchases and payments via SMS. CMRL can also be used to route person-to-person messaging through a content provider's internet domain at which the users may be registered.
US09202202B2

A system facilitates collaborative communications and information sharing in a network defined by a model. The model and a portion of the system are stored on a storage component coupled to a terminal. The system captures context information and user-defined data, the user-defined data provided during user interaction of the user in a first domain of the network, and dynamically stores the context information as metadata associated with the user-defined data, the user-defined data and the metadata stored on the storage component; a tracking component for tracking a change of the user from the first domain to a second domain of the network and dynamically updating the stored metadata based on the change, where the user accesses the user-defined data from the second domain; and an interface to the system that permits the user to create and view the user-defined data according to the model of the network.
US09202198B2

Techniques are disclosed for managing certain aspects of a large industrial operation (such as a pipeline). A commodity materials invoice system may allow a user to model a commodity invoice as a template and subsequently use that template to model commodity usage for different periods of time. Costs for a given billing period may be estimated based on actual commodity consumption. For example, data from a SCADA system monitoring different aspects of a pipeline may be used to estimate invoice costs for retail commodity consumption. The commodity materials invoice system may be configured to present both estimated and actualized invoice data side-by-side, allowing users to make a direct comparison of the estimated and actualized invoice data.
US09202190B2

A method and system for tracking non-discrete goods. The method includes inserting a first identification device into a non-discrete good, detecting the first identification device within the non-discrete good, and determining a characteristic of the non-discrete good from the first identification device. The system includes a plurality of identification devices having characteristics similar to a non-discrete good, and a set of sensors to detect the plurality of identification devices and determine a characteristic of the non-discrete good based on the identification devices.
US09202176B1

A method for building a factual database of concepts and entities that are related to the concepts through a learning process. Training content (e.g., news articles, books) and a set of entities (e.g., Bill Clinton and Barack Obama) that are related to a concept (e.g., Presidents) is received. Groups of words that co-occur frequently in the textual content in conjunction with the entities are identified as templates. Templates may also be identified by analyzing parts-of-speech patterns of the templates. Entities that co-occur frequently in the textual content in conjunction with the templates are identified as additional related entities (e.g., Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon). To eliminate erroneous results, the identified entities may be presented to a user who removes any false positives. The entities are then stored in association with the concept.
US09202174B2

A utility that can be embedded within a system or application, or run as a stand-alone utility, provides a method for identifying causal relationships for one or more events. For instance, if an anomaly is occurring for a subset of events in a series of events, certain information about potential causes can be collected in conjunction with the series of events and, the information can be analyzed to determine if there is a cause and affect relationship leading to the occurrence of the anomalies.
US09202173B1

An improved technique involves adjusting the operation of a KBA system based on facts that may contain information known to an adversary. Along these lines, the KBA system may receive an alert concerning an adversary that may know the answers to some of the KBA questions used by the KBA system in authenticating users. In response to alert, the KBA system may alter operations in order to account for the adversary. Subsequently, when a user requests authentication, the KBA system selects KBA questions based on adjustments made to the KBA system in order to avoid presenting the adversary with KBA questions derived from facts (s)he knows.
US09202167B1

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for identifying and resolving defects in multiple clusters based on a reported defect instance is discussed. Computer systems may be grouped into clusters. A report of a defective system may be received, and the defective system's cluster may be identified. A defect solution may then be distributed to all the systems in that cluster.
US09202151B2

A printing apparatus is provided with a CPU. The CPU generates dot data where dots are regularly distributed and arranged in a case where gradation values which are represented by image data are a predetermined value or less by using a dither mask where thresholds are set for each printing pixel and comparing the gradation values of each of the pixels which configure the original image and the thresholds for each of the printing pixels which are set in the dither mask, and generates the dot data such that the degree of regularity of the dots which are distributed and arranged is reduced as the gradation values are increased in a case where the gradation values which are represented by the image data exceed the predetermined value through execution of a dot data generating module.
US09202149B2

A CPU performs the steps of: (a) causing a compression/decompression processor to decompress the compressed data of one of three bands in the data area except for the first block in the band, and storing decompressed bitmap data in the data area; (b) rasterizing each of the intermediate data blocks in the band and synthesizing the rasterized data and the decompressed bitmap data in the band; and causing the compression/decompression processor to compress the synthesized bitmap data and storing the compressed data in the data area. The CPU performs the steps (a) to (c) in different respective tasks in parallel, and performs the steps (a) to (c) in the order of (a), (b) (c) for each of the intermediate code blocks in each of the bands while using the 1st to the 3rd bitmap data area in turn for each of the steps (a) to (c).
US09202147B2

Disclosed is an image forming system, including: a conveying unit configured to convey recording paper; an image forming unit configured to print an image on the recording paper; an image reading unit configured to optically read the recording paper and to obtain a read image; and a correction control unit configured to control an execution of a test operation in which a test pattern including one or more thin lines are printed on the recording paper by the image forming unit and in which the test pattern is read by the image reading unit, to collect information indicting operation state of each unit in the execution of the test operation, to evaluate the thin lines in the read image obtained in the test operation in consideration of the collected information and to carry out a correction relating to printing of a specified thin line.
US09202145B2

A system and method for evaluating the sensitivity of energetic substances or materials for transportation, storage, and in-process scenarios are disclosed. The disclosure discusses a system and method that use a high-speed video device, a CPU or computer, sensitivity equipment for testing and assessing the substance or material reaction or explosion sensitivities, such as an electrostatic discharge device or impact assessment device, and software for running a process or set of rules or instructions to be followed for quantifying and determining whether a reaction has occurred or not.
US09202143B2

Intuitive photo grouping is accomplished utilizing photo metadata information, including photos' timestamps, GPS information, name and storage folder identity, to automatically generate logical and meaningful event photo groupings for users.
US09202134B2

A leaf area index measurement system includes: a reflector placed in a neighborhood of a measurement target plant; imaging means placed at a position where no obstacle is present between the imaging means and the reflector, and for capturing an image of the reflector and outputting the captured image; intensity calculation means for calculating an intensity of light reflected by the reflector, based on the captured image output from the imaging means; and leaf area index calculation means for calculating a leaf area index, based on the intensity of light calculated by the intensity calculation means.
US09202131B2

There is provided an information processing apparatus including an image analysis unit to analyze image data, and a protagonist identification unit to identify a protagonist of an event including at least one set of image data. The protagonist identification unit identifies the protagonist of the event by using at least a parameter independent of an analysis of an image provided to the event. If the protagonist of the event is not able to be identified by using the parameter independent of the analysis of the image, the information processing apparatus makes the image analysis unit analyze the image data included in the event to identify the protagonist of the event.
US09202130B2

An image processing apparatus includes: a storage configured to store, for a plurality of areas in a target image, attributes and patterns associated with the attributes, each the attributes being assigned to each the plurality of areas, and each the pattern being created from areas having an identical attribute among the attributes; and a processor configured to: obtain an area that is specified in the target image and an attribute that is assigned to the specified area, search the storage for a pattern based on similarity between the pattern and a pattern created from a certain number of areas having the assigned attribute; and search for an area in the target image based on similarity between the area and the certain number of areas in accordance with the searched pattern.
US09202128B2

An image stabilizing apparatus for correcting an image which is shaken due to a movement of a camera. The image stabilizing apparatus includes an image adjusting unit that includes: an image analyzing unit which compares an image frame currently input with a reference image, and if the currently input image frame is shaken, extracts a representative direction and a representative magnitude of the shaking; and an image moving unit which moves the currently input image frame by the representative magnitude in a direction opposite to the representative direction.
US09202120B2

A method of host-directed illumination for verifying the validity of biometric data of a user is provided that includes capturing biometric data from a user with an authentication device during authentication and directing illumination of the biometric data from a host authentication system during the capturing operation. Moreover, the method includes comparing illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data against illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation, and determining that the user is a live user when the illumination characteristics of the captured biometric data match the illumination characteristics expected to result from the directing operation.
US09202118B2

What is disclosed is a system and method for determining a pixel classification threshold for vehicle occupancy determination. An IR image of a moving vehicle is captured using a multi-band IR imaging system. A driver's face is detected using a face recognition algorithm. Multi-spectral information extracted from pixels identified as human tissue of the driver's face is used to determine a pixel classification threshold. This threshold is then used to facilitate a classification of pixels of a remainder of the IR image. Once pixels in the remainder of the image have been classified, a determination can be made whether the vehicle contains additional human occupants other than the driver. An authority is alerted in the instance where the vehicle is found to be traveling in a HOV/HOT lane requiring two or more human occupants and a determination has been made that the vehicle contains an insufficient number of human occupants.
US09202113B2

Methods, systems, and devices are described for adjudicating votes made on voter-marked paper ballots. Voter-marked paper ballots may be scanned to obtain optical image data of the voter-marked paper ballots. The optical image may be analyzed to determine the votes contained in the ballot for tabulation purposes. One or more votes on the ballot may be identified as requiring adjudication by an election official. Adjudication information, according to various embodiments, is appended to the optical images of the voter-marked paper ballots such that the image of the ballot and the image of the adjudication information may be viewed in an optical image. The optical image may be stored in a file format that allows the ballot image and the appended adjudication information to be viewed using readily available image viewers.
US09202112B1

A monitoring device is provided with a person image analyzer which has a person detector which detects a person from captured moving images and acquires positional information which relates to a person area, and an area state determinator which determines an area state which indicates the state of people in the person area based on the positional information, a mask image setter which sets the mask image which corresponds to the area state, and a moving image output controller which generates and outputs output moving images where the person area is changed to the mask image which corresponds to the area state based on the positional information and the area state which are output from the person image analyzer.
US09202108B2

Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating face image analysis. A method may include determining a histogram-based face descriptor for each of a plurality of regions of a face image. The method may further include compressing the histogram-based face descriptors to generate a plurality of compressed face descriptors describing the plurality of regions of the face image. Corresponding apparatuses are also provided.
US09202106B2

An ECU 30 includes a face position and face feature point detection unit 32 that detects the feature points of the face of the driver, a face pose estimation unit 33 that fits the feature points of the face detected by the face position and face feature point detection unit 32 to a 3D face model to estimate the direction of the face of the driver, an eyelid range setting unit 34 that sets an upper eyelid presence range and a lower eyelid presence range including the positions of the upper and lower eyelids on the basis of the pose of the face estimated by the face pose estimation unit 33, and an eyelid detection unit 35 that detects the positions of the upper and lower eyelids in the upper eyelid presence range and the lower eyelid presence range set by the eyelid range setting unit 34.
US09202104B2

A biometric information correction method includes applying a correction process with respect to a first biometric image representing biometric information of a user to enhance a degree of clarity of the biometric information of the user, thereby creating a second biometric image, extracting a first feature amount representing features of the biometric information from the first biometric image and a second feature amount representing features of the biometric information from the second biometric image, calculating a degree of change representing a difference between the first feature amount and the second feature amount, and outputting the first feature amount when the degree of change indicates that an artifact has been created in the second biometric image.
US09202100B2

A method and a device for capturing fingerprints with reliably high quality based on fingerprint scanners are disclosed. The invention finds a novel possibility for capturing fingerprints of sufficiently high quality in which comprehensible feedback information of the capture process is given in real time so that the user can undertake any needed corrections of finger placement without active guidance. This object is met according to the invention in that an image processing unit is arranged downstream of the capture unit and a two-dimensional display unit is associated with the capture unit. Depending on results of the fingerprints analyzed in the image processing unit, the two-dimensional display unit displays positive real-time depictions of the fingers placed on the capture surface from an image storage having a library comprising a plurality of animated finger position images for guiding the user in a simple manner.
US09202099B2

A sequence of biometric data images is received, such as, for example, a sequence of fingerprint images, and a set of biometric data images is selected from the sequence of images. The set of images can include one or more segments of at least one image in the sequence of images. One or more portions of at least one image of biometric data in the set of images can be selected to be included in the unified image of biometric data. The unified image of biometric data can be constructed using the one or more portions of the at least one image of biometric data. If the unified image of biometric data is not complete, a user can be prompted for one or more additional images of biometric data.
US09202096B2

An apparatus is provided including a camera; and a processing circuitry configured to: capture an image of a scanning device by using the camera; and output a first scannable item based on the captured image of the scanning device.
US09202095B2

An adapter for a mobile device is described. The adapter includes a handle portion having a trigger switch that is accessible to an index finger of a hand of the user when the handle portion is held in the hand of the user. A cradle portion is positioned above the handle portion for receiving at least a portion of the mobile device such that a plane of a display of the mobile device is substantially aligned with a long axis of the handle portion and the display is viewable by the user when the mobile device is positioned in the cradle portion and the handle portion is held in the hand of the user. A data acquisition device is coupled to the cradle portion. The data acquisition device acquires data from an object upon actuation of the trigger switch.
US09202091B2

A media capture device coupled to an RFID reader and/or antenna. A system in one embodiment includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader; an antenna coupled to the RFID reader; and a media capture device coupled to at least one of the reader and the antenna. A method in another embodiment includes capturing media using a media capture device coupled to at least one of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader and an antenna coupled to the RFID reader upon occurrence of a trigger event.
US09202087B2

An approach is provided for controlling access to local storage medium. A request is detected from an operating system for accessing a local storage medium. An intermediary agent selectively grants access to the local storage medium according to an access policy, wherein the intermediary agent is distinct from the operating system.
US09202083B2

A method for anonymous authentication by an electronic device is described. The method includes obtaining biometric data. The method also includes generating a token. The method also includes blinding the token to produce a blinded token. The method also includes sending the blinded token and biometric information based on the biometric data to a verifier. The method also includes receiving a signature of the blinded token from the verifier if corresponding biometric information is not stored by the verifier.
US09202075B2

The various embodiments of the invention provide a method for executing code securely in a general purpose computer. According to one embodiment, a code is downloaded into a cache memory of a computer in which the code is to be executed. The code downloaded into the cache memory is encrypted in the cache memory. Then the encrypted code in the cache memory is decrypted using a decryption algorithm to obtain the decrypted code. The decrypted code is executed in the cache to generate a result. The decrypted code is destroyed in the cache memory after the forwarding the result to a user.
US09202074B1

Approaches for protecting a data element are disclosed. The method includes encrypting the data element with a first key on a first client system. A set of permissions is stored in association with the encrypted data element, and a first signature is generated from the set of permissions for the data element. The first key is encrypted with a second key on the first client system. The encrypted first key is stored in association with the encrypted data element, and the second key is encrypted with a public key of a public-private key pair of a first user on the first client system. The first signature and the encrypted second key are transmitted from the first client system to a server system for storage.
US09202070B2

Disclosed are various embodiments providing a portable wireless communication device that includes a secure element configured to route a set of input/output (I/O) channels to host processing circuitry of a mobile communication device. The secure element includes an application executable by the secure element, the application being configured to obtain a policy via an I/O channel of the set of I/O channels. The application is further configured to prevent the host processing circuitry from accessing data corresponding to at least a portion of the set of I/O channels according to the policy.
US09202068B2

To balance a tendency towards faceless decisions in using role based access control, photographic likenesses of people in roles can be used in access control user interface. For a meaningful representation of different people being in a role at a different times, a near future time chart of people who are predicted to be in roles to access a document or a resource can be displayed next to document contents and resource representations.
US09202067B2

A method for controlling an analysis system is presented. The method comprises receiving, by an encryption unit, authentication data of a user. In the case of a successful authentication, a user-specific security code is generated by the encryption unit. The security code is outputted by the encryption unit to the authenticated user. The security code and the user-ID are received by an authentication unit coupled to the analysis system via a user-interface coupled to the authentication unit. The security code is decrypted by the authentication unit. If the decrypted security code matches with the user-ID, the user is authenticated at the authentication unit and an authentication signal is generated by the authentication unit for permitting the user to initialize at least one function of the analysis system.
US09202064B2

A method of protecting a graphical object represented by a list of vertices and a list of surfaces, each surface being defined by a number N vertices. A device selects a surface S with N vertices; computes a new vertex d using a random or pseudo-random function; inserts the new vertex d into the list of vertices; creates N new surfaces S1-SN from the surface S and the new vertex d; and replaces the selected surface S by the new surfaces S1-SN in the list of surfaces. The device preferably iterates the method. The device may shuffle the list of vertices with the inserted vertices. Also provided is an unprotection method and corresponding devices and computer readable storage media.
US09202063B1

A method and apparatus for monitoring network-based printing for data loss prevention (DLP). A DLP system may monitor outbound data transfers performed by a computing system, and detect a network print request in a current one of the outbound data transfers being sent to a network-based printer over a network, the network print request identifying data to be printed by the network-based printer. The DLP system determines whether the identified data of the current outbound data transfer violates a DLP policy and prevents the current outbound data transfer when the current outbound data transfer violates the DLP policy.
US09202027B2

A secure communication method including: obtaining sensor information of at least one user, the sensor information including one or more of image information or depth information; recognizing at least one gesture in accordance with the sensor information of the at least one user; determining whether each of the recognized at least one gesture is a public gesture or a private gesture in accordance with a zone where the gesture was performed, the zone being selected from a plurality of zones; and authorizing access to a resource when it is determined that the at least one gesture is determined to be the public gesture or the private gesture.
US09202022B2

An apparatus for providing a Digital Rights Management (DRM) service is provided. The apparatus includes a Media Presentation Description (MPD) information configurer for determining a DRM system required in each of representations of content provided by an adaptive streaming service, classifying the representations into one or more groups according to predetermined criteria, and configuring MPD information by inserting content protection information including representation group information representing classified groups and information about DRM systems corresponding to the representation group information; and a communication unit for transmitting the MPD information to a user terminal receiving the content.
US09202019B2

Method, device, and storage medium for providing a program service based on identifying a user at a user level versus at an account level or a device level. The user is identified based on an identifier associated with a mobile device. The program service allows the user to store program session information according to various user settings including location, time of day, user device used during previous session, type of program, and service provider that provides access to the program service. The program service allows the user to share program session information with other users or prevent other users from accessing the program session information. The program service provides digital rights management at the user level.
US09202016B2

A network device is configured to receive a request, from a device, for private information associated with a user of a user device, on behalf of another user device. The network device may authenticate the device, the user device, and the other user device. The network device may request and receive the user's authorization to send the private information to the other user device. The network device may generate and send a token used to request the private information. The network device may receive the token from the device, determine that the token is valid, and send the private information.
US09202013B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for monitoring and encouraging health and fitness. In accordance with a first aspect, an apparatus is provided that is adapted to assist in weight loss and exercise. The apparatus comprises a personal digital assistant (PDA) having computer program code adapted to assist in at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. The PDA also includes computer program code adapted to display historical data regarding at least one of calorie counting, meal selection, meal suggestion, weight monitoring, weight loss or gain monitoring, fat consumption monitoring, sugar consumption monitoring and salt consumption monitoring. Numerous other embodiments are provided, as are methods, systems and computer program products.
US09202011B2

The disclosure relates generally to methods and devices for taking care of elderly, disabled, or other dependents. The devices and methods may be useful for dependents that are not willing or able to live in an environment which has a caretaker physically present. Example devices and methods can facilitate communication between a caretaker and a dependent. Devices and methods can optionally facilitate disbursing medications remotely.
US09202008B1

The various embodiments of the method of the present invention include a method to improving or expanding the capacity of a sleep analysis unit or laboratory, a method sleep analysis testing a patient admitted for diagnosis or treatment of another primary medical condition while being treated or diagnosed for that condition, a method of sleep analysis testing a patient that cannot be easily moved or treated in a sleep analysis unit or laboratory and other like methods.
US09202005B2

A design verification workstation contains both debug and constraint solver capabilities during simulation of a design under test. The design verification workstation is configured to allow the user to debug constraints, stop the constraint solver, navigate problems and variables, and make modifications on-the fly during the simulation to constraint information. Additionally, in some embodiments, the design verification workstation may allow a user to use a constraint solver to experiment if the modifications will lead to desired test stimulus. Since this debug process happens during simulation, users do not need to recompile the test case. Additionally, once a user is satisfied with the modifications made to the simulation, the modification could be saved for future usage.
US09201992B2

A generated-clock checker compares timing definitions against a register transfer level description of the design using formal methods. The generated-clock checker derives generated-clock timing waveform models from the timing definitions, derives generated-clock waveform models from the register level design and then compares the waveform models using formal methods.
US09201988B2

A process and system for generating a specification for customized devices, such as rehabilitation or assistive devices, including prostheses and orthoses, or sports padding or equipment. A digital model, which is fully parameterized at least for characterizing clinical shape characteristics and functional characteristics of the device, is populated with a plurality of design parameter values and 3-dimensional coordinates of captured and calculated virtual landmarks to construct a customized model corresponding to the specification. The customized device may be manufactured based upon the specification. A system connected to a computer aided manufacturing system may generate instructions for automatically fabricating the device. In embodiments with standardized design parameter values, the customized model may be constructed without involving a human operator.
US09201972B2

A computer-implemented method involving: gathering a set of files from one or more computers; analyzing the set of files to identify a plurality of files among the set of files that contain spatial information; storing information about the plurality of files, the stored information indicating that the identified files contain spatial information; and causing to be displayed to a user an indication that the identified files contain spatial information.
US09201970B2

Techniques described herein generally relate to real time inference based systems. Example embodiments may set forth devices, methods, and computer programs related to search engine inference based virtual assistance. One example method may include a computing device adapted to receive text as input and a computer processor arranged to determine at least one inference regarding subject matter of the text based on one or more web searches of one or more terms within the text. The inference(s) may then be automatically displayed upon the inference(s) being determined. The text may be automatically received as input from a voice-to-text converter as voice-to-text conversion producing the text is occurring.
US09201966B2

A computer-implemented method and system are provided for monitoring developments in a field of prior art. The method comprises using one or more processors receive a search query including a first patent concept related to the field of prior art; search the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a first set of search results; store the first set of search results in a database; conduct a subsequent search on the Internet as a function of the search query; generate a second set of search results; compare the first and second sets of search results to identify differences in the results; and communicate the differences to a user. An ontology of patent concepts may be stored in a system database. The searches may be conducted automatically on a regular basis thereby notifying the user of any intervening changes in the field of prior art.
US09201956B2

The present subject matter provides systems, methods, software, and data structures for patent mapping, storage, and searching. Some such embodiments include mapping patent documents, claims, and claim limitations. Some further embodiments provide for searching a universe of patent documents by patent document, claim, limitation, class, element, or concept.
US09201955B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus for identifying and using unambiguous terms are described. In one implementation, a method for identifying unambiguous terms includes accessing textual content that is included in one or more electronic documents, and extracting one or more terms from the textual content by identifying single words or groups of words in the textual content that relate to a common concept. The method includes analyzing the extracted terms, using a computing system, to determine whether the extracted terms are ambiguous, where a term is determined to be ambiguous when the term has different meanings depending on a context in which the term is used. The method also includes identifying a set of one or more unambiguous terms from the extracted terms. In some implementations, the method may also include using the set of identified unambiguous terms to identify supplemental content to deliver to a user of a computing device.
US09201948B1

A software-implemented method may receive, organize, and aggregate survey answers from multiple survey sources into a single database, regardless of the initial method of collection. Survey answers may require certain common information fields. The survey answers may include media which is transferred from the survey source to the database, and the original copy at the survey source deleted upon a completed transfer. A survey participant may access his own answer, associate it with a user account using a passcode, and make edits to the answer; the source of a survey may also edit an answer by resubmitting the answer. Edited answers may be displayed along with the original version, for instance in a “threaded” display format.
US09201939B2

Mechanisms and methods for pushing data to a plurality of devices of a plurality of organizations are provided. Queries are handled in bulk for a group of users of an organization or the entire organization, and limited results are sent to a middle tier server between the database system and the user devices. These mechanisms and methods for pushing data to a plurality of devices enable an efficient and transparent transfer of data to user devices. This efficient and transparent transfer of data can enable mobile devices of many organizations to seamlessly have the data that is required to perform business.
US09201937B2

An approach is provided in which a system creates schema terms based upon matching input data query requirements to industry terms. In turn, the system generates a query and an associative map, which includes data organized according to the schema terms. The system executes the query, which retrieves the data from the associative map and loads the data into one or more storage areas.
US09201935B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for processing search results. In one aspect, a transition from a first search result environment to a second, different search result environment is done in a manner that preserves the user experience of focusing on a selected search result. The transition can be facilitated by an intermediate search result environment that appears during the transition from the first search result environment to the second search result environment. The intermediate search result environment displays search result data of a search result that was selected in the first search result environment. The search result data that is displayed is, for example, data that was provided for display in the first search result environment. For example, in the case of image search results, the search result data that is displayed is a thumbnail image of the image search result.
US09201929B1

Methods and apparatus for ranking one or more documents that are responsive to a search query. A document that is responsive to the search query may be ranked based on a data measure of the document that is indicative of an amount of data usage required to load the document. In some implementations, the data measure of the document may be a measured value based on actual data usage during retrieval of the document. In some implementations, the ranking of two or more documents may be based on comparison of the data measures of the two or more documents.
US09201926B2

Integrated travel services are provided via a computer processing device and logic executable by the computer processing device. The integrated travel services map activities to information databases, define conditions for generating alerts, and monitor user behaviors. Upon determining one of the user behaviors matches one of the activities, the integrated travel services access a corresponding database and, using the conditions in conjunction with data from the user behavior, search the corresponding database. The integrated travel services also generate an alert, in response to the search, upon determining that the search results indicate one of the conditions has been met.
US09201921B2

Methods for offline execution of Rich Internet Applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving at a remote destination a client value of a Rich Internet Application (RIA) information for an RIA from a client, wherein the RIA information is stored and modified on the client before being received by the remote destination. The method further includes determining if the client value is to replace a remote destination value of the RIA information stored on the remote destination. The method further includes replacing the remote destination value with the client value to synchronize the RIA information between the client and the remote destination when it is determined that the client value is to replace the remote destination value.
US09201919B2

A processing device executing a transaction manager sends prepare messages to a plurality of participants of a two-phase commit distributed transaction. Responsive to receiving commit responses from each of the plurality of participants, the processing device commits the two-phase commit distributed transaction. The processing device then ends the two-phase commit distributed transaction without first sending commit messages to the plurality of participants.
US09201913B2

Techniques for managing a file-based versioning of data objects include receiving, from a back-end computing system, a transport request that includes an updated transport object, the updated transport object including serialized database content of a data object; converting the serialized database content of the updated transport object to file-based content; storing the file-based content of the updated transport object in a repository over a previously-stored version of the transport object; and updating a database that includes a change history of the data object based on the storage of the file-based content in the repository.
US09201912B2

Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for the auditable abrogation of columnar in-memory databases. An embodiment operates by retrieving column-oriented data of a column-oriented database associated with an auditing request to access the column-oriented data. The column-oriented data is transformed into corresponding row-oriented data and stored in a row-oriented database independent of the column-oriented database. A response to the auditing request is processed based on the row-oriented data, wherein the processing is performed independent of the column-oriented database, and the response is provided to the auditing request.
US09201908B2

Methods and systems for providing a multi-layered, multi-tenant database architecture. One example method includes identifying a plurality of tenants in a database system, each tenant associated with a data set and associated with a separation scheme defining how to separate the data set associated with the tenant from data sets associated with other tenants, identifying one or more separation scheme rules, each separation scheme rule including at least one tenant behavior condition and at least one migration action to be performed when a tenant from the plurality of tenants violates one of the tenant behavior conditions, determining that a particular tenant has violated one of the one or more separation scheme rules, and performing the at least one migration action associated with the violated rule in response to determining that the particular tenant has violated the rule.
US09201904B2

In particular embodiments, a social networking system identifies a user viewing video content on a first display device, identifies the video content being viewed on the first display device by the user, and determines a second display device associated with the identified user. The social networking system sends one or more instructions to the determined second display device to display one or more chat messages associated with the identified video content.
US09201901B2

A technique for generating a representative image representing a case and radiographic interpretation information for each case includes calculating wavelet features of a plurality of images that have been taken and stored in the past. The calculated wavelet features and extracted keywords are stored in association with the stored images. The stored images are classified on the basis of the extracted keywords to generate a plurality of groups. For each of the generated groups, a centroid vector of wavelet feature-based feature vectors of respective images corresponding to the keywords is calculated and a spatial distance between the calculated centroid vector and each of the wavelet feature-based feature vectors is calculated. For each of the groups, the image for which the calculated spatial distance is the shortest and the radiographic interpretation information associated with the image is stored as a representative image of that group.
US09201898B2

A method for efficiently fetching map tiles for digital maps includes receiving, at a client device such as a mapping user interface device, a request to display a digital map and identifying a plurality of map tiles for the request, each map tile representing a portion of the digital map. The user interface device generates a single map content request including multiple identifiers corresponding to the plurality of map tiles. The user interface device then sends the map content request to a map content server as a single request requesting multiple map tiles. In response to the map content request, the map content server retrieves the plurality of map tiles from a content database and sends the plurality of map tiles to the client device. The client device can then display the digital map based on the plurality of map tiles.
US09201894B2

There is provided a data distribution system having a distribution device for holding a data file which is a distribution object and a plurality of user terminals, wherein each of the user terminals obtains each of a plurality of file pieces from any of the other user terminals or the distribution device, the plurality of file pieces being obtained by dividing the data file, and the plurality of file pieces obtained are assembled to thereby obtain the data file, at least one predetermined file piece among the plurality of file pieces is a restricted piece for which obtaining from the other user terminals is restricted, and the distribution device restricts distribution of the restricted piece to each of the user terminals, based on a predetermined condition.
US09201892B2

A fast snapshot is configured to store a state of a computing environment at a point in time. The fast snapshot operation is performed by avoiding reference counts of one or more data units associated with the snapshot from being updated at a creation and a deletion time.
US09201889B1

A method of searching shared files stored on a general purpose shared storage includes receiving a search term in a native search interface of an operating system on a computing device; and performing, on the computing device, a search based on the search term including accessing a search functionality of the general purpose shared storage, wherein the search functionality uses indexes of the shared files stored on the shared storage and updates the indexes of the shared files in response to update events generated from the shared files. In one embodiment, the method performs a federated search based on the search term.
US09201887B1

A remote snapshot is taken of a data associated with a node within a cluster of nodes by using a snapshot facility of an operating system. A set of backup data components is recorded. The data is remotely restored by interpreting the remote snapshot with the set of backup data components.
US09201880B2

Associating a content item with an event is disclosed. A location associated with a received content item is determined. The received content item is associated with an event, at least in part based on an indicia of relatedness, other than the determined location, between the received content item and the event. A criterion that the indicia of relatedness is required to satisfy for the content item to be determined to be associated with the event has a lower value if the determined location associated with the received content item has a first degree of correspondence to a location associated with the event than if the determined location associated with the received content item has a second, lower degree of correspondence to the location associated with the event.
US09201879B2

A method of generating a feature vector for an image is disclosed. Values are determined from a plurality of points in a region of the image, each of the values being determined using at least two of the plurality of points. A periodic sequence of the determined values is determined based on an order of the plurality of points. The periodic sequence is phase variant to a starting point of the ordered plurality of points, the order of the plurality of points being determined according to a predetermined rule. The feature vector for one of the points is generated from a frequency domain representation of the periodic sequence, the feature vector being invariant to rotation with respect to the plurality of points.
US09201873B2

Operation device which, when user selects predetermined language key, switches display character sets of display language displayed on screen to translated character sets of translation language specified by predetermined language key. Operation device includes language switch portion and display character retrieval portion. Language switch portion judges whether all translated character sets of translation language specified by selected language key exist in correspondence with display character sets. Display character retrieval portion checks whether same character set as display character set of display language corresponding to missing translated character set exists in other display character sets of display language when not all translated character sets exist. When same character set as display character set of display language exists in other display character sets, language switch portion substitutes another translated character set of translation language, which corresponds to same character set that exists in other display character sets, for missing translated character set.
US09201870B2

A method, system and computer-readable storage medium are provided for generating translated dynamic Web page content comprising a phrasebook storing source phrases and translated phrases, a Web server, and an application server that generates dynamic Web page content in response to Web page requests and includes a translation engine that replaces source phrases in the dynamic Web page with a corresponding translated phrase stored in the phrasebook. In another embodiment the phrasebook also stores translations in a second dialect so that source phrases in a dynamic Web page can be translated into two or more dialects. Also provided is a system of collecting translatable dynamic Web page content including a Web server, a database comprising source phrases and corresponding translated phrases, and an application server that generates a dynamic Web page, identifies within the dynamic Web page a candidate phrase for addition to the database, and adds to the database a translatable component of the candidate phrase. Also disclosed is a method for maintaining a database of translated content whereby translatable dynamic Web page content is collected, translated, and added to the database.
US09201861B2

A character input prediction apparatus includes: an operation input unit that obtains information of a character input operation by a user using a character key layout display which includes character keys; a dictionary storage unit that stores a dictionary including candidate character strings; an indication movement detection unit that detects an indication position and an indication direction respectively showing a position and a movement direction of the character input operation in the character key layout display, from the information of the character input operation; a filter generation unit that determines a character range located in the indication direction with the indication position as a base point, in the character key layout display; and a dictionary search unit that searches the dictionary for a predictive character string including any character included in the character range.
US09201859B2

Techniques are described herein that are capable of suggesting intent frame(s) for user request(s). For instance, the intent frame(s) may be suggested to elicit a request from a user. An intent frame is a natural language phrase (e.g., a sentence) that includes at least one carrier phrase and at least one slot. A slot in an intent frame is a placeholder that is identified as being replaceable by one or more words that identify an entity and/or an action to indicate an intent of the user. A carrier phrase in an intent frame includes one or more words that suggest a type of entity and/or action that is to be identified by the one or more words that may replace the corresponding slot. In accordance with these techniques, the intent frame(s) are suggested in response to determining that natural language functionality of a processing system is activated.
US09201853B2

A machine based tool and associated logic and methodology used in converting data from an input form to a target form using context dependent conversion rules. A frame-slot architecture is utilized where a frame represents an intersection between a contextual cue recognized by the machine tool, associated content and related constraint information to specific to that conversion environment. A slot represents an included chunk of information. An exemplary conversion system (400) includes a parser (402) for use in parsing and converting an input stream (403) to provide an output stream (411) in a form for use by a target system (412). The parser (402) uses information from a public schema (406), a private schema (408) and a grammar (410). The public schema (406), private schema (408) and grammar (410) may include conversion rules applicable to less than the whole of a subject matter area including the input stream (403).
US09201848B2

Invention providing a means for performing matrix multiplication that may be implemented in hardware or software. The invention is scalable to matrices of varying dimension and to permit balancing circuit complexity versus processing throughput.
US09201846B2

A round-for-reround mode (preferably in a BID encoded Decimal format) of a floating point instruction prepares a result for later rounding to a variable number of digits by detecting that the least significant digit may be a 0, and if so changing it to 1 when the trailing digits are not all 0. A subsequent reround instruction is then able to round the result to any number of digits at least 2 fewer than the number of digits of the result. An optional embodiment saves a tag indicating the fact that the low order digit of the result is 0 or 5 if the trailing bits are non-zero in a tag field rather than modify the result. Another optional embodiment also saves a half-way-and-above indicator when the trailing digits represent a decimal with a most significant digit having a value of 5. An optional subsequent reround instruction is able to round the result to any number of digits fewer or equal to the number of digits of the result using the saved tags.
US09201845B2

An XML processing system for use in a barcode printer apparatus includes a computer system operatively coupled to the barcode printer apparatus. The computer system further includes an XML processor configured to receive, parse, and process an XML input data stream and obtain schema identified in the XML data stream from a schema repository. Alternatively, the system includes a SAX processor configured to receive and process the XML input data stream, a ZPL processor configured to receive and process a format template, a variable data integrator configured to develop an association between the XML data contained in the XML input data stream and the format template, a formatting engine configured to format the associated XML data according to a format governed by the format template, and a barcode rendering engine configured to receive the associated and formatted XML data and generate a bit map representative of the bar code label.
US09201843B2

A program delivery center is a program update device which updates a program of an ECU mounted in a vehicle, wherein a right holder specification unit specifies a right holder who has a right to execute the update of the program on the basis of information regarding the vehicle, and a reprogramming guide execution unit sets and outputs program update guide notification to the right holder. Accordingly, the update of the program by a person other than the right holder can be avoided, thereby improving security. Furthermore, since the update of the program is notified to the right holder which can execute the update of the program, a program update execution frequency increases compared to a case where a user who cannot execute the update of the program is notified, thereby prompting the execution of the program update.
US09201833B2

Present disclosure relates to backplane controller configured as human interface device (HID) device to communicate with host computer through USB interface. Backplane controller includes: processor, memory, HID universal serial bus (USB) interface, and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory stores certain USB descriptors, drive management module, USB HID device driver, and firmware of the backplane controller. Firmware performs one or more of following operations: (a) connecting to host computer through USB interface, (b) sending USB descriptors to host computer to act as specific HID device, (c) instructing USB HID device driver of backplane controller to generate first USB HID report, (d) sending USB HID report to host computer through USB interface, (e) receiving second USB HID report from host computer through USB interface, (f) instructing USB HID device driver to retrieve and process report data from second USB HID report. USB interface includes HID USB interface, USB interface bus, host USB interface.
US09201827B2

A portable communication device (PCD) can automatically switch into different operating modes of an asymmetric communication protocol (such as USB) depending on the type of accessory connected. For example, the accessory can signal whether the PCD should operate in a first mode or a second mode using a hardware indicator such as identification resistor across two pins of a multi-pin connector and/or a software indicator such as a command protocol. The PCD can detect the accessory's signal and switch to the operating mode requested by the accessory.
US09201822B2

The present invention aims to provide a host controller apparatus, an information processing apparatus, and an event information output method that are capable of outputting event information to a system memory while achieving power saving. A host controller apparatus according to the present invention includes: an event controller that outputs occurred event information to a system memory; and an interruption controller that outputs an interrupt signal to a CPU executing an event recorded in the system memory, the interrupt signal requesting execution of the event output from the event controller to the system memory. The event controller outputs the occurred event information to the system memory in synchronization with a timing at which the interruption controller outputs the interrupt signal to the CPU.
US09201821B2

A system and method for maintaining accurate interrupt timestamps. A semiconductor chip includes an interrupt controller (IC) with an interface to multiple sources of interrupts. In response to receiving an interrupt, the IC copies and records the value stored in a main time base counter used for maintaining a global elapsed time. The IC sends an indication of the interrupt to a corresponding processor. Either an interrupt service routine (ISR) or a device driver requests a timestamp associated with the interrupt. Rather than send a request to the operating system to obtain a current value stored in the main time base counter, the processor requests the recorded timestamp from the IC. The IC identifies the stored timestamp associated with the interrupt and returns it to the processor.
US09201818B2

An interface module for a logic circuit block comprising a processing module, the interface module comprising a control interface for communicating one or more control messages; a data interface for accessing a data storage device; an interface logic block; and a core interface to the processing module, the core interface being connected to the interface logic block for communicating signals between the interface logic block and the processing module. The interface logic block is adapted to receive one or more incoming control message via the control interface; process the one or more control messages including accessing a data storage device via the data interface, initiating processing by the processing module via the core interface, receiving one or more signals from the processing module via the core interface; and to output one or more outgoing control message via the control interface.
US09201812B2

Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and computing devices. More specifically, the embodiments related to structures and techniques for implementing multiple logical representations of audio functions in a wireless audio transmitter, such as a USB dongle configured to transmit and to receive audio data wirelessly via, for example, a Bluetooth link. In one embodiment, a wireless USB audio transceiver can include a multiple mode transmitter configured transmit wireless signals at multiple data rates. Further, the wireless USB audio transceiver can include a first data path modeled as a first audio function, and a second data path modeled as a second audio function. Also, included is a signal detector configured to determine the presence of the audio data on a data path for modifying transmission data rates as a function of the presence of the audio data.
US09201807B2

Methods, computer-readable media, and systems for virtual memory management using the JAVA programming language are provided. In some illustrative embodiments, a computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, performs a method for virtual memory management is provided. The method includes creating a representation of a page table, wherein each entry of the representation comprises a representation of a page descriptor, changing a field of a representation of a page descriptor in the representation of the page table, and updating a corresponding field in a page descriptor of a system level page table using the contents of the field in the representation of the page descriptor. Some illustrative embodiments provide a computer-readable medium storing a program that, when executed by a processor, performs a method for virtual memory management that includes creating a representation of a segment descriptor, changing a field of the representation of the segment descriptor, and updating a corresponding field in a system level segment descriptor using the contents of the field in the representation of the segment descriptor.
US09201802B1

A technique for managing resources on a storage array having multiple CPU cores releases share locks on a resource by decrementing share lock counters associated with the CPU cores that release the share locks, regardless of whether these are the same as the CPU cores that acquired the share locks. As each CPU core changes its own share lock counter, cache trashing caused by changing share lock counters associated with other CPU cores can be avoided.
US09201799B2

An invention is provided for handling target disk access requests during disk defragmentation in a solid state drive caching environment. The invention includes detecting a request to access a target storage device. In response, data associated with the request is written to the target storage device without writing the data to the caching device, with the proviso that the request is a write request. In addition, the invention includes reading data associated with the request and marking the data associated with the request stored in the caching device for discard, with the proviso that the request is a read request and the data associated with the request is stored on the caching device. Data marked for discard is discarded from the caching device when time permits, for example, upon completion of disk defragmentation.
US09201791B2

Systems and methods for maintaining an order of transactions in the coherence point. The coherence point stores attributes associated with received transactions in an input request queue (IRQ). When a new transaction is received with a device ordered attribute, the IRQ is searched for other entries with the same flow ID as the new transaction. If one or more matches are found, the new transaction entry points to the entry for the most recently received transaction with the same flow ID. The new transaction is prevented from exiting the coherence point until the transaction it points to has been sent to its destination.
US09201789B1

A storage device includes a nonvolatile memory and a memory controller. The memory controller is configured to receive a first program request from an external host device and program first memory cells of a memory block according to the first program request. The memory controller is further configured to program second memory cells of the memory block without a request of the external host device if a second program request is not received from the external host device for a critical time.
US09201788B1

In a nonvolatile memory, hybrid blocks are initially written with only lower page data. The hybrid blocks later have middle and upper page data written. For high speed writes, data is written to a hybrid block and two or more Single Level Cell (SLC) blocks. The data from the SLC blocks are copied to the hybrid block at a later time in a folding operation.
US09201782B2

Embodiments of the inventions relate to granular management of data storage blocks in a data storage system. In one aspect, status values are employed to track “used”, “free”, and “claimed free” storage blocks. A storage block having stored data is identified as used, a storage block available to store data is identified as free, and a storage block having previously stored data removed that has not been reclaimed is identified as claimed free. These values are maintained on a map to track each data block within the data storage system. Available claimed free data blocks are prioritized for data block allocation over available free data blocks for efficient storage, including enabling efficient reclamation of data blocks and minimizing data movement needed for reclamation-oriented de-fragmentation.
US09201781B2

In order to realize efficient memory access, addresses in the same bank in a memory are consecutively accessed. A data processing apparatus performs mapping so as to store data, which are the same data, with use of the first arrangement and the second arrangement, respectively, in different memory areas constituting a memory. When reading a portion of the data, a selecting unit selects one of the arrangements that is more efficient in accessing the portion of the data based on an address range corresponding to the portion of the data according to each arrangement, and an access control unit accesses a memory area corresponding to the selected arrangement. The data is mapped to a position different from a position of the data in terms of relative positions with respect to boundary addresses of blocks each corresponding to the same row address in the same bank.
US09201778B2

A method and system for providing advanced storage features using commodity, consumer-level storage devices is provided. The advanced storage system is a component that is connected between the computer system and one or more physical disk drives. The host interface of the advanced storage system presents itself to the computer system as a virtual disk drive that implements the commands of consumer-level storage hardware that are familiar to the host controller of the computer system. Similarly, the storage device interface of the advanced storage system presents itself to one or more disk drives as a consumer-level host controller, regardless of the actual topology of the physical storage devices that are connected. This system provides a simple way for a user to combine low-cost, consumer-level hardware to add advanced storage features to a computer system.
US09201769B2

Testing computer software applications by performing a first black-box test on a computer software application, identifying any instructions of the computer software application that were reached by a payload of the first black-box test, determining a degree of success of the first black-box test in accordance with predefined success criteria, determining whether any of the instructions that were reached by the payload changed after performing the first black-box test, deciding whether to perform a second black-box test on the computer software application, where the deciding whether to perform the second black-box test is based on whether any of the instructions that were reached by the payload of the first black-box test changed after performing the first black-box test, and the degree of success of the first black-box test.
US09201766B2

Embodiments of a producer graph oriented programming framework with scenario support have been presented. In one embodiment, a request to evaluate potential impacts by a change on an application program is received. The application program includes a set of producers, each having at least an instance and a method associated with the instance. Responsive to the request, the application program may be simulated with the change while the existing states and existing outputs of the producers are preserved.
US09201763B1

A device receives a first test class associated with a first fixture. The first test class includes first method(s) to test portion(s) of dynamically-type programming code, and the first fixture defines first environment(s) for the first method(s). The device receives a second test class associated with the first fixture and a second fixture. The second test class includes second method(s) to test the code portion(s). The first fixture defines the first environment(s) for the second method(s), and the second fixture defines second environment(s) for the second method(s). The device combines the first method(s) of the first test class and the second method(s) of the second test class to create a test group, and analyzes the test group to determine whether the test group is correctly organized based on the first fixture and the second fixture. The device provides a reorganized test group when the test group is incorrectly organized.
US09201762B1

Systems and methods are provided for debugging program code. Program code is executed in a process. Clone processes of the process are generated at predetermined time intervals to capture states of execution of the program code at the predetermined time intervals. State data is extracted from the clone processes to generate snapshots of execution of the program code at the predetermined time intervals. A display of the snapshots is provided for debugging the program code, where the snapshots include the extracted state data from the clone processes generated at the predetermined time.
US09201761B1

In an approach for generating a compiler listing using Debugging With Attributed Record Format (DWARF) debugging data, a processor receives DWARF debugging data associated with source code of a programming language. A processor extracts information from the DWARF debugging data, wherein the information comprises at least source code lines, variable declaration lines, and variable reference lines. A processor generates a compiler listing based on the information extracted from the DWARF debugging data, wherein the compiler listing includes at least a symbol table, and cross-reference information.
US09201754B2

A consumption data monitoring method may identify an interface provided by an operating system running on a server. A monitoring module populates an operating system database with information on the identified interface. The monitoring module populates a host database with consumption details received from a host machine, the consumption details comprising one or more interfaces of an operating system on the host machine used by a computer application program running on the host machine. The monitoring module compares the host database to the operating system database to determine if the interface provided by the operating system running on the server matches the one or more interfaces of the operating system on the host machine.
US09201753B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose an integrated circuit and a method for monitoring a bus status in the integrated circuit. Multiple status detectors and a top layer monitor are disposed in the integrated circuit. Each status detector in the multiple status detectors is used to read status data on a branch bus that is coupled to each status detector in the multiple status detectors, and then the top layer monitor collects the status data from each status detector, and outputs the status data through an interface.
US09201741B2

A storage device, includes: a plurality of controller modules; a bus disposed among the plurality of controller modules, the bus including a plurality of transmission paths; a detector configured to detect an error in data communication through the bus; and a connection controller configured to carry out partial fallback processing of the bus if the number of the errors has exceeded a given number.
US09201740B2

A computer system, comprising: a plurality of computers; and a management computer for managing a cluster which includes the plurality of computers, the cluster include a plurality of first computers each of which executes a service and a plurality of second computers for taking over the service, wherein the management computer includes: a backup obtaining module; and a restoration pair management module, wherein the restoration pair management module is configured to: sort the plurality of first computers into a plurality of groups of first computers by which a software configuration for providing the service is common; generate at least one restoration pair for each of the plurality of groups by associating at least one first computer that is included in one group with at least one second computer; determine a common image for each of the plurality of restoration pairs.
US09201739B1

A database management system add-in for third party backup and restore applications is described. An opportunity to select from multiple backup and restore applications is enabled via a user interface of a database management system. A selection of a backup and restore application of the multiple backup and restore applications is received. Multiple options offered by the backup and restore application are displayed. A selection of an option of the multiple options is received. Execution of the option is enabled, wherein the option is unavailable via a native backup and restore application offered by the database management system.
US09201736B1

A distributed information processing system comprises first and second sites, which may comprise respective production and replica sites. A snapshot of a first portion of a complex asset is generated at the first site and sent to the second site, and a second portion of the complex asset is replicated at the second site. The complex asset includes one or more virtual machines provided by one or more hypervisors of a virtualization platform of the first site and at least one storage element surfaced through a storage platform of the first site, with the storage platform being external to the virtualization platform. Recovery of the complex asset is implemented at the second site utilizing, for example, a ghost complex asset preconfigured in accordance with current complex asset state information based on the snapshot of the first portion of the complex asset and the replicated second portion of the complex asset.
US09201730B2

A system having a non-volatile memory device has a plurality of memory cells that are organized into memory blocks. Blocks can operate in either a multiple bit per cell mode or a single bit per cell mode. A processor controls the system and selects blocks to operate in the multiple bit per cell mode and single bit per cell mode. One dedicated memory block is capable of operating only in the single bit per cell mode. If the dedicated memory block is found to be defective, a defect-free block can be remapped to that dedicated memory block location to act only in the single bit per cell mode.
US09201726B2

An example integrated circuit includes a first memory array including a first plurality of data groups, each such data group including a respective plurality of data bits. The integrated circuit also includes a first error detection and correction (EDAC) circuit configured to detect and correct an error in a data group read from the first memory array. The integrated circuit also includes a first scrub circuit configured to access in a sequence each of the first plurality of data groups to correct any detected errors therein. Both the first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit include spatially redundant circuitry. The first EDAC circuit and the first scrub circuit may include buried guard ring (BGR) structures, and may include parasitic isolation device (PID) structures. The spatially redundant circuitry may include dual interlocked storage cell (DICE) circuits, and may include temporal filtering circuitry.
US09201725B2

A method of reading from a memory module which includes a plurality of memories is provided. The method includes reading data corresponding to a plurality of burst length units from the plurality of memories; correcting an error of the read data using a storage error correction code; and outputting the error corrected data by a unit of data corresponding to one burst length unit.
US09201723B2

An improved system for fault handling in a distributed IT environment. The distributed IT environment executes at least one workflow application interacting with an application by using interface information about the at least one application. The system comprises a processor: storing at least one fault handling description in a implementation-independent meta language associated with the at least one application; associating the interface information with the at least one fault handling description based on at least one defined fault handling policy, created based on at least one service definition. The system also includes the workflow application, if a fault response from the at least one application is received: retrieving at least one associated fault handling description based on at least one fault handling policy; and interpreting and executing a particular meta language code of the at least one associated fault handling description in order to continue the defined workflow application.
US09201722B1

A system-on-chip comprising a sender unit and a receiver unit and a method of operating thereof are described. The sender unit comprises a send counter for providing a send counter value. The receiver unit comprises a receive counter for providing a receive counter value. The sender unit is arranged to increment the send counter value by an increment and send a data packet to the receiver unit. The receiver unit is arranged to receive the data packet and increment the receive counter value by the increment. In a challenge operation, the sender unit sends the send counter value to the receiver unit. In a challenge response operation, the receiver unit receives the send counter value, compares the values, and generates a comparison result. Loss of data packets from the sender unit as well as reception of unexpected data packets from a third functional unit may thus be detected.
US09201720B2

A FlexRay network guardian including: a resetting leading coldstart node (RLCN) detector configured to detect a RLCN failure; a deaf coldstart node (DCN) detector configured to detect a DCN failure; a babbling idiot (BI) detector configured to detect a BI failure; and a FlexRay network decoder configured to output a signal regarding the status of the FlexRay network to the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector, wherein the RLCN detector, DCN detector, and BI detector are configured to send an indication of a failure to a containment module.
US09201717B2

A memory system includes a volatile first storing unit, a nonvolatile second storing unit in which data is managed in a predetermined unit, and a controller that writes data requested by a host apparatus in the second storing unit via the first storing unit and reads out data requested by the host apparatus from the second storing unit to the first storing unit and transfers the data to the host apparatus. The controller includes a management table for managing the number of failure areas in a predetermined unit that occur in the second storing unit and switches, according to the number of failure areas, an operation mode in writing data in the second storing unit from the host apparatus.
US09201713B1

Described herein are systems, computer readable mediums, and methods for enabling new policies for media devices to be registered and provided to one or more administrative devices. In one implementation, the media device receives conflicting requests for implementing a designated policy. To resolve the conflict, the media device may use conflict resolution data that is registered upon installation of an application.
US09201711B2

A plurality of application servers hosts a plurality of business applications. A plurality of Application Program Interface (API) servers host a plurality of APIs to provide programmatic access to the plurality of business applications, each of the APIs configured to receive request messages compiled by a remote client application. First and second request messages targeted to first and second APIs have at least one common data component. The first request message includes a first payload specific to the first targeted API and the second request message includes a second payload specific to the second targeted API, the first payload and the second payload each comprise a reusable identified schema definition specific to the targeted API.
US09201708B2

Methods, systems, and machine readable medium for multi-thread safe system level modeling simulation (SLMS) of a target system on a host system. An example of a SLMS is a SYSTEMC simulation. During the SLMS, SLMS processes are executed in parallel via a plurality of threads. SLMS processes represent functional behaviors of components within the target system, such as functional behaviors of processor cores. Deferred execution may be used to defer execution of operations of SLMS processes that access a shared resource. Multi-thread safe direct memory interface (DMI) access may be used by a SLMS process to access a region of the memory in a multi-thread safe manner. Access to regions of the memory may also be guarded if they are at risk of being in a transient state when being accessed by more than one SLMS process.
US09201702B2

The present invention is generally directed at systems and methods for managing one or more data centers. Systems in accordance with some embodiments of the invention may include a software as a service (SaaS) application including a user interface for designing or modifying a topology, a VAR application in selective communication with the SaaS application and with one or more data stores, configured to determine how to create or modify the topology by configuring the one or more data centers. Methods in accordance with some embodiments of the invention may include receiving a topology design or edit, communicating with one or more data centers, determining how to satisfy the topology design or edit based on the topology design or edit and communications with the one or more data centers; and satisfying the topology design or edit by creating the designed topology or editing the pre-existing topology.
US09201699B2

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for efficiently processing information. In some embodiments, this includes selecting a service to terminate, determining a virtual appliance associated with the service, and decommissioning the virtual appliance. In some embodiments, the virtual appliance may be deleted from the storage array.
US09201693B2

Innovations for resource management are described herein. For example, resource management organizes resources as pools that are associated with different types of workloads. The resource management can be implemented as part of an application layer framework and/or operating system of a computing device. A budget is established at design time for the resources of the computing device. Each type of workload primarily draws from resources dedicated to that type of workload in the associated pool under the budget, as enforced by the operating system. This can help provide acceptable performance for those workloads that are permitted to run, while preventing resources of the mobile computing device from becoming spread too thin among workloads. It can also help maintain a good overall balance among different types of workloads.
US09201684B2

A method for aiding resolution of a transaction for use with a transactional processing system comprising a transaction coordinator and a plurality of grouped and inter-connected resource managers, the method comprising the steps of: in response to a communications failure between the transaction coordinator and a first resource manager causing a transaction to have an in-doubt state, connecting, by the transaction coordinator, to a second resource manager; in response to the connecting step, sending by the transaction coordinator to the second resource manager, a resolve request comprising a resolution for the in-doubt transaction; in response to the resolve request, obtaining at the first resource manager, by the second resource manager, a lock to data associated with the in-doubt transaction; and in response to the obtaining step, determining, by the second resource manager, whether the transaction is associated with the first resource manager.
US09201675B2

Disclosed herein are a Desktop As A Service (DaaS) manager and DaaS client for a DaaS system. The DaaS manager includes a connection broker module, a provisioning module, a management module, and a web server module. The connection broker module permits connections to a DaaS client and a DaaS server to a user who has performed user authentication. The provisioning module determines the operating status of the DaaS server, and assigns a virtual machine of an optimum DaaS server to the DaaS client. The management module monitors the operating status of the DaaS server and the virtual machine, and executes a control command of the DaaS server. The web server module provides a web-based management tool Graphic User Interface (GUI) to the user.
US09201674B2

One embodiment of the present invention is a method of migrating functionality to a target virtualized mobile device including virtualization software that supports one or more virtual machines, the method including: (a) embodying the functionality in a virtual machine; and (b) migrating the virtual machine to the target virtualized mobile device.
US09201672B1

Disclosed is an approach for providing an improved approach for searching and aggregation of searches on the internet, which allows more flexibility to perform and display search results, and also provides searching for a broad range of secondary search sites. A virtual layer is used to provide web page components to implement the searching and aggregation of search results, so that additional search results from secondary web sites can be aggregated with the search results from a primary web site. The aggregated results can then be displayed to the user at the primary search site. By using the virtual layer approach of embodiments of the present invention, this allows the aggregated search results to be placed on and overlaid with the web page from any desired search page. In addition, the searching can be specified for any secondary search sites, even sites which are not particularly with the same subject space as the primary site.
US09201666B2

The subject disclosure is directed towards using gesture input to position content elements (e.g., flow text) around an object such as an irregularly shaped image. The gesture input may be used to generate markup language code, which when processed by a renderer, automatically positions the elements based upon the markup language code. For example, div elements may be generated in HTML code, with margins set to values based upon the gesture so as to position the one or more content elements when they are rendered.
US09201662B2

A method includes booting an information handling system, providing by an EFI of the information handling system a memory segment for a first EFI type memory access, reserving a first portion of the segment from access by an operating system of the information handling system, determining a size of the first portion, determining a size of a second portion of the segment based upon the size of the first portion, allocating a third portion of the segment for the first EFI type memory access, the third portion including the first portion and the second portion, and passing a memory map to the operating system, the memory map including the third portion, wherein the third portion is reserved from access by the operating system.
US09201658B2

In an embodiment, a processor may be configured to fetch N instruction bytes from an instruction cache (a “fetch group”), even if the fetch group crosses a cache line boundary. A branch predictor may be configured to produce branch predictions for up to M branches in the fetch group, where M is a maximum number of branches that may be included in the fetch group. In an embodiment, branch prediction values from multiple entries in each table may be read and respective branch prediction values may be combined to form branch predictions for up to M branches in the fetch group.
US09201651B2

A data processing apparatus is described which comprises processing circuitry responsive to data processing instructions to execute integer data processing operations and floating point data processing operations, a first set of integer registers useable by the processing circuitry in executing the integer data processing operations, and a second set of floating point registers useable by the processing circuitry in executing the floating point data processing operations. The processing circuitry is responsive to an interrupt request to perform one of an integer state preservation function in which at least a subset of only the integer registers are copied to a stack memory, and a floating point state preservation function in which at least a subset of both the integer registers and the floating point registers are copied to the stack memory, the one of said integer state preservation function and the floating point state preservation function being selected by the processing circuitry in dependence on state information. In this way, it is possible to reduce the memory size requirement through reduced stack sizes, and to reduce the number of memory accesses required compared with the basic solution of always preserving floating point registers. As a result, power usage and interrupt latency can be reduced.
US09201648B2

Visualizing user interfaces specified by source code includes executing, using a development application, source code including a segment of source code specifying a user interface and, responsive to executing the segment of source code, generating, using a processor, a first screenshot including the user interface. The first screenshot is correlated with the segment of source code. The first screenshot is stored in association with the segment of source code.
US09201641B2

A method of upgrading the software of a terminal of a telecommunication network, in particular a wired video telephone, includes the steps of periodically sending a first signal from the terminal to a service center via an intelligent network, the first signal including a service access code containing information related to the current software version installed on the terminal; checking, in a data base containing information on the different software versions available in the service center, if the current software version corresponds to a correct software version; sending from the service center to the terminal a second signal, in the form of a DTMF sequence, indicative of the result of the step of checking; possibly displaying a message on the terminal to inform the user that the software has to be upgraded; and remotely downloading the software.
US09201636B2

A method comprises generating an intermediate representation of a pointer-based program; providing a control flow graph of the intermediate representation; selecting an analysis candidate from the intermediate representation as a traced variable and a root node; determining a definition site of the trace variable according to a use-define chain and the control flow graph; defining a node for each definition site variable; defining an edge by using each definition site variable and the traced variable; using each definition site variable of the definition site as a traced variable; repeating the steps of determining a definition site, defining a node, defining an edge and using each definition site to obtain a divergence relation graph; transforming the divergence relation graph into a directed acyclic graph; and determining whether the analysis candidate is divergent or not according to a divergent node and the directed acyclic graph.
US09201619B2

A method of assigning a hub to a job source may include identifying one or more job sources where one or more print jobs are received, identifying one or more hubs to which the print jobs can be sent to be processed, determining a processing cost for each unique pair of job sources and hubs, creating, by a computing device, a job source list by identifying the pair associated with the largest processing cost, assigning the job source of the identified pair a highest position in the job source list, and repeating the identifying and the assigning for a next highest position until all identified job sources are assigned, and assigning the job source having the highest position in the job source list to an associated hub having a lowest processing cost.
US09201614B2

An anti-timeout method applied to a data processing system is provided. The data processing system includes a disk module. The anti-timeout method includes following steps: setting a total volume of the disk module into a plurality of virtual disk volumes, wherein each of the virtual disk volumes includes an instruction temporary storing queue for temporarily storing operating instructions corresponding to each virtual disk volume; selecting one of the instruction temporary storing queues and processing the operating instructions stored in the selected instruction temporary storing queue; calculating a continuous operating value of continuous processing of the selected instruction temporary storing queue; and selecting another one of the instruction temporary storing queues if the continuous operating value exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
US09201604B2

Provided is a RAID controlled storage device of a PCI-Express (PCI-e) type, which provides data storage/reading services through a PCI-Express interface. The RAID controller typically includes a disk mount coupled to a set of PCI-Express SSD memory disk units, the set of PCI-Express SSD memory disk units comprising: a set of volatile semiconductor memories; a disk monitoring unit coupled to the disk mount for monitoring the set of PCI-Express memory disk units; a disk plug and play controller coupled to the disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for controlling the disk mount; a high speed host interface coupled to the disk monitoring unit and the disk mount for providing high-speed host interface capabilities; a disk controller coupled to the high speed host interface and the disk monitoring unit; and a host interface coupled to the disk controller.
US09201602B2

According to the embodiments, an external storage device switches to an interface controller for supporting only a read operation of nonvolatile memory when a shift condition for shifting to a read only mode is met. A host device switches to an interface driver for supporting only the read operation of the nonvolatile memory when determining to recognize as read only memory based on information acquired from the external storage device.
US09201600B1

A plurality of storage nodes in a single chassis is provided. The plurality of storage nodes in the single chassis is configured to communicate together as a storage cluster. Each of the plurality of storage nodes includes nonvolatile solid-state memory for user data storage. The plurality of storage nodes is configured to distribute the user data and metadata associated with the user data throughout the plurality of storage nodes such that the plurality of storage nodes maintain the ability to read the user data, using erasure coding, despite a loss of two of the plurality of storage nodes. A plurality of compute nodes is included in the single chassis, each of the plurality of compute nodes is configured to communicate with the plurality of storage nodes. A method for accessing user data in a plurality of storage nodes having nonvolatile solid-state memory is also provided.
US09201592B2

A computer-implemented method for use in an electronic device includes receiving a first handwritten input comprising at least one handwritten character, and obtaining a plurality of candidate words that correspond to at the least one handwritten character. A first electronic instruction is generated to display information identifying one or more of the candidate words on a display of the electronic device. A second handwritten input indicative of a selection of one or the displayed candidate words is received, and a second electronic instruction is generated to display the selected candidate word on the display of the electronic device.
US09201589B2

Embodiments are disclosed that relate to interactions with a touch-sensitive device (10), particularly but not exclusively a device having a touch-sensitive display surface (11). One disclosed embodiment provides a method comprising the steps of: displaying map data (13) on the display surface (11); detecting a first touch input at a first location (201) of the display surface (11); detecting a second touch input at a second location (202) of display surface (11); defining a functional area (203) of the display surface (11) in accordance with the first and second locations (201, 202); graphically representing (204) a plurality of location attribute data filtering functions (16) on a peripheral edge of the functional area (203); detecting a third touch input at a location of the display surface (11) corresponding to a filtering function (16); filtering the location attribute data (14) in accordance with the defined functional area (203) and the selected filtering function (16) to produce a filtered data set; and displaying the filtered data set on the display surface (11).
US09201588B2

A processor-implemented method to control a playback of recorded sound is provided. The method includes displaying on a pressure-sensitive display screen a processor-generated image of a vinyl record and playing, by use of a processor in communication with a processor storage, a sound encoded in the processor storage, to produce a playback of the encoded sound. The method also includes animating the processor-generated image of the vinyl record, to produce an animation of the vinyl record rotating in synchronicity with the playback. The method further includes detecting touch on the animation, the touch including at least one first touch and at least two second touches and controlling the playback and the animation in response to the detected touch. The controlling of the playback and the animation includes generating one or more cue points by designating a portion of the sound encoded in the processor storage.
US09201574B2

Displaying a preference by a user of a content contribution is disclosed. A preference event by the user is detected. A plurality of detected events is stored. In response to a query from a client, at least a portion of the stored detected events is stored. At least a portion of the received events is displayed in an interface.
US09201573B1

One embodiment is directed to a method performed by a computing device. The method includes (1) receiving a command from a user to initiate a graphical user interface (GUI) session on a client device, the GUI session providing the user with control over a system via a set of GUI pages, (2) selecting, with reference to user profile data associated with the user, a strict subset of the set of GUI pages, the user profile data indicating a plurality of GUI pages of the set of GUI pages that the user has accessed in previous GUI sessions, the strict subset consisting of the plurality of GUI pages, and (3) causing the plurality of GUI pages of the strict subset to be pre-fetched into memory of the client device, the pre-fetched pages being accessible by the user faster than GUI pages which have not been pre-fetched.
US09201564B2

A method referred to as visual window browsing allows a user to browse through windows on their desktop. Aspects of the invention include responsive to a command, moving open windows to form a visual stack with the topmost window in the stack being in focus. Responsive to a browse the windows in the visual stack can be browsed, where the topmost window moves to the bottom of the visual stack and the other windows move higher in the stack, with the second highest window becoming the topmost window and being in focus. Successive browse commands causes this behavior to repeat allowing a user to cycle through each of the open windows.
US09201562B2

A responsive interface control system includes a display device and a control modification engine. The display device displays an interface control in a section of a user interface on the display device. The interface control is an interactive interface element configured to set an interface value. The control modification engine detects a size of the section of the user interface. The control modification engine also automatically sets an interface control mode by selecting one of a plurality of predetermined interface control modes to specify an appearance of the interface control and a function of the interface control based on the size of the section of the user interface.
US09201559B2

A method of operating an input device in conjunction with a host device includes determining that the input device is in a stationary state and receiving a first signal from a first sense zone of the input device. The method also includes determining an input command based on determining that the input device is in the stationary state and the first signal and transmitting a signal associated with the input command from the input device to the host device.
US09201558B1

Graphical mapping interface embodiments and method are provided for creating and displaying a schema map, which may be used by a data transformation system to perform a data transformation between at least one source schema and at least one target schema. According to one embodiment, the graphical mapping interface may comprise a source schema region for displaying a graphical representation of at least one source schema, a target schema region for displaying a graphical representation of at least one target schema, and a mapping region for displaying graphical representations of a plurality of links connecting the source nodes displayed in the source schema region to the target nodes displayed in the target schema region. The plurality of links may comprise at least one control link having at least one ECA rule associated therewith and at least one data link having at least one textual-based target field expression associated therewith.
US09201556B2

Methods and devices for determining the location of a touch implement relative to a touch locating sensing device involve developing touch signals at a touch sensor in response to a touch implement on or near the touch surface. Data associated with the touch signals is fitted to a predefined curve. The predefined curve is preferably defined by a charged sphere near a conducting plane, the charged sphere representative of an end of the touch implement and the conducting plane representative of the touch surface. A location of the touch implement is determined relative to the touch surface using the predefined curve to which the data is fitted.
US09201555B2

A display device with a touch panel includes a display panel, and a touch panel formed above the display panel. The touch panel includes X electrodes which extend in a first direction, and Y electrodes which extend in a second direction different from the first direction. The X electrodes and the Y electrodes respectively include intersection portions each formed where the X electrodes and the Y electrodes overlap each other, and electrode portions each formed between the intersection portions, wherein the electrode portions of one of the X electrodes is smaller in area than the electrode portions of one of the Y electrodes, and wherein floating electrodes are formed close to the electrode portion of the one of the X electrodes or Y electrodes, and over a reduced portion of the X electrode.
US09201551B2

A capacitive touch screen is disclosed in the present invention, including: a transparent substrate, including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a light-shield layer formed on the edge of the first surface of the transparent substrate, which forms a non-visible area; and a transparent polymer layer formed on the first surface, which is opposite to the first surface and covers the light-shield layer, a part of the transparent polymer layer covering the light-transmission area of the transparent substrate forms a sensing area, a surface of that is patterned to form a first meshed conductive trench, which is filled with a conductive material. The defined conductive trench reduces the scratching to the conductive material when the capacitive touch screen is in use, and the use of the trench structure reduces the covering area of the conductive material, the contact resistance and the cost.
US09201542B2

A light sensitive display apparatus and an operating method thereof are disclosed herein. The light sensitive display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, and the operating method of the light sensitive display apparatus includes the following steps. In a writing state, a first data voltage and a first gate voltage are provided to the pixels, and the pixels illuminated by light rays are switched to or kept in a first display state. In an erasing state, a second data voltage and a second gate voltage are provided to the pixels, and the pixels illuminated by light rays are switched to or kept in a second display state.
US09201537B2

A touch-screen display apparatus, the apparatus may include first and second sheets having opposed major surfaces and a size and shape defined by a periphery. The periphery may be defined by opposed ends and opposed edges. The first and second sheets may each have a conductive pattern including a pair of opposed busbars and a plurality of traces electrically coupled to, and extending between, corresponding pairs of opposed busbars. The transparent force sensing (TFS) sheet may have opposed major surfaces and a variable resistance which is related to a force exerted upon one or more of its major surfaces. The TFS sheet may be situated between the first and second sheets. The apparatus may also include one or more separation portions situated between the TFS sheet and the first or second sheet to bias the TFS sheet apart from the first or second sheet.
US09201530B2

A touch panel includes first electrodes, second electrodes, first conductive lines, second conductive lines and a conductive particle layer. The first and second electrodes are respectively formed on an upper surface of a first transparent substrate and a bottom surface of a second transparent substrate. The upper surface is adhered to the bottom surface. The first and second conductive lines are formed on a periphery area of the upper surface, and the first conductive lines are electrically connected to the first electrodes. The conducting particle layer, disposed between the first and the second transparent substrate, includes conducting particles, which are electrically connected to the second conductive lines and the second electrodes.
US09201527B2

Techniques to remotely manage a multimedia conference event are described. An apparatus may comprise a mobile remote control having a communications component operative to establish a wireless connection between a mobile remote control and a multimedia conference server hosting a multimedia conference event. The mobile remote control may include a mobile remote control component communicatively coupled to the communications component, the mobile remote control component operative to manage the multimedia conference event from the mobile remote control by communicating control information and media information with the multimedia conference server for the multimedia conference event over the wireless connection. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09201511B1

Optical navigation sensors and methods are provided for use in an input device. In one embodiment, the input device comprises: (i) a button configured to in a first mode of operation of the input device receive user input when a surface of the button is pressed; (ii) an optical navigation sensor (ONS) configured to in a second mode of operation of the input device illuminate an object in proximity to the surface of the button and to sense and provide input related to motion of the object; and (iii) means for disabling input from the ONS in the first mode of operation. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US09201506B2

A display device is disclosed. The display device includes first and second substrates, a display part, a vibrating body and a vibration transmission member. The first substrate includes a first inner primary surface and an outer primary surface opposing each other. The first substrate further includes a display region and an input region on the outer primary surface, and an input section. The second substrate includes a second inner primary surface that includes a facing region and a non-facing region. The facing region faces the first inner primary surface while the non-facing region does not face the first inner primary surface. The display part is located between the first substrate and the second substrate. The vibrating body is located in the non-facing region on the second substrate. The vibration transmission member is located between the first inner primary surface and the second inner primary surface.
US09201504B2

The present invention provides a vehicular glance lighting apparatus which provides a driver with vehicle-running information as light of a background screen and includes a driver attention function through prompt information delivery such that the driver visually recognizes as a background screen the vehicle-running information needed essentially or minimally for running the vehicle without requiring the driver's attention to avoid dissipation of the driver's sight, thereby preventing the driver's driving attention from being diverted, and a method for controlling the same. The vehicle-running information related with the running of a vehicle to be outputted in the form of light as a background screen, so that a driver can perceive the vehicle-running information without diverting or obstructing the driver's driving attention, thereby enhancing the driver's ability to cope with a vehicle travel risk during the traveling of the vehicle.
US09201500B2

Systems and methods may provide for capturing a user input by emulating a touch screen mechanism. In one example, the method may include identifying a point of interest on a front facing display of the device based on gaze information associated with a user of the device, identifying a hand action based on gesture information associated with the user of the device, and initiating a device action with respect to the front facing display based on the point of interest and the hand action.
US09201497B2

Virtual media environments are provided. A first set of media components is received and modified to create a first virtual media instance. The first virtual media instance is provided to a user via at least one media output device. Media parameters corresponding to the user are updated based on the first virtual media instance. A second set of media components is also received. The second set is modified based on the updated media parameters to create a second virtual media instance.
US09201491B2

Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata or indexes for index databases. In one exemplary method, different processing priorities are assigned to different indexing tasks based upon the origin of the task. In another exemplary method, indexing tasks are processed in a first mode when a data processing system is in a first power state and indexing tasks are processed in a second mode when the data processing system is in a second power state.
US09201487B2

In accordance with some embodiments, the knowledge that a capped frame time is used can be exploited to reduce power consumption. Generally a capped frame time is a pre-allocated amount of time to apply power for rendering in graphics processing. Generally the frame time involves the application of power and some down time in which only idle power is applied pending the next frame time. By making better use of that down time, power consumption reductions can be achieved in some embodiments.
US09201486B2

A data center system management device receives power configuration information for one or more power groups. Each power group has one or more servers. The power configuration information has a power group power limit for each power group. The power budgets are sent to server control units within each power group. Messages are received from each of the server control units, the messages including information to indicate whether servers in the power groups have a power deficit or a power surplus, and a number of power units for the power deficit and power surplus for each server. The server power budgets of the one or more servers in each of the one or more power groups based on power deficits and power surpluses within each power group using a priority based reallocation mechanism.
US09201478B2

Battery charging methods and systems for devices that have rechargeable batteries provide an efficient way to know when to charge a device's battery, and when to switch between the device's battery and an external power source as the device's power source. The methods and systems access thresholds for a plurality of power rates, obtain information about when different power rates are in effect and, after determining a current power rate based on the information, compare the threshold of the current power rate to the device's battery's charge level. Based on such a comparison, the methods and systems can determine whether the battery should be charged, and the methods and system can determine whether the device's battery or an external power source should be used as the device's power source.
US09201477B2

A power management system, in one embodiment, determines a thermal status (e.g. a temperature or a calculation of power consumption) of at least a portion of a data processing system, and based on that status, thermal credits are calculated and then used to determine a voltage dithering pattern and a voltage boost pattern.
US09201475B2

An electronic device includes a first body, a second body, a baffle and a drive mechanism. The second body includes an opening the bottom surface thereof, and the baffle is disposed on the bottom surface to cover the opening. The baffle moves with respect to the second body and has a raised portion. The drive mechanism includes a pivot, a linkage and a sliding member. The pivot connects the first body and the second body. The linkage is sleeved over the pivot. The sliding member is connected to the linkage and has a pushing portion. While the first body rotates with respect to the second body, the pivot rotates with the first body and drives the linkage to push the sliding member. In the meantime, the sliding member displaces to push the raised portion by the pushing portion, so that the baffle moves and exposes part of the opening.
US09201471B2

A cellular telephone device with a control unit sets a display mode of a display unit to any one of a first display mode for performing two-dimensional display, and a second display mode for performing three-dimensional display; the cellular telephone device displays both of first information and second information, which is subordinate information to the first information, on the display unit, in a case of being set to the second display mode; and the cellular telephone device displays any one of the first information and the second information on the display unit, in a case of being set to the first display mode.
US09201468B2

Methods, systems and devices are described for operating an electronic system which includes a first plurality of sensor electrodes disposed in a first layer and configured to detect input objects at an input surface of the input device, the first plurality of sensor electrodes including a first subset of transmitter electrodes; a second plurality of sensor electrodes configured to detect a force imparted to the input surface and configured for capacitive coupling with the first subset of transmitter electrodes; and a compressible dielectric configured to compress in response to force applied to the input surface. The capacitive coupling between the transmitter electrodes and the second plurality of sensor electrodes is configured to vary in response to the applied force.
US09201457B1

A ruggedized connector-less cordless portable computer system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the portable computer system includes ports adapted to use wireless technology e.g., GSM, CDMA, LAN, Bluetooth, and infrared for synchronization. Furthermore, the device may be a palm-sized device having a rechargeable battery. In one embodiment of the present invention, the portable computer system includes a secondary coil of a transformer where the transformer's primary coil resides in an electronic cradle. The portable computer's rechargeable battery is recharged through an induction charging system. The wireless communication and induction charging system enables a device that is connector-less and therefore watertight and resilient to adverse climate conditions.
US09201456B2

A data securing system includes a digital lanyard having a first end portion connected with a first line, having a first connector portion, and a second line having a second connector portion. A second end portion of the digital lanyard includes an electronic data generating device interface. The first connector portion of the first line and the second connector portion of the second line, when in operative connection, form a complete electrical connection between the first end portion and the second end portion. The system further includes an electronic data generating device having an electronic data generating device connector portion configured to operatively connect to the electronic data generating device interface of the second end portion, and an authentication portion of the electronic data generating device provides a capability to authenticate a user to permit the user to obtain access to secured and/or restricted data via the electronic data generating device.
US09201454B2

Arrangements described herein relate to molding of a display screen into a housing of an electronic device. Ad adhesive can be applied to a side of a plastic film to form an adhesion member. The adhesion member can be connected to the display screen, the adhesive bonding to the plastic film to a peripheral region of the display screen. The display screen with the connected adhesion member can be inserted into a housing mold. Plastic resin can be injected into the housing mold to form a housing of the electronic device, the plastic film bonding with the injected plastic resin to secure the display screen into the housing.
US09201448B2

Observability of internal system-on-chip signals is a difficult problem and it is particularly difficult to observe and debug transactions with different clock domains. However, one embodiment provides observability of internal signals from multiple internal blocks having varying clock domains such as synchronous (common clock) and asynchronous (non common clock) domains. An embodiment provides simultaneous observability of debug data from both synchronous and asynchronous clock domains. An embodiment may also allow sending debug data from both synchronous and asynchronous domains from the SoC. One embodiment outputs internal signals on output pins of the SoC, thereby allowing transactions from one clock domain to be tracked to another clock domain and allowing for the determination of the relationship between the data of differing clock domains. Other embodiments are described herein.
US09201446B2

A microcontroller has a programmable timebase, wherein the timebase has a trigger input to start a timer or counter of the timebase and wherein the timebase can be configured to operate upon receiving a trigger signal in a first mode to generate a plurality of timer/counter event signals until a reset bit in a control register is set and in a second mode to generate a single timer/counter event signal and wherein the timebase can be configured to operate in a third mode to generate a predefined number of timer/counter event signals, wherein the predefined number is defined by a plurality of bits of a register.
US09201438B2

A buck switching regulator includes a feedback control circuit including a first gain circuit generating a first feedback signal indicative of the regulated output voltage; a ripple generation circuit generating a ripple signal that is injected to the first feedback signal; and a comparator receiving a first reference signal and the first feedback signal to generate a comparator output signal. The switching regulator further includes an offset compensation circuit including a second gain circuit generating a second feedback signal indicative of the regulated output voltage; and an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) configured to receive the second feedback signal and the first reference signal and to generate an output signal. The output signal of the OTA is coupled to the comparator to adjust an offset to the comparator so as to cancel the offset at the regulated output voltage due to the injected ripple signal.
US09201433B2

A motor control system for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications is described. The motor control system includes a thermostat and an electronically commutated motor (ECM) coupled to the thermostat. The ECM is configured to retrofit an existing non-ECM electric motor included in an HVAC application and to operate in one of a plurality of HVAC modes. The HVAC modes include at least one of a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a continuous fan mode. The HVAC mode is determined based at least partially on outputs provided by the thermostat.
US09201431B2

A tamper proof thermostat has a predetermined and permanently fixed maximum heating temperature and minimum cooling temperature associated with each portion of a preset schedule. A user may only select temperatures below the maximum heating temperature or above the minimum cooling temperature. The thermostat further receives a dedicated time signal broadcast from an external source. The broadcast is the exclusive source of time information for the thermostat, ensuring that a user is not able to manipulate the preset schedule.
US09201423B2

The device aids the management of air operations, such as operations under Required Navigation Performance with Authorization Required maneuvers. The device includes a guidance system including a plurality of stages for calculating parameters, each of the stages including an architecture having at least three pieces of equipment, which calculate the parameters and implement monitorings to determine the status of the equipment. The device uses these monitored statuses to determine a global status that indicates if the aircraft is able to carry out the air operations with required performance.
US09201422B2

The invention provides a measuring system comprising a remotely controllable flying vehicle system with a GPS device and a measuring device installed thereon, a position measuring device installed at an arbitrary position and able to measure distance and angle and to track, a ground base station for controlling a flight of a flying vehicle, a remote controller able to give and take data to and from the ground base station and able to perform wireless communication to and from the flying vehicle system, and a control unit provided on the flying vehicle system or the ground base station, wherein the flying vehicle system has a retro-reflector as an object to be measured and the position measuring device is constructed so as to track the retro-reflector and perform distance measurement and angle measurement, wherein the flying vehicle system obtains GPS coordinates by the GPS device at least at two points during flight, the position measuring device measures positions of the two points of the flying vehicle system from an installation point, wherein the position measuring device measures positions of the flying vehicle system at the two points from the installation points, and either one of the control units are configured so as to obtain an absolute coordinate or GPS coordinate of the installation point of the position measuring device based on the GPS coordinates of the two points and based on distance measurement results and on angle measurement results by the position measuring device.
US09201420B2

A method and system for monitoring an entity within a process plant includes collecting entity status data pertaining to the status of an entity within the process plant collecting criticality data pertaining to the importance of the entity within the process plant, and using the entity status data and the criticality data to perform a function within the process plant.
US09201419B2

A method of monitoring and controlling an industrial process associated with a plurality of process variables by a control system including displaying a set of process related images which are user-selected on a display device of the control system, each process related image of the set of process related images being associated with a process variable of the plurality of process variables; receiving process variable data of the plurality of process variables while the step of displaying is carried out, and when process variable data is received indicating that a process variable has a status value outside a predetermined accepted range; and displaying, on the display device, a process related image which is associated with the process variable with the status value outside the predetermined accepted range, receiving an input command for controlling the process variable, and controlling the process variable based on the input command.
US09201415B2

An internal control signal regulation circuit includes a programming test unit configured to detect an internal control signal in response to an external control signal and generate a selection signal, test codes and a programming enable signal; and a code processing unit configured to receive the test codes or programming codes in response to the selection signal and regulate the internal control signal.
US09201414B2

An intrinsically-safe handheld field maintenance tool includes a process communication module configured communicatively couple to a field device. A camera is configured to obtain at least one image relative to the field device. A controller is coupled to the process communication module and operably coupled to the camera. The controller is configured to store the at least one image relative to the field device. The handheld field maintenance tool may also include or employ an audio input device to capture audio files.
US09201413B2

This disclosure relates to a design and manufacturing system for protective patient footwear, as well as related methods. The system includes suitable hardware, software, and related peripherals, which function to acquire data related to the patient's particular footwear needs, such as by three-dimensional scanning. A design subsystem interfaces with the inputted data to permit the resulting design to reflect particular foot conditions in the design and subsequent manufacturing process. A manufacturing subsystem receives the resulting design and includes hardware and software to manufacture the protective patient footwear.
US09201411B2

Systems and methods are disclosed to improve energy efficiency of a farm with livestock wastes by generating a cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) microgrid model; performing on a computer a multi-objective optimization to improve system efficiency of energy utilization and reduce environmental problems caused by animal wastes; and displaying results of the optimization for review.
US09201408B2

A total amount of current drawn through a first charging equipment and a second charging equipment that wired on a same electrical circuit is limited to not exceed a maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit to prevent the electrical circuit from being overloaded, where limiting includes communicating a first current limit to a first electric vehicle connected to the first charging equipment to cause the first electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the first current limit, and communicating a second current limit to a second electric vehicle connected to the second charging equipment to cause the second electric vehicle to limit its current draw to not exceed the second current limit, where a sum of current being drawn at the first current limit and the second current limit does not exceed the maximum amount of electric current supported by the electrical circuit.
US09201406B2

An information processing apparatus includes: a first storage part that stores correspondence information between a first identification information and second identification information; a user identification part that identifies the second identification information corresponding to the first identification information in response to an input of the first identification information; and an authentication request part that requests an authentication to an authentication device connected through a network based on the second identification information identified by the user identification part. The user identification part inquires the authentication device about the corresponding second identification information with respect to the first identification information that is not stored in the first storage part.
US09201398B2

An oscillating mechanism for a timepiece movement, including a first rigid element and a second rigid element, each one fixed on a different element of the movement and at least one of which is mobile relative to the other and pivots about an axis. The mechanism is monobloc and flexible with a variable geometry, and includes a first elastic restoring mechanism producing an elastic connection between the first rigid element and an intermediate rigid element, and a second elastic restoring mechanism producing an elastic connection between the intermediate element and the second rigid element, which all are coplanar according to one plane and configured to be deformed according to the plane.
US09201396B2

High-temperature heat generated from a fixing device is efficiently discharged to an outside an apparatus. A printer includes: a photosensitive drum; a transfer roller; a fixing device; and a duct frame that is mounted between two side plates disposed to oppose each other and disposed right over the fixing device with a lower surface opened. An upper inner surface of the duct frame is inclined in a short-edge direction of the duct frame, and an inclined upper end portion of the upper inner surface is provided with an aperture portion that discharges heat generated from the fixing device to an outside of the duct frame.
US09201387B2

In one embodiment of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes an opening/closing cover that is supported so as to be capable of moving relative to an image forming apparatus main body and opens/closes an opening portion of the image forming apparatus main body; and a unit installed so as to be capable of swinging on an image forming apparatus main body side of the opening/closing cover, in which when the opening/closing cover is opened/closed, the unit moves in a track that moves around a guide shaft of the unit, and in a track that moves so as to follow opening/closing of the opening/closing cover.
US09201381B2

An image forming apparatus includes a light source, a cleaning portion, and a light guide member. The light source irradiates an image carrying member with light to remove electricity from a surface of the image carrying member after formation of an electrostatic latent image thereon. The cleaning portion cleans the surface of the image carrying member. The light guide member is disposed on an upstream side of the cleaning portion in a rotation direction of the image carrying member, forms a light guide path for guiding the light irradiated from the light source to the image carrying member, and includes at least one reflection surface, wherein an area of the reflection surface on the image carrying member side is lower in reflection ratio than an area of the reflection surface on the light source side.
US09201366B2

An image-forming device includes a belt based fuser for fixing an image to a media substrate. The fuser includes a heater having a base component with at least one heating element disposed thereon. The heater further includes a covering layer covering the at least one heating element providing a substantially even surface to abut a belt. Unevenness, which may be present on the substantially even surface, has a height, defined by a base and a peak, of less than about 10 μm. A process for producing the heater is also disclosed. The process includes disposing one or more heating elements on a base component of the heater, covering the heating elements of the fuser heater with a covering layer and providing a substantially even outer surface to abut a fuser belt.
US09201360B2

An image forming apparatus includes a printing portion, an ordinary printing controller, and an energy-saving printing controller. The ordinary printing controller causes the printing portion to perform ordinary printing at a first fixing temperature. The energy-saving printing controller causes the printing portion to perform energy-saving printing at a second fixing temperature lower than the first fixing temperature. The energy-saving printing controller selectively performs first energy-saving printing of performing the energy-saving printing by setting the sheet conveying speed to a first speed and setting the sheet interval to a first interval, and second energy-saving printing of performing the energy-saving printing by setting the sheet conveying speed to a second speed faster than the first speed and setting the sheet interval to a second interval larger than the first interval.
US09201356B2

A fixing device for fixing processing to fix a developer to a medium where the developer is transferred onto the medium, according to the invention, includes: a fixing processing unit for the fixing processing of the medium fed from an upstream side in a medium conveyance direction; a medium guide unit for guiding the medium fed from the upstream side in a medium conveyance direction, to the fixing processing unit; and a conductive member having a relatively high conductivity, being connected to a ground level, and contacting to the medium guide unit.
US09201354B2

Disclosed herein are an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photoconductors, a transfer belt, a plurality of transfer rollers arranged in parallel with the plurality of photoconductors, and a controller rotating the transfer belt under the condition that at least one of the plurality of transfer rollers presses the transfer belt toward at least one of the plurality of photoconductors, interrupting power transmitted to the transfer belt to cause at least another of the plurality of transfer rollers to press the transfer belt toward at least another of the plurality of photoconductors, standing by until rotation of the transfer belt is stopped, after interruption of the power, and controlling the at least another of the plurality of transfer rollers so as to press the transfer belt toward the at least another of the plurality of photoconductors.
US09201353B2

According to various embodiments, the present teachings provide an intermediate transfer member including a layer having a phosphorous containing polyamideimide having dispersed therein a conductive additive. A method of manufacturing the intermediate transfer member is provided.
US09201344B2

A toner container is configured to be insertable into an image forming device. The toner container comprises a toner container body including a toner chamber in which toner is stored and a toner discharge port provided at one end portion, a cover portion configured to cover the toner container body, a first projection provided at one end in a length direction of the cover portion to be orthogonal to a top surface of the cover portion, and a second projection projecting along an inserting direction into the image forming device at the other end in the length direction of the cover portion or a length direction of the toner container body. A surface of the first projection directed to the other end in the length direction along the inserting direction into the image forming device is an inclined portion.
US09201342B2

The object of the invention is to provide a toner for electrostatic-image development which imparts excellent image quality and a toner cartridge employing the toner. The invention relates to a toner for electrostatic-image development, which satisfies the following requirements (1) and (2): (1) the toner has an average transporting property of 2.9 to 15.1 mg/sec; and (2) the product of the BET specific surface area (m2/g) and volume-average particle diameter (μm) of the toner is 7.7×10−6 to 11.0×10−6 (m3/g).
US09201336B2

A developing device including: a toner bearing member configured to bear a toner on a surface of the toner bearing member and configured such that the surface thereof is rotated to supply the toner to and develop a latent electrostatic image on a surface of a latent electrostatic image bearing member in a developing region which faces the latent electrostatic image bearing member; and a regulating member configured to regulate an amount of the toner to be moved towards the developing region, wherein the surface of the toner bearing member has regularly arranged convex portions, and wherein a non-electrostatic adhesive force between the toner and the surface of the toner bearing member is less than 9.0 nN.
US09201325B2

A toner including a binder resin which contains a crystalline polyester resin and a non-crystalline polyester resin, wherein the crystalline polyester resin has at least two diffraction peaks in a range of 20°<2θ<25° as detected by X-ray diffraction measurement, and has a melting point which is 60° C. or higher but lower than 80° C., and wherein the diffraction peaks each have a half width which is less than 1.0°.
US09201320B2

Disclosed is a production process of an organic photoreceptor which can suppress occurrence of uneven density and image defects. The production process of an organic photoreceptor, the organic photoreceptor including an intermediate layer and an organic photosensitive layer on the intermediate layer, includes: applying a coating liquid for forming the intermediate layer to a conductive support to form a coating film, the coating liquid being obtained by dissolving a binder resin in a solvent and dispersing first and second metal oxide fine particles therein; and drying the coating film. The Pe number of the first metal oxide fine particles is two or more times larger than that of the second metal oxide fine particles. Pe number=(6πμEHR)/kT  Equation (1):
US09201317B2

A conductive support for an electrophotographic photoreceptor contains aluminum, in which the conductive support has a Young's modulus of from 32,000 MPa to 55,000 MPa.
US09201306B2

A method for producing an optical orientation film is disclosed, the method being able to realize highly accurate exposure in a pattern, even if a simple device and non-parallel light are used and a long continuous resin substrate is used and fed continuously. The method for producing the optical orientation film includes the steps of: (i) preparing an irradiation target substrate and a long continuous photomask (ii) feeding the irradiation target substrate continuously; (iii) feeding the photomask continuously; (iv) producing a laminate by laminating the photomask fed in step (iii) on an orientation layer of the irradiation target substrate fed in step (ii); (v) exposing the orientation layer in the pattern by irradiating with light, while feeding the laminate obtained in step (iv) in the longitudinal direction of the laminate; and (vi) removing the photomask from the laminate irradiated in step (v).
US09201292B1

A camera motion control system has a camera mount supported by one or more rotary damper assemblies. At least one of the rotary damper assemblies has a damped axle protruding from a damping fluid housing. A diaphragm seal is affixed to and spans both the axle and the damping fluid housing to seal the damping fluid in the damping fluid housing.
US09201286B2

Apparatus and method embodiments are provided for implementing a wavelength selective switch (WSS). The embodiments use combinations of switchable polarization grating (SPG) and LC cells and combinations of polymer polarization grating (PPG) and LC cells to achieve 1×N WSS systems. An embodiment optical switch includes a liquid crystal cell and a polymer polarization grating (PPG) cell adjacent to the liquid crystal cell. The PPG includes a glass substrate, a photo-alignment layer overlying the glass substrate and comprising photosensitive polymer that has been physically altered by exposure using two interfering light beams with opposite handedness of circular polarization, and a polymerized liquid crystal layer overlying the photo-alignment layer on an opposite side of the glass substrate, the polymerized liquid crystal layer has been physically altered by illumination using a uniform light beam.
US09201281B2

A liquid crystal display includes a common electrode for receiving a common voltage. The liquid crystal display further includes a pixel electrode for receiving a data voltage, the pixel electrode being associated with a pixel of the liquid crystal display. The liquid crystal display further includes a switching element electrically connected to the pixel electrode for controlling transmission of the data voltage. The liquid crystal display further includes a liquid crystal layer disposed between the common electrode and the pixel electrode. The liquid crystal display further includes a plate electrode electrically connected to the switching element and including a plate that overlaps the pixel electrode, wherein the pixel electrode spans a larger area than the plate. The pixel electrode and the plate electrode are equipotential.
US09201277B2

A gate line (40) has a two-layered structure comprising a lower gate line (40a) made of material identical to a pixel electrode (70), and positioned in the same layer as the pixel electrode (70), and an upper gate line (40b) layered on the lower gate line (40b), and made of material having a higher electrical conductivity than the transparent conductive material. According to this structure, it is possible to reduce the number of times performing exposure processes in manufacturing an in-plane switching type liquid crystal panel.
US09201267B2

An optical film includes a first optical layer and a second optical layer. The first optical layer is disposed above the second optical layer. The second optical layer is a composite material layer, which includes a base material and a doping layer disposed in the base material. The optical film recycles an exterior light source and improves the utilization rate of the light source.
US09201265B2

An exemplary embodiment provides a liquid crystal display including: a substrate; a first wire grid polarizer; a thin film transistor; a pixel electrode; a roof layer; and a plurality of microcavities. The substrate has a bottom surface and a top surface. The first wire grid polarizer is disposed on the bottom surface of the substrate. The thin film transistor is disposed on the top surface of the substrate. The pixel electrode is connected to the thin film transistor. The roof layer is disposed to face the pixel electrode. The plurality of microcavities having injection holes are formed between the pixel electrode and the roof layer, the microcavities forming a liquid crystal layer containing liquid crystal molecules.
US09201260B2

A method of producing a display device includes: applying a UV curing resin, in a rectangular pattern with openings at four corners thereof, to a part outside of an effective display region of an adherend surface of either one of a front panel and a display panel; irradiating the UV curing resin with UV rays to effect tentative curing thereof, thereby forming a dam pattern; applying a UV curing resin to an adherend surface of the other of the front panel or the display panel; adhering the one panel and the other panel to each other; irradiating, with respect to the one panel and the other panel adhered to each other, four corner areas where the dam pattern has not been formed; and irradiating the one panel and the other panel adhered to each other with UV rays to effect full curing of the UV curing resins.
US09201258B2

A display device includes a substrate and pixels arranged on the substrate in a matrix form. The substrate includes a display area in which the pixels are arranged and a non-display area disposed adjacent to a side of the display area. Each pixel includes a cover layer that extends in a row direction that includes a sidewall portion connected to the substrate and a cover portion spaced apart from the substrate and connected to the sidewall portion to define a tunnel-shaped cavity on the substrate. A width of the sidewall portion between adjacent pixels is less than a width of the sidewall portion disposed at an outermost position, and the cover layer seals one side of the tunnel-shaped cavity in the pixels arranged in a first row and a last row.
US09201246B2

A controller for controlling an eyeglass device which performs an assistance operation for assisting in stereoscopically viewing a video includes: a first acquisition portion for acquiring first frequency information relating to a display frequency of frame images of the video; a second acquisition portion for acquiring second frequency information relating to an environmental factor which periodically varies in an environment where the video is viewed; and a generator for generating a reference signal to adapt the assistance operation of the eyeglass device to display of the frame image and periodic variation of the environmental factor on the basis of the first frequency information and the second frequency information.
US09201245B2

An optical system includes an enlarging optical system that enlarges a section of an incident light, a mask that passes some of a light passing through the enlarging optical system, and a reduction optical system that reduces a section of a light passing through the mask.
US09201244B2

To provide a goggle type display device system that can prevent harm to user's health. If anomaly is recognized in mind and body of a user, first video signals provided from an external device stop being displayed on LCD panels and, instead, outside scenery taken by CCD image capture elements is displayed. The user may be alarmed by this about anomaly of his or her body and, further, relaxed by looking at the outside scenery presented.
US09201239B1

A two-dimensional electrostatic scanner with distributed springs is disclosed. The two-dimensional electrostatic scanner comprises a frame, a mirror, one or more first-directional comb drives, two or more second-directional comb drives, four or more first-directional springs, and two or more second-directional springs. The four or more first-directional springs may connect to different electrical voltage source or electrical ground.
US09201237B2

Scanning apparatus includes a transmitter, which is configured to emit a beam comprising pulses of light, and a scanning mirror, which is configured to scan the beam over a scene. A receiver is configured to receive the light reflected from the scene and to generate an output indicative of the pulses returned from the scene. A grating is formed on an optical surface in the apparatus and is configured to diffract a portion of the beam at a predetermined angle, so as to cause the diffracted portion to be returned from the scanning mirror to the receiver. A controller is coupled to process the output of the receiver so as to detect the diffracted portion and to monitor a scan of the mirror responsively thereto.
US09201234B2

An automated slide scanning system is described. The system comprises an automated focusing unit that is simple and that provides a fine adjustment of a focusing tube without any backlash. The focusing unit comprises a block that is cut or fabricated in a pattern forming a head to support a focusing tube and at least one elongated and rigid arm projecting perpendicularly from the head. One end of the at least one arm is integrally joined to the head. The focusing unit further comprises an elongated, rigid, lever which is substantially parallel and spaced apart from the at least one arm. The lever is pivotally mounted to a hinge and has a first end that is linked to the head of the focusing unit and a second free end. The focusing unit further includes a drive mechanism with a roller coupled to a motor. The roller is eccentric roller and is in constant contact to the lever's second end. When the roller rotates it engages the lever which subsequently engages the at least one arm and thus produces a substantially vertical movement in both direction to the head of the focusing unit. The scanning system further comprises a scanning stage that supports the focusing unit and which provides a continuous movement in Y-direction (back and forward) of the scanning stage, and a scanning track that moves the slide holder continuously in one direction along the x-axis until the last slide in the slide holder is scanned. The scanning system of the present invention is suitable for automated screening or prescreening of samples.
US09201233B2

A microscope includes a microscope main body and a darkfield objective. The microscope main body includes a light source unit and a main body side fitting unit for fitting an objective, and the darkfield objective includes an optical system for capturing light from a sample surface and a fitting unit that fits in the main body side fitting unit. A darkfield illumination optical path through which light from the light source unit passes is formed in the darkfield objective. When the darkfield objective is attached to the microscope main body, the darkfield objective has incident end of the darkfield illumination optical path outside the fitting unit, where an optical axis of the optical system is central.
US09201228B1

A system is provided for photo-processing of a material using incident light with an optical element that includes a plurality of concentric bands of optical prisms concentric around a focal axis. The system includes a target receiver positioned on the focal axis and holds the material to be photo-processed. The optical prisms concentrate incident light on the target receiver. The optical element may be formed substantially of acrylic formulated to pass UV radiation. The optical element may include anti-reflective additives in the acrylic. The optical prisms may be fresnel zones.
US09201224B2

A projector zoom lens includes a first lens group having a negative refractive power and a second lens group having a positive refractive power. The first lens group includes a first front group having a negative refractive power and a first rear group having a positive refractive power, including a positive meniscus lens with a convex surface on an enlargement side. The second lens group includes a second front group having a positive refractive power, including two continuously arranged positive lenses made from a same glass material and having a same surface profile and a second rear group having a negative refractive power, including a biconcave lens and a biconvex lens, the lenses of the first and second lens groups being arranged in order from an enlargement side to a reduction side.
US09201217B2

An imaging optical lens assembly includes an aperture stop and an optical assembly, the optical assembly includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a first lens element with a positive refractive power; a second lens element with a refractive power; a third lens element with a refractive power; a fourth lens element with a refractive power; a fifth lens element with a negative refractive power having an image-side surface being convex near an optical axis; wherein the image-side surface of the fifth lens element is formed with at least two inflection points, including a first inflection point and a second inflection point further away from the optical axis, a vertical distance from the first inflection point to the optical axis is Y_inf1, a vertical distance from the second inflection point to the optical axis is Y_inf2, satisfying: 1.7
US09201209B2

An imaging device includes: a movable lens unit including at least one lens for converging light from a subject and a lens holder supporting the at least one lens; a body base supporting the movable lens unit so as to be capable of moving along a first direction and a second direction which are orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the at least one lens and along a third direction which is parallel to the optical axis of the at least one lens; an imager being supported by the body base for converting light transmitted through the movable lens unit to an electrical signal; a driving mechanism being provided on the movable unit and/or body base for driving the movable lens unit along the first, second, and third directions; and a plurality of strain detectors provided between the movable unit and the body base.
US09201196B2

A high-order mode filter includes a slab region, a band-shaped projection elongated in an optical waveguide direction, a first optical waveguide including a disturbance element and a second optical waveguide. The disturbance element is formed by doping impurities into the slab region, thus indicating a lower refractive index than the slab region. Both the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide are alternately arranged. The first optical waveguide may include a disturbance element positioned close to the projection, while the second optical waveguide may include a disturbance element distanced from the projection in the slab region. The high-order mode filter causes a large high-order mode loss due to interference between a removable high-order mode and an intentional high-order mode at the connecting face between the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, thus reducing reflected light and stray light.
US09201193B1

A fiber optic bundle couples light from an image intensifier (I2) to an image sensor. The fiber optic bundle includes multiple cores for directing the light from the I2 to the image sensor, and each core has an output surface shaped into a recessed concave surface for focusing the light toward the image sensor. A bond layer is interposed between the output surface of the core and the image sensor. The bond layer is shaped into multiple micro-lenses, each micro-lens configured to conform to the recessed concave surface of each respective core.
US09201186B2

The invention relates to light guide plates, which are suitable for backlighting LCD monitors as well as information and advertising signs and which are illuminated at the edges and re-emit the light fed at the edges via at least one of the two surfaces located perpendicular to the edges. For the light of a light source that is fed at the edges to be able to leave the light guide plate again via one of the surfaces by overcoming total reflection, the light rays in the light guide plate have to be deliberately deflected. At one of the two surfaces of the light guide plate, the light guide plates are provided with optical impurities (2), which are protected against damage by a film (5). Furthermore, a method for the simplified application of said impurities is provided.
US09201173B2

A polarizer protective film having a cellulose acylate film containing a cellulose acylate and a hindered amine compound in an amount of at least 0.01% by mass relative to the cellulose acylate, and, as laminated on the cellulose acylate film, an active energy ray-curable layer, wherein the hindered amine compound has a piperidine skeleton represented by the following formula (1): wherein X represents an alkyl or aryl group; Y represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; R1 to R4 represent an alkyl group.
US09201172B2

A anti-reflection coating comprising first to ninth layers laminated in this order on a substrate for having reflectance of 0.2% or less to light in a visible wavelength range of 390-720 nm, the second, fourth, sixth and eighth layers being high-refractive-index layers formed by high-refractive-index materials having refractive indices of 2.21-2.70 to a helium d-line having a wavelength of 587.56 nm; the first, third, fifth and seventh layers being intermediate-refractive-index layers formed by an intermediate-refractive-index material having a refractive index of 1.40 or more and less than 1.55 to the d-line; and the ninth layer being a low-refractive-index layer formed by a low-refractive-index material having a refractive index of 1.35 or more and less than 1.40 to the d-line.
US09201167B2

A Bi-substituted rare earth iron garnet single crystal has a composition of R3-xBixFe5-wAwO12 (wherein R denotes one or more rare earth elements among Tb, Y, Eu, Gd, Ho, Yb, Lu, Nd, Tm, La, Sm, Dy, Er, Ce, and Pr and inevitably include Tb; A denotes one or more elements among Ga, Al, In, Sc, Co, Ni, Cr, V, Ti, Si, Ge, Mg, Zn, Nb, Ta, Sn, Zr, Hf, Pt, Rh, Te, Os, Ce, and Lu, 0.7
US09201164B2

A system and a method, implemented on a computer, for calculating property distribution uncertainty of spatially correlated petrophysical data. The method includes inputting, into the computer, a sample petrophysical data comprising correlated data; applying, using the computer, a variogram to the sample petrophysical data to select a plurality of subsets of data, the subsets of data being substantially less correlated than the sample petrophysical data; and applying, using the computer, a bootstrap process on each of the plurality of subsets of data to obtain a plurality of bootstrap data sets from each of the plurality of subsets of data. The method further includes calculating data distributions for each of the obtained plurality of bootstrap data sets; ranking the data distributions by using a selected statistical parameter to obtain ranked data distributions; and characterizing the uncertainty based on the ranked data distributions.
US09201153B2

Computing systems and methods for improving imaging of collected data are disclosed. In one embodiment, a first wavefield is propagated to obtain a first wavefield history; the first wavefield is again propagated to obtain a second wavefield history, wherein the propagation includes integration of one or more Q-effects; a first attenuated traveltime history is estimated based at least in part on the first and second wavefield histories; a first Q-model filter is calculated based at least in part on the first estimated attenuated traveltime; and a first adjusted wavefield is generated based at least in part on application of the first Q-model filter to the first wavefield. In some embodiments, an image is generated based at least on a first adjusted wavefield and a second wavefield.
US09201150B2

According to an embodiment of the invention, signals coming from a number of pixels or sub-pixels are compared and those signals from pixels or sub-pixels, which are substantially brighter than the other pixels in the comparison, are excluded from contributing to the output signal, to suppress direct detection events in X-ray detectors. For this an X-ray detector apparatus (101) can comprise: —an array (102) of pixel arrangements (303), —each pixel arrangement (303) comprising at least one radiation collection device (311) for converting incident radiation into a collection device signal, —switching arrangements (313, 324, 314, 142; 313, 315, 314, 352, 142; 313, 315, 314; 361) for providing to respectively one output element (141) a signal derived from the collection device signals of a plurality of radiation collection devices (311) of at least one pixel arrangement (303).
US09201149B2

An apparatus and method for radiation detection is herein described. The apparatus consists of two radiation-detection arrays: A primary radiation-detection array, based on scintillator-CMOS design, and a secondary radiation-detection array, mounted on the back of said primary array. A method of controlling the detection operation is described, where output of the secondary array is exploited for controlling the acquisition-start and acquisition-stop of the primary array. Further, the apparatus is equipped with fast memory for storage of correction tables, and with a processor for fast computation of the correction. A method of calibration is also describes with tables for: offset correction, gain correction, and for defect-pixel correction. These tables are evaluated by the fast processor and stored on the fast memory. A method of real-time evaluation of the signal corrections is described, which depends on the acquisition-start and acquisition-stop timings and which results a clean, artifact-free image.
US09201144B2

Transmitter elements to transmit a detection ray for object detection, to a transmission area, receiver elements to receive, from a reception area, the detection ray reflected by an object, and a transmission-side optical divider and a reception-side optical divider, disposed in front of the transmitter elements and the receiver elements, respectively, which includes optical dividing pieces having optical deflection surfaces on which a traveling direction angle of the detection ray is varied to angles so as to correspond to division areas, are provided. In the optical dividers, a ratio of an area of a second optical deflection surface that forms a division area that is closer to the sensor, relative to an area of a first optical deflection surface that forms a division area that is farther from the sensor, is set so as to be different between a transmission side and a reception side.
US09201137B2

A target object detection device is provided. The device includes an antenna unit for transmitting a detection signal in an observing direction at a predetermined detection cycle and receiving a reflection signal of the detection signal, a receiver for outputting reception data obtained by sampling the reception signal that is received by the antenna unit, a detection data generator for outputting detection data obtained by correlating current reception data with previous detection data, and a detection cycle adjuster for adjusting the detection cycle based on the detection data.
US09201135B1

A technique for determining the position of a mobile device includes receiving at the mobile device a set of time-slotted messages from a respective set of reference devices. Each of the time-slotted messages contains a slot ID indicating the assigned time slot in which it was broadcast. The slot ID is used to determine the time of transmission of each of the time-slotted messages received at the mobile device, and the position of the mobile device is determined via multi-lateration based on the time of flight of the time-slotted messages and known positions of the reference devices. According to another approach, the mobile device receives a set of ADS-B messages from a respective set of SBS ground stations. The time of transmission of each of the ADS-B messages is supplied in the ADS-B message itself or in a subsequent message and used to determined the position of the mobile device.
US09201133B2

In an embodiment of the present invention, a GraphSLAM-like algorithm for signal strength SLAM is presented. This algorithm as an embodiment of the present invention shares many of the benefits of Gaussian processes yet is viable for a broader range of environments since it makes no signature uniqueness assumptions. It is also more tractable to larger map sizes, requiring O(N2) operations per iteration. In the present disclosure, an algorithm according to an embodiment of the present invention is compared to a laser-SLAM ground truth, showing that it produces excellent results in practice.
US09201128B2

A system for producing precision magnetic coil windings is provided. The system includes a wire disposing assembly having a support, an axial traverser sub-assembly, and a support arm. The support is configured to receive a plurality of turns of a wire. The axial traverser sub-assembly is operatively coupled to the support. The support arm includes a wire disposing device. The system further includes a linear stage, a monitoring unit, a feedback unit, and a controller unit. The linear stage is operatively coupled to the support arm. Moreover, the controller unit is configured to axially position an incoming portion of the wire and provide reference trajectories for tracking.
US09201124B2

The cost and size of an atomic magnetometer are reduced by attaching together a first die which integrates together a vapor cell, top and side photo detectors, and processing electronics, a second die which integrates together an optics package and a heater for the vapor cell, and a third die which integrates together a VCSEL, a heater for the VCSEL, and control electronics.
US09201123B2

A magnetic sensor device includes a plurality of electrical wires, a magnetic sensor chip, and a magnet. The magnet is formed from a material composition of a polymer and magnetic particles and attached to at least one of the electrical wires.
US09201118B2

A control system for a battery assembly that consists of a plurality of batteries determines whether the battery assembly can be reused, by using detected values of the open voltage, internal resistance and full charge capacity of each of the batteries, as evaluation parameters.
US09201109B2

The invention relates to a device (10) for determining at least one characteristic of the electromagnetic radiation of an object being tested, and to a probe network (100), characterized in that it comprises a means (200) for sliding said probe network (100) on itself with a relative offset between the probe network (100) and the object being tested, that is higher than the pitch of the probe network (100) in order to carry out measurements along a plurality of relative positions of the probe network (100) and the object being tested, and to access specific regions of the object being tested; means are provided for positioning, adjusting and aligning the probe network (100) relative to the object being tested in order to move towards/come to/fit onto the object being tested, and means are provided for the mechanical scanning of the probe network around or in front of the object being tested in order to carry out measurements along spherical, cylindrical or planar shapes.
US09201108B2

Second signal lines are selected among neighboring signal lines near a first signal line, such that the second signal lines have valid coupling capacitances with respect to the first signal line. Test signal patterns of the first signal line and the second signal lines are selected among real signal patterns according to a function of the integrated circuit. At least one of a coupling noise and a coupling transition delay of the first signal line is calculated based on the test signal patterns.
US09201104B2

The power sensing device includes a power input interface in electrical communication with a current sensing circuit and a voltage sensing circuit. The current sensing circuit is connected to a load. The voltage sensing circuit is connected in parallel with the load. A metering integrated circuit and a micro-controller unit (MCU) are included. The metering integrated circuit receives a first analog signal indicating a load current value from the current sensing circuit, and a second analog signal indicating a load voltage value from the voltage sensing circuit. The metering integrated circuit converts first and second analog input signals to first and second digital signals, respectively, and generates the first and second digital signals as digital communication pulses to the MCU. A decoder circuit includes a communications port to send and receive data associated with a sensed current parameter and a sensed voltage parameter.
US09201103B2

Methods, circuits, architectures, apparatuses, and algorithms for determining a DC level in an AC or AC-coupled signal. The method generally includes disabling the AC or AC-coupled signal; sampling the disabled AC or AC-coupled signal to obtain sampled DC values of the AC or AC-coupled signal; and calculating the DC level using the sampled DC values of the AC or AC-coupled signal. The present transmitter generally includes an electro-absorption modulated laser (EML); a photodetector; a signal source configured to provide an AC or AC-coupled signal to the EML; and a microcontroller or microprocessor configured to (i) control the signal source, (ii) receive information from the photodetector, and (iii) deactivate the signal source for a predetermined length of time. The circuits, architectures, and apparatuses generally include those that embody one or more of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
US09201096B2

A pulsed-laser LADA system is provided, which utilizes temporal resolution to enhance spatial resolution. The system is capable of resolving CMOS pairs within the illumination spot using synchronization of laser pulses with the DUT clock. The system can be implemented using laser wavelength having photon energy above the silicon bandgap so as to perform single-photon LADA or wavelength having photon energy below the silicon bandgap so as to generate two-photon LADA. The timing of the laser pulses can be adjusted using two feedback loops tied to the clock signal of an ATE, or by adjusting the ATE's clock signal with reference to a fixed-pulse laser source.
US09201083B2

A sample analyzer for performing analysis regarding a predetermined measurement item by using a combination of at least a first reagent and a second reagent, the sample analyzer comprising: a reagent container holder configured to hold a first reagent container which contains the first reagent and which includes a first storage medium, and a second reagent container which contains the second reagent and which includes a second storage medium; a writer configured to write information into the first storage medium and the second storage medium; and a controller configured to control the writer to write, into the first storage medium of the first reagent container, identification information for identifying the second reagent container which is paired with the first reagent container is disclosed. A reagent management method is also disclosed.
US09201082B2

Hand-held analytical devices are provided for blood sugar tests. The devices can incorporate a replaceable test tape cassette having a test tape with a plurality of analytical aids and have a tape drive having a DC motor and gearing that can be coupled to the test tape cassette for successive provision of the analytical aids. The devices also include a control device for rotational speed control of the DC motor. Methods also are provided for operating such hand-held analytical devices.
US09201075B2

Colorimetric and fluorometric methods are disclosed for the rapid, accurate, selective, and inexpensive detection of homocysteine, or of homocysteine and cysteine, or of cysteine. The methods may be employed with materials that are readily available commercially. The novel methods are selective for homocysteine, for cysteine, or for total homocysteine and cysteine, and do not cross-react substantially with chemically-related species such as glutathione. The homocysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species cysteine. The cysteine-selective method does not have substantial cross-reactivity to the very closely related species homocysteine. The methods may be used, for example, in a direct assay of human blood plasma for homocysteine levels.
US09201068B2

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus that satisfies the need for a bioelectronic tongue for food allergy detection. The method of detecting concentration of food allergen incorporates antibodies into an electronic tongue to create a bioelectronic tongue. Additionally the method uses impedance, capacitance, and/or other related electrochemical methods for detecting analyte in complex media. Furthermore the method additionally includes methods to subtract out non-specific interactions. The method also subtracts non-specific interactions. The device/apparatus is a Bioelectronic Tongue for detecting allergen in diluted food samples. The device includes: a sensor array; an impedance or capacitance analyzer; a preprocessor; a feature extractor; a pattern recognizer; and an output device indicating an allergen concentration. In order to implement the method of detecting food allergens on a bioelectronic tongue a computer readable medium containing an executable program is used for performing the analysis of a food sample. The executable program performs the acts of: preprocessing data from an impedance analyzer; extracting a feature pattern; recognizing a pattern of features of data representing a concentration of food allergen contained is the food sample; and outputs allergen concentration data.
US09201063B2

Methods for detecting a plurality of targets in a biological sample are provided. The method comprises contacting the biological sample with a plurality of target-binding probes simultaneously to form a plurality of target-bound probes and observing the signals from the target-bound probes sequentially. An associated kit and device for detection of the plurality of targets are also provided.
US09201049B2

A connector with a biocompatible fluid passageway and method for manufacturing thereof is described. The biocompatible connector may be used in an analytical instrument (AI) system as a union, an adapter, a tee, a cross, a manifold, a valve, or for other fittings or components. The connector has a reinforcement insert and a biocompatible molding covering portions of the reinforcement insert. The reinforcement insert has a first portion, a second portion, and a middle portion between the first portion and the second portion. The first and second portions have threaded sections and each have a plurality of non-threaded sections. For a given portion, the junction of the non-threaded sections forms a lip by which to prevent the molded material from flowing into the threaded sections. In certain embodiments, an interior web is used in the reinforcement insert to provide additional structural support.
US09201045B2

Systems, devices, and methods of inspecting a body of a tubular, are provided. An exemplary electro-magnetic acoustic transducers (EMAT) tubular inspection system for inspecting a body of a tubular includes an EMAT in-line tubular inspection device. The device can include a spine having a longitudinal support body and radially projecting rails, and multiple telescoping sections each connected to the radially projecting rails. The telescoping sections can include a magnetic back panel, one or more wheels positioned to engage an inner surface of a body of a tubular during inspection, and signal propagating and receiving modules carried by the magnetic back panel. Each module can include a magnet and different types of EMAT inspection transducer coil arrangements connected to the magnet. The different types of EMAT inspection transducer coil arrangements provide for the generation of NBSH, SW, and SV waves.
US09201044B2

Methods are provided for identifying biomarker proteins that exhibit differential expression in subjects with a first lung condition versus healthy subjects or subjects with a second lung condition. Also provided are compositions comprising these biomarker proteins and methods of using these biomarker proteins or panels thereof to diagnose, classify, and monitor various lung conditions. The methods and compositions provided herein may be used to diagnose or classify a subject as having lung cancer or a non-cancerous condition, and to distinguish between different types of cancer (e.g., malignant versus benign, SCLC versus NSCLC).
US09201043B2

Devices for detecting a particle in a fluid sample are provided. The device includes a segmented microfluidic conduit configured to carry a flow of a fluid sample, where the conduit includes one or more nodes and two or more sections, and a node is positioned between adjacent sections of the conduit. The device also includes a detector configured to detect a change in current through the conduit. Also provided are methods of using the devices as well as systems and kits that include the devices. The devices, systems and methods find use in a variety of different applications, including diagnostic assays.
US09201040B2

A gas sensor including coating layers (64) and (69) of fluorine or a fluorine compound formed on the surface of a separator (60), including a front separator (61) and a rear separator (66), disposed inside a sheath (30). The coating layers (64) and (69) have water impermeability and water repellency. Even in the case where moisture contained in the atmosphere within a sheath (30) forms dew on the surface of the separator (60), the coating layers (64) and (69) prevent soaking of moisture into the separator (60), to thereby secure the insulation property of the separator (60). Also, the coating layers (64) and (69) having water repellency prevent a water droplet from spreading on the surface of the separator (60) with resultant formation of a film of water, to thereby prevent flow of leakage current via a film of water.
US09201035B2

A gas detecting system, device and method use a variable pulse voltage waveform to increase the temperature of a detecting unit of the gas detecting system so it reacts with gas molecules from a particular space, and outputs a sensing signal. A processing unit of the gas detecting system then performs calculations on the sensing signal, such that an analysis unit may determine the presence of a target gas in the particular space, and further the composition and concentration of the target gas within the particular space, thus providing a detection that is accurate, rapid and convenient.
US09201026B2

A method for estimating properties of porous media, such as fine pore or tight rocks, is provided. The method comprises digital image scanning of sequential sub-samples of porous media at progressively higher resolution to systematically identify sub-sections of interest within the original sample and then estimate properties of the porous media. The resulting properties of the porous media then can be optionally upscaled to further estimate the properties of larger volumes of the porous media such as rock facies or subterranean reservoirs. A system operable for conducting the method also is provided.
US09201009B2

A testing method for an escape path marking which has an installation position and is illuminated by a light source located in a defined position relative to the installation position, in order to charge the escape path marking for achieving afterglow,the following steps: An excitation curve A (λ) for the escape path marking is provided; the irradiance E (λ) of the light source is recorded for the installation position of the escape path marking; a weighted irradiance B (λ) is determined as a product of the irradiance and the excitation curve; a charging irradiance (BiL) is determined as an integral over the weighted irradiance across the wavelength; and a characteristic curve Kt1 (BiL) depending upon the charging time t1 specifies what afterglow time emerges for the escape path marking with the charging time t1 for the charging irradiance (BiL).
US09201008B2

A laser scanning imaging system and method for obtaining an extended-depth-of-field image of a volume of a sample are provided. The system includes a laser module generating an input laser beam, a beam shaping module including an axicon and a Fourier-transform lens, and an imaging module including an objective lens and a detecting assembly. The axicon, Fourier-transform lens and objective lens are formed and disposed to successively convert the input laser beam into an intermediate non-diffracting beam, an intermediate annular beam, and an excitation non-diffracting beam. The excitation beam is projected onto the sample and has a depth of field and transverse resolution together defining a three-dimensional excitation region. The detecting assembly collects electromagnetic radiation from the excitation region to obtain one pixel of the extended-depth-of-field image. The system further includes a two-dimensional scanning module for scanning the excitation beam over the sample and build, pixel-by-pixel, the extended-depth-of-field image.
US09201007B2

A device can be used for establishing gas concentrations in an examination volume. A radiation source is configured to generate an electromagnetic beam. A beam guiding apparatus is arranged downstream of the radiation source. The beam guiding apparatus is configured to set a plurality of variations of beam guidance of the beam entering the beam guiding apparatus in an observation plane in the examination volume. A spectrometer is arranged downstream of the beam guiding apparatus. The spectrometer is configured to carry out a spectral analysis of the beam leaving the beam guiding apparatus. An evaluation unit is configured to establish in the observation plane a 2D concentration distribution for one or more gases in the examination volume on the basis of the spectral analysis for different variations of beam guidance.
US09201000B2

Sensor material is arranged to interact with input light and to asymmetrically alter a spectral distribution of the input light in response to presence of an external stimulus. A detector is configured to sense the altered input light and to generate at least one electrical signal comprising information about a shift in the centroid of a spectral distribution of the altered input light relative to a centroid of the spectral distribution of the input light.
US09200992B2

A sampling swab useful in trace analyte detection is provided. The sampling swab possesses absorption/adsorption and desorption properties suitable for use trace analyte sample collection. The sampling swab is also capable of withstanding repeated high heat treatment and mechanical stress. A method for producing a sampling swab that is substantially free of impurities and detection interferants is also provided.
US09200982B2

Various embodiments of the invention include a system having: at least one computing device connected with an array of ultrasonic probes on a gas turbomachine component, the at least one computing device configured to: instruct a first probe in the array of ultrasonic probes to transmit an ultrasonic beam to at least one additional probe in the array of ultrasonic probes; and determine a property of a medium between the first probe and the at least one additional probe based upon a time between transmission of the ultrasonic beam from the first probe and reception of the ultrasonic beam at the at least one additional probe.
US09200981B2

A method of analyzing an engine for misfire activity includes receiving an electrical signal associated with a plurality of cycles of the engine, identifying energy spikes in the electrical signal associated with cylinder firings in the engine, generating engine speed estimates based on spacing between the energy spikes, and analyzing anomalies in the engine speed estimates to identify misfire activity in the engine. Also described is a method of analyzing an engine for misfire activity including receiving an electrical signal associated with the engine, detecting AC ripple in the electrical signal, generating engine speed estimates in response to the detected AC ripple, and analyzing anomalies in the engine speed estimates to identify misfire activity in the engine.
US09200975B2

A pressure diagnostic system includes a pressure error calculating module that generates a pressure error based on a first pressure signal and a second pressure signal. A difference calculating module generates a desired pressure difference based on a current desired pressure and a prior desired pressure. A lag filter module applies lag filter to the pressure error to generate a lag filtered pressure error. A fault module selectively generates a fault based on the lag filtered pressure error.
US09200967B2

The thermoelectric device includes a first leg made from a first material, anchored at the level of its first end to a support, and a second leg made from a second material, anchored at the level of its first end to said support. In addition, an electric connecting element provided with first and second contact areas is respectively in electric contact with the first leg and second leg so as to form a thermocouple. The device includes means for varying the position of the first and contact areas at the level of the first and second legs.
US09200964B2

An optical module of an atomic oscillator includes: a surface emitting laser adapted to emit light; a depolarization element irradiated with the light emitted from the surface emitting laser, and adapted to dissolve a polarization state of the light irradiated; a polarization element irradiated with light having been transmitted through the depolarization element; a λ/4 plate irradiated with light having been transmitted through the polarization element, and having a fast axis disposed so as to rotate by 45 degrees with respect to a polarization transmission axis of the polarization element; a gas cell encapsulating an alkali metal gas, and irradiated with light having been transmitted through the λ/4 plate; and a light detection section adapted to detect intensity of light having been transmitted through the gas cell.
US09200957B2

A sensor for measuring ultraviolet radiation and mount for retaining the sensor includes a converter plate having a perimeter and an edge about the perimeter, a retainer comprising a conical mirror and a frame having a UV blocker, and a fluorescent radiation detector coupled to the frame. The converter plate fluoresces in response to UV radiation incident on the converter plate. The conical mirror couples with the converter plate and directs a portion of the fluorescent radiation emitted from the edge of the plate to the detector coupled to the frame. The detector detects the fluorescent radiation from the converter plate and produces an electrical signal proportional to the magnitude of fluorescent radiation.
US09200956B2

A readout transistor circuit for a pixel is disclosed. The readout transistor circuit includes a sense node. A reset transistor is in signal communication with the sense node. A source follower transistor is in signal communication with the sense node. A row select transistor is in signal communication with the source follower transistor. A switching transistor is in signal communication with the sense node. A capacitor is in signal communication with the switching transistor. The switching transistor is configured to place the capacitor in signal communication with the sense node to switch between a low voltage-per-charge (V/e−) ratio and a high voltage-per-charge (V/e−) to enable low noise performance of the sense node. The capacitor may be a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. At least one of the reset transistor, the source follower transistor, the row select transistor, and the switching transistor may be a MOSFET. One or more of the MOSFETs may be a buried channel MOSFET.
US09200949B2

A stand-alone photosensor assembly has a housing with an axis, a first axial end and a second axial end opposite the first axial end. An adapter may be threadingly coupled to the first axial end of the housing. The adapter may be adapted to mount the housing to a scintillator. A photosensor element may be located inside the housing and adapted to be optically coupled to the scintillator. A sub-housing may be located inside the housing, at least a portion of which is located radially between the housing and the photosensor element. A scintillator assembly may include a scintillator and the photosensor assembly. A machine, such as a radiation detector, may include the scintillator and the photosensor assembly coupled to the scintillator. The machine also may include an output device to generate output in response to the photosensor assembly, and a user interface coupled to the output device.
US09200946B2

An ultrasonic transducer for an ultrasonic flow measuring device, comprising an electromechanical transducer element, which is prestressed against an ultrasonic window of the ultrasonic transducer by a suitable structure, wherein a first surface of the electromechanical transducer element faces the ultrasonic window, and wherein a second surface of the electromechanical transducer element lying opposite the first surface is divided into a plurality of segments, which are galvanically connected with the suitable structure for prestressing.
US09200945B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for non-contact detection techniques of mechanical vibrations utilizing a radio frequency system incorporating multiple carrier wavelengths. The new detection method measures multiple harmonic pairs at a carrier frequency and improves the detection accuracy and reliability by first inspecting the Bessel function coefficient of each harmonic and then determining the harmonic amplitude. The original mechanical vibration can then be reconstructed. Embodiments can be used to realize sensing of complex non-sinusoidal vibrations using a wavelength division sensing technique and allow non-contact detection through walls, smoke, fog or other low visibility environments with the advantage of longer range detection and easy integration at a low cost.
US09200931B2

The present invention relates to a measuring transducer of the vibration-type for a fluid flowing in a flexible hose. The measuring transducer includes, a hose carrier unit, which has at least sectionally a loop-shaped outer contour, around which a flexible hose can be led. Furthermore, the measuring transducer includes a clamping unit, by which a flexible hose led in use around the loop-shaped outer contour is tightenable against the loop-shaped outer contour, at least one exciter coupled to the hose carrier unit, by which the hose carrier unit is excitable to execute mechanical oscillations, which are accompanied by alternating elastic deformation of the hose carrier unit, and at least one oscillation sensor, by which mechanical oscillations of the hose carrier unit and/or a flexible hose installed in use in the measuring transducer are registerable.
US09200925B2

An absolute high resolution linear segment or revolution counter as a one-chip-solution with self sustained, economical intermediate solutions, preferably as absolute magnetic multi turn, having a Wiegand element for counting the revolutions or segments, respectively and for the energy supply of the counter and memory as well as processing electronics, whereby the additional sensor for the fine resolution and a μ-controller are part of the overall IC is disclosed.
US09200923B2

A pedometer for determining the length of a route traveled on foot includes an acceleration sensor for ascertaining a number of steps as well as a pressure sensor for ascertaining a change in geographic elevation, and an evaluation unit being configured to adapt the step length to the measured average elevation change per step.
US09200920B2

A mobile terminal includes an output unit outputting information and a controller. The mobile terminal receives information about a current location of the mobile terminal; generates a keyword list including at least a first keyword item associated with at least a first place or a first time; determines whether a distance between the first place and the current location is within a threshold distance or whether a time gap between the first time and present time is within a threshold time gap; outputs alerting information when the distance is determined to be within the threshold distance or when the time gap is determined to be within the threshold time gap; and outputs route guidance from the current location to a first guide point in response to user input received after the alerting information is output, the user input confirming designation of the first place as the first guide point.
US09200912B2

Provided are an apparatus and method of controlling traveling of an automatic guided vehicle. The method includes: receiving information about a start point and a target point from and to which the automatic guided vehicle is to move; obtaining information about a shortest path between the start point and the target point; obtaining sensor information at one or more points on the shortest path; determining a travel direction of the automatic guided vehicle by using current sensor information about the automatic guided vehicle at a current point and the sensor information at the one or more points on the shortest path; controlling the automatic guided vehicle to travel in the determined travel direction; and ending the traveling if the current sensor information about the automatic guided vehicle that has traveled matches sensor information at the target point.
US09200911B2

Social routing can be provided by a social router system that coordinates a group of travelers from disparate locations to reach a destination at a specified time, by dynamically recommending a traveling route to each of the travelers that comports with that traveler's traveling criteria. To recommend the route, the social router generates an initial routes for each of the travelers and revises the initial routes to join two or more travelers into one route en route to the destination based on the traveling criteria of the two or more travelers. The recommended traveling route is dynamic since the social router system allows for continuous revision of the traveling route based on changes of a traveling criteria, travel progress, conditions along the route, and other factors.
US09200910B2

A route is selected based on the likelihood that an incident will occur while traveling on the route. An apparatus receives request for routing to a destination and identifies alternative routes to the destination. The apparatus selects a time interval based on a current time or another future time selected by a user. A comparison is performed for incident probabilities for the alternative routes and assigned to the time interval. The apparatus selects one of the alternative routes based on the incident probabilities.
US09200901B2

With the addition of directional information in the environment, a variety of service(s) can be provided on top of user identification or interaction with specific object(s) of interest by pointing at the objects. Sometimes either the device user and/or the publishers of content cannot complete a content exchange associated with a point of interest (POI) fast enough for the content to remain relevant. Thus, POIs and content for POIs can be predicted for users based on a variety of factors, such as an analysis of their present path and directional changes, rates of changes, or other factors, such that there is no noticeable, or minimal, latency between information being available with respect to such POIs and a request made via the user's device for such POI information.
US09200895B2

An image input device capable of obtaining a luminance signal and a chromaticity signal appropriately even when photographing at nighttime is provided. Further, an image processing device capable of forming an image in which an object can be confirmed visually even under a low luminance environment is provided. Since a color space converting unit assigns weights to the visible light component and the infrared light component based on positional information acquired by the positional information acquiring unit, and converts the original image data into color space including the luminance signal and the chromaticity signal, it is possible to obtain the color space appropriately according to a height of the object and a distance to the object.
US09200890B2

Systems and methods trigger an image acquisition of an object using motion data communicated from a motion controller on a network, the motion controller coupled to a motion drive. A camera, upon receiving motion data from the motion controller, uses a virtual axis application to plan the movement of a virtual axis for a motion cycle, the virtual axis allowing an acquisition trigger rate to be calculated by the camera that follows movement of the object caused by the motion drive. Based on the calculated acquisition trigger rate, the camera generates an acquisition trigger signal for triggering the image acquisition of the object.
US09200889B2

A strain gauge includes a substrate (2) for mounting an element (3) to be reversibly lengthened by a force applied while displaying a variation in the resistance thereof, the element (3) lengthening itself along an axis for measurement by the gauge. The gauge includes at least one contrast target (5, 6) capable of reflecting an incident light beam, the at least one contrast target (5, 6) being placed on the gauge in a predetermined position that makes it possible to predetermine the center of the axis (4), for measurement by the strain gauge (1), by detecting the position of the at least one contrast target (5, 6).
US09200888B2

An optical coherence tomography apparatus includes a multi-beam configuration unit comprising at least a first optical path having a first numerical aperture and a second optical path having a second numerical aperture. The multi-beam configuration unit orients the second optical path in a selected orientation in space relative to the first optical path. A scan system illuminates a sample with non-polarized light received from the multi-beam configuration unit and directs light returning from the sample to the first optical path and the second optical path. The multi-beam configuration unit directs light returning from the sample, along the first optical path and the second optical path, to an optical pathway leading to a processing system. The processing system performs optical coherence tomography motion analysis based on interference between light returning from the sample and a first reference signal.
US09200884B2

A magnetic sensor system includes a scale and a magnetic sensor arranged in a relative positional relationship variable in a first direction, and a computing unit. The magnetic sensor includes a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit and a third detection circuit that are disposed at a first position, a second position and a third position, respectively. Each of the first to third detection circuits includes a spin-valve MR element. A difference between two of the first to third positions that are the most distant from each other in a first direction falls within a one-pitch amount of change in the relative positional relationship between the scale and the magnetic sensor. The computing unit generates first and second post-computation signals having mutually different phases by computation using detection signals from the first to third detection circuits.
US09200881B1

Methods and apparatus of a firing assembly for activating a cartridge to launch a projection from a disrupter cannon to disable or destroy an explosive device.
US09200880B1

Two methods of making subsonic ammunition articles are provided that size the cavity to the propellant charge. The first method includes molding a core sleeve comprised of a unified neck, cavity sized to the propellant charge volume and a trailing end with an ejector ring, primer seat and flash hole; then, molding a polymer based casing over the core sleeve except the neck and a portion of the trailing end; then, inserting the primer, propellant charge and projectile; thereby, completing a subsonic ammunition article with a rigid core and a polymer casing. The second method includes injection molding a polymer sleeve within the casing of an ammunition article around a core pull positioned within the casing to form a thicker casing wall and a propellant cavity the volume of which corresponds to a desired propellant charge.
US09200878B2

Ammunition which includes a bullet having an effective caliber that is larger than its nominal caliber, comprised of a bullet body with a longitudinal cavity in the forward end, and one or more bores extending from the cavity to bore openings on the exterior of the bullet. In use, target media is gathered in the cavity and ejected under force through the bore openings, increasing the damage done by the bullet. Preferably, the bullet cavity and bores are filled with a polymeric or elastomeric material.
US09200877B1

A novel biological active bullet able to be discharged from a firearm, the ammunition essentially comprising a bullet in a cartridge, the bullet associated with/containing at least one biological active substance, along with a method of use of delivering with this bullet at least one biological active substance having at least one biological effect in the target upon impact and penetration, in addition to the bullet wound, and thus, having additional functions and applications than prior art bullets.
US09200870B1

One virtual environment hunting system includes a platform, a wall surrounding the platform, a projector system configured to apply images to the wall, and at least one processor. The wall is separated from the platform by a floor, defines an opening above the platform, and is configured such that all bullets fired to the wall from a shooter on the platform reflect into the floor. Programming causes the processor to: (a) actuate the projector system to apply images to the wall to represent an environment; (b) determine a trajectory of a fired bullet using data from at least one housing sensor and at least one shooter sensor; (c) determine how the trajectory of the fired bullets interacts with the represented environment; and (d) actuate the projector system to update the images applied to the wall to account for the trajectory of the fired bullets.
US09200866B1

A dual-barrel air gun and a bullet duct switching device thereof are provided. The bullet duct switching device comprises a valve core, a locating plate and a locating structure; the valve core is rotationally connected to a gun body and with air channels through the locating plate along the central axis of the valve core; the valve core is at least provided with a first through-hole corresponding to one air channel; and the locating structure is disposed at the gun body and limits the rotation direction of the valve core. Using the dual-barrel air gun and the bullet duct switching device, barrels of different calibers can be configured on demand so different bullets can be used and the air gun shoot through any single barrel or two barrels; moreover, the dual-barrel air gun has the advantage that:barrel switching is more convenient and accurate, and two barrels are difficult to bend.
US09200863B2

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a cable saver device that can be selectively engaged with one or more cables of a crossbow, which may mitigate premature cable wear, and/or provide smoother cable movement during bowstring draw and/or release. A device for mitigating premature cable wear can comprise a selectively removable crossbow cable saver, which can install on one or more cables of a crossbow. The crossbow cable saver can comprise a selectively closable top configured to enclose a top portion of one or more cable saver guides disposed in a bottom portion of said cable saver, when the top portion is closed over the bottom portion.
US09200860B1

A blast and projectile resistant gun port is provided with both a roller-slide mechanism and a lever-actuated, spring-loaded, cam mechanism which a shooter operates to open or close a gun-port door over a gun-port opening in a gun-port frame, as well as to translate the gun-port door out of the way of the gun-port opening. The shooter is able to effect these actions by nudging the lever on the cam mechanism with or without placing one or more hands on the lever and is thus able to keep both hands on weaponry. The gun-port door keys into its closed position, and an elastic weather seal is squeezed firmly between the gun-port door and the gun port frame when the gun-port door is closed. The squeezing of the weather seal is effected by springs in the cam mechanism. The gun-port door and the components and subassemblies are easily and rapidly replaceable.
US09200853B2

Disclosed is a heat transfer assembly for a rotary regenerative preheater. The heat transfer assembly, includes, a plurality of heat transfer elements stacked in spaced relationship to each other in a manner such that each notch from a plurality of notches of one of the heat transfer element rests on respective flat sections from a plurality of flat sections of the adjacent heat transfer elements to configure a plurality of closed channels, each isolated from the other, wherein each of the channels has a configuration in a manner such that each of corrugation sections from a plurality of corrugation sections of one of the heat transfer elements faces respective undulation sections from a plurality of undulation sections of the adjacent heat transfer elements.
US09200851B2

A pressure control unit and method are provided for facilitating single-phase heat transfer within a liquid-based cooling system. The pressure control unit includes a pressure vessel containing system coolant, and a pressurizing mechanism associated with the pressure vessel. A coolant line couples system coolant in the pressure vessel in fluid communication with the coolant loop of the cooling system, and a regulator mechanism couples to the pressurizing mechanism to maintain pressure within the pressure vessel at or above a defined pressure threshold, thus maintaining pressure within the coolant loop above the pressure threshold. The defined pressure threshold is set to facilitate system coolant within the coolant loop remaining single-phase throughout an operational temperature range of the system coolant within the coolant loop. More particularly, the pressure threshold is set to ensure pressure of system coolant within the coolant loop remains above the coolant's saturation pressure at maximum operational temperature.
US09200840B2

Disclosed herein are a clothes dryer and a control method thereof in which a drying time is adjusted according to wool content during a drying cycle of a wool course. Wool content of woolen textiles is judged by sensing a dryness of the woolen textiles during a drying cycle of a wool course, and a drying time is adjusted according to the wool content, thereby minimizing contraction or deformation of the woolen textiles while satisfying the range of a target dryness set by wool mark standards. Further, only a high-capacity heater is driven during the drying cycle of the wool course, thereby allowing an internal temperature of a rotary drum to keep the optimum temperature without contraction or deformation of the woolen textiles.
US09200835B2

An alignment film drying system and a method for drying alignment films are proposed. The alignment film drying system is used for drying an alignment film coated on a substrate. The alignment film drying system includes a plurality of magnetrons. The alignment liquid is coated on one side of the substrate facing the plurality of magnetrons and is heated through electromagnetic radiation produced by the plurality of magnetrons. The dried alignment liquid forms an alignment film having a uniform thickness, which ensures that the display effect of LCDs is better.
US09200833B2

A method for processing heavy hydrocarbons in an NGL recovery system is provided. In one embodiment, a feed stream is separated into a carbon dioxide recycle stream and a heavy hydrocarbon stream. The heavy hydrocarbon stream comprises carbon dioxide and natural gas liquids, and the heavy hydrocarbon stream comprises heavy hydrocarbons. The carbon dioxide recycle stream is separated into a purified carbon dioxide recycle stream and a natural gas liquids stream. The purified carbon dioxide recycle stream comprises the carbon dioxide, and the natural gas liquids stream comprises the natural gas liquids. In another embodiment, a set of process equipment comprises a first separator and a second separator. The first separator is configured to separate a feed stream into a recycle stream and a heavy hydrocarbons stream, and the second separator is configured to separate the recycle stream into a purified recycle stream and a natural gas liquids stream.
US09200827B2

An insulated icemaking compartment is provided in the fresh food compartment of a bottom mount refrigerator. The icemaking compartment may be integrally formed with the liner of the fresh food compartment, or alternatively, may be modular for installation anywhere in the fresh food compartment. A removable bin assembly with a front cover normally seals the icemaking compartment to maintain the temperature in the compartment. A cold air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator supplies cold air from the freezer compartment to the icemaking compartment. A return air duct directs a portion of the air from the icemaking compartment back to the freezer compartment. An air vent in the icemaking compartment directs another portion of air into the fresh food compartment. A control system provides for controlling refrigerator functions in a manner that promotes energy efficiency.
US09200823B2

An ice maker has a mold with a first piece and a second piece. A cavity within the mold includes a first reservoir in the first piece and a second reservoir in the second piece that align to substantially enclose the cavity. A fluid intake aperture in the first piece extends to the cavity for injecting water therein. A thermoelectric device has a cold side thermally coupled to the exterior surface of the second piece. The thermoelectric device transfers heat from the cold side to a hot side to provide a first temperature to the mold. A removable cooling source is thermally coupled to the hot side of the thermoelectric device. The cooling source is configured to reduce the temperature of the hot side to allow the cold side to provide a second temperature that is cooler than the first temperature to freeze the water in the cavity.
US09200816B2

A propulsion system for watercraft that uses steam generated from low energy reactor to enable long range high power propulsion. The system preferably uses steam generated from a low energy reactor to provide on-demand steam generated without external power.
US09200807B2

Regulation valve for a gas cooking appliance adapted for the supply of first and second different types of fuel gas, such as natural gas or liquefied gas. The regulation valve has a valve body with an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, and a rotatable regulating organ housed in the valve body. The regulating organ has a plurality of inlet holes connected to the inlet conduit which, by means of the rotation of said regulating organ allow a gas flow to be altered, the inlet holes of the regulating organ corresponding to the first type of fuel gas are in a first axial position and the inlet holes corresponding to the second type of fuel gas are in a second axial position.
US09200799B2

Systems and methods for selectively producing steam from solar collectors and heaters, for processes including enhanced oil recovery. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a water source, a solar collector that includes a collector inlet, a collector outlet, and a plurality of solar concentrators positioned to heat water passing from the collector inlet to the collector outlet, a fuel-fired heater, a steam outlet connected to an oil field injection well, and a water flow network coupled among the water source, the solar collector, the heater, and the steam outlet. The system can further include a controller operatively coupled to the water flow network and programmed with instructions that, when executed, direct at least one portion of the flow through the solar collector and the fuel-fired heater in a first sequence, and direct the at least one portion or a different portion of the flow through the solar collector and the fuel-fired heater in a second sequence different than the first sequence.
US09200791B2

A lighting apparatus includes a rail unit, and an electric unit that is installed on the rail unit so as to be adjustable in position. The electric unit makes contact with the rail unit and receives power from the rail unit. In the lighting apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of electric units can be installed on a rail unit so as to be adjustable in position, and even if the position of each electric unit is changed, power can be reliably supplied from the rail unit to the electric unit. Therefore, the present invention can be effectively used as lighting for several places, for instance, a place with a comparatively large area, or a place where intensely bright lighting is required.
US09200785B2

An LED light includes an LED chip having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a layer assembly having first and second metal conduction layers an insulation layer sandwiched between them. An edge of the layer assembly includes a first mounting surface formed on the first conduction layer, and a second mounting surface formed on the second conduction layer. The insulation layer is located between the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface, with the first and second terminals connected to the first and second mounting surfaces, respectively.
US09200782B1

The present disclosure provides a multi-directional light fixture having a single orientation light source. The multi-directional light fixture includes a light source orientated towards a semi-reflective lens. The semi-reflective lens allows a portion of the light it receives from the light source to be reflected upwards, providing uplight from the light fixture. The lens also allows a portion of the light it receives from the light source to be transmitted therethrough, providing downlight from the light fixture. Thus, the light fixture provides both uplight and downlight while the light source is oriented downwards.
US09200778B2

A lens has a refractive index of n, and includes a base, a first curved circumferential surface extending from the base, a curved center-edge surface extending from the first curved circumferential surface, and a curved centermost surface extending from the curved center-edge surface. The base includes a groove for receiving a light emitting chip. A distance from a center of the base to a point of the curved center-edge surface is shorter than the radius of curvature for the point of the curved center-edge surface. The curved centermost surface has a concave shape with respect to the base. The lens satisfies A1+A2<90+sin−1(1/n), where A1 an obtuse angle between a main axis and a tangent line of the curved centermost surface, and A2 is an acute angle between a straight line linking the center of the base to the point of the curved centermost surface and the main axis.
US09200777B2

An illumination device for planar light sources gives uniform illumination on an illuminated plane. A of lengthwise direction and length of breadthwise direction are different from each other. The illumination device includes a planar light source and an optical element including a light receiving surface for receiving light form the planar light source and a light exiting surface. A shape of the planar light source is symmetric with respect to x-axis and y-axis and a length of the shape in x-axis direction is shorter than length of the shape in y-axis direction; the center of the planar light source is set as the origin and two axes orthogonal to each other are selected as x-axis and y-axis. Assuming that the maximum value of x-coordinate of the planar light source is a and the maximum value of y-coordinate of the planar light source is b, the following relationships hold: h ab = ( h a + a ) - ( h b + b ) ( h a + a ) h ab ≤ 0.02 .
US09200776B2

An illumination device includes a light source, and a light collector having a central lens part and a peripheral lens part surrounding at least a part of the central lens part. The central lens part is aligned along an optical axis of the light source and includes a central entrance surface, a central exit surface, and an extension part positioned between the central entry surface and the central exit surface. The light collector also has a peripheral lens part surrounding at least a part of the central lens part, the peripheral lens including a peripheral entrance surface, a peripheral reflection surface and a peripheral exit surface. The extension part protrudes from the peripheral exit surface and elevates the central exit surface a distance above the peripheral exit surface.
US09200756B2

A lighting device may include a heat sink and a mounting surface provided a prescribed distance over the heat sink. A plurality of light emitting diodes may be provided on the mounting surface. The plurality of light emitting diodes may be positioned a prescribed distance from a point on the mounting surface. An enclosure having a prescribed shape may be provided over the mounting surface and the plurality of light emitting diodes. The enclosure may include luminescent material such that a wavelength of light emitted by the enclosure is different from a wavelength of light emitted by the plurality of light emitting diodes. A bulb may be provided over the heat sink to surround the enclosure.
US09200755B1

A laser light configured to be socket compatible with an incandescent bulb. The laser light bulb fits into a standard base for a number of standard incandescent bulbs. The laser light bulb receives AC power from the light socket, and has an overall shape or envelope similar to the incandescent bulb being replaced. Internal to the envelope are electronics needed to power the laser, and the laser itself.
US09200752B2

There is provided a valve element for a condensate trap comprising an expansion chamber in the form of a metallic bellows having a variable axial length and having first and second ends sealed with first and second end caps respectively. A valve closure member is provided on the second end cap and is arranged to cooperate with a valve seat. A first guide member is coupled to the first end cap and axially extends into the bellows and a second guide member is coupled to the second end cap, axially extends into the bellows and cooperates with the first guide member. This allows relative axial movement between the first and second end caps but restricts relative radial movement between the first and second end caps. This helps to ensure that the valve closure member properly seats on the valve seal.
US09200746B2

The present invention relates to an infant supporting mechanism detachably disposed on an infant carriage device and for detachably supporting an infant carrier. The supporting mechanism includes a main body, a first connecting component fixed on the main body, a second connecting component and a third connecting component. Apart of the second connecting component is disposed in the main body in a retractable manner, and the first connecting component and the second connecting component are for detachably supporting the infant carrier cooperatively. The first connecting component and the second connecting component are respectively disposed on the opposite sides of the main body. Apart of the third connecting component is movably disposed in the main body and detachably installed on the infant carriage device, and the third connecting component is disposed between the first connecting component and the second connecting component.
US09200740B2

A piping system drain down tool allows for a controlled draining of any pipe or piping system in a safe, efficient and professional manner. Current methods for draining piping systems is messy, time-consuming and uncontrolled. The piping system drain down tool includes a boring shaft that can turn to penetrate a pipe clamped into the tool. A seal prevents water from leaking and directs draining water out through the tool and through a valve and a hose connector, where a hose can be connected to direct flow of the draining water. The tool can also be used to create a water supply tap at any location within a water system.
US09200738B2

A fast connector for cleaners, which comprises: a connector body, two positioning pieces, a bottom plate and an water pipe, wherein the connector body has a water through hole in its center and the bottom portion which is expanded and formed into a recessed portion with two first openings. Two positioning pieces are reversely stacked, each having a through slot in its center, a push button at its outside, and a restored spring placed between the inner side surface of the push button and the second opening of the bottom plate which allows the positioning piece to move laterally and in opposite directions. The bottom plate has a through slot in its center, a trough on both sides of the slot, and two second openings for placing the positioning pieces.
US09200729B2

A hanger bracket for supporting duct having an extended plate portion configured to support a surface of a duct and configured to accommodate coupling of the hanger bracket to the bottom surface of the duct; a vertical back plate portion attached to the extended plate portion and configured to couple the hanger bracket to a side surface of the duct; a top plate portion attached to the vertical back plate portion and in parallel arrangement with the extended plate portion and configured to accommodate a hanger element passed at a side of the duct above the bottom surface of the duct in an offset hanger attachment; and at least one gusset portions attached to a back side of the vertical back plate portion and an underside of the top plate portion to provide structural support to the top plate portion.
US09200725B2

A handle 13 is formed in a hollow shape. A displacement sensor 4 is fixed to an inner surface of the handle 13. The target 5 includes: a target body 22 which is arranged at a position away from a valve stem by a predetermined distance in the handle 13; a detection-use inclined surface 23 which is formed on a surface of the target body 22 which faces the displacement sensor 4 in an opposed manner; and a downwardly projecting portion 25 which projects downward from the target body 22. A lower surface of the downwardly projecting portion 25 of the target 5 is received by a valve body 11b so that the target 5 is rotated together with the handle 13 but is not upwardly and downwardly moved with respect to the valve body 11b.
US09200722B2

A fluid regulating device includes a regulator valve having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve port disposed between the inlet and the outlet. An actuator is coupled to the regulator valve and includes a valve disc that displaces along a longitudinal axis to open and close the fluid regulating device. The valve disc includes a sealing surface disposed adjacent to an outer radial end of the valve disc, and the sealing surface is adapted to sealingly engage the valve port in the closed position. The valve disc also includes an intermediate surface disposed inward of the sealing surface, and a groove is formed in the intermediate surface. The groove extends along a groove axis extending along the intermediate surface normal to the longitudinal axis, and the groove axis is at least partially curved when viewed along the longitudinal axis.
US09200702B2

An individual driving value is set as a function of an accelerator pedal position. In turn, a powertrain characteristic is set as a function of the individual driving style. The set powertrain characteristic may be modified on the basis of a feedback value corresponding to learned preferences of a driver. The modified powertrain characteristic is then either automatically implemented for operation of a powertrain or communicated as a choice for implementation. The feedback value is updated per a response to automatic implementation or choice communication.
US09200699B2

A differential mechanism regulating device which is mechanically connected to two manipulators is miniaturized. When a first cable and a second cable are pulled, a collecting member moves its position. As a result of this movement, the collecting member tilts a portion of an arm by way of a rod. As a result, a differential lock is released. The operation of the first cable and the operation of the second cable can be merged by the collecting member, and it is sufficient to connect only a collecting transmission member to the arm. The connection between the arm and the collecting transmission member can be simplified thus realizing the miniaturization of the differential mechanism.
US09200696B2

A conveyor belt joining staple including upper and lower staple plates situated at different levels joined by knuckles. The upper staple plate has through-holes for passage of staple attaching clip claws and the lower staple plate has bridges that form a recess between a bar of the bridge and an upper surface of the lower plate. The lower staple plate has two shearing lines corresponding to the recess of the bridge, and inlet and outlet toboggans that each have a curved tab. The toboggans are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bridge. Each toboggan has a boss that has an upper round portion and base rounded portions. A portion of the boss is connected to a portion of the tap. Each inlet toboggan-boss is situated in vertical alignment with a corresponding hole of the upper plate for the passage of the clip claws.
US09200688B2

A vehicle brake assembly including a brake caliper defining a caliper housing and defining a plane of rotation of a brake disc, the housing having an opening facing the plane of rotation of a brake disc, a cover plate for closing the opening and an actuator assembly at least partially mounted in the housing, wherein the actuator assembly includes at least one piston for moving a friction element into contact with a brake disc, an adjuster mechanism for adjusting the effective length of the at least one piston, the adjuster mechanism including an adjuster shaft, the adjuster shaft being fixed to the cover plate by a spring clip arrangement.
US09200684B2

An electromagnetic clutch unit includes: a friction mechanism including a first friction member and a second friction member; a lock sleeve connected to an input shaft member so as to be non-rotatable relative to the input shaft member, and movable in an axial direction of the electromagnetic clutch unit between a first position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with only the input shaft member and a second position at which the lock sleeve is engaged with both an output shaft member and the input shaft member; and a pressing member that constitutes a magnetic path extending over the pressing member and the second friction member, and that presses the lock sleeve with the electromagnetic force to move the lock sleeve from the first position to the second position.
US09200680B2

A clutch mechanism preferably used in a vehicle door mirror with a high durability and which allows reaching, in a fast and simple way, a preset compression level owing to the existence of two limiting surfaces.
US09200671B2

Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes a fluid dynamic bearing defined in a gap between an inner component and an outer component. In some instances, the inner component and the outer component are configured for relative rotation. In some instances, the apparatus further includes a fluid reservoir configured to supply a fluid to the fluid dynamic bearing and the fluid reservoir is defined by shearless surfaces.
US09200666B1

A vehicle wheel lock assembly includes a main body and a hollow cylindrically-shaped sleeve. The main body has a wheel contacting end, a sleeve retaining section and a key receiving end that includes surface contours defining a first key pattern. The hollow cylindrically-shaped sleeve has a first end and a second end, the first end being open with the main body extending therein. The sleeve retaining section retains the sleeve to the main body for free rotation about a central axis of the main body. The sleeve retaining section further is configured to prevent movement of the sleeve in an axial direction of the main body. The second end is closed covering the key receiving end and includes a key receiving aperture providing access to the first key pattern.
US09200662B2

A fastener pin has a head at a topmost end that is the greatest diameter of the fastener. A shoulder extends downward from the head and includes a bottom surface for displacing material of a host object. A broaching section of rectangular lateral cross-section is located immediately below the displacer by cutting a rectangular profile into a round installation hole in the host object. Immediately below the broaching section is a tapered tip at a bottommost end which may be in the shape of a rectangular pyramid rotated radially out of alignment with the remainder of the other fastener features which all have parallel side edges. This individual fastener is one of a series of substantially identical pins attached toe-to-head at severable joints in a continuous string of fasteners.
US09200651B2

A height adjustment assembly includes a joint having a through hole defined therethrough, a tube insertable through the through hole, at least one clamping plate with one distal end thereof pivotally connected to the joint to securely engage with an outer periphery of the tube and an adjustment handle movably connected to the joint and having at least one annular ear integrally formed with the adjustment handle to enclose a distal end of the joint so as to enclose therein a free end of the clamping plate, a block formed inside the at least one annular to securely engage with the free end of the clamping plate such that rotation of the adjustment handle forces the clamping plate away from engagement with the outer periphery of the tube to allow the tube to move relative to the joint.
US09200645B2

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a steering system having first and second steering circuits in fluid communication with a fluid actuator wherein the steering circuits are disposed in parallel to each other. The second steering circuit includes a proportional valve having a load-sense feature in selective fluid communication with a load-sense connection and the first steering circuit. The load-sense feature is open to the first steering circuit when the proportional valve is in a neutral position and closed to the first steering circuit when the proportional valve is moved to a first or second steering position. When the proportional valve is actuated from the neutral position to the first or second steering position the movement of the proportional valve closes the load sense feature from the first steering circuit and operates to deactivate the first steering circuit.
US09200643B2

A fluid compression system is disclosed having a hermetically-sealed housing with at least a motor and a compressor arranged therein. The motor may drive both the compressor and a blower device coupled to the housing or otherwise arranged within the housing and configured to circulate a cooling gas throughout the housing and thereby cool the motor and accompanying radial bearings. The blower device circulates the cooling gas through a closed-loop circuit which may include a heat exchanger and gas conditioning skid. Carbon ring seals may be used to seal the shaft on both sides of the compressor so as to prevent the migration of liquid and solid contaminants into the closed-loop cooling circuit.
US09200639B2

A compressor housing assembly can include a shell that includes a cylindrical wall portion including a fluid inlet opening at one end and a sloped mating surface at an opposing end and, extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall portion, a spiral wall portion that defines, in part, a volute; and an insert that includes a cylindrical wall portion including a fluid inlet opening at one end and a shroud surface at an opposing end and, extending radially outwardly from the cylindrical wall portion, an annular ring portion including a sloped mating surface and, extending from the shroud surface, a diffuser surface, where, in an assembled state, the sloped mating surface of the insert and the sloped mating surface of the shell form a sloped interface between the insert and the shell. Various other examples of devices, assemblies, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
US09200635B2

A regenerative blower is disclosed with a rotating impeller that includes a hub that includes a main body and a tapered outer periphery or volute that extends around the main body of the hub. The volute has a wide base that extends to a tapered volute tip. A plurality of vanes are spaced apart along the main body of the hub and intersect the volute. Each vane has a base coupled to or integral with the main body of the hub and a distal end extending radially away from the hub. Each vane has a downstream side and an upstream side. The downstream sides are concave and the upstream sides are convex. Each vane may also include a pair of side edges that are beveled inwardly towards the volute as the side edges extend from the downstream side of the vane to the upstream side of the vane.
US09200633B2

A scroll compressor is characterized in that by reducing an Oldham ring 57 and an orbiting scroll 12 in size, a compressing mechanism 4 is reduced in size, a pair of scroll-side keys 57b are disposed at locations deviated from each other from a diameter line of the ring portion 57a so that a distance between the pair of scroll-side keys 57b becomes not less than a width of the scroll-side keyway 12d, and a pair of main bearing-side keys 57c are disposed at locations deviated from each other from the diameter line of the ring portion 57a so that a distance between the pair of main bearing-side keys 57c becomes not less than a width of the main bearing-side keyways 51a.
US09200631B2

A guided-vane rotary apparatus having working chambers and rotor hub sectors which are separated from one another by vane assemblies and which rotate within a housing opening embody features which reduce the likelihood of flow communication between the working chambers. To this end, the apparatus includes sealing arrangements which are disposed between the walls of the housing opening and the vane assemblies and between the vane assemblies and the hub sectors between which the vane assemblies are positioned. Furthermore, the housing is provided with seal-accepting recesses adjacent its opening, and a sealing ring is closely accepted by each recess. Wave springs are disposed between the bottom of the recesses and the sealing rings for biasing the sealing rings axially of the apparatus and into sealing engagement with adjacent surfaces of the apparatus.
US09200629B2

A system and method for measurement of a polished rod movement in a reciprocating rod pumping system comprising reciprocal motive elements is provided. A proximity sensor target is mounted on the polished rod while a corresponding sensor element, is mounted in fixed relation to the pumping system, for example in fixed relation to the wellhead or ground. The sensor detects passage of the proximity sensor target, and thus the polished rod, as it moves in opposite directions during a single stroke cycle. The time of passage and the speed of the polished rod, as determined from its kinematic relationship with other pumping system components, is used to determine the position of the polished rod at any point during the cycle. The proximity sensor target may be mounted on a walking beam or other reciprocally moving element, with the sensor positioned in a corresponding fixed location.
US09200619B2

A yaw or pitch bearing for a wind turbine includes a slewing ring bearing assembly having an outer race and an inner race, both having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the outer race and the outer surface of the inner race have a plurality of threads that engage and define a threaded bearing surface.
US09200616B2

An automatic adjustment device for adjusting inclination of blades of wind turbines includes a first housing having multiple blades connected thereto and each blade has a first connection portion which is inserted into the firs housing. A transmission unit is connected to the first housing. A pump unit and a speed-changing member are mechanically connected to the transmission unit. The pump unit is mechanically connected to the speed-changing member. The pump unit has a driving unit which is connected with a transmission disk which is connected to the connection portions of the blades. The pump unit is activated by speed difference between the speed-changing member and the transmission unit so as to rotate the transmission disk via the driving unit, and adjust the inclination angle of the blades to protect the blades and increase the efficiency of the wind turbine.
US09200610B2

There is provided a valve timing varying mechanism (VTC) to vary a valve timing. An estimated VTC conversion angle VTCNFS is calculated in accordance with a sensed VTC conversion angle VTCNOW (S15˜S19). At the time of conversion of the VTC conversion angle to the advance side or retard side, a fastest response value is calculated by conversion of the VTC conversion angle from the previous sensed value with a fastest response speed, and the sensed value (estimated value) is limited to or below the fastest response value when the current value of the sensed valve timing exceeds the fastest response value (S20, S21).
US09200601B2

A charge pipe passage includes: a first engine-side pipe passage part which extends vertically; a second engine-side pipe passage part which is connected to a lower end of the first engine-side pipe passage part on one side in the vehicle widthwise direction and extends from one side to the other side in the vehicle widthwise direction above the engine body; and a third engine-side pipe passage part which is communicably connected to the second engine-side pipe passage part on the other side in the vehicle widthwise direction and is connected to the engine body, and at least a part of the charge pipe passage between a frame-side support part and an engine-side support part is formed of an elastic tube.
US09200599B2

A dual EGR loop exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system for an internal combustion engine. The engine has both a dedicated EGR loop and a low pressure EGR loop. This means that one or more engine cylinders is operable as a dedicated EGR cylinder, such that all of its exhaust is recirculated via the dedicated EGR loop. The other cylinders are operable as main cylinders having two intake ports, such that each main cylinder may receive a mixture of fresh air and dedicated EGR through one intake port and a mixture of fresh air and low pressure EGR through the other intake port. A control unit controls this dual loop EGR system to either provide EGR only from the dedicated EGR loop or to also provide additional EGR from the low pressure EGR loop.
US09200597B1

An extendable nozzle for a rocket engine includes a chamber with a main combustion chamber and a throat and a main nozzle formed within a guide tube, where a nozzle extension slides over the guide tube from a stowed position to an extendable position. A locking O-ring secures the nozzle extension in a stowed position, and a locking split ring holds the nozzle extension in the extended position.
US09200592B2

A gas turbine engine includes a high spool, a low spool mechanically connected to a fan, a gear system, an actuator, and a starter. The gear system is actuable to engage and disengage the low spool to and from the high spool. The actuator is connected to the gear system for selectively engaging and disengaging the gear system. The starter is connected to the low spool and can drive rotation of the high spool through the low spool when the gear system is engaged.
US09200586B2

An engine system includes an engine, an air intake passage to supply air to the engine, a throttle valve provided in the air intake passage to adjust a throttle opening degree that is an opening degree of the air intake passage, a bypass passage to supply air to the engine while bypassing the throttle valve, an on/off valve provided in the bypass passage to open and close the bypass passage, and a control unit that performs ignition lag control of the engine to control an output of the engine when the on/off valve is in an open state.
US09200582B2

Disclosed is a fault diagnosis apparatus for an airflow meter for determining that the airflow meter has a fault when a divergence ratio, i.e., a divergence value of an estimated intake-air quantity with respect to an actual intake-air quantity obtained by the airflow meter is greater than a fault-determination reference value determined based on a rotation speed of an internal combustion engine. As the engine speed reduces, an upper-limit diagnosis criterion increases and a lower-limit diagnosis criterion decreases, so as to narrow an area for determining that the airflow meter has a fault. Hence, the fault diagnosis for the airflow meter can be performed in the entire engine rotation speed range, i.e., in the entire operation range of the internal combustion engine, thus preventing a deterioration in the exhaust performance, which may occur owing to a failure in the airflow meter, beforehand.
US09200581B2

A method for performing on/off diagnosis of a smart cooling pump for an internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having an inner liner layer, an external engine block layer, and a coolant layer placed between the inner liner layer and the external engine block layer, wherein the smart cooling pump pumps a coolant fluid inside the coolant layer is provided.
US09200579B2

A heavy goods vehicle or omnibus motor vehicle with reduced sound emissions, having a diesel engine, the operation of which can be regulated by an injection pump by an engine electronics unit which includes a microprocessor, a data and program store and input and output peripherals. Measures for at least temporarily reducing the sound emissions by the engine can be carded out to and/or at a level preferably prescribed by legislation, by regulating operation of the engine such that free and/or additional data storage locations that need to be provided in the engine electronics unit switch to a reduced-noise mode, the effect of which at least temporarily increases consumption and at the same time is at least approximately constant in terms of power and rotation speed, and which reduces the emission of sound from the drive and/or engine, in particular the reduced-noise mode lowers the rail pressure, defers the injection to a later time and/or provides a greater volume of subsets in the fuel metering.
US09200576B2

A control device for a vehicle configured to automatically stop an engine while the vehicle is running, the control device includes: an engine stop request outputted in accordance with an operation of a driver, and an engine stop prohibition request outputted based on a driving state of the vehicle which are independent requests, the higher-priority engine stop request being preferentially performed when both the requests are simultaneously outputted, and the engine stop prohibition request being withdrawn when the engine stop is performed by the higher-priority engine stop request.
US09200567B2

A compressor for compressing a gas, the compressor comprising: a housing having an axial inlet and an annular outlet volute; an impeller wheel including a plurality of blades, the wheel being rotatably mounted within the housing between the inlet and outlet volute; the axial inlet being defined by a tubular inducer portion of the housing and the annular outlet volute being defined by an annular diffuser passage surrounding the impeller, the diffuser having an annular outlet communicating with the outlet volute; the housing having an inner wall defining a surface located in close proximity to radially outer edges of the impeller blades which sweep across the surface as the impeller wheel rotates; wherein the compressor housing incorporates at least one section comprised of a deformable, energy absorbing material arranged to deform and absorb energy generated as a result of impeller wheel failure. A turbine incorporating similar deformable, energy absorbing materials is also described, as are turbochargers incorporating such a compressor and/or turbine.
US09200565B2

A can annular industrial gas turbine engine, including: a single-piece rotor shaft spanning a compressor section (82), a combustion section (84), a turbine section (86); and a combustion section casing (10) having a section (28) configured as a full hoop. When the combustion section casing is detached from the engine and moved to a maintenance position to allow access to an interior of the engine, a positioning jig (98) is used to support the compressor section casing (83) and turbine section casing (87).
US09200561B2

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for chemically activating a fuel for injection and ignition in a combustion engine. In one aspect, a method to initiate combustion includes transforming an interim fuel substance into constituents including radicals, the interim fuel substance formed by a chemical conversion using a fuel, in which the interim fuel substance has a lower ignition energy than that of the fuel, injecting the constituents into a combustion chamber of an engine, and providing a gaseous fluid including oxidants in the combustion chamber to react with the constituents in a combustion reaction, in which the combustion reaction of the constituents occurs at a reduced energy than that of a combustion reaction of the fuel substance.
US09200552B2

In an apparatus for controlling supply power to a conductive porous carrier of a catalyst converter for cleaning an emission, a moisture determiner determines whether moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier. A power controller controls supply power to the conductive porous carrier for energization of the conductive porous carrier such that a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier is lower than a value of the supply power to the conductive porous carrier when it is determined that the moisture is not contained in and/or on the conductive porous carrier.
US09200551B2

An exhaust treatment apparatus for an engine including a combustible gas supplying passage; a heat releasing port opened in an upstream side in the exhaust passage from the oxidation catalyst and in a downstream side in the combustible gas supplying passage, the exhaust passage and the combustible gas supplying passage communicating with each other through the heat releasing port; an ignition apparatus beneath the heat releasing port, the heat of flaming combustion of combustible gas ignited by the ignition apparatus being supplied to the exhaust passage to raise the temperature of exhaust in the exhaust passage; a flame holding plate in a downstream side in the combustible gas supplying passage from the ignition apparatus, an exhaust guiding plate at the top portion of the flame holding plate, the exhaust guiding plate having an upward slope toward a downstream side in the exhaust passage.
US09200549B2

In an internal combustion engine, upper and lower crankcases include a crank chamber, a clutch chamber in communication with the crank chamber, and a cam chain chamber. The upper crankcase includes a second upper partition wall configured to separate the cam chain chamber and the clutch chamber from each other. The lower crankcase includes a first lower partition wall configured to separate the cam chain chamber and the crank chamber from each other, and a second lower partition wall configured to separate the cam chain chamber and the clutch chamber from each other. An oil passage allowing communication between the cam chain chamber and the crank chamber is provided in the first lower partition wall. First passages allowing communication between the cam chain chamber and the clutch chamber are provided respectively in the bottom surface of the second upper partition wall and in the top surface of the second lower partition wall.
US09200548B2

A spark-ignition supercharged internal-combustion gasoline engine is equipped with a system for variable actuation of the intake valves including a pressurized fluid chamber set between intake valve and a respective control cam, and an electrically actuated valve, the opening of which vents the pressure chamber so as to cause rapid closing of the valve, as a result of the respective elastic return means, even when the respective cam would tend to keep the valve open. The variable-valve-actuation system is used in combination with control cams of the intake valves shaped in such a way as to generate an intake valve lift profile including a boot portion with substantially constant lift. The boot portion is provided in the final part of the opening cycle of the intake valve, after bottom dead center.
US09200546B2

A device for adjusting the rotational angular position of a cam shaft relative to a crankshaft of a combustion engine includes a supply branch for supplying pressure fluid to setting chambers to generate torque acting on a rotor; and a pressure storage device arranged in the supply branch and including a spring and a storage chamber which can be filled with the pressure fluid against a spring force of the spring, wherein the storage chamber begins to fill, against the spring force, at a start-of-filling pressure which is at most as large as a hot idling pressure which the pressure fluid exhibits when the combustion engine is idling in its hot operational state, and continues to be filled against the spring force if the hot idling pressure is exceeded.
US09200545B2

A torque control device includes a seal structure sealing a clearance between a hollow object and a rotation shaft. The seal structure includes a particle seal, a liquid seal, an intermediate fluid which fills a middle chamber defined between the particle seal and the liquid seal, and a coating film having a hardness higher than that of magnetic particle. The coating film is arranged to at least at a seal perimeter part of the rotation shaft, and a seal gap is defined between the particle seal and the seal perimeter part.
US09200540B2

A power plant includes a gas turbine unit adapted to feed flue gases into a diverter where they are divided into a recirculated flow that is fed into a mixer together with fresh air to form a mixture that is fed to a gas turbine unit compressor inlet, and a discharged flow, that is fed into a CO2 capture unit. A monitoring system for the mixture oxygen content at the compressor inlet is provided. The monitoring system includes a recirculated flow mass flow rate sensor, a recirculated flow oxygen concentration sensor, mixture mass flow rate sensors, a control unit arranged to process information detected by the recirculated flow mass flow rate sensor, recirculated flow oxygen concentration sensor and mixture mass flow rate sensor, to determine an oxygen concentration upstream of the compressor inlet.
US09200535B2

An aerofoil blade or vane for the turbine of a gas turbine engine is provided. The blade or vane includes an aerofoil portion which, in use, extends radially across a working gas annulus of the engine. A coolant inlet is formed at an end of the aerofoil portion for the entry of a cooling air flow into the portion. A corresponding coolant exhaust is formed at the trailing edge of the aerofoil portion for spent cooling air to flow from the portion. A passage within the aerofoil portion connects the inlet to the exhaust. A fence within the aerofoil portion extends radially and forwardly from a start position at the end of the aerofoil portion adjacent the trailing edge to an end position. The passage forms a loop which extends along one side of the fence, wraps around the end position, and extends along the other side of the fence.
US09200525B2

Turbomachine blade incidence control system including a fluidic cylinder with a first and a second chamber and having a pressurized fluid network adapted to selectively supply pressurized fluid to the first and/or the second chamber, the fluid network having one fluid routing device having a first normal position and a second protection position. The fluidic cylinder includes a fluid inlet positioned to be in fluid communication with the first chamber when the fluidic cylinder is in the blocked position, the routing device being adapted to set up a fluid communication between the inlet and the second chamber when it is in the protection position and to inhibit the fluid supply to the inlet when it is in the normal position.
US09200513B2

The method for mounting a ranging arm on a body of a longwall shearer loader characterized by the fact that the shearer's ranging arm (7) is pivotally connected through the eyes (9) and at least one pin (3) with the eyes of the articulated joint (6) located from the side wall side in the bottom part of the shearer's body (5) outside of the chain conveyor (11). The axis of the pin or pins (3) is situated below the axis of the motor (12) of the shearer's ranging arm (7). The hydraulic cylinder (4) is pivotally connected with the eyes (8) of the shearer's ranging arm (7) located between the eyes of the articulated joint (6) with a pin (2), the axis of which is situated above the axis of the motor (12) of the shearer's arm (7). The hydraulic cylinder (4) is pivotally connected with the shearer's body (5) with a pin (1), the axis of which is situated below the axis of the motor (12) of the shearer's arm (7) and below the axis of the feed drive shaft (10). The axis of the pin (1) is situated at the same height as the axis of the pin or pins (3) connecting the shearer's arm (7) with the eyes of the articulated join (6). The hydraulic cylinder (4) is located between the axis of the feed drive shaft (10) and the pin of pins (3) connecting the shearer's ranging arm (7) with the eyes of the articulated joint (6).
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