US09219489B2
A successive approximation register (SAR-ADC) including a digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) circuit, a sample-and-hold circuit, a comparison circuit and a SAR logic control circuit is provided. The DAC circuit is configured to convert an N-bits digital logic signal into a comparison signal, where N is a positive integer. The sample-and-hold circuit is configured to sample and hold an analog input signal. The comparison circuit is configured to use the analog input signal held by the sample-and-hold circuit as a basis for comparing with the comparison signal and thereby generates a comparison result signal. The SAR logic control circuit is configured to provide the N-bits digital logic signal and determine a logic state of each of bits of the digital logic signal one by one according to the comparison result signal, and thus generate a digital output signal related to the analog input signal.
US09219485B1
Systems and methods for compensating for a known interferer to a Controlled Oscillator (CO) of a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) are disclosed. In one embodiment, a system includes a PLL and a compensation system. The compensation system is configured to generate a compensation signal based on a complex correlation of an output signal of a phase detector of the PLL and a signal derived from a replica of a known interferer to the CO. The compensation system is further configured to apply the compensation signal to the control signal provided by the low-pass filter of the phase-locked loop to thereby provide the compensated control signal for the CO of the phase-locked loop. In this manner, the compensation system mitigates the known interferer at the CO of the PLL.
US09219479B2
A through silicon via (TSV) repair circuit of a semiconductor apparatus is provided. The TSV repair circuit includes a first chip, at least one second chip, at least two TSVs, at least two data path circuits, and an output logic circuit. Each data path circuit includes an input driving circuit, a short-circuit detection circuit, a bias circuit, and a leakage current cancellation circuit. The input driving circuit transforms an input signal into a pending signal and transmits the pending signal to a first terminal of the corresponding TSV. The short-circuit detection circuit detects a short circuit between the corresponding TSV and a silicon substrate according to the input signal and the first terminal of the TSV and generates a short-circuit detection output signal. The leakage current cancellation circuit prevents a leakage current produced by a first level voltage from entering the silicon substrate according to the short-circuit detection output signal.
US09219478B2
A circuit switch for a keyboard is formed of a first plate and a second plate. A first sensitive portion and a second sensitive portion are mounted on a surface of the first plate, superposed on each other, and electrically insulated against each other. A first conductive wire is located on the first plate and electrically connected with the first sensitive portion. A conductive portion is located on the second plate. The second plate is parallel to the first plate in arrangement. The conductive portion corresponds to the second sensitive portion in a way that an interval is located therebetween. A second conductive wire is located on the second plate and electrically connected with the conductive portion. A grounded circuit is located between the first and second plates and spaced from the second sensitive portion. The grounded circuit partially overlaps or crosses the first or second conductive wire.
US09219467B2
A duplexer includes: a transmit filter that is connected between an antenna terminal and a transmit terminal and has a plurality of acoustic wave resonators; a receive filter that is connected between the antenna terminal and a receive terminal and has a plurality of acoustic wave resonators; and a delay line or a longitudinal coupling type resonator that is connected in parallel with at least one of the plurality of acoustic wave resonators of the transmit filter and the plurality of acoustic wave resonators of the receive filter and has at least two IDTs (Interdigital Transducers).
US09219466B2
The invention relates to a laterally coupled bulk acoustic wave (LBAW) filter comprising a vibration layer for carrying bulk acoustic waves, electrode means comprising a first electrode coupled to the vibration layer for exciting to the vibration layer at least one longitudinal wave mode having a first frequency band and one shear wave mode having a second frequency band, and a second electrode coupled to the vibration layer for sensing the filter pass signal, the first and second electrodes being laterally arranged with respect to each other, and an acoustic reflector structure in acoustic connection with the vibration layer. According to the invention, the reflector structure is adapted to acoustically isolate the vibration layer from its surroundings at the first frequency band more efficiently than at the second frequency band for suppressing the effect of the shear wave mode at the second frequency band from the filter pass signal. The invention helps to improve the quality of LBAW filter passbands.
US09219459B2
A receiving device includes a rectifier configured to rectify a received signal and a bias supply unit configured to intermittently supply the rectifier with a bias voltage corresponding to a threshold voltage of the rectifier. The receiving device further includes a detector configured to detect the received signal based on an output of the rectifier and a controller configured to control the bias supply unit to stop supplying the bias voltage upon detection of the received signal by the detector.
US09219457B2
A method for controlling amplification factor of a receiver device includes: detecting a first variation of an equivalent length of a cable, detecting a second variation of amplification factor of a digital automatic gain controller (DAGC), determining a first update value of amplification factor of an analog automatic gain controller (AAGC) according to the first variation and the second variation, calculating a tuning ratio of the first update value to a current value of the amplification factor of the AAGC, calculating a second update value of the amplification factor of the DAGC according to the tuning ratio, updating a set value of the amplification factor of the AAGC according to the first update value, and updating a set value of the amplification factor of the DAGC according to the second update value.
US09219456B1
Features are disclosed for measuring and correcting clock drift and propagation delay in an audio system through one or more waveforms embedded in an audio signal. A first device in communication with a speaker may be configured to obtain an audio signal and insert one or more waveforms into the audio signal. For example, the waveforms may be inserted during an interval of time. A second device in communication with a microphone may be configured to detect sound as an audio input signal. The second device may obtain a spectral representation of the audio input signal and determine a rotation based on the spectral representation at the frequency of at least one of the inserted waveforms. Clock drift may be determined based on the rotation.
US09219451B2
Provided is an operational amplifier circuit capable of operating with lower current consumption. An amplifier stage, a FIR filter, and a sample and hold circuit are connected in series, thus enabling reduction of an input offset voltage and amplification of an input signal voltage without using an integral circuit. Current consumption of the operational amplifier circuit is reduced because the integral circuit is not used.
US09219448B2
[Problem] To provide an amplifier and an amplification method in which degradation in the quality of the output signal is reduced. [Solution] This amplifier is characterized in having: an amplification unit; a power supply modulator for determining the modulation voltage applied to the amplification unit according to an input signal inputted into the amplification unit; a first predistorter for modeling the characteristics of the amplification unit and performing distortion compensation with respect to the amplification unit; a first controller for controlling the parameters of the first predistorter on the basis of an input signal inputted into the first predistorter and an output signal from the amplification unit; a second predistorter for modulating an input signal inputted into the power supply modulator; and a second controller for controlling the second predistorter on the basis of the input signal inputted into the power supply modulator and a signal from which the RF component of the drain voltage of an FET of the amplification unit has been removed; the amplifier performing a correction such that the signal from which the RF component of the drain voltage of the FET has been removed is linear.
US09219437B2
Provided is a motor including a motor driving unit outputting a plurality of switching signals and any one of estimated three-phase voltages, in response to a control signal and a compensated position signal; a pulse width modulation (PWM) inverter outputting three-phase voltages and any one of estimated three-phase currents corresponding to the one estimated phase voltage, in response to the plurality switching signals; a motor unit operating based on the three-phase voltages and outputting a position signal according to the operation; and a position signal compensation unit receiving the position signal, the estimated phase voltage and the estimated phase current, detecting a phase difference between the estimated phase voltage and the estimated phase current and compensating for the position signal in response to the detected phase difference.
US09219436B2
A driving control device of a motor includes: a motor driving unit, which drives a motor in response to a driving control signal; and a control unit, which determines an energization pattern applied to an armature coil based on a detected rotational position of the rotor, wherein the control unit starts rotation control by a preset first energization pattern when activating of the motor, wherein when a predetermined time period has elapsed, the control unit adjusts energizing timing to be a timing, at which a short of each phase is not caused at switching of the energization pattern, and then outputs the driving control signal to the motor driving unit so that the rotation control is switched to rotation control of a second energization pattern, which has a predetermined advanced angle amount with respect to the first energization pattern.
US09219433B2
A vehicle includes a motor generator generating driving power for running, and an ECU. The ECU performs driving power variation operation on the motor generator in which the motor generator is switched between a first state (acceleration running) and a second state (inertial running) when power requested by a user varies within a prescribed range to run the vehicle. In the first state, the motor generator generates driving power. In the second state, the motor generator generates driving power smaller than the driving power in the first state. The ECU controls the motor generator in such a manner that the driving power during the acceleration running has a non-rectangular shape. As a result, gradual variation in driving power can be provided at the time of switching between the acceleration running and the inertial running, to improve drivability.
US09219431B2
The present invention relates to a motor control device provided with the function of detecting the rotor position of a synchronous motor in a sensor-less fashion. The motor control device previously stores a current phase β defined by the two parameters that are an induced voltage peak value Ep and the subtracted value (θe−θi) obtained by subtracting an induced voltage electrical angle θe from a current electrical angle θi, and based on the actual detected Ep, θi, and θe, selects β by referring to the β previously stored, and calculates the rotor position θm by subtracting the selected β from the actual detected θi. Then, in case of selecting β, the actual detected Ep and θe are corrected according to changes in the current flowing through the coil. As a result, a detection accuracy for the rotor position during a transition period is enhanced.
US09219419B2
An example embodiment relates to a switched-mode power supply comprising a transformer with a first winding and a second winding. There is a transmitter configured to: detect a detectable variable (Vout) at the first winding, generate a transformer relayed signal in accordance with the detectable variable (Vout), and provide the transformer relayed signal to the first winding. A receiver is configured to: receive the transformer relayed signal from the second winding, and control a controllable variable at the second winding in response to the transformer relayed signal, wherein the transformer relayed signal is a symbol stream comprising a plurality of symbols.
US09219417B2
A switching power supply device that can reduce power supply noise includes a switching power supply device main body that switches a semiconductor switching element at a power supply frequency fs, and supplies power to an electronic instrument such as an AM radio receiver. The switching power supply device detects an AM radio reception frequency fc and a power supply harmonic component that interferes with the AM radio reception frequency fc. Further, the switching power supply device determines, in a sideband of the AM radio reception frequency fc on a side that does not include the power supply harmonic component, a jitter width Δf for the power supply frequency fs, avoiding a bandwidth BW of the AM radio reception frequency fc, controlling the jitter of the power supply frequency fs in the jitter width Δf, and switching the semiconductor switching element at a frequency of [fs±Δf/2].
US09219412B2
A buck converter is disclosed comprising a series combination of high-side and low-side switches, and including a protection switch in anti-series with the high-side switch. The protection switch is controlled by means of a shutter switch, which is powered from the output of the converter and gated from the half bridge node of the converter. Also disclosed is a photovoltaic system comprising such a buck converter and a solar panel.
US09219411B2
A DC/DC converter includes a switch mode converter for providing an output voltage based on an input voltage and a drive signal generator configured to provide a drive signal for the switch mode converter. The drive signal generator is configured to switch between a non-pulse-skipping mode and a pulse-skipping mode. Moreover, the drive signal generator is configured to adapt a setting of a pulse generation such that a length of a first pulse following a pulse skipping is larger than a minimum length of a pulse in the non-pulse-skipping mode.
US09219409B2
A charge pump regulator includes a charge pump circuit, a voltage divider, a mode determining circuit, a frequency divider, and a selecting circuit. The charge pump circuit receives an oscillation signal and generates an output signal. The voltage divider receives the output signal and generates a first and a second divided voltages. The mode determining circuit determines whether the charge pump regulator is in a pumping mode or a detecting mode, and issues a first control signal. When the mode determining circuit is in the pumping mode, a pumping enable signal is activated and the clock signal is converted into the oscillation signal by the selecting circuit. When the mode determining circuit is in the detecting mode, a detecting enable signal is activated and the frequency divider generates a detecting signal according to the first control signal.
US09219407B2
A three phase full resonant cyclo-converter suitable for converting a three phase AC supply to a DC output. In one embodiment the cyclo-converter consists of two half bridge cyclo-converters driving a resonant circuit. The main switching sequence of the cyclo-converter may consist of a switching sequence in which the phases of a three phase supply are switched in a repeating sequence from the largest to the smallest absolute voltage value of the supply phases.
US09219404B2
This waste heat power generator (G) includes: an evaporator (1) to recover heat energy and to produce a vapor of a working medium; a power-generating device (2) to generate electric power while expanding the vapor; a condenser (3) to condense the vapor which has passed through the power-generating device; a pump (4) to send the working medium which has been condensed at the condenser to the evaporator; and a grease supply device (5) to supply the power-generating device with a grease used to lubricate bearings provided in the power-generating device.
US09219397B2
Unique motor drive apparatuses, systems and methods are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an apparatus comprising an AC-DC power supply structured to couple with and drive an electric motor. A sampling and switching device is coupled with the power supply. The switching device is configured to sample an electrical condition of a plurality of power line inputs and to selectably connect the power supply with the plurality of power line inputs. A controller is operatively coupled with and structured to control the switching device in a first mode in which the controller determines a power at which to operate the motor based upon which of the plurality of power line inputs receives power and a second mode in which the controller provides power factor correction of the motor and selects the power line inputs connected to the AC-DC power supply by the sampling and switching device.
US09219392B2
A brushless motor is provided including: a rotor housing including a circular-cylinder-shaped bearing housing portion and an outer cylinder portion; a rotor magnet provided at an inner peripheral face of the outer cylinder portion; a bearing housed in the bearing housing portion and assembled to a motor shaft; a stator core including a ring-shaped core main body provided in the radial direction between the bearing housing portion and the rotor magnet and a ring-shaped wall portion formed in a ring-shape along an inner peripheral portion of the core main body, extending from the core main body inner peripheral portion towards the radial direction inside, and facing one opening of the bearing housing portion; and a center piece including a main body portion facing one opening of the outer cylinder portion, and a close contact portion closely contacting in the stator core axial direction with the ring-shaped wall portion.
US09219388B2
The present invention relates to synchronous motor comprising a cylindrical rotor (4) provided with permanent magnets (3) located inside a cylindrical stator provided with a winding (U, V, W), characterized in that the rotor is provided with protuberances (41) facing the said winding.
US09219380B2
A bypass control bidirectional wireless charging device provides bidirectional charging mode, in which includes a logic control unit electrically connected to a wireless transmission unit, a full-bridge inverter, a buck-boost unit, a discharging switch unit, a back current prevention unit and a selective switch unit. While the wireless discharging mode started, the discharging switch unit turned on and the battery provided the transmitting power. While the back current prevention device connected to an external power, the discharging switch unit turned off and the back current prevention device turned off to provide the transmitting power by the battery. While the wireless charging mode started, the handheld devices or the loadings were charged by the wireless charging to achieve the purpose of increasing the effective duration of the battery and the electricity efficiency.
US09219365B2
Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for controlling the start-up sequence of two or more electrical devices. An electronic controller intercepts a plurality of initiation signals configured to start a plurality of electrical devices. The controller then implements a delay between the initiation signals so as to avoid demand spike surcharges.
US09219358B2
A method and apparatus for attaching at least one wiring device comprising AC outlet, switch, relay, hybrid switch-relay and hybrid switch to a support box using pins and receptacle including locking structure for attaching by introduction of the device into the box. The box including intelligent control and communication circuits including RF, RFID, optical via POF and IR in line of sight for communicating commands and control including power consumption reporting from every outlet and device. The power outlets include rear opening for introduction of RFID sensor, optical sensor and setting selector for identifying the appliance or the load powered via the outlet.
US09219356B2
An electrical junction box provides a frame and a cover that covers an opening portion of the frame. There is a difference of elevation in an edge of the frame, and the edge includes a lower portion, a higher portion, and an inclination portion. A double wall formed of an exterior wall and an interior wall and positioning the edge of a peripheral wall between the exterior wall and the interior wall is provided to the cover. There is a difference of elevation in the edge of the interior wall similarly the frame, and the edge includes the lower portion, the higher portion, and the inclination portion. Also, a lapping amount between the peripheral wall and the interior wall at the inclination portion is formed larger than a lapping amount at the lower portion.
US09219355B2
A breakable protector plate is provided for preventing damage to wires or cables which are behind the protector plate. The plate comprises a weakened break line. To prevent nails or screws from penetrating the reduced material thickness at the break line, the surface of the break line is raised with respect to the plate in order to redirect nails or screws into a greater thickness area of the plate.
US09219353B2
An equipment-rack power distribution system is described which includes a PDU housing, a power input penetrating the housing, a plurality of power outlets disposed on a surface of the housing, circuitry enclosed in the housing interconnecting the power input and the power outlets, one or more air inlets associated with the housing, one or more air outlets associated with the housing, and an air flow device in fluid communication with one or more of the air inlets and the air outlets. An environmental sensor may activate the air flow device upon detection of predetermined environmental conditions, such as a temperature that is above a defined limit.
US09219350B1
A spark plug includes a tubular housing, a tubular insulator retained in the housing, a center electrode secured in the insulator, and a ground electrode provided at a distal end of the housing. The housing has a seat portion formed on its inner periphery. The insulator has a distal portion, a proximal portion, and a shoulder formed on an outer periphery of the insulator between the distal and proximal portions. The shoulder is arranged to seat on the seat portion of the housing with an annular packing interposed therebetween. On an inner peripheral surface of the seat portion of the housing which faces an outer peripheral surface of the distal portion of the shoulder, there are formed uneven portions that are arranged in a circumferential direction of the spark plug. Each of the uneven portions consists of a protrusion and a recess that adjoin each other in the circumferential direction.
US09219340B2
Disclosed is a connector cable assembly for multiple connectors comprising a base plug, an adapter plug and first and second pivot arms, so that the base plug and the adapter plug are movable between electrically engaged and electrically disengaged positions. The base plug has a first end, a second end, and first and second opposing sides with a first connector disposed in the first end of the base plug. The adapter plug has a first end, a second end, and first and second opposing sides. A first reciprocal connector disposed in the first end of the adapter plug is configured to mate with the first connector. A second connector, different than the first connector, is electrically connected to the first reciprocal connector.
US09219336B2
A method for producing a plug-in connector includes stripping a cable on a free end in a first and second region of a sheath of the cable, where a shield is disposed below the sheath on the cable. The method includes disposing a first electrically conductive spring element in the first region, and removing the sheath and the shield from the second region, thereby forming an end portion of the free end of the cable on which exposed wires of the cable are disposed. The method includes disposing contact elements on the exposed wires, and disposing a shield sleeve around the first electrically conductive spring element. The method includes fastening the shield sleeve on the sheath before and after the first electrically conductive spring element, and providing an insulating housing such that the insulating housing at least partially surrounds the shield sleeve and the free end of the cable.
US09219326B2
A modular jack (100) includes an insulative housing (1), a printed circuit board assembly (3), a set of mating terminals (2) and a set of footer pins (4). The insulative housing (1) defines a mating port (16) and a mounting port (19) located behind thereof. The printed circuit board assembly are mounted in the mounting port in an oblique manner. The footer pins are directly assembled to the insulative housing for omitting an insulative carrier and reduce a process assembling the footer pins with the insulative carrier.
US09219319B2
A SATA connector including an insulative housing and a plurality of terminals are provided. The insulative housing has a plurality of slots into which external terminals are inserted, and the slots run through the insulative housing from a front side to a rear side. The terminals include a plurality of mating portions inserted into the slots and a plurality of extending portions led from the rear side of the insulative housing. Ends of the extending portions are collected on the rear side of the insulative housing to form a plurality of contact pads for electrically coupling to a flexible flat cable. An electrical connector assembly including the above-mentioned SATA connector is further provided.
US09219318B2
A jointing assembly for electrical cables may include: a connector extending about a longitudinal axis and provided, at at least one end portion thereof, with at least one housing seat for at least one free end of a respective electrical cable; and a shrinkable sleeve coaxially arranged in a radially outer position with respect to the connector. The shrinkable sleeve may be held in a radially expanded state by at least one removable support element radially interposed between the connector and the shrinkable sleeve. The connector may be mechanically coupled to the at least one removable support element by at least one stop element that radially projects from at least one of the connector and the at least one removable support element, and that contacts the other one of the connector and the at least one removable support element.
US09219311B2
An antenna device includes an antenna element to be fed with electric power from an external power supply and a ground element to be coupled to the antenna element. The antenna element and the ground element are formed of a conductive film and arranged to define a rectangular region in a plan view with at least one gap between the antenna element and the ground element. The antenna element has a shape of one of a polygon, a circle, and a part of the polygon or the circle. The antenna element includes a feeding part in its portion close to the ground element.
US09219306B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) antenna includes an antenna matching network, an antenna body, and a high frequency (HF) connector. The antenna matching network is used to electrically connect to a signal processing circuit. The antenna body is connected to the antenna matching network, the antenna body includes a bared area, the bared area is used to electrically connect to a conductive object and then to be grounded when the signal processing circuit is needed to be tested. The high frequency (HF) connector is electrically connected to the antenna body and is used to connect to a test device when the signal processing circuit is needed to be tested.
US09219305B2
A built-in antenna for an electronic device is provided. The built-in antenna includes a substrate, a 1st antenna radiator with at least two radiating portions, a 2nd antenna radiator, and a switching means. The substrate has a conductive area and a non-conductive area. The 2nd antenna radiator is arranged within the non-conductive area of the substrate and fed by a Radio Frequency (RF) end of the substrate. The 2nd antenna radiator is configured to operate at a band different from at least one operating band of the 1st antenna radiator, and is fed by the RF end in a position adjacent the 1st antenna radiator. The switching means switches to selectively feed the 1st antenna radiator and the 2nd antenna radiator.
US09219303B2
One or more antennas within an earphone arrangement used in an electronic device includes a plurality of coaxial cables, a first antenna unit, a second antenna unit, and a third antenna unit. The coaxial cables carry radio frequency (RF) signals of different frequency bands. The first antenna unit, the second antenna unit, and the third antenna unit each include a radiating member. Each radiating member can receive and transmit RF signals of at least one frequency band, and the coaxial cables carry the RF signals to the device for processing.
US09219301B2
A battery pack having a main surface and a side surface, and the external appearance thereof is an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. An antenna coil is provided on the main surface. The antenna coil is obtained by forming a coil conductor pattern on a flexible substrate. A substantially slit-shaped aperture is formed on the flexible substrate, and a magnetic material core is inserted into the aperture. In the antenna coil, the center of the coil aperture portion is offset from the center of the main surface of the battery pack in the outside edge portion direction of the main surface. A first end in the magnetic path direction of the magnetic material core is stretched along the side surface of the battery pack, and the second end of the magnetic material core is opened toward the center of the main surface of the battery pack.
US09219296B2
A metallic waveguide is mounted on a multilayer substrate. The metallic waveguide has an open end formed by a top, bottom and sides configured to receive a core member of a dielectric waveguide, and an opposite tapered end formed by declining the top of the metallic waveguide past the bottom of the metallic waveguide and down to contact the multilayer substrate. A pinnacle of the tapered end is coupled to the ground plane element, and the bottom side of the metallic waveguide is in contact with the multiplayer substrate and coupled to the microstrip line.
US09219289B2
The invention relates to an equipping station for equipping motor vehicle battery housings with sets of electrode plates for manufacturing a motor vehicle battery wherein the equipping station has at least one feed section for unequipped battery housings, at least one discharge station for equipped battery housings, at least one apparatus for feedings sets of electrode plates and at least one first equipping section, which is arranged between the feed section and the discharge section and in which sets of electrode plates which have been fed by means of the apparatus for feeding sets of electrode plates are inserted into the battery housing, wherein the first equipping section has a base part, wherein the base part is formed without a conveying apparatus for the battery housing, and the equipping station has at least one first extendable slide, via which a battery housing is horizontally displaceable.
US09219282B2
A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membran and frame-shaped first and second gaskets disposed on both surfaces of the electrolyte membrane. The first and second gaskets have overlapping portions which are positioned at a peripheral edge of the electrolyte membrane and face to the electrolyte membrane, and bonding portions which are positioned outside of the peripheral edge and bonded to each other. The overlapping portions and the bonding portions have through holes which extend in a thickness direction of the electrolyte membrane. An aperture ratio of the through holes of the overlapping portions is greater than an aperture ratio of the through holes of the bonding.
US09219280B2
The invention relates to a current collector. The current collector include a metal foil and a graphene film covered on at least one surface of the metal foil. The invention also relates to an electrode of an electrochemical battery and the electrochemical battery using the current collector.
US09219269B2
An electrolyte mixing apparatus mixes lower-specific-gravity electrolyte with higher-specific-gravity electrolyte using inertial force generated when a vehicle starts to move and stops. The electrolyte mixing apparatus thus prevents the electrolyte in the battery from being formed in lower- and higher-specific-gravity layers according to specific gravity.
US09219262B2
An assembled battery including a plurality of cells of cylindrical shape arranged in a plane including a diameter direction, each of the cells including a groove portion extending in a circumferential direction, and a fixing plate including an engagement portion engaging with each of the groove portions of the cells to fix the plurality of cells. A bus bar electrically connecting terminal electrodes of adjacent two of the cells may be fixed to the fixing plate.
US09219261B2
A battery pack including: a plurality of secondary batteries, each including an electrode terminal having a cooling groove; a cooling pipe configured to pass a heat transfer medium therethrough, the cooling pipe being received in the cooling groove of each of the plurality of secondary batteries; and a bus bar electrically connecting the electrode terminals of adjacent secondary batteries of the plurality of secondary batteries.
US09219260B2
Disclosed herein is a middle or large-sized battery pack including a battery module assembly configured in a structure in which a plurality of battery modules, each of which comprises a plurality of battery cells or unit modules connected in series to each other while being mounted in a module case, is electrically connected to each other while being arranged in a lateral direction such that the battery modules are in contact with each other, a pair of side support members for covering sides of outermost battery modules of the battery module assembly, and at least one top connection member for connecting the side support members at a top of the battery module assembly, wherein at least one of the side support members has a region (weak portion) exhibiting low resistance to volume expansion, the weak portion being partially formed at the at least one of the side support members for inducing local deformation of the battery modules upon occurrence of swelling, thereby causing a short circuit.
US09219258B2
A mounting apparatus for securing a battery module to an enclosure includes a bracket and a latching member. The bracket is secured to the enclosure and defines a receiving space for receiving the battery module. The latching member is attached to the bracket and includes a resilient portion and a blocking flange perpendicularly connected to the resilient portion. The blocking flange is engaged with the battery module to prevent the battery module from disengaging from the receiving space, and the resilient portion is resiliently deformable to disengage the blocking flange from the battery module so that the battery module is easily installed or detached from the enclosure without extra tools.
US09219257B2
Disclosed is a non-aqueous electrolyte battery for suppressing the swell of a film-shaped exterior material. A gas adsorbing carbon material added to an anode mixture layer 9 of an anode 4 and/or to a cathode mixture layer 13 of a cathode 5 adsorbs a gas generated in the battery to suppress the gas storage in the battery, so that it is possible to suppress the swell of a film-shaped exterior material 3 caused by the storage of the gas generated within the battery.
US09219253B2
A method for manufacturing an organic EL display device is provided in which an organic compound layer is formed by vapor deposition after a layer used for patterning the organic compound layer has been formed, so that the organic compound layer is formed without being affected by the surface tension of the sides of the layer for the patterning.
US09219252B2
In an organic EL element, a concave-convex pattern layer having a first concave-convex shape, a first electrode, an organic layer, and a second electrode layer are stacked on a substrate in this order. Further, an auxiliary layer is provided between the concave-convex pattern layer and the first electrode. A surface of the auxiliary layer on the first electrode side has a second concave-convex shape. The change ratio of the standard deviation of depths of the second concave-convex shape with respect to the standard deviation of depths of the first concave-convex shape is 70% or less. The organic EL light-emitting element, which has a high light extraction efficiency while preventing the occurrence of a leak current, can be obtained.
US09219249B2
The invention relates to an organic light-emitting device (OLED) comprising at least: a first electrode (102); a second electrode (105); an organic light emissive layer (104) arranged between said first electrode and said second electrode; and an organic charge transport layer (103) arranged between said first electrode and said emissive layer, wherein i) the charge transport layer is patterned or provided with a periodic surface structure on a surface of the charge transport layer facing the emissive layer, and/or ii) an alignment layer (406) which allows for charge transport to the emissive layer is provided between said charge transport layer and said emissive layer, which alignment layer promotes alignment of the optical dipoles of molecules of said light emissive layer towards a common preferred direction of the molecular axes. The use of the patterned or structured charge transport layer and/or the alignment layer provides improved light out coupling from the OLED layer stack, i.e. increased external quantum efficiency.
US09219247B2
An organic light-emitting display device including a substrate; a sealing sheet, which covers the substrate; a getter, which is interposed between at least a portion of the substrate and the sealing sheet; and an adhesive layer comprising an adhesive, which bonds the sealing sheet onto the substrate, wherein a getter-housing groove is in surfaces of the sealing sheet and the adhesive layer facing the substrate, and the getter is located in the getter-housing groove.
US09219243B2
A multicolor light-emitting element in which light-emitting layers emitting light of different colors are stacked and color adjustment is easily made is provided. A multicolor light-emitting element which is inexpensive and has favorable emission efficiency is provided. A light-emitting element in which at least two light-emitting layers emitting light of different colors are formed in contact with each other and the light emitted from the two light-emitting layers is obtained from exciplexes is provided. In addition, the light-emitting element in which the exciplexes emit delayed fluorescence is provided.
US09219242B2
An organic EL device includes a pair of electrodes and an organic compound layer between pair of electrodes. The organic compound layer includes an emitting layer including a first material, a second material and a third material, in which singlet energy EgS(H) of the first material, singlet energy EgS(H2) of the second material, and singlet energy EgS(D) of the third material satisfy a specific relationship.
US09219235B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting element, which is resistant to repetition of an oxidation reaction. It is another object of the invention to provide a light emitting element, which is resistant to repetition of a reduction reaction. An anthracene derivative is represented by a general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, R2 represents any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, R3 represents any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, Ph1 represents a phenyl group, and X1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms.
US09219232B2
Antimony, germanium and tellurium precursors useful for CVD/ALD of corresponding metal-containing thin films are described, along with compositions including such precursors, methods of making such precursors, and films and microelectronic device products manufactured using such precursors, as well as corresponding manufacturing methods. The precursors of the invention are useful for forming germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST) films and microelectronic device products, such as phase change memory devices, including such films.
US09219231B2
An example embodiment is a phase change memory cell including a bottom electrode and phase change material carried within a via above the bottom electrode. A surfactant layer is deposited above the bottom electrode. The surfactant layer includes a surfactant configured to lower an interfacial force between the phase change material and the via surface.
US09219227B2
A magnetoresistive element according to an embodiment includes: a base layer; a first magnetic layer formed on the base layer, and including a first magnetic film having an axis of easy magnetization in a direction perpendicular to a film plane, the first magnetic film including MnxGa100-x (45≦x<64 atomic %); a first nonmagnetic layer formed on the first magnetic layer; and a second magnetic layer formed on the first nonmagnetic layer, and including a second magnetic film having an axis of easy magnetization in a direction perpendicular to a film plane, the second magnetic film including MnyGa100-y (45≦y<64 atomic %). The first and second magnetic layers include different Mn composition rates from each other, a magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer is changeable by a current flowing between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer via the first nonmagnetic layer.
US09219222B2
A low-profile vibration device capable of generation of great vibration and a portable terminal employing the vibration device. The vibration device includes: a support body; a vibration member supported so that its periphery is connected to the support body, the vibration member having a first portion which is connected to the support body, and a second portion which is located inside the first portion and is not connected to the support body; and a vibration element whose one surface in a first direction is connected to one main surface of the second portion in the vibration member, bending vibration of the vibration element in the first direction whose amplitudes vary along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction being caused by electrical signal input.
US09219218B2
A method of manufacturing an electric wiring layer including an electric wiring includes obtaining a pressed powder molded layer by pressurizing a powder including a metal particle with an insulating layer, the metal particle being constituted by a metal particle having conductivity and a surface insulating layer which is located on a surface of the metal particle and which mainly contains a glass material; and irradiating the pressed powder molded layer with energy rays and forming the electric wiring in an irradiation region.
US09219217B2
A piezoelectric oscillator has an insulating base having a housing portion where internal terminal pads are formed, an integrated circuit (IC) element having rectangular pads bonded to the internal terminal (IT) pads, and a piezoelectric oscillation element (POE) connected to the base and IC element. The IT pads include two opposing first IT pads connected to the POE, two opposing second IT pads, one of which is for AC output, and two opposing third IT pads formed between the first IT pads and the second IT pads. Along a part of perimeter of the first IT pads, the third IT pads and wiring patterns which respectively extend the third IT pads are formed as conductive paths for blocking radiation noise. The first IT pads and the second IT pads are spaced apart with the conductive paths interposed therebetween.
US09219214B2
The invention provides a thermoelectric conversion element having a lot of pn junction pairs per unit area and having a thermoelectric material chip which is hardly broken, and a producing method thereof. In the thermoelectric conversion element of the invention, plural substrates in each of which a film-shaped thermoelectric material is formed in a surface thereof are disposed. As a result, because the number of pn junction pairs per unit area is increased, a high output can be obtained. Because the thermoelectric material is formed into the film shape, reliability degradation caused by a breakage of the thermoelectric material can be prevented, even in the thermoelectric material having many pn junction pairs per unit area, namely, a sectional area is small.
US09219202B2
A light emitting device includes a light emitting diode (“LED”) that emits light having a dominant wavelength in the blue color range, and a recipient luminophoric medium that is configured to down-convert at least some of the light emitted by the LED. The recipient luminophoric medium includes a green phosphor that down-converts the radiation emitted by the LED to radiation having a peak wavelength that is between about 525 nanometers and about 550 nanometers, a yellow phosphor having a wavelength peak that is between about 550 nanometers and about 580 nanometers, and a red (Ca1-x-ySrxEu2+y)SiAlN3 phosphor. The (Ca1-x-ySrxEu2+y)SiAlN3 phosphor has a europium content y of between about 0.003 and 0.009 and a strontium content x of between about 0.150 and 0.300.
US09219184B2
An avalanche photodiode with a defect-assisted silicon absorption region. An example includes a substrate; a layer of silicon on the substrate, the layer of silicon including a positively-doped region, a negatively-doped region, and an absorption region between the positively-doped and negatively-doped regions, the absorption region including defects in its crystal structure; and contacts in electrical communication with the positively-doped and negatively-doped regions to receive a bias potential.
US09219183B2
A photovoltaic thermal hybrid solar receiver includes a thermal collector, extending in a first plane and comprising an aperture; and a photovoltaic module, configured for electrical output power delivery, comprising a photo-active area that extends in a second plane at a distance from the first plane, the photo-active area being vis-à-vis the aperture, a projection of the aperture perpendicularly to the second plane corresponding to the photo-active area.
US09219172B2
An optoelectronic component having an outer surface facing the environment of the optoelectronic component and which is formed by a hydrophobic layer applied at least partly on a surface of the optoelectronic component.
US09219169B2
An angular velocity sensor for detecting an angular velocity includes a substrate having the stationary portion, two pair of driver weights, two detector weights, and a detector electrode. The angular velocity is detected by using a differential signal output indicating a variation in capacitances. When the absolute value of a de-coupling ratio (=(fanti−fin)/fanti) is greater than or equal to 0.07, the occurrence of the anti-phase mode movement can be prevented so as to prevent the occurrence of the output error of the gyro sensor and detect the angular velocity more precisely.
US09219167B2
A method of forming a flash memory cell includes forming a first hard mask and a second hard mask on a substrate. A select gate is formed as a spacer around the first hard mask. A charge storage layer is formed over the first and second hard masks and the select gate. A control gate is formed as a spacer around the second hard mask. A recess in the control gate is filled with a dielectric material. The recess is formed between a curved sidewall of the control gate and a sidewall of the charge storage layer directly adjacent the curved sidewall of the control gate.
US09219166B2
Embodiments of tunneling barriers and methods for same can embed molecules exhibiting a monodispersion characteristic into a dielectric layer (e.g., between first and second layers forming a dielectric layer). In one embodiment, by embedding C60 molecules inbetween first and second insulating layers forming a dielectric layer, a field sensitive tunneling barrier can be implemented. In one embodiment, the tunneling barrier can be between a floating gate and a channel in a semiconductor structure. In one embodiment, a tunneling film can be used in nonvolatile memory applications where C60 provides accessible energy levels to prompt resonant tunneling through the dielectric layer upon voltage application. Embodiments also contemplate engineered fullerene molecules incorporated within the context of at least one of a tunneling dielectric and a floating gate within a nonvolatile flash memory structure.
US09219162B2
A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer, a gate insulating layer covering the oxide semiconductor layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode over the gate insulating layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode include an oxide region formed by oxidizing a side surface thereof. Note that the oxide region of the source electrode and the drain electrode is preferably formed by plasma treatment with a high frequency power of 300 MHz to 300 GHz and a mixed gas of oxygen and argon.
US09219159B2
A method for forming an oxide semiconductor film having favorable semiconductor characteristics is provided. In addition, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having favorable electric characteristics, with use of the oxide semiconductor film is provided. A method for forming an oxide semiconductor film including the steps of forming an oxide semiconductor film, forming a hydrogen permeable film over and in contact with the oxide semiconductor film, forming a hydrogen capture film over and in contact with the hydrogen permeable film, and releasing hydrogen from the oxide semiconductor film by performing heat treatment. Further, in a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method for forming an oxide semiconductor film is used.
US09219149B2
A semiconductor device includes transistor cells with vertical channels perpendicular to a first surface of a semiconductor portion. A buried compensation structure in the semiconductor portion between the transistor cells and a second surface of the semiconductor portion parallel to the first surface includes first areas and second areas. The first and second areas are alternatingly arranged along a lateral direction parallel to the first surface. A contiguous impurity layer of a first conductivity type separates the transistor cells from the buried compensation structure.
US09219141B2
A super junction MOSFET is disclosed. The super junction MOSFET includes a plurality of mutually parallel pn junctions extending in a vertical direction on a first principal surface of an n-type semiconductor substrate; a parallel pn layer in which n-type drift regions and p-type partition regions, each sandwiched between the adjacent pn junctions, are disposed alternately in contact with each other; and an MOS gate structure on the first principal surface side of the parallel pn layer, wherein an n-type first buffer layer and second buffer layer are in contact in that order on the opposite principal surface side, and the impurity concentration of the first buffer layer is a concentration that is equal to or less than the same level as that of the impurity concentration of the n-type drift region.
US09219133B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming a first spacer for at least one gate stack on a first semiconductor material layer, and forming a respective second spacer for each of source and drain regions adjacent the at least one gate. Each second spacer has a pair of opposing sidewalls and an end wall coupled thereto. The method includes filling the source and drain regions with a second semiconductor material while the first and second spacers provide confinement.
US09219131B2
A method includes performing an epitaxy to grow a semiconductor layer, which includes a top portion over a semiconductor region. The semiconductor region is between two insulation regions that are in a substrate. The method further includes recessing the insulation regions to expose portions of sidewalls of the semiconductor region, and etching a portion of the semiconductor region, wherein the etched portion of the semiconductor region is under and contacting a bottom surface of the semiconductor layer, wherein the semiconductor layer is spaced apart from an underlying region by an air gap. A gate dielectric and a gate electrode are formed over the semiconductor layer.
US09219125B2
A semiconductor device having five gate stacks on different regions of a substrate and methods of making the same are described. The device includes a semiconductor substrate and isolation features to separate the different regions on the substrate. The different regions include a p-type field-effect transistor (pFET) core region, an input/output pFET (pFET IO) region, an n-type field-effect transistor (nFET) core region, an input/output nFET (nFET IO) region, and a high-resistor region.
US09219123B2
A method of producing a nitride semiconductor crystal uses a metal organic chemical vapor deposition process and offers good controllability with respect to a p-type nitride semiconductor crystal. To that end, an organic metal compound of a group III element, a hydride of nitrogen, and an organic compound having any of the partial structures C—C—O, C—C═O, C═C—O, C═C═O, C≡C—O, and C—O—C are used as source materials, and by a metal organic chemical vapor deposition process, C and O atoms are simultaneously introduced into the crystal to obtain p-type conductivity.
US09219117B2
According to various embodiments, a semiconductor structure may include: a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region; a body region disposed between the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region, the body region including a core region and at least one edge region at least partially surrounding the core region; a dielectric region next to the body region and configured to limit a current flow through the body region in a width direction of the body region, wherein the at least one edge region is arranged between the core region and the dielectric region; and a gate structure configured to control the body region; wherein the gate structure is configured to provide a first threshold voltage for the core region of the body region and a second threshold voltage for the at least one edge region of the body region, wherein the first threshold voltage is less than or equal to the second threshold voltage.
US09219114B2
A semiconductor fin suspended above a top surface of a semiconductor layer and supported by a gate structure is formed. An insulator layer is formed between the top surface of the semiconductor layer and the gate structure. A gate spacer is formed, and physically exposed portions of the semiconductor fin are removed by an anisotropic etch. Subsequently, physically exposed portions of the insulator layer can be etched with a taper. Alternately, a disposable spacer can be formed prior to an anisotropic etch of the insulator layer. The lateral distance between two openings in the dielectric layer across the gate structure is greater than the lateral distance between outer sidewalls of the gate spacers. Selective deposition of a semiconductor material can be performed to form raised active regions.
US09219102B2
A flexible organic electroluminescent device is disclosed which includes: a flexible substrate; a buffer layer entirely formed on the flexible substrate; a thin film transistor formed on the buffer layer and configured to include an active layer; a planarization film formed to cover the thin film transistor; an organic light emitting diode formed on the planarization film and configured to include a first electrode, an organic emission layer and a second electrode; and at least one silicon nitride layer formed above the active layer of the thin film transistor but under the planarization film and patterned into a plurality of island patterns.
US09219098B2
An electronic device includes a memory. The memory includes a first cell array including a plurality of flash memory cells, a first peripheral circuit suitable for controlling the first cell array, a second cell array including a plurality of variable resistance memory cells, and a second peripheral circuit suitable for controlling the second cell array. The first cell array, the first peripheral circuit, and the second peripheral circuit are formed at a first level over a surface of a semiconductor substrate, and the second cell array is disposed at a second level over the surface of a semiconductor substrate, the second level being higher than the first level. A portion of the second cell array overlaps in a plan view the second peripheral circuit and/or the first cell array.
US09219097B2
A method for producing a solid-state imaging element which has photoconversion pixels, the method including forming an impurity region of the first conduction type and a second impurity region of the second conduction type on the impurity region of the first conduction type by ion implantation by using the same mask; forming on the surface of the semiconductor substrate a transfer gate constituting the charge transfer section which extends over the second impurity region of the second conduction type; forming a charge accumulating region of the first conduction type constituting the sensor section by ion implantation; and forming a first impurity region of the second conduction type, which has a higher impurity concentration than the second impurity region of the second conduction type, by ion implantation.
US09219092B2
A device includes a semiconductor substrate, which has a front side and a backside. A photo-sensitive device is disposed on the front side of the semiconductor substrate. A first and a second grid line are parallel to each other, and are disposed on the backside of, and overlying, the semiconductor substrate. A stacked layer includes an adhesion layer, a metal layer over the adhesion layer, and a high-refractive index layer over the metal layer. The adhesion layer, the metal layer, and the high-refractive index layer are substantially conformal, and extend on top surfaces and sidewalls of the first and the second grid lines.
US09219091B2
A host substrate assembly includes a first substrate with opposing first and second surfaces, an aperture extending therethrough, circuit layers, and first contact pads electrically coupled to the circuit layers. A sensor chip includes a second substrate with opposing first and second surfaces, a plurality of photo detectors formed on or in the second substrate and configured to receive light incident on the second substrate first surface, and a plurality of second contact pads formed at the second substrate first or second surfaces and are electrically coupled to the photo detectors. A spacer is mounted to the second substrate first surface. A protective substrate is mounted to the spacer and disposed over the photo detectors. Electrically conductive conduits each extend through the spacer and are in electrical contact with one of the second contact pads. Electrical connectors electrically connect the first contact pads and the conduits.
US09219087B2
A display unit includes a plurality of display function layers provided in a stacking direction, and each including a plurality of pixel circuits. A pixel circuit group configured by predetermined number of the pixel circuits configures a single display pixel, and the predetermined number of the pixel circuits spans the plurality of display function layers.
US09219077B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first substrate on which a first field effect transistor is provided; and a second substrate on which a second field effect transistor of a second conductive type is provided; the first and second substrates being bonded to each other at the substrate faces thereof on which the first and second field transistors are provided, respectively; the first field effect transistor and the second field effect transistor being electrically connected to each other.
US09219075B1
A semiconductor structure and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The method comprises the following steps. First, a stack of alternate sacrificial layers and insulating layers is formed on a bottom layer on a substrate. Then, a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second holes are formed through the stack concurrently. In the semiconductor structure as formed by the embodied method, the first holes and the second holes are equally spaced apart from each other at least in an arranged direction.
US09219073B2
Roughly described, a memory device has a multilevel stack of conductive layers. Pillars oriented orthogonally to the substrate each include series-connected memory cells at cross-points between the pillars and the conductive layers. String select lines (SSLs) are disposed above the conductive layers, and bit lines are disposed above the SSLs. The pillars are arranged on a regular grid having a unit cell which is a non-rectangular parallelogram. The pillars may be arranged so as to define a number of parallel pillar lines, each having an acute angle θ>0° relative to the bit line conductors, each line of pillars having n>1 pillars intersecting a common one of the SSL. The arrangement permits higher bit line density, a higher data rate due to increased parallelism, and a smaller number of SSLs, thereby reducing disturbance, reducing power consumption and reducing unit cell capacitance.
US09219059B2
A metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) with integrated passive structures and methods of manufacturing the same is disclosed. The method includes forming a stacked structure in an active region and at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) structure adjacent to the stacked structure. The method further includes forming a semiconductor layer directly in contact with the at least one STI structure and the stacked structure. The method further includes patterning the semiconductor layer and the stacked structure to form an active device in the active region and a passive structure of the semiconductor layer directly on the at least one STI structure.
US09219058B2
A high voltage switching circuit includes first and second group III-V transistors, the second group III-V transistor having a greater breakdown voltage than the first group III-V transistor. The circuit further includes a silicon diode in a parallel arrangement with the first group III-V transistor, the parallel arrangement being in cascade with the second group III-V transistor. The circuit is effectively a three-terminal device, where a first terminal is coupled to a gate of the second III-V transistor, a source of the first III-V transistor, and an anode of the silicon diode. A second terminal is coupled to a gate of the first group III-V transistor, and a third terminal is coupled to a drain of the second group III-V transistor. The first group III-V transistor might be an enhancement mode transistor. The second group III-V transistor might be a depletion mode transistor. The first and second group III-V transistors can be GaN HEMTs.
US09219039B2
Interposer and semiconductor package embodiments provide for the isolation and suppression of electronic noise such as EM emissions in the semiconductor package. The interposer includes shield structures in various embodiments, the shield structures blocking the electrical noise from the noise source, from other electrical signals or devices. The shields include solid structures and some embodiments and decoupling capacitors in other embodiments. The coupling structures includes multiple rows of solder balls included in strips that couple the components and surround and contain the source of electrical noise.
US09219035B2
Methods of forming an integrated circuit device include forming an interlayer dielectric layer on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate and then forming an interconnect hole that extends through the interlayer dielectric layer and into the semiconductor substrate. A first sidewall spacer layer is formed on a sidewall of the interconnect hole. The semiconductor substrate at a bottom of the interconnect hole is isotropically etched to define an undercut recess in the semiconductor substrate. This etching step is performed using the first sidewall spacer layer as an etching mask. The interconnect hole and the uncut recess are then filled with a through-via electrode. A second surface of the semiconductor substrate is removed for a sufficient duration to expose the uncut recess containing the through-via electrode.
US09219031B2
A chip arrangement may include: a chip including a plurality of electrical nets, wherein each electrical net includes at least one bonding pad; and a plurality of pillars formed on the at least one bonding pad of a majority of the plurality of electrical nets, wherein the plurality of pillars may be configured to connect the at least one bonding pad of the majority of the plurality of electrical nets to a chip-external connection region.
US09219030B2
The described embodiments of mechanisms of forming a package on package (PoP) structure involve bonding with connectors with non-solder metal balls to a packaging substrate. The non-solder metal balls may include a solder coating layer. The connectors with non-solder metal balls can maintain substantially the shape of the connectors and control the height of the bonding structures between upper and lower packages. The connectors with non-solder metal balls are also less likely to result in bridging between connectors or disconnection (or cold joint) of bonded connectors. As a result, the pitch of the connectors with non-solder metal balls can be kept small.
US09219028B1
An embodiment of a packaged device includes first and second package leads, a first integrated circuit (IC) die, and a sub-assembly that includes a second IC die coupled to a substrate. The first IC die has a first coil, and the second IC die has a second coil. The first and second IC die are arranged within the device so that the first and second coils are aligned with each other across a gap between the first and second IC die, and the first and second IC die are galvanically isolated from each other. The first IC die is electrically coupled to the first package lead (e.g., with a wirebond), and a substrate bond pad is electrically coupled to the second package lead (e.g., with a wirebond). The sub-assembly also may include encapsulation at least over a wirebond that electrically couples the second IC die to the substrate.
US09219015B2
A method for producing a phosphor layer-covered optical semiconductor element includes a step of opposing a phosphor layer containing a phosphor to an optical semiconductor element and an adjusting step of adjusting a color tone of light emitted from the optical semiconductor element and exited via the phosphor layer by adjusting the thickness of the phosphor layer.
US09219014B2
A manufacturing method of white-light emitting elements that is one example of the present invention is a manufacturing method of a white-light emitting element with the light emitting diode chip covered with the fluorescent-body-containing resin member that has been formed with the fluorescent-body-containing resin material containing a resin and fluorescent bodies, and includes: an irradiating step of irradiating the fluorescent-body-containing resin material with the blue laser beam; a measuring step of measuring the fluorescence strength of the fluorescence light emission from the fluorescent bodies that have been excited by the blue laser beam with which the irradiation has been carried out; and an applying step of applying, to the light emitting diode chip, a quantity of the fluorescent-body-containing resin material, the quantity being based on the fluorescence strength that has been measured.
US09219009B2
A method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate having a conductive feature. A dielectric layer is formed over the substrate, having an opening to expose the conductive feature. A tungsten (W) capping layer is formed over the conductive feature in the opening without using fluorine-containing gases. A bulk W layer is formed over the W capping layer.
US09219008B2
A graphene patterning method for forming a graphene of predetermined pattern includes bringing a patterning member in which a catalyst metal layer of the predetermined pattern is formed into contact with a substrate having a graphene oxide film. In bringing the patterning member, the catalyst metal layer is brought into contact with the graphene oxide film.
US09219005B2
A 3D IC based mobile system including: a first semiconductor layer including first mono-crystallized transistors, where the first mono-crystallized transistors are interconnected by at least one metal layer including aluminum or copper; a second layer including second mono-crystallized transistors and overlaying the at least one metal layer, where the at least one metal layer is in-between the first semiconductor layer and the second layer; a plurality of thermal paths between the second mono-crystallized transistors and a heat removal apparatus, where at least one of the plurality of thermal paths includes a thermal contact adapted to conduct heat and not conduct electricity; and a heat spreader layer between the second layer and the at least one metal layer.
US09219001B2
Fin-FET (fin field-effect transistor) devices and methods of fabrication are disclosed. The fin-FET devices include dual fin structures that may form a channel region between a source region and a drain region. In some embodiments, the dual fin structures are formed by forming shallow trench isolation structures, using a pair of shallow trench isolation (STI) structures as a mask to define a recess in a portion of a substrate between the pair of STI structures, and recessing the pair of STI structures so that the resulting dual fin structures protrude from an active surface of the substrate. The dual fin structures may be used to form single-gate, double-gate, or triple-gate fin-FET devices. Electronic systems including such fin-FET devices are also disclosed.
US09218996B2
A substrate position aligner includes a substrate holding assembly, a plurality of rollers, a rotation mechanism, and a sensor. The substrate holding assembly is configured to hold a substrate in a vertical orientation. The plurality of rollers include at least two idler rollers and a drive roller. Each roller has a point on its perimeter spaced on a common radius from a center of substrate rotation defined within the substrate holding assembly. The sensor is positioned approximately on the common radius and configured to detect the presence of an orientation cut in the substrate when the orientation cut is not orientated within a range between about −44 degrees and about +44 degrees from horizontal. A method of aligning a substrate having an orientation cut includes sensing a presence of the orientation cut when the orientation cut is not orientated within the above recited range.
US09218993B2
Provided is a method of forming a tantalum oxide-based film having good step coverage while controlling an oxygen concentration in the film. The method includes forming a tantalum nitride layer on a substrate by supplying a source gas including a tantalum and a nitriding agent into a process chamber wherein the substrate is accommodated under a condition where a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reaction is caused; oxidizing the tantalum nitride layer by supplying an oxidizing agent into the process chamber under a condition where an oxidation reaction of the tantalum nitride layer by the oxidizing agent is unsaturated; and forming on the substrate a conductive tantalum oxynitride film wherein an oxygen is stoichiometrically insufficient with respect to the tantalum and a nitrogen by alternately repeating forming the tantalum nitride layer on the substrate and oxidizing the tantalum nitride layer a plurality of times.
US09218992B2
Methods of and apparatuses for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask composed of a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is supported by a substrate carrier. The mask is then patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits while supported by the substrate carrier.
US09218986B2
A method includes forming at least one trench in a dielectric layer using a hard mask. An edge cover layer is formed over the hard mask. The at least one trench is filled with a metal layer.
US09218974B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a first gate strip; a gate spacer on a sidewall of the first gate strip; and a contact etch stop layer (CESL) having a bottom portion lower than a top surface of the gate spacer, wherein a portion of a sidewall of the gate spacer has no CESL formed thereon.
US09218973B2
Provided are methods of doping substrates and making doped semiconductor features. An exemplary method includes providing a substrate having at least one feature having an aspect ratio; depositing a layer of dopants onto the substrate, the layer of dopants having a shape conforming to the at least one feature. A dielectric layer is deposited onto the layer of dopants, the dielectric layer having a shape conforming to the layer of dopants. The dielectric layer is annealed to diffuse the dopants into the substrate.
US09218972B1
In a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device according to an embodiment, a processing target film is formed above a substrate. A buffer layer in a polycrystalline state or an amorphous state is formed on the processing target film. A mask material is formed on the buffer layer. The processing target film is etched using the mask material as a mask. The buffer layer has an etching rate smaller than the processing target film.
US09218964B2
Methods of manufacturing a III-V compound semiconductor material, and the semiconductor material thus manufactured, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a substrate comprising a first semiconductor material having a {001} orientation and an insulating layer overlaying the first semiconductor material. The insulating layer comprises a recessed region exposing an exposed region of the first semiconductor material. The method further comprises forming a buffer layer overlaying the exposed region that comprises a group IV semiconductor material. The method further comprises thermally annealing the substrate and the buffer layer, thereby roughening the buffer layer to create a rounded, double-stepped surface having a step density and a step height. A product of the step density and the step height is greater than or equal to 0.05 on the surface. The method further comprises at least partially filling the recessed region with a III-V compound semiconductor material overlaying the surface.
US09218962B2
A high order silane having a formula of SinH2n+2, in which n is an integer greater than 3, in combination with a germanium precursor gas is employed to deposit an epitaxial semiconductor alloy material including at least silicon and germanium on a single crystalline surface. The germanium precursor gas effectively reduces the gas phase reaction of the high order silane, thereby improving the thickness uniformity of the deposited epitaxial semiconductor alloy material. The combination of the high order silane and the germanium precursor gas provides a high deposition rate in the Frank-van der Merwe growth mode for deposition of a single crystalline semiconductor alloy material.
US09218957B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a thin film transistor, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, comprising the following steps: providing a substrate; forming a semiconductor layer on the substrate; forming a gate insulating layer; and forming a gate electrode, wherein the gate insulating layer comprises a first gate insulating layer, the first gate insulating layer being formed by oxidizing a portion of the semiconductor layer, and the unoxidized portion of the semiconductor layer forming an active layer, and wherein the gate electrode is formed in such a way that the gate insulating layer is sandwiched between the gate electrode and the active layer.
US09218942B2
A charged particle beam writing apparatus includes a shot division unit configured to divide a figure defined in layout data into a plurality of shot figures each having a size which can be irradiated by one shot of a charged particle beam, a shot data generating unit configured to generate each shot data for each shot figure of the plurality of shot figures, where a number of times of generating the each shot data equals a number of times of multiple writing of the each shot figure of the plurality of shot figures, such that multiplicity of the multiple writing is variable per the each shot figure, and a writing unit configured to perform the multiple writing of the each shot figure onto a target workpiece, in accordance with the number of times of the each shot data generated for the each shot figure, using a charged particle beam.
US09218941B2
An ion implantation system and method for implanting ions at varying energies across a workpiece is provided. The system comprises an ion source configured to ionize a dopant gas into a plurality of ions and to form an ion beam. A mass analyzer is positioned downstream of the ion source and configured to mass analyze the ion beam. A deceleration/acceleration stage is positioned downstream of the mass analyzer. An energy filter may form part of the deceleration/acceleration stage or may positioned downstream of the deceleration/acceleration stage. An end station is provided having a workpiece support associated therewith for positioning the workpiece before the ion beam is also provided. A scanning apparatus is configured to scan one or more of the ion beam and workpiece support with respect to one another. One or more power sources are operably coupled to one or more of the ion source, mass analyzer, deceleration/acceleration stage, and energy filter. A controller is configured to selectively vary one or more voltages respectively supplied to one or more of the deceleration/acceleration stage and the energy filter concurrent with the scanning of the ion beam and/or workpiece support, wherein the selective variation of the one or more voltages is based, at least in part, on a position of the ion beam with respect to the workpiece support.
US09218940B1
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for slice and view processing of samples with dual beam systems. The slice and view processing includes exposing a vertical wall of a trench formed in a sample surface; capturing a first image of the wall by interrogating the wall with an interrogating beam while the wall is at a first orientation relative to the beam; capturing a second image of the wall by interrogating the wall with the beam while the wall is at a second orientation relative to the beam, wherein first distances in the first image between a reference point and surface points on the wall are different than second distances in the second image between the reference point and the surface points; determining elevations of the surface points using the first distances and the second distances; and fitting a curve to topography of the wall using the elevations.
US09218939B2
A focused ion beam system includes a focused ion beam irradiation mechanism which irradiates a sample, on which a protective film is formed, with a focused ion beam from above the sample, a processing control unit which performs a removal process on both sides of a region to be a thin piece portion of the sample by the focused ion beam and sequentially forms observation surfaces parallel to an irradiation direction of the focused ion beam so as to achieve the thin piece portion, and an observation surface image generation unit which generates an observation surface image. The processing control unit terminates the removal process when a height of the protective film in the irradiation direction of the focused ion beam becomes a predetermined threshold value or less in the observation surface image.
US09218935B2
The present disclosure relates to a gas field ion source comprising a housing, an electrically conductive tip arranged within the housing, a gas supply for supplying one or more gases to the housing, wherein the one or more gases comprise neon or a noble gas with atoms having a mass larger than neon, and an extractor electrode having a hole to permit ions generated in the neighborhood of the tip to pass through the hole. A surface of the extractor electrode facing the tip can be made of a material having a negative secondary ion sputter rate of less than 10−5 per incident neon ion.
US09218929B2
A thermomagnetic trip is disclosed for an electrical switching device, especially a circuit breaker. In at least one embodiment it includes at least one first and one second terminal, a first heating element, a conductor able to be influenced by temperature, a yoke and a clapper armature. A current path is formed through at least the first terminal, the conductor, the first heating element and the second terminal. The current path is disposed at least in sections on and/or in the yoke such that a magnetic field acting on the clapper armature is induced in the yoke by the current flowing through the current path and wherein a second heating element is disposed in the current path especially between the first terminal and the conductor.
US09218923B2
A device for indicating the state of an electrical switching apparatus includes a movable contact arranged movable between a first and a second position. The device includes at least one protruding contact element arranged on the movable contact, at least one contact pin arranged in the close vicinity to the movable contact such that said contact element abuts the contact pin when the movable contact is in the first position and said contact element is at a distance from the contact pin when the movable contact is in the second position. The contact element and the contact pin form an electrical switch and a detector arrangement configured to detect when said electrical switch is closed and by that detect when the movable contact is in the first position.
US09218921B2
Circuit breakers with a cam follower having an upper post with the cam follower held by a cross bar to prevent cam/arm misalignment during high interruption shot on the breaker. Related cam followers have an upwardly extending post located on one side edge portion and cooperates with a shunt to provide shunt separation during high interruption breaker shots.
US09218917B2
An ultracapacitor includes at least one electrode that includes carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes may be applied in a variety of ways, and a plurality of layers may be included. Methods of fabrication of carbon nanotubes and ultracapacitors are provided.
US09218915B2
An electrolyte including an alkali metal salt; a polar aprotic solvent; and a triazinane trione; wherein the electrolyte is substantially non-aqueous.
US09218908B2
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component, including: a ceramic body having first and second main surfaces, first and second side surfaces, and first and second end surfaces; a first block including first and second internal electrodes having overlap regions which form a capacitance part; one or more second blocks each including third and fourth internal electrodes having overlap regions which form a capacitance part; a first external electrode connected to the first and third lead out portions and a second external electrode connected to the second and fourth lead out portions; and an insulating layer formed on the first side surface of the ceramic body, wherein the second blocks are disposed on upper and lower parts of the first block.
US09218901B2
An electric-pulse-induced-resistance change device (EPIR device) is provided which is a resistance switching device. It has a buffer layer inserted between a first active resistance switching layer and a second active resistance switching layer, with both active switching layers connected to electrode layers directly or through additional buffer layers between the active resistance switching layers and the electrodes. This device in its simplest form has the structure: electrode-active layer-buffer layer-active layer-electrode. The second active resistance switching layer may, in the alternative, be an ion donating layer, such that the structure becomes: electrode-active layer-buffer layer-ion donating layer-electrode. The EPIR device is constructed to mitigate the retention challenge.
US09218885B2
An apparatus comprising a memory and a controller. The memory is configured to process a plurality of read/write operations. The memory comprises a plurality of memory modules. Each memory module has a size less than a total size of the memory. The controller is configured to write user data using a plurality of threshold voltages. The data considered hot-read data is written using a first voltage threshold. The data not considered hot-read data is written using a second voltage threshold. The first voltage threshold reduces an impact on endurance of the memory.
US09218883B2
Aspects of a continuous-time memory cell circuit are described. In various embodiments, the memory cell circuit may comprise a memory cell, a current source coupled to the memory cell, and circuitry for programming the memory cell at an adaptive rate, based on a target voltage for programming, using a feedback loop between a gate terminal of the memory cell and a reference control input. Based on the circuitry for programming, the memory cell may be programmed according to various voltage and/or current references, by linear injection and/or tunneling mechanisms. According to various aspects, the circuitry for programming drives a memory cell to converge to a voltage target for programming within a short period of time and to a suitable level of accuracy.
US09218874B1
When writing a multi-state non-volatile memory, a de-trapping operation is included in the programming cycle. To reduce the performance penalty of including a de-trapping operation, the programming cycle of a single series of increasing pulses alternating with verify operations is replaced with a cycle including a pulse from each of two or more staircases, where each staircase is for a corresponding subset of the data states. After the multiple pulses, but before the following verify, a de-trapping operation is inserted in the programming cycle.
US09218873B2
Cell power supply lines are arranged for memory cell columns, and adjust impedances or voltage levels of the cell power supply lines according to the voltage levels of bit lines in the corresponding columns, respectively. In the data write operation, the cell power supply line is forced into a floating state according to the bit line potential on a selected column and has the voltage level changed, and a latching capability of a selected memory cell is reduced to write data fast. Even with a low power supply voltage, a static semiconductor memory device that can stably perform write and read of data is implemented.
US09218866B2
One embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-state current-switching magnetic memory element includes a stack of two or more magnetic tunneling junctions (MTJs), each MTJ having a free layer and being separated from other MTJs in the stack by a seeding layer formed upon an isolation layer, the stack for storing more than one bit of information, wherein different levels of current applied to the memory element causes switching to different states.
US09218849B1
A data storage device may employ a heat assisted magnetic recording data writer separated from a plurality of data bits stored on a media surface of a data storage medium. At least one controller and a prediction circuit that is connected to the heat assisted magnetic recording data writer can be configured to remap the media surface in response to a predicted heat assisted magnetic recording data writer failure.
US09218839B2
An apparatus for operating a tape storage device comprises a first tape skew determination unit for providing a first tape skew value concerning a skew of a tape in the tape storage device, and a second tape skew determination unit for providing a second tape skew value concerning the skew of the tape. An actuator adjusts one or more of a rotational orientation of a tape head of the tape storage device which tape head is provided for reading and/or writing data from/to the tape, and a motion direction of the tape dependent on the first tape skew value and the second tape skew value.
US09218837B2
Sensor data and audio data are received by a controller. The controller determines if the audio data is above a threshold level. The controller also determines if the sensor data is above a threshold level. The controller can suspend operation of a hard drive based on the data being above or below the threshold level.
US09218834B2
Approaches to a flexure gimbal assembly for a hard-disk drive (HDD), having a feature for reducing the risk of electrical shorts, include a flexure having an electrically conductive layer and an insulating layer having a flexure tongue with which one or more microactuator piezo actuating device is coupled, where the flexure tongue comprises a gap positioned to inhibit contact between the conductive adhesive and the conductive layer of the flexure which may otherwise cause an electrical short.
US09218827B1
A return path section includes a first yoke portion located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to a main pole and in contact with the top surface of the main pole. A coil includes a plurality of coil elements extending to pass between a core of a waveguide and the first yoke portion. The plurality of coil elements include a specific coil element. The main pole rides over the specific coil element.
US09218808B2
A computer-implemented system and method for reducing voice transcription error is provided. Audio data is received during a call and parsed into utterances. A transcribed value and confidence score are assigned to each utterance. Those utterances with low confidence scores are identified as questionable utterances. One of the questionable utterances is selected from the audio data and a pool of questionable utterances is formed. The pool includes the selected questionable utterance and other questionable utterances, from other calls, that are similar to the selected questionable utterance. A size threshold is applied to the pool of questionable utterances. All the questionable utterances in the pool are provided to at least one human transcriber when the pool fails to satisfy the size threshold. Further transcribed values are received from the transcriber for each of the questionable utterances in the pool.
US09218804B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media for intelligent caching of concatenative speech units for use in speech synthesis. A system configured to practice the method can identify a speech synthesis context, and determine, based on a local cache of text-to-speech units for a text-to-speech voice and based on the speech synthesis context, additional text-to-speech units which are not in the local cache. The system can request from a server the additional text-to-speech units, and store the additional text-to-speech units in the local cache. The system can then synthesize speech using the text-to-speech units and the additional text-to-speech units in the local cache. The system can prune the cache as the context changes, based on availability of local storage, or after synthesizing the speech. The local cache can store a core set of text-to-speech units associated with the text-to-speech voice that cannot be pruned from the local cache.
US09218801B2
A method of controlling sounds associated with a vehicle is provided. The method includes performing on a processor, monitoring powertrain data; determining a powertrain transition event based on the powertrain data; and selectively controlling the generation of one or more tones based on the powertrain transition event.
US09218800B2
A sound transmission material is made of fibers entangled with each other and has a self-standing property and a high performance sound transmission property, namely the TABER™ stiffness is not less than 5 mN×m, the bending resistance is not less than 100 mN, the porosity is not less than 50%, and the thickness is not more than 3 mm.
US09218797B2
The present invention provides a percussion instrument that is struck by a drumstick and generates a sound resembling a cross between a cowbell and a xylophone. The instrument comprises two spaced-apart planar metal plates with three of the sides spanning between the plates enclosed by additional metal plates. The additional metal plates are welded to the spaced-apart metal plates at discreet locations to tune the instrument. An aperture for a tom mount can be defined in one of the planar metal plates. In certain embodiments, the instrument is approximately 30-38 inches long with one end being 6-16 inches across and the opposing end being 2-3 inches across. The spacing between the spaced-apart metal plates in certain embodiments is 1-2.5 inches. Welds in certain embodiments can be arranged to generate a plurality of different pitches, for example, five different pitches.
US09218795B1
A device for setting the tension in a string of a stringed musical instrument whereby a musician can instantly retune the string to play either one of two predetermined notes by merely actuating a lever. The device is preferably attached between the tailpiece or body of the instrument and an end of the string. The element of the tuner to which the string is attached (a string anchor) moves with a rectilinear motion to change the string tension. Two embodiments are disclosed, one of which used a rotating cam to position the string anchor, and the other of which uses a two-bar linkage to position the string anchor.
US09218794B2
According to one embodiment, a photographing image including a user region is acquired. The user region is detected from the photographing image. The user region in the photographing image is changed so that a user's direction in the user region cannot be decided, and the photographing image in which the user region is changed is acquired as a change image. A position of the user region in the photographing image is calculated. An image of a back side-cloth is compounded with the user region in the change image at the position.
US09218791B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that appropriately compensates for a feed-through voltage. The liquid crystal display device is arranged such that when data of a certain gray level is to be displayed, the effective value of a pixel voltage changes in an N-frame cycle, a first pixel and a second pixel are provided that are different in the effective value during an i-th frame (1≦i≦N), the first pixel has a positive polarity during the i-th frame, whereas the second pixel has a negative polarity during an i{N/2 after}th frame, the first pixel has a polarity during a j-th frame (where 1≦j≦N and i≠j), the polarity being different from the polarity of the second pixel during a j{N/2 after}th frame, and when data of a first gray level is to be displayed, VB and VC are different from each other, where VA is a source voltage (VD) of the first pixel during the i-th frame, VB is a source voltage (VD) of the second pixel during the i{N/2 after}th frame, and VC is, in a case where data of a second gray level is to be displayed when the first pixel has a positive polarity during the j-th frame, a source voltage (VD) of the second pixel during the j{N/2 after}th frame for the case in which the source voltage (VD) of the first pixel during the first pixel is VA.
US09218790B2
A liquid crystal display includes a substrate, a plurality of signal lines, a gate driver, and a sealant. The substrate includes a display area and a peripheral area outside the display area. The signal lines are integrated with the substrate and include a clock signal line. The gate driver includes a stage located between the clock signal line and the display area. The stage is integrated with the substrate and is configured to apply a gate voltage to the display area. The sealant is distributed over part of the peripheral area. A seal region where the sealant is distributed includes a seal line, and the clock signal line is located within the seal line. The clock signal line is located further away from the stage than the other signal lines.
US09218787B2
An image-displaying device includes a storage section, an image data generation section, a timing information acquisition section, and a display control section. The image data generation section is configured to generate image data indicative of an image of a subject and output to the storage section the image data including an Nth image data and an (N+i)th image data. The timing information acquisition section is configured to acquire timing information indicative of a timing related to generation of the image data and a timing at which output of each of the Nth image data and the (N+i)th image data to the storage section is completed. The display control section is configured to control a display section to commence reading and displaying the Nth image data in accordance with acquisition of the timing information indicating that the output of the (N+i)th image data to the storage section is completed.
US09218781B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus including an operation detecting unit detecting an operation of a subject that has been captured, and a display control unit controlling at least one of wearing or removal of at least one of virtual clothing or accessories to be displayed overlaid on the subject in accordance with the operation detected by the operation detecting unit.
US09218770B2
A display system and method for improving legibility of images viewed on a passive display in a bright environment, including apparatus and method for increasing or maintaining the range of grey levels for the image as viewed on the display and decreasing the number of grey levels used in that range.
US09218769B2
A method and system is disclosed for modifying the pulse width modulation signal frequency for controlling the backlight illumination intensity of a liquid crystal display. The modified pulse width modulation signal frequency is selected to eliminate visible light and dark bands in the liquid crystal display image. The brightness of the display may be also adjusted by modifying the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal. The brightness selected, either automatically or by the user, is matched with a pulse width modulation signal frequency to insure that the pulse width modulation signal will be anti-phased across a plurality of contiguous frame refresh periods.
US09218766B2
A pixel circuit array is disclosed and includes pixel unit circuits, and each of the pixel unit circuit includes a precharge circuit, a compensation circuit, a holding circuit, a driving circuit, a light emitting circuit, a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, a third power supply terminal, a scanning control terminal, a first control terminal and a second control terminal. With the pixel unit circuit, as long as the inputted direct-current reference voltage and the data voltage signal are not varied, the current delivered to the OLED remains constant, thus the uniformity of the OLED can be compensated for.
US09218739B2
A method for assisting a driver includes determining that a host vehicle and first and second surrounding vehicles are approaching an intersection on at least two different road segments; determining when the first and second vehicles have stopped at the intersection; determining when the first and second vehicles proceed through the intersection; and identifying an actual order-of-progression of the first and second vehicles through the intersection. Simultaneously or sequentially with determination of the actual order-of-progression, attempting to determine a present geographic location of the host vehicle and consulting an on-board database to attempt to identify a regulatory order-of-progression for the present geographic location. If the regulatory order-or-progression is identified, the driver is advised regarding the regulatory order-of-progression. If the attempt to identify the regulatory order-or-progression is not successful, the driver is advised regarding the actual order-of-progression.
US09218725B2
A gaming machine which can control the tempo of the game to refresh the player while maintaining continuity of the game, enhancing entertainingness and amusement of the game, and encouraging the player's sense of achievements. The input unit receives an instruction related to a game. The memory stores a first symbol determination table causing that a specific symbol appears among rearranged symbols on the symbol display unit with a first probability and a second symbol determination table causing that the specific symbol appears among the rearranged symbols with a second probability higher than the first probability. The controller starts the game in response to the instruction received through the input unit to execute the game in a normal mode and shifting the normal mode to a chance mode according to the game result in the normal mode.
US09218723B2
A method including providing a lottery terminal that includes a graphical user interface and a motion capture device to facilitate a user to play in a lottery. The method further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, a first image with content that includes drawing lottery tickets, instant lottery tickets, lottery games, dynamically-generated animations, and advertisements and detecting, by the motion capture device, a gesture of the user in a three dimensional space surrounding the lottery terminal. The method may further includes displaying, on the graphical user interface, a second image with content based, at least in part, on the gesture of the user; receiving, by the lottery terminal, a payment from the user for playing the lottery; and distributing, by the lottery terminal, a lottery ticket, based, at least in part, on the gesture of the user.
US09218721B2
A method of, and system for, wagering. The method includes the step of providing a random number generator that has a wagering base that is derived at least in part from the outcome of at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game that has previously been completed. Certain information in the wagering base is based at least in part on the outcome of the at least one horse/dog race or jai alai game and is accessible through an input wager, with the probability of accessing the certain information in the wagering base through an input wager being different. Input wagers are directed to the random number generator during the wagering period from each of multiple locations. Between when preliminary and final return amounts are identified for a first input wager that accesses the certain information, based at least in part upon the number of input wagers that have accessed the certain information, an updated return amount is identified for the first input wager.
US09218718B2
A method comprises receiving a feed of a number of messages providing notification of wagering game activity, wherein the wagering game activity occurred via at least one of a wagering game machine at a wagering game establishment and an online wagering game website. The method includes storing the number of messages. The method includes filtering the number of messages to create a subset of messages, wherein the filtering is based on at least one of an operator criteria and a player criteria. The operator criteria and the player criteria comprises at least one of a jackpot win, a progressive win, an entry into a bonus round, and a win where a monetary amount won exceeds a threshold multiplier of an amount wagered. The method includes publishing the subset of messages to a computing device associated with the wagering game player.
US09218716B2
A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining a wagering game player account and determining a social network account associated with the wagering game player account. The social network account can be associated with a social network. The operations can further include determining one or more applications from the social network that are associated with the social network account. The operations can further include integrating the one or more applications with a wagering game session for the wagering game player account.
US09218712B2
A game system is provided that is capable of imparting a novel game sensation to the user by operating together with a means that selects at least one option from among several options. In a game system, with which a lottery game in which at least one option is selected from a plurality of options, and a chain game in which the progression of the game changes on the basis of the game result of the first game are executed, in the chain game, region data is generated for arranging, in a plurality of game progression regions, a plurality of selectable regions that are linked to the plurality of options; and the region data is updated so as to set certain game progression regions as being acquired regions, on the basis of the options selected in the lottery game.
US09218710B2
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game employing a set of randomly selected reels. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a slot game associated with a plurality of adjacently arranged reels including a plurality of symbols. Each of a plurality of the reels is associated with one of a plurality of different features and an indicator representing that feature. The gaming system begins sequentially displaying the reels and any corresponding indicators. The gaming system selects a set of two or more of the reels and stops sequentially displaying the reels such that the selected reels are displayed. The gaming system generates and displays a plurality of the symbols on the selected reels, determines whether any winning symbol combinations are displayed, determines any awards associated with any displayed winning symbol combinations, and displays any determined awards.
US09218709B2
A gaming system and method for use in one or more casino establishments for offering a secondary game initiated after a loss. The gaming machine and method are offered on electronic gaming machines such as slot machines and video poker machines, but may also be deployed in other forms such as on a general purpose computing device in stand-alone form or connected to a network such as the internet.
US09218707B2
A system for enabling tournament gaming provides a plurality of gaming machines and a tournament controller in communication with the gaming machines. At least a first gaming machine enables play of a first base game and at least a second gaming machine enables play of a second base game. The first base game has a first set of parameters and the second base game has a second set of parameters. The first base game with the first set of parameters is a different game theme from the second base game with the second set of parameters. The base game play data from each gaming machine is converted into a normalized tournament score that is designed to substantially equalize differences resulting from the base games that have differing sets of parameters, wherein calculation of the normalized tournament score uses monitored data spanning multiple base game plays.
US09218705B2
Examples disclosed herein relate to systems and methods, which may receive wagers on one or more paylines. The systems and methods may utilize one or more additional reel game functionality. The systems and methods may determine one or more payouts based on the one or more additional reel game functionality. The systems and methods may display one or more presentations based on the one or more additional reel game functionality.
US09218695B2
Methods and systems are described for monitoring a determined wheel speed of a wheel. A three wheel speed values—each indicative of a measured wheel speed of a different wheel—are each received from a different wheel speed sensor. An estimated wheel speed value for a fourth wheel is determined based on at least one of the three wheel speed values. A calculated wheel speed value is determined based on information received from a vehicle system. A fault condition is detected based on deviations between the estimated wheel speed value for the fourth wheel and the calculated wheel speed value for the fourth wheel.
US09218688B2
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for displaying lighting values associated with a 3-D graphics model by superimposing an overlay grid with lighting values on the 3-D graphics model. A software rendering engine computes lighting values for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model, where each frame may have different lighting settings. An overlay grid with lighting values may be superimposed on an area defined by a light meter on the 3-D graphics model. The lighting values on the overlay grid are associated with the light meter and may vary frame-over-frame. In another embodiment, a JPEG image with a superimposed overlay grid with per-pixel lighting values covering a 3-D graphics model is generated for each frame that includes the 3-D graphics model. These JPEG images may be displayed on the screen and stored to an external memory.
US09218685B2
Systems and methods for rendering 3D maps may highlight a feature in a 3D map while preserving depth. A map tool of a mapping or navigation application that detects the selection of a feature in a 3D map (e.g., by touch) may perform a ray intersection to determine the feature that was selected. The map tool may capture the frame to be displayed (with the selected feature highlighted) in several steps. Each step may translate the map about a pivot point of the selected map feature (e.g., in three or four directions) to capture a new frame. The captured frames may be blended together to create a blurred map view that depicts 3D depth in the scene. A crisp version of the selected feature may then be rendered within the otherwise blurred 3D map. Color, brightness, contrast, or saturation values may be modified to further highlight the selected feature.
US09218684B2
A display control apparatus includes a conversion and synthesis unit that converts an array of pixels constituting each of planar images for multiple view points and synthesize the planar images in which the array of the pixels is converted to generate a three-dimensional display image, the unit including a correspondence control unit that associates view point image sub pixels with three-dimensional display sub pixels, a sub pixel value decision unit that decides a value of the sub pixel before the conversion for each color of the sub pixels on the basis of the view point image sub pixel extracted from the planar image for each view point, and a sub pixel generation unit that obtains a value of the sub pixel after the conversion on the basis of the decided value of the sub pixel before the conversion to generate the associated three-dimensional display sub pixels.
US09218665B2
A method for determining the pose of a camera relative to a real environment includes the following steps: taking at least one image of a real environment by means of a camera, the image containing at least part of a real object, performing a tracking method that evaluates information with respect to correspondences between features associated with the real object and corresponding features of the real object as it is contained in the image of the real environment, so as to obtain conclusions about the pose of the camera, determining at least one parameter of an environmental situation, and performing the tracking method in accordance with the at least one parameter. Analogously, the method can also be utilized in a method for recognizing an object of a real environment in an image taken by a camera.
US09218663B2
A method includes receiving during a first time interval associated with a path of motion of a dynamic body, image data associated with a plurality of images of the dynamic body. The plurality of images include an indication of a position of a first marker coupled to a garment at a first location, and a position of a second marker coupled to the garment at a second location. The garment is coupled to the dynamic body. During a second time interval, an image from the plurality of images is automatically identified that includes a position of the first marker that is substantially the same as a position of a first localization element relative to the dynamic body and a position of the second marker that is substantially the same as a position of the second localization element relative to the dynamic body.
US09218658B2
A method of determining an artifact-reduced three-dimensional reconstructed image data set includes a plurality of projection images of a primary data set, which show a head of a patient together with at least one neurosurgical apparatus generating artifacts in a three-dimensional reconstruction. The projection images of the primary data set are captured using different projection directions by an X-ray device having a C-arm. With regard to a reduction of artifacts, a projection image based correction is based upon projection images of a mask data set which show the neurosurgical apparatus without the head of the patient or the head of the patient without the neurosurgical apparatus.
US09218655B2
A brightness measuring method of device with backlight is performed by a controlling device, for measuring legends of backlight provided by a backlight module of a device under test (DUT). The method includes turning on a uniform light source external to the DUT for illuminating the DUT; capturing and receiving an image of the DUT illuminated with uniform light as a base image; identifying a complete pattern of a to-be-measured legend in the base image; turning off the uniform light source and turning on the backlight of the DUT so as to illuminate the legend of DUT; capturing and receiving an image of the DUT illuminated with backlight as a comparison image, wherein the scope of the comparison image overlaps the scope of the base image; and calculating brightness values of a plurality of pixels in the comparison image whose positions overlap the positions of the complete pattern.
US09218650B2
An image processing method applicable to images captured by a wide-angle zoomable lens is provided. Said method comprising steps of: A. utilizing the wide-angle zoomable lens to photograph a calibration pattern under a predetermined focal length to obtain a distorted image corresponding to the calibration pattern; B. calculating a distortion parameter for the wide-angle zoomable lens at the predetermined focal length; C. utilizing the wide-angle zoomable lens to photograph an object under another focal length to obtain another distorted image corresponding thereto; D. calculating a new distortion parameter by using the distortion parameter obtained from Step B and a multiple relation between said another focal length and the predetermined focal length; and E. using the new distortion parameter to perform distortion correction on said anther distorted image corresponding to the object. The present invention can perform distortion correction for real-time images captured by the wide-angle zoomable lens.
US09218647B2
An image processing apparatus that generates an output image by deforming an input image by coordinate transformation, comprises a divisor calculation unit calculates a minimum value and a maximum value of a divisor, used in division operation of coordinate transformation; a coefficient calculation unit obtains a range of the divisor in a way that a result of the division operation becomes equal to or smaller than an allowable error, and calculates a normalization parameter by dividing a minimum value of the range by the minimum value of the divisor; a parameter adjustment unit calculates an adjustment parameter used in the coordinate transformation, and outputs the adjustment parameter; and an image deformation processing unit performs transformation processing of the coordinate information using the adjustment parameter, and outputs a result of the transformation processing.
US09218630B2
Techniques for identifying influential users of a social networking service are provided. Influential users may be identified via an algorithm in which an influence score is assigned to each user based at least in part on other members of the community users having taken an affirmative step with respect to the user's communications. Iterative processing may be performed, with each user's influence score being determined by contributions from other users, and each contribution being determined by the contributor's influence score as of a prior iteration. A map-reduce framework may be employed, with data representing the community being partitioned into a plurality of discrete shards, a map process corresponding to each shard calculating an influence score for users represented in the shard, and reduce processes ranking users according to influence score across all shards.
US09218626B1
A system includes a parts prediction model module. The parts prediction model module causes the system to, based on information obtained via a network interface and indicative of damage to a specific vehicle, filter vehicle parts data to obtain filtered vehicle parts data that is indicative of a subset of a plurality of parts that were utilized to repair a subset of a plurality of vehicles. The parts prediction model module further causes the system to obtain an indication of at least one specific part determined as being needed to repair the damage to the specific vehicle, and analyze the filtered vehicle parts data to determine one or more recommended parts based on the indication. Still further, the parts prediction model module causes an indication of the one or more recommended parts to be transmitted to at least one of a remote computing device or a user interface.
US09218618B2
Methods, computer readable media and systems are described wherein a security deposit is used to facilitate a transaction with a customer. In an embodiment, a process includes receiving an indication that a customer is interested in making a purchase during a transaction from a merchant, and transmitting an offer for a benefit to be applied to the transaction in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer and a security deposit. The task is associated with a subsidy provider other than the merchant. The method also includes providing the offer to the customer, receiving the security deposit, applying the benefit to the transaction before performance of the task, and returning at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer based on the performance of the task. For example, a subsidy provider may offer to apply a subsidy amount to a transaction involving the purchase of a lawn mower in exchange for a future performance of a task by the customer such as test driving a new car. It is also arranged for the customer to provide a security deposit. When the customer performs the task by test driving the car, arrangements are then made to return at least a portion of the security deposit to the customer.
US09218605B2
A platform for managing recommendation models is described. The platform processes and/or facilitates a processing of at least one user identification characteristic associated with at least one device to determine a user identity. The platform further determines at least one communication account active at the at least one device. The platform also causes, at least in part, an association of one or more recommendations models with the user identity, the at least one communication account, the at least one device, or a combination thereof.
US09218602B2
The present invention discloses an apparatus, method and computer program for providing page navigation in a multirole-enabled network application. The apparatus comprises: a virtual role creator adapted to create a virtual role for each user in the multirole-enabled network application based upon an atomic role set configured for the user; an access pattern generator adapted to generate a virtual-role-based access pattern by recording page access requests of the user and by performing pattern mining for the recorded page access requests according to the virtual role of the user; and a page navigation provider adapted to provide page navigation by utilizing the access pattern corresponding to the virtual role of the user when the user accesses the multirole-enabled network application. With the technical solution of the invention, pattern mining can be performed for access data of one or more users according to virtual role, so the user can be provided with optimized personalized page navigation.
US09218601B2
Methods and systems are provided for making secure financial transactions, such as purchase payments, using rich Internet applications (RIA) running an RIA runtime (also referred to as a platform or framework) on the user's smart phone or other mobile device. Embodiments differ from the usual way of re-directing a user from a third-party application and authenticating the user by providing secure in-line payments from a rich Internet application running on an RIA runtime. A system includes: a mobile device executing a rich Internet application running on an RIA runtime; a payment library communicating with the RIA runtime and a service provider, for which the payment library communicates with the service provider to authenticate the rich Internet application; and in response to authentication by the service provider, facilitates secure financial transactions via the rich Internet application.
US09218594B2
Techniques, a system and an article of manufacture for social network-assisted electronic payments. A method includes determining one or more members of a user's social network to query for a financial contribution towards payment of a real-time transaction between the user and a merchant, querying said one or more members in an order based on descending likelihood of member financial contribution until sufficient funds for payment of the transaction are received or all of said one or more members have been queried, and processing a money transfer from the user and/or each of said one or more members to the merchant to complete the real-time transaction.
US09218593B2
A method for controlling a notification in an electronic device includes detecting notification events, confirming whether the detected notification events exist within a first reference time, when the notification events exist within the first reference time, confirming whether the number of unconfirmed notifications including the notification events exceeds a reference number, and, when the number of unconfirmed notifications exceeds the reference number, outputting the notification events after a second reference time.
US09218592B2
According to some embodiments, historical claim data may be stored in a computer storage unit. The historical claim data may be used to train and verify a predictive model, the predictive model being associated with an evaluation of claim transactions to determine whether to refer each claim transactions to a nurse intervention program. Data for current claim transactions may be processed, and the trained and verified predictive model may be applied to the data for the current claim transactions to generate a respective output for each of the current claim transactions. Some of the current claim transactions may be selectively routed to a case management center associated with the nurse intervention program based on the outputs generated by the predictive model.
US09218583B2
Features to include within a predictive build of a computing system are selected. The predictive build is an anticipated final build of the computing system prior to receiving a firm customer order for the computing system in accordance with which an actual final build of the computing system is then built. A marginal cost of first building the predictive build and then modifying the predictive build to realize the actual final build, as compared to building the actual final build without first building the predictive build and then modifying predictive build to realize the actual final build, is estimated based on the features selected. Responsive to determining that the marginal cost is less than a predetermined acceptable marginal cost limit, the predictive build is built prior to receiving the firm customer order, and then is modified to realize the actual final build upon receiving the firm customer order.
US09218580B2
Methods, devices, and systems for detecting retail shrinkage using behavior analytics are described herein. The retail shrinkage may be due to, for example, sweethearting, although embodiments of the present disclosure are not so limited and can be used to detect other forms of retail shrinkage as well. One or more device embodiments include a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor is configured to execute executable instructions stored in the memory to receive data associated with behavior of an individual and use the data associated with the behavior of the individual to determine whether the behavior of the individual is irregular to detect retail shrinkage.
US09218573B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for training a model using parameter server shards. One of the methods includes receiving, at a parameter server shard configured to maintain values of a disjoint partition of the parameters of the model, a succession of respective requests for parameter values from each of a plurality of replicas of the model; in response to each request, downloading a current value of each requested parameter to the replica from which the request was received; receiving a succession of uploads, each upload including respective delta values for each of the parameters in the partition maintained by the shard; and updating values of the parameters in the partition maintained by the parameter server shard repeatedly based on the uploads of delta values to generate current parameter values.
US09218569B2
A rules-based management system includes a rule repository to store a plurality of rules relating to medical information, a rule query language engine to generate a query based on a received signal and to search the rule repository based on the query, and a rule processing engine to formulate an instruction based on one or more rules produced by the search of the rule repository and to generate a signal based on the instruction. The system further includes an interface to a cloud network connected to a plurality of doctors, nurses, technicians, and/or other personnel or patients.
US09218568B2
Techniques for disambiguating data using contextual and historical information include determining that data is potentially associated with two or more classifications of a plurality of classifications; obtaining contextual information associated with the data; obtaining historical information associated with a user of the computing system; and determining that the data is more likely associated with one classification of the two or more classifications than other classifications of the two or more classifications based on the contextual information and the historical information.
US09218566B2
Techniques are described for detecting disallowed combinations of data within a processing element. Embodiments of the invention may generally receive data to be processed using the processing element and determine whether the received data and a current working state violate one or more rules describing disallowed combinations of data. If a disallowed combination is detected, embodiments of the invention may handle the processing of the received data in an alternate way that prevents disallowed combinations of data within the processing element.
US09218553B2
An image forming apparatus includes a luminance information acquiring unit, a hue information substituting unit, and a color conversion unit. The luminance information acquiring unit is configured to acquire input luminance information of inputted multi-gradation monochromatic image data. The hue information substituting unit is configured to substitute the acquired input luminance information with hue information to generate hue data. The color conversion unit is configured to convert the hue data into a color space for printing to generate multi-gradation color image data.
US09218552B2
An output density range is divided such that, after gradation targets have been applied, adjusted density ranges for output are uniform across all objects. Furthermore, through reverse calculation using the gradation targets that are set in one-to-one correspondence with the objects, adjusted density ranges of the respective objects are set independently.
US09218545B2
A method and a system for human action recognition are provided. In the method, a plurality of training data corresponding to a plurality of gestures are received and clustered into at least one group according to similarity between the training data, where the training data represent the gestures, and a corresponding relationship between the training data and the gestures may be one-to-one or many-to-one. An image sequence of human action is captured, and a data representing the human action to be identified is obtained there from. Then, a specific group having the highest similarity with the data to be identified is selected from the groups, and a ranking result of all the training data within the specific group is obtained through a rank classifier and the data to be identified. Finally, the human action is identified as the gesture represented by the first training data in the ranking result.
US09218540B2
A classification apparatus includes: a spectrogram generation unit that generates a spectrogram of a time variation signal of a classification object by processing the time variation signal of the classification object obtained by a sensor; a two-dimensional Fourier transform calculation unit that calculates a two-dimensional Fourier transform of the generated spectrogram; a similarity calculation unit that calculates a similarity between an template image and an image of the obtained two-dimensional Fourier transform, for each template image corresponding to each phenomenon stored in the template image memorizing unit; and a determination unit that determines whether the time variation signal of the classification object conforms to any of one or more phenomena, on the basis of the calculated similarity.
US09218536B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for extracting a one-dimensional digital signal from a two-dimensional digital image along a projection line. Disclosed embodiments provide an image memory in which is stored the digital image, a working memory, a direct memory access controller, a table memory that holds a plurality of transfer templates, and a processor. The processor selects a transfer template from the table memory responsive to an orientation of the projection line, computes a customized set of transfer parameters from the selected transfer template and parameters of the projection line, transmits the transfer parameters to the direct memory access controller, commands the direct memory access controller to transfer data from the image memory to the working memory as specified by the transfer parameters, and computes the one-dimensional digital signal using at least a portion of the data transferred by the direct memory access controller into the working memory.
US09218531B2
An image identification apparatus includes following components. A first generative model creation unit extracts feature information from identification-target images which belong to an identification-target category, and creates a first generative model on the basis of the feature information. A classification unit applies the first generative model to each not-identification-target image which belongs to a not-identification-target category so as to determine a probability of the not-identification-target image belonging to the identification-target category, and classifies the not-identification-target image to a corresponding one of not-identification-target groups in accordance with the probability. A second generative model creation unit that extracts feature information from not-identification-target images which belong to a corresponding one of the not-identification-target groups, and creates a second generative model of each not-identification-target group on the basis of the corresponding feature information.
US09218526B2
An apparatus and method for detecting paper documents, books, or other objects using one or more sensors on one or more computing devices is disclosed. The one or more computing devices communicate and share information such that a paper document, book, or other object is detected and identified. Once identified, information relevant to the paper document, book, or other object is retrieved. Such an apparatus and method is disclosed to help to create a smart or interactive paper environment.
US09218525B2
Shape recognition is performed based on determining whether one or more ink strokes is not part of a shape or a partial shape. Ink strokes are divided into segments and the segments analyzed employing a relative angular distance histogram. The histogram analysis yields stable, incremental, and discriminating featurization results. Neural networks may also be employed along with the histogram analysis to determine complete shapes from partial shape entries and autocomplete suggestions provided to users for conversion of the shape into a known object.
US09218513B2
A switching circuit is linearized by using a capacitor to apply a drive voltage to an FET, wherein the drive voltage is independent of the signal switched by the switching circuit.
US09218511B2
A ROM circuit includes a first N channel transistor having an output and having device geometry and device characteristics adapted to bias the output at a predetermined level when a P channel circuit is connected to the first N channel transistor; a pass transistor connected between the output and a data bus, the pass transistor connected to a word line, the word line adapted to turn ON the pass transistor when the word line is asserted; and the P channel circuit connected to the data bus and adapted to provide leakage current to charge a gate in the first N channel transistor when pass transistor is turned ON.
US09218510B2
Systems and method for a handheld biometrically secured user input device are described. A biometric authentication device may be coupled with a handheld enclosure, the biometric authentication device capable of collecting user authentication information from a user to authenticate the user's identity. A computer-readable storage device may be coupled with the handheld enclosure for storing confidential financial information of the user, wherein access to the confidential financial information is granted only after the user's identity has been authenticated. A sensor may be coupled with the handheld enclosure, capable of capturing the user's handwriting. Also, a communication device may be configured to transmit information gathered with the sensor to a computer system.
US09218496B2
A social network allows its members to regulate what data is accessible to other members using one or more privacy settings. A particular member of the social network can modify the one or privacy settings to grant or deny different users access to different data. When a member modifies a privacy setting, the social network determines which information pathways communicating data between members are affected. The affected information pathways are then modified responsive to the privacy setting to communicate data identified by the modified privacy setting and enforce the new privacy restrictions.
US09218491B2
Security methods are provided. The method can include comparing a first device identifier (125) disposed within a component (120) with a second device identifier (135) disposed within an immutable memory (130). The component and the immutable memory can be disposed at least partially within an electronic device (110). The method can include starting the electronic device normally if the first device identifier corresponds to the second device identifier. The method can further include providing at least one indicator (150) if the first device identifier fails to correspond to the second device identifier. Security systems are also provided.
US09218487B2
A method for protecting a browser from malicious processes, comprises providing at least one process-proxy object and at least a browser-proxy object, interposed between the browser and a process, such that when the process invokes one of the DOM entry points, the process-proxy object isolates it from the real browser implementation and executes the process-proxy object's code instead.
US09218478B2
A microcomputer has a processing unit; a plurality of registers; a storage storing hardware initialization data that includes an initial value and a register address in which the initial value is set, the processing unit performing a process including: setting the initial value in a register having the register address based on the hardware initialization data; performing a functional capability limitation releasing processing to determine whether authentication data in an authentication register, which is selected in advance from the plurality of registers, is correct based on an authentication information for releasing limitations on a functional capability of a function, and to put a function corresponding to the authentication information into an executable state when the authentication data is correct; and executing the function which is put into the executable state to realize the functional capability of the executed function.
US09218477B2
An electronic asymmetric unclonable function applied to an electronic system being evaluated includes an electronic system and an AUF array electronically associated with the electronic system. The AUF array includes a plurality of non-identical cells. Each of the non-identical cells includes a test element representing a characteristic of the electronic system being evaluated and a measurement device evaluating the test element. A comparison unit processes an output of the measurement device to provide a multi-bit output value representing a magnitude of differences.
US09218473B2
In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, the biometric information created for biometric authentication is available for a predetermined time after it was acquired. In addition, the authentication processing is performed on the biometric information useful for a predetermined time after the biometric information was acquired when authenticating it. Therefore, the authentication processing can be normally performed on only the biometric information that is acquired immediately when it is necessary for the user to do the financial transaction or individual authentication.
US09218472B2
A device includes both a fingerprint sensor (112) and a piezo structure (114). The fingerprint sensor senses fingerprint data identifying a pattern of a fingerprint of a user. The fingerprint data for the user can be collected and analyzed in various manners in order to authenticate the sensed fingerprint. The piezo structure can be used in various manners, such as to collect data used to facilitate authenticating the sensed fingerprint data, to provide feedback to the user regarding when the fingerprint authentication process is complete, and/or to cause different types of vibration in order to facilitate sensing fingerprint data. Various additional feedback can also be provided to the user, using the piezo structure or other feedback mechanisms, such as feedback to notify the user to increase or decrease an amount of pressure he or she is applying to the fingerprint sensor.
US09218470B2
A non-transitory computer readable medium may include executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to authenticate a user, and to retrieve a user profile based on the user. The instructions further cause the processor to apply the user profile to restrict an operation of a non-destructive testing (NDT) device.
US09218463B2
In an example embodiment, a user interface is presented for interacting with a trust map identifying trust relationships between clients/users and servers/hosts. The trust relationships are defined by public/private key pairs in Secure Shell (SSH), Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), Transport Layer Security/Secure Sockets Layer (TLS/SSL), Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME), Internet Protocol Security (IPsec), and so forth. A selected entity such as a server, client, client/server, key set, policy, and so forth is selected and displayed at the center of a hub/spoke diagram. Non-selected entities having a trust relationship with the hub entity are displayed as spokes. Similar spoke entitles may be grouped together. Trust relationships and related properties are displayed as lines between the hub and spoke entities. A user performs actions on the entities by manipulation of the hub, spoke, trust relationship and related user interface elements.
US09218461B2
Novel methods, components, and systems that enhance traditional techniques for detecting malicious software are presented. More specifically, we describe methods, components, and systems that leverage important contextual information from a client system (such as recent history of events on that system) to detect malicious software that might have otherwise gone ignored. The disclosed invention provides a significant improvement with regard to detection capabilities compared to previous approaches.
US09218458B2
A pill dispensing system that includes pill packages that can be used to dispense pills manually or with a dispenser system to provide enhanced functionality. The packages can be provided with information relating to the packaged pills or to the use of the packaged pills. By reading the information from the package, the dispenser system can know what is in the package, when it is to be taken and can understand and track inventory. The dispenser system provides reminders of when the pills should be taken. The dispenser system may have the ability to key a specific electronic device, such as a cell phone, to a specific user and the dispenser system may require the electronic device to be within proximity of the dispenser system before dispensing pills for that user.
US09218454B2
Medical patient monitoring devices that have the capability of detecting the physical proximity of a clinician are disclosed. The medical patient monitoring devices may be configured to perform a selected action when the presence of a clinician is detected. Systems and methods for facilitating communication between medical devices that use different medical communication protocol formats are also disclosed. For example, a medical communication protocol translator can be configured to receive an input message formatted according to a first protocol format from a first medical device and to output an output message formatted according to a second protocol format supported by a second medical device using a set of translation rules. Medical monitoring reporting systems are also disclosed. The medical monitoring reporting systems may be used to analyze a stored collection of physiological parameter data to simulate the effect of changing various medical monitoring options.
US09218450B2
Accurate and fast mapping of sequencing reads obtained from a targeted sequencing procedure can be provided. Once a target region is selected, alternate regions of the genome that are sufficiently similar to the target region can be identified. If a sequencing read is more similar to the target region than to an alternate region, then the read can be determined as aligning to the target region. The reads aligning to the target region can then be analyzed to determine whether a mutation exists in the target region. Accordingly, a sequencing read can be compared to the target region and the corresponding alternate regions, and not to the entire genome, thereby providing computational efficiency.
US09218447B2
Crosstalk effects can be taken into account in automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) by providing crosstalk fault models, determining paths and/or nodes to be sensitized to activate each crosstalk fault, and optimizing to enable as many crosstalk faults as possible with a given pattern, subject to constraints. Constraints can include threshold numbers of endpoints/observation points and/or attempts to sensitize. Intermediate nodes in a crosstalk fault model path to an observation point can also be determined and/or sensitized.
US09218440B2
This disclosure describes a design tool that verifies timing of an integrated circuit design by partitioning the integrated circuit design's gate-level netlist into target cell partition netlists and performs transistor-level circuit simulation on each target cell partition netlist. The design tool performs a back tracing procedure on each target sequential cell to define the target cell partition netlists. The design tool then identifies timing modes that enable valid logical paths through the target cell partition netlists from source sequential cells to the target sequential cells. In turn, the design tool performs transistor-level circuit simulation (e.g., SPICE simulations) on each target cell partition netlist to check for timing violations based upon the timing modes. In one embodiment, the design tool includes clock tree delay information, power supply variations, or routing parasitic information in the simulations to achieve improved timing analysis accuracy compared with traditional static timing analysis or timing optimization.
US09218435B2
System, computer implemented method and computer program product for dynamically updating a Web page using browser-based messaging. A system for dynamically updating a Web page using browser-based messaging includes a Web page that includes a plurality of Web messaging tags, and a selected data model that can be bound to the Web messaging tags, and at least one messaging client for accepting at least one message from a message server and for processing the accepted at least one message into the selected data model.
US09218434B2
A method for updating data in a media storage location includes: storing an identity on a portable electronic device, the identity allowing access to the media storage location; storing a file in a device memory of the portable electronic device, the file being captured by a media capturing component of the portable electronic device; and performing a synchronization operation using a media manager, the media manager being in communication with the device memory and the media storage location; the synchronization operation synchronizing data between the device memory and the media storage location.
US09218427B1
Embodiments are directed towards dynamic semantic models having multiple indices. Source data may be provided to a network computer from at least one separate data source. A raw data graph may be generated from the source data such that the structure of the raw data graph may be based on the structure of the source data. Elements of the raw data graph may be mapped to a concept graph. Concept instances may be generated based on the concept graph, the raw data graph, and the source data. Model-identifiers (MIDs) that correspond to the concept instances may be generated to include at least a path in the concept graph The MID values may be indexed into a plurality of indices based on a content-type of the data associated with the MIDs. In response to a query, a result set may be generated that includes result MIDs.
US09218416B2
The present invention relates to a method and system for constructing a database (DB) based on mutual relations between pieces of video data. The present invention provides the method of constructing a DB based on mutual relations between pieces of video data, including 1) generating one or more nodes so that pieces of identical video data are included in an identical node, 2) generating pieces of node information about respective generated nodes, 3) comparing comparison target video data with pieces of video data of the respective nodes, and then setting relations between the comparison target video data and the pieces of video data of the respective nodes, and 4) updating pieces of node information about the respective nodes, based on the set relations, and also provides a DB construction system using the method.
US09218409B2
A method for generating and using a reusable custom-defined nestable compound data type for use as a database qualifier provides significant advantages over using traditional non-reusable structured tables of RDBM systems is described. The method and data structures of the invention may be used to define and instantiate flexible nested-record structures that reverse and better expose the relationship between parent records and private child sub-records in a database schema to provide improved referential integrity and visibility into database structure.
US09218403B2
A computer system accesses rows of feed data and converts the received feed data into portions of binary blob data. The computer system also sends the binary blob data to a database server which is configured to access metadata associated with a feed including a dynamic server statement to determine how to convert the binary blob data to a server table with a blob column configured to store the rows of feed data. The database server accesses feed data belonging to a particular feed and executes a dynamic server statement to create a relational dataset in an in-memory table of the server. A second dynamic statement applies data processing conditions indicated in the metadata. When feed data rows match conditions, the computer system places feed data row information into an alert table that includes references to the blob table with blob data, thereby triggering an alert.
US09218401B2
Systems and methods are provided that allow client programs using APIs for accessing local DB2 databases to access DB2 systems on remote logical partitions and remote zSeries mainframes rather than from a local DB2 system. For example, a method may include intercepting a DB2 request using a documented API for accessing local DB2 databases from a client program executing on a source mainframe system. The method may also include selecting a destination mainframe system and sending a buffer including information from the request from the source mainframe system to the destination mainframe system and establishing, at the destination mainframe system, a DB2 connection with the DB2 system from the request. The method may further include receiving a response from the DB2 system, sending a buffer having information from the response from the destination mainframe system to the source mainframe system, and providing the information to the client program.
US09218397B1
Methods and systems for improved searching are described. In one of the described methods, a user enters a search query, and in response, a search engine receives a substantially complete initial search result set having a plurality of ranked article identifiers. The search engine automatically selects at least one of the article identifiers and provides a final result set in which the selected article identifier is ranked higher than in the initial search result set.
US09218393B2
A hierarchical data server provides a query and storage system for hierarchical data with three interfaces that are, data interface for accepting hierarchical data, query interface for accepting a query, and result interface for returning output of the query. The system models hierarchical data with one data object called data vine and one data structure type called data vine list. A data vine includes a name, a property list, and a child list. A data vine list is an ordered list of data vines. A data vine is recursively defined with its child list as a data vine list. The system introduces five basic operators, cast, restrict, unique, sort, and traverse. Each operator acts on one data vine list and returns another data vine list. A property list in a data vine is unordered with set operations implemented, which include default operation, update operation, elimination operation, replacement operation, and intersection operation.
US09218389B2
A mechanism is provided for computing the frequency packets in network devices. Respective packets are associated with entities in a vector, where each of the entities is mapped to corresponding ones of the respective packets, and the entities correspond to computers. Upon a network device receiving the respective packets, a count is individually increased for the respective packets in the vector respectively mapped to the entities, and computing a matrix vector product of a matrix A and the vector. The matrix A is a product of at least a first matrix and a second matrix. The first matrix includes rows and columns where each of the rows has a single random location with a one value and remaining locations with zero values. The matrix vector product is transmitted to a centralized computer for aggregating with other matrix vector products.
US09218388B1
An indication associated with an operation is received where the operation includes a mid-operation state and a device associated with the mid-operation state. In response to receiving the indication, the operation is processed using a declarative primitive to obtain metadata associated with one or more of the following: the device or the mid-operation state. The metadata is displayed.
US09218387B2
A source record from an enterprise is received at a registry at a master data management system at a host enterprise. The enterprise is located remotely from the host enterprise. The source record has a source identifier. A data record is generated based on the source record and the data record has a first registry identifier. The data record is stored at a data store. The registry maintains a link identifying a relationship between the registry identifier and the source identifier. A reference engine determines a value of an attribute of a field of the source record identifies a second source record, and determines whether the registry includes a second registry identifier associated with a second data record generated based on the second source record. The reference engine sets an indicator identifying the data record if the registry does not include the second registry identifier, and clears the indicator if the registry does include the second registry identifier.
US09218382B1
A method by a database management system provides a sequence of memory buckets that each contain a plurality of data value storage locations. For each of the memory buckets, the method responds to the plurality of data value storage locations of one of the memory buckets becoming filled from storage of data values, by generating a combined data value from combination of the data values and storing the combined data value in an unfilled one of the data value storage locations of a next one of the memory buckets in the sequence. Related computer systems and computer program products are disclosed.
US09218380B2
A method for carrying out searches in a database by means of a data processing system is provided. The database includes a first plurality of first data items and a second plurality of second data items, a generic first data item being in relationship with one or more second data items and vice versa. In an internal memory of the data processing system, at least one among a first and a second data table structure are generated, each one including: a first and a second data table, each comprising a plurality of elements, each one corresponding to a respective first, respectively second, data item and univocally identified by a respective first, respectively second, index. The first and second data tables include a third data table including a plurality of elements, each one in a univocal relationship with a respective element of the first and second data tables.
US09218376B2
A storage system according to certain embodiments includes a repository of client-side data block signature information representative of a set of data blocks stored in a primary storage subsystem. In some cases, the system sources data blocks for secondary copy and restore operations from the primary storage subsystem instead of the secondary storage subsystem. Where multiple primary storage components (e.g., multiple client computing devices) contain copies of a data blocks involved in a secondary copy or restore operation, the system can decide which client to source the data block from based on sourcing criteria.
US09218362B2
Data-driven guarded evaluation of conditional-data associated with data objects is used to control activation and processing of the data objects in an interactive geographic information system. Methods of evaluating conditional-data to control activation of the data objects are disclosed herein. Data structures to specify conditional data are also disclosed herein.
US09218353B2
Systems and methods efficiently distribute information, such as path name, attributes and object information, corresponding to changes in a content repository to remote nodes in a network using storage-layer/object-based protocols. A difference monitoring client monitors name space and object space changes by identifying inodes which have been modified on storage volumes between two or more snapshots. The monitoring client builds a list which may include name information, object space information and attributes such as file size and permissions for each of the changed inodes that is utilized to update the edge nodes. Systems and methods also provide for geo-scale content distribution from a central repository to edge nodes using a storage-layer/object protocol. A caching mechanism is utilized to cache requested content at an edge node. Cached content may be maintained at the edge node during use and/or for an additional predetermined period. Difference monitoring client may track such cached content.
US09218352B2
The present invention generally relates to storing sequence read data. The invention can involve obtaining a plurality of sequence reads from a sample, identifying one or more sets of duplicative sequence reads within the plurality of sequence reads, and storing only one of the sequence reads from each set of duplicative sequence reads in a text file using nucleotide characters.
US09218343B2
A virtual machine of an information handling system (IHS) initializes an operating system to provide partition file system memory management during application execution. The operating system employs multiple partitions that include one or more applications for execution within the virtual machine. A file system tool identifies write operations to a global file system and generates local and common file system information. The file system tool populates the local file systems that include delta local file systems and differential file systems with write operation data. The file system tool may generate stackable common delta file system information to store write operation data common to two or more partitions that employ executing applications. The file system tool may combine or separate stackable common delta file system information to provide improvements in virtual machine memory utilization.
US09218340B2
Systems for translating text messages in an instant messaging system comprise a translation engine for translating text messages into a preferred language of a recipient of the text messages. The systems are preferably configured to send and receive the text messages and to determine whether the text messages that are received in a source language are in the preferred language of the recipients so that the text messages are displayed in the preferred language of the recipients of the text messages. Other systems and methods are also provided.
US09218326B2
A method for identifying header/footer content of a document, in order to sequence text fragments comprising recognizable text blocks as derived from the document. The textual variability of lines comprised of text blocks, including the different kinds of text blocks within the line is analyzed for assessment of textual variability. Header/footer zones are defined by textual content having a low textual variability. An alternative embodiment identifies pagination constructs by comparing selected text-boxes for similarity and proximity and clustering the text boxes satisfying a predetermined similarity value, wherein the clustered text boxes are deemed to comprise pagination constructs.
US09218324B2
A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium encapsulate user interface components that collect data for a case management solution, while consistently enforcing metadata and constraints. Multiple types of interactive documents are supported, and a configuration indicates the type whose user interface components are to be encapsulated. A wrapper widget is created based on the interactive document type and implements an interface that enables it to interact externally with the case management environment and internally with the interactive document. The wrapper widget injects case property data values, metadata and/or constraints from the case management environment into the interactive document, which then enables editing of the case property data values and the effecting of the metadata and/or enforcing of the constraints. The wrapper widget is responsive to requests from the case management environment to validate and persist the interactive document to a case of the case management solution.
US09218321B2
Mechanisms are provided for generating a shape tag cloud display. A user input is received that specifies an arbitrarily hand-drawn shape tag. A set of shape tag equivalence classes is updated based on the received user input to assign the arbitrarily hand-drawn shape tag to a shape tag equivalence class having similar previously entered arbitrarily hand-drawn shape tags. Rankings of the shape tags relative to one another are generated. The shape tag cloud display is generated based on the rankings. A representation of each shape tag within the shape tag cloud display has display characteristics based on the rankings. The shape tag cloud display is then output.
US09218318B2
Some general aspects of the invention relate to a circuit and to a method for analog computation, for example, using switched capacitor integrated circuits. In some examples, a circuit includes a first group of capacitors and a second group of capacitors that may store charges during circuit operation. The first and/or the second group of capacitors may include multiple disjoint subsets of capacitors. An input circuit is provided for receiving a set of input signals and for inducing a charge on each of some or all capacitors in the first group of capacitors according to a corresponding input signal. Switches, for example, transistors controlled by a sequence of clock signals, are used to couple different sets of capacitors. Different configurations of the switches are used to form different sets of the capacitors among which charge can redistribute.
US09218317B2
A segment including a set of blocks necessary to calculate blocks having internal states and blocks having no outputs is extracted by tracing from blocks for use in calculating inputs into the blocks having internal states and from the blocks having no outputs in the reverse direction of dependence. To newly extract segments in which blocks contained in the extracted segments are removed, a set of nodes to be temporarily removed is determined on the basis of parallelism. Segments executable independently of other segments are extracted by tracing from nodes whose child nodes are lost by removal of the nodes in the upstream direction. Segments are divided into upstream segments representing the newly extracted segments and downstream segments representing nodes temporarily removed. Upstream and downstream segments are merged so as to reduce overlapping blocks between segments such that the number of segments is reduced to the number of parallel executions.
US09218311B2
A passive cable adaptor for connecting a data source device with a display device is described. The adaptor has a packet-based interface connector at one end, the connector having a positive main link pin, a negative main link pin, a positive auxiliary channel pin, and a negative auxiliary channel pin. At the other end is a micro serial interface connector, wherein multimedia content is transmitted over the cable adaptor and electrical power is supplied over the cable adaptor simultaneously. The cable adaptor has an auxiliary and hot plug detect (HPD) controller utilized to map the auxiliary channel and HPD signals of the packet-based digital display to the micro serial interface ID signal.
US09218310B2
A system includes a bus, a processor operably coupled to the bus, a memory operably coupled to the bus, a plurality of input/output (I/O) devices operably coupled to the bus, where each of the I/O devices has a set of control registers, and a first shared I/O unit operably coupled to the bus. The first shared I/O unit has a plurality of shared functions and is configured to perform the shared functions, where the shared I/O functions are not included as functions on the I/O devices and the I/O devices and the processor interact with the first shared I/O unit to use one or more of the shared functions performed by the first shared I/O unit.
US09218296B2
A hybrid encryption scheme for storing data lines in a memory includes identifying data lines determined to be frequently accessed, and encrypting the data lines using a first encryption scheme. The hybrid encryption scheme also includes encrypting data lines determined not to be frequently accessed using a second encryption scheme.
US09218285B2
An apparatus for processing data 2 includes a memory 4 having a plurality of memory regions 28 to 38. A mapping controller 56 applies a variable mapping to map memory addresses of access requests to different regions within the memory 4. The mapping controller varies the mapping applied in dependence upon both one or more memory behavioral parameters indicative of behavioral characteristics of the different regions and one or more access behavioral parameters indicative of behavioral characteristics of an access request to be mapped. The memory behavioral parameters may include the temperature of the regions and/or the refresh period of the regions. The access behavior able parameters may include the quality of service level, the access frequency, the access volume and/or the identity of the source of the access request.
US09218281B2
Described embodiments provide a media controller that processes requests including a logical address and address range. A map of the media controller determines physical addresses of a media associated with the logical address and address range of the request. The map is a multi-level map having a plurality of leaf-level map pages that are stored in the media, with a subset of the leaf-level map pages stored in a map cache. Based on the logical address and address range, it is determined whether a corresponding leaf-level map page is stored in the map cache. If the leaf-level map page is stored in the map cache, a cache index and control indicators of the map cache entry are returned in order to enforce ordering rules that selectively enable access to a corresponding leaf-level map page based on the control indicators and a determined request type.
US09218278B2
Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed. A method includes processing metadata for data saved from a volatile memory buffer to a non-volatile storage medium. The data may be saved in response to a trigger event for a volatile memory buffer. A method includes locating saved data on a non-volatile storage medium. A method includes providing access to saved data after a trigger event based on processed metadata.
US09218275B2
Disclosed is a memory management control system or the like, which can decrease degradation of processing performance.The memory management control system 1 includes an instruction unit 2. In the case that reference data referred to by a job, and first data existing in an area collected by a storage apparatus are identical, the instruction unit 2 issues a first instruction to write the first data in the storage apparatus, and in the case of not being identical, the instruction unit 2 does not issue the first instruction.
US09218268B2
A method, computer program product, and system for testing transaction applications is described. A method may comprise importing, via one or more computing devices, one or more web service components configured to exchange, at least in part, testing data between a testing application and a transaction application. The testing application may be configured, at least in part, to test the transaction application. The method may further comprise testing, via the one or more computing devices, the transaction application using, at least in part, the one or more web service components to exchange testing data between the testing application and the transaction application.
US09218260B2
In a method for testing booting of servers, the servers are controlled to boot and perform a booting test, and are controlled to quit the booting test and a current state of the booting test is stored in a test log, if the booting of one of the servers is unsuccessful. System logs of all of the servers are saved if the booting times of all of the servers do not exceed the first predefined time. An alarm device is controlled to alarm if the booting time of one of the servers exceeds the first predefined time but does not exceed the second predefined time. And the servers are controlled to quit the booting test if the booting time of one of the servers exceeds the first predefined time and further exceeds the second predefined time.
US09218250B2
Methods, apparatus and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include detecting, by a first computer having a first memory, a software stack in a second memory of a second computer coupled to the first computer via a network. The software stack is copied from the second memory to the first memory, and the copied software stack is executed by the first computer.
US09218249B2
An electronic apparatus comprising a storage unit to store a first (primary) GPT, a second (secondary) GPT, and an OS, a controller boots the electronic apparatus using the first GPT and the OS, an effectiveness determination unit determines effectiveness of the first GPT if a predetermined event occurs, and a restoration unit restores the first GPT using the second GPT if the first GPT is not effective.
US09218247B2
A system to recover a multimaster serial single-ended bus and a faulted connected device includes a director device connected to the faulted connected device via the multimaster serial single-ended bus. The director device includes a central processing unit, a field programmable gate array, and a management module in communication with the faulted connected device, the management module configured to recover the faulted connected device and the multimaster serial single-ended bus. The management module may transmit a clock pulse to the faulted connected device if the faulted connected device is holding a data line (SDA) low, transmit a stop command to the faulted connected device if the faulted connected device is holding SDA low and/or read and compare a register value in the faulted device against an expected value to determine if the faulted device and the multimaster serial single-ended bus have been recovered.
US09218245B1
Aspects of a data environment, such as the cloning, hibernation, and recovery of databases, are managed using a separate control environment. A monitoring component of the control environment can periodically communicate with the data environment to determine any necessary actions to be performed, such as to recover from faults or events for a data instance in the data environment. A workflow can be instantiated that includes tasks necessary to perform actions such as recovery, hibernation, resumption from hibernation, or backup or cloning. Tasks of the workflow can cause certain jobs to be performed by host managers in the data environment to affect calls made to the control environment.
US09218236B2
An error signal handling unit includes an error handler configured to receive an error signal indicating an error condition. The error handler is further configured to receive a recovery signal indicating a mitigation of the error condition or indicating that a mitigation of the error condition is possible. Furthermore, the error handler is further configured to output an error condition signal based on the error signal in response to a reception of the error signal if within a given delay time from the reception of the error signal, the error handler does not receive the recovery signal, and otherwise omit outputting the error condition signal.
US09218235B2
The invention is directed to a method for performing failure analysis on an imaging device that includes retrieving an encrypted error log containing one or more error conditions that occurred on the imaging device, decrypting the retrieved encrypted error log, determining if the retrieved encrypted error log has been altered based on the decrypted error log, and upon determining that the retrieved encrypted error log has not been altered, performing failure analysis on the imaging device using the decrypted error log.
US09218234B2
Systems and methods for executing a memory dump in a computer system are provided. A trigger event is detected in the computer system. The computer system is configured to detect both a kernel panic and a system hang and to execute memory dump if either of the kernel panic or the system hang is detected. The memory dump is executed in the computer system in response to the detecting of the trigger event. The executing of the memory dump includes storing a current context of the computer system in a portion of a memory device. The current context is stored without reserving the portion prior to the detecting of the trigger event. The computer system is restarted and a bootstrap program is executed, where a running space of the bootstrap program is restricted to the portion of the memory device. The bootstrap program is used to upload the current context to a host device.
US09218231B2
The present invention provides a method for diagnosing a problem of a software product running in a cloud environment and a corresponding apparatus, the method comprising: receiving a problem in the operation of the monitored software product from a diagnosis agent deployed on a node in the cloud environment; capturing the cloud environment including the software product, and deploying the captured cloud environment in a diagnosis cloud, and the step comprising: deploying the image of each node of the cloud environment in the diagnosis cloud; and applying corresponding configuration data for a cluster system deployed in the cloud environment to configure each node in the diagnosis cloud. The method and apparatus of the present invention can diagnose problems of a software product running in a cloud environment, and rebuild the cloud environment to facilitate the diagnosis of the problems.
US09218230B2
A method for transmitting messages in a redundantly operable communication network includes a first subnetwork with a tree topology and a second subnetwork, wherein messages are transmitted in the first subnetwork in accordance with a spanning tree protocol, communication devices associated with network nodes of the first subnetwork interchange messages containing topology information with one another in order to form a tree topology, messages are transmitted in the second subnetwork in accordance with a parallel or ring redundancy protocol, and a virtual network node which is connected to all network nodes of the second subnetwork via a respective virtual connection which is uninterruptable by an error is configured as the root network node of the first subnetwork.
US09218226B2
Systems and methods are provided that allow client programs using IMS database access interfaces to access IMS database data available from IMS systems on remote logical partitions and remote zSeries mainframes rather than from a local IMS system. For example, a method may include intercepting an IMS request having a documented IMS request format from a client program executing on a source mainframe system. The method may also include selecting a destination mainframe system and sending a buffer including information from the request from the source mainframe system to the destination mainframe system and establishing, at the destination mainframe system, an IMS DRA connection with the IMS system from the request. The method may further include receiving a response from the IMS system, sending a buffer having information from the response from the destination mainframe system to the source mainframe system, and providing the information to the client program.
US09218214B2
A workload that can be processed with a resource amount available in a physical server is estimated. An information processing apparatus 20 includes a performance information storage unit 25 that stores information indicating each of plural types of workloads and a resource amount of the physical server allocated to each of the workloads when the workloads are run in a physical server 30, in a manner to be associated with each other, an acquiring unit 21 that acquires a resource amount available in the physical server 30, a comparison unit 22 that selects at least one stored work load, and compares the available resource amount with the resource amount associated with the selected workload, and a first extraction unit 23 that extracts the selected workload if the compared resource amount is less than or equal to the available resource amount.
US09218212B2
Pairing physical devices to virtual devices to create an immersive environment, including: identifying, by a device pairing module, a virtual device in a virtual environment; identifying, by the device pairing module, a physical device in a physical environment; and pairing, by the device pairing module, the virtual device in the virtual environment with the physical device in the physical environment such that the physical device in the physical environment delivers virtual environment content, wherein the virtual environment content is content being delivered to an object in the virtual environment.
US09218207B1
A method includes determining historical resource metrics for a host, and determining a workload forecast for the host based on the historical resource metrics. The method also includes determining a first series of virtual resource configurations based on the workload forecast. Each virtual resource configuration corresponds to a respective virtual machine of a plurality of virtual machines from the host. Each virtual resource configuration includes a time interval of the workload forecast, a processing specification of the corresponding virtual machine, and a host assignment indicative of a corresponding target host of the plurality of hosts on which to run the corresponding virtual machine. The method further includes configuring each respective virtual machine according to each corresponding virtual resource configuration in the first series of virtual resource configurations.
US09218196B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to the migration of virtual machines (VMs) between networked computing environments (e.g., cloud computing environments) based on resource utilization. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to select an optimal set (one or more) of VMs as candidates for pre-staged migration. In a typical embodiment, when a first cloud environment nears physical resource capacity, an optimal set of VMs will be identified for migration to a second cloud environment that has sufficient capacity to accommodate workload(s) from the first cloud environment. To make this process more efficient, data associated with the set of virtual machines may be “pre-stage” replicated from the first cloud environment to the second cloud environment (e.g., in advance of the migration of the identified set of VMs).
US09218182B2
Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing in a computer processor a data element shuffle and an operation on the shuffled data elements in response to a single data element shuffle and an operation instruction that includes a destination vector register operand, a first and second source vector register operands, an immediate value, and an opcode are described.
US09218181B1
A method for automatically creating a software catalog content that includes a plurality of software components associated with a computing system is provided. The method may include creating a population comprising a plurality of potential software signatures associated with the plurality of software components. The method may include ranking the population comprising the potential software signatures based on a highest ratio value. The method may include selecting a set of parent software signatures based on the ranking. Additionally, the method may include creating a new population of potential software signatures based on the selected set of parent software signatures. The method may include performing recombination on the new population of potential software signatures. Furthermore, the method may include predicting at least one potential software signature from the new population of potential software signatures based on a comparison between the performed recombination and the created new population of potential software signatures.
US09218167B2
Embodiments of methods, systems, and storage medium for enhancing a user interface of an application with additional information are disclosed herein. In one instance, the method may include a computing device detecting an event associated with an application executing on the computing device, a container of a user interface of the application, or at least one object of the container; determining additional information to augment basic information associated with the at least one object of the container of the user interface of the application; and augmenting the basic information of the at least one object in a display of the container with the additional information or one or more indicators corresponding to the additional information. The additional information is associated with the object. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US09218145B2
A system for managing a print job is disclosed. Print job data is intercepted prior to being printed by a printer and a print job package is generated including the print job data as intercepted and metadata on the print job data, the print job data as intercepted being extractable from the print job package.
US09218144B2
Provided is an image forming apparatus that increases an efficiency for network response. Thus, a network connection part receives a packet from an external network. A filter part distributes the packet received by network connection part for each protocol. A main response part that responds to the packet distributed by the filter part in the normal mode for controlling operation of each part. A sub response part that responds to some types of the packet, which is not distributed to the main response part by the filter part, in addition to the power saving mode where the main response part does not respond to the some types of the packet.
US09218137B2
Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for migrating data which allows transforming a data source of an existing system into a migrated data source complying with data requirements of a new system, typically in response to an upgrade of an application configured to access the data source. The system and method for data migration services is reusable (i.e., it may be used for different levels of data migration, e.g., in system upgrades to different versions), idempotent (i.e., it may be used multiple times on the same level of data migration, e.g., it may be applied multiple time in the same system upgrade of the same data without causing any disruption or different result when applied multiple times), and metadata driven (i.e., it does not require significant changes to be used for data migration of different systems).
US09218132B2
A process for cataloguing information to an LTO storage device is disclosed. The process begins by writing content data the user wishes to store to an LTO storage device. In one embodiment, such content is written such that each portion of the content is associated with a file. Once the LTO storage device has stored the content, a user creates a catalog identifying particular locations on the LTO storage device associated with particular files of the content the user wishes to recall in the future. The catalog is then stored on a separate memory for later use.
US09218124B2
An information processing apparatus including: a detection section configured to detect the position of an object touching a touch-sensitive part as a touched position; a recognition section configured to recognize the type of a finger touching the touch-sensitive part based on the touched position and on an image of the touch-sensitive part; a search section configured to search through a function table defining correspondences between the touched position of at least one finger and the type thereof on the one hand and a function assigned to the combination of the touched position and the type of the finger on the other hand, the search section searching the function table for the function corresponding to the touched position detected by the detection section and to the finger type detected by the recognition section; and an execution section configured to execute the function detected through the search by the search section.
US09218122B2
Systems and methods for transferring settings between user devices using gestures are provided. A selection of media guidance application setting is made. A user input indicative of a direction in which the user wishes to transmit the selected media guidance application setting is received. A determination is made that a device is present in the direction indicated by the user and the device is identified. In response to identifying the device indicated by the user, the selected media guidance application setting is transferred to the identified device. The transferred setting is applied to the device to which the setting was transferred.
US09218119B2
A computer device with a sensor subsystem for detecting off-surface objects, that carries out continued processing of the position and shape of objects detected in the vicinity of the device, associates these positions and shapes with predetermined gesture states, determines if the object is transitioning between gesture states and provides feedback based on the determined transition between the gesture states.
US09218116B2
Touch interaction with a curved display (e.g., a sphere, a hemisphere, a cylinder, etc.) is enabled through various user interface (UI) features. In an example embodiment, a curved display is monitored to detect a touch input. If a touch input is detected based on the act of monitoring, then one or more locations of the touch input are determined. Responsive to the determined one or more locations of the touch input, at least one user UI feature is implemented. Example UI features include an orb-like invocation gesture feature, a rotation-based dragging feature, a send-to-dark-side interaction feature, and an object representation and manipulation by proxy representation feature.
US09218112B2
A method includes receiving input at a user equipment that designates a particular entity recorded in a user equipment contacts database as being an entity to be contacted in case of an emergency and setting an indication in a first field of a corresponding contacts database entry, where the first field is separate from a second field of the contacts database entry that stores a name of the entity.
US09218089B2
A touch input device includes a touch panel, a controller, and a cancellation electrode. The touch panel includes a sensor pattern and an operation surface arranged above the sensor pattern. The sensor pattern includes first electrodes and second electrodes insulated from one another and arranged in a grid. The controller applies a drive pulse signal to the sensor pattern and detects a touch location where the operation surface of the touch panel is touched based on changes in capacitance of the sensor pattern. A cancellation pulse signal is applied to the cancellation electrode during application of the drive pulse signal. The cancellation pulse signal has a phase inverted from that of the drive pulse signal.
US09218083B2
A method for parsing a content of a document, a handheld electronic apparatus and a computer-readable medium thereof are provided. The method comprises the following steps: displaying the content of the document; parsing the content to find out text groups according to a preset pattern database when a touch event is detected, wherein the preset pattern database comprises a plurality of specific patterns, and a format of each of the text groups conforms to one of the specific patterns; determining whether a touch coordinates matches a corresponding position of a specific text group of the text groups; performing a corresponding action related to the specific text group when the touch coordinates matches the corresponding position of the specific text group.
US09218079B2
An in-cell touch display panel structure includes upper and lower substrates, a black matrix layer, a thin film transistor and sensing electrode layer including a gate line sub-layer and a source line sub-layer. The gate line sub-layer includes plural gate lines and plural first sensing conductor segments. The source line sub-layer includes plural source lines and plural second sensing conductor segments. The first and second sensing conductor segments are disposed corresponding to positions of opaque lines of the black matrix layer. The second sensing conductor segments are divided into a first group including plural second sensing conductor segments and a second group including plural second sensing conductor segments. The second sensing conductor segments of the first group and the first sensing conductor segments are formed with N quadrilateral regions, where N is a positive integer and any two quadrilateral regions are not connected with each other.
US09218075B2
A haptically-enabled system includes an actuator that has a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal is coupled to a voltage source, and a first switch is coupled to the first terminal and to ground. A second switch is coupled to the actuator. The second switch is parallel to the actuator.
US09218074B2
A gate drive circuit in which multiple stages are connected together one after each other. An n-th stage includes a pull-up part, a carry part, a pull-down part, a switching part, a first maintaining part and a second maintaining part. The pull-up part outputs a high voltage of a first clock signal. The carry part outputs a high voltage of the first clock signal. The pull-down part pulls-down the n-th gate signal into a first low voltage. The switching part outputs a first signal synchronized with the first clock signal during an interval other than a high voltage output interval of the n-th carry signal. The first maintaining part maintains the n-th gate signal at the first low voltage in response to the first signal. The second maintaining part maintains the n-th gate signal at the first low voltage in response to a second signal.
US09218073B1
An apparatus comprising a stylus with a dynamically switch tip shield is provided. The apparatus includes an elongated stylus housing having an end, a conductive tip disposed at least partially inside the stylus housing and extending from the end, a force sensor coupled to the conductive tip and configured to detect contact between the conductive tip and an object, a tip shield coupled with the stylus housing and extending from the end, and a switch coupled to the tip shield and the conductive tip. The force sensor may be an inductive sensor, a capacitive sensor, a piezo sensor, a force sensing resistor sensor, or an optical sensor.
US09218067B2
A mobile communications device user interface is described. In an implementation, a method is implemented by a computing device that includes displaying content in conjunction with a first level of a hierarchical menu in a user interface on a display device of the computing device. Responsive to receipt of an input to navigate to a second level of the hierarchical menu that is a sublevel of the first level, the second level in displayed conjunction with the content on the display device, the content having a reduced display richness when displayed in conjunction with the second level than when displayed in conjunction with the first level.
US09218061B2
A method of audio and video synchronization may include capturing an image by each of a plurality of cameras. The images and audio may be compared with each other for synchronization.
US09218060B2
A virtual mouse simulation method used in a virtual mouse driving apparatus is provided. The method has the following steps of: capturing a plurality of input images continuously; detecting a finger area from the plurality of input images; detecting a specific event of the finger area; and generating a corresponding virtual mouse control command according to the specific event.
US09218052B2
A system for voice control of applications includes an electronic device that receives speech signals and converts the speech signals into words. A voice navigation module analyzes an application and determines application type and enabled features. A command registration module registers commands based on the determined application type and enabled features. The commands control the application when matched with associated speech. A speech command interpretation module receives the words and detects a speech mode for matching commands with interpreted speech, and executes matched commands for navigating through and controlling the application.
US09218047B2
Efficient power management of a system with virtual machines is disclosed. In particular, such efficient power management may enable coordination of system-wide power changes with virtual machines. Additionally, such efficient power management may enable coherent power changes in a system with a virtual machine monitor. Furthermore, such efficient power management may enable dynamic control and communication of power state changes.
US09218045B2
Methods and apparatus relating to dynamic intelligent allocation and utilization of package maximum operating current budget are described. In one embodiment, at least one computational element may be caused to operate at an increased frequency in response to a determination that an opportunity exists to reduce a maximum dynamic capacitance associated with the processor. The determination may be based on an idle status of one or more subsystems of the processor. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US09218044B2
An apparatus includes memory, a processor coupled to the memory, and a set of one or more frequency target monitors. The processor includes a set of one or more processor cores, and the set of one or more frequency target monitors are coupled to the set of one or more processor cores. Each frequency target monitor is configured to determine a difference between an actual performance and an expected performance of a processor core from the set of one or more processor cores. Each frequency target monitor is also configured to, responsive to determining the difference between the actual performance and the expected performance of the processor core from the set of one or more processor cores, record an indication of a difference between the actual performance and the expected performance of the processor core from the set of one or more processor cores.
US09218035B2
Various examples are provided for renewable energy control. In one example, among others, a system includes a PV source, a multi-core processor load, and a solar power manager configured to adjust an operating point of the PV source about a maximum power point by dynamically adjusting a transfer ratio and a load level. In another example, a method includes sensing an output current supplied to a multi-core processor load by a power converter at a first transfer ratio, sensing another output current supplied at a second transfer ratio, and determining an operating point of the PV source with respect to a maximum power point based upon the output currents. In another example, a system includes a power manager configured to switch servers between a renewable energy supply and a utility energy supply based at least in part upon a budget level and the load power consumption.
US09218022B2
A portable computer includes a base, a display module, at least one supporting element and at least one sliding assembly. The base includes a first area and a second area. The display module includes a connect end and a display face. Each supporting element includes a first end pivoted on a portion of the display module other than the display face and a second end pivoted on the rear end of the base. Each sliding assembly includes a slide rail disposed at least in the second area and a sliding block connected with the connect end and moved along the slide rail. Each sliding block includes at least one auxiliary sliding structure for decreasing sliding friction.
US09218021B2
A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad.
US09218016B2
A voltage reference generation circuit includes a current supply circuit and a core circuit. The current supply circuit is arranged to provide a plurality of currents. The core circuit is coupled to the current supply circuit, and arranged to receive the currents and accordingly generate a voltage reference. The core circuit includes a first transistor, a second transistor and a third transistor, wherein the first transistor and the third transistor generate a first gate-to-source voltage and a third gate-to-source voltage, respectively, according to a first current of the received currents; the second transistor generates a second gate-to-source voltage according to a second current of the received currents; and the voltage reference is generated according to the first gate-to-source voltage, the second gate-to-source voltage and the third gate-to-source voltage.
US09218015B2
Circuits for generating a PTAT voltage as a base-emitter voltage difference between a pair of bipolar transistors. The circuits may form unit cells in a cascading voltage reference circuit that increases the PTAT voltage with each subsequent stage. The bipolar transistors are controlled using a biasing arrangement that includes an MOS transistor connected to a current mirror that provides the base current for the bipolar transistors. A voltage reference is formed by combining a PTAT voltage and a CTAT voltage at the last stage. The voltage reference may be obtained from the voltage at an emitter of one of the bipolar transistors in the last stage.
US09218010B2
There is provided a load driving apparatus including: a power converter circuit configured to convert electric power into direct current power; an output electric current detecting circuit configured to detect an output current flowing in the load; and a control circuit section configured to switch ON/OFF-operations of the load depending on an operation instruction information, to perform constant current control during a period of the ON-operation of the load, to output a first pulse signal to the power converter circuit when starting the constant current control, ON-duty of the first pulse signal being substantially same as that during a period of a most recent operation of the load performed immediately before, to perform constant voltage control during a period of the OFF-operation of the load based on an output voltage applied to the load, and to output a second pulse signal to the power converter circuit.
US09218008B2
Energy efficient control of cooling system cooling of an electronic system is provided based, in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components. The control includes automatically determining speed control settings for multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The automatically determining is based, at least in part, on weighted cooling effectiveness of the components of the cooling system, and the determining operates to limit power consumption of at least the cooling system, while ensuring that a target temperature associated with at least one of the cooling system or the electronic system is within a desired range by provisioning, based on the weighted cooling effectiveness, a desired target temperature change among the multiple adjustable cooling components of the cooling system. The provisioning includes provisioning applied power to the multiple adjustable cooling components via, at least in part, the determined control settings.
US09217995B2
Disclosed herein is a system for connecting one or more data networks to a plurality of communications devices in a premises, and methods of installing same. The system includes a hub located within the premises and connected to the data networks, as well as one or more conduits connected to the hub for connecting the data networks to one or more outlets in the premises. The outlets are adapted to connect to the communications devices to allow the user access to the networks.
US09217983B2
A drive transmission device includes rotatable shafts, a first transmission mechanism that transmits first driving force, and a second transmission mechanism that transmits second driving force. The first driving force causes a specific rotatable shaft to rotate in a first rotation direction. The second driving force causes the specific rotatable shaft to rotate in a second rotation direction. The second transmission mechanism includes first and second gears, and a switching member that switches between coupling and decoupling of the first and second gears. While the first and second gears are coupled, the second driving force is transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft. The first transmission mechanism includes a cut-off member that cuts off transmission of the first driving force to the specific rotatable shaft upon the second driving force being transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft while the first driving force is being transmitted to the specific rotatable shaft.
US09217973B2
An apparatus includes: a coil; a heater, including an electroconductive layer of magnetism-adjusted alloy whose Curie temperature is lower than apparatus's durable temperature; a magnetic core directing a magnetic flux generated by the coil to the heater; a controller controlling electric power supply to the coil so that a temperature of the heater is a temperature sufficient to heat an image on a sheet, the Curie temperature being higher than the image heating temperature; and a blocker of non-magnetic metal having a resistivity smaller than that of the magnetism-adjusted alloy. The blocker opposes the coil with the heater therebetween. The blocker is in a first region where the coil opposes the heater, and a length L2 of the first region and a length L3 of a second region where the heater and blocker oppose each other, both regions measured in a rotational direction of the heater, satisfy L2/2≦L3.
US09217966B1
A fixing device includes a first rotatory body, a first heater, a second rotatory body, a temperature detection section, and a determination section. The first heater heats the first rotatory body. The second rotatory body and the first rotatory body provide a fixing nip where a recording medium becomes sandwiched. The temperature detection section detects a temperature change in an end portion of an outer circumferential surface of the first rotatory body. The determination section determines a rotation state of the first rotatory body based on a result of detection by the temperature detection section. The end portion of the first rotatory body has at least one first region and at least one second region that are arranged adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction. The first region has a first thermal conductivity. The second region has a second thermal conductivity that is different from the first thermal conductivity.
US09217964B2
An image heating apparatus includes: first and second rotatable members configured to form a nip for heating a toner image on a recording material; a rotatable rubbing member configured to rub the first rotatable member to substantially refresh a surface property of the first rotatable member; and a pipe member provided with an opening, formed at a peripheral surface thereof, for permitting air blowing toward the rotatable rubbing member, wherein said pipe member has an end portion hermetically sealed by collapse.
US09217958B1
An image forming apparatus includes a first transfer unit that transfers a first image formed by first liquid containing a toner to a medium, a first supplier that has a first concave-convex pattern, has a first rotation axis, and rotates to supply the first liquid containing the toner to the first transfer unit, a second transfer unit that transfers a second image formed by second liquid containing a toner of which a color is the same as a color of the toner used in the first liquid to superimpose the second image on the first image transferred to the medium, and a second supplier that has a second concave-convex pattern, has a second rotation axis, and rotates to supply the second liquid containing the toner to the second transfer unit.
US09217957B2
A development device includes a developer container that can store developer, a conveyance portion arranged rotatable in a storage portion formed with a discharge opening, and conveying the developer toward an end, on which the discharge opening is formed, in the longitudinal direction, a conveyance screw including a return screw that applies force of pushing back a flow of the developer, which moves toward the discharge opening, in the opposite direction, and a magnet member provided in the developer container in the vicinity of a level of the developer on at least the return portion. A magnetic brush formed by the magnetic force of the magnet member interferes with the return portion.
US09217947B2
An exposure unit includes a lens group having a plurality of lenses arrayed in a first direction and an element array which is arranged to face the lens group and includes a plurality of organic EL elements arrayed in parallel with the first direction on a substrate, a drive circuit including a plurality of TFT circuits for controlling luminance per unit time of the organic EL element is arranged on the substrate, and the TFT circuit controls the luminance of the organic EL element based on a signal created by an area gray scale method.
US09217942B2
Disclosed is a toner for electrostatic image development that has excellent low-temperature fixability and also has sufficient heat-resistant storage stability. The toner for electrostatic image development includes toner particles containing an amorphous resin including amorphous resins A and B and a crystalline polyester resin. The toner particles have a domain-matrix structure in which a domain phase including fine core particles of the crystalline polyester resin is dispersed in a matrix phase formed of the amorphous resin A composed of a vinyl-based polymer. The surface of the fine core particles of the crystalline polyester resin is coated with the amorphous resin B composed of a vinyl-based polymer.
US09217930B2
Illumination systems for microlithographic projection exposure apparatus, as well as related systems, components and methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, an illumination system includes one or more scattering structures and an optical integrator that produces a plurality of secondary light sources.
US09217928B1
A method is provided for processing a flexographic printing blank to produce a relief image printing element capable of printing cleanly. The method provides a flexographic printing blank comprising: (i) a support layer; (ii) at least one photocurable layer disposed on the support layer, and (iii) a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer. The laser ablatable mask layer is laser ablated to create an in situ negative in the laser ablatable mask layer. Thereafter, a barrier layer is disposed on the laser ablatable mask layer. The photocurable layer is exposed to actinic radiation through the barrier layer and the laser ablatable mask layer; and the imaged and exposed flexographic printing blank is developed to reveal the relief image therein. The resulting flexographic relief image printing element is capable of printing cleanly and of resisting paper fibers, dust, and ink during a print run.
US09217927B2
Provided is a method for fabricating a microstructure. The method includes disposing an X-ray mask on photosensitive material and exposing the photosensitive material by radiating X-rays to the photosensitive material, etching the exposed photosensitive material, forming a mold having a micro-pattern by filing the etched photosensitive material with metal, forming a mold module by combining a plurality of molds, and forming a microstructure using the mold module.
US09217920B2
A photocurable composition comprising a photoresist component, and a perfluoropolyether silane is disclosed. The composition enables easier release of phototool from a photoresist.
US09217916B2
A lithographic system includes a monitored lithographic projection apparatus arranged to project a patterned beam onto a substrate. A scatterometer measures a plurality of parameters of the pattern transferred to the substrate including at least one CD-profile parameter and at least one further parameter of the pattern transferred to the substrate which is indicative of a machine setting of the monitored lithographic projection apparatus. A matching system includes a database storing information representative of reference CD values and reference values for the further feature. A comparison arrangement compares the measured values with the corresponding stored values, a lithographic parameter calculation means calculating a corrected set of machine settings for the monitored lithographic apparatus dependent on the differences between the measured and reference values.
US09217915B2
A projection-type video display apparatus comprising: a transmission-type screen; a video projection unit configured to project an image displayed on a video display surface as an image light; a projection optic system configured to enlarge and project the image light projected from said video projection unit on a rear surface of said transmission-type screen; and a plane mirror, provided in a part of said projection optic system, configured to reflect the image light from said video projection unit, thereby to project it on said transmission-type screen, wherein said transmission-type screen, said video projection unit and said projection optic system are mounted on a base; said video projection unit builds up an oblique projection optic system; and said transmission-type screen and said plane mirror are disposed on said base, being perpendicularly fixed, independently, in parallel with each other, and on the rear surface of said transmission-type screen is attached a foldable back cover, detachably, so as to cover a rear surface of said plane mirror.
US09217907B2
Embodiments of the subject invention relate to a method and apparatus for electrically displaying information. Specific embodiments pertain to displaying information on shelf edges in a retail setting. Embodiments can provide a low-cost, low-power consumption, and durable solution that allows retailers to display, and, optionally, automatically update, information on shelf edges utilizing e-paper technology and wireless communications. Specific embodiments pertain to an e-paper display without a glass backplane. Further specific embodiments pertain to a flexible e-paper display incorporating a separate driving mechanism that can drive one or multiple e-papers.
US09217906B2
In one embodiment, a display element includes a first electrode; a dielectric layer having recessed regions therein over the first electrode; a second electrode disposed on the dielectric layer; and a fluid with colorant particles within the display element, wherein a voltage signal applied to the first electrode and the second electrode controls movement of the colorant particles such that a first voltage signal provides a first optical state by compacting the colorant particles into the recessed regions and a second voltage signal provides a second optical state by spreading the colorant particles in the fluid.
US09217904B2
According to one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device includes, a first substrate including a switching element which is electrically connected to a gate line and a source line and includes a drain electrode opposed to a storage capacitance line, a pixel electrode which includes a main pixel electrode extending in a second direction and a sub-pixel electrode which extends in a first direction at a position inside a position above an edge of the drain electrode and is put in contact with the drain electrode, a second substrate including a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer.
US09217901B2
There is disclosed a contact structure for electrically connecting conducting lines formed on a first substrate of an electrooptical device such as a liquid crystal display with conducting lines formed on a second substrate via conducting spacers while assuring a uniform cell gap among different cells if the interlayer dielectric film thickness is nonuniform across the cell or among different cells. A first conducting film and a dielectric film are deposited on the first substrate. Openings are formed in the dielectric film. A second conducting film covers the dielectric film left and the openings. The conducting spacers electrically connect the second conducting film over the first substrate with a third conducting film on the second substrate. The cell gap depends only on the size of the spacers, which maintain the cell gap.
US09217895B2
A display apparatus includes plural light guide plates each including a light incident surface and a light output surface, plural light sources providing light to the light guide plates, and a display panel receiving the light to display an image. The light guide plates have a rectangular shape, are spaced apart from each other and are in a same plane. The light sources are disposed between two adjacent light guide plates. Each of the light sources includes a light emitting surface, and provides the light to the light guide plates through the light emitting surface. The light emitting surface of the light sources is inclined with respect to one side of the light guide plates.
US09217885B2
A microlens array substrate includes a substrate having transparency and having a plurality of concave portions provided on a first surface to correspond to a plurality of pixels, and a lens layer having a different refractive index from a refractive index of the substrate, which is provided on the first surface of the substrate to fill in the plurality of concave portions, in which each of the plurality of concave portions has a flat portion arranged at the center portion, a curved surface portion arranged to surround the flat portion, an edge portion arranged to surround the curved surface portion and connected to the first surface of the substrate, and an angle between the edge portion and the first surface in a cross section passing through the center portion is smaller than an angle between a virtual curved surface obtained by extending the curved surface portion toward the first surface and the first surface.
US09217884B2
A tunable photonic crystal color filter and a color image display apparatus including the same. A tunable photonic crystal color filter includes a first electrode, a second electrode on the first electrode, and a medium disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The medium includes charged nanoparticles having a lattice structure in the medium. The first electrode and the second electrode are formed of a material having a difference between an oxidative over-potential and a reductive over-potential.
US09217833B2
The present invention relates to a positioning means for a fiber optic connector assembly, a fiber optic connector assembly and a fiber termination unit comprising the positioning means through which manufacturing tolerances can be absorbed to provide an improved optical interconnection with a high signal transmission rate. The positioning means (1) comprises a receiving means (5) for receiving one of a jack assembly or plug assembly (2) and a stationary support (6) supporting said receiving means (5), wherein the receiving means (5) is displaceable to a certain extent relative to the stationary support (6) at least along one direction other than a connection direction for optically interconnecting the optical fibers allowing an alignment of the receivable jack or plug assembly (2) along the direction transversal to the connection direction. A spring loaded element (8) resiliently urges said receiving means (5) away from the support (6) in one embodiment.
US09217820B2
A display apparatus (100) comprising a display screen (110) and a backlight assembly (120) is provided. The backlight assembly (120) comprises a distributed light source (122, 124) and a light guide plate (126) having at least two lateral edges. The light guide plate (126) and the distributed light source (122, 124) are arranged such that the light emitted by the distributed light source (122, 124) is edge-coupled into the light guide plate (126) for being forward projected onto the display screen (110) to illuminate the display screen (110) from back. The distributed light source (122, 124) is mounted on a heat sink structure (130). The heat sink structure (130) comprises a plurality of spaced-apart heat dissipating plates (136). Each heat dissipating plate (136) functions as a heat dissipation fin, is in thermal communication with the distributed light source (122, 124) and spans between the two lateral edges of the light guide plate (126).
US09217813B2
Silicone hydrogel contact lenses are formed from the reaction product of a polymerizable composition comprising at least one acrylate-containing siloxane monomer, at least one hydrophilic vinyl-containing monomer, and at least one vinyl-containing cross-linking agent. The contact lenses have ophthalmically-acceptable ionoflux values and surface wettability, and can be manufactured without the use of volatile organic solvents.
US09217811B1
The present disclosure teaches a lightning damage index is that used to predict the propensity of a lightning strike to an aircraft and the degree of damage to the aircraft that the lightning strike will cause. This index can help to obviate operational issues and other losses related to subsequent repairs to the aircraft that are required because of lightning damage. The disclosed method of predicting lightning strike damage to an aircraft involves generating data relating to the aircraft by measuring the dimensions of the aircraft, assessing the design features of the aircraft, and/or obtaining electromagnetic density data associated with regions of the aircraft. The method further involves creating a lightning damage index that provides a numeric representation for predicted lightning strike damage to the aircraft based on the generated data. The numeric representation may be further modified by factors associated with operation of the aircraft.
US09217809B2
An antenna 3 of an electromagnetic probe used in investigation of geological formations GF surrounding a borehole WBH comprises a conductive base 31 and an antenna element 32. The conductive base 31 comprises an opened non-resonant cavity 33. The antenna element 32 is embedded in the cavity 33 and goes right through the cavity. The antenna element 32 is isolated from the conductive base 31. The antenna element 32 is coupled to at least one electronic module via a first 34A and a second 34B port, respectively. The electronic module operates the antenna so as to define either a substantially pure magnetic dipole, or a substantially pure electric dipole.
US09217807B2
Systems and methods for identifying sanding in production wells using time-lapse sonic data. Formation anisotropy can be characterized in terms of shear moduli in a vertical wellbore, e.g., vertical shear moduli C44 and C55 in the wellbore axial planes and horizontal shear modulus C66 in the wellbore cross-sectional plane. Changes in formation anisotropy between different times can provide qualitative indicators of the occurrence of sanding in the production well. Before production begins, the horizontal shear modulus C66 is typically less than the vertical shear modulus C44 or C55 or both. At a subsequent time after sanding occurs, the horizontal shear modulus C66 is typically greater than the vertical shear modulus C44 or C55 or both. By comparing the shear moduli of the vertical wellbore at different times, it is possible to identify the occurrence of sanding in the production well using time-lapse sonic data.
US09217805B2
A technique includes acquiring particle motion data from a plurality of particle motion sensors while in tow during a seismic survey. During the seismic survey, the particle motion data are processed without deghosting the particle motion data to determine whether at least some portion of the particle motion data is inadequate for an application that relies on the particle motion data.
US09217798B2
An electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons is provided. In one example, the source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. A foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground in a rapid progression, acoustic energy is created and delivered into the ground for geophones to sense and record.
US09217796B2
The invention is an electric sweep type seismic vibrator source of the type used in seismic prospecting for hydrocarbons. The source uses an engine and generator combination to create electric power for all systems on the source such as driving a frame of linear electric motors that direct a rod or piston to contact the ground in a recurring fashion along with driving the source from location to location through a survey area. Preferably a foot is arranged on the bottom end of the rod or piston for contact with the ground and by engaging the grid of motors to push down against the ground to create impulses that deliver acoustic seismic energy into the earth for geophones to sense and record. However, the pulses of seismic energy are delivered in a distinctive fashion where different linear motors are deliberately and concurrently providing different signals that create a distinctive composite signature or signal that can be identified in the data record for source separation purpose.
US09217792B2
The present invention provides a system and method for determining the authenticity of reported positions of GNSS receivers, such as aircraft equipped with GPS positioning devices, and provides an in-band verification capability for GNSS positions by tasking one or more GNSS satellites as designated authentication support (DAS) satellites that transmit corrupted ephemeris data in a pseudo-random error corrupted C/A signal on the L1 band, and the GNSS receivers determine authentication ranges to the DAS satellites and transmit the DAS authentication ranges as part of their position report. The surveillance system can verify the authenticity by comparing the transmitted authentication ranges to true authentication ranges determined using actual ephemeris data and the known C/A code pseudo-random error for the DAS satellites.
US09217780B2
In one embodiment, a circuit includes a first amplifier having a first differential input, a second differential input, and an output. The replica device is configured to generate a replica current of a current flowing through the battery where the first amplifier controls the control device to control the replica current. The circuit also includes a second amplifier having a third differential input, a fourth differential input, and an output. The second amplifier is configured to compensate for a first offset error of the first amplifier and a second offset error of the second amplifier based on selectively coupling the third differential input to the output of the first amplifier during a first phase, selectively coupling the output of the second amplifier to the second differential input during the first phase, and selectively coupling the output of the second amplifier to the fourth differential input during a second phase.
US09217771B2
A system, method and computer program product for enabling efficient and accurate post-silicon leakage power characterization of semiconductor chips at very high temperatures. The system and method can be used to estimate dynamic power usage at a sub-component level. The system and method determines leakage power during test time while running a workload in a manner such that a wider range of temperatures can be characterized on a tester that does not have precise temperature control, i.e., does not require or use external heaters. Additional power management functionality for a semiconductor device is provided while running a workload that breaks down total power measured into workload dependent and workload-independent subcomponents.
US09217767B2
A testing method of a solar cell panel of the present invention, includes steps of: (a) providing an ambient light with steady illumination to the surface of a solar cell panel to introduce a steady signal to its electrical output; (b) providing a modulation light to a given area of the solar cell panel to introduce a modulated signal to its electrical output corresponding to the given area; and (c) analyzing electrical output of the solar cell panel to obtain electrical properties corresponding to the given area. The testing method can test the solar cell panel efficiently, detect and locate defects accurately so that the defects can be corrected and feed back to improve manufacturing process.
US09217763B2
Electrical current transducer comprising a measuring circuit (6) and an inductor (4) for measuring a primary current IP flowing in a primary conductor (2), the inductor comprising a saturable magnetic core (10) made of a highly permeable magnetic material and a secondary coil (12) for carrying an alternating excitation i configured to alternatingly saturate the magnetic core, the coil being connected to the measuring circuit. The measuring circuit is configured to measure a mean value of the excitation current in the secondary coil and determine therefrom a value of the primary current for small current amplitudes, the measuring circuit being further configured for evaluating the frequency of the excitation current i and determining therefrom the value of the primary current for large currents.
US09217756B2
A MEMS resonator includes two resonating masses having an anti-phase and in-phase resonance mode, each mode having a resonance frequency, and an anti-phase resonance levering system coupled to the two resonating masses to stiffen and/or dampen the in-phase resonance mode while leaving the anti-phase resonance mode compliant. This effectively raises the in-phase resonance frequency above the anti-phase resonance frequency, and potentially creates a large frequency separation between the two resonance modes. This reduces the energy transfer between the two modes, allowing for robustness to external acceleration, because the in-phase mode is of a higher frequency. The anti-phase resonance levering system is disposed between the two resonating masses as an internal levering mechanism, or is disposed around the two resonating masses as an external levering mechanism.
US09217752B2
The invention is related to a method and system for measuring motions of a moving, essentially rigid, floating (elongated) body such as a boat, yacht or vessel using two motion detectors that are installed near the ends of, or far enough away from each other in the (elongated) floating body. In accordance with the invention the two motion detectors are essentially simultaneously measuring the movements of the floating body.
US09217747B2
The invention relates to biomarkers associated with Diabetes, including protein and lipid metabolite biomarkers, methods of using the biomarkers to determine the risk that an individual will develop Diabetes, and methods of screening a population to identify persons at risk for developing Diabetes and other pre-diabetic conditions.
US09217746B2
The present invention relates to detecting and/or measuring scattering effects due to the aggregating metallic nanostructures or the interaction of plasmonic emissions from approaching metallic nanoparticles. The scattering effects may be measured at different angles, different wavelengths, changes in absorption and/or changes in polarization relative to changes in the distances between nanoparticles.
US09217745B2
A sensor chip for detecting an immune response against an influenza virus, the sensor chip including a substrate having a surface and a plurality of hemagglutinin polypeptides bound to discrete locations on the surface of the substrate, each hemagglutinin polypeptide having a hemagglutinin epitope. Detection devices containing the sensor chip and methods of detecting influenza immune responses are also described herein.
US09217742B2
An in vitro method for the risk stratification of patients with stable arteriosclerosis, especially stable coronary artery disease, is disclosed wherein the concentration of procalcitonin is determined in the circulation of such patients using a highly sensitive PCT assay, and wherein within the range of PCT concentrations in the typical normal range of healthy individuals cutoff values are defined which distinguish groups of individual patients with stable arteriosclerosis in accordance with personal cardiac risk, and patients are allotted to one of said risk groups on the basis of their individual PCT concentrations.
US09217736B2
Color change compositions that transition from a first to second color state upon application of an applied stimulus are provided. Also provided are substrates having the compositions on a surface thereof, as well as methods of making and using the compositions.
US09217725B2
Compositions containing vinyl polymers and ionophores selective for lead ions (e.g., aniline copolymers), and methods for making these compositions are disclosed herein. The compositions can, for example, be used for detecting lead ions in a sample.
US09217723B2
An analytical test strip (“ATT”) for use with a test meter includes a first insulating layer, with a first insulating layer upper surface, and a first electrically conductive layer (“ECL”) disposed thereon. The first ECL includes a first electrode portion (“EP”) and an electrical contact pad in electrical communication with the first EP. The ATT also includes a patterned spacer layer disposed above the first ECL that includes (i) a distal portion defining a bodily fluid sample-receiving chamber therein that overlies the first EP and (ii) an insulating proximal portion with an upper surface having a second ECL disposed thereon. The second ECL includes an interlayer contact portion and an electrical contact pad. A third ECL of the ATT includes a second EP and a proximal portion that overlies the interlayer contact portion. The second EP is disposed overlying and exposed to the sample-receiving chamber in an opposing relationship to the first EP.
US09217719B2
The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method for X-ray imaging wherein a radiation source comprising rows of discrete emissive locations can be positioned such that these rows are angularly offset relative to rows of sensing elements on a radiation sensor. A processor can process and allocate responses of the sensing elements in appropriate memory locations given the angular offset between source and sensor. This manner of allocation can include allocating the responses into data rows associated with unique positions along a direction of columns of discrete emissive locations on the source. Mapping coefficients can be determined that map allocated responses into an image plane.
US09217718B2
Defect detection method and defect detection device and defect observation device provided with same
The disclosed device, which, using an electron microscope or the like, minutely observes defects detected by an optical appearance-inspecting device or an optical defect-inspecting device, can reliably insert a defect to be observed into the field of an electron microscope or the like, and can be a device of a smaller scale. The electron microscope, which observes defects detected by an optical appearance-inspecting device or by an optical defect-inspecting device, has a configuration wherein an optical microscope that re-detects defects is incorporated, and a spatial filter and a distribution polarization element are inserted at the pupil plane when making dark-field observations using this optical microscope. The electron microscope, which observes defects detected by an optical appearance-inspecting device or an optical defect-inspecting device, has a configuration wherein an optical microscope that re-detects defects is incorporated, and a distribution filter is inserted at the pupil plane when making dark-field observations using this optical microscope.
US09217715B2
Provided herein are apparatuses and methods related thereto, wherein at least one apparatus includes: a photon emitting means configured to emit photons, wherein the photons are scattered from magnetic features of an article; a photon detector array configured to receive scattered photons; and a processing means configured to differentiate the magnetic features from the scattered photons.
US09217704B2
The present disclosure provides a device for characterizing a chromatic property of foodstuff. The device includes a light source arranged to emit light having at least two wavelengths or wavelength ranges. The light source is further arranged to direct the light to a surface of at least the foodstuff. The device also includes a detector positioned to detect at least a portion of reflected light and arranged to generate an output that is indicative of an intensity of detected reflected light. The device is arranged such that respective outputs are generated for the at least two wavelengths or wavelength ranges. A relation between the output for one of the at least two wavelengths or wavelength ranges and the output for the other or another one of the at least two wavelengths or wavelength ranges is indicative of the chromatic property of the surface of the foodstuff.
US09217703B2
A photoacoustic flow cytometry (PAFC) device for the in vivo detection of cells circulating in blood or lymphatic vessels is described. Ultrasound transducers attached to the skin of an organism detect the photoacoustic ultrasound waves emitted by target objects in response to their illumination by at least one pulse of laser energy delivered using at least one wavelength. The wavelengths of the laser light pulse may be varied to optimize the absorption of the laser energy by the target object. Target objects detected by the device may be unlabelled biological cells or cell products, contrast agents, or biological cells labeled with one or more contrast agents.
US09217697B2
This disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for retrieving target material from a suspension. A system includes a processing vessel, such as an Eppendorf tube, a syringe or a test tube, and a collector. The collector is sized and shaped to fit into a primary vessel, such as a test tube. The collector funnels the target material from the suspension through a cannula and into the processing vessel. The cannula extends into a cavity at a first end of the collector that holds the processing vessel. The collector includes a concave opening at a second end in fluid communication with the cannula. In one implementation, the processing vessel includes at least one displacement fluid to be expelled, such that the at least one displacement fluid pushes the target material into the collector.
US09217688B2
A fiber optic end face inspection probe that includes a power control, an image control; a probe adaptor and probe end extending from a housing; an electronics module that includes a microprocessor, a memory and an optional wireless transmitter; and an autofocus camera system that includes a lens, a motor adapted to move the lens in order to focus the image through the lens, and an image sensor that is adapted to accept the image passing through the lens and transmit this image to the electronics module.
US09217686B2
A method, apparatus, and system for monitoring the state of a fluid transport pipe. In one embodiment, there is provided a method of monitoring the state of a fluid transport pipe, the method including: causing a monitor to move along with a fluid inside the fluid transport pipe, the monitor including an elastic gas container and being configured to adjust the volume of the elastic gas container based on ambient pressure of the elastic gas container; and measuring and recording, by the monitor, one or more types of environmental data inside the fluid transport pipe for determining the state of the fluid transport pipe. In other embodiments, there are further provided an apparatus and system for monitoring a state of a fluid transport pipe.
US09217673B2
There is provided a high responsivity device for thermal sensing in a Terahertz (THz) radiation detector. A load impedance connected to an antenna heats up due to the incident THz radiation received by the antenna. The heat generated by the load impedance is sensed by a thermal sensor such as a transistor. To increase the responsivity of the sense device without increasing the thermal mass, the device is located underneath a straight portion of an antenna arm. The transistor runs substantially the entire length of the antenna arm alleviating the problem caused by placing large devices on the side of the antenna and the resulting large additional thermal mass that must be heated. This boosts the responsivity of the pixel while retaining an acceptable level of noise and demanding a dramatically smaller increase in the thermal time constant.
US09217662B2
A system comprises a vibration sensor for generating a vibration signal on a turbomachine, a signal conditioner for conditioning the vibration signal, and a test signal generator for calibrating the signal conditioner. The test signal generator calibrates the signal conditioner with a test signal having a base frequency and a modulation frequency. The signal conditioner introduces a phase error into the vibration signal, and the signal conditioner introduces a phase shift into the test signal. A processor compensates for the phase error in the vibration signal by correcting the vibration signal based on the phase shift in the test signal, where the processor determines the phase shift in the test signal based on harmonic analysis of the modulation frequency.
US09217661B2
A multi-head weigher has a plurality of heads operable to hold and discharge product; first and second discharge chutes arranged to receive product discharged from respective first and second subsets of the plurality of heads and each operable to selectively deliver said product to a first location or a second location; and a combinational weight determining system operable to determine a combination of one or more heads which meets a target criterion, and to discharge product from the determined combination through their respective discharge chute(s) to the first location. When a predetermined condition has occurred, the combinational weight determining system can discharge product from that head(s) to the second location via the discharge chute arranged to receive product from that head(s), when said discharge chute is not being used to deliver product to the first location.
US09217655B2
A sensor system for determining a parameter of a fluid medium, e.g., an intake air mass flowing through a channel, includes at least one sensor chip situated in the channel for determining the parameter, which sensor chip is accommodated in a sensor carrier which (i) protrudes into the channel and (ii) has a leading edge situated transverse to the flow of the fluid medium. At least one vortex generator is provided, at least in the region of the leading edge, and configured for forming secondary flows in the flowing fluid medium in the region of the sensor carrier, for avoiding or reducing the entry of particles. The secondary flows extend in a plane essentially perpendicular to the main flow direction of the fluid medium, e.g., facing away from the sensor area.
US09217652B2
A sensor arrangement comprises at least one magnetic-field sensor (SM1). A signal-processing unit (PROC) is set up to determine a minimum signal (MIN) and a maximum signal (MAX) of the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) over the full scale range (FSR) of the sensor arrangement. An adjustment circuit (DSPL) is set up to generate a correction signal (COR) as a function of the minimum and maximum signals (MIN, MAX). A first combination means (ADD1) couples the first magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the input side to the adjustment circuit (DSPL) and connects the magnetic-field sensor (SM1) on the output side to a signal output (OUT).
US09217643B1
An angles only navigation system. The system includes an IMU coupled with a passive optical sensor. The optical sensor provides periodic updates to the IMU in order to correct for accelerometer and gyro drifts. The IMU computes the air vehicle's instantaneous position, velocity, and attitude using gyro and accelerometer measurements. The optical sensor images stars and satellites. The navigation filter combines optical sensor measurements with IMU inputs, and determines those corrections needed to compensate for the IMU drifts. By applying periodic corrections to the IMU using satellite angular measurements, the navigation filter maintains an accurate position estimate during an entire flight.
US09217630B2
The present invention relates to light curtains, in particular safety light curtains, for monitoring a protective field. Furthermore, the present invention relates to optical units which are part of such a light curtain. An optical unit for an alignment system of a light curtain monitoring a protective field comprises an optical processing element for generating a defined radiation pattern from the radiation emitted by an alignment radiation source, and at least one optical wave guide for guiding radiation from at least one display radiation source to a surface of the optical element which is visible to an observer.
US09217627B2
A practice ammunition projectile has a projectile head with one or more sheets of plastic material, each having a plurality of frangible “bubble shaped” compartments containing liquid chemical components for optical and/or Infrared marking of a target upon impact. The sheets are preferably flexible sheets in the nature of a “bubble wrap” of the type used as padding for packaging. These so-called “matrix packages” are installed adjacent the inner surface of the shell forming the projectile head and provide stability when the compartments break up upon setback when the projectile is fired from a weapon.
US09217626B1
A non-centerfire shotgun designed to operate with a non-centerfire shotshell, wherein a conventional shotshell is not able to be fired from the non-centerfire shotgun.
US09217612B2
A wire electric discharge machine that machines a workpiece by supplying a working fluid to a work tank where the workpiece is placed includes a temperature monitor, which exercises control so that the temperature of the working fluid is within a predetermined range. An alarm is displayed when the temperature of the working fluid is outside an allowable temperature range. A time that has elapsed since the temperature of the working fluid falls within the allowable temperature range from outside the allowable temperature rage is measured and when the measured time exceeds a preset working fluid temperature difference disappearing time, the alarm is called off.
US09217608B2
A diagonal gasket support (22) in a heat exchanger cassette adapted for a heat exchanger having a contact-free flow channel (28), where the cassette (11, 29) comprises two plates (12) of the same type, where each plate is provided with a corrugated pattern having a plurality of ridges (19) and valleys (20), characterized in that the diagonal gasket support (22) comprises a plurality of indentations (23) and protrusions (24) positioned adjacent each other along a diagonal gasket groove (21). The advantage of such a diagonal gasket support is that a contact-free support at the diagonal gasket is obtained.
US09217601B2
The embodiment relates to a refrigerator. In the refrigerator, a freezing compartment is selectively partitioned into a plurality of spaces and some of the plurality of spaces can be used as a convertible compartment that can be converted into the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. In addition, the refrigerator has a structure that an operation unit is provided at a door that opens and closes the convertible compartment and a cable that extends from a main body to the operation unit is clearly processed.
US09217598B2
A foldable refrigerator is provided. The foldable refrigerator moves from a functional First Position A to a collapsed Second Position B. The foldable refrigerator may be folded into the collapsed Second Position B for transportation and/or storage. The foldable refrigerator has an extendable handle and wheels which allow pulling or pushing the refrigerator in a manner similar to luggage. The refrigerator further has extendable and adjustable legs which allow the refrigerator to be raised or lowered to various heights. The refrigerator has a gyroscope which allows the compressor of the refrigerator to remain in an upright position.
US09217595B2
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator has a refrigerator body including a storage chamber to store foods, a door configured to open or close the storage chamber, an ice maker mounted on the door and an ice maker cover to at least partially cover the ice maker, the ice maker cover including a cool air inlet port for introducing cool air at an upper portion thereof. The ice maker includes a first guide coupled to a lower portion of the ice maker to guide cool air to pass through the lower portion of the ice maker and a second guide provided at an upper side of the ice maker to guide cool air introduced through the cool air inlet port to be branched off and flowed into the upper and lower portions of the ice maker.
US09217594B2
A method of controlling a cooling device capable of stably cooling a heat source is provided. A cooling device includes a first passage through which a coolant discharged from a compressor flows into a cooling unit for cooling EV equipment; a second passage through which the coolant is circulated between a heat exchanger and the cooling unit; a switching valve switching communication of the first passage and communication of the second passage; and a liquid storage container storing a liquid coolant condensed in the heat exchanger. The control method includes the steps of: increasing an amount of the liquid coolant stored in the liquid storage container; and switching the switching valve so as to block the first passage and allow communication of the second passage.
US09217588B2
A magnetic cooling apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The magnetic cooling apparatus provides a replacement having a simplified structure for motors providing driving force and power transmission systems of reciprocation type and rotation type cooling apparatuses. The magnetic cooling apparatus includes magnets forming a magnetic field, magnetic regeneration units formed of a magnetocaloric material that are provided with coils, and using electromagnetic force, generated when currents are supplied to the coils in the magnetic field, as kinetic energy, and a controller controlling the currents supplied to the coils of the magnetic regeneration units to control moving speeds and directions of the magnetic regeneration units.
US09217586B1
A ground energy collection system is disclosed. The system includes a well configured to absorb ground energy and provide the absorbed ground energy to a first heat transferring fluid. A pump is used to circulate the first heat transferring fluid to an evaporator. The evaporator is configured to: receive the first heat transferring fluid; facilitate heat exchange between the first heat transferring fluid and a second heat transferring fluid; and return the first heat transferring fluid to the well. A compressor then compresses the second heat transferring fluid. An electricity generator generates electricity based on the second heat transferring fluid received from the compressor. A condenser then retrieves heat and liquefies the second heat transferring fluid. An expansion valve is utilized to regulate pressure of the second heat transferring fluid received from the condenser and return the second heat transferring fluid to the evaporator.
US09217580B2
A hose attachment device for use in combination with a source of pressurized gas or liquid for clearing HVACR drain lines. The device includes a cap having an interior cavity extending from an open bottom end that is sized for engaged receipt of an open-ended drain line extension. One embodiment of the device includes a hose extending through the top of the cap and having a fitting at the proximal end of the hose (extending from the top of the cap) that is sized for attachment to the pressurized source. A valve fitting at the distal end of the hose is sized for engaged receipt of a male valve stem, such as a Schrader valve. Another embodiment of the invention includes a valve fitting extending through top of the cap. A further embodiment of the invention includes an upper component and a lower component forming the cap, wherein the upper component is securable to a nozzle of a garden hose and the bottom component is securable to an open-ended drain line extension.
US09217569B2
A burner and a method for operating a burner are provided. The burner includes a channel having a mixing zone and having a feed for an oxidation means, particularly an air feed, and at least one fuel feed for injecting fuel, wherein a separating means which divides the channel over a wide range of the channel into at least two separated channels, namely a first channel and a second channel, is provided in the channel. The method for operating a burner having a channel includes a mixing zone into which an oxidation mass flow and fuel are injected, wherein two substantially separate flow paths are formed by means of a separating means in the channel and the at least two separated first and second channels, formed by the separating means.
US09217564B2
A saturated water generating device includes a thermal receptor including a cavity inside, a liquid entrance connected into the cavity of the thermal receptor, a heat source, and a pillar disposed in the cavity of the thermal receptor. The heat source is used to heat the cavity of the thermal receptor. The pillar includes a plurality of tiny channels. The liquid is heated to generate saturated water in the tiny channels. Through the saturated water generating device, the high-temperature and high-pressure saturated water is generated by heating the high-pressure water, and then make the generated high-temperature and high-pressure saturated water explore instantly when it is heated, and then quickly intensive evaporation and formation of high-temperature and high-pressure steam flow as the power source.
US09217556B2
A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes: disposing a group of electrically conductive members on a support substrate, the group of the electrically conductive members forming a plurality of mounting portions arranged in two or more columns and two or more rows with the mounting portions respectively corresponding to a plurality of light emitting elements; placing the light emitting elements on the group of the electrically conductive members with a bonding member being disposed between the light emitting elements and the electrically conductive members, each of the light emitting elements being shifted from a corresponding one of the mounting portions; and melting the bonding member to mount the light emitting elements respectively on the mounting portions by self-alignment effect generated by the melting of the bonding member.
US09217551B2
The present invention relates to an illumination device comprising a plurality of light sources emitting light, an optical gate; a light collector arranged between the light sources and optical gate and an optical projecting system adapted to image the optical gate at a distance along the optical axis. The light collector is adapted to collect light from a plurality of light sources and where the light collector comprises a plurality of lenslets collecting light from the light sources and convert the light into a plurality of light beams propagating along an optical axis. The lenslets are arranged in a dense pattern including adjacent lenslets, where the lenslets of at least some of the pairs of the adjacent lenslets have different optical power and wherein the exit surfaces of the pairs of the adjacent lenslets having different optical power meet along a boundary.
US09217544B2
LED based lamps and bulbs are disclosed that comprise a pedestal having a plurality of LEDs, wherein the pedestal at least partially comprises a thermally conductive material. A heat sink structure is included with the pedestal thermally coupled to the heat sink structure. A remote phosphor is arranged in relation to the LEDs so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the remote phosphor and is converted to a different wavelength of light. Some lamp or bulb embodiments can emit a white light combination of light from the LEDs and the remote phosphor. These can include LEDs emitting blue light with the remote phosphor having a material that absorbs blue light and emits yellow or green light. A diffuser can be included to diffuse the emitting light into the desired pattern, such as omnidirectional.
US09217539B2
There is disclosed a high-pressure tank capable of appropriately discharging high-pressure gas. The high-pressure tank is mounted on a mobile body, stores the high-pressure gas, and includes a plurality of gas discharge means for discharging the high-pressure gas from the high-pressure tank. The gas discharge means are disposed at opposite sides of the high-pressure tank in a longitudinal direction. The gas discharge means can each have a path through which the inside of the high-pressure tank communicates with the outside thereof, and a manual valve including a manual operating section for opening and closing the path by a manual operation.
US09217534B2
A bracket is provided that includes a plurality of apertures for mounting the bracket to a variety surfaces and connecting equipment selected by a user. The bracket may include an adjustable supporting arm and a connection box for providing a secure area for input and output devices to the equipment. The bracket may have a configuration that facilitates its mounting on a telephone or utility pole.
US09217528B1
A method and apparatus for connecting and disconnecting components of a quick-release coupling. A lever pivotably connected to a support structure configured to hold a first component of the quick-release coupling and a retractable component associated with the first component is rotated. The lever is configured to substantially align a second component of the quick-release coupling with a longitudinal axis through the first component. A retraction mechanism configured to retract the retractable component away from a receiving end of the first component is activated in response to the rotation of the lever. A coupling of the second component with the first component is controlled in response to the rotation of the lever and retraction of the retractable component.
US09217527B2
A hydraulic hose coupling, and method of assembling such to a hydraulic hose in a no-skive fashion. This is accomplished in many ways, some of which include the provision of a plurality of hose retention and sealing zones within the coupling, each of which include various combinations of radially inwardly directed barbs and radially inwardly and outwardly directed surface features on the inner stem of the coupling. With specific regard to the zone primarily directed to sealing, it includes a radially inwardly directed barb which works in conjunction with a straight cylindrical surface flanked by first and second radially inwardly directed recesses.
US09217526B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for testing the integrity of a portion of flexible pipe body. The method includes the steps of, via at least one port in an end fitting assembly in which an end of a portion of flexible pipe body is terminated, monitoring at least one parameter associated with an annulus region disposed between layers of the flexible pipe body, the annulus region being connected to the port by a connecting passageway.
US09217521B2
A piping component for controlling the flow of fluids that includes a piping body having an inlet end and an outlet end, including methods of operating such components within a piping system. The piping body may be sized for fluids operating at temperatures from approximately 350° F. up to approximately 500° F., and up to approximately 650° F. In addition, the piping body is made from a silicon-copper alloy consisting essentially of less than 16% zinc, less than trace amounts of lead, less than trace amounts of bismuth, 2 to 6% silicon and a balance of copper (by weight). In certain aspects, less than 0.09% of lead and/or less than 0.09% bismuth are contained in the silicon-copper alloy.
US09217520B2
Method to make a curved tubular element in order to convey abrasive materials such as concrete or suchlike, which comprises a first step of making at least a curved component made of a material highly resistant to wear, having an arched transverse development comprised between 90° and 360°, a second step of inserting the curved component into a shaping mold with a molding surface with a shape mating with the outer surface of at least a part of the curved tubular element to be made, so that, together with the molding surface, the curved component defines a casting chamber, and a third step in which material with a low resistance to wear is cast in the casting chamber in order to make, externally to the curved component, at least a part of a tubular body of the curved tubular element.
US09217517B2
A method for installing an underwater riser between a seabed (52) and a surface (12), and a tubular pipe suspended from a float (24): The float (24) is weighted to be able to submerge it to drive one pipe end (28) toward the seabed (52) for connecting the tubular pipe at the seabed. Unwinding the flexible pipe (20) to extend it catenary fashion between the float (24) and a surface installation (10) so as to weight the float (24) with the unwound flexible pipe (20) and cause the submersion of the float (24), whereby the other pipe end (28) is driven toward the seabed (52).
US09217513B2
A faucet handle includes a safety lock. The safety lock includes a latch that is manually movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The latch is adapted to engage an associated catch when the latch is in its engaged position. The safety lock also includes a primary lock element that moves between a locked position and an unlocked position. The primary lock element prevents movement of the latch from its engaged position to its disengaged position when the primary lock element is in its locked position. The primary lock element allows movement of the latch from its engaged position to its disengaged position when the primary lock element is in its unlocked position. A faucet including the handle requires three steps to dispense liquid: (i) movement of the primary lock to its unlocked position; (ii) movement of the latch to its disengaged position; and (iii) movement of the handle to its liquid dispensing position.
US09217511B2
A valve includes a valve housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet with a longitudinal axis defined through the valve housing. The valve also includes a toggle mechanism configured and adapted to cycle flow from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through a plurality of different flow rates in response to repeated impulses. The toggle mechanism is also configured to hold flow rate steady between impulses.
US09217509B2
A reciprocating piston generator assembly that uses a low-concentration methane as a form of fuel comprises: a lean methane engine; a generator assembly; a fine water mist transmission system; a refrigerating dehydrator; an electric butterfly valve; a pressure regulator; a fuel-air mixer; a TEM controller; a heat load sensor; a combustion chamber for the lean methane engine; an air filter; and a speed governing butterfly valve, wherein the fine water mist transmission system is attached sequentially with the refrigerating dehydrator, electric butterfly valve and low-concentration methane engine; and the pressure regulator, fuel-air mixer, air filter, speed governing butterfly valve, heat load sensors and combustion chambers are installed in the methane engine; that the TEM controller is connected to the fuel-air mixer and heat load sensor; and the generator is connected to the low-concentration methane engine. This invention has been applied broadly in low-concentration methane coal mines and other similar fields due to its favored properties; such as high heat-recovery efficiency, lessened water consumption, energy savings, emission reduction and environmental protection.
US09217506B2
An actuating device is provided for actuating at least one shifting element shiftable through a shifting device, whereas the shifting device features a pressure space with a supply for a pressurized medium, along with a shut-off valve. It is proposed that the shut-off valve is connected in an electrically controllable and torque-proof manner to at least one shifting element, and that the electrical energy for the actuation of the shut-off valve is able to be supplied without contact.
US09217505B2
In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for enhancing the performance of a continuously variable transmission of a work vehicle may include engaging a range clutch of the continuously variable transmission, cycling a directional clutch of the continuously variable transmission between an engaged state and a disengaged state while the range clutch is engaged and controlling a position of a swash plate of the continuously variable transmission such that a ground speed of the work vehicle is maintained substantially at zero while the directional clutch is cycled between the engaged and disengaged states.
US09217503B2
A method of operating a vehicle drive-train comprising an internal combustion engine and a transmission system functionally connected to the internal combustion engine. The transmission has an interlocking shifting element, one shifting element half of which is functionally connected to the transmission input shaft while the other shifting element half is functionally connected to a transmission output shaft. Upon receipt of a command to change the transmission from a neutral position, in which a force flow through the transmission is interrupted, to an operating condition, in which the force flow through the transmission is produced, the interlocking shifting element is changed to an engaged operating condition. A speed difference between the shifting element halves is brought by varying the speed of the internal combustion engine into a speed difference window within which the interlocking shifting element can be changed to its engaged operating condition.
US09217487B2
In a movement damping apparatus, a magnetorheological fluid is pressed through a flow path. A device generating a variable magnetic field comprises a core around which a coil is wound as well as pole surfaces in the flow path, the magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid by way of said pole surfaces. The coil is arranged within the flow path along with the core, the axis of the coil extending perpendicular to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid. The flow path has a jacket made of a magnetically conducting material.
US09217483B2
A damper system for a vehicle includes a shock absorber and a damper module. The shock absorber includes a plurality of digital valves. The shock absorber is operable at one of multiple damping states based on a valve state of the digital valves. The damper module is coupled to each of the digital valves and controls each of the digital valves to a desired state based on a damper setting. The damper module determines a target damping state, where the target state is one of the multiple damping states. The damper module performs a switch operation to control the valve state of the plurality of digital valves to a given desired state when the target damping state is different from a present damping state.
US09217469B2
A method of splitting a ring, such as a cage, for a bearing, such as a roller or ball bearing, includes splitting a ring in such a way that there are provided projections and recesses in the facing surfaces thereby produced. In this manner, the two halves of the split ring may be reassembled in opposite orientation so that the projections on the facing surfaces of the two halves of the ring engage one another to space the two halves of the ring apart and to restore the ring to a circular ring shape despite some of the material of the ring having been removed in the splitting process.
US09217457B2
A quick adjusting nut (1) made especially for attaching a vehicle wheel to the mounting shaft of a balancing machine, with a housing part (2) and with at least two radially movable thread segments (3) arranged in the housing part (2) and with an actuator (4) for radial movement of the thread segments (3), each thread segment (3) having an inside thread section (3a) and the thread segments (3) being radially movable along guide surfaces (7) of the housing part (2) from an engagement position outward into a disengagement position. The guide surfaces (7) for the thread segments (3) slant upward in the radial outward direction and interact with complementary slanted guide surfaces of the thread segments (3) during movement in the radial direction.
US09217453B2
A mounting structure comprises a part with a base, a mounting member with a mounting hole, a clip and a cap. The base has a temporary fixing part configured to fix the cap in a temporary fixed position, a permanent fixing part configured to locate the cap in a permanent fixed position, and an elastic hooking pawl configured to restrict entry of the cap into the permanent fixed position by interfering with insertion of the cap when held in the temporary fixed position. When the cap is inserted from the temporary fixed position to the permanent fixed position, each of the elastic lockable parts of the clip are deformed toward a mounting hole and press against the elastic hooking pawl such that the elastic hooking pawl does not interfere with the insertion path of the cap from the temporary fixed position to the permanent fixed position.
US09217430B2
A gerotor assembly includes a star, a ring, and an annular plug member, as well as an o-ring. The star member defines a center opening of a first diameter which is connectable to a low-pressure fluid reservoir. The ring member circumscribes the star member. The ring member defines, in conjunction with a stationary end cap of a fluid control device, a fluid channel connectable to a high-pressure fluid supply. The plug member is circumscribed by the star member, and defines a center bore of a second diameter less than the first diameter. The o-ring is positioned between the star and the plug members. The plug member forms a fluid seal against the end cap. A fluid control device includes the above gerotor assembly and a valve housing section. A method of assembling the gerotor assembly and fluid control device are also disclosed.
US09217427B2
A positive displacement dosing system and method of dispensing a fluid including a plurality of disposable positive displacement pumps. The disposable positive displacement pumps each include a pump body having head portion and a base portion, with the head portion having one or more fluid passage openings. Each disposable positive displacement pump also includes a rolling diaphragm internal to the pump body and defining a fluid chamber within the pump body. The disposable positive displacement pump also includes a piston drive unit configured to reciprocally drive the rolling diaphragm to move fluid in or out of the fluid chamber. The positive displacement dosing system includes tubing connecting the fluid reservoir to the disposable positive displacement pump.
US09217425B2
A diaphragm pump includes a motor, an eccentric member driven by the motor, and a diaphragm. The motor includes an output shaft connected with the eccentric member. The eccentric member includes multiple arms which move up and down due to the rotation of the output shaft. The diaphragm has multiple bladders. Each bladder forms a pump chamber. The bladders are connected with the arms such that the bladders are compressed or expanded due to the movement of the arms. The pump has an air exhaust chamber and an air inlet chamber. The air inlet chamber is connected to the pump chambers via a passage. The passage includes a cavity which overlaps the air exhaust chamber in an axial direction of the motor.
US09217421B1
The present disclosure relates to a modified drag based wind turbine apparatus, a method of making the wind turbine and a method of using the wind turbine apparatus. The apparatus is based on a modified drag based concept whereby during a complete turn of the rotor, there will be an augmentation of a positive torque and a decrease of a negative torque resulting in double effect enhancement. The disclosed wind turbine can capture more wind kinetic energy than that energy captured by the traditional drag based wind turbines. The wind turbine apparatus comprises of a turbine supporting frame, a turbine rotor, a sail supporting arm, a sail rotational axis along with sail swinging rods, and extendable and/or shrinkable turbine sails. A simple design and construction is made for cost-effectiveness, and has small as well as large scale scalability.
US09217418B2
A method and a system are described for island operation of at least two wind turbines associated with a wind farm, wherein said wind farm is configured for providing power generated by wind turbines in said wind farm to a main grid and wherein the method comprises: detecting at least two or more deactivated wind turbines in said wind farm, said deactivated wind turbines being disconnected from said main grid; configuring at least one islanded local grid for electrically connecting said two or more deactivated wind turbines; activating at least one of said deactivated wind turbine using a black start operation; and, connecting said at least one activated wind turbine and at least one of said deactivated wind turbines to said local grid, said activated wind turbine acting as a power supply for said at least one deactivated wind turbine connected to said local grid.
US09217417B2
A ram air turbine generator, for generating electrical power when the system is exposed to an airstream, includes a turbine having multiple blades and a rotor operably coupled to the blades and rotating about a shaft and stator mounted, such that rotation of the blades rotates the rotor, and the rotation of the rotor about the stator produces electrical power.
US09217415B2
Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may emit pulsed radiation into oncoming wind to detect properties of the wind at a plurality of predefined locations. A property of the wind approaching the wind turbine may be determined based on the property of wind measured at at least two predefined locations.
US09217408B2
A method of determining an Idle Stop and Go (ISG) ventilation condition may include an ISG restriction early step that calculates an expected external air temperature through modeling using information acquired from a vehicle and execute an ISG logic to determine whether ISG entrance is possible based on a current ventilation condition of the vehicle, an ISG restriction proceeding step that detects an voltage of an air-conditioning system, an ISG restriction ascertaining step that determines whether an ISG entrance condition is satisfied, wherein the ISG entrance condition includes comparing the expected external air temperature through modeling with a specific temperature and the voltage of the air-conditioning system with a specific voltage, and an ISG entrance step that controls an engine by performing the ISG entrance when the ISG entrance condition is satisfied.
US09217406B2
An electrically controllable electromechanical inlet valve (2a) which is closed in the currentless state and is held in the closed state by the force of a spring (2b), an outlet valve (5a), and a displacement element (6), the inlet valve is operated in a self-controlling operating mode after a start command is present. In the self-controlling operating mode, the rail pressure is built without knowledge of the phase position of the displacement element. During the self-controlling operating mode, the phase position of the displacement element is determined. After the phase position of the piston or displacement element is determined, the inlet valve is switched over to a non-self-controlling operating mode.
US09217405B2
Systems and methods for diagnosing and operating an engine with a fuel pump that supplies fuel to a fuel injector that may be temporarily deactivated are described. In one example, injection of fuel may commence in response to a level of lubrication of a fuel pump. The system and methods may extend fuel pump life in systems where fuel injection may be deactivated.
US09217396B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, a turbine housing includes a turbine inlet in fluid communication with a turbine volute configured to house a turbine wheel, the turbine inlet configured to direct an exhaust gas flow from an engine to the turbine wheel. The turbine housing also includes a turbine outlet in fluid communication with the turbine volute, the turbine outlet configured to direct the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust gas conduit and a first exhaust gas recirculation supply port located on and in fluid communication with the turbine outlet, the first exhaust gas recirculation supply port being configured to direct a portion of the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust gas recirculation supply conduit.
US09217390B2
A thrust reverser system for a gas turbine engine includes a duct including a cowling movable between an open position and a closed position in a direction transverse to a centerline of the gas turbine engine. The thrust reverser is supported within the cowling and movable between an axial closed position, an axial intermediate position and an axial open position. A controller is actuateable to command movement of the thrust reverser from the axial closed position to the axial intermediate position such that the cowling is free to move to the open position.
US09217389B1
Rocket turbopump valves and associated system and methods. A valve in accordance with at least one embodiment includes a housing having a valve aperture, and first and second valve elements positioned in the housing and movable relative to the valve aperture between a closed position and an open position. Each valve element can be pivotably connected to the housing toward a first end and supported by the other valve element toward a second end. A drive mechanism is coupled to the first and second valve elements to pivot the valve elements toward and away from their open and closed positions.
US09217386B2
A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a stochastic pre-ignition module and a fuel control module. The stochastic pre-ignition module determines whether operating conditions of an engine satisfy predetermined criteria associated with stochastic pre-ignition. The fuel control module enriches an air/fuel ratio of the engine when the engine operating conditions satisfy the predetermined criteria.
US09217385B2
A fuel injection control apparatus includes a first injection controller, a second injection controller, and a selector. The first injection controller is configured to perform a first injection operation in an intake stroke and is configured to perform a second injection operation in a compression stroke. The second injection controller is configured to perform both the first injection operation and the second injection operation in the intake stroke. The selector is configured to select fuel injection performed by the first injection controller when an internal combustion engine is in a warm-up operating state and is configured to select fuel injection performed by the second injection controller when the internal combustion engine is not in the warm-up operating state.
US09217384B2
A method is disclosed for performing an individual cylinder diagnosis with respect to pollutant emissions within a predefined operating range of an internal combustion engine, meeting at least one predefined condition. During the performing of the individual cylinder diagnosis, a forced activation, by means of which a predefined air/fuel ratio to be set is activated, is prescribed in a manner synchronous to the cylinder segment. The excitation is carried out such that each individual cylinder is subjected during subsequent working cycles to a mixture that is either richer or leaner in comparison to the predefined air/fuel ratio to be set due to the forced excitation. Depending on the forcibly activated air/fuel ratio to be set, the corresponding injection valves are actuated.
US09217375B2
A control method for controlling an overspeed safety system (5) of an aircraft (1) having at least a first engine (10) and a second engine (20), during which method an engine is shut down when a monitoring parameter of that engine exceeds a first threshold, and another engine distinct from this engine is shut down when the monitoring parameter for said other engine exceeds a second threshold, said second threshold being greater than said first threshold.
US09217372B2
A fluid flow control system includes a fluid inlet, a central chamber, a first nozzle extending from a first side of the central chamber and comprising a first throat, a second nozzle extending from a second side of the central chamber opposite the first side and comprising a second throat, and a flow control shuttle. The flow control shuttle includes a first needle having a first tapered portion positioned within the first throat for controlling flow through the first nozzle and a second needle having a second tapered portion positioned within the second throat for controlling flow through the second nozzle.
US09217369B2
A compressor inlet manifold for directing air from a radial airflow inlet into an axial compressor inlet of a compressor of a gas turbine engine is disclosed. The compressor inlet manifold provides air flow to the compressor with reduced distortion to the compressor which enables the required design surge margin to be reduced, thereby increasing gas turbine engine efficiency. The improved air flow has reduced distortion, turbulence and unsteadiness. The compressor inlet manifold body may have at least one annular opening extending axially downstream from an upstream wall. Air flow into the compressor inlet manifold may be conditioned with one or more of a flow improvement projection extending radially inward relative to other aspects of a compressor inlet outer wall, a conically shaped inner sidewall, and a baffle positioned at an acute angle relative to an axis aligned with a radially inward air flow.
US09217358B2
A thermostat device useful in a cooling system circulating liquid coolant has a valve, a cylindrical valve seat having an inner peripheral surface, and a circular sealing lip elastically pressure welded to the inner peripheral surface when the valve is closed, the sealing lip forming a waveform having concavity and convexity curving in the valve drive direction due to a thermo-sensitive movable body, allowing displacement of the contact position of the sealing lip with the inner peripheral surface when the valve is closed in the valve drive direction according to the position in the circumferential direction of the circular sealing lip, which device stabilizes system operation during initial valve opening, and which device stabilizes the liquid coolant temperature.
US09217353B2
A mixer is disclosed for use in a fluid injection system. The mixer may have an impingement floor oriented generally perpendicular to an intended fluid injection direction and generally parallel with a flow direction. The mixer may also have a first side wall connected along a lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction, and a second side wall connected along an opposing lengthwise edge of the impingement floor and generally parallel with the flow direction. The mixer may further have at least one shelf extending between the first and second side walls and generally parallel with the flow direction. The at least one shelf may have a plurality of vanes protruding toward and away from the impingement floor that promotes mixing of an injected fluid.
US09217348B2
An exhaust gas purification device for purifying exhaust gas flowing through an exhaust gas channel of an engine includes fins installed in the exhaust gas channel to guide the exhaust gas to generate a swirling flow; and an injection device configured to inject a reducing agent to the swirling flow of the exhaust gas. The fins are expanded and opened toward a downstream side of an injection direction of the reducing agent so as to surround an injection region of the reducing agent.
US09217345B2
Methods and systems are provided for regenerating a particulate filter in an engine exhaust, where burning of soot is initiated by introducing additional oxygen into the exhaust gas upstream of the particulate filter where an exhaust temperature exceeds a threshold, a soot burn rate controlled by adjusting pulsing of the additional oxygen. Further, the pulsing of the additional oxygen is introduced via a high-pressure EGR passage during boosted engine conditions.
US09217325B2
Methods and systems for determining whether a tool has been deployed below a drill pipe are provided. A downhole tool can measure various characteristics, which then can be analyzed to determine the likelihood of a tool having been deployed below the drill pipe. For example, density and porosity measurements can be affected by the presence of casing or drill pipe, and thus such measurements can provide an indication of whether the tool has been deployed below the drill pipe.
US09217318B2
In some aspects, a target net treating pressure for an injection treatment of a subterranean region is determined. Fracture growth orientation in a subterranean region is modeled by a computer system. In the model, the fracture growth is a response to fluid pressure acting on the subterranean region. A target net treating pressure for fluid acting on the subterranean region during an injection treatment of the subterranean region is determined based on the modeled fracture growth orientations.
US09217317B2
A rapidly deployable flexible enclosure system for the collection, containment and presentation of hydrocarbon emissions from compromised shallow or deepwater oil and gas well systems, pipelines, other structures, including subsea fissures. The flexible containment enclosure can accommodate various depths and collection terminator configurations. The flexible containment enclosure system is connected to a floating platform and supported by positive offset neutral buoyancy attachment devices. The floating platform with the flexible containment enclosure separates liquid and gaseous materials and directs them to separate ports for removal from a rigid enclosure cavity integrated within the floating platform. Gaseous emissions may optionally be directed to a tethered floating flare system. The system has the ability to partially or fully submerge for extended durations and resurface on demand manually or by transmitted signal. The system provides for operation by a combined tele-supervisory and autonomous control system.
US09217316B2
Techniques for correlating depth on a tubular in a wellbore include a casing collar locator tool that includes a tubular mandrel defining a bore therethrough; a top sub-assembly and a bottom sub-assembly carried on the tubular mandrel; a profile carried on the tubular mandrel axially between the top sub-assembly and bottom sub-assembly and adjustable between an engaged state defined by the profile extending radially away from the mandrel and a disengaged state defined by the profile refracted towards the mandrel; and a wedge sleeve carried on the tubular mandrel between the top sub-assembly and the bottom sub-assembly and arranged, at least in part, axially adjacent the profile, the wedge sleeve actuatable to urge the profile into at least one of the engaged state or the disengaged state.
US09217314B2
A method of evacuating hydrocarbons from a plurality of nested tubulars of a well pipe that extends from an underwater well tree includes an initial step of attaching a fluid transmission line to the underwater well tree, the fluid transmission line having one end portion forming the attachment to the tree and the other end portion attached to a pump that forces fluid under pressure to the tree and attached nested tubulars. Openings are formed through one or more tubulars of the nested tubulars at a selected location. A specially configured fitting is attached to the tubulars. The fitting seals the openings. The fitting has an expandable seal that is expandable responsive to rotation of a rotating member that rotates upon a saddle, pulling a tapered mandrel against the seal. The saddle surrounds the mandrel and bears against an outer tubular of the nested tubulars. The fitting mandrel has a bore. Hydrocarbons escape from the tubulars via the mandrel bore.
US09217313B2
In some aspects, techniques and systems for operating a subterranean region model are described. Sub-matrices and entries outside the sub-matrices in a first band matrix are identified. The first band matrix includes flow variable coefficients based on governing flow equations of a model representing well system fluid flow in a subterranean region. For each of the sub-matrices, a reduced-size matrix is generated based on the sub-matrix and a subset of the entries that are associated with the sub-matrix. A second band matrix is generated based on the reduced-size matrices. The model is operated based on the second band matrix.
US09217309B2
Hybrid-tieback seal assemblies, interventionless setting assemblies, and associated methods of setting downhole components of the hybrid-tieback seal assemblies using such interventionless setting assemblies are disclosed. A hybrid-tieback seal assembly comprises one or more anchoring bodies, one or more packer seal assemblies, and one or more interventionless hydraulic setting systems. A method of setting downhole equipment comprises applying a pressure to a compensating volume and providing a working volume, wherein the working volume is separated from the compensating volume by one or more hydraulic control devices. A pressure is applied to the working volume in response to the pressure applied to the compensating volume. The pressure applied to the compensating volume is then reduced and the pressure applied to the working volume is captured by the hydraulic control devices. The captured pressure in the working volume is applied to set one or more of the anchoring bodies and packer seal assemblies.
US09217308B2
A zonal isolation device (10; 20; 30; 300; 400; 500; 600) in the form of an active external casing packer is provided which includes a tubular section such as a casing or liner (1; 21; 31; 171; 203) arranged to be run into and secured within a larger diameter generally cylindrical structure such as an open borehole (163; 213). At least one sleeve member (3; 23; 33; 43; 173) is positioned on the exterior of the casing or liner and is sealed thereto and at least two deformable band members (201; 401, 403; 501) are provided around and are bonded to the outer circumference of the sleeve member. The sleeve member and the at least two deformable band members is/are expanded into place against the inner circumference of the open borehole by increasing the pressure within the sleeve member. The method detailed herein also provides zonal isolation by use of a pair of spaced apart members during a frac operation where frac fluid is supplied to a zone (in between the pair of sleeve members) requiring to be frac'd, where the frac pressure acts not only on the outside of the zonal isolation device but also on the interior of the sleeve member to enhance the seal provided thereby.
US09217307B2
A running tool for landing a tubular hanger in a subsea wellhead housing or the like, installing an annulus seal assembly into a sealing annulus between the tubular hanger and the wellhead housing, and then pressure testing the seal assembly. The running tool includes an inner mandrel which comprises an upper end that is connectable to a running string, a generally cylindrical inner body which is movably connected to the inner mandrel and releasably connectable to the tubular hanger, a generally cylindrical lower body which is positioned around the inner body above the tubular hanger and connectable to the seal assembly, a generally cylindrical upper body which is positioned above the lower body and is connected to the inner body, an outer mandrel which is slidably supported on the upper body and is connected to the lower body, and a first pressure chamber.
US09217299B2
A bottom hole assembly (BHA) configured for use in a drill string of a wellsite drilling system. The BHA includes a measuring-while-drilling (MWD) module, a wireless power and data connection, and a rotary steerable system (RSS). The MWD module is configured for coupling to a drill string, and includes a power generation component and a direction and inclination (D&I) survey package. The wireless power and data connection is disposed above a drilling motor in the drill string and for providing power and data connectivity between the MWD module and the drilling motor. The RSS is coupled to the drilling motor for receiving power from and communicating with the MWD module via the wireless power and data connection and the drilling motor.
US09217297B2
A portable frame assembly having a skid assembly for supporting a vertically oriented mast assembly is disclosed. The mast assembly is comprised of at least two column assemblies that may be extended or retracted vertically as desired. The mast assembly is translatable to slide horizontally on the skid assembly without the need for tracks or rollers by means of powered actuators to allow for a desired placement of the mast assembly. The portable frame assembly may be positioned adjacent a wellhead for the purpose of performing plug and abandon operations and may include a power swivel and other such hydraulic or mechanical tools for performing a variety of operations on a well including removing and plugging well casing strings, milling pipe strings, cement drilling, removing wellhead assemblies, or setting and pulling plugs from pipe strings.
US09217289B2
Various embodiments of methods and systems for wireless power and/or data communications transmissions to a sensor subassembly above a mud motor in a bottom hole assembly are disclosed. Power and/or data are supplied by rotary modulator and power generation system positioned above the mud motor. Wires may connect to an annular coil. Power and/or communications are transmitted through the annular coil to an inductively coupled second, mandrel coil that is attached to the rotor. By leveraging resonantly tuned circuits and impedance matching techniques for the coils, power and/or data can be transmitted efficiently from one coil to the other despite relative movement and misalignment of the two coils.
US09217281B2
A light adjusting roller blind device has a support assembly, and a driving assembly, an adjusting mechanism and a blind assembly mounted on the support assembly. A blind of the blind assembly can be adjusted by simply detaching a second holding part from a first holding part and then releasing a first rope. The blind can be stably lowered along with the releasing of the first rope. Therefore, it is easy and convenient for the user to adjust the blind of the light adjusting roller blind device.
US09217280B2
A screening arrangement (1) has a top element (4) including a cover and two side rails (8, 9). The top element (4) is provided with a top rail (440) forming the front side of the top element and being connected to the cover of the top element (4). Side rails (8, 9) are adapted to be joined to the mitred ends of the top rail (440) by means a set of angular brackets cooperating with reception means in the back side of the top rail (440) and in the back side of the respective side rail (8, 9).
US09217279B2
A system for controlling escape of pets during emergency, such as a fire, smoke, gas or odor emission, includes a passageway from the inside of the enclosure to the outside thereof. The passageway is normally closed by a door and an apparatus is provided for enabling opening of such door during emergency. A pre-recorded message urges the pet or pets to the open passageway only when the alarm device annunciating such emergency is intermittently disabled. A control apparatus is also provided for enabling passage of the pet or pets through the passageway and annunciates location of the pet or pets with respect to interior or exterior of the enclosure. A method is disclosed for remote operation of the controlled pet door to enhance safety of the pet owner attempting to enter residential dwelling.
US09217278B2
A truss anchor and a truss assembly used with a gate for reinforcing the gate are provided. The truss anchor has a flange defining a first opening, a base opposite to the flange for defining a second opening and a continuous wall extending between the flange and the base. The continuous wall and the base collectively define an open space which is accessible through the first opening. The truss assembly has two of the truss anchors and a rod extending between the truss anchors. The rod has two opposite ends, each end being insertable into the open space of the truss anchor through the second opening. A locking member is used for locking each end and a respective truss anchor. Upon locking the end of the rod and the truss anchor, the flange of the truss anchor abuts against an external surface of the gate and the rod is preloaded with tension.
US09217273B2
An apparatus includes a first retail display unit for supporting one or more retail products and a pocket mounted to a side of the first retail display unit. The pocket has a hollow interior and an open end. A gate has a fixed end coupled to the hollow interior of the pocket and a lockable end. The fixed and lockable ends of the gate are located within the hollow interior of the pocket when the gate is in storage and the lockable end of the gate is extended through the at least one open end of the pocket and away from the first retail display unit when the gate is moved into use.
US09217271B2
A method of motorized movement of a vehicle door, wherein the vehicle door can be moved from an open position to a closed position as part of a closing process with a door drive mechanism associated with the vehicle door and a control system. In a first section of the closing process the vehicle door is moved by the door drive mechanism from the open position to a comfortable open position that lies between the open position and the closed position. In a second section of the closing process, the vehicle door is further moved from the comfortable open position in the closing direction, preferably to the closed position, manually by the user and largely free of the door drive mechanism.
US09217264B2
A clutch for an electronic door lock includes a primary mover, a pivotal pawl, a first shaft, and a second shaft. The second shaft is axially co-aligned with the first shaft and is rotatably mounted adjacent the rotatable first shaft. The primary mover is selectively actuatable to engage the pawl such that rotation of the first shaft relative to the second shaft by a user pivots the pawl into coupling engagement between the first shaft and the second shaft.
US09217257B2
The present invention is directed to a modular room with rectangular floor space, a roof and side walls of a skeletal framework construction with section, which is designed in such a way that it can be easily assembled, disassembled and connected to other modular rooms. The floor space is formed of a foundation consisting of grid-shaped floor plates, which form partial floor sections of the foundation. Furthermore, the modular room exhibits a support or spine portion that is attached to the roof at its top end and is attached to the foundation at its bottom end.
US09217246B2
A surface covering foundation includes a first covering element having a thickness and defining a first juxtaposition side; a second covering element having a thickness substantially equal to that of the first element and defining a second juxtaposition side, adapted to be juxtaposed with the first side, the first element having a lip that forms an outward extension of the first juxtaposition side and is adapted to overlap the second juxtaposition side in a juxtaposed configuration of the first and the second covering elements.
US09217244B2
The portable steel-reinforced HDPE pump station includes a vertically upright, cylindrical wet well fabricated from high-density polyethylene reinforced by helically wound steel ribs. HDPE profile wall material and endoskeleton are used for wet well reinforcement. Exterior foam insulation or thin HDPE shell wrap are disposed on outer portion of the wet well. The base of the pump station includes cross ribs atop a planar anti-flotation collar. Interior spaces between the cross ribs are filled with concrete to anchor the wet well in situ. Alternatively, a steel plate is used as a base. The steel plate base may be encapsulated by an HDPE sheet. HDPE sheets form a sloping hopper bottom at lower inside portion of the wet well. The annular space between the hopper bottom and base plate is filled solid with a closed-cell polyurethane insulation. Alternatively the wet wall is constructed of structurally reinforced thermoplastic without steel reinforcement ribs.
US09217240B2
A work vehicle including a first work machine and a second work machine, includes: a seat for which an orientation position toward the first work machine and an orientation position toward the second work machine can be switched; a seat position detection unit configured to detect the orientation position of the seat; a display unit configured to display information related to an operation state of the work vehicle; and a control unit configured to change information displayed by the display unit according to the orientation position of the seat detected by the seat position detection unit.
US09217230B2
A barrier system including a guardrail, a support to hold the guardrail in position and a fastener to attach the guardrail to the support, wherein the support has a weakened zone to facilitate the fastener releasing from the support when the support is subject to impact forces.
US09217228B2
A self-propelled construction machine for working roadways or surfaces includes a machine frame supported by ground engaging units, and a milling drum which can rotate about an axis of rotation extending transverse to the advance direction of the construction machine. The construction machine includes a cooling device for spraying the milling tools of the milling drum with a coolant from a coolant reservoir. The cooling device is designed such that at least one coolant jet extending parallel to the axis of rotation of the milling drum is produced. A single coolant jet which extends transverse to the working direction of the milling drum is sufficient for cooling the milling tools. When the milling drum is rotating, the milling tools of the milling drum pass through the coolant jet successively. Owing to the relatively close arrangement of the milling tools in the circumferential direction of the milling drum, the time intervals in which a milling tool is not passing through a coolant jet are relatively short, and as a result the coolant consumption can be reduced.
US09217222B2
Bad odors on textile materials are often caused by body odor. The invention relates to a textile material treatment method for inhibiting body odor on textile materials, by which means the treated textiles, after having been worn, even after sweat-inducing sports activities, have a significantly reduced bad odor or even no odor. The invention also relates to a perfume composition and to a textile material treatment agent, respectively comprising urea derivatives and/or phenacylthiazolium salts, that counteract the formation of body odor.
US09217217B2
A door locking device for a household appliance is provided. The door locking device includes a base member that has a receptacle; a closing element on a door side that is moved into the receptacle when a door of the household appliance is closed; a control unit; an electrical switch that is switched over in a closed position of the closing element and via which an information signal signaling the closed position of the closing element is transmitted to the control unit; and an interlocking device to mechanically interlock the door. The mechanical interlocking of the door is facilitated in an interlock position of the closing element and the closing element is moved from the interlock position into the closed position when the door is closed.
US09217212B2
An oxidation oven with a heated chamber for treating fibers, the heated chamber having two opposing sides, each side with a plurality of gaps to allow the fibers to pass to and from the heated chamber. Embodiments of the invention provide capture ducts, which are configured to be under negative pressure, the capture ducts draw-in heated chamber air that would otherwise flow through the gaps. Embodiments of the invention provide supply ducts, which are configured to be under positive pressure and provide heated air near the gaps. Embodiments of the invention provide louvers positioned near the gaps, the louvers are configured to reduce the flow of heated chamber air that would otherwise pass through the gaps.
US09217209B2
Methods of cleaning substrates and growing epitaxial silicon thereon are provided. Wafers are exposed to a plasma for a sufficient time prior to epitaxial silicon growth, in order to clean the wafers. The methods exhibit enhanced selectivity and reduced lateral growth of epitaxial silicon. The wafers may have dielectric areas that are passivated by the exposure of the wafer to a plasma.
US09217205B2
A method is provided for imparting corrosion resistance onto a surface of a substrate. The method comprises contacting the surface of the substrate with an electrolytic plating solution comprising (a) a source of deposition metal ions of a deposition metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, palladium, silver, nickel, copper, gold, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, chrome, and alloys thereof, (b) a pre-mixed dispersion of non-metallic nano-particles, wherein the non-metallic particles have a pre-mix coating of surfactant molecules thereon; and applying an external source of electrons to the electrolytic plating solution to thereby electrolytically deposit a metal-based composite coating comprising the deposition metal and non-metallic nano-particles onto the surface.
US09217191B2
An improved brass alloy providing improved ability for machining is detailed that is free of lead and is at the same time environmental friendly. The alloy comprises added alloying elements in an amount that is identified through an iterative process during manufacturing of the alloy.
US09217189B2
A process for extracting uranium compounds from wet-process phosphoric acid (WPA) includes lowering iron content of WPA to produce a lowered iron WPA, reducing valency of any remaining iron in the lowered iron WPA to produce a reduced iron valency WPA. Uranium compounds are extracted from the reduced iron valency WPA via a solvent extraction process.
US09217187B2
The method provides heat-resistant chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloys having improved creep resistance. A precursor is provided containing preselected constituents of a chromia- or alumina-forming Fe-, Fe(Ni), Ni(Fe), or Ni-based alloy, at least one of the constituents for forming a nanoscale precipitate MaXb where M is Cr, Nb, Ti, V, Zr, or Hf, individually and in combination, and X is C, N, O, B, individually and in combination, a=1 to 23 and b=1 to 6. The precursor is annealed at a temperature of 1000-1500° C. for 1-48 h in the presence of a magnetic field of at least 5 Tesla to enhance supersaturation of the MaXb constituents in the annealed precursor. This forms nanoscale MaXb precipitates for improved creep resistance when the alloy is used at service temperatures of 500-1000° C. Alloys having improved creep resistance are also disclosed.
US09217184B2
The invention provides a process for alcohol production from a cellulosic material wherein a said cellulosic material is subjected to acid hydrolysis to yield an aqueous hydrolysate, said hydrolysate is introduced into a separator at a hydrolysate inlet, an extraction solvent is introduced into said separator at at least two extraction solvent inlets, a residue containing oligosaccharides is removed from said separator at a residue discharge outlet, and acid-containing extraction solvent is removed from said separator at an extraction solvent discharge outlet, wherein removal of said extraction solvent from said separator through said discharge outlet occurs downstream of at least one said extraction solvent inlet and upstream of at least one other said extraction solvent inlet.
US09217169B2
The invention provides the amino acid sequences comprised in or constituting the synthetic pathway enzymes participating in the production of Argyrins, as well as the nucleic acid sequences encoding the synthetic pathway enzymes participating in the production of Argyrins, as well as genetically manipulated microorganisms containing nucleic acid sequences encoding the synthetic pathway enzymes for the production of Argyrins, e.g. for inserting one or more of these coding sequences, mutating in a targeted manner one or more of these nucleic acid sequences, in a wild type producer micro-organism or in a heterologous micro-organism, for the production of Argyrins.
US09217156B2
The present invention relates to a non human model animal for ulcerative colitis and its main complications such as primary sclerosing cholangitis and colorectal cancer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transgenic non human animal model for ulcerative colitis and its main complications such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, and colorectal cancer comprising a targeted disruption in the IL10 and NOX1 genes so that IL10 and NOX1 are not expressed in said animal.
US09217154B2
The present invention is directed to an innate DNA sequence within the complete genome sequence of Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 which resembles the structure of an actinomycete integrative and conjugative element (AICE). Related AICEs were used for establishing genetic manipulation tools for other bacteria in the past. In this document, we describe the unique features of the specific AICE found in Actinoplanes sp. SE50/110 which are clearly distinct from any other known AICE as a whole, but share minor parts with varying sequence similarity with other characterized AiCEs from other species.
US09217152B2
The present invention relates to the use of a dinQ-sRNA type I toxin-antitoxin systems for plasmid maintenance. An embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of the dinQ-sRNA type I toxin-antitoxin system for the manufacture of a plasmid selection system. In another embodiment of the present invention is the sRNA selected from the group consisting of agrA and agrB. Aspects of the present invention also relates to medical uses of the plasmid selection system.
US09217151B2
The present invention relates generally to programming of biomolecular self-assembly pathways and related methods and constructs. A versatile nucleic acid hairpin motif for programming biomolecular self-assembly pathways for a wide variety of dynamic functions, reaction graphs for specifying pathways, and methods of using the hairpin motif are provided.
US09217139B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide a nuclease that secretes natural nonpathogenic microorganisms extracellularly, has higher specific activity than conventional nucleases, and is useful in nucleolytic degradation on an industrial scale. This purpose is achieved with an extracellularly secreted nuclease derived from Streptomyces bacteria, the nuclease having specific activity equal to or greater than the specific activity of Benzonase® when supplied to double-stranded DNA for 30 minutes at 37° C. in 20 mM Tris/HCl (pH 8.5) containing 1 mM MgCl2 and 1 mM CaCl2 after purification, using double-stranded DNA, single-stranded DNA, and RNA as substrates.
US09217137B2
A peptide composition is provi'deo! which specifically inhibits the ability of δ protein kinase C (δPKC) to phosphor/late pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) under ischemic conditions. The peptide composition is useful for treating or reducing tissue damage resulting from ischemia and/or reperfusion.
US09217135B2
Methods for regulating T cell function in a subject, particularly regulatory T cell activity are provided. Methods of the invention include administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of an Interleukin 35-specific binding agent, such as an antibody or small molecule inhibitor. The invention further provides methods for enhancing the immunogenicity of a vaccine or overcoming a suppressed immune response to a vaccine in a subject, including administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an IL35-specific binding agent and administering to the subject a vaccine. In one embodiment the vaccine is a cancer vaccine.
US09217127B2
Organic cleaner/detergent compositions, formulations and solutions, and methods of cleaning using such compositions, formulations and solutions and manufacturing such compositions, formulations and solutions are disclosed. More particularly, compositions; formulations and solutions used for the cleaning and/or cleansing of a variety of industrial, domestic and/or communal hard surfaces, fiber/soft surfaces, including all natural, organic, synthetic and blended fibers, and organic surfaces, including, but not limited to, human skin and hair and animal skin and hair are disclosed. Such compositions, formulations and solutions are useful as laundry detergents, automatic dishwasher detergents, hard surface cleaners, hand soaps, human shampoos, and animal shampoos.
US09217125B2
Organic cleaner/detergent compositions, formulations and solutions, and methods of cleaning using such compositions, formulations and solutions and manufacturing such compositions, formulations and solutions are disclosed. More particularly, compositions; formulations and solutions used for the cleaning and/or cleansing of a variety of industrial, domestic and/or communal hard surfaces, fiber/soft surfaces, including all natural, organic, synthetic and blended fibers, and organic surfaces, including, but not limited to, human skin and hair and animal skin and hair are disclosed. Such compositions, formulations and solutions are useful as laundry detergents, automatic dishwasher detergents, hard surface cleaners, hand soaps, human shampoos, and animal shampoos.
US09217122B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I), wherein one R group is a hydrogen atom and the other is a hydrogen atom or a C1-3 alkyl group; and each carbon-carbon double bond of said compound, independently from each other, can be in a configuration Z or E or a mixture thereof; which are useful perfuming ingredients.
US09217121B2
4,8-Dimethyl-3,7-nonadien-2-ol in which the weight ratio of (E)-4,8-dimethyl-3,7-nonadien-2-ol to the sum of (E)- and (Z)-4,8-dimethyl-3,7-nonadien-2-ol is at least 80% or in which the weight ratio of (Z)-4,8-dimethyl-3,7-nonadien-2-ol to the sum of (E)- and (Z)-4,8-dimethyl-3,7-nonadien-2-ol is at least 80%, is used as fragrance. The fragrances have a unique rose-like, floral character. Citrus-like, minty, green accompanying notes reminiscent of rhubarb arise.
US09217120B2
A method of removing glycidyl esters from a vegetable oil comprises contacting the oil with at least 0.5% by weight of the oil of an acid-activated bleaching earth and deodorizing the oil at a temperature of less than 200° C. for a time of at least 30 minutes.
US09217118B2
Cutting fluids for brittle materials, e.g., silicon ingot, comprise, in weight percent: A. 70-99% polyalkylene glycol (PAG), e.g., polyethylene glycol; B. 0.01-10% PAG-grafted polycarboxylate; and C. 0-30% water. These cutting fluids are used with abrasive materials, e.g., silicon carbide (SiC), to form cutting slurries. The slurry is sprayed on the cutting tool, e.g., a wire saw, to cut a brittle work piece, e.g., a silicon ingot.
US09217108B2
In one embodiment, a method includes providing agricultural grade gypsum to a mixing device using a conveyor, providing a fluid to the mixing device using a pump, mixing the agricultural grade gypsum with the fluid to produce a gypsum slurry using the mixing device, and pumping the gypsum slurry to a storage tank. In another embodiment a system includes a conveyor providing an agricultural grade gypsum, a pump providing a fluid, a mixing device configured to mix the agricultural grade gypsum provided by the conveyor with the fluid provided by the pump to produce a gypsum slurry, and a slurry pump configured to pump the gypsum slurry from the mixing device to a storage tank.
US09217097B2
A multilayer heat-shrinkable film comprises: a) an outer heat sealable layer; b) a layer comprising a blend of (i) ethylene homopolymer and/or ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer, and (ii) ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer; c) an internal gas-barrier layer; and d) a layer comprising a blend of (iii) at least one member selected from the group consisting of acrylate-based resin and acrylic acid-based resin, with (iv) at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylene homopolymer, ethylene/alpha-olefin copolymer and adhesive material.
US09217096B2
There is provided a planarizing film-forming composition for a hard disk. A planarizing film-forming composition for a hard disk comprising a hydrophobic coating material having a photopolymerizable group and an aromatic group, containing a polymer or a combination of a polymer and a compound selected from the group consisting of a polymer (A1) including an aromatic group, having a molecular weight of 300 to 5000, and being a liquid at normal temperature under atmospheric pressure, a polymer (A2) including at least two photopolymerizable groups, having a molecular weight of 300 to 5000, and being a liquid at normal temperature under atmospheric pressure, a polymer (A3) including an aromatic group and at least two photopolymerizable groups, having a molecular weight of 300 to 5000, and being a liquid at normal temperature under atmospheric pressure, a compound (a1) including an aromatic group, having a molecular weight of 100 to 1000, and being a liquid at normal temperature under atmospheric pressure, a compound (a2) including at least two photopolymerizable groups, having a molecular weight of 100 to 1000, and being a liquid at normal temperature under atmospheric pressure, and a compound (a3) including an aromatic group and at least two photopolymerizable groups, having a molecular weight of 100 to 1000, and being a liquid at normal temperature under atmospheric pressure.
US09217093B1
An ink includes a palladium salt, an organic amine that forms a palladium complex from the palladium salt, and, at least one solvent, the solvent has a boiling point at about the decomposition temperature of the palladium complex.
US09217084B2
Composite materials with high damping and high stiffness at relatively low density. These materials include three-dimensional structures of interconnected ligaments, which have multiple concentric layers alternating between stiff constraining layers and soft damping layers, so that bulk deformation of the structure results in high local shear strain and correspondingly high bulk damping.
US09217081B2
The present invention is a composition comprising a) a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles having one or more structural units of i) a polyurea macromer; and ii) an acrylate, a methacrylate, a vinyl ester, or a styrene monomer, or a combination thereof; and/or b) an aqueous mixture of a i) polyurea macromer polymer particles; and b) acrylate, methacrylate, vinyl ester, or styrenic polymer particles, or a combination thereof, wherein the polyurea macromer is characterized by the following formula I: where A1, A2, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein. Compositions prepared using the compound of the present invention can be used to form coatings with excellent balance of low temperature film formation, hardness, and flexibility.
US09217070B2
A black colorant mixture comprising a bis-oxodihydro-indolylene-benzodifuranone colorant and a perylene colorant is disclosed which provides high blackness and NIR transparency combined with low conductivity for organic coating films used in display devices. Especially, a black matrix for color filter applications and black column spacers are described used in LCD devices. Further, the black colorant mixture can be used in bezels of a display device equipped with a touch sensor.
US09217066B2
A structural polymer insert. The insert includes a substrate having a surface and an adhesive with the substrate being an admixture of a polypropylene component and a glass fiber component. The surface has a plurality of oxygen atoms, optionally introduced by air plasma, in an amount of 1 to 60 atomic percent of all the atoms present on the surface. The foam adhesive is attached to the surface through one or more reactive moieties resulted from oxidative action of the oxygen atoms.
US09217063B2
A conjugated polymer compound is disclosed. The conjugated polymer compound includes a conjugated polymeric main chain; and a porphyrin compound having absorption in a blue light region of solar radiation, and is bonded to the polymeric main chain to form a side chain on the polymeric main chain.
US09217060B2
The present invention has its object to provide a liquid-applied moisture-permeable waterproofing material that can protect a building from rainwater or humidity in the air, can drain moisture, which has been gathered on a substrate of a building, and can be applied easily. The present invention is a curable composition comprising: (A) a polyoxyalkylene polymer having a silicon-containing group crosslinkable by forming a siloxane bond; (B) a polyoxyalkylene plasticizer whose main chain contains 5 wt % or more of an oxypropylene-derived repeating unit and has one or more groups, at an end thereof, selected from the group consisting of an —OH group, a group represented by the formula: —OR9 (wherein R9 is a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 hydrocarbon group), and a group represented by the formula: —NR102 (wherein R10 is each independently a hydrogen atom, or a substituted or unsubstituted C1-20 hydrocarbon group).
US09217056B2
The present invention relates to copolymers, in particular poly(butylenesuccinate-co-furanoate) (PBSF) copolymers, which have advantageous mechanical properties, and also to polymeric compositions comprising them. It also relates to a process for preparing these polymers.
US09217054B2
Process for the production of di- and poly(diamino diphenyl methane) comprising the steps of (a) reacting aniline and formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce a reaction mixture containing di- and polyamines; (b) neutralizing the reaction mixture containing di- and polyamines; (c) separating the neutralized reaction mixture into an organic phase containing di- and polyamines and an aqueous phase; (d) further treating the organic phase separated off in step (c) by (d1) washing with water followed by (d2) separating the washed mixture into an organic phase and an aqueous phase and (d3) further fractionation of the organic phase to produce purified di- and polyamines on the one hand and aniline/water on the other hand; (e) further treating the aqueous phase separated off in step (c) by (e1) washing with aniline followed by (e2) separating the washed mixture into an aqueous phase and an organic phase and (e3) further treatment of the aqueous phase to remove the aniline thereby leaving an effluent stream wherein phase separation in step (c) and/or step (e2) is facilitated by using any of the following methods either on its own or in combination with one or more of the other methods: (A) removal of some of the water from the neutralized reaction mixture obtained in step (b) or the aqueous phase separated in step (c); (B) addition of inorganic salt to the neutralized reaction mixture obtained in step (b) or the aqueous phase separated in step (c); (C) return of some of the aqueous phase obtained in step (e2) or (e3) to the neutralized reaction mixture obtained in step (b) or to the washed mixture in step (e1).
US09217040B2
Therapeutic antibodies having binding specificity for ROR-1 expressed on cancer cells (particularly leukemic and lymphomic cells) and pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more such antibodies for use in treating cancer. Methods for diagnosing such cancers through in vitro detection of binding to ROR-1 protein expressed on putative cancer cells are also provided.
US09217039B2
The present invention relates to novel therapeutic recombinant antibodies directed against HER3 (ErbB3), as well as compositions comprising mixtures of at least two of said recombinant anti-HER3 antibodies, and use of the antibodies and antibody compositions for treatment of cancer.
US09217037B2
The present invention relates to a humanized IgG1 isotype anti-CD6 antibody (T1h) that binds to the Scavenger receptor cysteine-rich (SRCR) domain 1 (D1) of CD6 present on the surface of thymic epithelial cells, monocytes, activated T cells and a variety of other cells types.
US09217035B2
The present invention relates to novel regulatory T cell proteins. One protein, designated PD-L3, resembles members of the PD-L1 family, and co-stimulates αCD3 proliferation of T cells in vitro. A second, TNF-like, protein has also been identified as being upregulated upon αCD3/αGITR stimulation. This protein has been designated Treg-sTNF. Proteins, antibodies, activated T cells and methods for using the same are disclosed.In particular methods of using these proteins and compounds, preferably antibodies, which bind or modulate (agonize or antagonize) the activity of these proteins, as immune modulators and for the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disease, allergy, infection and inflammatory conditions, e.g. multiple sclerosis is disclosed.
US09217021B2
Treatment of an inflammatory bowel disease in a subject in need thereof by simultaneous or successive parenteral and oral administration of a mammalian beta defensin is described. Oral administration of mammalian beta defensin to a subject during remission to keep said subject suffering from IBD in remission, prolong remission in said subject suffering from IBD, to reduce the occurrence of relapse in said subject suffering from IBD, or any combination thereof, is also described.
US09217019B2
Described herein are compositions and methods for treating Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA). In some aspects, mutant forms of frataxin which are resistant to ubiquitination are provided. In some aspects, pharmaceutical compositions comprising mutant frataxin are provided. In further aspects, methods of using mutant frataxin are provided.
US09217016B2
This invention pertains to the field of hyaluronic acid-binding synthetic peptidoglycans and methods of forming and using the same.
US09217014B2
The invention features echinocandin class compounds. The compounds can be useful for the treatment of fungal infections.
US09217010B2
N-Substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations of N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds are described. Also described are processes for preparing N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds. Also described are methods for treating cancer in mammals using the described N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds or pharmaceutical formulations thereof.
US09217005B2
Provided is a catalyst for asymmetric reduction, which can be produced by a convenient and safe production method, has a strong catalytic activity, and has excellent stereoselectivity. The present invention relates to a ruthenium complex represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 represents an alkyl group or the like; Y represents a hydrogen atom; X represents a halogen atom or the like; j and k each represent 0 or 1; R2 and R3 each represent an alkyl group or the like; R11 to R19 each represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or the like; Z represents oxygen or sulfur; n1 represents 1 or 2; and n2 represents an integer from 1 to 3, a method for producing the ruthenium complex, a catalyst for asymmetric reduction formed from the ruthenium complex, and methods for selectively producing an optically active alcohol and an optically active amine using the catalyst for asymmetric reduction.
US09217004B2
Novel phosphorescent metal complexes containing 2-phenylquinoline ligands with at least two substituents on the quinoline ring are provided. The disclosed compounds have low sublimation temperatures that allow for ease of purification and fabrication into a variety of OLED devices.
US09216990B2
The present invention relates to a non-solvated crystalline Darunavir, process for its preparation and pharmaceutical composition comprising it. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of amorphous Darunavir from a non-solvated crystalline Darunavir.
US09216989B2
The present invention relates to novel podophyllotoxin derivatives substituted in the 4-position by a substituted (poly)aminoalkylaminoacetamide chain, to their process of preparation and to their use as medicament as anticancer agents.
US09216988B2
Compounds of the formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein m, n, A, X1, X2, X3, X4, R1, R2, R3a, R3b, R4a and R4b are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds and using the compounds for treatment of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
US09216983B2
Compounds according to Formula I, Formula II, Formula III, Formula V, Formula VI, or to Formula VII, and pharmaceutical compositions of compounds that conform to Formula IV or Formula VIII: where R1 through R33 are prescribed, selectively inhibit P. falciparum dihydroorotate dehydrogenase. Accordingly, a method for preventing and treating malaria attaches to such compounds, as well as to pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, stereoisomers, tautomers, and prodrugs thereof.
US09216981B2
A novel purinylpyridinylamino-2,4-difluorophenyl sulfonamide derivative, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a preparation method thereof, and a pharmaceutical composition with an inhibitory activity against Raf kinase, containing the same as an active ingredient are provided. The purinylpyridinylamino-2,4-difluorophenyl sulfonamide derivative of the present invention effectively regulates the activity of B-Raf kinase, and thus may be useful for preventing or treating cancers induced by the over-activation of Raf kinase, especially various melanoma, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, ovarian cancer and the like.
US09216979B2
The present invention relates generally to the field of antimicrobial compounds and to methods of making and using them. These compounds are useful for treating, preventing, and reducing the risk of microbial infections in humans and animals.
US09216978B2
The present application relates to novel fused pyrimidines and triazines, to processes for their preparation, to their use alone or in combinations for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases and to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of cardiovascular disorders.
US09216976B2
Provided herein are compositions and related methods useful for free radical scavenging, with particular selectivity for mitochondria. The compounds comprise a nitroxide-containing group attached to a mitochondria-targeting group. The compounds can be cross-linked into dimers without loss of activity. Also provided herein are methods, for preventing, mitigating and treating damage caused by radiation. The method comprises delivering a compound, as described herein, to a patient in an amount and dosage regimen effective to prevent, mitigate or treat damage caused by radiation.
US09216968B2
The present invention provides a novel heterocyclic derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. For example, the present invention provides a heterocyclic derivative of the general formula [1] or its tautomer, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein R1 and R2 are the same or different aromatic rings, etc., and ring A is a heterocyclic ring. The compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has potent mPGES-1 inhibiting activity and is useful as an agent for the treatment or prevention of a disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, temporomandibular joint disorders, low back pain, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, overactive bladder, malignant tumors or neurodegenerative disease.
US09216963B2
Pyrazine derivatives with extended conjugation and methods of using the same in optical applications
The present invention relates to pyrazine derivatives capable of absorbing and emanating spectral energy in the visible and/or near infrared spectrum. Pyrazine derivatives of the invention may be administered to a patient in the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable composition and utilized in medical (e.g., diagnostic imaging) procedures.
US09216961B2
The present invention relates to deuterated 1-piperazino-3-phenyl-indanes and salts thereof with activity at dopamine receptors D1 and D2 as well as the 5HT2 receptors in the central nervous system, to medicaments comprising such compounds as active ingredients, to the use of such compounds in the treatment of diseases in the central nervous system, and to methods of treatment comprising administration of such compounds.
US09216952B2
This invention is directed to: (a) processes for preparing a compound and salts thereof that, inter alia, are useful for inhibiting hepatitis C virus (HCV); (b) intermediates useful for the preparation of the compound and salts; (c) pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compound or salts; and (d) methods of use of such compositions.
US09216946B2
[Problem] It is to provide a method of producing basic amino acid or basic amino acid salt suitable for each use for medicine, industrial use, feed, food additive and the like, by a simple method to remove HCl from HCl salt of basic amino acid efficiently.[Solving Means]The above problem is solved by a method of producing a basic amino acid or a basic amino acid salt which comprises allowing to coexist a weak acid in a basic amino acid HCl salt solution, when the solution is dechlorinated using an anion-exchange resin.
US09216944B2
A continuous process for the production of choline hydroxide includes reacting ethylene oxide, trimethylamine, and water in a reaction zone to form a reaction mixture and extracting heat from the reaction mixture. Subsequently, phase separation of the reaction mixture is induced to obtain a choline hydroxide phase and an organic liquid phase comprising trimethylamine. A choline hydroxide solution (e.g., at a concentration of about 40% to 50% by weight, based on total weight of the choline hydroxide solution) is obtained from the choline hydroxide phase.
US09216940B2
A method for preparing polyols from fatty acid substrates such as free fatty acids, alkyl esters of fatty acids, mono-glycerides, diglycerides, and triglycerides. The method comprises the steps of (a) epoxidizing an unsaturated fatty acid substrate and (b) hydroxylating the epoxidized fatty acid substrate with at least one diol to produce a polyol or a blend of polyols. The method may be varied to produce polyols with desired functionality, molecular weights, or viscosity.
US09216934B1
A lean MEG stream having a first pH level is contacted with a CO2-rich gas stream to yield a lean MEG product having a second different and lower pH level preferably in a range of 6.5 to 7.0. The system and method can be readily incorporated into a slipstream MEG recovery package, with a source of the lean MEG stream being a MEG regeneration section of the package. The CO2-rich gas could be a vented CO2 stream from the MEG reclamation section of the package. Unlike hydrochloric and acetic acid overdosing, CO2 overdosing of the lean MEG stream does not lead to rapid acidification of the lean MEG product to be stored or injected.
US09216932B2
The present invention is related to making hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs), more specifically, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyne (TFP), from trans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (trans-1233zd) by contacting the trans-1233zd with a base. Preferably, the base is potassium hydroxide or potassium tert-butoxide, which may or may not be dissolved in as solvent.
US09216927B2
The invention relates to gypsum-containing construction material compounds, containing gypsum, if necessary one or more polymers, if necessary one or more aggregates, and if necessary one or more additives, characterised in that the gypsum-containing construction material compounds contain one or more types of cement and one or more types of pozzolana.
