US09220438B2

In a method and an apparatus to visualize nuclear medicine data from different modalities in a single image, image data sets acquired with different modalities are aligned with a data set representing corresponding anatomical data. The image data in each data set are segmented into separate regions, representing respective structures of interest, with reference to a segmentation derived from anatomical data. For each region, a corresponding segment of image data is selected from a selected image data set. The selected segments of the image data set are combined to generate a multi-fused image of the regions, by applying spatially dependent look-up tables to the multiple image data sets, thereby to determine whether each data set is hidden or displayed in each region.
US09220429B2

Systems, devices and methods described herein can be used to monitor and treat cardiovascular disease, and more specifically, can be used to determine heart rate (HR), determine respiration rate (RR) and classify cardiac rhythms based on atrial intracardiac electrogram (IEGM) and atrial pressure (AP) signals. The atrial IEGM and AP signals are subject to spectrum transforms to obtain an atrial IEGM frequency spectrum and an AP frequency spectrum. Based on peaks in the atrial IEGM and AP frequency spectrums measures of HR and RR are determined, and arrhythmias are detected and/or arrhythmia discrimination is performed.
US09220419B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for predicting coronary plaque vulnerability, using a computer system. One method includes acquiring anatomical image data of at least part of the patient's vascular system; performing, using a processor, one or more image characteristics analysis, geometrical analysis, computational fluid dynamics analysis, and structural mechanics analysis on the anatomical image data; predicting, using the processor, a coronary plaque vulnerability present in the patient's vascular system, wherein predicting the coronary plaque vulnerability includes calculating an adverse plaque characteristic based on results of the one or more of image characteristics analysis, geometrical analysis, computational fluid dynamics analysis, and structural mechanics analysis of the anatomical image data; and reporting, using the processor, the calculated adverse plaque characteristic.
US09220411B2

In-vivo optical molecular imaging methods for producing an image of an animal are described. A time series of image data sets of an optical contrast substance in the animal is acquired using an optical detector Each image data set is obtained at a selected time and has the same plurality of pixels, with each pixel having an associated value. The image data sets are analyzed to identify a plurality of distinctive time courses, and respective pixel sets are determined from the plurality of pixels which correspond to each of the time courses. In one embodiment, each pixel set is associated with an identified anatomical or other structure, and an anatomical image map of the animal can be generated which includes one or more of the anatomical structures.
US09220410B2

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to the control and utilization of multiple sensors within a device. For an example, motion of a device may be detected in response to receipt of a signal from a first sensor disposed in the device, and a power state of a second sensor also disposed in the device may be changed in response to detected motion.
US09220409B2

Processing circuitry may process a physiological signal such as a light signal attenuated by a subject. The physiological signal may include a desired component and an undesired component. A first filtering operation may be performed to remove at least a portion of the undesired component and a second filtering operation may be performed to reduce an undesired distortion introduced by the first filter. The transfer function of the second filter may be substantially the inverse of the transfer function of the first filter. One or more physiological parameters may be determined based on the filtered physiological signal.
US09220396B2

Provided is a balloon access device having a cap coupleable to an endoscope and a balloon for sealing with the cap when expanded. The balloon access device allows a physician to both separate collapsed tissue and visualize the path of the endoscope without administering insufflation gas to the collapsed area of a patient.
US09220395B2

A system of rotate-to-advance medical devices including catheters, dilators, occluders, stents, suprapubic catheters and camera introducers configured with external screw threads and depending substantially on rotation for means of advancement and emplacement in mammalian genitourinary and gastrointestinal passages and organs.
US09220390B2

A cleaning device (2) comprising a first support member (6), a second support member (8), a cleaning pad (10) which is supported by the first and second support members (6, 8) and which is made of a liquid-absorbing material, a lever mechanism (34) for the first and second support members (6, 8), a drying aperture (32), and a handle (44), and the cleaning device (2) being such that: (i) the first and second support members (6, 8) are pivotable towards each other; and (ii) pulling on the lever mechanism (34) causes the first and second support members (6, 8) to pivot towards each other and be pulled into the drying aperture (32) in the cleaning device (2).
US09220388B2

A method is proposed for operating a cleaning appliance which comprises a control device as well as at least one cleaning element for cleaning a surface which has a memory element. The control device comprises a control memory member and the control device is connected to a reader for reading the memory element. In order to reduce the risk of the user unintentionally using an unsuitable cleaning element, it is suggested that characterizing data distinguishing the type of cleaning element be stored in the memory element, these data being read and evaluated in the period of time from the starting up of the cleaning appliance up to the beginning of the cleaning action of the cleaning element. In addition, a cleaning appliance for implementing the method is suggested.
US09220384B2

There is provided a suction tool for a vacuum cleaner that can easily remove dust entangled around a rotating brush with a small force in a sanitary manner with clean hands without spreading dust.The suction tool includes dust removing means 39 for removing dust adhering to a rotating brush 30, the dust removing means 39 includes a first remover that has substantially the same shape as a trough 34 between cleaning bodies 33 or between cleaning body holding portions 32 of the rotating brush 30, and is guided in an axial direction of the rotating brush 30 within the trough 34.
US09220371B1

A method of deep-frying food in a fryer basket having multiple segregated compartments. The fryer basket divider has a generally planar wire mesh sized to reside within the fryer basket to form multiple compartments in the fryer basket, with a handle extending from the top. The handle has oppositely disposed distal ends extending generally perpendicularly from the side of the mesh and which are retractable by squeezing the handle.
US09220366B2

A cooking device includes: a base; a rotation transmission member mounted rotatably on the base and having a cylindrical surrounding wall that defines an annular top transmission face; a plurality of holding shafts supported rotatably on the base; a plurality of driven wheels secured to and extending radially from the holding shafts, respectively, each of the driven wheels having an outer end face engaging the top transmission face in such a manner to drive rotation of each of the holding shafts upon rotation of the rotation transmission member; and a driving member for driving rotation of the rotation transmission member.
US09220361B1

An artificial tree having a first tree section including a trunk and a trunk electrical connector, the trunk electrical connector including a first pair of electric terminals and a second pair of electrical terminals; and a second tree section including a trunk, a trunk electrical connector, and a light string, the trunk electrical connector in electrical connection with the light string and including a first pair of electric terminals and a second pair of electrical terminals. The first tree section is configured to electrically connect to the second tree section, such that the first pairs of electrical terminals of the first and second tree sections conduct power of a first type and the second pairs of electrical connectors of the first and second tree sections conduct power of a second type.
US09220360B2

A beverage container includes a container main body, an inner lid portion that covers the container main body, a spout portion which is formed on the inner lid portion and through which a beverage is discharged, a spout blocking portion 3a that blocks the spout portion, an outer lid portion disposed so as to be able to engage with and disengage from the inner lid portion, a ventilation portion that allows air to flow between the inside and the outside of the container main body, and a vent blocking portion formed on the outer lid portion or the inner lid portion to block the ventilation portion when the outer lid portion is placed to close the inner lid portion. A cancellation operation portion which cancels engagement between the outer lid portion and the inner lid portion is formed, and the beverage container further includes a ventilation adjusting protruding portion.
US09220354B2

A refrigerated merchandiser includes a case defining a product display area and having a base, a lower flue, a first air passageway, and a second air passageway. The first air passageway and second air passageway are in fluid communication with the lower flue and with the product display area. A fan plenum has an outlet defining a first plane. A second plane is defined perpendicular to the first plane and passing through the center of a fan aperture. The fan plenum further includes an airflow divider with a first wall member and a second wall member positioned to direct a first portion of the airflow to the first air passageway and a second portion of the airflow to the second air passageway. The space between the first wall member and the second wall member defines an area, the greater portion of which is to one side of the second plane.
US09220349B1

An adapter for an existing cup holder in a theater for easily mounting a closed captioned device having a mounting rod or gooseneck while still providing the patron with a cup holder, comprises a base having a top side and a bottom side and at least two holes therein, wherein the mounting rod of the closed captioned device is mounted into the corresponding hole in the base, a cylindrical cup holder having an integral adjustment screw extending from the bottom thereof, which is fed through a corresponding hole in the base; and a clamping mechanism which moves in relation to the movement of the adjustment screw for temporarily clamping the adapter to the existing cup holder. When the cup holder is turned in a first direction, the clamping mechanism fixedly mounts the adapter into the existing cup holder. The adaptor may be removed by turning the cup holder in the opposite direction. Instead of or in addition to providing another cup holder, the patron may be provided with a tray, table, electronics holder or other accessory by using an accessory adaptor. Further, the adapter may be mounted to an armrest by turning the accessory holder so that it clamps onto the armrest.
US09220341B2

A U-shaped adjustable shelving system comprised of a plurality of interconnecting shelf sections including a back shelf section, a right side shelf section and a left side shelf section. The right and left side shelf sections are coupled to the back shelf section with a sliding dovetail arrangement so as to allow adjustment of the right and left side shelf sections relative to the back shelf section in order to change the width of the adjustable shelving system. The back shelf section is adjustable in length to substantially match the width of the space in which the shelving system is to be installed. The adjustable shelving system includes support risers for self-supporting the shelving system above a surface. The adjustable shelf can be easily installed into a variety of cabinets, and allows access to small containers, such as those for herbs and spices.
US09220340B2

A bathroom shelf assembly and a bathroom shelf having the same are provided. The bathroom shelf assembly includes a tubular member, at least one inserting member, a first rod member and at least one first connecting bar. The tubular member has a tubular wall and an interior channel extending between two ends thereof, and the tubular wall is formed with at least one first through hole. The inserting member is disposed in the tubular channel and has an axial through bore parallel to the interior channel. The first rod member is disposed through the axial through bore in the interior channel. At least one end of each first connecting bar is formed with a first radial slot, and each first connecting bar is disposed through corresponding through hole and spraddled onto the first rod member via the first radial slot.
US09220324B1

A breakaway or pull apart zipper includes an improved retainer box and pin that decrease the chance of a jamb or hang up during unzipping of the zipper. The retainer box has a notch on the distal side that has a lateral stop shorter than one on a conventional retainer box. As such, the pin can rotate out of the retainer box during separation of the zipper sides as the garment is pulled apart instead of having to be pulled up and out of the retainer box. This rotation also causes the slider to tilt into the notch putting it into better alignment with the direction of the force pulling the zipper apart thereby facilitating separation of the pin from the slider and retainer box. The zipper also has a extended pin that loosely fits in the retainer box and goes from the bottom of the retainer box to at least half the slider height when the slider abuts the retainer box and the zipper is ready to come apart. This facilitates the separation process by keeping any flexible tape out of the slider that might jamb in the slider if twisted.
US09220323B2

There is provided a pull tab post-attaching slider for a slide fastener. An upper blade of a slider body includes a first mounting portion. A free end portion of a pull tab attachment rod includes a second mounting portion. A blocking member includes a first mounted portion mounted on the first mounting portion and a second mounted portion mounted on the second mounting portion. One of the first mounting portion and the first mounted portion includes a first dovetail groove portion and the other includes a first fitting engagement portion having a first fitting engagement structure fitted into the first dovetail groove portion. One of the second mounting portion and the second mounted portion includes a second dovetail groove portion and the other includes a second fitting engagement portion having a second fitting engagement structure fitted into the second dovetail groove portion.
US09220318B2

An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.
US09220316B2

An inner sole includes a heel air bag for supporting the heel and a first arch air bag for supporting the plantar arch which is connected to the heel air bag through a passageway. The heel air bag and the primary arch air bag are coupled to the bottom surface of the inner sole. A second arch air bag is disposed over the first arch air bag to communicate with the primary arch air bag. When the heel air bag is pressed, air pressure is uniformly applied to the second arch air bag through the first arch air bag.
US09220312B2

The invention relates to a safety ski binding system for the releasable fixing of a ski boot to a ski having an adjustable release mechanism and fixed holding elements. In accordance with the invention, two latching elements which each project laterally from the ski boot and which cooperate with a holder element formed fixed to the ski as a heel holder are arranged at the ski boot. The invention further relates to a ski boot which forms a part of the aforesaid safety binding system.
US09220310B2

Force diversion apparatus, methods and devices including the same result in rotational motion being imparted to an impacting object. The apparatus, methods and devices may include, or may involve the use of, a force conversion portion, secured to the outer surface of a bumper, and a force spreading portion.
US09220307B2

A dual-use hand covering adapted for a wearer who is running for exercise, the covering comprising a clingable sleeve of flexible material having a proximal and distal end, an opening at each end so that the hand of a wearer can enter the proximal opening and is adapted to allow the fingertips to extend through the distal opening, the sleeve adapted to enclose together the four fingers and thumb of a wearer such that the sleeve stays in close proximity to the hand, and a clingable cap, wherein a portion of the clingable cap is attached to the clingable sleeve and the clingable cap assumes a first or a second position, wherein the clingable cap encloses the distal clingable sleeve end and the fingertips of the wearer and also folds backwards to lie proximate to the clingable sleeve and thereby expose only the fingertips to the atmospheric conditions.
US09220302B2

The present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device such as a smoking article. The cartridge may include a base, a reservoir substrate, and an atomizer. The reservoir substrate may define a cavity therethrough. The atomizer may comprise a liquid transport element and a heating element extending at least partially about the liquid transport element. The atomizer may extend through the cavity through the reservoir substrate such that the heating element is positioned proximate an end of the reservoir substrate. Ends of the liquid transport element may extend to an opposing end of the reservoir substrate. A related method for assembling a cartridge for a smoking article is also provided.
US09220297B2

Cigarettes are manufactured using modified automated cigarette making apparatus. Those cigarettes possess smokable rods having wrapping paper having additive materials applied thereto as patterns. The additive materials, which can include a starch and/or a polymer, are applied to a continuous paper web either online or offline the cigarette making apparatus. The formulation can be applied to the paper web using application apparatus possessing a series of rollers. In particular, a wrapping paper for a smokable rod can include a pattern of bands having a water-insoluble material comprising a starch ester, a starch-coated inorganic filler, and/or a thermoplastic polymer in an amount such that the material is sufficiently deformable so as to (a) reduce an amount of pressure to apply the bands, (b) decrease paper diffusivity, and (c) maintain paper opacity at a level acceptable for commercial production of the smokable rods.
US09220295B2

A process of extracting at least one target component from a plant material is provided. The process includes homogenizing a plant material in the presence of an extraction solvent to reduce the plant material to a plant liquid component and a plant pulp component. Each of the components may be further processed to extract specific components therefrom. Specifically, the plant liquid component can be processed to extract a plant-derived starch material, plant-derived proteins, plant-derived sugars, plant-derived sugars, and the like. The plant pulp material can be processed to extract pectin and cellulose. An associated system is also provided.
US09220294B2

A method of purifying at least one of THC and CBD from a cannabis-containing composition includes heating the cannabis-containing composition to a temperature sufficient to volatilize at least one of THC and CBD into a vapor and condensing the vapor on a substrate. A drug delivery cartridge includes a substrate coated with at least one of THC and CBD and configured to allow for passage of air through the cartridge to volatilize at least one of THC and CBD for inhalation by a user to induce a medicinal or therapeutic effect to the user.
US09220286B2

The invention relates to frozen dessert compositions and methods of preparation thereof. In particular, the invention is relates to a method for preparing a frozen dessert composition, such as ice cream, fortified with vegetables and/or fruits and soybeans, such as edamame or dried mature soybeans and the resulting enriched frozen dessert compositions having a fine texture, good and creamy mouth-feel and tastes with different flavors.
US09220278B2

A Flatbread Dinner Ware apparatus to serve flatbreads tortillas including features to assists the consumer in properly filling folding and wrapping flatbreads by forming a recessed center cavity, creating and controlling fold lines and fold line creases that forms maintains and controls the shape of a flatbread tortilla as it is being assembled. The folding apparatus converts the shape of a flatbread tortilla by providing a plate like tool-template that controls each end section, and the top and bottom sections (folds) of a flatbread tortilla as it is being assembled (wrapped). The tortilla wrapper apparatus also provides a pocket to determine the proper amount of foodstuff to be placed into the apparatus.
US09220275B2

The present invention concerns a method of agaricidal and microbicidal treatment of textile materials, a Neem oil microcapsule composition specifically for said treatment and a bioactive textile material obtained. More particularly, the present invention concerns the industrial and commercial areas of the treatment of fabrics and like products and is of particular application to textile materials produced from natural fibers such as cotton, feathers or down, or synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, acrylic or the like, or mixed fibers such as polyester-cotton. The present invention concerns a method of agaricidal and microbicidal treatment of a textile material, in which microcapsules containing Neem oil are fixed on said textile material.
US09220274B2

A device for treating pests and method for using the same. The device comprises an effective amount of endod. The device can be placed in a body of water wherein the endod treats the pests. Additionally the device can be placed in a pipe whereby a combination of the endod and the mechanical force of the water removes the pests in the pipe.
US09220267B2

Compounds, compositions, and methods comprising a polyamine compound are described, which may be used to kill, disperse, treat, reduce biofilms, and/or inhibit or substantially prevent biofilm formation. In certain aspects, the present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods comprising polyamine compounds that have antimicrobial or dispersing activity against a variety of bacterial strains capable of forming biofilms.
US09220266B2

Ketoheteroarylpiperidine and -piperazine derivatives of the formula (I), in which the symbols A, L1, G, X, Y, T and R1 have the meanings given in the description and agrochemically active salts thereof and their use for controlling phytopathogenic harmful fungi and also processes for preparing compounds of the formula (I).
US09220263B2

The present invention relates to rodenticides, methods of killing a rodent comprising administering to said rodent, a lethal dose of an isolated Yersinia murine toxin polypeptide or an isolated antigenic analogue thereof, and methods of manufacturing novel rodenticides.
US09220258B2

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for tissue, such as an allograft, storage and preservation for extended periods of time at room temperature in a sterile tissue culture chamber. The invention further provides a process for maintaining the sterility of tissue using the apparatus as described.
US09220256B2

A rodent trap covered base defines an enclosed interior accessible through a sliding plastic tunnel defining a passageway for rodents into the interior. The tunnel has a projecting strike member, and is biased by an underlying spring to a retracted position. A trigger engaging member extends from the tunnel to be retained by a catch on a trigger mounted to the base. When a rodent passes through the tunnel into the base interior, it is directed by barriers towards a rodent attracting bait. To reach the bait, the rodent must press against a pivotably mounted trigger, thereby dislodging the trigger from the trigger engaging member which releases the tunnel to be driven by the spring to retract along parallel tracks to bring the strike plate forcibly against the rodent within the trap, usually killing it, and closing the trap, which is then presented covered within the trap for disposal.
US09220252B1

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a fishing rod outrodder including a fishing rod holder having an expanded first portion, a tubular second portion and a narrowed third portion. The narrowed third portion includes a cross-beam configured to contact a bottom surface of a fishing rod. A rocker arm is disposed on a bottom portion of the tubular second portion of the fishing rod holder. The rocker arm includes an angled front portion, a substantially flat bottom portion and a rounded rear portion. The rocker arm is configured to articulate the fishing rod holder between a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal position. The substantially flat bottom portion is configured to stop the fishing rod holder from articulating when the fishing rod holder is in the substantially horizontal position.
US09220250B1

A solar powered aerated bait box including an insulated container having a hinged lid, a partitioned interior, a solar panel disposed upon said lid, a rechargeable battery pack wired in circuit with the solar panel, said battery pack thereby trickle chargeable when sunlight is incident said solar panel, and an air pump disposed in circuit with the battery pack, wherein water stored in the partitioned interior is aerated when the air pump is activated, whereby live, aquatic bait is storable for prolonged periods thereby.
US09220248B2

An apparatus comprises a spool holder being configured for engaging a bottom side of a fishing pole. The spool holder comprises a rotatable member, and an axel portion on a distal end. The rotatable member enables the spool holder to rotate at least 180 degrees relative to the engaged fishing pole with the axel portion pivoting about an axis normal to a longitudinal axis of the engaged fishing pole. A spool portion is configured for suspension by the spool holder on the axel portion for rotation about the axel portion and is configured for spooling a quantity of fishing line about an axis of the rotation on the axel portion. The spool portion comprises a generally symmetrical shape enabling the spool portion to be reversibly suspended on the axel portion.
US09220245B2

Methods are provided for using field-derived colonies of insects that comprise field-evolved resistance to insecticidal toxins that are produced in transgenic plants. The methods find use in resistance management strategies for transgenic crop plants expressing insecticidal toxins.
US09220239B2

Noise making toy are presented including: a first graspable body element; a first releasable surface affixed along a first graspable body element surface of the first graspable body element; a second graspable body element; a second releasable surface affixed along a second graspable body element surface of the second graspable body element, where the second releasable surface is configured and positioned for releasably engaging the first releasable surface; an enclosure for enclosing the first graspable body element and the second graspable body element; and a return element affixed to the first graspable body element and the second graspable body element, where the return element is positioned along the first releasable surface and the second releasable surface, and where the return element is further positioned along an axis of pull centered along the first graspable body element and the second graspable body element.
US09220237B1

A system for grooming pets, including a vacuum and brushes. A canister containing the motor and vacuum impeller elements is well insulated acoustically. A lengthy, acoustically insulated vacuum hose is provided. A grooming attachment is attachable to the working end of the vacuum hose, the grooming attachment being molded and shaped to minimize the noise of air flowing through the attachment under the action of the vacuum motor. Noise attenuation assembly and baffling assembly are provided nearby and aligned with air input and output ports to direct and smooth air flow to reduce noise output of the system.
US09220236B2

A plug insert matingly fits into the open lower end of a feed tube in a gilt or sow stall. The plug includes an inlet for receiving feed from the tube and an outlet for discharging feed onto the floor of the stall. The inlet and outlet are offset from one another. An axle extends through the plug, with spokes on the lower outer end of the axle, an anti-bridge bar on the upper end of the axle, and one or more fins on the central portion of the axle. Discharge of the seed is controlled by the gilt or sow as she rotates the spokes on the forward end of the plug, thereby rotating the fins or spiral flighting to carry feed from the inlet to the outlet. This self-feeding system eliminates or minimizes feed waste while providing an appropriate feeding program for the gilt or sow.
US09220235B2

A pet bed includes a base member, a wall connected to and extending from the base member, and an insert that rests on a support surface of the base member within an area bounded by the wall. A surface of the wall includes a first image and a surface of the insert includes a second image. A method for manufacturing the bed includes selecting a set of images, applying the images to respective fabric panels, attaching the fabric panels with the images to opposing fabric panels to create the wall and the insert, attaching the wall to a base member and arranging the insert on the support surface of the base member.
US09220230B2

The present invention is in the field of soybean variety SJ1112199 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean variety SJ1112199 and its progeny, and methods of making SJ1112199.
US09220225B1

A novel maize variety designated PH1V7K and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1V7K with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1V7K through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1V7K or a locus conversion of PH1V7K with another maize variety.
US09220204B2

A positioning system for attachment to a vehicle for operation of a power tool by a ground-based operator sitting in the vehicle provides a telescoping mast attached to the vehicle, a pivot bracket connecting an upper arm to the upper portion of the telescoping mast, mounting means for mounting the power tool on the upper arm; and power means for operating the power tool from the operator's position in the vehicle.
US09226434B2

An electrically-conducting assembly for conducting a first housing and a second housing of an electronic device. The first housing is detachably combined with the second housing. The electrically-conducting assembly includes a retaining wall and a lapping part. The retaining wall is perpendicularly provided at the first housing, and a surface of the retaining wall has an electrically-conducting layer. The lapping part is perpendicularly provided at the second housing, and a surface of the lapping part has another electrically-conducting layer. The lapping part and the retaining wall contact with each other when the first housing and the second housing are combined so that the electrically-conducting layer and the another electrically-conducting layer are mutually conductive.
US09226429B2

An electronic device includes a server unit, a storage apparatus, and a heat dissipation apparatus. The server unit includes a bottom plate defining a first air inlet. The heat dissipation apparatus includes an exhaust fan located above the bottom plate and an air adjusting member. The exhaust fan includes a second air inlet aligning with the first air inlet. The adjusting member is slidably located between the first air inlet and the second air inlet. The bottom plate and the storage apparatus cooperatively bound an airflow channel communicating with the first air inlet. The second air inlet is partitioned into a first air inlet communicating with the airflow channel and a second air inlet communicating with the server unit by the air adjusting member. The air adjusting member is operated to slide to change sizes of the first air inlet and the second air inlet.
US09226426B2

An electronic device console includes a console body that houses a chip package, and a duct extending from the console body. An interior volume of the duct is in fluid communication with an interior volume of the console body. A first vent is at a distal end of the duct. A second vent is in a wall of the console body. The console may be oriented in a first orientation and a second orientation. The duct functions as a chimney for natural convection cooling of the chip package when the console is oriented in the first orientation. The console body functions as a chimney for natural convection cooling of the chip package when the console is oriented in the second orientation.
US09226423B2

For an object of providing an electric connection box which can maintain waterproof when a car is washed by high-pressure water, the electric connection box includes a box main body having a groove recessed from an outer wall and extending straight; and a side cover slid along a lengthwise direction of the groove so as to be mounted at the box main body, and covering the groove when the side cover is mounted at the box main body. The side cover includes third and fourth plate members to be arranged within a same geometrical plane of the outer wall. The third and fourth plate members are provided with flaps projecting from the third and fourth plate members along a widthwise direction of the groove.
US09226422B2

An arrangement of electronic components is to be used with a switching regulator, in particular is to be used in a receiver or display of an automobile dashboard. The switching regulator includes a first oscillator having a first frequency. The electronic component arrangement is provided so as to be connected to a voltage source, the voltage source supplying a periodical voltage having a second frequency, wherein the second frequency is lower than the first frequency. The electronic component arrangement includes a first resistor, a first capacitor, a second resistor, a second capacitor, a third resistor, and at least a third capacitor.
US09226418B2

An equipment enclosure includes a first compartment; a second compartment, the first compartment including a first element to guide a conduit from the first compartment to the second compartment, wherein the first element creates a first drip point with respect to the conduit that prevents a liquid from entering the second compartment; and a third compartment including a second element to guide another conduit from the third compartment toward the second compartment, wherein the second element creates a second drip point with respect to the other conduit that prevents a liquid from reaching the second compartment.
US09226402B2

Buffer structures are provided that can be used to reduce a strain in a conformable electronic system that includes compliant components in electrical communication with more rigid device components. The buffer structures are disposed on, or at least partially embedded in, the conformable electronic system such that the buffer structures overlap with at least a portion of a junction region between a compliant component and a more rigid device component. The buffer structure can have a higher value of Young's modulus than an encapsulant of the conformable electronic system.
US09226398B1

In an embodiment, a printed circuit board includes a number of bond pads formed on a surface of the printed circuit board. At least a portion of the number of bond pads is arranged in an array of bond pads that includes a number of rows and a number of columns. A first portion of the number of rows include a number of adjacent rows having a first pitch and a second portion of the number of rows include at least one pair of adjacent rows having a second pitch different from the first pitch. In an embodiment, the second pitch is greater than 0.5 mm and less than 1.5 mm. In some embodiments, the array of bond pads can include at least one row of no-connect bond pads.
US09226396B2

Interposers and methods of making the same are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an interposer includes a region having first and second oppositely facing surfaces and a plurality of pores, each pore extending in a first direction from the first surface towards the second surface, wherein alumina extends along a wall of each pore; a plurality of electrically conductive connection elements extending in the first direction, consisting essentially of aluminum and being electrically isolated from one another by at least the alumina; a first conductive path provided at the first surface for connection with a first component external to the interposer; and a second conductive path provided at the second surface for connection with a second component external to the interposer, wherein the first and second conductive paths are electrically connected through at least some of the connection elements.
US09226378B2

A plasma torch comprises a cascade between a cathode and an anode. The cascade is an inter-electrode insert. An interior of the cascade is shaped so that a diameter of the interior expands in series in a plurality of steps from a side of the cathode to a side of the anode. As a result of the cascade being provided, the output power of the plasma torch is obtained not by an increase in the electric current but by an increase in the arc electric voltage. Therefore, the lifespan of each of the electrodes, i.e., the cathode and the anode, becomes remarkably longer. In addition, since a quasi laminar flow of the plasma is generated in the interior of the cascade, a fluctuation in the output power of the plasma jet is reduced. Thus, it is possible to lower the driving and operating costs. Therefore, it is possible to perform surface treatment such as plasma spraying, utilizing a high-performance plasma processing, a processing of refractory powder materials, and plasma chemistry processing and the like, with a high degree of efficiency. In addition, a side shield module is provided at an outlet side of the anode of the forming nozzle. The side shield module generates a gas shield jet which is coaxial, annular, and low-velocity. Thus, gas from the surrounding environment is prevented from flowing in. Consequently, oxygen is prevented from entering the forming nozzle and the plasma jet. Hence, it is possible to generate a plasma jet having a low Reynolds number of the plasma forming gas, with a quasi laminar flow, exhibiting low noise, the diameter of its cross section expanding in a stable manner, having a long plasma length, and comprising argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen.
US09226363B2

An electroluminescent (EL) device is described, comprising an EL material, an electrode and nanostructures. The nanostructures may form an interconnected network, and may be employed in the EL material and/or in the electrode. A second electrode is also described, wherein an electric field formed between the two electrodes excites phosphors in the EL material to produce light.
US09226361B2

An intrinsically safe LED display device with an array of LED circuit cells is provided. Each cell comprises a LED or a group of LEDs, which are individually made intrinsically safe in a conventional way, by limiting a dissipated power through the LED circuit cell by means of a resistor or group of resistors in series with the LED or group of LEDs. In addition a switching type PTCs with a switching temperature between 80 and 125 degrees centigrade are added in each cell, in series with the resistors or group of resistors of the LED circuit cells respectively, in thermal contact with the resistor or group of resistors of the LED circuit cell. In this way intrinsic safety is provided for mutual heating of adjoining LED circuit cells wherein the LEDs or groups of LEDs are short circuited.
US09226352B2

Driver circuit and driving method for an LED lighting device are provided. The driver circuit includes an AC power supply, a dimmer, a transformer, and/or a dimming control circuit. The dimming control circuit includes a filtering unit, a rectifying unit, a boost converter unit, a control-signal conversion unit, and/or a buck converter unit. A dimming position is defined at a point in the driver circuit to perform a dimming control process of the LED lighting device by the dimmer. A voltage corresponding to the point is boosted by the boost converter unit to provide a boosted voltage. The boosted voltage is sampled and converted by the control-signal conversion unit into an analog control voltage signal acceptable by a buck converter unit. The buck converter unit alters an amount of a current of the LED lighting device, after receiving the analog control voltage signal.
US09226348B2

A light-emission device with a two-dimensional OLED element and an encapsulation element for protecting the OLED element. The light-emission device furthermore has a support, on which the OLED element is arranged in such a way that the encapsulation element points toward the support, and an electrical conductor element for an electrical connection between the support and the OLED element. wherein the electrical conductor element is elastic in a normal direction to the OLED element. By way of example, the conductor element can be helical. As a result of the elastic property thereof, the conductor element can absorb mechanical tension while ensuring reliable electrical contacting. Hence, this can reduce or even avoid the risk of the electrical connection between the support and the OLED element being disadvantageously influenced or impaired by forces which can occur when handling the light-emission device or which can be generated by temperature variations.
US09226347B2

An electronic device may include a display. The display may be an organic light-emitting diode display. The organic light-emitting diode display may have a substrate layer, a layer of organic light-emitting diode structures, and a layer of sealant. Vias may be formed in the substrate layer. The vias may be formed before completion of the display or after completion of the display. The vias may be filled with metal using electroplating or other metal deposition techniques. The vias may be connected to contacts on the rear surface of the display. The vias may be located in active regions of the display or inactive regions of the display. The display may include a top surface emission portion and a bottom surface emission portion.
US09226340B2

Heating device includes: heater (2) with heating portion (6) generating heat by energization; housing (4) contains the heating portion and forms passage (18) for a heating medium between the housing and the heating portion; temperature detection means (26) detects, in the passage, temperature (T) inside the housing due to heat of the heating medium and the heating portion; and energization controlling means (40) for turning energization of the heater on/off depending on the temperature detected inside the housing. Energization of the heater is turned off to put the heater in an energization standby state if temperature detected inside the housing is equal to or greater than a first specified threshold (TS1), and is turned off to put the heater in an energization complete stop state if the temperature detected inside the housing in the energization standby state is equal to or greater than a second specified threshold (TS2).
US09226337B1

A first communication device listens, during advertise states of the first communication device, for probe requests from one or more second communication devices on a first channel included in a plurality of channels. At least some respective lengths of the advertise states of the first communication device are different. When one or more first probe requests are received from the one or more second communication devices during the advertise states of the first communication device, the first communication device transmits one or more first probe responses responsive to the one or more first probe requests. The first communication device transmits second probe requests on respective second channels during respective search states of the first communication device, and listens, during the search states, for one or more second probe responses on the second channels.
US09226334B2

To reduce burden of a user's wireless LAN setting, a wireless communication system includes a first communication device and a second communication device so as to perform a wireless communication with each other. The first communication device includes a determination part that determines whether the wireless communication device connects to a relay station which performs a wireless relay communication, and a communication part that performs a wireless communication in a first connection mode to communicate with the second communication device through the relay station in a case that the relay station is connected, and in a case that the relay station is not connected, the communication part that performs a wireless communication in a second connection mode with the second communication device, which do not communicate through the relay station.
US09226326B2

A user interested in a networked station, such as a mobile station of a particular type, can obtain information to enable the user to locate and/or contact another person with a station of the particular type, e.g. at a location within a set distance from or in proximity to the current location of the user's station. Alternatively, the user of the requesting networked station may provide identities of members of a social media network; and the system can then identify the members who are users of the particular networked station. In either case, the user of the requesting networked station can use the received information to obtain a first-hand review of the particular networked station or to contact another user to request a meeting to view of operate the particular station.
US09226317B2

The present disclosure proposes a method for minor modifications to the Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) channel access mechanism in order to enable a greater number of concurrent communications in a unit area in compliance with the current protocol design. The method comprises equipping nodes with wider neighborhood information than what is obtained with IEEE 802.11, and with a device calibration that equips the device with the knowledge of its performance in the presence of interference. The present disclosure medium access mechanism increases the aggregate throughput with every additional concurrent communication that is enabled in the shared medium. Cocktail Party-capable devices can fairly coexist with 802.11 legacy DCF devices, and co-operate with these devices in the same network without changes to those devices or to the standard. The same or similar mechanisms can be applied to other systems and standards in order to enable concurrent communications in the same contention area.
US09226314B2

A channel access method for a very high throughput (VHT) system using a bonding channel having a plurality of subchannels is provided. The method includes receiving training information comprising a training offset value through a subchannel, performing channel estimation on a full channel bandwidth comprising all subchannels when a time corresponding to the training offset value is elapsed after the training information is received, transmitting a request to send (RTS) frame to a destination station through some subchannels selected from the plurality of subchannels by one or a plurality of source stations according to a result of the channel estimation, and transmitting a clear to send (CTS) frame to one source station selected from the plurality of source stations by the destination station in response to the received RTS frame. Accordingly, an effective channel access mechanism is provided for the VHT system, and collision among stations can be avoided.
US09226292B2

One embodiment includes: forwarding a particular packet through an Available Routing Construct (ARC) chain topology network. In one embodiment, this forwarding includes: sending the particular packet by each particular non-edge node on an arc of the plurality of arcs receiving the particular packet to each sibling on the arc that did not send the particular packet to said particular non-edge node, while not sending the particular packet if it was received from both siblings of said particular edge node; and sending the particular packet to a respective child node on a second arc of the plurality of arcs by each particular edge node of two edge nodes on the arc after receiving the particular packet. In one embodiment, the network is a wireless deterministic network with pre-assigned time slots for receiving and subsequently sending a same particular packet by each node of the network.
US09226287B2

A terminal apparatus that is set to monitor physical downlink control channel candidates in a common search space and a user equipment-specific search space on a downlink component carrier, which are with cyclic redundancy check scrambled by C-RNTI (Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier), with a same first control channel element index, and with downlink control information of a common payload size and different downlink control information field sets. The terminal apparatus also assumes that, for the physical downlink control channel candidates with the cyclic redundancy check scrambled by the C-RNTI, only either a physical downlink control channel in the common search space or a physical downlink control channel in the user equipment-specific search space is transmitted on the downlink component carrier.
US09226286B2

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting an uplink signal in a wireless communication system, wherein the method for transmitting an uplink signal in a wireless communication system comprises: a step of receiving a control channel signal containing resource allocation information; and a step of transmitting an uplink signal in accordance with the control channel signal, wherein the resource allocation information has a combination index r to be used for indicating two sets of resource blocks, and each set of resource blocks includes one or more continuous resource blocks.
US09226276B2

A method is described of reporting control information in a wireless communication system. A user equipment (UE) supporting at least one cell including a primary cell selects a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) format among a plurality of PUCCH formats including a first PUCCH format and a second PUCCH format. The first PUCCH format is selected if the UE receives a first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) in one of M downlink time division duplex (TDD) subframes on the primary cell. The UE receives a second PDSCH with a downlink assignment index (DAI) in one of the M downlink TDD subframes on the primary cell. The UE does not receive a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) corresponding to the first PDSCH on the primary cell. The UE receives a second PDCCH corresponding to the second PDSCH, and transmits a positive-acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) signal by using the selected PUCCH format.
US09226269B2

A very high speed SHF-EHF radio system having a very large capacity of several gigabits comprises at least one ultra-wideband base station and an ultra-wideband and multiuse terminal for very high speed wireless systems providing point-to-multipoint transmission of a plurality of simultaneous waveforms in order to provide a plurality of subscribers or customers of various types with multiple services. The base and the terminal comprise ultra-wideband transmitter/receiver means which are capable of exchanging a plurality of waveforms delivered by multiplexes of various modems. The radio of the base has at least one microwave spectrum generator for the multiplexes optimized for each service and for any type of customer. The transmitter/receiver of the radio of the terminal is suited to operating in the subband of the downlink channel and in at least one of the two-way subbands.
US09226267B2

A method and apparatus for modifying functions in a wireless communication device are described herein. The wireless communication device may receive a selection that indicates a power or a signal processing functionality. The wireless communication device may then modify functions associated with a plurality of smart antennas based on the power or signal processing functionality and in relation to a reference design. The wireless communication device may then determine performance associated with the modified functions. The modified functions may, for example, include adjusting power of the smart antenna of the transmitter or receiver associated with the wireless communication device, adjusting power of the radio frequency (RF) chain of the transmitter or receiver associated with the wireless communication device, varying the number of antenna elements for transmissions or receptions, selecting a signal processing technique, or varying the power control algorithm.
US09226258B2

Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for deriving a wireless device location from base station signaling. In a particular embodiment, a method provides monitoring signaling transmitted by a base station serving a plurality of wireless communication devices. The method further provides identifying a wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices from the signaling and identifying an active set carried in the signaling that is associated with the wireless communication device. The method further provides determining a location of the wireless communication device based on the active set.
US09226256B2

Methods for detaching a mobile terminal from a mobile communication network. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a mobile terminal and a mobility management entity that perform these methods. The invention is inter alia applicable to a 3GPP LTE-A system following the Evolved Packet System (EPS) architecture. The invention proposes that the detach procedure of a mobile terminal is triggered by the mobile terminal being transferred into idle state. The mobility management entity can trigger the detach procedure in response to this event. The detach procedure may be deferred by a given time span. A detach timer may be configured in the mobile terminal and the mobility entity for this purpose, and upon expiry of the detach timer in the mobile terminal and the mobility management entity, both silently delete the context information related to the mobile terminal's user plane and control plane to detach the mobile terminal.
US09226244B2

A user equipment is provided for a telecommunications system comprising at least a first radio base station. The user equipment controls its transmission power to a first value for a first set of one or more signals sent over a physical channel between the user equipment and the first radio base station, and to a second value for a second set of one or more signals sent over the physical channel between the user equipment and the first radio base station. The first value and said second value are different. In alternative embodiments, the second set of signals are transmitted taking into account information from the serving cell and a neighboring cell, while the first set of signals are transmitted taking into account information from the serving cell only.
US09226241B2

One aspect of the disclosure provides a method for wireless communication by a station or wireless device. The method includes waking from a sleep state. Further, the method includes determining an availability of a transmission medium. In addition, in response to determining that the transmission medium is not available, the method can include determining a sleep time period, entering a second sleep state based on the sleep time period, and freezing a backoff counter for the duration of the second sleep state.
US09226229B2

A method for Internet Protocol based sleep mode control using synchronization information includes setting some of the IP-based internal hosts of a sleep mode control network to a sleep mode, providing, by a base station, a synchronization signal with respect to the overall network, thereby transferring the synchronization information of a PHY/MAC layer based on a response thereto to an internal router, and updating, by the internal router having received the synchronization information of the network layer from the base station, the state of the corresponding hosts to a sleep mode, and then transmitting, by the internal router, information about the internal hosts in a sleep mode to the external hosts of a history information list because the internal router stores the history information of the external hosts that have communicated with the internal hosts in a sleep mode in the form of a list.
US09226228B2

A method for implementing power saving of an access point on a wireless communication network includes: when detecting that no mobile terminal is associated, switching, by the access point, from a normal working mode to a power saving working mode; and periodically broadcasting, by the access point, a simplified beacon frame in the power saving working mode, where the simplified frame includes only a service set identity. An embodiment of the present invention further provides an access point on a wireless communication network. The access point broadcasts the simplified beacon frame in the power saving working mode. Therefore, the length of the beacon frame is shortened, thereby shortening the sending time to achieve the objective of reducing power consumption.
US09226217B2

Systems and methods for a multi-tenant communication platform. At a multi-tenant communication platform, and responsive to authentication of a communication request provided by an external system, a routing address record of the communication platform is determined that matches a communication destination of the communication request. The matching routing address record associates the communication destination with a plurality of external communication providers. At least one communication provider associated with the matching routing address record is selected, and a request to establish communication with the communication destination is provided to each selected communication provider. The communication request specifies the communication destination and account information.
US09226209B2

Methods and apparatus for performing a search procedure include determining, by a processor, that a current location identifier of a current network is the same as a stored location identifier corresponding to a transition to or from a home network. The methods and apparatus further include initiating the search procedure based on determining that the current location identifier is the same as the stored location identifier.
US09226208B2

Methods and apparatus for resolving incomplete message content in networks. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to correction and recovery of incomplete measurement report configuration messages within a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. Specifically, within certain LTE networks, existing messaging may be incomplete in regards to various nearby ancillary networks, but still sufficient with regards to measurement requirements of the LTE network itself. Since the mobile device can continue operation within the LTE network, the mobile device can safely ignore or correct the measurement report configuration message.
US09226200B2

The present application describes embodiments of methods for network assisted interference cancellation. Some embodiments of the method include broadcasting control information from a first cell over a common control channel. The control information is associated with a data channel transmitted by the first cell and the control information is usable by user equipment served by a second cell to mitigate interference caused by the data channel at the user equipment.
US09226196B2

Historical decoding can be performed in accordance with pilot signal retransmission or control information retransmission to reduce the amount network resources consumed during data recovery. In one example, historical decoding is achieved through retransmitting a sub-set of coded bits carried by an earlier transmission, which are compared with a corresponding portion of the original signal (stored in memory) to obtain improved channel state information (CSI) relating to that earlier transmission. In another example, historical decoding is achieved through communicating parity information related to a sub-set of the coded bits carried by an earlier transmission, which are used in accordance with a data aided CSI technique to obtain the improved CSI relating to that earlier transmission. In yet another example, historical decoding is achieved by re-transmitting control information carried by an earlier transmission.
US09226194B2

Disclosed is a method for generating and transmitting system information in a mobile radio cell. In said method, system information is grouped into several information frames, information required for a mobile user device in order to verify if said mobile user device has access to the mobile radio cell being grouped into a single information frame, and the information frames are fed to the data securing layer by the network layer and are transmitted by means of the physical layer.
US09226190B2

A radio station includes a weighting factor determining unit that outputs a value larger than one as a weighting factor when a traffic amount of an adjacent radio station positioned in a communicable range of the radio station exceeds a certain threshold, and a cost calculating unit that calculates a radio quality cost based on radio quality for each link between the radio station and each adjacent radio station, regards a multiplication result of the obtained radio quality cost and the weighting factor as a link cost when there is an input of the weighting factor from the weighting factor determining unit, and regards the obtained radio quality cost as a link cost when there is no input of a weighting factor from the weighting factor determining unit.
US09226185B2

A cell measurement method of a User Equipment (UE) is disclosed. The cell measurement method may include receiving a radio resource configuration dedicated Information Element (IE) and a measurement object from a serving cell. The radio resource configuration dedicated IE may include first information about a measurement resource restriction pattern for a first cell and the measurement object may include a neighbor cell configuration IE for indicating MBMS Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) configurations of one or more neighbor cells. The measurement object may further include second information about a resource restriction pattern indicating subframes on which restriction is imposed in Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ) measurements of one or more neighbor cells and a list of one or more neighbor cells to which the second information is applied. If the MBSFN configurations of the one or more neighbor cells are not known or not explicitly indicated by the neighbor cell configuration IE, the method may further include determining that the subframes indicated by the second information have not been configured as MBSFN subframes for the one or more neighbor cells listed in the list.
US09226179B2

A data communication method includes: a Radio Network Controller (RNC) sends a notification message to a Node B to instruct the Node B to perform proper operations after a specific event occurs on the User Equipment (UE). A data communication system, a data sending apparatus and a data receiving apparatus are also provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure. Through the technical solution under the present disclosure, when specific events such as cell handover, disconnection and state transition occur on the UE, the RNC that obtains the event information may send a notification message to Node B to instruct the Node B to perform proper operations. Therefore, the Node B is prevented from continuing to send the buffered UE data from the source cell; and in the Cell_FACH state, the present disclosure saves the radio channel resources, shortens the transmission delay, and reduces the transmission packet loss ratio.
US09226176B2

A transmitting and a receiving method and a device are provided in the present invention. The method includes: determining, by a terminal, a base station type of a base station controlling a neighboring cell of a serving cell; and transmitting, by the terminal, information indicating the base station type to a network device, so that the network device determines the base station type according to the information indicating the base station type. According to embodiments of the present invention, the accurate recognization of the base station type is realized.
US09226165B2

A method for assessing quality of a transmission channel in a wireless network comprises the steps of a) a first station transmitting a first unicast message to a second station by said transmission channel; b) if no acknowledgement of the first unicast message is received from the second station, the first station transmitting a further unicast message at a higher power level, and c) if an acknowledgment of the first or any further unicast message is received from the second station, assessing the quality of the transmission channel based on the power level or the number of transmissions that were needed to trigger the acknowledgment.
US09226162B2

An embodiment of the present invention discloses a spectrum division method, including: obtaining service distribution in a first area and service distribution in a second area of each base station among all base stations covered by a pre-specified network within a preset period; formulating i spectrum division schemes for the first area and second area of the network and h second area spectrum allocation schemes under each spectrum division scheme according to the obtained total service distribution in the first area of the network and total service distribution in the second area of the network; selecting an optimal spectrum division scheme and an optimal second area spectrum allocation scheme of the optimal spectrum division scheme, and sending the optimal spectrum division scheme and the optimal second area spectrum allocation scheme to the base station.
US09226159B1

A central computer of a telecommunications company handles an incoming call from a caller. The telephone number of the caller is checked against a white list or blacklist and handled accordingly. If the caller is unknown, a question is played to the caller (optionally selected randomly) along with a number of possible answers. The answers are presented randomly, associated with random identifiers, etc. If the caller selects the correct answer then the call is routed to the receiver's telephone. If not, then the call is terminated or other action taken as specified. The incoming call may also be handled by a mobile telephone or computing device at the user's home or business. The mobile telephone may alert the user when answering the incoming call or wait until the question is answered correctly before ringing the telephone.
US09226154B2

The invention relates to methods and systems for conducting distributed transactions. The method comprises collecting and transmitting information, setting up a USSD session with a user of a mobile device, and using safe communication channels. The collection of information is performed from information-containing components or GSM/UMTS mobile cellular communication networks or LBS systems of GSM/UMTS mobile cellular communications operators or a GPS system or Wi-Fi positioning systems or combinations thereof. The transmission of information is performed by sending an SMS message to a user's mobile device in the transaction mode via Signaling System No. 7 (SS7) network components. The structure comprises an interface unit, which is connected to the transaction system, an information unit, which is connected to the interface unit and is designed to collect information, an SMS unit, which is connected to the interface unit and to the SS7 network components, and a USSD unit, which has a connection to the interface unit and to the SS7 network components. The setting-up of the USSD session is performed via SS7 network components with a user of a mobile device, which is registered in either a home or a visited GSM/UMTS mobile cellular communication network.
US09226148B2

The invention relates to a method and a system for IP-based telephony and video conferencing between at least one IP node (10) and a second terminal (30/31). According to said method, authentication data is transmitted from an identification module (11) of the IP nodes (10) and registration data is transmitted to a registration module (51). The IP node (10) is authenticated using an authentication module (20) and a home location registry (25). Corresponding location data is stored in the location database and is forwarded to the identification module (11) of the IP node (10). Said IP node (10) is then released for IP based telephony or video telephony.
US09226144B2

Systems and methods of performing link setup and authentication are disclosed. A method includes receiving, at a mobile device, a first access point nonce (ANonce) from an access point and generating a first pairwise transient key (PTK) using the first ANonce. The mobile device sends an authentication request including a station nonce (SNonce) to the access point, where the authentication request is protected using the first PTK. The mobile device receives an authentication response including a second ANonce from the access point, where the authentication response is protected using a second PTK. The mobile device generates the second PTK using the second ANonce and the SNonce and uses the second PTK to protect at least one subsequent message to be sent from the mobile device to the access point.
US09226138B2

Disclosed herein is a method and system for utilizing a digital data capture device in conjunction with a Bluetooth (BT) enabled mobile device for publishing data and multimedia content on one or more websites automatically or with minimal user intervention. A client application is provided on the BT enabled mobile device. In the absence of inbuilt BT capability, a BT communication device is provided on the digital data capture device. The BT communication device is paired with the BT enabled mobile device to establish a connection. The client application detects capture of data and multimedia content on the digital data capture device and initiates transfer of the captured data, multimedia content, and associated files. The digital data capture device transfers the captured data, multimedia content, and the associated files to the client application. The client application automatically publishes the transferred data and multimedia content on one or more websites.
US09226133B1

A method for managing device profiles is provided. The method comprises adding at least one alternative primary profile to a memory module at an alternative address different from a main address of a main primary profile. The method further comprises modifying a pointer that points to an address in the memory module from which a profile is retrieved such that the pointer points to the alternative address. The main primary profile comprises a main device identifier and a main authentication key, and the alternative primary profile comprises an alternative device identifier and an alternative authentication key.
US09226128B2

Aspects of the disclosure pertain to methods and systems that are configured to monitor data usage at a network edge. In an implementation, a method includes monitoring data usage information associated with a mobile user session between a mobile device and a plurality of edges nodes of a communication network, where the plurality of edge nodes includes at least a beginning edge node and a final edge node. The method also includes storing data usage information from the monitored data usage information, the stored data usage information including data associated with the transfer of cached data stored at the plurality of edge nodes. The method further includes forwarding the stored data access information to a central database of the communication network.
US09226127B2

The invention refers to a method for provisioning of a network access for a mobile communication device having at least one communication interface. A mobile communication device comprising a secure payment application in a secure environment is provided. Network access from a network operator with the mobile communication device is requested. A payment to the network operator for the requested network access using the secure payment application is conducted. A network access application from the network operator is downloaded and the network access application in the secure environment of the mobile communication device is stored wherein the network access application is used for an authentication of the mobile communication device to the mobile network.
US09226126B1

Disclosed herein is a mechanism for dynamically varying the process of selecting cell sites to broadcast an alert message. The mechanism involves using the type or other characteristic of the alert message as a basis to choose a particular cell-site selection process or level of precision for defining cell site coverage. For example, given one type of alert message, a particular cell-site selection process and/or level of precision may be used to determine the cell sites in the target area, and given another type of alert message, a different cell-site selection process and/or level of precision may be used to determine the cell sites in the target area.
US09226124B2

A method and apparatus are provided, for accessing a data-capture device in a different domain, by public safety wireless communications equipment, for the purpose of obtaining information at an incident. A dispatch controller of a public safety wireless communications system receives an access token from a server of a non-public-safety network, when an incident occurs. The token allows access to a data-capture device, and is associated with the incident. The dispatch controller sends the token to the data-capture device, receives a data stream, and forwards the data stream to a public safety wireless communication device. The public safety wireless communication device may itself discover and access the data-capture device, and may receive the data stream directly from the data-capture device. The public safety wireless communication device may forward the data stream and/or the access token to other public safety wireless communication devices.
US09226122B2

A network service provider and an application service provider may maintain synchronized states of which users have opted-in and which have opted-out of messaging services. In one implementation, a method may include receiving a text message from a user device and determining, based on a presence of one or more keywords in the text message, whether the text message is an opt-in or opt-out message associated with a messaging service hosted by one or more servers. The method may further include modifying, when it is determined that the text message is an opt-in or opt-out message, the text message to add a parameter to the text message, the parameter having a first value when the text message is an opt-in message and a second value when the text message is an opt-out message. The modified text message may be transmitted towards the one or more servers.
US09226095B2

A method for machine-type communication between a mobile communication network and a machine-type communication device includes: determining, by the machine-type communication device, a waiting time interval based on identity information and time interval information stored in the machine-type communication type and based on application of a hash function operation applied to the identity information; and requesting, by the machine-type communication device, access to a random access resource of the mobile communication network after the determined waiting time interval has elapsed.
US09226087B2

Systems and methods are provided herein for balancing of outputs from playback devices playing audio content in synchrony. In one embodiment, the balancing of outputs may involve receiving a first audio signal to be played by a first playback device, determining a first limiting result by applying to a second audio signal a limiting function associated with a second playback device, determining a limiting function based on the first limiting result, and configuring the first playback device to apply the determined limiting function when playing the first audio signal. In some cases, the first and second playback devices may be configured to play the first and second audio signals, respectively, in synchrony.
US09226086B2

An ear piece is formed for insertion and placement in an external auditory canal. The ear piece has an inflatable balloon which, when it is inflated, expands and braces against the walls of the auditory canal. When it is deflated, it may be withdrawn from the auditory canal. The ear piece may be used in connection with a hearing aid, an MP3 player, a cell phone, or the like. A pump inflates the balloon and a valve controls the selective deflation of the balloon. The air intake to the pump is protected against contamination from inside the auditory canal. For that purpose it is formed inside a housing the air inlet of which is as far outside the ear canal as possible. In the case of a behind-the-ear application, the intake opening is formed in the housing that is to be placed behind the user's ear.
US09226078B2

Acoustic transducers may, in certain aspects, include a curved diaphragm and an actuator coupled to the curved diaphragm to cause movement of the curved diaphragm. In certain embodiments, the curved diaphragm has at least one free edge. The left and right edges of the curved diaphragm may be associated with auxiliary supports. The acoustic transducer can be a multi-pole loudspeaker wherein a curved diaphragm radiates the sound energy in a modified dipole pattern. The curvature of the radiating surface of the transducer reduces sound cancellation from sound energy reflected by nearby surfaces.
US09226076B2

An acoustic module, such as a microphone or speaker module, includes an acoustic membrane that vibrates to produce acoustic waves and an acoustic cavity through which acoustic waves produced by the membrane travel. A liquid removal mechanism removes liquid from the acoustic cavity. Such a liquid removal mechanism may include the acoustic membrane, heating elements, hydrophobic and/or hydrophilic surfaces, and so on. In some cases, the liquid removal mechanism may remove liquid from the acoustic cavity upon connection of the acoustic module and/or an associated electronic device to an external power source.
US09226075B2

The present invention relates to a communication terminal having a bone conduction function. To this end, the present invention provides a communication terminal having a bone conduction function equipped with a bone conduction vibration receiver/speaker (300) for converting a sound signal (electric signal) into a vibration, so as to enable sound reception from the entire front surface of the communication terminal when the communication terminal closely contacts the face, and having at least one thereof attached to the rear surface of an inner liquid crystal screen (401) or liquid crystal panel (402) of the communication terminal (example: smartphone, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Phone, cellular phone, PDA, MP3, iPhone, iPad, walkie-talkie, et cetera) (400). Also, provided is a communication terminal having a bone conduction function, comprising a bone conduction vibration no-noise microphone (200) having at least one thereof attached to the inner top section of the communication terminal (example: smartphone, Galaxy Tab, Galaxy Phone, cellular phone, PDA, MP3, iPhone, iPad, walkie-talkie, et cetera) (400), for enabling transmission/reception of the voice of a person on the phone regardless of the surrounding noise using a bone conduction microphone function when the communication terminal closely contacts the face, and for converting minute vibrations into a sound signal (electric signal).
US09226073B2

Systems and method are provided herein for balancing of outputs from playback devices playing audio content in synchrony. In one embodiment, the balancing of outputs may involve receiving a first audio signal to be played by a first playback device according to a first crossover frequency, determining a limiting result by applying a limiting function associated with a second playback device to a second audio signal to be played by the second playback device according to a second crossover frequency, and based on the first limiting result, configuring the first playback device to play the first audio signal according to a third crossover frequency. In some cases, the first and second playback devices may be configured to play the first and second audio signals, respectively, in synchrony.
US09226057B1

An external sound system for a portable electronic device includes a mount configured to be secured to the portable electronic device, at least one sound panel coupled to the mount to selectively move between storage and operational positions relative to the portable electronic device, and at least one flat panel loudspeaker. The flat panel loudspeaker forms a portion of an exterior surface of the sound panel and is operably coupled to the portable electronic device to selectively produce sound. The sound panel can include a frame. The flat panel loudspeaker can include a vibratable panel having inner and outer surfaces, an exciter fixed to the frame and coupled to the inner surface of the vibratable panel to selectively impart vibrations to the vibratable panel, and a flexible support sheet secured to the outer surface of the vibratable panel and coupled to the frame to partially support the vibratable panel.
US09226053B2

A digital sound system suitable for a digital speaker device to directly convert analog sound by a circuit using a ΔΣ modulator and a mismatch shaping filter circuit to output a plurality of digital signals and a plurality of speakers driven by the plurality of digital signals. A digital speaker driving device includes a ΔΣ modulator, a post filter, s driving circuits, and a power supply circuit to supply power to the ΔΣ modulator, the post filter and the s driving elements, and the s driving circuits are adapted to s digital signal terminals.
US09226050B2

A transmission apparatus includes a network-side interface unit configured to receive a signal transmission frame into which a client signal is arranged from each of a working line and a protection line of a network, and extract the client signal from the received signal transmission frame, a client-side interface unit configured to transmit the extracted client signal to a client transmission path by using a generated clock, based on frequency adjustment information of the client signal included in the signal transmission frame, a protection-line-side memory configured to store the frequency adjustment information of the client signal included in the signal transmission frame received from the protection line, and a switch controller configured to control to generate a clock by using the frequency adjustment information of the client signal stored in the protection-line-side memory when the signal transmission frame fails to be received from the working line.
US09226040B2

A method for conflict recognition on DiSEqC protocol, the method comprising the steps of generating a command to be sent to a DiSEqC device; requesting a tuner to send the command to the DiSEqC device; the method further comprises: after the step of generating the command and prior to the step of requesting a tuner to send the command, executing the following steps: sending a ODU_PowerOFF DiSEqC command from the tuner to the DiSEqC device; stopping the tuner in case the ODU_PowerOFF DiSEqC command results in unlocking the tuner; sending a “ODU_Channel_change” DiSEqC command from the tuner in order to request to retune the DiSEqC device to new parameters; assuming lack of conflict in case the tuner is locked according to the requested parameters.
US09226039B2

Managing communications with a subscriber rendering device by identifying a message that is applicable at a target time and that is designated to be received by a subscriber rendering device, determining that there is no time between a current time and the target time during which the subscriber rendering device is able to receive the message thereby determining that the message cannot be received by the subscriber rendering device prior to the target time, and performing an action responsive to determining that the message cannot be received by the subscriber rendering device prior to the target time. Related methods and apparatus are also included.
US09226037B2

Embodiments of the disclosure provide for systems and methods for searching video data for events and/or behaviors. An inference engine can be used to aide in the searching. In some embodiments, a user can specify various search criteria, for example, a video source(s), an event(s) or behavior(s) to search, and an action(s) to perform in the event of a successful search. The search can be performed by analyzing an object(s) found within scenes of the video data. An object can be identified by a number of attributes specified by the user. Once the search criteria has been received from the user, the video data can be received (or extracted from storage), the data analyzed for the specified events (or behaviors), and the specified action performed in the event a successful search occurs.
US09226036B2

Methods and systems for providing secure on-premises gleaning to modify an electronic program guide are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method involves receiving, at a network interface, network data traffic and routing the network data traffic between an external network and an internal network and receiving, at a broadcast interface, media content and an electronic programming guide from a media content distributor. The method also involves parsing the network data traffic to glean preference information, providing the preference information to a recommendation engine via a secure local path, and modifying an electronic programming guide to prioritize the media content according to the preference information.
US09226035B2

The present invention refers to a one-button information interactive method and system. The method includes steps as follow: based on a multimedia-file uploading interface activated by the children, the client adds a corresponding multimedia classification marker to a file header of a multimedia file selected by the children; the server saves the multimedia file in the specified storage space based on the username of the client and the multimedia classification marker, and marks a reading states of the multimedia file; the server retrieves an unread marker, and transmits an information reminding instruction to the net-media player corresponding to the username of the client; a remote controller receives a key signal outputted by the elderly; the net-media player reads the multimedia file with the unread marker from the specified storage space based on the first control signal, and plays the multimedia file with the unread marker via a television in descending order of uploading time. The elderly can watch the new multimedia file transmitted by the children far off in time by pressing one button.
US09226030B2

A program schedule generating device includes a program schedule individual data generating unit that generates program schedule individual data including graphics rendering definitions for using raw material data to form images indicating display information, and raw material data reference information indicating the positions on video memory at which the raw material data used in the graphics rendering definitions are stored, a program schedule display list generating unit that generates a program schedule display list indicating the positions at which to display the image rendered on the basis of the program schedule individual data for each item of the program schedule individual data, and a rendering unit that renders the image for each program by use of the raw material data on the basis of the program schedule individual data and places the rendered image on the basis of the program schedule display list, thereby generating the screen data for a program schedule screen.
US09226027B2

Method, system, and computer program product for performing an operation, the operation including transmitting a media stream to one or more devices configured to display the media stream on a display coupled to the respective device, receiving user feedback from a first set of devices, of the one or more devices, marking the media stream as inappropriate, and upon determining that the received user feedback exceeds a threshold, marking the media stream as inappropriate, transmitting the marked media stream to a first device, of the one or more devices exclusive of the first set of devices, and wherein the first device is configured to, responsive to receiving the marked media stream, restrict display of the marked media stream on the respective display.
US09226026B2

A reception apparatus includes: a reception section adapted to receive an AV content; a trigger extraction section adapted to extract trigger information transmitted together with the AV content for rendering an application program, which is to be executed in a linked relationship with the AV content, operative; a command acquisition section adapted to acquire a command for controlling the operation of the application program in response to the extracted trigger information; and a control section adapted to control the operation of the application program in response to the acquired command.
US09226024B2

Methods and systems for automatically transitioning content based on facial recognition, wherein the method may include receiving a signal from a camera, identifying a face of a viewer within an area, retrieving a user identifier associated with the face of the viewer, selecting a program, and displaying the program.
US09226016B2

A digital television includes a power line and a monitor. The power line includes a power connector, an electrical conductor, and a connector. The monitor includes a display module and a signal receiving module. The electrical conductor is used to supply power to the display module and the signal receiving module. The power line further comprises a transmitting module and an antenna conductor. The transmitting module is electrically connected to an external signal receiver to receive signal. The antenna conductor is connected to the transmitting module and the signal receiving module, whereby the signal received by the transmitting module is transmitted to the signal receiving module by the antenna conductor, and processed by the signal receiving module and transmitted to the display module. A digital television system is also provided.
US09226013B2

Techniques are presented for providing multimedia queue services. A multimedia queue manager manages queues of subscribers. The queues include selections for multimedia. The multimedia queue manager schedules broadcasts for the selections and informs recording devices of the subscribers to record the selections during those broadcasts. Moreover, the multimedia queue manager updates the queues in response to actions of the subscribers and/or actions of the recoding devices of the subscribers.
US09226009B2

An information processing apparatus includes: a program distribution schedule information receiver configured to receive program distribution schedule information; a program-associated information acquirer configured to acquire, for each program listed in the program distribution schedule information, information for identifying content associated with the program and program-associated information including information for identifying a recording media to which the content is recorded; and a display controller configured to control displaying of a program guide by allocating a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for controlling a command for reproducing the content corresponding to the program into each display box of the program on the basis of the received program distribution schedule information and the acquired program-associated information.
US09226006B2

An interactive television program guide system is provided. An interactive television program guide provides users with an opportunity to select programs for recording on a remote media server. Programs may also be recorded on a local media server. The program guide provides users with VCR-like control over programs that are played back from the media servers and over real-time cached copies of the programs. The program guide also provides users with an opportunity to designate gift recipients for whom programs may be recorded.
US09226002B2

A method for realizing video live broadcast, includes: receiving a request for creating conversation from a user equipment, the request carrying indication information for identifying video live broadcast BTV service packet, the BTV packet includes several channel program with the same authorization attribute and the same accounting attribute; sending BTV service control information corresponding to BTV service packet to a network marginal equipment corresponding to the user equipment UE; creating the conversation between a IPTV server and the user equipment UE according to the request; sending the channel program that the UE need access to the UE according to the BTV service control information. Corresponding equipment and system also are provided. The invention can ensure flexible authorization and accounting capability, meanwhile it also ensure the user can switch channel quickly according to the present invention.
US09225999B2

Aspects of a virtualized security processor are described herein. In various embodiments, one or more virtual security modules may be instantiated at a port interface between a security module and a processing environment of a host device. In one embodiment, a virtual security module is instantiated for each service of the host device. Each virtual security module is configured for at least one command supported by the security module for an associated service of the host device. After being configured, a virtual security module may receive a security command request from an associated service and, before submitting the security command request to the security module, verify and prioritize the security command request. In certain aspects, the use of virtual security modules assists the host device to interface multiple services with the security module, while prioritizing tasks for and offloading certain tasks from the security module.
US09225981B2

According to the present invention, an image encoding/decoding method comprises the steps of: performing an intra prediction on a current block so as to generate a prediction block; performing filtering on a filtering target pixel in the prediction block on the basis of the intra prediction mode of the current block so as to generate a final prediction block; and generating a reconstructed block on the basis of a reconstructed differential block corresponding to the current block and on the final prediction block. According to the present invention, image encoding/decoding efficiency can be improved.
US09225980B2

A constrained variable rate coding technique limits the number of bits used in an encoding process. A quality setting indicates a maximum level of quality to be used in the encoding process which limits the number of bits used in the encoding process. A bandwidth reclamation factor which indicates an amount of bandwidth to conserve may also be used with the quality setting. The constrained variable rate coding technique using a lower quality encoding process for less complex video data and a higher quality encoding technique for higher quality video data.
US09225978B2

Systems, methods, and devices for processing video data are disclosed. Some examples systems, methods, and devices receive an external indication at a video decoder. The example systems, methods, and devices treat a clean random access (CRA) picture as a broken link access (BLA) picture based on the external indication.
US09225973B2

In an image processing apparatus, an image pickup unit takes images of an object including the face of a person wearing the glasses by which to observe a stereoscopic image that contains a first parallax image and a second parallax image obtained when the object in a three-dimensional (3D) space is viewed from different viewpoints. A glasses identifying unit identifies the glasses included in the image of the object taken by the image pickup unit. A face detector detects a facial region the face of the person included in the image of the object taken by the image pickup unit, based on the glasses identified by the glasses identifying unit. An augmented-reality special rendering unit adds a virtual feature to the facial region of the face of the person detected by the face detector.
US09225968B2

An image producing program executed by a computer of an image producing apparatus producing images to be displayed on a planar-view display apparatus, causes the computer to function as: first image producing means producing a planar view image of a virtual space by a reference virtual camera for providing planar view of the virtual space; display control means displaying the planar view image on the display apparatus; second image producing means for, while the planar view image is displayed on the display apparatus, setting a stereoscopic view virtual camera based on setting of the reference virtual camera and taking an image of the virtual space with the stereoscopic view virtual camera, thereby producing a stereoscopic view image including a right eye image and a left eye image obtained based on at least two viewpoints; and stereoscopic view image storage control means storing the stereoscopic view image in a storage apparatus.
US09225965B2

A method for producing 3D multi-view visual contents including capturing a visual scene from at least one first point of view for generating a first bidimensional image of the scene and a corresponding first depth map indicative of a distance of different parts of the scene from the first point of view. The method further includes capturing the visual scene from at least one second point of view for generating a second bidimensional image; processing the first bidimensional image to derive at least one predicted second bidimensional image predicting the visual scene captured from the at least one second point of view; deriving at least one predicted second depth map predictive of a distance of different parts of the scene from the at least one second point of view by processing the first depth map, the at least one predicted second bidimensional image and the second bidimensional image.
US09225963B2

A video display system, having a reproduce apparatus, which is configured to reproduce content, thereby to output, and a display apparatus, which is configured to display the content outputted from the reproduce apparatus, wherein said display apparatus, when being inputted therein a 3D content, including the 3D video therein, is inputted from the reproduce apparatus, transmits a message for stopping reproduction of the 3D content and a message for suppressing the output of the message for prompting the preparation of the viewing/listening of the 3D video, to the reproduce apparatus, and presents the message for prompting the preparation of the viewing/listening of the 3D video, when receiving an instruction of reproducing the 3D content from a user, transmits a message for reproducing the 3D content to the reproduce apparatus, and is the reproduce apparatus, when receiving the message for stopping the reproduction of the 3D content, stops the reproduction of the 3D content, and when receiving the message for reproducing the 3D content, reproduces the 3D content, without outputting the message for prompting the preparation of the viewing/listening of the 3D video, and thereby to output, whereby the video signal reproduce apparatus to be connected with display apparatuses of various kinds of display methods starts reproducing of the 3D content, while preventing a display for confirming completion of preparation for viewing/listening of a user from being outputted in duplicate or by a plural number of times.
US09225962B2

Systems and methods may be provided embodying a novel approach to measuring degradation (or distortion) by analyzing disparity maps from original 3D video and reconstructed 3D video. The disparity maps may be derived using a stereo-matching algorithm exploiting 2-view stereo image disparity. An overall distortion measure may also be determined resulting from the weighted sum of plural measures of distortions, one of the plural distortion measures corresponding to a measure of disparity degradation, and another one corresponding to a measure of geometrical distortion. The measure (or overall distortion measure) is used during real-time encoding to effect various decisions, including mode decision in the coding of each corresponding stereo pair, and in rate control (including stereo pair quantization).
US09225951B2

One or more versions of video or other image content may be generated by obtaining first histogram data for a first version of the video content; obtaining a second version of the video content; obtaining second histogram data for the second version of the video content; generating a mapping from the second version of the video content to an additional version of the video content by performing a number of iterations of a progressive histogram matching algorithm, the number of iterations being fewer than a maximum number of iterations of the progressive histogram matching algorithm; and applying the mapping to generate the additional version of the video content from the second version of the video content.
US09225944B2

A system and method for depicting a coverage area of at least one camera within a graphical representation of a data center is disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes establishing, by a computer, a representation of the at least one camera within the graphical representation of the data center, determining at least one device associated with the at least one camera, determining at least two points within the graphical representation of the data center marking outer boundaries of the at least one device, and displaying the coverage area between the outer boundaries and the representation of at least one camera.
US09225938B2

We describe a system for automatic setup of an audio/computer teleconference. The system comprises node units each having a phone connection, a telephone network connection, at least one computer network connection; and a system control server. The node unit comprises code to: transmit an outgoing audio announce message into a potential conference call via said telephone network audio connection, identifying the node unit; receive via the network audio connection an incoming audio announce message from a conference call to which the node unit is already connected; determine from the incoming message, an identifier for a remote node unit connecting to the conference call; and transmit to the server, via the computer network, identifiers for the local and remote node units. The server comprises code to: receive the node unit identifiers and provide computer equipment connection data to computer equipment at node.
US09225936B2

A methodology may be provided that automatically annotates web conference application sharing (e.g., sharing scenes and/or slides) based on voice and/or web conference data. In one specific example, a methodology may be provided that threads the annotations and assigns authorship to the correct resources.
US09225932B2

A method and system for media content playback and storage utilizes a set-top box including a processor and a storage device. The set-top box is in a system receiving media content which includes a display for displaying the received media content. On receipt, the received media content is associated with stored media content having a common title. A logical order for the received media content relative to the stored media content is determined, in accordance with a determined identifier. If it is determined that the received media content has been accessed for playback the received media content is automatically deleted after it has been played back.
US09225919B2

An imaging device may capture a composite image from multiple individual exposures. In each imaging pixel in the imaging device, charge accumulated from each of the individual exposures may be accumulated onto a storage node. The accumulated charge from all of the individual exposures in a single composite image may be read out from the storage node. The individual exposures may be separated by delay periods. The lengths of the individual exposures and delay periods may be determined automatically or set by a user such that each individual exposure is substantially free of motion blur, while the composite image illustrates a moving subject in multiple positions.
US09225917B2

There is provided a solid state imaging device including a first analog-to-digital converting unit that compares a level of an analog reference signal with a first inclination with a level of an analog pixel signal output from a pixel array unit, and converts the analog pixel signal into a first digital pixel signal, a second analog-to-digital converting unit that compares a level of an analog reference signal with a second inclination that is different in inclination from the analog reference signal with the first inclination with a level of the analog pixel signal, and converts the analog pixel signal into a second digital pixel signal, and a digital compositing unit that composites the first digital pixel signal with the second digital pixel signal, and outputs a composite result.
US09225910B2

A wireless communications system. A first portable electronic device collects environment information via an image sensor, transmits the environment information to a second portable electronic device, and activates a flashlight in response to a flashlight assistant request signal for assisting in a photographic operation of the second portable electronic device. The second portable electronic device communicates with the first portable electronic device to receive the environment information, determines at least one photographic parameter for a camera module according to the environment information, transmits the flashlight assistant request signal to the first portable electronic device, and performs the photographic operation according to the photographic parameter.
US09225909B1

An image capturing device and a digital zoom display method are provided. The device includes two lens modules configured to respectively capture a first image and a second image, and their capturing view fields are substantially identical, a preview processing unit configured to generate a third image by down-sampling the first image according to a display unit's resolution, a feature extraction unit, an image zooming and distortion unit and an image fusing unit. The second image is trimmed for generating a fourth image according to the same size of the third image. A pixel offset feature corresponding with the third and fourth images is generated by the feature extraction unit. The image zooming and distortion unit generates a fifth image and a sixth image according to the pixel offset feature and zoom ratio to the image fusing unit to generate a combined image displayed on the display unit.
US09225908B2

An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state image sensor that has a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form and outputs pixel signals according to subject light incident on each of the plurality of pixels in at least two or more drive modes, a first processing unit that performs, on the pixel signals output by the solid-state image sensor according to any one drive mode, the equal process to a first process performed when the solid-state image sensor outputs the pixel signals according to another drive mode and a pixel signal selection unit that selects any one of the pixel signals that are subject to the equal process to the first process performed by the first processing unit or the pixel signals that are subject to the first process performed by the solid-state image sensor according to the latter drive mode.
US09225906B2

An electronic device includes a camera device for capturing images and a fingerprint identification unit for receiving signals of fingerprints. The electronic device detects a signal received from the fingerprint identification unit, and controls the camera device to focus a specified scene of the camera device and capturing an image of the specified scene, when the detected signal is a press signal.
US09225901B2

An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit, a focal length detection unit, a shake detection unit, a translation correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate a correction amount of image blurring in a translation direction, a rotation correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate a correction amount of image blurring of the captured image in a rotation direction, a perspective correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate a correction amount for correcting a perspective component out of image deformations, an image stabilization unit configured to correct image blurring of the captured image, and a control unit configured to control to restrict correction of the image blurring in the rotational and perspective directions based on focal length information, and correct much more the image blurring in the translation direction.
US09225900B2

An image capture apparatus comprises shake detection unit configured to detect a shake of the image capture apparatus translation component correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, based on an output of the shake detection unit, a first correction amount configured to correct a translation component of image blurring generated in a captured image due to the shake, perspective component correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the first correction amount, a second correction amount for correcting a perspective component of the image blurring; and correction unit configured to correct the image blurring based on the first correction amount and the second correction amount.
US09225899B2

A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a camera section with an imaging plane; a movable unit which houses the camera section inside and includes an attracting magnet and a convex partial sphere on its outer surface; a fixed unit which has a depressed portion in which a magnetic body and the movable unit are loosely fit, which brings the convex partial sphere of the movable unit into a point or line contact with the depressed portion under magnetic attractive force of the attracting magnet to the magnetic body, and which allows the movable unit to rotate freely on the spherical centroid of the first convex partial sphere; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a camera driving section which shifts an image sensor two-dimensionally in a plane that intersects with the optical axis at right angles and which rotates the image sensor on the optical axis; a first detector which detects the tilt angles of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions; a second detector which detects the angle of rotation of the camera section that is rotating in the rolling direction; and a third detector which detects the magnitudes of shift of the image sensor along the panning rotation axis and the tilting rotation axis.
US09225897B1

A server includes a photo filter module with instructions executed by a processor to identify when a client device captures a photograph. Photograph filters are selected based upon attributes of the client device and attributes of the photograph. The photograph filters are supplied to the client device.
US09225893B2

A liquid crystal lens optical body that is available to a rapid response, the liquid crystal lens optical body having a first liquid crystal lens in which a liquid crystal layer is held between first electrodes, the first liquid crystal lens changing optical power by controlling orientation condition of liquid crystal molecules based on an input signal to the electrodes, and a second liquid crystal lens in which a liquid crystal layer is held between second electrodes, the second liquid crystal lens changing optical power by controlling orientation condition of liquid crystal molecules based on the input signal to the electrodes, the first and second liquid crystal lenses provided on an optical axis. In each liquid crystal lens, a response characteristic when the optical power undergoes a transition from a large condition thereof to a small condition thereof is different from a response characteristic when the optical power undergoes a transition from a small condition thereof to a large condition thereof.
US09225879B2

A method for video sequential alignment is provided. The method includes inputting a first video sequence and a second video sequence, and extracting features of the first video sequence and the second video sequence. The method also includes generating an expanded path using a hierarchical sequential alignment algorithm and generating masks containing search space using keyframe matching. Further, the method includes calculating the lowest path cost within search space to find a minimal alignment path using a block A* algorithm and outputting a final alignment result after applying the block A* algorithm to search space.
US09225877B2

Density adjustment performed by a user to obtain a desired tint by a density adjustment function has been difficult because of the difficulty in determining which density region of which color needs to be adjusted. An image processing apparatus displays a print preview image corresponding to an image to be printed, causes a user to select a position on the displayed print preview image, and acquires color information of the selected position. The image processing apparatus further determines, from among a plurality of density regions, at least any one of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black density regions corresponding to the acquired color information, and displays an adjustment screen for adjusting a density in the determined density regions.
US09225875B2

On the basis of the type of a preceding job, it is decided whether or not to continue double-sided circulation between the preceding job and a subsequent job. A printing apparatus executes, based on a type of a first job, a first printing process in which, after an image has been printed on a first side and a second side of a sheet by executing the first job, an image starts to be printed on a sheet by executing a second job to be executed following the first job, and a second printing process in which, after an image has been printed on a first side of a sheet by executing the first job and before an image is printed on a second side of the sheet, an image starts to be printed on a sheet of the second job to be executed following the first job.
US09225872B2

To provide a technology enabling a terminal device to use various functions provided in a data processing device without the use of a device driver. A multifunction device executes a process for implementing a function indicated by instruction data when such instruction data is stored in a shared area of the RAM. Here, the shared area of the RAM in which the instruction data is stored can be recognized by a personal computer connected to the multifunction device as a storage area that can be accessed through the file system, which is a function provided as a standard feature of the operating system. Accordingly, operations of the multifunction device can be controlled from the personal computer end simply by storing instruction data in the shared area via the operating system, eliminating the need for a special device driver to control the operations of the multifunction device.
US09225863B2

An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a document reading unit, a document cover, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a reading-unit-supporting shaft, and a cover-supporting shaft. The document reading unit is configured to turn to openably/closably cover an upper portion of the image forming apparatus body. The document cover is configured to turn to openably/closably cover a document loading surface at a top surface of the document reading unit. The image forming unit is housed in the image forming apparatus body, the image forming unit being configured to form an image on a paper sheet based on the image data. The reading-unit-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document reading unit. The cover-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document cover. Both the reading-unit-supporting shaft and the cover-supporting shaft are mounted to the image forming apparatus body.
US09225862B2

A buffer structure is configured to an office machine including a base and a cover pivotally connected to the base provided. The buffer structure includes a first engaging portion fixed to the cover, a rotation member and an elastic member. The rotation member includes a rotation shaft pivotally connected to the base, a second engaging portion located on a rotation path of the first engaging portion, and a fixing portion. The elastic member includes a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end and the second end are fixed to the base and the fixing portion. When the cover rotates toward the base, the first engaging portion is engaged to the second engaging portion to drive the rotation member to rotate along a first clock direction, and the elastic member is deformed to exert a moment to the rotation member along a second clock direction.
US09225860B2

An information processing apparatus, information processing system, display control method, and display control program stored on a recording medium, each of which receives a user input that instructs specific operation to be performed on an information apparatus, transmits information regarding the specific operation instructed by the user input to the information apparatus via the network, predicts an execution result of the specific operation to be performed on the information apparatus based on the user input to generate a predicted execution result, and displays information reflecting the predicted execution result as a response to the user input, prior to receiving a response including an actual execution result of the specific operation that is performed on the information apparatus from the information apparatus via the network.
US09225857B2

A printing device is configured to display digital signage items on a display screen of the printing device. The printing device sends a request to a digital signage server for digital signage items for display. The request includes a device identifier that identifies the printing device. Based on the device identifier, the digital signage server selects particular digital signage items for display on the particular printing device. For example, the digital signage server may select particular digital signage items based on stored information about the particular printing device including a geographical location of the printing device, information about users of the printing device, information about previous user interactions with displayed digital signage items, etc. The printing device may also be configured to enable users to interact with displayed digital signage items such as by sending a message, printing a coupon, or viewing a product website.
US09225855B2

The present invention is directed to providing an imaging apparatus that can determine an imaging scene of an input image with high accuracy. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to image an object image and output image data, a determination unit configured to, based on the image data, perform determination processing for determining an imaging scene of the image data output from the imaging unit, an acquisition unit configured to acquire imaging information related to a condition for imaging the image data including location information about the imaging apparatus, and a communication unit configured to transmit the imaging information to an external device and receives auxiliary information for supporting determination of the imaging scene of the image data corresponding to the imaging information. The determination unit performs the determination processing based on the auxiliary information received via the communication unit.
US09225854B2

A host device connected to image scanning devices and a method of controlling the host device is provided. The host device includes an interface connected to a plurality of image scanning devices, a storage storing an integrated driver that supports a plurality of drivers corresponding to a plurality of applications, and a controller controlling the integrated driver that supports the plurality of drivers to execute the driver corresponding to the application if the application is executed in the host device.
US09225852B2

Systems and methods are provided for utilizing stacks to identify Advanced Function Presentation (AFP) objects. The system includes a memory and a controller. The memory is able to store AFP print data. The controller is able to perform a parsing process on the AFP print data to identify AFP objects. During the parsing process the controller is able to: (A) advance a parsing location within the AFP print data, and (B) if the parsing location corresponds with a BEGIN field for an AFP object, then push an entry representing the AFP object onto a stack. During the parsing process, the controller is further able to (C) determine whether the stack matches a pattern of entries defined by a rule, (D) if the stack matches the pattern, then process the AFP object at the parsing location to perform an action defined in the rule, and (E) repeat operations (A)-(D).
US09225847B2

A method and corresponding equipment to enable a phone owner, who desires to lend a phone to a borrower, to define a temporary limit for the usage of the borrower, especially in a prepaid charging system. The charging system uses this temporary limit to restrict service usage such that when an amount corresponding to the temporary limit has been spent service is denied until such time as the limit has expired or been withdrawn, even if, for example, there is still a positive balance in the phone owner's own prepaid account.
US09225841B2

A method for searching for one or more recorded telephone communications between one or more customers and a contact center comprising is provided. The method is implemented by a computer readable medium having a plurality of code segments. One or more telephone communications is analyzed and assessment data is assigned thereto. The assessment data of the telephone communications is searched for at least one search criterion, and at least one telephone communication having assessment data matching the search criterion is identified. A representation of the matching telephone communication is then displayed.
US09225812B2

An input/output hall structure for a sound device in a portable terminal includes a main hole and a plurality of sub-holes. The main hole is provided in a case frame forming the exterior of the portable terminal to be exposed to the exterior, and inputs/outputs sound. The plurality of sub-holes is branched from the main hole and communicates with the main hole. The sub-hole and a corresponding sound device communicate sound. The structure reduces the number of holes for inputting/outputting sound of a sound device and provides a more elegant appearance with improved function. A plurality of sound devices can input/output through the main hole and branched configuration of sub-holes.
US09225807B2

A method for performing segmentation of a first data packet into a plurality of second data packets at a functionality of a device driver for a network interface device supported by a data processing system, each second data packet comprising a header and a segment of data from the first data packet and the network interface device being capable of supporting a communication link over a network with another network interface device, the method comprising: accepting the first data packet, the first data packet carrying data for transmission by the network interface device over the network; forming a set of headers for the plurality of second data packets; writing the set of headers to memory; forming a specification, the specification indicating the headers in memory and the segments of data in the first data packet; requesting by means of the device driver transmission by the network interface device of the headers and the respective segments of data indicated in the specification so as to effect transmission of the second data packets over the network.
US09225799B1

A virtual mobile infrastructure performs client-side rendering by intercepting and redirecting screen data for generating a screen image of a remote mobile operating system from a server computer to a mobile client device. The mobile client device receives the screen data and generates the final screen image of the remote mobile operating system. The screen data include drawing application programming interface (API) calls to generate surfaces for applications running on the remote mobile operating system and data for compositing the surfaces together. The mobile client device makes the drawing API calls to generate the surfaces and generates the final screen image of the remote mobile operating system by compositing the surfaces in accordance with the compositing data.
US09225791B2

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for staged data migration between data sources and a cloud-based storage network. In aspects, a user can maintain a user premise network including servers, clients, local area networks, data stores, and/or other network assets. An administrator or other user of the premise network may wish to extract data from the premise network and transfer that data payload to a set of host storage clouds to leverage cost, redundancy, consolidation, or other cloud advantages. A cloud data delivery (CDD) service can be established to stage the upload of the data payload to the set of host storage clouds using a set of managed or dedicated lines to the CDD service, and to the host storage clouds at network edge. The connections between the premise network/CDD service and CDD service/host storage clouds can be selected and/or optimized to provide high-bandwidth connections tailored to the schedule, cost, or other requirements of the data payload to be transported.
US09225790B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for location based network usage policies. One of the methods includes storing information defining a plurality of network policy groups, receiving first information indicating that a client device is connected to the network at a first physical location, and identifying a first user role associated with the client device, identifying, from among the plurality of network policy groups, a first network policy group having both (i) an associated first policy location that corresponds to the client device's first physical location, and (ii) an associated policy role that corresponds to the client device's first user role, and regulating the client device's access to resources available on the network based on the one or more network usage policies associated with the identified first network policy group.
US09225766B2

A method and system for networking a plurality of appliances. The method and system include providing an appliance on a network, controlling operation of the appliance with a microcontroller, storing on a memory coupled with the microcontroller, computer executable instructions for operating the appliance, sensing the operation of the appliance, displaying information regarding the operation of the appliance, and communicating the operational data on a network. Network connectivity includes communication directly with a network, and with another appliance. A host system is connected to the network and adapted to receive the usage data and to transmit data to the appliance to influence operation of the appliance.
US09225764B2

An application compositor enables the creation a sequence of SIP and HTTP servlets that comprises a converged multi-protocol application. Applications are constructed based on rules that declaratively specify a multi-protocol sequence of servlets and the transitions between the servlets, minimizing programmer effort. The application compositor works with a servlet container within an application server to determine the sequence of servlets to be executed by the servlet container when running the application, and is called by the servlet container to perform transitions between servlets.
US09225760B2

Systems, methods, and apparatuses of providing and processing video data for delivery to mobile devices.
US09225745B2

Described herein are techniques and mechanisms for access policy creation and enforcement. According to various embodiments, a message may be received via a communications interface. The message may include a request to perform an action within a proposal system. The proposal system may be operable to create a request for proposals based on user input. The request for proposals may describe a business need associated with a business entity. The proposal system may be further operable to process a plurality of proposal documents received in response to the request for proposals. The request may be associated with a user account. A determination may be made as to whether the requested action complies with an access policy. The requested action may be performed when it is determined that the requested action complies with the access policy.
US09225744B1

Client impersonation is recognized by an access control service using servicer credentials to allow a servicer to impersonate a user's context while requesting actions be performed on a computing resource. A servicer may be requested to perform an action through impersonation, granting access to the context of a user related to the computing resource. The computing resource receives servicer credentials and impersonation information from the servicer. After verifying the servicer's authorization to perform actions under the context of the user, the servicer may attempt to perform the requested action. The action may be logged as performed by the servicer impersonating the user. The user may also be billed for any costs incurred.
US09225739B2

Embodiments are directed to determining a risk of encountering malware based on social context, to determining malware threats based on social associations and to ranking antimalware programs according to the program's ability to protect against specific threats. In one scenario, a computer system receives a malware notification associated with a user that identifies a type of malware encountered by the user. The computer system identifies various persons that are part of a social group associated with the user and determines that at least one of the identified persons associated with the user has an increased likelihood of encountering the identified type of malware, based on information derived from identifying the persons that are part of the social group. Optionally, the computer system notifies the identified persons of the increased likelihood of encountering the identified type of malware.
US09225735B1

A computer-implemented method for blocking flanking attacks on computing systems may include (1) detecting a denial-of-service attack targeting a computing network, (2) inferring, based at least in part on detecting the denial-of-service attack, a secondary attack targeting at least one computing resource within the computing network, (3) determining that the computing resource is subject to additional protection based on inferring the secondary attack targeting the computing resource, and (4) protecting the computing resource against the secondary attack by adding an authentication requirement for accessing the computing resource. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
US09225731B2

A method, system, and computer program product embodied in a computer readable storage medium are disclosed for identifying a rogue domain name service (DNS) server. Embodiments include passively monitoring traffic on a target network; and identifying a DNS resolution response in the traffic on the network. The DNS resolution response includes a mapping of a domain to an internet protocol (IP) address. The DNS resolution response is compared with a preconfigured list of known mappings of domains to IP addresses. Based on the results of the comparison, it can be determined whether the DNS resolution response is correct. In cases where the DNS resolution response is incorrect, the provider of the DNS resolution response is a rogue DNS server.
US09225730B1

Techniques are described for graph-based analysis of event data in a computing environment. Event data is collected from host devices, the event data describing events in which devices, processes, or services are accessed in the environment. The event data is arranged into a graph that includes vertices corresponding to devices, processes, or services, and edges that connect pairs of vertices. Each edge may identify an event by connecting two vertices corresponding to two devices, processes, or services included in the event. A rarity metric is determined for each edge, indicating a rarity of events of a particular type connecting two vertices. A risk metric may also be determined for each edge, indicating a security risk associated with the event type or the target of the event. The graph may be traversed according to the risk and rarity metrics, to identify patterns of anomalous activity in the event data.
US09225721B2

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to providing secure access to resources of a private network. For example, a client device may transmit a request identifying the protected resource to an authentication server. The authentication server queries a network address lookup table to identify a network address of the protected resource based on the identifying information of the request. If the network address denotes a network location that is not generally accessible, the authentication server generates a resource record that identifies a bastion host, a port, and a connection method for accessing the protected resource. The resource record and the network address may then be transmitted to the client device. In response, the client device may use the information in the resource record to establish a tunnel connection with the bastion host, and the client device uses the tunnel connection to access the protected resource via the bastion host.
US09225719B2

A system for and method of protecting a resource is presented. The system and method include a trusted pair consisting of an initiator and a receiver. The receiver faces outward and is connected to a network, such as the Internet. The initiator is connected to the protected resource. In establishing a connection between the initiator and the receiver, the initiator initiates all communications. This configuration simplifies environment management, improves security including access controls, and facilitates deployment of internet-facing resources by changing the traditional model of component-to-component connection.
US09225715B2

A mechanism is provided for securely associating an application with a well-known entity. A determination is made as to whether an identified application has an associated certificate. Responsive to the identified application having the associated certificate, a determination is made as to whether the associated certificate is issued from a certificate authority associated with the well-known entity trusted by a user of the identified application, where the certificate authority is in a separate domain from an application marketplace where the application was obtained. Responsive to the associated certificate being issued by the certificate authority associated with the well-known entity trusted by the user of the identified application, an indication is provided to the user that the application is trusted in context to interactions with the certificate authority.
US09225702B2

A system and method for authenticating an application (client) to a server or service. During a registration phase, an application that requests access to a service can receive a service identifier, which it can authenticate. The application can generate and send to the server or service an application-service key that is based upon the authenticated service identifier and a secret application key; a service-application identifier that can be based upon the authenticated service identifier and an application identifier; and a registration nonce, all of which can be stored at the server. During the authentication phase, the client can send to the server the application-service identifier, which the server can use to lookup the stored registration data. The server can send the registration nonce to the client, which can compute a proof of possession of the service-application key and send to the server. The server can compute its own version of this key and compare it to the received key. If they correspond, then the client is authenticated.
US09225701B2

Systems and methods for determining whether a communication session is authorized are provided. In some aspects, a method includes initiating a communication session between a first user and a second user, and obtaining an identity attribute associated with a third user engaged in the communication session. The method also includes determining whether the third user is the first user, the second user, or an unauthorized user based on the obtained identity attribute. The method also includes determining whether the communication session is authorized based on whether the third user is determined to be the first user, the second user, or the unauthorized user.
US09225698B2

The present invention provides methods, apparatuses, and systems for delivering protected streaming content to a receiving device. In an aspect of the present invention, a broadcaster provides streaming content. To ensure viewers are properly authorized, the streaming content is encrypted with a traffic key. The traffic key is provided to the users via a key stream message, which is encrypted with a service key. The user obtains at least one rights object from a rights issuers and the at least one rights object includes the service key so that the streaming content may be used. The at least one rights object also contains information regarding usage rights that may be configured by the rights issuer so that, depending on the user and/or the receiving device, different rights may be available. The key stream message may include a program category variable value that indicates the type of content and in conjunction with the rights object, determines what usage rights exist for the streaming content.
US09225697B2

Methods, apparatus, and computer-accessible storage media for activating a gateway to a remote service provider. The gateway serves as an interface between processes on a customer network and the provider, for example to store customer data to a remote data store. A gateway sends a public key and metadata describing the gateway to the provider. The gateway receives an activation key from the provider and exposes the activation key on the customer network. The customer obtains the key and communicates to the provider using the key to provide customer information including a name for the gateway and to authorize registration of the gateway. The provider provides the customer information to the gateway. The gateway requests security credentials from the provider using the customer information and the key. The provider sends a security credential to the gateway. The gateway may then obtain configuration information from the customer via the provider.
US09225695B1

A computer-implemented method for storing and transmitting sensitive information from a mobile device to another mobile device or remote server is disclosed including storing source data on a secure data storage of a secondary device connected to a mobile device wherein the mobile device is configured to operate via an operating system with a central processor, and wherein the secure data storage is adapted to receive input unilaterally from the mobile device, encrypt sensitive information of the input, and store the input as source data, and transferring the source data from the secure data storage to a communications interface component that connects the mobile device to another mobile device or remote server, wherein the transferring is implemented via the secondary device while bypassing the central processor. A system is also provided.
US09225685B2

A process is disclosed in which all network traffic between a mobile device and an untrusted network arriving before the establishment of a VPN tunnel are dropped in response to rules imposed by the mobile device's operating system. Once a VPN tunnel is established all communication from the mobile device is secured, without an intervention on the part of the user of the device. A device supporting such a process is also disclosed.
US09225682B2

An example method is provided and includes intercepting an action request from an entity for an action to be performed with respect to a resource in a cloud environment, where the action request comprises a resource facet that controls access to the resource. The method also includes determining whether the resource facet is valid for the action by evaluating a policy associated with the resource; and allowing the action.
US09225673B2

A method and apparatus to reduce memory required in a network interface controller to store per flow state information associated with a network connection is provided. Instead of storing per flow state information for a connection in the network interface controller at an endpoint of the connection, the per flow state information for the connection is stored in memory external to the network interface controller. The stored state information is conveyed in a packet by the network interface controller between the endpoints of the connection. For a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection, the state information is conveyed between the endpoints of the TCP connection in a TCP option included in the TCP header in the packet.
US09225672B1

Methods and systems for packet grouping in a network are provided. A packet is received at a receive segment of a port of a first network device for transmission to a destination port of a second network device. The port determines if the packet is a start packet of a packet sequence. When the packet is not the start packet of the packet sequence, the port determines whether the packet has a destination that is the same as a destination of a last prior packet. When the packet is for the same destination, a grouping count is increased and the packet priority is elevated.
US09225666B1

A system includes a first switch fabric portion and a second switch fabric portion. The first switch fabric portion is disposed within a first chassis and has a module associated with a first stage of a switch fabric and a module associated with a second stage of the switch fabric. The module of the first switch fabric portion associated with the first stage of the switch fabric is configured to send data to the module of the first switch fabric portion associated with the second stage of the switch fabric. The second switch fabric portion is disposed within a second chassis and has a module associated with the second stage of the switch fabric. The module of the first switch fabric portion associated with the first stage of the switch fabric is configured to send data to the module of the second switch fabric portion associated with the second stage of the switch fabric.
US09225661B1

A scalable cloud infrastructure serves two or more customers, where each customer is associated with at least one unit of virtual resources. The virtual resources are established by apportioning physical resources in the cloud infrastructure that are partitioned into pods within one or more zones in a scalable manner. Additionally, the cloud infrastructure establishes one or more management server clusters each comprising one or more management servers. The two or more customers create a number of virtual machines within pods in a zone. Due to the scalability of the cloud infrastructure, a console proxy virtual machine and server is introduced to support console access to virtual machines. The console proxy server serves as an intermediary between a browser and a viewed virtual machine configured to maintain viewing session quality while minimizing network impact.
US09225653B2

According to one embodiment, a server includes a transmitter, a storage, a determination unit and a controller. The transmitter is configured to transmit data using TCP streams. The storage is configured to store a number of TCP streams which the transmitter used in transmitting the data and a maximum value of a bandwidth which the transmitter used in transmitting the data using the number of TCP streams, in association with each other. The determination unit is configured to determine a number of TCP streams, which the transmitter uses in transmitting new data, based on the stored number, the stored maximum value, and a target value of the bandwidth. The controller is configured to update the stored maximum value when a bandwidth used for transmitting the new data using the determined number is larger than the maximum value associated with the stored number which is identical to the determined number.
US09225645B2

Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) transmits packets to the remote peer with a size equal or smaller than Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU). The MTU can be discovered by SCTP utilizing the path-MTU discovery algorithm of RFC1191 (or similar techniques). However the MTU of a certain path within a SCTP association can change over time. If the path MTU grows then there is no problem. If the path MTU decreases, then packets with size equal to the old path MTU will not be able to be delivered to the remote peer as the link or router with the smaller MTU will drop the packet. Thus all such packets will remain unacknowledged and will lead to head of line blocking for in-sequence delivery of packets of the streams to which to non-delivered packets belong. This leads to the failure of the association. The proposed method resegments SCTP-packets due to a path MTU decrease in a SCTP association.
US09225642B2

A technique is provided for mitigating loops in Ethernet networks. A first port in an Ethernet device receives an Ethernet frame. The frame includes a source identifier, a destination identifier, and a Virtual Local Area Network Identifier (VLAN ID). According to various embodiments, the VLAN ID (VID) has the encoding of both a community group as well as a source bridge ID. A VID database is accessed using the destination identifier and the VID to determine whether the first port has ingress enabled. A filtering database is accessed to determine an egress port for forwarding the Ethernet frame.
US09225639B2

A network address generation device of a node is capable of generating a network address including a flexible address including a locator that defines location information of a point where the node is located, and a node identifier that includes identification information of the node.
US09225635B2

In one embodiment, a system includes a network having a plurality of switches and one or more devices connected to one or more of the plurality of switches, a software defined network (SDN) controller connected to one or more of the plurality of switches in the network, the SDN controller having logic integrated with and/or executable by a processor, the logic being adapted to determine SDN routes through the network between the one or more devices and each of the plurality of switches and send one or more SDN routes to each switch in the network capable of communicating with the SDN controller. In other embodiments, methods and computer program products are also described for providing SDN routes through a network.
US09225618B2

A network includes communication media transmitting streams to addressees, and a method includes: step of allocation of a cryptonymic identity to communication media by a first instance, the streams transmitted by a medium bearing a mark, as a function of its cryptonym, the cryptonymic identity of a medium being distinct from its real identity; step of reading and of analyzing the streams by a second instance, the analysis including a phase of identifying streams to their communication media by searching for similarity between the mark of the streams and the cryptonymic identity of the media, with the aid of a table listing the cryptonyms, and a phase of logging observable characteristics of the streams through the network. A behavior defined by a set of characteristics is declared typical or atypical by comparison with a given set of criteria, the table of cryptonymic identities having no link with the real identities. The invention is applied notably for combating illegal downloads, the sending of material that is unsolicited or likely to cover up identifiable malicious intentions.
US09225608B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for computing and using an aggregate activity level for a computing system. Activity level metrics are obtained from a corresponding plurality of components in a data center. A current aggregate activity level request is received. An aggregate activity level is computed from the activity level metrics. The aggregate activity level is compared to a baseline aggregate activity level. In response to the request, an indication is provided as to whether the aggregate activity level falls within a predefined range of the baseline aggregate activity level.
US09225602B2

A method is described for moving one or more access points between neighboring enterprise networks such that one or more threshold requirements of the networks are met. By reconfiguring access points to move between enterprise networks, the method provides a highly flexible network system that utilizes environmental and/or operational data to dynamically meet the needs of associated client devices and consumers.
US09225600B2

A host networking device networking interface is automatically configured. The interface is initially configured to operate in a single-link mode in which multiple network communication lanes of the interface cooperatively provide a single communication link. If a signal is not present on any communication lane, then the interface is configured to operate in a multiple-link mode in which each lane provides a separate and different communication link, and is operated in the multiple-link mode. If a signal is present on every communication lane, and if the single communication link has been established with another networking device over all the lanes, then the interface is operated in the single-link mode. If a signal is present on every communication lane, but if the single communication link has not been established over all the lanes, then the interface is configured to operate in the multiple-link mode and is operated in the multiple-link mode.
US09225592B2

In one embodiment, a method includes determining, by an edge router, a plurality of prefixes reachable by the edge router, each prefix indicating a range of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. The method further includes grouping, by the edge router, the plurality of prefixes into one or more groups, wherein each group is associated with a particular repair edge router and the prefixes in each particular group are reachable by both the edge router and the particular repair edge router associated with the particular group. The method further includes communicating instructions, from the edge router to a core router, to send data packets associated with the prefixes in each particular group to the particular edge router associated with the particular group if the edge router becomes unreachable.
US09225585B2

A device management system includes a first server and a second server. The first server includes a receiving unit configured to receive an operation request for acquiring specific information about a designated device, and a transfer unit configured to transfer the operation request to the second server. The second server includes an authentication unit configured to authenticate a device in a local network in response to an authentication request from the device, a connection maintaining unit configured to maintain communication connection with the device that the authentication is successful, a receiving unit configured to receive the operation request transferred from the first server, and an executing unit configured to execute a content of the operation request by carrying out communications in real time with the designated device that is in communication connection with the second server when the operation request is received.
US09225555B2

A wireless communication system is provided that includes a wireless communication device in wireless communication with a base station and mobile stations. The wireless communication device includes first and second transceivers coupled to each other. The first transceiver is coupled to an antenna and is operable to communicate with the base station, which is also in wireless communication with other wireless communication devices. The second transceiver is coupled to another antenna and is in wireless communication with the plurality of mobile stations. The first transceiver receives a first signal from the base station intended for a one of the mobile stations, and in response the second transceiver transmits the first signal to the mobile station. The second transceiver receives a second signal from the mobile station intended for the base station, and in response the first transceiver transmits the second signal to the base station.
US09225549B2

Techniques are described for routing data frames using a distributed virtual bridge in a highly integrated networked system. The distributed virtual bridge creates and manages a type of LAG referred to as “unified link aggregation group” (ULAG). Two or more link aggregation groups that span multiple physically-separated switches or chassis (referred to as MLAGs) are unified or aggregated to form a ULAG. Applications view the ULAG as a single logical link, and as long as at least one of the sub links in any of the MLAGs that are part of the ULAG is operational, network connectivity is maintained.
US09225548B2

A method of allowing a nomadic terminal to access a home network on the Layer 2 level. The method comprises connecting said terminal to a remote access network via an access point, the remote access network being connected to an operator's backbone network via a remote access router. Signalling is exchanged between the access point and an authentication server within the backbone network in order to authenticate the terminal to the authentication server and, following successful authentication, a Layer 2 tunnel extending across the backbone network is established for the purpose of connecting said nomadic terminal to the home network.
US09225543B2

A network interface card includes a receiving unit and a capturing unit. The receiving unit is used for receiving a first hot-plug signal transmitted from a remote network apparatus via an HDMI. The capturing unit is coupled to the receiving unit, for capturing a physical address of the remote network apparatus via the HDMI. After the physical address of the remote network apparatus is captured by the capturing unit, the network interface card communicates with the remote network apparatus by using the HDMI.
US09225541B2

One embodiment of a system for rendering media files comprises a computer configured to determine media file formats that are used by media rendering devices connected to a network and to determine media files available on the network. The computer generates media shadow files of media file formats used by the media rendering devices to accompany existing media files available on the network in alternative formats.
US09225537B1

Information is provided via a table displayed on a mobile communication device listing contacts in one column and icons representing various communication modes in other columns. Contact list members' associations with communication modes are indicated by attributes assigned to icons rendered via the display of the mobile communications device. Example communication modes include instant messaging, push to talk, voice communications, and email. Icon attributes can indicate a member's subscription status to a particular communication mode, a member's availability (online/offline) for a particular communication mode, and a member's preferred communication mode. The user can scroll through the table to view communication mode information about members on the contact list. The user can initiate communications via a selected communication mode by selecting an icon, or selecting a row and column of the table, being rendered on the display of the mobile communications device.
US09225535B2

A system and method of reducing power consumption in a network switching unit includes detecting whether conditions are suitable for reducing power consumption in a first network switching unit. The first network switching unit includes a link aggregation group (LAG) and a plurality of communication ports, each communication port configured to couple the first network switching unit to a second network switching unit using a corresponding network link selected from a plurality of network links, and wherein the plurality of network links are assigned to the LAG. The system and method further includes requesting network link deactivation by sending a link deactivation request to the second network switching unit, determining whether the link deactivation request is approved, determining a first network link selected from the plurality of network links to deactivate, deactivating the first network link from use by the LAG, and reducing power supplied to the first network link.
US09225534B2

A power conditioning device includes a set of outlets through which one or more load devices are provided electricity. Each device outlet is controlled independently of the control of other device outlets. The power conditioning device includes a storage device that contains a set of controls by which the power conditioning device can be operated and programmed. The set of controls, which may be contained in a Hypertext Markup Language formatted file and retrieved by a remote device through Hypertext Transfer Protocol requests, allows such control and programming to be performed from a remote location. Additionally, the power conditioning device may be configured to log selected data and provide (such) the log, as well as selected alarms, to the remote device.
US09225533B2

A first executable program on a computer system is enabled to exchange communications with a second executable program on the computer system by determining that the first executable program requests to exchange information with the second executable program, using the second executable program to challenge the first executable program for a digital certificate, and using the second executable program to exchange information with the first executable program when the digital certificate is verified.
US09225532B2

An approach for registration an application instance is provided. A registration request including credential information related to a user, a device and an instance of an application resident on the device is generated. The registration request is transmitted over a network to a registration platform. A unique identifier that is encrypted, in response to registration of the application instance is received from the registration platform. This unique identifier is used to securely authenticate communication with the application instance.
US09225514B2

The disclosure illustrates an image encryption and decryption method using physiological features and image capture device using the same method. The image encryption and decryption method comprises an encryption procedure and a decryption procedure. The encryption procedure comprises following steps. At first, an image capture module is used to capture a plurality of first iris images. An encryption-decryption module is used to generate a first key according to the plurality of first iris images. When an image is generated by the image capture module, the encryption-decryption module encrypts the image with the first key to generate an encrypted image. The decryption procedure comprises following a step of using the encryption-decryption module to decrypt the encrypted image with the first key.
US09225513B2

According to one embodiment, an authenticator which authenticates an authenticatee, which stores first key information (NKey) that is hidden, includes a memory configured to store second key information (HKey) which is hidden, a random number generation module configured to generate random number information, and a data generation module configured to generate a session key (SKey) by using the second key information (HKey) and the random number information. The authenticator is configured such that the second key information (HKey) is generated from the first key information (NKey) but the first key information (NKey) is not generated from the second key information (HKey).
US09225509B2

A method and apparatus for synchronizing a communication device in a communication system includes receiving a transmission from another communication device. The transmission comprises a plurality of time slots and a plurality of signaling fields inserted between the time slots. The plurality of signaling fields include a set of signaling fields of a first information type and a set of signaling fields of a second information type. The method includes detecting at least two consecutive signaling fields of the first information type, recovering a received pattern contained in a nth signaling field of the second information type, predicting patterns corresponding to (n+1)th to (k−1)th signaling fields of the second information type, comparing previously predicted patterns corresponding to the (n)th signaling field with the recovered pattern in the received (n)th signaling field and achieving synchronization when at least ‘m’ matches are obtained between the predicted and the recovered patterns.
US09225508B1

A number of methods and clock generator units are disclosed to produce low Phase Noise clocks for use in Radio Frequency systems. The methods and clock generator units all use two reference clocks: a frequency-accurate reference that has comparatively high Phase Noise, and a frequency-inaccurate reference such as that from a BAW or MEMS clock source that has comparatively low Phase Noise. By combining multiple Phase-Locked Loops and a mixer, it is possible to produce flexible output frequencies whose frequency accuracy is derived from the first reference clock but whose Phase Noise level is derived from the second reference clock, all in a readily-integrated and relatively low-cost system.
US09225506B2

A receiving apparatus includes a differential amplifier and a logic circuit. The differential amplifier is adapted to receive differential signals having been differentially converted to single-ended convert the received differential signals into a single-ended signal. The logic circuit is adapted to: ternary discriminate an amplitude level of the single-ended signal at a first ternary discrimination timing; ternary discriminate an amplitude level of the single-ended signal at a second ternary discrimination timing; binary discriminate an amplitude level of the single-ended signal at the first binary discrimination timing, by using results of the ternary discriminations of the amplitude level of the single-ended signal at the first ternary discrimination timing and the second ternary discrimination timing; and output a binary signal corresponding to the binary discrimination.
US09225505B2

The receiver includes a first buffer configured to buffer a data to generate a first internal data, a first delay unit configured to retard the first internal clock signal by a first delay period to generate a first delayed internal clock signal, and a second buffer configured to buffer the first internal data to generate a first input data.
US09225496B2

Aspects of a method and system for utilization of a reserved and/or out of band channel for managing a data rate of an Ethernet channel are provided. In this regard, a data rate of a network link may be managed via traffic communicated over a reserved and/or out of band channel on said network link. The reserved and/or out of band channel may be an auxiliary channel established in the IEEE 802.3AN standard. Traffic communicated over the reserved and/or out of band channel may enable negotiating a data rate for the link, scheduling a change in the data rate on the link, exchanging link state information, configuring a number of active physical channels on the link, configuring a signal constellation utilized for representing data on said the link, configuring an inter-frame or inter-packet gap, and/or configuring signal levels utilized for signaling on the link.
US09225481B2

Aspects describe communicating grant information in a multicarrier wireless communication system. The grant information can be transmitted to mobile devices that have single carrier capability and/or mobile devices that have multicarrier capability. Grant information can be sent in a legacy control region and/or a non-legacy control region.
US09225480B2

Scheduling and adjustment of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) streams sent by a network component based on channel quality and assistance data received from another network component is disclosed. Sending multiple MIMO OFDM streams to a user equipment (UE) from at least two network components is also provided.
US09225472B2

Embodiments may include apparatuses, computer media, and methods for receiving at least one data symbol for transmission in a data frame, generating signaling information that identifies transmission parameters for the data frame, wherein the signaling information includes a first signaling portion and a second signaling portion, wherein the second signaling portion includes at least a third signaling portion and a fourth signaling portion, generating at least one first size information for the third signaling portion, generating at least one second size information for the fourth signaling portion, adding the at least one first size information and the at least second size information to the first signaling portion, and assembling, by at least one processor, the data frame comprising at least the first signaling portion, the second signaling portion, and the at least one data symbol.
US09225471B2

A source node selects a plurality of transmitting nodes to cooperatively encode a set of original packets to transfer to a destination node. Encoding produces a plurality of coded packets and a corresponding code matrix of coefficients. The coded packets and the corresponding code matrix comprise a set of independent equations of independent variables in a system of linear equations, wherein the independent variables comprise the original packets. A destination node may select a set of receiving nodes to cooperatively receive the transmissions. The destination node collects the coded packets and code matrix from the receiving nodes, which provide a sufficient number of independent equations for decoding the original packets. Decoding comprises calculating a solution for the system of linear equations.
US09225466B2

Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling interference by a TP in a wireless communication system. A first message, which includes channel quality information for the TP, is received from a terminal to which the TP provides a communication service. A second message, which includes received power information for a reference signal received from the terminal, is received from at least one neighbor TP. A data transmission rate is determined for the terminal based on the channel quality information and the received power information.
US09225454B1

The specification describes an apparatus including a plurality of communication ports, each communication port coupled to a corresponding networking element, and a plurality of optical transceivers, each optical transceiver coupled to a corresponding communication port and including an optical receiver and an optical transmitter, wherein the optical transmitter can transmit an optical data signal having a carrier wavelength different than any other of the plurality of optical transmitters. A passive optical multiplexer/demultiplexer module is coupled to the transceivers and includes an optical multiplexer including a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) output and a plurality of inputs, each input coupled to one of the plurality of transmitters, and an optical demultiplexer including a WDM input and a plurality of outputs, each output coupled to one of the plurality of receivers. Placing the passive optical multiplexer and demultiplexer external to the optical transceivers creates an aggregation/de-aggregation point with extremely low fault probability.
US09225440B2

A mobile device receives a radio frequency (RF) signal comprising a primary synchronization sequence (PSS) and a secondary synchronization sequence (SSS). The mobile device performs multiple frequency hypothesis (MFH) testing via multiple MFH branches. A SSS decoding and a PSS correlation process are performed, respectively, per MFH branch. The SSS decoding may be performed according to corresponding PSS detection. Cell-specific information such as cell ID information and/or Cyclic Prefix (CP) length is acquired per MFH branch based on corresponding PSS detection and SSS decoding. Subsequently, the mobile device selects a particular MFH branch with a maximum PSS correlation peak over the entire MFH branches. The cell-specific information from the selected MFH branch is utilized for communications within a corresponding cell if the information is detected consistently. The mobile device compares cell ID information and/or CP length information over the remaining MFH branches for consistency check.
US09225428B1

A system is provided for aligning a photodetector array to optical outputs of an optical demultiplexer in a multi-channel receiver optical subassembly (ROSA). In one embodiment, the system may include a clamp alignment fixture configured to secure a position of a photodetector mounting bar within a ROSA housing, wherein the photodetector array is disposed on the photodetector mounting bar and the photodetector array includes a plurality of photodiodes. The system may further include a motion staging device configured to adjust an orientation of the photodetector mounting bar by varying an angle of the clamp alignment fixture. The adjustment may be based on observation of the location of an optical alignment signal relative to the plurality of photodiodes, the optical alignment signal projected onto the photodetector mounting bar by the optical demultiplexer.
US09225424B2

In a PON system in which plural kinds of modulation schemes coexist, when uplink burst signals from respective ONUs are received, the receiving efficiency degrades as the number of the times of switching of the modulation scheme increases. In an optical access (PON) system supporting plural kinds of modulation schemes, an OLT allocates bandwidths for uplink signals, i.e., transmission timings each including a transmission start time and a transmission duration, to ONUs, respectively, such that the bandwidths allocated to plural ONUs for the same modulation scheme are as successive as possible. Based on the transmission timings allocated to the respective ONUs, the OLT switches the modulation scheme of a modulation-scheme variable burst-mode optical transmitter/receiver by control of a modulation scheme controller.
US09225421B2

Methods and systems for combining signals include modulating data onto a first signal at a first frequency and wavelength; modulating data onto a second signal at a second wavelength using a modulation scheme that produces spectral components at the first frequency; filtering the second signal using an optical filter to suppress spectral components that would cause interference to the first signal; and combining the first signal and the second signal onto a transmission medium.
US09225414B2

The present invention relates to a transmission device and method using space-frequency transmission diversity in a communications system. The transmission device and method using space-frequency transmission diversity according to the present invention is characterized in that data or signals are grouped into 2 or more groups which are then transmitted through different transmission antennae by using different sub-carriers.
US09225413B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose methods for supporting uplink transmit diversity in a wireless communication system. The proposed methods may eliminate ambiguity in decoding physical downlink control channel aggregation level and resources that are used by different antennas of a user equipment. In addition, a method is proposed for resource allocation for ACK/NACK repetition.
US09225410B2

A communication system, apparatus and method are provided according to embodiments of the present invention. The communication system includes: a base band unit (BBU), at least two antennas and at least two radio-frequency (RF) units, where the at least two RF units are connected with the BBU respectively; and each of the antennas is connected with at least two RF units respectively, so that a signal received from a same sector by an antenna is sent to the BBU via different RF units. With the embodiments of the present invention, the reliability of RF units may be improved without increasing the hardware cost of the base station.
US09225404B2

Technology to provide hybrid beamforming feedback is disclosed. In an example, a user equipment (UE) can include computer circuitry configured to: Receive a reference signal (RS) from a node; calculate an optimal channel direction from the RS; calculate an optimal signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) for the optimal channel direction, where the optimal SINR is conditionally calculated with an intra-cell interference component or calculated without the intra-cell interference component based on a feedback configuration; and transmit the optimal channel direction and the optimal SINR to the node.
US09225399B2

Embodiments of a system and method for providing small data and device triggering enhancement (SDDTE) are generally described herein. In some embodiments, memory is provided for storing an SDDTE optimization container therein. A processor is coupled to the memory and is arranged to analyze an SDDTE optimization container including parameters provided therein and to perform SDDTE optimization based on the parameters. The parameters provided by the SDDTE optimization container include an SDDTE optimization timer, wherein the processor holds in the memory small data messages received during a time frame set by the SDDTE optimization timer upon receipt of a first small data message.
US09225398B2

A multi-user MIMO downlink beamforming system with limited feedback (200) is provided to enable precoding for multi-stream transmission, where a channel codeword (ui) and one or more channel quality indicator values (CQIA, CQIB) are computed at the user equipment (201.i) on the basis of maximizing a predetermined SINR performance metric (pi) which estimates the receive signal-to-noise-ratio (SINR) at the user equipment (201.i). The computed codeword (ui) and CQI values (or differential values related thereto) are quantized and fed back to help the base station (210) which applies a correction to the appropriate CQI value in the course of designing the transmit beamforming vectors w and determining the appropriate modulation and coding level to be used for downlink data transmission.
US09225393B2

Systems and methods for determining whether a companion communication device is beyond a proximity of a primary communication device are provided. In some aspects, a system includes an analysis module configured to determine whether a wireless transaction between the primary communication device and the companion communication device is at a conclusion. The system also includes a communications module configured to emit a sensing signal based on the determination of whether the transaction is at the conclusion. The sensing signal is insufficient to elicit a response from the companion communication device. The system also includes a detection module configured to detect a present parameter associated with the emitted sensing signal. The analysis module is configured to determine a parameter change between the present parameter and a reference parameter, and to determine whether the companion communication device is beyond the proximity of the primary communication device based on the parameter change.
US09225389B2

An electrical load monitoring apparatus includes a first inductive coupling device, the first inductive coupling device is configured to receive electrical energy associated with an electrical conductor proximate thereto, and a processor in electrical communication with the first inductive coupling device, wherein the processor is configured to receive the electrical energy from the first inductive coupling device, configured to modulate a carrier wave signal in response to the received electrical energy, and configured to inject the modulated carrier wave signal into the electrical conductor.
US09225378B2

An RF switch circuit and method for switching RF signals that may be fabricated using common integrated circuit materials such as silicon, particularly using insulating substrate technologies. The RF switch includes switching and shunting transistor groupings to alternatively couple RF input signals to a common RF node, each controlled by a switching control voltage (SW) or its inverse (SW_), which are approximately symmetrical about ground. The transistor groupings each comprise one or more insulating gate FET transistors connected together in a “stacked” series channel configuration, which increases the breakdown voltage across the series connected transistors and improves RF switch compression. A fully integrated RF switch is described including control logic and a negative voltage generator with the RF switch elements. In one embodiment, the fully integrated RF switch includes an oscillator, a charge pump, CMOS logic circuitry, level-shifting and voltage divider circuits, and an RF buffer circuit.
US09225375B2

The present invention relates to methods, apparatus, and devices associated with an ophthalmic lens system wherein the lenses may communicate with multiple external devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an ophthalmic lens system that may communicate with a secondary and a tertiary device, wherein the wireless communication with the secondary and the tertiary electronic external devices may reduce power, communication, and processing requirements within the ophthalmic lenses and may broaden the range of possible functionalities of the ophthalmic lens system.
US09225374B2

A mobile device is provided. The mobile device includes a battery, a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) card, and a control unit. The mobile device transmits residual power information of the battery to a base station, and receives a SIM card polling cycle determined on the basis of the residual power information from the base station. Thereafter, the mobile device periodically determines the state of the SIM card in the received SIM card polling cycle.
US09225371B2

A method for compensating an offset in a receiver is provided. The method includes receiving first data from a first sampler and receiving second data from a second sampler. The method also include determining a first average value from the boundary of the first data over a selected period of time; and sending an offset signal to the first sampler based on the first average value. The method may also include determining a second average value from the boundary of the second data over a selected period of time; and sending an offset signal to the second sampler based on the second average value of the boundary data.
US09225370B2

Communication devices coupled via a communication link may comprise physical layer devices that may be operable to determine presence of a received signal and to mitigate noise in the signal prior to processing and/or validating the signal. Analog and/or digital signal processing may be utilized to process the signal and/or mitigate noise in the signal. Noise mitigation may comprise near-end crosstalk cancelling and/or echo cancelling and/or may utilize local transmit signal information. Subsequent to noise mitigation, samples of the noise reduced signal may be accumulated and/or an average signal strength and/or average signal power level may be determined. The average signal strength and/or average signal power level may be compared to one or more thresholds which may be configurable and/or programmable.
US09225367B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a decision feedback equalizer, which includes: a receive end, configured to receive a first differential signal, and input the first differential signal to the superimposer; a superimposer, configured to superimpose the first differential signal on a square-wave signal output by a adjusting unit to obtain a second differential signal; the adjusting unit, configured to perform phase and/or amplitude adjustment for a second square-wave signal; the first decision device is configured to compare a voltage amplitude of the second differential signal with a set value, and output a first square-wave signal; the second decision device is configured to compare the voltage amplitude of the second differential signal with a voltage amplitude of a signal adjusted by the adjusting unit, and input an obtained second square-wave signal to the adjusting unit. The embodiments of the present invention can reduce data edge jitter.
US09225361B2

Systems and techniques relating to wireless communication devices and digital power amplifiers include, according to an aspect, a device including: modulation circuitry of a radio frequency transmitter having a local oscillator frequency; a digital power amplifier coupled with the modulation circuitry; and a clock input coupled with the digital power amplifier; wherein the clock input provides a clock signal to the digital amplifier at a sampling clock frequency; and wherein the local oscillator frequency is an integer multiple of the sampling clock frequency.
US09225339B2

An electronic device may include a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and a temperature sensor. The electronic device may also include a controller configured to cooperate with the VCO and the temperature sensor to determine both a temperature and a frequency error of the VCO for each of a plurality of most recent samples. Each of the most recent samples may have a given age associated therewith. The controller may also be configured to align the temperature, the frequency error, and the given age for each of most recent samples in a three-dimensional (3D) coordinate system having respective temperature, frequency error and age axes. The controller may also be configured to estimate a predicted frequency error of the VCO based upon the aligned temperature, frequency error, and given age of the most recent samples.
US09225338B2

A photonic waveform generator and a method of generating an electrical waveform based on a photonic signal are disclosed. The generator includes an input port for receiving an optical signal, a pulse shaper coupled to the input port and configured to Fourier transform the optical signal and apply a pre-distort waveform onto optical spectrum of the optical signal, a dispersive pulse stretcher coupled to the pulse shaper, an optical-to-electrical converter coupled to the dispersive pulse stretcher, and an output port coupled to the optical-to-electrical converter, the pre-distortion removes distortion of the electrical signal that exists in the absence of the pre-distortion caused by violation of far field limitation between the optical signal and the electrical signal.
US09225336B2

To provide a PLD having a reduced circuit area and an increased operation speed. In the circuit structure, a gate of a transistor provided between an input terminal and an output terminal of a programmable switch element is in an electrically floating state in a period when a signal is input to the programmable switch element. The structure enables the voltage of a gate to be increased by a boosting effect in response to a signal supplied from programmable logic elements, suppressing a reduction in amplitude voltage. This can reduce a circuit area by a region occupied by a booster circuit such as a pull-up circuit and increase operation speed.
US09225328B2

In a non-volatile memory device having an array of non-volatile storage elements, command, address and data signals are received at respective times via a time-multiplexed external signaling line, the data signals representing data to be stored within the array of non-volatile storage elements. A control signal is received via a signaling path external to the non-volatile memory device, and an on-die termination element is switchably coupled to the time-multiplexed signaling line at least in part in response to a transition of the control signal from a first logic state to a second logic state.
US09225325B2

Embodiments of comparator circuits are disclosed. A comparator circuit may include a differential input circuit, an output circuit, a positive feedback circuit operably coupled between the differential input circuit and the output circuit, and a hysteresis control circuit operably coupled with the positive feedback circuit. The hysteresis control circuit includes a switching device and a transistor. The comparator circuit provides sub-hysteresis discrimination and high speed discrimination.
US09225321B2

Signal synchronizing systems and methods are disclosed. A signal synchronizing system includes a sequential logic circuit to receive an input signal and to generate a plurality of intermediate signals from the input signal based on a clock signal. A logic circuit combines the intermediate signals to generate an output signal. A signal receiver includes a microcontroller and a signal synchronizer coupled to the microcontroller. The signal synchronizer includes a sequential logic circuit to receive an input signal from a transmitter and to generate a plurality of intermediate signals from the received input signal based on a clock signal. A logic circuit combines the intermediate signals to generate an output signal.
US09225312B2

An inductive power transmitter for transmitting electrical power to a device by electromagnetic induction, the transmitter being configured to receive power conductively by way of a current via an electrical conduit from an external power source, the transmitter including a field generator configured to generate a fluctuating electromagnetic field having a fundamental frequency; and at least one impedance element connected along an electrical path of the transmitter configured to carry said current, the impedance element or a combination of the impedance elements having a high enough impedance at the fundamental frequency such that, in use, electromagnetic noise experienced at the power source is substantially suppressed, such noise arising from coupling between the electromagnetic field and a circuit having said path and linking the power source to the transmitter.
US09225311B2

Switchable and/or tunable filters, methods of manufacture and design structures are provided. The method of forming the filters includes forming at least one piezoelectric filter structure comprising a plurality of electrodes formed to be in contact with at least one piezoelectric substrate. The method further includes forming a micro-electro-mechanical structure (MEMS) comprising a MEMS beam in which, upon actuation, the MEMS beam will turn on the at least one piezoelectric filter structure by interleaving electrodes in contact with the piezoelectric substrate or sandwiching the at least one piezoelectric substrate between the electrodes.
US09225309B2

The invention relates to an audio amplifier (1) for amplifying an input signal into an output signal, comprising an output amplification stage (6), wherein the output amplification stage (6) for the amplification of an intermediate signal into the output signal is designed as an amplifier operating in switching operation, and further comprising a limiter device (4), which from a programming and/or a circuit design point of view is designed to generate the intermediate signal on the basis of the input signal, wherein the level of the intermediate signal is always limited by a maximum load as a function of a settable maximum output and a load impedance which is coupled and/or can be coupled the audio amplifier or equivalent parameter thresholds such that the output signal does not exceed the maximum load at the load impedance, or the equivalent parameter thresholds, independently of the input signal.
US09225304B1

A single-stage folded cascode buffer including an amplifier, a first analog comparator, a second analog comparator, a first transistor, and a second transistor, The amplifier includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the amplifier. The first analog comparator includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The second analog comparator includes a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first transistor includes a first terminal, a second terminal coupled to the output terminal of the first analog comparator, and a third terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier. The second transistor includes a first terminal coupled to the output terminal of the amplifier, a second terminal coupled to the output terminal of the second analog comparator, and a third terminal.
US09225300B2

A multiple-path, configurable, radio-frequency (RF) circuit is provided, including: a first amplifier path amplify a first RF signal to generate a first amplified signal; a second amplifier path configured to amplify a second RF signal to generate a second amplified signal; a corrective input matching circuit, configured to change first input-impedance-matching properties of the first amplifier path, and to change second input-impedance-matching properties of the second amplifier path; a first isolation element configured to selectively ground an input node of the second amplifier path; a second isolation element configured to selectively ground an output node of the second amplifier path; and a third isolation element connected between the first and second amplifier paths, configured to selectively isolate the corrective input matching circuit from first and second input nodes of the first and second amplifier paths, respectively, or connect the corrective input matching circuit to the first and second input nodes.
US09225293B2

Disclosed are advances in the arts with novel and useful electronic circuitry with pop and click noise reduction. A load circuit is connected with a full or single-ended half-H bridge circuit and another circuit mechanism in a configuration by which a signal may be used to selectably bring the load circuit terminals to a selected voltage level when an externally applied signal is not present.
US09225284B2

In some aspects, an actuation system includes an electrical positioning driver and an electrically-driven actuator. A voltage boost converter in the electrical positioning driver receives an input voltage. The voltage boost converter passes the input voltage to a voltage bus in the electrical positioning driver. The voltage on the voltage bus is converted to an actuator power signal that controls the electrically-driven actuator. The voltage boost converter boosts the voltage on the voltage bus to control a mechanical output performance of the electrically-driven actuator.
US09225279B2

A control apparatus for AC rotating machine includes: a voltage command calculation means for calculating voltage commands on two rotational axes; a first voltage application means for applying voltages to first windings of a multiple-winding AC rotating machine having at least the first windings and second windings based on the voltage commands on two rotational axes output by the voltage command calculation means; and a second voltage application means for applying voltages to the second windings based on the voltage commands on two rotational axes output by the voltage command calculation means, wherein the second voltage application means applies voltages to the second windings based on the deviations between the currents fed to the first windings and the currents fed to the second windings.
US09225276B2

An image forming apparatus, a control method for the same, and a motor state detector are provided. An aspect is to detect out-of-step of a motor using only an electric circuit configuration without additional mechanical devices, such as an encoder, a light-emitting device, and a light-receiving device, and to predict and prevent out-of-step of the motor. To this end, the image forming apparatus includes a motor state detector that acquires a current detection signal by detecting phase current of a motor and that generates an output signal in which a duty ratio in a current chopping section of the current detection signal is involved, and a controller that judges a normal state, out-of-step entry, and an out-of-step state of the motor based on the output signal of the motor state detector.
US09225272B2

The present invention provides a control circuit for speed and rotational direction of a fan, including a signal conversion unit, a processing unit, and a drive unit. The signal conversion unit converts the received input signal into a DC level signal. The processing unit determines to generate a plurality of control signals for the fan based on the received DC level signal and at least one preset voltage therein to drive the drive unit, further controlling the rotational speed or clockwise/counter-clockwise rotation of the fan, whereby to reduce the cost and increase the layout space.
US09225267B2

A transducing apparatus that is sensitive to physical vibrations. The transducing apparatus converts physical manifestations into electrical signals.
US09225265B2

There is provided a vibration generation device, including: a housing including an inner space; a direction conversion member mounted in the housing to be disposed within the inner space; a piezoelectric actuator including a piezoelectric element fixed to the direction conversion member and horizontally deformed; and a vibrator fixed to the direction conversion member and disposed within the inner space and vertically displaced due to horizontal deformation of the piezoelectric actuator.
US09225264B1

Systems, apparatus and methods are presented for multiphase inverter control in which PWM switching control signals are generated for operating inverter switching devices according to current feedback values, and a given inverter phase is identified in a given PWM switching cycle having the lowest low side duty cycle on-time. A phase current feedback value is selectively computed for the identified phase at least partially according to the low side current shunt voltage values corresponding to other output phases, and the phase current feedback values are updated with the computed phase current feedback value and the low side current shunt voltage values of the remaining output phases to provide feedback for closed loop PWM switching control.
US09225262B2

An inverter includes a multilevel bridge circuit. A control circuit is operatively coupled to the multilevel bridge circuit and configured to detect an overcurrent for an output of the inverter, to generate a measure of a duration of the overcurrent and to selectively put an output of the bridge circuit in a first impedance state or a second impedance state based on the measure. The first and second impedance states may provide respective first and second impedances between the bridge circuit output and a neutral.
US09225254B2

A supply circuit includes: a bridge circuit, one or more resonant circuits coupled to the bridge circuit, each of the one or more resonant circuits being coupleable to a corresponding load circuit among one or more load circuits each of which includes one or more loads; one or more supply switching units, each of the one or more supply switching units being associated with a corresponding one of the one or more resonant circuits and being coupled between the bridge circuit and an associated one of the one or more load circuits for connecting and disconnecting the associated load circuit from the bridge circuit; and a control unit for controlling each of the one or more supply switching units in synchronization with a resonant current of the resonant circuit associated with the supply switching unit.
US09225252B2

A power distribution system and method includes a controller that is configured to control a switching power converter. In at least one embodiment, the controller includes a compensation current control circuit to control a compensation current that reduces and, in at least one embodiment, approximately eliminates variations in current drawn by the controller during a particular operational time period. In at least one embodiment, the power distribution system is a lamp that includes the controller, a switching power converter, and one or more light sources, such as light emitting diodes.
US09225243B2

A converter, for feeding a load via an inductor with a current having a controlled intensity between a maximum and a minimum level, includes a switch to permit or prevent, respectively, current towards said inductor, a first current sensor sensitive to the current flowing through switch when the switch is on, a second current sensor sensitive to the current flowing through said inductor when the switch is off, drive circuitry to turn the switch off and on upon receiving a first and a second logic signal, respectively, and comparison circuitry coupled to the first and the second current sensors to generate first and the second logic signals when, respectively: the current intensity detected by the first current sensor is offset a given amount with respect to the maximum level, and the current intensity detected by the second current sensor is offset a given amount with respect to the minimum level.
US09225235B2

There is provided a power factor correction circuit including: a power conversion circuit unit controlling an inductor current according to a switching signal applied to a main switch to convert an external input voltage into an output voltage having a predetermined range; an imbalance detection circuit outputting an imbalance state signal when the external input voltage is in an unbalanced state by using the inductor current; and a soft start circuit unit performing soft starting by adjusting the switching signal when the imbalance state signal is output by the imbalance detection circuit unit.
US09225227B2

An electric machine (1), in particular for a drive apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising a rotor shaft (9), which is mounted rotatably in a housing (2), comprising a slip ring device (13), which has at least two slip rings (14, 15) arranged in rotationally fixed fashion on the rotor shaft (9) and at least two sliding contacts (16, 17), which are arranged in the housing (2) and interact with in each case one of the slip rings (14, 15), and comprising a rotation angle detection device, which has at least one rotation angle encoder (23) arranged on the rotor shaft (9) and at least one rotation angle sensor (26) arranged in the housing for detecting the rotation angle encoder (23).
US09225220B2

An permanent magnet alternator stator assembly for an integrated air turbine starter and permanent magnet alternator assembly has a permanent magnet alternator stator winding assembly attached to a mounting structure. A quick electrical connector electrically connects to the stator winding assembly and is attached to the mounting structure. The mounting structure includes an alignment aperture for removably attaching the permanent magnet alternator winding assembly to an air turbine starter. An integrated air turbine starter and permanent magnet alternator assembly and accessory gearbox assembly are also described.
US09225218B2

The winding overhang of the rotor of an electrical machine is subject to strong centrifugal forces during operation, especially when the machines run at high speed. The winding overhang support prevents the production of relative movements between the winding overhang and the rotor base. These movements result in strong mechanical stresses on the winding bars. The winding overhang support includes an inner ring and an outer ring between which the winding bars are arranged in the region of the winding overhang, the outer ring being shrunk on the inner ring and both the outer ring and the inner ring being interspaced from the lamination stack.
US09225217B2

An electric power collection and distribution ring includes a plurality of annular bus rings for collecting and distributing power to windings of a stator, the windings being covered with an insulation cover and the stator being formed by winding the windings around a plurality of teeth arranged in a circular pattern. The bus ring is formed by annularly coupling a plurality of arc-shaped conductive members each including terminal portions at both circumferential end portions, the terminal portions being welded to each other together with an end portion of the winding. The terminal portion includes a first contact surface coming into contact with the end portion of the winding at the time of the welding and a second contact surface to be a contact point between the terminal portions.
US09225215B2

A rotating electric machine includes a hollow cylindrical stator core and a stator coil mounted on the stator core. The stator core has a plurality of slots that are arranged in a circumferential direction of the stator core. The stator coil is formed of a plurality of substantially U-shaped electric conductor segments to include at least one Δ-Y connection. The Δ-Y connection includes a Δ-connected first three-phase winding and a Y-connected second three-phase winding. The first three-phase winding includes three phase windings that are Δ-connected to define three terminals of the first three-phase winding therebetween. The second three-phase winding includes three phase windings that are respectively connected to the three terminals of the first three-phase winding. Further, the number of turns of the first three-phase winding and the number of turns of the second three-phase winding are respectively set to two different odd numbers.
US09225214B2

A disk motor including: a rotor including, a commutator disk including a commutator pattern, and at least one coil disk including a coil pattern; a stator including a magnetic flux generating part opposed to the coil pattern of the coil disk; an electric current supply part configured to supply electric current to the coil pattern via the commutator disk and, an output shaft configured to be rotated by a rotational force of the rotor, wherein a radiating pattern is provided to an outer periphery side of the commutator pattern of the commutator disk.
US09225193B2

The present invention provides an electronic device with automatic positioning function, which includes a device body and a magnetic unit. The device body contains therein a wireless transmission module. The wireless transmission module includes a transmission coil. The device body has one side in which a receiving section is formed. The transmission coil is received in the receiving section. The transmission coil has an outer circumference that is spaced from an inner circumference of the receiving section by a movement distance. The magnetic unit is set at the center of the transmission coil.
US09225181B2

A power storage system is provided with a battery and a battery charger which charges a battery pack having a battery voltage and current detection circuit. A charge circuit is structured such as to acquire terminal voltage information of the battery from a battery voltage detection circuit of the battery pack in a charging process, carry out a constant current charge control in a state in which the terminal voltage of the battery is equal to or lower than a previously determined reference voltage value of the battery, and switch to a constant voltage charge control maintaining the output voltage of the charge circuit in the case that the terminal voltage of the battery goes beyond the reference voltage value, thereby carrying on the charge until the battery is fully charged. Therefore, the power storage system can accurately charge the battery to a prescribed amount safely.
US09225179B2

A system includes multiple power supplies connected in series and an active balancing circuit. The active balancing circuit includes an LC resonance circuit and multiple switches configured to selectively couple different ones of the power supplies to the LC resonance circuit. The LC resonance circuit includes a capacitor, an inductor, and an additional switch. The capacitor is configured to store energy to be transferred between two or more of the power supplies. The additional switch is configured to selectively create a resonance between the capacitor and the inductor in order to reverse a discharge current direction through the capacitor.
US09225173B2

Systems and methods for coordinating selective activation of a multiplicity of emergency power generation equipment over a predetermined geographic area for distribution and/or storage to supply a microgrid of electrical power for a substantially similar geographic area.
US09225171B2

Some embodiments determine, for electric vehicles within an electricity distribution network, optimal recharging schedules based on customer requirements. Some embodiments adjust the optimal recharging schedules to ensure that components of the electricity distribution network operate within their rated limits based on a node sensitivity approach.
US09225159B2

A three-phase GFCI device is disclosed. The three-phase GFCI device may include contactors, a contactor control module configured to cause the contactors to close during normal operation of the GFCI device and open based on receiving a fault signal, a current detection module, a transient suppression module, a miswire detection module, a ground-fault test module, a ground load detection module, and a fail-safe module. In some examples, the GFCI device may include the stated modules in accordance with the UL 943C standard.
US09225149B2

A surface emitting laser element includes plural surface emitting lasers provided on a substrate. Each of the plural surface emitting lasers includes a first reflection mirror provided on the substrate; an active layer provided on the first reflection mirror; a wavelength adjustment region provided on the active layer; and a second reflection mirror provided on the wavelength adjustment region. The wavelength adjustment region includes a phase adjustment layer and a wavelength adjustment layer provided on the phase adjustment layer. A thickness of the wavelength adjustment region is approximately an odd multiple of a wavelength of emitted light divided by four. A thickness of the phase adjustment layer is approximately an even multiple of the wavelength of the emitted light divided by four. A thickness of the wavelength adjustment layer is different from a thickness of a wavelength adjustment layer of at least one of the other surface emitting lasers.
US09225147B2

An optical semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate; a lower cladding layer formed over the semiconductor substrate; a quantum well active layer formed on the lower cladding layer; a diffraction grating layer formed over the quantum well active layer and having diffraction gratings formed in a surface thereof; and an upper cladding layer formed on the diffraction gratings of the diffraction grating layer. Further, a band gap in outer regions of the quantum well active layer that are adjacent to outer end surfaces of the optical semiconductor device is greater than the band gap in an inner region of the quantum well active layer that is located between the outer regions, and a thickness of one or more layers, which include the lower cladding layer and positioned between the semiconductor substrate and the quantum well active layer, is greater than or equal to 2.3 μm.
US09225142B2

A fiber amplifier is disclosed having a core region embedded within a cladding. The core region further has multiple sections, each of which is doped with at least one rare-earth ion.
US09225126B2

An apparatus for electrically connecting a power source to an electrical device is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first component and a second component. The first component has a substantially planar contoured first face comprising a ferromagnetic plate, a first set of contacts electrically connectable to a power source, two power switches and a magnetically actuated sensor controlling the switches. The second component has a substantially planar contoured second face complementary to the first face comprising a magnet and a second set of electrically conductive contacts electrically connectable to a device. Connecting the first and second faces, results in the first and second pair of contacts electrically coupling and establishes an electrical path between the power source and the device, and connects the components by magnetic attractive force which actuates the power switches and initiates power to the device. The apparatus further comprises a safety circuit for preventing electric shock.
US09225119B2

A connector including a body of insulating material and a fourth, a fifth, and a plurality of sixth signal terminals provided in the body. The fifth and sixth signal terminals are arranged in a line along a first direction in the body, at a height position that is different from that of the fourth signal terminal. At least two of the sixth signal terminals are adjacent to each other in the first direction. The fourth signal terminal is located between the two sixth signal terminals in the first direction. The sixth signal terminals is a low-frequency signal terminal configured to transmit a signal of a frequency being about one tenth or lower of a frequency of a signal transmitted by the fourth signal terminal.
US09225108B1

A handle assembly that can be coupled to an electrical connector plug assembly. In an aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure is directed to a handle assembly for a connector plug. The plug comprises an arm member and a gripping assembly. The arm member defines a plug engagement structure toward the first end and a gripper engagement structure toward the second end. The plug engagement structure is structurally configured to couple to an electrical connector plug assembly. The gripping assembly includes an outer surface and defining an enclosure structurally configured to facilitate the passing of at least one conductor extending from a connector plug. The second end of the arm member extends into the enclosure of the gripping assembly. The gripper engagement structure engages an inner surface of the gripping assembly. The handle assembly can be used in combination with an electrical connector plug assembly.
US09225099B2

The subject matter disclosed herein describes a system for connecting devices mounted to and within an industrial enclosure. The conductors for a device having multiple electrical conductors are bundled together. A first color coded element, such as a sleeve, is slid over the bundle providing a first identifier. The ends of the conductors are terminated at a single plug for insertion into a receptacle. A second color coded element, such as a label, which corresponds to the first color coded element, identifies into which receptacle each plug is to be inserted. In addition, each pole of the plug and/or receptacle includes a key or a corresponding space to receive a key. Various combinations of keys and spaces are defined such that each plug may be inserted into a single receptacle.
US09225094B2

A direct plug element (2), comprising a plug housing (6), a direct contact (3), which is designed for direct contacting with an exposed contact region (40), wherein the direct contact (3) has a one-piece design, wherein the direct contact (3) is U-shaped and has a contact lamella region (31) and a press-on spring region (32), and wherein a contact point (33) on the contact lamella region (31) is offset in the plugging direction (S) from a press-on point (34) on the press-on spring region (32).
US09225082B2

A device (11) for electrically connecting a cable, in particular a plug-in connector part (2), has a housing (48) in which a connecting element (78) can be mechanically fixedly connected to an inner conductor (53) of the cable. The device (11) also includes at least one fixing element (81, 85, 87) for immovably fixing the connecting element (78) and the inner conductor (53) of the cable in the housing (48) by positive engagement when a tensile force occurs.
US09225078B1

Electrical connectors including a cable clamp (e.g., having a first clamp portion, a second clamp portion, and a hinge coupled to the first and second clamp portions such that the first and second clamp portions are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position in which the first and second clamp portions define a cable passageway), and a piercing conductor configured to place a fixture wire into electrical communication with an electrical cable disposed within the cable passageway. In at least some of these electrical connectors, a longitudinal axis of the cable passageway is substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the cable clamp when the first and second clamp portions are in the closed position. In at least some of these electrical connectors, at least one of the clamp portions comprises a flexible sidewall that at least partially defines the cable passageway.
US09225069B2

An integrated Multi-Port Driven (MPD) antenna that can be driven at many points with different signals. An integrated MPD radiating source utilizing an 8-phase ring oscillator and eight power amplifiers to drive the MPD antenna at 161 GHz with a total radiated power of −2 dBm and a single element EIRP of 4.6 dBm has been demonstrated in silicon with single lobe well behaved radiation patterns closely matching simulation.
US09225056B2

An antenna on a sapphire structure. The antenna includes a sapphire structure having a first side, and a second side positioned opposite the first side. The antenna also includes a first antenna trace positioned on the first side of the sapphire structure, and a second antenna trace positioned on the second side of the sapphire structure. Additionally, the antenna includes at least one via formed through the sapphire structure. The at least one via electrically connects the first antenna trace to the second antenna trace.
US09225051B2

A method for independently tuning bandwidth and center frequencies in a bandpass filter. The filter can be configured with a plurality of resonators, wherein the resonators are coupled over a certain coupling region. Additionally, the filter can be configured with a plurality of tuning elements. For each of the inter-resonator couplings, at least one of the resonators associated with the inter-resonator coupling can have a first tuning element placed at a first location on the resonator and a second tuning element placed at a second location on the resonator. Simultaneously tuning the first and second tuning elements can adjust the center frequency, and offset tuning the first and second tuning elements can adjust the bandwidth frequency.
US09225048B2

A protection device for electrically insulating an antenna from a signal receiving device while transferring RF signals, and a system including the same are disclosed. In an embodiment, the protection device includes a first waveguide in signal communication and electrical communication with the antenna; and a second waveguide in signal communication and electrical communication with the signal receiving device. The first waveguide and the second waveguide are arranged in an end to end coaxial relationship facing one another, and the first waveguide and the second waveguide are electrically insulated from one another, such that a high voltage from accidental contact of the antenna with a power line cannot pass from the antenna to the signal receiving device. RF signals pass from the antenna to the signal receiving device through the protection device with minimal signal loss.
US09225042B2

A method of forming passages of an integral manifold adjacent a cell stack of a flowing electrolyte battery provides enhanced sealing between the manifold and capillary tubes of the cell stack. The method includes forming a mould cavity adjacent the cell stack, with the mould cavity open to capillary openings of cells of the cell stack. A plurality of pins are then located in the mould cavity, with end regions of the pins being contiguous with the capillary openings. The mould cavity is then filled with material and the material is allowed to solidify into a moulded section. The pins are then removed from the moulded section, thereby forming passages in the moulded section which are in fluid communication with the capillary openings.
US09225041B2

A battery includes anode plates, formed as a mesh by forming cuts in series on a lead plate strip rolled into a uniform thickness, for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state by expansion processing, cathode plates formed as a mesh for storing electricity in a chemically reactive state, separators between the anode and cathode plates for electrical insulation, mechanical separation, and the impregnation of an AGM with electrolyte, such that the chemical reaction for storing electricity is facilitated and the pressure in the cell remains constant, upper and lower cases made of polypropylene and containing the anode plates, cathode plates, separators, and electrolyte in a plurality of mutually separate cells, and a cap coupled into the screw holes formed in the cell units in the upper case, for discharging gas generated during charge and discharge when the pressure of the gas is over a permissible level.
US09225034B2

There is provided an electrode assembly having steps including: a first electrode stair including at least one first electrode unit; and a second electrode stair including at least one second electrode unit having an area different from that of the first electrode unit, wherein the first electrode stair and the second electrode stair are stacked to be adjacent, separated by at least one separator as a boundary therebetween and including one or more electrode laminates having steps formed by a difference between areas of the first electrode stair and the second electrode stair, and shapes of the corners of the first electrode stair and the second electrode stair having steps are different. There is also provided a secondary battery including the electrode assembly. Secondary batteries having various designs without restriction in shapes of corners of electrode units can be provided.
US09225027B2

A method of forming a fuel cell stack, wherein the stack includes an anode electrode layer, an adhesive and anode gas diffusion layer coupled to the anode electrode layer, an ion exchange membrane coupled on a first side to the gas diffusion layer opposite the anode electrode layer, an adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer coupled to a second side of the ion exchange membrane, and a cathode electrode layer coupled to the adhesive and cathode gas diffusion layer opposite the ion exchange membrane. The fuel cell stack may be flexible.
US09225025B2

A fuel cell includes a cathode flow field plate, an anode flow field plate, and a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) sandwiched between the cathode and anode flow field plate. The cathode flow field plate has a flat side and an opposed channel side that the MEA is sandwiched between the anode flow field plate and the flat side of the cathode flow field plate. The cathode flow field plate further has a plurality of flow channels formed at the channel side for enabling fluid flowing along the flow channels to promote electrochemical reaction through the MEA so as to generate electrical energy.
US09225023B2

A magnesium electrochemical cell having a positive electrode containing a carbon cluster compound as an active material is provided. In a preferred embodiment the carbon cluster material is a comminuted fullerene.
US09225017B2

An alkaline storage cell comprises a positive electrode including a cobalt additive and nickel hydroxide particles that have been covered by a cobalt compound film layer, and a negative electrode including a hydrogen-absorbing alloy that contains nickel and cobalt. The positive electrode has a capacitance V, the negative electrode has a capacitance W, the cobalt additive is cobalt metal or a cobalt compound, the positive electrode contains X mass % of the cobalt additive, the cobalt is included by Y mass % in the hydrogen-absorbing alloy, and X, Y, V, and W satisfy the relationship 1.1≦(X/Y)×(W/V)≦1.91.
US09225012B2

The present invention provides a manufacturing method of a secondary cell electrode forming a porous insulating layer on at least one surface between a negative electrode and a positive electrode, including coating an electrode layer slurry on the electrode surface, coating the porous insulating layer while in a state in which the electrode layer slurry has not been dried, and simultaneously drying the electrode layer slurry and the porous insulating layer coating slurry so a binder of the porous insulating layer does not block the pores of the electrode layer.
US09224998B2

Rechargeable battery for replacing dry battery and its structural component and corresponding battery compartment are provided, the structural component includes a battery shell for accommodating the electric core of the rechargeable battery, the battery shell has a first end face and a second end face opposed each other, the first end face is provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode for external power supply, the second end face or the first end face or the side face of the battery shell is provided with a charging port, the positive electrode on the first end face is electrically connected with outwardly projecting elastic conductive structure.
US09224992B2

A secondary battery capable of preventing an internal electric short by allowing an upper cap plate to be deformed toward the outside of a can and having improved stability under external impacts. The secondary battery includes a can having an internal space, an electrode assembly inserted into the space of the can, and a cap plate coupled to a top portion of the can, wherein the cap plate includes a deformation inducing part having a groove formed on its one surface.
US09224981B2

An organic light emitting display apparatus including a thin film encapsulation layer of an improved structure. The organic light emitting display apparatus includes: a display unit formed on a substrate; metal wires formed on an outer portion of the display unit on the substrate; and a thin film encapsulation layer formed by alternately stacking at least one organic layer and at least one inorganic layer on the display unit for sealing the display unit, wherein the at least one organic layer is separated from the metal wires so as not to contact the metal wires. According to the above structure, since the organic layer that is close to the display unit is separated completely from the metal wires formed on an outer portion of the display unit, moisture infiltration to the display unit via the metal wires may be prevented.
US09224973B2

A flexible organic light emitting display device includes: a display panel configured to output an image; a retardation film formed on an upper portion of the display panel to cover the display panel and formed by laminating a half wave plate and a quarter wave plate; and a polarizing plate attached to the retardation film. A color shift in a black screen can be improved by replacing a barrier film used for face seal with a retardation film including a half wave plate and a quarter wave plate combined at a predetermined angle.
US09224972B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is disclosed. In one embodiment, the display includes: 1) a data line and a driving voltage line crossing a scan line and respectively transmitting a data signal and a driving voltage, 2) a switching thin film transistor connected to the scan line and the data line and 3) a driving thin film transistor connected to the switching thin film transistor and the driving voltage line. The display also includes a compensation thin film transistor compensating a threshold voltage of the driving thin film transistor and connected to the driving thin film transistor and an OLED connected to the driving thin film transistor, wherein the compensation gate electrode of the compensation thin film transistor includes a first compensation gate electrode and a second compensation gate electrode separated from and formed with different layers from each other.
US09224971B2

An organic electroluminescence device having high light emitting efficiency and improved reliability is provided. The organic electroluminescence device includes: an anode containing at least aluminum (Al); a cathode; and an organic layer between the anode and the cathode, the organic layer including a light emitting layer. The organic layer has a hole injection layer composed of a sulfonic acid derivative between the anode and the light emitting layer.
US09224968B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting element with high luminous efficiency, and a light-emitting element of low-voltage driving. Another object is to provide a light-emitting device with low power consumption by using the light-emitting element. Another object is to provide an electronic appliance with low power consumption by using the light-emitting device in a display portion. A light-emitting element includes, between a pair of electrodes, a layer containing a composite material of a first organic compound and an inorganic compound and a layer containing a second organic compound being in contact with the layer containing the composite material, wherein the second organic compound does not have a peak of an absorption spectrum in a wavelength region of 450 to 800 nm if the second organic compound is compounded with the inorganic compound.
US09224967B2

A white organic light emitting device includes: first and second electrodes formed to face each other on a substrate; a first stack configured with a hole injection layer, a first hole transportation layer, a first light emission layer and a first electron transportation layer which are stacked between the first and second electrodes; a second stack configured with a second hole transportation layer, a second light emission layer, a third light emission layer, a second electron transportation layer and an electron injection layer which are stacked between the first stack and the second electrode; and a charge generation layer interposed between the first and second stacks and configured to adjust a charge balance between the two stacks.
US09224964B2

A substrate cartridge includes a cartridge main body that houses a substrate and an information-maintaining section that is housed in the cartridge main body and maintains information that includes at least specification information of specification values of the substrate housed in the cartridge main body.
US09224954B2

Aspects of the present disclosure provide for manufacturing an organic light emitting diode (OLED) by forming two terminals of the OLED on two substrates of the display, and then depositing a plurality of layers of the OLED on one or both of the two terminals to form a first portion and a second portion of the OLED on each substrate. The two portions are joined together to form an assembled OLED. The deposition of the two portions can be stopped with each portion having approximately half of a common layer exposed. The two portions can then be aligned to be joined together and an annealing process can be employed to join together the two parts of the common layer and thereby form the OLED.
US09224940B2

A MTJ in an MRAM array is disclosed with a composite free layer having a lower crystalline layer contacting a tunnel barrier and an upper amorphous NiFeX layer for improved bit switching performance. The crystalline layer is Fe, Ni, or FeB with a thickness of at least 6 Angstroms which affords a high magnetoresistive ratio. The X element in the NiFeX layer is Mg, Hf, Zr, Nb, or Ta with a content of 5 to 30 atomic %. NiFeX thickness is preferably between 20 to 40 Angstroms to substantially reduce bit line switching current and number of shorted bits. In an alternative embodiment, the crystalline layer may be a Fe/NiFe bilayer. Optionally, the amorphous layer may have a NiFeM1/NiFeM2 configuration where M1 and M2 are Mg, Hf, Zr, Nb, or Ta, and M1 is unequal to M2. Annealing at 300° C. to 360° C. provides a high magnetoresistive ratio of about 150%.
US09224934B2

In accordance with certain embodiments, an electric device includes a flexible substrate having first and second conductive traces on a first surface thereof and separated by a gap therebetween, an electronic component spanning the gap, and a stiffener configured to substantially prevent flexing of the substrate proximate the gap during flexing of the substrate.
US09224931B2

A method of producing a component including providing a carrier having a top, an underside, and at least one connection area, applying an optoelectronic component to the top, wherein the optoelectronic component has a contact area facing away from the carrier, applying insulating material to the contact and connection areas, wherein the insulating material is free of foreign particles, applying an insulating layer to exposed places of the insulating material, optoelectronic component and carrier, wherein the insulating layer includes foreign particles in a predefinable concentration, removing the insulating layer in a region above the contact and/or connection areas, to produce openings, removing the insulating material in a region above the contact and connection areas, thereby producing at least two openings in the insulating material, and arranging conductive material on the insulating layer and at least in places in the openings, wherein conductive material conductively connects the contact and connection areas.
US09224930B2

A semiconductor light emitting device that is excellent in radiating heat and that can be molded into a sealing shape having intended optical characteristics by die molding is provided. The semiconductor light emitting device includes: a lead frame including a plate-like semiconductor light emitting element mounting portion having an LED chip mounted on a main surface, and a plate-like metal wire connecting portion extending over a same plane as the semiconductor light emitting element mounting portion; a metal wire electrically connecting the LED chip and the metal wire connecting portion; a thermosetting resin molded by die molding or dam-sheet molding so as to completely cover the LED chip and the metal wire; and a resin portion provided to surround the lead frame and having the thickness not greater than the thickness of the lead frame.
US09224926B2

Disclosed is a light-emitting device including a support member, a reflective layer on the support member, a light-transmitting electrode layer on the reflective layer, a light-emitting structure on the light-transmitting electrode layer, the light-emitting structure being provided with a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer, and a luminescence layer interposed between the reflective layer and the light-transmitting electrode layer. Accordingly, the luminescence layer is formed in the chip formation process to minimize non-uniform application of a phosphor composed of an epoxy resin and simplify fabrication of the light-emitting device.
US09224925B2

A semiconductor light-emitting device and a method for manufacturing the same can include a wavelength converting layer located on at least one semiconductor light-emitting chip in order to emit various colored lights including white light. The semiconductor light-emitting device can include a casing having a cavity and a mounting surface, the chip mounted on the mounting surface, a transparent plate mounted on the wavelength converting layer within a top surface of the chip and a reflective layer located in the cavity so as to surround the transparent plate, the wavelength converting layer and the chip. The semiconductor light-emitting device can be configured to improve light-colored variability and light-emitting efficiency of the chip by using the reflective layer as a reflector, and therefore can emit a wavelength-converted light having a substantially uniform color tone and a high light-emitting efficiency from a smaller light-emitting surface than the top surface of the chip.
US09224924B2

An optoelectronic component includes at least one active semiconductor layer sequence, at least one first and one second element, and at least one adhesive layer arranged between at least one first element and at least one second element. The adhesive layer is produced from an adhesive that comprises at least a first monofunctional, difunctional or polyfunctional epoxy resin, an accelerator and an adhesion promoter.
US09224922B2

A light emitting device includes at least one layer below or above a reflective layer to prevent delamination of the reflective layer from a layer below and/or above the reflective layer.
US09224921B2

The invention relates to a method for fabricating a structure including a semiconductor material comprising: a) implanting one or more ion species to form a weakened region delimiting at least one seed layer in a substrate of semiconductor material, b) forming, before or after step a), at least one metallic layer on the substrate in semiconductor material, c) assembling the at least one metallic layer with a transfer substrate, then fracturing the implanted substrate at the weakened region, and d) forming at least one layer in semiconductor material on the at least one seed layer, for example, by epitaxy.
US09224917B2

Disclosed are a light emitting diode (LED) having a photonic crystal structure and a method of fabricating the same. An LED comprises a support substrate, a lower semiconductor layer positioned on the support substrate, an upper semiconductor layer positioned over the lower semiconductor layer, an active region positioned between the lower and upper semiconductor layers, and a photonic crystal structure embedded in the lower semiconductor layer. The photonic crystal structure may prevent the loss of the light advancing toward the support substrate and improve the light extraction efficiency.
US09224916B2

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a dielectric film and an electrode. The first semiconductor layer is capable of emitting light. The second semiconductor layer has a first major surface in contact with the first semiconductor layer and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface, the second major surface including a first region having convex structures and a second region not having the convex structures. The dielectric film is provided at least at a tip portion of the convex structures, and the electrode is provided above the second region.
US09224915B2

A semiconductor light-emitting device (101) includes an LED chip (4), a lead (1) having a main surface (11) on which the LED chip (4) is mounted, and a resin package (5) covering the LED chip (4). The main surface (11) is roughened, and the main surface (11) is held in contact with the resin package (5). These configurations contribute to the downsizing of the semiconductor light-emitting device (101).
US09224912B2

A method of fabricating an optoelectronic device, comprises: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a first major surface and a second major surface opposite to the first major surface; forming a light emitting stack on the second major surface of the substrate; forming a supporting layer covering the light emitting stack; forming a plurality of first modified regions in the substrate by employing a first energy into the substrate after forming the supporting layer; and cleaving the substrate.
US09224911B2

A method for separating a light-emitting diode (LED) from a substrate comprises the following steps. First, a substrate is provided which includes a junction surface and a bottom surface far away from the junction surface. Then a plurality holes are formed on the junction surface. An LED structure is further grown on the junction surface, and includes a junction portion bonded to the junction surface. The bottom surface is then polished to be shrunk to communicate with the holes. Finally, the junction portion is etched by an etching liquid via the holes to separate the LED structure from the substrate. Accordingly, by forming the holes, the LED structure and the substrate can be separated through polishing and etching processes, thereby providing a high yield rate as well as reduced production costs.
US09224910B2

A method may be provided for preparing a semiconductor light-emitting device. The method may include: preparing a first wafer in which a semiconductor multi-layered light-emitting structure is disposed on an upper part of an initial substrate; preparing a second wafer which is a supporting substrate; bonding the second wafer on an upper part of the first wafer; separating the initial substrate of the first wafer from a result of the bonding; and fabricating a single-chip by severing a result of the passivation. Other embodiments may be provided.
US09224909B2

Light emitting devices and methods of manufacturing the light emitting devices. The light emitting devices include a silicon substrate; a metal buffer layer on the silicon substrate, a patterned dispersion Bragg reflection (DBR) layer on the metal buffer layer; and a nitride-based thin film layer on the patterned DBR layer and regions between patterns of the DBR layer.
US09224905B2

In this method for producing a photoelectric conversion device: an i-type non-crystalline layer and an n-type non-crystalline layer comprising a non-crystalline semiconductor film are formed on the light-receiving surface of a semiconductor substrate; an i-type non-crystalline layer and an n-type non-crystalline layer comprising a non-crystalline semiconductor film are formed on the back surface of the semiconductor substrate; a protective layer is formed on the n-type non-crystalline layer; an insulating layer is formed on the n-type non-crystalline layer; and in the state where the top of the n-type non-crystalline layer is covered by the protective layer, patterning is performed by eliminating a portion of the i-type non-crystalline layer, the n-type non-crystalline layer, and the insulating layer.
US09224900B2

A touch sensitive display device utilizing infrared ray sensing transistors. The transistors are configured, and comprise specified materials, to allow them to be formed with fewer photolithography processes, reducing cost and manufacturing time.
US09224892B2

A method of increasing the haze of a coating stack having a top layer and an undercoating layer using a chemical vapor deposition coating process includes at least one of: increasing a precursor flow rate; decreasing a carrier gas flow rate; increasing a substrate temperature; increasing a water flow rate; decreasing an exhaust flow rate; and increasing a thickness of at least one of the top layer or undercoating layer.
US09224889B2

An optical assembly is provided wherein the optical assembly includes a first optical element and a second optical element. The first optical element is configured to receive light and alter a transmission path of the light through the first optical element in a first direction and a second direction. The second optical element is configured to receive the light from the first optical element, and alter a transmission path of the light through the second optical element in the first and second directions. The light is passed through the second optical element, such that a sensor receives light from a field of view that is approximately 30 degrees to 60 degrees offset from a field of view of the sensor.
US09224883B2

An optical sensor has a semiconductor substrate, an insulation film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a light receiving part formed on the semiconductor substrate, and an electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate through the insulation film. The light receiving part has a light receiving element which changes light into electric charge, and a reset element which discharges the electric charge accumulated in the light receiving element. The electrode has a first electrode applying a control voltage to the reset element. The first electrode has a light shielding property. The first electrode defines a shape of a light receiving surface of the light receiving element.
US09224882B2

A low voltage photodetector structure including a semiconductor device layer, which may be Ge, is disposed over a substrate semiconductor, which may be Si, for example within a portion of a waveguide extending laterally within a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip. In exemplary embodiments where the device layer is formed over an insulator layer, the insulator layer is removed to expose a surface of the semiconductor device layer and a passivation material formed as a replacement for the insulator layer within high field regions. In further embodiments, controlled avalanche gain is achieved by spacing electrodes in a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) architecture, or complementary doped regions in a p-i-n architecture, to provide a field strength sufficient for impact ionization over a distance not significantly more than an order of magnitude greater than the distance that a carrier must travel so as to acquire sufficient energy for impact ionization.
US09224876B2

Diodes and methods of manufacturing diodes are disclosed. The diodes may include a cathode assembly having a cathode electrode, a N+ substrate layer on the cathode electrode, a N buffer layer on the N+ substrate layer, and a N− bulk layer on the N buffer layer. The N buffer layer may include crystal damage configured to provide recombination centers for charge carriers. The method may include creating a N buffer layer on a N+ substrate wafer, creating a N− bulk layer on the N buffer layer, and inflicting, to the N buffer layer, crystal damage configured to provide recombination centers for charge carriers. The method may include creating a N buffer layer in a N− bulk wafer, creating a N+ substrate layer in the N− bulk wafer, and inflicting, to the N buffer layer, crystal damage configured to provide recombination centers for charge carriers.
US09224864B1

A semiconductor device includes a fin structure, an insulating structure, a protruding structure, an epitaxial structure, and a gate structure. The fin structure and the insulating structure are disposed on the substrate. The protruding structure is in direct contact with the substrate and partially protrudes from the insulating structure, and the protruding structure is the fin structure. The epitaxial structure is disposed on a top surface of the fin structure and completely covers the top surface of the fin structure. In addition, the epitaxial structure has a curved top surface. The gate structure covers the fin structure and the epitaxial structure.
US09224857B2

A semiconductor structure comprises a substrate having a first conductive type; a deep well having a second conductive type formed in the substrate and extending down from a surface of the substrate; a first well having the first conductive type and a second well having the second conductive type both formed in the deep well and extending down from the surface of the substrate, and the second well spaced apart from the first well; a gate electrode formed on the substrate and disposed between the first and second wells; an isolation extending down from the surface of the substrate and disposed between the gate electrode and the second well; a conductive plug penetrating into the isolation and reaching the bottom thereof; and a first doping electrode region having the second conductive type, formed within the second well and below the isolation to connect the conductive plug.
US09224855B2

Power devices, and related process, where both gate and field plate trenches have multiple stepped widths, using self-aligned process steps.
US09224847B2

A High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) includes a first III-V compound layer having a first band gap, and a second III-V compound layer having a second band gap over the first III-V compound layer. The second band gap is greater than the first band gap. A crystalline interfacial layer is overlying and in contact with the second III-V compound layer. A gate dielectric is over the crystalline interfacial layer. A gate electrode is over the gate dielectric. A source region and a drain region are over the second III-V compound layer, and are on opposite sides of the gate electrode.
US09224846B2

This specification relates to an enhancement-type semiconductor device having a passivation layer formed using a photoelectrochemical (PEC) method, and a fabricating method thereof.To this end, a semiconductor device according to one exemplary embodiment includes a GaN layer, an AlGaN layer formed on the GaN layer, a p-GaN layer formed on the AlGaN layer, a gate electrode formed on the p-GaN layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on a partial region of the AlGaN layer, and a passivation layer formed on a partial region of the AlGaN layer, the passivation layer formed between the source electrode and the gate electrode or between the gate electrode and the drain electrode, wherein the passivation layer is formed in a manner of oxidizing a part of the p-GaN layer.
US09224843B2

Disclosed is a trench formation technique wherein a first etch process forms an opening through a semiconductor layer into a semiconductor substrate and then a second etch process expands the portion of the opening within the substrate to form a trench. However, prior to the second etch, a doped region is formed in the substrate at the bottom surface of the opening. Then, the second etch is performed such that an undoped region of the substrate at the sidewalls of the opening is etched at a faster etch rate than the doped region, thereby ensuring that the trench has a relatively high aspect ratio. Also disclosed is a bipolar semiconductor device formation method. This method incorporates the trench formation technique so that a trench isolation region formed around a collector pedestal has a high aspect ratio and, thereby so that collector-to-base capacitance Ccb and collector resistance Rc are both minimized.
US09224838B2

An object is to provide an oxide semiconductor having stable electric characteristics and a semiconductor device including the oxide semiconductor. A manufacturing method of a semiconductor film by a sputtering method includes the steps of holding a substrate in a treatment chamber which is kept in a reduced-pressure state; heating the substrate at lower than 400° C.; introducing a sputtering gas from which hydrogen and moisture are removed in the state where remaining moisture in the treatment chamber is removed; and forming an oxide semiconductor film over the substrate with use of a metal oxide which is provided in the treatment chamber as a target. When the oxide semiconductor film is formed, remaining moisture in a reaction atmosphere is removed; thus, the concentration of hydrogen and the concentration of hydride in the oxide semiconductor film can be reduced. Thus, the oxide semiconductor film can be stabilized.
US09224836B2

A semiconductor device, a resistive memory device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a pillar extending substantially perpendicular from a semiconductor substrate, the pillar including an inner portion and an outer portion surrounding the inner portion. A junction region is formed in an upper region and a lower region of the vertical pillar, and a gate surrounds the pillar. The inner portion of the pillar includes a semiconductor layer having a lattice constant that is larger than a lattice constant of the outer portion of the pillar.
US09224831B2

Disclosed is a method of manufacturing an oxide semiconductor device, including: forming a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; forming an active pattern on the gate insulating layer; forming a first mask pattern on the gate insulating layer and the active pattern; forming an insulating interlayer on the gate insulating layer, the active pattern, and the first mask pattern; forming a second mask pattern on the insulating interlayer, the second mask pattern comprising an opening that exposes a region where the first mask pattern is formed; forming contact holes exposing portions of the active pattern by patterning the insulating interlayer using the first mask pattern and the second mask pattern; and forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on the gate insulating layer by filling the contact holes, the drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode.
US09224830B2

A field effect transistor is provided. The transistor may include a source electrode and a drain electrode provided spaced apart from each other on a substrate and a ‘+’-shaped gate electrode provided on a portion of the substrate located between the source and drain electrodes.
US09224823B2

A semiconductor apparatus includes a drain region of a first-conductivity type, a drain electrode electrically coupled to the drain region, and a semiconductor layer of the first-conductivity type formed onto the drain region and having a first impurity concentration. The semiconductor apparatus further includes: a source region of the first-conductivity type formed on the semiconductor layer and having a second impurity concentration; a first source electrode electrically coupled to the source region; and a gate electrode formed via an insulating layer. The one end of the gate electrode is in a depth of the source region, and the other end is in a depth of the semiconductor layer or the drain region. A second source electrode is provided in the semiconductor layer under the gate electrodes via an insulating layer. A second spacing between the second source electrodes is larger than a first spacing between the gate electrodes.
US09224822B2

A layer of a silicon germanium alloy containing 30 atomic percent or greater germanium and containing substitutional carbon is grown on a surface of a semiconductor layer. The presence of the substitutional carbon in the layer of silicon germanium alloy compensates the strain of the silicon germanium alloy, and suppresses defect formation. Placeholder semiconductor fins are then formed to a desired dimension within the layer of silicon germanium alloy and the semiconductor layer. The placeholder semiconductor fins will relax for the most part, while maintaining strain in a lengthwise direction. An anneal is then performed which may either remove the substitutional carbon from each placeholder semiconductor fin or move the substitutional carbon into interstitial sites within the lattice of the silicon germanium alloy. Free-standing permanent semiconductor fins containing 30 atomic percent or greater germanium, and strain in the lengthwise direction are provided.
US09224819B2

A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes a semiconductor layer formed of a III-V group nitride semiconductor, a first silicon nitride film formed on the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the first silicon nitride film, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor layer such that the gate electrode is interposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a second silicon nitride film formed between the source electrode and the gate electrode and between the drain electrode and the gate electrode and having an oxygen atom density lower than that of the first silicon nitride film.
US09224818B2

A semiconductor device of an embodiment includes a semiconductor layer formed of a III-V group nitride semiconductor, a first silicon nitride film formed on the semiconductor layer, a gate electrode formed on the first silicon nitride film, a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on the semiconductor layer such that the gate electrode is interposed between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a second silicon nitride film formed between the source electrode and the gate electrode and between the drain electrode and the gate electrode and having an oxygen atom density lower than that of the first silicon nitride film.
US09224804B2

The present invention provides a guarding ring structure of a semiconductor high voltage device and the manufacturing method thereof. The guarding ring structure comprises a first N type monocrystalline silicon substrate (3), a second N type monocrystalline silicon substrate (8), a discontinuous oxide layer (2), a metal field plate (1), a device region (9), multiple P+ type diffusion rings (5) and an equipotential ring (4). The second N type monocrystalline silicon substrate (8) is a single N type crystalline layer epitaxially formed on the first N type monocrystalline silicon substrate (3) and has lower doping concentration than the first N type monocrystalline silicon substrate (3). N type diffusion rings (6) are embedded in the inner side of the P+ type diffusion rings (5) and are fully depleted at zero bias voltage. The guarding ring structure can achieve the same withstand voltage with less area and design time.
US09224801B2

An improved semiconductor capacitor and method of fabrication is disclosed. A MIM stack, comprising alternating first-type and second-type metal layers (each separated by dielectric) is formed in a deep cavity. The entire stack can be planarized, and then patterned to expose a first area, and selectively etched to recess all first metal layers within the first area. A second selective etch is performed to recess all second metal layers within a second area. The etched recesses can be backfilled with dielectric. Separate electrodes can be formed; a first electrode formed in said first area and contacting all of said second-type metal layers and none of said first-type metal layers, and a second electrode formed in said second area and contacting all of said first-type metal layers and none of said second-type metal layers.
US09224800B2

A planar interdigitated capacitor structure, methods of forming, and devices including, the same. The device includes first and second planar electrode structures including respective first and second pluralities of planar continuous rectangular plate electrode elements formed above a semiconductor substrate and extending continuously in first and second orthogonal directions substantially parallel to a plane of the substrate, and first and second conductors interconnecting the respective first and second pluralities of planar electrode elements parallel to a third axis substantially normal to the plane of the substrate. The first and second planar electrode structures are arranged with respective continuous rectangular plate electrode elements of each planar electrode structure interleaved and substantially parallel with each other between the first and second conductors. The device also includes a dielectric material between the first planar electrode structure and the second planar electrode structure.
US09224797B2

A structure forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) trench capacitor is disclosed. The structure comprises a multi-layer substrate having a metal layer and at least one dielectric layer. A trench is etched into the substrate, passing through the metal layer. The trench is lined with a metal material that is in contact with the metal layer, which comprises a first node of a capacitor. A dielectric material lines the metal material in the trench. The trench is filled with a conductor. The dielectric material that lines the metal material separates the conductor from the metal layer and the metal material lining the trench. The conductor comprises a second node of the capacitor.
US09224793B1

There is provided a flexible display having a plurality of innovations configured to allow bending of a portion or portions to reduce apparent border size and/or utilize the side surface of an assembled flexible display.
US09224776B2

An image pickup element includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel that share one microlens, a first boundary that is provided between the first pixel and the second pixel, and a second boundary that is provided between the first pixel and the third pixel, and when a charge amount of the first pixel is saturated, a first charge amount from the first pixel to the second pixel via the first boundary is larger than a second charge amount from the first pixel to the third pixel via the second boundary.
US09224769B2

A pixel device having an improved energy resolution includes at least one photodiode and at least one voltage supply unit for applying a voltage to the photodiode. The pixel device includes a voltage storage unit and a voltage adjusting unit. In a precharge mode, the voltage storage unit stores a first anode voltage. In a sensing mode, the voltage adjusting unit adjusts a second anode voltage of the anode of the photodiode to be the same as the first anode voltage stored in the voltage storage unit.
US09224767B2

In a photoelectric conversion apparatus including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion unit, first and second holding units that hold electric charge, a first transfer unit that connects the photoelectric conversion unit and the first holding unit, a second transfer unit that connects the first and second holding units, and a third transfer unit that connects the photoelectric conversion unit and a power supply, each pixel is controlled so that the potential of the third transfer unit for electric charge held in the photoelectric conversion unit is higher than that of the first transfer unit at least during a charge accumulation period of the pixel, and thereafter, the potential of the third transfer unit is higher than that of the photoelectric conversion unit while the potentials of the first and second transfer units are lower than that of the photoelectric conversion unit.
US09224764B2

A display substrate includes a data pad on a base substrate, a first buffer layer which covers the data pad, a second buffer layer pattern which is disposed on the first buffer layer and separated from the data pad in a plan view, an active layer on the second buffer layer pattern, a gate insulation layer pattern on the active layer, both ends of the active layer exposed by the gate insulation layer pattern, and a gate electrode on the gate insulation layer pattern.
US09224761B2

The present invention permits a capacitance value of an electro-optical element such as organic EL element to be arbitrarily set without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel. That is, the present invention permits a capacitance value Coled of an organic EL element (21) to be arbitrarily set by adjusting the light emission area of the organic EL element (21) without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel (20) in an organic EL display device. The organic EL display device has the pixels (20) arranged in a matrix form. A light extraction opening (56) is formed on the surface of the pixel with a light-shielding film (black matrix) (57). The light extraction opening (56) has an opening area smaller than the light emission area of the organic EL element (21).
US09224756B2

According to one embodiment, a display device includes a semiconductor including a first channel region, a second channel region, a source region, a drain region, a first region located between the source region and the first channel region, a second region formed between the first channel region and the second channel region, and a third region located between the drain region and the second channel region, wherein the second region has a length of 5 μm or more, which is greater than a length of each of the first region and the third region.
US09224750B1

A memory array includes a plurality of ridge-shaped multi-layer stacks extending along a first direction, and a hard mask layer formed on top of the plurality of ridge-shaped multi-layer stacks. The hard mask layer includes a plurality of stripes vertically aligned with the plurality of ridge-shaped multi-layer stacks, respectively, a plurality of bridges connecting adjacent ones of the stripes along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a plurality of hard mask through holes between the plurality of bridges and the plurality of stripes.
US09224739B2

A programmable non-volatile device is made with a floating gate that functions as a FET gate that overlaps a portion of a source/drain region and allows for variable coupling through geometry and/or biasing conditions. This allows a programming voltage for the device to be imparted to the floating gate through variable capacitive coupling, thus changing the state of the device. Multi-state embodiments are also possible. The invention can be used in environments such as data encryption, reference trimming, manufacturing ID, security ID, and many other applications.
US09224737B2

A method includes forming a first fin and a second fin extending above a semiconductor substrate, with a shallow trench isolation (STI) region between them. A space is defined between the first and second fins above a top surface of the STI region. A first height is defined between the top surface of the STI region and top surfaces of the first and second fins. A flowable dielectric material is deposited into the space. The dielectric material has a top surface above the top surface of the STI region, so as to define a second height between the top surface of the dielectric material and the top surfaces of the first and second fins. The second height is less than the first height. First and second fin extensions are epitaxially formed above the dielectric, on the first and second fins, respectively, after the depositing step.
US09224735B2

Techniques are disclosed for forming low contact resistance transistor devices. A p-type germanium layer is provided between p-type source/drain regions and their respective contact metals, and an n-type III-V semiconductor material layer is provided between n-type source/drain regions and their respective contact metals. The n-type III-V semiconductor material layer may have a small bandgap (e.g., <0.5 eV) and/or otherwise be doped to provide desired conductivity, and the p-type germanium layer can be doped, for example, with boron. After deposition of the III-V material over both the n-type source/drain regions and the germanium covered p-type source/drain regions, an etch-back process can be performed to take advantage of the height differential between n and p type regions to self-align contact types and expose the p-type germanium over p-type regions and thin the n-type III-V material over the n-type regions. The techniques can be used on planar and non-planar transistor architectures.
US09224733B2

A semiconductor structure includes a first PMOS transistor element having a gate region with a first gate metal associated with a PMOS work function and a first NMOS transistor element having a gate region with a second metal associated with a NMOS work function. The first PMOS transistor element and the first NMOS transistor element form a first CMOS device. The semiconductor structure also includes a second PMOS transistor that is formed in part by concurrent deposition with the first NMOS transistor element of the second metal associated with a NMOS work function to form a second CMOS device with different operating characteristics than the first CMOS device.
US09224727B2

An ESD protection apparatus comprises an n-type substrate with a first doping density, a low voltage n-type well in the substrate, a low voltage p-type well in the substrate, a first n-type semiconductor region over the low voltage n-type well and a second n-type semiconductor region over the low voltage p-type well, wherein the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region are separated by a first isolation region.
US09224724B2

An integrated circuit includes a bidirectional ESD device which has a plurality of parallel switch legs. Each switch leg includes a first current switch and a second current switch in a back-to-back configuration. A first current supply node of each first current switch is coupled to a first terminal of the ESD device. A second current supply node of each second current switch is coupled to a second terminal of the ESD device. A first current collection node of each first current switch is coupled to a second current collection node of the corresponding second current switch. The first current collection nodes in each first current switch is not coupled to any other first current collection node, and similarly, the second current collection node in each instance second current switch is not coupled to any other second current collection node.
US09224721B2

An electronic component is described which includes a first transistor encased in a first package, the first transistor being mounted over a first conductive portion of the first package, and a second transistor encased in a second package, the second transistor being mounted over a second conductive portion of the second package. The component further includes a substrate comprising an insulating layer between a first metal layer and a second metal layer. The first package is on one side of the substrate with the first conductive portion being electrically connected to the first metal layer, and the second package is on another side of the substrate with the second conductive portion being electrically connected to the second metal layer. The first package is opposite the second package, with at least 50% of a first area of the first conductive portion being opposite a second area of the second conductive portion.
US09224706B2

A preferred terminal structure comprises a base material; an electrode formed on the base material; an insulating covering layer formed on the base material and on the electrode and having an opening exposing at least part of the electrode; an under bump metal layer containing Ni, formed in a region in the opening on the electrode so that an upper surface of the metal layer is at a position lower than an upper surface of the insulating covering layer in a peripheral edge portion of the opening; and a dome-shaped bump containing Sn and Ti, formed in a region in the opening on the under bump metal layer, wherein an end portion of a boundary between the under bump metal layer and the bump is in contact with an inner wall of the opening portion in the insulating covering layer.
US09224684B2

There is provided a wiring board. The wiring board includes: a first insulating layer; a secondary battery on one surface of the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer formed on the secondary battery; a third insulating layer covering the second insulating layer; a first wiring layer on one surface of the third insulating layer; and a via electrically connecting the first wiring layer to an electrode of the secondary battery. A rigidity of the second insulating layer is lower than those of the first and third insulating layers.
US09224671B2

A III-N device is described with a III-N layer, an electrode thereon, a passivation layer adjacent the III-N layer and electrode, a thick insulating layer adjacent the passivation layer and electrode, a high thermal conductivity carrier capable of transferring substantial heat away from the III-N device, and a bonding layer between the thick insulating layer and the carrier. The bonding layer attaches the thick insulating layer to the carrier. The thick insulating layer can have a precisely controlled thickness and be thermally conductive.
US09224653B2

In an integrated circuit that includes an NMOS logic transistor, an NMOS SRAM transistor, and a resistor, the gate of the SRAM transistor is doped at the same time that the resistor is doped, thereby allowing the gate of the logic transistor to be separately doped without requiring any additional masking steps.
US09224644B2

Methods and apparatus for processing using a remote plasma source are disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer chamber enclosing a substrate support, a remote plasma source, and a showerhead. A substrate heater can be mounted in the substrate support. A transport system moves the substrate support and is capable of positioning the substrate. The remote plasma source may be used to provide a plasma surface treatment or as a source to incorporate dopants into a pre-deposited layer.
US09224641B2

The present invention discloses methods and apparatuses for the separations of IC fabrication and assembling of separated IC components to form complete IC structures. In an embodiment, the present fabrication separation of an IC structure into multiple discrete components can take advantages of dedicated IC fabrication facilities and achieve more cost effective products. In another embodiment, the present chip assembling provides high density interconnect wires between bond pads, enabling cost-effective assembling of small chip components. In an aspect, the present process provides multiple interconnect wires in the form of a ribbon between the bond pads, and then subsequently separates the ribbon into multiple individual interconnect wires.
US09224639B2

Copper can be etched with selectivity to Ta/TaN barrier liner and SiC hardmask layers, for example, to reduce the potential copper contamination. The copper film can be recessed more than the liner to further enhance the protection. Wet etch solutions including a mixture of HF and HCl can be used for selective etching copper with respect to the liner material, for example, the copper film can be recessed between 2 and 3 nm, and the barrier liner film can be recessed between 1.5 and 2 nm.
US09224628B2

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment a semiconductor workpiece processing system having at least one processing tool for processing semiconductor workpieces, a container for holding at least one semiconductor workpiece therein for transport to and from the at least one processing tool and a first transport section elongated and defining a travel direction. The first transport section has parts, that interface the container, supporting and transporting the container along the travel direction to and from the at least one processing tool. The container is in substantially continuous transport at a substantially constant rate in the travel direction, when supported by the first transport section. A second transport section is connected to the at least one process tool for transporting the container to and from the at least one processing tool.
US09224625B2

Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. A method includes forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is disposed on a water-soluble die attach film. The mask covers and protects the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to form singulated integrated circuits. The water-soluble die attach film is then patterned with an aqueous solution.
US09224623B2

There is provided a microwave irradiation apparatus capable of independently controlling a temperature of a target object while irradiating microwave to the target object. The microwave irradiation apparatus 2 includes a processing chamber 4 configured to be vacuum-evacuated; a supporting table 6 configured to support the target object; a processing gas introduction unit 106 configured to introduce a processing gas into the processing chamber; a microwave introduction unit 72 configured to introduce the microwave into the processing chamber; a heating unit 16 configured to heat the target object; a gas cooling unit 104 configured to cool the target object by a cooling gas; a radiation thermometer 64 configured to measure a temperature of the target object; and a temperature control unit 70 configured to adjust the temperature of the target object by controlling the heating unit and the gas cooling unit based on the temperature measured by the radiation thermometer.
US09224613B2

Both sides of a large diameter semiconductor wafer are polished by the following ordered steps: a) polishing the wafer backside on a polishing pad containing a fixed abrasive, a polishing agent solution free of solids being introduced between the wafer backside and the polishing pad; b) stock polishing the wafer frontside on a polishing pad which contains a fixed abrasive, a polishing agent solution free of solids being introduced between the wafer frontside of and the polishing pad; c) removing microroughness and microdamage from the wafer frontside by polishing the frontside on a polishing pad, a polishing agent solution containing abrasives being introduced between the wafer frontside and the polishing pad; and d) final polishing of the wafer frontside by polishing the frontside on a polishing pad containing no fixed abrasive, a polishing agent solution containing abrasives being introduced between the wafer frontside and the polishing pad during the polishing step.
US09224608B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a first insulation film on a portion of a first region of a semiconductor substrate and forming a second insulation film between a second region and a third region of the semiconductor substrate; etching an upper portion of the first insulation film such that the thickness of the first insulation film is less than the thickness of the second insulation film; forming a third insulation film in the second region and forming a fourth insulation film in the third region; and forming a first gate electrode on the first insulation film whose upper portion was etched, forming a second gate electrode on the third insulation film, and forming a third gate electrode on the fourth insulation film.
US09224606B2

A semiconductor device including reentrant isolation structures and a method for making such a device. A preferred embodiment comprises a substrate of semiconductor material forming at least one isolation structure having a reentrant profile and isolating one or more adjacent operational components. The reentrant profile of the at least one isolation structure is formed of substrate material and is created by ion implantation, preferably using oxygen ions applied at a number of different angles and energy levels. In another embodiment the present invention is a method of forming an isolation structure for a semiconductor device performing at least one oxygen ion implantation.
US09224602B2

Techniques are disclosed for sub-second annealing a lithographic feature to, for example, tailor or otherwise selectively alter its profile in one, two, or three dimensions. Alternatively, or in addition to, the techniques can be used, for example, to smooth or otherwise reduce photoresist line width/edge roughness and/or to reduce defect density. In some cases, the sub-second annealing process has a time-temperature profile that can effectively change the magnitude of resist shrinkage in one or more dimensions or otherwise modify the resist in a desired way (e.g., smooth the resist). The techniques may be implemented, for example, with any type of photoresist (e.g., organic, inorganic, hybrid, molecular photoresist materials) and can be used in forming, for instance, processor microarchitectures, memory circuitry, logic arrays, and numerous other digital/analog/hybrid integrated semiconductor devices.
US09224595B2

The present invention provides a semiconductor optical element array including: a semiconductor substrate having a main surface in which a plurality of concave portions is formed; a mask pattern that is formed on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of opening portions provided immediately above the plurality of concave portions; a plurality of fine columnar crystals that is made of a group-III nitride semiconductor grown from the plurality of concave portions to the upper side of the mask pattern through the plurality of opening portions; an active layer that is grown on each of the plurality of fine columnar crystals; and a semiconductor layer covering each of the active layers.
US09224578B2

A apparatus includes a unit to operate a first dose of a beam corrected for a proximity effect for each of second mesh regions of a second mesh size obtained by dividing the first mesh size by a product of a natural number and a number of passes, by using a dose model using a dose threshold; a unit to operate a representative temperature rising due to heat transfer originating from irradiation of the beam by using a dose for an applicable pass of the first dose and a unit to operate a polynomial having a term obtained by multiplying a dose modulation coefficient based on the representative temperature by a pattern area density as an element, and a dose that makes a difference between a value obtained by operating the polynomial and the dose threshold within a tolerance is used.
US09224577B2

A method for projecting an electron beam, used notably in direct or indirect writing lithography and in electronic microscopy. Proximity effects created by the forward and backward scattering of the electrons of the beam in interaction with the target must be corrected. For this, the convolution of a point spread function with the geometry of the target is conventionally used. At least one of the components of the point spread function has its maximum value not located on the center of the beam. Preferably, the maximum value is instead located on the backward scattering peak. Advantageously, the point spread function uses gamma distribution laws.
US09224574B2

Beam scanning for obtaining a scanned image is performed by an aberration corrector, which is an aberration measured lens, and a scanning coil disposed above an objective lens, instead of a scanning coil ordinarily placed on the objective lens. Thus, distortion with an aberration of an aberration measured lens is scanned on the surface of a sample, and then a scanned image is formed from a scattered electron beam, a transmission electron beam, or a reflected/secondary electron beam that is generated by the scan, achieving a scanning aberration information pattern equivalent to a conventional Ronchigram. Such means is a feature of the present invention.
US09224573B2

The invention provides an X-ray source having a generator for generating an electron beam, an accelerator for accelerating the generated electron beam in a desired direction, one or more magnetic elements for transporting portions of the electron beam in a more than one desired direction, and a shaped target made from a material having an atomic number lying within a predetermined range of values, the transported parts of the electron beam producing a fan beam of X rays upon striking the shaped target.
US09224572B2

An X-ray tube assembly is provided including an emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an emitter focusing electrode, an extraction electrode, and a downstream focusing electrode. The emitter focusing electrode is disposed proximate to the emitter and outward of the emitter in an axial direction. The extraction electrode is disposed downstream of the emitter and the emitter focusing electrode. The extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage setting at which the extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage with respect to the emitter. The downstream focusing electrode is disposed downstream of the extraction electrode, and has a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter. When the extraction electrode is at the negative bias voltage setting, the electron beam is emitted from an emission area that is smaller than a maximum emission area from which electrons may be emitted.
US09224568B2

A plasma lamp apparatus. The apparatus has an arc tube structure having an inner region and an outer region in one or more embodiments. The arc tube structure has a first end comprising an associated first end diameter and a second end comprising a second end diameter according to a specific embodiment. The apparatus also has a center region provided between the first end and the second end in one or more embodiments. The center region has a center diameter, which is less than a first end diameter and/or a second end diameter.
US09224564B2

An improved fuse having one or more counter bores in an interior wall of a hollow tube used as the fuse housing. The fuse includes a fusible element disposed within a cavity defined by the interior wall. The fusible element is electrically connected to first and second end caps via solder. The first and second end caps are attached to respective ends of the hollow tube. The one or more counter bores provide more space for the solder to cover the fusible element resulting in a more reliable electrical connection.
US09224549B2

An electric hand control, especially for electrically adjustable hospital and care beds comprising a number of activation switches and a number of locking switches which can be activated by a locking element for cutting off the circuit for the activation switches so that the function belonging to it becomes inactive or locked. In an embodiment the locking switches are on-off switches, in another embodiment the locking switches are based on a read switch and a magnet, and in another embodiment the locking switches include a wave shaped disc mounted over two contact points.
US09224548B2

A disconnect switch includes an enclosure containing a fusible switch disconnect assembly, and a switch mechanism and handle associated with the switch mechanism for opening and closing current paths in the fusible switch disconnect assembly. The fusible switch disconnect assembly may receive a plurality of retractable rectangular fuse modules having terminal blades. Switch contacts are provided in the fusible switch disconnect assembly and are positionable with rotary switch actuators, all of which may be operated via the handle and the switch mechanism.
US09224547B2

A vehicle door switch is provided. The door switch includes a top housing and a bottom housing. The bottom housing having at least one first opening arranged opposite the top housing. A printed circuit board is disposed within the housing. A shield member is provided having a planer portion with a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface is arranged adjacent the printed circuit board, the shield member further having a side wall extending about the perimeter of the planer portion. The printed circuit board is disposed within the area defined by the side wall.
US09224542B2

Provided are a conductive layered structure including a DNA hydrogel and a composite layer disposed on the DNA hydrogel. The composite layer may include a polymer electrolyte and a conductive material. Also provided are an electrode and a supercapacitor, each including the conductive layered structure. Further provided is a method of manufacturing the conductive layered structure. Thus, a biocompatible, implantable electrode having a large specific surface area and a high conductivity may be manufactured through simple processes.
US09224540B2

[Problem] To provide a conductive polymer for solid electrolyte capacitor having outstanding solubility in solvents or dispersibility in solvents and which can produce a capacitor having outstanding capacitor characteristics in high-temperature environments.[Means Used to Resolve the Problem]A conductive polymer (A) for solid electrolyte capacitor containing substituted polythiophene (P) having thiophene repeating units (D) substituted by a least one type of group (s) selected from a group made up of a polyether group (a) indicated in general formula (1); an alkoxy group (b) having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; an alkoxy alkyl group (c) indicated in general formula (2); an alkyl group (d) having 1 to 15 carbon atoms; and a group (e) indicated in general formula (3); as well as thiophene repeating units (E) wherein the hydrogen atoms at position 3 and position 4 on the thiophene ring have been substituted by group (s) and sulfo group (—SO3H) (f). —(OR1)k—OR2  (1) —R3—OR4  (2) —R5—(OR6)m—OR7  (3)
US09224530B2

A power supply apparatus including a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core having a shape symmetrical to a shape of the first magnetic core, a third magnetic core between the first and second magnetic cores, a first coil wound around at least one of the first and third magnetic cores, and a second coil wound around at least one of the second and third magnetic cores, wherein a material for the third magnetic core is different from a material for the first magnetic core or the second magnetic core.
US09224529B2

A method of magnetizing a multi-pole magnet includes the steps of obtaining a magnetization coil having a magnetization zone and a central axis, and positioning a magnet within the magnetization zone. The method also includes positioning at least one pair of shield bodies including a conductive material proximate the first and second surfaces of the magnet, with the shield bodies being aligned together to cover both sides of at least a first region of magnet and expose both sides of at least a second region of the magnet. The method further includes energizing the magnetization coil to generate an applied magnetic field within the magnetization zone that is sufficient to induce eddy currents in the at least one pair of shield bodies and to magnetize the exposed second region of the magnet.
US09224523B2

An inverter surge-resistant insulated wire, having at least one baked enamel layer around the outer periphery of a conductor, and an extrusion-coated resin layer at the outside of the baked enamel layer, wherein a total thickness of the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer is 50 μm or more, a thickness of the baked enamel layer is 60 μm or less, and a thickness of the extrusion-coated resin layer is 200 μm or less, wherein the minimum of tensile elastic modulus of the extrusion-coated resin layer at a range of 25 to 250° C. is 100 MPa or more, wherein a dielectric constant of an insulation layer having a combination of the baked enamel layer and the extrusion-coated resin layer is 3.5 or less at 25° C. and 5.0 or less at 250° C., and wherein a relation between dielectric constant (∈1′) of the baked enamel layer at 250° C. and dielectric constant (∈2′) of the extrusion-coated resin layer at 250° C. satisfies (∈2′/∈1′)>1.
US09224519B2

A cover assembly for covering an elongate substrate includes a resilient, elastically expandable sleeve member and a holdout device. The sleeve member defines an axially extending inner sleeve passage. The holdout device includes a generally tubular core mounted in the inner sleeve passage. The core defines axially opposed end openings and a core passage extending therebetween to receive the elongate substrate. The core retains the sleeve member in a radially expanded state and can be withdrawn from the sleeve member to release the sleeve member to radially contract onto the elongate substrate. The holdout device is configured such that, after removal of the sleeve member from the core, the core can be laterally removed from the elongate substrate.
US09224515B2

There is provided a cathode active material for a lithium ion battery having good battery properties. The cathode active material for a lithium ion battery is represented by a composition formula: Li(LixNi1-x-yMy)O2+α wherein M is one or more selected from Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Al, Bi, Sn, Mg, Ca, B, and Zr; 0≦x≦0.1; 00, and has a moisture content measured by Karl Fischer titration at 300° C. of 1100 ppm or lower.
US09224512B2

A positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous secondary battery having high capacity and high rate characteristics is intended to be provided. Further, a positive electrode for a non-aqueous secondary battery and a non-aqueous secondary battery are intended to be provided by using the positive electrode active material. The positive electrode active material for the non-aqueous secondary battery contains a lithium composite oxide having an olivine structure represented by the chemical formula: Li1+AMnXM1−X(PO4)1+B in which A>0, B>0, M represents a metal element, M in the chemical formula is one or more metal elements selected from Fe, Ni, Co, Ti, Cu, Zn, Mg, V, and Zr, the ratio A/B in the chemical formula is within a range of: 2
US09224507B2

Systems and methods permit discriminate access to nuclear reactors. Systems provide penetration pathways to irradiation target loading and offloading systems, instrumentation systems, and other external systems at desired times, while limiting such access during undesired times. Systems use selection mechanisms that can be strategically positioned for space sharing to connect only desired systems to a reactor. Selection mechanisms include distinct paths, forks, diverters, turntables, and other types of selectors. Management methods with such systems permits use of the nuclear reactor and penetration pathways between different systems and functions, simultaneously and at only distinct desired times. Existing TIP drives and other known instrumentation and plant systems are useable with access management systems and methods, which can be used in any nuclear plant with access restrictions.
US09224503B2

Systems and methods are provided for reusing existing test structures and techniques used to test memory data to also test error correction code logic surrounding the memories. A method includes testing a memory of a computing system with an error code correction (ECC) logic block bypassed and a first data pattern applied. The method further includes testing the memory with the ECC logic block enabled and a second data pattern applied. The method also includes testing the memory with the ECC logic block enabled and the first data pattern applied.
US09224501B2

A memory device includes a control logic configured to control an overall operation of the memory device; a data storing unit configured to receive write data and write the write data according to control of the control logic and to output read data obtained by reading the write data; and a detector configured to repeatedly generate a comparison result based on the read data and a current determination result based on the comparison result and a previous determination result N times and to generate a final determination result according to a result of the repetition, where N is an integer of at least 2. The final determination result indicates whether an error has occurred and a type of the error.
US09224497B2

The present invention provides a one time programmable (OTP) memory cell including a select gate transistor, a following gate transistor, and an antifuse varactor. The select gate transistor has a first gate terminal, a first drain terminal, a first source terminal, and two first source/drain extension areas respectively coupled to the first drain terminal and the first source terminal. The following gate transistor has a second gate terminal, a second drain terminal, a second source terminal coupled to the first drain terminal, and two second source/drain extension areas respectively coupled to the second drain terminal and the second source terminal. The antifuse varactor has a third gate terminal, a third drain terminal, a third source terminal coupled to the second drain terminal, and a third source/drain extension area coupled with the third drain terminal and the third source terminal for shorting the third drain terminal and the third source terminal.
US09224496B2

Gate oxide breakdown anti-fuse suffers notorious soft breakdown that reduces yield and reliability. This invention discloses circuit and system to enhance electrical field by blocking LDD so that the electrical field is higher and more focused near the drain junction, to make electrical field in the channel more uniform by creating slight conductive or conductive in part or all of the channel, or to neutralize excess carriers piled up in the oxide by applying alternative polarity pulses. The embodiments can be applied in part, all, or any combinations, depending on needs. This invention can be embodied as a 2 T anti-fuse cell having an access and a program MOS with drain area in the program MOS, or 1.5 T anti-fuse cell without any drain in the program MOS. Similarly this invention can also be embodied as a 1 T anti-fuse cell having a portion of the channel made conductive or slightly conductive to merge the access and program MOS into one device with drain area, or 0.5 T anti-fuse cell without any drain.
US09224492B1

An memory management method, a memory storage device and a memory controlling circuit unit are provided. The method comprises: obtaining a threshold voltage distribution of memory cells, wherein the threshold voltage distribution comprises a plurality of states, and each of the states represents a storage status; determining whether a width of a gap window between two neighboring states among the states is less than a threshold value; and if the width of the gap window is less than the threshold value, eliminating one of the two neighboring states.
US09224489B2

Integrated circuit memory devices include an array of nonvolatile N-bit memory cells, where N is an integer greater than one. Control circuitry is also provided to reliably read data from the N-bit memory cells. This control circuitry, which is electrically coupled to the array, is configured to determine, among other things, a value of at least one bit of data stored in a selected N-bit memory cell in the array. This is done by decoding at least one hard data value and a plurality of soft data values (e.g., 6 data values) read from the selected N-bit memory cell using a corresponding plurality of unequal read voltages applied to the selected N-bit memory cell during a read operation.
US09224483B2

Nonvolatile memory devices, memory systems and related methods of operating nonvolatile memory devices are presented. During a programming operation, the nonvolatile memory device is capable of using bit line forcing, and is also capable of selecting a verification mode for use during a verification operation from a group of verification modes on the basis of an evaluated programming condition.
US09224482B2

The present disclosure relates to a memory comprising at least one word line comprising a row of split gate memory cells each comprising a selection transistor section comprising a selection gate and a floating-gate transistor section comprising a floating gate and a control gate. According to the present disclosure, the memory comprises a source plane common to the memory cells of the word line, to collect programming currents passing through memory cells during their programming, and the selection transistor sections of the memory cells are connected to the source plane. A programming current control circuit is configured to control the programming current passing through the memory cells by acting on a selection voltage applied to a selection line.
US09224474B2

A p-channel flash memory device including a 3D NAND array has excellent performance characteristics. Techniques for operating 3D, p-channel NAND arrays include selective programming, selective (bit) erase, and block erase. Selective programming bias arrangements induce band-to-band tunneling current hot electron injection to increase threshold voltages in selected cells. Selective erase biasing arrangements induce −FN hole tunneling to decrease threshold voltages in selected cells. Also, block erase bias arrangements induce −FN hole tunneling in selected blocks of cells.
US09224462B2

A resistive memory device that simultaneously erases memory cells connected to selected word line(s) included in an erase unit. The erase unit includes fewer word lines than are included in a memory block of the resistive memory device. However, erase verification may nonetheless be performed on a block basis.
US09224442B2

A particular method includes receiving, from a processor, a first memory access request at a memory device. The method also includes processing the first memory access request based on a timing parameter of the memory device. The method further includes receiving, from the processor, a second memory access request at the memory device. The method also includes modifying a timing parameter of the memory device based on addresses identified by the first memory access request and the second memory access request to produce a modified timing parameter. The method further includes processing the second memory access request based on the modified timing parameter.
US09224438B2

The present invention provides a DQS bus for implementing high speed multiple-data-rate interface architectures in programmable logic devices. The DQS bus has a balanced tree structure between at least one data strobe circuit and a plurality of I/O register blocks.
US09224434B2

A circuit includes a first transistor of a first type, a second transistor of a second type, a sense amplifier, a first data line, and a second data line. The second type is different from the first type. The first data line is coupled with a first terminal of the sense amplifier. The second data line is coupled with a second terminal of the sense amplifier. A first terminal of the first transistor is configured to receive a supply voltage. A second terminal of the first transistor, a third terminal of the first transistor, a second terminal of the second transistor, a third terminal of the second transistor are coupled together and are configured to carry a voltage. A first terminal of the second transistor is configured to receive a reference supply voltage. The first and second data lines are configured to receive a voltage value of the voltage.
US09224428B2

A recording apparatus independently sets conditions of information data to be simultaneously recorded in a plurality of recording media in a simultaneous recording mode according to a user instruction. The recording apparatus processes information data according to the set conditions so as to generate a plurality of information data to be recorded in the plurality of recording media in the simultaneous recording mode, and their identification information, and records the plurality of generated information data and identification information in the plurality of recording media. When different conditions are set as the conditions of the information data to be simultaneously recorded in the plurality of recording media, a plurality of pieces of identification information which have different values are generated for the information data to be simultaneously recorded in the plurality of recording media.
US09224427B2

A media item recommendation rating system and method are provided. A recommendation rating for media items is established and dynamically updated in response to media items being recommended to other users. A recommendation server or other device receives a report of a media item recommendation and updates a recommendation rating in response. The recommendation rating may also be updated based on how often a recommended media item is used or played. Thus, a media item's recommendation rating is affected by events relating to its recommendation, as opposed simple play-based ratings that are updated on any play action regardless of whether related to a recommendation or not. Simple play-based ratings do not distinguish between ordinary usages or plays and those resulting from recommendations.
US09224422B2

A control method of controlling a disk storage unit, includes: obtaining, by a computer, for a plurality of sectors allocated on a disk included in the disk storage unit, track identifying information that identifies a track to which sectors belong, in a first order starting from a first start sector; and storing, if first track identifying information obtained in a first sector of the plurality of sectors does not match second track identifying information obtained in a second sector of the plurality of sectors immediately before the first sector, a data length from the first start sector to the second sector in a storage unit.
US09224421B2

Systems and methods for magnetoresistive asymmetry estimation may include, but are not limited to, operations for: receiving a magnetic read head transducer output; computing a mean value of the magnetic read head transducer output; computing a median value of the magnetic read head transducer output; and applying a correction coefficient to a magnetic read head detector input according to at least the mean value of the magnetic read head transducer output and the median value of the magnetic read head transducer output.
US09224419B1

Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a detector that processes signals read from a storage device are described. According to one embodiment, the detector includes a signal estimator configured to generate an estimate of a control signal by determining characteristics of the control signal from a read signal. The read signal includes the data signal and the control signal embedded together. The signal estimator is configured to generate the estimate of the control signal as a function of the characteristics. The detector includes a cancellation unit configured to produce the data signal by cancelling the estimate of the control signal from the read signal.
US09224415B2

According to one embodiment, a microprobe includes a supporting base, an insulating layer, and an electrode layer arrayed in a first direction in this order. A principal surface of the microprobe is formed in a second direction different from the first direction. A step is formed on at least the electrode layer on the principal surface, and the electrode layer is partitioned into a first area and a second area by the step.
US09224403B2

In one aspect, the invention provides an audio encoding method characterized by a decision being made as to whether the device which will decode the resulting bit stream should apply post filtering including attenuation of interharmonic noise. Hence, the decision whether to use the post filter, which is encoded in the bit stream, is taken separately from the decision as to the most suitable coding mode. In another aspect, there is provided an audio decoding method with a decoding step followed by a post-filtering step, including interharmonic noise attenuation, and being characterized in a step of disabling the post filter in accordance with post filtering information encoded in the bit stream signal. Such a method is well suited for mixed-origin audio signals by virtue of its capability to deactivate the post filter in dependence of the post filtering information only, hence independently of factors such as the current coding mode.
US09224399B2

An apparatus and method for concealing frame erasure and a voice decoding apparatus and method using the same. The frame erasure concealment apparatus includes: a parameter extraction unit determining whether there is an erased frame in a voice packet, and extracting an excitement signal parameter and a line spectrum pair parameter of a previous good frame; and an erasure frame concealment unit, if there is an erased frame, restoring the excitement signal and line spectrum pair parameter of the erased frame by using a regression analysis from the excitement signal and line spectrum pair parameter of the previous good frame. According to the method and apparatus, by predicting and restoring the parameter of the erased frame through the regression analysis, the quality of the restored voice signal can be enhanced and the algorithm can be simplified.
US09224395B2

A voice detection system and method for automatic volume controls and voice sensors is disclosed. More specifically, the invention addresses a situation where the user's own voice undesirably affects the functionality of an automatic volume control for a two-way communication device, such as a cellular telephone. In addition, the invention proposes solutions wherein one (voice) microphone is employed and also, when two (voice and noise) microphones are employed. Further, an algorithm is disclosed that addresses the issue concerning the user's own voice in an AVC pertaining to the two microphone solution. Yet further, a method herein is disclosed that detects the presence of voice in a single non-selective (noise) microphone.
US09224390B2

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to deep tagging of media content and provide a method, system and computer program product for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings can be provided. The method can include monitoring a group chat of participants co-browsing media content, identifying a token in the group chat appearing a threshold number of times within a temporal window, and creating a deep tag in the media content in association with a portion of the media content played back concurrently with the temporal window.
US09224387B1

In speech processing systems, a special audio trigger indication is configured to efficiently isolate and mark incorrect speech processing results. The trigger indication may be configured to be easily recognizable by a speech processing device under various ASR and acoustic conditions. Once a speech processing device recognizes the trigger indication, incorrectly processed speech processing results are marked and may be isolated and prioritized for review by training and upgrading processes.
US09224382B2

A noise cancellation signal is generated by generating an ambient noise signal, representing ambient noise, and generating a noise cancellation signal, by applying the ambient noise signal to an feedforward filter, where the feedforward filter comprises a high-pass filter having an adjustable cut-off frequency, and by applying a controllable gain. The noise cancellation signal is then applied to a loudspeaker, to generate a sound to at least partially cancel the ambient noise. An error signal is generated, representing unwanted sound in the region of the loudspeaker. The phase of the ambient noise signal is compared to a phase of the error signal, and the gain is controlled on the basis of a result of the comparison, taking account of a phase shift introduced by the high-pass filter when performing the comparison.
US09224367B2

There is provided an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image processing program realizing natural scroll display and high-speed scroll. The image processing apparatus includes: a detector detecting a scroll request; and a processor, when the detector detects a high-speed scroll request, employing a blurred picture created through a blurring process as a new picture required for a subsequent update of image displayed in a scroll region, thereby generating an image to be displayed.
US09224365B2

A method and apparatus for reducing interference and a mobile terminal using the method and apparatus. The method includes: selecting a display mode of a pixel, for a frequency falling into a receiving band range of radio communication, according to a corresponding relation between the pixel to be displayed and a strength value of interference induced in the frequency. The present invention may not only further reduce interference brought by the MIPI high-speed data transmission to radio communication receiver, but also have effect on those bands lower than 1 GHZ, lower the requirements on hardware and hence lower hardware cost, and occupy no design space.
US09224362B2

Many imaging scenarios involve an achromatic image (e.g., a panchromatic image or a near-infrared image) and one or more concurrently captured monochromatic images (e.g., RGB images captured through a Bayer filter array), and the compositing of these images through de-mosaicing and/or pan-sharpening to generate a high-resolution color image. However, in many such scenarios, the monochromatic images may exhibit distortion of edge geometry, resulting in artifacts and/or color distortions near visual edges of the composite image. However, such distortions may be absent from the achromatic image, and edge geometry may be represented as an intensity gradient among respective neighborhoods of achromatic pixels. Presented herein are techniques for reducing such distortions in monochromatic images through iterative adjustment of monochromatic pixel intensity to reflect the gradients of the neighborhoods of the corresponding achromatic pixels. Convergence of such adjustments produces composite images exhibiting accurately reconstructed edge geometry.
US09224360B2

A display device includes a display panel, and a driving unit that generates driving signals for driving the display panel. The display panel receives the driving signals and outputs the driving signals as test driving signals. The driving unit includes an analog-digital converter to which the test driving signals are input, and includes a register that stores signal levels detected by the analog-digital converter.
US09224352B2

A display device comprises a display area, a plurality of data buses located in the display area, a controller, a first de-multiplexer, and a second de-multiplexer. The controller is adapted to provide a first data signal and a second data signal. The first de-multiplexer has a first de-multiplexer ratio, and is adapted to output the first data signal received from the controller to a plurality of first data buses of the data buses. The second de-multiplexer has a second de-multiplexer ratio, and is adapted to output the second data signal received from the controller to a plurality of second data buses of the data buses. The first de-multiplexer ratio is different from the second de-multiplexer ratio.
US09224346B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a display panel, a multiplexer, an alignment circuit and a short bar circuit. The multiplexer is configured to provide a plurality of output data signals according to a plurality of switch control signals and an input data signal. During the alignment period, the alignment circuit is configured to provide a curing voltage to the display panel, and the short bar circuit is configured to couple the multiplexer to a predetermined voltage.
US09224342B2

The present invention is directed to methods for adjusting or selecting driving waveforms in order to achieve a consistent optical performance of a display device. When a method of the present invention is applied, even if there are changes in the display medium due to temperature variation, photo-exposure or aging, the optical performance can be maintained at a desired level.
US09224341B2

A color display has a monochrome modulator. An active area of the modulator is illuminated by an array of light sources. The light sources include light sources of three or more colors. The intensities of the light sources may be adjusted to project desired luminance patterns on an active area of the modulator. In a fast field sequential method different colors are projected sequentially. The modulator is set to modulate the projected luminance patterns to display a desired image. In a slow field sequential method, colors are projected simultaneously and the modulator is set to modulate most important colors in the image.
US09224338B2

The driving system and methods of the present invention enable interruption of updating images. The system and methods have the advantage that they not only can speed up the updating process when more than one command is received consecutively in a short period of time, but also can provide a more smooth transition visually during the updating process.
US09224311B2

By combining data from different sensors (on fitness device, mobile smartphone, smart clothing, other devices or people in same location), an intelligent system provides a better indicator of an individual's physical effort, using rich data sources to enhance quantified metrics such as distance/pace/altitude gain, to provide a clearer picture of an individual's exercise and activity.
US09224307B2

A method for managing a training arena for training an operator of a host vehicle includes the procedures of generating a training arena model, updating the training arena model according to gathered real time training arena data, and managing the selected virtual entity for simulating a real entity. The training arena model is updated according to the selected virtual entity data, deriving from the training arena model an operator arena model, producing a representation of the operator arena model. The representation of the operator arena model is presented to the operator and the selected virtual entity is managed according to the training arena model as would have been detected and as could have been perceived by the selected virtual entity were the virtual entities real.
US09224299B2

A cruise control plan evaluation device (10) that evaluates safety of a cruise control plan for an automatically-operated vehicle includes: a behavior prediction unit (16a) that predicts a behavior that may be exhibited by a nearby vehicle, which is present near the automatically-operated vehicle, at a given time point; a position prediction unit (16b) that predicts a position of the nearby vehicle after the given time point based on a position of the nearby vehicle at the given time point and the behavior predicted by the behavior prediction unit (16a); and an evaluation unit (20) that evaluates the safety of the cruise control plan based on the position of the nearby vehicle predicted by the position prediction unit (16b) and a position that is reached by the automatically-operated vehicle according to the cruise control plan.
US09224291B2

Athletic data may be recorded and displayed using a computing device such as a mobile communication device during performance of physical activity. In some examples, the device may provide options for defining and recording athletic activity performed by the user. Such options may include various content item selection and rendering controls. Additionally or alternatively, route selection and controls may be provided through the device. Recorded activity data may further be transmitted to a remote site through a network.
US09224285B1

Alarm system technology, in which an alarm event is detected at a property monitored by an alarm system when the alarm system was set in an armed state. Based on detection of the alarm event, an alarm probability score that indicates a likelihood of the alarm event being an emergency situation is determined and the alarm event is handled based on the determined alarm probability score.
US09224281B2

A system and method for detecting smoke in a compartment that includes a first set of sensors, a second set of sensors and a processor. Each sensor in the first set is configured to sense particles. Each sensor in the second set is configured to sense at least one gas. The processor is configured to receive first input data from the first set of sensors and second input data from the second set of sensors, to compare the second input data with a noise level when the first input data indicates that particles are present in the compartment, and to generate an alert signal when the second input data exceeds the noise level. The processor preferably calculates a rate of change of the second data and compares the second input data with the noise level only when the rate of change of the second data exceeds a third threshold.
US09224280B2

A security wrap (20) for protecting an electronic component (16) includes a substrate (26) having a first side and a second side opposite to each other. A conductive path (22) is disposed over the first side of the substrate (26) and has first and second ends coupled to the electronic component (16), and a pattern selected from a plurality of predetermined patterns. A layer of adhesive (28) is over the first side of the substrate (26) and bonds the first side of the substrate (26) to the electronic component (16) with the conductive path (22) sandwiched there between.
US09224279B2

A monitoring device that is capable of setting both of the tour monitoring time and the unmoving object monitoring time without restriction. A tour monitoring unit causes an image pickup unit to perform a tour monitoring. An unmoving object monitoring unit performs an unmoving object detection process and an unmoving object determination process at positions subjected to the tour monitoring. A control unit performs a control such that the tour monitoring is performed at a position different from the position where the unmoving object detection process is performed after the unmoving object detection process is performed and the unmoving object determination process is performed after the tour monitoring is performed at the different position.
US09224265B2

A gaming system for providing a multiple round offer and acceptance game with a multi-component offers. In various embodiments, the offer and acceptance game is a multi-round offer and acceptance game, wherein the player's decisions during one or more rounds of the offer and acceptance game determine, at least in part, whether the player will play or participate in each of the subsequent rounds of the offer and acceptance game. In these embodiments, for each played round of the offer and acceptance game, the gaming system enables the player to accept or reject one or more different offers which have different award values and also contribute different amounts toward terminating the play of the offer and acceptance game.
US09224263B2

Club cards and tickets can be eliminated by providing an application that allows a player's mobile phone to process an image of an optical machine-readable representation of data. At the end of a wagering session on a WGM, the WGM can display a barcode representing a player's winnings, an achievement, game status, etc. The player takes a picture of the barcode with his or her mobile phone. The application on the phone processes the barcode image and automatically updates an account of the player in accordance with the data represented or carried by the barcode. For instance, the mobile phone sends a request to a wagering account server to electronically deposit the winnings, as represented by the barcode, in a wagering account associated with the player's club profile.
US09224261B2

A gaming device incentivizes additional game play by combining payouts with conditional payouts. During game play, players are informed of the conditions, which must be satisfied so as to vest the conditional payouts. Subsequent game play is monitored to see if the player has satisfied the conditions. If the player has satisfied the conditions, then the conditional payout vests. If the condition is not met, then the conditional payout terminates.
US09224259B1

A method and system to host a computer-implemented multiplayer game includes functionality to identify and resolve conflicts resulting from asynchronous game play. Client system game state information that changes responsive to in-game actions performed on a client system is intermittently synchronized with authoritative game state information, during which the in-game actions may be validated. Actions that fail a prerequisite check based on the authoritative game state information are analyzed in automated fashion to determine whether they are redundant actions that fail the prerequisite check owing to their having been performed with respect to outdated client system game state information. One or more remedial actions are performed for respective redundant actions, e.g., by allowing the redundant action and modifying the game state, by restoring spent resources to affected players, or by disallowing both the redundant action and an associated preempting action.
US09224255B2

Provided are a vehicle configured such that if idling does not automatically stop, an in-vehicle display will occur immediately if a malfunction is the cause, thereby enabling a driver to have peace of mind and concentrate on driving, without giving the driver an unnecessary sense of unease; a vehicle diagnostic system therefor; and a vehicle diagnostic method. The vehicle comprises an idle stop error display unit provided corresponding to a specific ECU among a plurality of ECUs, and that indicates that an idle stop malfunction has occurred, being a malfunction corresponding to a second IS malfunction code, when a malfunction has occurred within a control target range for any among the plurality of ECUs, said malfunction recording the second IS malfunction code which does not cause the operation of a warning light requesting inspection or repair of an error that has occurred inside the vehicle.
US09224252B1

A method of diagnosing rationality of a humidity sensor output signal determines that the humidity sensor output signal has passed a rationality diagnostic if the output signal is changing sufficiently. If the output signal is not changing sufficiently, the method determines whether it should be changing sufficiently by whether a humidity capacity index determined based on temperature and pressure local to the humidity sensor is changing sufficiently. If the humidity capacity index is changing sufficiently and the humidity sensor output signal is not, the method determines that the humidity sensor output signal has failed a diagnostic check. Upon determining that the humidity sensor output signal has failed the diagnostic check a predetermined number of times, the method determines that the humidity sensor output signal has failed the rationality diagnostic.
US09224250B2

A method of removing a vehicle telematics unit from an invalid state includes sensing that the vehicle telematics unit wirelessly received an invalid state code that deactivates the communication function of the vehicle telematics unit from a base station of a wireless carrier system; determining at the vehicle telematics unit that a reset trigger applicable to invalid state codes has been activated; and commanding the vehicle telematics unit to reset the invalid state code when the reset trigger has been activated thereby permitting the vehicle telematics unit to resume its communication function.
US09224247B2

Provided is a three-dimensional object processing device which is configured to: project a three-dimensional object that is disposed in a virtual three-dimensional space onto each of a plurality of projection planes that are set in the virtual three-dimensional space to obtain projected objects; deform each of the projected objects in a corresponding one of the plurality of projection planes; and deform the three-dimensional object in the virtual three-dimensional space based on each of the projected objects, which have been deformed in the corresponding one of the plurality of projection planes.
US09224240B2

Information layering is provided in medical imaging. Two or more types of information are provided in one image. A three-dimensional surface is formed for two-dimensional scanning and/or imaging. The depth or third dimension is mapped to one type of data. Variation in values of this type of data causes variation in the surface away from flat. Data of another type is mapped to the surface, such that each location having a color or gray scale value based on the other type and a depth based on the one type. The surface is rendered using three-dimensional rendering to show the depth information even though both types of data represent a scanned plane. Stereoscopic viewing may allow the user to better visualize the depth information.
US09224236B2

A depiction of a three-dimensional object that is displayed using volume rendering is influenced. A representation of the object, in which values of a variable characterizing the object are given at spatial points of the object and in which color values are allocated to the variable during the course of rendering, is provided. A set of points defined in the space of representation of the object is input, and a distance from spatial points incorporated by the representation to the set of points is calculated. Color values allocated to spatial points are modified, or color values are determined according to the calculated distance. A depiction of the object by volume rendering is calculated using the representation of the object, the representation incorporating the modified or determined color values.
US09224233B2

An example method and system for blending textures of a composite image formed by a plurality of source images mapped onto a three dimensional model are presented. The composite image is projected to obtain an unblended projected image having textures. The textures are blended to obtain a blended projected image. Both the unblended and the blended projected images are backprojected onto the three dimensional model. A difference is determined between a pixel of the backprojected, blended image and a corresponding pixel of the backprojected, unblended image. The determined difference is then applied to a further corresponding pixel of the composite image to obtain a modified composite image representing a blending of the plurality of source images in the composite image.
US09224232B2

A stereoscopic image generation device that generates a stereoscopic image including a right-eye image and a left-eye image is provided. The stereoscopic image generation device includes an image enlarging/reducing unit that enlarges or reduces the right-eye image and the left-eye image which constitute stereoscopic image data, and a display control unit that performs control to display a stereoscopic image by showing the right-eye image and the left-eye image of the stereoscopic image data for a right eye and a left eye, respectively. The image enlarging/reducing unit enlarges or reduces the right-eye image and the left-eye image on the basis of parallax amount adjustment information, which includes a position of a right-eye-image reference point and a position of a left-eye-image reference point which are respectively provided at different positions for the right-eye image and the left-eye image, and enlargement ratios of the right-eye image and the left-eye image, with reference to the right-eye-image reference point and the left-eye-image reference point. Accordingly, a position in the depth direction can be easily controlled while adjusting a parallax.
US09224228B1

A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving an indication of a user selecting a selected portion of a piece of content for review on a display screen. A determination is made concerning whether the piece of content will fit within the display screen. If the piece of content will not fit within the display screen: a header portion of the piece of content is rendered within an upper portion of the display screen, and the selected portion of the piece of content is rendered within a main portion of the display screen.
US09224225B2

A data processing device in which, on a screen where an MS spectrum for a retention time designated by the analyst is displayed in the upper area and an MS2 spectrum for a precursor ion selected automatically based on the MS spectrum is displayed in the lower area, when an “On” button in a precursor parameter display selection frame in the top part is clicked, excluded ion and priority ion information for that retention time is collected and the m/z ranges and are displayed in a specified display color on the MS spectrum. As a result, it becomes possible to see at a glance whether the precursor ion indicated by upward arrow corresponds to an excluded ion or priority ion.
US09224223B2

Visual analytics using multivariate concentric rings with a visual start time mechanism includes displaying an interactive graph where the interactive graph has multiple concentric rings that have multiple cells that represent sequential time periods. The concentric rings form a time unit that starts at an origin and ends at a time unit end and also has a pre-nonorigin starting section and a post-nonorigin starting section. A color is displayed in the cells to represent measurements associated with time stamps corresponding to cells in the post-nonorigin starting section. Further, a background color is displayed in cells of the pre-nonorigin starting section. The cells in the pre-nonorigin starting section are reused by displaying a color to represent metrics associated with time stamps belonging to a subsequent time unit.
US09224222B2

Analytical functions to be applied to business intelligence data may be sequentially selected from a set of chips, each corresponding to a different function. A function associated with a selected chip may be applied to the business intelligence data and the selected chip may be added to an analysis path with other selected chips in a sequential order of selection. A result, which may include at least two selectable data points, may be displayed. Once a data point selection is made, the selection may be used to limit the functions associated with subsequently displayed chips to the selected data points. The chips listed in the analysis path may be used to change prior data point selections, the changes of which may be automatically propagated to any subsequently selected chips as indicated in the analysis path.
US09224218B2

Embodiments of a system and method for loading and rendering curved features in a map are described. Embodiments may include a map tool of a mapping or navigation application configured to generate a display for a map that includes one or more curved features (e.g., curved roads or curved polygons). The map tool may be executed in a client/server environment in which a server portion receives digitized map data in the form of polylines, detects a curved feature in the map data by fitting it to a parametric curve, and transmits data representing the parametric curve to a client device for subsequent rendering. The client device may render the curved feature using the received parametric curve data or, dependent on characteristics of the client device, extract data corresponding to points on the parametric curve to generate a triangle mesh for rendering the curved feature at a suitable resolution.
US09224217B2

Methods, program products, and systems for analytical charting are described. A system implementing analytical charting techniques can receive a selection input from a data view displaying data retrieved from a database table. The system can determine a context of the selection input, a data environment in which the selection input is received, and characteristics of data being selected. Based on the context, the data environment, and the characteristics, the system can generate a chart data grouping that specifies a relationship between data in a chart. The system can automatically specify one or more data series for the chart based on the chart data grouping. The system can generate chart parameters automatically and transparently to the user. The system can provide the system-generated chart parameters for display and allow user modification to the system-generated chart parameters. The system can then generate a chart using the chart parameters.
US09224216B2

A medical imaging apparatus, processing device or specialized circuit can include an input interface to input scan data of a medical image scan of a target object, a processor to generate an output image from the input scan data, and an output interface to output the output image to, e.g., a display. The processor can execute a first reconstruction of the scan data to obtain an intermediate image of the target object, a high-density forward projection of the intermediate object to obtain generated data, a sinogram updating using both of the generated data and the scan data to obtain a high-resolution sinogram, and a second reconstruction based on the high-resolution sinogram to obtain an output image.
US09224214B2

A method of decoding an image includes the steps of restoring a residual value by performing inverse quantization and inverse transform on the residual value by entropy decoding a received bit stream, generating a prediction unit by performing intra prediction selectively using one of a plurality of prediction modes on a prediction unit split by conducting at least one of asymmetric partitioning and geometrical partitioning, and restoring an image by adding the residual value to the prediction unit. It may be possible to enhance encoding efficiency of high-resolution images having a resolution of HD or higher by performing intra prediction on the asymmetric partitioning and/or geometrical partitioning.
US09224205B2

A reference in an unknown environment is generated on the fly for positioning and tracking. The reference is produced in a top down process by capturing an image of a planar object with a predefined geometric shape, detecting edge pixels of the planar object, then detecting a plurality of line segments from the edge pixels. The plurality of line segments may then be used to detect the planar object in the image based on the predefined geometric shape. An initial pose of the camera with respect to the planar object is determined and tracked using the edges of the planar object.
US09224204B2

First and second images obtained from first and second imaging modalities, respectively, are set as a target image and an object image, respectively. The object image is segmented into one or more anatomic segments. Each segment is associated with a respective anatomic class. At least one attribute is assigned to at least one of the anatomic segments based on the anatomic class corresponding to said at least one anatomic segment. A registration is performed with the object image and the target image, wherein the registration is constrained by the assigned attribute(s).
US09224195B2

Disclosed are methods and apparatus for inspecting a photolithographic reticle. A stream of defect data is received from a reticle inspection system, wherein the defect data identifies a plurality of defects that were detected for a plurality of different portions of the reticle. Before reviewing the defect data to determine whether the reticle passes inspection and as the stream of defect data continues to be received, some of the defects are automatically grouped with other most recently one or more received defects so as form groups of substantially matching defects. Before reviewing the defect data to determine whether the reticle passes inspection and after all of the defect data for the reticle is received, one or more of the groups of defects that have a number above a predetermined threshold are automatically filtered from the defect data so as to form filtered defect data. The filtered defect data may then be provided to a review station for determining whether the reticle passes.
US09224192B2

The processing of remote sensing data, wherein first image data are processed with the use of second digital image data which, compared with the first image data, have a finer local resolution. The local resolution of the first digital image data is refined temporarily. The local resolution and every pixel of the temporarily refined first image data corresponds to the local resolution and each pixel of the second digital image data. Determining a weighting value for the pixels of the second digital image data which corresponds to a weighting of a image value of the pixel in the ratio of the image value of the pixel to image values of surrounding pixels. A smoothing of the local plot of the image values in the area of the pixel and its environment is implemented such that the weighting value of larger values is based on additional smoothing of image values.
US09224185B2

Disclosed are a valuable-file identifying method and an identifying device thereof. The identifying method and the identifying device store image data of a valuable file using a fast storage method for image data. The fast storage method for image data comprises: compulsively converting collected single-byte image data into long-integer image data; using N data masks which correspond to each other through a “bitwise AND” operation to extract the long-integer image data in such a manner that N points are extracted from M*N points in each line and one point is extracted from L points in each column, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, L and M are all integers greater than or equal to 1; and integrating the data extracted respectively by N data masks through a “bitwise OR” operation to obtain coded image data and store same. In conclusion, the present invention converts single-byte image data into long-integer image data, and extracts multipoint data at one time using a plurality of data masks which correspond to each other, reducing the number of operations, and achieving fast, compressed storage of images.
US09224177B2

Disclosed herein are: systems capable of searching, receiving and conglomerating the data from real estate databases of varying formats, and translating that received into a common format; execution of pre-defined translation rules referencing data tags used within the system or the originating databases; rules constructed in a simple, hierarchical or a class-based structure whereby one rule depends upon the output of another rule for its input; data sources prioritized or merged where the same property-related information is presented in more than one source; map definitions containing rule sets crafted for a particular use, such as for a particular consumer or user; such systems used in the course of real estate appraisals, in property search reports, extending across databases of differing formats. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
US09224170B2

A sales system supports sales between a plurality of buyers and a plurality of sellers in a communication network. A sales server has a seller interface used by both a first seller and a second seller respectively via a first seller's computer and a second seller's computer to register availability for sale of a first product and a second product. The sales server, based upon received buyer input from an identified buyer via a buyer computer that includes buyer orders for the first product and the second product dispenses a first sales order to the first seller's computer for the first product and a second sales order to the second seller's computer for the second product. The sales server provides instructions to the first seller's computer for fulfillment of the first sales order and to the second sales computer for the fulfillment of the second sales order.
US09224167B2

A system and method for searching for and/or purchasing multiple items on the Internet is provided. The system identifies a plurality of purchasing alternatives based on predetermined criteria and allows the consumer to select from among the purchasing alternatives to purchase the desired items.
US09224166B2

A system for accessing product information from embedded sensors via mobile device video analysis is disclosed. The system includes a processing device configured for analyzing a video stream of the surrounding environment captured on a mobile device. At least one product that has one or more embedded sensors associated therewith is identified within the surrounding environment. The system retrieves information associated with the one or more products from the one or more embedded sensors. Information retrieved, or information derived from the information retrieved, from the embedded sensors is presented to the user via a display of the video stream on the mobile device.
US09224159B2

An Internet-oriented advertising exchange controller presents website content in a plurality of frames as well as support search criteria and other flexible forms of inventory formatting and delivery. Applications include Internet protocol request coordination or relay, cooperative frame based or interstitial advertising, and support for a local search or dataless metasearch system. The controller operates in a cookieless environment, has logic to protect advertiser's investment from AutoSurf equivalent systems, and protects against other inappropriate stimuli including denial of service or IP blast attacks.As such, an advertiser's credits are affected only by human stimuli. Communication with and among exchange controllers for sharing or delivering information about inventory occurs by a number of protocols with optional encryption. The controller provides a foundation for a robust, advertiser protective, web based advertising and network search system with economic support by use of unstoppable framesets, and ultimately frame-based advertising and presentation methods.
US09224156B2

A video preparation system is described. The system includes an event detector, a viewer identification, a selector, a video synthesis module, and a communications module. The event detector may be configured to detect an event associated with a main video content. The viewer identification module may be configured to determine an identification of a viewer associated with the event and to obtain information about the viewer. The selector may be configured to select additional video content that could be presented with the main video content. The video synthesis module may be configured to modify, in real time, the video content to produce a resulting content based on the information about the viewer. The communications module may be configured to provide the resulting content to a play-out server, the resulting content suitable for streaming via the Internet to a client computer system associated with the viewer.
US09224151B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system, and media for presenting advertisements (or other information) based on user interaction with a web page. One embodiment of the method includes determining that programmatic code that describes the web page is to be dynamically modified before it is to be presented on a display device. The method further includes identifying remotely stored supplemental information that is associated with the web page. The supplemental information includes a listing of words on the web page that are to be considered key words which key words are to be associated with descriptive terms that relate to the key words. The descriptive terms might even be generated after a rendering of the web page as well as before. Additional supplemental information might include a listing of triggering events that are associated with different objects of the web page (such as key words, text boxes, etc.) such that if an object is interacted with in a predetermined way, then some action is to follow. The method additionally includes modifying the programmatic code of the web page according to the supplemental information, observing a triggering event, gathering descriptive words associated with the occurrence of the event trigger, communicating the appropriate descriptive words so as to return fresh advertising content, and without obscuring an initial content of the web page, presenting information based on the advertising content.
US09224148B2

A system to manage prize accumulation and distribution includes an interface to receive publication data from a publishing user. The publication data is to be published by the computer system. The interface further receives a prize contribution value, at the computer system and from the publishing user, in exchange for the presentation of an opportunity to win a cumulative prize. The opportunity to win the cumulative prize is to be presented by the computer system in conjunction with the publication of the publication data. A publication module is to electronically publish the publication data on behalf of the publishing user, and is to electronically present the opportunity to win the cumulative prize in conjunction with the publication of the publication data. A prize processing module is to calculate a value of the cumulative prize, based on a cumulative contribution of prize contribution values received from a plurality of publishing users.
US09224146B2

A system, apparatus, method and computer programming for monitoring security of a payment terminal is described. There is provided monitoring of one or more security parameters associated with the payment terminal; detecting any violation of any one of the security parameters; classifying the detected any violation of the one or more of the security parameters into a classification; transmitting data regarding the any violation of the one or more of the security parameters, including the classification thereof, to a centralized terminal management server. If the any detected violation of the one or more of the security parameters is classified as potential fraudulent activity, there is also provided one or more security actions in response to the any detected violation of the one or more of the security parameters.
US09224145B1

A system for tracking copyright compliance comprises a database, the database including unique identifiers for a plurality of content capture devices. The unique identifiers may be obtained from devices prior to the presentation of protectable content, for example, by pre-registration during the process of obtaining a ticket to a performance or at a security checkpoint at an event. The unique identifiers may be associated with a copyright policy pertaining to content at the event. Each device may embed its unique identifier in content captured by the device, such as via a watermark. Software may obtain data embedded in content and access the database to determine the copyright status of the content by sending a request including data identifying the capture device. If content is obtained from an unauthorized source, the content may be traced back to a specific device.
US09224144B2

Described in an example embodiment herein is an apparatus comprising an input device and a processor communicatively coupled with the input device. The processor employs asymmetric encryption to provision the input device with a terminal master key. The processor employs the terminal master key with a symmetric encryption algorithm to transfer a communication key to the input device. The processor obtains data representative of a financial account. The processor receives data representative of the personal identification number for authorizing a financial transaction with the financial account from the input device, the data representative of the personal identification number is encrypted with the communication key. The processor receives a request for a financial transaction associated with the financial account via the input device. The processor determines whether the financial transaction is authorized based on the data representative of the personal identification number received from the input device.
US09224139B2

A payment terminal and a host computer system are configured to provide human-readable messaging capability with a person at an external location outside of a financial infrastructure. A payment terminal at a point of sale may be used to cause human-readable message content to be forwarded to the person by the host computer system, either automatically or at the instigation of an operator of the payment terminal. Message content from the person may be delivered to the payment terminal for display to the operator. The person at the external location may be able to retrieve information stored in the payment terminal via standard communication channels. The system also provides a mechanism for exchanging messages between payment terminals.
US09224129B2

A system and methodology, for use by a plurality of users working on a common project that has an associated display. The system is comprised of a plurality of display computing appliances, each associated with a respective one of at least two users of a plurality of users. Layer storage and control logic is comprised of memory structured as at least two separate respective data layers of data storage for associative storage of user (image) data mapped to the respective user providing the respective input. Each said separate respective data layer of data storage is comprised of respective user data associated with a respective user of the plurality of users. Each of the display apparatus is responsive to the layer storage and control logic, for providing a respective said display presentation for viewing by the respective one of the at least two users. The respective said display presentation provides at least a common portion of the display presentation for concurrently viewing by the at least two users, at the respective said display computing appliances. Input logic provides for input of respective user data representative of respective edit (annotations) input, by each respective one of the at least two users, provided responsive to a respective user input by the respective one of the at least two users while the respective one of the at least two users is concurrently viewing the respective said display presentation.
US09224128B2

Disclosed are various embodiments for facilitating data synchronization in a utility computing environment. A data synchronization application can monitor source systems in such an environment and generate periodic change sets that correspond to data that has changed in the various source systems. Destination systems can subscribe to change sets and receive the appropriate change sets by monitoring flags that the data synchronization application can set. Various classes of change sets that correspond to data within a particular change set can also be generated.
US09224124B2

An item storage and tracking unit for holding a plurality of discrete items may include a housing including a plurality of receptacles positioned therein and defining a plurality of associated inner areas. A signal emitting device is associated with at least one item and configured to emit a signal. At least one movement sensor and/or at least one weight sensor may be associated with each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles. At least one signal receiving arrangement is associated with each receptacle and configured to scan at least a portion of the inner area of the associated receptacle for the signal emitted from the signal emitting device associated with the at least one item. The scan is initiated at least partly in response to a determination by the at least one movement sensor, the at least one weight sensor, and/or an antenna associated with the associated receptacle.
US09224118B2

This disclosure relates to dynamic display of content consumption by geographic location. A recognition component recognizes content being consumed by a set of users, and identifies geographic locations of the consumption and a set of characteristics associated with the consumption. An aggregation component ranks the consumed content based on a subset of the characteristics associated with the consumption, and a display component generates a map displaying subsets of the consumed content as a function of respective rankings and geographic location.
US09224113B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to systems, methods and computer program products for transaction queuing. In some embodiments, a system is configured to: receive information associated with an intended transaction, wherein a user will execute the intended transaction at a facility at a user-defined time; determine preliminary work associated with the intended transaction that can be performed prior to the user-defined time; and perform the preliminary work associated with the intended transaction. The preliminary work is placed on a transaction queue until the user arrives at the facility.
US09224107B2

Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method of managing customizing settings in a business structured interface is to be initiated. The method includes presenting a plurality of business process types to a user. Each of the business process types includes a plurality of business document types. First user input selecting a set of business process types is received. The first user input triggers for each selected business process type activation of features in an application program. In response to the first selection, the plurality of business document types associated with the selected business process type are presented. Second user input selecting a set of business document types is received. The second user input triggers activation of features in the application program. The application program is launched, wherein the features are activated and available during the operation of the application program.
US09224099B2

Values of quantum bits used for a quantum computer is stabilized and the number of quantum bits per element is set to be 100 or more while ensuring quantum state stability during calculation of the quantum bits, quantum state controllability, and capability of achieving large-scale integration of quantum bits. Quantum calculation is performed as generating a spin vortex 6 centered on each hole 4 formed at a copper oxide superconductor thin film 3 by applying a magnetic field to a quantum bit substrate 1 having the copper oxide superconductor thin film 3 at which a plurality of the holes 4 are doped and irradiating an electromagnetic wave 19 containing quantum calculation data to the quantum bit substrate 1 in a state that a clockwise loop current 5 or a counterclockwise loop current 5 is generated in accordance with a position of each hole 4 and each spin vortex 6.
US09224096B2

A portable item reporting device (200) is configured to be attached to and in substantial collocation with a portable item (100), or to be integrated into a portable item (100). The device (200) includes environmental sensors (210) to monitor item location, movement, ambient light, sounds, temperature, etc. The device (200) is configured to store usage expectation data (600) indicative of historical and/or expected item usage and environments when the item (100) is in normal use/storage associated with an authorized user (AU). The device (200) monitors current environmental conditions (104) surrounding and pertaining to the item. If the current environment (104) is inconsistent with expected conditions (600), the device (200) assesses that the item (100) is displaced (503.0), meaning either that the item (100) is in abnormal use or abnormal storage, or is under the control of an unauthorized user (UU) who is other than the authorized user (AU). Based on the assessment the device initiates a signal (372) or message (374) to an authorized user (AU) of the item (100), indicating that the item (100) usage/storage is displaced (503.0) or otherwise anomalous (503.2).
US09224091B2

A circuit is provided for that includes one or more TCAM arrays including one or more matchlines configured to model a neural network. Each of the one or more TCAM arrays models a connected group of neurons such that input search data into the one or more matchlines is modeled as neuron dendrite information, and the output from the one or more matchlines is modeled as neuron axon information. The circuit further includes one or more additional bits included within each of the one or more matchlines that are configured to model connectivity strength between each neuron dendrite and axon. The circuit also includes a real-time learning block included within each of the one or more TCAM arrays configured to modify the connectivity strength between each neuron dendrite and axon using wild-cards written and stored in the one or more additional bits.
US09224089B2

Certain aspects of the present disclosure support a technique for adaptive bit-allocation in neural systems. Bit-allocation for neural signals and parameters in a neural network described in the present disclosure may comprise for a plurality of synapse circuits in the neural simulator network, dynamically allocating a number of bits to the neural circuit signals based on at least one characteristic of one or more neural potential in the neural simulator network; and for the plurality of synapse circuits in the neural simulator network, dynamically allocating a number of bits to at least one neural processing parameter of the synapse circuit based on at least one condition of the neural simulator network.
US09224082B2

The invention relates to a luminescent composition comprising a component which can be excited by infrared (IR) radiation and a component which can be excited by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The composition has a characteristic emission spectrum and may optionally be used together with a reading system adapted to the emission spectrum in order to mark substances or mixtures of substances.
US09224067B1

Described is a cyber security system for digital artifact genetic modeling and forensic analysis. The system identifies the provenance (origin) of a digital artifact by first receiving a plurality of digital artifacts, each digital artifact possessing features. Raw features are extracted from the digital artifacts. The raw features are classified into descriptive genotype-phonotype structures. Finally, lineage, heredity, and provenance of the digital artifacts are determined based on mapping of the genotype-phenotype structures.
US09224066B2

One exemplary embodiment involves receiving, at a computing device comprising a processor, a test image having a candidate object and a set of object images detected to depict a similar object as the test image. The embodiment involves localizing the object depicted in each one of the object images based on the candidate object in the test image to determine a location of the object in each respective object image and then generating a validation score for the candidate object in the test image based at least in part on the determined location of the object in the respective object image and known location of the object in the same respective object image. The embodiment also involves computing a final detection score for the candidate object based on the validation score that indicates a confidence level that the object in the test image is located as indicated by the candidate object.
US09224065B2

A character-recognition device and method for imaging a character string, generating a grayscale image that corresponds to the character string, cutting out, from the grayscale image, individual characters in the character string, obtaining a coincidence of a character image that is being focused on for each of model images of a plurality of kinds of characters by sequentially focusing on cut-out character images to match the cut-out character images against the model images, and recognizing characters corresponding to the cut-out character images based on each coincidence.
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