US09225376B2

A non-transitory computer-readable medium can include instructions for performing a method that includes docking a mobile device with a docking station using at least one physical connection and at least one wireless connection to provide communication between the mobile device and the docking station. One of the physical or wireless connections can be selected for providing a signaling channel for communication of signaling data between the mobile device and the docking station. Independently of the signaling channel, one of the physical or wireless connections can be selected for providing a media channel for communication of media data between the mobile device and the docking station.
US09225373B2

A frequency translation module for a broadband multi-channel communication system may include an analog signal converter, a digital channel selection device, and a digital-to-analog (D/A) converter. The analog signal converter is configured to receive a plurality of analog signals, to select analog signals residing in a predefined frequency band, and to convert each of the selected analog signals into a digital signal. The digital channel selection device is configured to process digital signals corresponding to the selected analog signals and to generate a composite output of digital signals representative of the selected analog signals. The D/A converter is configured to translate the composite output to an analog signal output decodable by a receiver. Further, the frequency translation module may include a mixer configured to upconvert the analog signal output to a frequency decodable by the receiver.
US09225368B2

An output signal is developed. A periodic time segment sequence having a multiple ordered time segments is defined. The periodic time segment sequence is repeated. A plurality of sets of signal values are provided to an output, thereby generating the output signal. Each set of signal values is provided during a different ordered time segment than each other set. Each signal value of a set is provided during a different repetition of the periodic time segment sequence. Each set of signal values, in sequence, has statistical dependence with at least one other set of signal values, in sequence.
US09225363B2

The present disclosure provides a digital pre-distortion transmitter and a method for controlling the same, which increase the efficiency of the power amplifier and improve the linearity of the transmitter. The digital pre-distortion transmitter includes: a pre-distortion unit configured to update a pre-distortion coefficient required by pre-distortion processing, and perform the pre-distortion processing on a baseband signal; a signal process and transmit unit configured to perform signal processing on the pre-distortion-processed baseband signal and transmission thereof; and a feedback signal process unit configured to process a feedback signal of the signal transmitted by the signal process and transmit unit, so as to supply a dynamic drain voltage to a power amplifier in the signal process and transmit unit by using the processed feedback signal; and, the pre-distortion unit updates the pre-distortion coefficient by using the feedback signal processed by the feedback signal process unit.
US09225362B2

A power supply for a radio frequency (RF) power amplifier that amplifies an RF input signal into an RF output signal and a method of operation in the power supply. The power supply comprises a first power converter to convert an input voltage to the power supply into a first supply voltage of the RF power amplifier. The power supply comprises a second power converter to receive the input voltage and the first supply voltage and to selectively convert either the input voltage or the first supply voltage into at least a portion of a second supply voltage of the RF power amplifier.
US09225358B2

Provided is an LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code for terrestrial cloud broadcast. A method of encoding input information based on an LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) includes receiving information and encoding the input information with an LDPC codeword using a parity check matrix, wherein the parity check matrix may have a structure obtained by combining a first parity check matrix for an LDPC code having a higher code rate than a reference value with a second parity check matrix for an LDPC code having a lower code rate than the reference value.
US09225351B2

In one embodiment, a current amplifier circuit includes a first transistor, a first resistor, a second transistor, a second resistor, a first passive element, and a control circuit. The first transistor has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The first resistor has one end connected to the first terminal of the first transistor. The second transistor has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a control terminal. The second resistor has one end connected to the first terminal of the second transistor. The first passive element is connected between the first terminals of the first transistor and the second transistor. The control circuit controls at least one of voltage at the control terminals of the first transistor and the second transistor such that the voltage at the other end of the first resistor becomes equal to the voltage at the other end of the second resistor.
US09225347B2

An oscillator configured to obtain a frequency output corresponding to a frequency setting value includes: an oscillation circuit portion that receives the frequency setting value; a setting value output portion that outputs a digital value for designating the frequency setting value; an interpolation circuit portion that performs interpolation for a digital value of lower-order bits out of the digital value output from the setting value output portion; and an adder that adds an output of the interpolation circuit portion and a digital value of higher-order bits out of the digital value output from the setting value output portion, wherein a signal output from the interpolation circuit portion is sequential data having first and second values different from each other, and output counts of the first and second values are determined based on a ratio corresponding to the digital value of the lower-order bits.
US09225344B2

A method of aligning clock signals in multiple transceiver channels on an integrated circuit may include adjusting a slave clock signal at a slave transceiver channel based on a master clock signal received from a master transceiver channel. A clock generation circuit and/or a delay circuit in the slave transceiver channel may be used to adjust the slave clock signal to produce an intermediate slave clock signal. The master clock signal may be adjusted based on the intermediate slave clock signal received at the master transceiver channel to obtain a total adjustment value. The phase of the intermediate slave clock signal may further be adjusted at the slave transceiver channel based on the total adjustment made at the master transceiver channel.
US09225343B2

An electronics device is disclosed that reduces latency resulting from communication between a first electronics component operating based on a fast clock and a second electronics component operating based on a slow clock reduces communication latency. When transferring the data from the first component to the second, the data is written into a buffer using the first clock, and then extracted by the second component using the second clock. Alternatively, when transferring the data from the second component to the first component, the first component reads the data from the second component and monitors whether the data was extracted during a relevant edge of the second clock signal, in which case the first component again extracts the data from the second component.
US09225331B2

A device including first and second semiconductor chips, each of first and second semiconductor chips including first to M-th penetration electrodes, M being an integer equal to or greater than 3, each of the first to M-th penetration electrodes penetrating through a semiconductor substrate, and the first semiconductor chip including a first input circuit coupled to the M-th penetration electrode of the first semiconductor chip at an input node thereof, the first and second semiconductor chips being stacked with each other in which the first to M-th penetration electrodes of the second semiconductor chip are vertically arranged respectively with the first to M-th penetration electrodes of the first semiconductor chip, in which the first to (M−2)-th penetration electrodes of the second semiconductor chip are electrically coupled to the second to (M−1)-th penetration electrodes of the first semiconductor chip, respectively.
US09225326B2

A voltage controlled switching element gate drive circuit makes it possible to suppress an occurrence of a malfunction, while suppressing surge voltage, surge current, and switching noise, when switching in a voltage controlled switching element. A gate drive circuit that supplies a gate voltage to the gate of a voltage controlled switching element, thus driving the voltage controlled switching element, includes a high potential side switching element and low potential side switching element connected in series, first variable resistors interposed between at least the high potential side switching element and a high potential power supply or the low potential side switching element and a low potential power supply, and a control circuit that adjusts the resistance values of the first variable resistors.
US09225320B1

A circuit includes a voltage-to-current converter receives a first voltage and a second voltage and outputs a first current and a second current in accordance with a clock signal. A first self-gated cascode circuit receives the first current and outputs a third current in accordance with the clock signal. A second self-gated cascode circuit receives the second current and outputs a fourth current in accordance with the clock signal. A latch circuit receives the third current and the fourth current and establishes a third voltage and a fourth voltage representing a resolution of a comparison between the third current and the fourth current, wherein the first self-gated cascode circuit is conditionally shut off based on a level of the third voltage, and the second self-gated cascode circuit is conditionally shut off based on a level of the fourth voltage.
US09225317B1

A level shifter operates using first and second input signals. When the first and second input signals are in respective first and second states, a first switching element is activated and an output node is pulled toward a first voltage, first pull-down protection and first pull-down switching elements are deactivated, a first protection node is connected to a first bias voltage, second pull-down protection and second pull-down switching elements are activated, and a second protection node is pulled to a second voltage. When the first and second input signals are in respective second and first states, the first switching element is deactivated, the first pull-down protection and first pull-down switching elements are activated, the output node and the first protection node are pulled toward the second voltage, the second pull-down protection and second pull-down switching elements are deactivated, and the second protection node is connected to the first bias voltage.
US09225316B2

A duty cycle correction circuit includes a clock adjustment unit configured to adjust a duty ratio of an input clock signal in response to a duty control signal and generate an output clock signal, a tracking type setting unit configured to generate an tracking type selection signal for setting a first or second tracking type based on a duty locking state of the output clock signal, and a control signal generation unit configured to generate the duty control signal, into which the first or second tracking type is incorporated, in response to the tracking type selection signal and the output clock signal.
US09225314B2

A piezoelectric resonating element includes a piezoelectric substrate that includes a rectangular vibrating section and a thick section integrally formed with the vibrating section, excitation electrodes, and lead electrodes. The thick section includes a first thick section and a second thick section of which one end is formed continuous to the first thick section. The first thick section includes a first inclined section of which the thickness changes and a first thick section main body of a quadrangle column shape, and at least one slit is provided in the first thick section.
US09225306B2

Methods, systems and devices are provided for controlling a wearable device. Embodiments include receiving a facial movement indication from a facial movement detector measured contemporaneously with an input audio signal. Additionally, whether a first movement pattern associated with the wearer speaking is a movement match to the facial movement indication may be determined. In this way, a speaking gain profile may be applied to the input audio signal for generating an augmented audio segment in response to determining the first movement pattern is the movement match to the facial movement indication. Thus, the augmented audio segment may be output.
US09225305B2

Systems and methods for providing bass compensation to correct for uneven bass response are disclosed. An example bass compensation system includes a low pass filter configured to receive an audio signal from an audio source and provide a filtered audio signal, the low pass filter having a roll off of at least 18 dB per octave. The bass compensation system further includes a summing amplifier coupled to the low pass filter and configured to sum the audio signal from said audio source and the filtered audio signal to provide a summed audio signal, wherein the summed audio signal provided by the summing amplifier provides a bass boost at a first frequency and mid bass cut at a second frequency greater than the first frequency.
US09225299B2

A method and generator for modifying interactions between a load and the generator are described. The method includes applying output power to the load using a power amplifier, controlling a level of the output power responsive to a power control setting, and adjusting a conduction angle of the power amplifier to reduce a level of sensitivity of the power amplifier to variations of an impedance of the load. The generator includes a compensation subsystem coupled to the power amplifier that controls a conduction angle of the power amplifier to enable a sensitivity of the power amplifier to be adjusted.
US09225297B2

A protection module (4) for a RF-amplifier (2) is efficient against overvoltage due to load impedance mismatch when said RF-amplifier is connected to a load RF-element (3). The protection module comprises a branch with at least one diode-like operating component (D1, D2, . . . , Dn) and a resistor (R2) which starts conducting when a RF-signal on a transmission link (6) between the RF-amplifier and the load RF-element is higher than a threshold set by the diode-like operating component. Such protection may be implemented in MOS technology only.
US09225288B2

A signal generation circuit includes a limiter and a mixer. The limiter receives an input signal, allows the input signal to be off a scale at a limit voltage, and generates a phase signal indicating a phase component of the input signal. The mixer receives the input signal and the phase signal, and generates an amplitude signal indicating an amplitude component of the input signal.
US09225287B2

An oscillator has an oscillation portion that generates oscillatory electric signals due to a magnetization motion; and a first electric circuit that is connected in parallel to the oscillation portion. A current whose magnitude oscillates flows to the first electric circuit, and the first electric circuit is arranged such that a magnetic field generated by the current is applied to the oscillation portion.
US09225286B1

A photovoltaic system is disclosed having individual micro-inverters associated with each solar panel. The individual micro-inverters are easily installed without the aid of tools by snap locking a micro-inverter into place upon heat barriers mounted to and separated from the solar panels. When a micro-inverter is snapped into place it automatically electrically engages contacts from the solar panels mounted on the heat barriers. AC trunk cables pass through uni-strut channels along the backs of the solar panels. Flat jumper output cables from the micro-inverters fit adjacent the AC trunk cables within the uni-strut channels where a snap fit electrical connection is made, in a protected environment.
US09225269B2

A vehicle includes an engine, an EHC (electrical heated catalyst), a first MG (motor generator) generating a counter electromotive force at the time of vehicle collision, a battery, a PCU (power control unit) having a converter and an inverter performing power conversion between the battery and the first MG, and an ECU. The PCU is connected to the battery through an SMR (system main relay). The EHC is connected between the converter and the inverter through EHC relay. The ECU determines whether or not vehicle collision has occurred. When the vehicle collision has occurred, the ECU opens the SMR to electrically separate the battery and the PCU and closes the EHC relay to electrically connect the EHC and the first MG, so that the counter electromotive force generated in the first MG at the time of vehicle collision is consumed at the EHC.
US09225268B2

An electric vehicle drive system includes an electric-vehicle power conversion device, and an earth ground switch that is a triple-pole single-throw switch having a switching contact unit. The electric-vehicle power conversion device includes a smoothing circuit unit that includes a filter capacitor that receives and stores therein power supplied from an overhead wire, an inverter that converts a DC voltage of the smoothing circuit unit into an AC voltage to drive an electric motor, and a brake chopper circuit that consumes excess power, which cannot be returned toward the overhead wire. A brake resistance in the brake chopper circuit is connected to the switching contact unit. When the switching contact unit is closed, the brake resistance is electrically connected between the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the filter capacitor.
US09225260B2

A power supply circuit includes a rectifier, a charging circuit, and a storage capacitor. An AC signal is rectified by the rectifier thereby generating a rectified signal VR between a VR node and a GND node. The capacitor is coupled between an output voltage VO node and the GND node. If VR is greater than a first predetermined voltage VP then the VO node is decoupled from the VR node. If VR is below VP then the charging circuit supplies a substantially constant charging current from the VR node, through the charging circuit, to the VO node, and to the capacitor, provided that VO on the capacitor is below a second predetermined voltage VO(MAX) and provided that VR is adequately high with respect to VO. Due to the charging current, the voltage VO on the storage capacitor is restored to the desired second predetermined voltage.
US09225257B2

A power supply circuit (1) including: rectifying and smoothing circuit (31); transistor (switching element) (37) connected to an output terminal of the rectifying and smoothing circuit (31); transformer (TF1) including primary coil (L36) connected to the transistor (37) and secondary coil (L47) magnetically coupled with the primary coil (L36); current detector circuit (41) detecting current flowing through the transistor (37), and outputting voltage corresponding to the current; voltage output circuit (44) outputting, while the transistor (37) is in a turned-on state, voltage dependent on voltage induced by the secondary coil (L47); and on-off control circuit (57) turning off the transistor (37) when absolute value (Vbe) of a difference between the voltage from the current detector circuit (41) and the voltage from the voltage output circuit (44) is no smaller than threshold voltage (Von), and turning on the transistor (37) when the absolute value (Vbe) is smaller than the threshold voltage (Von).
US09225253B2

A switching linear amplifier has a DC-DC converter to increase a low input DC voltage to a first high voltage DC. A high voltage high frequency inverter is coupled to the DC-DC converter to generate high voltage pulses. A multistage voltage multiplier is coupled to the high voltage high frequency inverter to generate a second high voltage DC. A controlled charge and discharge circuit is coupled to the multistage voltage multiplier to drive a capacitive load.
US09225249B2

A system including an alarm device, the alarm device further includes a switch mode buck converter, a capacitor that is charged by the buck converter, a boost converter that powers an output device primarily from energy drawn from the capacitor and circuitry coupled to the buck converter and boost converter, wherein the buck converter charges the capacitor with a relatively constant current and wherein the circuitry dynamically adjusts an instantaneous duty cycle of the buck converter to achieve the constant current based upon a power setting of the output device.
US09225248B2

A synchronous direct current (DC)-DC buck converter and a method of controlling the waveforms of switching signals disclosed herein. The synchronous DC-DC buck converter generates a stepped-down output voltage using a first switch configured to apply an input voltage to an inductor and a second switch configured to switch in response to a second switching signal. The synchronous DC-DC buck converter includes a sawtooth generation unit, a driver oscillating signal generation unit, a switching signal generation unit, and a phase tracking unit. The sawtooth generation unit generates a sawtooth wave. The driver oscillating signal generation unit generates an error voltage between the output voltage and a reference voltage, and compares the sawtooth wave with the error voltage, so as to generate a driver oscillating signal. The switching signal generation unit generates each of the first and second switching signals. The phase tracking unit generates the frequency setting signal.
US09225233B2

Aspects of the invention include a power conversion device control device, including multiple drive circuits having an alarm signal formation circuit that sets a pulse signal having as one cycle a period. The one cycle period includes a determination period, of which a different period is set for each of plural protection circuits that detect information for carrying out a protection operation of semiconductor elements configuring a power conversion device, and a constant period, in which a condition varies with respect to the determination period, takes a protection circuit for which it is first detected that a protection operation is necessary to be a first-come first-served protection circuit, and outputs the pulse signal corresponding to the first-come first-served protection circuit as an alarm signal, wherein the alarm signal formation circuit is such that a resetting condition of the alarm signal is a condition that a protection operation stopped condition.
US09225225B2

An electrical machine includes a stator having a stator winding and a secondary transformer coil. A rotor is operatively connected to rotate relative to the stator, wherein the rotor includes a plurality of embedded permanent magnets. A primary transformer coil is wound on the rotor and is operatively connected to form a rotating transformer with the secondary transformer coil. An inverter/active rectifier component is operatively connected to the stator winding and the secondary transformer coil to control the stator winding based on a sense in the secondary transformer coil received from the primary transformer coil.
US09225210B2

A rotor for an electric rotating machine includes a core body member formed, first and second end plates provided at respective side faces of the core body member, and a fixing member inserted into through holes provided at the core body member and the end plates. The end plates include positioning portions at an outer or inner circumferential surface, wherein when the fixing member is engaged with the end plates, the positioning portion is engageable with positioning receive portions corresponding to the positioning portions and positioning at radially outer or inner portion of the end plate. When one of the end plates is placed facing the side face of the core body member in a reversed state, the end plate and the core body member are not assembled each other by positional relationship between the positioning portions, the positioning receive portions and the through holes.
US09225207B2

Teeth-shaped portions 11b of a magnet 11 are formed in such a way that a part of the plane of projection of each of the teeth-shaped portions protrudes in a circumferential direction with respect to that of one of teeth 8b and 9b which is viewed from an axial direction of a first stator core 8 and a second stator core 9.
US09225196B2

A wireless power receiver includes a power receiving circuit wirelessly receiving power transmitted from a wireless power transmitter so as to generate an induced current, and a rectifying-and-modulating circuit including first to eighth switches and a control unit. The control unit is operable to control operation of each of the first to eighth switches between conduction and non-conduction. Accordingly, the first to fourth switches cooperatively constitute a full-bridge rectifier for rectifying the induced current generated by the power receiving circuit, and each of the fifth to eighth switches is operable to switch synchronously with a respective one of the first to fourth switches or to became non-conducting, thereby changing an amplitude of the induced current.
US09225192B2

The apparatus of charging a rechargeable battery includes a voltage detector which detects a voltage value between terminals of a rechargeable battery, a current generator which generates current for charging the rechargeable battery and outputs the generated current to the terminals of the rechargeable battery, and a controller which controls the current generator based on the voltage value detected by the voltage detector. The current generator outputs a first current for which a direction thereof between the terminals of the rechargeable battery is constant, in a charging period of the rechargeable battery, wherein the first current comprises direct current, and a second current for which a direction thereof between the terminals of the rechargeable battery is periodically reversed, in an intermittent period of the rechargeable battery.
US09225185B2

A method for controlling charging in an electronic device for managing the electronic device, to stably charge a battery is provided. The method includes setting alarm such that a wake up signal is generated after a time elapses when entry into a suspend mode is requested during charging a battery or in a charging stop state, entering the suspend mode, waking-up and determining a state of the battery wake up, and turning-on or -off the battery charging according to the determined state of the battery.
US09225182B2

A charge controller includes a charge control circuit that, when detecting that a charging power supply is connected, controls the charging transistor to apply the charge current; a first and second control switch element connected in series between one terminal of a secondary battery and an external terminal; and a protection circuit that, when the secondary battery is over-discharged, turns off the first control switch element to stop discharge current and when deeply discharged, turns off the second control switch element. The protection circuit sends a charge inhibit signal to the charge control circuit when the secondary battery is deeply discharged, and while receiving the charge inhibit signal, the charge control circuit keeps the charging transistor off to prevent the charge current from flowing even if detecting that the charging power supply is connected.
US09225177B2

A wireless power reception method of a wireless power receiver for receiving power from a wireless power transmitter, according to the embodiment includes receiving a connection signal for identifying the wireless power receiver from the wireless power transmitter; transmitting a response signal in response to the connection signal to the wireless power transmitter; negotiating a power transmission condition with the wireless power transmitter; and receiving the power according to the negotiated power transmission condition.
US09225176B2

A high efficiency variable power transmitting apparatus outputs a variable power by modulating, with respect to a time axis, a high frequency signal having a constant amplitude by turning the high frequency signal ON and OFF, amplifying the variable power to satisfy a requested power level of a target device based on a supply voltage having a predetermined level, converting an alternating current (AC) voltage received from a power source to a direct current (DC) voltage, generating the supply voltage having the predetermined level based on the DC voltage, and providing the supply voltage having the predetermined level to the PA.
US09225175B2

A power voltage selection device includes a first power voltage and a second power voltage; a power selection unit having a first PMOS transistor and a second PMOS transistor, wherein the first power voltage is supplied to a source of the first PMOS transistor, a gate of the first PMOS transistor receives a first enable signal, the second power voltage is supplied to a source of the second PMOS transistor, a gate of the second PMOS transistor receives a second enable signal, and a body of the first PMOS transistor is coupled to a body of the second PMOS transistor; an output unit having a common node to which a drain of the first PMOS transistor and a drain of the second PMOS transistor are commonly coupled; and a body voltage control unit controlling to supply one of the first power voltage and the second power voltage to the bodies of the first PMOS transistor and the second PMOS transistor, wherein the one has a higher voltage level than the other.
US09225174B2

Disclosed herein is a control system, including: a first apparatus configured to adjust an output voltage thereof so that the output voltage may be included in a range determined in advance in response to a variation of an input voltage thereto from an electric power generation section; and a second apparatus configured to change a charge rate into a battery in response to the variation of the input voltage supplied from the first apparatus, wherein when a state in which the output voltage from the first apparatus is near to a lower limit thereof continues for a period longer than a period of time set in advance, one of two or more lower limits prepared in advance is selected as the value of the lower limit in accordance with to which one of sections set in advance input current from the electric power generation section belongs.
US09225170B2

A smart link in a power delivery system includes an insulator, which electrically isolates a power line, and a switchable conductance placed in parallel with the insulator. The switchable conductance includes switchgear for sourcing, sinking, and/or dispatching real and/or reactive power on the power line to dynamically in response to dynamic loading, transient voltages and/or currents, and phase conditions or other conditions on the power line.
US09225169B1

An isolated signal transmitting device, an isolated signal transmitting circuit and an isolated receiving circuit thereof are provided to transmit analog signals and digital signals not commonly grounded. The isolated signal transmitting device adapts one current loop for transmitting the analog signals and the digital signals in two opposite directions. The isolated signal transmitting device has two optical couplers to isolate an input and an output of the isolated signal transmitting device not commonly grounded, and the coupled analog signals and the coupled digital signals have respective outputs. Then a user can determine whether the signal is digital or not according to the respective output.
US09225168B2

A control circuit of a switching power supply device has a first current source capable of supplying an auxiliary current to a load resistance of the switching power supply device when a load current flowing through the load resistance increases, a second current source capable of pulling in a current from the load resistance when the load current flowing through the load resistance decreases, and an auxiliary current controller configured to activate the first current source or the second current source from when a variation in the load current flowing through the load resistance is detected to have exceeded a predetermined level until a current flowing through the inductor becomes equal to the current flowing through the load resistance.
US09225166B2

The present invention relates to display technology. It discloses an electro-static discharge protective circuit comprising: a first thin film transistor having a first source electrode connected to a first reference level end, and a first gate electrode and a first drain electrode connected with each other at a first node; a second thin film transistor having a second source electrode connected to said first node, and a second gate electrode and a second drain electrode connected with each other at a discharge end; a third thin film transistor having a third source electrode connected to said discharge end, and a third gate electrode and a third drain electrode connected with each other at a second node, wherein said second node is connected with said first node; and a fourth thin film transistor having a fourth source electrode connected at said second node, and a fourth gate electrode and a fourth drain electrode connected to a second reference level end. The electro-static discharge protective circuit according to the present invention can reduce a risk of circuit breakdown and failure. Correspondingly, the present invention also discloses a display substrate and a display device having the abovementioned electro-static discharge protective circuit.
US09225155B1

A safety cover and identifier to cover wire terminals in an electric terminal block. The cover/identifier comprises a body comprising dielectric material having a first leg and an opposed, spaced apart second leg The two legs are joined adjacent their midpoints by an integral, resilient spring element. The opposed proximal ends of the legs each have a terminal covering surface and define serrated jaws. The jaws are opened by compression of the distal ends of the legs. The jaws are attached to the electrical terminal block to cover wire connections and each of the proximal ends covers one of a functional pair of wire connectors. The resilient spring element biases the jaws toward each other to secure the cover in place. The cover/identifier includes indicia to identify aspects of the wires attached to the cover wire connectors.
US09225154B2

An adhesive-backed communications media cable includes a duct having a conduit portion with a lengthwise bore formed therein. The conduit portion includes an Ethernet over twisted pair communication line. The duct also includes a flange extending lengthwise with the conduit portion. An adhesive layer is disposed on a surface of the flange such that the duct is mountable to a mounting surface via the adhesive layer. A system for distributing multiple communications media lines in a living unit includes a multimedia receptacle mountable on a wall or mounting surface and an adhesive-backed communications media duct.
US09225151B2

A spark plug, and associated systems, for an internal combustion engine includes a central electrode that terminates at a first distal end surface defined about a central axis. The spark plug also includes at least one outer electrode that terminates at a second distal end surface. The at least one outer electrode at least partially laterally surrounds the central electrode such that the second distal end surface is radially offset relative to the central electrode and a lateral gap is defined between the central electrode and the at least one outer electrode. The spark plug include features that force or redirect movement of the flow of the fresh air-fuel mixture through the lateral gap to help to purge or move the residual exhaust gases left over from a previous combustion event out of the lateral gap.
US09225145B2

The invention relates, inter alia, to a method for producing an electro-optical component (10, 200) suitable for emitting electromagnetic radiation (120), wherein in the method a first intermediate layer (60) is applied on a carrier, a second intermediate layer (70) is applied on the first intermediate layer, and after the second intermediate layer has been applied, the buried first intermediate layer is locally modified, wherein as a result of the local modification of the buried first intermediate layer in a lateral direction a refractive index jump is produced which brings about a lateral wave guiding of the electromagnetic radiation (120) in the unmodified region of the first intermediate layer.
US09225143B1

A compact laser is provided for in accordance with an exemplary embodiment in the present disclosure includes a compact resonator structure using a non-planar geometry of bulk components. The laser includes a preferred rotational direction of lasing modes and employs bulk components for establishing the preferred rotational direction of lasing modes within resonator. In some embodiments, the preferred rotational direction of lasing modes is established using a reflective element that is outside the resonator structure. In some embodiments, the reflective element induces polarization shifts in the reflected light that are compensated for by a wave plate, which may be outside the resonator structure.
US09225141B2

A multi-core amplification optical fiber includes a plurality of rare-earth-doped core portions and a cladding portion positioned at an outer periphery of the core portions and having refractive index lower than those of the core portions. When a doping concentration of the rare-earth of each of the core portions is 250 ppm to 2000 ppm, a relative refractive index difference of each of the core portions relative to the cladding portion is 0.5% to 2% at a wavelength of 1550 nm, and a core diameter of each of the core portions is 1 μm to 5 μm, a separation distance between each of the core portions and adjacent one of the core portions is set at equal to or larger than 30 μm and at equal to or smaller than 60 μm so that a light-crosstalk between the adjacent core portions is equal to or lower than −30 dB.
US09225140B2

A distributed resonator laser system using retro-reflecting elements, in which spatially separated retroreflecting elements define respectively a power transmitting and a power receiving unit. The retroreflectors have no point of inversion, so that an incident beam is reflected back along a path essentially coincident with that of the incident beam. This enables the distributed laser to operate with the beams in a co-linear mode, instead of the ring mode described in the prior art. This feature allows the simple inclusion of elements having optical power within the distributed cavity, enabling such functions as focusing/defocusing, increasing the field of view of the system, and changing the Rayleigh length of the beam. The optical system can advantageously be constructed as a pupil imaging system, with the advantage that optical components, such as the gain medium or a photo-voltaic converter, can be positioned at such a pupil without physical limitations.
US09225137B2

The carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of a laser pulse has been shown to influence many physical processes such as pulse propagation through polar molecules, cross-phase modulation, ponderomotive surface-plasmon electron acceleration, photoemission from metallic surfaces, terahertz emission from the laser breakdown of air, above-threshold ionization, high harmonic generation, and attosecond pulse generation. Current technology does not allow for the CEP stabilization of chirped pulse amplification (CPA) systems operating at a repetition rate much lower than a kHz. The inventors disclose apparatus and methods that enable CEP control in CPA systems operating at arbitrarily-low repetition rates.
US09225131B2

A low voltage power assembly may comprise a track that includes one or more conductive plates and one or more metal plates, wherein the track is powered from a low voltage power source; and a power connector assembly that connects to the track, wherein the one or more conductive plates connect to the power assembly providing a low voltage power connection, and further wherein the one or more metal plates connect to the power assembly providing a magnetic connection. The power connector assembly may be configured to provide low voltage power through the track to a low voltage power device. The low voltage power assembly may include a configuration of ferrous material, conductive material, and nonconductive materials arranged in such a way as to provide a method for power and/or signal distribution to a mating device, such as to a set of magnetic LED modules.
US09225129B2

An electrical connector has an insulative housing, a plurality of contacts retained in the insulative housing and a shell assembled to the insulative housing. The insulative housing has a mating face and a mating chamber depressing from the mating face and extending through the insulative housing along a front to back direction for receiving a mating plug. The contacts comprise a first contact with a first engaging point located in a left side of the mating chamber, and a second contact with a second engaging point located in a bottom side of the mating chamber and a third contact with a third engaging point located in a right side of the mating chamber and opposite to the first contacting portion, the third engaging point is located between the first engaging point and the second connecting portion along the front to back direction.
US09225128B2

Extension socket (8) with cord storage and dispensing system. Socket (8) comprises a housing (9) with upper housing (10) lower housing (20), a wiring and contact mechanisms lower housing (20) by which pins of a plug make electrical contacts with socket unit (18), an electrical plug (50) and cable cord (40) connecting the wiring and contact mechanisms within the housing (9) when upper housing (10) and lower housing (20) are coupled together, a receiving track (30) is formed between the walls of the upper housing; upper housing (10) has outlet port (36, 37) for cable cord (40) the bottom plate (21) of lower housing (20) has spaced apart projecting blocks with a passage (38 FIG. 4). Retainer (32) included to hold the cable cord in place in receiving track and/or the passage (38) between two adjacent projecting blocks (33).
US09225118B2

The present device is a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector which includes a first terminal set and a second terminal set. By increasing the width of a connection portion of a ground terminal of the second terminal set, and bending two pairs of the signal terminal within the second terminal set toward one side respectively and surrounding two sides of the ground terminal connecting section so as to let two pairs of the signal terminals away from the signal terminals in the first terminal set so as avoid the crosstalk interference caused by the first pair of the signals terminals in the second pair of the signal terminals and the third pair of the signal terminals to stabilize the transmission.
US09225113B2

To satisfy the demand for a reduction in height, provided is a technique for reducing a gap between a motherboard and a daughterboard in the state where the daughterboard is connected to the motherboard. A card edge connector is used to be mounted on a connector mounting surface of a mainboard to connect a memory module to the mainboard. The card edge connector includes a latch portion for pressing the memory module to be displaced in a direction away from the connector mounting surface, toward the connector mounting surface. The latch portion is configured to be elastically displaceable in the direction away from the connector mounting surface.
US09225112B2

Systems and methods are provided for docking a portable user device to a docking device or adapter via a clip mechanism. A portable user device may include two clip members which rotate relative to one another about an axis. A coupling pivot may be coupled to both clip members to facilitate relative rotation, and may provide a clamping force between the clip members. One or more terminals may be located on at least one of the clip members, allowing data transfer, charging, or other functions when the portable user device is docked using the clip mechanism.
US09225103B2

A connector comprises a connector housing receiving therein a terminal fitting connected to an electrode of a connector-mounting portion and an electrical wire at an end of which the terminal fitting is provided; a cap for the connector housing; and a packing for the cap. The packing includes a mushroom-like locking projection with an enlarged end portion. The cap includes a locking hole into which the end portion of the locking projection is inserted so that the end portion is placed in locking engagement with the locking hole.
US09225100B2

A socket housing comprises an inner part and an outer part, the inner part being formed to receive at least one electrically conductive contact element, and a wall of the outer part defining a cavity. Therein, the inner part and the outer part are arranged adjoining one another. An external diameter of the inner part is equal to or less than an internal diameter of the outer part. The socket housing is formed in one piece, the inner part and the outer part being connected via a crosspiece formed as a predetermined breaking point.
US09225097B2

A connector is connectable with a sheet-like or plate-like object having an end. The connector comprises a base member, a contact and an actuator. The contact is held by the base member. The actuator is supported by the base member so as to be openable and closable. The actuator is selectively locatable at a contact guard position, an open position and a keep position. When the actuator is closed to the contact guard position under a state where the object is not mounted on the mount surface, the guard portion is, at least in part, located under the mount surface in the up-down direction while the guard portion hides the contact point so that the contact point is unable to be seen when the connector is viewed from the front thereof in the front-rear direction.
US09225096B2

A linear connector contact array is presented with focus on the tails of the contacts that are connected to individual wires. A wire management comb made from dielectric material positions each wire over its contact's tail. The wire is attached to the tail by electrically welding the wire to the tail without removing the insulating material. This is accomplished with a heated welding electrode that melts through the insulator material until electrical contact is made with the wire. A non-heated electrode is beneath the tail to complete this circuit. The wire management comb has deep channels which form insulating ribs between adjacent wires. The weld sites are staggered, and exposed ends of the contact tails are held short of the end of the management comb.
US09225093B2

A connector system is provided for use in power applications, such as for conveying three phase power in electrical enclosures. The system comprises plug assemblies in which a power conductor is mounted in a floating arrangement with elastically deformable conductive structures extending from either side thereof. A mating receptacle may be mounted on a bus conductor. Three such arrangements may be provided for conveying three phase power. The structures allow for plug-in mating of the system components while accommodating considerable translational and angular misalignment between the connector parts.
US09225085B2

An RF connector module and associated printed circuit board providing high isolation and controlled impedance at RF frequencies. The connector module may be manufactured using conventional manufacturing techniques, such as stamping, insert molding, multi-shot molding and interference fit between components, to provide low cost. A connector module constructed with these techniques may implement a co-planar waveguide structure, with conductive shields for isolation and lossy material to enforce co-planar propagation modes. The printed circuit board may similarly be manufactured using conventional manufacturing techniques, including drilling to form vias. As a result, an interconnection system may be manufactured with low cost. These techniques may be applied to provide performance, including in the form of isolation between RF signals, comparable to that provided by more expensive components.
US09225084B2

The present application provides a connection device and a connector. The connector comprises a housing mounted on a circuit substrate and a plurality of terminals. The housing has a recessed region and a plurality of channels. The recessed region, together with the circuit substrate, forms a mating groove for mating a flexible circuit board, and the mating groove extends forwardly to a radius. The plurality of terminals correspond to the plurality of channels and each of the terminal includes a resilient contact arm. The resilient contact arm extends toward a surface of the circuit substrate in the corresponding channel of the housing and extends into the recessed region to form a contact portion. The connection device comprises the circuit substrate and the connector.
US09225083B2

A coaxial cable connector includes, in one embodiment, a conductive body member, a post member, a conductive nut member and a conductive metal ring grounding member. The conductive metal ring grounding member is configured to maintain electrical grounding.
US09225075B2

The present invention is a high voltage device system mounted on a railcar and includes a plurality of high voltage devices to which high-voltage electric power from an overhead contact line is supplied, a plurality of high-voltage cables configured to connect the high voltage devices with each other, and a joint device to which the high-voltage cables are connected. The high-voltage cables respectively include cable connector portions at tip end portions thereof, and each of the cable connector portions includes a base tubular portion configured to cover the high-voltage cable and a fit tubular portion extending from the base tubular portion in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the high-voltage cable. The joint device includes joint connector portions, each of which is fitted to the fit tubular portion of the cable connector portion to be connected to the high-voltage cable.
US09225072B2

A radiowave absorber of an embodiment includes: core-shell particles each including: a core portion that contains at least one magnetic metal element selected from a first group including Fe, Co, and Ni, and at least one metal element selected from a second group including Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Zr, Ti, Hf, Zn, Mn, rare-earth elements, Ba, and Sr; and a shell layer that coats at least part of the core portion, and includes an oxide layer containing at least one metal element selected from the second group and contained in the core portion; and a binding layer that binds the core-shell particles, and has a higher resistance than the resistance of the core-shell particles. The volume filling rate of the core-shell particles in the radiowave absorber is not lower than 10% and not higher than 55%.
US09225066B2

The present invention is related to a microstrip antenna including an insulating substrate, a first conducting layer and a second conducting layer respectively located at two opposing surfaces of the insulating substrate, a non-conductive isolation zone defined in the second conducting layer, and a feed-in unit located within the con-conductive isolation zone. Thus, the non-conductive isolation zone separates the second conducting layer and the feed-in unit. During application, the feed-in unit is connected with a signal feed-in terminal, enabling the microstrip antenna to receive and transmit wireless signals. During fabrication of the microstrip antenna, it does not need to make a through hole on the insulating substrate, reducing the microstrip antenna process steps and material consumption and lowering the microstrip antenna fabrication cost.
US09225057B2

An antenna device includes an antenna element 10 and a printed circuit board 20 on which the antenna element 10 is mounted. The antenna element 10 includes a base 11 which is made of a dielectric material and a radiation conductor formed on at least one surface of the base 11. The printed circuit board 20 includes ground clearance region 23a having substantially a rectangular shape and having one side contacting an edge of the printed circuit board and other three sides surrounded by an edge line of a ground pattern, an antenna mounting region 27 provided within the ground clearance region 23a, and at least one frequency adjusting element 30 provided within the ground clearance region 27. The frequency adjusting element 30 is provided on the far side of the antenna mounting region 27 as viewed from an edge 20e of the printed circuit board 20.
US09225055B2

An outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall are formed in the lower part of a shark-fin antenna case. The lower end surface of the inner peripheral wall is bonded to the upper surface of an insulating base in an antenna base arranged on the lower surface of the antenna case. Thus, an antenna assembly can be housed in the antenna case which is constructed to be waterproof. The antenna assembly is provided with an element holder that is arranged upright on the antenna base; an umbrella-shaped element that is fixed to the top part of the element holder in such a way that the rear part thereof is positioned above the insulating base; an amplifier substrate for amplifying a reception signal of the umbrella-shaped element; and a coil that causes the umbrella-shaped element to resonate at the specified frequency.
US09225049B2

A noise suppression structure for suppressing an undesired high-frequency current in a transmission line (i.e. a sleeve) of a short-circuited termination type includes a conductor base encompassing the periphery of the transmission line and a conductor short-circuiting part which is connected to the transmission line at the opposite side to an open end of the conductor base and whose inductance is greater than that of the conductor base. It is possible to increase an inductance by modifying the shape of the terminal end of the sleeve, equivalent to a quarter wavelength of an undesired high-frequency current which occurs in a wireless circuit of a mobile wireless terminal and flows through a ground layer, thus reducing the entire length and realizing miniaturization while securing desired input impedance.
US09225046B2

A protected anode including an anode including a lithium titanium oxide; and a protective layer including a compound represented by Formula 1 below, a lithium air battery including the same, and an all-solid battery including the protected anode: Li1+XMXA2−XSiYP3−YO12   wherein M may be at least one of aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), indium (In), scandium (Sc), or chromium (Cr), A may be at least one of germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), hafnium (Hf), and zirconium (Zr), 0≦X≦1, and 0≦Y≦1.
US09225040B2

Disclosed is a liquid electrolyte for a lithium accumulator and the use thereof in a lithium accumulator at low temperature. The liquid electrolyte includes at least one lithium salt dissolved in a mixture of non-aqueous organic solvents. The mixture of organic solvents is formed by propylene carbonate (PC), γ-butyrolactone (GBL) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC). The mixture of organic solvents preferably contains between: 0.5% and 33% in volume of propylene carbonate, 0.5% and 33% in volume of γ-butyrolactone and, 0.5% and 99% in volume of ethyl methyl carbonate, the sum of the respective volume percentages of propylene carbonate, γ-butyrolactone, and ethyl methyl carbonate in the mixture being equal to 100%.
US09225038B2

Provided are a solid battery which can reduce overvoltage and a regeneration method thereof. The solid battery comprises: an anode capable of absorbing and releasing an alkali metal ion or alkaline earth metal ion; a solid electrolyte layer containing a solid electrolyte having ion conductivity and disposed in a manner to contact the anode; a cathode capable of releasing and absorbing the alkali metal ion or alkaline earth metal ion which moves between the anode and cathode; a heating device to heat the anode to a temperature at which it softens; and a fastening device capable of applying force to closely contact the solid electrolyte layer with the anode. The regeneration method comprises the steps of heating the anode to a temperature at which it softens, and compressing the softened anode, in a direction intersecting a face of the anode which contacts with the solid electrolyte layer.
US09225026B2

A humidification apparatus for a fuel cell system is provided herein. A membrane humidifier includes humid air inlets, through which humid air discharged from a cathode of a fuel cell stack is introduced, and air outlets, through which air humidifying dry air in hollow fiber membranes is discharged, an air line connected from a cathode outlet of the fuel cell stack to the humid air inlets of the membrane humidifier to supply humid air. Exhaust lines are connected to the air outlets. A flow control valve is provided in the air line and controls the introduction of humid air into the humid air inlets, respectively. An exhaust valve is also provided to open and close flow paths of the exhaust lines. A controller controls the opening and closing of the flow control valve and the exhaust valve based on operating conditions of the fuel cell stack.
US09225021B2

A nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and a nonaqueous electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode contains a positive electrode active material having an olivine structure, and the nonaqueous electrolyte contains at least one member of sulfone compounds represented by the following formulae (1) and (2). wherein R1 represents CmH2m-n1Xn2; X represents a halogen; m represents an integer of from 2 to 7; each of n1 and n2 independently represents an integer of from 0 to 2m; R2 represents CjH2j-k1Zk2; Z represents a halogen; j represents an integer of from 2 to 7; and each of k1 and k2 independently represents an integer of from 0 to 2j.
US09225015B2

A lithium air battery including a negative electrode comprising lithium, a positive electrode using oxygen as a positive active material, and an organic electrolyte including an organic compound capable of intercalating and deintercalating electrons involved in an electrochemical reaction.
US09225005B2

A lithium-transition metal compound powder for a positive-electrode material of lithium secondary batteries can include a lithium-transition metal compound that is capable of an insertion and elimination of lithium ions. The particles in the powder contain, in the inner part thereof, a compound that, when analyzed by an SEM-EDX method, has peaks derived from Group-16 elements belonging to the third or later periods of the periodic table and Group-5 to Group-7 elements belonging to the fifth and sixth periods of the periodic table.
US09224999B2

The vehicle battery module includes cut rubber tubing attached to tops of voltaic cells. Tabs from the cells pass through seating apertures in a printed circuit board. The rubber tubing atop each cell buffers contact between the circuit board (PCB) and the cell's top edge. Solder joints secure electromechanical connection of the tabs to the printed circuit board. A strain relief bend in the tabs provides robust mechanical connection between the cells and printed circuit board. Printed circuits on the board allow the cells to be electrically connected in various configurations. Terminal and connectors on the printed circuit board provide connection to a load and monitoring device. A vehicle battery pack is comprised of a plurality of vehicle battery modules.
US09224994B2

An adapter for an electric power tool couples battery packs with the electric power tool. The adapter is provided with a voltage regulator circuit interposed between the battery packs and the electric power tool. The voltage regulator circuit regulates a supply voltage from the battery packs to the electric power tool to a level corresponding to a rated voltage of the electric power tool. The voltage regulator is capable of raising the supply voltage higher than nominal voltages of the battery packs.
US09224991B2

A nonaqueous electrolyte battery is provided which includes a battery element, and a package member for packaging the battery element, and in the nonaqueous electrolyte battery, the package member includes a layer which contains a blackbody material capable of using blackbody radiation and which has an emissivity of 0.6 or more.
US09224988B2

A method for manufacturing a display device includes: forming a deformed layer on a support substrate by a silane coupling agent; performing UV treatment on the deformed layer; forming a thin film substrate on the deformed layer; forming a pixel and an encapsulation member on the thin film substrate; and separating the support substrate from the thin film substrate.
US09224985B2

An optoelectronic component may include an electrically active region and a light-refracting structure which includes at least one graphene layer, in which at least one lens-like structure is formed. The electrically active region may include a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic functional layer structure between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09224979B2

A display device, including: a substrate; a display panel formed on the substrate; a resin layer positioned on the display panel; a polarizer positioned on the resin layer; a window positioned on the polarizer; a first adhesive layer interposed between the window and the polarizer; a printing layer positioned either between the first adhesive layer and the polarizer or between the polarizer and the resin layer; and a supporter surrounding the display panel and the resin layer and supporting the window, in which the printing layer is positioned to correspond to an edge region of the window.
US09224965B2

An organic thin film transistor and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed, which can improve the device properties by decreasing a contact resistance which occurs in a contact area between an organic semiconductor layer and source/drain electrodes. The organic thin film transistor includes a gate electrode formed on a substrate, a gate insulation layer formed on the gate electrode, source and drain electrodes overlapped with both edges of the gate electrode and formed on the gate insulation layer, an organic semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulation layer including the source/drain electrodes, a first adhesive layer having hydrophilic properties formed between the gate insulation layer and the source/drain electrodes, and a second adhesive layer having hydrophobic properties formed between the organic semiconductor layer and the gate insulation layer.
US09224962B2

A novel class of saturated or conjugated dendrimers containing at least one strong σ-donating group coordinated to cyclometalated tridentate gold(III) compounds having the chemical structure depicted by generic formula: wherein: (a) [Au] is a cyclometalated tridentate gold(III) group; (b) Unit A is a σ-donating chemical group; (c) Unit B is a central part of the dendrons comprising a branch point of component dendrimers; (d) Unit C is optional surface groups or dendrons of the dendrimers; (e) n=0 or 1.
US09224960B2

A light-emitting element with improved emission efficiency is provided. The light-emitting element includes a light-emitting layer in which a first light-emitting layer and a second light-emitting layer are stacked in contact with each other over an anode, and a first substance serving as an emission center substance in the second light-emitting layer constitutes the first light-emitting layer. A second substance serving as a host material to disperse the first substance serving as an emission center substance is included in the second light-emitting layer. In the light-emitting element, the second substance is a substance having an energy gap (or triplet energy) larger than the first substance.
US09224958B2

Compounds according to Formula I, devices containing the same and formulations containing the same are described. In Formula I, m1, m2 and m3 are 0, 1, 2 or 3; at least one of m1, m2 and m3 is 1, 2 or 3; n1, n2, and n3 are integers independently selected from 1 to 10; and any of the hydrogens is optionally substituted by deuterium.
US09224941B2

The disclosed subject matter relates to a non-volatile memory bit cell (500 or 600) for solid-state data storage, including, e.g., an elongated magnetic element (102) or “dot”. For appropriate geometry and dimensions of the dot, a two-fold, energetically-degenerate micromagnetic configuration (100 or 200) can be stabilized. Such a stable configuration can consist of two magnetic vortices (1081, 1082) and a flower state region (110). Due to energy minimization, the flower state region can be off-center (relative to a minor axis (106)) and along the major axis (104) of the dot. An electrical current (302) flowing perpendicular to the plane at, or in proximity to, the dot center can, according to current polarity, switch the configuration or state of the dot between the two specular magnetically stable configurations (e.g., a write operation). Reading of the cell state can be accomplished by using the magnetoresistive effect.
US09224939B2

A tunneling magnetoresistance sensor includes a substrate, an insulating layer, a tunneling magnetoresistance component and a first electrode array. The insulating layer is disposed on the substrate. The tunneling magnetoresistance component is in contact with the insulating layer and includes at least one magnetic tunneling junction unit. The first electrode array disposed in direct contact with the insulating layer. The first electrode array includes a number of first electrodes. Each of the at least one magnetic tunneling junction unit is electrically connected to two neighboring first electrodes of the first electrode array to form a current-in-plane tunneling conduction mode.
US09224938B2

A piezoelectric element and a manufacturing method to reduce extraneous radial vibration modes is disclosed, in an example embodiment, four slots, arranged at 90 degrees, are made in one surface such that the slots do not reach the opposite surface.
US09224932B2

A structure includes a carrier substrate with a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The carrier substrate has a first contact pad and a second contact pad disposed over the first side and a third contact pad and a fourth contact pad disposed over the second side. The carrier substrate further includes a substrate and an insulation film disposed between the substrate and the first, second, third, and fourth contact pads. The structure further includes a first epi-structure and a second epi-structure disposed over the carrier substrate. The structure further includes a first metal element and a second metal element. Moreover, the structure further includes a first through-via and a second through-via. The first through-via and the second through-via extend through the first and second epi-structures respectively.
US09224898B2

A solar energy collection system for converting solar energy to electricity that includes solar arrays mounted on a frame. Each array is set on a tracker head that is supported on a pedestal; each pedestal mounts onto a beam. Elevators pivot the arrays, where each elevator is made up of a shaft with a threaded end coupled to a drive nut. An upper end of each drive nut gimbal mounts to a portion of the tracker head; rotating a lower end of each shaft raises or lowers the drive nut, thereby pivoting each array. The vertical shafts are ganged together and driven by a single motor. Further included with each pedestal are azimuth orientation shafts that also mount to each tracker head. Rotating each orientation shaft adjusts an azimuth of an associated array. The orientation shafts are ganged together and are rotated by a single motor.
US09224897B2

A solar cell backsheet including: a support; and a first polymer layer which is formed on one side of the support and which includes: from 0.8 g/m2 to 15.0 g/m2 of a binder resin including at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin ionomer having a polar group, a polyacryl, and polyvinyl alcohol; and from 1.5 g/m2 to 15.0 g/m2 of an inorganic pigment.
US09224893B2

A manufacturing method of antireflection substrate structure includes: providing a silicon wafer having a first rough surface; forming an antireflection optical film on the silicon wafer, wherein the antireflection optical film conformally overlays the first rough surface; performing a surface treatment on the antireflection optical film so that the antireflection optical film has a hydrophilic surface, and the hydrophilic surface is relatively far away from the silicon wafer; dropping a colloidal solution on the hydrophilic surface of the antireflection optical film, wherein the colloidal solution includes a solution and multiple nano-balls and the nano-balls are adhered onto the hydrophilic surface; and performing an etching process on the hydrophilic surface of the antireflection optical film by taking the nano-balls as an etching mask so as to form a second rough surface, wherein the roughness of the second rough surface is different from the roughness of the first rough surface.
US09224890B1

Light sensor devices are described that have a glass substrate, which includes a lens to focus light over a wide variety of angles, bonded to the light sensor device. In one or more implementations, the light sensor devices include a substrate having a photodetector formed therein. The photodetector is capable of detecting light and providing a signal in response thereto. The sensors also include one or more color filters disposed over the photodetector. The color filters are configured to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths to the photodetector. A glass substrate is disposed over the substrate and includes a lens that is configured to collimate light incident on the lens and to pass the collimated light to the color filter.
US09224884B2

A light sensor is described that includes a glass substrate having a diffuser formed therein and at least one color filter integrated on-chip (i.e., integrated on the die of the light sensor). In one or more implementations, the light sensor comprises a semiconductor device (e.g., a die) that includes a semiconductor substrate. At least one photodetector (e.g., photodiode, phototransistor, etc.) is formed in the substrate proximate to the surface of the substrate. The color filter is configured to filter light received by the light sensor to pass light in a limited spectrum of wavelengths (e.g., light having wavelengths between a first wavelength and a second wavelength) to the photodetector. A glass substrate is positioned over the substrate and includes a diffuser. The diffuser is configured to diffuse light incident on the diffuser and to pass the diffused light to the at least one color filter for further filtering.
US09224879B2

There is provided a semiconductor device including a substrate made from a semiconductor material, and layers that are made from plural kinds of materials and formed over the substrate. An opening portion that is formed to penetrate at least a layer formed as an insulating film among the layers formed over the substrate and expose a surface of an electrode pad is filled with aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
US09224873B2

Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device, and more particularly to a method of fabricating a charge trap NAND flash memory device.
US09224872B2

A non-volatile memory circuit includes a non-volatile memory having a first source and drain region having a non-LOCOS offset structure and a second source and drain region having a LOCOS offset structure. A pair of switch circuits are connected in parallel to the respective first and second source and drain regions for switching voltages applied to the first and second source and drain regions so that the first source and drain region serves as a drain and the second source and drain region serves as a source in a writing mode, the second source and drain region serves as a drain and the first source and drain region serves as a source in a reading mode, and equal voltages are applied to the first source and drain region and the second source and drain region in a retention mode.
US09224868B2

A pixel structure includes a substrate, a patterned semiconductor layer, an insulation layer, a gate electrode, a first inter-layer dielectric (ILD) layer, a second ILD layer, a third ILD layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The patterned semiconductor layer is disposed on the substrate. The insulation layer is disposed on the patterned semiconductor layer. The gate electrode is disposed on the insulation layer. The first ILD layer is disposed on the gate electrode, the second ILD layer is disposed on the first ILD layer, and the third ILD layer is disposed on the second ILD layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode are disposed on the third ILD layer, wherein the source electrode and the drain electrode are electrically connected to the patterned semiconductor layer via a first contact window and a second contact window respectively.
US09224866B2

A semiconductor fin including a vertical stack, from bottom to top, of a second semiconductor material and a first semiconductor material is formed on a substrate. A disposable gate structure straddling the semiconductor fin is formed. A source region and a drain region are formed employing the disposable gate structure as an implantation mask, At least one semiconductor shell layer or a semiconductor cap layer can be formed as an etch stop structure. A planarization dielectric layer is subsequently formed. A gate cavity is formed by removing the disposable gate structure. A portion of the second semiconductor material is removed selective to the first semiconductor material within the gate cavity so that a middle portion of the semiconductor fin becomes suspended over the substrate. A gate dielectric layer and a gate electrode are sequentially formed. The gate electrode laterally surrounds a body region of a fin field effect transistor.
US09224842B2

Provided are approaches for patterning multiple, dense features in a semiconductor device using a memorization layer. Specifically, an approach includes: patterning a plurality of openings in a memorization layer; forming a gap-fill material within each of the plurality of openings; removing the memorization layer; removing an etch stop layer adjacent the gap-fill material, wherein a portion of the etch stop layer remains beneath the gap-fill material; etching a hardmask to form a set of openings above the set of gate structures, wherein the etch to the hardmask also removes the gap-fill material from atop the remaining portion of the etch stop layer; and etching the semiconductor device to remove the hardmask within each of the set of openings. In one embodiment, a set of dummy S/D contact pillars is then formed over a set of fins of the semiconductor device by etching a dielectric layer selective to the gate structures.
US09224840B2

A method is disclosed for fabricating an integrated circuit in a replacement-gate process flow utilizing a dummy-gate structure overlying a plurality of fin structures. The method includes removing the dummy-gate structure to form a first void space, depositing a shaper material to fill the first void space, removing a portion of the plurality of fin structures to form a second void space, epitaxially growing a high carrier mobility material to fill the second void space, removing the shaper material to form a third void space, and depositing a replacement metal gate material to fill the third void space.
US09224839B2

To provide a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor in which contact resistance between an oxide semiconductor layer and source and drain electrode layers is small, the surfaces of the source and drain electrode layers are subjected to sputtering treatment with plasma and an oxide semiconductor layer containing In, Ga, and Zn is formed successively over the source and drain electrode layers without exposure of the source and drain electrode layers to air.
US09224835B2

Isotropic etching is conducted by using SiN layers that are disposed on i-layers having an island structure on an i-layer substrate and have the same rectangular shape in a plan view as the i-layers. As a result, SiO2 layers each having a circular shape in a plan view are formed. Then the SiN layers are removed and the i-layers are etched by using the SiO2 layers as a mask to form Si pillars. Then surrounding gate MOS transistors are formed in the Si pillars.
US09224834B1

An N+ region 2a and a P+ region 3a are formed in a Si pillar 6. HfO2 layers 9a and 9c, TiN layers 10b and 10d, and SiO2 layers 11b and 11d are formed to surround the Si pillar 6. Then contact portions 21a and 21b are respectively formed in side surfaces of the N+ region 2a and the P+ region 3a and a side surface of the TiN layer 10d. Then Si and Ni atoms are injected in a direction perpendicular to an upper surface of an i-layer substrate 1 from above the Si pillar 6 to form a Si layer and a Ni layer. Subsequently, a heat treatment is performed to expand NiSi layers 18a and 22 in a horizontal direction by Ni-silicidation. As a result, the NiSi layers 18a and 22 connect to the N+ region 2a and the P+ region 3a or the TiN layer 10d.
US09224829B2

A method of forming a semiconductor structure, the method includes epitaxially growing a second III-V compound layer on a first III-V compound layer. A carrier channel is located between the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. The method further includes forming a source feature and a drain feature on the second III-V compound layer, forming a third III-V compound layer on the second III-V compound layer, depositing a gate dielectric layer on a portion of the second III-V compound layer and a top surface of the third III-V compound layer, treating the gate dielectric layer on the portion of the second III-V compound layer with fluorine and forming a gate electrode on the treated gate dielectric layer between the source feature and the drain feature.
US09224828B2

A semiconductor structure includes a III-nitride substrate with a first side and a second side opposing the first side. The III-nitride substrate is characterized by a first conductivity type and a first dopant concentration. The semiconductor structure further includes a III-nitride epitaxial layer of the first conductivity type coupled to the first surface of the III-nitride substrate, a first metallic structure electrically coupled to the second surface of the III-nitride substrate, and a III-nitride epitaxial structure of a second conductivity type coupled to the III-nitride epitaxial layer. The III-nitride epitaxial structure comprises at least one edge termination structure.
US09224817B2

The present invention discloses a novel composite substrate which solves the problem associated with the quality of substrate surface. The composite substrate has at least two layers comprising the first layer composed of GaxAlyIn1-x-yN (0≦x≦1, 0≦x+y≦1) and the second layer composed of metal oxide wherein the second layer can be removed with in-situ etching at elevated temperature. The metal oxide layer is designed to act as a protective layer of the first layer until the fabrication of devices. The metal oxide layer is designed so that it can be removed in a fabrication reactor of the devices through gas-phase etching by reactive gas such as ammonia.
US09224815B2

A method includes epitaxially growing a first III-V compound semiconductor, wherein the first III-V compound semiconductor is of p-type. The first III-V compound semiconductor is grown using precursors including a first precursor comprising Cp2Mg, and a second precursor comprising a donor impurity. A second III-V compound semiconductor is grown overlying and contacting the first III-V compound semiconductor. The second III-V compound semiconductor is of n-type.
US09224808B2

Uniaxially strained nanowire structures are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a plurality of vertically stacked uniaxially strained nanowires disposed above a substrate. Each of the uniaxially strained nanowires includes a discrete channel region disposed in the uniaxially strained nanowire. The discrete channel region has a current flow direction along the direction of the uniaxial strain. Source and drain regions are disposed in the nanowire, on either side of the discrete channel region. A gate electrode stack completely surrounds the discrete channel regions.
US09224807B2

A method of forming a metal silicide region. The method comprises forming a metal material over and in contact with exposed surfaces of a dielectric material and silicon structures protruding from the dielectric material. A capping material is formed over and in contact with the metal material. The silicon structures are exposed to heat to effectuate a multidirectional diffusion of the metal material into the silicon structures to form a first metal silicide material. The capping material and unreacted portions of the metal material are removed. The silicon structures are exposed to heat to substantially convert the first metal silicide material into a second metal silicide material. A method of semiconductor device fabrication, an array of silicon structures, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.
US09224802B2

Each of first to third impurity regions of a silicon carbide substrate has a portion located on a flat surface of a first main surface. On the flat surface, a gate insulating film connects the first and third impurity regions to each other. On the flat surface, a first main electrode is in contact with the third impurity region. A second main electrode is provided on a second main surface. A side wall insulating film covers a side wall surface of the first main surface. The side wall surface is inclined by not less than 50° and not more than 80° relative to a {000-1} plane. In this way, a leakage current is suppressed in a silicon carbide semiconductor device.
US09224799B2

Provided are capacitor stacks for use in integrated circuits and methods of fabricating these stacks. A capacitor stack includes a dielectric layer and one or two inner electrode layers, such as a positive inner electrode layer and a negative inner electrode layer. The inner electrode layers directly interface the dielectric layer. The stack may also include outer electrode layers. The inner electrode layers are either chemically stable or weakly chemically unstable, while in contact with the dielectric layer based on the respective phase diagrams. Furthermore, the electron affinity of the positive inner electrode layer may be less than the electron affinity of the dielectric layer. The sum of the electron affinity and bandgap of the negative inner electrode layer may be less than that of the dielectric layer. In some embodiments, inner electrode layers are formed from heavily doped semiconducting materials, such as gallium arsenide or gallium aluminum arsenide.
US09224796B2

A device includes a substrate and an integrated-circuit interconnect on a first side. A capacitor passes through the substrate possessing a first electrode having a first contact face electrically coupled to a first electrically conductive zone placed on a second side of the substrate and a second electrode electrically coupled to the interconnect. A through-silicon via passes through the substrate having at one end a first contact face electrically coupled to a second electrically conductive zone placed on said second side of the substrate and at the other end a part electrically coupled to the interconnect part. The two first contact faces are located in the same plane.
US09224790B2

An illumination device including a light-emitting panel, a touch panel, and a control module is provided. The light-emitting panel includes a light-emitting layer configured to emit a light beam. The touch panel is overlaid on the light-emitting panel, and includes a first touch electrode. The control module is electrically connected to the light-emitting panel and the touch panel. The light-emitting layer further includes a light-emitting material, and the width of the light-emitting material is greater than half of the width of the first touch electrode.
US09224789B2

An image pickup device includes: a first electrode film; an organic photoelectric conversion film; a second electrode film; and a metal wiring film electrically connected to the second electrode film, the first electrode film, the organic photoelectric conversion film, and the second electrode film all provided on a substrate in this order, and the metal wiring film coating an entire side of the organic photoelectric conversion film.
US09224788B2

According to an embodiment, a nonvolatile memory device includes a first wiring extending to a first direction, a second wiring disposed on the first wiring in a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction, a first insulating film provided between the first wiring and the second wiring, a bit line extending in the second direction, and a variable resistance film contacting an end portion of the first wiring, an end portion of the second wiring, and an end portion of the first insulating film. A dielectric constant of a center portion between the first and second wirings in the second direction is higher than at vicinities of the first and the second wirings. The variable resistance film is disposed between the bit line and the first wiring, between the bit line and the second wiring, and between the bit line and the first insulating film.
US09224787B2

A method for fabricating a nonvolatile memory device is provided. The method includes forming a transistor including an impurity region formed in a substrate, forming a first interlayer insulation layer covering the transistor, the first interlayer insulation layer including a protrusion overlapping the impurity region, and forming an information storage unit on the protrusion, the information storage unit exposing side surfaces of the protrusion using point cusp magnetron-physical vapor deposition (PCM-PVD) and electrically connected to the impurity region.
US09224780B2

An image sensor includes a sensing node to sense photo charges output from a photodiode. The sensing node includes a first dopant region of a first conductivity type and a second dopant region of a second conductivity type. The second dopant region surrounds the first dopant region. A third dopant region of the first conductivity type is adjacent to the second dopant region and is disposed around the sensing node. The first, second, and third dopant regions operate as a source, a gate, and a drain of a junction field effect transistor, respectively.
US09224772B2

A method for manufacturing a device that includes an opto-electronic module includes creating a wafer stack including multiple active optical components mounted on a substrate wafer, and an optics wafer including multiple passive optical components. The optics wafer can include a blocking portion, which is substantially non-transparent for at least a specific wavelength range, and a transparent portion, which is substantially non-transparent for the specific wavelength range. Each opto-electronic module includes a substrate member, an optics member, an active optical component mounted on the substrate member, and a passive optical component. The optics member is directly or indirectly fixed to the substrate member. The opto-electronic modules can have excellent manufacturability, small dimensions and high alignment accuracy.
US09224766B2

An image pickup apparatus which is capable of suppressing changes in luminance during motion with high shutter speed while minimizing image degradation. An image pickup device accumulates electric charge corresponding to an amount of light incident thereon. An amplification unit amplifies a signal obtained as a result of accumulating electric charge in the image pickup apparatus. A control unit controls an electric charge accumulation time period in the image pickup device. An adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor for the amplification unit. In a case where the control unit changes the electric charge accumulation time period while the image pickup device is repeatedly accumulating electric charge, the adjustment unit adjusts an amplification factor in accordance with the amount of change in the electric charge accumulation time period, and after adjustment, the adjustment unit brings the adjusted amplification factor close to an amplification factor before adjustment in steps.
US09224757B2

A DC-DC converter is driven by single high input voltage, and includes a voltage converter circuit and a control circuit. The increase of the occupied area of the DC-DC converter is suppressed. The DC-DC converter includes an input terminal to which input voltage is applied; a voltage converter circuit connected to the input terminal, and including a first transistor; a control circuit configured to control the voltage converter circuit, and including a second transistor including a silicon material in a channel formation region; and a third transistor provided between the input terminal and the control circuit, and configured to convert the input voltage into power supply voltage that is lower than the input voltage. The first transistor and the third transistor include an oxide semiconductor material in channel formation regions. The first transistor and the third transistor are stacked over the second transistor with an insulating film provided therebetween.
US09224746B2

A non-volatile memory system, comprising non-volatile storage device with word lines having an inverted T-shape over floating gates. The inverted T-shape shape has a wider bottom portion and a thinner top portion. The thinner top portion increases the separation between adjacent word lines relative to the separation between the wider bottom portions. An air gap may separate adjacent word lines. The thinner top portion of the word lines increases the path length between adjacent word lines. The likelihood of word line to word line short may be decreased by reducing the electric field between adjacent word lines.
US09224745B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a conductive film on a semiconductor substrate; patterning the conductive film in a memory region to form a first gate electrode; after forming the first gate electrode, forming a mask film above each of the conductive film in a logic region and the first gate electrode; removing the mask film in the logic region; forming a first resist film above the mask film left in the memory region and above the conductive film left in the logic region; and forming a second gate electrode in the logic region by etching the conductive film using the first resist film as a mask.
US09224744B1

A NAND flash memory chip includes narrow word lines that are directly patterned from sidewall spacers and larger structures that are patterned from sidewall spacers with covering material. Sidewall spacers with covering material define wider features than sidewalls alone. Closely spaced sidewalls with covering material define large structures such as contact pads and select lines.
US09224743B2

A nonvolatile memory device includes a first active region and a second active region separated from each other; a floating gate crossing the first active region, and disposed such that an end thereof overlaps with the second active region; a selection gate crossing the first active region, and disposed side by side with and coupled to the floating gate; a dielectric layer disposed between the floating gate and the selection gate, wherein a stack of the dielectric layer, the floating gate and the selection gate forms a first capacitor in a horizontal structure; a well region disposed in the second active region and coupled to the floating gate, wherein a stack of the well region and the floating gate forms a second capacitor in a vertical structure; and a contact commonly coupled to the well region and the selection gate.
US09224741B2

The semiconductor device includes word lines on a semiconductor substrate, common gates connected to each of the word lines and vertically disposed in the semiconductor substrate, buried bit lines intersecting the word lines at a non-right angle in a plan view, and a pair of vertical transistors sharing each of the common gates. The pair of vertical transistors is disposed on both sides of one of the word lines. Further, the pair of vertical transistors is electrically connected to the two adjacent buried bit lines. Electronic systems including the semiconductor device and related methods are also provided.
US09224740B1

A method of deep trench isolation which includes: forming a semiconductor on insulator (SOI) substrate comprising a bulk semiconductor substrate, a buried insulator layer and a semiconductor layer on the buried insulator layer (SOI layer), one portion of the SOI substrate having a dynamic random access memory buried in the bulk semiconductor substrate (eDRAM) and a deep trench fin contacting the eDRAM and a second portion of the SOI substrate having an SOI fin in contact with the buried insulator layer; conformally depositing sequential layers of oxide, high-k dielectric material and sacrificial oxide on the deep trench fin and the SOI fin; stripping the sacrificial oxide over the SOI fin to expose the high-k dielectric material over the SOI fin; stripping the exposed high-k dielectric material over the SOI fin to expose the oxide layer over the SOI fin.
US09224732B2

A method of forming a device includes forming a buried well region of a first dopant type in a substrate. A well region of the first dopant type is formed over the buried well region. A first well region of a second dopant type is formed between the well region of the first dopant type and the buried well region of the first dopant type. A second well region of the second dopant type is formed in the well region of the first dopant type. An isolation structure is formed at least partially in the well region of the first dopant type. A first gate electrode is formed over the isolation structure and the second well region of the second dopant type.
US09224725B2

Diffusion regions having the same conductivity type are arranged on a side of a second wiring and a side of a third wiring, respectively under a first wiring connected to a signal terminal. Diffusion regions are separated in a whole part or one part of a range in a Y direction. That is, under first wiring, diffusion regions are only formed in parts opposed to diffusion regions formed under the second wiring and third wiring connected to a power supply terminal or a ground terminal, and a diffusion region is not formed in a central part in an X direction. Therefore, terminal capacity of the signal terminal can be reduced without causing ESD resistance to be reduced, in an ESD protection circuit with the signal terminal.
US09224716B2

Methods and apparatuses for assembly of a non-planar device based on curved chips are described. Slots may be created as longitudinal openings in the chips to reduce bending stresses to increase allowable degrees of deformation of the chips. The chips may be deformed to a desired deformation within the allowable degrees of deformation via the slots. Holding constraints may be provided on at least a portion of the chips to allow the chips to remain curved according the desired deformation.
US09224715B2

Semiconductor assemblies, structures, and methods of fabrication are disclosed. A coating is formed on an electrically conductive pillar. The coating, which may be formed from at least one of a silane material and an organic solderability protectant material, may bond to a conductive material of the electrically conductive pillar and, optionally, to other metallic materials of the electrically conductive pillar. The coating may also bond to substrate passivation material, if present, or to otherwise-exposed surfaces of a substrate and a bond pad. The coating may be selectively formed on the conductive material. Material may not be removed from the coating after formation thereof and before reflow of the solder for die attach. The coating may isolate at least the conductive material from solder, inhibiting solder wicking or slumping along the conductive material and may enhance adhesion between the resulting bonded conductive element and an underfill material.
US09224710B2

Provided is a semiconductor package, the semiconductor package includes a first substrate, a first semiconductor chip which is mounted on the first substrate, a second substrate which is disposed on the first semiconductor chip, at least one second semiconductor chip which is disposed on the second substrate; and a plurality of wires which are in contact with the first substrate and the second substrate to connect the first substrate and the second substrate to each other.
US09224709B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure include devices and methods of forming the same. An embodiment is a device including a solder resist coating over a first side of a substrate, an active surface of a die bonded to the first side of the substrate by a first connector, and a surface mount device mounted to the die by a second set of connectors, the surface mount device being between the die and the first side of the substrate, the surface mount device being spaced from the solder resist coating.
US09224708B2

The invention relates to a method for producing an interconnection pad on a conducting element comprising an upper face and a side wall; the method being executed from a substrate at least the upper face of which is insulating; the conducting element going through at least an insulating portion of the substrate, the method being characterized in that it comprises the sequence of the following steps: a step of embossing the conducting element, a step of forming, above the upper insulating face of the substrate, a stack of layers comprising at least one electrically conducting layer and one electrically resistive layer, a step of partially removing the electrically resistive layer, a step of electrolytic growth on the portion of the electrically conducting layer so as to form at least one interconnection pad on said conducting element.
US09224698B1

A semiconductor device 1 is provided with a semiconductor substrate 10, an electrode 30 formed on a surface of the semiconductor substrate 10, and an insulation film 20 formed on the electrode 30. The semiconductor device 1 includes a metal film 40 extending over a part of the surface of the electrode 30 not covered by the insulation film 20 and a surface of the insulation film 20. The semiconductor device 1 includes solder 80 formed on a surface of the metal film 40, a lead frame 50 joined to the metal film 40 by the solder 80, and sealing resin 60 sealing the insulation film 20, the metal film 40, and the solder 80. A convex 70 is formed on the surface of the insulation film 20. The metal film 40 covers the convex 70. The solder 80 covers the metal film 40 covering the convex 70.
US09224685B1

A metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitor structure is disclosed. The MOM capacitor includes a plurality of layers, each layer having a plurality of electrodes. The plurality of electrodes, separated by oxide layers, forms a first plate and a second plate of the MOM capacitor. The plurality of electrodes on each of the layers is coupled to a plurality of electrodes on an adjacent layer through a plurality of vias. A shield layer is coupled to each of the electrodes that forms the second plate of the MOM capacitor on each of the plurality of layers.
US09224680B2

Electrical connections for chip scale packaging are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a post-passivation layer disposed over a substrate, the substrate having a first direction of coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch. The semiconductor device includes a first opening through the post-passivation layer, the first opening comprising a plurality of elongated apertures. A longest of the plurality of elongated apertures comprises a first dimension, wherein the first dimension is aligned substantially perpendicular to the first direction of coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch.
US09224679B2

A method for forming a wafer level chip scale (WLCS) package device with a thick bottom metal comprising the step of attaching a lead frame comprising a plurality of thick bottom metals onto a back metal layer of a semiconductor wafer including a plurality of semiconductor chips having a plurality of bonding pads formed on a front surface of each chip, each thick bottom metal is aligned to a central portion of each chip; a plurality of back side cutting grooves are formed along the scribe lines and filled with a package material, the package material are cut through thus forming a plurality of singulated WLCS package devices.
US09224660B2

Systems and methods for determining one or more parameters of a wafer inspection process are provided. One method includes aligning optical image(s) of an alignment target to their corresponding electron beam images generated by an electron beam defect review system. The method also includes determining different local coordinate transformations for different subsets of alignment targets based on results of the aligning. In addition, the method includes determining positions of defects in wafer inspection system coordinates based on coordinates of the defects determined by the electron beam defect review system and the different local coordinate transformations corresponding to different groups of the defects into which the defects have been separated. The method further includes determining one or more parameters for an inspection process for the wafer based on defect images acquired at the determined positions by a wafer inspection system.
US09224658B2

A sensing device has a semiconductor substrate with an opening and a membrane spanning the opening. A heater is arranged on the membrane. To reduce the thermal conductivity of the membrane, a recess is etched into the membrane from below.
US09224657B2

An integrated circuit is formed to include a first polarity MOS transistor and a second, opposite, polarity MOS transistor. A hard mask of silicon-doped boron nitride (SixBN) with 1 atomic percent to 30 atomic percent silicon is formed over the first polarity MOS transistor and the second polarity MOS transistor. The hard mask is removed from source/drain regions of the first polarity MOS transistor and left in place over the second polarity MOS transistor. Semiconductor material is epitaxially grown at the source/drain regions of the first polarity MOS transistor while the hard mask is in place. Subsequently, the hard mask is removed from the second polarity MOS transistor.
US09224649B2

A microelectronic assembly includes a substrate and an electrically conductive element. The substrate can have a CTE less than 10 ppm/° C., a major surface having a recess not extending through the substrate, and a material having a modulus of elasticity less than 10 GPa disposed within the recess. The electrically conductive element can include a joining portion overlying the recess and extending from an anchor portion supported by the substrate. The joining portion can be at least partially exposed at the major surface for connection to a component external to the microelectronic unit.
US09224634B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming trench isolation structures, exposing some of the trench isolation structures 28 to leave others 30 masked, and then selectively etching a buried layer to form a cavity 32 under an active device region 34. The active device region 34 is supported by support regions in the exposed trenches 28. The buried layer may be a SiGe layer on a Si substrate.
US09224633B2

According to an embodiment, a composite wafer includes a carrier substrate having a graphite layer and a monocrystalline semiconductor layer attached to the carrier substrate.
US09224632B2

To provide a substrate holding apparatus that can rapidly recover liquid that has infiltrated the rear surface side of a substrate. A substrate holding apparatus comprises: a base; a first support part, which is formed on the base and supports a rear surface of a substrate to be processed; a first circumferential wall part, which is formed on the base and is provided so that it opposes the rear surface of the substrate to be processed and surrounds the first support part; and a first recovery port, which is provided on the outer side of the first circumferential wall part; wherein, the flow of a gas along the first circumferential wall part moves the liquid on the outer side of the first circumferential wall part to the first recovery port, where the liquid is recovered.
US09224627B2

Improvements in a single and dual stage wafer cushion is disclosed where the wafer cushion can use an edge hinge as a single first stage cushion and a second mid span hinge for the dual stage wafer cushion. This dual stage design gives two distinctly different cushioning forces as opposed to using a single stage design where the force is linear with the amount of compression that is being applied to the outer surfaces of the wafer cushion. The outside edge of the ring provides the greatest expansion such that only the outer edge of the ring makes contact with the outer edge of a wafer. The wafer cushion is a material that flexes and absorbs shocks before the shock is transferred to the wafer stack. The material minimizes debris or contaminants from embedding into the wafer cushion and also prevents sheading of material from the wafer cushion.
US09224617B2

A method is provided for fabricating cross-coupled line segments for use, for instance, as a hard mask in fabricating cross-coupled gates of two or more transistors. Fabricating the structure includes: providing a sacrificial mandrel on the substrate, the sacrificial mandrel including a transverse gap through the mandrel separating the sacrificial mandrel into a first mandrel portion and a second mandrel portion; providing a sidewall spacer along sidewalls of the sacrificial mandrel, where sidewall spacers along sidewalls of the first mandrel portion and the second mandrel portion merge within the transverse gap and form a crossbar; and removing the sacrificial mandrel and selectively cutting the sidewall spacers to define the cross-coupled line segments from the sidewall spacers and crossbar. The transverse gap may be provided by directly printing the first and second mandrel portions spaced apart, or by cutting the sacrificial mandrel to provide the gap.
US09224614B2

A method and associated composition for CMP processing of noble metal-containing substrates (such as ruthenium-containing substrates) afford both high removal rates of the noble metal and are tunable with respect to rate of noble metal removal in relation to removal of other films. Low levels of an oxidizing agent containing one or more peroxy-functional group(s) can be used along with a novel ligand to effectively polish noble metal substrates.
US09224601B2

Provided is an epitaxial silicon wafer free of epitaxial defects caused by dislocation clusters and COPs with reduced metal contamination achieved by higher gettering capability and a method of producing the epitaxial wafer. A method of producing an epitaxial silicon wafer includes a first step of irradiating a silicon wafer free of dislocation clusters and COPs with cluster ions to form a modifying layer formed from a constituent element of the cluster ions in a surface portion of the silicon wafer; and a second step of forming an epitaxial layer on the modifying layer of the silicon wafer.
US09224596B2

Semiconductor device structures and methods of fabricating semiconductor devices structures are provided that include a semi-insulating or insulating GaN epitaxial layer on a conductive semiconductor substrate and/or a conductive layer. The semi-insulating or insulating GaN epitaxial layer has a thickness of at least about 4 μm. GaN semiconductor device structures and methods of fabricating GaN semiconductor device structures are also provided that include an electrically conductive SiC substrate and an insulating or semi-insulating GaN epitaxial layer on the conductive SiC substrate. The GaN epitaxial layer has a thickness of at least about 4 μm. GaN semiconductor device structures and methods of fabricating GaN semiconductor device structures are also provided that include an electrically conductive GaN substrate, an insulating or semi-insulating GaN epitaxial layer on the conductive GaN substrate, a GaN based semiconductor device on the GaN epitaxial layer and a via hole and corresponding via metal in the via hole that extends through layers of the GaN based semiconductor device and the GaN epitaxial layer.
US09224594B2

Methods and apparatus for processing using a plasma source for the treatment of semiconductor surfaces are disclosed. The apparatus includes an outer vacuum chamber enclosing a substrate support, a plasma source (either a direct plasma or a remote plasma), and an optional showerhead. Other gas distribution and gas dispersal hardware may also be used. The plasma source may be used to generate activated species operable to alter the surface of the semiconductor materials. Further, the plasma source may be used to generate activated species operable to enhance the nucleation of deposition precursors on the semiconductor surface.
US09224593B2

The inventive concept provides porous, low-k dielectric materials and methods of manufacturing and using the same. In some embodiments, porous, low-k dielectric materials are manufactured by forming a porogen-containing dielectric layer on a substrate and then removing at least a portion of said porogen from the layer.
US09224592B2

A method of etching a ferroelectric capacitor stack structure including conductive upper and lower plates with a ferroelectric material, such as lead-zirconium-titanate (PZT), therebetween, with each of these layers defined by the same hard mask element. The stack etch process involves a plasma etch with a fluorine-bearing species as an active species in the etch of the conductive plates, and a non-fluorine-bearing chemistry for etching the PZT ferroelectric material. An example of the fluorine-bearing species is CF4. Endpoint detection can be used to detect the point at which the upper plate etch reaches the PZT, at which point the gases in the chamber are purged to avoid etching the PZT material with fluorine. A steeper sidewall angle for the capacitor structure can be obtained.
US09224591B2

A method of forming a thin film on a substrate includes arranging the substrate to face a thin film deposition apparatus; and discharging a deposition material via a deposition source of the thin film deposition apparatus onto the substrate; wherein a deposition source nozzle unit of the thin film deposition apparatus is disposed at a side of the deposition source and includes a plurality of deposition source nozzles arranged in a first direction; wherein a patterning slit sheet of the thin film deposition apparatus is disposed to be between the deposition source nozzle unit and the substrate, the patterning slit sheet including a plurality of patterning slits, and wherein each of the patterning slits includes a plurality of sub-slits.
US09224585B2

In order to obtain a dose-rate measuring system that reduces an influence of an electromagnetic induction noise acting around an ionization chamber and a signal converter, a cabinet of the ionization chamber, shields of cables, a cabinet of the signal converter, and a cabinet of a measuring unit are connected in series, and a single-point ground is performed at the measuring unit, and other units except the grounded measuring unit are insulated from the earth, and moreover, a heatproof insulating material having water repellency is coated on a fixed portion of the ionization chamber, whereby the ionization chamber is electrically insulated from a chassis at a fixed side, and the heatproof insulating material having water repellency is coated on a connecting portion of a connector for connecting a cable to another cable, after a waterproof process is performed on the connecting portion by using a bonding tape.
US09224571B2

A photocathode high-frequency electron-gun cavity apparatus of the present invention is provided with a high-frequency acceleration cavity (1), a photocathode (8, 15), a laser entering port (9), a high-frequency power input coupler port (10), and a high-frequency resonant tuner (16). Here, the apparatus adopts an ultra-small high-frequency accelerator cavity which contains a cavity cell formed only with a smooth and curved surface at an inner face thereof without having a sharp angle part for preventing discharging, obtaining higher strength of high-frequency electric field, and improving high-frequency resonance stability. Further, the photocathode is arranged at an end part of a half cell (5) of the high-frequency acceleration cavity for maximizing electric field strength at the photocathode face, perpendicular incidence of laser is ensured by arranging a laser entering port at a position facing to the photocathode behind an electron beam extraction port of the high-frequency acceleration cavity for maximizing quality of short-bunch photoelectrons, and a high-frequency power input coupler port is arranged at a side part of the cell of the high-frequency acceleration cavity for enhancing high-frequency electric field strength. According to the above, it is possible to provide a small photocathode high-frequency electron-gun cavity apparatus capable of generating a high-strength and high-quality electron beam.
US09224569B2

A high brightness ion source with a gas chamber includes multiple channels, wherein the multiple channels each have a different gas. An electron beam is passed through one of the channels to provide ions of a certain species for processing a sample. The ion species can be rapidly changed by directing the electrons into another channel with a different gas species and processing a sample with ions of a second species. Deflection plates are used to align the electron beam into the gas chamber, thereby allowing the gas species in the focused ion beam to be switched quickly.
US09224566B2

Fuse driver circuits, fuse driver testing circuitry, and methods for testing the fuse driver circuits using the testing circuitry are described. In some embodiments, the fuse driver circuit can be made using a fuse, a NMOS transistor, and a PMOS transistor. The drain of the NMOS transistor can be connected to the negative end of the fuse. The source of the NMOS transistor can be connected to ground. The drain of the PMOS transistor can be connected to a positive end of the fuse. The NMOS and PMOS transistors provide enhanced robustness to the fuse driver circuit in both undervoltage and overvoltage conditions. Other embodiments are also described.
US09224565B2

A method of manufacturing an automobile comprising: mixing 96˜99 wt % of colored plastic powder with 1˜4 wt % of transparent irreversible thermochromic pigment powder thus preparing a material mixture for a fuse body; melting the material mixture using an injection molding machine so that the fuse body containing a thermochromic pigment component is molded at an injection temperature of 300˜310° C. and an injection pressure of 1200˜1600 kg f/cm2 using an injection mold; drying the fuse body containing the thermochromic pigment component at 100˜200° C. for 3˜5 hr; inserting a fuse element comprising a pair of terminal members and a fuse member fixed therebetween into a pair of terminal insertion recesses and a fuse charging recess of the fuse body containing the thermochromic pigment component.
US09224563B2

A main body of an electronic part is formed in a rectangular pillared shape having a first and a second axial end surface. A first electrode is formed on the first axial end surface electrically and mechanically connected to a first wiring pattern formed on a board surface of a printed board. A second electrode is formed on the second axial end surface, to which one end of a fuse terminal is electrically connected. The other end of the fuse terminal is connected to a second wiring pattern of the printed board or a wiring member which is formed as an independent member from the printed board. A cut-off portion is formed in a connecting portion of the fuse terminal.
US09224561B2

A system includes a relay, an actuation circuit, and an actuation delay circuit. The relay is coupled to a source of an input voltage or current waveform. The relay includes an actuation coil. The actuation circuit detects a peak or valley of a rectified voltage ripple waveform. The rectified voltage ripple waveform is generated from the input voltage or current waveform. The actuation circuit also causes an actuation voltage to be provided to the actuation coil. The actuation delay circuit delays the actuation circuit from providing the actuation voltage. The actuation delay circuit is configured based on the peak or valley of the rectified voltage ripple waveform. The actuation delay generated by the actuation delay circuit causes the relay to begin allowing current to flow to a load device at a time coincident with a zero-crossing time value of the input voltage or current waveform.
US09224557B2

A switch device has an upper case, a hollow tube that is vertically opened and provided on an upper surface of the upper case, an operation knob that is swingably supported by the tube so as to cover an upper opening of the tube, and a lower case that is fitted in the upper case. The tube has a front sidewall and a back sidewall. The front sidewall and the back sidewall are opposed in front-back direction with the upper opening interposed therebetween. A drain groove extending along the back sidewall is formed at an upper end of the back sidewall. One of or both ends in a lengthwise direction of the drain groove are opened.
US09224555B2

The present invention provides an LED illuminated keyboard, which controls LED components with specific color hues to illuminate by pressing a specific key. The LED illuminated keyboard according to the present invention merely uses a micro control unit (MCU) commonly used in a keyboard of a computer, and connects switch circuits capable of controlling the LED components with the specific color hues to an output terminal of a GPIO of the MCU, to make a plurality of keys of the keyboard illuminate with multiple color hues. Therefore, the LED illuminated keyboard according to the present invention brings in advantages of low cost and easy use.
US09224550B2

A copper substrate for use as a contact having Sn plating, nickel plating and Au plating overlying the substrate. A combination of Sn plating is applied over a copper substrate; nickel plating is applied over the Sn plating; and Au plating is applied over the nickel plating to form a stack. The stack is then processed by a vapor phase Sn reflow step that results in the formation of intermetallics and eliminates stannous oxide layers that may otherwise form on the tin layer. The intermetallic layers provide excellent corrosion resistance, and serve as diffusion barriers to prevent the further migration of either Ni atoms or Cu atoms into the Sn, and Sn atoms outwardly into either the Ni or the Cu. Regardless of the thickness, the interfaces are substantially free of oxides, in particular tin oxide, and not prone to delamination.
US09224544B2

A trace structure for a touch panel having a transparent substrate with a touch sensing region and a border region surrounding the touch sensing region, the trace structure including: a plurality of traces disposed on the transparent substrate and within the border region; a plurality of bonding pads disposed in the border region of the transparent substrate, wherein each bonding pad has a first side and a second side, and the first side of each bonding pad is connected to a corresponding trace of the plurality of traces; and at least two trace extending portions extended toward an outer edge of the border region from the second side of two of the plurality of bonding pads.
US09224543B2

A ceramic electronic component includes a ceramic body, a plurality of internal electrodes provided in the ceramic body and including ends exposed on a surface of the ceramic body; a glass coating layer covering a portion of the surface of the ceramic body on which the internal electrodes are exposed; and an electrode terminal provided directly on the glass coating layer and including a plating film. The glass coating layer is made of a glass medium in which metal powder particles are dispersed. The internal electrodes project from the surface of the ceramic body into the glass coating layer without passing through the glass coating layer. The metal powder particles define conduction paths electrically connecting the internal electrodes with the electrode terminal.
US09224541B2

A capacitor assembly for use in high voltage and high temperature environments is provided. More particularly, the capacitor assembly includes a solid electrolytic capacitor element containing an anode body, a dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric. To help facilitate the use of the capacitor assembly in high voltage applications, it is generally desired that the solid electrolyte is formed from a dispersion of preformed conductive polymer particles. In this manner, the electrolyte may remain generally free of high energy radicals (e.g., Fe2+ or Fe3+ ions) that can lead to dielectric degradation, particularly at relatively high voltages (e.g., above about 60 volts). Furthermore, to help protect the stability of the solid electrolyte at high temperatures, the capacitor element is enclosed and hermetically sealed within a housing in the presence of a gaseous atmosphere that contains an inert gas.
US09224537B2

Technologies are generally described related to the design, manufacture and/or use of electrodes, capacitors, or any other similar component. In an example, a system effective to form a component may include a container effective to receive graphite nanoplatelets and effective to receive ruthenium chloride. The system may include a coating device in communication with the container. The system may further include a processor arranged in communication with the container and the coating device. The processor may be configured to control the container effective to combine the ruthenium chloride with the graphite nanoplatelets under reaction conditions sufficient to form a ruthenium oxide graphite nanoplatelets nanocomposite. The processor may further be configured to control the coaling device effective to coat a support with the ruthenium oxide graphite nanoplatelets nanocomposite.
US09224534B2

The electromagnetic resonance coupler includes: a transmission substrate; a reflective substrate; the first resonant wiring having an open loop shape having a first opening; a first input/output wiring connected to the first resonant wiring; the second resonant wiring provided inside the first resonant wiring and having an open loop shape having a second opening; a second input/output wiring connected to the second resonant wiring, the first resonant wiring, the first input/output wiring, the second resonant wiring, and the second input/output wiring being provided on the transmission substrate; and a reflection wiring provided on the reflective substrate and having a open loop shape having a third opening, in which, when viewed in a direction perpendicular to a main face of the transmission substrate, the reflection wiring and the first resonant wiring overlap and the reflection wiring and the second resonant wiring overlap.
US09224533B2

A wireless electric power transmission apparatus as an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: two antennas having the ability to transmit electric power by a non-contact method via resonant magnetic coupling, one of the two antennas being a series resonant circuit, of which the resonant frequency is fs, the other antenna being a parallel resonant circuit, of which the resonant frequency is fp; an oscillator which is connected to one of the two antennas that transmits RF power; and a control section which controls a transmission frequency according to the magnitude of the electric power to be transmitted from one of the two antennas to the other. fs/fp is set to be a value that is less than one.
US09224531B2

A power conversion device includes a magnetic core; and a plurality of windings surrounding portions of the magnetic core, including a first set of windings defining a first magnetic flux path, a second set of windings defining a second magnetic flux path magnetically orthogonal to the first magnetic flux path, and a third set of windings. Each winding of the third set of windings is configured to be excitable via both the first flux path and the second flux path.
US09224528B2

An electrically actuatable valve for injecting fuel includes a magnetic actuator having multiple components, at least one component of the magnetic actuator having multiple sectors made of soft magnetic material and multiple insulating separating webs. A separating web is situated between each two neighboring sectors and entirely separates the neighboring sectors from one another electrically.
US09224527B2

A method for producing an ultrafine-crystalline alloy ribbon having a structure in which crystal grains having an average grain size of 1-30 nm are dispersed at a ratio of 5-30% by volume in an amorphous matrix ultrafine, comprising the steps of ejecting an alloy melt onto a rotating cooling roll to quench it; forming an easily windable ribbon having such toughness that it is not fractured when bent to a bending radius of 1 mm or less, before the start of winding around a reel; and changing the forming conditions of the ribbon after the start of winding around a reel, to obtain a structure in which ultrafine crystal grains having an average grain size of 1-30 nm are dispersed at a ratio of 5-30% by volume in an amorphous matrix.
US09224525B2

An over-current protection device, which can be surface-mounted and stand upright on a circuit board and withstand 60 to 600 volts, comprises a PTC device, first and second electrodes. The PTC device is a laminated structure comprising first and second conductive layers and a PTC material layer. The first and second conductive layers are in physical contact with first and second planar surfaces of the PTC material layer, respectively. The first electrode is disposed on the first conductive layer. The second electrode is disposed on the second conductive layer and is separated from the first electrode. The first electrode, the second electrode and the PTC device commonly form an end surface which is substantially perpendicular to the first and second planar surfaces. The first electrode and the second electrode at the end surface serve as interfaces electrically connecting to the circuit board.
US09224520B2

A cold-applied cover assembly for environmentally protecting an electrical substrate includes a cold-applied polymeric cover member configured to surround the electrical substrate, and a gas transmission barrier (GTB) layer. The GTB layer is configured to surround the electrical substrate to define a protected chamber containing the electrical substrate and to inhibit ingress of a gas through the cover assembly into the protected chamber.
US09224508B2

Disclosed is a radiation resistant medical gown. More specifically, the invention relates to a medical gown that incorporates a radiation resistant and/or dissipating material into select portions of the garment. The gown further includes an upstanding collar that protects the wearer's thyroid from radiation exposure. The collar includes a Velcro® type fastener that prevents the collar from sagging. The gown is both sterile and disposable.
US09224504B2

A memory device includes a memory array with random defective memory cells. The memory array is organized into rows and columns with a row and column identifying a memory location of a memory cell of the memory array. The memory device includes a row address device and a column address device and is operative to use a grouping of either the row or the column addresses to manage the random defective memory cells by mapping the memory location of a defective memory cell to an alternate memory location.
US09224486B1

A circuit for driving a control gate of a split-gate nonvolatile memory cell may include a switched current source; a first transistor having a current electrode coupled to the switched current source and a control electrode coupled to a voltage source; a second transistor having a current electrode coupled to a second node of the switched current source, and a control electrode coupled to a third voltage source; a third transistor having a control electrode coupled to the second transistor, a current electrode coupled to the first transistor and a fourth switched voltage source; and a fourth transistor having a current electrode coupled to the first switched voltage source, a control electrode coupled to the switched current source, and a second current electrode coupled to the second transistor at a driver voltage node, wherein a voltage level at the driver voltage node is operable to drive the control gate.
US09224476B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a first NAND string and a second NAND string are connected to a bit line. One of the first and second NAND strings is selected by first to fourth select memory cells. At the write time, data is written in a first memory cell of the first NAND string selected by of the first to fourth select memory cells, then data is written in a second memory cell of the second NAND string selected at the same time as the first memory cell, data is written in a third memory cell adjacent to the first memory cell of the first NAND string and finally data is written in a fourth memory cell of the second NAND string selected at the same time as the third memory cell.
US09224475B2

A NAND flash memory chip includes wide openings in an inter-poly dielectric layer through which gaps are later etched to define structures such as select gates. Such select gates are asymmetric, with inter-poly dielectric on a side adjacent to a memory cell and no inter-poly dielectric on a side away from a memory cell. Gaps etched through such openings may also define peripheral devices.
US09224466B1

Methods and apparatus are provided for reading a selected memory cell of a memory array using a sense amplifier that includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The selected memory cell is coupled to a bit line and a selected word line. A first noise voltage is generated on the first capacitor, and a selected memory cell voltage and a second noise voltage are generated on the second capacitor. The first noise voltage is an estimate of the second noise voltage. An output signal value is generated proportional to a difference between the selected memory cell voltage and a reference voltage, and a difference between the first noise voltage and second noise voltage. The output signal value is used to determine a data value for the selected memory cell.
US09224453B2

A write-assisted memory includes a pre-charge assist circuit that assists the pre-charge of the power supply voltage on a power supply lead for an accessed memory cell in a bit-line-multiplexed group of memory cells subsequent to a write-assist period by coupling charge from the power supply leads for the remaining non-accessed memory cells in the bit-line-multiplexed group of memory cells.
US09224433B1

On-die variability noise or other variations in the power supply voltage to a storage circuit may cause the ability to perform memory access operations to be marginal. A control circuit may be coupled to the storage circuit and the power distribution network and monitor the actual power supply voltage. The control circuit may include a reference voltage generator that generates a nominal voltage. The control circuit may further include a comparator that generates a status signal based on a comparison between the actual power supply voltage and a nominal voltage. Based on the status signal, the control circuit may control memory access operations performed by the storage circuit. For example, the control circuit may enable and disable the execution of read and write operations on the storage circuit. If desired, the control circuit may also control the operation of predetermined portions of the integrated circuit.
US09224432B2

In a semiconductor package, a circuit pattern is arranged in a circuit board and contact pads on the circuit board are connected with the circuit pattern. Contact terminals contact external contact elements on a first surface of the circuit board. An integrated circuit (IC) chip structure is mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected to the inner circuit pattern. An operation controller on the circuit board controls operation of the semiconductor package according to the package users' individual choice.
US09224431B2

A microelectronic structure has active elements defining a storage array, and address inputs for receipt of address information specifying locations within the storage array. The structure has a first surface and can have terminals exposed at the first surface. The terminals may include first terminals and the structure may be configured to transfer address information received at the first terminals to the address inputs. Each first terminal can have a signal assignment which includes one or more of the address inputs. The first terminals are disposed on first and second opposite sides of a theoretical plane normal to the first surface, wherein the signal assignments of the first terminals disposed on the first side are a mirror image of the signal assignments of the first terminals disposed on the second side of the theoretical plane.
US09224430B2

The present disclosure includes devices, methods, and systems supporting on unit termination. A number of embodiments include a number of memory units, wherein a memory unit includes termination circuitry, and a memory unit does not include termination circuitry.
US09224429B2

According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a three-dimensional semiconductor device may include: a memory cell array including memory cells that may be arranged three-dimensionally, the memory cell array including a left side opposite a right side, and a top side opposite a bottom side in a plan view; at least one word line decoder adjacent to at least one of the left and right sides of the memory cell array; a page buffer adjacent to the bottom side of the memory cell array; and a string selection line decoder adjacent to one of the top and bottom sides of the memory cell array.
US09224418B2

Embodiments for validating an optical disc storing protected content are provided. In one example, a method comprises receiving the optical disc in an optical disc drive, detecting with a signal detector a signal while the optical disc is at rest, spinning the optical disc, determining, with the signal detector, one or more of an electrical and magnetic effect on the signal resulting from the spinning of the optical disc, and validating the optical disc if the one or more of the electrical and magnetic effect meets a predetermined condition.
US09224414B2

A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes the steps of depositing a magnetic layer on at least one of surfaces of a nonmagnetic substrate and injecting atoms partially in the magnetic layer, thereby demagnetizing parts having admitted the injected atoms or imparting amorphousness thereto, to form a magnetically separated magnetic recording pattern. The step of injecting includes the steps of applying resist to the at least one surface subsequent to the step of depositing, partially decreasing a thickness of the resist and irradiating a surface of the resist with atoms, thereby inducing partial injection of the atoms to the magnetic layer through portions of the resist decreased in thickness.
US09224404B2

A communication system includes a front-end audio gateway or bridge and a hands-free device. An automatic speech recognition platform accessible to the hands-free device provides or makes available one or more preprocessing schemes and/or acoustic models to the front-end audio gateway or bridge. The preprocessing schemes or acoustic models can be identified by or provided before a connection is established between the front-end audio gateway and the automatic speech recognition platform, when a connection occurs between the front-end audio gateway and the automatic speech recognition platform, and/or during a speech recognition session.
US09224389B2

A system and method for performing distributed speech recognition is provided. Audio data is received on a main recognizer and on each of a plurality of secondary recognizers. Secondary grammars are transmitted to each of the secondary recognizers. The secondary recognizers each perform speech recognition on the audio data using the secondary grammar for that secondary recognizer. A new grammar is constructed based on results of the speech recognition by each of the secondary recognizers. The main recognizer performs speech recognition on the audio data using the new grammar.
US09224388B2

A method for generating an anti-model of a sound class is disclosed. A plurality of candidate sound data is provided for generating the anti-model. A plurality of similarity values between the plurality of candidate sound data and a reference sound model of a sound class is determined. An anti-model of the sound class is generated based on at least one candidate sound data having the similarity value within a similarity threshold range.
US09224378B2

A computer-implemented method including generating a user interface implemented on a touch-sensitive display configured to generate a virtual dual flywheel system for modulating a lifecycle of a musical note or chord. The dual flywheel system (DFS) includes a first VFS and a second VFS, where the first virtual flywheel system series connected to the second virtual flywheel system such that an output of the first virtual flywheel system is coupled to an input of the second virtual flywheel system. Upon receiving a user input on the user interface, the dual flywheel system determines a virtual momentum for the first virtual flywheel based on the user input and a predetermined mass coefficient of the first virtual flywheel system, and determines a virtual momentum for the second virtual flywheel based on the virtual momentum of the first virtual flywheel system and a predetermined mass coefficient of the second virtual flywheel.
US09224358B2

A process is utilized to provide a multi-display configuration. The process detects, at a first proximity-based device within a first display device, a presence of a second proximity-based device within a second display device. The presence is within a proximity. Further, the process displays a first portion of a multi-display image at the first display device based upon a location of the first display device relative to the second display device.
US09224343B2

There is provided a display device, which is arranged to display a predetermined fixed image, having a pixel electrode layer comprising a plurality of pixel portions, and opaque solidified electrolyte arranged in a plurality of separated segments in ionic contact with a respective pixel portion, wherein each electrolyte segment and respective pixel portion form a pixel element. The fixed image display further comprises at least one continuous electrode layer extending across at least two rows and two columns of the pixel matrix, and is connected to the electrolyte segments of a subset of the pixel elements. Upon application of an electric potential difference between the patterned electrode layer and the pixel electrode layer, the pixel portions of the subset of the pixel elements switch color.
US09224335B2

Discussed are an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device and a method for driving the same. The OLED display device includes pixels each including a light emitting element, and a pixel driving circuit. The pixel driving circuit includes a driving switching element connected in series between high and low-level voltage supply lines, together with the light emitting element, a first switching element for connecting a data line and a first node connected to a gate of the driving switching element in response to a first scan signal, a second switching element for connecting an initialization voltage supply line and a second node connected to a source of the driving switching element in response to a second scan signal, and a third switching element for connecting the high-level voltage supply line and a drain of the driving switching element in response to an emission signal.
US09224334B2

A display device includes pixels, each including a set of sub-pixels. A first subset of the pixels may each include white, green, and blue sub-pixels, but not a red sub-pixel. A second subset of the pixels may each include white, green, and red sub-pixels, but not a blue sub-pixel. The pixels may alternate between the first subset and the second subset in at least one direction. First luminance data may be extracted from an input image signal based on a map that specifies locations of pixels of the first subset, and second luminance data may be extracted from the input image signal based on a map that specifies locations of pixels of the second subset. The display device may drive the blue sub-pixels based on the first luminance data and drive the red sub-pixels based on the second luminance data.
US09224332B2

An organic light-emitting display device includes: an organic light-emitting panel in which a plurality of pixel regions are arranged, the pixel regions each including a drive transistor configured to drive an organic light emission element and a sensing transistor configured to detect a threshold voltage of the drive transistor during a sensing interval; and a controller configured to compare a pixel number of a low grayscale range and a pixel number of a high grayscale range, which are obtained from an image signal, and adjust the sensing interval according to a compared resultant.
US09224318B2

A light source module including an optical film, a bottom reflector, a top reflector, a light converging element, and a light emitting element is provided. The bottom reflector is located under the optical film. The top reflector and the light converging element are located at opposite sides of the optical film. The optical film, the bottom reflector, the top reflector, and the light converging element enclose a space. The light converging element has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The light emitting element is disposed in the space and has an optical axis direction, where the third portion has a first surface facing the first portion, a first angle having a range of 5-10 degrees is included between the optical axis direction and a connection line between the light emitting element and one end of the first surface away from the light emitting element.
US09224317B2

A signaling device may include a first signaling illuminant; a second signaling illuminant; and a control device having at least one information input for coupling to an information source, wherein the control device is configured to drive the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a manner dependent on the signal at the information input in order to set one of four states, wherein only the first signaling illuminant is switched on in the first state, only the second signaling illuminant is switched on in the second state, the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched on in the third state, wherein the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant are switched off in the fourth state, wherein the control device is configured to operate the first signaling illuminant and the second signaling illuminant in a series circuit in the third state.
US09224312B2

Methods and devices for determining sensing device usability, e.g., for point of care immunoassay devices. In one embodiment, the invention is to a method of determining device usability, comprising the steps of providing a device comprising a first electrical pad; a second electrical pad; and a continuous polymer layer contacting at least a portion of the first and second electrical pads; applying a potential across the first and second electrical pads; measuring an electrical property associated with the continuous polymer layer; and determining whether the measured electrical property associated with the continuous polymer layer has exceeded a threshold level associated with the device usability.
US09224309B2

A computer-based education system monitors brain activity of the student to produce an “engagement” signal that may be compared against a dynamic threshold to identify a plurality of points demarcating periods of declining attention. These points are used to trigger modifications to the presentation of the educational program to promote student retention of the present information.
US09224303B2

A computer based system having one or more computers is provided. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of trainee client computers. The system can include at least one controlled digital character and a non-trainee digital entity, a plurality of models, and a rendering module for rendering the models on a display. The system is usable in training workforce teams and in a wide variety of additional applications.
US09224301B2

A method for requesting air traffic control (ATC) clearance comprising receiving user input to display an ATC clearance request page corresponding to a respective flight parameter; based on the received user input, requesting a computed value for the respective flight parameter from a flight management (FMS) system; and displaying the computed value with the ATC clearance request page corresponding to the respective flight parameter.
US09224300B2

An apparatus and method for controlling autonomous vehicle platooning are disclosed. The apparatus for controlling autonomous vehicle platooning includes a frame format configuration unit, a synchronization unit, and a contention window assignment unit. The frame format configuration unit configures the format of a frame included in a communication channel applicable to the control of autonomous vehicle platooning. The synchronization unit synchronizes a plurality of vehicles with one another using the frame so that the vehicles can perform the autonomous vehicle platooning. The contention window assignment unit assigns the different contention window values of a slot for management of the frame to the respective synchronized vehicles. The control is performed using the assigned contention window values so that the vehicles can participate in the autonomous vehicle platooning.
US09224298B2

An exemplary system for a vehicle having an object attached to it may include a user interface device, a controller, and a communication system. The user interface device may be configured to receive and transmit information relating to the object. The controller may be in communication with the user interface device, and may be configured to receive the information from the user interface device. The communication system may be in communication with the controller, and may be configured to transmit at least a subset of the information to at least one other vehicle.
US09224296B1

A system for tracking school buses and schoolchildren to enhance the security and safety of schoolchildren and provide real-time information about the location of students and buses to teachers and administrators and parents by utilizing GPS components and fingerprint scanning technology. In some embodiments, the system is comprised of the following parts: a client software component, hosted on a data storage unit and executed by a client microprocessor.
US09224288B2

A control apparatus is provided, which includes: a determination section that determines a control command according to sensor information, on the basis of a control rule capable of being set by a user for determining the control command controlling a device; and a control section that controls the device in accordance with the control command determined by the determination section.
US09224273B1

An apparatus that operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records, includes at least one processor that is in operative connection with a card reader, a check acceptor, a cash dispenser and a display. The at least one processor causes the machine to operate to read card data from a user card, and to cause a determination to be made that the read card data corresponds to an authorized financial account. The at least one processor is operative to cause data to be read from a check and/or cash to be dispensed, and a financial transfer to or from the account corresponding to the value thereof. Machine instructions are output and user transaction inputs can be received through either a primary or an auxiliary touch screen display.
US09224272B2

In an exchange of data between a client terminal (1) and a secure database server (2) the data is encoded using positional information generated by a combination generator (7) in a separate security server (3). The positional information is used to produce an image specific to a communication event which is accessed by the client terminal (1) and is the basis for the entry of sensitive data at the client terminal (1). The three-way communication link between the client terminal, database server and security server greatly increases the difficulty of successfully intercepting and decoding the data entered at the client terminal. This method of secure data communication is particularly suited to the communication of password data for example in the banking industry.
US09224248B2

Method of applying virtual makeup and producing makeover effects to 3D face model driven by facial tracking in real-time includes the steps: capturing static or live facial images of a user; performing facial tracking of facial image, and obtaining tracking points on captured facial image; and producing makeover effects according to tracking points in real time. Virtual makeup can be applied using virtual makeup input tool such as a user's finger sliding over touch panel screen, mouse cursor or an object passing through makeup-allowed area. Makeup-allowed area for producing makeover effects is defined by extracting feature points from facial tracking points and dividing makeup-allowed area into segments and layers; and defining and storing parameters of makeup-allowed area. Virtual visual effects including color series, alpha blending, and/or superposition are capable of being applied. Makeover effect takes into account of lighting condition, facial posture rotation, face size scaling, and face translation, respectively.
US09224246B2

A method and an apparatus for processing a media file for an augmented reality service are provided. The method includes analyzing at least one media file including a marker track and a virtual object track to be used for providing the augmented reality service; generating image data needed for reproducing an image by extracting video data and/or audio data included in the media file; generating virtual object data for displaying a virtual object by extracting virtual object information included in the media file; and synthesizing the image data and the virtual object data based on the marker track to structure a final image and reproducing the final image on a screen.
US09224206B1

An exemplary method includes prompting a user to capture video data at a location. The location is associated with navigation directions for the user. Information representing visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data is received by one or more computing devices, and a stored data model representing a 3D geometry depicting objects associated with the location is accessed. Between corresponding images from the captured video data and projections of the 3D geometry, one or more candidate change regions are detected. Each candidate change region indicates an area of visual difference between the captured video data and projections. When it is detected that a count of the one or more candidate change regions is below a threshold, the stored model data is updated with at least part of the captured video data based on the visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data.
US09224201B2

A method for the reduction of artifacts based on an unequal representation of the same material classes in various locations, in particular of cupping artifacts, in a three-dimensional image data set, reconstructed from two-dimensional x-ray projection images is provided. An image datum, describing an attenuation value, is allocated respectively to a voxel, wherein at least two material class regions are located in a post-processing step, which receive, in particular, image data, which is homogeneously distributed and lies in an expected material class interval of the attenuation values, and, considering at least one characteristic of the material class regions, calculates a smooth homogenization function, which is to be applied to the image data of the entire image data set and is applied to the image data of the image data set.
US09224200B2

There is provided a computer vision based method for extracting features relating to the developmental stages of Trichuris spp. eggs, wherein for the final developmental stages a larva is present inside the egg, said Trichuris spp. eggs having a substantially oblong or elliptical shape with a protruding polar plug at each end, the shape of the Trichuris spp. eggs thereby defining a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction of the eggs.
US09224186B2

Memory latency tolerance methods and apparatus for maintaining an overall level of performance in block processing pipelines that prefetch reference data into a search window. In a general memory latency tolerance method, search window processing in the pipeline may be monitored. If status of search window processing changes in a way that affects pipeline throughput, then pipeline processing may be modified. The modification may be performed according to no stall methods, stall recovery methods, and/or stall prevention methods. In no stall methods, a block may be processed using the data present in the search window without waiting for the missing reference data. In stall recovery methods, the pipeline is allowed to stall, and processing is modified for subsequent blocks to speed up the pipeline and catch up in throughput. In stall prevention methods, processing is adjusted in advance of the pipeline encountering a stall condition.
US09224183B2

Systems and methods may provide for projection of a plurality of structured light patterns. In one example, the method may include generating a low-resolution pattern image utilizing a returned image, wherein the low-resolution pattern image is an approximation of an image that would have been generated utilizing a low-resolution pattern and generating a high-resolution pattern image utilizing a preprocessed returned image and a preprocessed low-resolution pattern image, wherein high-resolution pattern image is an approximation of an image that would have been generated utilizing a high-resolution pattern.
US09224182B2

A system for confidentially retrieving data from a person, such as by authorized personnel. One embodiment provides a data carrier item such as jewelry, having encrypted data imparted upon the item in manner that is only intelligible after being unencrypted. Such data can be encrypted and/or invisibly disposed such that the data is not identifiable by the public, but can be quickly and accurately retrieved by authorized personnel.
US09224178B2

A content recording system comprises a digital media recording device to record content. A rights-management module is in electrical communication with the digital media recording device to detect a desired recording performed by the digital media recording device. The rights-management module further communicates digital rights information of a rights-managed content to the digital recording device. The recording of the rights-managed content is performed according to the digital rights information.
US09224169B2

A dynamic spectrum arbitrage (DSA) system may include a dynamic spectrum policy controller (DPC) and a dynamic spectrum controller (DSC) that together dynamically manage the allocation and use of resources (e.g., spectrum resources) across different networks. A dynamic spectrum arbitrage application part (DSAAP) protocol/component/module may allow, facilitate, support, or augment communications between the DSC and DPC so as to improve the efficiency and speed of the DSA system. The DSAAP may allow the DPC and/or DSC components to better pool resources across the different networks, better monitor traffic and resource usage in the various networks, to more efficiently communicate bids and bidding information, to quickly and efficiently register and deregister components, and better perform backoff operations. The DSAAP may improve the DSA resource auctioning operations by improving the performance and efficiency of the procedures for bidding, generating invoices, advertising resources, requesting resources, purchasing resources, validating bid credentials, etc.
US09224163B2

Disclosed is a method of incremental computation of billing percentile values in a cloud based application acceleration as a service environment. In one aspect, a method includes sampling a usage data of a network entity of an application acceleration as a service provider in intervals of five minutes using a processor and a memory. A 95th percentile value is automatically calculated based on a next value in the billing cycle after the top 5% of samples in the billing cycle. The 95th percentile value of each of a plurality of billable units for each of billing measurements for a large scale data associated with the network entity is incrementally computed by computing the 95th percentile value upon a newest set of data arrived to the network entity in each five minute interval. A billing amount is determined based on an incremental computation.
US09224161B2

A system and method verifying the operational integrity of a wireless message broadcasting messaging system with a heartbeat message generator module and a heartbeat feedback reporting system for receiving a broadcast message record including the broadcast message and the broadcast target area defined as geographical information, generating a heartbeat broadcast message, identifying by the broadcast message routing subsystem at least one wireless network providing point to multipoint cell broadcasting messaging to at least a portion of the broadcast target area, transmitting the broadcast message to each of the identified wireless networks, and transmitting the generated heartbeat message to at least one coupled wireless network in addition to transmitting the heartbeat broadcast message to each of the identified wireless networks, and receiving an indication of receipt of the heartbeat broadcast message from a remote feedback receiver verifying the receipt of the message as indicated by the received indication.
US09224160B2

A system and method for verifying the receipt of wireless broadcast messages over a wireless message broadcasting system having a broadcast control module and a feedback reporting system for performing the receiving a broadcast message record including the broadcast message and the broadcast target area defined as geographical information, identifying at least one wireless network from among one or more coupled wireless networks that provides point to multipoint cell broadcasting messaging to at least a portion of the message specific broadcast target area as received in the broadcast message record, and transmitting the broadcast message to each of the identified wireless networks, and receiving an indication of receipt of the broadcast message by a remote feedback receiver located within a transmission area of at least one of the coupled wireless networks, and verifying the receipt of the message as indicated by the received indication.
US09224158B2

Systems and computer program products provide advertisement delivery to a cluster of mobile devices with computer readable program code, when read by a processor, configured for identification based at least in part on a relative displacement of the two or more mobile devices during a period of time being less than a maximum relative displacement. The code is further configured for displaying an advertising message on each mobile device in the cluster.
US09224155B2

Exemplary embodiments provide systems, devices, one or more non-transitory computer-readable media and computer-executable methods for managing publication of online advertising. In exemplary embodiments, computer-based publication techniques may include, but is not limited to, automatically determining whether the content of a particular web page article is suitable or unsuitable for accompaniment with one or more advertisements, automatically determining whether an advertisement is suitable or unsuitable for publication on a web page associated with a web page article, and automatically determining a category that may be used to classify the content of a web page article in order to select one or more categories of advertisements suitable for accompaniment with the web page article.
US09224149B2

A computer-implemented method includes storing at a computer server indicative data for a first web-accessible document that is not associated with the computer server, receiving a request from a program module in a container document associated with the web-accessible document, and providing, in response to the request, information related to the indicative data.
US09224127B2

An adaptable user interface is formed based on a role assumed by a user and the identification of tasks in a process that need to be performed. For each role assumed by the user, a set of tasks assigned to the role is identified. Each task is evaluated to determine if it is an active task that needs to be performed in one or more processes. For each active task, an element is added to the user interface.
US09224121B2

A schedule manager may include a chromosome comparator configured to compare a plurality of schedule chromosomes, each schedule chromosome including a potential schedule of use of manufacturing resources within one or more time intervals in producing one or more items, and configured to compare each of the plurality of schedule chromosomes relative to constraints, to thereby output a selected subset of the plurality of schedule chromosomes. The schedule manager may include a chromosome combiner configured to combine schedule chromosomes of the selected subset to obtain a next generation of schedule chromosomes for output to the chromosome comparator and for subsequent comparison therewith of the next generation of schedule chromosomes with respect to the constraints, as part of an evolutionary loop of the plurality of schedule chromosomes between the chromosome comparator and the chromosome combiner, and a scheduler configured to select a selected schedule chromosome therefrom.
US09224119B2

A method and system defines a mechanism to architect and define extensible methods and processes to build hybrid solutions. Solution templates provide a mechanism to architect and define the software development method in an extensible way and it enables the method architecture to be flexible to assemble method content and process elements only for those solution types that are necessary for a given solution. Solution templates keep the common base method lightweight and reusable and control the proliferation of software development processes necessary to build hybrid solutions by defining the solution templates for each of the solution types as pluggable extensions or add-ons to the base method that can be assembled on demand based on project needs.
US09224117B2

A software system and service for facilitating organizational testing of employees in order to determine their potential susceptibility to phishing scams is disclosed to evaluate their susceptibility to e-mail and Internet cybercrimes such as phishing. The e-mail addresses of a client organization's employees are provided to the system, a phishing e-mail is created and customized, and a phishing e-mail campaign in which the phishing e-mail message is sent and the responses to the phishing e-mail is monitored, and the results of the e-mail campaign are provided for evaluation. The phishing e-mail may optionally contain attachments and various types of probes and “call home” mechanisms.
US09224116B2

The present description refers to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system to receive a list of computer events, each of the events including a user interacting with a computer, determine one or more desktop operations, with each desktop operation including one or more computer events that are performed to accomplish the desktop operation, determine one or more knowledge actions, where each knowledge action includes a group of one or more desktop operations performed using a same application on a same information object, determine one or more tasks, with each task including a group of knowledge actions that include information objects that are semantically related, and combine two or more tasks that are temporally related.
US09224104B2

Injecting generated data samples into a minority data class of an imbalanced training data set is provided. In response to receiving an input to balance the imbalanced training data set that includes a majority data class and the minority data class, a set of data samples is generated for the minority data class. A distance is calculated from each data sample in the set of generated data samples to a center of a kernel that includes a set of data samples of the majority data class. Each data sample in the set of generated data samples is stored within a corresponding distance score bucket based on the calculated distance of a data sample. Generated data samples are selected from a number of highest ranking distance score buckets. The generated data samples selected from the number of highest ranking distance score buckets are injected into the minority data class.
US09224100B1

A mobile device, including an accelerometer and a processing unit receiving signals from the accelerometer and determining motion information of the mobile device based on the received signals is disclosed. A content selector selects a media format for content based on the physical state of the mobile device as indicated by the signals from the accelerometer. A display device displays the content in the selected media format. When the motion is a predetermined type of motion, the received content is withheld from being displayed by the display device. A machine learning apparatus is provided as the content selector.
US09224094B2

Methods and apparatus to monitor media content at a content display site are described. An example method includes obtaining panelist data corresponding to a plurality of panelists accessing web pages at measured locations, classifying the panelist data according to demographic information of the panelists, generating a virtual panel based on an estimate of web page access at unmeasured locations, and classifying page view data associated with the unmeasured locations based on data corresponding to the virtual panel.
US09224086B2

The invention relates to a method for contacting a chip with a conductor arrangement and also to a conductor arrangement, particularly a transponder antenna, an intermediate carrier or the like, with a carrier substrate (55) for accommodating the chip and with a chip having chip terminal faces formed thereon, wherein a conductor material layer (66) is formed on the carrier substrate, wherein the conductor material layer forms a conductor arrangement (64) having at least two conductors (56, 57) which are connected to each other in a chip contact area (58), wherein an insulating gap (59) is formed in the chip contact area, such that mutually electrically insulated conductor terminal faces (60, 61) of the conductors are formed, wherein the chip terminal faces are contacted with the conductor terminal faces, and wherein the insulating gap is formed by removal of the conductor material layer by means of a laser.
US09224081B2

An image recording apparatus includes: at least one container, a recorder, a communication unit, an input device, a memory, a display, and a controller. The controller performs: receiving a recording command via the communication unit; storing the recording command in the memory; and detecting a remaining amount of the consumables in the container. And the controller further performs: calculating a consumption amount of the consumables in accordance with the stored recording command; receiving authentication information; authenticating the stored recording command and comparing the detected remaining amount of the consumables with the calculated consumption amount to be consumed for the image of the authenticated recording command; and displaying information of a first authenticated recording command with a first indication indicating the first authenticated recording command is executed, when the calculated consumption amount is equal to or less than the detected remaining amount.
US09224080B2

A spectral characteristic acquisition device includes a light irradiation part configured to irradiate an object with light, a diffraction part configured to diffract light reflected from the object to provide diffracted light, a light-receiving part configured to receive the diffracted light and output a signal based on an amount of the diffracted light, a calibration color index configured to include a color with a known spectral characteristic, and an operation part configured to calculate a spectral characteristic of the object from a signal output from the light-receiving part by using a predetermined transformation matrix and calibrate the transformation matrix by using the calibration color index.
US09224076B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a communication unit for receiving unmodified data and modified data obtained when the unmodified data is modified; an image-reading unit for reading a confirmation document over which commentary has been written, and generating scan data; a storage unit for storing the unmodified data, the modified data, and the scan data; a comparison processing unit for comparing the unmodified data, the modified data, and the scan data, and recognizing confirmation places of the modified data, which are modified places that correspond to the commentary and have been modified from the unmodified data; and a printing unit for printing only those pages of the modified data that comprise the confirmation places recognized by the comparison processing unit.
US09224074B2

A system and method according to which device link profiles (DLPs) for color printing are tuned or otherwise adjusted.
US09224069B2

A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute an image accumulating procedure, the procedure includes: specifying a second image similar to a first image that is associated with text information; displaying the second image in an identifiable manner, and the text information on a display device; and storing the text information associated with image information that is related to the second image, based on instruction information that instructs a use of the text information with respect to the second image.
US09224068B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for identifying objects in images. One of the methods includes receiving an input image; down-sampling the input image to generate a second image; generating a respective first score for each of the plurality of object categories; selecting an initial patch of the input image; generating a respective second score for each of the plurality of object categories; and generating a respective third score for each of the plurality of object categories from the first scores and the second scores, wherein the respective third score for each of the plurality of object categories represents a likelihood that the input image contains an image of an object belonging to the object category.
US09224063B2

A microscopy imaging system and method for rendering a mosaic representation of an object from a series of image frames of the object are disclosed. A current image frame is processed to determine its relative location or position within the mosaic representation based on relative displacement of the current image from one or more keyframes. Once the current image frame's position has been determined, it is rendered along with its neighboring keyframes to provide the mosaic representation of the object.
US09224060B1

Systems and approaches are provided for tracking an object of interest using depth or disparity information, such as obtained by calculating stereo disparity between a pair of images. The depth or disparity information can be used as an additional signature for a template of the object of interest for tracking the object. A template that includes depth, distance, or disparity information for an object of interest may be invariant to the effects of lighting, such as shadows and changes in illumination conditions. Depth, distance, or disparity information can also provide information regarding shape and size that can be used to differentiate foreground objects. Depth, distance, or disparity information can also better handle occlusion. Depth, distance, or disparity information can also provide an additional disambiguating dimension for tracking an object.
US09224057B2

A system for biometrically authenticating a user includes: elements for obtaining image data that are representative of at least one user-associated biometric feature and at least one user-associated identifier, elements for extracting the at least one biometric feature in the image data, elements for extracting the at least one identifier in the image data, elements for performing a search for a reference biometric feature associated with the at least one identifier, elements for comparing the extracted biometric feature with the reference biometric feature, and elements for authenticating the user in accordance with a result of the comparison.
US09224054B2

Machine vision based obstacle avoidance system is provided. The system utilizes a CCD camera to capture an image. A normalized image and dynamic masking is used in object detection.
US09224051B2

A lens-attached matter detector includes an edge extractor configured to create an edge image based on an input image, divide the edge image into a plurality of areas including a plurality of pixels, and extract an area whose edge intensity is a threshold range as an attention area, a brightness distribution extractor configured to obtain a brightness value of the attention area and a brightness value of a circumference area, a brightness change extractor configured to obtain the brightness value of the attention area and the brightness value of the circumference area for a predetermined time interval, and obtain a time series variation in the brightness value of the attention area based on the brightness value of the attention area, and an attached matter determiner configured to determine the presence or absence of attached matter based on the time series variation in the brightness value of the attention area.
US09224048B2

Scene-based people metering for audience measurement is disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein include grouping successive image frames depicting a location of a media presentation to form a sequence of scenes, respective scenes including respective groups of the image frames. Such example methods also include grouping matching scenes into respective scene clusters having respective sizes, the scene clusters being represented by respective key frames. Such example methods further include assigning respective ranks to the key frames of the respective scene clusters, the respective ranks being determined based on the respective sizes of the scene clusters. Such example methods additionally include processing the key frames in accordance with the respective ranks to monitor an audience of the media presentation.
US09224047B2

A method and apparatus is described for specifying regions of interest within a two-dimensional view of visual information that comprises a series of frames. Visual changes that occur in the view are stored. A user enters search criteria that specify at least one first region of interest within the view and a visual change. A visual change may include a change in pixel values or a detection of motion of one or more objects within the view. The first search criteria are compared against the stored visual changes to identify a sequence of frames in which the specified visual change occurred within the first region of interest. The search criteria may specify multiple regions of interest, each with one or more types of visual changes. If a motion is specified, then a direction, speed, and behavior of a moving object may also be specified.
US09224043B2

Performing map construction under a crowded environment where there are a lot of people. It includes a successive image acquisition unit that obtains images that are taken while a robot is moving, a local feature quantity extraction unit that extracts a quantity at each feature point from the images, a feature quantity matching unit that performs matching among the quantities in the input images, where quantities are extracted by the extraction unit, an invariant feature quantity calculation unit that calculates an average of the matched quantities among a predetermined number of images by the matching unit as an invariant feature quantity, a distance information acquisition unit that calculates distance information corresponding to each invariant feature quantity based on a position of the robot at times when the images are obtained, and a map generation unit that generates a local metrical map as a hybrid map.
US09224035B2

A method and system for matching an unknown facial image of an individual with an image of a celebrity using facial recognition techniques and human perception is disclosed herein. The invention provides a internet hosted system to find, compare, contrast and identify similar characteristics among two or more individuals using a digital camera, cellular telephone camera, wireless device for the purpose of returning information regarding similar faces to the user The system features classification of unknown facial images from a variety of internet accessible sources, including mobile phones, wireless camera-enabled devices, images obtained from digital cameras or scanners that are uploaded from PCs, third-party applications and databases. Once classified, the matching person's name, image and associated meta-data is sent back to the user. The method and system uses human perception techniques to weight the feature vectors.
US09224031B2

The invention relates to image analysis of dark field images obtained at low magnification below 10:1. Image analysis of dark field images obtained at low magnification can be combined with analyzes of images obtained in respect of the same section of a sample and same magnification but with other techniques such as fluorescent microscopy. The system and method can be used e.g. for particle counting, particle size measurement, particle size distribution, morphology measurement, where the particles can be cells and/or cell parts. The invention also relates to a compact dark field light source unit, a system or apparatus including a microscope which by itself is compact and comprises the mentioned dark field light source unit.
US09224028B2

A pattern for coding numerical a information item on a surface, including a specific arrangement of a plurality of symbols belonging to a set of symbols (ENS1), and each symbol in the arrangement being intended for the coding of a portion of said numerical information item, wherein each symbol includes at least one differential pair of elements (E1, E2) positioned in a specific way, each element being characterized by a parameter, the parameter of the first element of each differential pair having a first value and the parameter of the second element of each differential pair having a second value different from the first value.
US09224022B2

An autofocus lens system includes no conventional moving parts and has excellent speed and low power consumption. The system includes a small electronically-controlled focusing-module lens. The focusing-module lens includes two adjustable polymeric surfaces (e.g., two adjustable-surface lenses in a back-to-back configuration). The curvature of the surfaces can be adjusted to change focus. The performance of the autofocus lens system is extended by adding a conventional first and second lens, or lens group, on either side of the focusing-module lens. What results is an autofocus lens system with excellent near field and far field performance.
US09224017B2

A system and method for using multiplexed RFID transceivers and RFID tags to verify connections and communicate the connection status to a host system is provided. RFID tags that are programmed with connection specific indicia are attached at or in proximity to various connections in a pharmaceutical or biotech processing system and interrogated by remote antennas driven by a multiplexed RFID transceiver. This enables a user to verify the status of each connection and communicate the connection status to a host system.
US09224015B2

A smart wallet that can only be exclusively opened by an authorized individual through biometric authentication is disclosed. The smart wallet also has a security system associated therewith to prevent the smart wallet from being lost or stolen. The system comprises a fob key configured to send periodic wireless transmissions to the smart wallet device having the ability for approximate range detection. Various embodiments include audible, visual and vibrational indications for authentication, battery power and range detection.
US09224007B2

A search engine system with privacy protection, including a data indexer configured to create an index of data, a search engine configured to search the index of the data in response to a query, and create a search result set including excerpts from the data, and a privacy protector configured to identify at least one data entity within at least one excerpt of the search result set that meets at least one predefined entity extraction criterion, redact the search result set by removing the data entity from the excerpt, and present the redacted search result set on a computer output device.
US09224005B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing attribute-based data access. Embodiments include receiving a data request specifying search data attributes describing requested data that is to be found in an anonymous directory. The anonymous directory provides access to secured data of clients according to access controls, including secured data comprising a first portion that is unencrypted and readable by the anonymous directory and a second portion that is encrypted and unreadable by the anonymous directory. The second portion is encrypted using multi-authority attribute-based encryption that associates the second portion with encryption data attributes. The anonymous directory provides the first acid second portions of data f conditions in the access controls are met. The first and second portions of data are provided, based on determining that the conditions in the access controls are met, and that at least one data attribute is relevant to at least one encryption data attribute.
US09224002B2

A file encrypting method and apparatus, and a file decrypting method and apparatus is provided. The method includes following steps: creating a virtual disk; the virtual disk receiving a writing request from a file system, encrypting data in the writing request; and notifying the file system to write the encrypted data into a corresponding physical disk, so that the file system writes the encrypted data into the corresponding physical disk after receiving a notification from the virtual disk. The methods and apparatuses can employ the virtual disk to encrypt data in the writing request and decrypt the data required by the reading request, and this manner achieves highly-reliable, secure and effective file encrypting.
US09224000B1

Systems and methods for securing or encrypting data or other information arising from a user's interaction with software and/or hardware, resulting in transformation of original data into ciphertext. Generally, the ciphertext is generated using context-based keys that depend on the environment in which the original data originated and/or accessed. The ciphertext can be stored in a user's storage device or in an enterprise database (e.g., at-rest encryption), or shared with other users (e.g., cryptographic communication). Use of context-based encryption keys enables key association with individual data elements, as opposed to public-private key pairs, or use of conventional user-based or system-based keys. In scenarios wherein data is shared by a sender with other users, the system manages the rights of users who are able to send and/or access the sender's data according to pre-defined policies/roles.
US09223994B2

The invention relates to a transaction method, the method including the steps of: providing a terminal including a main processor, a graphic processor controlling a display, and a control member, the graphic processor including a memory bank which cannot be accessed from the outside; creating a link between the graphic processor and a secure processor, the link being secured by means of an encryption key shared only by the graphic processor and the secure processor; presenting first data to the user; collecting second data from commands entered by the user by means of the control member, in connection with the first data; transmitting the second data to the secure processor; and, if the user has been authenticated from the second data, carrying out the transaction, the secure link being used to transmit the first and/or second data, and/or to carry out the transaction.
US09223993B2

A method for providing hardware mandatory access control (MAC) may include coupling an input filter to a hardware core. The input filter may receive one or more labeled objects and may qualify the labeled objects based on a first label associated with each of the labeled objects. The input filter may strip the first label from each of the labeled objects to provide one or more input objects. The hardware core may receive the one or more input objects and may provide one or more output objects. An output filter may be coupled to the hardware core. The output filter may receive the one or more output objects and may associate to each of the one or more output objects a second label. Operations of the input filter and the output filter may be coordinated by a label manager.
US09223990B2

The method and apparatus support signature-based application management that examines credibility of an application to be installed or executed and controls installation and execution accordingly. The application management method for a user device includes: receiving user input for installing an application; comparing signature information of the application with an authentication list stored in a signature information storage; preventing, when the signature information is present in a blacklist of the authentication list, installation of the application; initiating, when the signature information is present in a whitelist of the authentication list, installation of the application; and selectively performing, when the signature information is not present in either the blacklist or the whitelist, installation of the application according to user consent.
US09223989B2

A method, computer program product, and system is described. An indication of a problem regarding a content item is received, the content item being subject to a workflow including an approval protocol. A request for an emergency exception to the workflow with respect to an update to the content item is received, the update being associated with the problem. Permission for circumvention of one or more aspects of the approval protocol with respect to the update is provided, in response to receiving the request for the emergency exception.
US09223988B1

Subject innovations enable a client device to dynamically download Digital Rights Management components, and/or other plug-ins, to extend a browser functionality, where the downloading places the downloaded component(s) within a super sandbox that, inter alia, disables selected operating system calls by the downloaded component, performs one or more heuristic analysis on code execution of the component to detect possible malicious code, and restricts output through the super sandbox to those responses that are in response to a request to the component, rather than output that the component might have initiated ‘on its own.’ In some embodiments, a webpage is configured to include instructions to automatically download and install the component, thereby minimizing user actions to directly request and/or install the component.
US09223977B2

Testing a Web-based application for security vulnerabilities. At least one client request including a payload having a unique identifier can be communicated to the Web-based application. Response HTML and an associated Document Object Model (DOM) object can be received from the Web-based application. Content corresponding to the payload can be identified in the DOM object via the unique identifier. A section of the DOM object including the payload can be identified as un-trusted.
US09223976B2

Content inspection techniques are described. In one or more implementations, it is detected that an application executing on a computing device is calling a particular code element of a group of code elements to be used to process content. For example, the group of code elements can include a pre-specified group of code elements (e.g., functions and/or properties) that may enable access to particular functionalities of a computing device and thus are associated with a known security risk. It is then ascertained that the content is untrusted and, in response to ascertaining that the content is untrusted, the content is inspected to determine if the content is safe to be passed to the code element.
US09223975B2

Disclosed is a method of operating a data storage system. The method comprises identifying changed segments of a primary storage volume, receiving a data request for a plurality of data items in a secondary storage volume, identifying changed data items of the plurality of data items in the secondary storage volume based on a correspondence between the plurality of data items in the secondary storage volume and the changed segments of the primary storage volume, and transferring the changed data items in response to the data request.
US09223972B1

According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a processor and memory. Communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprises one or more detection modules each being software that is configurable to enable, disable or modify capabilities for that corresponding detection module. A first detection module the detection modules, when executed by the processor, conducts a first capability including an analysis of a received object to determine if the received object is associated with a malicious attack. The analysis may be altered upon receipt of a configuration file that is substantially lesser in size than the software forming the first detection module and includes information to alter one or more rules controlling the first capability.
US09223971B1

A computer device displays email messages received in connection with a user account and a user selectable icon to report suspicious email. The computer device receives user selections of the icon and an associated suspicious email message among the received email messages. Responsive to the selection, the computer device automatically collects information from the host, the user account, and the email message, determines an initial threat priority for the email message based on the collected information, generates threat indicators based at least on each file attachment of the email message, if any, determines malware, if any, in the email message based on the threat indicators, and creates an event ticket for the suspicious email message having fields populated based on the collected information, the initial threat priority, the threat indicators, and the determined malware.
US09223969B2

Provided are an anti-malware system, and an operating method thereof. The anti-malware system matches an filtering operation on first target data to be filtered with a rule pattern, performs a filtering operation on the first target data according to a matching result, matches second target data to be malware-scanned with a malware pattern, and performs a malware scanning operation on the second target data according to a matching result, wherein the filtering operation and the scanning operation are performed on a system-on-chip (SoC).
US09223964B2

By injecting bytecode into a predetermined method of a sandbox environment, an application that uses an exploit to attempt to escape from the sandbox environment may be detected without knowledge of the application or the exploit used to attempt to escape from the sandbox environment. Upon indicating that the application has escaped the sandbox, the application may be terminated or the escape may be reported, allowing further monitoring of the application.
US09223960B1

An apparatus for detecting tampering with a clock of a state-machine, comprising, a master state-machine having master states and driven by a master clock, the master states being switchable responsive to events, and an auxiliary state-machine having auxiliary states and driven by an auxiliary clock synchronous with the master clock, the auxiliary states being switchable responsive to a signal generated based at least on said events, consequently establishing a correspondence between the master states and the auxiliary states, thus ensuing that subsequent to tampering with the master clock the correspondence between the master states and the auxiliary states become discordant, thereby indicating that the master clock has been tampered with.
US09223955B2

This document relates to user-authentication gestures. One example can capture multiple biometric features when a user-authentication gesture is performed as a device authentication attempt. The example can compare values of the multiple biometric features to previous values stored for the user. The example can further unlock the computing device in an instance where the values of the multiple biometric features satisfy a similarity threshold relative to the previous values.
US09223954B2

A user detecting apparatus includes: a memory that stores a program including a procedure; and a processor that executed the program, the procedure including: obtaining an image captured by a camera, switching between a first mode in which a first user-associated area, which is associated with a user, is detected from the image according to a similarity between a color histogram of the image and a reference color histogram and a second mode in which a second user-associated area, which is associated with the user, is detected from the image according to a feature point extracted from the image, according to luminance of the image, and detecting, from the image, the first user-associated area in the first mode or the second user-associated area in the second mode.
US09223945B2

In one embodiment, a processing device includes a memory to store an executable program including a multiplicity of encrypted component blocks such that different combinations of blocks selected from the encrypted component blocks are operative when decrypted and executed to perform a same functionally equivalent data transformation, each of the component blocks being operative upon execution to convert input data into output data, and a processor operative to receive a selection of cryptographic keys, decrypt some of the encrypted component blocks using the cryptographic keys such that each one of the some encrypted component blocks is decrypted with a different one of the cryptographic keys yielding a multiplicity of decrypted component blocks, and execute the executable program including the multiplicity of decrypted component blocks to perform the same functionally equivalent data transformation. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US09223944B2

Media rights are managed to include not just device authentication, but to include elements of user, device, and service authorization. A user can play media on a mobile device, continue playing the media on a desktop computer, and subsequently move to a large screen television and media rights are automatically identified to provide the most appropriate authorized content. This allows an authorized user to seamlessly access different forms of the same content on a variety of authenticated devices using the same digital rights management mechanisms.
US09223942B2

A first consumer electronics device includes a computer readable storage medium bearing instructions executable by a processor, and a processor configured for accessing the computer readable storage medium to execute the instructions to configure the processor for receiving a signal indicative of close proximity of the first CE device to a second CE device. The instructions also configure the processor for providing a private key to the second CE device in response to receiving the signal. The private key is associated with a digital rights management (DRM) account for which the first CE device has been configured to access, and is configured for a single use by the second CE device to access a first audio video (AV) content without the second CE device communicating any other authentication information associated with the DRM account to access the first AV content to a content provider associated with the first AV content.
US09223934B2

An automatic data collection system tracks medical articles by providing a robust electromagnetic (EM) field within an enclosure in which the articles are stored. Respective data carriers, such as RFID tags, attached to each article respond to the electromagnetic field by transmitting data identified with each article. An RFID scanner receives the transmitted RFID tag identification data and a processor compares the received identification data to a data base. The data base associates the identification data with data concerning the medical article to which the RFID tag is affixed, such as the name of the medicine, the size of the dose, and the expiration date. The processor is also programmed to keep track of the number of articles of a particular type remaining in the enclosure, to note receipt of an article in the enclosure, and to note removal of the article.
US09223932B1

A method of acquiring medical image data for a subject having a subject medical record and subject identifying information includes capturing medical image data related to the subject with a mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device. The mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device includes an optical imaging component, an input component, and a wireless two-way communication component. The method also includes providing a program that includes a program includes a request for subject identifying information, providing the subject identifying information in said program, and wirelessly transmitting data derived from the medical image data and the subject identifying information from the mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device to a second device. The second device is separate from the mobile wireless-communication optical-imaging device.
US09223928B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for identifying a plurality of part families, where each part family comprises a plurality of parts; and for each part in each part family: obtaining connection port geometry information for a physical part in a part family; positioning each of the port vectors in a three-dimensional space at a respective location specified by the port vector; generating a respective port alignment line for each of the port vectors; generating one or more base curves each positioned to align with a plurality of the port alignment lines; generating one or more port solids from the connection port geometry information; and constructing body geometry between each of the one or more port solids by sweeping along a respective base curve, wherein the constructing is based at least on the connection port geometry information.
US09223920B2

Aspects of the disclosure provide a circuit, such as an integrated circuit. The circuit includes a first circuit and a second circuit. The second circuit includes a delay circuit configured to cause the second circuit to have substantially matched delay characteristics of the first circuit in response to at least one parameter change of manufacturing, environmental and operational parameters, such as process variation, temperature variation, and supply voltage variation.
US09223917B2

Galois Field circuit production apparatus for fabricating a polynomial over GF(2m) in a circuit, comprising, an input device for allowing a specification relating to a desired polynomial over GF(2m) to be entered, a processor and memory for producing an improved, and preferably optimized, netlist, and means for fabricating a circuit from an improved netlist, wherein the processor and memory are configured to factorize a netlist corresponding to an input specification, determining common factors by passing through chains of multipliers following chains of adders, and to use an optimization algorithm on the factorized net list to generate an improved net list, and wherein the means for fabricating operably fabricates a circuit based on the improved netlist produced by the processor.
US09223916B2

Various implementations of a method, system, and computer program product for executing timing analysis of an asynchronous clock domain crossing are disclosed. In one embodiment, a signal group and a corresponding timing specification are determined for one or more signals of an electronic design. For each of the signals, a clock associated with the signal is renamed based, at least in part, on the signal group associated with the signal. The asynchronous clock domain between a transmit domain and a receive domain is identified in the electronic design based, at least in part, on identifying a signal path associated with one or more renamed clocks that is asynchronous to a clock associated with the receive domain. For each of the one or more renamed clocks, timing analysis is executed across one or more signals associated with the renamed clock at the asynchronous clock domain crossing.
US09223910B1

A method for compiling an HDL specification for simulation of a circuit design is disclosed. The circuit design is elaborated from the HDL specification and memory locations are allocated for formals and actuals of the elaborated circuit design. For each port having a formal and an actual that are compatible, the allocating of memory locations sets a reference pointer for the formal and a reference pointer for the actual to reference a same one of the memory locations. For each port having a formal and an actual that are incompatible, the allocating of memory locations sets the reference pointer for the formal and the reference pointer for the actual to reference different respective ones of the memory locations. Simulation code modeling the elaborated circuit design is generated that updates a formal and actual of a port that are compatible using a single write operation to the referenced memory location.
US09223904B2

The present invention provides a method, system, and instructions stored on a computer readable storage medium that resolve interference between surfaces in a modeling environment, such as a CAD environment. Further, exemplary embodiments of the present invention may modify the surfaces of a model to ensure that parts of the model constitute a solid body. In exemplary embodiments, when the manipulation of a first surface or set of surfaces causes interference with a second surface or set of surfaces, the topologies of the surfaces are modified to account for the interference. The individual surfaces involved in the intersection may be treated as a merged surface or set of surfaces having a single topology, surface area, and volume. If an ambiguity arises whereby more than one option exists for resolving the interference or providing a solid body, the modeling environment may provide multiple potential solutions to a user, and allow the user to select from among the solutions.
US09223901B2

A method for controlling a program by natural language allows a user to efficiently operate a computer-implemented target program through intuitive natural language commands. A list of natural language commands related to the target program is compiled. Each natural language command is stored as an element in an electronic list. Natural language commands generally consist of short sentences comprising at least a predicate (a verb) and an object (a noun). A user can filter the list of natural language commands by entering the initials of a natural language command. The user enters the first character of the first word to be filtered, followed by the first character of the second word to be filtered, and so forth. Filtering by initials very rapidly reduces the number of choices presented to a user and minimizes the number of keystrokes required to select a particular list element.
US09223893B2

This technology concerns, in one aspect, using a person's social network graph data as a virtual visual cortex—taking image input from a smartphone or the like, and processing it with the graph data to yield a personalized form of processing based on the imagery. The user's network graph data is typically updated by such processing—providing a form of virtual image memory that can influence future social network behavior. In another aspect, the technology concerns identifying content (e.g., audio) by both fingerprint-based and watermark-based techniques, and arrangements employing such identification data. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
US09223888B2

In one embodiment, an internet monitor service may use a final content rating to determine access to a webpage. A monitor client 102 may generate a client content rating of a webpage 104. The monitor client 102 may factor the client content rating with a server content rating of the webpage 104 to determine a final content rating for the webpage 104.
US09223884B2

A uniform resource locator (URL) including an identification of a network resource and one or more tag-variable sets may be determined. One or more variables associated with the URL may be determined based on the tag-variable sets, wherein each tag-variable set may include a variable and a corresponding tag. A target recipient of the URL, associated with one or more values corresponding to the one or more variables, may be determined. Each of the one or more variables may be replaced with the corresponding one or more values in the URL. The URL including the identification of the network resource and one or more tag-value sets may be provided to the target recipient, each tag-value set including the one or more tags and the corresponding one or more values, wherein upon a selection of the URL, the tag-value sets are provided to the network resource via the URL.
US09223883B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for context driven arrangement of portlets in a portal page. In an embodiment of the invention, a method of context driven arrangement of portlets in a portal page can be provided. The method can include computing a context for an application co-executing with a portal page in a computing client, and arranging portlets in the portal page in the computing client based upon the computed context.
US09223882B2

A method, an apparatus, and a recording medium for selecting a location are provided. The present method uses a communication module to position a mobile device so as to get a first location of the mobile device. Then, an electronic map of a range around the first location is displayed. A second location selected on the electronic map by a user is received and used as location information. Accordingly, the user can select precise location of himself/herself in an indoor place and share the location information to remote contacts.
US09223879B2

In one embodiment, a method includes maintaining access to information comprising nodes and edges; receiving a request from a first user corresponding to a first user node for a structured document corresponding to a first concept node; determining a first data set that identifies concept nodes connected by edges with user nodes that are each connected by edges with both the first user node and the first concept node; determining a second data set that identifies concept nodes connected by edges with the first concept node and user nodes that are each connected to the first user node; generating a score for each concept node in the data sets; selecting one or more concept nodes based on their scores as recommended nodes; and transmitting to the client device the structured document and code executable by a client application to render node names or identifiers of the recommended nodes for display.
US09223848B2

A system, including both an OLTP database and a warehouse database, that is configured to manage the coordination between the OLTP database and the warehouse database. An aspect relates to a combined OLTP and warehouse database which manages duplicate copies, in both the OLTP database and the warehouse database, of data expected to have a relatively high update and query rate. Data which has a low update and query rate is removed from the OLTP database, such that it remains only in the warehouse database. Updates of the duplicate copy data are performed in the OLTP. Periodically, for example every several minutes, data recently changed in the OLTP database is copied to the warehouse database. Queries are optionally primarily handled by the warehouse database, and are supplemented, when necessary, by data from the OLTP database.
US09223843B1

A log-structured data store may implement optimized log storage for asynchronous log updates. In some embodiments, log records may be received indicating updates to data stored for a storage client and indicating positions in a log record sequence. The log records themselves may not be guaranteed to be received according to the log record sequence. Received log records may be stored in a hot log portion of a block-based storage device according to an order in which they are received. Log records in the hot log portion may then be identified to be moved to a cold log portion of the block-based storage device in order to complete a next portion of the log record sequence. Log records may be modified, such as compressed, or coalesced, before being stored together in a data block of the cold log portion according to the log record sequence.
US09223834B2

Methods, systems and computer program products for operating a plurality of nodes within a network are provided. Using a monitoring node, a subgroup of the plurality of nodes is monitored, the subgroup including the monitoring node and a non-monitoring node. The non-monitoring node is configured to not manage a distributed database distributed among all monitoring nodes of the plurality of nodes, other non-monitoring nodes of the plurality of nodes, and the monitoring nodes of the plurality of nodes and is configured to not store replicated data from other ones of the plurality of nodes. Information from the subgroup is exchanged with a monitoring node of another subgroup of the plurality of nodes over the network, using the monitoring node.
US09223827B2

A method, device and system for transforming a concept-based query into SQL query statements, that includes transforming inputted concept-based queries into logic rules, checking validity of the logic rules, optimizing the valid logic rules, and translating the logic rules into SQL query statements in accordance with the optimization result.
US09223817B2

Virtual repository management is disclosed. An indication is received that a content management functionality is desired to be available with respect to one or more external content items. A reference object is created for each for the one or more external content items that represents the external content item and enables the content management functionality to be performed with respect to the external content item.
US09223816B2

A method of and system for opening a data set is disclosed. The method and system may include structuring a storage facility to have address spaces. The address spaces may include a first address space having an open manager. The open manager may be configured and arranged to manage activities associated with an open request in response to receiving the open request. The method and system may include performing pseudo-opens associated with the open request in the address spaces. The method and system may include performing a batch-open utilizing the pseudo-opens and a resource used to complete the open request.
US09223814B2

Architecture for handling large data selections with small and substantially constant memory footprints. The architecture facilitates the creation of sets of data objects (e.g., rows) of a data source based on selection of the data objects. The set structures can be defined according to a range (span) of data objects selected and a pattern of the objects selected. These set structures are then saved in memory, rather than the data objects, to provide optimized memory usage. In a database implementation, the solution stores the set representation (the structure) in nearly a constant amount of memory, regardless of the number of rows in the grid, and regardless of the number of rows selected. Memory usage can be proportional to the number of discontinuous spans of rows selected by the user. Structures in memory can be consolidated, replaced, or eliminated dynamically as the user changes row selections and pattern criteria.
US09223810B2

Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage media for recommending a storage layout for the hybrid-store database with actions including receiving one or more data characteristics associated with data that is to be stored in the hybrid-store database, receiving one or more query characteristics associated with one or more queries that are expected to be applied to the hybrid-store database, processing the one or more data characteristics and the one or more query characteristics using a cost model to generate a plurality of costs, each cost being associated with a respective storage layout, identifying, based on the plurality of costs, a recommended storage layout, and providing the recommended storage layout for application to the hybrid-store database.
US09223809B2

A disclosed data structure of a phrase tree includes, as data of each node in the phrase tree, a data block including a first area for holding a code for a character or a character string, a second area for holding, for each character that will be used, an appearance sequential number of a second character that appears next to the character or the character string, and a third area for holding, according to the appearance sequential number, a number of appearances or a code corresponding to a character string comprising the character or the character string and the second character when the number of appearances exceeds a threshold.
US09223798B2

A system and method for bridging between various operating systems, applications, file formats and file structures and the like is described. The system and methods described include the creation of a virtual workspace transparent to a user that allows the user to access information stored on an accessible computer readable medium in a manner that is compatible with the user's system, even where the requested data may reside on a system having an operating system or file structure that is incompatible with the user's system or application.
US09223790B1

In certain embodiments, a system comprises a memory and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory. The memory includes executable instructions that upon execution cause the system to generate, at a first time, a first snapshot capturing data stored in storage units of a storage device. The executable instructions upon execution cause the system to receive an indication to delete at least a portion of the data in the storage units and captured by the first snapshot, and to mark, in response to receiving the indication, the one or more storage units that store the at least a first portion of the data as available. The executable instructions upon execution cause the system to generate, at a second time subsequent to the first time, a second snapshot that omits the one or more storage units marked as available.
US09223788B2

A file system that includes multiple logical devices can be subdivided into multiple containers. The containers each include respective non-overlapping sets of the logical devices. An amount of memory allocated to a container is dynamic. A set of the containers can be selected for a file system consistency check. The file system consistency check is performed on only the set of the containers instead of on the entire file system.
US09223787B2

Communications systems and methods for minimizing file corruption when communicating between a device and a host are provided. To initiate a file transfer section, a host can transfer data to a device on a primary communications channel. The device can then temporarily store the received data in a memory circuit until a command is received indicating that the file has been completely transferred. In order to avoid interfering with the data transfer, the host can provide such a command to the device on a sideband communications channel. Upon receiving the command, the device can integrate the received data into its file system by transferring the data from the memory circuit to a more permanent storage component. If the communications interface is disconnected before such a command is received, the temporarily stored data can be considered incomplete and can be deleted.
US09223785B2

A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a more convenient e-book reading environment can be provided through background video and/or audio settings. The present invention includes a touchscreen configured to display a first page of an e-book including at least one or more pages, a memory unit configured to store the e-book and at least one image, a communication unit configured to exchange data with an external device by wire/wireless, and a controller searching at least one of the memory unit and a search server connected via the communication unit for at least one or more candidate images with a search word determined using at least one portion of a content of the first page, the controller controlling a first one of the found at least one or more candidate images to be displayed as a background image of the first page.
US09223783B2

Apparatus and methods for managing content, such as content captured by a mobile device, are provided. The apparatus and method include receiving a plurality of content, which includes tag information, e.g., date and location information and an identifier for the mobile device. In addition, the apparatus and methods may include automatically grouping the content based on the tag information, and automatically labeling the content based on the tag information. For example, determined groupings of the content may be placed into folders and labeled based upon the tag information.
US09223779B2

Text processing includes: segmenting received text based on a lexicon of smallest semantic units to obtain medium-grained segmentation results; merging the medium-grained segmentation results to obtain coarse-grained segmentation results, the coarse-grained segmentation results having coarser granularity than the medium-grained segmentation results; looking up in the lexicon of smallest semantic units respective search elements that correspond to segments in the medium-grained segmentation results; and forming fine-grained segmentation results based on the respective search elements, the fine-grained segmentation results having finer granularity than the medium-grained segmentation results.
US09223778B2

A method and an apparatus for moderating an inappropriate relationship between two parties by analyzing a dialog between the two parties. The method and apparatus creates an alert depending upon the nature of the dialog between the two parties. The alert is sent to a third party who can moderate the relationship between the two parties. The third party can ban or block the dialog between the two parties based upon the inappropriate relationship between the two parties. A banning or block of the dialog between the two parties can also be automated.
US09223776B2

The disclosure provides a natural language query system and method for processing and analyzing multimodally-originated queries, including voice and proximity-based queries. The natural language query system includes a Web-enabled device including a speech input module for receiving a voice-based query in natural language form from a user and a location/proximity module for receiving location/proximity information from a location/proximity device. The query system also includes a speech conversion module for converting the voice-based query in natural language form to text in natural language form and a natural language processing module for converting the text in natural language form to text in searchable form. The query system further includes a semantic engine module for converting the text in searchable form to a formal database query and a database-look-up module for using the formal database query to obtain a result related to the voice-based query in natural language form from a database.
US09223767B1

In a computer-implemented method for a unified graphical user interface for displaying a plan of operations in a datacenter metadata is accessed from a plurality of disparate software bundles for updating targets in a datacenter. A unified visualization of a plan of operations on the targets is displayed via a unified graphical user interface based on the accessed metadata, wherein the unified graphical user interface displays the plan of operations with a common look and feel.
US09223763B2

A document generation apparatus comprises: a first acquisition unit adapted to acquire, based on identification information appended to a first document, layout data and data acquisition information required to acquire data to be laid out in accordance with the layout data; a second acquisition unit adapted to acquire data based on the data acquisition information acquired by the first acquisition unit; and a generation unit adapted to generate a second document on which the data acquired by the second acquisition unit are laid out in accordance with the layout data acquired by the first acquisition unit.
US09223761B2

Real time feedback during move, resize or rotate actions in an electronic document is provided. During live drag actions, the layout shown during the action may be the layout produced when the object is dropped. Detection of slow performance of an application and aborting a redraw action as needed may be provided. A visual indication may be provided for helping users to see that an action is in progress, and thereby removing a perception that the application is failing to respond properly. Determining if a figure will not land in a current cursor/touch point position in a move action and a visual indication to help the user see where and why the figure may jump to a new location may also be provided. In addition, determining an attachment point for an object on a page comprising a table may also be provided.
US09223757B2

Methods and apparatus for calculating paragraph layout. A method begins with a first node in a paragraph and calculates an optimal line break scheme for paragraph layout that ended in the node. For every subsequent node in the paragraph, the method calculates an optimal line break scheme for paragraph layout that ends respectively in every subsequent node. Each optimal line break scheme is calculated by minimizing the total of a penalty value of a current line and all preceding penalties of all preceding lines. The preceding penalties of all preceding lines are defined by a previously calculated optimal line break scheme.
US09223752B2

A digital signal processor and method are disclosed with one or more non-linear functions using factorized polynomial interpolation. A digital signal processor evaluates a non-linear function for a value, x, by obtaining two or more values from at least one look-up table for said non-linear function that are near said value, x; and interpolating said two or more obtained values to obtain a value, y, using a factorized polynomial interpolation.
US09223749B2

A navigation control system for an autonomous vehicle comprises a transmitter and an autonomous vehicle. The transmitter comprises an emitter for emitting at least one signal, a power source for powering the emitter, a device for capturing wireless energy to charge the power source, and a printed circuit board for converting the captured wireless energy to a form for charging the power source. The autonomous vehicle operates within a working area and comprises a receiver for detecting the at least one signal emitted by the emitter, and a processor for determining a relative location of the autonomous vehicle within the working area based on the signal emitted by the emitter.
US09223747B2

The invention provides a system for reusing triple event data of PET. The system includes an input unit, a determining unit, and an output unit. A plurality of data is generated by an object undergoing the PET scan, and the input unit is used to receive the data. The determining unit is used to determine the data and pick out data corresponding to triple event from the data and according to a formula to pick out data corresponding to coincident event from the data corresponding to triple event. In other words, the determining unit picks out data corresponding to true triple event from the data to reuse and analyze the data corresponding to coincident event and further to generate an analysis result. The output unit is used to output the analysis result.
US09223745B2

A flexible database and iterative spatial search process is described. In an embodiment, a flexible database server is described which takes input queries in the form of XML strings describing a search specification and parses them using a stored procedure. Searching is performed by generating a temporary table for each term in the search specification and then comparing the temporary tables to pre-existing tables within the database to identify datasets that meet the search specification. An application is also described which generates the XML string in response to user input and which displays the results to a user. The application provides a user interface which enables users to select attributes of results, such as the spatial data associated with a dataset, to include in a second search specification and to trigger this new search.
US09223739B2

A detection method for hot-swapping of a Secure Digital (SD) card is provided. The detection method includes steps of: transmitting an inquiry command to an card reader at a predetermined frequency; receiving a command return message replied in response to the inquiry command; determining whether the SD card is removed or plugged according to the command return message; and detecting a hot-swapping status of the SD card in real-time to provide an accurate status of the SD card for upper-layer applications.
US09223730B2

A virtual system management mode device, for processing a system management interrupt signal generated by a special process, includes a transformation unit, a control unit memory, and a control unit. The transformation unit transforms the system management interrupt signal into a virtual system management interrupt signal. The control unit memory stores a plurality of system management interrupt processes. The control unit executes one of the system management interrupt processes according to the virtual system management interrupt signal.
US09223729B2

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for servicing a globally broadcast interrupt signal in a multi-threaded computer comprising a plurality of processor threads. Embodiments include an interrupt controller indicating in a plurality of local interrupt status locations that a globally broadcast interrupt signal has been received by the interrupt controller. Embodiments also include a thread determining that a local interrupt status location corresponding to the thread indicates that the globally broadcast interrupt signal has been received by the interrupt controller. Embodiments also include the thread processing one or more entries in a global interrupt status bit queue based on whether global interrupt status bits associated with the globally broadcast interrupt signal are locked. Each entry in the global interrupt status bit queue corresponds to a queued global interrupt.
US09223727B2

An identification terminal voltage detecting circuit detects a voltage of an identification terminal. A video switch is inserted into a signal line connecting a video circuit included in an internal circuit and the identification terminal. When a voltage representing that a video cable is connected to a connector is detected, and then a voltage representing that the video cable is terminated with specified impedance is detected, the control unit turns on the video switch.
US09223721B2

A method includes assigning unique guest identifications to different guests, specifying an address region and permissions for the different guests and controlling a guest jump from one physical memory segment to a second physical memory segment through operational permissions defined in a root memory management unit that supports guest isolation and protection.
US09223716B2

Processors and methods disclosed herein include a cache memory unit, n processor cores where n≧1, a controller connected to the cache memory unit and to each of the n processor cores, and n obstruction monitoring units, where each obstruction monitoring unit is connected to the controller and to a different one of the n processor cores, and where during operation of the electronic processor, each obstruction monitoring unit is configured to detect an obstruction corresponding to an operation from the processor core connected to the obstruction monitoring unit before the operation executes in the cache memory unit.
US09223713B2

A technique for allocating a write cache allowed data size of a write cache from a plurality of write caches to each of a plurality of storage volumes, calculating a write cache utilization of the write cache for each of the respective storage volumes, wherein the write cache utilization is based on a write cache dirty data size of the write cache allocated to the respective storage volume divided by the write cache allowed data size of the write cache allocated to the respective storage volume, and adjusting the write cache allowed data size of the write cache allocated to storage volumes based on the write cache utilization of the write cache of the storage volumes.
US09223704B2

Disclosed herein is a memory access control circuit including: a determination section adapted to determine whether a target requested by a first wraparound memory access request from a processor is stored in a prefetch buffer; a request generation section adapted to generate a second wraparound memory access request including the target if it is determined that the target is not stored in the prefetch buffer; and an address conversion section adapted to convert the start address of the first wraparound memory access request according to predetermined rules for use as a start address of the second wraparound memory access request.
US09223700B2

Systems. Methods, and Computer Program Products are provided for managing a global cache coherency in a distributed shared caching for a clustered file systems (CFS). The CFS manages access permissions to an entire space of data segments by using the DSM module. In response to receiving a request to access one of the data segments, a calculation operation is performed for obtaining most recent contents of one of the data segments. The calculation operation performs one of providing the most recent contents via communication with a remote DSM module which obtains the one of the data segments from an associated external cache memory, instructing by the DSM module to read from storage the one of the data segments, and determining that any existing contents of the one of the data segments in the local external cache are the most recent contents.
US09223697B2

A method (50) for reprogramming a computer (10) by modification of the content of a non-volatile rewritable memory (104) of the computer via reprogramming software stored in the non-volatile rewritable memory (104). The reprogramming software includes a task sequencer and a plurality of software components, divided in advance into at least two sets, namely: a first set including each software component to be executed simultaneously with an operation of modifying the content of the non-volatile rewritable memory (104), and a second set including some or all of the other software components of the reprogramming software. During the reprogramming of the computer, the software components of the second set are executed from the non-volatile rewritable memory (104), and the task sequencer and the software components of the first set to be executed are copied in advance into a volatile memory (106) of the computer, and are executed from the volatile memory.
US09223695B2

An information processing apparatus including a NAND type flash memory; circuitry configured to control writing/reading of data to/from the NAND type flash memory; and an interface configured to connect the information processing apparatus to a host apparatus. The circuitry is configured to determine whether to erase data stored in a specific area within the NAND type flash memory by overwriting the data based on whether an overwrite command is received from the host apparatus via the interface; and erase a physical block including the specific area when it is determined to erase the data by removing electric charges in the NAND type flash memory in the physical block including the specific area.
US09223694B2

A data storage device includes a first memory device configured to store data having a first property, and a second memory device including a first block configured to store data having a second property and a second block configured to store data transferred from the first memory device.
US09223686B1

A caching system and methodology for data in a memory for faster access to commonly-used data by other applications and computer devices on a network. The memory can include a solid-state drive (SSD) array for the cache memory that has read-bias, in addition to a magnetic hard drive array. The system uses a logical set of slots to hold identifiers for specific groups of data that can be placed into cache memory and each identifier has a usage attribute that changes based upon the usage of the specific group of data and causes the identifier to move within the set of slots and potentially into cache memory.
US09223680B2

An information processing apparatus includes a system memory, a cache system that includes a cache memory, and a plurality of cores, each of which accesses the system memory and the cache memory. The cache system stores in a cache line of the cache memory a break indicator that designates one or more of the plurality of cores. The cache system determine whether a first core in the plurality of cores that issues a request to read data from an address that corresponds to the cache line in which the break indicator is stored matches one of the cores designated by the break indicator. If the first core matches one of the cores designated by the break indicator, the cache system returns a break command to the first core. If the first core does not match one of the cores designated by the break indicator, the cache system returns the data to the first core.
US09223679B1

According to one embodiment, a debug daemon executed by a processor of a data processing system receives a signal from a first program executed within the data processing system. In response to the signal, a snapshot of a memory region associated with the first program is captured. An analysis tool is identified from a pool of analysis tools based on the signal in view of a set of one or more rules associated with the first program. The analysis tool is invoked to perform an analysis on the snapshot to generate a summary that describes the snapshot. The summary is transmitted from the data processing system to a remote system over a network, without transmitting the snapshot.
US09223677B2

A data processing apparatus is provided having a plurality of processing circuits each having access to a memory. Tracing circuitry is provided for generating a stream of trace data for generating a stream of trace data corresponding to at least one of the plurality of processing circuits. Selection circuitry is provided to enable selective switching of the tracing circuitry from generating a first trace data stream corresponding to a first one of the plurality of processing circuits generating a second different trace data stream corresponding to a different one of the plurality of processing circuits. The selective switching is performed in dependence upon processing state information associating with one or more of the plurality of processing circuits. A corresponding method and computer program product are also provided.
US09223663B2

A fault occurs in a virtual environment that includes a base space, a first subspace, and a second subspace, each with a virtual address associated with content in auxiliary storage memory. The fault is resolved by copying the content from auxiliary storage to central storage memory and updating one or more base space dynamic address translation (DAT) tables, and not updating DAT tables of the first and second subspace. A subsequent fault at the first subspace virtual address is resolved by copying the base space DAT table information to the first subspace DAT tables and not updating the second subspace DAT tables. A fault occurring with association to the virtual address of the first subspace is resolved for the base space and the base space DAT table information is copied to the first subspace DAT tables, and the second subspace DAT tables are not updated.
US09223654B2

A resilient distributed replicated data storage system is described herein. The storage system includes zones that are independent, and autonomous from each other. The zones include nodes that are independent and autonomous. The nodes include storage devices. When a data item is stored, it is partitioned into a plurality of data objects and a plurality of parity objects are calculated. Reassembly instructions are created for the data item. The data objects, parity objects and reassembly instructions are spread across nodes and zones in the storage system according to a policy for the data item. When a zone is inaccessible, a virtual zone is created and used until the intended zone is available. When a read request is received, the data item is prepared from the lowest latency nodes according to the reassembly instructions, and a virtual zone is accessed in place of a real zone when the real zone is inaccessible.
US09223653B2

A method includes storing tasks in a task queue. The method continues with computing devices retrieving at least some of the plurality of tasks for execution. The method includes a computing device issuing read requests and initiate delete requests to storage units regarding an unassigned task, wherein the initiate delete requests instruct the storage units to flag for deletion, but not execute deletion, of a set of encoded task slices corresponding to the unassigned task. The method continues with the computing device receiving responses. When the responses include encoded task slices, the method continues with the computing device decoding them to recover the unassigned task. The method continues with the computing device executing the recovered task and, when execution is successful, issuing commit delete requests to the storage units that instruct the storage units to delete the set of encoded task slices for the unassigned task.
US09223644B1

A method that prevents unnecessary data recovery includes receiving, at a data processing device, a status of a resource of a distributed system. When the status of the resource indicates a resource failure, the method includes executing instructions on the data processing device to determine whether the resource failure is correlated to any other resource failures within the distributed system. When the resource failure is correlated to other resource failures within the distributed system, the method includes delaying execution on the data processing device of a remedial action associated with the resource. However, when the resource failure is uncorrelated to other resource failures within the distributed system, the method includes initiating execution on the data processing device of the remedial action associated with the resource.
US09223642B2

A Green NAND Device (GND) driver application queries AC line and battery status and then stores an image of processor states and caches and a resume routine to DRAM when power failure occurs. A DRAM image is then stored to flash memory for a persistent mode when battery power is available. The image in DRAM may be a partial image that includes entries, flushed caches, processor contexts, ramdisks, write caches, and a resume context. Endurance of flash memory is increased by a Super Enhanced Endurance Device (SEED) SSD. In a power down mode, the GND driver limits DRAM use and only caches in DRAM data that can be deleted on power down. Host accesses to flash are intercepted by the GND driver and categorized by data type. Paging files and temporary files cached in DRAM are optionally written to flash.
US09223622B2

One embodiment collects performance data for an application server that processes transactions received from a client computer to a database server. An application log is created from the performance data and used for capacity planning in a multi-tiered architecture.
US09223621B1

A transcoding service is described that is capable of transcoding or otherwise processing content, such as video, audio or multimedia content, by utilizing one or more pipelines. A pipeline can enable a user to submit transcoding jobs (or other processing jobs) into an available pipeline, where a transcoding service (or other such service) assigns one or more computing resources to process the jobs received to each pipeline. The transcoding service and the pipelines can be provided by at least one service provider (e.g., a cloud computing provider) or other such entity to a plurality of customers. A service provider can also provide the computing resources (e.g., servers, virtual machines, etc.) used to process the transcoding jobs from the pipelines.
US09223601B2

A control device includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor executes a process comprising determining the order of setting of operating conditions which are set to a plurality of virtual machines and make the virtual machines operate, respectively, in accordance with processing dependency between software executed by the plurality of virtual machines and first setting the respective operating conditions of the virtual machines in the setting order at the determining.
US09223589B2

A declarative animation system allows a designer to declaratively specify transitory behavior of a user interface or other visual display by recognizing changes in an underlying data model that spans visual elements. A visual display is typically comprised of one or more visual elements, as well as an underlying data model. Although animating within a particular visual element is typically straightforward, moving items across visual elements typically involves sophisticated programming logic. However, using the declarative animation system, visual elements can be associated with an underlying data model in a manner that allows the visual display layer to recognize and respond to changes in the underlying data model. This association can also be leveraged to allow automatically generated animation between visual elements without the addition of custom programmatic code. Thus, the declarative animation system allows designers to specify intuitive, graphically sophisticated interfaces without programming knowledge.
US09223588B2

A method for closing a child application window of a parent window. An indicator is instantiated in data loaded into the parent window, followed by performance of a loop. In each iteration of the loop: (a) if it is ascertained that the data currently loaded into the parent window includes the indicator, then pausing of a first number of seconds is followed by looping back to perform the next iteration, otherwise pausing of a second number of seconds is followed by determining whether the data currently loaded into the parent window includes the indicator; (b) if it is determined that the data currently loaded into the parent window includes the indicator, then pausing of the first number of seconds is followed by looping back to perform the next iteration, otherwise the loop is exited and the child application window is closed during a final iteration.
US09223577B2

Various techniques for processing instructions that specify multiple destinations. A first portion of a processor pipeline is configured to split a multi-destination instruction into a plurality of single-destination operations. A second portion of the pipeline is configured to process the plurality of single-destination operations. A third portion of the pipeline is configured to merge the plurality of single-destination operations into one or more multi-destination operations. The one or more multi-destination operations may be performed. The first portion of the pipeline may include a decode unit. The second portion of the pipeline may include a map unit, which may in turn include circuitry configured to maintain a list of free architectural registers and a mapping table that maps physical registers to architectural registers. The third portion of the pipeline may comprise a dispatch unit. In some embodiments, this may provide certain advantages such as reduced area and/or power consumption.
US09223572B2

An apparatus includes an instruction decoder, first and second source registers and a circuit coupled to the decoder to receive packed data from the source registers and to unpack the packed data responsive to an unpack instruction received by the decoder. A first packed data element and a third packed data element are received from the first source register. A second packed data element and a fourth packed data element are received from the second source register. The circuit copies the packed data elements into a destination register resulting with the second packed data element adjacent to the first packed data element, the third packed data element adjacent to the second packed data element, and the fourth packed data element adjacent to the third packed data element.
US09223556B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a software download method and apparatus. The method includes: acquiring a fanout command and a replacement instruction delivered by a device management server, and replacing, according to the replacement instruction, a software identifier in the fanout command with a software local download address generated for software; delivering the converted fanout command to each terminal corresponding to the fanout command, so that each terminal downloads the software according to the software local download address. The present invention further provides another software download method and software download apparatus. In the embodiments, multiple terminals can be effectively prevented from retrieving data externally, and a local storage function provided by a device management gateway is used to directly acquire download data of the software from a local network of the device management gateway, thereby significantly improving the efficiency.
US09223555B2

A novel declare instruction can be used in source code to declare a sub-pool of resource instances to be taken from the resource instances of a larger declared pool. Using such declare instructions, a hierarchy of pools and sub-pools can be declared. A novel allocate instruction can then be used in the source code to instruct a novel linker to make resource instance allocations from a desired pool or a desired sub-pool of the hierarchy. After compilation, the declare and allocate instructions appear in the object code. The linker uses the declare and allocate instructions in the object code to set up the hierarchy of pools and to make the indicated allocations of resource instances to symbols. After resource allocation, the linker replaces instances of a symbol in the object code with the address of the allocated resource instance, thereby generating executable code.
US09223537B2

A conversation user interface enables users to better understand their interactions with computing devices, particularly when speech input is involved. The conversation user interface conveys a visual representation of a conversation between the computing device, or virtual assistant thereon, and a user. The conversation user interface presents a series of dialog representations that show input from a user (verbal or otherwise) and responses from the device or virtual assistant. Associated with one or more of the dialog representations are one or more graphical elements to convey assumptions made to interpret the user input and derive an associated response. The conversation user interface enables the user to see the assumptions upon which the response was based, and to optionally change the assumption(s). Upon change of an assumption, the conversation GUI is refreshed to present a modified dialog representation of a new response derived from the altered set of assumptions.
US09223536B1

Techniques and mechanisms for determining misalignment of one or more tileable display panels. In an embodiment, a plurality of images are processed to create a super-resolution image of the one or more tileable display panels. The super-resolution image may be processed to recognize one or more features indicating misalignment in a reference image displayed by the one or more tileable display panels. In another embodiment, the one or more features are evaluated based on fiducial data to generate a signal indicating an adjustment to be made to a first tileable display panel.
US09223535B2

A multi-display device is adapted to be dockable or otherwise associatable with an additional device. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the multi-display device is dockable with a smartpad. The exemplary smartpad can include a screen, a touch sensitive display, a configurable area, a gesture capture region(s) and a camera. The smartpad can also include a port adapted to receive the device. The exemplary smartpad is able to cooperate with the device such that information displayable on the device is also displayable on the smartpad. Furthermore, any one or more of the functions on the device are extendable to the smartpad, with the smartpad capable of acting as an input/output interface or extension of the smartpad. Therefore, for example, information from one or more of the displays on the multi-screen device is displayable on the smartpad.
US09223534B1

Data including information regarding a display of the host device may be received. A display of a client device may correspond to the display of the host device. Information regarding the display of the host device may be monitored for changes. When a change is detected, a movement of an image may be identified. Instructions may be generated regarding the changes to the display. A client device may process such instructions to incorporate the detected change while maintaining a remaining portion of the display. The instructions may include a motion vector command for the image movement and a command to fill in space vacated by the moving image. As such, the client device is not required to re-process and re-render an entire display where a change pertains to only a portion thereof.
US09223531B2

An image processing apparatus includes: a storage that stores one or more files; a connector that connects the image processing apparatus to a portable terminal apparatus, the portable terminal apparatus including a display portion that remotely displays a screen of the image processing apparatus along with one or more application icons representing one or more applications installed on the portable terminal apparatus, the screen having: one or more file buttons and one or more file processing buttons; a receiver that receives display information from the portable terminal; a display data generator that generates remote screen display data on the basis of the display information, by moving the file processing button to a position at which the file processing button would be further away from the application icon; and a transmitter that transmits the remote screen display data to the portable terminal apparatus.
US09223526B2

According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes an area setting unit configured to set, in a case where it is not determined that a page of an aspect ratio can be set in an application, a data arrangement area which the data to be printed is arranged, in a page setting of the application, so that an aspect ratio of the data arrangement area fits to the aspect ratio of the printing area, and a scaling setting unit configured to set a scaling of the page in which the data arrangement area set by the area setting unit, so that the page is scaled in accordance with the printing area and the data arrangement area, based on a size of the page and the size of the printing area.
US09223522B2

A wireless communication device may execute a response process and a search process with a first operation being performed as a trigger in a first period after the first operation. The response process may include receiving a search signal from a specific external device and sending a response signal to the specific external device in response to the search signal. The search process may include sending the search signal to the specific external device and receiving the response signal from the specific external device. The wireless communication device may communicate a wireless profile with the specific external device so as to establish a wireless connection with the specific external device in a case where the first operation is performed. The wireless communication device may execute the response process in a second period before the first operation is performed.
US09223518B1

Method and system for processing a read request are provided. The first adapter receives the read request from a client to read data using a logical object managed by a second adapter. The first adapter is configured to generate a vendor unique command descriptor block for the second adapter to obtain the data and write the data at a location specified by the read request. The second adapter is configured to retrieve the data from a storage location specified by the logical object and writing the data at the location specified by the read request; and notifies the first adapter after writing the data.
US09223504B2

Logical data stores are placed on storages to minimize store request time. The stores are sorted. A store counter and a storage counter are each set to one. (A), (B), and (C) are repeated until the storage counter exceeds the number of storages within the array. (A) is setting a load for the storage specified by the storage counter to zero. (B) is performing (i), (ii), and (iii) while the load for the storage specified by the storage counter is less an average determined load over all the storages. (i) is allocating the store specified by the store counter to the storage specified by the storage counter; and, (ii) is incrementing the load for this storage by this storage's request arrival rate multiplied by an expected service time for the requests of this store. (iii) is incrementing the store counter by one. (C) is incrementing the storage counter by one.
US09223493B2

A mobile terminal, an electronic device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The electronic device can be controlled easily and intuitively by using the mobile terminal including a touch device.
US09223486B2

An image processing method based on zooming for a mobile terminal permits touch zooming on touch screens of a plurality of devices. The image processing method preferably includes: displaying, in response to entering a touch on a touch screen displaying an image, a zooming GUI indicator for image zooming operation; performing image zooming on the touch screen in response to entering a touch point move while retaining the touch; and hiding the zooming GUI indicator from the touch screen in response to entering a touch release.
US09223485B2

An image processing apparatus includes a storage portion, an image processing portion, a display portion, a touch panel portion for detecting a touched position, and a processing portion. The storage portion stores image data. The image processing portion performs image processing on the image data. The display portion displays a preview image indicating image data content. The processing portion recognizes touched positions, recognizes a rectangular region having a diagonal connecting two touched positions, recognizes the specified region on the basis of sections overlapping with the rectangular region among a plurality of sections obtained by dividing the preview image, and controls the image processing portion to perform the process on data of a part of the image data corresponding to the specified region.
US09223479B2

Exemplary systems and methods for calendaring are provided. Exemplary systems include a natural language receiving component configured to receive a natural language entry corresponding to a future status, a calendar generation engine configured to create a calendar entry based on the natural language entry, a social network database configured for accessing and querying by the calendar generation engine, a privacy component configured to receive a privacy setting indicating a person who is approved to view the calendar entry, and a display module configured to display the calendar entry on a calendar. Exemplary methods include receiving a natural language entry corresponding to a future status, creating a calendar entry, and displaying the calendar entry.
US09223477B2

An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls and for presenting logical groupings of particular functionality controls associated with a selected top-level functionality. Underneath a row of top-level functionality tabs, functionalities controls associated with a given top-level functionality tab are presented in logical groupings. Selection of a particular tab switches modes of the user interface to present controls for functionalities associated with the selected tab.
US09223473B2

Examples are described for integrating interface functionality with other experiences. For example, if a user is interested in a particular item of scheduled or on-demand content (e.g., a television series episode), the user may also be interested in a web page devoted to the television series and/or other extras such as cast interviews, news, related theme apps, and the like. These types of experiences may be integrated into an interface by presenting the experiences as supplemental services that may be presented and/or selected.
US09223471B2

This document relates to touch screen controls. For instance, the touch screen controls can allow a user to control a computing device by engaging a touch screen associated with the computing device. One implementation can receive at least one tactile contact from a region of a touch screen. This implementation can present a first command functionality on the touch screen proximate the region for a predefined time. It can await user engagement of the first command functionality. Lacking user engagement within the predefined time, the implementation can remove the first command functionality and offer a second command functionality.
US09223469B2

A particular user's user-interface to a virtual world is customized based at least upon an analysis of behavioral characteristics of the user, the behavioral characteristics indicating how the user controls an avatar in the virtual world. In this regard, image-capture-or-sharing tools, avatar-appearance-editing tools, or both may be configured in the user-interface based at least upon the analysis of the behavioral characteristics. Information pertaining to results of the configuring of the user-interface may be stored in a processor-accessible memory system.
US09223468B2

A display apparatus communicatively connected to a distribution apparatus. The display apparatus storing one or more information contents of external information distributed from the distribution apparatus and/or internal information of the display apparatus, an icon associated with each of the information contents, a placement area for placing the icon, and one or more templates having one or more placement areas for placing icons; determining which of the information contents and the icons are to be displayed; selecting a template where the determined information contents and icons are displayable; and generating and displaying an image to be displayed by embedding the determined icon in a placement area of the selected template corresponding to a placement area associated with the determined icon.
US09223463B1

A user interface of a mobile computing device having a mobile operating system and a display device utilizes a picker application to facilitate selection of an activity. More specifically, the picker application presents at least one radial list of items to provide an effective process for selecting activities categorized amongst one or more locales or neighborhoods associated with a location.
US09223459B2

Methods and apparatus for using are provided for using neural signals to drive touch screen devices. An electromyography (EMG) device can receive neural based on electrical activity of one or more voluntary muscles of a user of the EMG device. The EMG device can filter the neural signals to generate a plurality of channel signals. A touch event can be determined based on the plurality of channel signals. The touch event can relates to user input for a touch-based interface of a touch-enabled device. The touch-enabled device can receive an indication of the touch event. The touch-enabled device can determine a touch operation for the touch-enabled device based on the touch event and then perform the touch operation.
US09223452B2

An In-cell touch screen and a method for driving the same includes: concurrently providing a plurality of gate drive signals to the plurality of gate lines line by line and a plurality of touch drive signals to the plurality of drive lines line by line, collecting original touch signals from the plurality of sensing lines line by line; when collecting is performed on a sensing line and any gate line covered by the sensing line is supplied with a gate drive signal, defining the original touch signals collected from a sensing line as interference signals; and removing the interference signals from the original touch signals to obtain a valid touch signal.
US09223447B2

A touch panel including a substrate, a light shielding layer, a touch sensing device layer, a protective layer, and at least one light transmission protrusion is provided. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface is divided into a visual region and a non-visual region. The light shielding layer is disposed in the non-visual region. The touch sensing device layer is disposed on the first surface of the substrate. The protective layer disposed on the first surface of the substrate covers the light shielding layer and the touch sensing device layer. The light transmission protrusion is disposed on the protective layer, and at least part of the light transmission protrusion is in the non-visual region. A light enters the light transmission protrusion from the second surface. A touch display device and an assembling method thereof are also provided.
US09223446B2

A body part of a user touching a touch sensitive surface is determined based on a measured electrostatic signal. The electrostatic signal is transmitted by a transmitter and received by a receiver using a capacitively coupled human body as a communication channel. A touch signal is provided by the touch sensitive surface being touched by the user. The received electrostatic signal is measured in response to the touch signal and the body part of the user touching the touch sensitive surface is determined.
US09223444B2

A CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array unit, a row selection unit, and a logic circuit. The pixel array unit is used for sensing an object. The pixel array unit includes M pixels and P multiplexers and each of the M pixels is electrically connected to one of the P multiplexers, wherein M is a positive integer and P is a positive integer smaller than M. The row selection unit and the logic circuit are electrically connected to the P multiplexers. The row selection unit is used for generating a row selection signal. The logic circuit is used for determining a sensing region corresponding to the object wherein the sensing region includes N of the M pixels. Furthermore, the logic circuit controls Q multiplexers, which are electrically connected to the N pixels, to transmit the row selection signal to the N pixels.
US09223440B2

Embodiments of method and systems are disclosed. An embodiment of a method for optical navigation involves generating light at a light source, directing the light to a navigation surface, detecting light reflected from the navigation surface toward a sensor array, and generating movement information, which is indicative of movement of the navigation surface relative to the sensor array, in response to the detected light. Generating the movement information involves determining the speed of the movement, comparing the speed of the movement to a movement threshold, selecting a processing algorithm from a plurality of processing algorithms in response to the comparison, and processing the movement information according to the selected processing algorithm. In an embodiment, the processing algorithms include an adaptive navigation algorithm and a sensor resolution adjustment algorithm.
US09223430B2

A system comprises processing logic and storage comprising a system service application (SS), an administration application (AA), a first user application configured to receive single touch data or both single and multiple touch data. The system also comprises a touch-screen display configured to receive touch data. Execution of the SS causes the processing logic to obtain touch data from the display and to provide the touch data to an instance of the AA that corresponds to a target user selected based on user context information.
US09223429B2

A touch module, adapted for an electronic apparatus and including a cover, a touch sensor layer, a flexible printed circuit board (FPC), a light-emitting element and a light guide film is provided. The cover has at least one transparent icon. The touch sensor layer and the FPC are disposed under the cover, and the FPC is electrically connected to the touch sensor layer. The light-emitting element is mounted on the FPC, wherein the FPC is located between the cover and the light-emitting element. The light guide film is disposed under the cover, wherein the touch sensor layer is located between the cover and the light guide film. Light emitted by the light-emitting element is transmitted to the transparent icon through the light guide film. In addition, an electronic apparatus is also provided.
US09223418B2

In embodiments, a pen digitizer includes a light source that generates light. The pen digitizer also includes light guides, such as fiber optics, configured coaxial within the pen digitizer to transfer the light from the light source and focus the light around an imaging tip of the pen digitizer. A photo array optically-images reflected light from encoded bits in an encoded micro pattern, and a lens focuses the reflected light onto the photo array.
US09223404B1

Locating features in image information captured by multiple cameras of a computing device can be facilitated by removing background objects from the image information. A distance past which objects should be considered to be background objects is determined, and an amount of disparity for that distance calculated. Any objects having less than that amount of disparity in the image information can be removed, leaving objects that should be treated as foreground objects. An advantage of such an approach is that objects can be determined to be foreground objects even when those objects are only viewable by one of the cameras and disparity information cannot be calculated for those objects from the image information. Such an approach can be combined with other approaches as well to improve accuracy.
US09223401B1

Systems and methods for navigation and selection with eye gestures in a graphical display are provided, in which a graphical display of content may be provided to a wearer of a head-mountable device. A first signal may be received from a first sensor configured to detect an eye gesture of a first eye of the wearer. A second signal may then be received from a second sensor configured to detect an eye gesture of a second eye of the wearer. The first signal may be associated to a first command to navigate through or select an item in the graphical display of content provided by the head-mountable device, and the second signal may be associated to a subsequent command, based at least in part on a given output of the first command, to navigate through or select another item in the graphical display of content.
US09223397B2

Systems and methods are provided for control of a personal computing device based on user face detection and recognition techniques.
US09223388B2

Techniques for saving session information when transitioning a port to a low power state are provided. An indication of an intent to transition a port to a low power state is provided. Session information related to the port is saved. The port is transitioned to the low power state.
US09223386B2

An interactive pointing device capable of switching capture ranges includes an image capturing element and a processing unit. The image capturing element operates in a first capture range or a second capture range. The image capturing element is used for capturing a light source, and outputting an image signal. When a distance from the interactive pointing device to the light source is smaller than a reference value, the processing unit controls the image capturing element to detect the light source with the first capture range, and the processing unit converts the image signal into a first coordinate data. When the distance is greater than the reference value, the processing unit controls the image capturing element to detect the light source with the second capture range, and the processing unit converts the image signal into a second coordinate data.
US09223384B2

Synthesizing intermediate performance levels in integrated circuits, and related processor systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed. In one embodiment, a synthesized performance level setting circuit receives an input indicating a synthesized performance mode. The circuit generates a power source selection output to select a first power source providing power to an integrated circuit functional block at a first voltage level, and generate a clock frequency setting output to select a first clock frequency associated with the first voltage level to clock the functional block, for a first predefined time interval. The circuit also generates the power source selection output to select a second power source to provide power at a second voltage level lower than the first voltage level, and generate the clock frequency setting output to select a second clock frequency associated with the second voltage level to clock the functional block, for a second predefined time interval.
US09223383B2

A multi-core data processor includes multiple data processor cores and a power controller. Each data processor core has a first input for receiving a clock signal, a second input for receiving a power supply voltage, and an output for providing an idle signal. The power controller is coupled to each of the data processor cores for providing the clock signal and the power supply voltage to each of the data processor cores. The power controller provides at least one of the clock signal and the power supply voltage to an active one of the data processor cores in dependence on a number of idle signals received from the data processor cores.
US09223382B2

A first device of a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network may grant a second device of the MoCA network permission to enter a power-saving state. While the second device is in the power-saving mode, the first device may grant bandwidth to the second device during one or more predetermined timeslots. The bandwidth may be granted without a corresponding reservation request from the second device. While the second device is in the power-saving state, it may track time utilizing a clock that is synchronized to the system time of the MoCA network, and transmit during one or more of the predetermined timeslots without first transmitting a corresponding reservation request. The second device may utilize a first modulation profile when not operating in the power-saving state, and utilize a second modulation profile when operating in the power-saving state.
US09223378B2

The speed of a processor is adjusted based on the current sensed by a current sensor in order to protect a fuse from being damaged.
US09223372B2

An energy management system and method connecting a load to multiple energy sources. The system includes a load connection, source connections for each energy source, a control unit and at least one energy management module having an inductor and four switches. The first source is in parallel with the load. The first switch couples the first source positive terminal to the first inductor end, second switch couples the first source negative terminal to the first inductor end, third switch couples the second source positive terminal to the second inductor end, and fourth switch couples the second source negative terminal to the second inductor end. The control unit controls the four switches of each module to transfer energy between the energy sources through the module inductor. The system can have more than two sources. Modes including one or two switch, synchronous or asynchronous, and buck or boost can be used.
US09223363B2

Provided herein are electronic devices assembled with a heat absorbing and/or thermally insulating composition.
US09223360B2

A liquid submersion cooling system that is suitable for cooling a number of electronic devices in parallel using a plurality of cases connected to a rack system. The system cools heat-generating components in server computers and other devices that use electronic, heat-generating components and are connected in parallel systems. The system includes a housing having an interior space, a dielectric cooling liquid in the interior space, a heat-generating electronic component disposed within the space and submerged in the dielectric cooling liquid. The rack system contains a manifold system to engage and allow liquid transfer for multiple cases and IO connectors to engage electrically with multiple cases/electronic devices. The rack system can be connected to a pump system for pumping the liquid into and out of the rack, to and from external heat exchangers, heat pumps, or other thermal dissipation/recovery devices.
US09223357B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide a touch panel, a manufacturing method thereof and a touch display device, the touch panel is provided with a buffer trench region disposed in a peripheral region of a transparent substrate, the buffer trench region, and comprising: a first laminated structure, disposed on the transparent substrate, comprising: a metallic wire, disposed on the transparent substrate; a first insulating wire, disposed on the metallic wire; a transparent electrode wire, disposed on the first insulating wire; a first passivation wire, disposed on the transparent electrode wire; a second laminated structure, disposed on the same layer as the first laminated structure, comprising: a second insulating wire, disposed on the transparent substrate; and a second passivation wire, disposed on the second insulating wire, wherein the second laminated structure and the first laminated structure are spaced apart from each other to form a trench.
US09223356B2

An electronic device includes a first body and a second body. The first body has a lock portion. The second body includes a main body, a lock component, an actuator and a retainer. The main body is configured to be detachably assembled to the first body. The lock component is movably disposed in the main body. The actuator is disposed in the main body. The retainer is connected to the actuator, in which when the main body is detachably assembled to the first body and the lock component is located at a first position, the lock component locks the lock portion to prevent the main body being separated from the first body, and the actuator is configured to drive the retainer pushing the lock component so as to prevent the lock component departing from the first position.
US09223350B2

A portable electronic device includes a device body, a first image display panel on a front surface of the device body, a second image display panel, and a coupling portion. The second image display panel has a structure in which light incident from a back surface side of the second image display panel is transmitted toward a side of an image display surface of the second image display panel, and overlaps with an image display surface of the first image display panel. The coupling portion slidably couples the second image display panel to the device body to reciprocate the same along a predetermined path over the image display surface of the first image display panel. The image display surface of at least one of the first image display panel and the second image display panel is provided with an inputting touch panel having a light transmittance.
US09223340B2

For organizing display data on a multiuser display, a position module determines a user position from an audible signal. An organization module organizes display data on a multiuser display in response to the user position.
US09223333B2

A power supply apparatus includes a first constant-power power supply that switches and supplies powers of j types (where j is a natural number of two or more), a second constant-power power supply that switches and supplies powers of k types (where k is a natural number of two or more), and a switching controller that selects and switches on the first and second variable-power power supplies, excluding power transition periods thereof, to supply a load with a constant power.
US09223332B1

A system includes a switched capacitor circuit and a stabilizing circuit. The switched capacitor circuit receives a reference voltage from a reference node, transitions from a first state to a second state, and draws or supplies a switched capacitor charge from or to the reference node in response to transitioning from the first state to the second state. The second state is a function of the first state, an input of the switched capacitor circuit, or a combination of both. The stabilizing circuit stabilizes the reference voltage by supplying or drawing a stabilizing charge to or from the reference node based on the first and second states of the switched capacitor circuit.
US09223328B2

A control circuit for controlling a switching transistor and a synchronous rectifying transistor of a switching regulator includes: a bottom detection comparator configured to assert an on signal; an off signal generator configured to assert an off signal; a zero current detector configured to assert a zero current detection signal; and a control logic part configured to receive the on signal, the off signal and the zero current detection signal and generate a control signal such that the control circuit (i) transitions to a first state where, when the on signal is asserted, (ii) transitions to a second state where, when the off signal is asserted, and (iii) transitions to a third state where, when the zero current detection signal is asserted; In the third state, the control logic part reduces an operation current of at least a portion of the control circuit.
US09223324B2

A DC voltage-limiting circuit generally includes first, second, and third transistors. The first transistor is connected between a voltage input terminal and a voltage output terminal. The first transistor has a collector connected to the voltage input terminal, an emitter connected to the voltage output terminal, and a base connected to the voltage input terminal via a first resistor. The second transistor has a base connected to the voltage input terminal via a first voltage regulator and a second resistor, a collector connected to the base of the first transistor, and an emitter connected to the voltage output terminal. The third transistor has a collector connected to the base of the first transistor via a third resistor, an emitter grounded, and a base connected to the voltage output terminal via a second voltage regulator and a fourth resistor.
US09223320B2

A pressure regulator includes a body having a gas inlet for a gas having an inlet pressure and a gas outlet for the gas having an outlet pressure lower than the inlet pressure and a passage connecting the outlet to the inlet. A regulator piston is arranged to control the outlet pressure of the gas by moving closer to and further away from a pressure regulator seat, and a regulating elastic element is arranged to bias the regulating piston in a direction away from the pressure regulator seat, against the force of gas at outlet pressure acting on the regulator piston in a direction towards the pressure regulator seat. The passage is fluidly connected to a floating piston, arranged to move in response to increased inlet pressure by compressing a stabilizing elastic element. The stabilizing elastic element is connected to the regulating elastic element via a connection element.
US09223318B2

A mass flow controller with high accuracy flow rate output control is disclosed. In the mass flow controller, relation data that indicates a corresponding relation between a flow rate of a reference gas and a CF value of a sample gas is stored, a target flow rate is converted into a reference gas flow rate by the use of a predetermined CF value, a sample gas flow rate is calculated from the converted reference gas flow rate and a CF value corresponding to the reference gas flow rate, the sample gas flow rate is compared with the target flow rate, and the CF value that is used for conversion of the reference gas flow rate or calculation of the sample gas flow rate is updated by the use of the corresponding relation based on the error between the sample gas flow rate and the target flow rate.
US09223307B1

In semiconductor manufacturing, there are wafer fabrication processes in cluster tools that need a wafer to visit some processing steps for more than once, leading to a revisiting process. Also, wafers may be subject to wafer residency time constraints. By considering atomic layer deposition (ALD) as a typical wafer revisiting process, this invention studies the challenging scheduling problem of single-arm cluster tools for the ALD process with wafer residency time constraints. By recognizing that the key to this problem is to schedule the robot tasks, the present invention presents different robot task sequencing strategies. With these strategies for different cases, the present invention performs the schedulability analysis and derives the schedulability conditions for such tools for the first time. If schedulable, the present invention proposes scheduling algorithms to obtain an optimal schedule efficiently. Illustrative examples are given to show the application of the proposed concepts and approach.
US09223305B2

A semiconductor manufacturing system includes circuitry configured to execute: displaying a screen for selecting an inspection set including inspection items having a manipulation item and/or a check item; retrieving the inspection items, arranging the inspection items in the order of workflow, and displaying each inspection item on a screen with an execution attribute indicating whether each inspection item is “automatic” or “manual” execution; receiving an inspection start command and reading the first inspection item from a storage unit. The circuitry also executes steps corresponding to the following cases (a) to (d) until there are no more inspection items: (a) the read-out inspection item being the manipulation item and “automatic”; (b) the read-out inspection item being the manipulation item and “manual”; (c) the read-out inspection item being the check item and “automatic”; and (d) the read-out inspection item being the check item and “manual”.
US09223303B2

The present invention relates to a method for safely providing safety functions for safety devices of an automation system. For this purpose, modular safety components are introduced, comprising a logic module (A, B, . . . , X), an address-dependent parameter module (1, 2, . . . , n), and failsafe information. The modules are stored separately with recovery information. After turning on a safety device in an automation system, a safety component created for a specific device can be restored and transmitted to the safety device, wherein the accuracy of the safety component is checked in the safety device.
US09223297B2

Systems and methods for identifying a user of an electronic device are disclosed. An example method includes capturing body characteristic data associated with a user via a sensor on a computing device. The body characteristic data is captured as the user interacts with the computing device for a purpose different from user identification. The example method includes determining an identifier associated with the user based on the captured body characteristic data.
US09223289B2

An image forming apparatus may include arrangement of a process unit, a fixing unit, and a discharge tray. In one example, the process unit, the fixing unit and the discharge tray may be arranged in such an order above a feed tray. The image forming apparatus may further include an exposure unit disposed at a position distinct from, in a sheet conveying direction, a position where the process unit is located. Additionally or alternatively, the process unit may include a developing unit. The developing unit may include a developing agent storage that extends beyond a photosensitive drum of the process unit in a direction opposite to a direction in which developing agent is conveyed from the storage.
US09223288B2

Disclosed is a waste toner collecting container used in an image forming device for collecting waste toner and a process unit having the waste toner collecting container. An assembly of a development unit and the photoreceptor unit is fixedly connected to the waste toner collecting container. The development unit is configured to supply toner to a photoreceptor in the photoreceptor unit. The photoreceptor unit is configured to form a toner image on an outer surface of the photoreceptor, and to have a cleaning component used for removing the waste toner remaining on the outer surface of the photoreceptor after the toner image is transferred to a recording medium. A waste toner discharging outlet is disposed on a top wall of the waste toner collecting container, far away from the photoreceptor, and is disposed at an end of the top wall along an axial direction of the photoreceptor.
US09223283B2

An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a rotative image carrier and transferring the image onto an object, including: a cleaning unit removing a residual material from the image carrier; and a lubricant applying unit applying lubricant to a circumferential surface of the image carrier, the lubricant applying unit including: a rotative transporter picking up and retaining lubricant, transporting the lubricant to a lubricant application point, and supplying a portion of the lubricant to the image carrier at the lubricant application point; an ejector causing the transporter to eject a portion of the lubricant retained by the transporter; a collector collecting the portion of the lubricant ejected from the transporter; and a controller controlling ejection of the portion of the lubricant so as to maintain the amount of the lubricant retained by the transporter as no greater than a predetermined upper limit.
US09223272B2

An image forming apparatus includes a job executing portion, a mode setting portion, and an operating portion. The operating portion accepts a function unit setting operation for setting a job executing mode in a function unit, the mode setting portion sets the job executing mode in the function unit based on the function unit setting operation accepted by the operating portion, and the job executing portion executes a job in the job executing mode set by the mode setting portion.
US09223267B2

An image forming system includes receiving units that receive sheet settings and a setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a first setting unit setting, according to received sheet settings, a conveyance speed of a sheet when performing an image forming process, a second setting unit setting, according to a received setting of a mode for reducing toner scattering, a transfer voltage of a recording material when performing an image forming process, and an image forming unit that performs an image forming process according to the received sheet setting, a set conveyance speed, and a set transfer voltage, wherein the second setting unit sets, when a mode for reducing toner scattering is received, a first transfer voltage when a first conveyance speed is set and a second transfer voltage, lower than the first transfer voltage, when a second conveyance speed is lower than the first conveyance speed.
US09223261B2

An image forming apparatus including multiple imaging units and a fixing unit is provided. Each of the imaging units includes an image bearing member, a developing device containing a toner including a pressure-induced phase transition resin or a thermoplastic resin, a transfer device, and an image bearing member cleaner, and is adapted to form a toner image with the toner. The fixing unit includes a pressure fixing device adapted to fix the toner including the pressure-induced phase transition resin on the recording medium by applying a temperature Tb and a pressure Pb thereto in a pressure fixing nip, and a heat fixing device adapted to fix the toner including the thermoplastic resin on the recording medium by applying a temperature Ta and a pressure Pa thereto in a heat fixing nip. The image forming apparatus satisfies the following inequations: TbPa.
US09223260B2

An image forming apparatus includes a fixing side member disposed at a position on a fixing surface side of a sheet on which a toner image is formed; a back side supporting member that forms a fixing nip for conveying the sheet in a tightly sandwiching manner when the back side supporting member is in pressure contact with the fixing side member; and a voltage applying section that applies to both sides of the sheet passed through the fixing nip voltages opposite in polarity to surface potentials of the both sides.
US09223258B2

A fixing device includes a fixing belt configured to rotate about a specified rotation axis, and an oblique motion restraint member provided at an outer side of the fixing belt in a direction of the rotation axis and configured to restrain oblique motion of the fixing belt. The oblique motion restraint member includes a contact portion provided to make contact with an end surface of the fixing belt and a breakage-preventing portion provided radially inward of the contact portion and more outward in the direction of the rotation axis than the contact portion. The contact portion bulges in an arcuate cross-sectional shape toward an inner side in the direction of the rotation axis.
US09223257B2

A belt unit includes a belt wound around a plurality of rollers to rotate endlessly, a contact member disposed along a surface of the belt, an opposing member disposed facing the contact member via the belt, a moving member including an action receiving portion, to swing and movably support the opposing member to contact and separate from the belt, and a moving assembly. The moving assembly includes an actuator to bias the action receiving portion in a first direction in which the opposing member contacts the belt and in a second direction opposite the first direction in which the opposing member separates from the belt, a drive mechanism to move the actuator in the first and the second directions, and an elastic member to transmit a moving force of the actuator to the action receiving portion when the actuator moves.
US09223256B2

An intermediate transfer belt including a base layer, and an elastic layer on the base layer containing spherical particles on a surface thereof and containing an elastic layer ingredient, wherein the elastic layer contains a fatty acid in an amount of 0.001 parts by mass to 0.040 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the elastic layer ingredient.
US09223244B2

An image writing device includes an exposure unit including an exposure head, writing an image onto an image bearing surface of a photoconductor by causing the exposure head to repeatedly expose; and a write control unit transmitting image data to be written by the exposure unit to the exposure unit on a one-line basis. Further the write control unit generates a write cycle reference signal having a cycle corresponding to writing resolution, counts a clock by a predetermined count value, generates a write cycle signal by delaying the write cycle reference signal by a time period, generates a data request signal to request transmission of one line of the image data to a controller unit based on the write cycle signal, and stores the one line of the image data transmitted from the controller unit.
US09223231B2

An exposure method and apparatus exposes a substrate that is loaded on a stage via a carrier system, with an exposure beam via a projection optical system and a liquid. An object carried by the carrier system is mounted in a depressed section of the stage. Information on a positional relation between the object mounted in the depressed section and the depressed section is obtained. The substrate is loaded on the stage based on the obtained information so that the substrate carried to above the stage by the carrier system is mounted in the depressed section. A part of the substrate mounted in the depressed section is irradiated with the exposure beam via the projection optical system and a liquid immersion area formed by the liquid under the projection optical system.
US09223228B2

There is provided a pattern forming apparatus which transfers a paste to a predetermined position of a pattern forming object fixed to a table through a pattern forming mask having opening portions at predetermined positions using a discharge mechanism part. To realize a pattern forming which allows the stable forming of a fine pattern with high accuracy and allows the paste to be surely filled into fine through holes, a corner portion of a distal end of the discharge mechanism part in contact with the pattern forming mask is formed into a concave shape, and a surface of the distal end portion of the discharge mechanism part including the concave shaped portion is covered with a film having liquid repellency so that the rolling of the paste is accelerated in a region formed by the concave shaped portion to form a fine pattern with high accuracy.
US09223225B2

A liquid immersion member forms a liquid immersion space between the member and a movable object such that an optical path of exposure light is filled with liquid. The liquid immersion member includes: a first plate that is disposed at least partially around the optical path; a second plate that is disposed at least partially around the optical path, and has an upper surface, opposed to at least a part of a lower surface of the first plate, and a lower surface which can be opposed to the object; and a collection port that is disposed outside the first plate with respect to the optical path, can be at least partially opposed to the object, and collects at least some of the liquid from a first space, which the upper surface of the second plate faces, and a second space which the lower surface of the second plate faces.
US09223221B2

A photoresist stripping and cleaning composition free from N-alkylpyrrolidones and added quaternary ammonium hydroxides comprising a component (A) which comprises the polar organic solvents N-methylimidazole, dimethylsulfoxide and 1-aminopropane-2-ol.
US09223220B2

A method includes coating a photo resist on a wafer in a first production tool, and performing a pre-exposure baking on the photo resist in a second production tool separate from the first production tool. After the pre-exposure baking, the photo resist is exposed using a lithography mask. After the step of exposing the photo resist, a post-exposure baking is performed on the photo resist. The photo resist is then developed.
US09223218B2

A method of developing a photocurable printing blank to produce a relief pattern comprising a plurality of relief dots having desired characteristics. The photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon and a barrier layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer. The method includes the steps of (1) placing a negative of a desired relief image on top of the barrier layer; (2) exposing the printing blank to actinic radiation through the barrier layer and negative to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable layer, wherein the at least one photocurable layer is crosslinked and cured in the portions not covered by the negative, thereby creating the relief pattern; and (3) developing the printing blank to remove the barrier layer and uncured portions of the photocurable layer and reveal the relief pattern.
US09223215B2

There is provided an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive composition comprising (P) a compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group and a group formed by substituting for the hydrogen atom in a phenolic hydroxyl group by a group represented by the specific formula, a resist film formed using the specific actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive composition, a pattern forming method containing steps of exposing and developing the resist film, a manufacturing method of an electronic device, containing the pattern forming method, and an electronic device manufactured by the specific manufacturing method of an electronic device.
US09223210B2

A photosensitive compound represented by formula (1) or formula (2). (Chemical formula 1) (In formula (1) and formula (2), n is an integer of 1-3; R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms or an alkylene group having 2-6 carbon atoms formed from two R1 together; R2 is —NR3R4; R3 and R4 are each independently a linear or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 1-6 carbon atoms, a linear or branched alkylene group having 2-6 carbon atoms formed by R3 and R4 together, or a linear or branched alkylene group or alkenylene group having 3-8 carbon atoms optionally containing an oxygen atom or nitrogen atom.)
US09223207B2

A resist pattern-forming method includes forming a resist coating film using a radiation-sensitive resin composition. The resist coating film is exposed and developed using a developer solution containing no less than 80% by mass of an organic solvent. The radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a polymer component including a polymer having an acid-labile group, and a radiation-sensitive acid generator. The polymer component includes, in an identical polymer or different polymers, a first structural unit having a first hydrocarbon group, and a second structural unit having a second hydrocarbon group. The first hydrocarbon group is an unsubstituted or substituted branched chain group, or the like. The second hydrocarbon group has an adamantane skeleton. A molar ratio of the second hydrocarbon group to the first hydrocarbon group is less than 1. A proportion of a structural unit having a hydroxyl group in the polymer component is less than 5 mol %.
US09223205B2

There is disclosed an acid generator generating a sulfonic acid represented by the following general formula (1) in response to high-energy beam or heat: As a result, there is provided a novel acid generator which is suitably used as an acid generator for a resist composition, which solves the problems of exposure margin and MEF particularly without degradation of resolution and can be effectively and widely used, a chemically amplified resist composition using the same, and a patterning process.
US09223204B2

Provided is an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, a resist film formed with the composition, and a pattern-forming method using the same. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (P) a resin that contains the following repeating units (A), (B) and (C); and a solvent having a boiling temperature of 150° C. or less, (A) a repeating unit containing a group capable of decomposing and forming an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (B) a repeating unit containing a group capable of decomposing and forming a carboxylic acid by the action of an acid, and (C) a repeating unit containing a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond.
US09223201B2

A method of manufacturing a flexographic printing plate includes designing a photomask patterned design. The photomask patterned designed is laser-ablated into a thermal imaging layer. The laser-ablated thermal imaging layer is laminated to a top side of a flexographic printing plate substrate. A bottom side of the flexographic printing plate substrate is exposed to UV-A radiation. The top side of the flexographic printing plate substrate is exposed to UV-A radiation. The thermal imaging layer is removed. The flexographic printing plate substrate is developed. A flexographic printing system for printing a photomask includes an ink roll, an anilox roll, a printing plate cylinder, a flexographic printing plate disposed on the printing plate cylinder, and an impression cylinder. The flexographic printing plate comprises embossing patterns corresponding to a photomask patterned design. The flexographic printing plate may be used in a flexographic printing system to manufacture a photomask with flexography.
US09223190B1

A hanger device for camera/filming equipment includes: a base seat having a hanging slide channel with an opening at one end and a terminal section at the other end to define a latching section; a floating tenon and a restoring latching slide tenon disposed outside the latching section and floatable/sinkable in the hanging slide channel; and a latching/unlatching unit disposed on the base seat. The quick release structure locked with the camera/filming equipment can be freely slid into the hanging slide channel in any of four directions and hung in the hanging slide channel in a fixed direction without swinging. The floating tenon serves to latch the quick release structure in the latching section. The latching/unlatching unit serves to control the floating tenon to sink or protrude into the hanging slide channel so as to unlatch the quick release structure or restore the floating tenon to the latchable state.
US09223189B2

A support head (1) for video-photographic equipment comprising a base (2), a first body (5) rotating with respect to the base so as to oscillate about a first axis of rotation (X) of the head, and a first lever (10) extending from the first body along a longitudinal axis (A) and comprising a first end (12a) housed in a seat (13) obtained in the first body and a second end (12b) spaced from the first body. The first lever (10) may oscillate with respect to the first body about an axis of oscillation (P), passing through the first end (12a) and incident with the longitudinal axis (A), between an operating position in which the first lever is designed to control the oscillation of the first body about the first axis of rotation and a non-operating position of minimum encumbrance of the support head.
US09223185B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a high-speed silicon modulator without the microwave mode conversion and provide 50-ohm impedance matching to drivers simultaneously. In one aspect, a device may include an input waveguide region, an optic splitter, two optic phase shifters, an optic splitter, and an output waveguide. The device may include two curved waveguides. Either or both of the curved waveguides may have specially doped regions including PN junctions or MOS capacitors. The PN junctions or MOS capacitors may be alternatively connected to both slots of a coplanar waveguide forming the electrodes.
US09223179B2

According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes an active area including a matrix of pixels, and a light-shielding area surrounding the active area. The apparatus includes a first substrate including a pixel electrode formed for each pixel, a switch including a semiconductor layer to switch write of a video signal to the pixel electrode, and a auxiliary capacitance line opposing the semiconductor layer to form an auxiliary capacitance, a second substrate including a counter-electrode extending from the active area to the light-shielding area, and a liquid crystal layer held between the first and the second substrate, Each of the pixel electrodes of end portion pixels formed in two end portions of the active area extends from the active area to the light-shielding area such that the pixel electrode becomes larger than others, and the auxiliary capacitance formed in the end portion pixel is greater than that formed in others.
US09223171B2

A display panel includes an array substrate, an opposite substrate facing the array substrate, and a liquid crystal layer between the substrates. The array substrate includes a first polarizer, a first insulating layer covering the first metal layer, a gate electrode on the first insulating layer, a gate insulation layer on the gate electrode, a channel layer on the gate insulation layer, source and drain electrodes on the channel layer, a protecting layer covering the source and drain electrodes and including a contact hole exposing the drain electrode, and a first electrode on the protecting layer and electrically connected to the drain electrode through the contact hole. The first polarizer includes a first substrate, a first antistatic layer on the first substrate and including a conductive material, and a first metal layer on the first antistatic layer and including a plurality of protrusions which form a wire grid pattern.
US09223169B2

A display device includes a reflective image display unit having a sheet-like anisotropic scattering member. The sheet-like anisotropic scattering member has a surface in which both a low refractive index area and a high refractive index area exist. The sheet-like anisotropic scattering member is disposed so that a light enters from a first surface thereof and exits as scattered light from a second surface thereof, when an extent of refractive index difference at a boundary or vicinity thereof between the low refractive index area and the high refractive index area is relatively large in the first surface and relatively small in the second surface.
US09223148B2

A multifocal lens has a number n>2 of principal powers, of which at least one principal power is refractive and at least one principal power is diffractive. The multifocal lens includes a first lens portion having at least one first annular zone and at least a second lens portion having at least one second annular zone, wherein the zones each have at least one main sub-zone and at least one phase sub-zone. For forming the n principal powers, a maximum of n−1 lens portions are combined, and an averaged refractive power of a zone of the first lens portion is equal to an averaged refractive power of a zone of the second lens portion.
US09223147B2

A method produces a spectacle lens that provides both ophthalmic vision and an additional type of vision. The method includes two consecutive steps consisting of calculating a rear surface and a front surface of the lens. The additional vision type corresponds to the perception of a light that is conveyed between the front and rear surfaces by an insert built into the lens. The rear surface of the glass is initially calculated to provide a correction of the additional vision type, and the front surface is calculated to correct the ophthalmic vision. The two surfaces of the glass therefore have complex shapes, which simultaneously reduce the optical aberration levels for both types of vision.
US09223145B2

A device for assembling a camera module includes a support base, a pressing head, a buffer tape, a winding device, a driver, and a controller. The support base is for supporting the camera module. The camera module includes a ceramic substrate positioned on the support base and an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) pasted on the ceramic substrate. The pressing head is positioned above the ACF and is configured to pressing the ACF. The buffer tape is positioned between the pressing head and the ACF. The winding device includes a winding-out roller and a winding-in roller. The buffer tape is wound on the winding-out roller. The controller is configured to control the driver to drive the winding device to wind the buffer tape out from the winding-out roller and into the winding-in roller in a predetermined manner.
US09223144B2

A display including a display panel and a switchable retarder is provided. The switchable retarder disposed on a light path of a polarized image having a first polarization provided by the display panel and includes a first substrate, first electrode stripes, second electrode stripes, and a retardation medium. The first electrode stripes and the second electrode stripes are disposed between the display panel and the first substrate, and are electrically independent from each other. A retardation region is defined by each first electrode stripe and one second electrode stripe. The retardation medium is located at a side of the first electrode stripes and at a side of the second electrode stripes, and is controlled by an electric field in the corresponding retardation region such that each retardation region provides a retardation. Accordingly, the polarized image having the first polarization is transformed into the polarized image having a second polarization.
US09223143B1

An apparatus for watching movies in 3D having a belt feeding 3D volumetric objects comprising singular sequences for viewing a movie strip in 3D and thus eliminating the need for wearing 3D glasses to enjoy a movie in three dimensions.
US09223132B2

An optical scanning device includes a deflector configured to deflect a plurality of light beams emitted from a plurality of light emitters that are mutually spaced apart in a sub-scanning direction; an incident optical system configured to steer the plurality of light beams so as to be incident on the deflector; an imaging optical system configured to steer the plurality of light beams so as to be obliquely incident on a surface to be scanned and to form images of the plurality of light emitters on the surface to be scanned; and a correction unit configured to correct a jitter of at least one of the plurality of light beams in a main scanning direction on the basis of irradiation position information, in the sub-scanning direction, of at least one light beam among the plurality of light beams at a point corresponding to the surface to be scanned.
US09223129B2

A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device includes a scanning platform suspended from a fixed platform by two flexures that form a pivot axis. The two flexures may be symmetric or asymmetric about a centerline of the scanning platform. At least one flexure includes two segments that are not parallel to each other. A second flexure may include two segments with one segment being wider than the other. Flexure design reduces effects of mounting and thermal stresses when the MEMS device is mounted as part of an assembly.
US09223128B2

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for reducing undesired capacitance and electrostatic attraction among components of electromechanical systems (EMS) displays. An apparatus includes an array of display elements, a control matrix, and an electric insulation layer. The display elements each include a movable light blocking component coupled to a conductive beam. The control matrix includes a plurality of interconnects, including at least one switched interconnect, which passes under and is electrically isolated from at least one of the conductive beam and the movable light blocking component.
US09223125B2

A microscope has a light source for generating a light beam having a wavelength, λ, and beam-forming optics configured for receiving the light beam and generating a Bessel-like beam that is directed into a sample. The beam-forming optics include an excitation objective having an axis oriented in a first direction. Imaging optics are configured for receiving light from a position within the sample that is illuminated by the Bessel-like beam and for imaging the received light on a detector. The imaging optics include a detection objective having an axis oriented in a second direction that is non-parallel to the first direction. A detector is configured for detecting signal light received by the imaging optics, and an aperture mask is positioned
US09223122B2

The illumination optical system includes, as optical elements, a condenser lens system (3) to condense light from a light source (1), a first fly-eye lens (5) and a second fly-eye lens (6). The light source generates a light emitter having a finite longitudinal length in a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction of the illumination optical system. The light source and the optical elements are configured to form the light source images closer to the illumination surface than the second fly-eye lens. The light source and the optical elements are configured to satisfy a condition of P2/P1≦2.0. In the condition, P1 represents an array pitch of the light source images in the first direction, and P2 represents an array pitch of the light source images in a second direction orthogonal to the first and optical axis directions.
US09223119B2

A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, a third lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power, disposed in order from an object side to an image side, and an aperture stop between a lens surface closest to the object side of the second lens unit and a lens surface closest to the object side of the third lens unit, the third lens unit is moved to the image side during a focusing operation from an infinite object to a short distance object, the first lens unit is configured by at most two negative lenses and one positive lens, the third lens unit is configured by a single lens or a cemented lens, and an appropriate conditional expression are met.
US09223115B2

Image pickup lens unit (100) comprises, in order to minimize the positional displacement between an optical system and a holder therefor, compound lens (6), holder (2) which houses compound lens (6) therein, and cover (4) which covers compound lens (6). In holder (2), there is formed peripheral section (2e) which restricts the movement of compound lens (6) in the XY-direction. In cover (4), there is formed projecting section (4e) which restricts the movement of compound lens (6) in the Z-direction.
US09223111B2

A cam frame of a zoom lens is provided. The cam frame includes an end surface, a first cam groove including a first connecting portion, a second connecting portion and a zooming-collapsing operation portion connected between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion, an introducing groove connecting the end surface and the first connecting portion, a second cam groove, and a first connecting groove connecting the second connecting portion and the second cam groove.
US09223105B2

A fiber panel system includes a chassis and at least a first blade configured to moveably mount to the chassis. Each blade includes a base, a frame, and front couplers. The base of each blade defines at least one opening at a location spaced rearwardly from the front couplers. The front couplers may be smart or passive.
US09223098B2

A lens array satisfies a+b+d1+e+ΔL≦W1 where: a: positional accuracy of first lens faces 11, b: positional accuracy of second lens faces 12, d1: positional accuracy of light-emitting elements 7, e: positional accuracy of optical fibers 5, ΔL=α×ΔT×L (α: coefficient of linear expansion of lens array main body 4; ΔT: temperature change in the lens array main body 4; and L: distance from a fixed position on a first surface 4a to a position of a lens face on the first surface 4a farthest from the fixed position), W1: a distance between attachment positions before and after movement, under a premise that a photovoltaic device 3 is moved from an attachment position at which optical coupling efficiency between the light-emitting elements 7 and fiber ends 5a indicates a maximum efficiency to an attachment position at which efficiency reduction equivalent to 2 dB is indicated.
US09223097B2

A plurality of connector modules is disclosed. The connector modules have respective various indicia including topside indicia to indicate orientation and ferrule indicia to indicate ferrule position. Ferrules may be removably inserted into the connector modules, and may include seated indicia that indicate if the ferrules are seated.
US09223096B2

A fiber optic connector includes a front housing having sidewalls each defining a slot and a rear insert with a pair of locking flanges extending radially away, the locking flanges configured to snap-fit into the slots, each locking flange defining a front face and a rear face, the radially outermost portion of the rear face defining an edge, the edge being the rearmost extending portion of the locking flange. Another fiber optic connector includes a front housing defining a front opening at a front end, a circular rear opening at a rear end, and an internal cavity extending therebetween. A rear insert including a generally cylindrical front portion is inserted into the front housing through the circular rear opening, the front portion defining at least one longitudinal flat configured to reduce the overall diameter of the generally cylindrical front portion configured to be inserted into the front housing.
US09223093B2

A receptacle includes a hollow cylinder and a flange. A plug includes a barrel having a cylindrical body, a semicylindrical section extending from the body, and an engaging section provided at an end of the semicylindrical section and a coupling nut. A boom-like retaining piece is cut out and formed in the semicylindrical section and a retaining hook is formed at an idle end of the retaining piece located in the engaging section. The coupling nut is screwed onto threads of the hollow cylinder so that the plug is connected to the receptacle. Before the connection, the engaging section is engaged with and inserted into the hollow cylinder and the retaining piece is caught in the receptacle, so that the plug is temporarily retained to the receptacle securely.
US09223091B2

A method and apparatus for controlled displacement, rotation and deformation of parts of a fiber optic collimator so as to provide multiple degrees of adjustment freedom that are decoupled one from another, for adjusting the path of a light beam, comprising: an output elongate hollow node for passing a light beam therethrough and towards a lens, and an elongate hollow base node having separate top and bottom parts connected to each other by opposed ends of a plurality of flexible rods that restrict the relative movement between the top and bottom parts of the base node to substantially only translational parallel movement. Opposed portions of the top and bottom parts of the base node each include a respective screw and an opposed slanted surface, which upon interaction, develop a shearing force which is applied to the top and bottom parts of the base node and cause a translational parallel relative movement therebetween.
US09223090B2

Bidirectional wavelength cross connects include a plurality of ports, each configured to receive an input optical signals, each input optical signal having a plurality of spectral bands. At least one of the plurality of ports is disposed to simultaneously transmit an output optical signal having at least one of the spectral bands. A plurality of wavelength routing elements are configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals.
US09223077B2

A light guide plate including a first surface, a second surface, at least one light incident surface, and a plurality of groove sets is provided. The light incident surface connects the first surface and the second surface. The groove sets are separately disposed on the second surface. Each of the groove sets includes a plurality of curved grooves. Each of the curved grooves has a curved inclined reflective surface and a curved back-to-light surface connected thereto. The curved inclined reflective surface is inclined with respect to the first surface. The curved grooves of each of the groove sets curve toward the same curving direction. The curved inclined reflective surface of one of two adjacent curved grooves is connected to the curved back-to-light surface of the other one of the two adjacent curved grooves through a connection surface. A light source module is also provided.
US09223076B2

A semiconductor light emitting device package is provided, including a body, first and second reflective cups disposed under a top surface of the body and spaced apart, a first connection pad disposed under the top surface of the body and spaced apart from the first and second reflective cups, a second connection pad disposed under the top surface of the body and spaced apart from the first and second reflective cups and the first connection pad, a first semiconductor light emitting device disposed within the first reflective cup, and a second semiconductor light emitting device disposed within the second reflective cup.
US09223075B2

A backlight module includes a light guide assembly and a light source assembly. The light guide assembly includes a back cover, a reflective sheet, a light guide plate, and an optical film. The light source assembly includes a lamp cover, a light plate, and a plurality of light sources. The back cover and the reflective sheet define a first opening and a second opening. The light guide plate includes two prism shaped protrusion portions parallel to each other, and two surfaces of the two protrusion portions facing each other are a first incident portion and a second incident portion inclined to the light guide plate, and an area between the first incident surface and the second incident surface is third incident surface. The protrusion portions extend into the lamp cover, and the light source assembly is positioned below the third incident portion.
US09223074B2

A light guide plate has an end surface configured to have light incident thereon, a light introduction part that confines light incident through the end surface, and a light guide plate body disposed to be continuously joined to the light introduction part. The light guide plate body has a thickness smaller than a maximum thickness of the light introduction part. The light guide plate body outputs the incident light to an outside from a lighting region through a light exit part. The light introduction part includes an inclined surface in at least one of a light-exit-side surface and an opposite surface of the light-exit-side surface. The directivity change pattern changes directivity of the light passing to the lighting region from the light introduction part.
US09223073B2

This invention relates to a light guide plate, which includes tunnels into which a light source may be inserted in a backlight unit assembly thus reducing light loss, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
US09223071B2

A headlamp includes the laser chip which emits excitation light, a light-emitting section which contains a phosphor, and an optical rod. The excitation light emitted from the laser chip is optically guided by the optical rod, and the light output from the optical rod enters the light-emitting section. An edge is present in the light intensity distribution of the light-emitting section.
US09223067B2

A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a first polarization element film which is directly formed on a surface of the second substrate on a side opposite to a side where the first substrate is arranged, and a first polarization layer which is formed in contact with a surface of the first polarization element film on a side opposite to a side where the second substrate is arranged. The first polarization element film is made of an aligned lyotropic liquid crystal material, and the first protective layer is made of a material having a refractive index smaller than a refractive index of the first polarization element film in a transmission axis direction, and has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the first polarization element film.
US09223064B2

A photonic crystal-metallic (PCM) structure receives an input light signal from a light source. The PCM structure includes a metal structure and a photonic crystal structure disposed adjacent the metal structure. The photonic crystal structure is configured to receive the input light signal such that the input light signal excites surface plasmons of the metallic structure and such that the input light signal is internally reflected within the photonic crystal structure.
US09223053B2

Provided is an object detection apparatus using a general camera sensor for adjusting detection sensitivity to an object (pedestrian or animal) even in an urban area in which the scattered reflection of a light source is severe. The object detection apparatus overcomes the limitations of a related art object detection apparatus using a thermal imaging camera which is incapable of adjusting detection sensitivity to an obstacle (pedestrian or animal) in an urban area in which the scattered reflection of a light source is severe.
US09223046B2

An apparatus and method for estimating the at least one resistivity parameter using at least one processor to estimate capacitance information, wherein the capacitance information is estimated using only one selected frequency electromagnetic signal. The apparatus may include at least one measure electrode. The apparatus may also include a transverse antenna. The method may include imparting an electric current at only one selected frequency into a formation using the at least one measure electrode. The method may also include using capacitance information to estimate a standoff between the at least one measure electrode and a borehole wall. In some embodiments, the estimated capacitance information may be used to reduce errors due to eccentricity.
US09223042B2

Systems and methods for updating posterior geological models by integrating various reservoir data to support dynamic-quantitative data-inversion, stochastic-uncertainty-management and smart reservoir-management.
US09223041B2

A technique includes receiving a first dataset that is indicative of seismic data acquired in a seismic survey of a field of wells and receiving a second dataset that is indicative of wellbore data acquired in a wellbore survey conducted in at least one of the wells. The technique includes determining a mechanical earth model for the field based at least in part on the seismic data and the wellbore data.
US09223036B1

Disclosed is a pixilated neutron detector including one or more pixel-cells defined by a plurality of perimeter walls, the pixel-cells including a cathode and an anode, the cathode being at least one wall of the pixel-cell, the cathode being lined with an interaction material, the anode disposed inside the pixel-cell, the cathode and anode structured to provide an electrical field within the pixel-cell to collect charged particles released by neutrons interacting with the interaction material lining, and a signal processing chain communicably coupled to each of the one or more pixel-cells to transmit a signal indicative of a neutron interaction event within the pixel-cell, the signal processing chain including analog signal processing electronics communicably coupled to digital signal processing electronics. In one embodiment inserts coated with interaction material are provided along the length of the anode to enhance the detector efficiency.
US09223035B2

The invention provides radiographic image detectors in which a scintillator layer itself exhibits improved flexibility and is prevented from crystal breakage while the scintillator layer and a photoelectric conversion element are bonded to each other via uniform thickness without forming defects.The radiographic image detector includes a substrate, a scintillator layer with a columnar crystal structure disposed on the substrate, an optical coupling layer and a photoelectric conversion element. The scintillator layer has a flexural elastic modulus Esc satisfying relationships represented by Expression (I) as measured by a cantilever test in which the scintillator layer disposed on the substrate is held in a cantilever condition and is bent under a uniformly distributed load with the columnar crystal structure side being bent outward: Esc≦−0.43M+372 and Esc≧−0.16M+98  (I) (In Expression (I), Esc is the flexural elastic modulus (kg/mm2) of the scintillator layer and M is the thickness (μm) of the scintillator layer).
US09223033B2

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a scintillator array including a reflector disposed between the scintillator pixels, and methods of forming the scintillator array and radiation detector. In an embodiment, the reflector can be used in the scintillator array without an adhesive. In another embodiment, the reflector can be disposed in a zigzag pattern between the scintillator pixels.
US09223032B2

Provided is a composition for reflective film comprising a polyvinyl acetal resin, an epoxidized vegetable oil, a solvent, a coupling agent and titanium oxide.
US09223023B2

Methods, systems and device are provided for improving the range and accuracy of proximity measurement such as in ultrasonic sensing systems. In particular, the blind zone caused by reverberation signals can be reduced or eliminated by attenuating signals received during the time period corresponding to the blind zone without. In an implementation, an attenuator circuit is selected by a switch to process received signals during the blind zone time period and deselected by the switch after the time zone time period. Additionally, the accuracy and range of the measurement can be improved by varying the gain provided to the received signals based on the varying measuring distance. In an implementation, a gain-adjustable amplifier is controlled by a gain control signal to provide incremental gain as time increases.
US09223012B2

Embodiments for enhancing an image quality of an ultrasound image based on entropy information in an ultrasound system are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasound data acquisition unit acquires multiple ultrasound data, and a processing unit forms entropy information based on the multiple ultrasound data and adaptively perform data processing for image enhancement upon the multiple ultrasound data based on the entropy information. The processing unit forms multiple ultrasound images based on the multiple ultrasound data with the data processing performed.
US09223011B2

An ultrasonic signal processing method includes: measuring a sound velocity in a subject according to transmission/reception data acquired in ultrasonic transmission of M times (M is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and less than N) along different transmission focus lines among ultrasonic transmission of N times (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) along multiple transmission focus lines in a case where ultrasonic transmission is sequentially performed at least one time on each of multiple transmission focus lines to create an ultrasonic image for one frame.
US09223007B2

Accurate remote tracking of fixed objects from a moving platform requires overcoming platform noise. Such tracking becomes difficult when the only inertial reference (such as a central aircraft inertial navigation system) is remote from the sensor, which experiences non-measured angular movements due to airframe vibrations and flexing. In such a scenario, Kalman filtering cannot converge on a true value because all noise sources are not known. Current naïve approaches arbitrarily boost noise with fixed additive or multiplicative factors. However, such approaches slow filter response and; thus, often fail to give timely results. Embodiments of the present disclosure derive inertial reference parameters to quantify noise of the sensor that is remote from the inertial reference. Advantageously, disclosed embodiments enable use of remote sensors with an existing inertial reference, rather than consolidating sensors and the inertial reference at a single location or providing inertial references at each sensor.
US09222997B2

A gradient coil power supply includes: at least two H-bridge circuits connected in series, wherein each H-bridge circuit supplies: voltage of a first polarity when in a first switching state, voltage of a second polarity when in a second switching state, no voltage when in a third switching state, and no voltage when in a fourth switching state; and a controller for controlling the switching of the H-bridge circuits. The controller is adapted for: receiving a gradient pulse sequence; creating a switching plan for controlling the switching of the H-bridge circuits, wherein the switching plan includes controlling the voltage output of the gradient coil power supply by alternating between the first switching state and the second switching state, and at least one H-bridge circuit being in either the third or fourth switching state for part of the switching plan to cool the H-bridge circuit; and executing the switching plan.
US09222995B2

A dispenser is provided for producing a nuclear hyperpolarized contrast agent. The dispenser comprises a chamber to receive a compound. A photonic hyperpolarization system generates an OAM-photonic beam endowed with orbital angular momentum and is arranged to direct the OAM-photonic beam into the chamber so as to generate nuclear hyperpolarization in the compound. The chamber has an output over which the hyperpolarized compound can be issued. Since the hyperpolarization is generated ex-vivo, the penetration depth of the OAM-photonic beam in biological tissue is irrelevant for the present invention.
US09222990B2

A method of performing a self-test associated with a magnetic field sensor includes generating a proximity signal responsive to a proximity of a sensed object with one or more magnetic field sensing elements, and identifying one or more characteristic values associated with the proximity signal while the proximity signal is responding to the proximity signal, The method also includes categorizing the one or more characteristic values into three or more potential categories, including three or more categories, wherein the plurality of potential categories is representative of a plurality of discrete self-test states of the proximity signal that could occur while the proximity signal is responding to the proximity of the sensed object. The method also includes communicating at least one of the plurality of potential categories into which at least one of the one or more characteristic values was categorized. A magnetic field senor implements the above method.
US09222980B2

A system and method for sharing a communications link between multiple protocols is described. A system includes a communications interface configured to exchange information with other systems using at least one of a plurality of protocols; a protocol select register that stores a value that selects a protocol from among the plurality of protocols to become an active protocol; and a state machine accessible to the communications interface, the state machine used to control the exchange of information through the communications interface according to the active protocol. The active protocol is used by the communications interface to exchange information while the remaining protocols of the plurality of protocols remain inactive. The state machine sequences through a series of states that cause the communications interface to operate according to the active protocol, and that are designated as inert sequences under the remaining protocols.
US09222979B2

An on-chip clock controller includes a clock-control chain configured to shift first clock-control bits in serial and output the first clock-control bits to a first clock domain in parallel in response to a clock-control scan clock provided from outside of a chip, and a first domain clock generator, the first domain clock generator configured, during a test mode, to generate a first internal clock by selectively outputting a first data scan clock provided from outside of the chip or a first functional clock generated from inside of the chip.
US09222972B1

An IC that includes a jitter generator, where the jitter generator is integral with the IC and generates non-intrinsic jitter, is provided. In one implementation, the non-intrinsic jitter is used to measure a characteristic of the IC. In one implementation, the non-intrinsic jitter is used to test jitter tolerance of the IC. In yet another implementation, the non-intrinsic jitter is used to test another IC coupled to the IC that includes the jitter generator.
US09222968B2

A monitoring system for detecting stress degradation of a semiconductor integrated circuit has an amplifier circuit and degradation test transistors. Multiplexers are provided that have an output coupled to a respective electrode of the degradation test transistor. Each of the multiplexers has an input coupled to one of the monitor nodes and a respective node of the amplifier circuit. In operation, the multiplexers selectively insert the degradation test transistor into either the integrated circuit or the amplifier circuit so that when inserted into the integrated circuit the degradation test transistor is subjected to stress degradation voltages in the integrated circuit. When the degradation test transistor is inserted into the amplifier circuit, an output signal is generated that is indicative of stress degradation of the integrated circuit.
US09222965B2

Translators coupleable to opposing surfaces of microelectronic substrates for testing, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. An arrangement in accordance with one embodiment includes a microelectronic substrate having a first major surface, a second major face facing opposite from the first major surface, and electrically conductive through-substrate vias extending through the substrate and electrically accessible from both the first and second surfaces. The arrangement further includes a first translator releasably connected to the substrate and positioned in a first region extending outwardly from the first surface, the first translator including first electrical signal paths that access the vias from the first surface, and a second translator releasably connected to the substrate simultaneously with the first translator, the second translator being positioned in a second region extending outwardly from the second surface, the second translator including second electrical signal paths that access the vias from the second surface.
US09222962B2

An automatic gain control apparatus includes: a first counter configured to calculate a first count value that is the number of times when a voltage of an input signal exceeds a first voltage threshold within a predetermined period; a second counter configured to calculate a second count value that is the number of times when the voltage of the input signal drops below a second voltage threshold in the predetermined period; and an over-range detector configured to detect an over-range, based on a comparison result obtained by comparing either one of each of the first count value and the second count value and a calculation result of the first count value and the second count value with a predetermined threshold, and output a detection result.
US09222957B2

A wheel assembly having a motor attached to a hub within the wheel assembly such that the motor powers the wheel assembly to rotate about an axle once the motor receives a predetermined amount of power. A battery system is configured to deliver power to said motor, the battery system is arranged to rotate with the wheel assembly. A sensor system within the wheel assembly that provides data to a control system related to velocity and angle of orientation of the assembly. A load transferring quick-release mechanism is also disclosed for coupling the wheel assembly to a vehicle wheel attachment frame member and a method is provided for calibrating the same.
US09222954B2

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to unitized reagent strips for holding and transporting reagents and materials used in automated sample preparation and/or processing for biological and or chemical assays.
US09222950B2

In an analysis system having an analysis apparatus using a reagent container having a memory to store reagent information concerning the reagent in the reagent container and a remote computer, the following steps are executed: reading out the reagent information from the memory of the reagent container; judging, based on the read reagent information, whether or not the reagent in the reagent container is usable; when it is judged that the reagent in the reagent container is unusable, writing data representing the reagent is unusable into the memory of the reagent container; and when it is judged that the reagent in the reagent container is unusable, registering the data representing the reagent is unusable, into a reagent database managed by the remote computer in association with identification information to identify the reagent container. Thus, it is possible to automatically identify the reagent, which should not be used, and to manage the reagent not so as to use it for the analysis. In addition, it is possible to use the data for the enhancement of the business efficiency such as the automatic order of the reagent, the stock management in the manufacturer and the like.
US09222938B2

A biosensor for use in detecting the presence of diseases, the biosensor comprising a detector for detecting a presence of at least one marker indicative of a specific disease. A method of determining efficacy of a pharmaceutical for treating a disease or staging disease by administering a pharmaceutical to a sample containing markers for a disease, detecting the amount of at least one marker of the disease in the sample, and analyzing the amount of the marker in the sample, whereby the amount of marker correlates to pharmaceutical efficacy or disease stage. Markers for gynecological disease. An immuno-imaging agent comprising labeled antibodies, whereby the labeled antibodies are isolated and reactive to proteins overexpressed in vivo. Informatics software for analyzing the arrays, the software including analyzing means for analyzing the arrays.
US09222932B2

Engineered, living, three-dimensional liver tissue constructs including: one or more layers, wherein each layer contains one or more liver cell types, the one or more layers cohered to form a living, three-dimensional liver tissue construct free of pre-formed scaffold. Also disclosed are arrays and methods of making the same.
US09222930B2

A mechanism is provided for forming a nanodevice. A reservoir is filled with a conductive fluid, and a membrane is formed to separate the reservoir in the nanodevice. The membrane includes an electrode layer having a tunneling junction formed therein. The membrane is formed to have a nanopore formed through one or more other layers of the membrane such that the nanopore is aligned with the tunneling junction of the electrode layer. The tunneling junction of the electrode layer is narrowed to a narrowed size by electroplating or electroless deposition. When a voltage is applied to the electrode layer, a tunneling current is generated by a base in the tunneling junction to be measured as a current signature for distinguishing the base. When an organic coating is formed on an inside surface of the tunneling junction, transient bonds are formed between the electrode layer and the base.
US09222929B2

The present disclosure relates to solvent surveillance in heavy oil production. A method includes the steps of measuring an amount of a native bitumen marker (NBM) in a heavy oil, measuring an amount of the NBM in a recovery-aid solvent, measuring an amount of the NBM in a blend including the heavy oil and the recovery-aid solvent, and applying a blending model to determine a fraction of the recovery-aid solvent in the blend.
US09222928B2

A method for marking a petroleum hydrocarbon or a liquid biologically derived fuel by adding to the petroleum hydrocarbon or liquid biologically derived fuel at least one compound having formula (I), wherein R represents C1-C18 alkyl, C3-C18 alkenyl or C3-C18 alkynyl.
US09222927B2

Apparatus and method for dissolution testing of active substances in various dosage forms is provided. The apparatus has filtration cells equipped and configured to simulate bodily functions, operate continuously and facilitate testing various types of dosage forms including, but not limited to, tablets, capsules and those having non-disintegrating substrates.
US09222923B2

As a data processing device and data processing program for a gas chromatograph, which enable composition, a name, and the like of a registered substance to be extracted from an actually measured retention index by a reverse search, a known RI data storage part that stores a plurality of pieces of known RI data each in which an identifier Gn specific to each registered substance, and retention indices actually measured at a plurality of different temperatures by gas chromatographic analysis on the registered substance indicated by the identifier Gn are paired, and a known RI data conversion part that is configured to convert the retention indices of the registered substance at the plurality of different temperatures to a retention index of the registered substance under a predetermined temperature condition for each of the pieces of known RI data are provided.
US09222918B2

Disclosed is an improved method of sizing a defect using a phased array system with a single probe orientation requiring only a simple one-pass scan. It is an improvement of the ADDT standard which is adapted to phased array systems with fixed probe orientations. Based on pre-configured parameters obtained from C-scans, the method as presently disclosed provides novel analysis on C-scans and more complete information on defects, including the orientation and sizes in length and depth or thickness of the defects. Phased array systems devised with the presently disclosed method can perform such inspection and complete sizing automatically for longitudinal, transverse and oblique defects in one pass of scan.
US09222898B2

An x-ray diffraction imaging (XDI) system includes a plurality of x-ray sources configured to generate x-rays directed toward an object. The XDI system also includes a primary collimator positioned a distance from the plurality of x-ray sources. A plurality of nodes are defined within the primary collimator at a plurality of node distances from the plurality of x-ray sources. Each node of the plurality of nodes defines an x-ray intersection region. The XDI system further includes a supermirror assembly including a plurality of mounting rails positioned adjacent the plurality of nodes.
US09222893B2

An apparatus (10) for assessment, evaluation and grading of gemstones has a stage (11) upon which a gemstone may be supported. The stage is enclosed in a housing (15) that is impervious to light. There is at least one light source (14) located in the housing which is adapted to project incident light onto the gemstone. Means for rotating and tilting the stage so as to vary the orientation of the gemstone to the incident light are also present. A digital camera (16) is located in the housing adjacent the or each light source and is adapted to take images of the gemstone based on reflection and/or refraction of the incident light. The apparatus also includes information processing means for calibrating and analyzing the images. The information processing means is programmed with instruction sets for assessing one or more of color, cut, clarity, scintillation, brilliance, lustre, dispersion and sheen. The gemstone is supported upon the stage by securing means (17) engaging the gemstone at its bottom surface.
US09222890B2

To improve detection sensitivity, detection accuracy, and reproducibility when electric discharge is caused in a sample solution to perform analysis with light emission in the plasma, a flow channel 101 provided with a narrow part is filled with a conductive sample solution, plasma is generated in bubbles formed by applying an electric field to the flow channel, and a region other than the narrow part in the flow channel is set as a measurement object region to measure light emission.
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