US09237676B2
A semiconductor module cooler supplies a coolant to a water jacket from outside and cools a semiconductor device arranged on an outer surface of the cooler. The semiconductor module cooler has a heat sink thermally connected to the semiconductor device; a first flow channel arranged inside the water jacket with a guide section extending from a coolant inlet and having an inclined surface for guiding the coolant toward one side surface of the heat sink; a second flow channel arranged inside the water jacket in parallel to the first flow channel and extending to a coolant outlet; and a third flow channel formed inside the water jacket at a position connecting the first flow channel and the second flow channel. The coolant inlet and the coolant outlet are formed on a same wall surface of the water jacket, and the heat sink is arranged in the third flow channel.
US09237671B2
A slide rail assembly for a rack system is installed to a chassis. The chassis includes a first chassis and a second chassis. The slide rail assembly includes an outer rail and an inner rail. The inner rail is movably connected to the outer rail. The first chassis of the chassis is installed to the inner rail, and the second chassis of the chassis is movably connected to the inner rail. The second chassis is movable relative to the first chassis to adjust the total length of the chassis.
US09237668B2
In an electronic-component package made up of a laminated-ceramic, cavity-forming base and an electroconductive lid that is hermetically bonded to the base by a heat-melting sealant, contamination of electromagnetic-interference-reducing grounding metallization lines by melted sealant is prevented. A wall-portion grounding metallization line partially embedded in an enclosing wall portion of the base, and partially exposed to the package cavity, electrically connects lid, when sealant-bonded to the wall portion of the base, with a grounding external terminal on the base exterior. An electronic-component grounding metallization line exposed in the bottom of the base is connected to the grounding external terminal. A connecting portion that joins the wall-portion and electronic-component grounding metallization lines is disposed between laminations of the bottom and wall portions of the base, where the connecting portion is unexposed to the package cavity.
US09237667B2
A waterproof structure for an electronic unit includes a sub-case that defines an accommodating portion that accommodates a first terminal, and has a cable guiding hole that communicates with the accommodating portion. A potting resin filled in the accommodating portion is also filled in a space between a cable and the cable guiding hole. The cable includes a first sheath that covers a conductor and is made of a first resin material, and a second sheath that covers the first sheath. The second sheath and the potting resin are made of a second resin material that is different from the first resin material.
US09237655B1
An apparatus includes a circuit card assembly; and a nozzle for depositing material on the circuit card assembly, the nozzle and circuit card assembly capable of being angled relative to one another. In operation, the apparatus performs a process including positioning a circuit card assembly and a nozzle for the nozzle to deposit a material on the circuit card assembly; and angling the nozzle and the circuit card assembly relative to one another to facilitate the deposition.
US09237649B2
A wiring board 10 includes a lower wiring conductor 1, an upper insulating layer 2 laminated on the lower wiring conductor 1 and having a via hole 5 where a bottom surface is the lower wiring conductor 1, and a via conductor 3 connected to the lower wiring conductor 1 and filling the via hole 5; and the upper insulating layer 2 includes a first resin layer 2a and a second resin layer 2b sequentially laminated on the lower wiring conductor 1, the via hole 5 has an annular groove 5a over a whole circumference of the inner wall in a boundary between both resin layers 2a and 2b, and the via conductor 3 fills the groove 5.
US09237636B1
An electronic ballast is provided with a filament heating circuit having a Q factor clamped at a certain range of preheat frequency. An inverter circuit includes a pair of switches coupled between positive and negative terminals of a power supply, which oscillate at an operating frequency and generate an output voltage. A main resonant tank is coupled between an inverter output and the negative power supply terminal. A filament heating resonant tank includes a primary winding of a filament heating transformer coupled on a first end in series with the resonant capacitor, first and second capacitors coupled in series between the second end of the primary winding and the negative power supply terminal. A clamping circuit coupled to the second capacitor during a preheat mode of operation clamps an amplitude of the voltage across the primary winding to an amplitude of the input voltage from the power supply.
US09237627B2
Short circuit failures and open circuit failures of light-emitting elements used for the backlight in an LCD panel can be reliably and easily detected. The voltage at the node between each series-connected light-emitting element array and a drive circuit is detected as a monitored voltage. A maximum detector detects the highest and a minimum detector detects the lowest of these monitored voltages. Short circuit or open circuit failure of a light-emitting element is detected by comparing the voltage difference between the maximum detector output and the minimum detector output with a specific reference voltage.
US09237616B2
A switching mode power supply apparatus includes a main transformer converting DC voltage of a predetermined amplitude supplied from a voltage source into DC voltage of a different amplitude; an auxiliary transformer operated by receiving current flowing in a primary winding of the main transformer; a first semiconductor switching element turning on/off an LED array that is driven by receiving voltage from a secondary winding of the auxiliary transformer; and an auxiliary circuit disposed in an LED control circuit unit including the LED array and the first semiconductor switching element, wherein the auxiliary circuit distributes current flowing in the first semiconductor switching element so as to reduce heat generated in the first semiconductor switching element.
US09237614B2
A capacitance amplifying circuit applied to a controller of a power convertor includes a comparison unit and a capacitance amplifying module. The comparison unit receives a feedback voltage corresponding to a load coupled to the power convertor, a dimming signal, and a reference voltage, and outputs a compensation current. The capacitance amplifying module generates an equivalent capacitor. A capacitance of the equivalent capacitor is K times to a capacitance of a reference capacitor of the capacitance amplifying module, and K is a real number greater than 1. The compensation current and the equivalent capacitor are used for determining a compensation voltage, and when the dimming signal is disabled, a closed loop within the capacitance amplifying module is changed to an open loop to keep the compensation voltage at a fixed value.
US09237613B1
A constant current driver circuit is operable to provide power to a light source. The driver circuit utilizes a microcontroller based oscillator to drive a current source tank circuit. The microcontroller based oscillator is controlled by a differential error feedback signal. The differential error feedback signal is produced by a proportional integral control loop. The proportional integral control loop is used to eliminate steady state error of the driver circuit. Dynamic frequency or duty cycle control of the current source tank circuit by the microcontroller is based on the integrated error signal between a reference current signal and a sensed output current of the current source tank circuit.
US09237599B2
The invention describes a controller for data processing in bidirectional adhoc-network radio communication with a computation unit for data processing and ports for data input and data output. The computation unit is set up to process the data according to the ITS standard, wherein the data processing is limited to processing steps of the ITS Facility layer, which performs content-oriented evaluation and/or conditioning of the data which are received or need to be sent by means of the bidirectional adhoc-network radio communication, and a first wideband communication port is provided at least for receiving the data from an ITS communication unit for the purpose of bidirectional adhoc-network radio communication.
US09237594B2
There are provided a method for processing an exceptional case of establishing a default bearer and a device therefor in order to solve a problem in that a user equipment cannot actually receive an IP service by accessing a packet network while failing in establishing the default bearer in a mobile communication system. A method for processing an exceptional case of establishing a default bearer in a mobility management entity includes: receiving a network attachment request from a user equipment; transmitting a network attachment acceptance including an activation request of the default bearer to the user equipment in response to the network attachment request; and cancelling a network attachment procedure when a completion response to the activation request of the default bearer is not received from the user equipment within a predetermined time.
US09237591B2
Techniques are disclosed for using a WI-FI Direct Services (WFDS) Application Services Platform (ASP) for Layer 2 services, by extending a definition of a session in WFDS to include non-IP sessions as well. Techniques are further disclosed for operating an application services platform coordination protocol (ASP-CP) directly over a media access control (MAC) layer.
US09237589B2
A method and apparatus for performing a plurality of network attachment procedures to support a plurality of cells for a small cell-based User Equipment (UE) service are disclosed.
US09237584B2
Systems and techniques for managing the use of industrial-scientific-medical bands for cellular network communication. An apparatus comprises a processing system and a memory storing a set of program instructions. The processing system is configured to cause the apparatus to receive channel information from a UE reporting the control of an industrial-scientific-medical (ISM) band channel by the UE and cause the apparatus to schedule a communication session with the UE over the channel, with the channel being configured and activated as an ISM secondary component carrier (SCC). The apparatus may further request one or more user equipments (UEs) to report their wireless fidelity (WiFi) capability and request user equipments having WiFi capability to compete for the wireless medium and report occupation of the wireless medium in the form of a request to send command, to which the apparatus responds with a clear to send command.
US09237583B2
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for indicating (e.g., by a donor base station) resources available for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmissions from a base station is provided. Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for determining (e.g., by a relay node or UE) resources available for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) transmissions from a base station.
US09237581B2
An apparatus includes a Media Access Control (MAC) scheduler to generate a sort request. A hardware based sort coprocessor services the sort request in accordance with specified packet processing priority parameters to generate a sorted array.
US09237571B2
A communication apparatus has a receiver and a decoder. The receiver receives a control signal including first downlink control information and second downlink control information, and receives decoding area information that indicates whether the extended Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) should be decoded for each of a plurality of terminal apparatuses. The decoder decodes each of a plurality of first mapping candidates in the PDCCH area or decodes each of the plurality of first mapping candidates in the PDCCH area and each of the plurality of second mapping candidates in the extended PDCCH. A number of the second mapping candidates included in the user-specific search space equals to or is more than a number of the first mapping candidates included in the common search space.
US09237566B2
Disclosed is a method for transmitting an ACK/NACK signal for an HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest) in a CA (Carrier Aggregation) system, the method including obtaining at least one transmission resource among first and second transmission resources; configuring a first table showing a relationship in which a combination of at least one of the first and second transmission resources and modulation symbols is mapped to an ACK/NACK signal, and transmitting modulation symbols corresponding to a transmission target ACK/NACK signal in the first table by using transmission resource corresponding to the transmission target ACK/NACK signal in the first table.
US09237565B2
Methods for wirelessly transmitting user data and control information using a plurality of transmission layers include encoding bits of control information to form control codewords and encoding bits of user data to form user data codewords. The method also includes generating a plurality of vector symbols based on the control codewords and the user data codewords. Each vector symbol includes a plurality of modulation symbols that are each associated with a transmission layer over which the associated modulation symbol will be transmitted. Generating the plurality of vector symbols includes interleaving bits of the control codewords and bits of the user data codewords so that the control information is carried in modulation symbols associated with the same transmission layers in the vector symbols transmitted during the subframe that carry the control information. The method also includes transmitting the plurality of vector symbols to a receiver over a plurality of transmission layers.
US09237562B2
A method of resource allocation for Channel State Information (CSI) feedback is provided, which comprises the following steps of: configuring, for a User Equipment (UE), a CSI feedback mode for each of a plurality of coordinated cells; allocating feedback resources required for CSI feedback by the UE for each of the plurality of coordinated cells based on the configured feedback modes, such that the CSI feedbacks for different coordinated cells will not collide with each other within one sub-frame; and notifying the configured feedback modes and the allocated feedback resources to the UE. In addition, a method of Channel State Information (CSI) feedback is provided, which comprises the following steps of: receiving, at a User Equipment (UE), from a Base Station (BS) information on configured feedback modes and allocated feedback resources for CSI feedback for a plurality of coordinated cells; feeding, by the UE, the CSI of the plurality of coordinated cells back to the BS over the allocated feedback resources based on the configured feedback modes; and solving, when feedback types underlying different feedback modes collide with each other within one sub-frame, the collision based on a collision solution rule.
US09237544B2
Embodiments may comprise logic to adaptively prepare and transmit environmental information based upon an estimated current location and, in some embodiments, context of a device and to adaptively cache the environmental information to reduce or optimize environmental information communicated from an information server to the device. Some embodiments comprise an information server to receive a request for environmental information comprising an estimated current location for the device. In many embodiments, the information server may determine a prior set of environmental information conveyed to the device and determine, in response to receiving the estimated current location, the current set of environmental information based upon the estimated current location. In many embodiments, the current set of environmental information may encompass environmental information near the estimated current location of the device but not to encompass environmental information that was included in a prior set of environmental information transmitted to the device.
US09237538B1
A synchronization data unit is generated by an access point. The synchronization data unit (i) is for scheduling subsequent simultaneous transmission of a plurality of data units by communication devices, and (ii) specifies respective sets of spatial streams that respective communication devices are to use when transmitting respective data units. A signal is received via a plurality of antennas of the access point, where the signal corresponds to the plurality of data units transmitted simultaneously from the respective communication devices via the respective sets of sets of spatial streams. An estimate of the MIMO communication channel is determined using a plurality of training fields included in a first portion of the signal, and data in a second portion of the signal is decoded using the estimate of the MIMO communication channel.
US09237536B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for primary synchronization signal (PSS) detection. The method may comprise: performing a central-symmetrical preprocess on a receive vector by exploiting a central symmetry of the primary synchronization signal; and performing, based on the central-symmetrical preprocess, a non-coherent detection on the receive vector using local primary synchronization signals so as to detect the primary synchronization signal. The computation complexity in PSS detection may be significantly reduced by performing preprocess to the receive vector based on the central symmetry of the primary synchronization signal, thereby considerably enhancing the speed and performance of PSS search and further improving the cell search efficiency.
US09237531B2
Efficient techniques for determining compliance of a wireless device with radio-frequency (RF) exposure standards and regulations. In an aspect, two-dimensional surface scans of a device are determined and stored in a memory during a certification phase. Each scan corresponds to a basis surface scan wherein only one transmitter and one antenna of the device are active. During real-time operation, the basis surface scans corresponding to the real-time active transmitters and antennas of the device are retrieved. The retrieved scans are processed according to the real-time operating parameters to determine an estimated RF exposure metric, e.g., a peak specific absorption rate (SAR). The transmit power levels of the device may be adjusted in real time to ensure compliance of the estimated RF exposure metric with applicable standards and regulations.
US09237525B2
This invention relates to switching power saving modes and rescheduling communication frames for various periods of a beacon interval (BI) defined under WGA Draft Specification 0.8 for the personal basic service set (PBSS) and infrastructure BSS to achieve further power savings and other advantages. Stations can be awake during a contention-based period (CBP) if it is in active state and can schedule frames during a service period (SP) to allow the assigned receiver to transmit to the assigned initiator. Stations in a group can schedule a group address frame to be sent during the CBP and group SP of a specific periodic BI. Stations in peer-to-peer connection may directly notify its peer stations of its power saving mode and wakeup schedule. Stations of an infrastructure basic service set (BSS) can also use the same power saving mechanism as stations of a PBSS noting a difference where each BI will be an access point's (AP's) awake BI.
US09237504B2
In order to change control over a user equipment within a femtocell in accordance with a change in camping of the user equipment, a communication system includes a femto base station (10) that provides a femtocell includes notification destination setting means (20) for setting, in the femto base station (10), a notification destination to be notified of a change in camping of a user equipment (30) on the femtocell. The femto base station (10) notifies the set notification destination of the change in camping of the user equipment (30), upon detection of the change in camping.
US09237491B2
A relay node for a radio access network, arranged to be a relay node between one or more User Equipments in a cell of the radio access network and a base station serving the cell. The relay node is arranged to identify itself as a relay node in the cell in the radio access network, and is also arranged to receive a non-support indication indicating that the base station serving the cell is unable to support a relay node. The relay node is arranged to, upon receiving said non-support indication, attempt to establish itself as a relay node in another cell.
US09237486B2
A method for performing handover in a first type of cell by a terminal supporting an inter-radio access technology (interRAT) handover includes the steps of searching for cells of a second type that are operating in accordance with a communication type different from that of the first type of cell; receiving a minimal reception signal quality value and signal quality offset information from a second type of base station which is found in the step of searching for cells of the second type; determining whether or not the found second type of base station is available for service based on a signal quality measurement value, a power compensation value, and the minimal reception signal quality value and signal quality offset information of the found second type of base station; and performing handover to the second type of base station when the latter is determined to be available for service.
US09237475B2
A method and apparatus report or identify channel quality information. The method for reporting includes selecting one or more beams for channel quality reporting. The method also includes mapping, by the UE, indices of the one or more selected beams to one or more channel quality values. Additionally, the method includes sending channel quality information for the one or more selected beams according to the mapping. The method for identifying includes receiving an indication of indices of one or more beams selected for reporting. The method also includes receiving channel quality information for the one or more selected beams. The method further includes identifying a mapping of the indices of the one or more selected beams to one or more channel quality values. Additionally, the method includes identifying a channel quality value for each of the one or more selected beams according to the mapping.
US09237469B2
The invention pertains to methods and apparatus for high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) link adaptation in which a Wireless Transmit Receive Unit (WTRU) performs a channel quality metric measurement in synchronization with a discontinuous reception cycle (DRX) while the WTRU is configured to receive a high speed downlink shared channel (HS-DSCH) from a network and transmits channel quality data over a Measured Results on random access channel (RACH) information element (IE).
US09237464B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a transmission method, apparatus, and system for uplink transmit diversity, which relate to the field of communications. To determine activation or deactivation of uplink transmit diversity in time and effectively to improve uplink transmission quality, the technical solution provided in the present invention is as follows: determining, by a base station, to activate/deactivate uplink transmit diversity of a user equipment and sending an activation/deactivate request indication to a radio network controller, the activation/deactivate request indication is used for the radio network controller to instruct the user equipment to activate/deactivate the uplink transmit diversity. The present invention is applicable to the control of uplink transmit diversity transmission.
US09237460B2
A traffic control method and device are provided. The method may include: monitoring a user behavior status of an application, where the user behavior status includes an active state or an inactive state; according to predefined correspondence between a user behavior status and a traffic control threshold, determining a traffic control threshold corresponding to the monitored user behavior status; and controlling traffic of the application by using the determined traffic control threshold. Therefore, the traffic of the application can be dynamically monitored and the intelligence of traffic control can be improved.
US09237454B2
A method for solving the co-existence problem, a base station, user equipment, and system for performing the method. The method includes: pre-configuring the information for co-existence working mode by a base station of a first communication system for a user equipment, receiving, by the base station of the first communication system from the user equipment in the first communication system, a mode establishing request for indicating the co-existence problem experienced by the user equipment and providing the assistance information for co-existence working mode in which the user equipment performs a first communication with the base station and performs a second communication with an apparatus in a second communication system which is different from the first communication system.
US09237445B1
A heterogeneous network control system uses an application platform to connect a signal processor through a first signal telecommunication, and connect the signal processor to a signal converter through a second signal telecommunication, and connect the signal converter to a terminal through a third signal telecommunication. When signals are transmitted from the application platform to the terminal via a signal transmission path, the first signal is converted into a second signal by the signal processor, and the second signal is converted into a third signal by the signal converter. When signals are transmitted from the terminal to the application platform via the signal transmission path, the signal is converted in an opposite way. The first signal is a 3G, 4G, WiFi, powerline or Bluetooth signal, and the second signal is a WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, powerline, EnOcean or Zwave signal. The system provides a communication mode for a heterogeneous network.
US09237438B2
A technique for transmitting an object to a mobile device is provided. In response to the mobile device moving from a first area serviced by a first cache to a second area serviced by a second cache, the first cache transmits the object stored in the first cache to the second cache. The first cache transmits instructions to the second cache that cause the second cache to forward the object to the mobile device in the second area.
US09237431B2
An approach is provided for receiving a voice-based emergency call and routing it to a local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) along with anchoring information identifying the caller and their location. The PSAP may provide options for the caller to choose to use non-voice-based messaging service concurrent with the voice-based emergency call. If the caller desires and chooses to communicate via non-voice-based messages, then a text messaging application at the PSAP is used to communicate with the caller. The PSAP utilizes the anchoring information obtained from the concurrent voice-based emergency call when communicating with the caller.
US09237429B2
A method for implementing a Packet Switched domain (PS) short message service (SMS) includes: after receiving request message containing an SMS-only indication transmitted by a user equipment, a mobility management entity enquiring subscription information of the user equipment from a home subscriber server, and receiving the subscription information of the user equipment returned by the home subscriber server; and when the mobility management entity supports the PS SMS and the subscription information supports the PS SMS, the mobility management entity transmitting request acceptance message to the user equipment, receiving and transmitting an SMS between the mobility management entity and the user equipment through a Packet Switched domain. Embodiments of the present document further provide a system for implementing a PS SMS and a user equipment. By means of the scheme of the present document, the PS SMS can be implemented in an EPS system.
US09237419B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a reporting method in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises: determining a service state; controlling positioning for acquiring position information based on the service state; acquiring information on the position of a terminal according to the positioning mode determined by said controlling; and reporting the acquired position information to a network.
US09237412B2
Computationally implemented methods and systems include facilitating a head wearable computing device to receive one or more solicitations via one or more solicitation signals that solicit to provide to a limb wearable computing device gesture indicative data that is indicative of one or more user gestures, the head wearable computing device being designed to be worn on a head of a user and the limb wearable computing device being designed to be worn around a limb of a user; and directing the head wearable computing device to transmit to the limb wearable computing device the gesture indicative data via one or more low-power gesture indicative data signals, the limb wearable computing device being within communication range of the head wearable computing device. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text.
US09237409B2
The present technology relates to a communication device, a control method, and a program which enable reliable selection of a desired target.A CLF transmits a polling command received from a NFC reader for selecting a candidate of a final target to targets, selects the candidate of the final target, by setting a P2P application as a target having the highest priority in the selection of the candidate of the final target, selects the final target based on a command other than the polling command received from the NFC reader, and controls to lower the priority of the P2P application, in a case where the P2P application is selected as the candidate of the final target and the P2P application is not selected as the final target. The present technology can be applied to a communication device supporting an NFC standard, for example.
US09237398B1
Systems and methods are disclosed for a sound reproduction apparatus configured for receiving signals representative of the output of a plurality of microphones positioned to sample a sound field at points representing possible locations of a listener's left and right ears when positioned in said sound field at the location of the microphones, receiving a location of at least one sound source relative to said plurality of microphones, receiving orientation data of the listener's head, and calculating a binaural output using the sound source location, microphone output signals and orientation data. The binaural output includes the full-bandwidth of the microphone output signals.
US09237397B2
A tunable earphone is provided. By moving a tuning rod inserted into a hollow shell with a varied depth to drive a tuning plate thus changing the distance between a speaker and the tuning plate, the air in the hollow shell can resonate for different volumes and different path lengths, thereby adjusting a frequency response characteristic of the whole earphone.
US09237395B2
Modular audio systems comprise two speaker assemblies and a wiring system. Each speaker assembly may comprise a speaker and an audio jack integral to each speaker assembly. The wiring system comprises a first wiring assembly comprising two audio jacks configured to connect to the audio jacks of the two speaker assemblies and two wires connected to the two audio jacks at first ends of the two wires. Headphone assemblies may comprise two speaker assemblies and a headband configured for removable attachment to the speaker assemblies. Each speaker assembly may comprise an attachment structure configured for attachment to another device or structure, wherein the attachment structure of each speaker assembly of the two speaker assemblies comprises a frustoconical surface and two first attachment features comprising elongated features on the frustoconical surface.
US09237394B2
Disclosed herein is a canal type earphone with a pressure equilibrium means, capable of eliminating a pressure difference between a user's external auditory meatus and an outside during wearing of the canal type earphone. A pressure equilibrium means includes a side air passage through which air within a tube or air within a speaker unit in the canal type earphone is discharged to a side surface of a gasket or a side surface of the speaker unit, and a rear air passage through which air in the side surface of the speaker unit is discharged to the rear of the speaker unit.
US09237389B2
A portable electronic device that provides compact configurations for audio elements are disclosed. The audio elements can be drivers (e.g., speakers) or receivers (e.g., microphones). In one embodiment, an audio element can be mounted on or coupled to an intermediate structure (e.g., a flexible electrical substrate) having an opening therein to allow audio sound to pass there through. In another embodiment, an audio chamber can be formed to assist in directing audio sound between an opening an outer housing and a flexible electronic substrate to which the audio element is mounted or coupled thereto. In still another embodiment, a barrier, such as a mesh barrier, can be provided in an opening of an outer housing so that undesired foreign substances can be blocked from further entry into the opening in the outer housing.
US09237383B2
Various embodiments are directed to streaming DVR devices that can communicate over an Internet Protocol (IP) network with other streaming enabled DVR devices. Implementing a peer-to-peer type connection, one streaming enabled DVR device may be able to stream buffered video data to another streaming enable DVR device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09237381B2
Methods and apparatus for inserting local content of interest in an all digital content delivery network. In one embodiment, the content delivery network comprises a cable television or satellite network, and an RF channel thereof is separated or isolated from an incoming multiplex of all-digital content transmission. The separated RF channel is demodulated to provide a multiplexed transport stream, and packets corresponding to one or more programs from the transport stream are replaced with packets obtained from local compression and encoding of analog programming such as e.g., personal, educational and government (PEG) programming. The inserted programming may also contain closed captioning and emergency data alerts. The resulting encoded transport stream is then re-inserted into the multiplex, modulated, and put back onto the RF channel. In an alternate embodiment, space is reserved within the downstream multiplex so as to avoid having to remove an existing program stream.
US09237377B2
The MEDIA CONTENT SYNCHRONIZED ADVERTISING PLATFORM APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS (“AD-SYNCH”) transforms TV program schedule listing information and user channel selection via AD-SYNCH components, into channel-synchronized product placement advertisement. A system is disclosed, comprising: a memory; a processor disposed in communication with said memory, and configured to issue a plurality of processing instructions stored in the memory, wherein the processor issues instructions for: receiving a user media program selection message from the user mobile device; retrieving an ad tag associated with the user selected media program from TV program schedule listing data; identifying an advertised item embedded in the media program based on the retrieved ad tag; determining an available ad template associated with the retrieved ad tag; generating an ad for the embedded advertised item based on the available ad template; and providing the generated ad to the user mobile device based on a timestamp of the ad tag.
US09237372B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile communication device having a controller to receive a broadcast of media content from a first media source using a first communication protocol, display the media content on the mobile communication device, determine whether the media content satisfies one or more parameter thresholds when the media content is available to a display device from a second media source that is not the mobile communication device where the one or more parameter thresholds are based at least in part on the media content available from the second media source and where the display device is remote from the mobile communication device, and commence streaming of the media content from the mobile communication device to the display device when the media content exceeds the one or more parameter thresholds. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09237356B2
Techniques are described related to constructing reference picture lists. The reference picture lists may be constructed from reference picture subsets of a reference picture set. In some examples, the reference picture subsets may be ordered in a particular manner to form the reference picture lists.
US09237354B2
A motion vector detector detects a motion vector from a first reference image for a coding target block. A multiple reference image composition unit creates a composite reference block that a first reference block extracted from the first reference image using the motion vector has been composited with a predetermined region of at least one of other reference images. Setting the composite reference block as a prediction block, an entropy encoder encodes a prediction difference block that the prediction block has been subtracted from the coding target block.
US09237346B2
Provided is a method that constructs an MPM group including three intra prediction modes, determines the intra prediction mode of the MPM group specified by the prediction mode index as the intra prediction mode of the current prediction unit if the mode group indicator indicates the MPM group, and derives the intra prediction mode of the current prediction unit using the prediction mode index and the three prediction modes of the MPM group if the mode group indicator does not indicate the MPM group. Accordingly, additional bits resulted from increase of a number of intra prediction mode are effectively reduced. Also, an image compression ratio can be improved by generating a prediction block similar to an original block.
US09237341B2
An image decoding method of decoding, on a per-block basis, a coded image included in a bitstream, includes: performing arithmetic decoding on a current block to be decoded; determining whether or not the current block is at the end of a slice; determining, when it is determined that the current block is not at the end of the slice, whether or not the current block is at the end of a sub-stream which is a structural unit of the image that is different from the slice; and performing arithmetic decoding on a sub-last bit and performing arithmetic decoding termination, when it is determined that the current block is at the end of the sub-stream.
US09237340B2
A method of camera pose estimation is provided that includes capturing a model image of a scene at a canonical camera pose, generating an image library from warped images of the model image and the model image, wherein each warped image is a transformation of the model image at a different pre-determined camera pose, capturing an image of the scene as a user moves the camera, reporting the current camera pose as a camera pose of the image when the image is acceptable, conditionally adding the first image to the image library when the first image is acceptable, and re-initializing the current camera pose to a camera pose selected from the image library when the first image is not acceptable.
US09237337B2
A new beam deflection approach is provided for displaying images in autostereoscopic format. Conceptually, polarized light from a display is directed into specific viewing regions using a polarization-sensitive beam deflection sub-system that comprises, in exemplary embodiments, an active liquid crystal quarter-wave plate modulator and a passive cycloidal grating element, such as a diffractive waveplate. Specific embodiments may comprise an illumination system that both floods an LCD panel and creates a defined eye pupil region, from within which the display is viewable. Deflecting the pupil region between left and right eye positions in synchronization with displayed frame sequential stereo image data creates desirable autostereoscopic 3D viewing. Other embodiments employ a similar beam deflection sub-system in conjunction with a means of viewing subsets of pixels from different viewing positions, such as a parallax barrier or lenslet array, allowing freedom of head movement while maintaining stereo viewing.
US09237336B2
A liquid crystal display includes a display panel, a processor, a timing control circuit, and a switch cell layer. The switch cell layer includes a liquid crystal layer, a first driving circuit, and a second driving circuit. The switch cell layer is installed on the display panel. When the display panel displays at least one two-dimensional region and at least one three-dimensional region according to an image signal, the processor determines positions of the at least one two-dimensional region and the at least one three-dimensional region on the display panel according to the image signal. The timing control circuit is for generating an address signal according to the positions. The first driving circuit and the second driving circuit drive first enable lines coupled to the first driving circuit in groups and second enable lines coupled to the second driving circuit in groups respectively according to the address signal.
US09237329B1
Systems and methods for capturing data of an object are provided. In an example system, a suspension component for suspending an object so that the object is stationary in space is provided. A plurality of image capture devices are configured to capture a plurality of images of the object simultaneously while the object is suspended. The plurality of image capture devices are each positioned at a different location so as to capture a plurality of different views of the object. The system is also configured to generate a three-dimensional (3D) view of the object based on the plurality of images and the plurality of different views.
US09237327B2
A device includes a coder or a codec configured for interleaved image data utilizing diamond shaped blocks for motion estimation and/or motion compensation and utilizing square or orthogonal transforms of residual data. In various embodiments, the decoder may be configured, among others, to perform de-blocking on edges of the diamond shaped blocks and/or data padding at boundaries of the image data. Additionally a method is proposed in which at least one of a transform and quantization process to be applied to de-multiplexed data is modified. One application is to combine left and right stereoscopic images, interleaved in a checkerboard manner.
US09237320B2
The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for generating a calibrated projection, wherein the method for example includes providing a projection surface (1) for the projection of at least one image (2), wherein the projection surface (1) includes a calibrating structure (5) following its spatial extension, which has a first side (51) and a second side (52), which extends parallel to the first side (51), and a constant height as measured in direction of the first or the second side (51, 52), generating an image (5′) of the calibrating structure (5) in an image plane by means of a camera (4), reconstructing the spatial extension of the projection surface (1) in the region of the calibrating structure (5), and generating a projection calibrated with respect to the calibrating structure by using the spatial extension of the projection surface reconstructed according to the providing projection surface step.
US09237317B2
A camera thrown or projected into an airborne trajectory, and an image capture system with network devices collaborating for the purpose of generating panoramic images and video sourced from network cameras thrown or projected in independent trajectories, and cameras capable of capturing stable image and video from spinning, spiraling and precessing apertures, and a throwable cameras streamlined in response to aerodynamic forces acting on respective housings.
US09237310B2
A method of processing digital content according to a workflow. The digital content is received and information for the workflow is checked to decide if a processing device is authorized to process the content, the workflow imposing that the digital content be processed in a process chain comprising at least two nodes, wherein the processing device is authorized to process the content if it corresponds to the node that according to the process chain is the next node to process the digital content. If the processing device is authorized to process the content, the digital content is processed and the information for the workflow is updated. Also provided is a system.
US09237309B2
Embodiments of the invention include a conditional access system comprising a terminal and a smartcard, wherein the terminal comprises a user interface for interaction with an end-user, comprising an output for displaying first user interaction data and an input for generating second user interaction data in response to the first user interaction data; and a descrambler configured for descrambling scrambled content, and wherein the smartcard is configured for generating the first user interaction data and allowing, in dependence of the second user interaction data received from the user interface, the descrambler to descramble the scrambled content.
US09237305B2
Some embodiments provide a video conferencing application for execution by a first electronic device. The video conferencing application is for conducting a video conference between the first electronic device and a second electronic device. The video conferencing application presents, in a first display area, a video captured by the first electronic device. In an at least partially transparent second display area that is superimposed on a portion of the video in the first display area, the video conferencing application presents a set of user selectable items for configuring the video conferencing application.
US09237299B2
Discussed is a display apparatus which facilitates to minimize a thickness by innovatively removing a case and some portions of a set cover, which have been regarded as indispensible structures for the display apparatus, and simultaneously facilitates to realize a good sense of beauty in the display apparatus by a novel design, wherein the display apparatus comprises a set cover which has a space prepared by a sidewall; a display panel which includes lower and upper substrates bonded to each other; and a guide frame which supports the display panel, and seals a gap between a sidewall of the set cover and a lateral side of the display panel, wherein the guide frame is provided in the set cover.
US09237297B1
A user/viewer directed film entertainment system preferably includes computer hardware, software, on-line content and audio/video media that allows the user to watch a story unfold in a nonlinear fashion according to the desires of the user and preferably from various points of view. The system provides a story broken up by a plot related category (e.g., characters) into story segments. These segments tell the story from the vantage point of these characters, each having their own storyline within the main story. Each character's storyline may or may not intersect with other storylines. While the user can watch a chosen character's story segments straight through and likely understand enough to allow the user to reveal the end, the user may miss important information contained in other characters' storyline that adds to the chosen character's story. The user can choose any order and any character as desired.
US09237296B2
A method for operating an image display apparatus includes providing input signals to the image display apparatus, displaying at least one image on a display based on the input signals, generating a plurality thumbnail images based on the input signals, and displaying a thumbnail-image list which includes a plurality of generated thumbnail images.
US09237294B2
According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises a data storage unit and a data processing unit. The data storage unit is adapted to store a plurality of advertisements. Coupled to the data storage unit, the data processing unit is adapted to detect an operation that alters playback of an advertisement being part of downloaded digital content, and in response to detecting the operation, to select one of the stored advertisements. The selection is based on heuristic information that is maintained for each of the plurality of stored advertisements.
US09237287B2
A solid-state imaging device including a photoelectric conversion portion, plural signal lines including a transfer signal line to which a transfer signal for reading signal charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion portion to a floating diffusion region is input, a driver circuit inputting desired signals into the plural signal lines, and a terminal circuit connected to a side opposite to a side of the transfer signal line where the driver circuit is connected and to which a control signal for securing the transfer signal line at a constant voltage is input before a desired signal of is input to the signal line adjacent to the transfer signal line.
US09237282B2
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array and AD converting unit. In the AD converting unit, a plurality of AD converts are arranged in a horizontal direction. The pixel is configured by a small pixel group. The small pixel group is formed of a plurality of small pixels. The plurality of small pixels read out the signal charges. The small pixel group includes two or more small pixels having different optical sensitivities. The solid-state imaging device includes N AD converting units. N is the number of small pixel groups which are arranged in a vertical direction at every small pixel. N is an integer of 2 or higher.
US09237280B2
A photographing apparatus includes a detection unit for detecting light exposure error resulting from a difference in a moving characteristic between a mechanical rear curtain and an electronic front curtain using data of some area constituting an image sensor, a signal generating unit for generating a reset signal of the image sensor, and a control unit for controlling to correct a moving characteristic of the electronic front curtain using the detected light exposure error and generate a reset signal of the image sensor according to the corrected moving characteristic. Accordingly, a moving characteristic of an electronic front curtain may be conveniently corrected by a user.
US09237272B2
An imaging apparatus which is effective to make it easier to manually adjust a focus is provided. An imaging apparatus has: a display unit; an image capturing unit configured to capture a subject image which is formed on an imaging plane and to output image data; a distance information obtaining unit configured to obtain distance information of a single subject or each of a plurality of subjects in the image data; and a display controller configured to display an image on the display unit. The display controller is configured to associate a plurality of different colors respectively with a plurality of areas partitioned according to distances from the imaging apparatus, determine based on the distance information to which one of the plurality of areas each subject corresponds, and display on the display unit each captured subject with the color associated with the area corresponding to the each captured subject.
US09237267B2
Imaging systems, moving bodies, and imaging control methods for remote monitoring of a moving target
To provide a new framework that can flexibly take images of a moving target in remote monitoring without the need to arrange a plurality of network cameras, an autonomously movable moving body is used to take an image of a photographic target in accordance with a request from a user terminal, and the photographic image is provided to the user terminal. The moving body includes: a position estimating unit that acquires, from a wireless tag reader, a radio field intensity of wireless communication with a wireless tag held by the photographic target to estimate a position of the photographic target based on the acquired radio field intensity; a movement control unit that controls the movement of the moving body so that the moving body moves to the estimated position as a destination; and an imaging unit that takes an image of the photographic target when the moving body is located near the destination, associates the photographic image with a wireless tag ID designated by the request, and transmits the photographic image to an apparatus outside the moving body.
US09237264B2
Manufacturing optical devices (e.g., for cameras) includes providing and allocating mount elements to lens modules wherein the mount elements are to be arranged within the optical devices to define a fixed separation distance between the lens modules and the image sensor plane. The mount elements have variable mount FFL sections by means of which the geometrical distance between the lens module and the image sensor plane is adjusted for each lens module, individually or in groups dependent on the optical properties of the lens modules, to compensate the variation of the lens module values among the lens modules, so that the focal planes of the lens modules falls into the image sensor plane.
US09237257B1
A circuit for generating a digital image is described. The circuit comprises an image capture circuit; an edge mapping circuit coupled to the image capture circuit, the edge mapping circuit generating a mapping of edges in the image; and an edge enhancement circuit coupled to the edge mapping circuit. The edge enhancement circuit modifies aberrations in the image which are associated with an edge based upon a coefficient of a plurality of directional coefficients associated with an edge. A method of generating a digital image is also described.
US09237252B2
Disclosed is a method of processing signals from a large-format scanner comprising a first and a second image sensor that provide respective image signals recorded at respective areas of a scanned medium, where a portion of the respective areas is recorded also by the other of the respective image sensors, whereby image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas are present in the respective signals; the method comprising: determining a first and a second level of intensity from image signals from the first and the second image sensor at the overlapping area, respectively; determining a compensation value by processing the first level of intensity and the second level of intensity to determine a discrepancy between the level of intensities; applying compensation values to image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas to provide compensated image data to compensate for a discrepancy between levels of intensity from the first and the second image sensor.
US09237251B2
A data processing apparatus that is capable of reducing the garbling of characters caused by the difference among the character codes when setting data are transferred to another apparatus by the import-export function. A storage unit stores setting data for the data processing apparatus. A receiving unit receives an instruction for exporting the setting data stored in the storage unit. A converting unit converts Unicode data included in the setting data into character code data of language, which is set to the data processing apparatus. An export unit exports the character code data converted by the converting unit and the Unicode data.
US09237250B1
A multifunction image processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a communications module, a scan subsystem, a print subsystem, and a digital signal processor (DSP) block. The communications module is used to communicate with a host computer to send and receive image data files. The scan subsystem is used to scan images. The print subsystem is used to print images. The DSP block includes at least two digital signal processors. The digital signal processors can be programmed to symmetrically multiprocess portions of an image data file to process it more quickly. Alternatively, digital signal processors can be programmed to simultaneously process the image data for the scan subsystem and image data for the print subsystem.
US09237248B2
An image reading device is movable between a first position and a second position spaced farther apart from an image forming device than the first position, and a regulating member configured to regulate respective positions of two cables maintains, when the image reading device is at the first position, the two cables, respectively, in a bent state in a direction away from each other.
US09237244B2
A handheld digital camera device including an image sensor for capturing images and generating image data; a color display for displaying captured images to a user; an orientation sensor for generating orientation data; and an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the image sensor and the color display; determining a landscape or portrait orientation of the camera device using the orientation data; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate; and performing an action in the handheld electronic device based on the decoded coding pattern.
US09237238B2
A conference apparatus reduces or eliminates noise in audio for endpoints in a conference. Endpoints in the conference are designated as a primary talker and as secondary talkers. Audio for the endpoints is processed with speech detectors to characterize the audio as speech or not and to determine energy levels of the audio. As the audio is written to buffers and then read from the buffers, decisions for the gain settings of faders for read audio of the endpoints being combined in the speech selective mix. In addition, the conference apparatus can mitigate the effects of a possible speech collision that may occur during the conference between endpoints.
US09237234B2
A parameters modification system for a contact center is provided. The parameters modification system includes an input module for enabling a user to provide an input indicating one or more parameters required to be modified. The parameters modification system further includes a determination module for determining a surface based on key performance indicators (KPIs) associated the one more parameters. The determination module further determines an optimal path in the determined surface. The parameters modification system further includes a modification module for modifying the one or more parameters along the determined optimal path so that key performance indicators associated with the one or more parameters remain within a predetermined threshold.
US09237230B2
A method includes receiving, at an application server, information related to a call from a calling device to a called device. The method further includes determining, at the application server, a designation of the calling device. The method further includes sending a prompt to the calling device from the application server. The prompt is a request for information related to urgency of the call, where the prompt corresponds to a first prompt when the designation is a first designation and the prompt corresponds to a second prompt when the designation is a second designation. The method further includes receiving a response to the prompt at the application server and modifying a call setup message based on the response.
US09237223B2
A communication terminal (1) in accordance with the present invention includes a controlling section (12) for, when a touch operation to a key of a numeric keypad (22) in which each key is associated with a plurality of pieces of called party identifying information is detected, causing a plurality of pieces of called party identifying information that are associated with the key to be displayed, and, when a condition is detected in which one of the plurality of pieces of called party identifying information is selected, setting as a to-be-called phone number a phone number identified by the one of the plurality of pieces of called party identifying information.
US09237222B2
An object of the present invention is to quickly and surely acquire icon information without passing through a plurality of hierarchies.A mobile terminal 110 according to the present invention includes a display unit 214, a touch detection unit 218 that receives a user input onto a surface of the display unit, an operation unit 216 including a plurality of movable operation keys, and a guidance display unit that enters a guidance display mode upon detection of a depression of a predetermined movable operation key of the operation unit 216, and in the guidance display mode, upon detection of a user input onto an icon displayed on the display unit by the touch detection unit 218, displays on the display unit a predetermined guidance screen related to the icon.
US09237209B2
A method and apparatus are used to support the transmission of data to a user over multiple allocated data channels. Data packets are transmitted in timeslots of the allocated data channels to corresponding target receivers without the need for explicitly assigning particular time-slots to a target user well in advance of transmitting any data packets in the time-slots. Instead, each data packet transmitted in a time-slot includes a header label or preamble indicating to which of multiple possible receivers a data packet is directed. The preamble also preferably includes decoding information indicating how a corresponding data payload of the data packet is to be processed for recapturing transmitted raw data.
US09237205B2
The present invention includes methods and technologies for defining and administering device manners policy (“DMP”), propagating DMP, reception and recognition of, and compliance with DMP. Such policy may be used to communicate to various mobile and other devices the “manners” with which compliance is expected or required. Similar to some of the social manners honored among people, such as with “no smoking” or “employees only” zones, “no swimming” or “no flash photography” areas, and scenarios for “please wash your hands” or “no talking out loud”, devices may recognize and comply with analogous “device manners” policy.
US09237199B2
Contiguous location based user networks are disclosed herein. A method includes receiving an identification of an area of interest associated with a user of, and transmitting the identification of the area of interest to a server. The method includes determining a location of the user device and transmitting the location to the server. The method includes receiving information identifying a proximity group comprising the user and a plurality of other users. The proximity group includes least one other user being within a proximate area of the location of the user device and having an area of interest corresponding to the area of interest of the user. The proximate area corresponds to a second geographic region smaller than the area of interest. The proximity group further comprising at least one additional other user identified as a neighbor of each of the user and the at least one other user.
US09237196B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for setting up a gateway for an AUTOSAR-based vehicle network. The apparatus for setting up the gateway includes a candidate selection unit for selecting an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) connected to at least two communication clusters, from among a plurality of ECUs, as a gateway candidate, and a gateway generation unit for generating a gateway instance with reference to the ECU selected by the candidate selection unit, and generating a gateway meta-model including the gateway instance based on instance generation input values entered by a user.
US09237191B2
A mechanism is provided for controlling a distributed application. An indication of a computational capability of a client computing machine and of a server computing machine is detected. At least part of a page is built in response to a request received by the server computing machine from the client computing machine. The at least part of the page comprising a set of commands each one for submitting a next request on the client computing machine. Processing logic for serving each next request being split between a client processing component and a server processing component. The page with the client processing component for each command is returned to the client computing machine for causing the client computing machine to load the page and execute each client processing component in response to the corresponding next request. Each server processing component is executed in response to the corresponding next request.
US09237190B2
A node and a method for generating a shortened name robust against a change in a hierarchical name in a Content-Centric Network (CCN) are provided. The method includes receiving a packet requesting content including a hierarchical name of the content, and determining whether a prefix of the hierarchical name is identical to a name of the node. The method further includes generating a shortened name by removing the prefix from the hierarchical name if the prefix is identical to the name component, and changing the hierarchical name to the shortened name. The shortened name is used to check whether the corresponding content is stored in the content cache, to check whether the same content-request packet is already under processing, and to decide an outgoing face to which the content-request packet is transmitted.
US09237189B2
A first client device performs a handoff operation to a second client device by transmitting application information, associated with a first application, to the second client device when the first client device is positioned within a predefined proximity of the second client device. The first application has a first client device user interface state when the handoff operation is performed. Further, the first client device, in response to receiving from another client device application information associated with a second application executed by the other first client device, executes a third application corresponding to the second application with a user interface state corresponding to a user interface state of the other client device.
US09237184B2
A wireless sensor network including a plurality of Smart Sensors coupled to a wide area network such as the Internet via a Wireless Sensor Coordinator. Each wireless sensor network comprises a plurality of Smart Sensors, each operable to measure one or more physical quantities. Each wireless sensor communicates the measured data to a Wireless Sensor Coordinator which then stores the collected data in memory. The Wireless Sensor Coordinator further includes a web server operable to post a web site on a network that is accessible by a common web browser. Upon receiving a request for sensed data via the web site, the Wireless Sensor Coordinator retrieves the appropriate measured and stored data and converts it into HTML format pages which are then posted on the web site for review by the requestor.
US09237178B2
A system and method for providing media streaming are provided. A media description file having a range string indicator is used to specify location offsets of a plurality of media fragments within a media file. The range string may be stored directly in the media description file or the media description file may contain an indicator specifying a file containing the range string. The media description file may also include a range unit specifying the size of the offsets in the range string. In an embodiment, offsets within the individual media fragments may also be provided, either in the media description file or in a different file.
US09237165B2
Technologies are directed to prevention of malicious attacks through cartography of co-processors at a datacenter. According to some examples, configuration data to create a co-processor at a field programmable gate array (FPGA) may be received at a configuration controller. The configuration controller may determine unused arrangements for the co-processor and unused placements at the FPGA corresponding to the unused arrangements. The used arrangements and the unused placements, associated with a type of the co-processor, may be stored in a configuration matrix. One of the unused arrangements and one of the unused placements corresponding to the selected unused arrangement may then be selected by the configuration controller to create the co-processor.
US09237159B2
The disclosure comprises methods, devices and computer programs to provide interoperability between incompatible security architectures, protocols, or domains. Policy rules of an authorization protocol are applied to an access request made in an enforcement protocol, and a result of the application are produced. A decision may be made as to whether to issue/reissue an authorization of the access request based on the result of applying the policy rules to the access request. Other embodiments are also provided.
US09237158B2
A method and apparatus for providing network security using role-based access control is disclosed. A network device implementing such a method can include, for example, an access control list. Such an access control list includes an access control list entry, which, in turn, includes a user group field. Alternatively, a network device implementing such a method can include, for example, a forwarding table that includes a plurality of forwarding table entries. In such a case, at least one of the forwarding table entries includes a user group field.
US09237157B2
A device for processing and storing data is disclosed, which comprises a primary controller, a primary memory, a security element (SE), and at least one universal port, wherein the device for processing and storing data further includes a first additional port, via which the security element (SE) can directly interacts with a second external device to complete the processing and access of the data. The security element (SE) in the device for processing and storing data disclosed herein can work independently without being effected by the condition whether the primary memory is performing the data read/write process, and supports the single wire protocol (SWP).
US09237156B2
A system is provided for managing protected data resources. The system includes a resource server configured to store the protected data resources and an authorization module coupled to the resource server and configured to store access protocols. The authorization module further is configured to receive a service request from a user via a client module, evaluate the service request based on the access protocols, and send an access token to the client module if the user satisfies the access protocols.
US09237154B2
Described herein are systems, methods, and apparatus for automatically establishing secure connections to wireless networks using a wireless local area network access point which calls for acceptance of terms and conditions of use. During an initial connection, the user is prompted to review and accept terms and conditions associated with use of that wireless network. Once accepted, future connections at that or other access points, which use those same terms and conditions, occur free from user intervention.
US09237150B2
A system for providing security for a personal password during an authentication process. The system combines the use of representative characters to disguise the characters of the password and the use of a separate verification code sent to the user for use in the authentication process. A server generates and sends both a set of representative characters and a verification code to a client device. The user then inputs a mixed string having the password and verification code interspersed in order using the representative characters in place of the characters of the password and verification code. The server then receives the input and determines whether the string of representative characters includes the password and verification code characters in the proper order.
US09237134B2
Communicating in a peer-to-peer computer environment. A request is received from a user device at a peer provider node computer system, wherein the request is signed by a private key. Provided a public key verifies the private key, providing potential peers to the user device from the peer provider node computer system such that the user device is enabled to utilize the peer-to-peer computer environment for a communication according to user requirements.
US09237132B2
Methods and systems for balancing load among firewall security devices (FSDs) are provided. According to one embodiment, a switch maintains session data the session entries of which represent established traffic sessions between a source and a destination and form an association between the traffic session and a particular FSD. A data packet of a traffic session from a client device directed to a target device is received at the switch. When none of the session entries are determined to correspond to the data packet, an FSD is selected to associate with the first traffic session by performing a load balancing function on at least a portion of the data packet. When a matching session entry exists, an FSD identified by the matching session entry is selected to process the data packet. The data packet is then caused to be processed by the selected firewall security device.
US09237123B2
A question is received on a first social network site from a first user. The question is sent to a second user of a second social network site who receives the question from the second social network site. The first social network site receives an answer to the question from the second user via the second social network site and provides the answer to the first user.
US09237121B1
An appliance and a method for permission-based email filtering capable of scanning outgoing emails to ensure the emails comply with Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation or similar rules. In one embodiment of the invention, the system intercepts outgoing emails and redirects the email to a remote server. The server compares the recipient's email address to a consent database and distributes the email to the appropriate recipient depending on whether consent from the recipient is known or unknown. If the recipient has previously denied their consent, the recipient is removed from the list of recipients for the email message and the message is not sent to that recipient. In another embodiment of the invention, the system adds a unsubscribe mechanism to the email message.
US09237119B1
In response to detecting data file creation/revision in a first computing device, one or more other computing devices in which the data file creation/revision is to be synchronized are identified and a user of the first computing device is prompted to specify a message to be communicated to the one or more other computing devices in association with the data file creation/revision. The message specified by the user of the first computing device is received and communicated to the one or more other computing devices together with information that enables the data file creation/revision to be synchronized within the one or more other computing devices.
US09237114B2
A system, method, and computer readable medium for managing resources maintained in resource cache components are provided. A network storage provider storing one or more resources on behalf of a content provider obtains client computing device requests for content. The network storage provider provides resources that are received and maintained on resource cache components. The network storage provider either processes requests or provides notifications to the resource cache components to facilitate the management of resources that need to be updated or are otherwise treated as invalid.
US09237103B2
In one embodiment, a method is provided for alleviating congestion in a network system. In this method, the receipt of data packets destined for a destination apparatus is detected. Flow control signals are also received with each flow control signal corresponding to a data packet. Various time periods are tracked with each time period being between the detection of the receipt of a data packet and the receipt of tracked corresponding flow control signal. An average of the time periods is calculated and this average is compared to a threshold. One or more data packets are dropped in reference to the comparison.
US09237096B2
The network relay apparatus is provided. The network relay apparatus includes: a main controller; a relay processor; and, a network interface unit configured to include: a plurality of line interfaces to which physical lines are respectively connected and send and receive a packet to and from outside of the network relay apparatus; a data storage configured to store circuit data; a programmable logic device by with a logic circuit having a predetermined function is realized; a configuration circuit configured to direct the programmable logic device to configure the logic circuit using the circuit data; and a state controller provided in a circuit structure other than the programmable logic device to control state of each of the plurality of line interfaces to one of an active state which allows data transmission and reception and a standby state which prohibits data transmission and reception.
US09237090B2
A method, a network, and a node include computing a path by a source node; sending a message to nodes in the path with associated validation criteria; locally checking the validation criteria at each of the nodes in the path; if the validation criteria is satisfied at the node, forwarding the message to the next node in the path; else there is a validation criteria failure at the node, appending feedback data to the message, converting the message to a validation message, and forwarding the validation message to the next node in the path; and at a destination node, if there are no validation criteria failures, then establishing the connection; else issuing a release message to the source node with all the feedback such that the source node can compute a new path exclusive of nodes where the validation criteria fails.
US09237089B2
In one embodiment, a node in a communication network receives a label switched path (LSP) request and in response, the node determines at least two equal cost paths, each path having one or more path-nodes. The node may then further determine a total bandwidth-based transition value for each path of the at least two equal cost paths and selects the path having a lower total transition value. Once selected, the node may establish the requested LSP over the selected path.
US09237088B2
The present invention proposes a specific handling of tel URIs in an IMS terminating network so as to enable routing of calls using telephone numbers (and not SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers) as identifiers of the target users of those calls. Specifically, the present invention introduces a conversion module which is located within the IMS terminating network and is capable of converting SIP URIs with embedded telephone numbers into equivalent tel URIs which are then used by a terminating I-CSCF and S-CSCF to query the SLF and/or HSS so that they can route the calls to the target users.
US09237084B2
A method is provided in one example and includes creating a plurality of profiles that describe one or more downstream modulations for each data-subcarrier in a channel to be used by a plurality of cable modems; receiving at least one testing measurement from the plurality of cable modems; and assigning a selected one of the plurality of profiles to each of the plurality of cable modems based, at least in part, on the one testing measurement that was received.
US09237072B2
To partition a distributed fabric system, at least one system port is allocated to each switching domain of multiple non-overlapping switching domains in a distributed fabric system. Multiple different look-up tables are produced, wherein each look-up table corresponds to a different switching domain of the multiple non-overlapping switching domains in the distributed fabric system. Each system port is associated with the look-up table of the multiple look-up tables that corresponds to the switching domain to which that system port is allocated. The look-up table associated with each system port has at least one table entry for each other system port allocated to the same switching domain as that system port.
US09237065B2
A computer system is provided. The computer system comprises a network module and an input device. The network module receives remote information from a remote host through a network. The input device receives first input information, a display device and a chip. The display device comprises a display panel and an on-screen display (OSD) control module. The chip comprises a control connection interface and a control module. The control connection interface is electrically connected to the OSD control module. The control module is electrically connected to the network module, the input device and the control connection interface to control the OSD control module through the control connection interface according to the remote information or the first input information to further control the display function of the display panel.
US09237062B2
A resource management node is disclosed that manages a plurality of resource nodes connected to at least one network. The resource management node includes a system entity database, an interaction flow database, and an interaction execution engine. The system entity database contains information identifying communication addresses for the resource nodes and associated metadata identifying capabilities of the resource nodes. The interaction flow database contains information defining data flows that are permitted between identified ones of the resource nodes and associated triggering criteria defining when identified ones of the data flows are to be performed. The interaction execution engine is configured to determine that one of the triggering criteria defined by the interaction flow database is satisfied and to respond by establishing the associated data flow between the identified ones of the resource nodes. Related methods for managing a plurality of resource nodes connected to at least one network are disclosed.
US09237060B2
Method and apparatus for handling peers with dynamic IP connectivity status in peer-to-peer networks
Method and apparatus for communication in a peer-to-peer (P2P) network are provided. The method comprises a first peer in the P2P network selecting a primary Internet Protocol (IP) address from a plurality of IP addresses associated with the first peer. The method further comprises the first peer providing the primary IP address to a second peer as an address the second peer is to use in initiating communication with the first peer. The apparatus comprises a user equipment (UE) that includes a processor configured such that the UE selects a primary IP address from plurality of IP addresses associated with the UE and registers the primary IP address in the P2P network.
US09237054B2
A distortion compensation device includes: a memory configured to store a first and second table, different addresses being assigned to the first and second table respectively, each of the addresses being related to a distortion compensation coefficient to compensate for a non-linear distortion, a first address in the first table and a second address in the second table corresponding to respective first and second ranges of power or amplitude of a transmission signal, and parts of the first and second ranges overlapping each other; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: update the respective distortion compensation coefficients related to the first address and the second address simultaneously, in accordance with a single value of the power or the amplitude, and compensate for the non-linear distortion generated by an amplifier amplifying the power of the transmission signal, by using at least one of the first and second table.
US09237053B2
A DMT system for a half-duplex two-way link carries Internet protocol encoded video stream on a coaxial cable that also carries a baseband rendition of the same video stream. A plurality of downlink symbols modulated on a subband of subcarriers in a downlink signal are decoded. The symbols may carry data encoded on a subband using a constellation of QAM symbols assigned to the subband. Other subbands may be associated with different QAM constellations. Lower-order constellations of QAM symbols may be assigned to subbands that include higher-frequency subcarriers and higher-order constellations of QAM symbols may be assigned to subbands that include lower-frequency subcarriers. A block error correction decoder may be synchronized based on an identification of the first constellation of QAM symbols and information identifying boundaries between the plurality of downlink symbols.
US09237038B2
A channel and noise estimation method includes: performing channel estimation on a received signal to obtain a real channel estimation value; filtering the real channel estimation value to obtain a filtered channel estimation value; calculating a biased noise power value, a biased signal power value, a biased noise correlation and a biased signal correlation according to the filtered channel estimation value; calculating an unbiased noise power value, an unbiased signal power value, an unbiased noise correlation and an unbiased signal correlation according to the biased noise power value, the biased signal power value, the biased noise correlation and the biased signal correlation.
US09237034B2
In a networked multi computer environment, with redundant links, network interface cards (NICs) are commonly duplicated and teamed to provide a recovery mechanism when network components fail. Embodiments of the present inventions avoid teaming of pairs of NICs and provide a computing host with redundant network connections for the computing host through a switch that is transparent to the computing host. The computing host itself; that is, its hardware and software, is relieved of the duty of network access redundancy and returned to the simple, simplex networking operating mode. The switch replaces a potentially large number of NICs and the need for computing host network access redundancy management which leads to hardware and software cost reductions and increases the robustness and reliability of the system through redundant network access.
US09237028B1
Disclosed herein are a method and a corresponding apparatus that provides a tethering alert if the apparatus is tethering data. In one example, a method for providing a tethering alert by an apparatus having a first network communication interface and a second network communication interface is disclosed. The method includes i) receiving incoming data via one of the first network communication interface and the second network communication interface, ii) sending outgoing data via the other of the first network communication interface and the second network communication interface, iii) making a determination that there is a threshold similarity between the incoming data and the outgoing data, and iv) responsive to making the determination, the apparatus providing a tethering alert indicating that the apparatus is tethering data.
US09237025B2
The subject technology provides configurations for receiving, at a first network device, a multicast packet of a multicast transmission from a multicast source. A header is inserted including one or more fields of information for a multicast distribution tree into the multicast packet in which the fields of information include a root level node field indicating a root node of the multicast distribution tree and one or more second level fields indicating one or more child nodes of the root node of the multicast distribution tree. In one example, the fields of information are not duplicative of routing information, stored by the first network device, corresponding to the one or more child nodes. The subject technology then forwards the multicast packet including the inserted header to respective network devices corresponding to the one or more child nodes based on the one or more fields of information from the inserted header.
US09237022B2
A method and apparatus for verifying data for use on an aircraft. A plurality of digital certificates associated with the data is received by a processor unit. The processor unit verifies the data for use on the aircraft using a selected number of the plurality of digital certificates.
US09237021B2
A certificate grant list is provided. The certificate grant list may be stored in a memory, at the network device. The certificate grant list may store information associated with a client-device certificate, where the client-device certificate permits the client-device access to a secure service.
US09237017B2
Lightweight authentication for on-premise rich clients is described. The lightweight authentication mitigates the amount of software that is installed on a client machine for authentication purposes. A portion of an external website is hosted on an application executing on the rich client. The user can interact with the portion of the external website in order to enter credentials or other identification information. The entry of the credentials or other identification information is relayed to the external website for verification. If the verification is successful, the user can interact with various external websites utilizing the single verification.
US09237015B2
A method of providing anti-replay protection, authentication, and encryption with minimal data overhead is provided. A sender uses an arbitrary-length pseudorandom permutation to encrypt messages that include plaintext and successively increasing sequence numbers, to produce ciphertext messages. The sender transmits the ciphertext messages. A receiver receives the ciphertext messages and, for each received ciphertext message, performs the following operations. The receiver decrypts the given ciphertext message to recover plaintext and a candidate sequence number from the message. The receiver determines if the candidate sequence number is in any one of multiple acceptable sequence number windows having respective sequence number ranges that are based on at least one of a highest sequence number previously accepted and a last sequence number that was previously rejected, as established based on processing of previously received ciphertext messages.
US09237014B2
A re-encryptor compares hashed digests of updated segments and original segments to located changed segments that must be re-encrypted. A new initialization vector is input to a block cipher engine for each changed segment. Since only changed segments need to be re-encrypted, transmission bandwidth to remote encrypted storage may be reduced. The amount of cipher text that is changed by a single update is reduced to a segment. Segments have a variable length and are bound by bits matching a segment delimiter. Each segment may have many fixed-length blocks that are encrypted by the block cipher engine with the same initialization vector for that segment. The segment delimiter is a randomly-generated word that is included with the initialization vectors in the metadata. Variable-length segments limit update disruption of the cipher text while fixed-length blocks are more efficiently encrypted. Combining segments and blocks provides for better re-encryption of updates.
US09237006B2
A tokenization system tokenizes sensitive data to prevent unauthorized entities from accessing the sensitive data. The tokenization system accesses sensitive data, and retrieves an initialization vector (IV) from an IV table using a first portion of the sensitive data. A second portion of the sensitive data is modified using the accessed initialization vector. A token table is selected from a set of token tables using a third portion of the sensitive data. The modified second portion of data is used to query the selected token table, and a token associated with the value of the modified second portion of data is accessed. The second portion of the sensitive data is replaced with the accessed token to form tokenized data.
US09237005B2
A clock data recovery circuit module including a clock recovery circuit, a frequency comparison circuit and a signal detecting circuit is provided. The clock recovery circuit is configured to output a data recovery stream and a data recovery clock based on an input signal and a clock signal. The frequency comparison circuit is coupled to the clock recovery circuit. The frequency comparison circuit is configured to compare a frequency difference between the data recovery clock and the clock signal to adjust the frequency of the clock signal based on a comparison result. The signal detecting circuit is coupled to the frequency comparison circuit. The signal detecting circuit is configured to receive and detect the input signal, and the signal detecting circuit determines whether to enable the frequency comparison circuit according to the detection result. Furthermore, a method for generating a data recovery clock is also provided.
US09237003B1
In general, techniques are described that insert one or more bits into a digital bit stream to maintain an overall transition density in the digital bit stream. Maintaining the overall transition density facilitates the generation of a recovered clock by a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit of a receiver. For example, when a data transition ratio for a portion of the digital bit stream is less than a desired data transition ratio, the techniques insert additional bits to increase the overall transition density of the digital bit stream.
US09236998B2
A communication device operating in time division duplex (TDD) mode using multiple antennas is provided herein. The communication device uses receive channel estimation measurements to perform transmit beamforming and multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmission, based on self-calibration of the various up/down paths via a method of transmission and reception between its own antennas, thus achieving reciprocity mapping between up and down links. Either user equipment (UE) or a base station may routinely perform this self-calibration to obtain the most current correction factor for the channel reciprocity to reflect the most current operating conditions present during TDD MIMO operation.
US09236997B2
A wireless transceiver includes a transmit path configured to generate a radio frequency (RF) transmit signal for transmission via an antenna. A receive path is configured to receive an RF receive signal via the antenna. A circulator-based quadrature duplexer includes an in-phase circulator and a quadrature-phase circulator configured to couple the transmit signal from the transmit path to the antenna while generating a residual transmit signal on the receive path, and to couple the receive signal from the antenna to the receive path. The circulator-based quadrature duplexer promotes cancellation of the residual transmit signal on the receive path.
US09236973B2
A method of optical communication comprising encoding four modulated symbols to generate four encoded symbols in two orthogonal polarizations and transmitting the four encoded symbols in two successive time slots. An optical communication apparatus comprising a processor configured to receive two sequences of digital symbols in a plurality of time slots, wherein the two sequences correspond to two components of two orthogonal polarizations, wherein one digital symbol per polarization is received in each of the plurality of time slots, divide each of the two sequences into a plurality of groups using a modulo operation of time, wherein each group comprises two digital symbols received in two consecutive time slots, and adaptively equalize the four digital symbols of the two consecutive time slots using a 4×4 matrix to generate four modulated symbols, wherein the 4×4 matrix comprises 16 tap-vectors.
US09236967B1
Methods of packet-based synchronization in non-stationary network environments can include accumulating timestamps transmitted in packets between master and slave devices that are separated from each other by a packet network. Operations are also performed to determine whether first timestamps accumulated in a first direction across the packet network demonstrate that a first packet delay variation (PDV) sequence observed from the first timestamps is stationary. Thereafter, estimates of at least one of frequency skew and phase offset between the master and slave clocks are acquired using a first algorithm, from the first timestamps accumulated in the first direction. These operations of determining further include determining whether second timestamps accumulated in a second direction demonstrate that a second packet delay variation (PDV) sequence observed from the second timestamps is stationary.
US09236964B2
A device providing an emergency alert service via a mobile broadcasting, includes a data group formatter to generate a data group containing a part of a signaling data and a RS frame portion, and a broadcasting signal generating unit to generate a mobile broadcasting signal containing the data group. The FIC, included in the data group, is transmitted in a form of a plurality of FIC segments. The FIC segment header includes a wake-up identifier field indicating whether a mobile broadcasting receiver performs a wake-up function to automatically turn on a power and to provide the emergency alert message.
US09236962B2
Television reporting records are accessed and processed to generate frequency specific reach values and device frequencies for creatives (e.g., television advertisements). The device frequencies indicating the number of times a creative was presented by use of a particular viewing device. The frequency specific reach values indicating the number of unique viewing devices that were used to present the creative a specified number of times. Estimating frequency specific reach values and device frequencies for a creative for a viewing population. The estimated frequency specific reach values and device frequencies for the viewing population are based on known viewing pattern data for multiple creative airings from a sample of the viewing population (e.g., a subset of the viewing population) and estimated viewing pattern data for the airings for the viewing population.
US09236961B2
Provided are a broadcast switching device, method and terminal for switching between broadcast modes of a terminal, and the broadcast switching device includes: a second signal broadcasting unit; a first signal broadcasting unit; a signal reception module, connected respectively to the first signal broadcasting unit and the second signal broadcasting unit, configured to receive a first signal and a second signal and receive preferentially the first signal; a parsing module configured to parse the first signal to acquire signal strength of the first signal; a determination module configured to compare the signal strength of the first signal with a preset broadcasting strength and obtain a comparison result; and a switching module configured to control the signal reception module to receive the second signal when comparison result is that the signal strength of the first signal cannot meet the preset broadcasting strength. By means of technical solutions of the present disclosure, a digital broadcast signal can be switched to an FM broadcast signal when signal strength of the digital broadcast signal cannot meet broadcasting requirements, thus providing a user with optimal audio experiences.
US09236959B2
Disclosed are a method and system for testing the isotropic sensitivity of a terminal, comprising: testing the received signal strength of a terminal at every theta/phi angle and antenna polarization direction, and generating a received signal strength pattern and a table of the correspondence between base station power and the received signal strength of the terminal; finding the best theta/phi angle and antenna polarization direction and testing the corresponding effective isotropic sensitivity; calculating the effective isotropic sensitivity at other theta/phi angles and polarization directions and integrating these to obtain the isotropic sensitivity of the terminal. The present invention thereby effectively reduces testing time and improves testing efficiency.
US09236957B2
RF switching circuitry includes an RF switch coupled between an input node and an output node. Distortion compensation circuitry is coupled in parallel with the RF switch between the input node and the output node. The RF switch is configured to selectively pass an RF signal from the input node to the output node based on a first switching control signal. The distortion compensation circuitry is configured to boost a portion of the RF signal that is being compressed by the RF switch when the amplitude of the RF signal is above a predetermined threshold by selectively injecting current into one of the input node or the output node. Boosting a portion of the RF signal that is being compressed by the RF switch allows a signal passing through the RF switch to remain substantially linear, thereby improving the performance of the RF switching circuitry.
US09236954B2
A photocoupler comprises an input side lead frame; an output side lead frame disposed facing the input side lead frame with a gap therebetween; a light emitting device mounted on a face of the input side lead frame facing the output side lead frame side; a light receiving device mounted on a face of the output side lead frame facing the input side lead frame side, opposite to and having a gap with the light emitting device; and a protrusion disposed on at least a part of an area around the light receiving device on the output side lead frame and being formed of conductive bonding wire or a bump, protruding to the input side lead frame side.
US09236949B1
An optical transceiver generally includes an injection locked (IL) laser configured to generate a transmit (Tx) optical signal for transmission over an optical network and a laser driver circuit configured to modulate the IL laser based on a Tx data signal. The Tx data signal may be provided to the optical transceiver for transmission over the optical network. The Tx data signal may include a crossing point level associated with a transition between a first signal level and a second signal level. The optical transceiver may also include a crossing point control circuit configured to apply distortion to the Tx data signal, the distortion to increase the crossing point level.
US09236948B2
An optical link power management scheme takes the best advantage of a dynamic connection environment, where ports may be connected and disconnected at any time, and where data flows may start and stop as needed by the applications using the high speed data links Power consumption is optimized, eye safety standards are met, and robust connection detection is preserved.
US09236939B2
A system and method involve detecting a modulated optical signal from an atmospheric propagation channel, wherein the modulated optical signal comprises an optical signal from an optical source modulated with a periodic signal at a modulation frequency greater than the bandwidth of the turbulence within the atmospheric propagation channel, and converting the detected modulated optical signal into a digitized electrical signal. The method also includes determining the root mean square signal power of an AC component of the digitized electrical signal at the modulation frequency. The method further includes determining the power spectral density of the digitized electrical signal, determining the magnitude of the peak component at the modulation frequency, and determining the effective optical depth of the atmospheric propagation channel using the magnitude of the peak component at the modulation frequency.
US09236927B2
A transmission apparatus and method, respectively, mapping payload data of mapping input data streams onto a mapping output data stream having a channel bandwidth for transmission in a multi-carrier broadcast system. To enable selection of robustness for transmission of data, the apparatus includes a frame forming mechanism mapping data blocks of at least two mapping input data streams onto frames of the mapping output data stream covering the channel bandwidth, each frame including a payload portion, the payload portion including plural data symbols and being segmented into data segments each covering a bandwidth portion of the channel bandwidth. The frame forming mechanism is configured to map the data blocks of the at least two mapping input data streams onto data symbols of the payload portion and includes a MIMO mode selector selecting a MIMO mode of the data blocks per data segment and/or per mapping input data stream.
US09236921B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for implementing multi-cell precoding. Users can be divided into center users and edge users according to areas, and the divided center users and edge users are processed by adopting different precoding methods. The method and apparatus of the present invention make the users located at the edge of the cell cluster and in the center of the cell cluster can be distinguished to be processed, thereby greatly optimizing and improving the rate of the entire multi-cell MIMO system; and make the interference received by the target user at users of the multi-cell edge has a clear definition and a measurement method. The aforementioned characteristics can guarantee to achieve an effective suppression for the communication interference in a heterogeneous network.
US09236918B2
A MIMO transmitting apparatus, receiving apparatus, transmission signal formation method, and transmission signal separation method with improved transmission efficiency. In communication apparatus, a mapping unit maps code words into a transmission stream on a per code-block basis and changes, between when a transport block is initially transmitted and when the transport block is retransmitted, the combinations of the code blocks mapped in the same transmission zone. In the communication apparatus, an interference replica generation unit forms, based on the decoded data of successfully decoded code blocks, an interference replica signal corresponding to the successfully decoded code blocks, and a signal separation unit removes, from a plurality of reception streams received this time, the interference replica signal formed by the interference replica generation unit received before the last time reception streams was received and then separates the reception streams received this time into each stream.
US09236916B2
Example embodiments presented herein are directed towards an eNodeB, and method therein, for generating downlink communications in a multiple antenna system. The method comprises transmitting, to a number of user equipments, a plurality of reference signals, where each signal is beamformed in a distinct direction within at least one correlated domain (e.g., elevation and/or azimuth). The eNodeB receives at least one CSI report from a specific user equipment and determines a primary reference signal based on, for example, the at least one CSI report. The eNodeB may thereafter generate downlink communication signals for antenna element(s) and/or subelements of the multiple antenna system. The downlink communication signals are beamformed into a transmitting direction that aligns most closely with a beamforming direction of the at least one primary reference signal, as compared to any other beamforming direction of the reference signals.
US09236915B2
A near field communications (NFC) device is disclosed that detects an envelope of a radio frequency (RF) signal. The NFC device includes a peak detector that determines the envelope of the RF signal. The peak detector compares a first differential signal voltage to a second differential signal voltage. The peak detector delays a rising edge of a first differential signal and provides the first differential signal voltage to the peak detector output when the first differential signal voltage is greater than the second differential signal voltage. The peak detector delays a falling edge of a second differential signal and provides the second differential signal voltage to the peak detector output when the second differential signal voltage is greater than the first differential signal voltage.
US09236914B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an NFC device for communicating with an NFC reader is conceived, the NFC device comprising an NFC integrated circuit, an antenna unit connected to said NFC integrated circuit, and a detuning circuit, wherein the detuning circuit is arranged to cause a periodic detuning of the antenna unit to a detuned state, such that data transmission between the NFC device and the NFC reader may take place periodically while the NFC device and the NFC reader remain within communication range of each other.
US09236901B2
Code detection to assist a symbol-level equalizer in a receiver is described. In an embodiment, code detection uses adaptive Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filtering to determine spreading code usage information and active code channels in a received signal. The spreading code usage information indicates if a spreading code associated with a code channel is among spreading codes used in the received signal. In another embodiment, the spreading code usage information is determined based on a forgetting factor associated with the filtering of a symbol power associated with the code channel.
US09236898B2
Transmitter observation receivers and methods are described that can predistortion-compensate transmitters capable of operating in multiple communication bands and frequency ranges. Such observation receivers and method involve generating at least one compensation signal such that a signal to be transmitted that is within a bandwidth that simultaneously encompasses multiple frequency ranges is compensated.
US09236895B1
In a Radio Frequency (RF) filter, a first conductive link has a first length corresponding to a first (N) number of wavelengths of a primary RF frequency. A second conductive link has a second length corresponding to both a second (M) number of wavelengths of the primary RF frequency and an out-out-phase (X) number of wavelengths of a secondary RF frequency. An input interface receives an input RF signal and transfers a first component of the input signal over the first link and transfers a second component of the input RF signal over the second link. An output interface combines the first component from the first link with the second component from the second link to transfer an output RF signal. The energy at the primary frequency constructively combines in-phase, but the energy at the secondary frequency destructively combines out-of-phase.
US09236878B2
A method is disclosed. An analog signal is sampled to form a sample value using a sample and hold circuit. The sample value is converted to form a first digital result. The sample value is converted to form a second digital result.
US09236872B2
The present invention is for, in a voltage-controlled oscillator in which the oscillation frequency can be adjusted using a capacitor array, reducing drift that occurs in the carrier frequency if the oscillation signal is subjected to frequency modulation after the control loop of the PLL circuit has been cut off. This voltage-controlled oscillator includes an oscillation circuit for performing an oscillation operation at a frequency that corresponds to an inductance and a capacitance between a first node and a second node, a first and second group of capacitors that have first terminals connected to the first node and the second node respectively, a first and second group of transistors that are respectively connected between a reference potential and second terminals of the first group and second group of capacitors, and a first and second group of resistors that are respectively parallel-connected to the first group and second group of transistors.
US09236863B2
Aspects of the invention provide for compensating impedance calibration circuits. In one embodiment, a compensated impedance calibration circuit, includes: a variable resistor network including a tunable resistor and a fixed resistor; and an external resistance network including a target external precision resistor and a parasitic distribution resistance; wherein a resistance of the variable resistor network is proportional to a resistance of the external resistance network, such that a ratio of an output voltage of the variable resistor network to a power supply voltage is constant.
US09236860B2
An electrical hand-held device is provided with improved proximity detection, which can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode and at least one compensation electrode arranged between transmission electrode and reception electrode. The transmission electrode and the compensation electrode can be supplied with an electric switching signal of predetermined signal frequency and predetermined signal amplitude. Switching electric signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the switching electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission electrode and the compensation electrode generate a current in the reception electrode, which is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device. The transmission electrode and the reception electrode are arranged in such a way, that the impedance between the transmission electrode and the reception electrode exceeds a predetermined value, which is suitable to keep the current generated in the reception electrode under a predetermined value.
US09236859B1
A power control device may include a first power-supply voltage source configured to generate a first power-supply voltage, and a second power-supply voltage source configured to generate a second power-supply voltage having a voltage level different from that of the first power-supply voltage. The power control device may include a power driver configured to provide an internal power source in response to the second power-supply voltage, irrespective of the first power-supply voltage source and the second power-supply voltage source, during an initial power-up period.
US09236856B2
An apparatus for controlling slew rate is coupled to two adjustable voltage rails. The output of the apparatus is coupled to the gate of a switching element. By employing two adjustable voltage rails, the slew rate of the switching element is proportional to the voltage difference between the first adjustable rail and the second adjustable rail. The slew rate control apparatus can be applied to a variety of switching elements including N channel Field Effect Transistors (NFETs), P channel Field Effect Transistors (PFETs), current mode logic circuits and level shifter circuits.
US09236842B2
A bass enhancement system can provide an enhanced bass effect for speakers, including relatively small speakers. The bass enhancement system can apply one or more bass enhancements to an input audio signal. For example, the bass enhancement system can exploit how the human ear processes overtones and harmonics of low-frequency sounds to create the perception that non-existent (or attenuated) low-frequency sounds are being emitted from a loudspeaker. The bass enhancement system can generate harmonics of at least some low-frequency fundamental frequencies in one embodiment. Playback of at least some harmonics of a low-frequency fundamental frequency can cause a listener to perceive the playback of the low-frequency fundamental frequency. Advantageously, in certain embodiments, the bass enhancement system can generate these harmonics without performing processing-intensive pitch-detection techniques or the like to identify the fundamental frequencies.
US09236828B1
Methods, apparatus and computer readable mediums are presented for controlling a multiphase inverter in which third harmonic injection pulse width modulation (THIPWM) is used for generating inverter switching control signals at or above a non-zero threshold inverter output frequency, and high frequency injection discontinuous pulse width modulation (HFIDPWM) is used for inverter output frequencies below the threshold, where the threshold frequency corresponds to a threshold period less than or equal to the thermal impedance time constant of the inverter switching devices, and the injected high frequency component for HFIDPWM corresponds to a common mode period less than the thermal impedance time constant to mitigate thermal stress on the inverter switches and low speed inverter output derating.
US09236827B2
A motor drive circuit comprises: a DC power supply; power supply lines; an inverter which has upper arm switch elements and lower arm switch elements; and a detection unit for detecting, based on a power state on the previous stage side of the inverter, the insulation resistances of the motor drive circuit and the motor. The detection unit performs a first detection operation for detecting the insulation resistances by using the output of the DC power supply while the upper arm switch elements and the lower arm switch elements are all turned off and a second detection operation for detecting the insulation resistances by using the output of the DC power supply while the elements of one of the upper arm switch elements and the lower arm switch elements are all turned off and at least one of the elements of the other one is turned on.
US09236823B2
A power generator device includes a heavy gyro body, at least one rotation-driving device and a control unit. The heavy gyro body is coupled to a power source and an induction power generator, the power source drives the heavy gyro body to rotate so as to drive the induction power generator to produce electricity. The rotation-driving device is located at an edge of the heavy gyro body and conducting a contact or non-contact interaction with an annular part in reaction to drive the heavy gyro body to rotate about a vertical spindle. The control unit is configured for starting the rotation-driving device to accelerate the speed of the heavy gyro body when a rotation speed of the heavy gyro body is less than a first predetermined rotation speed.
US09236820B2
A motor control system is provided. The motor control system includes a motor, a position sensor, a current sensor, and a control module. The motor has a rotor and a stator. The motor generates an output torque based on a phase current applied to the motor. The output torque generated by the motor creates a torque ripple that is within a predefined range. The position sensor monitors the motor to determine a rotor position. The current sensor monitors the motor to determine the phase current. The control module is in communication with the motor, the position sensor, and the current sensor. The control module includes a lookup table that stores values of phase current commands. The control module determines a phase current command from the lookup table based on the rotor position and the phase current.
US09236815B2
Compliant monopolar and bipolar micro device transfer head arrays and methods of formation from SOI substrates are described. In an embodiment, an array of compliant transfer heads are formed over a base substrate and deflectable toward the base substrate, and a patterned metal layer includes a metal interconnect layer electrically connected with an array of the metal electrodes in the array of compliant transfer heads.
US09236812B2
A universal AC to DC converter may be configured to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), such as for use in aerospace applications. The disclosure relates to a single universal power electronic converter capable of converting an AC input voltage, such as a line to neutral input voltage of either 115 Vrms or 230 Vrms nominal to 28 V DC.
US09236800B2
A system for balancing current supplied by a plurality of regulators coupled to a load includes circuitry operable to measure an average load current supplied by each regulator, determine an overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators, and compare each average load current with the overall average current to be shared by the plurality of regulators. The circuitry included in the system is also operable to adjust an output current of one or more of the plurality of regulators so that the plurality of regulators supply the same current to the load.
US09236793B2
Power controllers and related primary-side control methods are disclosed. A disclosed power controller has a comparator and an ON-triggering controller. The comparator compares a feedback voltage with an over-shot reference voltage. Based on an inductance-coupling effect, the feedback voltage represents a secondary-side voltage of a secondary winding. Coupled to the comparator, the ON-triggering controller operates a power switch at about a first switching frequency when the feedback voltage is lower than the over-shot reference voltage. The ON-triggering controller operates the power switch at about a second switching frequency when the feedback voltage exceeds the over-shot reference voltage. The second switching frequency is less than the first switching frequency.
US09236792B2
A voltage regulator permits reduced current consumption by promptly and timely stopping the operation of an inrush current protection circuit immediately after the voltage regulator is started up. The voltage regulator has an output voltage detection circuit, which issues a detection signal to actuate the inrush current protection circuit when a low voltage at an output terminal is detected at the time of starting up the voltage regulator. When it is detected that the voltage at the output terminal has reached a predetermined level, the operation of the inrush current protection circuit is stopped and a power path of the output voltage detection circuit is cut off.
US09236791B2
Various systems and method for distributing electrical power are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a first inverter coupled to an electrical bus, a second inverter coupled to the electrical bus, a filter including a first inductor and a second inductor, and a transfer switch circuit coupled between the first inverter and the second inverter and a load. The transfer switch circuit is configured to transfer power from the first inverter through the first inductor to the load and transfer power from the second inverter through the second inductor to the load in a first mode of operation. The transfer switch circuit is further configured to transfer power from the first inverter through the first inductor and through the second inductor to the load in a second mode of operation.
US09236790B2
A power distribution device includes a direct current power source DC/DC converter connected to a direct current power source, and an AC/DC converter connected to an alternating current power source. The direct current power source DC/DC converter and the AC/DC converter are accommodated in a single container from which a DC load supply line is led out.
US09236788B2
An induction generator (100) for a remote switch which comprises a U-shaped magnetic diverter (102) with first and second limbs as well as a coil core (104) with an induction coil (106) arranged between the limbs. A movable magnetic element (110) is provided for switching the induction generator (100). When the magnetic element (110) is in its first position, the magnetic element (110) is connected with the first limb and the coil core (104) and, when the magnetic element (110) is in its second position, the magnetic element (110) is connected with the coil core (104) and the second limb.
US09236783B2
The invention relates to an electric machine, comprising a rotor (8; 50; 76) and a stator (9; 29; 77), wherein the rotor (8; 50; 76) and/or the stator (9; 29; 77) comprise at least one laminated core (2; 11; 32; 72) having a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the laminated core (2; 11; 32; 72) comprises a sheet metal strip (1), wherein the sheet metal strip (1) is wound in a coil shape.
US09236776B2
A rotor, constituting an interior permanent magnet motor, includes magnets that are inserted into the rotor, and a rotor core containing magnet insertion pockets to which the magnets are inserted, and, when the magnets are inserted, the magnet insertion pockets are formed to provide openings in areas except both ends of an inner circumferential face, at both ends in a circumferential direction of the magnets.
US09236773B2
An electrical machine includes a rotor with a rotational axis, a coil arranged circumferentially with respect to and fully encircling the rotational axis, and a stator assembly. The stator assembly includes first and second lamination stacks comprising associated pluralities of laminae, the stacks being arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotational axis on opposing sides of the coil for conducting magnetic flux. The stacks are configured with gaps generally radially through the laminae thereof, defining separate circumferential segments in each laminae, to prevent creating a continuous electrical circuit around the rotational axis in the segments. Each laminae has a connecting ring spaced radially from the segments, and beams connecting the segments to the ring as a unitary piece. Back return elements extend axially between the stacks to provide a flux path therebetween, and are positioned circumferentially between adjacent parts of the beams and radially between the segments and the ring.
US09236770B2
In one embodiment of this invention, identical communicating node elements are constructed and placed throughout a power delivery network. Each of these node elements supplies features and options that facilitate peer-to-peer communications, data and service aggregation, propagated interfaces and distributed computational power. The network of interacting node elements, built with a common architecture, gives the power delivery network advanced capabilities for utilities and customers. These advanced capabilities include self-healing, highly secure communications, real-time interactions between any devices, and so on.
US09236751B2
A portable solar energy generation system has a solar energy receiver having a plurality of solar cells for converting solar energy into a DC voltage. A solar tracking mechanism enables the solar energy receiver to track a position of the sun with respect to the solar cells and to position the solar cells responsive thereto. Power circuitry generates at least one output voltage to power an electronic device responsive to the DC voltage. A housing contains each of the solar energy receiver, the solar tracking mechanism and the power circuitry in a portable configuration.
US09236750B2
An intelligent robot system comprising an intelligent robot (100) and a charging base (200). The intelligent robot (100) comprises a docking electrode (102), a walking mechanism (106) and a control unit (105). The docking electrode (102), the walking mechanism (106) and the control unit (105) are disposed in the body (101) of the intelligent robot (100). The charging base (200) comprises a charging electrode (201) disposed on the body (101) of the charging base (200). The intelligent robot (100) further comprises a gripping mechanism (107). When the docking electrode (102) and the charging electrode (201) dock successfully, the control unit (105) controls the e gripping mechanism (107) to lock the walking mechanism (106) to enable the intelligent robot (100) to maintain a successful docking state in the charging base (200), preventing the charging electrode (201) of the charging base (200) from being separated from the docking electrode (102) due to the improper movement of the walking mechanism (106). Any interference during of the intelligent robot (100) is thus prevented and charging efficiency is improved.
US09236743B2
An apparatus for voltage balancing parallel arranged direct current (DC) voltage source strings in a power generation system includes a string voltage balancing circuit having reverse blocking switches to control a current flow and an output voltage of the DC voltage source strings. Capacitors are connected to a corresponding reverse blocking switch and in series with a corresponding one of the plurality of DC voltage source strings to construct a voltage difference for a corresponding one of the plurality DC voltage source strings. The string voltage balancing circuit adjusts an output voltage of the DC voltage source strings by controlling a current flowing in the plurality of DC voltage source strings to adjust a voltage constructed across corresponding ones of the capacitors to balance the output voltage for the DC voltage source strings to be substantially the same output voltage. Current balancing using differential power processing is also provided.
US09236737B1
A method is described herein for adjusting energy consumption of a pre-programmed device operating at a first energy level. The method includes receiving a first signal from a first utility signal that includes first instructions to adjust the energy consumption of the pre-programmed device to a second energy level. The pre-programmed device is programmed during manufacturing to operate at the first energy level and the second energy level. The method further includes processing the first signal to retrieve the instructions. The method also includes adjusting an energy source from the first energy level to the second energy level based on the first instructions. The method also includes sending a first notification to the first utility confirming that the pre-programmed device is operating at the second energy level.
US09236735B2
Disclosed is a distributed battery management system of managing a plurality of battery modules, including: slave controllers have a daisy chain structure in which the slave controllers are connected from a bottom-level slave controller up to a top-level slave controller in series, sequentially transfer control information received from the outside from the top-level slave controller up to the bottom-level slave controller, sense information on the battery modules in response to the transferred control information, sequentially transfer the sensed sensing information from the bottom-level slave controller up to the top-level slave controller, and transmit the sensing information transferred to the top-level slave controller to the outside; and a master controller which transmits the control information to the top-level slave controller among the slave controllers and manages the battery modules by using the sensing information received from the top-level slave controller.
US09236732B2
Provided is a voltage regulator capable of suppressing an overshoot with low current consumption. A comparator of an overshoot detection circuit is activated only when a power supply fluctuation occurs, and the comparator outputs a signal for reducing an overshoot occurring in an output voltage. In a steady state, the comparator of the overshoot detection circuit is turned off to prevent the current from being consumed.
US09236731B2
The disclosure describes a method for limiting a switch-on current in an electrical system which is supplied with power by a battery. During a switch-on process, an electrical load is connected to the electrical system and precharged by means of a precharging resistor. A monitoring unit regularly records operating data of at least one variable which influences a temperature of the precharging resistor and estimates the temperature of the precharging resistor on the basis of said operating data. The disclosure also describes an apparatus and a battery which are designed to execute the method according to the disclosure.
US09236730B2
An integrated circuit generating a driving signal to a load according to an input voltage and including an impedance switching unit, a first protection unit, a first detection unit and a control unit is disclosed. The impedance switching unit takes the input voltage as the driving signal according to a control signal. The first protection unit generates a first detection signal when a current passing through the impedance switching unit is higher than a predetermined current. The first detection unit detects a voltage of the impedance switching unit to generate a detection result. The control unit controls the control signal according to the first detection signal.
US09236729B2
Anti-arcing circuits are described herein that are configured to prevent or substantially mitigate arcing when a power adapter is connected/disconnected from a client device. The anti-arcing circuit restricts power supplied when a connection of a connector of a power adapter to the adapter interface is not fully established. The anti-arcing circuit is further configured to detect when a connection is made and remove the restriction to supply power for operations of the client device. In one approach, the anti-arcing circuit includes two different paths and components associated with a detection mode and operational mode respectively. In the detection mode, power supply is suppressed and a current pulse may be sent to determine if a connection is established. If current is detected, a switch is made to operational mode and power for normal device operations is supplied.
US09236722B1
A wall plate including a plate having a front surface and a rear surface, rear walls extending from and away from the rear surface to form a cavity, and a gasket positioned wholly within the cavity. The gasket may be positioned adjacent the rear walls or adjacent at least one aperture within the plate.
US09236719B1
A cable rail assembly including a first cable rail having a base, a cover, and a closing member, a second cable rail having a base, a cover, and a closing member, and wherein the first and second cable rails are engageable with each other along a longitudinal axis of the first and second cable rails.
US09236717B2
An industrial control panel is provided that comprises a zone enclosure unit and an equipment segregation unit. The zone enclosure unit has a back panel, a plurality of side panels, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a door to access the interior of the zone enclosure unit. The zone enclosure unit is adapted to contain a first set of electrical equipment. The equipment segregation unit may be mounted to the zone enclosure unit. The equipment segregation unit has a back panel, a plurality of side panels, a bottom panel, and a door to access the interior of the equipment segregation unit. The equipment segregation unit is adapted to contain a second set of electrical equipment. The first set of electrical equipment is capable of being electrically connected to the second set of electrical equipment.
US09236714B2
A plasma ignition plug for an internal combustion engine has a thorium alloyed tungsten anode separated from a vanadium- or beryllium-alloyed copper cathode by a boron nitride ceramic powder insulator. A generally semi-spherical titanium emitter is electrically coupled to the anode and disposed within an end of the insulator so as to form an annular gap with a torus on the end of the cathode. The surface of the emitter protrudes slightly beyond the rim of the torus on the cathode. High amplitude pulses driven into the anode arc across the annular gap to the cathode at more than twenty-four spots simultaneously, generating a plasma ignition front.
US09236713B2
A spark plug (20) for being threaded into a cylinder head (28) includes a shell (24) with threads (26) disposed at a predetermined angled relative to the ground electrode (34). The position of the threads (26) relative to the ground electrode (34) places the ground electrode (34) in a predetermined position in the combustion chamber (22) and relative to components of the engine, thus allowing the ground electrode (34) to provide a robust and reliable ignition. The threads (26) are formed by a thread forming apparatus (102) that includes an orientation tool (38) to position the ground electrode (34) relative to a thread forming apparatus (102), allowing the thread forming apparatus (102) to form the threads (26) at the desired angle (α).
US09236700B2
A method of producing a glow plug, wherein a pin terminal is produced by applying a plastic working to a workpiece made of a conductive metal. The production method has: a first step of obtaining a first workpiece; a second step of setting the first workpiece to a second workpiece; a third step of setting the second workpiece to a third workpiece; and a fourth step of setting the third workpiece to a fourth workpiece.
US09236697B2
An electrical connector includes an insulating body, and a first and second terminal groups located in the insulating body. The first and second terminal groups are formed by a material strip through integral stamping and tearing. Two neighboring terminals in the first terminal group and the second terminal group are staggered with each other in the vertical direction. The first terminal group includes a first differential signal terminal pair. Each first differential signal terminal of the first differential signal terminal pair has a first welding portion connected to the material strip, and a first contact portion exposed from the insulating body. The width of the first contact portion is greater than that of the first welding portion. The first contact portion bends downward and extends to form a pre-pressing portion. A space between the pre-pressing portions is less than a space between the first contact portions.
US09236695B2
In a coaxial connector, a body part includes an upper surface, a bottom surface, a side surface, and a hole provided in the upper surface so that a substantially rodlike probe is to be inserted therein from an upper side. A fixed terminal is fixed to the body part. A movable terminal includes a lead portion disposed on the side surface, a fixed portion bent relative to the lead portion to extend in a horizontal direction and fixed to the body part, and a leaf spring portion bent relative to the lead portion to extend in the horizontal direction and contacting the fixed terminal from a lower side. The leaf spring portion is separated from the fixed terminal when pressed down by the probe.
US09236692B2
Comprised are a sliding member for retaining a card and sliding in the forward/backward direction of a housing, and a locking member for sliding in the widthwise direction of the housing and locking the card received within the housing, the locking member comprising a sliding control part for controlling the sliding of the sliding member, the sliding control part preventing the sliding member from sliding when the locking member is in a first position, and allowing the sliding member to slide when the locking member is in a second position.
US09236688B2
An electrical connector includes a conductive shell having a chamber and having a mating end and a cable end. An insert assembly is received in the chamber and includes a module having a plurality of channels. The module is conductive and provides peripheral electrical shielding entirely around each of the channels for an entire length of each of the channels. The module engages and is electrically commoned with the shell. The insert assembly also includes insulator housings each holding a pair of contacts. The insulator housings are received in corresponding channels and electrically insulate the contacts from the module. Each pair of contacts is electrically shielded from each other pair of contacts by the module. A backshell is coupled to the cable end of the shell and holds the insert assembly in the chamber of the shell.
US09236687B2
Embodiments provide for a cable connector for coupling a cable with a device having a mating connector. The cable connector includes a cable connector body having a device end, a cable end, a bottom side, and a pivot point on the bottom side between the device and cable ends. Also, the cable connector includes a strut having a first strut end pivotally coupled with the pivot point and a second strut end. The strut is operable to rotate between a retracted position and an actuated position. The second strut end is adapted to engage the device on a surface of the device below the mating connector in the actuated position.
US09236679B2
The invention relates to an electric coupling element (1). Pin or socket contact elements (20), with which an electric means of a screwable connection means (28), are arranged in an electrically insulating main part (10). Openings (18) in the main part (10) are covered by means of a covering panel (30) I order to ensure the electric insulation of the individual contact elements (20). For assembly purposes, the covering panel (30) is movably attached to the main part (10) such that the covering panels (30, 30′) of two coupling elements (1, 1′) are mutually actuated when joined together.
US09236648B2
Electronic devices may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitry and antenna structures. The antenna structures may include antenna resonating elements such as dual-band antenna resonating elements that resonate in first and second communications bands. The antenna structures may also contain parasitic antenna elements such as elements that are operative in only the first or second communications band and elements that are operative in both the first and second communications bands. The antenna resonating elements and parasitic elements may be mounted on a common dielectric carrier. The dielectric carrier may be mounted within a slot or other opening in a conductive element. The conductive element may be formed from conductive housing structures in an electronic device such as a portable computer. The portable computer may have a clutch barrel with a dielectric cover. The dielectric cover may overlap and cover the slot and the dielectric carrier.
US09236640B2
In an F-type electrochemical cell 20, in a casing 21, a positive electrode 23 in which carbon dioxide gas is used as a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode 25 are placed so as to face each other with a separator 27 therebetween, and an electrolyte solution 28 is injected between the positive electrode 23 and the negative electrode 25. A tank 30 storing carbon dioxide gas is connected to the positive electrode 23, and carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the positive electrode 23 through a holding member 29. By supplying carbon dioxide gas to the positive electrode in such a manner, the cell can be operated as a battery. Furthermore, when used a primary battery, carbon dioxide can be immobilized in the battery, which is desirable.
US09236637B2
An assembly for recharging an electric vehicle comprising at least one solar panel positioned above surface of a vehicle; at least one motor assembly operatively connected to the at least one solar panel for positioning the at least one solar panel; the at least one solar panel operating to cover at least one window of the vehicle in a first position and to provide an unobstructed view in a second position; the panel moving from the first position to the second position by operation of the at least one motor assembly. A method of recharging an electric vehicle comprising placing a retractable solar collector on the roof of a vehicle, the retractable solar collector having an open position in which maximum exposure of the solar collector to the sun is enable, to a closed position in which the vehicle may be transported without the solar collector blocking the view of the driver, the retractor solar collector comprising interconnected sections which fold together in the closed position and which cover at least the windshield of the car in the open position.
US09236634B2
Described herein are materials for use in electrolytes that provide a number of desirable characteristics when implemented within batteries, such as high stability during battery cycling up to high temperatures, high voltages, high discharge capacity, high coulombic efficiency, and excellent retention of discharge capacity and coulombic efficiency over several cycles of charging and discharging. In some embodiments, a high voltage electrolyte includes a base electrolyte and a set of additive compounds, which impart these desirable performance characteristics.
US09236629B2
The present invention relates to a cable-type secondary battery comprising an inner electrode comprising at least two anodes arranged in parallel, the anode extending longitudinally and having a horizontal cross section of a predetermined shape, the anode having an electrolyte layer thereon serving as an ion channel; an outer electrode comprising a cathode including a cathode active material layer surrounding the inner electrode; and a protection coating surrounding the outer electrode. The cable-type secondary battery has free shape adaptation due to its linearity and flexibility. A plurality of inner electrodes within a tubular outer electrode lead to an increased contact area therebetween and consequently a high battery rate. It is easy to control the capacity balance between the inner and outer electrodes by adjusting the number of inner electrodes. A short circuit is prevented due to the electrolyte layer formed on the inner electrode.
US09236628B2
A group of fuel gas system devices are provided at a first end plate of a fuel cell system through a block member. A cover member is provided at the first end plate to cover the group of the fuel gas system devices. Support rod members are provided at the first end plate. The support rod members protrude outward in a stacking direction to support the cover member at the front ends of the support rod members.
US09236625B2
To provide a solid oxide fuel cell system with which the durable lifespan of the reformer can be extended by suppressing temperature unevenness in the reformer. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell, including a fuel cell module, a reformer for producing hydrogen by POX, ATR, and SR steps; a fuel supply apparatus, a reform air supply apparatus, a water supply apparatus, a generating air supply apparatus, and a control device which, as the temperature inside the fuel cell module rises, executes in sequence POX, ATR and SR steps at predetermined respective temperature bands, and causes a rise in temperature at which electrical generation is possible; wherein the control device comprises a localized temperature rise suppression circuit which, by causing steam reforming to occur locally within the reformer in the POX step, suppresses localized temperature rises in the reformer.
US09236613B2
A compound represented by formula (1): wherein Y1 to Y4 each independently represent any one of the following groups: in which Rα represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group; P1 to P4 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with each Y1 to Y4 and the two carbon atoms adjacent to Y1 to Y4, respectively; P5 and P6 each independently represents a group of atoms necessary for forming a cyclic skeleton together with the carbon atom to which Z1 bonds or Z2 bonds; P1 and P2, P2 and P6, P6 and P4, P4 and P3, P3 and P5, and P5 and P1 may further combine with each other to form a ring; Q1 and Q2 each independently represents a connecting group or a direct binding; and Z1 and Z2 each independently represent any one of the following groups; —NRβ2, —ORβ, —SRβ, —PRβ2 in which Rβ represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and when plural Rβs are present, these plural Rβs may be the same or different from each other.
US09236612B2
A positive electrode mixture for nonaqueous batteries, is formed by adding 0.5 to 10 wt. parts of an organic acid per 100 wt. parts of an electroconductive additive, to a mixture of a composite metal oxide as a positive electrode active substance, a higher order-structured carbon black as the electroconductive additive, a binder of a fluorine-containing copolymer of at least three comonomers including vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene and a flexibility-improving fluorine-containing monomer, and an organic solvent. Further, the mixture is applied on at least one side of an electroconductive sheet, and then dried and compressed to form a positive electrode mixture layer. As a result, it is possible to provide a positive electrode structure having a thick and sound positive electrode mixture layer of a high energy density.
US09236585B2
A battery block comprising: a battery case that includes a plurality of metal pipe-shaped members joined or adhered to each other; a cell accommodated inside each of the plurality of metal pipe-shaped members; and an insulating layer that covers the outer wall surface or the inner wall surface of the metal pipe-shaped members of the battery case. According to the present invention, even if unnecessary contact between battery blocks occurs in a power supply unit, a short circuit or the like does not occur.
US09236579B2
Provided is a coating system allowing on-demand preparation and coating of an ink. The coating system (10) includes an ingredient ink supply portion (20), a first pipe (90a), a stirring tank (50) including an ink stirring mechanism (52), a supply regulator portion (30) regulating the respective amounts of ingredient inks supplied to the stirring tank, a controller portion (70) connected to the supply regulator portion through an electric telecommunication line (80), determining a mixing ratio of the ingredient inks, and controlling operation of the supply regulator portion based on the mixing ratio, and a coating device (100) including an ink transport portion (120) connected to the stirring tank and including an ink discharge portion (130).
US09236572B2
Inorganic photoluminescent nanoparticles comprising a solid assembly comprising a first plurality of atoms from group II crystallized with a second plurality of atoms from group VI; at least one dimension of the assembly less than about 3.0 nm; and one or more organocarboxylate agents coupled to a surface that bounds the assembly, wherein the nanocrystal exhibits nanocrystal photoluminescence quantum yield of at least about 10%. Coupling to such surface comprises coating at least a portion of the nanocrystal being coated with the organocarboxylate agent, wherein the organocarboxylate agent is a carboxylic acid or the conjugate base of a carboxylic acid. The carboxylic acid can be is selected from formic acid, acetic acid, hexanoic acid, octanoic acid, oleic acid, and benzoic acid. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US09236561B2
A magnetic device including memory cells is provided. Each memory cell can store multiple bits corresponding to multiple data storage layers. Desired spacing(s) and desired junction angle(s) for the data storage layers are determined in each memory cell. The desired junction angle(s) and the desired spacing(s) correspond to spin transfer switching currents for the data storage layers having. A magnetoresistive stack including plurality of layers for each of the memory cells is deposited. The memory cells include the data storage layers. A data storage layer layers is spaced apart from nearest data storage layer(s) by a distance corresponding to the desired spacing(s). A mask corresponding to the memory cells is provided on the layers. The memory cells are defined such that each memory cell has the desired junction angle(s) and the desired spacing(s) and such that the data storage layers for each of the memory cells is self-aligned.
US09236545B2
Provided is a multi-layer reflective coating for application to a lighting housing assembly, including a polymer substrate adjacent a polymer base coat layer applied to the lighting housing. Atop the polymer base coat layer is an aluminum adhesion layer, followed by a diffusive barrier layer, and a silver reflective layer. The aluminum adhesion layer promotes adhesion between the polymer base coat layer and the silver reflective layer. The diffusive barrier layer prevents aluminum and silver interaction, which could form a silver and aluminum alloy. A spectrum tunable layer is applied atop the silver reflective layer for spectrum tuning the silver reflective layer for maximum compatibility with a light emitting diode (LED) lighting source.
US09236543B2
The light emitting device includes a light emitting chip, and an optical lens provided over the light emitting chip. The optical lens includes an incident surface into which a light emitted from the light emitting chip is incident, a recess portion opposite to the incident surface and recessed in a direction of the incident surface, an exit surface provided at a peripheral portion of the recess portion to output a light incident through the incident surface, and a convex portion protruding between the recess portion and the exit surface and connected with at least one of the recess portion and the exit surface through an inflection point. The convex portion is located inward of a line segment ranging from the light emitting chip to a first inflection point provided at an outermost portion of the recess portion.
US09236541B2
An LED package structure for preventing lateral light leakage includes a substrate unit, a light-emitting unit, a light-transmitting unit and a light-shielding unit. The substrate unit includes a circuit substrate. The light-emitting unit includes at least one LED chip disposed on the circuit substrate and electrically connected to the circuit substrate. The light-transmitting unit includes a light-transmitting gel body disposed on the circuit substrate for enclosing the LED chip. The light-transmitting gel body has a first light-transmitting portion disposed on the circuit substrate for enclosing the LED chip and at least one second light-transmitting portion projected upwardly from the first light-transmitting portion and corresponding to the LED chip, and the second light-transmitting portion has a light output surface. The light-shielding unit includes a light-shielding gel body disposed on the circuit substrate for exposing the light output surface of the second light-transmitting portion.
US09236531B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a method of fabricating a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes a first conductive semiconductor layer (112), an InxGa1-xN layer (where, 0
US09236530B2
A method for providing (Al,Ga,In)N thin films on Ga-face c-plane (Al,Ga,In)N substrates using c-plane surfaces with a miscut greater than at least 0.35 degrees toward the m-direction. Light emitting devices are formed on the smooth (Al,Ga,In)N thin films. Devices fabricated on the smooth surfaces exhibit improved performance.
US09236522B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming an absorber on a substrate, and supporting a cap layer over the substrate to define a cavity between the substrate and the cap layer in which the absorber is located. The method further includes forming a lens layer on the cap layer. The lens layer is spaced apart from the cavity and defines a plurality of grooves and an opening located over the absorber.
US09236520B2
Techniques for using photo detectors as tunable proximity sensors for detection of target objects and ascertaining their distance from the proximity sensors are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a proximity sensor system including a photo detector having a first doped region, a gate, a second doped region and a light absorbing region, a control circuitry for generating a plurality of control signals to be applied to the photo detector, and a signal detector to detect an output signal from the photo detector.
US09236513B2
Photovoltaic modules may include multiple flexible thin film photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series, and laminated to a substantially transparent top sheet having a conductive grid pattern facing the cells. Methods of manufacturing photovoltaic modules including integrated multi-cell interconnections are provided. Methods may include steps of coordinating, integrating, and registering multiple rolls of substrates in continuous processes.
US09236511B2
A semiconductor thin-film and method for producing a semiconductor thin-films comprising a metallic salt, an ionic compound in a non-aqueous solution mixed with a solvent and processing the stacked layer in chalcogen that results in a CZTS/CZTSS thin films that may be deposited on a substrate is disclosed.
US09236502B2
In accordance with certain embodiments, semiconductor dies are at least partially coated with a polymer and a conductive adhesive prior being bonded to a substrate having electrical traces thereon.
US09236499B2
Junction field-effect transistors and design structures for a junction field-effect transistor. A source and a drain of the junction field-effect transistor are comprised of a semiconductor material grown by selective epitaxy and in direct contact with a top surface of a semiconductor layer. A gate is formed that is aligned with a channel laterally disposed in the semiconductor layer between the source and the drain. The source, the drain, and the semiconductor layer are each comprised of a second semiconductor material having an opposite conductivity type from a first semiconductor material comprising the gate.
US09236496B2
The invention provides a thin film transistor that can reduce an off-current flowing in end-parts in a channel width direction of a channel layer and a manufacturing method therefor.
US09236494B2
A field effect transistor (FET) is provided. The active layer of this FET is composed of at least two different amorphous metal oxide semiconductor layer stacked together. Therefore, the two opposite surfaces of the active layer can have different band gap values.
US09236492B2
An active device provided by the invention is disposed on a substrate and includes a gate, a gate insulating layer, an oxide semiconductor channel layer, a plurality of nano conductive wires, a source and a drain. The gate insulating layer is disposed between the gate and the oxide semiconductor channel layer. The nano conductive wires are distributed in the oxide semiconductor channel layer, in which the nano conductive wires do not contact the gate insulating layer and the nano conductive wires are arranged along a direction and not intersected with each other. The source and the drain are disposed on two sides opposite to each other of the oxide semiconductor channel layer, in which a portion of the oxide semiconductor channel layer is exposed between the source and the drain.
US09236481B1
Semiconductor devices and methods for forming devices with ultraviolet curing. One method includes, for instance: obtaining a wafer; forming at least one mandrel; forming spacers adjacent to the at least one mandrel; performing an ultraviolet treatment to at least one set of spacers; and etching to form hard mask regions below at least the spacers. An intermediate semiconductor device includes, for instance: a substrate; a stop layer over the substrate; a first barrier layer over the stop layer; at least one first mandrel and at least one second mandrel on the first barrier layer; at least one first set of spacers positioned adjacent to the first mandrel; at least one second set of spacers positioned adjacent to the second mandrel; and a second barrier layer over the at least one first mandrel and the at least one first set of spacers.
US09236480B2
One method disclosed includes, among other things, forming a raised isolation post structure between first and second fins, wherein the raised isolation post structure partially defines first and second spaces between the first and second fins, respectively, and forming a gate structure around the first and second fins and the raised isolation post structure, wherein at least portions of the gate structure are positioned in the first and second spaces. One illustrative device includes, among other things, first and second fins, a raised isolation post structure positioned between the first and second fins, first and second spaces defined by the fins and the raised isolation post structure, and a gate structure positioned around a portion of the fins and the isolation post structure.
US09236474B2
Methods and structures for forming strained-channel FETs are described. A strain-inducing layer may be formed under stress in a silicon-on-insulator substrate below the insulator. Stress-relief cuts may be formed in the strain-inducing layer to relieve stress in the strain-inducing layer. The relief of stress can impart strain to an adjacent semiconductor layer. Strained-channel, fully-depleted SOI FETs and strained-channel finFETs may be formed from the adjacent semiconductor layer. The amount and type of strain may be controlled by etch depths and geometries of the stress-relief cuts and choice of materials for the strain-inducing layer.
US09236466B1
A circuit can include at least one pair of deeply depleted channel (DDC) transistors having sources commonly coupled to a same current path; and a bias circuit configured to provide bias currents to the drains of the DDC transistors; wherein each DDC transistor includes a source and drain doped to a first conductivity type, a substantially undoped channel region, and a highly doped screening region of the first conductivity type formed below the channel region.
US09236462B2
A III-nitride semiconductor device which includes a charged floating gate electrode.
US09236461B2
A semiconductor device includes: an FET structure that is formed next to a looped trench on a semiconductor substrate and that has an n+ emitter region and an n− drain region facing each other in the depth direction of the looped trench across a p-type base region; a p-type floating region formed on the side of the looped trench opposite to the FET structure; and an emitter connecting part that is electrically connected to the n+ emitter region and a trench gate provided in the same trench, the emitter connecting part and the trench gate being insulated from each other by the looped trench. The trench gate faces the FET structure, and the emitter connecting part faces the p-type floating region, across an insulating film.
US09236458B2
A bipolar transistor includes a semiconductor structure including an emitter area, a base area and a collector area. The emitter area is electrically connected to an emitter contact of the bipolar transistor. Further, the emitter area has a first conductivity type. The base area is electrically connected to a base contact of the bipolar transistor. Further, the base area has at least mainly a second conductivity type. The collector area is electrically connected to a collector contact of the bipolar transistor and has at least mainly the first conductivity type. Further, the collector area includes a plurality of enclosed sub areas having the second conductivity type or the base area includes a plurality of enclosed sub areas having the first conductivity type.
US09236457B2
A method for manufacturing thin film transistor array substrate is disclosed. The method includes sequentially depositing a semiconductor layer and an ohmic contact layer on the base substrate formed with a gate insulator and patterning the semiconductor layer and the ohmic contact layer, wherein the material of the semiconductor layer is zinc oxide, and the material of the ohmic contact layer is GaxZn1-xO, where 0
US09236454B2
A method of fabricating a thin-film transistor, the method including: film-forming an active layer, that contains as a main component thereof an oxide semiconductor structured by O and at least two elements among In, Ga and Zn, in a film formation chamber into which at least oxygen is introduced, and b) heat treating the active layer at less than 300° C. in a dry atmosphere, wherein the film-forming a) and the heat treating are carried out such that, given that an oxygen partial pressure with respect to an entire pressure of an atmosphere within the film formation chamber in the film-forming is PO2depo (%), and an oxygen partial pressure with respect to an entire pressure of an atmosphere during the heat treating is PO2anneal (%), the oxygen partial pressure PO2anneal (%) at the time of the heat treating b) satisfies a relationship: −20/3PO2depo+40/3≦PO2anneal≦−800/43PO2depo+5900/43.
US09236448B2
In the present method of fabricating a semiconductor device, initially, a semiconductor substrate is provided. An oxide layer is provided on and in contact with the substrate, and a polysilicon layer is provided on and in contact with the oxide layer. A layer of photoresist is provided on the polysilicon layer, and the photoresist is patterned to provide a photoresist body, which is used as a mask to etch away polysilicon and oxide, forming a polysilicon element thereunder. The photoresist body is then removed. A nickel layer is provided on the resulting structure, and a reaction step is undertaken to provide that nickel diffuses into the exposed top and side portions of the polysilicon body, forming nickel silicide. After the reaction step, the remaining nickel is removed, and a chemical-mechanical polishing step is undertaken to remove nickel silicide so that a pair of nickel silicide bodies remain, separated by polysilicon. Using the nickel silicide bodies as masks, the polysilicon and oxide thereunder are etched away.
US09236447B2
A semiconductor device having asymmetric spacers and steps for forming the same are disclosed. The spacers have difference capacitances, with the spacer having a higher capacitance formed over a source region of the device and the spacer having a lower capacitance formed over a drain region of the device. Embodiments of the disclosed invention include spacers made from different materials, having different or substantially equal thicknesses.
US09236446B2
An IC device manufacturing process effectuates a planar recessing of material that initially varies in height across a substrate. The method includes forming a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC), baking to induce cross-linking in the BARC, CMP to remove a first portion of the BARC and form a planar surface, then plasma etching to effectuate a planar recessing of the BARC. The plasma etching can have a low selectivity between the BARC and the material being recessed, whereby the BARC and the material are recessed simultaneously. Any of the material above a certain height is removed. Structures that are substantially below that certain height can be protected from contamination and left intact. The method can be particularly effective when an abrasive used during CMP forms ester linkages with the BARC.
US09236442B2
Methods and apparatuses are described for integration of integrated circuit die and silicon-based trench capacitors using silicon-level connections to reduce connection lengths, parasitics and necessary capacitance magnitudes and volumes. A trench capacitor can be fabricated on silicon and mounted on or embedded in a chip or one or more sides of a through silicon interposer (TSI) for silicon-level connections to chip circuitry. Aspect ratio dependent, as opposed to trench diameter or trench depth dependent, trench capacitors formed by a dense array of high aspect ratio trenches with thin, high permittivity dielectric increase capacitance per unit area and volume, resulting in thin, high capacitance trench capacitors having thickness equal to or less than chip thickness.
US09236436B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a main surface having an element formation region, a guard ring, a guard ring electrode, a channel stopper region, a channel stopper electrode, and a field plate disposed over and insulated from the semiconductor substrate. The field plate includes a first portion located between the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and the guard ring electrode, and a second portion located between the main surface of the semiconductor substrate and the channel stopper electrode. The first portion has a portion overlapping with the guard ring electrode when viewed in a plan view. The second portion has a portion overlapping with the channel stopper electrode when viewed in the plan view. In this way, a semiconductor device allowing for stabilized breakdown voltage can be obtained.
US09236435B2
Tunneling field effect transistors are provided. The tunneling field effect transistor includes a source region, a drain region, and a channel region disposed between the source region and the drain region. The channel region includes a first region adjacent to the source region and a second region adjacent to the drain region. A first energy band gap of the first region is lower than a second energy band gap of the second region, and the first region has a direct energy band gap.
US09236432B2
A graphene base transistor with reduced collector area comprising an electron injection region, an electron collection region, and a base region wherein the base region comprises one or more sheets of graphene and wherein the base region is intermediate the electron injection region and the electron collection region and forms electrical interfaces therewith. A method of making a graphene base transistor with reduced collector area comprising forming an electron injection region, forming an electron collection region, and forming a base region wherein the base region comprises one or more sheets of graphene and wherein the base region is intermediate the electron injection region and the electron collection region and forms electrical interfaces therewith.
US09236425B2
There is provided a light emitting apparatus provided with a pixel circuit which is provided with a plurality of transistors including a first transistor and a light emitting element in which a current is supplied by the first transistor, in which, in at least one of the plurality of transistors, a wiring is connected to a gate electrode at a position overlapping a channel region in plan view.
US09236406B2
A photoelectric conversion apparatus in which each of a plurality of pixels includes a photoelectric conversion element configured to generate an electric charge by a photoelectric conversion, an impurity diffusion region, and a gate electrode configured to transfer the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion element to the impurity diffusion region. The photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a gate control line composed of a metal wiring extending in a first direction and being connected electrically to the gate electrode. Some or all of the impurity diffusion regions of the plurality of pixels are mutually connected. A read out circuit region is arranged in an outside in a second direction from a pixel arranged at a most outside among all of the plurality of pixels. A metal wiring layer arranged in a pixel array region is composed of only a single wiring layer including a plurality of wirings in the same height.
US09236405B2
An array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are provided. In the manufacturing method, the needed patterns can be formed by just three photolithography processes, wherein the semiconductor layer and the etch stop layer are formed by just one photolithography process. The method reduces one photolithography process compared to the method of the state of the art, which forms the pattern of the semiconductor layer and the etch stop layer by two photolithography processes respectively, thereby greatly reducing the manufacturing cost and improving the production efficiency.
US09236394B2
A three-dimensional integrated circuit non-volatile memory array includes a memory array of vertical channel NAND flash strings connected between a substrate source line and upper layer connection lines which each include n-type drain regions and p-type body line contact regions alternately disposed on each side of undoped or lightly doped string body regions so that each NAND flash string includes a vertical string body portion connected to a horizontal string body portion formed from the string body regions of the upper body connection lines.
US09236393B1
A 3D NAND memory has vertical NAND strings across multiple memory planes above a substrate, with each memory cell of a NAND string residing in a different memory layer. Word lines in each memory plane each has a series of socket components aligned to embed respective floating gates of a group memory cells. In this way, the word line to floating gate capacitive coupling is enhanced thereby allowing a 4 to 8 times reduction in cell dimension as well as reducing floating-gate perturbations between neighboring cells. In one embodiment, each NAND string has source and drain switches that each employs an elongated polysilicon gate with metal strapping to enhance switching. The memory is fabricated by an open-trench process on a multi-layer slab that creates lateral grottoes for forming the socket components.
US09236389B1
After forming a plurality of gate structures over a substrate having a plurality of active regions separated from each other by at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) regions, inter-gate dielectric contact structures extending through an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer that surrounds the gate structures are formed. Each inter-gate dielectric contact structure encloses a corresponding gate structure and is in contact with a dielectric gate cap and a dielectric gate spacer of the corresponding gate structure and a portion of the at least one STI region abutting the dielectric gate spacer of the corresponding gate structure. The inter-gate dielectric contact structure is electrically insulated from a gate conductor in the corresponding gate structure by the dielectric gate cap and the dielectric gate spacer and serves as a control gate in a memory cell of a flash memory array.
US09236388B2
Semiconductor layers on active areas for transistors in a memory cell region (region A) and a peripheral circuit region (region B) are simultaneously epitaxially grown in the same thickness in which the adjacent semiconductor layers in region A do not come into contact with each other. Only semiconductor layer (10) in region B is also grown from the surface of a substrate which is exposed when only the surface of STI (2) in region B is drawn back, so that a facet (F) of the semiconductor layer 10 is formed outside the active area, followed by ion-implantation to form a high density diffusion layer (11) in region B. Accordingly, short circuit between semiconductor layers on source/drain electrodes of transistors in region A is prevented, and uniformity of the junction depth of the layer (11) of the source/drain electrodes including an ESD region in a transistor of region B is obtained, thereby restricting the short channel effect.
US09236384B2
A semiconductor memory device and a method for accessing the same are disclosed. The semiconductor memory device comprises a memory transistor, a first control transistor and a second control transistor, wherein a source electrode and a gate electrode of the first control transistor are coupled to a first bit line and a first word line respectively, a drain electrode and a gate electrode of the second control transistor are coupled to a second word line and a second bit line respectively, a gate electrode of the memory transistor is coupled to a drain electrode of the first control transistor, a drain electrode of the memory transistor is coupled to a source electrode of the second control transistor, and a source electrode of the memory transistor is coupled to ground, and wherein the memory transistor exhibits a gate electrode-controlled memory characteristic. The semiconductor memory device increases integration level and decreases refresh frequency.
US09236383B2
The present technique relates to a method and apparatus to provide a dielectric etch stop layer that prevents shorts for a buried digit layer as an interconnect. In a memory device, such as DRAM or SRAM, various layers are deposited to form structures, such as PMOS gates, NMOS gates, memory cells, P+ active areas, and N+ active areas. These structures are fabricated through the use of multiple masking processes, which may cause shorts when a buried digit layer is deposited if the masking processes are misaligned. Accordingly, a dielectric etch stop layer, such as aluminum oxide Al2O3 or silicon carbide SiC, may be utilized in the array to prevent shorts between the wordlines, active areas, and the buried digit layer when the contacts are misaligned.
US09236379B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a first metal gate electrode over a substrate, forming a second metal gate electrode over the substrate, removing at least a part of the first metal gate electrode to form a first opening, and filling the first opening with a non-conductive material.
US09236374B2
Fin contacted electrostatic discharge (ESD) devices with improved heat distribution and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a plurality of fins on a substrate which is aligned with at least one well region in the substrate. The method further includes forming at least one electrostatic discharge (ESD) device spanning two or more of the plurality of fins. The forming of the ESD device includes forming an epitaxial material spanning the two or more of the plurality of fins and forming one or more contacts on the epitaxial material.
US09236372B2
An integrated circuit ESD protection circuit (270) is formed with a combination device consisting of a gated diode (271) and an output buffer MOSFET (272) where the body tie fingers of a first conductivity type (307) are formed in the substrate (301, 302) and isolated from the drain regions of a second conductivity type (310) using a plurality of diode poly fingers (231, 232) which are interleaved with a plurality of poly gate fingers (204, 205) forming the output buffer MOSFET (272).
US09236367B1
An apparatus for a stacked silicon interconnect technology (SSIT) product comprises an interposer die, a plurality of integrated circuit dies, a plurality of active components forming an active connection between the integrated circuit dies and the interposer die, and a plurality of dummy components at the interposer die, the dummy components not forming an active connection between the integrated circuit dies and the interposer die. At least a subset of the dummy components forms a pattern, and the pattern comprises an identifier for the interposer die.
US09236357B2
External connection conductors are arranged on a back surface of a base material, and wiring conductors are arranged on a front surface. An insulating layer is provided on surfaces of the wiring conductors. Component mounting conductors are provided on a surface of the insulating layer. The component mounting conductor and the wiring conductor are electrically coupled to each other, and the component mounting conductor and the wiring conductor are electrically coupled to each other. The wiring conductor and the external connection conductor are electrically coupled by a conductor film on an inner wall surface of a hole provided between forming areas of the component mounting conductors. The wiring conductor and the external connection conductor are electrically coupled by a conductor film on an inner wall surface of a hole provided between the forming areas of the component mounting conductors.
US09236354B2
A semiconductor package with thermal neutron shielding is disclosed. The semiconductor package includes a substrate and an integrated circuit die disposed on the substrate. The semiconductor package also has a thermal neutron shield including a shielding material. The shielding material includes boron-10 and is configured to inhibit a portion of thermal neutrons that encounter the thermal neutron shield from passing through the thermal neutron shield.
US09236335B2
A device includes first and second semiconductor chips. The first semiconductor chip includes an edge defining a periphery of the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip is greater in size than the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip is stacked over the first semiconductor chip so that the second semiconductor chip hangs over from the edge of the first semiconductor chip. The second semiconductor chip includes a plurality of wiring patterns including a first wiring pattern that positions over the edge of the first semiconductor chip, an insulating film which covers the wiring patterns and which includes on or more holes that expose one or more the wiring patterns, and one or more bump electrodes formed on the one or more the wiring patterns. Remaining one or ones of the wiring patterns is kept covered by the insulating layer and includes the first wiring pattern.
US09236326B2
A semiconductor structure and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The semiconductor structure includes a wafer substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a conductive pillar in the wafer substrate defined by a deep trench insulator through the top surface and the bottom surface of the wafer substrate. The method for fabricating the semiconductor structure includes following steps. A deep trench is formed from a top surface of a wafer substrate to define a conductive region in the wafer substrate. The conductive region is doped with a dopant. The deep trench is filled with an insulation material to form a deep trench insulator. And the wafer substrate is thinned from a bottom surface of the wafer substrate to expose the deep trench insulator and isolate the conductive region to form a conductive pillar.
US09236322B2
Apparatus and methods for forming a heat spreader on a substrate to release heat for a semi-conductor package are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a substrate. A dielectric layer is formed next to the substrate and in contact with a surface of the substrate. A heat spreader is formed next to the substrate and in contact with another surface of the substrate. A passivation layer is formed next to the dielectric layer. A connection pad is placed on top of the passivation layer. The substrate may comprise additional through-silicon-vias. The contact surface between the substrate and the heat spreader may be a scraggy surface. The packaging method further proceeds to connect a chip to the connection pad by way of a connection device such as a solder ball or a bump.
US09236317B2
The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor element, a main lead and a resin package. The semiconductor element includes an obverse surface and a reverse surface spaced apart from each other in a thickness direction. The main lead supports the semiconductor element via the reverse surface of the semiconductor element. The resin package covers the entirety of the semiconductor element. The resin package covers the main lead in such a manner that a part of the main lead is exposed from the resin package. The semiconductor element includes a part that does not overlap the main lead as viewed in the thickness direction.
US09236315B2
A test structure includes an active region formed in a semiconducting substrate, a first line formed above and extending over an upper surface of the active region, and a first isolation region formed in the semiconducting substrate, wherein the active region surrounds the first isolation region. The test structure further includes a first extension formed above the active region and on and in contact with an upper surface of the first isolation region, wherein the first extension extends laterally over the upper surface of the active region from a first side of the first line. Additionally, the first line and the first extension are comprised of at least one of a high-k layer of insulating material and a metal layer.
US09236302B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface, a through electrode penetrating through the semiconductor substrate and having a protrusion protruding from the second surface, and an insulation layer on the second surface, which covers the side surface of the protrusion, has an opening through which to expose the end surface of the protrusion, and has a thickness greater than the length of the protrusion.
US09236292B2
Selective area deposition of metal films by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is described. In an example, a method of fabricating a metallization structure for an integrated circuit involves forming an exposed surface above a substrate, the exposed surface including regions of exposed dielectric material and regions of exposed metal. The method also involves forming, using a selective metal deposition process, a metal layer on the regions of exposed metal without forming the metal layer on the regions of exposed dielectric material.
US09236286B2
Disclosed herein is a MEMS sensor module package. The MEMS sensor module package according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes: a printed circuit board (PCB); an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) stacked on the PCB, one side of the ASIC being wire-bonded to the PCB; a MEMS sensor stacked on the ASIC; and a molding encapsulating the MEMS sensor and the ASIC with a resin. Accordingly, the electrical connection distance between a MEMS sensor and an ASIC is shortened so that electrical characteristic may be improved. Further, a sensor module package may be implemented in an ASIC size, so that size reduction may be achieved to meet the requirements of mobile devices.
US09236279B2
A method and system for cleaning a surface of a substrate after an etching operation includes determining a plurality of process parameters associated with the surface of the substrate. A plurality of application chemistries are identified based on the process parameters. The plurality of application chemistries includes a first application chemistry as an emulsion having a first immiscible liquid combined with a second immiscible liquid and solid particles distributed within the first immiscible liquid. The plurality of application chemistries including the first application chemistry are applied to the surface of the substrate such that the combined chemistries enhance the cleaning process by substantially removing the particulate and polymer residue contaminants from the surface of the substrate while preserving the characteristics of the features and of the low-k dielectric material through which the features are formed.
US09236278B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a dummy-die paddle having a first inactive side facing up, a second inactive side facing down; forming an insulator in a single continuous structure around and in direct contact with the first inactive side; and mounting an integrated circuit over the dummy-die paddle and the insulator, the integrated circuit and the dummy-die paddle having the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the dummy-die paddle.
US09236271B2
A pulsed laser-initiated exfoliation method for patterning a Group III-nitride film on a growth substrate is provided. This method includes providing a Group III-nitride film a growth substrate, wherein a growth substrate/Group III-nitride film interface is present between the Group III-nitride film and the growth substrate. Next, a laser is selected that provides radiation at a wavelength at which the Group III-nitride film is transparent and the growth substrate is absorbing. The interface is then irradiated with pulsed laser radiation from the Group III-nitride film side of the growth substrate/Group III-nitride film interface to exfoliate a region of the Group III-nitride from the growth substrate. A method for transfer a Group-III nitride film from a growth substrate to a handle substrate is also provided.
US09236266B2
A method of etching exposed silicon-and-carbon-containing material on patterned heterogeneous structures is described and includes a remote plasma etch formed from a fluorine-containing precursor and an oxygen-containing precursor. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents react with the exposed regions of silicon-and-carbon-containing material. The plasmas effluents react with the patterned heterogeneous structures to selectively remove silicon-and-carbon-containing material from the exposed silicon-and-carbon-containing material regions while very slowly removing other exposed materials. The silicon-and-carbon-containing material selectivity results partly from the presence of an ion suppression element positioned between the remote plasma and the substrate processing region. The ion suppression element reduces or substantially eliminates the number of ionically-charged species that reach the substrate. The methods may be used to selectively remove silicon-and-carbon-containing material at more than twenty times the rate of silicon oxide.
US09236265B2
Methods of selectively etching silicon germanium relative to silicon are described. The methods include a remote plasma etch using plasma effluents formed from a fluorine-containing precursor. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents react with the silicon germanium. The plasmas effluents react with exposed surfaces and selectively remove silicon germanium while very slowly removing other exposed materials. Generally speaking, the methods are useful for removing Si(1-X)GeX (including germanium i.e. X=1) faster than Si(1-Y)GeY, for all X>Y. In some embodiments, the silicon germanium etch selectivity results partly from the presence of an ion suppression element positioned between the remote plasma and the substrate processing region.
US09236263B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a silicon-containing layer; forming a metal-containing layer over the silicon-containing layer; forming an undercut prevention layer between the silicon containing layer and the metal containing layer; etching the metal-containing layer; and forming a conductive structure by etching the undercut prevention layer and the silicon-containing layer.
US09236260B2
An integrated circuit has a doped silicon semiconductor with regions of insulators and bare silicon. The bare silicon regions are isolated from other bare silicon regions. A semiconductor device on the doped silicon semiconductor has at least two electrical connections to form regions of patterned metal. A metal is electroplated directly on each of the regions of patterned metal to form plated connections without a seed layer. A self-aligned silicide is located under each plated connection, formed by annealing, for the regions of plated metal on bare silicon.
US09236254B2
A method of thin film formation includes: preparing a substrate; forming a thin film above the substrate; and crystallizing the thin film by irradiating the thin film with a light beam, in which the crystallizing includes steps of: crystallizing the thin film in a first region into a first crystalline thin film by irradiating the first region while scanning a first light beam relative to the substrate, the first region including at least one of: edge portions of the substrate; and a region through which a cutting line passes when the substrate is cut; and subsequently crystallizing the thin film in a second region into a second crystalline thin film by irradiating at least the second region while scanning a second light beam relative to the substrate, and the thin film has a higher absorption ratio of the second light beam than that of the first crystalline thin film.
US09236247B2
Methods of treating metal-containing thin films, such as films comprising titanium carbide, with a silane or a borane agent are provided. In some embodiments a film comprising titanium carbide is deposited on a substrate by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The process may include a plurality of deposition cycles involving alternating and sequential pulses of a first source chemical that comprises titanium and at least one halide ligand, a second source chemical comprising metal and carbon, wherein the metal and the carbon from the second source chemical are incorporated into the thin film, and a third source chemical, wherein the third source chemical is a silane or borane that at least partially reduces oxidized portions of the titanium carbide layer formed by the first and second source chemicals. In some embodiments treatment forms a capping layer on the metal carbide film.
US09236243B2
A method for making semiconductor devices may include forming a phosphosilicate glass (PSG) layer on a semiconductor wafer, with the PSG layer having a phosphine residual surface portion. The method may further include exposing the phosphine residual surface portion to a reactant plasma to integrate at least some of the phosphine residual surface portion into the PSG layer. The method may additionally include forming a mask layer on the PSG layer after the exposing.
US09236236B2
A sample preparation and analysis system. The system includes a housing with a sample preparation station and a sample analysis station positioned within the housing. The sample analysis station is spaced away from the sample preparation station. A transport assembly is configured to move at least one sample within the housing and between the sample preparation station and the sample analysis station.
US09236232B2
A mass spectrometer system an ion source configured to produce ions and a non-metallic capillary configured to receive at least a portion of the ions from the ion source. The capillary includes an elongated body and multiple bores traversing the elongated body in a longitudinal direction. The bores transport the received ions through the capillary toward a mass analyzer of the mass spectrometer system for detection.
US09236229B2
According to one embodiment, a gas supply member is provided with a gas supply passage including a gas flow channel with a first diameter, and an exhaust port connected to one end portion of the gas flow channel and provided to a surface of a downstream side of the gas supply member. An yttria-containing film is formed on a surface constituting the exhaust port and the surface of the downstream side of the gas supply member. At least a part of the surface constituting the exhaust port is formed with a curved surface.
US09236222B2
An ion implantation apparatus includes a beam scanning unit and a beam parallelizing unit arranged downstream thereof. The beam scanning unit has a scan origin in a central part of the scanning unit on a central axis of an incident ion beam. The beam parallelizing unit has a focal point of a parallelizing lens at the scan origin. The ion implantation apparatus is configured such that a focal position of the incident beam into the scanning unit is located upstream of the scan origin along the central axis of the incident beam. The focal position of the incident beam into the scanning unit is adjusted to be at a position upstream of the scan origin along the central axis of the incident beam such that a divergence phenomenon caused by the space charge effect in an exiting ion beam from the parallelizing unit is compensated.
US09236216B2
An ion implantation system provides ions to a workpiece positioned in a vacuum environment of a process chamber on a cooled chuck. A pre-chill station within the process chamber has a chilled workpiece support configured to cool the workpiece to a first temperature, and a post-heat station within the process chamber, has a heated workpiece support configured to heat the workpiece to a second temperature. The first temperature is lower than a process temperature, and the second temperature is greater than an external temperature. A workpiece transfer arm is further configured to concurrently transfer two or more workpieces between two or more of the chuck, a load lock chamber, the pre-chill station, and the post-heat station.
US09236213B2
At the time of temporary firing for fixing a glass layer 3 to a glass member 4, the glass layer 3 is irradiated with laser light L2 through the glass member 4 from the glass member 4 side. This fully heats a part of the glass layer 3 on the glass member 4 side and thus can improve the adhesion of the glass layer 3 to the glass member 4. Further, even when irradiated with the laser light L2 at such a laser power as to melt both edge parts of the glass layer 3, the part of the glass layer 3 on the side opposite from the glass member 4 (i.e., the part of the glass layer 3 fused to the other glass member) is prevented from being crystallized by excess heat input, whereby the fusing state of the glass layer 3 with respect to the other glass member can be made uniform.
US09236210B2
An electrical switch is disclosed and includes a tensioning lever which, in the switched-on state of the switch, assumes a tensioning lever position tensioned by spring tension, and a locking device which can lock the tensioning lever into the tensioned tensioning lever position. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the locking device includes a rocker lever, which is attached rotatably to the tensioning lever around a rotary bearing, and a pawl, pivotable around a pivot point, which rests in the locked state on the rocker lever and in this way prevents the pivoting of the tensioning lever and—after an unlocking of the locking device—pivots away from the rocker lever and, in doing so, turns or can at least turn the rocker lever.
US09236208B2
A cutter including a blade member (30) having an edge portion (31) for cutting a current-carrying member (12) and an insulating portion (32); a gas generator (35) that generates high-pressure gas to move the blade member (30) toward the current-carrying member (12); a receiving member (25) arranged on a side opposite to the edge portion (31) relative to the current-carrying member (12) and defining a receiving surface (25b) for receiving the current-carrying member (12) upon cutting thereof; a stopper (23) configured to restrict forward movement of the blade member (30) such that the insulating portion (32) of the blade member (30) stops, after cutting of the current-carrying member (12), at a position corresponding to a cut surface of the current-carrying member (12); and an insulating protective member (15) positioned between at least one of the blade member (30) or the receiving member (25) and the current-carrying member (12) and configured to protect a surface of the current-carrying member (12) facing the at least one of the blade member (30) or the first inner cylinder member (25) are provided.
US09236205B2
A keyswitch includes a cap, a board, first and second support members rotatably connected to the cap and the board, a seesaw member, and a magnetic member. The seesaw member movably supports at least one of the cap and the first and second support members. The magnetic member is disposed on the board corresponding to the seesaw member. When the cap is pressed, the at least one of the cap and the first and second support members drives the seesaw member to raise and the cap moves from a non-pressed position to a pressed position. When the cap is released, a magnetic attraction force between the magnetic member and the seesaw member drives the seesaw member to raise for lifting the at least one of the cap and the first and second support members, so as to move the cap back to the non-pressed position.
US09236201B2
An electrical snap-action switch with a contact link which can be actuated via a switching plunger and a bistable spring and which is connectable in a first switching position to at least one first contact pair and in a second switching position to at least one second contact pair. The spring arrangement on both sides of the switching plunger has at least one spring arm, via which the contact link is movable transversely with respect to the movement direction of the switching plunger up to a movement end position in the event of breakage of one of the spring arms. A sliding ramp is provided in the movement path of the contact link, which sliding ramp spaces apart at least one contact of the contact link in the movement end position from the associated contact of the respective contact pair in the event of breakage of one spring arm.
US09236193B2
A solid electrolytic capacitor that is capable of exhibiting good electrical properties even under the extreme conditions of high temperature and humidity levels is provided. More particularly, the capacitor contains a capacitor element that includes a sintered porous anode body, a dielectric that overlies the anode body, and a solid electrolyte that overlies the dielectric. The solid electrolyte contains a conductive polymer and an organometallic coupling agent. The capacitor also contains a moisture barrier layer that overlies the solid electrolyte and is formed from a hydrophobic elastomer that has a low surface energy such that it is not readily wettable by an aqueous medium.
US09236188B1
In a multilayer ceramic capacitor including outer electrodes electrically connected to inner electrodes of a ceramic body, a thickness of each of end portions of extension portions of the inner electrodes in a width direction is larger than a thickness of a corresponding one of middle regions in the width direction, and a distance from a first main surface of the ceramic body to a first auxiliary electrode closest to the first main surface is different from a distance from a second main surface of the ceramic body to a second auxiliary electrode closest to the second main surface in a stacking direction. Each of the first auxiliary electrode and the second auxiliary electrode has a continuity in the width direction of about 60% or more.
US09236181B2
A laminated coil component includes a magnetic material part containing a metal magnetic material and a first glass component, and a nonmagnetic material part containing a ceramic material and a second glass component, and a coil conductor is formed so that at least the main surface of a coil pattern is in contact with the nonmagnetic material part. The magnetic material part is formed with the volume content of the first glass component based on the total amount of the metal magnetic material and the first glass component is 46 to 60 vol %. The nonmagnetic material part is formed with the volume content of the second glass component based on the total amount of the ceramic material and the second glass component is 69 to 79 vol %. A laminated coil component having good high-frequency characteristics and magnetic characteristics is obtained and a method for producing the laminated coil component.
US09236178B2
Disclosed herein are a coil component and a manufacturing method thereof. The coil component includes: an electrode body including coil electrodes disposed therein, the coil electrodes having an insulating film deposited on a surface thereof; and external terminals formed at both side portions of the electrode body and connected to the coil electrodes, wherein the electrode body is made of an insulating material with which magnetic powders are mixed, in order to improve impedance characteristics.
US09236174B2
A magnetic field distribution control apparatus includes a rod portion, a coil disposed at one side of an upper surface of the rod portion, and a ferrite movably disposed within the coil and configured to produce a magnetic field.
US09236164B2
Composite insulators having a silicone rubber shield are economically produced by coating at least a portion of a support with a crosslinkable silicone rubber composition containing a light activated hydrosilation catalyst, and irradiating the crosslinkable silicone rubber composition to activate a crosslinking reaction.
US09236163B2
There is provided an electroconductive resin composition comprising: (a) a polyamide resin, (b) a polyphenylene ether resin, and (c) a fine carbon fiber dispersed in the resin component, wherein a graphite-net plane consisting solely of carbon atoms forms a temple-bell-shaped structural unit comprising closed head-top part and body-part with open lower-end, 2 to 30 of the temple-bell-shaped structural units are stacked sharing a common central axis to form an aggregate, and the aggregates are connected in head-to-tail style with a distance to form the fiber. The composition has a high electroconductivity while upholding a high moldability, mechanical property and durability in the polyamide-polyphenylene ether resin.
US09236144B2
Embodiments of design-for-test (DFT) apparatuses and related techniques are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a DFT apparatus may include a static random access memory (SRAM) cell, read/write/decoder (R/W/decoder) circuitry to provide a nominal word line (WL) voltage and a nominal bit line (BL) voltage for application to the SRAM cell during accesses. The DFT apparatus may also include test circuitry having an activated state and a deactivated state. When the test circuitry is in the activated state, in some embodiments, the WL voltage and/or the BL voltage applied to the SRAM cell may be different from the nominal voltages provided by the R/W/decoder circuitry. The R/W/decoder circuitry may be operated to perform accesses to the SRAM cell while the test circuitry is in the activated state. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.
US09236141B2
A programmable resistive device cell using at least one MOS device as selector can be programmed or read by turning on a source junction diode of the MOS or a channel of the MOS. A programmable resistive device cell can include at least one programmable resistive element and at least one MOS device. The programmable resistive element can be coupled to a first supply voltage line. The MOS can have a source coupled to the programmable resistive element, a bulk coupled to a drain, a drain coupled to a second supply voltage line, and a gate coupled to a third supply voltage line. The programmable resistive element can be configured to be programmable or readable by applying voltages to the first, second, and/or third supply voltage lines to turn on the source junction of the MOS and/or to turn on the channel of the MOS.
US09236128B1
When applying a programming voltage at one end of a word line of a non-volatile memory circuit, if the word line has a large RC constant the far end of the word line will not rise as fast as the driven end, which can adversely affect device performance. To more quickly raise the voltage on the selected word line, a voltage kick is applied to non-selected word lines, such as dummy word lines, by way of a non-selected sub-block of the selected block. The channel of NAND strings in the non-selected sub-block is used to transfer the kick to the far end of the selected word line of the selected sub-block.
US09236124B2
According to one embodiment, a plurality of first wirings is disposed in first and second directions crossing each other and extends in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. Second wirings extend in the second direction and are provided at a predetermined interval in the third direction of the first wirings. The first wiring includes a metal plug layer and a barrier metal film. A standard electrode potential of a metal that forms the barrier metal film is higher than a standard electrode potential of a metal that forms the variable resistive layer.
US09236119B2
A conjugated polymer layer with a built-in diode is formed by providing a first metal-chalcogenide layer over a bottom electrode. Subsequently, a second metal-chalcogenide layer is provided over and in contact with the first metal-chalcogenide layer. The first metal-chalcogenide layer has a first conductivity type and the second metal-chalcogenide layer has a second conductivity type. The plane of contact between the first and second metal-chalcogenide layers creates the p-n junction of the built-in diode. Then a polymer layer is selectively deposited on the second metal-chalcogenide layer. The second metal-chalcogenide layer provides ions to the polymer layer to change its resistivity. A top electrode is then provided over the polymer layer. An exemplary memory cell may have the following stacked structure: first electrode/n-type semiconductor/p-type semiconductor/conjugated polymer/second electrode.
US09236118B2
Disclosed herein is a resistive switching device having an amorphous layer comprised of an insulating silicon-containing material and a conducting material. The amorphous layer may be disposed between two or more electrodes and be capable of switching between at least two resistance states. Circuits and memory devices including resistive switching devices are also disclosed, and a composition of matter involving an insulating silicon-containing material and a conducting material comprising between 5 and 40 percent by molar percentage of the composition is disclosed herein as well. Also disclosed herein are methods for switching the resistance of an amorphous material.
US09236115B2
A circuit for improving process robustness of sub-threshold SRAM memory cells serves as an auxiliary circuit for a sub-threshold SRAM memory cell. The output of the circuit is connected to PMOS transistors of the sub-threshold SRAM memory cell and substrate of PMOS transistors in the circuit. The circuit includes a detection circuit for threshold voltages of the PMOS transistors and a differential input and single-ended output amplifier. The circuit changes the substrate voltage of the PMOS transistors in the sub-threshold SRAM memory cell and the PMOS transistors in the circuit in a self-adapting manner by detecting threshold voltage fluctuations of PMOS and NMOS transistor resulted from process fluctuations and thereby regulates the threshold voltages of the PMOS transistors, so that the threshold voltages of the PMOS and NMOS transistors match. The circuit improves the noise margin of sub-threshold SRAM memory cells and the process robustness of sub-threshold SRAM memory cells.
US09236112B1
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed including an apparatus that includes a controller circuit configured to access a first subarray of a memory and to access a second subarray of the memory subsequent to accessing the first subarray but contemporaneous with precharging a portion of the first subarray by a precharge circuit associated with the first subarray.
US09236095B2
A method, system and apparatus for sharing internal power supplies in integrated circuit devices is described. A multiple device integrated circuit 200 including multiple integrated circuits 202-205 each having internal power supplies is contained in an enclosure 201. Integrated circuits 202-205 are described showing how to make external connection to internal power supplies. Connections 208-212 are provided to the internal power supplies of each of devices 202-205. Another embodiment 500 of the system provides for disablement of regulators in multiple integrated circuits 502, 503, and 504 by another integrated circuit 501 for power consumption reduction. The method FIG. 6 includes providing devices and connecting the internal power supplies together. An integrated circuit 501 with a power supply 400 adapted to the system and method with additional circuitry 308, 404 and 402 for disabling a regulator 306 is described.
US09236094B2
A CD-vinyl record player comprising a CD door, small turntable, bearing element, record player axle, mini-bearing, big turntable, record player main base, CD motor frame, turntable frame, CD main base, bearing, bearing cover, and CD motor. The CD door is connected to the small turntable through a mini-bearing, and the record player axle is installed in the center of the CD door. The bearing element is above the CD door and connected to the record player axle. The big turntable is above the record player main base. The bottom of the record player main base connects to the turntable frame. The CD motor frame is above CD main base. The bearing is at the center of record player main base, and has the bearing cover on top. The CD motor is at center of the bottom of the turntable frame. The invention combines a vinyl record player and CD player into one player.
US09236093B2
A video map comprising bookmark generating data that enables a user to avoid to manually navigate a menu and a trailer provided with a video; seek/step data identifying, for each of a plurality of video frames within the video, a navigation point and a number of video frames that are required to step to a video frame, the seek/step data enabling a navigator to seek to a navigation point appropriate to a begin video frame of a video segment, to step to the begin video frame of the video segment, and to begin playing at the begin video frame of the video segment; and segment information defining a begin video frame and an end video frame of each of a plurality of video segments within the video, the segment information enabling a playing of a presentation of the video less in length than the length of the video.
US09236083B2
Storing data to a storage medium with a device that has moving parts supported by a bearing and which maintains separation between opposing bearing surfaces in the bearing with a pressurized working fluid.
US09236080B2
A storage medium includes a content storage portion for storing content and a bookmark storage portion for storing a bookmark value. An associated player for playing the content includes a user interface for presenting the content to a user, a processor for presenting the content to the user interface starting at a starting segment of the content in accordance with the bookmark value, and a medium interface for reversibly operationally connecting the player to the storage medium to deliver the content and the bookmark value to the processor. The player plays the content until an ending segment is reached, and sets the bookmark value in accordance with the ending segment, so that subsequent playing, on the same player or on a different player, starts in accordance with the ending segment. The starting segment is selected either by the player or by the storage medium.
US09236074B1
A system comprises a disk writer servo head and a controller. The disk writer servo head is configured to be positioned by a micro actuator. The disk writer servo head is also configured to substantially, continuously alternate between reading a first servo pattern and writing a second servo pattern until a disk is substantially, completely servo written. The first servo pattern establishes a first position of the disk writer servo head and the second servo pattern establishes a second position of the disk writer servo head. The controller is configured to control the operation of the disk writer servo head. The controller is also configured to compare the first and second positions to establish a position error. The micro actuator is configured to reposition the disk writer servo head in response to the position error prior to a next reading.
US09236068B2
A hard bias (HB) structure for producing longitudinal bias to stabilize a free layer in an adjacent spin valve is disclosed and includes a composite seed layer made of at least Ta and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an overlying (Co/Ni)x laminated layer. The (Co/Ni)x HB layer deposition involves low power and high Ar pressure to avoid damaging Co/Ni interfaces and thereby preserves PMA. A capping layer is formed on the HB layer to protect against etchants in subsequent process steps. After initialization, magnetization direction in the HB layer is perpendicular to the sidewalls of the spin valve and generates an Mrt value that is greater than from an equivalent thickness of CoPt. A non-magnetic metal separation layer may be formed on the capping layer and spin valve to provide an electrical connection between top and bottom shields.
US09236062B2
A signal manipulator for manipulating an audio signal having a transient event may have a transient remover, a signal processor and a signal inserter for inserting a time portion in a processed audio signal at a signal location where the transient event was removed before processing by the transient remover, so that a manipulated audio signal has a transient event not influenced by the processing, whereby the vertical coherence of the transient event is maintained instead of any processing performed in the signal processor, which would destroy the vertical coherence of a transient.
US09236059B2
An apparatus determining a weighting function for line prediction coding coefficients quantization converts a linear prediction coding (LPC) coefficient of an input signal into one of a line spectral frequency (LSF) coefficient and an immitance spectral frequency (ISF) coefficient and determines a weighting function associated with one of an importance of the ISF coefficient and importance of the LSF coefficient using one of the converted ISF coefficient and the converted LSF coefficient.
US09236058B2
A method for quantizing phase information on an electronic device is described. The method includes obtaining a speech signal. The method also includes determining a prototype pitch period signal based on the speech signal and transforming the prototype pitch period signal into a first frequency-domain signal. The method additionally includes mapping the first frequency-domain signal into a plurality of subbands. The method also includes determining a global alignment based on the first frequency-domain signal and quantizing the global alignment utilizing scalar quantization to obtain a quantized global alignment. The method additionally includes determining a plurality of band alignments corresponding to the plurality of subbands. The method also includes quantizing the plurality of band alignments utilizing vector quantization to obtain a quantized plurality of band alignments. The method further includes transmitting the quantized global alignment and the quantized plurality of band alignments.
US09236054B2
An audio accelerator includes a decoder to decode first and second sets of data blocks, a processor to process the first and second sets of decoded data blocks, a storage area to store the first and second sets of processed data blocks, and a controller to generate interrupt signals for controlling operation of the decoder. The controller may control a rate at which data blocks are to be decoded by the decoder to reduce a time gap between outputting adjacent ones of the data blocks from the first and second sets in the storage area.
US09236038B1
A drum pedal includes a unit body, a pedal, a chain belt, a shaft, a beater, and a tension coil spring. The tension coil spring has a lower end coupled through a bolt, an adjusting nut, and a locking nut to a bracket fixed to a column. The tension coil spring pivots together with the bolt and the adjusting and locking nuts relative to the bracket. A pivot fulcrum of the tension coil spring is provided on the lower surface of the bracket contacting the adjusting nut.
US09236032B2
A method and apparatus for providing content experience service are disclosed. The apparatus includes a camera device tracking unit, a user behavior tracking unit, a real image acquisition unit, a motion information processing unit, a virtual space control unit, and a virtual multi-image generation unit. The camera device tracking unit collects camera motion information. The user behavior tracking unit collects user motion information. The real image acquisition unit photographs a space including the user, and separates a real image into a foreground and a background using a background key table. The motion information processing unit corrects the camera motion information and the user motion information. The virtual space control unit generates virtual space control information and virtual space information. The virtual multi-image generation unit generates a virtual multi-image, and provides the content experience service based on the generated virtual multi-image.
US09236031B2
Adjust a vertical blanking interval of a display horizontal synchronization signal, according to a difference between an external horizontal synchronization signal and the display horizontal synchronization signal, for synchronizing the display horizontal synchronization signal to the external horizontal synchronization signal. This only requires one or two frames to synchronize the display horizontal synchronization signal to the external horizontal synchronization signal, and will not cause the user to perceive display pauses or flickers.
US09236029B2
Systems, methods, and devices are provided for histogram generation and evaluation used in adjusting the power consumed by a backlight of an electronic display. One such method involves generating a pixel brightness histogram of an image frame passing through a pixel pipeline in a nonlinear space. One or more pixel brightness values from the histogram may be selected before being converted from the nonlinear space into a linear space. A tone mapping function and backlight intensity are determined based at least in part on the one or more pixel brightness values in the linear space. The resulting tone mapping function is converted to the nonlinear space and applied to the image frame or a subsequent image frame in the pixel pipeline. The pixels of the image frame to which the nondistorting portion of the tone mapping function is applied may appear substantially undistorted despite a reduction in backlight intensity.
US09236028B2
The image display apparatus according to the invention is characterized by comprising a light source for emitting out parallel light, a light deflector capable of deflecting the parallel light emitted out from the light source, and a control unit operable to produce a scan signal for deflecting the light deflector periodically and produce a light intensity control signal in sync with the scan signal based on entered image information thereby controlling the light source.
US09236026B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a color temperature tuning method, a color temperature tuning apparatus, and a display apparatus. The color temperature tuning method includes the steps of: matching an input color temperature signal with a color temperature value in the color temperature lookup table, and extracting a current signal corresponding to the color temperature value matching with the input color temperature signal from the color temperature lookup table; and controlling a light emitting device to emit light according to the current signal. According to embodiments of the present invention, intermediate calculation process is omitted and time for tuning the color temperature is shorten. Currents flowing through the blue and green light emitting elements are controlled to emit lights to excite red fluorescent powder, so that the LED emits lights having various color temperatures, and tuning accuracy of the color temperature and user experience are improved.
US09236016B2
A transparent display device including a liquid crystal panel is provided. The liquid crystal panel includes a color filter substrate, an array substrate, a liquid crystal layer, a first polarizer and a second polarizer. The first polarizer is disposed on a side of the color filter substrate far from the liquid crystal layer. The second polarizer is disposed on a side of the array substrate far from the liquid crystal layer. The color filter substrate includes a transparent base, and a color filter formed on the transparent base. The color filter includes compound pixel regions, wherein each of the compound pixel regions has color sub-pixel regions and a transparent sub-pixel region. The second polarizer includes a non-polarized pattern spatially corresponding to the transparent sub-pixel region in the color filter, after a light passing through the non-polarized pattern, the polarization state remains unchanged.
US09236013B2
A reference luminescence amount-acquiring unit of a display device obtains reference brightness corresponding to a BL drive value detected by a drive value-detecting unit and a temperature detected by a temperature-detecting unit. A deterioration-detecting unit calculates an initial status value based on a ratio of reference brightness obtained based on a temperature and a BL drive value in an initial status and brightness in the initial status detected by a luminescence amount-detecting unit, and stores the initial status value. The deterioration-detecting unit further calculates a current status value based on a ratio of reference brightness obtained based on a current temperature and a current BL drive value and current brightness detected by the luminescence amount-detecting unit, compares the initial status value with the current status value, and determines whether calibration is required. When calibration is determined to be required, a warning screen display unit causes performance deterioration to be displayed on a display unit.
US09236011B2
An OLED display device which can sense a current of each pixel at high speed by a simple structure in order to compensate for luminance non-uniformity and a pixel current sensing method thereof are discussed. The OLED display device includes a display panel including pixels, each including a light emitting element and a pixel circuit for independently driving the light emitting element, a data driver for driving a data line connected to the pixel circuit using a data voltage, floating one of the data line, a reference line for supplying a reference voltage to the pixel circuit, and a power line for supplying a power to the pixel circuit to use the floated line as a current sensing line, sensing a voltage corresponding to a pixel current of the pixel circuit flowing to the current sensing line, and outputting the sensing voltage, in a sensing mode.
US09236004B2
In a liquid crystal display device adopting a time-division scheme to improve viewing angle characteristics, the occurrence of horizontal lines on a screen is suppressed. When first output gray scales are obtained for one-line data, the sum total of differences between “source voltages for a horizontal scanning period immediately before a horizontal scanning period during which a processing target line is placed in a selected state” and “source voltages determined based on the first output gray scales obtained by a gray scale value obtaining unit” for all source bus lines is determined (step S110). Then, based on the amount of CS ripple corresponding to the sum total determined at step S110, correction addition/subtraction values are obtained from a polarity-by-polarity background look-up table, for the respective picture elements included in the processing target line (step S120). Then, second output gray scales are determined in an addition/subtraction process of the first output gray scales and the correction addition/subtraction values (step S130).
US09235999B2
A display device includes a plurality of pixels each including a mechanical shutter. The display device electrically controls the position of the mechanical shutter to provide image display. Each of the pixels includes a pixel circuit for electrically controlling the position of the mechanical shutter. The pixel circuit includes a first control electrode and a second control electrode provided as a pair with respect to the mechanical shutter; a first mean for applying a prescribed control voltage to the first control electrode and the second control electrode to put the mechanical shutter and the first control electrode or the second control electrode into contact with each other; and a second mean for, in a state where the mechanical shutter is at a stop, decreasing a potential difference between the mechanical shutter and the first control electrode or the second control electrode which is in contact with the mechanical shutter.
US09235995B2
A system for communicating status information associated with a device has an interface panel. The interface panel has a bezel extending substantially around a perimeter thereof. The interface panel is configured to interface with the device. The interface panel has a light device disposed substantially around a perimeter of the bezel. The light device is configured to illuminate the bezel. The system has a light controller coupled to the light device. The light controller is configured to control light output of the light device to indicate a status of the device.
US09235993B2
A computerized method is disclosed of creating map data from position data derived from the positions of at least one vehicle over a period of time, the map data including a plurality of navigable segments representing segments of a navigable route in the area covered by the map and the map data also including intersections between navigable segments representing intersections in the navigable route. In at least one embodiment, the method includes using a processing circuitry to perform the following: i. processing the position data; ii. calculating from the processing of the position data a transit time or set of transit times for at least some of the intersections in the map data; and iii generating further map data, which for at least some of the intersections therein, contains the calculated transit time or set of transit times associated with the intersection for which the calculation was made.
US09235992B2
There is provided a simulator for CPR and defibrillator training, which may perform training and evaluation of CPR and a defibrillator so that when there is a patient in an emergency situation, effective first aid can be provided to the patient. Through the simulator for CPR and defibrillator training, CPR and the use of the defibrillator for emergency medical technicians such as a doctor, a nurse and an emergency medical technician can be systematically and repetitively trained, and a person in charge of training can identify whether or not the education is performed effectively by recording and evaluating a training situation. Also, through the simulator, the education of CPR and defibrillator training is possible so that not only the emergency medical technicians but also general people can perform emergency treatment effectively.
US09235988B2
A method for tracking and characterizing a plurality of vehicles simultaneously in a traffic control environment, comprising: providing a 3D optical emitter; providing a 3D optical receiver with a wide and deep field of view; driving the 3D optical emitter into emitting short light pulses; receiving a reflection/backscatter of the emitted light, thereby acquiring an individual digital full-waveform LIDAR trace for each detection channel of the 3D optical receiver; using the individual digital full-waveform LIDAR trace and the emitted light waveform, detecting a presence of a plurality of vehicles, a position of at least part of each vehicle and a time at which the position is detected; assigning a unique identifier to each vehicle; repeating the steps of driving, receiving, acquiring and detecting, at a predetermined frequency; tracking and recording an updated position of each vehicle and an updated time at which the updated position is detected.
US09235985B2
An electronic device includes a sound collecting unit and a processor. The processor determine whether continuous sound signals collected by the sound collecting unit includes a first alternating portion, a direct portion, and a second alternating portion in sequence. The processor further determines whether a first duration of the direction signals portion falls within a first preset time range, and determines whether a second duration of each of the first alternating portion and the second alternating portion falls within a second preset time range. The processor then triggers a function of the electronic device when the first duration falls within the first preset time range, and the second duration falls within the second preset time range. A related method is also disclosed.
US09235974B2
A system, method, and apparatus for gas exposure monitoring of a work area are described. The system may include a processor; an interface to communicate with a first device and a second device; and a memory to store first and second gas exposure identifiers and first and second location identifiers received from the first and second devices, respectively. The system may identify a concentration of gas detected by the first device in a work zone. The system may be operable to transmit alert information to the second device when the second device is in the work zone and the concentration of gas detected by the first device in the work zone is above the set amount.
US09235973B2
In a method and apparatus for communication between a control unit of a medical imaging device, the control unit being arranged within a control room, and an operator located in an examination room examination and/or a patient located in the examination room and positioned on a patient support device, wherein the control room is arranged outside of the examination room, object data of objects positioned on the patient support device and/or of the operator are acquired by an object data acquisition unit, the acquired object data are transferred from the object data acquisition unit to the control unit, information of the objects positioned on the patient support device and/or the operator is determined by the control unit using the acquired object data, and output information is generated using the determined information and the output information is presented within the examination room.
US09235970B2
An apparatus and methods for detecting the presence of gases is described. The gas detection apparatus includes, a housing adapted to be in fluid communication with a duct of a particle detection system, and at least one gas detector sensitive to a target species arranged in fluid communication with the housing to detect the presence of the target species in at least part of the air sample flowing in a duct. In one form the gas detection apparatus forms part of a system for detecting a condition in an environment that includes, a particle detector; a duct system in fluid communication with the environment and the particle detector and an aspirator to draw an air sample flow from the environment to the particle detector.
US09235953B2
In some embodiments, a method includes presenting a wagering game at a wagering game machine. The method includes establishing a wireless communication between the wagering game machine and a mobile device. The method also includes, in response to a wagering game player satisfying a wagering game criteria when playing the wagering game, enabling access to content on the mobile device, wherein the content is based on a context resulting from the wagering game player playing the wagering game.
US09235945B2
Automatic coin input apparatuses for use with consumer coin counting machines and/or other coin processing machines are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a coin bowl structure includes a rotatable disk configured to support a plurality of randomly oriented coins deposited thereon. In operation, rotation of the disk in a first direction can automatically drive a first portion of the coins deposited thereon out of the bowl structure through a first coin passage, and rotation of the disk in a second direction opposite to the first direction can automatically drive a second portion of the coins deposited thereon out of the bowl structure through a second coin passage different than the first coin passage.
US09235944B1
A thermal printing device for electronic voting apparatus including a casing with paper reservoir for receiving a paper roll, an openable external lid with a transparent window for observing of a printed part of the paper, a thermal printing unit with a driving rubber roller for the paper, a cutting device with two blades, a paper transport unit for transporting the paper, arranged below the transparent window, and a ballot discharge opening of the casing provided after the paper transport unit. The rubber roller and one of the blades of the cutting device are integral with part of the paper transport unit that is openable in order to give access to the paper reservoir.
US09235940B2
An in-vehicle charger includes a charger that charges a device to be charged including a wireless key of a keyless entry device, a controller connected to the charger, and a detection unit connected to the controller and that detects an installation state of the device to be charged relative to the charger. The controller turns on power supply to the charger and controls the keyless entry device to perform first communication verification when the installation state of the device to be charged relative to the charger is detected by the detection unit. The controller turns on the power supply to the charger when it is determined that the communication verification of the keyless entry device has been performed.
US09235939B2
In order to make it more difficult to alter the recorded data in an event data recorder, a plurality of electric control devices may each have a memory device and may each play a respective role in the vehicle. A data assignment device may be connected to the plurality of electric control devices and the data assignment device may assign a part of drive record data to one of the plurality of electric control devices to store the part of drive record data. The data assignment device may also assign the rest of the drive record data to the rest of the plurality of electric control devices to store the rest of the drive record data.
US09235935B2
The invention provides a method and system toll charge payment system using electronic messaging from at least one electronic communication device, for example a mobile telephone, said system comprising: a remote communication system adapted to communicate with the at least one electronic communication device; recording means for capturing vehicle identifier information for vehicles passing through a toll charge area and storing said identifier information on said remote communication system or another remote communication system; characterised by said at least one communication device is associated with a pre-existing telecommunication account belonging to a user; means for sending an electronic message, for example a SMS (text) message or WAP message or voice control message, from the electronic communication device by said user to the remote communication system wherein said electronic message comprises a vehicle registration identifier and/or toll identifier information; and said remote communication system comprises means for automatically matching said received electronic message with said captured vehicle identifier information and, if a match is made, a toll charge payment is debited from the user's pre-existing telecommunication account and credited to a toll operator account. The main advantage of the system is that the user does not have to pre-register account information in order to effect a toll charge payment and no retrofitting of vehicles with specific devices is required. The convenience of the solution ensures widespread acceptance by users of toll charge systems.
US09235929B2
A computer-implemented method for processing virtual 3-D data efficiently is described. An object image data is generated from a scan of an object. Object polygon model data and object texture map data is generated from the object image data. The object polygon model data is saved in a first object file. The object texture map data is encoded. The encoded object texture map data is saved in a second object file. The data format of the second object file is different than the data format of the first object file.
US09235922B2
The invention relates to a method for modeling a scene from a plurality of maps representative of depth, each map representative of depth being associated with a view of the said scene according to a particular viewpoint, To optimize the fidelity and precision of the scene modeling, the method comprises the following steps: generating, for each map representative of depth, a surface representative of the said depth map in world space; estimating a volume bounding all surfaces generated, the said bounding volume being discretised into a plurality of voxels; associating attributes representative of transparency with the said voxels of the bounding volume; and generating a resulting surface according to the attributes representative of transparency associated with the said voxels. The invention also relates to a device for processing the data representative of the corresponding depth.
US09235915B2
An image data generating device generates image data that have a configuration including two or more text lines, one or more columns contained in each text line, and two or more rows contained in each column, and that are formed of a plurality of image data constituent elements. The image data generating device includes: a first data buffer that retains a first plurality of image data constituent elements contained in an upper text line of two vertically adjacent text lines out of the two or more text lines; a second data buffer that retains a second plurality of image data constituent elements contained in a lower text line of the two vertically adjacent text lines out of the two or more text lines; and a data analysis section that determines whether or not one image data constituent element out of the first plurality of image data constituent elements is present in a lower row of each column contained in the upper text line and whether or not one image data constituent element out of the second plurality of image data constituent elements is present in an upper row of each column contained in the lower text line. The data analysis section decides whether to decrease a spacing between the two vertically adjacent text lines on the basis of the determination result, and determines a decreased width in a case where the spacing is decreased.
US09235913B2
According to an example, a computer may receive characteristics information of an object in a video stream captured by a first computing device, generate a signature based on the characteristics information, identify an augmented reality information associated with the signature, transmit the augmented reality information to the first computing device, receive, from a second computing device, a set of characteristics information of the object in an image captured by the second computing device, determine that the set of characteristics information from the second computing device has a second signature that matches the signature generated based on the characteristics information received form the first computing device, and transmit the identified augmented reality information to the second computing device.
US09235912B2
An image display device includes a display unit, a graph display control unit, a display range displacement unit, a plotted point change unit and a graph update control unit. The graph display control unit displays an approximate graph for plotted points on an image display region to which a coordinate system is set. The display range displacement unit displaces a display range of the coordinate system with an image in the image display region fixed. Responding to the display range being displaced, the plotted point change unit changes coordinate values of the plotted points in accordance with displacements of the display range to maintain positions of the plotted points before and after the display range being displaced, and updates display of the plotted points, and the graph update control unit updates a content displayed by the graph display control unit.
US09235901B2
A method for locating one or more interproximal tooth regions in a digital tooth image. The method can be executed at least in part on data processing hardware. The method includes generating the digital tooth image from a fluorescence image of one or more teeth and a reflectance image of the one or more teeth, so as to combine image data from the fluorescence and reflectance images. The digital tooth image has intensity values for pixels corresponding to the one or more teeth and background. The method identifies one or more tooth regions by processing the digital tooth image and locates the one or more interproximal tooth regions according to the one or more identified tooth regions.
US09235900B2
Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates.
US09235897B2
A stereoscopic image generating device includes: a correction parameter calculating unit that calculates correction parameters based on a plurality of pairs of feature points corresponding to the same points on the object, from the first image and a second image photographing the object; a correction error calculating unit that, for each pair of feature points, corrects the position of the feature point on at least one image, using the correction parameters, and calculates the amount of correction error; a maldistribution degree calculating unit that finds the degree of maldistribution of feature points; a threshold value determining unit that determines a threshold value such that the threshold value is smaller when the degree of maldistribution increases; and a correction unit that, when the amount of correction error is equal to or lower than the threshold value, corrects the position of the object in the images using the correction parameters.
US09235892B2
The present disclosure provides a method of standardizing a digital radiographic medical image, including obtaining a digital radiographic image of a variable attenuation plate to provide at least one reference value of at least one image characteristic, such as optical density and contrast, and standardizing the digital radiographic medical image against the reference values. Also provided are methods for comparing two or more radiographic images including standardizing the images against at least one reference value of at least one image characteristic obtained from a digital radiographic image of a variable attenuation plate.
US09235884B2
An inspecting apparatus is provided which inspects whether or not a liquid absorbent particulate is deposited with a predetermined deposition pattern on an absorbent sheet-like member, the absorbent sheet-like member having a continuous web and a plurality of absorbent bodies, the continuous web being transported along a transport direction, the absorbent bodies being formed on one surface of the continuous web in a spaced apart manner in the transport direction, each absorbent body including the liquid absorbent particulate as a main material. The inspecting apparatus includes: an imaging process section which is adapted to image, from one side of a surface of the absorbent sheet-like member, a region on the absorbent sheet-like member where the absorbent body is expected to exist, and that is adapted to produce data relating to a planar image of the region as planar image data of the absorbent body; an extracting process section which is adapted to extract a proper quantity region from the planar image by performing a binarization process on the produced planar image data based on a threshold value, the proper quantity region being an imaged region in which the liquid absorbent particulate is of a specified amount or more; and a pass/fail determination process section that is adapted to perform a pass/fail determination process based on a value indicating a size of the proper quantity region.
US09235883B2
A mask has an inspection region virtually divided by a plurality of stripes. A position error-correcting unit is disposed on a stage in a region different from the mask, formed with patterns divided virtually by the plurality of stripes. A first deviation amount acquiring circuit acquires a first deviation amount from the optical image and the reference image of the position error correction unit. A second deviation amount acquiring circuit acquires a second deviation amount. A position correcting circuit corrects a positional relationship between the mask and the position error correction unit based on the first deviation amount, and obtains a fluctuation value of position coordinates of each pattern in the inspection region of the mask based on the second deviation amount and corrects the position coordinates.
US09235879B2
Embodiments of apparatuses, systems, and methods for a temporal hole filling are described. Specifically, an embodiment of the present invention may include a depth-based hole filling process that includes a background modeling technique (SGM). Beneficially, in such an embodiment, holes in the synthesized view may be filled effectively and efficiently.
US09235878B1
The invention described here provides a novel method of preventing the loss of focus and range of colors when digital image files are expanded to a larger size. Unlike interpolation algorithms and algorithms using Fourier analysis to create new pixels, the present system uses a combination of pseudo-randomizing functions and user controlled edge detection to enhance edges initially softened by expansion using interpolation algorithms. The resulting images can be optimized to provide a superior approximation to what would be an accurate photographic representation at the larger image size. Furthermore, the flexibility in edge detection sensitivity allows the operator to strongly mitigate the structural artifacts produced by lossy compression algorithms such as the jpeg system and sampling errors widespread in very small images. As a result files as small as 200 kilobytes can be effectively expanded to 250 or even 500 megabytes in many cases.
US09235877B2
A method of operating an electronic device for image interpolation is provided. The method includes estimating a direction of pixels using a plurality of filters respectively corresponding to a plurality of angles, correcting the direction of the pixels using a direction of neighboring pixels, determining whether the direction estimation has an error according to a direction distribution of the neighboring pixels, and when the direction estimation is determined to have error, correcting the error in the direction estimation.
US09235863B2
A social networking system generates a friendship page that displays social graph data common to two or more social networking system users. A user requests the page by identifying two or more social networking system. The social networking system obtains social graph data common to the identified social networking system users and generates a friendship page containing that social graph data. The obtained social graph data may include interactions between each of the identified user and/or social networking system objects with which each of the identified users has interacted. Examples of the types of social graph data may include photos, videos, communications, content items, events, locations, friends, family members, biographical data, and location data. The friendship page may be displayed to the requesting user in a web browser or in a native application.
US09235862B1
Methods and systems for providing financial and/or board member information in a secured manner to members of boards of directors of companies and others through a publicly-available widely disseminated network.
US09235841B2
An apparatus, including an input device or receiver for inputting or receiving transaction information regarding a transaction on or involving an account and involving an individual, a camera for obtaining a photograph or a picture of the individual, a processing device for processing information regarding the transaction and or generating a notification message containing information regarding the transaction, and a transmitter for transmitting the notification message to a communication device associated with an individual account holder. The notification message is transmitted to the communication device independently of any processing of the transaction by a transaction authorization processing computer. The apparatus transmits the photograph or the picture to the communication device independently of any processing of the transaction by a transaction authorization processing computer.
US09235835B2
The disclosed embodiments include a mobile client device for providing real-time manufacturer-based financing. In one embodiment, the mobile device is configured to receive a product code associated with a manufacturer product offered for sale at a merchant location. The mobile device may further provide the product code to a financial service provider system configured to create a manufacturer-based financial service account associated with the product manufacturer. Further, the mobile device may provide, to the financial service provider system, information associated with a received account application, where the financial service provider system may create the manufacturer-based financial service account based on the received information and the product code. The mobile device may also receive a purchase code for purchasing the product using the manufacturer-based financial service account, provide it at the merchant POS location, and receive a confirmation of product purchase.
US09235832B1
A system, method, and computer-usable medium are disclosed for authenticating a financial transaction terminal, such as an automated teller machine. A user provides financial account data, such as an account number, which is then combined with a unique identifier of the financial transaction terminal to generate terminal authentication data. The terminal authentication data is provided to a terminal authentication system, which extracts the financial account data and the unique identifier of the financial transaction terminal. The unique identifier of the financial transaction terminal is compared to a list of authentic financial transaction terminal identifiers. If its authenticity is confirmed, then a shared secret corresponding to the user's financial account data is provided to the authenticated financial transaction terminal. The user is queried as to the authenticity of the shared secret. If the response is affirmative, then the user is prompted to provide user authentication information, such as a Personal Identification Number (PIN), and the transaction proceeds. Otherwise, the transaction is discontinued.
US09235827B2
A computing device may include at least one primary notification module and at least one secondary notification module. A notification controller module may trigger a primary notification module and a secondary notification module to generate notification messages or the controller module may trigger the primary notification module to generate a notification message. A graphics device may generate a composite notification message based at least in part on the notification messages from the primary and the secondary notification modules, where representations of the notification messages are stacked one on-top of the other in the composite notification message.
US09235826B1
This disclosure relates to a method and system for managing participation in a communication channel when one or more participants may be delayed. In one example, a method includes retrieving, by a first computing device, a meeting appointment including an invitee, a meeting start time, and identifying information for a communication channel for the meeting, wherein the invitee to the meeting is invited to the communication channel and the invitee is associated with a second computing device. The method further includes sending, by the first computing device, a request to the second computing device, wherein the request enables the second computing device to join the communication channel, and wherein the request is sent approximately at the meeting start time. The method also includes receiving, by the first computing device, a control message that indicates a first time at which the second computing device will join the communication channel.
US09235817B2
Systems and methods of vehicle freight/load distribution are provided to assist in determining optimal freight distribution. Although it is standard practice to fill each vehicle to its maximum limit, due to the non-linear nature of engine fueling maps (that is, fueling maps vary non-linearly as a function of torque and speed), the optimal distribution may not be obtained by the standard practice. Finding a solution for the optimal freight distribution may also need to account for the cost of fueling and operator costs, particularly if the situation involves multiple vehicles not filled to capacity. The benefit is increased freight efficiency in transporting cargo from source to destination amongst a fleet of vehicles.
US09235812B2
A system, method and computer program product for automatic document classification, including an extraction module configured to extract structural, syntactical and/or semantic information from a document and normalize the extracted information; a machine learning module configured to generate a model representation for automatic document classification based on feature vectors built from the normalized and extracted semantic information for supervised and/or unsupervised clustering or machine learning; and a classification module configured to select a non-classified document from a document collection, and via the extraction module extract normalized structural, syntactical and/or semantic information from the selected document, and generate via the machine learning module a model representation of the selected document based on feature vectors, and match the model representation of the selected document against the machine learning model representation to generate a document category, and/or classification for display to a user.
US09235808B2
Disclosed is a novel system, and method to evaluate a prediction of a possibly unknown outcome out of a plurality of predictions of that outcome. The method begins with accessing a particular prediction of an outcome out of a plurality of predictions of that outcome in which the outcome may be unknown. Next, a subsample of the plurality of predictions of the outcome is accessed. The subsample can possibly include the particular prediction. A consensus prediction of the outcome based on the subsample of the plurality of predictions is determined. A proximity of the particular prediction to the consensus prediction is determined. Each prediction is ranked out of the plurality of predictions in an order of a closest in proximity to the consensus prediction to a farthest in proximity to the consensus prediction.
US09235807B2
A device detecting at least one scenario from predetermined scenarios wherein a physical system observed by at least one sensor is likely to be found, including: at least one sensor providing a physical system observation data sequence; a storage storing at least one statistical model associating possible observation data values with the predetermined scenarios; a computer programmed to select at least one of the scenarios based on the observation data sequence and at least one statistical model. The storage includes plural statistical models broken down into plural ordered levels between an input level, wherein each statistical model associates possible values of at least a portion of the observation data with intermediate states for the statistical model, and an output level, wherein each statistical model associating possible values of at least a portion of the intermediate states of a lower level with at least a portion of the predetermined scenarios.
US09235805B2
The present invention is related to a decision-support system and method for providing with a score an object represented by a target item from a multidimensional space, said score being representative of the probability that the object satisfies a given binary property. The method and/or decision support-system may be performed in a computer environment comprising processing means connected to memory means.
US09235797B2
An IC card may include a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces, and a circuit carried by the substrate adjacent the first surface of the substrate. The substrate may include a first area defining a first sector of the substrate carrying the circuit and configured to be separated from the IC card, the first sector having a form and size based upon a first IC card format, the first area having a first line delimiting the first sector to the first IC card format. The substrate may include a second area defining a second sector around the first sector and configured to be separated from the IC card based upon a second line. The second sector may have a form and size based upon at least one of a second IC card format and a third IC card format.
US09235780B2
To improve feature selection accuracy during a visual search, interest points within a query image are two-way matched to features in an affine transformed image or otherwise transformed version of the query image. A user device implements a method for selecting local descriptors in the visual search. The method includes: detecting a first set of interest points for the original image; computing an affine transform matrix; computing a new image as a transformation of the original image using the affine transform matrix; detecting a second set of interest points from the and new image; performing a two-way matching between the first set of interest points and the second set of interest points; sorting matching pairs according to a specified self-matching score (SMS); assigning an infinite value to SMS of unmatched interest points from the original image; selecting the interest points based on SMS. Significant performance gains reduce false positive matches.
US09235771B2
Embodiments herein provide computer-implemented techniques for allowing a user computing device to extract financial card information using optical character recognition (“OCR”). Extracting financial card information may be improved by applying various classifiers and other transformations to the image data. For example, applying a linear classifier to the image to determine digit locations before applying the OCR algorithm allows the user computing device to use less processing capacity to extract accurate card data. The OCR application may train a classifier to use the wear patterns of a card to improve OCR algorithm performance. The OCR application may apply a linear classifier and then a nonlinear classifier to improve the performance and the accuracy of the OCR algorithm. The OCR application uses the known digit patterns used by typical credit and debit cards to improve the accuracy of the OCR algorithm.
US09235769B2
A parallel object detection method for heterogeneous microarchitectures. The method is designed for increasing the throughput of object detection in a computer system that is equipped with an array of cores including a shared memory, a constant memory, and functional units. Latency reduction is achieved through a multilevel parallelization method that exploits fine-grain data-level parallelism using multithreaded SIMD computations, and coarse-grain parallelism by relying on concurrent kernel execution.
US09235765B2
Enables intelligent synchronization and transfer of generally concise event videos synchronized with motion data from motion capture sensor(s) coupled with a user or piece of equipment. Greatly saves storage and increases upload speed by uploading event videos and avoiding upload of non-pertinent portions of large videos. Provides intelligent selection of multiple videos from multiple cameras covering an event at a given time, for example selecting one with least shake. Enables near real-time alteration of camera parameters during an event determined by the motion capture sensor, and alteration of playback parameters and special effects for synchronized event videos. Creates highlight reels filtered by metrics and can sort by metric. Integrates with multiple sensors to save event data even if other sensors do not detect the event. Also enables analysis or comparison of movement associated with the same user, other user, historical user or group of users.
US09235761B2
Processing of a signal includes identifying a past recurring pattern in the signal with a recurrence matrix, and filtering the signal and the recurring pattern such that the recurring pattern serves as a representation of future signal behavior.
US09235759B2
Detecting text using stroke width based text detection. As a part of the text detection, a representation of an image is generated that includes pixels that are associated with the stroke widths of components of the image. Connected components of the image are identified by filtering out portions of the pixels using metrics related to stroke width. Text is detected in the image based on the identified connected components.
US09235758B1
Techniques for comparing documents may be provided. For example, a comparison between layouts of the documents may be performed. The comparison may include segmenting the documents into blocks, where an arrangement of blocks of a document represents a layout of the document. Once segmented, similarity metrics, such as distances, between blocks of one document and blocks of the other document may be computed. The similarity metrics may be used to match the blocks between the documents. Further, the similarity metrics between the matched blocks may be added to determine an overall similarity metric between the documents. This overall similarity metric may indicate how similar the documents may be.
US09235757B1
A system that identifies and recognizes text that offers reduced the computational complexity for processing complex images. Widths of scan line segments within candidate text regions are determined, with the shortest segments selected as being representative of stroke width. Statistical features of the stroke widths are used as part of the process to classify each region as containing or not containing a text character or glyph.
US09235750B1
A system for providing real-time alerts or actions comprises an image capturing device and a processor and a memory. The image capturing device is for capturing an image during vehicle operation and of an expected driver location. The processor is configured to: 1) detect a face of a driver in the image; 2) determine a set of face data from the image; and 3) determine authentication based at least in part on the set of face data. The memory is coupled to the processor and configured to provide the processor with instructions.
US09235745B2
There is provided a signal processing device for remedying an error in reading bar-codes derived from a defect of the bar-code printed on a label, a way to hold the bar-code reader's sensor to the bar-code and so forth. The signal processing device comprises: a variable amplifier configured to output a signal, as an output signal thereof, corresponding to an input signal, an offset and a gain of the variable amplifier being able to be adjusted; a comparing means configured to compare a level of the output signal of the variable amplifier with a plurality of thresholds; a detecting means configured to detect either or both of a shift of the offset of the variable amplifier and an excess or deficiency of the gain of the variable amplifier based on the result of the comparison executed in the comparing means; and an adjusting means configured to adjust either or both of the offset and the gain of the variable amplifier based on the result of the detection executed in the detecting means.
US09235741B2
A terminal for decoding decodable indicia includes a plenoptic imaging subsystem comprising an image sensor array and plenoptic imaging optics operable to project a plenoptic image of a space containing the decodable indicia onto the image sensor array, a hand held housing encapsulating a least a portion of the plenoptic imaging subsystem, a trigger for initiating operation of the plenoptic imaging subsystem to obtain plenoptic image data of the decodable indicia, and an illumination source for projecting illumination onto the decodable indicia; an aimer for projecting an aimer pattern onto the decodable indicia. The terminal is operable, responsive to detecting that the trigger has been actuated by an operator, to obtain plenoptic image data from the image sensor array, to obtain first rendered image data based on at least a portion of the plenoptic image data, and to attempt to decode the decodable indicia represented in the rendered image data.
US09235738B2
A method for configuring a first near-field communication device according to a modulation type transmitted by a second device, wherein: a decoder of the first device is configured to decode a type-A modulation; a signal received during a first time slot corresponding to the duration of a first type-A symbol is decoded; and the first device is configured according to the value of the decoded symbol to determine the modulation type.
US09235736B2
A method of communication of an active smart RFID label with a user interrogator and a professional interrogator, said professional interrogator enabling a service provider to fully control said active smart RFID label and by means of which interrogator a content and a form of an extract of data, which are collected by a sensor, which is comprised of in the label, as well as a location within the label as location of said extract of data being collected by said label sensor, said location being accessible by the user interrogator are determined.A service user gets concisely acquainted with the service provided by the label by means of a widely used interrogator, whereat he cannot influence the data contained in the label or even its functioning neither needs any additional knowledge to communicate with said label.
US09235734B2
A system and method for verifying that a document is included in a document management system is disclosed. This system and method includes scanning of a scan track of a document, generating document data dependently upon the scanning, comparing the generated document data to stored document data, the stored document data generated dependently upon a prior scanning of the scan track of the document, and outputting an indication of the document being included in the document management system as determined by the comparing.
US09235730B2
A storage controller includes a command pointer register. The command pointer register points to a chain of commands in memory, and also includes a security status field to indicate a security status of the first command in the command chain. Each command in the command chain may also include a security status field that indicates the security status of the following command in the chain.
US09235729B2
Context captured with sensors of an information handling system is applied to selectively lock access to currently unlocked information, with conditions for locking access based upon the context. Nervous states enforce locking of selected information based upon the confidence of the security of the information under sensed external conditions. Increased sensitivity for locking access includes reduced timeouts to a lock command, increased response to sensed conditions, and more rapid response where unlocked access is to sensitive information.
US09235726B2
A system for preventing data remanence in memory is provided. The system includes a computing device, a memory chip coupled to the computing device and including memory, and a heater, the heater configured to prevent data remanence in a memory by providing heat to at least a portion of the memory. The memory includes a plurality of bits configured to electronically store data.
US09235725B2
The invention relates to a client computer for querying a database stored on a server via a network, the server being coupled to the client computer via the network, wherein the database comprises first data items and suffix items, wherein each suffix item describes a suffix of at least one first data item of the first data items, wherein for each suffix item a first referential connection exists in the database assigning said suffix item to the at least one first data item comprising the suffix of said suffix item, wherein each suffix item is encrypted with a suffix cryptographic key in the database, wherein each first data item is encrypted with a first cryptographic key in the database, wherein the client computer has installed thereon an application program, the application program being operational to: receiving a search request, the search request specifying an infix search expression, said expression comprising a first wildcard term on the left side of a search criterion and a second wildcard term on the right side of the search criterion, transforming the infix search expression into a prefix search expression by disregarding in the search request the first wildcard term and maintaining the search criterion and the second wildcard term, determine a search interval by transforming the prefix search into a corresponding search interval, performing a prefix search by determining all the encrypted suffix items lying within the search interval, providing to the database a request for providing the one or more encrypted first data items being assigned via the first referential connection to the determined encrypted suffix items, receiving from the database the requested encrypted first data items and decrypting said received first data items.
US09235723B2
Described herein are systems and methods for providing context-sensitive data security, for business application performance optimization. In accordance with an embodiment, the system can be used together with a Role Based Access Control model. Data security predicates can be made context-sensitive, by taking into account the context in which an end-user is navigating an application. By providing context-sensitive data security in this manner, the complexity of database queries can be reduced, and the underlying relational database management system can create better-optimized execution plans.
US09235722B2
In one embodiment, a document is marked with an identifier and stored in a memory. Responsive to a request received from a user to perform an operation upon the document or a copy of the document at a requester computer, a database is accessed. The database is a database associating users authorized to access the documents or copies of the documents with operations the users are authorized to perform is accessed. Operation authorization is determined at least in part according to a document threat index. Upon determining the user is an authorized user and determining via the database the requested operation is an authorized operation, an access code is sent to the requester computer to enable the operation.
US09235714B1
Organizations maintain and generate large amounts of sensitive information using computer hardware resources and services of a service provider. Furthermore, there is a need to be able to delete large amounts of data securely and quickly by encrypting the data with a key and destroying the key. To ensure that information stored remotely is secured and capable of secure deletion, cryptographic keys used by the organization should be prevented from being persistently stored during serialization operations. Signaling methods are used to notify virtual machine instances of serialization events in order to prevent keying material from being stored persistently.
US09235712B1
The present disclosure includes apparatus, systems, digital logic circuitry and techniques relating to data encoding. A method performed by a system on a chip (SOC) includes receiving data to be output to a memory unit external to the SOC. Also a key for scrambling the received data is received. A proper subset of the key is identified and used to scramble the received data. The scrambled data is output to the memory unit external to the SOC.
US09235706B2
A method for preventing malware attacks includes the steps of detecting an attempt on an electronic device to access a task scheduler, determining an entity associated with the attempt to access the task scheduler, determining a malware status of the entity, and, based on the malware status of the entity, allowing or denying the attempted access to the task scheduler. The task scheduler is configured to launch one or more applications at a specified time or interval.
US09235701B2
A light-operated electronic equipment and a mobile electronic device for controlling an electronic equipment with light are provided. The light-operated electronic equipment with a light sensing receiving unit and a control unit is controlled by the mobile electronic device with a light source, a light control code module and a light display process module. Besides, further provides a process method of performing system registration by a light control way. By the process method, an information process device receives the input of the light signal through a transmission equipment, such that the light sensing receiving unit of the transmission equipment converts the brightness change of the light signal into the electric control code for the control unit of the transmission equipment to receive the electric control code and transmit the electric control code to the information process device through a transmission interface.
US09235700B1
A hybrid device includes a personal digital key (PDK) and a receiver-decoder circuit (RDC). The PDK and RDC of the hybrid device are coupled for communication with each other. In one embodiment, the hybrid device also provides a physical interconnect for connecting to other devices to send and receive control signals and data, and receive power. The hybrid device operates in one of several modes including, PDK only, RDC only, or PDK and RDC. This allows a variety of system configurations for mixed operation including: PDK/RDC, RDC/RDC or PDK/PDK. The present invention also includes a number of system configurations for use of the hybrid device including: use of the hybrid device in a cell phone; simultaneous use of the PDK and the RDC functionality of hybrid device; use of multiple links of hybrid device to generate an authorization signal, use of multiple PDK links to the hybrid device to generate an authorization signal; and use of the hybrid device for authorization inheritance.
US09235692B2
A method, system, and/or computer program product enables the secure debugging of a software application. A server receives a secure software application from a client. The secure application is designed to execute within the server, and access to data used by the secure software application is protected by a security object, which allows a processor within the server to access the data used by the secure software application without permitting data to exit unprotected from the processor. The server also receives a secure sidecar debugging application from the client. The secure sidecar debugging application is designed to debug the secure application, but cannot be used by the server. If there is an error in execution of the secure software application within the server, the server transmits the secure software application to the client, where it is debugged using the secure sidecar debugging application.
US09235686B2
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for predicting a likely side effect profile for even new, untested medications. A predicted side effect profile may be generated based on intersections of side effect profiles of other medications that affect the same or related molecular entities, such as the nearby target proteins, involve the same pathways, or are otherwise similarly related. To generate a predicted side effect profile for a new drug targeting a novel or previously un-targeted protein target, an analyzer may query an adverse event database for records pertaining to patients who have taken drugs or combinations of drugs that target or affect molecular entities in the vicinity of the novel target within a global molecular entity graph, and, in some embodiments, may retrieve a plurality of adverse event records and generate an intersection of side effects associated with related targets to predict likely side effects for the novel target.
US09235680B2
A system, method and apparatus for executing a sequence analysis pipeline on genetic sequence data includes a structured ASIC formed of a set of hardwired digital logic circuits that are interconnected by physical electrical interconnects. One of the physical electrical interconnects forms an input to the structured ASIC connected with an electronic data source for receiving reads of genomic data. The hardwired digital logic circuits are arranged as a set of processing engines, each processing engine being formed of a subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits to perform one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline on the reads of genomic data. Each subset of the hardwired digital logic circuits is formed in a wired configuration to perform the one or more steps in the sequence analysis pipeline.
US09235675B2
An embodiment includes a computer program product for providing a yield prediction. The computer program product has a non-transitory computer readable medium with a computer program embodied thereon. The computer program comprises computer program code for obtaining a representation of a circuit. The circuit comprises a common path and a critical path, and the critical path represents multiple parallel paths. The computer program further comprises computer program code for obtaining a first table representing the common path and a second table representing the multiple parallel paths and computer program code for performing a variable based simulation based on the representation of the circuit, the first table, and the second table. The computer program also comprises computer program code for determining a result indication of each of the multiple parallel paths based on the variable based simulation compared with a predetermined specification.
US09235671B1
In an example implementation, a method of implementing a circuit design for an integrated circuit (IC), includes: on at least one programmed processor, performing operations including: processing a description of the circuit design having logic elements into a graph having nodes representing the logic elements and edges representing potential pairs of the logic elements; determining a packing of pairs of the nodes to divide the graph into selected nodes and unselected nodes and selected edges and unselected edges by performing iterations of: identifying an augmenting path in the graph between a pair of unselected nodes; and modifying the selected nodes and unselected nodes and the selected edges and unselected edges based on the augmenting path; and grouping the logic elements in the description into pairs of logic elements based on the packing of pairs of the nodes.
US09235670B2
A method and a system embodying the method for automatic generation of a verification environment, comprising providing a first model of an application-specific instruction-set processor; providing a second model of the application-specific instruction-set processor; and generating automatically the verification environment from the first model and the second model is disclosed.
US09235660B1
In an approach for processing a circuit design by a programmed processor, a placed circuit design that has been placed on programmable resources of a programmable integrated circuit (IC) is input. A critical path is determined from a first sequential element to a second sequential element assigned to the placed circuit design. A first clock buffer that provides a clock signal to the first and second sequential elements is determined, and an unused clock buffer is selected based on proximity to the first sequential element. The circuit design is modified to include the unused clock buffer as a second clock buffer coupled to receive a clock signal in parallel with the first clock buffer and to provide a clock signal to the first sequential element.
US09235655B2
A proposed feature vector for a first deign is received and an existing feature vector for an existing design is retrieved for a given task. The proposed design is evaluated against the existing design using task-based scores associated with each design and based on their performances for the given task.
US09235651B2
A computer executes a process including dividing a data set into a plurality of data sets, determining hash functions for the data sets, producing hash coefficient value information for specifying the hash functions and correspondence information between the hash coefficient values and the data sets, and producing hash information for the data sets. In the hash function determination, a hash value is calculated using a candidate hash function based on keys of the data of the data set, and the candidate hash function is determined as the hash function of the data set with regard to which it is decided that all data can be stored into a first address based on the hash value or a second address contiguous to the first address. In the hash information production, the hash information for the data set is produced by storing the data and keys into the first or second address.
US09235649B2
Technology is disclosed for using workflows based on domains in a hierarchical data structure (e.g. LDAP directory) or other type of data structure. When a workflow is created, it is associated with domain. The domain is defined by a selected node and all nodes below that selected node in the hierarchical data structure. At run time, the system identifies which workflows perform a requested task and are associated with a domain that includes the target of the task. If multiple workflows are determined, the user is provided with the ability to choose one of the identified workflows for performing the tasks.
US09235648B2
Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to social bookmarking and provide a method, system and computer program product for automated surfacing of tagged content in a vertical application. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for automatically surfacing tagged content in a vertical application can be provided. The method can include parsing text from content in an end user application, comparing the parsed text to social bookmarks and associated metadata in a social bookmarking system and matching portions of the content to respective ones of the social bookmarks based upon the comparison, and visually emphasizing the matched portions of the content in the end user application.
US09235646B2
A method and system for a search engine for user generated content have been disclosed. According to one embodiment, a computer implemented method comprises receiving a search request from a client, the search request directed to user generated content. Relevant user generated content is retrieved, wherein retrieving comprises searching processed user generated content, and wherein processing user generated content comprises receiving first input data including text, creating a substring of text from the first input data and categorizing the substring to produce a concept associated with the substring, wherein the substring is categorized according to one of dictionaries or pattern analysis. An indication of sentiment is assigned to the concept associated with the substring and an indication of influence is assigned to the concept associated with the substring. The relevant user generated content is displayed.
US09235641B1
A method and system for detection, storage and/or display of archive tracking information regarding archiving process history for archived and/or non-archived messages (e.g., email messages). Such information may be useful in determining reasons why a message, or group of messages, was archived or not, and thereby assessing the functioning of an archiving system. The process history information may include a processing type for the electronic message indicating whether the message was archived or not, and if the message was not archived, may indicate whether the message is a duplicate of another archived message, the message was filtered, or the archiving of the message failed. Event data may be recorded indicating a detailed reason why a message was not archived, a current location of the message, one or more rules applied to the electronic message during an archival filtering operation, and/or one or more rules that caused the electronic message to be selected for archiving.
US09235640B2
For logging browser data, the method compiles a string representing metadata of an operating environment for a browser displaying webpage content from a Web server. The method further compiles a Document Object Model (DOM) string representing at least one DOM element of the webpage content. In addition, the method logs the metadata string and the DOM string within a data store accessible by the web server.
US09235637B1
A search system monitors the input of a search query by a user. Before the user finishes entering the search query, the search system identifies and sends a portion of the query as a partial query to the search engine. Based on the partial query, the search engine creates a set of predicted queries. This process may take into account prior queries submitted by a community of users, and may take into account a user profile. The predicted queries are to be sent back to the user for possible selection. The search system may also cache search results corresponding to one or more of the predicted queries in anticipation of the user selecting one of the predicted queries. The search engine may also return at least a portion of the search results corresponding to one or more of the predicted queries.
US09235634B2
The embodiments of the present invention relates to a method and system for classifying media. The classification is achieved by using annotation ontolgies and by associating bottom level concepts of the annotation ontology tree with explanatory representation data of a selected representation domain and then comparing the explanatory representation data with transformation of the media in the selected representation domain. In this way tags can be generated which corresponds to bottom level concepts of the ontology tree which corresponds to explanatory representation data which can be found in the transformed media.
US09235627B1
The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to ranking search results of a search query. In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a computer-implemented method that includes determining a measure of relevance for a document result within a context of a search query for which the document result is returned, the determining being based on a first number in relation to a second number, the first number corresponding to longer views of the document result, and the second number corresponding to at least shorter views of the document result; and outputting the measure of relevance to a ranking engine for ranking of search results, including the document result, for a new search corresponding to the search query. The subject matter described in this specification can also be embodied in various corresponding computer program products, apparatus and systems.
US09235620B2
A data cache platform maintains pre-computed database query results computed by a computation platform based on data maintained in the computation platform and is configured to determine probabilities of the cached database query results being outdated, to automatically issue re-computation orders to the computation platform for updating cached database query results on the basis of the determined probabilities of the pre-computed database query results being outdated and to receive the updated pre-computed database query results as results of the re-computation orders. The probability determination depends on a probabilistic model and on the occurrence of asynchronous real-time events. The real-time events are indeterministic with regard to the expiration of the cached database query results and only have a probabilistic influence on the discrepancies between the cached database query results maintained in the data cache platform and presumed actual database query results.
US09235616B2
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for identifying a workflow, from a set of workflows, that best match a given query partial workflow. In addition to identifying the best match, the systems and methods can identify the portion of the workflow that best matches the query partial workflow.
US09235608B2
Stored duration information may be queried to determine duration of an action including a database operation. The querying may include specifying a subset of attributes of one or more relations. The relations may include a table with rows. The attributes may describe a subset of duration information including a start time of the operation. The querying may further include specifying conditions to be met, and retrieving, according to the conditions, the specified attributes of at least one row of the relations. The querying may include calculating a duration of the action based on the start time of the action.
US09235605B2
Systems and methods are provided for automated conversion of medical images and delivery to mobile devices or remote communication systems. Medical images are stored, along with related metadata, at a central location such as a server in a medical data format. A user can then submit a request or query to find the medical images on the server and deliver them to a mobile device or other remote communication system separate from the central location. The medical images are then converted to a standardized format specification based on an output destination type of the mobile device or remote communication system. A message is assembled with the converted medical data from a message template and is then transmitted to the mobile device or remote communication system.
US09235601B2
Embodiments of the disclosure include a method for data mining shape based data, the method includes receiving shape data for each of a plurality of data entries and creating a first abstract from the shape data for each of the plurality of data entries. The method also includes organizing the first abstracts into a plurality of groups based on a criterion and creating a second abstract for each data entry in the plurality of groups based on the criterion and information derived from the first abstract.
US09235598B2
A method and system for a location based full text search is disclosed. The system generates interwoven bit vectors for documents that are stored in a database. The system may determine a location value based on a portion of a map that a user is viewing. The system may also receive at least one search term inputted by a user. Based on the location value and the search term, the system may generate one or more interwoven bit vectors, which may be used to query an index that identifies responsive documents stored in the database.
US09235597B2
A system may provide for retrieving data within a selected region of a map is provided. The system may include mobile devices configured to display a map and to receive a user selection of a region of the map. An application server may receive data from the mobile device, representing the user selected region of the map and a search criterion. A database may be in operative communication with the application server and executes a query using the data representing the selected region of the map and the search criterion and to return data results corresponding to a plurality of locations within the selected region and related to the search criterion. The mobile device may further be configured to display the data results corresponding to the plurality of locations on the selected region of the map and the displayed data results are automatically updated when the user moves the selected region of the map.
US09235593B2
Transmitting filesystem changes over a network is disclosed. A hash of data comprising a chunk of directory elements comprising one or more consecutive directory elements in a set of elements sorted in a canonical order is computed at a client system. One or more directory elements comprising the chunk are sent to a remote server in the event it is determined based at least in part on the computed hash that corresponding directory elements as stored on the remote server are not identical to the directory elements comprising the chunk as stored on the client system.
US09235592B2
Techniques for avoiding duplicate comparisons while comparing customer records to identify linked customer records pertaining to a single customer entity are provided. The techniques include the computer system comparing a first electronic customer record with a second electronic customer record to determine if the first electronic customer record and the second electronic customer record pertain to a single customer entity if the computer system identifies a common blocker key corresponding to a selected blocker from a data field in the first electronic customer record and from a data field in the second electronic customer record and if the computer system does not identify a common blocker key corresponding to an additional lower order blocker from another data field in the first electronic customer record and from a data field in the second electronic customer record.
US09235586B2
A Web browser of a computing device downloads or otherwise obtains a file. File information identifying the file is obtained and is sent to a remote reputation service. Client information identifying aspects of the computing device can also optionally be sent to the remote reputation service. In response to the file information (and optionally client information), a reputation indication for the file is received from the remote reputation service. A user interface for the Web browser to present at the computing device is determined, based at least in part on the reputation indication, and presented at the computing device.
US09235583B2
A virtual media (VM) method for mounting one or more folders in one or more storage devices of a client for accessed by a server as a virtual drive. The client assigns virtual cluster indices to each file, and creates a file-cluster index table to store the assigned virtual cluster indices. The client also creates a VM file system complying with the FAT file system standard except that only subdirectories and no data files are stored in the VM FAT file system. The VM FAT table uses virtual cluster indices rather than actual cluster indices. Data written by the server are stored in a temporary data area without modifying the actual file systems of the storage devices. The virtual sectors requested to be written are “dirty”, and the dirty sector numbers and corresponding temporary sector numbers are stored in a dirty sector index table for use in a write-back step.
US09235582B1
Techniques to exclude files from backup are disclosed. In various embodiments, a database that includes an exclude set table configured to store data associated with one or more files identified to be excluded from backup is accessed. Data retrieved from the database is used to exclude one or more of said one or more files from a backup. In some embodiments, files are excluded from the backup at least in part by deleting the files from a shadow copy volume created in connection with said backup.
US09235577B2
Instead of transferring a large original file from a source system to a target system, the original file is encoded to define a recipe. The recipe is then decoded to yield a duplicate of the original file on the target system. Encoding involves identifying standard blocks in the original file and including standard-block identifiers for the standard blocks in the recipe in lieu of the original blocks. Decoding involves an exchange with a standard-block identifier server system, which provides standard blocks in response to received standard-block identifiers.
US09235576B2
Described are a variety of techniques for viewing multimedia-based information in accordance with user controls for the speed and direction of the multimedia presentation. Different techniques for presenting multimedia data items are disclosed. User controls providing control for speed and direction in accordance with a user selection device being in a particular location. When a user device is with the defined area, the speed and direction control are on. When the user selection device leaves the defined area, the speed and direction are off. Also described is a system using a browser tool for displaying multimedia data in accordance with these viewing techniques. Multimedia data items displayed with the viewing techniques are indices into multimedia presentations. A user selection is made by viewing the multimedia data items and control is transferred accordingly to an appropriate application to present a multimedia presentation corresponding to a selected multimedia data item.
US09235574B2
Systems and methods are described for providing content recommendations by maintaining preference values indicative of a user's preference (e.g., degree of like or dislike) for different assets and updating these preference values based on observed events and known relationships between events and content elements. Also disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing content recommendations using polarity scores, which represent how much user preferences for certain content differ from the average user preference for that content.
US09235572B2
There is presented a system and method for updating digital media content. The system comprises a data structure residing on a media storage, the digital media content being stored in the data structure. The system further comprises a processor coupled to the media storage and configured to access the data structure, and receive an update to one or more modifiable elements of the data structure from an authoritative source external with respect to the data structure. The processor is further configured to modify the modifiable elements according to the update, and store the modified elements in the data structure. As a result, updates to the modifiable elements are persistently stored in the data structure.
US09235567B2
A method adapted to multiple corpora includes training a statistical machine translation model which outputs a score for a candidate translation, in a target language, of a text string in a source language. The training includes learning a weight for each of a set of lexical coverage features that are aggregated in the statistical machine translation model. The lexical coverage features include a lexical coverage feature for each of a plurality of parallel corpora. Each of the lexical coverage features represents a relative number of words of the text string for which the respective parallel corpus contributed a biphrase to the candidate translation. The method may also include learning a weight for each of a plurality of language model features, the language model features comprising one language model feature for each of the domains.
US09235559B2
Various embodiments provide an ability to load documents and access page content associated with documents while the documents are still being loaded. In at least some embodiments, while a document's structure is being processed in the background, individual pages can be requested. The same can be said for individual documents that comprise a part of a package that contains multiple documents. In at least some embodiments, multiple threads are utilized to enable a document's structure to be built and to enable a user to access portions of the document while the document is being built or loaded.
US09235544B2
In a method in a portable data carrier for executing an additional functionality in the data carrier, whereby the data carrier comprises a memory and whereby the additional functionality is called up by means of the one access of a conventional read command ordered from outside the data carrier to the memory of the data carrier, the additional functionality is further specified by a respective further access of at least one further conventional read command to the memory of the data carrier.
US09235534B2
A data protecting method for protecting a sub-directory and at least one pre-stored file in a rewritable non-volatile memory module is provided. The method includes receiving a write command from a host system and determining whether a write address indicated by the write command is an address storing a file description block of the sub-directory. The method also includes, when the write address is the address storing a file description block of the sub-directory, determining whether a portion of data streams corresponding to the write command is the same as a corresponding content recorded in the file description block of the sub-directory. The method further includes, when the portion of data streams corresponding to the write command is not the same as the corresponding content recorded in the file description block of the sub-directory, transmitting a write failure signal to the host system.
US09235524B1
A method, computer program product, and computing system for copying a content directory associated with a cache system from a volatile memory system to a non-volatile memory system. A plurality of data requests concerning a plurality of data actions to be taken on an electro-mechanical storage device associated with the cache system are received on the cache system. The content directory on the volatile memory system is updated based, at least in part, upon the plurality of data requests. The plurality of data requests are stored on tracking queue included within the electro-mechanical storage device.
US09235520B2
Embodiments of the invention describe a cache coherency protocol that eliminates the need for ordering between message classes and also eliminates home tracker preallocation. Embodiments of the invention describe a less complex conflict detection and resolution mechanism (at the home agent) without any performance degradation in form of bandwidth or latency compared to prior art solutions.Embodiments of the invention describe a home agent that may receive request messages, e.g., data ownership request messages and data request messages, which include issuance data indicating an order of the respective message issued. Said home agent may determine whether an early or late conflict exists based, at least in part, on a received conflict response message and the issuance data of a most recent completed transaction.
US09235519B2
A home node for selecting a source node using a cache coherency protocol, comprising a logic unit cluster coupled to a directory, wherein the logic unit cluster is configured to receive a request for data from a requesting cache node, determine a plurality of nodes that hold a copy of the requested data using the directory, select one of the nodes using one or more selection parameters as the source node, and transmit a message to the source node to determine whether the source node stores a copy of the requested data, wherein the source node forwards the requested data to the requesting cache node when the requested data is found within the source node, and wherein some of the nodes are marked as a Shared state corresponding to the cache coherency protocol.
US09235516B1
Described are techniques for processing data operations. A read request for first data is received at a data storage system. It is determined whether the read request results in a cache hit whereby the first data is stored in a cache of the data storage system, or whether the read request otherwise results in a cache miss. If the read request results in a cache miss, processing is performed to determine determining whether to perform cacheless read processing or deferred caching processing to service the read request. Determining whether to perform cacheless read processing or deferred caching processing is performed in accordance with criteria including a measurement indicating a level of busyness of a back-end component used to retrieve from physical storage any portion of the first data not currently stored in the cache.
US09235507B2
According to one embodiment, a device includes a determination unit, compression unit, selecting unit, write updating unit, writing unit. The determination unit determines whether to compress write data based on specific information. The specific information including at least one of the type, number of accesses, access frequency and importance level of the write data. The compression unit compresses the write data when determining to compress the write data. The selecting unit selects a write region for the write data in nonvolatile memory based on the specific information. The write updating unit updates the specific information. The writing unit writes compressed write data into the write region when determining to compress the write data. The writing unit writes uncompressed write data into the write region when not determining to compress the write data.
US09235503B2
Stripe-based non-volatile multilevel memory operation can include writing a number of lower stripes including programming a number of lower pages of information in each of the number of lower stripes. An upper stripe can be written including programming a number of upper pages of the information in the upper stripe. Each of the number of upper pages can correspond to a respective one of the number of lower pages. Each of the respective ones of the number of lower pages corresponding to the number of upper pages can be programmed in a different lower stripe of the number of lower stripes.
US09235497B2
The existence of errors and bugs in device drivers and other software operating in kernel space may be difficult to find and eliminate. A system and method for debugging computer programs may involve the use of several different modules. Running in the kernel space is an event monitor. Running in the user space is an event collector, an event player, and a concurrency error detector. This setup allows one to debug device driver software and other software that executes in kernel space using existing user space error detectors.
US09235496B2
A test data extraction and persistence technique that relies on a data domain based storage infrastructure is disclosed. In operation, a test data server receives a test data query that specifies selection parameters for selecting test data and any transformation operations to be performed on the test data. The test data server identifies domains associated with the selection parameters and traverses the tables in the database based on the identified domains to extract test data that satisfies the selection parameters. The test data server optionally performs transformation operations, such as masking operations, specified by the test data query on the extracted data. The identified domains are stored such that test data that satisfies the test data query may be extracted from the database repetitively without reevaluating the test data query each time.
US09235491B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for provisioning resources for an application according to an application manifest. The resources may include database, network, and processing resources. The application manifest may be organized as a manifest tree with provisioned resources having their own application manifests for provisioning sub-resources. The application manifest may also define provisioning and de-provisioning of the application in response to loading of the application. Root cause analysis may be performed in accordance with the manifest tree. Also disclosed are systems and methods for rolling out an upgrade across a node cluster. Systems and methods are disclosed for routing traffic to different workflow paths in order to implement an overloaded path and evaluate performance of the overloaded path.
US09235488B2
A random noise generation module for generating noisy LLRs for testing an error correction circuit of a nonvolatile memory storage module. The random noise generation module includes a coefficient generator for generating one or a plurality of coefficients, each of the plurality of coefficients associated with one region of a plurality of regions defining a linear space proportionately divided according to an area under a probability distribution curve for a nonvolatile memory storage module. The random noise generation module further includes a linear random number generator for generating a linear random number and a comparator for comparing the linear random number to one or more of the plurality of coefficients to identify the region of the plurality of regions of the probability distribution curve in which the linear random number belongs to generate a noisy LLR for testing an error correction circuit of a nonvolatile memory storage module.
US09235485B2
In an embodiment, a partition is executed at a primary server, wherein the partition accesses a first memory location at a first memory block address at the primary server. If a first corresponding memory location at a secondary server has an error, wherein the first corresponding memory location at the secondary server corresponds to the first memory location at the primary server, then an object is moved from the first memory location at the primary server to a second memory location at the primary server.
US09235482B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to dynamic application migration in a shared pool of configurable computer resources with disaster recovery support. Data from an application is replicated from local data storage to remote data storage. A consistency point of the data is created in both the local data storage and the remote data storage. The application may be migrated to a second data site with separate local data storage. The migration may be planned or unplanned. Based upon the created consistency point, a consistent set of application data may be requested to support a read operation from the migrated application.
US09235476B2
Systems and methods for providing object versioning in a storage system may support the logical deletion of stored objects. In response to a delete operation specifying both a user key and a version identifier, the storage system may permanently delete the specified version of an object having the specified key. In response to a delete operation specifying a user key, but not a version identifier, the storage system may create a delete marker object that does not contain object data, and may generate a new version identifier for the delete marker. The delete marker may be stored as the latest object version of the user key, and may be addressable in the storage system using a composite key comprising the user key and the new version identifier. Subsequent attempts to retrieve the user key without specifying a version identifier may return an error, although the object was not actually deleted.
US09235473B2
Systems and methods allow for reliably and efficiently managing files stored on a data storage medium associated with a computer system such as a set-top box. The computer system manages a collection of metadata describing each of the files stored on the data storage medium in a memory during operation of the computer system. A current snapshot of the collection of metadata is periodically or otherwise stored to the data storage medium. Following a reboot of the computer system, the collection of metadata can be recovered to the memory from the snapshot of the collection of metadata stored on the data storage medium.
US09235459B2
Memory devices and methods are described that include serially chained memory devices. In one or more of the configurations shown, a serial chain of memory devices includes a number of memory devices, and an error recovery device at an end of the chain. In one configuration shown, the serial chain of memory devices includes a chain of devices where each device is a stacked die memory device. Methods are described that show using the error recovery device in write operations and data recovery operations.
US09235458B2
A method of delegating work of a computer program across a mixed computing environment is provided. The method includes: performing on one or more processors: allocating a container structure on a first context; delegating a new operation to a second context based on the container; receiving the results of the new operation; and storing the results in the container.
US09235451B2
The present invention provides a browser kernel switching method, which enables a browser to switch between different browser kernels when browsering different web pages, and comprises the following steps: detecting, by the browser, whether a kernel switch is needed; and transferring a post data in a previous kernel of the browser to the kernel which is to be switched when loading a page that requires to switch kernel.
US09235450B2
A computer-implemented method to reduce slow or stuck SCSI commands at a SCSI target is disclosed. The method starts with initiating a first request to acquire an exclusive lock for a first service daemon of a SCSI target to shut down a first service, where the SCSI target offers a plurality of services, and where each service corresponds to a service daemon. The first service daemon receives a first rejection of the exclusive lock for the first request as the exclusive lock is currently held by a second service daemon corresponding to a second service. Then the first service daemon initiates a second request to acquire the exclusive lock in an attempt to shut down the first service again after a delay period. In response to a second rejection, execution of SCSI commands associated with the second service currently possessing the exclusive lock is terminated.
US09235449B1
A network element has at least one receiver, a software queue, and at least one transmitter. A data path thread moves data packets from a receive queue of the receiver to the software queue, and a transmit driver moves data packets from the software queue to a transmit queue of the transmitter. A flow indicator associated with the software queue is controlled to indicate when at least one data packet remains in the software queue. A queue management thread polls the flow indicator to determine when the software queue should be accessed for ensuring that data packets do not remain in the software queue for extended time periods between data bursts.
US09235447B2
In one embodiment a method includes at first a network device, identifying an attribute of the first network device, selecting a function that defines how the attribute is to be summarized together with a same attribute of a second network device, generating a message that comprises a set of information comprising an identification of the attribute and the function, and sending the message to, e.g., a next higher node in a network hierarchy of which the network device is a part. Multiple such messages may be received at an aggregation node that then summarizes the attributes according to respective functions, and sends or publishes a summarized version of the attributes to a still next higher node in the network hierarchy.
US09235443B2
Systems and methods for cache optimization are provided. The method comprises monitoring cache access rate for a plurality of cache tenants sharing same cache mechanism having an amount of data storage space, wherein a first cache tenant having a first cache size is allocated a first cache space within the data storage space, and wherein a second cache tenant having a second cache size is allocated a second cache space within the data storage space. The method further comprises determining cache profiles for at least the first cache tenant and the second cache tenant according to data collected during the monitoring; analyzing the cache profiles for the plurality of cache tenants to determine an expected cache usage model for the cache mechanism; and analyzing the cache usage model and factors related to cache efficiency or performance for the one or more cache tenants to dictate one or more occupancy constraints.
US09235436B2
A methods and device for accessing virtual machine (VM) data are described. A computing device for accessing virtual machine comprises an access request process module, a data transfer proxy module and a virtual disk. The access request process module receives a data access request sent by a VM and adds the data access request to a request array. The data transfer proxy module obtains the data access request from the request array, maps the obtained data access request to a corresponding virtual storage unit, and maps the virtual storage unit to a corresponding physical storage unit of a distributed storage system. A corresponding data access operation may be performed based on a type of the data access request.
US09235432B2
The invention sets forth a New Network Model for building and managing distributed computing networks based on a fundamental network building block referred to as a DIME; an acronym for Distributed Intelligent, Managed, Entity, and a Signaling Infrastructure. The network model enables dynamic management of the programs comprising the DIME. Five of these programs are used for implementing the functional management services commonly referred to as Fault, Configuration, Accounting, Performance and Security, or FCAPS, at the DIME level. A combination of FCAPS management and Signaling Infrastructure enables DIME based Workflows, which are groups of connected DIMEs programmed to execute in coordination with each other to produce desired results. The network model further enables basic Workflow requirements, including those of task specialization; priority based mediation; fault tolerance; reliability; and resiliency.
US09235429B1
Clickstream data describes a pathway or sequence taken by a user while accessing webpages or other user interfaces. The clickstream data may be parsed or processed to identify the time the user spent viewing each webpage, the number of elements on each webpage, the user's access bandwidth, and other data defining respective user access metrics. The user access metrics may be applied toward the generation of more effective user interfaces having idealized element counts, element placements or counts targeted to a particular user, elements based on estimated user access times, and so on.
US09235423B2
Workload is mitigated when customizing adding a state transition resulting from a datacenter operation procedure, to an availability evaluation model of a server infrastructure, provided as a standard library. This involves: storing in a state transition storage unit (STSU) definitions of a plurality of state transitions corresponding to system configurations; storing in an additional STSU definitions of state transitions used in system operation, which are different from the plurality of state transitions; receiving definitions of state transitions and registering the definitions in the additional STSU; analyzing system availability based on the definitions of the state transitions stored in the STSU and the definitions of the state transitions stored in the additional STSU; analyzing common state transition patterns in at least part of definitions of the plurality of state transitions used when operating the system, and stored in the additional STSU; and outputting analysis results on the common state transition patterns.
US09235410B2
Methods and systems for generating a graph model associated with a software release. The methods and systems are configured to receive a software release including a set of software packages. The software release is parsed to identify modeling information including package information, package dependency information, and function dependency information associated with each software package in the set of software packages. A graph model is generated and stored which represents the modeling information, wherein the graph model comprises a package node for each software package in the set of software packages and a function node for each function in the set of software packages.
US09235409B1
Customers wanting to deploy software packages, or updates to those packages, across a group of servers or other computing resources can rely upon a component such as a resource manager to manage the deployment. The resource manager can utilize a data structure that stores deployment information by Revision number, and merges information for each verified deployment into a Mainline for those resources. Each Deployment can involve an Individual Release or a Baseline Release, and the importance of those Releases can be determined with respect to a current snapshot of the Mainline. Such an approach enables important Release and Deployment information to be quickly determined and obtained, which can help with configuring and scheduling future Deployments.
US09235400B2
A method for operating first or second control devices for controlling a technical installation with control data stored on a data medium in a predetermined format, wherein the control data is stored on the data medium in a first format such that this data can be processed directly for read/write operations by the first control device, during operation of the second control device first control data is converted into a second format such that the converted first control data can be processed directly for read/write operations by the second control device, and where second control data is converted during each access at runtime from the first format into a format that can be processed by the second control device, or the first control data is converted during each access at runtime from the second format into a format that can be processed by the first control device.
US09235395B2
System and method for configuring a system of heterogeneous hardware components, including at least one: programmable hardware element (PHE), digital signal processor (DSP) core, and programmable communication element (PCE). A program, e.g., a graphical program (GP), which includes floating point math functionality and which is targeted for distributed deployment on the system is created. Respective portions of the program for deployment to respective ones of the hardware components are automatically determined. Program code implementing communication functionality between the at least one PHE and the at least one DSP core and targeted for deployment to the at least one PCE is automatically generated. At least one hardware configuration program (HCP) is generated from the program and the code, including compiling the respective portions of the program and the program code for deployment to respective hardware components. The HCP is deployable to the system for concurrent execution of the program.
US09235385B1
An improved system and method for providing software is described. The system, upon receiving a software request from a user device, obtains metadata about the user device. Based on the metadata and the software requested, a template of the software is obtained. The template specifies a list of categories, where each category is associated with component(s) in a component database. Based on the metadata and eligibility attributes of the respective components, one component from each category is selected for inclusion in the software. From the selected components and the template, the requested software is constructed and sent to the user device. In some embodiments, for popular user devices, a previously stored selection of components can be accessed. In some embodiments, an updated version of the software is provided if the metadata of the user device changes or if there is a change in the available components or software templates.
US09235384B2
Computer-implemented methods relating to interactive graphical designs are provided. One method includes adding a widget to a graphical instantiation of a web page design that is being displayed in a graphical design environment. The method also includes generating an encoded instantiation of the web page design using a compiler and the graphical instantiation. The method also includes rendering the encoded instantiation in a player. A portion of the encoded instantiation is used by the player for an aspect of an interaction between a viewer of the web page design and the widget. The method also includes generating a notification to describe that aspect of the interaction. The notification is a more cogent description of that aspect of the interaction than the portion of the encoded instantiation.
US09235381B2
A method and device for the programming and configuration of a programmable logic controller are disclosed. The method can include: locating a configuration tool in a programming tool, wherein the configuration tool includes a module in an IEC61131 language; integrating at least one further module into the configuration tool, and executing the programming and configuration of the programmable logic controller in a high-level language using a C-Code editor, and wherein the at least one further module is configured to provide a definition of interfaces between an IEC61131 code and a high-level language code, and provide a configuration of the high-level language code.
US09235371B2
A request to print a file at a printer is received at a first computer system over a public network. Responsive to receiving the request, an indication of the request is exposed to the printer to enable fulfillment, by the printer, of the request to print the file.
US09235370B2
An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a determining unit, and a control unit. The image forming apparatuses are connected in series in a paper conveyance direction, and include first and second image forming apparatuses. The second image forming apparatus is disposed downstream of the first image forming apparatus in the paper conveyance direction. The determining unit determines whether image data is front-side data or back-side data at a time of duplex printing. The control unit controls the first image forming apparatus to print an image based on the back-side data, and controls the second image forming apparatus to print an image based on the front-side data.
US09235359B2
A system that generates risk values for a print service provider. The print service provider may calculate probabilities of an event occurring, calculate the effect that the given event will have on the print service provider, and determine various risks associated with calculations. These risks may then be utilized to determine overall operational strategies for the print service provider when compared to threshold risk levels for the print service provider.
US09235357B2
An information processing apparatus which transfers a print job to a lower apparatus that is included in a print system and located at a lower level in print processing, comprises: a determination unit configured to determine whether to cancel the print job; and a cancel command issuing unit configured, when the determination unit determines to cancel processing for the print job, to issue, to the lower apparatus for the print job, a cancel command to which information about a cancel reason is added.
US09235349B2
To directly and smoothly execute data update on a duplication volume while suppressing a load on a master volume, when performing backup by employing the snapshot system. The duplication system includes: duplication volumes for a master volume; a shared volume for storing duplication data of the duplication volumes; and a main control unit which manages data accesses made from a host computer to the duplication volumes and manages data storing places. The main control unit includes a data duplication control module having a function which duplicates data of the master volume to the duplication volumes when updating the master volume, and directly performs data update to each of the duplication volumes when updating the duplication volumes.
US09235345B2
A method for controlling a loss of reliability of a non-volatile memory (NVM) included in an integrated circuit card (ICC) may include determining whether the NVM is reliable at the operating system (OS) side of the ICC, and generating an event associated with the reliability of the NVM at the OS side for an application of the ICC, if the NVM is determined to be unreliable.
US09235340B2
A data-holding subsystem holding instructions executable by a logic subsystem is provided. The instructions are configured to receive one or more touch-input messages reporting touch contacts recognized by a touch input device, if a touch contact reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a first criterion, initiating a virtual mouse input mode, in the virtual mouse input mode, outputting a cursor position corresponding to a position of the touch contact that satisfies the first criterion, if no touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfy the first criterion, and one or more touch contacts reported by the one or more touch-input messages satisfies a second criterion, initiating a multi-touch input mode, and in the multi-touch input mode, outputting a multi-touch gesture command corresponding to the one or more touch contacts that satisfy the second criterion.
US09235335B2
Concepts and technologies are described herein for touch interactions with a drawing application. In accordance with the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, user devices can obtain drawing data generated by a web-based drawing application and can display a drawing by rendering the data in one or more UIs. The user device can interpret touch gestures at a touch sensitive display used to present the UIs and can interpret the touch gestures as corresponding to one or more commands for modifying the UIs. According to various embodiments, the user device can interpret the touch gestures by determining if the touch gestures intersect an object in the drawing and other behavior associated with the touch gesture such as movement, subsequent touches, and whether or not an object intersected was selected when the touch gesture was commenced.
US09235332B2
User interfaces for tools for estimating a probability that a future event will occur based on user input are described. One set of interfaces include rating, trend, cohort record and source controls each of which when selected provide corresponding data from one predictive model that produces predictions of the likelihood of an event occurring in the future based on analysis of data in a database. The system further displays a process of content produced by a model builder that populates the interfaces, and outputs thereof.
US09235328B1
A graphical user interface (GUI) is disclosed that allows user to quickly find and select (assign) specific items from a large data source that is housed in the cloud. The GUI includes a first and second grid that display unassigned and assigned items, respectively. Each of the first and second grids allows the user to filter each grid by typing in the search criteria and forwarding the criteria to the server. Items in each of the first and second grids may be moved between the two grids to quickly change the assigned state of moved items.
US09235321B2
In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a first content item on a screen of a computing device, the first content item occupying the entire screen and comprising an icon representing a second content item; and in response to a first user input, displaying a first animation sequence depicting the icon opening up to reveal the second content item, the second content item eventually replacing the first content item and occupying the entire screen. In one embodiment, the method further includes in response to a second user input, displaying a second animation sequence depicting the second content item closing down and returning to the icon included in the first content item, the second content item eventually disappearing from the screen.
US09235319B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program product modify objects in a virtual universe. The virtual universe includes a viewable field, a detection area that is adjacent to the viewable field, and an outside area that is outside the viewable field and the detection area. Each avatar in a set of avatars is incapable of viewing the objects while the avatar is within either the detection area or the outside area. In response to an entrance of a first particular avatar of the set of avatars into the detection area, one of the objects is prepared for display to the first particular avatar of the set of avatars, without displaying, by buffering content associated with the one of the objects. If a particular one of the objects is determined to be adjacent to an obstructing one of the objects, a focal point of the viewable field is set at a location that is a different location than a location of the particular one of the objects.
US09235311B2
A method of initializing a touchscreen panel including a first resistive film having a first electrode and a second electrode provided at corresponding ends thereof in a first direction, a second resistive film having a third electrode and a fourth electrode provided at corresponding ends thereof in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a first resistor having a first end connected to the first electrode, and a second resistor having a first end connected to the third electrode, includes (a) measuring a potential with the touchscreen panel being contacted at two points with a predetermined potential being applied to the touchscreen panel; and (b) calculating a relational expression between the potential and a distance between the two points based on the measured potential.
US09235298B2
A transparent capacitor apparatus includes a first transparent substrate including a first patterned conductive layer having a first conductive material located over the first transparent substrate; a dielectric layer located over the first patterned conductive layer; a second patterned conductive layer including a second conductive material located over the dielectric layer, wherein the second pattern is different from the first pattern; and a second transparent substrate located over the second patterned conductive layer. Portions of the first conductive material of the first patterned conductive layer overlap portions of the second conductive material of the second patterned conductive layer. The overlapping portions of the first and second conductive materials form matching patterned electrical conductor(s) having spatially matching conducting and non-conductive areas, the non-conductive areas of the first and second patterned conductive layers having encapsulated coalesced conductive material structures.
US09235294B2
Embodiments are directed to receiving, by a microphone configured for audio use, an ultrasonic signal, applying an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter to the signal to generate a digital version of the signal, obtaining phase information from the digital version of the signal, and determining a position of an emitter of the ultrasonic signal based on the phase information.
US09235293B2
An optical touch device includes an indication plane, two image sensing units and a processing unit. The two image sensing units are disposed at two corners of the indication plane diagonal to each other, respectively, and the two corners define a diagonal line connected therebetween. The processing unit is electrically connected to the two image sensing units. When two touch points are performed on the indication plane, the processing unit determines whether the two touch points are located at opposite sides of the diagonal line, respectively, according to images sensed by the two image sensing units. Once the two touch points are located at opposite sides of the diagonal line, respectively, the processing unit calculates and outputs coordinates of the two touch points immediately according to the images sensed by the two image sensing units.
US09235292B2
An interactive image projecting device that projects an image onto a display surface and controls the projected image based upon movement of the image projecting device or the detection of another image. The image projecting device includes a projector that generates an image from a control unit. The device includes a position indicating emitter that generates a position indicator and an image sensor that is operable to detect the position indicator from either the device including the image sensor or a position indicator from another device. Based upon the sensed position indicator from another device, the control unit operates to modify the image projected from the device such that the image from a first device can interact with an image from a second device. The first and second devices each have a wireless transceiver such that the devices can communicate with each other during operation.
US09235277B2
Most computer operating systems are able to automatically configure the coupled computer peripheral device for use with the computer operating system without the need for installation of a specific driver. However, when these peripheral devices are detected by the computing system, a generic UI control configuration is often assigned to them and whatever customised settings previously configured by the user will be lost and replaced with a new set of unfamiliar setting. This poses much inconvenience and hassle to gamers when they use a different computing system or machine. Described according to an embodiment of the invention is a profile management method, operating on a computing cloud, comprising steps for receiving client data provided by a computing system detecting coupling of a user-interface (UI) thereto and for retrieving configuration data corresponding to the client data for use in configuring the UI by the computing system.
US09235261B2
A novel control device for a personal computer which is manipulated by a user's feet. The control device is intuitively manipulated by application of the appropriate pressure to the control device via two pedals for the user's feet. At any one time, the control device may be manipulated such that the control device moves in three distinct directions: the device pivots forwards or backwards, rotates left or right, and dips to the left or to the right. For each movement in a distinct direction, the control device generates an input for a personal computer.
US09235260B2
The present disclosure provides techniques for translating input camera commands to device-specific commands. Camera commands may be translated by a translation engine located separately from the camera and then transferred to the camera. The translated commands may be less complex than input commands. By translating the commands, older cameras may be capable of supporting newer commands which are not natively supported.
US09235259B2
A method for detecting, in an audio signal including a stream of audio samples (y(n), (y′(n)), ticks in a noisy environment, comprises the steps of applying the signal to a coarse tick detection processor arranged to decide whether it is likely that the signal includes a tick and, only then, enabling a fine tick detection processor to decide, by more thorough processing the audio signal, whether the audio signal represents an audio tick. The coarse processing step preferably includes buffering audio samples (y(n), (y′(n)), determining the maximum and minimum values of each sample, forming their local range, delaying the local range with one or more samples and comparing the difference between the actual local range and the delayed local range with a threshold value (Tc), and, if the difference exceeds the threshold value, outputting a trigger (nc) for enabling the fine detection processor The fine processing step preferably includes buffering audio samples (y(n), (y′(n)), computing, for each buffer content (Bp(n,m)), a Fast Fourier Transformed buffer content (Ec(ω,m)), determining the difference (Fc(ω,m)) between the resulting frequency components, comparing the difference (Fc(ω,m)) to the content of a previously trained fingerprint set (F*(ω,m)) and calculating a correlation coefficient (p(Fc,F*)) between them, comparing the correlation coefficient to a threshold value (TP) and, if the correlation coefficient exceeds the threshold value, outputting a signal indication the presence of a tick in the audio signal.
US09235256B2
An apparatus comprises a plurality of cores and a controller coupled to the cores. The controller is to lower an operating point of a first core if a first number based on processor clock cycles per instruction (CPI) associated with a second core is higher than a first threshold. The controller is operable to increase the operating point of the first core if the first number is lower than a second threshold.
US09235250B2
A mechanism is provided for customized power rating for computer equipment. A power monitor determines actual power consumption by computer equipment in a facility. After equipment has been stressed, an operator sends the actual power consumption information to the manufacturer. The manufacturer receives the actual power consumption information and issues a certificate that acknowledges the equipment will not consume more power than what was measured. The manufacturer may provide digital media that instructs power management hardware in the computer equipment to adhere to an actual case power limit. The power management hardware treats the actual case power limit as a hard power limit. That is, the power management hardware will not specify a power cap higher than the actual case power limit. The power management hardware prevents the equipment from crossing the actual case power limit.
US09235248B2
A power distribution device includes a number (N, N≧2) of power input terminals, a number (M, M≧2) of power output terminals, and a number (M) of power distribution circuits, each electrically coupled to a corresponding one of the power output terminals and electrically coupled to a number (P, P≧2) of the power input terminals. Each of the power distribution circuits includes a number (P) of diodes each electrically coupled between a respective one of the power input terminals and the corresponding one of the power output terminals, a switch element connected in parallel to one of the diodes, and a controller controlling the switch element to operate in a conducting state when the controller determines that power received at the power input terminal connected to the switch is normal, and controlling the switch element to operate in a non-conducting state when the power is abnormal.
US09235247B2
An electrical outlet strip is controlled by sound or an audio signal. The electrical outlet strip can include a plurality of outlets having a selector switch for either each outlet or one selector switch that controls all the outlets. The selector switch can control whether the outlets are powered directly be the input power, or if the outlets are controlled by the audio signal or sound. When the outlets are controlled by the audio signal or sound, the audio signal or sound can be filtered into a plurality of bands, one for each outlet, for example. There audio signal or sound can be input to the outlet strip by various mechanisms, including WiFi, Bluetooth®, FM wireless receiver, via an audio jack, via a microphone, or the like.
US09235246B2
The disclosure discloses a computing device including a connection module, a processing unit and a logic expansion unit, and a power supply method of a connection module. The connection module includes a detection unit and a power switch. The detection unit is configured to detect whether the connection module is connected with an external peripheral device, and to generate a detection signal. The power switch is configured to receive a power switching signal and to provide a rated voltage to the connection module according to the power switching signal. The processing unit and the logic expansion unit are coupled to each other. When the computing device is at a normal mode, the processing unit is configured to provide the power switching signal, acquires a connection status between the connection module and the external peripheral device, and to control the logic expansion unit to record the connection status.
US09235229B2
Embodiments of a voltage reference circuit are described. In one embodiment, a voltage reference circuit includes a startup circuit configured to generate a startup current and to be turned off in response to a comparison between the startup current and a current threshold, an amplifier connected to the startup circuit and configured to generate an amplified current using a positive current feedback loop in response to the startup current, and a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) current generator configured to generate a temperature-independent reference voltage in response to the startup current and the amplified current. Other embodiments are also described.
US09235228B2
An electronic circuit for converting power from a floating source of DC power to a dual direct current (DC) output is disclosed. The electronic circuit may include a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal connectible to the floating source of DC power. The dual DC output may connectible to the input of an inverter. A positive output terminal connected to the positive input terminal of the inverter and a negative output terminal and a ground terminal which may be connected to the input of the inverter. A series connection of a first power switch and a second power switch connected across the positive input terminal and the negative input terminal. A negative return path may include a first diode and a second diode connected between the negative input terminal and the negative output terminal. A resonant circuit may connect between the series connection and the negative return path.
US09235221B2
This document discusses apparatus and methods associated with an early warning strobe input of a boost converter. In an example, a method of increasing a set point of a boost converter configured to provide power to a mobile device can include receiving an indication that the mobile device will transition from the first low-power mode to a second higher-power mode; and increasing the set point of the boost converter in response to the indication.
US09235218B2
Disclosed herein are example embodiments for collision targeting for an unoccupied flying vehicle (UFV). For certain example embodiments, at least one machine, such as a UFV, may: (i) ascertain at least one target for at least one collision to include a UFV; or (ii) execute at least one maneuver to divert a UFV at least toward at least one target to induce at least one collision to include the UFV and the at least one target. However, claimed subject matter is not limited to any particular described embodiments, implementations, examples, or so forth.
US09235215B2
In one embodiment, a method for optimizing a set of matched features is provided. The method includes matching features between an optical image and a geo-referenced orthoimage to produce an initial set of matched features. An initial position solution is then determined for the optical image using the initial set of N matched features. The initial set of N matched features are then optimized based on a set of N sub-solutions and the initial position solution, wherein each of the N sub-solutions is a position solution using a different set of (N−1) matched features. A refined position solution is then calculated for the optical image using the optimized set of matched features.
US09235213B2
Provided is a delivery vehicle and methods and systems for automated delivery using the delivery vehicle. The automated delivery method comprises receiving, by a processing device, an order from a buyer. The order specifies one or more products to be delivered to the buyer and itinerary information. The processing device transmits the order to a placer robot. The placer robot positions the one or more products to a delivery vehicle. Then, the delivery vehicle may transport the products to a delivery destination based on the order. The delivery vehicle may be driverless and lightweight and move automatically. The delivery vehicle may move on a flat track using itinerary information of the order. Additionally, the delivery vehicle may use a Global Positioning System to determine own location and compare it to the itinerary information.
US09235204B2
A method for establishing a secure connection from a service technician to a component of an automation environment that can be remotely diagnosed and/or maintained and is experiencing failure. A service certificate is required for establishing the secure connection, wherein a secure initial connection is first established to the automation environment by the service technician using a one-time password. With the initial connection, a service certificate required for establishing the secure connection to the component of the automation environment experiencing the failure is subsequently transmitted from the automation environment to the service technician. The secure connection from the service technician to the component experiencing the failure is then established by means of the service certificate. The invention further relates to an automation environment that is suitable for carrying out a method of said kind.
US09235202B2
In a magnetic resonance system and a method and device for generating a control command sequence for operating the magnetic resonance system, a magnetic resonance data acquisition sequence is provided to a processor and is modified in the processor. The sequence operates the magnetic resonance system to acquire magnetic resonance data from a subject in multiple individual data acquisitions for subsequent automated evaluation of the individual data acquisitions with respect to an evaluation parameter. The individual evaluation results are combined into an overall evaluation result. The control command sequence is automatically modified in the processor by varying at least one sequence control parameter between different individual data acquisitions so that a variance of a measurement error in the overall evaluation result is minimized.
US09235201B2
In this disclosure, equations to be solved in the model predictive control are transformed by using an off-line algebraic simplification method into a matrix operational expression representing a product of a coefficient matrix and a vector regarding solution inputs within a control horizon is equal to a function vector regarding target values of output states and the output states. The size of the coefficient matrix is reduced compared with the conventional matrix. Then, the matrix operational expression is solved in an online plant control apparatus with present output states and present target values of the output stats of a plant to be controlled, by the direct method, to output the solution to the plant.
US09235195B2
A display assembly includes a display selectively displaying human-readable indicia on a face thereof and a cover disposed over the display. The cover has a homogeneous surface over the entire face of the display. The display assembly is controllable between an inactive state and an active state. In the inactive state, the face of the display is not viewable through the cover, and in the active state, the indicia are viewable through the cover.
US09235192B2
A method of adjusting oscillation frequency of a timepiece regulating assembly with no index assembly, to a predetermined oscillation frequency, including: randomly taking a particular balance spring assembly from a production of toleranced products; measuring return torque of the balance spring assembly; randomly taking a balance from a production of toleranced products; calculating theoretical inertia of the particular balance required to achieve the predetermined oscillation frequency, according to the measured return torque of the balance spring; measuring real inertia of the particular balance; and by direct action on the particular balance, correcting the inertia of the particular balance to the calculated theoretical inertia value to obtain the predetermined oscillation frequency for the regulating assembly formed by the particular balance, and by the particular balance spring assembly.
US09235184B2
The high-voltage power supply apparatus includes an inductor to be applied with a voltage when a driving unit is driven by a drive signal at a predetermined frequency, a rectification unit connected to both ends of the inductor, the rectification unit including multiple capacitors and multiple diodes, a current detection unit configured to detect a current flowing through the rectification unit, and a control unit configured to control a duty of the drive signal based on a result of detection by the current detection unit.
US09235179B2
In an image forming apparatus, a control unit causes an image forming unit to form a positional deviation correction pattern, to sandwich a black developer image between two color developer images of a same color, and to superpose the black developer image on one of the two color developer images of the same color in a state where color deviation occurs between developer images of a plurality of different colors.
US09235177B2
A fixing device comprises a rotatable fixing member to apply heat to a recording medium bearing an unfixed image thereon, a heat source to heat the fixing member, and a rotatable pressing member pressing against the fixing member forming a nip therebetween. A driving source rotates and drives the fixing member and the pressing member. An overheat safety device has a relay to open and close a power supply path connected to the heat source. A temperature detector is connected to both the relay and the control unit to detect temperature of the fixing member. The overheat safety device turns off the relay and cuts off power supply to the heat source when the fixing member is overheated. The fixing member is allowed to radiate heat and cool down when the temperature detected by the temperature detector is more than a prescribed level.
US09235174B2
A fixing member manufacturing method includes: a first step of externally fitting a resin tube around an elastic material; and a second step of squeezing an excessive adhesive between the elastic material and the resin tube. The second step includes: a step of externally fitting, around the resin tube in a longitudinal end side, a ring member having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the resin tube externally fitted around the elastic material; and a step of moving the ring member from the longitudinal end side toward another longitudinal end side of the resin tube while bringing the ring member into contact with an outer peripheral surface of the resin tube by air pressure.
US09235170B2
An image forming apparatus comprises an image information obtainer that obtains image information, a gradation sequence processor that applies multiple types of gradation sequence processing to the image information, and a toner image formation device that forms a toner image based on the image information. A fixing device is provided to fix the toner image onto a recording medium in a fixing process. A temperature controller is also provided to change a start-up temperature of the fixing device before the fixing process. The start-up temperature is changed in accordance with inclusion of a halftone process and a type of the gradation sequence processing applied to the image information.
US09235164B2
A transfer device includes a nip forming member to contact a surface of an image bearing member to form a transfer nip therebetween, a pressing device, and a nip pressure changing device. The pressing device includes a plurality of elastic members, to produce a contact pressure between the nip forming member and the image bearing member according to a restoring force of at least one of the elastic members upon deformation of the elastic member. The nip pressure changing device changes an amount of elastic deformation of the elastic member between at least two stages to change a nip pressure of the transfer nip. While the contact pressure is produced by one of the elastic members, the nip pressure changing device changes the amount of elastic deformation of a different elastic member, different from the one that produces the contact pressure, to change the nip pressure of the transfer nip.
US09235162B2
A developer storage container includes a container main body, a tubular portion projecting from the container main body, and a rotary member extending from the container main body to the tubular portion. The rotary member includes a first section located in the container main body and a second section located in the tubular portion. A first conveying member for conveying developer in a first conveying direction is arranged on the second section of a rotary shaft, and a second conveying member for conveying the developer in a second conveying direction is arranged radially outwardly of the first conveying member around the first section. A first flexible member radially extending to a side outward of the second conveying member and a second flexible member radially extending to a side outward of the second conveying member and having a shorter length than the first flexible member are mounted on the rotary shaft.
