US09264884B2
Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method performed by a network node for correlating subscriber IDs in a communication network, the method including: receiving a message from another network node that relates to an application function containing information related to a subscriber of the application function; extracting subscriber identification information for the message; determining if the extracted subscriber identification information is found in a correlation object in a correlation object database; if the extracted subscriber identification information is found, then adding the extracted subscriber identification information to the correlation object found in the correlation object database.
US09264883B2
An originating SMSC in Network A issues an SRI-SM towards the HLR of a recipient (User B in Network B). One of a number of N Platforms or Message Controllers (“MCOs”) intercepts the SRI-SM. Instead of passing on the SRI-SM, the MCO terminates it and performs a full decode of all fields, specifically extracting the recipient MSISDN from it. The MCO then constructs a new SRI-SM for the same MSISDN, but forcing the new request to ask for all available data, including, but not necessarily limited to visited-MSC address, SGSN address and IP-SM-GW address. When a response is received the MCO generates a fresh query response for the originating SMSC instead of merely routing on the response which it receives. If the MCO is programmed to provide a false address for smart services it incorporates the false address in the query response which it generates.
US09264881B2
An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided in which an information block is generated to include an expression encoded based on at least one of a peer discovery resource identifier or an area identifier. The information block is sent for broadcasting. An apparatus, a method, and a computer program product are provided in which an information block is received that includes an expression encoded based on at least one of a peer discovery resource identifier or an area identifier. The information block is decoded based on said at least one of the peer discovery resource identifier or the area identifier to obtain the expression.
US09264880B2
An authentication server and a method of enabling a user of a communications capable device to make a payment via a mobile operator billing system are described. The authentication server determines a user identifier string for sending to a communications capable device according to a probability of successful entry by a user. The user identifier string is linked to the content item data and the string sent to the communications capable device. The user responds, via a mobile network, by sending a short message service (SMS) based user response. The response is compared to previously transmitted user identifier messages, and billable user identity data appended to the SMS by the mobile network can be used to associate the transaction in process with billable identity data derived from the carrier data to enable a user's mobile phone account to be billed for the purchase.
US09264872B2
Techniques for using controlling traffic transmissions to manage radio resource utilization are presented herein. When content is being streamed to user equipment (UE) and is at least initially intended to be streamed in real time at a constant bitrate, a communication management component can determine whether the content being transmitted to the UE can be delayed, instead of being transmitted in real time. In response to determining that the content can be delayed, the communication management component can facilitate buffering data and periodically streaming the data to the UE in data bursts to reduce use of UE power and radio resources. When transmitting a visual image to a UE, the communication management component can adjust resolution of a visual image to correspond to screen dimensions of the UE based on information indicating screen dimensions of the UE that can be received from the UE.
US09264860B2
A communication system includes: a first storage unit configured to receive relevant information by entering a region of interest; a first control unit, coupled to the first storage unit, configured to parse the relevant information; and a display, coupled to the first control unit, configured to display the relevant information, a target object, and a suggested path.
US09264852B2
Examples of the present disclosure provide a method for displaying a message, in which a terminal receives a message posted by a user, obtains LBS information of the user, sends to a server the LBS information and the received message; the server stores the message received and the LBS information associated with the message, for each message stored, when a request for viewing the message is received from the user, the server displays, through the terminal, the message and the LBS information associated with the message to the user. Various examples of the present disclosure also provide a system for displaying a message, a terminal and a server thereof. When the method, system, and apparatuses provided by the examples of the present disclosure are employed, other users can exactly know a geographical location where the user is in when the user posted the message.
US09264850B1
A method includes receiving a request for a list of nearby user devices, where the list of nearby user devices will be sent to a merchant device, where the merchant device is associated with a merchant, where the merchant operates a plurality of merchant devices, and where the merchant device is included in the plurality of merchant devices; receiving a respective location for one or more user devices, where each user device is associated with the merchant; determining, for each of the one or more user devices, whether the user device is nearby the merchant device, based on the respective location, to the merchant device than the other merchant devices in the plurality of merchant devices; generating the list of nearby user devices based at least on the determination; and sending the list of nearby user devices to the merchant device.
US09264843B2
A simple communication system and a method thereof. The system is used to establish a call from the second user to the first user, and includes an object creation module, object downloading module, and channel establishing module. The object creation module generates communication application module according to notice path for the second user. The object downloading module informs the second user to download and install the communication application module, so a click-to-call icon is generated on a communication terminal of the second user. The channel establishing module establishes a communication channel between the second user and the first user. When the click-to-call icon is trigged by the second user, the channel establishing module establishes the communication channel. The channel establishing module is not allowed to accept the request of the first user to establish the communication channel.
US09264840B2
A system for generating mixed audio output using a multi-dimensional audio map includes a computer processor and a multi-dimensional crossfader configured to implement a method. A first audio file is read. A multi-dimensional audio map includes a plurality of audio attribute layers, each including a first dimension representing an audio attribute value for a location defined by at least two other dimensions within a multi-dimensional space. A path is determined to transition between two points in the multi-dimensional audio map. A transition is performed between the two points in the multi-dimensional audio map by selecting corresponding values from each of the plurality of audio attribute layers between the two points. A mixed output is generated by applying the corresponding values from each of the plurality of audio attribute layers between the two points to a portion of the first audio file.
US09264830B2
A circuit for correcting the output of an audio level meter comprises input means for generating the square or the absolute value of an input signal, a low pass filter having a predetermined attack time and release time, and output means for converting the output signal from a linear scale to a logarithmic scale. The circuit further comprises a correction means to which an information about whether the input signal to the audio level meter was subject to squaring or converting into an absolute value at the input, as well as the attack and release time of the low pass filter, are supplied as input values, and which provides, at its output, a value representing the difference between the output of the audio level meter and the true signal power of the input signal.
US09264822B2
Method and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement of hearing assistance devices. The present subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for automatic reception enhancement in hearing assistance devices. It provides a power estimation scheme that is reliable against both steady and transient input. It provides a TSM estimation scheme that is effective and efficient both in terms of storage size and computational efficiency. The embodiments employing a decision tree provide a weight factor between the omnidirectional and compensated directional signal. The resulting decision logic improves speech intelligibility when talking under noisy conditions. The decision logic also improves listening comfort when exposed to noise. Additional method and apparatus can be found in the specification and as provided by the attached claims and their equivalents.
US09264818B2
A device that enables easy, reliably performance of a search at a desired position even in the case of a one-bit digital signal.A control section of a digital signal processing device extracts a one-bit digital signal of a predetermined period from a memory section at a position designated by a jog dial and iteratively outputs the signal to a multi-bit converter. The multi-bit converter converts the one-bit digital signal into a multi-bit signal, and a multiplier subjects the multi-bit signal to fade-in and fade-out processing. A ΔΣ modulator re-converts the thus-processed signal into the one-bit digital signal, outputting the digital signal.
US09264813B2
A speaker system includes a first array of transducers in a speaker enclosure and, and at least a second array of transducers in the speaker enclosure. The second array is a low-frequency array and the first array is a high-frequency array. The transducers in the first array are configured to have an operating frequency region covering at least the frequency ranges of the first array and the second array, and the transducers in the second are configured to have an operating frequency region covering at least the frequency ranges of the first array and the second array. The speaker system further includes an input port, and a controller operatively coupled with the input port. The controller is configured to provide an electronic-audio signal to the transducers such that the first array and the second array are tuned to different center frequencies and are a two stage dipole beamforming array.
US09264807B2
A multichannel acoustic echo reduction system is described herein. The system includes an acoustic echo canceller (AEC) component having a fixed filter for each respective combination of loudspeaker and microphone signals and having an adaptive filter for each microphone signal. For each microphone signal, the AEC component modifies the microphone signal to reduce contributions from the outputs of the loudspeakers based at least in part on the respective adaptive filter associated with the microphone signal and the set of fixed filters associated with the respective microphone signal.
US09264805B2
Methods and apparatus for beamforming and performing echo compensation for the beamformed signal with an echo canceller including calculating a set of filter coefficients as an estimate for a new steering direction without a complete adaptation of the echo canceller.
US09264801B2
The system includes a remotely controlled medical system having a controller in communication with a command device incorporating a microphone. The system further includes a medical device operable by the controller and a sound generator coupled to the controller. The command device incorporating a microphone is paired to the controller for operating the medical device by detecting the sound. The command device incorporating a microphone transmits a signal in response to the sound to the controller to verify the pairing of the command device incorporating a microphone to the controller such that the controller will only operate the medical device in response to a command issued near the sound generator.
US09264800B2
An audio signal processing apparatus includes a signal processing unit, an output unit, a retention unit, and a coefficient setting unit. The signal processing unit is configured to perform signal processing on an audio signal by a digital filter. The output unit is configured to be connected to an external speaker and output the audio signal to the speaker. The retention unit is configured to retain a plurality of filter coefficients that are impulse responses having reverse characteristics of a plurality of speakers having different speaker characteristics. The coefficient setting unit is configured to select one of the filter coefficients that corresponds to the speaker connected to the output unit from the retention unit and set the filter coefficient in the digital filter.
US09264798B2
The invention relates to a microphone (10). A first (14a) and a second (14b) diaphragm are provided in a housing (12). A first chamber (24a) is delimited by a first side of the first diaphragm (14a) and an inner surface of the housing (12). A first opening (18a) extends from the first chamber (24a) to surroundings of the microphone (10). A second chamber (24b) is delimited by a first side of the second diaphragm (14b) and an inner surface of the housing (12). A second opening (18b) extends from the second chamber (24b) to the surroundings. A common chamber (22) is delimited by a second side of the first diaphragm (14a), a second side of the second diaphragm (14b) and an inner surface of the housing (12). A third opening (20) extends from the common chamber (22) to the surroundings.
US09264787B2
A field device for use in an industrial process, includes a process interface element configured to measure or control a process variable. Communication circuitry is configured to communicate with another location. A communication system is configured to provide communications between at least two components in the field device. A signal inverter couples an inverted signal from the communication system to other circuitry to thereby reduce interference received by the other circuitry.
US09264786B2
Provided is a network module, the module including a base unit, wherein the base unit includes at least one mating element that couples to a corresponding mating element of a network interface device; at least one connector element that couples to an add-on module; and the add-on module, wherein the add-on module includes at least one mating element corresponding to the connector element of the base unit, wherein the base unit is configured to interface with the add-on module and wherein the base unit is electrically connected to the add-on module.
US09264784B2
Method, device, and non-transitory storage medium to obtain program historical data and social network data associated with users that receive one or more programs via one or more channels; calculate a social similarity value; calculate a channel-interest similarity value; calculate a similarity index value based on the social similarity value and the channel-interest similarity value; calculate a program weight value for each program; calculate a stay-time, for each channel, that indicates a time period each of the users remained on each channel; calculate based on each program weight value, each stay-time, and each similarity index value, a channel weight for each channel; and select based on each channel weight, one or more channels to recommend to at least one of the users.
US09264766B2
Methods and systems for the efficient and non-redundant transmission of a single video program in multiple frame rates, optionally employing a combination of video coding standards, in a way that is backwards-compatible with legacy receivers only supportive of some subsection of frame rates or of some subsection of video coding standards.
US09264763B2
A method and apparatus for establishing a communication link between a first device and a second device are provided. The method includes transmitting, to the second device, a connection request frame requesting to set a communication link; and receiving, from the second device, the connection request frame including first encoding selection information selecting an encoding method to be applied to content to be transmitted between the first and second devices from among a digital transmission content protection (DTCP) technology and a high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) technology, a connection response frame approving a request to set the communication link by the connection request frame, the connection response frame including second encoding selection information selecting an encoding method identical to the encoding method selected by the connection request frame.
US09264751B2
Apparatus and methods for downloading selected multimedia content and applications. In one embodiment, the apparatus and methods enable various options or functionalities for programming content over a home network. A web-based user interface on a consumer device controls a set-top box (STB) over a local home network is utilized. An initial process connects the consumer device to an application server for the necessary web software. After discovery of both the consumer device and the STB on the local home network, an initial page of the application is loaded and the application calls the web services on the STB via the home network to retrieve data and control the STB with a compatible web browser on the consumer device.
US09264743B1
A method may include providing a service to a customer premise device, the service including at least one of television service or Internet service, receiving a request for Internet content from the customer premise device, retrieving the Internet content, conditioning the Internet content according to at least one of a type of data of the Internet content or the service from which the request is received, allocating resources for delivering the Internet content based on one or more requirements associated with the type of data of the Internet content, and delivering the Internet content to the customer premise device.
US09264735B2
An apparatus detects a motion vector using image data to be encoded, and a plurality of reference image data. The apparatus conducts a motion vector search for first reference image data using a large block obtained by dividing the image data to be encoded, and divides the large block into a smaller block size at the position of a smallest matching error. The apparatus determines a block size used in a motion vector search for another reference data based on matching errors in the small blocks.
US09264731B2
A video decoding method using an inter prediction, includes: obtaining a differential motion vector and residual data from encoded data; determining a predicted motion vector; generating a predicted block by performing the inter prediction based on the differential motion vector and the predicted motion vector; identifying one or more conditions for enabling an inverse quantization and an inverse transform; skipping both of the inverse quantization and the inverse transform for the obtained residual data to thereby reconstruct a residual block directly from the obtained residual data, when the one or more identified conditions indicate skipping of both the inverse quantization and the inverse transform; and inversely quantizing the obtained residual data and skipping the inverse transform for the inversely quantized residual data to thereby reconstruct a residual block using the inverse-quantized residual data, when the one or more identified conditions indicate skipping of the inverse transform.
US09264728B2
An apparatus and method for enhanced encoding and decoding of Bayer images is presented. The use of intra-plane prediction, which relies on correlation between neighboring pixels of the same color, is enhanced by adding inter-plane prediction that relies on correlation between neighboring pixels in different color planes (i.e., different colors). The inter-plane prediction is performed within either a single residual computation, or across multiple residual computations, such as generating an intra-predicted set of residuals which are then utilized in computing inter-predicted residuals.
US09264720B2
An apparatus and method are provided for securing service quality in multimedia services. The method includes arranging media data samples in each data frame (moof) included a data field of a media data box (mdat), according to a specific rule, and recording control information based on the specific rule in a control information field (sidx) of the mdat. The control information defines an arrangement of the samples in each moof, and includes level information about a level assigned to each sample and index information about a location where each sample is arranged in the data field.
US09264714B2
An image processing apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive image data of program content and genre information relating to the program content, a selection unit configured to select a size selection parameter for causing the genre information received by the receiving unit to be reflected in a block size, a determination unit configured to determine a block size in accordance with the size selection parameter selected by the selection unit, the block size being used for orthogonal transformation, and an orthogonal transformation unit configured to perform orthogonal transformation on the image data received by the receiving unit at the block size determined by the determination unit.
US09264712B2
An image coding method using arithmetic coding. The method includes: performing arithmetic coding on a first flag that indicates whether or not an absolute value of a target coefficient in a target coefficient block is greater than 1; and performing arithmetic coding on a second flag that indicates whether or not the absolute value is greater than 2. In the arithmetic coding on the first flag and the arithmetic coding on the second flag, it is determined whether or not an immediately-prior coefficient block that has been coded immediately prior to the target coefficient block includes a coefficient having an absolute value greater than a threshold value. Based on a result of the determination, respective contexts to be used in the arithmetic coding on the first and second flags are selected.
US09264710B2
Several systems and methods for intra-prediction estimation of video pictures are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes accessing four ‘N×N’ pixel blocks comprising luma-related pixels. The four ‘N×N’ pixel blocks collectively configure a ‘2N×2N’ pixel block. A first pre-determined number of candidate luma intra-prediction modes is accessed for each of the four ‘N×N’ pixel blocks. A presence of one or more luma intra-prediction modes that are common among the candidate luma intra-prediction modes of at least two of the four ‘N×N’ pixel blocks is identified. The method further includes performing, based on the identification, one of (1) selecting a principal luma intra-prediction mode for the ‘2N×2N’ pixel block and (2) limiting a partitioning size to a ‘N×N’ pixel block size for a portion of the video picture corresponding to the ‘2N×2N’ pixel block.
US09264707B2
A method includes performing, by a microprocessor of a computing device, a coding to obtain a residual of a residual data block from an original data block. The method includes pre-defining a default order of symbols in the residual data block. The method includes re-ordering the symbols in the residual data block in an order other than the default order, such that a first set of most frequently used symbols are in a first location and a second set of least frequently used symbols are in a second location, producing a multi-symbol run-length code based on a group of symbols from the first set of most frequently used symbols, and detecting the second set of least frequently used symbols based on the multi-symbol run-length code.
US09264704B2
A method is provided to measure an overall image quality score for a remote desktop on a first computer and accessed from a second computer. The method includes playing a video timestamp on the remote desktop at the first computer where the video timestamp includes unique timestamps, screen capturing first computer frames of the remote desktop at the first computer and second computer frames of the remote desktop at the second computer at the same time, determining a frame image quality score for each second computer frame by comparing the client screen to a corresponding baseline first computer frame, and determining the overall image quality score for the remote desktop from frame image quality scores of the second computer frames.
US09264702B2
An apparatus for calibrating an augmented reality (AR) device having an optical see-through head mounted display (HMD) obtains eye coordinates in an eye coordinate system corresponding to a location of an eye of a user of the AR device, and obtains object coordinates in a world coordinate system corresponding to a location of a real-world object in the field of view of the AR device, as captured by a scene camera having a scene camera coordinate system. The apparatus calculates screen coordinates in a screen coordinate system corresponding to a display point on the HMD, where the calculating is based on the obtained eye coordinates and the obtained object coordinates. The apparatus calculates calibration data based on the screen coordinates, the object coordinates and a transformation from the target coordinate system to the scene camera coordinate system. The apparatus then derives subsequent screen coordinates for the display of AR in relation to other real-world object points based on the calibration data.
US09264701B2
A video display apparatus includes a display section that carries out a display process based on a drive signal and a drive section that outputs to the display section a first drive signal based on a video signal having undergone video processing in a first video processing section at a fixed cycle and a second drive signal based on a video signal having undergone video processing in a second video processing section at the same cycle as the cycle at which the first drive signal is outputted but at timing shifted from the first drive signal by one-half the cycle. When the video signals contain two-dimensional video images, the first video processing section produces a video signal for two-dimensional video images and the second video processing section produces a video signal for black screen insertion.
US09264698B2
An image generation apparatus to generate an image includes an acquisition unit, an input unit, and a generation unit. The acquisition unit acquires image data. The input unit inputs brightness information with respect to the image data and lens characteristics of a lenticular lens. The generation unit generates a plurality of pieces of image data which is varied in brightness for being synthesized to the lenticular lens based on the brightness information and the lens characteristics.
US09264695B2
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a system and method for multi-viewpoint video capture. According to one embodiment, the system includes a camera housing for accommodating both a first multi-imager set and a second multi-imager set, with each multi-imager set including a plurality of optical cameras having different viewpoint directions and configured to produce a source image. Furthermore, each camera in the first multi-imager set and the second multi-imager set include corresponding cameras facing in approximately the same viewpoint direction. The first multi-imager set is positioned laterally adjacent to the second multi-imager set such that lines joining a center of projection of corresponding cameras in the first multi-imager set and second multi-imager set are approximately parallel.
US09264693B2
A motion recognition device capable of recognizing the motion of an object without contact with the object is provided. Further, a motion recognition device that has a simple structure and can recognize the motion of an object regardless of the state of the object is provided. By using a 3D TOF range image sensor in the motion recognition device, information on changes in position and shape is detected easily. Further, information on changes in position and shape of a fast-moving object is detected easily. Motion recognition is performed on the basis of pattern matching. Imaging data used for pattern matching is acquired from a 3D range measuring sensor. Object data is selected from imaging data on an object that changes over time, and motion data is estimated from a time change in selected object data. The motion recognition device performs operation defined by output data generated from the motion data.
US09264688B2
To generate a warning that a stereoscopic image sequence has been synthesized from a 2D image sequence, a video processor correlates left-eye image data and right-eye image data to identify any sustained temporal offset between the left-eye and right-eye image data. A measure of sustained correlation between a measured spatial distribution of horizontal disparity and a spatial model can also be used to generate the warning.
US09264679B2
A mobile device, such as a smart phone, is provided with a camera and a projector. A user may select a still image or a video sequence and project it onto a viewing surface using the mobile device. Once the viewer selects a preferred perspective view frame, the image frame may be pinned to the viewing surface. After that, the viewer may move the projector to different positions while holding the projector, or sit the projector on a table and the viewed image will be maintained in the same perspective view frame as the initial selected view.
US09264678B2
A digital networked studio and the needed software services to allow the use of the system for monitoring the creation and distribution processes of real-time created content is described.Distribution problems are solved using an off-the-shelf network, e.g. using an IP based or similar data protocol, such as an IP network based distributed system architecture to bring the display controller functionality closer to the source and to replace proprietary busses used for transporting video, audio, RGB, graphical information and/or metadata with building blocks based on standard IP and compression technologies. A characteristic of such a network is to use unicast, multicast and/or broadcast technologies (based on network addresses) and to route data from one address to another. The network provides redundancy in case any of the digital generation units.
US09264677B2
A camera system is provided for use in a high-radiation environment includes a camera assembly with a housing enclosing an image sensor for generating a digital signal of a detected image and a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) for converting the digital signal from the image sensor into a serial bit stream. A transmission medium transmits the serial bit stream to an image processing module located outside of the high-radiation environment where a second SERDES deserializes the serial bit stream to generate a decoded image signal which is processed by an image processor to generate an output at a display device corresponding to the detected image.
US09264676B2
A broadband imager, which is able to image both IR and visible light, is disclosed. In one embodiment, an IR sensitive region of an IR pixel underlies the R, G, B sensitive regions of R, G, and B visible pixels. Therefore, the IR pixel receives IR light through a same surface area of the photosensor through which the R, G, and B pixels receive visible light. However, the IR light generates electron-hole pairs deeper below the common surface area shared by the RGB and IR pixels, than visible light. The photosensor also has a charge accumulation region for accumulating charges generated in the IR sensitive region and an electrode above the charge accumulation region for providing a voltage to accumulate the charges generated in the IR pixel.
US09264660B1
Embodiments generally relate to presenter control during a video conference. In one embodiment, a method includes providing a user interface of a video conference between at least a first user and a second user, where the user interface displays a first user video stream in a current presenter position and displays a second user video stream in a secondary presenter position. The method also includes detecting at least one gesture from the second user, where the detecting of the at least one gesture indicates that the second user intends to be a current presenter. The method also includes causing the user interface to display the second user video stream in the current presenter position and to display the first user video stream in the secondary presenter position in response to the detecting.
US09264651B2
A moving image reproducing apparatus is provided with CPU 8 and a displaying unit 7. A moving image including plural frames of image is displayed on the display unit 7. CPU 8 sets a display position in one of the frames of image and displays a guide-indicator at the display position, wherein the guide-indicator is used for analyzing a specific motion of a person. CPU 8 displays the guide-indicator on each of the frames of image following the frame of image, in which the display position is set, in an overlapping manner. CPU 8 obtains displacement information of a field angle of each of the reproduced frames of image following the frame of image, in which the display position is set. CPU 8 adjusts the display position based on the displacement information, such that the change of the field angle of each frame of image is cancelled.
US09264644B2
Methods and systems for analog-to-digital conversion applicable to an image sensor, such as a CMOS image sensor, in which pixels can be readout non-destructively, and wherein a non-destructive pixel read may be used to provide a coarse analog-to-digital conversion such that information can be stored, and the stored information is then applied in a fine analog-to-digital conversion during a subsequent actual pixel read.
US09264639B2
A control pulse is generated a first control signal line coupled to a transfer gate of a pixel to enable photocharge accumulated within a photosensitive element of the pixel to be transferred to a floating diffusion node, the first control signal line having a capacitive coupling to the floating diffusion node. A feedthrough compensation pulse is generated on a second signal line of the pixel array that also has a capacitive coupling to the floating diffusion node. The feedthrough compensation pulse is generated with a pulse polarity opposite the pulse polarity of the control pulse and is timed to coincide with the control pulse such that capacitive feedthrough of the control pulse to the floating diffusion node is reduced.
US09264632B1
A method of adaptively reducing power consumption in an image sensor includes using an electronic rolling shutter to reset pixels of the image sensor row by row. Signal charges are read out from the pixels row by row, followed by obtaining an integration time and a frame height. A power-saving signal is generated when the integration time is substantially greater than the frame height, and at least a circuitry that is not required to operate during an active period of the power-saving signal is turned off.
US09264628B2
An imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a flicker correction unit for correcting a flicker component using a correction gain. The flicker correction unit includes an integrating unit for calculating a line integrated value from a video signal in one horizontal line in one vertical synchronization period, a normalization unit for normalizing the line integrated value for a plurality of the vertical synchronization periods so as to calculate a normalized line integrated value, an inter-frame DFT processing unit for performing Discrete Fourier Transform on the normalized line integrated value for the plurality of vertical synchronization periods, a flicker component calculation unit for calculating information of a flicker component based on a Fourier Transform processing result, and a correction gain calculation unit for calculating a correction gain based on the information of the flicker component in two or more horizontal lines.
US09264626B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for recognizing a pulsing light source, in which a sequence of individual images is acquired with a light sensitive sensor. In an evaluation unit, all or at least some of the picture points of each individual image are examined with regard to at least one predefined feature. A gray value of any picture point depends on two or more charge levels of at least one of the photodetectors of the sensor corresponding to the picture point at the ends of at least two integration intervals for the picture point. The at least two integration intervals for said picture point have different lengths. The examination comprises an examination of the picture points as to whether the picture points have gray values in a defined vicinity of one of at least one predefined gray value.
US09264625B2
An image capturing apparatus includes a body that can be freely inclined relative to a predetermined reference axis through the effect of a rotation about a certain axis of rotation, an optical sensor device capable of capturing luminous radiation incident thereon and of converting it so that it can be stored into a physical medium in the form of a captured image, wherein the optical sensor device is mechanically coupled to the body of the apparatus in a manner such that it can be made capable of controllably rotating about the axis of rotation, an inclination sensor adapted to detect the angular offset of the optical sensor device with respect to the predetermined reference axis, a motor adapted to rotate the optical sensor device about the axis of rotation when it is made capable of controllably rotating about the axis of rotation by the motor, a processor and controller associated with the inclination sensor and with the motor and adapted to change the inclination of the optical sensor device through the motor depending on the angular offset detected by the inclination sensor with respect to the predetermined reference axis.
US09264623B2
A system and method for displaying content on a television in standby mode. The system can have storage for storing face data of one or more users and for storing preference data associated to the face data, where the preference data indicates preferences of the user, a display for displaying content, and a standby indicator for indicating that the television is in standby mode. In a case that the television is in standby mode, a front camera for capturing an image of a user is activated. The system can also have a recommendation device for searching the attribute data of content currently available and for selecting, in a case that the captured image corresponds to one of the store face data, at least one content to be displayed that has attribute data matching the associated stored preference data.
US09264622B2
A photographing apparatus, and a photographing method thereof. The photographing method of the photographing apparatus determines if an instruction to photograph is input, and if the instruction to photograph is input, displays a live view by using a first data output from a first pixel group included in an image sensor, and combines a second data output from a second pixel group included in the image sensor with the first data and generates a photographed image, and stores the generated photographed image. Accordingly, the user is continuously provided with the live view even after photographing. Specifically, in continuous photographing, since the user is provided with the live view through which he or she can check the moving subject of photography, the user is enabled to compose images as he or she wishes.
US09264618B2
The present invention relates to a camera module including an auto focusing module vertically moving a lens, a handshake compensation module wrapping the auto focusing module, and tilting the auto focusing module to compensate handshake, a circuit board electrically connected to the handshake compensation module, a bottom case supporting the circuit board and coupled to the auto focusing module, a main circuit board fixed to bottom case and electrically connected to an image sensor module and the circuit board, and a spring unit arranged at a periphery of the main circuit board and having a symmetrical opening having thereinside a gap spaced apart at a predetermined distance.
US09264617B2
An optical image of the subject is obtained by the finder unit. An image of the subject obtained by imaging is displayed on the display screen of an optical viewfinder. Looking through the finder unit, the user can see an image obtained by superimposing the image of the subject, which is displayed on the display screen of the electronic viewfinder, upon the optical image of the subject. The two images of the subject coincide when the subject is in focus and do not coincide when the subject is not in focus. The user can bring the subject into focus while looking through the finder unit to ascertain the degree of offset between the images of the subject. In cases such as excessive camera shake, the subject appears blurry. In response, the display of the image of the subject upon the display screen of the electronic viewfinder is halted.
US09264615B2
An image capturing apparatus determines the target position of a shake correction lens in accordance with a shake signal corresponding to an acting shake, and performs feedback control to converge the position of the shake correction lens to the target position. A division unit divides the shake signal into low- and high-frequency components. A first low-pass filter integrates the high-frequency component, and a second low-pass filter integrates the low-frequency component. A synthesis unit synthesizes output signals from the first and second low-pass filters, and outputs the synthetic signal as the target position. When the apparatus is being panned or tilted, the cutoff frequency of the second low-pass filter is set to be a value larger than that of a cutoff frequency when the apparatus is neither being panned nor tilted.
US09264606B2
A processing device which obtains distance information of a subject, including: a calculation unit configured to calculate the distance information of the subject from a difference in blur degree of a plurality of images photographed by an imaging optical system; a correcting unit configured to correct the distance information using correction data in accordance with an image height in the imaging optical system; and an extraction unit configured to extract at least one frequency component from each of the plurality of images, wherein the calculation unit calculates the distance information from a difference in blur degree in the plurality of images in the at least one frequency component; and the correcting unit corrects the distance information using correction data in accordance with an image height in the at least one frequency component.
US09264603B2
Until a face detection result is obtained after a moving-image recording operation starts, a focal-point detection area may be set at a position based on a face detection result before the moving-image recording operation. The focal-point detection area may be set so as to fit within the angle of view after the moving-image recording operation.
US09264602B2
An optical apparatus which is capable of, when performing manual focus shooting, freely adjusting a rack focus speed and stabilizing a final focusing accuracy for a shooting subject. Operation of the focus lens, which is driven in a direction of an optical axis by a motor, is controlled in accordance with rotation of a manual focus ring. A position of the focus lens in the direction of the optical axis, which is detected when the focus lens lies at a predetermined position, is stored in a storage unit. According to the relationship between a signal indicative of a current position of a focus lens and a signal indicative of a position of the focus lens, which is stored in the storage unit, the amount by which the focus lens is driven relative to rotation of a manual focus ring is changed.
US09264599B2
Mounting and triggering mechanisms for first person actuation of a camera by an internally mounted remote camera actuator in the form of a handle grip are disclosed for use in any applicable activity, without limitation, such as sporting, recreational, documentary filmmaking and/or photography, or the like.
US09264593B2
An image pickup apparatus capable of performing zooming and release operation easily whether the photographer operates with right-handed or left-handed without being lack of design. The image pickup apparatus includes a lens unit, a first ring operation unit that is ring shaped and arranged around the lens unit, a base unit configured to hold the first ring operation unit so that the first ring operation unit is capable of sliding in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens unit, and a first detector configured to detect a slide of the first ring operation unit in the first direction or the second direction. The first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.
US09264591B2
An actuator package includes a base frame member and an image sensor. The actuator package further includes a plurality of comb drive actuators affixed to the base frame member by a plurality of respective electrically conductive leaf spring flexures. The respective electrically conductive leaf spring flexures provide an electrical current conductive path between the image sensor and conductors mounted on the base frame member, and the plurality of comb drive actuators is arranged to control the motion of the image sensor in multiple degrees of freedom relative to the fixed structure. Each of the plurality of comb drive actuators includes at least two independent comb drive array portions. At least one of the comb drive array portions generates force tending to move the image sensor out of a plane of the base frame member.
US09264590B2
A holding structure for a display panel includes a case that has a substantially quadrangle-shaped opening, a plurality of elastic strips that is disposed to surround the periphery of the opening, the display panel that is disposed to close the opening via the plurality of the elastic strips, and a holding plate that is disposed to press the display panel against the plurality of the elastic strips. The case has recesses in parts of the periphery of the opening. The plurality of the elastic strips is disposed such that each strip has a part overlapping with the corresponding part of another strip, one on another. The overlapping parts of the plurality of the elastic strips are configured to fill at least a part of the respective recesses.
US09264589B2
A case attachable to a mobile communications device such as a smart phone operatively equipped with a camera can accommodate an optical refractor. The optical refractor can be adapted to change the direction of light rays passing through it. The case can align a first optical surface of the optical refractor with the camera lens and can maintain a second optical surface in a non-parallel arrangement with the first optical surface. The optical refractor can redirect light rays from an unaligned object to the camera lens. In an aspect, the object may be a bar code label.
US09264588B2
The invention relates to a theft protection device for a camera unit (20) that is arranged on a movable protection element (11) of a motor vehicle, said camera unit (20) being used to detect images of the outer area (5). The protection element (11) can be moved between a closed position (1) and an open position (2). In the closed position (1), the camera unit (20) is in the idle position (3) and in the open position (2), the camera unit (20) is in the operational position (4). The protection element (11) comprises a receiving unit (10) for the camera unit (20) on the inner side, the side of the protection element (11) facing away from the outer area (5), a safety element (30) being arranged on the receiving element (10) which safety element reliably maintains the camera unit (20) in the receiving element (10). At least one securing means (14) secures the safety element (30) to the inner side of the protection element (11), and the securing means (14) is arranged at such a distance from the protection element (11) that the securing means (14) cannot be tampered with when the protection element (11) is in the open position (2).
US09264586B2
Audio and video signals are synchronized for pleasing presentation of content. As content is streamed to a device, an audio portion may lag or lead a video portion. Spoken words, for example, are out of synch with the lip movements. Video content is thus synchronized to audio content to ensure streaming content is pleasing.
US09264580B2
There is provided an information processing apparatus and a control method thereof. The information processing apparatus and a control method acquires user information from an external apparatus by using near field wireless communication, determines how to handle the acquired user information according to a type of a screen displayed by a display unit. For example, when the displayed screen is an authentication screen, authentication processing is executed by using the acquired user information.
US09264577B2
An image processing device performs: calculating a degree of similarity between a reference region in a first image and a candidate region in a second image; identifying a corresponding region in the second image; determining whether a first variance condition is met; and generating combined image data representing a combined image in which the first image is combined with the second image by overlapping the reference region with the corresponding region. In a first case where the first variance condition is met, once the calculating finds the degree of similarity greater than or equal to a reference value, the candidate region corresponding to the degree of similarity is identified with the corresponding region. In a second case where the first condition is not met, the identifying identifies a candidate region having a maximum degree of similarity with the corresponding region.
US09264574B2
An apparatus supplies power to a communication unit that communicates with an external apparatus, and manages history information for each communication sequence in the communication unit in a mode where power supplied to a control unit is stopped. At that time, the apparatus assigns identification information unique to the communication unit to the history information when the apparatus is in a mode where power supplied to the control unit is stopped, and makes control when power supplied to the control unit is stopped or when the apparatus returns to the mode in which power is supplied to the control unit so that continuity of the history information managed by the control unit is ensured.
US09264573B2
An image forming system includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses and a group management server. The plurality of image forming apparatuses each include a document-box management unit. The document-box movement processing unit transmits a command to at least one of a first image forming apparatus assigned to a group before the movement and a second image forming apparatus assigned to a group after the movement, the command causing movement of a document box of the moved user from the first image forming apparatus to the second image forming apparatus. The document-box management unit in at least one of the first image forming apparatus and the second image forming apparatus accepts the command. The document-box management unit forwards the document box of the moved user from the first image forming apparatus to the second image forming apparatus.
US09264567B2
A terminal device includes a reception control unit which receives a display instruction for displaying of a first screen, and an execution instruction for instructing executing of a function unit, from a server, a display control unit which displays the first screen according to the display instruction, and which displays a second screen according to internal information of the device when the function unit is executing a function; and a transmission control unit. When an operation unit is operated while the first screen is displayed, the transmission control unit transmits a result representing the operation to the operation unit and an identifier identifying the display instruction. When the function unit has executed a function according to the execution instruction, the transmission control unit transmits a result representing an end of the execution and an identifier identifying the execution instruction.
US09264560B2
A cause identifying device includes a modifying unit and an identifying unit. The modifying unit, in a case in which an inexpedience is detected in an image formed on a print medium by conducting multiple processes, modifies processing content conducted during the image formation by modifying a processing parameter of a partial process or disabling a partial process. The identifying unit identifies a cause of the inexpedience on the basis of information obtained from an image formed on a print medium by image formation conducted after the processing content is modified.
US09264558B2
A system for verifying accuracy of a raster scanned image of a document (20) includes an input tray (30) that holds documents prior to imaging; an input imaging device (40) that captures an image of a document in the input tray; transmitting the captured input tray image to an image processor (100); transporting the document through a document scanner (10); a raster capture device for capturing a raster scanned image of the document with; transmitting the raster scanned image to the image processor; and verifying the accuracy of the raster scanned image by comparing the raster scanned image of the document to the input tray image of the document.
US09264557B2
Methods in a charging system (20), in a charging node or charging server comprise associating plural telecommunications services (S) with a product (P) and creating a product instance, the product instance being available to a subscriber entity and having a product instance lifecycle. The methods further comprise, upon receiving a service reservation, checking whether the service reservation is for a first reserved service of the plural telecommunication services associated with the product instance and, if so, reserving a fee for the product instance against a payor account. The methods further comprise, upon receiving a first notification of use by the subscriber entity of any of the plural services associated with the product instance, posting the fee to the payor account. The methods further comprise thereafter permitting use of all of the plural telecommunication services associated with the product instance to the subscribing entity during the product instance lifecycle without deducting a further fee for use of the plural telecommunication services associated with the product instance.
US09264552B2
Programmatically reversing numerical line identity presented at a communications services gateway into named IP Telephony users with “prior association”, delivers dynamic “reverse address resolution” switching connections from ground to cloud, permitting any conventional telephone to dial and connect to any associated IP Telephony endpoint in the world, without changes to the conventional telephone. Reversing line identity into associated named users bridges both the addressability and economic divide between mass conventional “paying” (mobile and fixed) and “free” IP Telephony networks. A system for supporting communications between a user on an IP-addressed-communications-device and a telephony subscriber device, the telephony subscriber device having a corresponding telephone number, includes: one or more service nodes configured to: receive from the user the telephone number of the telephony subscriber device and create an association from the telephone number to the user, wherein the association allows the telephony subscriber device to connect to the user.
US09264548B2
A method and apparatus for establishing a communication session with a user in a telecommunications network. The session is to be established between a remote device and one of a plurality of communication clients. Each of the clients is on a user device at which the user may participate in the session. A communication session control system located in a signalling path for the session transmits a session establishment request to a given client to place that client in a prior-to-answer session state. In response, the system receives a request from that client that the option to establish the session with the remote device be made available to at least one client of the plurality of clients other than the given client. The system transmits notification data to the at least one other client to notify that the session is available for retrieval by the at least one other client.
US09264544B2
An automated attendant system is made multimedia capable by adding a combined user agent to the automated attendant. A search is done to verify that the caller to the automated attendant has combined user agent capabilities. If so, the caller receives multimedia content from the automated attendant's combined user agent so that the content may be presented on the caller's computer to assist the caller in navigating through the automated attendant's menus and options. Upon selection of a desired connection from the menus and options, the automated attendant's combined user agent helps the caller be connected by voice to the selected connection.
US09264537B2
A blacklist of known harassing or non-legitimate emergency calls is maintained. An incoming emergency call is checked against emergency call records to determine if multiple emergency calls have been made recently, from the same general location, and destined to the same PSAP. Feedback is provided regarding the number of recent calls made and the possibility of a false positive, based on call history from known handsets in the area, including the possibility of a phone with a known MEID/ESN, when powered up, receiving the same 911-xxx-xxxx. Blacklisting may be approved or not based on the feedback. A telephone number or MIN may be placed on a “blacklist” with a ‘timer’. Subsequent calls to that phone number will be assigned a different SIP URI (a unique URI per destination determined prior to lookup on the blacklist) and be directed elsewhere. The call may be completed to an administrative line.
US09264529B2
An integrated circuit supports auto-sense of voltage for drive strength adjustment. The method may comprise detecting an input voltage received at an auto-sense pad integrated on a mobile multimedia processing (MMP) chip. The input voltage may be a power supply voltage of the peripheral device received during power-up of the MMP chip, power-up of the peripheral circuitry, and/or dynamically while the MMP is powered-up. The auto-sense pad may adjust drive strength of at least one other pad, which may be an output pad or a bidirectional pad, integrated on the MMP chip may be configured to operate using the determined output voltage. A rise time and/or fall time of signals output by the MMP chip may be varied by the adjustment of the drive strength.
US09264523B2
A remote management system employs multiple wireless links, which may include a local wireless link and a remote wireless link. The remote wireless link may be in place between a troubleshooting device held by a person located at a service site, and a remote service center for a service provider, such as an Internet service provider. The local wireless link may be in place between the person at the service site and the equipment needing service, such as a DSL model provided by the service provider. Establishing the multiple links allows the service provider to troubleshoot the equipment, without incurring the substantial cost of sending a specialized service technician to the service site. As examples, the troubleshooting device may be a smart phone, the remote wireless link may be a cellular connection, and the local wireless link may be a Bluetooth or NFC connection.
US09264516B2
A messaging model and node induction methods and corresponding devices and systems are disclosed herein that are effective to enable an inductor node to induct an inductee node into a distributed computing system and to enable the inducted node to carry out predetermined tasks.
US09264511B2
A method for realizing content sharing among mobile terminals comprises: receiving an index of access content sent by a requesting mobile terminal; looking up a shareable content index table for the index of the access content; and sending identification information of a mobile terminal having the index of the access content to the requesting mobile terminal if the index of the access content is found, so that the requesting mobile terminal obtains the requested access content from the mobile terminal having the index of the access content via wireless communication.
US09264507B2
Systems, software, and computer implemented methods for consuming services from a cross-domain service server. One example method includes providing for presentation a web page associated with a first domain, the web page including an iFrame associated with a service associated with a second domain; converting a set of data associated with the web page into a form element embedded within the iFrame associated with the second domain; submitting the set of converted data in the form element to the service associated with the second domain via the iFrame; receiving, via the iFrame, a response from the service associated with the second domain; identifying a pre-registered action associated with the received response; and performing the identified pre-registered action in response to receiving the response and identifying the pre-registered action.
US09264503B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a synthesis engine having a controller, and a storage medium for storing instructions to be executed by the controller. The instructions, when executed by the controller, can cause the controller to retrieve collected information associated with a behavior of an individual, synthesize from the information a measure of a mood of the individual to interact with others, and transmit the measure to a system associated with the individual to manage requests between the individual and the entity. The measure of the mood of the individual can indicate an availability of the individual and a receptiveness of the individual to accept a request to interact with an entity. The measure can be described by a plurality of dimensions. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09264491B2
A method of operating a home-based network device, wherein said home-based network device is part of a telecommunications network. The method comprising the steps of: assigning an address to the home-based network device, wherein said address is a function of a public identity of a subscriber associated with said home-based network device. The method further comprising registering the address of said home-based network device in an addressing space containing addressing information of other home-based network devices and providing access to said home-based network device to users that are not associated with said home-based network device.
US09264482B2
The method includes, receiving a content request message from a user terminal, comparing a batching window value and a timer value in session information when there is session information corresponding to received content, and transmitting a content response message including an address of a stored surrogate server to the user terminal when the timer value is less than the batching window value. In addition, the method includes, receiving a request message for requesting the same content from another user terminal, and transmitting the content response message including address information of the same surrogate server to another user terminal when the timer value is less than the batching window value. Therefore, since more channels can be assigned to one surrogate server, it is possible to decrease data transmission costs of the surrogate server.
US09264473B2
A content distribution system includes a content server and a distribution server. The distribution server distributes the content provided from the content server via a network. The distribution server includes a notice accept unit, an issuing unit, a content receiving unit and a distribution execution unit. The notice accept unit receives a notice of attribute information from the content server, the attribute information corresponding to a distribution timing of content. The issuing unit issues a permission notice according to the accepted attribute information and transmits the issued permission notice to the content server. The content receiving unit receives the content added with meta information containing the distribution timing from the content server after issuing the permission notice. The distribution execution unit distributes the content received by the content receiving unit to the terminal device according to the distribution timing contained in the meta information added to the content.
US09264472B2
A computer system and method providing for viewing and switching of audio-video data. The system comprises: a plurality of audio/video sources containing information referring to an event; a streaming server, streaming the contents of a first audio signal and a first video signal from the audio and video sources to a user; a feed distributor controllably feeding the first audio signal and first video signal to the streaming server; and a user-operated control unit communicating with the feed distributor and controlling operation of the feed distributor, so as to instruct the feed distributor to switch between audio or video. Switching between audio signals occurs without altering the video signals and switching between video signals occurs without altering the audio signals.
US09264461B1
An illustrative method according to a set of instructions stored on the memory of a computing device includes receiving, by a processor of the computing device, a request for information from a requestor device during a real time communication between a sender device and a communication device associated with the requestor device. The method also includes sending, by the processor, the request for information to the sender device during the real time communication. The method also includes receiving, by the processor, from the sender device, a granted request for information including data requested in the request for information. The granted request for information is authorized by the sender device. The granted request for information is received during the real time communication. The method also includes sending, by the processor, the granted request for information to the requestor device during the real time communication.
US09264460B2
An image processing device executing a job in cooperation with a server, comprises: an external terminal connecting part for establishing connection with an external terminal; a server connecting part for conducting a negotiation to execute the job with the server and establishing connection with the server in response to receipt of a request from the external terminal; a transmission part for sending information that is received from the external terminal and addressed to the server after rewriting a source address of the information to an address of the image processing device; a screen image control part for outputting screen image information to the external terminal in response to receipt of the screen image information from the server; and a job execution control part for starting execution of the job with the server in accordance with a control command after receiving the control command from the server.
US09264450B2
The present invention relates to a method for seamless policy based network discovery, selection and switching of a user equipment (UE), characterized by the steps of: retrieving existing network selection policy information for current UE location; contacting network policy control server of current UE location; performing network authentication procedure with the network policy control server; securing communication channel between the UE and the network policy control server; requesting a network selection policy information; storing the network selection policy information; extracting the network selection policy information; evaluating a first set of UE local operating environment conditions; provisioning the plurality of sets of access point security information on UE; evaluating a second set of UE local operating environment conditions; performing network switch; evaluating a third set of UE local operating environment conditions; establishing a wireless local area network (WLAN) interworking procedures; diagnosing the quality of service of connected network connection.
US09264445B2
The security of mobile applications may be assessed and used to enhance the security of mobile devices. In one example, a method may include determining security scores of one or more mobile applications, the security scores defining a level of security risk corresponding to the one or more mobile applications. The method may further include receiving a policy relating to mobile applications that are permitted to be used by the mobile device, the policy including a threshold security score value; and receiving the requested security scores. The method may further include restricting use of selected ones of the one or more mobile applications when a security score corresponding to the one or more mobile applications is below the threshold security score value.
US09264443B2
A novel and useful mechanism and method for assessing the vulnerability of web applications while browsing the application. As a user interacts with the web application, HTTP requests are sent from the browser to the web server. Each HTTP request is analyzed to determine if its associated elements need testing. Vulnerability assessment tests are sent to the server. Test results are then returned to the browser, where they are analyzed, displayed and/or stored in a log file.
US09264433B2
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.
US09264429B2
The present invention provides a system and method of managing traffic traversing an intermediary based on a result of end point auditing. An authentication virtual server of an intermediary may determine a result of an end point analysis scan of a client. Responsive to the determination, the traffic management virtual server can obtain the result from the authentication virtual server. Further, the traffic management virtual server may apply the result in one or more traffic management policies to manage network traffic of a connection of the client traversing the intermediary. In some embodiments, the authentication virtual server may receive one or more expressions evaluated by the client. The one or more expressions identifies one or more attributes of the client. The traffic management virtual server can also determine a type of compression or encryption for the connection based on applying the one or more traffic management policies using the result.
US09264420B2
A method may include authenticating a device to a first server, where the device includes an agent; receiving a request, in the first server from a second server, to verify the authenticity of the device, where the device is not authenticated to the second server; sending a browser plug-in to the device to communicate with the agent for verifying the authenticity of the device; receiving, in the first server, a message from the agent verifying the authenticity of the device; and sending a message from the first server to the second server to authenticate the device to the second server.
US09264414B2
A queue in a connector service provides a unified communication channel and stores service packets sent to a target service from client applications. Incoming service request packets are modified at run time to add valid security tokens without requiring the user's action or notice. Before sending the packets, the connector service determines whether the authentication tokens are valid. Packets with valid authentication tokens are sent to the target service. If the communication request fails, the queue automatically adds the original communication packet to the end of the queue, so that it can be conditionally retried. When a loss of connectivity is detected, the connector service takes a snapshot of the queue by copying the packets to a storage module in the same order. When the connectivity is restored, the queue loads the saved requests from the storage module and starts processing them in the order they were received.
US09264411B2
It is disclosed a method including providing a relation of network access technology-specific identification information (NATSII) of a user equipment or user and network identity-related information (NIRI) of the user equipment, receiving an inquiry comprising network identity-related inquiry information (NIRII), resolving the received NIRII based on the provided relation, and sending a response including the NATSII according to a result of the resolved NIRII; a method including receiving a registration request comprising NIRII from a user equipment or user, obtaining NATSII based on the received NIRII, appending the received NIRII with the obtained NATSII, and sending the appended NIRII; and a method including receiving a registration request comprising first NATSII and NIRI, obtaining second NATSII based on the received NIRI, matching the received first NATSII against the obtained second NATSII, and authorizing access for a user equipment based on a result of matching.
US09264410B2
Systems and methods for dynamic trusted execution environment (TEE) hardware configuration are provided. A key update message including key update information is received and authenticated for a key stored in the TEE of a mobile computing device. The stored key may define access to hardware resources of the mobile computing device. The hardware configuration for the stored key in the TEE may be changed based upon the key update information.
US09264391B2
Disclosed are methods, apparatus, systems, and computer readable storage media for providing near real-time feedback when a user is composing a social media message. The feedback can indicate a predicted level of engagement with the social media message by other users of a social networking system. In some implementations, a prediction model is used to determine a predicted engagement score, which is an approximation of the predicted level of engagement with the social media message by the other users. A computing device can be configured to display a graphical representation of the predicted engagement score in a user interface at which the social media message is being composed.
US09264387B2
A system, method and computer program product for authorship determination, and alias resolution, including a document collection; a Jaro-Winkler similarity module configured for performing authorship determination and alias resolution based on at least one of email addresses, user identification numbers (IDs) on social networks, names written in text, and proper names, including countries and cities in the document collection; an authorship Support Vector Machine (SVM) module configured for performing authorship determination and alias resolution based on content of documents in the document collection, including at least one of emails, and social networks information; and a Jaccard similarity module configured for performing authorship determination and alias resolution based on link networks in the document collection. One or more of the Jaro-Winkler similarity module, the authorship Support Vector Machine (SVM) module, and the Jaccard similarity module are employed for performing the authorship determination and the alias resolution in the document collection.
US09264385B2
In one embodiment, a system includes reassembly stores configured to store a fragment of a packet in a particular reassembly store corresponding with the packet, and when the particular reassembly store contains fragments of the packet representing the packet as a whole, forward the packet to a plurality of cores. The system further includes a packet reception unit configured to store the fragment in one of a plurality of memories within the reassembly stores, and, when the one of the plurality of memories is filled, copy the at least one fragment to a memory external to the packet reception unit.
US09264376B2
In general, the embodiments of the present invention provide an approach for rebalancing/reallocating cloud resource capacities between resource pools that provide variable customer assurances and delivery penalties when assurances are not met. The variables that are considered hereunder include, overall ‘reservations’, total current capacity, remaining capacity against unused reservations and penalties that apply for failing to satisfy ‘reservation’ commitments. The approach uses a rate of capacity consumption to calculate the risk of consuming the available capacity in each resource pool (e.g., resource pools allocated to satisfy different levels of service with different SLA failure penalties). Based on the relative available capacity in each pool (as determined by the pool rate of consumption), resources are reallocated to maximize revenue (e.g., reduce financial penalty) across a resource pool set.
US09264372B2
Systems and methods for optimizing system performance of capacity and spectrum constrained, multiple-access communication systems by selectively discarding packets are provided. The systems and methods provided herein can drive changes in the communication system using control responses. One such control responses includes the optimal discard (also referred to herein as “intelligent discard”) of network packets under capacity constrained conditions. Some embodiments provide an interactive response by selectively discarding packets to enhance perceived and actual system throughput, other embodiments provide a reactive response by selectively discarding data packets based on their relative impact to service quality to mitigate oversubscription, others provide a proactive response by discarding packets based on predicted oversubscription, and others provide a combination thereof.
US09264369B2
A router of a network is configured to manage routing of packets based on executing applications. The network communicates packets of information between endpoints coupled to the network. Each packet is assigned to a traffic class based on the application associated with the packet. The router manages routing of received packets based on the traffic classes associated with the received packets. Accordingly, the router can determine routing priority, bandwidth, acknowledgment policy, and other routing management information based on the applications associated with received packets.
US09264367B2
The present invention applies to the field of communications technologies and provides a method and a system for controlling packet traffic. The method includes: comparing the number of tokens in a token bucket at a current time point with a length of a packet to be sent and a preset virtual threshold when the packet to be sent is received, refreshing the current number of tokens in the token bucket according to a comparison result, and marking the packet to be sent with a color.
US09264362B2
Techniques are presented herein for reducing network congestion in data center environments. A controller device in a network receives a registration request from a physical switch device and from a virtual switch that is hosted by a server device in the network. The controller device registers the physical switch device such that the controller device is able to send configuration messages to the physical switch device. The controller device also registers the virtual switch such that the controller device is able to receive mapping information from the virtual switch. The controller device receives from the virtual switch the mapping information comprising Media Access Control address information of one or more virtual machines that are in communication with the virtual switch. The mapping information is stored in a database maintained by the controller device.
US09264355B2
A set of globally-reachable attachment registers is provided for interconnected communications networks and hosts. At least some of the networks and hosts each has a corresponding attachment register. The attachment registers are not located with their respective network or host. Information is stored in the attachment registers that establishes one or more logical links between the attachment registers. The information in certain ones of the attachment registers is used to perform one or more network communication functions. Non-limiting example functions include location registration and update, name to global locator resolution, routing, multi-homing, dynamic ISP selection, and handover.
US09264354B2
Transferring data in a network is disclosed. Transferring includes receiving a Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) frame, identifying a plurality of location specific identifiers in the PBT frame, mapping the PBT frame to a service based at least in part on the plurality of location specific identifiers, formatting the PBT frame according to the service to obtain a service frame, and transferring the service frame to a network associated with the service.
US09264351B2
A method is provided in one example and includes receiving, at a receiving node, a packet that comprises information indicative of an internet protocol address and a segmentation identification, selecting a virtual routing and forwarding table corresponding with the segmentation identification, identifying a destination node based, at least in part, on the internet protocol address and the virtual routing and forwarding table, and transmitting the packet to the destination node.
US09264349B2
In one embodiment, a non-repeated reachability probe is transmitted from a particular node into a shared-media network, where nodes that receive the probe are configured to reply to the particular node. Based on determining a set of one or more nodes in the shared-media network that received the probe, one or more routing nodes of the set may be selected to act as routers in the shared-media network, and notified of their selection.
US09264345B2
A method for adjusting bandwidth in a communications network having a plurality of nodes connected over multiple links with a plurality of services running on the links includes detecting an impairment of a link wherein the impairment invokes a reduction in bandwidth available to the services running on the link, communicating information about the impairment to other nodes in the network and redistributing services between the links to limit a bandwidth required by services running on the impaired link to a value not exceeding the bandwidth available on the impaired link.
US09264343B2
A network element that acts as a hub in a hub and spoke topology is configured to limit the amount of topology and reachability information that is advertised to a set of one or more remote network elements that act as one or more spokes in the hub and spoke topology in a same routing area. The network element generates a set of one or two link state advertisements (LSAs) to advertise over an interface that connects at least one of the set of remote network elements to the network element, wherein the set of LSAs includes information that describes a connection to the set of remote network elements and one or more aggregate routes. The network element advertises, during a database exchange process with the one of the set of remote network elements, the set of LSAs to the one of the set of remote network elements.
US09264341B2
Communication devices may determine routes for packets based on packet marking, routing parameters and/or costs associated with routes. A route may be selected and the packets may be communicated via the selected route. The parameters may comprise service class, real time compression, packet preemption, quality measurements, tier bypass and/or power usage information. The costs may comprise capacity, efficiency and/or performance information for power usage, bandwidth, memory and/or processing. The marking may comprise traffic type, user device capabilities, service class, quality measurements, latency requirements and/or power usage information. Endpoint devices, software applications and/or service providers may insert the marking into packets. Routes may be determined and/or selected based on shortest path bridging, audio video bridging, the marking, the routing parameters and/or the costs. Parameters and/or costs may be received and/or discovered from communication devices. Packets and/or the marking may be parsed and/or inspected. Costs may be based on routing parameters.
US09264338B1
A method, system and a computer-readable media for automatically detecting problems in an application instance are provided. The application instances are responsible for communicating messages accumulating within a queue to a destination. The destination may be a computer application, another queue, or some other computing component. In one embodiment, the queue and application instances are part of a messaging-middleware environment. An embodiment of the present invention monitors the performance of individual application instances and detects an upset condition by comparing the present performance with a baseline performance or normal performance range. The application instance's message transfer rate may be used to measure both present and normal performance.
US09264337B2
A monitoring system for providing services to clients as an embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that upon determining whether or not termination times of the service-providing computers currently acquiring packets have been reached, service-providing computers that constitute a service-providing system other than the service-providing system constituted by the service-providing computers that have reached the termination times are selected as new packet acquisition destinations.
US09264335B2
In one embodiment, a method includes accessing a data store comprising a log of requests transmitted by a plurality of remote hosts, each request corresponding to one or more resources maintained by a web site; analyzing the requests and one or more attributes of the resources corresponding to the respective requests using a cost function relating to network performance, wherein a first component of the cost function is directed to a performance improvement achieved by grouping one or more of the resources for transmission to one or more remote hosts and a second component is directed to a performance inefficiency caused by grouping the one or more resources for transmission to the one or more remote hosts; and identifying one or more groupings of one or more resources that optimize the cost function for network performance.
US09264330B2
Some embodiments provide a method for a first host machine that hosts a virtual machine connected to a particular logical network. The method receives a command to test connectivity between the first host machine and a set of at least one additional host machine that also host virtual machines on the particular logical network. At the first host machine, the method generates a packet for sending to the set of additional host machines in order to test the connectivity. The method appends to the generated packet (i) information that identifies the particular logical network and (ii) a flag indicating that the packet is for connectivity testing. The method encapsulates the generated packet with tunnel endpoint addresses, including a tunnel endpoint located at the first host machine. The method sends the encapsulated packet from the first host machine to the set of additional host machines according to the tunnel encapsulation.
US09264329B2
Systems and methods for calculating trust scores (trustworthiness) based on social graph statistics are described herein. The trust scores (trustworthiness) may be determined within or between individuals, groups, and/or entities represented by nodes in a social graph or other network. Social graph analytics may be used to determine connectivity statistics for each node in the social graph or network. The trust score may then be calculated by analyzing a number of paths connecting nodes in the network and the connectivity statistics associated with the nodes of the network. This trust score may then be used to make prospective real-world decisions, such as a request for credit or initiating a transaction.
US09264325B2
An apparatus and a method of optimizing voice quality on a network having end-points that are voice over Internet Protocol (IP) devices. Default parameters of the end-points are initialized. Network performance parameters are measured and evaluated to determine whether they signify that connection to the network is below a desired level of operation. If so, the default parameters of the end-points are re-set based on the evaluation. The adjustment may entail re-negotiating the CODEC connection and re-setting parameters for packet size and resetting parameters for jitter buffer size.
US09264309B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for enabling cluster scaling. Specifically, there is disclosed a method of recording a context of configuration for an initial node of a cluster, comprising: retrieving at least one file to be used for configuring the initial node; and recording a context while configuring the initial node using the at least one file, the recorded context being information on the configuration of the initial node and to be used for enabling addition of a new node into the cluster. There is also disclosed a method of enabling addition of a new node into a cluster. Corresponding apparatuses are also disclosed. According to embodiments of the present invention, the efficiency of improving cluster scaling may be effectively improved.
US09264302B2
A method implemented for a link aggregation group is disclosed. The link aggregation group contains a local interface and a remote interface. The local interface is a logical interface formed by a plurality of network elements including a local network element and a peer network element. The local network element communicates with the peer network element through an inter-peer link. The method starts with determining that the local network element is active by checking that an aggregate state of the links coupled to the local network element is active. The method continues with detecting an anomaly of the active links and sending a notification to the peer network element about the anomaly. Then method continues with receiving an activation confirmation that the peer network element is ready for switching and switching traffic from the active links to the inter-peer link in response to receiving the activation confirmation.
US09264300B2
A method for linear protection for a network element communicatively coupled to another network element included in a node portal located at the edge of an administrative network domain includes exchanging linear automatic protection switching (“APS”) messages with clients in the administrative network domain over one or more path pairs. The path pairs include a working path communicatively coupling a client and the network element and a protect path communicatively coupling a client and the other network element. The method also includes translating the linear APS messages into a shared mesh protection message and exchanging the shared mesh protection message between the network element and the other network element over an intraportal link. The shared mesh protection messages include information concerning a plurality of working paths.
US09264298B2
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for applying multiple Link Aggregation Group (LAG) entities on the same set of physical links, thus making bundling of individual services or conversations possible by the different LAG entities within Link Aggregation. Each LAG entity is configured such that a single physical link is Active and all the other links are Standby. Each LAG entity may be regarded as a “bundle.” Thus the services/conversations are bundled into a LAG entity and are handed-off on the Active link during normal operation. If service hand-off is not possible on the Active link (e.g., due to a failure), then the LAG entity switches over to a Standby link thus the service/conversation is handed-off on that formerly Standby link. Bundling may simplify operations of control and signaling.
US09264292B2
As Mobile Subscribers increasingly employ their Wireless Devices to perform an ever expanding array activities an element that may reside in various portions of a messaging infrastructure and which efficiently and flexibly supports enhanced message address resolution capabilities.
US09264290B2
In a particular embodiment a system and method for processing a call in a Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) network are disclosed. The method includes receiving the call associated with a private identifier (PRID) at a server, classifying a call location based on the PRID and sending the call from the server to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) with a call back number associated with the PRID. The system includes a first server interface for receiving a message containing a PRID associated with the call, a second server interface to access the data base for searching for the PRID in the data structure; a third server interface to receive an output from the database indicating whether a PRID has been found in the data structure; and a fourth server interface to send the call to a PSAP.
US09264288B1
Techniques for identifying media network flows that use dynamic codec identifications are described. In an embodiment, network flow information for a network flow between a first endpoint and a second endpoint is received from a network device interposed between the first endpoint and the second endpoint, wherein the network flow information includes at least an address for the first endpoint and a particular payload identification number. A request is sent to the first endpoint for one or more characteristics belonging to the first endpoint. In response to receiving the one or more characteristics, a profile database is searched for an entry that maps the one or more characteristics to a profile, wherein the profile maps one or more payload identification numbers to one or more encoding types. An encoding type for content transferred over the network flow is determined based on the profile and the particular payload identification number.
US09264277B2
An apparatus for detecting a null symbol of an input signal includes: a first circuit for processing the input signal to obtain a first output signal, the first output signal being used to track the influence of a channel phenomenon; a second circuit for processing the input signal to obtain a second output signal, the second output signal being used to track the null symbol in the input signal; and a determining circuit coupled to the first circuit and the second circuit and determining the null symbol of the input signal according to the first output signal and the second output signal. A method for detecting a null symbol of an input signal is also disclosed.
US09264268B2
Filtered signal values are extracted from an input signal. A periodic time segment sequence having a plurality of ordered time segments is defined. Multiple sets of signal values are acquired from the input signal. Each signal value of a set is acquired during a same ordered time segment. Each set is acquired over multiple repetitions of the periodic time segment sequence. Each set is acquired during a different ordered time segment than each other set. For each set of at least two sets, signal values from the set are combined to obtain a separate filtered signal value for each set.
US09264265B1
A method of generating white noise for use in graphic and image processing, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes receiving one or more hash inputs. The hash inputs may be one or more primitive coordinates, one or more texel addresses, a base image, a device identifier, or a user password. The one or more hash inputs are evaluated utilizing a cryptographic hash function. The output of the cryptographic hash function generates one or more white noise samples. The white noise samples may be utilized as texel data. The white noise samples may also be utilized for encrypting images.
US09264264B2
A communication device including circuitry configured to receive a signal transmitted to the communication device via a communication channel. A receiver is configured to generate a filter coefficient to be used for filtering the received signal, generate a gain coefficient, wherein the gain coefficient corresponds to a condition of the communication channel, adjust the filter coefficient using the gain coefficient, and filter the received signal using the filter coefficient, as adjusted using the gain coefficient, to remove intersymbol interference from the received signal.
US09264263B2
A driver circuit for transmitting serial data on a communication link combines voltage-mode and current-mode drivers. The driver circuit uses a voltage-mode driver as the main output driver. One or more auxiliary current-mode drivers are connected in parallel with the voltage-mode driver to adjust the output signal by injecting currents into the outputs. The voltage-mode driver supplies most of the output drive. Thus, the output driver circuit can provide the power efficiency benefits associated with voltage-mode drivers. The current-mode drivers can provide, for example, pre-emphasis, level adjustment, skew compensation, and other modifications of the output signals. Thus, the driver circuit can also provide the signal adjustment abilities associated with current-mode drivers.
US09264261B2
Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems and methods for determining properties of a channel response in frequency and time at a subcarrier basis. The determined properties of the channel may include a power delay profile (PDP), channel impulse response, attenuation and phase response over frequency and time, and antenna correlation over the wireless network.
US09264260B2
A system and method of managing read and delivery reports for messages is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for generating a read report using an IMAP includes processing a message received from a first converged internet protocol messaging (CPM) client device, storing the processed message into a message storage server using an internet message access protocol (IMAP) protocol, generating a read report by the second CPM client device in response to displaying the processed message stored in the message storage server, and delivering the read report to the first CPM client device by a CPM participating/controlling function server. The method also includes blocking redundant delivery reports generated upon retrieval of the message.
US09264252B2
A client having at least one memory location is provided for use with an appliance network. The client includes an arbitrary software component for performing a useful function, a software architecture or a software architecture driver configured to generate or enable transmission of messages, and means to communicate by message over a network. Thus, the client can have full capability to act as an accessory to an appliance to communicate with and to enhance or alter the operation of the appliance.
US09264249B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product are provided for receiving unicast and multicast-broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) signals from an eNB in a subframe. The apparatus receives at least one transmission in the subframe, the subframe divided into six partitions and for receiving at least one unicast symbol and a plurality of multicast-broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) symbols, each of the at least one unicast symbol and the plurality of MBSFN symbols having an associated cyclic prefix (CP). The apparatus further receives at least one unicast signal including the at least one unicast symbol at a first partition of the subframe, and receives at least one MBSFN signal including the plurality of MBSFN symbols respectively at a second partition through sixth partition of the subframe, each MBSFN symbol having the associated CP with a length of at least 33.33 μs.
US09264245B2
Methods and devices for facilitating presentation feedback during a local presentation are provided. In example embodiments, the local presentation includes an electronic presentation displayed on a display associated with a presentation device. In one aspect, the method comprises: providing a feedback interface for the electronic presentation and allowing one or more mobile communication devices to access the feedback interface; receiving at the feedback interface, feedback information from one or more of the mobile communication devices; and updating the electronic presentation based on the received feedback information.
US09264242B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a first agent function that routes first messages for exchanging subscriber information and enabling registration where the first agent function maintains transaction state without maintaining session state, a second agent function that routes second messages for enforcing policy control where the second agent function maintains transaction and session state, and a third agent function that maintains transaction and session state and that routes a portion of the first and second messages to an external network. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US09264235B2
A device and method are provided for a device that authenticates a server over a network. The device and method are operable to contact the server to initiate a handshaking operation. The device receives certificate information and handshaking information from the server. The device completes the handshaking operations to establish the connection with the server. The device downloads the content from the server through the connection before authenticating the server to establish a secure connection. In some aspects, the device may display a portion of the downloaded content before the server is authenticated.
US09264234B2
In the field of computer and data security, the identifier (ID) of a computing device is protected by providing a secure signature used to verify the ID. The signature is computed from the ID using a “White Box” cryptographic process and a hash function. This provides a signature that is computationally easy to verify but difficult or impossible to generate by a hacker (unauthorized user). This method of first creating the signature and later verifying the identifier using the signature and the associated computing apparatus are thereby useful for protection against hacking of such identifiers of computing devices.
US09264218B2
A method according to one embodiment includes receiving a serialized data stream; detecting rising and falling edges in the serialized data stream; correlating the rising and falling edges to data values using a clock signal that is not derived from the serialized data stream; and converting the serialized data stream to a parallel data stream. In a further embodiment a system includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to receive a serialized data stream; detect rising and falling edges in the serialized data stream; correlate the rising and falling edges to data values using a clock signal that is not derived from the serialized data stream; and convert the serialized data stream to a parallel data stream.
US09264215B2
A transmission protocol decoding method, device, and a transport protocol decoder chip are provided for generating an oscillation signal; detecting a frame start signal, and outputting a sampling control signal when the frame start signal is detected; counting an oscillation period of the oscillation signal within a time period of low level bits of a frame start byte to obtain a count value after receiving the control signal, and then processing a division operation to the count value to output a quotient and a remainder; determining a sampling period according to the quotient and the remainder to generate a sampling pulse, and then decoding a data byte of a transmission data according to the sampling pulse.
US09264209B2
A method includes receiving, by control circuitry, a received portion of a first data unit from a remote device and determining, by the control circuitry, a first duration of the first data unit based on the received portion. The method further includes generating, by the control circuitry, a second data unit with data to be transmitted and transmitting, by the control circuitry, the second data unit to the remote device while receiving the unreceived portion of the first data unit. The second data unit has a second duration equal to the remaining duration of an unreceived portion of the first data unit.
US09264205B2
A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for providing full duplex (FD) wireless communication to an FD capable (FDC) user equipment (UE) among one or more UEs include determining allocations of one or more resource blocks (RBs) to the one or more UEs, determining FD capabilities and scheduling parameters of the one or more UEs, determining at least one FD portion and at least one half duplex (HD) portion in the one or more RBs based on the FD capabilities and the scheduling parameters of the one or more UEs, wherein a concurrent downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) communication is scheduled in the at least one FD portion, and adjusting the allocations of the one or more RBs based on the at least one FD portion and the at least one HD portion.
US09264204B2
The present invention relates to a wireless communication system, and more specifically to a method and an apparatus for inter-cell interference coordination for a transmission point group. The method for carrying out an interference coordination in a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a step for exchanging interference coordination messages between transmission point groups, wherein one transmission group comprises a plurality of transmission points, and the interference coordination message can comprises interference coordination information about each individual transmission point unit within the one transmission point group, and interference coordination information about the overall transmission point unit within the one transmission point group.
US09264197B2
A mobile station apparatus receives a radio resource control signal including at least a first parameter POFFSET (0) and a second parameter POFFSET (1). The mobile station apparatus also transmits a first reference signal on a first antenna port and a second reference signal on a second antenna port. In addition, the mobile station apparatus sets a first transmit power for a transmission of the first reference signal based on at least the first parameter POFFSET (0), a maximum transmit power value, a path loss and a transmission power control command. The mobile station apparatus also sets a second transmit power for a transmission of the second reference signal based on at least the second parameter POFFSET (1), a maximum transmit power value, a path loss and a transmission power control command.
US09264184B2
A coordinated signaling scheme for both uplink and downlink transmissions between a base station and a user terminal reduces the amount of time that the user terminal must turn on its receiver to listen for scheduling messages and ACK/NACK signaling. A scheduler at a base station aligns the transmission of downlink scheduling messages (e.g., downlink assignments) with uplink grants and ACK/NACK signaling for uplink transmissions. Aligning the downlink scheduling messages with uplink control signaling enables the user terminal to turn off its receiver for longer periods of time.
US09264173B2
A method for optimizing the jamming of P predefined zones or positions in a communications network of transmitters, jammers and receivers comprising several platforms, uses a local reception situation at the level of each friendly platform, a local jamming situation at the level of each friendly reception platform, and determines for each friendly transmitting platform and each friendly receiving platform, one or more parameters so as to minimize or to eliminate the fratricidal effects on the friendly reception platforms.
US09264165B2
A method for transmitting a random access preamble from a user equipment is presented. The method includes generating the random access preamble by applying a circular shift to a code sequence having a sequence identifier, allocating the random access preamble to consecutive resource blocks, applying subcarrier spacing for the random access preamble to the consecutive resource blocks, and transmitting, via a transmitter of the user equipment, the random access preamble.
US09264163B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates multiplexing low-speed Ethernet channels onto a high-speed channel. During operation, the system receives a number of low-speed Ethernet channels. Next, the system derives N bit streams from the number of low-speed Ethernet channels, and feeds each bit stream to an input of a serializer, which is conventionally used to serialize bits from a single channel. Each input of the serializer comprises one bit of an N-bit-wide parallel input bus, and the data rate of the serializer output matches the data rate of the high-speed channel. The system then transmits the output of the serializer onto the high-speed channel.
US09264150B2
A reactive metal optical security device for implementation in an optical network and/or system to provide a mechanism for disrupting the optical network and/or system. The security device includes a mirror comprising a reactive metal stack and configured to reflect an optical signal and receive an electrical signal. The security device further includes a semiconductor chip configured to send the electrical signal to the mirror.
US09264141B2
Multi-domain scheduling for subordinate networking is contemplated. The scheduling may include controlling a terminal to facilitate interfacing an Internet Protocol (IP) network with a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) network where the P2MP network includes one or more aggregating devices to facilitate interfacing signaling with devices/units associated with one or more subordinate P2MP networks.
US09264138B2
LEDs that transmit or receive data in a VLC channel may create a flickering effect which is caused by the human eye being able to perceive the fluctuations of the light intensity in a LED. To prevent flickering such that the LED is perceived as being illuminated at a constant intensity, the LEDs may emit light based on a pattern of dark and energy slots. During the dark slots, the LEDs may be reversed bias to determine how much light is received. Based on comparing the light received, each VLC system may synchronize respective clocks such that the dark slots align. The VLC systems may then transmit a data frame preamble instructing the other VLC systems to cease synchronization and use the dark slots to receive the data from the data frame. While transmitting the data frame, the VLC systems may continue to use the energy slots to prevent flicker.
US09264133B2
A network traffic monitoring apparatus and method of monitoring network traffic on a network path is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first path arranged to receive a portion of the network traffic from the network path and a monitoring port arranged to monitor the portion of network traffic. The apparatus further comprises a switch having an input port communicatively coupled to the first path, and an output port communicatively coupled to the monitoring port. The switch is arranged to selectively toggle between the first state in which the portion of network traffic can pass from the input port to the output port and a second state, in which the portion of network traffic is prevented from passing from the input port to the output port, in dependence of a switching signal. The apparatus further comprises a second path for communicating a monitoring status signal to a network device.
US09264123B2
The present subject matter discloses a method for antenna activity detection in multi-antenna communication devices. In one embodiment, the method comprises computing a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value for each of a plurality of antennas based on a sampled data associated with each of the antennas. The RSSI values may then be analyzed to identify an antenna having a highest RSSI value as a primary antenna and one or more antennas having the RSSI value less than the highest RSSI value as auxiliary antennas. Further, an RSSI difference for each of the auxiliary antennas is calculated and compared with a first threshold value to ascertain one or more potentially inactive antennas from among the auxiliary antennas. The potentially inactive antennas may then be further analyzed to identify one or more inactive antennas based at least in part on the RSSI value.
US09264105B2
A communication device includes a sensor, an antenna, and a notification component. The sensor is configured to detect magnetic field strength. The antenna is configured to generate a magnetic field. The antenna is further configured to communicate with a wireless device that is configured to generate a magnetic field during communication. The notification component is configured to notify a positional offset between the antenna and the wireless device based on output signal indicative of the magnetic field strength. The sensor is arranged with respect to the antenna such that an effect of the magnetic field generated by the antenna on the output signal is suppressed.
US09264100B1
An emergency communications device contains dispatch consoles for use by user that contains multiple repeaters and multiple communication networks. The multiple repeaters and multiple communication networks are used for redundancy purposes, in case the repeater or communication network in use becomes disabled for any reason. The device also contains a recorder unit capable of provided instant playback to emergency dispatch personnel independently of whether the unit is recording. The device does not require an external computer to operate.
US09264095B2
Amplifier for an ultra-wideband (UWB) signal receiver having a signal input (15) for receiving an ultra-wideband signal which is sent by a transmitter (1) and which is transmitted in a sequence of transmission channels (K.sub.i) (which each have a particular frequency bandwidth) which has been agreed between the transmitter (1) and the receiver (4); a transistor (18) whose control connection is connected to the signal input (15); a resonant circuit (26, 30, 31) which is connected to the transistor (18) and whose resonant frequency can be set for the purpose of selecting the transmission channel (K.sub.i) in line with the agreed sequence of transmission channels; and having a signal output (29) for outputting the amplified ultra-wideband signal, the signal output being tapped off between the transistor (18) and the resonant circuit.
US09264089B2
A case for a mobile communication device includes a base that defines an interior and a first surface and is configured to receive at least a portion of the mobile communication device in the interior. A screen protector is configured to releasably engage the base and defines a first surface of the screen protector. The screen protector is configured to retain a gasket, which is releasably engageable to the screen protector, between the first surface of the base and the first surface of the screen protector. A cover is provided that is releasably engageable with the base and is configured to releasably restrain the screen protector when engaged with the base. The cover defines an opening through which at least a portion of the screen protector is accessible.
US09264081B1
Estimation of interference cancellation efficiency as disclosed herein advantageously accounts for the real-world or effective performance of interference cancellation by estimating the interference cancellation efficiency expected for a signal targeted for interference cancellation as a joint function of signal parameters for the targeted signal and one or more other signals that will remain after such cancellation. For example, a wireless communication apparatus, such as a user equipment configured for operation in a cellular communication network, is configured to estimate the interference cancellation efficiency expected for an interfering signal received in conjunction with a desired signal, based on a joint function of signal parameters for the interfering signal and the desired signal. Such processing extends directly, of course, to the consideration of multiple interferers and/or multiple desired signals, and may be carried out in each of two or more interference cancellation processing iterations.
US09264078B2
The invention discloses a transmitter comprising a pulse encoder for creating pulses from the amplitude of an input signal to the transmitter, a compensation signal generator for cancelling quantization noise caused by the pulse encoder, a mixer or I/Q modulator for mixing an output of the pulse encoder with the phase of an input signal to the transmitter and an amplifier for creating an output signal from the transmitter. In the transmitter, a control signal (CA) for controlling a function of the amplifier comprises an output signal from the compensation signal generator, and an input signal to the amplifier comprises an output from the mixer having been modulated to a desired frequency.
US09264072B2
According to one embodiment, an encoding apparatus includes an encoding unit. The encoding unit encodes a data bit sequence to generate a codeword corresponding to a parity check matrix. The parity check matrix is based on a protograph. In the protograph, each of n check nodes of a first type is connected to n variable nodes of a first type by a total of at least one edge of a first type, and to n variable nodes of a second type by a total of at least two edges of a second type. In the protograph, each of n check nodes of a second type is connected to the n variable nodes of the second type by a total of r edges of a third type, and to n variable nodes of a third type by a total of g edges of a fourth type.
US09264060B2
A new approach is disclosed concerning offset cancellation methods in analog to digital converters and analog to digital converters implementing the same. Such approach allows to efficiently cancel offset drifts in analog to digital converters.
US09264059B2
Various embodiments describe systems and methods for calibrating gain mismatches and timing errors in and between individual ADC channels of a time-interleaved ADC. In some embodiments, a calibration signal (e.g., a DC signal) can be selectively applied to each ADC channel of a time-interleaved ADC to estimate a gain mismatch of the corresponding ADC channel. The gain mismatch can then be compensated by a gain correction circuit at the digital backend of the time-interleaved ADC. In some embodiments, timing errors between ADC channels of a time-interleaved ADC can be measured by applying a time varying signal to the ADC channels of the time-interleaved ADC. The timing errors can be calibrated by applying a feedback signal to a clock phase generator of the time-interleaved ADC.
US09264057B2
A DA converter includes a first DA conversion section for obtaining an analog output signal in accordance with a digital input signal value, and a second DA conversion section for obtaining an analog gain control output signal in accordance with a digital gain control input signal value. In the DA converter, the gain control of the analog output signal generated by the first DA conversion section is performed on the basis of the gain control output signal generated by the second DA conversion section.
US09264056B2
The differential output of a Programmable Gain Amplifier (PGA) is loaded by the input differential gate capacitance of a plurality of Analog to Digital convertors (ADC) comparators and the differential metal layer traces to interconnect these comparators to the PGA. The differential capacitive load presented to the PGA is quite large and reduces the bandwidth of this interconnect between the PGA and ADC. To overcome the performance degradation due to the differential capacitive load, an active negative-capacitor circuit cancels the effect of the large input capacitance of the ADC comparators. This cancelation extends the gain characteristics of the interconnect between the PGA's output and the inputs of the first stage of the comparators. The active negative-capacitance is comprised of a cross pair NMOS with a capacitor connecting their sources where each NMOS is biased by a current source.
US09264055B2
Methods and apparatuses featuring an injection-locked oscillator (ILO) are described. In some embodiments, an ILO can have multiple injection points and a free-running frequency that is capable of being adjusted based on a control signal. In some embodiments, each injection point of an ILO can correspond to a phase tuning range. In some embodiments, a circuit can include circuitry to detect a phase boundary between two adjacent phase tuning ranges. In some embodiments, a circuit can use the detected phase boundary to switch between the two adjacent phase tuning ranges.
US09264050B2
Apparatuses and methods for delaying signals using a delay line are described. An example apparatus includes a controller configured to in a first mode, set a delay length, and, in a second mode, to determine an initial delay. The apparatus further including a delay line circuit coupled to the controller and includes delay elements. Each of the delay elements includes delay gates that are the same type of delay gate. The delay line circuit is configured to, in the first mode propagate a signal through one or more of the delay elements to provide a delayed signal. The delay line circuit is further configured to, in the second mode, propagate a pulse signal through one or more of the delay elements and provide a corresponding output signal from each of the one or more delay elements responsive to the pulse signal reaching an output of the corresponding delay element.
US09264034B2
Various example embodiments are directed to methods and circuits for mitigation of on-resistance variation and signal attenuation in transistors due to body effects. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a transistor configured to provide a data signal from a first one of the source or the drain to the other one of the source or the drain in response to a control signal provided to the gate. A body bias circuit is configured to bias the body of the transistor based on a voltage of the data signal to reduce variation in the on-resistance exhibited by the first transistor. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes body bias transistors and switches and the gates of the body bias transistors are connected to protect the body bias transistors from the effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD) events.
US09264023B2
In an embodiment, a flip flop circuit includes a master latch and a slave latch. The master latch comprises a storage element and at least two legs, including a data leg and at least one scan leg. The first node of the storage element may be driven by the data leg. The opposite node of the storage element may be driven by at least one of the scan legs. The slave latch may be coupled to the master latch.
US09264021B1
A processing system includes a processor core, a peripheral component, and a flip-flop unit in at least one of the processor core and the peripheral component. The flip-flop unit can include a master latch, and two slave latches coupled to an output of the master latch. The first slave latch is formed over a first doped well region of a semiconductor substrate. The second slave latch is formed over a second doped well region of the semiconductor substrate. A comparator is coupled to an output of the first slave latch and to an output of the second slave latch. An output of the comparator indicates whether a state stored in the first slave latch is the same as a state stored in the second slave latch.
US09264013B2
Systems for reducing magnetic coupling in integrated circuits (ICs) are disclosed. Related components and methods are also disclosed. The ICs have a plurality of inductors. Each inductor generates a magnetic flux that has a discernible axis. To reduce magnetic coupling between the inductors, the flux axes are designed so as to be non-parallel. In particular, by making the flux axes of the inductors non-parallel to one another, magnetic coupling between the inductors is reduced relative to the situation where the flux axes are parallel. This arrangement may be particularly well suited for use in diplexers having a low pass and a high pass filter.
US09264012B2
Disclosed is a signal splitter that includes a coupled transmission line element coupled between two output ports of the signal splitter. The coupled transmission line element is used to lower the isolation between the two output ports for a particular frequency band. The coupled transmission line element includes a first and a second elongate electrical conductor. The first and the second elongate electrical conductor first ends are coupled to the signal transmission path that connects the two output ports. The first and the second elongate electrical conductor second ends are un-terminated. The first elongate electrical conductor and the second elongate electrical conductor are not shorted together, and the first elongate electrical conductor and the second elongate electrical conductor are electrostatically coupled, such as by twisting them together into a helix.
US09264005B1
A method adjusts an amplitude of a power amplifier output voltage based on an amplitude feedback signal and adjusts a phase of the power amplifier output voltage based on a phase feedback signal. The method also controls a power efficiency of the power amplifier output voltage.
US09264004B2
The present invention provides methods and systems for narrow bandwidth digital processing of an input audio signal. Particularly, the present invention includes a high pass filter configured to filter the input audio signal. A first compressor then modulates the filtered signal in order to create a partially processed signal. In some embodiments, a clipping module further limits the gain of the partially processed signal. A splitter is configured to split the partially processed signal into a first signal and a second signal. A low pass filter is configured to filter the first signal. A pass through module is configured to adjust the gain of the second signal. A mixer then combines the filtered first signal and the gain-adjusted second signal in order to output a combined signal. In some embodiments, a tone control module further processes the combined signal, and a second compressor further modulates the processed signal.
US09264000B2
An audio power amplifier includes a first and a second amplification unit, each including a switching voltage amplifier, an output filter, a current compensator, an inner current feedback loop feeding a measurement of current measured at the output inductor back to a summing input of the current compensator, a voltage compensator coupled to the summing input of the current compensator, and an outer voltage feedback loop. A controlled signal path provides the output of the voltage compensator of the first amplification unit to the current compensator of the second amplification unit. The first and second amplification units are operable with separate loads, in parallel driving a common load, or across a bridge-tied-load. A second pair of amplification units may be added and operated together with the first pair to drive a single speaker with a parallel pair of amplifiers on each side of a bridge-tied-load.
US09263994B2
An amplifying device including: a first amplifier configured to generate a first output signal by amplifying an input signal, a second amplifier configured to generate a second output signal by amplifying the first output signal, and a processor configured to perform a first compensation by compensating a distortion for the second amplifier in accordance with the first output signal and the second output signal.
US09263988B1
A crystal oscillation circuit is provided with a crystal oscillator, an inverter unit coupled in parallel with the crystal oscillator and including a plurality of inverters, a current supply unit that supplies current to at least a first inverter of the plurality of inverters, a signal converter that supplies current to at least a last inverter of the plurality of inverters and outputs a voltage to an external circuit, and a current controller that makes the current supply unit provide current corresponding to a voltage level of the output voltage of the signal converter. The crystal oscillation circuit is capable of reducing power consumption.
US09263987B2
An oscillator circuit (100, 200, 300, 10, 11) comprising a resonator (105) connected serially with a series to series feedback amplifier (110, 92), in which the series to series amplifier comprises a feedback network (210, 91) which has an impedance value which is below a certain first predefined limit and a phase value which increases with the operational frequency of the oscillator circuit with a rate which is above a second predefined limit. In one embodiment, the impedance value of the feedback network (210, 91) also varies with the operational frequency of the oscillator circuit, but is always below said first predefined value within the operational frequency of the oscillator circuit.
US09263976B2
A motor control apparatus includes: duty calculation units that calculate a duty of a PWM signal based on a deviation between a value of a physical quantity of a motor with a command value; and a duty setting unit that performs setting of the duty based on the duty calculated by the duty calculation units. The duty setting unit maintains a present duty until new duty is input from any one of the plurality of duty calculation units, and updates the duty from the present duty to the new duty when the new duty is input from any one of the plurality of duty calculation units. A PWM signal generation unit generates the PWM signal based on the duty set by the duty setting unit and a carrier signal generated by a carrier signal generation unit.
US09263971B2
Systems and methods are disclosed with multiple direct current (DC) voltage source inverters to supply power to an alternating current (AC) power system. The system includes a plurality of full bridge inverter stages, each having a primary node and a secondary node, each of said full bridge inverter stages having positive and negative node, each of said full bridge inverter stages having a voltage supporting device electrically connected in a parallel relationship between said positive node and said negative node and a direct current (DC) source connected between the positive and negative nodes; at least one stacked inverter phase, each stacked inverter phase having a plurality of said full bridge inverter stages, each of said full bridge inverter stages in each stacked inverter phase interconnected in a series relationship with said secondary node of one of said full bridge inverter stages connected to said primary node of another full bridge inverter, said series interconnection defining a first full bridge inverter stage and a last full bridge inverter stage, each phase having an input node at said primary node of said first full bridge inverter stage and an output node at said secondary node of said last full bridge inverter stage; a local controller coupled to each full bridge inverter stage providing the control signals to each full bridge inverter stage to output an approximate nearly sinusoidal voltage waveform; and a system controller which communicating with each local controller; the system controller generating system control signals for configuration, synchronization, activation, deactivation and operating mode selection of said local controller.
US09263965B1
Full wave voltage multipliers mostly provide only even multiples (2×, 4×, 8× . . . ). This invention details a process to produce a full wave multiplier that will provide voltage with an odd numbered multiplicand (3×, 5×, 7×, etc.) from the next-higher-numbered, and thus even-numbered, full wave multiplier (so a 3× will be devised from the 4×, a 5× from the 6×, and for any odd (n)×, from the even (n+1)×). Each of a simplified, base 3× and 5× full wave voltage multiplier are also disclosed.
US09263964B1
In accordance with systems and methods of the present disclosure, an apparatus for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer may include a power converter and a circuit. The power converter may be configured to transfer electrical energy from the secondary winding to the load. The circuit may be configured to charge an energy storage device coupled to the power converter following start-up of the electronic transformer in order to increase a voltage of the energy storage device to at least a voltage level sufficient for the electronic transformer to enter steady-state operation.
US09263963B2
An embodiment is an apparatus that includes an energy-storage circuit and a rectifying circuit. The energy-storage circuit is configured to generate a current that flows in a direction, and the rectifying circuit is configured to substantially block the current from flowing in a reverse direction in response to the current. Such an apparatus may be configured to block a reverse current before it begins to flow. For example, such an apparatus may include a transistor disposed in the path of the current, and may be configured to deactivate the transistor while a forward current is still flowing. Furthermore, by being configured to block the current from flowing in a reverse direction in response to the current itself, such an apparatus may better block a reverse current than an apparatus that blocks a reverse current in another manner, such as in response to a voltage across a rectifying transistor.
US09263956B2
A switch-mode power supply control apparatus includes a PWM controller for outputting a driving signal and a short-circuit protection module coupled to a detection terminal. The detection terminal receives a zero-crossing detection voltage. If the time that the detection voltage input to the detection terminal is lower than a first reference voltage exceeds a predetermined time period, the short-circuit protection module determines that a short-circuit abnormal situation occurs, the short-circuit protection module outputs a short-circuit signal to the PWM controller, and the driving signal output by the PWM controller becomes a turn-off signal. If the short-circuit protection module does not detect the short-circuit abnormal situation, the PWM controller operates normally. A flyback switch-mode power supply includes the switch-mode power supply control apparatus. The flyback switch-mode power supply has a low power consumption when a short-circuit protection is taking place.
US09263955B2
A method is disclosed of controlling a switched mode converter comprising a switch and for providing power to device having a load, comprising: in response to the load exceeding a first threshold, operating in a first mode, being a CCM; in response to the load exceeding a second threshold and not exceeding the first threshold, operating in second mode, being a BCM without valley skipping wherein the switching frequency increases with decreasing load; in response to the load exceeding a third threshold and not exceeding the second threshold, operating in a third mode, being a BCM with valley skipping, wherein the switching frequency depends on the load and the number of valleys skipped and is between a fixed upper and a lower switching frequency limit; and in response to the load not exceeding the third threshold, operating in a fourth mode, being a BCM with valley skipping, wherein the switching frequency depends on at least the load, and is between an upper and a lower switching frequency limit wherein the upper switching frequency limit decreases with decreasing load. A switched mode converter controlled by such a method is also disclosed.
US09263952B2
A circuit for sensing gate voltage of a power FET. A switching circuit includes a switching FET having a high voltage rating, its drain coupled to the gate of the power FET, and its source coupled to an output node. A first feedback loop is coupled to the gate of the switching FET to facilitate sensing rising gate voltage. A second feedback loop is coupled to the gate of the switching FET to facilitate sensing falling gate voltage.
US09263951B2
A converter arrangement (C.5, C.7, C.8, C.9, C.11, C.12) with at least two single LLC converters (L), a pulse generator (2) per single LLC converter (L) wherein each pulse generator (2) is configured to supply switching pulses to one single LLC converter (L) and an output controller (11) configured to use switching frequency control and/or phase-shift control to control the pulse generators (2) comprises a load balancing control (7.5, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 7.11, 7.12) for overcoming unbalanced loading of the converter arrangement (C.5, C.7, C.8, C.9, C.11, C.12).
US09263944B2
A valley-fill circuit with active conduction angle control allows use of a single storage capacitor instead of two. The capacitor is charged to the maximum voltage of the AC cycle, which makes possible use of low-capacitance high-voltage low ESR capacitors, increases energy storage density and decreases circuit footprint. This makes it feasible to use ceramic capacitors, such as a multilayer ceramic (MLCC), polyethylene, polypropylene, or any suitable capacitor type in addition to electrolytic capacitors. This improves the operational longevity and reduces the footprint of the circuitry.
US09263936B2
Various enhancements to grid-interactive inverters in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. One embodiment includes input terminals configured to receive a direct current, output terminals configured to provide an alternating output current to the utility grid, a controller, an output current sensor, and a DC-AC inverter stage comprising a plurality of switches controlled by control signals generated by the controller. In addition, the controller is configured to: generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch a direct current in a bidirectional manner; measure the alternating output current; perform frequency decomposition of the output current; and generate control signals that cause the switches in the DC-AC inverter stage to switch current in a way that the magnitude of a plurality of unwanted current components is subtracted from the resulting output current.
US09263932B2
A DC-DC converter includes: an error amplifier for outputting an error between an output voltage and a predetermined voltage; a phase compensation impedance element for accumulating the error across one end to generate an error phase; a determination unit for determining whether the voltage output by the error amplifier is higher, or lower than a reference voltage that is consonant with the predetermined voltage, and outputting a determination signal indicating determination results; and a voltage setting unit for setting a voltage for one end of the phase compensation impedance element higher than a lower output voltage limit for the error amplifier when the determination signal indicates that the voltage output by the error amplifier is lower than the reference voltage, or for canceling setting of the voltage when the determination signal indicates that the voltage output by the error amplifier is higher than the reference voltage.
US09263924B2
An assembly for supporting a motor of a vehicle powertrain includes a housing, a stator secured to the housing, a bearing having a radial position established by the housing, a member contacting the bearing, and a rotor secured to the member and including a radial outer surface spaced radially from the stator by an air gap established by contact between the bearing and the member.
US09263917B2
A non-contact power receiving apparatus includes a power reception unit for receiving electric power in a non-contact manner from a power transmitting apparatus external to a vehicle, and a control device for controlling the transmitted power from the power transmitting apparatus. The control device controls the transmitted power based on a monitoring result obtained by monitoring the surroundings of the vehicle, and an occupant detection result obtained by detecting whether or not an occupant enters the vehicle. When the monitoring result indicates the approach of a moving object to the vehicle, the control device causes the power transmitting apparatus to reduce the transmitted power. The power transmitting apparatus and the power reception unit transmit and receive electric power in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic field resonance.
US09263911B2
Disclosed is a wireless charging apparatus for a cable-type secondary battery. The wireless charging apparatus for the cable-type secondary battery according to the present disclosure includes a socket having a space formed inside for mounting the cable-type secondary battery, a first terminal that is electrically connected to an outer current collector of the cable-type secondary battery mounted in the socket, a second terminal that is electrically connected to an inner current collector of the cable-type secondary battery mounted in the socket, and a secondary coil for wireless charging having one end connected with the first terminal and the other end connected with the second terminal, and wound along an outer circumferential surface of the socket. According to the present disclosure, even if a secondary coil for wireless power reception is absent from a cable-type secondary battery, charging may be performed by a method for wireless power transmission and reception.
US09263907B2
A method and apparatus provides supplemental power to an engine. The method and apparatus includes a pair of conductive leads for connecting the supplemental power to an engine electrical system, one or more batteries connected in parallel with one or more capacitors, a relay connected to the conductive leads, a shunt cable connecting the batteries and capacitors to the relay and a processor for controlling the relay to selectively apply electrical power to the engine electrical system. The method and apparatus includes safety features to reduce the risk of injury to the operator and damage to the apparatus and/or engine electrical system.
US09263902B2
A battery management system and a battery pack having the same including a charging circuit path for charging a battery and a discharging circuit path for discharging the battery is disclosed. The battery pack also includes a controller configured to control a charge switch unit in the charging circuit path during charging and to compensate for a change in voltage across the battery during discharging by controlling a discharge switch unit in the discharging circuit path to supply substantially constant power to an output terminal unit.
US09263900B2
A battery pack including: a first terminal; a second terminal; a battery module coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal, the battery module having a state of charge; a sensor configured to measure a swelling of the battery module and to generate a swelling data value; and a battery management system configured to control a charging and a discharging of the battery module to reduce a swelling rate of the battery module or to correct the swelling of the battery module according to the swelling data value and the state of charge.
US09263898B1
A positioning locator mobile communication apparatus securely attached to a person or a subject to be monitored, wherein said apparatus utilizes two internal batteries to provide power to the mobile communication device electronic circuitry, and a detachable battery is used to charge the internal batteries. Wherein when the first internal battery is being charged by the detachable battery, the mobile communication device is operative by the second internal battery power. And when the second internal battery is being charged by the detachable battery, the mobile communication device becomes operative by the first internal battery power. The positioning locator mobile communication apparatus may utilize the first internal battery, to provide power to the mobile communication apparatus certain components electronic circuitry, and the apparatus may contain a second rechargeable or non-rechargeable internal battery designed to provide power to the mobile communication apparatus at least one other electronic circuitry.
US09263885B2
A high-speed low dropout (HS-LDO) voltage regulation circuit suitable to enable a power gate unit to produce a variable voltage signal based on the load of a processor is disclosed herein. In various embodiments, selection logic may dynamically enable or disable the HS-LDO circuit to allow the power gate unit to operate under a fully-on or fully-off mode. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.
US09263884B2
An electrostatic protection circuit includes a trigger circuit connected between a first and second power source line. The trigger circuit outputs a trigger signal in response to a voltage difference between the power source lines, such as occurs when an electrostatic discharge is received along the power source lines. A buffer circuit in the protection circuit outputs a drive signal in response to the trigger signal. A switch circuit is connected between the first and second power source lines and controls the ON/OFF conduction state between the power source lines in response to the drive signal. A control circuit supplies a control signal to the switch circuit after the drive signal causes the switch circuit to switch to the ON conduction state. The control signal maintains the switch in the ON conduction state while the voltage difference between power source lines exceeds a predetermined value.
US09263882B2
An output circuit is provided and includes first and second output stage elements, a detection circuit, a control circuit, and a first pre-driver. The first and second output stage elements are coupled in series between a power terminal and the ground terminal. The detection circuit detect whether an electrostatic discharge event occurs at an output terminal between the two output stage elements to generate a control signal. The control circuit controls a state of the first output stage element when the control circuit is enabled according to the control signal. The first pre-driver controls the state of the first output stage element when the first per-driver is enabled according to the control signal. When the detection circuit detects that the electrostatic discharge event occurs at the output terminal, the control circuit is enabled to turn on the first output stage element, and the first pre-driver is disabled.
US09263873B2
Systems and methods for dynamically defending a site from lightning strikes are provided. The systems and methods involve dynamically altering electrostatic fields above the site and/or dynamically intervening in lightning discharge processes in the vicinity of the site.
US09263872B2
An improved conduit apparatus in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept includes one or more conduits that each enclose therein an electrical conductor that carries a phase of a multi-phase electrical supply. The conduits are connected to the walls of the electrical enclosures with an attachment apparatus that extends between the conduits and the walls of the electrical enclosures. A clamp apparatus retains the electrical conductors in a state of tension within an interior region of the conduits in a position spaced from the walls of the conduits.
US09263862B2
A method and device for operating a fluid-insulated electrical apparatus. The insulation fluid of the electrical apparatus includes at least two components. The method includes the step of determining a physical state of the insulation fluid by measuring at least three measurement variables with sensors. The method further includes the step of deriving trend variables indicative of changes over time for the measurement variables and/or for characterizing variables. These characterizing variables are derived from the measurement variables by using a relating equation, such as an equation of state, and are also indicative of the physical state of the insulation fluid. By testing for specific patterns of the trend variables, an operating state of the electrical apparatus is determined. The possible operating states correspond to specific and distinguishable non-fault and fault scenarios for the electrical apparatus. Thus, operating states can be distinguished and trouble-shooting in case of a failure is simplified.
US09263852B2
In the semiconductor laser including a diffraction grating in which a first diffraction grating region with a first pitch, a second diffraction grating region with a second pitch and a third diffraction grating region with the first pitch, an anti-reflection film coated on an end facet to the light-emitting side, and a reflection film coated on an opposite end facet, the first diffraction grating region is greater than the third diffraction grating region, and the second diffraction grating region is formed, in such a manner that phases of the first and third diffraction grating regions are shifted in a range of equal to or more than 0.6 π to equal to or less than 0.9 π, phases are successive on a boundary between the first and second diffraction grating regions and the phases are successive on a boundary between the second and third diffraction grating regions.
US09263848B2
A directed-energy irradiating apparatus includes a switch which selects one of an FEL apparatus and an HPM apparatus to be supplied with a microwave based on external environmental data. A target is destroyed even in a situation in which a destruction effect by an FEL beam cannot be expected, while maintaining a destruction ability for the target by the FEL beam.
US09263839B2
Presented herein are an interconnect and method for forming the same, the method comprising forming an interconnect on a mounting surface of a mounting pad disposed on a first surface of a first substrate, the interconnect comprising a conductive material, optionally solder or metal, the interconnect avoiding the sides of the mounting pad. A molding compound is applied to the first surface of the first substrate and molded around the interconnect to covering at least a lower portion of the interconnect and a second substrate may be mounted on the interconnect. The interconnect may comprise an interconnect material disposed between a first and second substrate and a molding compound disposed on a surface of the first substrate, and exposing a portion of the interconnect. A sidewall of the interconnect material contacts the mounting pad at an angle less than about 30 degrees from a plane perpendicular to the first substrate.
US09263836B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative body (2), a number of contacts (1), and a metal shell (5). The insulative body includes an upper wall (21), a lower wall (22), a pair of sidewalls (23), and a rear wall (24) connecting between the upper wall, the lower wall, and the sidewalls for cooperatively defining a receiving space (20). The insulative body has a mating tongue (25) extending forwardly from the rear wall into the receiving space. The contacts are retained in the mating tongue and partly exposed in the receiving space. The metal shell has a length along a front-and-rear direction smaller than that of the receiving space. The metal shell has a length along a front-and-rear direction smaller than that of the receiving space so as to be positioned on a front part of the lower wall for reducing interference between the metal shell and an antenna.
US09263834B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a shell covering the insulative housing, and a flange mounted to the shell. The insulative housing has a front face, a number of outer faces, and a receiving cavity extending through the front face for receiving a mating connector. The shell has a front wall and a number of outer walls covering the housing front and outer faces, respectively. The flange has a mating sleeve mounted to the shell and a mating flange portion for engaging a panel along a front-to-back direction. The mating sleeve is bent from a material band, and the mating flange portion is bent from the mating sleeve. The mating flange portion is substantially perpendicular to and resiliently flexible relative to the mating sleeve.
US09263831B2
A plug (100) is configured for latching engagement with a cage (200). The plug has a housing (10) and a release mechanism (12) mounted on the housing. The housing has a nose portion (11) configured for latching engagement with a latch tab (21) formed on the cage. The release mechanism includes a rotatable lever (123) and a movable actuator arm (124). The lever has a front portion (1231), a rear portion (1232) and a middle portion (1234) adapted to be hinged with the housing. A front portion (1241) of the actuator arm could lift the front portion of the lever for releasing the nose from the latch tab when the actuator arm is moved forwardly, and a rear portion (1243) of the actuator arm could lift the rear portion of the lever when the actuator arm is moved backwardly.
US09263830B2
A charging connector includes a connector housing to be fitted to a power receiving connector, a connector case housing the connector housing, a lock arm arranged to be swingable about a swing fulcrum between a lock position and a release position, and a coil spring located toward a power receiving connector away from the swing fulcrum to bias the lock arm toward the lock position. The lock arm is provided with a spring compartment housing the coil spring in a manner such that the periphery of the coil spring is enclosed. The spring compartment is provided, on a bottom portion thereof, with a penetration hole extending in the lock arm.
US09263824B2
A plug and receptacle electrical connector can be repeatedly connected and disconnected in harsh environments such as seawater. The plug unit has blade-like pins with insulated shafts and conductive tips. The plug unit engages the receptacle unit housing socket contacts within closed, nested, oil-filled chambers. The chambers are pressure balanced to the in-situ environment and to each other and employ positive means to remain sealed before, during, and after mating and demating.
US09263823B2
A lever connector includes a first connector housing, a second connector housing that includes a distal fitting portion intended for a distal end of the first connector housing to be fittedly connected thereto, and is adapted to be attached to a connector attaching plate in a state of inserting the second connector housing through a connector attaching hole of the connector attaching plate, a lever adapted to fit the first connector housing into the second connector housing by a pivoting operation, and a grommet for ensuring a waterproofing property of an inside of the first connector housing. The lever includes a lever body, a pivoting connection portion, and a lever locking piece. The grommet is fitted and mounted on the lever and includes a lever covering portion, and a tubular.
US09263816B1
A retention member for use with a junction box. The retention member includes a beam, at least one resilient retention member and securing members. The securing members extend from the beam and are operable between an unsecured position in which the at least one resilient retention member of the beam is not placed in engagement with the at least one electrical component and a secured position in which the at least one resilient retention member of the beam is placed in engagement with and exerts a force on the at least one electrical component. Wherein when the securing member is in the secured position, the at least one resilient retention member of the beam maintains the at least one electrical component in electrical engagement with mating electrical components of the junction box.
US09263813B2
A system is provided for protecting a signal within an electronic device. Such a system includes a connector and a printed circuit. The connector has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and includes: at its base, at least one solder termination corresponding to a contact region conveying the signal to be protected; and a slot for inserting a printed circuit. The printed circuit is housed in the insertion slot and shaped so that it covers the solder termination.
US09263811B2
The present invention is to provide a connector having support portions like steps for improving yield rate of soldering, which includes an isolation base provided therein with signal terminals each having two ends respectively exposed out of front and back side surfaces of the isolation base. Support portions each is formed by a protruded part and a recessed part like steps on the back side surface. An end of a positioning terminal can be inserted into a positioning groove on the recessed part and then be exposed out of the back side surface with a length larger than the length of the protruded part that is approximately equal to the length of the signal terminal extended out the back side surface, whereby the end of the positioning terminal can be inserted into a positioning hole on a circuit board when the back side surface is positioned on the circuit board.
US09263809B2
A terminal block allows wires to be connected to the block by insertion at a front portion of the block and along a direction parallel to the length of the block. The block includes a securing feature to retain the electrical conductor securely in the block while also allowing simplified connection and disconnection of the wire.
US09263806B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a matching network for a communication device having first and second antennas, where the matching network includes a first variable component connectable and a detector. The first variable component can be connectable along a first path between the first antenna and a front end module of the communication device, where the first antenna is configured for transmit and receive operation. The detector can be connectable along a second path between the second antenna and the front end module of the communication device, where the detector obtains an RF voltage associated with the second path, where the second antenna is configured for a diversity receive operation, and where the first variable component is adjusted based on the detected RF voltage to tune the matching network. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US09263804B2
Composite material, devices incorporating the composite material and methods of forming the composite material are provided. The composite material includes interstitial material that has at least one of a select relative permittivity property value and a select relative permeability property value. The composite material further includes inclusion material within the interstitial material. The inclusion material has at least one of a select relative permeability property value and a select relative permittivity property value. The select relative permeability and permittivity property values of the interstitial and the inclusion materials are selected so that the effective intrinsic impedance of the interstitial material and the inclusion material match the intrinsic impedance of air. Devices made from the composite include metamaterial and/or metamaterial-inspired (e.g., near-field LC-type parasitic) substrates and/or lenses, front-end protection, stealth absorbers, filters and mixers. Beyond the intrinsic, applications include miniature antennas and antenna arrays, directed energy weapons, EMI filters, RF and optical circuit components, among others.
US09263797B1
A system comprises a base having a sensor support frame moveably mounted thereto such that the support frame is pivotal about at least two axes with respect to a pivot point. A sensor is coupled to the support frame. At least one actuator is provided for pivoting the support frame about the pivot point.
US09263795B2
A mobile wireless communications device includes a housing and circuit board carried by the housing. Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry is mounted on the circuit board. A first antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for cellular phone communications. A second antenna is supported by the circuit board within the housing and operatively connected to the RF circuitry and configured for WiFi communications. The second antenna comprises an inverted-F or monopole antenna having an opening gap that is pointed away from the first antenna.
US09263791B2
A scanned radio frequency (RF) antenna having a small volume is described.
US09263786B2
A coupler includes an input terminal and an output terminal which are provided on a substrate, a main line provided on the substrate and having one end connected to the input terminal and the other end connected to the output terminal, and a sub line including a conductive film and a resistive film which are provided on the substrate and electromagnetically coupled to the main line at a part of the conductive film. The conductive film has wiring patterns. The resistive film includes a resistive film pattern having an end portion fitted into between the wiring pattern and substrate and an end portion fitted into between the wiring pattern and substrate. The end portions and each contact the conductive film at least at its upper surface and end surface.
US09263784B2
A package substrate includes a core substrate, a first buildup layer and a second buildup layer. The first buildup layer includes an uppermost interlayer, an upper inner interlayer, an uppermost conductive layer including first pads and second pads, an upper first conductive layer, an upper second conductive layer, vias formed through the uppermost interlayer and connecting the upper first conductive layer and the second pads, and skip vias formed through the uppermost and upper inner interlayers and connecting the uppermost and upper second conductive layers. The second buildup layer includes a lowermost interlayer, a lower inner interlayer, a lowermost conductive layer including third pads, a lower first conductive layer, a lower second conductive layer, vias formed through the lowermost interlayer and connecting the lower first conductive layer and third pads, and skip vias formed through the lowermost and lower inner interlayers and connecting the lowermost and lower second conductive layers.
US09263783B2
In an example, a circulator is disclosed. The circulator includes a waveguide housing having a plurality of hollow waveguide arms that communicate with a central cavity. The waveguide arms include, and the central cavity is defined by, a floor, a ceiling, and a plurality of sidewalls connected between the floor and the ceiling. At least one of the floor or the ceiling includes at least one step which defines a junction between a first region having a first height between the floor and the ceiling and one or more second regions having a second height between the floor and the ceiling. The first region is proximate the central cavity and the one or more second regions are proximate the waveguide arms. The first height is larger than the second height.
US09263781B2
A method and apparatus for a polarizer. The apparatus comprises a dielectric rod, a first array of slots, and a second array of slots. The first array of slots and the second array of slots are formed in sidewalls of the dielectric rod. The first array of slots is substantially opposite to the second array of slots. The first array of slots and the second array of slots are configured to shift a first component orthogonal to a second component in a signal traveling through the dielectric rod by around 90 degrees with respect to each other. The dielectric rod may be a solid material or comprised of layers of dielectric substrates with metal tabs.
US09263779B2
A lithium air battery module including a lithium air battery cell including a first electrolyte; an additional electrolyte disposed non-adjacent the first electrolyte; and a housing which accommodates the lithium air battery cell and the additional electrolyte.
US09263777B2
A semiconductor device generates battery state information including information of a capacity that can be extracted from a battery in the case of discharging from a full charge state until a discharge cutoff voltage at a predetermined discharge rate, based on measurement results of battery voltage, current, and temperature. The device calculates a first estimate value of capacity that can be extracted in the case of discharging the battery from the full charge state until the discharge cutoff voltage and calculates a second estimate value of capacity that can be extracted in the case of discharging the battery until a voltage larger than the discharge cutoff voltage. The device corrects the first estimate value based on a difference between a capacity value extracted from the battery by discharging the battery from the full charge state until the voltage larger than the discharge cutoff voltage and the second estimate value.
US09263774B2
A secondary battery and a manufacturing method thereof, the secondary battery including a bare cell having an electrode terminal connected thereto; a protection circuit board (PCB) substrate; and a metal tab to connect the PCB substrate to the electrode terminal, disposed in an accommodating groove of the PCP substrate. The metal tab includes wing portions laid across the accommodating groove, a terminal contact portion that comes in contact with the electrode terminal, and curved portions disposed between the terminal contact portion and the wing portions.
US09263773B2
A technology described herein is for accurately determining the SOC of a secondary battery. An open-circuit-voltage-to-state-of-charge (OCV-SOC) characteristic has a capacity decrease estimation OCV region in which a relationship between the OCV and the SOC is assumed not to change due to degradation of the secondary battery 1a since a reference time point. Charge currents or discharge currents in the capacity decrease estimation OCV region are accumulated in a process in which the secondary battery SOC changes among OCVs. From the accumulation, an accumulated current is obtained. A secondary battery capacity decrease is estimated based on the accumulated current. An OCV-SOC characteristic is specified based on the estimated secondary battery capacity decrease and a predetermined relationship between the battery capacity decrease of the secondary battery since the reference time point and the OCV-SOC characteristic. A secondary battery SOC is determined based on the OCV and the specified OCV-SOC characteristic.
US09263770B2
The present invention provides a method for providing electrical potential from a solid-state sodium-based secondary cell (or rechargeable battery). A secondary cell is provided that includes a solid sodium metal negative electrode that is disposed in a non-aqueous negative electrolyte solution that includes an ionic liquid. Additionally, the cell comprises a positive electrode that is disposed in a positive electrolyte solution. In order to separate the negative electrode and the negative electrolyte solution from the positive electrolyte solution, the cell includes a sodium ion conductive electrolyte membrane. The cell is maintained and operated at a temperature below the melting point of the negative electrode and is connected to an external circuit.
US09263766B2
An additive for an electrolyte of a lithium battery including a disultone-based compound represented by Formula 1 below, an organic electrolyte solution including the additive, and a lithium battery including the organic electrolyte solution are provided: wherein, in Formula 1, A1, A2, A3, and A4 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C5 alkylene group; a carbonyl group; or a sulfinyl group.
US09263763B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a sulfide solid electrolyte material with favorable ion conductivity. The present invention attains the object by providing a sulfide solid electrolyte material including an M1 element (such as a Li element), an M2 element (such as a Ge element and a P element), a S element and an O element, and having a peak at a position of 2θ=29.58°±0.50° in an X-ray diffraction measurement using a CuKα ray, characterized in that when a diffraction intensity at the peak of 2θ=29.58°±0.50° is regarded as IA and a diffraction intensity at a peak of 2θ=27.33°±0.50° is regarded as IB, a value of IB/IA is less than 0.50.
US09263759B2
Disclosed is an end plate for a fuel cell including an anti-bending plate, in which an anti-bending plate is assembled with an insert having a sandwich structure and the insert is injection molded, thereby easily preventing the insert from being bent due to an injection molding pressure. In the disclosed end plate, a sandwich insert including two or more stacked plates each having a specific shape is manufactured, and an anti-bending plate is coupled to the sandwich insert and then is injection molded, thereby easily preventing the sandwich insert from being bent due to a resin pressure in the injection molding process, contrary to a conventional integral metal insert.
US09263752B2
Fluid coupling assemblies and methods are discussed. The fluid coupling assemblies include a first coupling member, a second coupling member magnetically engageable with the first coupling member, and a seal member disposed between a portion of the first coupling member and a portion of the second coupling member. A magnetic engagement of the first coupling member and the second coupling member unseals a fluid flow path therebetween. In certain examples, the first coupling member is sealed by a valve member and the second coupling member includes an activation member. When engaged, the valve member is moved from a closed position to an open position by the activation member, thereby unsealing the fluid flow path. A magnetic force between the first coupling member and the second coupling member can be chosen such that the members disengage when a predetermined fluid flow path pressure is reached.
US09263747B2
According to one embodiment, a positive electrode includes a positive electrode material layer and a positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode material layer includes a positive electrode active material having a composition represented by a formula (1) described below. The positive electrode material layer satisfies a formula (2) described below. The positive electrode material layer is formed on the positive electrode current collector. LixNi1-a-bCoaMbO2 (1) 35≦S1/V1≦70 (2)
US09263744B2
A secondary battery includes: a cathode; an anode; and an electrolytic solution. The anode includes a lithium composite oxide represented by following Formula (1), LiwZnxSnyMzO4 (1) where M is one or more of Co, Mg, Ni, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Ag; and w to z satisfy 0.3≦w≦1, 0.3≦x≦1, 0.8≦y≦1.2, and (w+x+y+z)=3.
US09263742B2
The present invention provides an anode material for a lithium secondary battery, which material realizes prolongation of the cycle life of a lithium secondary battery. The present invention relates to an anode active material for a lithium secondary battery, the active material containing a powder produced by a step of forming an etched foil through etching of both surfaces of a foil of Al having a purity of 90 mass % or higher, and a step of shredding the etched foil, the steps being carried out in this order.
US09263739B2
In an aspect, a composite anode active material including lithium titanium oxide particles; and a TiN, and TiN a method of preparing the composite anode active material, and a lithium battery including the composite anode active material is provided.
US09263732B2
The present invention provides a positive electrode active material for lithium ion batteries, which realizes a lithium ion battery that is, while satisfying fundamental characteristics of a battery (capacity, efficiency, load characteristics), low in the resistance and excellent in the lifetime characteristics. In the positive electrode active material for lithium ion batteries, the variation in the composition of transition metal that is a main component inside of particles of or between particles of the positive electrode active material, which is defined as a ratio of the absolute value of the difference between a composition ratio inside of the particles of or in a small area between the particles of the transition metal and a composition ratio in a bulk state to the composition ratio in a bulk state of the transition metal, is 5% or less.
US09263726B2
A secondary battery is disclosed. In one embodiment, the secondary battery includes i) a first electrode plate having two opposing surfaces, wherein the first electrode plate comprises a first electrode collector and a first electrode coating portion disposed on at least one of the two surfaces of the first electrode collector and ii) a second electrode plate having two opposing surfaces, wherein the second electrode plate comprises a second electrode collector and a second electrode coating portion disposed on at least one of the two surfaces of the second electrode collector. The secondary battery may further include a separator disposed between the first and second electrode plates and electrically insulating the first and second electrode plates from each other. The first electrode plate may further include a first electrode tab that extends from a first side surface of the first electrode collector, wherein the first side surface connects the two opposing surfaces of the first electrode collector, and wherein the first electrode coating portion extends to an extension region of the first electrode tab. The second electrode plate may further include a second electrode tab that extends from a second side surface of the second electrode collector, where in the second side surface connects the two opposing surfaces of the second electrode collector, and wherein the second electrode coating portion extends to an extension region of the second electrode tab.
US09263722B2
There is provided a structure for connecting a wiring member to a bus bar in which smooth connection is enabled while ensuring high reliability. In an end portion of a bus bar, a soldering portion which is smaller in cross-sectional area than the bus bar is formed. A connection projecting piece which is raised up in a pin-like manner is formed on the soldering portion. The connection projecting piece is passed through a connection hole which is formed in a connection end of a branch wiring portion of a wiring member configured by a flexible printed circuit board. The connection projecting piece which is passed through the connection hole is soldered to a circuit pattern.
US09263719B2
A prismatic secondary battery includes a prismatic hollow outer body having a mouth and a bottom; a flat electrode assembly, a positive electrode collector, a negative electrode collector, and an electrolyte, all of which are stored in the prismatic outer body; a sealing plate sealing up the mouth of the prismatic outer body; and a positive electrode terminal attached to the sealing plate in an electrically insulated manner. The sealing plate includes a gas release valve and an electrolyte pour hole and further includes, on the front face, a concaved flat face having an identification code. With the prismatic secondary battery of the invention, a jig for assembly or the like is unlikely to come into contact with the identification code during an assembly process of the prismatic secondary battery, hence the identification code is unlikely to be abraded, and the traceability is unlikely to be lost.
US09263710B2
A method for preparing semiconductor nanocrystals including a core and an overcoating layer is disclosed. According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises preparing more than one batch of cores comprising a first semiconductor material and having a maximum emission peak within a predetermined spectral region, wherein each batch of cores is characterized by a first excitonic absorption peak at an absorption wavelength and a maximum emission peak at an emission wavelength; selecting a batch of cores from the batches prepared wherein the selected batch is characterized by a difference between the absorption wavelength and the emission wavelength that is less than or equal to 13; and overcoating the cores of the selected batch with a layer comprising a second semiconductor material.
US09263685B2
A thin film transistor is provided. The thin film transistor includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconducting layer, a transition layer, an insulating layer and a gate electrode. The drain electrode is spaced apart from the source electrode. The gate electrode is insulated from the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the semiconductor layer by the insulating layer. The transition layer is sandwiched between the insulating layer and the semiconductor layer. The transition layer is a silicon-oxide cross-linked polymer layer including a plurality of Si atoms. The plurality of Si atoms is bonded with atoms of the insulating layer and atoms of the semiconductor layer.
US09263682B2
A light emitting device is configured to include a substrate and a luminous layer provided overlying the substrate, which includes a semiconductor nanocrystal to which a carbazole derivative is coordination-bonded or attached, the carbazole derivative having aromatic rings of a compound represented by the chemical structure 1, which is substituted by one to three substitution groups: The one to three substitution groups are represented by the chemical structure 2: -X-Y-Z Chemical Structure 2. X represents a methylene group, a carbonyloxy group, an oxycarbonyl group, a carbonyl group, an oxygen atom, and a sulfur atom, Y represents a substituted or non-substituted alkylene group, and Z represents a carboxyl group, a hydroxyl group, and a thiol group.
US09263680B2
Arylamine compounds comprising an arylamine core and at least one addition-polymerizable group X selected from the group consisting of formula (A); said addition polymerizable group attached to one ring of the arylamine core through a spacer of general formula (1): C(R1R2)—(C(R3R4))m; wherein, R1 and R2, independent of one another, each represent a C1-C8 alkyl group or an aryl group of from 5 to 30 carbon atoms, R3 and R4, independent of one another, are hydrogen, a C1 to C8 alkyl group or an aryl group of from 5 to 30 carbon atoms and m is an integer of from 0 to 6, or through a fluorene subunit of general formulae (2) or (3); wherein R5 represents hydrogen, C1 to C8-alkyl, or C5 to C30 aryl, and R6 and R7, independently of one another represent C1 alkylene or a C5 to C30 arylene group, provided that R6 and R7 both carry an addition-polymerizable group X and R5 is not hydrogen if R6 is methylene.
US09263677B2
A method for manufacturing a transparent gas barrier film for an organic electroluminescence element having a substrate with a gas barrier layer thereon. The gas barrier layer is formed on the substrate by plasma CVD using an organic silicon compound as a raw material gas and an oxygen gas as a decomposition gas. Formation of the gas barrier layer is carried out so that a carbon content of the gas barrier layer in the thickness direction repeatedly changes more than two times from high value, via intermediate value, low value and intermediate value, to high value.
US09263673B2
A resistive memory device includes a switching device disposed on a lower interconnection, a resistor element disposed on the switching device, and an upper interconnection disposed on the resistor element. The switching device includes a diode electrode, a high-concentration lower anode disposed on the diode electrode, a middle-concentration lower anode disposed on the lower high-concentration anode electrode, a common cathode disposed on the middle-concentration lower anode, a low-concentration upper anode disposed on the common cathode, and an high-concentration upper anode disposed on the low-concentration upper anode. The peak dopant concentration of the middle-concentration lower anode is at least 10 times greater than the peak dopant concentration of the low-concentration upper anode.
US09263672B2
Some embodiments include a semiconductor construction having a gate extending into a semiconductor base. Conductively-doped source and drain regions are within the base adjacent the gate. A gate dielectric has a first segment between the source region and the gate, a second segment between the drain region and the gate, and a third segment between the first and second segments. At least a portion of the gate dielectric comprises ferroelectric material. In some embodiments the ferroelectric material is within each of the first, second and third segments. In some embodiments, the ferroelectric material is within the first segment or the third segment. In some embodiments, a transistor has a gate, a source region and a drain region; and has a channel region between the source and drain regions. The transistor has a gate dielectric which contains ferroelectric material between the source region and the gate.
US09263667B1
A method for manufacturing MTJ pillars for a MTJ memory device. The method includes depositing multiple MTJ layers on a substrate, depositing a hard mask on the substrate and coating a photoresist on the hard mask. Further, alternating steps of reactive ion etching and ion beam etching are performed to isolate MTJ pillars and expose side surfaces of the MTJ layers. An insulating layer is the applied to protect the side surfaces of the MTJ layers. A second insulating layer is deposited before the device is planarized using chemical mechanical polishing.
US09263662B2
The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric element comprising a flexible semiconductor substrate having exposed surfaces with a metal content that is less than about 1% as measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and a figure of merit (ZT) that is at least about 0.25, wherein the flexible semiconductor substrate has a Young's Modulus that is less than or equal to about 1×106 pounds per square inch (psi) at 25° C.
US09263648B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an integrated piece comprising a convex cured product and a substrate, the method comprising a step of: depositing dropwise or dispensing a curable silicone composition onto the pre-heated substrate, the composition reaching a torque value of 1 dN·m within 60 seconds from immediately after beginning measurement as measured using a curelastometer according to JIS K 6300-2, at the temperature to which the substrate is heated, and having a viscosity at said temperature of at least 0.05 Pa·s. The method allows for the efficient manufacture of a hemispherical, hemicylindrical, dome-shaped, or similar convex cured product upon a substrate using a curable silicone composition.
US09263643B2
A light-emitting device includes: a light-emitting stack including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the light-emitting stack emits a light having a wavelength between 365 nm and 550 nm; and a first electrode formed on the first surface and comprising a first metal layer and a second metal layer alternating with the first metal layer, wherein the first electrode has a reflectivity larger than 95% for reflecting the light, and the second metal layer has a higher reflectivity index relative to the light than that of the first metal layer.
US09263640B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a semiconductor layer, a p-side electrode, an n-side electrode, a p-side metal pillar, an n-side metal pillar, and an insulator. The semiconductor layer includes a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and a light emitting layer. The p-side metal pillar includes a p-side external terminal. The n-side metal pillar includes an n-side external terminal. At least one selected from an area and a planar configuration of the p-side external terminal is different from at least one selected from an area and a planar configuration of the n-side external terminal.
US09263632B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes n-type and p-type semiconductor layers containing a nitride semiconductor and a light emitting layer. The emitting layer includes a barrier layer containing III group elements, and a well layer stacked with the barrier layer and containing III group elements. The barrier layer is divided into a first portion on an n-type semiconductor layer side and a second portion on a p-type semiconductor layer side, an In composition ratio in the III group elements of the second portion is lower than that of the first portion. The well layer is divided into a third portion on an n-type semiconductor layer side and a fourth portion on a p-type semiconductor layer side, an In composition ratio in the III group elements of the fourth portion is higher than that of the third portion.
US09263630B2
There is provided an inorganic layer light-emitting device including: a light-emitting layer including an emission body made of an inorganic material; and a metal-based particle assembly layer being a layer consisting of a particle assembly including 30 or more metal-based particles separated from each other and disposed in two-dimensions, said metal-based particles having an average particle diameter in a range of from 200 to 1600 nm, an average height in a range of from 55 to 500 nm, and an aspect ratio in a range of from 1 to 8, and said metal-based particles that compose said metal-based particle assembly layer are disposed such that an average distance between adjacent metal-based particles is in a range of from 1 to 150 nm. The inorganic layer light-emitting device exhibits high luminous efficiency through emission enhancement and improvement in light extraction efficiency.
US09263624B2
The present invention relates to a high-output apparatus for manufacturing a polycrystal silicon ingot for a solar cell, and more particularly, to an apparatus for manufacturing a polycrystal silicon ingot by means of heating and melting raw silicon in a vacuum chamber, and then cooling the molten silicon, wherein the apparatus comprises: a plurality of crucibles arranged so as to be horizontally separated from one another within the vacuum chamber, and in each of which raw silicon is filled for manufacturing polycrystal silicon ingots; heating means provided at the outside of each of the crucibles so as to heat each crucible and melt the raw silicon filled therein; and cooling means for cooling the crucibles, so as to enable the silicon melted by the heating means to be cooled in one direction and be formed into polycrystal ingots.
US09263616B2
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a patterned layer on a doped emitter portion of the photovoltaic device, the patterned layer including openings that expose areas of the doped emitter portion and growing an epitaxial layer over the patterned layer such that a crystalline phase grows in contact with the doped emitter portion and a non-crystalline phase grows in contact with the patterned layer. The non-crystalline phase is removed from the patterned layer. Conductive contacts are formed on the epitaxial layer in the openings to form a contact area for the photovoltaic device.
US09263615B2
The present invention relates to a solar panel that is cooled without using power, and more particularly, to a solar panel which is cooled without using power and which is naturally cooled by means of ascending air heated in a passage provided in a cooling plate so as to maintain the temperature of the solar panel suitable for the efficient generation of power without requiring a separate power source. For this purpose, the solar panel of the present invention includes: a cell panel including solar cells for converting solar energy into electric energy; and a cooling plate directly or indirectly contacting the back surface of the cell panel so as to transfer heat, the cooling plate having a cooling-air passage which is formed so as to extend vertically within the cooling plate, and the upper and lower ends of which are in contact with the outside air.
US09263614B2
In a fiber there is provided a fiber matrix material having a fiber length; and an array of isolated in-fiber filaments that extend the fiber length. The in-fiber filaments are disposed at a radius in a cross section of the fiber that is a location of a continuous filament material layer in a drawing preform of the fiber. As a result, there is provided a fiber matrix material having a fiber length; and a plurality of isolated fiber elements that are disposed in the fiber matrix, extending the fiber length, where the plurality is of a number greater than a number of isolated domains in a drawing preform of the fiber.
US09263613B2
An embodiment relates to a device comprising a substrate having a front side and a back-side, a nanowire disposed on the back-side and an image sensing circuit disposed on the front side, wherein the nanowire is configured to be both a channel to transmit wavelengths up to a selective wavelength and an active element to detect the wavelengths up to the selective wavelength transmitted through the nanowire.
US09263611B2
A single-step wet etch process is provided to isolate multijunction solar cells on semiconductor substrates, wherein the wet etch chemistry removes semiconductor materials nonselectively without a major difference in etch rate between different heteroepitaxial layers. The solar cells thus formed comprise multiple heterogeneous semiconductor layers epitaxially grown on the semiconductor substrate.
US09263608B2
A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.
US09263604B2
There is provided an optical mechanism including a substrate, an image sensor chip, a light source, a blocking member and a securing member. The image sensor chip is attached to the substrate and has an active area. The light source is attached to the substrate. The blocking member covers the image sensor chip and has an opening to expose at least the active area of the image sensor chip. The securing member fits on the blocking member to secure the blocking member to the substrate.
US09263602B2
Contact holes of solar cells are formed by laser ablation to accommodate various solar cell designs. Use of a laser to form the contact holes is facilitated by replacing films formed on the diffusion regions with a film that has substantially uniform thickness. Contact holes may be formed to deep diffusion regions to increase the laser ablation process margins. The laser configuration may be tailored to form contact holes through dielectric films of varying thicknesses.
US09263601B2
Enhanced adhesion of seed layers for solar cell conductive contacts and methods of forming solar cell conductive contacts are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming an adhesion layer above an emitter region of a substrate. A metal seed paste layer is formed on the adhesion layer. The metal seed paste layer and the adhesion layer are annealed to form a conductive layer in contact with the emitter region of the substrate. A conductive contact for the solar cell is formed from the conductive layer.
US09263600B2
A photovoltaic device for converting light into electrical power includes a film (16, 26, 36) of silicon nanoparticles. The silicon nanoparticle film, which can be a multilayer film, has a photoluminescence response and couples light and or electricity into semiconductor layers. A particular example photovoltaic device of the invention include a solar cell that accepts and converts light of a predetermined wavelength range into electrical power. A film containing luminescent silicon nanoparticles is optically coupled to the solar cell. The film has a predetermined thickness. The film responds to incident radiation and produces light or electron response in the predetermined wavelength range that is optically coupled into the solar cell. In preferred embodiments, the film is additionally or alternatively electrically coupled to the solar cell, which produces charge response that is electrically coupled into the solar cell.
US09263594B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a TFT array substrate including: a base substrate (1) and thin film transistors. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode (2), a semiconductor layer (5), a semiconductor protective layer, a source electrode (8) and a drain electrode (9). The semiconductor protective layer is disposed adjacent to the semiconductor layer (5) and includes a composite lamination structure, which includes a protective layer formed of an insulating material capable of preventing de-oxygen of the semiconductor layer (5) and an insulating layer formed of an insulating material to be etched more easily.
US09263590B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) includes a semiconductor active layer, a gate electrode, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The semiconductor active layer includes a first doped region as a source region, a second doped region as a drain region, an undoped region between the first and second doped regions. A third doped region is disposed between the second doped region and the undoped region. The gate electrode is insulated from the semiconductor active layer and overlaps the third doped region and the undoped region. The source electrode and the drain electrode are connected to the first and second doped regions.
US09263583B2
A method of forming a semiconductor structure that includes forming a first recess and a second recess between a first pair of sidewall spacers and a second pair of sidewall spacers respectively, the first and second pair of sidewall spacers surrounding a fin on top of a buried dielectric layer, the fin is formed from a top most semiconductor layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate. A high-k dielectric layer is deposited within the first and second recesses and a dummy titanium nitride layer is deposited on the high-k dielectric layer. The high-k dielectric layer and the dummy titanium nitride layer are removed from the second recess and a silicon cap layer is deposited within the first and second recesses. Next, dopants are implanted into the silicon cap layer in the second recess without implanting dopants into the silicon cap layer in the first recess to form a BJT device.
US09263579B2
A semiconductor process includes the following steps. Two gates are formed on a substrate. A recess is formed in the substrate beside the gates. A surface modification process is performed on a surface of the recess to modify the shape of the recess and change the contents of the surface.
US09263578B2
A semiconductor substructure with improved performance and a method of forming the same is described. In one embodiment, the semiconductor substructure includes a substrate, having an upper surface; a gate structure formed over the substrate; a spacer formed along a sidewall of the gate structure; and a source/drain structure disposed adjacent the gate structure. The source/drain structures is formed of a strain material and is disposed in an recess that extends below the upper surface of the substrate. An interface between the spacer and the source-drain structure can be at least 2 nm above the upper surface of the substrate.
US09263567B2
A normally off nitride-based transistor may include a source electrode and a drain electrode, a channel layer serving as a charge transfer path between the source electrode and the drain electrode, and a gate electrode that controls charge transfer of the channel layer. The channel layer may have a junction structure of a first conductive nitride semiconductor layer and an intrinsic nitride semiconductor layer such that a fixed turn-off blocking electric field is generated in the channel layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode in a turn-off state. The intrinsic nitride semiconductor layer may include an intrinsic GaN semiconductor layer, and the first conductive nitride semiconductor layer may include a p type GaN semiconductor layer stacked over the intrinsic GaN semiconductor layer.
US09263564B2
In one embodiment, a power integrated circuit device includes a main lateral high-voltage field-effect transistor (HVFET) and an adjacently-located lateral sense FET, both of which are formed on a high-resistivity substrate. A sense resistor is formed in a well region disposed in an area of the substrate between the HVFET and the sense FET. A parasitic substrate resistor is formed in parallel electrical connection with the sense resistor between the source regions of the HVFET and the sense FET. Both transistor devices share common drain and gate electrodes. When the main lateral HVFET and the sense FET are in an on-state, a voltage potential is produced at the second source metal layer that is proportional to a first current flowing through the lateral HVFET.
US09263563B2
In an embodiment, a semiconductor device package includes a bidirectional switch circuit. The bidirectional switch circuit includes a first semiconductor transistor mounted on a first die pad, a second semiconductor transistor mounted on a second die pad, the second die pad being separate from the first die pad, and a conductive connector extending between a source electrode of the first transistor and a source electrode of the second transistor.
US09263560B2
A power semiconductor device may include a first conductivity type first semiconductor region; a second conductivity type second semiconductor region formed on an upper portion of the first semiconductor region; a first conductivity type third semiconductor region formed in an upper inner side of the second semiconductor region; a trench gate formed to penetrate through a portion of the first semiconductor region from the third semiconductor region; and a first conductivity type fourth semiconductor region formed below the second semiconductor region while being spaced apart from the trench gate.
US09263545B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a semiconductor body including a compound semiconductor material on a substrate, the compound semiconductor material having a channel region, forming a source region extending to the compound semiconductor material, forming a drain region extending to the compound semiconductor material and spaced apart from the source region by the channel region, and forming an insulating region buried in the semiconductor body below the channel region between the compound semiconductor material and the substrate in an active region of the semiconductor device such that the channel region is uninterrupted by the insulating region. The active region includes the source, the drain and the channel region. The insulating region is discontinuous over a length of the channel region between the source region and the drain region.
US09263544B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device including: forming a silicon layer on an upper face of a nitride semiconductor layer including a channel layer of a FET; thermally treating the nitride semiconductor layer in the process of forming the silicon layer or after the process of forming the silicon layer; and forming an insulating layer on an upper face of the silicon layer after the process of forming the silicon layer.
US09263539B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a thin-film transistor and a fabrication method thereof, an array substrate and a display device. The thin-film transistor comprises a gate electrode (2), an active layer (4), source and drain electrodes (6), and a gate insulating layer (3) provided between the gate electrode (2) and the active layer (4). The gate electrode (2) comprises a gate electrode metal layer (23) and a first protection layer (32), the first protection layer (32) is provided between the gate electrode metal layer (23) and the gate insulating layer (3) to isolate the active layer (4) from the gate electrode metal layer (23). The gate electrode metal layer (23) is made of copper or copper alloy.
US09263537B2
One method disclosed herein includes forming first and second gate cap protection layers that encapsulate and protect a gate cap layer. A novel transistor device disclosed herein includes a gate structure positioned above a semiconductor substrate, a spacer structure positioned adjacent the gate structure, a layer of insulating material positioned above the substrate and around the spacer structure, a gate cap layer positioned above the gate structure and the spacer structure, and a gate cap protection material that encapsulates the gate cap layer, wherein portions of the gate cap protection material are positioned between the gate cap layer and the gate structure, the spacer structure and the layer of insulating material.
US09263527B2
A first impurity region is formed by ion implantation of a first impurity into a first main surface of a silicon carbide substrate. A metal layer is formed in contact with the first impurity region. By annealing the silicon carbide substrate and the metal layer, an electrode is formed. The metal layer is formed such that a concentration of a first impurity at a boundary portion between the metal layer and the first impurity region becomes less than a maximum value of a concentration of the first impurity in the first impurity region. The electrode is formed such that a concentration of the first impurity at a boundary portion between the electrode and the first impurity region becomes not less than 80% of a maximum value of a concentration of the first impurity in the first impurity region in a normal direction.
US09263526B2
A semiconductor component (1, 20, 30) comprising a semiconductor substrate (3) composed of silicon carbide and comprising separate electrodes (4, 5) applied thereto, said electrodes each comprising at least one monolayer of epitaxial graphene (11) on silicon carbide, in such a way that a current channel is formed between the electrodes (4, 5) through the semiconductor substrate (3).
US09263525B2
The present invention includes an n+ type substrate, a drift epitaxial layer formed on the n+ type substrate and having a lower concentration of impurity than the n+ type substrate, a Schottky electrode formed on the drift epitaxial layer, and a PI formed as an insulating film by covering at least an end of the Schottky electrode and an end and a side surface of the drift epitaxial layer.
US09263521B2
Integrated circuit devices including Fin field effect transistors (finFETs) and methods of forming those devices are provided. The methods may include forming a fin on a substrate and forming a gate line on the fin. The method may also include forming a first recess in the fin having a first width and a first depth and forming a second recess in the first recess having a second width that is less than the first width and having a second depth that is greater than the first depth. The method may further include forming a source/drain region in the first and second recesses.
US09263520B2
Methods are presented for facilitating fabrication of a semiconductor device, such as a gate-all-around nanowire field-effect transistor. The methods include, for instance: providing at least one stack structure including at least one layer or bump extending above the substrate structure; selectively oxidizing at least a portion of the at least one stack structure to form at least one nanowire extending within the stack structure(s) surrounded by oxidized material of the stack structure(s); and removing the oxidized material from the stack structure(s), exposing the nanowire(s). This selectively oxidizing may include oxidizing an upper portion of the substrate structure, such as an upper portion of one or more fins supporting the stack structure(s) to facilitate full 360° exposure of the nanowire(s). In one embodiment, the stack structure includes one or more diamond-shaped bumps or ridges.
US09263518B2
An integrated circuit includes a substrate and at least one NMOS transistor having, in the substrate, an active region surrounded by an insulating region. The insulating region is formed to includes at least one area in which the insulating region has two insulating extents that are mutually separated from each other by a separation region formed by a part of the substrate.
US09263515B2
A semiconductor chip has an n+-doped substrate, above which an n-doped epilayer having trenches is introduced, the trenches being filled with p-doped semiconductor material and in each case having a highly p-doped region at their top side, such that an alternating arrangement of n-doped regions having a first width and p-doped regions having a second width is present. A first metal layer functioning as an anode is provided on the front side of the chip and forms a Schottky contact with the n-doped epilayer and forms an ohmic contact with the highly p-doped regions. A second metal layer which represents an ohmic contact and functioning as a cathode is formed on the rear side of the semiconductor chip. A dielectric layer is provided between each n-doped region and an adjacent p-doped region.
US09263511B2
A package includes a chip that has a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor formed in a first polymer layer and a metallic pillar formed on the MIM capacitor. A molding compound surrounds the chip, a second polymer layer is formed on the chip and the molding compound, a third polymer layer is formed on the second polymer layer, an interconnect structure is formed between the second polymer layer and the third polymer layer and electrically coupled to the metallic pillar and the MIM capacitor, and a bump is formed over and electrically coupled to the interconnect structure.
US09263508B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a display panel, which includes a substrate having a pixel region and a peripheral region, a control element overlying the pixel region of the substrate, a conducting layer overlying the substrate in the peripheral region, a first insulating layer overlying the conducting layer in the peripheral region, wherein a ratio between an area of the first insulating layer and an area of the conducting layer in the peripheral region is between about 0.27 and 0.99, a lower electrode layer overlying the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer overlying the lower electrode layer.
US09263500B2
An integrated circuit and a method of making the same. The integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate having a major surface. The integrated circuit also includes a thermal conductivity based gas sensor having an electrically resistive sensor element located on the major surface for exposure to a gas to be sensed. The integrated circuit further includes a barrier located on the major surface for inhibiting a flow of the gas across the sensor element.
US09263495B2
A method of fabricating an image sensor is provided. The method may include preparing a substrate with first to third pixel regions, coating a first color filter layer on the substrate, sequentially forming a first sacrificial layer and a first protection layer to cover the first color filter layer, forming a first photoresist pattern on the first protection layer to be overlapped with the first pixel region, performing a first dry etching process using the first photoresist pattern as an etch mask to the first sacrificial layer and the first protection layer to form a first color filter, a first sacrificial pattern, and a first protection pattern sequentially stacked on the first pixel region, and selectively removing the first sacrificial pattern to separate the first protection pattern from the first color filter.
US09263489B2
An image sensor architecture provides an SNR in excess of 100 dB, without requiring the use of a mechanical shutter. The circuit components for an active pixel sensor array are separated and arranged vertically in at least two different layers in a hybrid chip structure. The top layer is preferably manufactured using a low-noise PMOS manufacturing process, and includes the photodiode and amplifier circuitry for each pixel. A bottom layer is preferably manufactured using a standard CMOS process, and includes the NMOS pixel circuit components and any digital circuitry required for signal processing. By forming the top layer in a PMOS process optimized for forming low-noise pixels, the pixel performance can be greatly improved, compared to using CMOS. In addition, since the digital circuitry is now separated from the imaging circuitry, it can be formed using a standard CMOS process, which has been optimized for circuit speed and manufacturing cost. By combining the two layers into a stacked structure, the top layer (and any intermediate layer(s)) acts to optically shield the lower layer, thereby allowing charge to be stored and shielded without the need for a mechanical shutter.
US09263483B2
An array panel including a substrate, a scanning line, a data line, and a pixel array is disclosed. A pixel unit in the pixel array includes a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode, and a color filter layer disposed between a first plane and a second plane. The first plane is a plane in which a gate electrode of the thin film transistor is located. The second plane is a plane in which the pixel electrode is located. The scanning line, the data line, and the pixel array are disposed on the substrate. The present invention is advantageous since it reduces power consumption.
US09263482B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus having a plurality of pixels, comprising: a substrate; a wiring layer formed on the substrate and including an insulating film and a plurality of wires; a plurality of lower electrodes formed on the wiring layer in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of pixels; a photoelectric conversion film formed covering the plurality of lower electrodes; a light-transmissive upper electrode formed on the photoelectric conversion film; and a shield electrode extending through a gap between each pair of adjacent lower electrodes among the plurality of lower electrodes, the shield electrode having a fixed potential and being electrically insulated from the plurality of lower electrodes.
US09263471B2
An object is at least one of a longer data retention period of a memory circuit, a reduction in power consumption, a smaller circuit area, and an increase in the number of times written data can be read to one data writing operation. The memory circuit has a first field-effect transistor, a second field-effect transistor, and a rectifier element including a pair of current terminals. A data signal is input to one of a source and a drain of the first field-effect transistor. A gate of the second field-effect transistor is electrically connected to the other of the source and the drain of the first field-effect transistor. One of the pair of current terminals of the rectifier element is electrically connected to a source or a drain of the second field-effect transistor.
US09263457B2
Cross-coupling between a gate conductor and an active region of a semiconductor substrate is provided by forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate and lithographically patterning the gate dielectric layer to form opening therein over a portion of the active region at which electrical contact with the gate conductor is desired. After implanting electrical dopants, a gate conductor layer is deposited and patterned. A remaining portion of the gate conductor layer includes an integral conductor structure, which includes a first portion overlying a gate dielectric over an active region and a second portion contacting the semiconductor material of the same active region or a different active region. The gate dielectric layer can be deposited within gate cavities in planarization dielectric material layer in a replacement gate scheme, or can be deposited on planar surfaces of active regions and/or shallow trench isolation structures in a gate first processing scheme.
US09263454B2
Embodiments for the present invention provide a semiconductor device and methods for fabrication. In an embodiment of the present invention, a semiconductor structure comprises a first conductor horizontally formed on a semiconductor substrate. A second conductor is vertically formed in a semiconductor stack that includes the semiconductor substrate. An oxidized region is formed proximate to the first conductor. The second conductor is formed in a manner to be in electrical communication with the first conductor. The first conductor is formed in a manner to be laterally connected to the second conductor. The first conductor is formed in a manner to not traverse beneath the oxidized region. The first conductor is formed in a manner to have a reduced link-up resistance with adjacent epitaxial material included in the semiconductor structure.
US09263453B1
A semiconductor structure is provided according to a method in which an aspect ratio trapping process is employed. The structure includes a semiconductor substrate comprising a first semiconductor material having a first lattice constant. A first layer of second semiconductor material formed on the substrate, the first layer having a second lattice constant that is greater than the first lattice constant. A second layer of a semi-insulating, third semiconductor material is formed atop a top surface of the first layer. A transistor device is formed on top of the second layer. An eDRAM structure is connected electronically with a channel region of the transistor device, the eDRAM structure extending from the channel region of the transistor device to a sub-surface below a top surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US09263451B2
A storage device in which stored data can be held even when power is not supplied, and stored data can be read at high speed without turning on a transistor included in a storage element is provided. In the storage device, a memory cell having a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer as a channel region and a storage capacitor is electrically connected to a capacitor to form a node. The voltage of the node is boosted up in accordance with stored data by capacitive coupling through a storage capacitor and the potential is read with an amplifier circuit to distinguish data.
US09263444B2
A method of fabricating Schottky barrier contacts for an integrated circuit (IC). A substrate including a silicon including surface is provided having a plurality of transistors formed thereon, where the plurality of transistors include at least one exposed p-type surface region and at least one exposed n-type surface region on the silicon including surface. A plurality of metals are deposited including Yb and Pt to form at least one metal layer on the substrate. The metal layer is heated to induce formation of an inhomogeneous silicide layer including both Ptsilicide and Ybsilicide on the exposed p-type and n-type surface regions.
US09263431B2
In certain examples an integrated circuit protection circuit can include a circuit module, and an isolation device. The isolation device can be configured to couple a ground node of the circuit module to a power ground in an on state, and to isolate the ground node of the circuit module from the power ground in an off state, wherein the isolation module is configured to enter the off state when the IC receives a negative input voltage.
US09263429B2
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method of the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a substrate, a first doping region, a first well, a resistor element, and a first, a second, and a third heavily doping regions. The first well and the third heavily doping region are disposed in the first doping region, which is disposed on the substrate. The first heavily doping region and the second heavily doping region, which are separated from each other, are disposed in the first well. The second and the third heavily doping regions are electrically connected via the resistor element. Each of the substrate, the first well, and the second heavily doping region has a first type doping. Each of the first doping region, the first heavily doping region, and the third heavily doping region has a second type doping, complementary to the first type doping.
US09263428B2
An ESD protection device includes an MOS transistor with a source region, drain region and gate region. A node designated for ESD protection is electrically coupled to the drain. A diode is coupled between the gate and source, wherein the diode would be reverse biased if the MOS transistor were in the active operating region.
US09263424B2
Embodiments of the invention provide semiconductor chip stacking assemblies that provide direct attachment of a first semiconductor device with a second semiconductor device. An assembly comprises a first semiconductor chip that has a first and a second set of electrical interconnect regions disposed on its surface and a second semiconductor chip. The first set of electrical interconnect regions are electrically connected with the electrical interconnect regions of a second semiconductor chip, and the second set of electrical interconnect regions are electrically interconnected with the substrate. Direct electrical connections are for example, silicon photonics device-to-driver or device-to-signal converters, logic-to-memory, memory-to-memory, and logic-to-logic chip interconnections.
US09263422B2
Some embodiments provide capacitive AC coupling inter-layer communications for 3D stacked modules.
US09263421B2
A semiconductor device includes a chip carrier having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The device further includes a first semiconductor chip mounted on the first surface of the chip carrier. A second semiconductor chip is mounted on the second surface of the chip carrier, wherein a portion of a first surface of the second semiconductor chip which faces the chip carrier projects over an edge of the chip carrier. A first electrical conductor is coupled to an electrode formed on the portion of the first surface of the second semiconductor chip that projects over the edge of the chip carrier.
US09263415B2
Decoupling metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor designs for interposers and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of forming a decoupling capacitor includes providing a packaging device, and forming a decoupling MIM capacitor in at least two metallization layers of the packaging device.
US09263414B2
Flip chip packaging methods, and flux head manufacturing methods used in the flip chip packaging methods may be provided. In particular, a flip chip packaging method including printing flux on a pad of a printed circuit board (PCB), mounting the die in a flip chip manner on the PCB such that a bump of the die faces the pad of the PCB, and bonding the bump of the die to the pad of the PCB using the flux may be provided.
US09263412B2
An embodiment is a method including forming a first package and a second package. The first package includes packaging a first die, forming a plurality of solder balls on the first die, and coating the plurality of solder balls with an epoxy flux. The second package includes forming a first electrical connector, attaching a second die adjacent the first electrical connector, forming a interconnect structure over the first die and the first electrical connector, the interconnect structure being a frontside of the second package, forming a second electrical connector over the interconnect structure, and the second electrical connector being coupled to both the first die and the first electrical connector. The method further includes bonding the first package to the backside of the second package with the plurality of solder balls forming a plurality of solder joints, each of the plurality of solder joints being surrounded by the epoxy flux.
US09263408B2
The disclosed technology relates to pillar-type microbumps formed on a semiconductor component, such as an integrated circuit chip or an interposer substrate, and a method of forming the pillar-type microbumps. In one aspect, a method of forming the pillar-type microbump on a semiconductor component includes providing the semiconductor component, where the semiconductor component has an upper metallization layer, and the metallization layer has a contact area. The method additionally includes forming a passivation layer over the metallization layer. The method additionally includes forming a plurality of openings through the passivation layer such that the contact area is exposed at a bottom of the openings. The method further includes forming the microbump over the contact area, where the microbump forms an electrical connection with the contact area through the openings.
US09263395B2
A sensor device, having a flexible printed circuit board that has a fastening section for a chip structure, a chip structure situated on the fastening section of the flexible printed-circuit board, and a damper element for damping the chip structure from mechanical influences. The fastening section of the flexible printed circuit board, the chip structure and the damper element are situated one on top of the other.
US09263382B2
A structure includes a substrate, and an interconnect structure over the substrate. The structure further includes a through-substrate-via (TSV) extending through the interconnect structure and into the substrate, the TSV comprising a conductive material layer. The structure further includes a dielectric layer having a first portion over the interconnect structure and a second portion within the TSV, wherein the first portion and the second portion comprise a same material. The conductive material layer includes a first section separated from substrate by the second portion of the dielectric layer. The conductive material layer further includes a second section over a top surface of the second portion of the dielectric layer. The conductive material layer further includes a third section over the second section, wherein the third section has a width greater than a width of the second section.
US09263379B2
An integrated circuit package includes a die having a first substrate implementing an integrated circuit comprising circuit elements. The die includes a first plurality of metal layers implementing a first portion of a metal interconnect structure for the integrated circuit. The die also includes a first plurality of pads at or overlying a top metal layer of the first plurality of metal layers. The integrated circuit package includes an interposer having a second plurality of metal layers implementing a second portion of the metal interconnect structure. The interposer includes a second plurality of pads at or overlying a top metal layer of the second plurality of metal layers. A plurality of solder structures couple the first and second pluralities of pads. The first and second portions of the metal interconnect structure together complete a signal path between two or more circuit blocks of the integrated circuit.
US09263369B2
Various embodiments provide a chip arrangement. The chip arrangement may include a first chip having a first chip side and a second chip side opposite the first chip side and at least one contact on its second chip side; a second chip having a first chip side and a second chip side opposite the first chip side and at least one contact on its first chip side; wherein the second chip side of the first chip and the second chip side of the second chip are facing each other; a first electrically conductive structure extending from the at least one contact of the first chip from the second chip side of the first chip through the first chip to the first chip side of the first chip; and a second electrically conductive structure.
US09263360B2
Thermosetting resin compositions useful for liquid compression molding encapsulation of a silicon wafer are provided. The so-encapsulated silicon wafers offer improved resistance to warpage, compared to unencapsulated wafers or wafers encapsulated with known encapsulation materials.
US09263357B2
According to various embodiments, a carrier may include: a hollow chamber spaced apart from a surface of the carrier; and at least one support structure within the hollow chamber connecting a first region of the carrier disposed over the hollow chamber with a second region of the carrier disposed below the hollow chamber, wherein at least a part of a surface of the at least one support structure is spaced apart from an inner surface of the hollow chamber, and wherein the at least one support structure includes an electrically insulating material.
US09263347B2
A silicon carbide substrate having a main surface angled off in an off direction relative to a {0001} plane is prepared. A protruding first alignment mark is formed on the main surface of the silicon carbide substrate. A second alignment mark is formed on the first alignment mark by forming a silicon carbide epitaxial layer on the first alignment mark. The first alignment mark includes a first region and a second region, the second region being in contact with the first region and extending from the first region in the off direction. The second alignment mark includes a first portion formed on the first region and a second portion formed on the second region. An alignment step includes the step of capturing an image of the first portion while not including the second portion, and recognizing an edge of the first portion based on the image.
US09263329B2
A method of fabricating an electronic package. The method includes filling a mold with an electric conductor to form a number of electrical interconnects within the mold. The mold includes openings that are filled with several electric conductors to form a number of electrical interconnects. The method of fabricating an electronic package further includes attaching the mold to a substrate such that the electrical interconnects engage electrical contacts on the substrate. The method of fabricating an electronic package may further include forming conductive pads on the electrical insulator that engage the electrical interconnects and attaching a die to the substrate such that the die is electrically connected to at least some of the electrical interconnects.
US09263327B2
Circuit structure fabrication methods are provided which include: patterning at least one opening within a dielectric layer disposed over a substrate structure; providing a liner material within the at least one opening of the dielectric layer; disposing a surfactant over at least a portion of the liner material; and depositing, using an electroless process, a conductive material over the liner material to form a conductive structure, and the disposed surfactant inhibits formation of a void within the conductive structure.
US09263321B2
A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate including an active region and at least one groove isolation region formed on the substrate, wherein the at least one groove isolation region is formed adjoining the active region, a gate structure formed on a first portion of the active region, and at least one local interconnection layer formed on a portion of the substrate, wherein the at least one local interconnection layer is located on a side of the gate structure, and covers at least a second portion of the active region and a portion of the groove isolation region adjoining the active region.
US09263318B2
According to some embodiments of the present disclosures, a method of forming a laminated semiconductor film is constituted by alternately laminating first and second semiconductor films on an underlying film of each of a plurality of substrates to be processed. The method includes performing a first operation of forming the first semiconductor film and a second operation of forming the second semiconductor film until a predetermined number of laminated films are obtained. In the method, a film forming temperature in the first operation and a film forming temperature in the second operation are set to be equal to each other, and temperatures between the first and second operations are set to be constant.
US09263309B2
The present invention provides methods and apparatus capable of routine placement and replacement of fabricator tools in a designated tool location. The tool location can be selected from multiple tool locations arranged in a matrix with horizontal and vertical designations. The operation may be fully automated. In another aspect, the invention describes Cleanspace fabricators which use devices to routinely remove and place tooling.
US09263297B2
A method for self-aligned double patterning without needing atomic layer deposition techniques is disclosed. Techniques include using a staircase etch technique to preferentially shrink one material without shrinking an underlying material, followed by a resist-based chemical polishing and planarization technique that yields a narrowed and protruding feature (single-layer thickness) that is sufficiently physically supported, and that can be transferred to one or more underlying layers. After removing a resist coating, the result is a pattern that has been doubled without using ALD techniques. Such techniques improve efficiencies over conventional techniques for self-aligned double patterning.
US09263286B2
A novel diarylamine novolac resin such as a phenylnaphthylamine novolac resin, and further a resist underlayer film-forming composition in which the resin is used in a lithography process for manufacturing a semiconductor device. A polymer including a unit structure (A) of Formula (1): (in Formula (1), each of Ar1 and Ar2 is a benzene ring or a naphthalene ring). A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming an underlayer film on a semiconductor substrate with the resist underlayer film-forming composition; forming a hardmask on the underlayer film; forming a resist film on the hardmask; forming a resist pattern by irradiation with light or an electron beam followed by development; etching the hardmask with the resist pattern; etching the underlayer film with the hardmask thus patterned; and processing the semiconductor substrate with the underlayer film thus patterned.
US09263282B2
A method of fabricating semiconductor patterns includes steps as follows: Firstly, a substrate is provided and has at least a first semiconductor pattern and at least a second semiconductor pattern, wherein a line width of the first semiconductor pattern is identical to a line width of the second semiconductor pattern. Then, a barrier pattern is formed over a surface of the first semiconductor pattern, and the second semiconductor pattern is exposed. Then, a surface portion of the second semiconductor pattern is reacted to form a sacrificial structure layer. Then, the barrier pattern and the sacrificial structure layer are removed, and the line width of the second semiconductor pattern is shrunken to be less than the line width of the first semiconductor pattern. A third semiconductor pattern having a line width can be further provided.
US09263278B2
Methods of etching two doped silicon portions at two different etch rates are described. An n-type silicon portion may be etched faster than a p-type silicon portion when both are exposed and present on the same substrate. The n-type silicon portion may be doped with phosphorus and the p-type silicon portion may be doped with boron. In one example, the n-type silicon portion is single crystal silicon and the p-type silicon portion is polycrystalline silicon (a.k.a. polysilicon). The p-type silicon portion may be a polysilicon floating gate in a flash memory cell and may be located above a gate silicon oxide which, in turn, is above an n-type active area single crystal silicon portion. The additional trimming of the n-type active area silicon portion may reduce the accumulation of trapped charges during use and increase the lifespan of flash memory devices.
US09263277B2
The disclosure relates to integrated circuit fabrication, and more particularly to a metal gate structure. An exemplary structure for a semiconductor device comprises a substrate comprising an isolation region separating and surrounding both a P-active region and an N-active region; a P-work function metal layer in a P-gate structure over the P-active region, wherein the P-work function metal layer comprises a first bottom portion and first sidewalls, wherein the first bottom portion comprises a first layer of metallic compound with a first thickness; and an N-work function metal layer in an N-gate structure over the N-active region, wherein the N-work function metal layer comprises a second bottom portion and second sidewalls, wherein the second bottom portion comprises a second layer of the metallic compound with a second thickness less than the first thickness.
US09263276B2
A transistor is provided that includes a silicon layer with a source region and a drain region, a gate stack disposed on the silicon layer between the source region and the drain region, an L shaped gate encapsulation layer disposed on sidewalls of the gate stack, and a spacer disposed above the horizontal portion of the gate encapsulation layer and adjacent to the vertical portion of the gate encapsulation layer. The gate stack has a first layer of high dielectric constant material, a second layer comprising a metal or metal alloy, and a third layer comprising silicon or polysilicon. The gate encapsulation layer has a vertical portion covering the sidewalls of the first, second, and third layers of the gate stack and a horizontal portion covering a portion of the silicon layer that is adjacent to the gate stack.
US09263275B2
A metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a semiconductor substrate and a interlayer dielectric (ILD) over the semiconductor substrate. A gate structure is formed within the ILD and disposed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the gate structure includes a high-k dielectric material layer and a metal gate stack. One or more portions of a protection layer are formed over the gate stack, and a contact etch stop layer is formed over the ILD and over the one or more portions of the protection layer. The metal gate stack includes aluminum and the protection layer includes aluminum oxide.
US09263266B2
Group III (Al, Ga, In)N single crystals, articles and films useful for producing optoelectronic devices (such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes (LDs) and photodetectors) and electronic devices (such as high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs)) composed of III-V nitride compounds, and methods for fabricating such crystals, articles and films.
US09263256B2
Provided is a method of forming a seed layer as a seed of a thin film on an underlayer, which includes: forming a first seed layer on a surface of the underlayer by heating the underlayer, followed by supplying an aminosilane-based gas onto the surface of the heated underlayer; and forming a second seed layer on the surface of the underlayer with the first seed layer formed thereon by heating the underlayer, followed by supplying a disilane or higher order silane-based gas onto the surface of the heated underlayer.
US09263255B2
The present invention relates to a method for separating epitaxial layers and growth substrates, and to a semiconductor device using same. According to the present invention, a semiconductor device is provided which comprises a supporting substrate and a plurality of semiconductor layers provided on the supporting substrate, wherein the uppermost layer of the semiconductor layers has a surface of non-uniform roughness.
US09263238B2
An open plasma lamp includes a cavity section. A gas input and gas output of the cavity section are arranged to flow gas through the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a gas supply assembly fluidically coupled to the gas input of the cavity section and configured to supply gas to an internal volume of the cavity section. The plasma lamp also includes a nozzle assembly fluidically coupled to the gas output of the cavity section. The nozzle assembly and cavity section are arranged such that a volume of the gas receives pumping illumination from a pump source, where a sustained plasma emits broadband radiation. The nozzle assembly is configured to establish a convective gas flow from within the cavity section to a region external to the cavity section such that a portion of the sustained plasma is removed from the cavity section by the gas flow.
US09263225B2
An anode for an X-ray tube includes at least one thermally conductive anode segment in contact with a rigid support member and cooling means arranged to cool the anode. The anode may further include a plurality of anode segments aligned end to end, each in contact with the support member.
US09263224B2
A bearing assembly is disclosed that includes a sleeve having an opening formed therein and a shaft positioned within the opening of the sleeve such that a gap is formed between an inner surface of the sleeve and an outer surface of the shaft. A lubricant is disposed in the gap and a plurality of grooves are formed on at least one of the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the sleeve. An anti-wetting coating is disposed on the at least one of the outer surface of the shaft and the inner surface of the sleeve between adjacent grooves of the plurality of grooves.
US09263220B2
The invention relates to a device for surge-current-resistant terminal contacting of electrical components (3), in particular components of rotationally symmetrical form, wherein the components, on the lateral surface thereof, have spaced-apart contacting portions (7), also comprising two U-shaped, electrically conductive contact pads (1) which have a partial surface (4) which is complementary to the contour of the respective contacting portion of the electrical component. According to the invention, each contact pad is assigned a U-shaped spring clip which likewise has a partial surface (5) which is complementary to the contour of the respective contacting portion of the electrical component, wherein said partial surface is provided in the connecting portion between legs (6, 6′) of the U-shaped spring clip. In the assembled state, the U legs of the spring clip protrude between the lateral surface of the electrical component and the respective U leg of the respective contact pad and are fixed with respect to one another in a latching manner.
US09263211B2
An electrical switch having an activation component that closes and opens contact points within a switch housing. The activation component can include a front end and a rear end. The rear end can be within the switch housing and the front end can protrude from the switch housing. The front end of the activation component can include a fuse slot. A fuse can be placed in the fuse slot and removed from the fuse slot. A rubber cover can be removably attachable to the outside of the fuse slot to protect a fuse within the fuse slot.
US09263210B2
A device has a housing with a top part that accommodates one or more pressable keys forming the user-interface of the device. Each specific key has a specific keycap. The top part is formed from a harder plastic element and a softer rubber layer in a two-shot injection molding process. The harder plastic element has one or more openings occupied by the softer rubber layer. The harder plastic element has a specific pin positioned in a specific hole of the softer rubber layer. The specific keycap has a bottom face with a specific protruding sleeve configured for engaging with the specific pin. The bottom face of the specific key and an area at a top face of the softer rubber layer have complimentarily shaped profiles configured for accurately orienting the keycap relative to the top part.
US09263197B2
A method of forming an electrolyte solution involves combining ammonium tetrafluoroborate and a quaternary ammonium halide in a liquid solvent to form a quaternary ammonium tetrafluoroborate and an ammonium halide. The ammonium halide precipitate is removed from the solvent to form an electrolyte solution. The reactants can be added step-wise to the solvent, and the method can include using a stoichiometric excess of the ammonium tetrafluoroborate to form a substantially halide ion-free electrolyte solution. Filtration can be done at low temperatures to reduce the amount of excess bromide in the resulting electrolyte.
US09263195B2
A three-dimensional network aluminum porous body which enables to produce an electrode continuously, an electrode using the aluminum porous body, and a method for producing the electrode. A long sheet-shaped three-dimensional network aluminum porous body is provided to be used as a base material in a method for producing an electrode including at least winding off, a thickness adjustment step, a lead welding step, an active material filling step, a drying step, a compressing step, a cutting step and winding-up, wherein the three-dimensional network aluminum porous body has a tensile strength of 0.2 MPa or more and 5 MPa or less.
US09263194B2
Disclosed are a porphyrin-peptoid conjugate and a method for preparing the same. The porphyrin-peptoid conjugate according to the present disclosure has porphyrins arranged face-to-face on a helical peptoid. The porphyrin-peptoid conjugate according to the present disclosure is a new-concept photosensitizing dye material wherein the distance, arrangement and number of porphyrins are controllable. Since the porphyrin-peptoid conjugate is monodisperse and has a precisely defined structure, selective decoration of dyes is easy and dyes can be arranged on the peptoid helix sequence and space specifically. Accordingly, a new high-efficiency photosensitizing dye molecule system having wide absorption spectrum including the visible and near-infrared range and high absorption coefficient can be prepared.
US09263188B2
A conductive resin composition which allows a resin electrode which is favorable in terms of shape and adhesion to a ceramic device to be formed reliably, and a chip-type electronic component including resin electrodes formed with the conductive resin component are described. The conductive resin composition contains a linear bifunctional epoxy resin having a molecular weight of 11000 to 40000 and a terminal glycidyl group, a conductive silver powder, and a solvent, and has a yield value of 3.6 Pa or less. In addition, the conductive powder can have a surface attached to a fatty acid or a salt thereof, and the ratio of the fatty acid or salt thereof to the conductive powder is 0.5 wt % or less. Furthermore, the conductive powder can be spherical, and the ratio of the conductive powder in solids constituting the conductive resin composition can be 42 to 54 vol %.
US09263187B2
There is provided a multilayer ceramic electronic component, including: a ceramic main body including a dielectric layer; and first and second internal electrodes provided on upper and lower surfaces of the dielectric layer and formed of a thin film including graphene. The multilayer ceramic electronic component includes internal electrodes formed of a thin film including graphene, thereby having increased capacitance and improved thermal stability and withstand voltage characteristics.
US09263185B2
A multilater ceramic capacitor includes: a ceramic body in which a plurality of dielectric layers are laminated; and an active layer including a plurality of first and second internal electrodes formed to be alternately exposed to both end surfaces of the ceramic body with the dielectric layer interposed therebetween, and forming capacitance. An upper cover layer is formed on an upper portion of the active layer; a lower cover layer is formed on a lower portion of the active layer and having a thickness greater than that of the upper cover layer. First and second external electrodes cover both end surfaces of the ceramic body. Specific sizing of ceramic body and electrodes is defined.
US09263184B2
A computer-readable medium stores a magnetic substrate simulation program causing a computer to execute a process that includes calculating an effective magnetic field for each area of an element in the magnetic substrate, when magnetization of each area changes and based on a magnetic field generated from magnetic energy in each area and a rate of change of magnetization working in a direction inhibiting change in the average magnetization of the areas; obtaining for each area and based on the calculated effective magnetic fields and magnetization of each area, changes in magnetization and calculating for each area, magnetization after the changes; judging based on magnetization of each area before and after the changes, whether magnetization in the element converges; and storing a combination of the average magnetization of the areas for which magnetization in the given element converges and a static magnetic field based on the average magnetization.
US09263178B2
Disclosed is a coil structure including: a first wire rod including a first coil portion and a first lead wire connected to the first coil portion, the first coil portion winding around a coil axis in a first space; a second wire rod including a second coil portion, the second coil portion winding around the coil axis in a second space, the second space being aligned with the first space along the coil axis; and an insulating structure including a first insulating section that insulates the first coil portion from the second coil portion. The first lead wire portion extends through the second space. The insulating structure fixes the first lead wire portion at a position that is away from the second coil portion by not less than a minimum creepage distance between the first and second coil portions, the minimum creepage distance being defined by the first insulating section.
US09263172B2
A method for forming a wire construct includes forming a groove in a polymer having a mouth that is narrower than a width of a deeper portion of the groove and placing a substantial length of wire in the groove, the wire having a larger cross-sectional dimension than the mouth of the groove. Encapsulant is placed over the polymer. The wire construct is to be used for implantable stimulation leads, such as a cochlear stimulation lead or a neurostimulation lead. Two wire constructs can be assembled to form a multilayer wire construct.
US09263171B2
The present invention relates to a polyester matrix powder comprising a polybutylene terephthalate, a homogeneously dispersed carbon nanotube powder, a dispersant and a chain extender; to a conductive masterbatch with homogeneous and smooth surface; to a process for the preparation of the conductive masterbatch; to a conductive monofilament prepared from the conductive masterbatch; to a process for the preparation of the conductive monofilament; and to a fabric article prepared from the monofilament. The present invention is characterized in the preparation of carbon nanotube-containing fiber materials with higher conductivity and the improvement of the spinning property of the conductive masterbatches to avoid blocking and yarn breakage during the spinning process.
US09263163B2
An adaptive X-ray filter for varying a local intensity of X-ray radiation includes a first chamber containing a magnetorheological or electrorheological first liquid, a second chamber containing a second liquid that absorbs X-ray radiation, and a flexible membrane that separates the first chamber from the second chamber. Using the flexible membrane, a layer thickness ratio of the first liquid and the second liquid may be varied. A heating apparatus that heats the second liquid is arranged in the adaptive X-ray filter. The second liquid is a liquid metal.
US09263161B2
An optical arrangement, e.g. projection lens, for EUV lithography, provided with: a first optical element (22) having a reflective surface (31a) and a first substrate (32) composed of TiO2-doped quartz glass, which has a temperature-dependent coefficient of thermal expansion having a zero crossing at a first zero crossing temperature (TZC1), and a second optical element (24) having a reflective surface (36a) and a second substrate (37) composed of TiO2-doped quartz glass, which has a temperature-dependent coefficient of thermal expansion having a zero crossing at a second zero crossing temperature (TZC2), which is different from the first. A gradient of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first substrate (32) at the first zero crossing temperature (TZC1) and/or a gradient of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the second substrate (37) at the second zero crossing temperature (TZC2) have/has a negative sign.
US09263160B2
A collimator module which may be disposed in a radiation detector of a radiological imaging apparatus using the collimator module may include a first collimator having a plurality of openings, through which radiation having passed through an object passes, and a second collimator located below the first collimator and having a plurality of openings, through which radiation having passed through the first collimator passes. The first collimator or the second collimator is designed so as to be movable or rotatable relative to the second collimator or the first collimator. Through movement of the first collimator or the second collimator, the size of a passage region that allows radiation having passed through the object to pass through the first collimator or the second collimator is adjustable.
US09263151B2
A memory interface enables AC characterization under test conditions without requiring the use of Automated Test Equipment (ATE) and functional patterns. The memory controller may be configured to generate output patterns through the test interface and create a loopback path for input specification testing using an external stressed-eye random number generator and checker. As a result, the memory interface may be evaluated for electrical and timing specifications under a relatively simple test setup and test procedure through the test interface (JTAG), as opposed to a complex processor program that sets up a similar memory access pattern on Automated Test Equipment (ATE).
US09263145B2
The invention provides a current detection circuit and a semiconductor memory apparatus using the current detection circuit thereof. The current detection circuit is capable of rapidly sensing the current flowing through a tiny bit line structure. A page buffer/sensing circuit of the invention includes: a transistor TP3 pre-charging a node SNS during a pre-charge period and providing a target constant current to the node SNS during a discharge period; a transistor TN3 pre-charging the bit line according to the voltage pre-charged to the node SNS; and a transistor TP2 connected to the node SNS. The transistor TP2 detects whether or not a current larger than the constant current supplied by the transistor TP3 is discharged from the bit line and outputs a detection result to a node SENSE.
US09263140B2
For data erase from an electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory cell, the following operations are performed: an erase operation to apply an erase pulse voltage to a memory cell for data erase, an erase verify operation to verify whether data erase is completed, and a step-up operation to increase the erase pulse voltage by a certain step-up voltage if data erase is not completed. A control unit controls voltages so that at least a first erase pulse voltage initially generated in the erase operation has a longer rise time than that of a second erase pulse voltage generated subsequent to the first erase pulse voltage.
US09263139B2
A method of improving radiation tolerance of floating gate memories is provided herein. Floating gate memories can include a floating gate transistor or a block of floating gate transistors. A floating gate transistor can include a semiconductor region, a source region, a drain region, a floating gate region, a tunnel oxide region, an oxide-nitride-oxide region, and a control gate region. A floating gate transistor or block of floating gate transistors can be written to multiple times in order to accumulate charge on one or more floating gate regions in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. When exposed to radiation, a floating gate region can retain its charge above a certain voltage threshold. A block of floating gate transistors can communicate with an external device where the external device can read a state of the block of floating gate transistors in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
US09263137B2
This invention discloses a HiNAND array scheme with multiple-level of bit lines (BLs) including metal3 global bit lines (GBLs), divided metal2 Segment bit lines (SBLs), and divided metal1 block bit lines (BBLs) laid out in parallel to each other respectively for a plurality of NAND Strings. All other source lines or power lines connected to bottoms of corresponding String capacitances of GBLs, SBLs, and BBLs are associated with metal0 line laid out perpendicular to those BLs. Under the HiNAND array scheme, conventional one-WL Read and Program-Verify operations are replaced by multiple-WL and All-BL Read and Program-Verify operations executed with charge capacitance of SBLs being reduced to 1/10- 1/20 of capacitance of GBLs to achieve DRAM-like faster operation, less operation stress, and lower power consumption. A preferred set of program biased voltages on the selected WL and remaining non-selected WLs associated with a Multiplier and a DRAM-like charge-sharing Latch Sensing Amplifier is proposed.
US09263129B2
A method for determining programming parameters for programming a resistive random access memory switching from an OFF state to an ON state, the method including determining retention curves representing the increase in the ON state resistance as a function of time, for a given programming temperature and a given current limitation; determining a retention failure time for each of the retention curves; determining curves representing the decrease in the retention failure time as a function of the programming temperature, for a given current limitation; for at least one given programming temperature, determining, from the curves representing the decrease in the retention failure time, a current limiting value to be applied to the resistive random access memory in order to obtain a target retention failure time.
US09263123B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises an array of memory cells arranged in rows and columns, control lines coupled to the rows of memory cells for accessing the memory cells, conductive lines coupled to the rows of memory cells for powering the memory cells, and a control circuit configured to maintain non-selected conductive lines at a first voltage level and boost a selected conductive line to a second voltage level in an access operation, the second voltage level being higher than the first voltage level.
US09263122B2
A circuit includes a first inverter, a second inverter, a first auxiliary branch and a second auxiliary branch. The first and second inverters are cross-coupled to form a first storage node and a second storage node. The first auxiliary branch is coupled to the first storage node and configured to assist the first inverter in holding data based on data stored at the second storage node during a read operation, and assist the first inverter in flipping data based on data to be written to the first storage node during a write operation. The second auxiliary branch is coupled to the second storage node and configured to assist the second inverter in holding data based on data stored in the first storage node during the read operation, and assist the second inverter in flipping data based on data to be written to the second storage node during the write operation.
US09263119B2
A capacitance coupled to a memory node and a word line of an SRAM cell provides an electrostatic capacitance between the memory node and the word line. The capacitance has a first electrostatic capacitance when the word line is in a nonselective state (usually a LOW level) and the memory node retains a HIGH level; the capacitance has a second electrostatic capacitance which is smaller than the first electrostatic capacitance when the word line is in the nonselective state (usually the LOW level) and the memory node retains the LOW level.
US09263114B2
A semiconductor memory unit includes first to Nth variable resistance elements each having different resistance values according to values stored therein, wherein N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2; a reference resistance element having a first reference resistance value; and first to Nth comparison units which correspond to the first to Nth variable resistance elements, respectively, and each of which determines whether a resistance value of the corresponding variable resistance element is greater or less than a second reference resistance value, wherein the first to Nth comparison units are commonly coupled to the reference resistance element.
US09263113B2
A semiconductor device in which noise is reduced without an increase in chip area. The device is used as an MRAM in which a memory mat is formed on a silicon substrate surface and the central area of the memory mat is used as a memory array and the area around the memory array is used as a dummy memory array. In the dummy memory array, a capacitor is formed between each bit line, each digit line and a supply voltage line, and a grounding voltage line. Therefore the peak value of a current flowing in each of the bit lines, digit lines and supply voltage line is decreased.
US09263112B2
A plurality of memory blocks; and a control block configured to independently operate a part of the plurality of memory banks as a first sub-channel and a remainder of the plurality of memory banks as a second sub-channel according to whether a sub-channel is set.
US09263109B2
According to one embodiment, an output driver which outputs an output signal to a transmission line, the output driver includes a pre-driver and a main driver. The pre-driver changes the duty ratio of a first drive signal and the duty ratio of a second drive signal to a plurality of patterns in accordance with a control signal. The main driver connects in series a first driver driven by the first drive signal and a second driver driven by the second drive signal. The main driver outputs the output signal to the transmission line from a connection node of the first and second drivers.
US09263108B2
The problem was that the high-impedance state of the difference between signals DQS and DQSB cannot be prevented from being brought in. With this invention, a first comparator circuit outputs a signal DQSIN representing the difference between DQS and DQSB after the coupling of input terminals to a terminal potential and from before the start timing of a preamble of the two signals. A second comparator circuit compares the level of DQS or DQSB with a reference voltage Vref and outputs a signal ODT_DET representing the result of the comparison. A gate circuit masks the signal DQSIN with a signal EW in a masking state. A control circuit identifies the start timing of the preamble based on ODT_DET, and sets the signal EW to the masking state before the start of the preamble and to an unmasking state from the start timing of the preamble.
US09263107B1
A driver circuit includes an output driver including a plurality of output driver legs. The driver circuit further includes a duty cycle adjuster configured to adjust a duty cycle of a signal provided to the output driver. The driver circuit further includes an isolation module configured to isolate at least one output driver leg of the output driver legs from remaining output driver legs of the output driver legs. The driver circuit further includes a duty cycle monitor configured to monitor an output of the at least one output driver leg when the at least one output driver leg is isolated from the remaining output driver legs, and to provide the monitored output to the duty cycle adjuster.
US09263096B1
A circuit comprising a first power supply having a first voltage and a second power supplying having a second voltage, wherein said first and second voltages are different at least in some cycles of said circuit, a memory element, wherein said first and second power supplies are driven into said memory element, a voltage comparator having connected thereto said first and second power supplies, wherein said voltage comparator is an analog to digital converter configured to provide digital output indicting of a voltage difference over a predetermined threshold between said first and second power supplies, and a supply selector element, wherein said supply selector element is configured to disconnect said second power supply from said memory element in response to the digital output of said voltage comparator.
US09263088B2
A data storage device (DSD) includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) media for storing data. A last resort zone of the NVM media is associated with a higher risk of data loss or data corruption than other portions of the NVM media and is reserved as unavailable for storing data. It is determined whether a current data storage capacity and/or an environmental condition for the NVM media has reached a threshold. The last resort zone is set as available for storing data if it is determined that the threshold has been reached and data is written in the last resort zone.
US09263069B2
A testing device tests a magnetic head with a read head structure including a read head element while applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic head. The testing device receives signals from the read head element and processes the signals to generate a spectral power density for the signals. The spectral power density is characterized for at least one frequency range. The characterization of the spectral power density is used to determine a characteristic of noise from the read head structure. The signals from the read head may be received with different applied magnetic fields and/or before or while thermally exciting the magnetic head. Additionally, a histogram of the signals may be generated and used to determine a second characteristic of the noise.
US09263065B2
In one embodiment, a method includes determining a stopwrite threshold based on a standard deviation or a variance at a current position error signal sample, and determining whether the current position error signal sample exceeds the stopwrite threshold. Writing is disabled in response to determining that the current position error signal sample exceeds the stopwrite threshold. Writing is enabled in response to determining that the current position error signal sample does not exceed the stopwrite threshold.
US09263062B2
A voice activity detector (VAD) combines the use of an acoustic VAD and a vibration sensor VAD as appropriate to the conditions a host device is operated. The VAD includes a first detector receiving a first signal and a second detector receiving a second signal. The VAD includes a first VAD component coupled to the first and second detectors. The first VAD component determines that the first signal corresponds to voiced speech when energy resulting from at least one operation on the first signal exceeds a first threshold. The VAD includes a second VAD component coupled to the second detector. The second VAD component determines that the second signal corresponds to voiced speech when a ratio of a second parameter corresponding to the second signal and a first parameter corresponding to the first signal exceeds a second threshold.
US09263061B2
Methods and systems are provided for detecting chop in an audio signal. A time-frequency representation, such as a spectrogram, is created for an audio signal and used to calculate a gradient of mean power per frame of the audio signal. Positive and negative gradients are defined for the signal based on the gradient of mean power, and a maximum overlap offset between the positive and negative gradients is determined by calculating a value that maximizes the cross-correlation of the positive and negative gradients. The negative gradient values may be combined (e.g., summed) with the overlap offset, and the combined values then compared with a threshold to estimate the amount of chop present in the audio signal. The chop detection model provided is low-complexity and is applicable to narrowband, wideband, and superwideband speech.
US09263060B2
A system for classification of the emotional content of music is provided. An encoder receives a digital audio recording of a piece of music, and encodes it using musical notes and associated amplitudes. The artificial neural network is configured to take a plurality of encoded time slices and provide output indicative of the emotional content of the music.
US09263055B2
Systems and methods for generating and performing a three-dimensional audio CAPTCHA are provided. One exemplary system can include a decoy signal database storing a plurality of decoy signals. The system also can include a three-dimensional audio simulation engine for simulating the sounding of a target signal and at least one decoy signal in an acoustic environment and outputting a stereophonic audio signal based on the simulation. One exemplary method includes providing an audio prompt to a resource requesting entity. The audio prompt can have been generated based on a three-dimensional audio simulation of the sounding of a target signal containing an authentication key and at least one decoy signal in an acoustic environment. The method can include receiving a response to the audio prompt from the resource requesting entity and comparing the response to the authentication key.
US09263044B1
A computing device can capture video data of at least a portion of a mouth area (e.g., mouth, lips, tongue, chin, jaw) of a user of the device. The computing device can also capture sound data including a voice of the user as well as noise (e.g. background noise). The video data can be processed to detect a movement of the portion of the mouth area. The movement of the portion of the mouth area can be analyzed and compared with mouth area movement models characteristic of oral communication (e.g., speech, song). If the movement of the portion of the mouth area corresponds to at least one model characteristic of oral communication, then the movement indicates that the user is likely engaging in oral communication. Noise reduction can be applied and/or increased on the captured sound data to reduce noise and in turn enhance the user's voice.
US09263038B2
A facility and method for analyzing and classifying calls without transcription via keyword spotting is disclosed. The facility uses a group of calls having known outcomes to generate one or more domain- or entity-specific grammars containing keywords and related information that are indicative of particular outcome. The facility monitors telephone calls by determining the domain or entity associated with the call, loading the appropriate grammar or grammars associated with the determined domain or entity, and tracking keywords contained in the loaded grammar or grammars that are spoken during the monitored call, along with additional information. The facility performs a statistical analysis on the tracked keywords and additional information to determine a classification for the monitored telephone call.
US09263036B1
Deep recurrent neural networks applied to speech recognition. The deep recurrent neural networks (RNNs) are preferably implemented by stacked long short-term memory bidirectional RNNs. The RNNs are trained using end-to-end training with suitable regularization.
US09263032B2
A voice-responsive building management system is described herein. One system includes an interface, a dynamic grammar builder, and a speech processing engine. The interface is configured to receive a speech card of a user, wherein the speech card of the user includes speech training data of the user and domain vocabulary for applications of the building management system for which the user is authorized. The dynamic grammar builder is configured to generate grammar from a building information model of the building management system. The speech processing engine is configured to receive a voice command or voice query from the user, and execute the voice command or voice query using the speech training data of the user, the domain vocabulary, and the grammar generated from the building information model.
US09263023B2
A system and method for reproducing audio sound. Audio sound, based on an audio signal, is emitted within a space comprising an audio beamwidth. Modulated ultrasonic sound energy based on a modulated ultrasonic sound signal is emitted in an ultrasonic sound direction within an ultrasonic beamwidth that is less than and within the audio beamwidth. The modulated ultrasonic sound signal is generated such that the emitted modulated ultrasonic sound energy creates an audible cancellation sound with an amplitude substantially equal to an amplitude of the audio sound at a point within the ultrasonic beamwidth so as to combine with and cancel the audio sound at the point by being substantially out of phase with the audio sound along the ultrasonic sound direction.
US09263016B2
Provided is an electronic musical instrument comprising: an input device for inputting sound generation instructions of tones at predetermined pitches; a tone generation device that generates tones with predetermined pitches based on sound generation instructions inputted by the input device; a specifying device that specifies a plurality of sound generation instructions inputted by the input device in a predetermined period as a sound generation instruction group; a sorting device that sorts the plurality of sound generation instructions composing the sound generation instruction group specified by the specifying device in a predetermined pitch order; and a control device that controls generation of tones by the tone generation device such that tones corresponding to the sound generation instruction group are generated in the order sorted by the sorting device.
US09263015B2
An electronics module for an electric guitar is provided. The electronics module includes a processor, a plurality of controls, an antenna, and a computer-readable medium. The processor receives an audio signal generated by a vibration of a plurality of strings of the electric guitar. The plurality of controls are operably coupled to the processor and provide a mechanism for adjusting a sound created from the audio signal. The computer-readable medium is operably coupled to the processor and configured to cause the electric guitar to determine a control of the plurality of controls associated with the received effects parameter; adjust a state of the determined control based on the received effects parameter; modify the audio signal based on the plurality of controls and on the received effects parameter; and output the modified audio signal through the antenna to a second device.
US09263014B2
An audio effects chain sequencing apparatus alters the sequence of effects units in an effects chain so that different sequences of effects units can be connected. In one example the audio effects chain sequencing apparatus can have an external input port and an external output port, at least two component ports each having an internal input port and an internal output port, where the at least two component ports receive an input from the external input port, transfer that input in a component sequence to the component ports, and transfer the input to the external output port at the end of the component sequence and having a sequence selection module which selects the component sequence in which the at least two component ports transfer the input.
US09263008B2
The present invention provides a harmonica having advanced functions and a simple structure, which can produce three fundamental chords in each of major and minor modes and which can be also used as a chromatic harmonica. The harmonica includes a pair of a blow reed and a draw reed in each of an upper part and a lower part of a hole and has four tone rows of a tone row for the upper blow reeds, a tone row for the upper draw reeds, a tone row for the lower blow reeds, and a tone row for the lower draw reeds. To three of the four tone rows are assigned three fundamental chords that each consist of four notes, and the remaining one tone row is used to supplement a note required to configure the chromatic scale.
US09263005B1
Apparatus and methods for altering the tonal characteristics of output of a stringed instrument are disclosed. The stringed instrument may include a neck and a plurality of strings, the plurality of strings disposed about the neck. The apparatus may include a slide bar, the slide bar for contacting one or more strings of the plurality of strings and a support arm attached to the slide bar. The apparatus includes a retractable string depressor retractably connected to the support bar, the retractable string depressor for depressing one or more strings of the plurality of strings at a location on the neck forward of the slide bar.
US09263001B2
A display control device of the present disclosure is a device for controlling a video image displayed on a display unit. The display control device includes a controller configured to generate an image including a first image and a second image superimposed on the first image to display the image on the display unit. The controller performs control to display the first image of a first field angle on the display unit when a first mode is set, and performs control to display the first image of a second field angle which is wider than the first field angle on the display unit when a second mode is set. The second mode is a mode for setting a region of the second image in a region of the first image of the second field angle.
US09262987B2
A method is provided for compensating for brightness change in a display. The method includes storing a plurality of look-up tables (LUTs), where each table has a plurality of pixel levels at a variable refresh rate (VRR) and a plurality of brightness signals that provide compensation for the brightness change when refresh rate is changed during a panel self-refresh (PSR). The method also includes receiving an input signal from a graphics processing unit (GPU) and determining the VRR of the input signal from the GPU. The method further includes obtaining the LUT at the determined VRR of the input signal and adjusting the input signal to produce an output signal that compensates for the brightness change for each pixel or sub-pixel in a timing controller based upon the LUT at the determined VRR. The method further includes transmitting the output signal to the display. A system is also provided.
US09262985B2
A semiconductor circuit includes a first circuit block, a second circuit block, and power wiring lines that supply a plurality of reference potentials. The first circuit block and the second circuit block are connected to a common power wiring line that is one of the power wiring lines and supplies a common reference potential. A width of the common power wiring line in the first circuit block is smaller than a width of the common power wiring line in the second circuit block.
US09262970B2
According to an aspect, a display device includes: an image display panel; a color conversion device including a signal processing unit and a signal output unit; a planar light-source device; and a light-source-device control unit. The signal processing unit includes a color conversion circuit that converts an input signal in a reference color area into a converted input signal generated in a definition color area where a chromaticity point of at least one of a first color, a second color, and a third color is inside of a reference color area, and a four-color generation circuit that generates an output signal and a light-source-device control signal from the converted input signal. The signal output unit outputs the drive signal to each sub-pixel based on the output signal. The light-source-device control unit outputs a drive voltage for emitting white light on the planar light-source device based on the light-source-device control signal.
US09262959B2
Provided is an EL display device that includes: an EL display panel including an array of a plurality of pixel circuits each having a drive transistor that applies a current to an organic EL element; a driver circuit that applies, to each of the pixel circuits, a signal in response to an image signal and a signal for selecting pixel circuits that are expected to emit light; and an N-bit D/A converter. An image display period in a single frame is divided into a first subframe and a second subframe, the first subframe performing display by light emission based on a gray-level signal of high N bits, the second subframe performing display by light emission based on a gray-level signal of low M bits (where M satisfies ML2.
US09262952B2
Provided is an organic light emitting display panel. The organic light emitting display panel includes a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels I displaying mutually different colors, a plurality of data pads electrically connected to wirings extending from the data lines, each of the plurality of data pads being connected to corresponding data lines, respectively, and an array test unit applying an array test signal to the plurality of pixels of the pixel unit, and sensing a current outputted from the plurality of pixels. The array test unit includes an array test pad electrically connected to a plurality of data pads through a plurality of array test switches.
US09262948B2
A collapsible and deployable indoor-outdoor sign assembly that can easily and quickly be installed, taken down, and transported, and still have excellent stability, strength, and longevity.
US09262940B2
Various systems to aid a visually impaired musician to learn musical notation. The system includes a microprocessor with a memory adapted to store musical notation. Multiple transducers are operatively attached to the microprocessor. The transducers are spatially located on and/or in contact with a part of the body of the visually impaired musician. Responsive to the musical notation, the microprocessor is configured to signal the transducers to provide a physical or tactile sensation to the part of the body of the visually impaired musician.
US09262939B2
A method and apparatus for training in an aircraft. A display system is associated with an aircraft. A sensor system is associated with the aircraft. A training processor is configured to be connected to the aircraft. The training processor is configured generate constructive data for a number of simulation objects and generate simulation sensor data using the constructive data. The training processor is further configured to present the simulation sensor data with live sensor data generated by the sensor system for an aircraft on a display system in the aircraft.
US09262936B2
The disclosed subject matter relates to encouraging an individual to assume a leadership role associated with an online group relating to a subject matter. In one innovative aspect, the disclosed subject matter can be embodied in a method. The method includes determining a leadership score corresponding to an individual. The leadership score corresponds to a level of correlation between the individual and a leadership role associated with an online group relating to a subject matter. The method further includes providing, based on the leadership score, an invitation to be sent to the individual, inviting the user to assume a leadership role associated with the online group. The method further includes receiving an indication of an acceptance of the invitation. The method further includes assigning to the individual, based on the received indication of the acceptance, the leadership role associated with the online group relating to the subject matter.
US09262926B2
A reference pass code is received from a first user. Location information of a vehicle of the first user is received from a first computer. A pass code is received from a second user. Location information of a vehicle of the second user is received from a second computer. One or more computer processors verify that the pass code received from the second user matches the reference pass code. Based on verification of the pass code received from the second user, the location information of the vehicle of the first user is transmitted to the second computer and the location information of the vehicle of the second user is transmitted to the first computer.
US09262925B2
A vehicle display apparatus includes a plurality of display devices that superpose and display a plurality of pieces of information by displaying information at each position of a plurality of different positions in a predetermined direction towards the front of a vehicle that can be viewed by a driver of the vehicle, and includes as at least one of the plurality of display devices, an attention attracting display device that displays as the information, attention attracting information on the nearest side to the driver in the predetermined direction.
US09262916B2
A server for providing a traffic image to a user device includes a location information receiving unit which receives information relating to a respective location of each of a plurality of vehicles, a location management unit which receives information relating to a particular area from a user device, and which detects at least one vehicle located within the particular area based on the location information, an information sending unit which sends information relating to the at least one detected vehicle to the user device, an image requesting unit which receives information relating to a vehicle selected from among the at least one detected vehicle from the user device, and which requests, from a device installed in the selected vehicle, transmission of a traffic image of the selected vehicle, and an image providing unit which receives the image and which provides the traffic image to the user device.
US09262912B2
Methods and systems for localizing an asset using the modulated backscatter from an asset tag and one or more marker tags are described. The system includes the reader, a location module and one or more marker tags. The location estimates for the asset tag are based partially on a prior knowledge of the location of each of the one or more marker tags. The location for each marker tag may be stored in a database. The location module determines a location estimate for the asset tag using the estimated parameters of the modulated backscatter signals received from one or more marker tags and from the asset tag. Using the known locations of the marker tags, a location estimate of the asset tag can be determined. The location estimate may be a relative location, an absolute location, and/or may be a zone including the marker tags. A mobile reader using the marker tags can localize asset tags throughout a large area and may, for example, take an inventory of assets throughout the large area.
US09262909B1
In a method for remote monitoring of alarms, a user interface is provided to a user of a mobile computing. The user interface enables the user to enter alarm descriptors associated with alarm devices, and indicate timings of triggering alarm devices. A timing of triggering a first alarm device indicated by the user is received, after which a microphone of the mobile computing device is utilized to detect a first audio test signal generated by the first alarm device. The first audio test signal is processed to generate first alarm identification data, and a first alarm descriptor entered by the user is received. The first alarm descriptor and first alarm identification data are transferred from the mobile computing device to an alarm monitoring system to enable the alarm monitoring system to identify the first alarm device when the first alarm device detects an alarm condition and generates an audio signal.
US09262907B2
Apparatus and methods for providing emergency alert system (EAS) data to subscribers of a content-based network for multiple locations including via mobile devices. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a server performing real-time receipt and encapsulation of the EAS data, transport of the EAS data to client devices over an IP or other packet-switched network, and use of applications running on the client devices to decode and display the EAS data. In one variant, a centralized EAS (CEAS) entity is used to aggregate and distribute EAS messages to video registration servers (VRS), which use stored client device data and user preferences to map delivery of relevant EAMs over the IP network. In another variant, instant messaging (IM) infrastructure is used to deliver and display at least portion of the EAS data via a separate transport process.
US09262906B2
Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for processing sensor data are presented. In some embodiments, a security server may receive sensor data from one or more sensors that are located at a premises. Subsequently, the security server may classify a first portion of the received sensor data as critical sensor data, (e.g., based on the first portion of the received sensor data being associated with a critical function). In addition, the security server may classify a second portion of the received sensor data as non-critical sensor data (e.g., based on the second portion of the received sensor data being associated with a non-critical function). Thereafter, the security server may process the critical sensor data, and further may provide the non-critical sensor data to a network server for processing.
US09262896B1
A security system for monitoring a shipping container being transported on a cargo transport vehicle and methods for making and using same. A mounting device removably couples a container security device (CSD) to the cargo container. Monitoring cargo inside the container and detecting vehicle intrusions and container damage, the CSD includes an anti-tamper sensor, a microcontroller, a communication device, and a plurality of accelerometers and strain gages. The microcontroller generates an alarm signal based on output data from the anti-tamper sensor and records container events. The anti-temper sensor undergoes individual and integrated sensor processing procedures; whereas, the integrated sensor processing procedure determines a container alert status. The accelerometers and strain gages define a moment of inertia of the cargo container. Communicating with a telecommunications network, a network operations center of the security system receives data from the CSD for storage and creating an archive of the container events.
US09262889B2
Disclosed is gaming apparatus, which may be a gaming system and a method of gaming implemented on gaming apparatus. A plurality of linked gaming machines are monitored for the occurrence of a first event. The number of occurrences of the first event for each gaming machine is recorded. On the occurrence of a second event, a bonus is awarded on each said gaming machine on which at least one monitored occurrence of the first event has occurred, the bonus award being dependent on the number of occurrences of the first event.
US09262887B2
A player reservation feature is provided for a casino gaming machine by a secondary controller of the casino gaming machine. The player reservation feature may be accessed at the gaming machine or remotely at another gaming machine or other device, e.g., a smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like. The gaming machine is locked and unavailable for play except by the player that made the reservation. Reserving a gaming machine may be free, or a fee may be accessed for a reservation. Where a fee is assessed, the fee may be waived for a reserving player. Where the reservation feature is being accessed remotely, a casino floor map may be displayed at the device that is being used, such as another casino machine, smart phone, tablet, personal computer, and the like, along with information about each gaming machine on the casino floor.
US09262882B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, determining that a voting user interface (VUI) is to be provided with search results, the VUI enabling a user to submit one or more votes in a voting-based campaign; receiving social content, the social content having been distributed using one or more social networking services; receiving search results that are responsive to a search query; and transmitting instructions to display the search results and the VUI, the VUI comprising the social content.
US09262880B2
A keyless entry system includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter includes an operation switch, transmission means, and transmission control means. The receiver includes receiving means and determination means. The transmission control means generates operation information including a function code corresponding to the operation switch and a count value corresponding to the number of operations of the operation switch. The transmission means transmits the operation information using a plurality of radio signals in different frequency bands. The receiving means receives the plurality of radio signals and detects the operation information from the plurality of received radio signals. The determination means specifies the content of an instruction to the device based on the function code and the count value included in the operation information.
US09262875B1
A lock structure of dual protection includes a lock core rotating shaft, swing rod, push rod, brake shoe and handle rotating shaft coupled pivotally to a door handle configure on a lock, wherein a first latch element is configured above the swing rod, and a second latch element at one side of the handle rotating shaft, allowing the first latch element and second latch element to be in respective connection with indoor and outdoor card readers through a control circuit. Whereby, the lock must be unlocked by swiping an access card outdoors or indoors while being locked, and a user is allowed to turn a door handle to unlock the lock indoors or outdoors by means of the motion of the first latch element of second latch element subjected to or released from magnetic suction while the access card is swiped so that the dual protection can be achieved.
US09262873B2
Systems and methods to process vehicle operation data are described. A data module associated with a vehicle can collect a set of metrics relating to the operation of the vehicle, as well as events related to an operator's interaction with the vehicle. The data module can correlate the set of metrics with the events to generate a correlated set of data. A user can request various contexts in which to view the data, such as via a vehicle context or an operator context. The data module can generate, using the correlated set of data, a data view according to the request. Further, the correlated set of data and the various contexts can be updated on a real-time basis.
US09262865B2
A server for content creation is described. A content creation tool of the server generates an experience content dataset using a template to process a content identifier and virtual object content. An experience generator of the server provides the experience content dataset to a device that recognizes the content identifier, to generate an interactive experience with the virtual object content at the device.
US09262864B2
Video data acquired during a three-dimensional scan of dentition provides a source of still images that can be displayed alongside a rendered three-dimensional model of the dentition, and the two views (model and still image) may be synchronized to provide a common perspective of the model's subject matter. This approach provides useful visual information for disambiguating surface features of the model during interactive model processing steps such as marking a margin of a prepared tooth surface for a restoration.
US09262863B2
A computer-implemented method and system creates dynamic sets to automatically arrange dimension annotations in a CAD model. The invention method/product/data storage medium/system determines a location to place a new dimension annotation based on dimension type of the entity selected to annotate. One or more sets of existing dimension annotations are created. The existing dimension annotations in the same set together with the new dimension annotation with similar characteristics as those in the same set are sorted, and then displayed in sorted order in a view of the CAD model on the computer screen.
US09262862B2
A method and an apparatus for reconstructing a three dimensional model of an object are provided. The method includes the following steps. A plurality of first depth images of an object are obtained. According to a linking information of the object, the first depth images are divided into a plurality of depth image groups. The linking information records location information corresponding to a plurality of substructures of the object. Each depth image group includes a plurality of second depth images, and the substructures correspond to the second depth images. According to the second depth image and the location information corresponding to each substructure, a local module of each substructure is built. According to the linking information, the local models corresponding to the substructures are merged, and the three-dimensional model of the object is built.
US09262861B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for displaying shadows of polygonal light sources. A computing device can determine a light-source polygon of a polygonal light source, where the light-source polygon includes light-source vertices. The computing device can determine an occluding polygon between the light-source polygon and a background surface. The computing device can determine a shadow of the occluding polygon on the background surface by: for each light-source vertex, determining a vertex-shadow region of the background surface corresponding to a shadow cast upon the background surface by the occluding polygon for light emitted from the light-source vertex, determining an umbra of the shadow based on an intersection of the vertex-shadow regions, and determining a penumbra of the shadow based on a convex representation of a union of vertex-shadow regions. The computing device can display the shadow.
US09262855B2
An animation system is described herein that uses a transfer function on the progress of an animation that realistically simulates a bounce behavior. The transfer function maps normalized time and allows a user to specify both a number of bounces and a bounciness factor. Given a normalized time input, the animation system maps the time input onto a unit space where a single unit is the duration of the first bounce. In this coordinate space, the system can find the corresponding bounce and compute the start unit and end unit of this bounce. The system projects the start and end units back onto a normalized time scale and fits these points to a quadratic curve. The quadratic curve can be directly evaluated at the normalized time input to produce a particular output.
US09262851B2
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with heat mapping of defects in software components are described. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving feedback data that describes errors reported from a software product, wherein the software product includes components. Records are retrieved that are associated with the errors reported, where a record links an error to a defect in a component from the software product. A heat map is generated that has regions assigned to represent different components from the software product. Graphical elements are generated and added to a region for each defect identified in a corresponding component, where a size of a visual area of the region is based, at least in part, on a number of graphical elements contained in the region.
US09262850B2
Described herein is a descriptive framework to facilitate data visualization. In accordance with one aspect of the framework, one or more module manifests are provided, wherein a module manifest describes a module that represents a particular component of a visualization. A chart manifest may be used to coordinate the one or more module manifests. A visualization may be rendered based on the chart manifest.
US09262840B2
Apparatuses and methods related to measuring motion or deformations of vibrating objects are provided. A plurality of images of an object are acquired in synchronization with a plurality of determined times of interest during oscillation of the object. The plurality of images are compared to obtain one or more quantities of interest of the object based at least in part on the plurality of images.
US09262836B2
An all-focused image generation method comprises the steps (i) to (vi). The step (i) is a step of taking L images of an object at different focal positions. The step (ii) is a step of acquiring gray scale images of the object at the respective focal positions. The step (iii) is a step of performing multiresolution transform for the gray scale images. The step (iv) is a step of calculating focal position probability distribution regarding the focal positions, for each pixel position. The step (v) is a step of acquiring an optimal focal position for each of the pixel positions. The step (vi) is a step of generating an in-focus image by providing a pixel corresponding to the acquired pixel value to the pixel position. In the step (v), the optimal focal position is approximately calculated by belief propagation.
US09262835B2
A method, an apparatus, a computer readable recording medium, and a medical imaging system are provided for segmenting an image of an object from an image of an organ. The method includes: generating a reference model of the object by using a priori knowledge related to the object of the organ; determining whether the first image includes a first area in which a shape of the object is unidentified; and in response to determining that the first image excludes the first area, segmenting a second image of the object from the first image, and in response to determining that the first image includes the first area, estimating a progression direction of the first area from the reference model to segment the second image from the first image.
US09262834B2
A method for visualizing an object of interest includes obtaining an image of an object of interest, automatically separating the image into tissue clusters, automatically selecting foreground clusters from the tissue clusters, automatically generating a contour based on the selected foreground clusters, and displaying an image of the object of interest including the foreground clusters and the contour. A system and non-transitory computer readable medium are also described herein.
US09262831B2
In a device and a corresponding method for joining a plurality of individual digital images to form a total image, a plurality of features is determined in a first individual image by means of a selection unit using a feature-based algorithm and then tracked in a second individual image by means of a tracking unit. A transformation matrix, with which the individual images are joined in an output unit to form the total image, is calculated from the determined feature correspondences in a transformation unit. The individual images can be joined in real time and with a high degree of accuracy by means of the feature-based algorithm in combination with a robust algorithm to calculate the transformation matrix.
US09262828B2
A method for determining the orientation of a video camera attached to a vehicle relative to the vehicle coordinate system is disclosed. Using a video camera an incremental motion is measured based on the optical flow of the video stream. A linear motion component and a rotational motion component are determined. Based on a determined rotational angle the incremental motion is classified as linear or as rotational. The directional vector of the linear motion is used to estimate the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and the rotational vector of the rotational motion is used for estimating the normal to the vehicle plane. Based thereon the orientation of the camera follows.
US09262819B1
Methods of the present disclosure can include a method for estimating a spatial characteristic of an integrated circuit (IC), the method comprising: calculating a correlation between a dimension of a photoresist layer and exposure to a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for at least one reference IC pattern in the photoresist layer, the correlation providing a relationship between the dimension of the photoresist and the spatial characteristic, wherein the calculating is based on: an SEM image of the at least one reference IC pattern produced from reducing the dimension of the photoresist layer with the SEM from an initial value to a reduced value, the initial value of the dimension, and the reduced value of the dimension; and estimating the spatial characteristic of a target IC based on the correlation.
US09262818B2
An image capture system for capturing images of an object, the image capture system comprising a moving platform such as an airplane, one or more image capture devices mounted to the moving platform, and a detection computer. The image capture device has a sensor for capturing an image. The detection computer executes an abnormality detection algorithm for detecting an abnormality in an image immediately after the image is captured and then automatically and immediately causing a re-shoot of the image. Alternatively, the detection computer sends a signal to the flight management software executed on a computer system to automatically schedule a re-shoot of the image. When the moving platform is an airplane, the detection computer schedules a re-shoot of the image such that the image is retaken before landing the airplane.
US09262813B2
An image processing apparatus for generating corrected image data from a plurality of input image data by performing an iterative calculation process includes an input unit configured to input the plurality of input image data, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a photographing parameter used for photographing to acquire the input image data, a setting unit configured to set for each image area a number of iterations for generating the corrected image data based on the photographing parameter, and a generation unit configured to generate correction data from the plurality of image data by performing an iterative calculation process on each image area based on the number of iterations set for each image area.
US09262802B2
Provided are a computer-aided system (medical device), a computer-aided method, and a computer program product useful in digital templating for prosthetic arthroplasty, for example, total hip arthroplasty. The invention includes digital image capture and scaling features that can be used in conjunction with any digital radiographic image stored using picture archiving and communication system (PACS), regardless of PACS provider or PACS format. Patient radiographic images are captured, imported, and scaled, e.g., to actual size, to match the scale of a digital template of any prosthesis selected by the user. The computer program product is a stand-alone product, used independently of any software interface, including software accessed through connection to a network or the internet. The software, method, and system are suitable for use with a stand-alone computer and permit improved and cost-effective selection of prostheses for any particular clinical situation.
US09262795B2
Embodiments of a system and method for enhanced graphics rendering performance in a hybrid computer system are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a graphical element in a frame, application, or web page, which is to be presented to a user via a web browser, is rendered either by a first processor or a second processor based on indications of whether the first or the second processor is equipped or configured to provide faster rendering. A rendering engine may utilize either processor based on historical or anticipated rendering performance, and may dynamically switch between the hardware decoder and general purpose processor to achieve rendering time performance improvement. Switches between processors may be limited to a fixed number switches or switching frequency.
US09262792B2
An arbitrator receives a request to use a plurality of content in an aggregation. The arbitrator determines whether there exist proper rights to use the plurality of content in the aggregation. The requestor is communicated whether permission is granted. The determination may include negotiating for extending right of use by an arbitrator. This negotiation may communicate with content hosting service(s) or the content author(s). The determining step retrieves, stores, and maintains rights information to and from an information store which is accessible by the rights management system.
US09262786B1
Configuring composite ratebooks includes receiving configuration parameters associated with a composite ratebook; receiving a selection of one or more rate routines to be associated with the composite ratebook; receiving input defining one or more rate tables to be included in the composite ratebook; and generating a composite ratebook including the configuration parameters, the one or more rate routines, and the defined one or more rate tables. A rate routine includes operations used to determine a premium for an insurance coverage. The one or more rate tables include insurance factors used by the one or more selected rate routines to determine premiums for insurance coverages.
US09262769B2
Computer implemented methods for protecting and promoting products of a given brand by using machine readable codes, including assigning, by a given brand, a particular value to a machine readable code localized in a packaging of a product; a user scanning the machine readable code by using a mobile computing device having installed therein a processor adapted to read the machine readable code; upon the scanning being performed, establishing communication between the processor and a remote server for storing the scanned code and performing a series of checkings of the scanned code; depending on the result of the checkings the remote server assigns a monetary compensation from the brand to the user that is delivered through the processor; and the processor informing the user about the checking, wherein the machine readable code contains information regarding a marketing campaign of the given brand, a product code and the particular value encrypted.
US09262767B2
A computer-implemented method includes calculating first statistics about a user-identified event within a first subset of a database of events; selecting a second subset of the database of events based on said first statistics; calculating second statistics about the user-identified event within the second subset of the database of events; merging the first and second statistics as statistics of the user-identified event within the entire database of events; and generating a result including at least a portion of the merged statistics of the user-identified event.
US09262763B2
Various embodiments of systems, methods, and software provide attachment-based mass data input and output for a distributed application system. Software for interactive, attachment-based data management may comprise computer readable instructions operable when executed to receive a request from a logically remote client via a network interface, where the request indicates a data file and a business object associated with a business application. The business object is then updated with a message in a format associated with the business application based on the data file. The data file is then stored in a repository and a dependent object (included in, or referenced by, or otherwise associated with the business object) is then updated with a logical location of the data file in the repository.
US09262758B2
A user can set up a travel account with a payment provider, to inform the payment provider of expected dates and locations of travel, along with limits or restrictions at the various locations and/or dates. When the user travels and attempts to make a payment, the payment provider can determine the location and date to aid in processing the payment request, resulting in an easier process for the user, while still providing additional security with the limits and restrictions.
US09262751B1
A communication service is provided for monitoring recipient receptiveness of communications that are received from a sender. Based on feedback received from the recipients, the cost of utilizing the communication service may be adjusted. For example, in response to determining that one or more communications associated with a particular sender are identified by recipients as unwanted communications, the cost of utilizing the communication service may be adjusted based on whether the level of feedback exceeds a threshold.
US09262749B2
A computer-implemented method for generating parking permits reports for a parking permit system. The method includes aggregating parking permit data for each zone within the parking permit system into a logical grouping in a database. Then processing data according to report generation instructions. The data is then parsed to obtain a requested report and the report is distributed to a specified party.
US09262747B2
A system, method, and computer program product for tracking user participation in a shared media session. A shared media session is connected to, where the shared media session includes a plurality of participants. A first identity is determined for a first participant with a first confidence level. The first participant is identified as the first identity if the first confidence level is above a first threshold. An amount of participation is tracked for the first identity. The amount of participation by the first identity is displayed on an electronic calendar for the shared media session to the plurality of participants.
US09262745B2
A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, using a computer system, first metadata portions regarding each of multiple first-platform roles defined for a first platform, each of the first-platform roles identifying at least one of multiple first-platform applications; generating, using the computer system, second-platform roles for a second platform, each of the second-platform roles corresponding to at least one of the first-platform roles; for each of the second-platform roles, accessing the first metadata portions for the corresponding at least one of the first-platform roles, and comparing, using the computer system, the accessed first metadata portions with second metadata portions assigned to multiple second-platform applications; and for each of the second-platform roles, assigning, using the computer system, at least one of the multiple second-platform applications to the second-platform role based on a match between at least one of the accessed first metadata portions and at least one of the second metadata portions.
US09262738B2
A method of marking a product to permit later identification and tracking of the product, includes: utilizing a processor for producing information as to the identification and history of the product since its production; converting the information into a code in the form of a unique monomers sequence embedded in or added to the product; and introducing the code into the respective product in a retrievable and non-destructible manner such as to enable the identification and history of the respective product to be retrieved despite transformations which may have occurred in the product since its production. Also described are applications of, and products produced in accordance with, the forgoing method.
US09262730B2
A dynamic service network creation apparatus includes a resource lookup and registration unit configured to look up and register network resource information of each of a plurality of network resource providers which are managed by a netstore apparatus; and a service network topology configuration unit configured to, in response to a service reservation request being received from each of a plurality of service providers through a service management system, dynamically configure a service network for providing a network-based service from the service provider to a service user that is to use the service of the service provider, wherein the dynamic service network creation apparatus is connected to the service management system that manages the network-based service provided by a plurality of the service providers and the netstore apparatus.
US09262729B2
A computer-implemented method, apparatus, and system for selecting a solution for carbon emission prediction. The method includes the steps of: obtaining historical records of carbon emission and a current demand for carbon emission, locating from the historical records of carbon emission a best matching historical record with respect to the current demand and selecting, based on the located best matching historical record, one of (i) a data prediction solution record and (ii) a rule prediction solution, where at least one step is carried out using a computer device.
US09262720B2
According to one aspect, a computer-readable recording medium stores therein an extracting program 330a causing a computer to execute a process. The process includes based on event data obtained by associating a plurality of events stored in a storage unit and an occurrence time of each event, sequentially adding an event to a first pattern obtained by associating the plurality of events and the occurrence order of each event, and sequentially generating a second pattern which includes the first pattern and occurs in the event data; and extracting a pattern which satisfies a predetermined condition from the generated second pattern.
US09262714B2
There is provided a frequent pattern extraction apparatus. In the apparatus, time series data for an item operation is divided into a plurality of item operation sets. Using a set degree of similarity between the item operation sets, an abstract item operation set is generated. A pattern of sequences that frequently appear is extracted from the sequences in the abstract item operation set. Using the pattern of sequences that frequently appear, an item as well as an item operation are recommended to a user.
US09262705B2
Differences in color change due to bronze colors and the optical interference state related to bronzing are suppressed among multiple print modes. The blue primary color “Blue” in the standard RGB gamut is mapped to a point (color) that has moved in the clockwise direction, and that color is taken to be the primary color “Blue-s” in the Standard mode gamut. As a result, when an observer observes this color, the color shifted in the counter-clockwise direction is perceived as a color of the same hue as the primary color “Blue-f” in the Fine mode gamut, suppressing the difference in perceived color between the Fine mode and the Standard mode.
US09262700B2
An image processing device for detecting a large number of missing dots. The image processing device comprises a print data image acquisition unit that acquires a print data image; an inkjet printer unit that prints on the back of a check; a back CIS unit that scans the back of the printed check; a print area extraction unit that extracts a print area R from the scanned image of the back of the check as an extracted image; and a missing dot detection unit determines if there are missing dots based on the print data image and the extracted image extracted by the print area extraction unit.
US09262695B2
A method of detecting a predefined set of characteristic points of a face from an image of the face includes a step of making the shape and/or the texture of a hierarchy of statistical models of face parts converge over real data supplied by the image of the face.
US09262694B2
Provided is a technology which enables further improvement of the accuracy of the determination in the pattern matching processing. A dictionary learning device 1 includes a score calculation unit 2 and a learning unit 3. The score calculation unit 2 calculates a matching score representing a similarity-degree between a sample pattern, which is a sample of a pattern which is likely to be subjected to a pattern matching processing, and a degradation pattern resulting from a degrading processing on the sample pattern. The learning unit 3 learns a quality dictionary based on the calculated matching score and the degradation pattern. The quality dictionary is a dictionary which is used in a processing to evaluate a degradation degree (quality) of a matching target pattern of being pattern of an object on which the pattern matching processing is carried out.
US09262688B1
Specification covers new algorithms, methods, and systems for artificial intelligence, soft computing, and deep learning/recognition, e.g., image recognition (e.g., for action, gesture, emotion, expression, biometrics, fingerprint, facial, OCR (text), background, relationship, position, pattern, and object), large number of images (“Big Data”) analytics, machine learning, training schemes, crowd-sourcing (using experts or humans), feature space, clustering, classification, similarity measures, optimization, search engine, ranking, question-answering system, soft (fuzzy or unsharp) boundaries/impreciseness/ambiguities/fuzziness in language, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Computing-with-Words (CWW), parsing, machine translation, sound and speech recognition, video search and analysis (e.g. tracking), image annotation, geometrical abstraction, image correction, semantic web, context analysis, data reliability (e.g., using Z-number (e.g., “About 45 minutes; Very sure”)), rules engine, control system, autonomous vehicle, self-diagnosis and self-repair robots, system diagnosis, medical diagnosis, biomedicine, data mining, event prediction, financial forecasting, economics, risk assessment, e-mail management, database management, indexing and join operation, memory management, and data compression.
US09262676B2
Technologies may provide for detecting, validating, or confirming the validity of a handwritten signature. A logic architecture may be employed to detect a digital handwritten signature and validation data associated with a signature event, and to send the signature and the validation data to a trusted server. The logic architecture may validate the digital handwritten signature based on the signature and the validation data. Additionally, the logic architecture may present the digital handwritten signature with a reference to confirm the validity of the signature. The reference may be associated with identifying information corresponding to the event to confirm the validity of the signature.
US09262668B2
A method and system for automatic face recognition. A primary and a plurality of secondary video cameras can be provided to monitor a detection area. The primary video camera can detect people present in the detection zone. Data can be then transmitted to a prioritizor module that produces a prioritized list of detected people. The plurality of secondary video cameras then captures a high-resolution image of the faces of the people present in the detection area according to the prioritized list provided by the prioritizor module. The high-resolution images can be then provided to a face recognition module, which is used to identify the people present in the detection area.
US09262656B2
A multi-protocol RFID interrogating system employs a synchronization technique (step-lock) for a backscatter RFID system that allows simultaneous operation of closely spaced interrogators. The multi-protocol RFID interrogating system can communicate with backscatter transponders having different output protocols and with active transponders including: Title 21 compliant RFID backscatter transponders; IT2000 RFID backscatter transponders that provide an extended mode capability beyond Title 21; EGOTM RFID backscatter transponders, SEGOTM RFID backscatter transponders; ATA, ISO, ANSI AAR compliant RFID backscatter transponders; and IAG compliant active technology transponders. The system implements a step-lock operation, whereby adjacent interrogators are synchronized to ensure that all downlinks operate within the same time frame and all uplinks operate within the same time frame, to eliminate downlink on uplink interference.
US09262654B2
A reading device for contactless communication with a transponder unit includes a first antenna for generating a reading device field in the form of an alternating magnetic field. The reading device further contains one or more second antennas configured, and arranged in relation to the first antenna, such that during a contactless communication of the reading device with a transponder unit which generates communication signals by means of load modulation, a predetermined change of a detection signal is captured on the second antenna or antennas if the transponder unit is located in a predetermined zone around the reading device.
US09262647B2
An information input display device, having an input section for inputting information and a display section for displaying the information, which enables an access to protected information after being authenticated by an authentication processing executed after starting up of the information input display device, the information input display device including: an authentication processor which executes the authentication processing based on authentication information inputted by the input section; and an input display controller which, after the starting up of the information input display device and before being authenticated by the authentication processing, accepts inputting of prescribed information different from the authentication information through a screen displayed on the display section, and allows the display section to display the prescribed information on the screen.
US09262645B2
Various methods are provided for determining run-time characteristics of an application at the time of installation and/or modification. Based on the determined run time characteristics, various methods control the installation and/or modification of the application based on a user privacy profile. One example method may comprise receiving a request to modify an application. A method may further comprise determining whether a conflict is present between the application and a user privacy profile. A method may further comprise causing the determined conflict and at least one conflict resolution to be displayed in an instance in which a conflict is determined. A method additionally comprises causing a user privacy profile to be modified in an instance in which an indication of acceptance is received in response to the displayed at least one conflict resolution.
US09262631B2
An embedded device including a random access memory (RAM) and a processor is provided. The processor includes a processor core and an authentication module. The RAM stores data-to-be-authenticated. The data includes a program code to be executed by the processor core. The authentication module periodically accesses and authenticates the data-to-be-authenticated in the RAM. When the authentication module deems that the program code in the RAM loses its integrity, the authentication module interrupts the processor from further executing the program code.
US09262629B2
Described herein are methods, network devices and machine-readable media for preventing the malicious use of phishing simulation records. Phishing simulation records often times can reveal which individuals are most susceptible to phishing attacks. In the event that an attacker gains access to these records, the attacker can exploit such information to send phishing attacks to those individuals who are the most susceptible. To address such vulnerabilities, a phishing simulation record of an individual is only associated with an e-mail alias of the individual. Further, such e-mail alias may be deactivated after phishing simulations have been completed. Therefore, even if an attacker were able to identify individuals most susceptible to phishing attacks, the attacker will be unable to send any phishing attacks to those individuals since their e-mail aliases will have been deactivated.
US09262627B2
Methods, devices, and systems for detecting return-oriented programming (ROP) exploits are disclosed. A system includes a processor, a main memory, and a cache memory. A cache monitor develops an instruction loading profile by monitoring accesses to cached instructions found in the cache memory and misses to instructions not currently in the cache memory. A remedial action unit terminates execution of one or more of the valid code sequences if the instruction loading profile is indicative of execution of an ROP exploit involving one or more valid code sequences. The instruction loading profile may be a hit/miss ratio derived from monitoring cache hits relative to cache misses. The ROP exploits may include code snippets that each include an executable instruction and a return instruction from valid code sequences.
US09262626B2
A computer processor receives a plurality of execution items corresponding to a computer process. The computer processor allocates a first memory portion corresponding to a first stack, wherein the first stack corresponds to a first class of execution items. The computer processor allocates a second memory portion corresponding to a second stack, wherein the second stack corresponds to a second class of execution items. The computer processor identifies a first execution item of the plurality of execution items and determining a class corresponding to the first execution item.
US09262623B2
A request is received for a brokered shipment from a particular entity to an anonymous user. A shipping identifier is obtained from a shipping entity, on behalf of the particular entity, for the shipment from the particular entity to the anonymous user. The shipping identifier is communicated to the particular entity and the shipping identifier is associated with a unique user identifier unique, within a system, to a pairing of the anonymous user with the particular entity. Address information of the anonymous user is unknown to the particular entity, and address information is obtained from the shipping entity for the anonymous user. In some aspects, address information of the particular user is received from a second entity and applied to the shipment identifier in connection with delivery of the shipment to the particular user.
US09262615B2
A method for improving the security of secret authentication data during authentication transactions is provided that includes converting the secret authentication data of a user into scrambled secret authentication data by associating a different text-string with each item of information included in the secret authentication data. The method also includes capturing the scrambled secret authentication data with a communications device, and conducting an authentication transaction with the captured authentication data.
US09262607B1
A system and machine-implemented method for processing user input. User input by a user is received within a first input field. An authentication entry, for authenticating the user via a second input field, is accessed from a database. The received user input is compared with the authentication entry. Based on the comparison, a determination is made that the received user input matches the authentication entry. In response to the determination, a notification that the first input field is incorrect for the user input is provided.
US09262605B2
A mobile terminal is disclosed herein. The mobile terminal may include a body, a display, a transceiver for short range radio communication, and a controller configured to control data transfer through the transceiver. The controller may be configured to determine whether a request for data is received, determine whether an input is required to allow authorize the data transfer, and determine whether the data transfer is authorized, and transfer data through the transceiver when the data transfer is authorized. The input may be received without displaying a prompt on the display for the input. The input may be received while the display is turned off. Moreover, the input may be a prescribed movement of the body of the mobile terminal or an application of a prescribed amount of force on the mobile terminal.
US09262604B2
A method and a system for locking an electronic device are provided. In one aspect, a method in an electronic device is provided comprising the steps of receiving, through a user input interface of the device when the device is in a locked state, a challenge response and a temporary automatic lock time indicator, and if the challenge response is accepted, unlocking the device, setting an automatic lock timer of the device to a temporary lock time value, and starting the automatic lock timer. In another aspect, an electronic device is provided for implementing the above method. According to another aspect, a locking mechanism is provided that utilizes information on an environment of the electronic device. According to another aspect, a stimulus based locking mechanism is provided that employs a different lock time after the device has issued a stimulus in response to an event on the device.
US09262601B2
Disclosed is a technique for allowing a user of the mobile communication terminal to block transmission of screen information to a remotely connected computer through a simple handling of an alert message outputted through a status bar, without having to input a command or activate a program associated with an icon during a remote control session. As a result, the user's personal information is protected while at the same time allowing the remote computer and the mobile communication terminal to communicate data effectively.
US09262598B1
This disclosure describes systems and associated processes that provide digital rights management for applications. In some embodiments, these system and processes couple DRM protection with individual applications, rather than with a centralized service. For instance, these systems and processes can be implemented in the context of an application store or distribution service that distributes applications for purchase or for free to user devices. Developers can submit applications to the application distribution service for distribution to end users. In response to receiving an application from a developer, the application distribution service can modify the application to include DRM features. The application distribution service can accomplish this modification without input from or the knowledge of the developer. The DRM features included in the modified application can prevent or otherwise reduce copying or modifying of the application.
US09262592B2
A first computing device is detected as substantially collocated with a wireless storage device, using a short-range wireless communication network. A connection is established between the first computing device and the wireless storage device over the short-range wireless network. Data stored in memory of the wireless storage device is sent from the wireless storage device to the first computing device over the short-range wireless network for a presentation of the data using a user interface of the first computing device. The wireless storage device lacks user interfaces for the presentation of the data. In some instances, authentication of either or both of the first computing device or wireless storage device can be accomplished through communication between the first computing device and wireless storage device over the short-range wireless communication network.
US09262586B2
A method of enhancing readability of a graph showing glucose values received from a continuous glucose monitoring device (CGM) on the display of a handheld device includes receiving a plurality of CGM glucose values separated by a first fixed time interval. A second fixed time interval at which to display at least a portion of the plurality of CGM glucose values is received. The second fixed time interval is greater than the first fixed time interval. A computer processor of the handheld device determines a characteristic CGM glucose value at a preselected fixed time for each of a sequence of second fixed time intervals within a patient-specified time period. Each characteristic CGM glucose value is derived from two or more received CGM values centered about the preselected fixed time in the corresponding second fixed time interval. The characteristic CGM glucose values for a patient-selected period of time on the display.
US09262585B2
Provided is an apparatus that stores a formulary. The apparatus includes a memory device that stores the formulary, the formulary comprising a plurality of drug entries. A user input device allows a user to verify a drug of the plurality of drug entries of the formulary. A code reader interprets computer-readable codes. After a computer-readable code that is associated with the drug is read by the code reader, the drug is verified using the user input device.
US09262584B2
A system for managing a master patient index is described. The master patient index database is constructed using inverted indices. The inverted index formulation enables faster, more complete and more flexible duplicate detection as compared to traditional master patient database management techniques. A master patient index management system including a remote user interface configured to leverage the inverted index formulation is described. The user interface includes features for managing records in an MPI database including identifying, efficiently comparing, updating and merging duplicate records across a heterogeneous healthcare organization.
US09262580B2
The disclosed method includes: first generating, from data of a plurality of parts that are string-shaped or band-shaped parts formed by end surfaces and side surfaces, first data including control point candidate data for control point candidates within the end surfaces, end surface data defining the end surfaces and path candidate data for path candidates between the control point candidates, for each of the plurality of parts; second generating second data of continuous shape paths representing continuous parts by searching the first data for parts having same control point candidate data and same end surface data; and third generating third data including data of control points determined on end surface portion of the parts and data of paths between the control points for the continuous shape paths and a group of the continuous shape paths from the first data and the second data.
US09262568B2
Embodiments of the present invention are a system, a computer program product, and a method for implementing an integrated circuit design. The method for implementing an integrated circuit design includes accessing an original electronic representation of an integrated circuit layout from a first user file, and accessing a defined sensitivity index that characterizes an impact of the dummy pattern on the functional component. The impact of the dummy pattern on the functional component is analyzed and it is determined whether the impact is within a limit of the sensitivity index. One of a plurality of features of the dummy pattern is adjusted if the impact is not within the limit to form a generated electronic representation of a modified integrated circuit layout, and the generated electronic representation is output to a second user file. The integrated circuit layout includes a dummy pattern and a functional component.
US09262566B2
A system is configured to determine, during a first time period, one or more first output values, of an RF circuit, by solving one or more differential equations using one or more first input values; build, during the first time period, a table based on the one or more first input values and the one or more first output values; receive, during a second time period, one or more second input values for the RF circuit; and determine, during the second time period, one or more second output values, of the RF circuit, using the table and the one or more second input values.
US09262565B2
A computer-readable medium storing code is disclosed. When executed by one or more processors of a computer system, the computer-readable medium storing code causes the system to implement the method of: Preparing for display a graphical user interface; Receiving a plurality of parameters into the plurality of input fields; Emulating a mechanical operation of the machine using the plurality of parameters inputted into the plurality of input fields by simulating the programmable logic control code; Generating the output response data based on the emulation of the mechanical operation of the machine; Calculating one or more predicted product values based at least in part on the output response data provided to the a product model; and, Preparing for display the one or more predicted product values.
US09262564B2
A damage assessment module operating on a computer system automatically evaluates a roof, estimating damage to the roof by analyzing a point cloud of a roof. The damage assessment module identifies individual shingles from the point cloud and detects potentially damaged areas on each of the shingles. The damage assessment module then maps the potentially damaged areas of each shingle back to the point cloud to determine which areas of the roof are damaged. Based on the estimation, the damage assessment module generates a report on the roof damage.
US09262560B2
Reservoir simulation is performed for giant reservoir models in a parallel computing platform composed of a number of processor nodes. Automatic precautionary checkpoints are made at regular time intervals when computational time exceeds a preset value. The simulator receives and reacts to signals from a real time monitoring interface tool which monitors the health of the system. Checkpoints are also made done if a system problem which may cause a simulation job to fail is projected. The simulation job is subsequently restarted to continue simulation from the last checkpoint. The monitoring and automatic recovery are done automatically without need for user intervention.
US09262559B2
An apparatus and system for evaluating winter transportation infrastructure maintenance operations includes a quantification component and a simulation component. Input data representative of collected winter transportation infrastructure maintenance data and observed transportation infrastructure data are modeled in a comprehensive data processing mechanism to measure and carry out effective and efficient winter maintenance planning and operations.
US09262554B1
A method and apparatus are disclosed for management of linked lists within a dynamic queue system. In a dynamic queue system where a central memory is shared amongst a set of queues, the method organizes the linked list structures of the queues. The linked list pointers of the queues are organized over a set of single port memories. Memory for the queue entries is allocated in an alternating fashion, which allows the method to provide per-cycle access to queues while reducing the footprint of the memory elements used for maintaining the linked list structures. The method disclosed reduces the overall memory requirements for the design and implementation of queue systems with multiple queues sharing a common pool of memory.
US09262546B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for configuring a web browser executing in a computer to render a web page for display at the computer. A first hyperlink request is received from a first program executing in the computer to obtain and render a first web page corresponding to the first hyperlink. In response, the web browser obtains the first web page, and renders the first web page according to a first set of web page configuration parameters. A second hyperlink request is received from a second program executing in the computer to obtain and render a second web page corresponding to the second hyperlink. In response, the web browser obtains the second web page, and renders the second web page according to a second set of web page configuration parameters that differs in part from the first set of web page configuration parameters.
US09262544B2
Translation of uniform resource locators (URLs). A URL is received, in a computer system and from a computer device, referring to a resource managed by a first application in the computer system, for which resource the computer system uses an internal URL. A first rule set is selected from among multiple rule sets assigned to a respective one of multiple applications, based on the first rule set being assigned to the first application. At least a portion of the URL is matched with a rule in the first rule set identifying an internal URL portion as corresponding to the portion of the URL. The internal URL portion is included in a translated URL, wherein a second rule set identifies another internal URL portion as corresponding to the portion of the URL. At least part of the resource is forwarded to the computing device.
US09262531B2
A system and method is provided for chat message prioritization that uses a combination of machine-derived and user-supplied relevancy criteria to present a filtered, annotated, and/or highlighted chat stream.
US09262529B2
A system of one or more computing devices is utilized for, among other purposes, creating a template-driven search interface and conducting searches thereon. In an embodiment, the system comprises: a template repository; search templates in the template repository, the search templates comprising at least: field specification data that specify search interface fields for obtaining search input data, and query specification data that specify how to generate structured queries based on the search input data obtained for the one or more of the search interface fields; a search field generator that generates search fields indicated by the field specification data; a template loading module, coupled to the template repository, that identifies available search templates in the template repository; and a search interface generator, coupled to the search field generator and template loading module, that generates different search interfaces depending on which template is selected.
US09262528B2
Linguistic analysis is used to identify queries from a plurality of users over a period of time that use different natural language formations to request similar information. Common intent categories are identified for the queries requesting similar information. Intent responses can then be provided that are associated with the identified intent categories. An intent management tool can be used for identifying new intent categories, identifying obsolete intent categories, or refining existing intent categories. The said intent categories are used in identifying ontologies associated with the intent categories to help in selecting concepts as ontology parameters.
US09262518B2
A first cluster of web objects is identified from a click-through data structure. The click-through data structure can organize web objects into clusters based on query results of web objects selected by a user. Also, a second cluster of web objects can be identified from a metadata data structure. The metadata data structure can organize web objects into clusters based on metadata associated with the web objects. An output set of web objects is selected, in real time, from the identifier clusters.
US09262501B2
An apparatus, computer-readable medium, and computer-implemented method for data subsetting, including receiving a request for a subset of data from a plurality of tables, determining whether an entity graph corresponding the plurality of tables contains a cycle, and if so, performing cyclic subset processing, otherwise, expanding the entity graph and performing acyclic subset processing if the expanded entity graph does not have any cycles and cyclic subset processing if the expanded entity graph does have cycles.
US09262498B2
Embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating optimized host placement of data payload in a cloud-based storage network. In aspects, a user can maintain a user premise network including servers, clients, local area networks, data stores, and/or other network assets. An administrator or other user of the premise network may wish to extract data from the premise network and transfer that data payload to a set of host storage clouds to leverage cost, redundancy, consolidation, or other cloud advantages. The placement tool can evaluate potential target cloud-based data stores based on various or multiple parameters for the hosting features offered by different cloud providers. The tool can generate a determination of the target host or hosts which can provide the best-matched or optimized data hosting facilities or services for the user's data payload in the cloud. The selected target(s) can be based on cost, capacity, security, compatibility, or other parameters or specifications, which can be user-specified or user-weighted.
US09262496B2
A method and system for providing unified access to data for multiple computing devices includes a system that associates multiple computing devices with a user of an information management system, assigns information management policies to data from the multiple computing devices within the information management system, and collects multiple data objects from the multiple computers. The system may generate a preview version of each collected data object, and provide at least one preview version of a collected data object to a computing device associated with the user. The system may also generate indexing information for each collected data object and distribute the indexing information with the preview version of the data object.
US09262493B1
A data analytic plan is defined for analyzing a given data set associated with a given data problem. A test data set and a training data set are obtained from the given data set associated with the given data problem. At least one model is executed to confirm an adequacy of the at least one model for the data analytic plan by fitting the at least one model on the training data set and evaluating the at least one model fitted on the training data set against the test data set. The defining, obtaining and executing steps are performed on one or more processing elements associated with a computing system and automate at least part of a data analytics lifecycle.
US09262492B2
Disclosed herein are techniques for arranging a series of operations. It is determined whether an operation executes more efficiently when divided. It is further determined whether a plurality of operations execute more efficiently when combined.
US09262480B2
A request is received for a set of entries that make up a small cell in a database, wherein the small cell is initially described at a fine granular level of detail by a set of descriptors. In response to the total number of entries in the small cell being below a predetermined limit, the set of descriptors are modified to reduce the fine granular level of detail to a coarse granular level of detail in order to protect the privacy of individuals described by the set of entries.
US09262476B2
A system and method of batch query processing includes accumulating data queries in a query holding area of a query assistant running in a computer server, separating the accumulated data queries into a plurality of partitions, ordering the partitions, ordering the accumulated data queries within each of the partitions, and processing the accumulated data queries in an order based on the ordering of the partitions and the ordering of the data queries within each of the partitions. Each of the partitions includes data queries with a respective from-type. Each respective from-type is associated with a combination of storage tables accessed by each of the data queries in a corresponding partition. In some examples, ordering the accumulated data queries within each of the partitions includes processing the data queries in each partition against a test data set and ordering the data queries based on results of the processing.
US09262475B2
Contact objects in one or more databases can be matched using various systems and methods to determine geographical proximity between the objects. Location attributes associated with first and second objects can be compared to determine a distance between the locations associated with the objects. The objects can then be grouped if the distance is less than a threshold distance.
US09262474B2
Embodiments are directed to defining a query expression over a dynamic system model and to transforming a dynamically built query expression into a simplified, canonical form. A computer system receives various user inputs that are to be included as part of a query expression for querying a dynamic system model. The dynamic system model is queryable to determine features provided by a service hosted by a back-end server. The computer system dynamically builds the query expression based on both the received inputs and the available features provided by the service as indicated by the dynamic system model. The query expression also includes metadata structures representing those features of the service which are provided by the service. The computer system also queries across the dynamic system model using the dynamically built query expression to retrieve and provide the service features requested in the received user input.
US09262473B2
A trail log analysis system detects a fraudulent operation from a trail log of an information system, and confirms the correctness of a system action. An information development device generates an information development table from a trail log to be analyzed. The information development table defines a subject (who), an object (what), and an action (what is to be done) as comparison targets, and counts and record an event occurrence number corresponding to an event occurrence time recorded in a trail log for each combination of comparison targets. An accumulation device generates an accumulative information development table by accumulating the information development table corresponding to a trail log recorded previously and up to a time point immediately before the last collected trail log to be analyzed. A comparison device compares the information development table with the accumulative information development table, and outputs a comparison result.
US09262470B1
Disclosed are various embodiments that employ application fingerprinting and lifestyle fingerprinting. Application fingerprints are received, where each application fingerprints is associated with a corresponding application and is generated based at least in part on a static analysis, a dynamic analysis, and a behavioral analysis of the corresponding application. A selection of an application is received. Applications that are similar to the selected application are determined by comparing a particular application fingerprint that is associated with the selected application with other application fingerprints. Users are determined based at least in part on lifestyle fingerprints. In one embodiment, such users may be invited to test the selected application.
US09262464B2
A cleaning application that can monitor one or more browser applications that are executed on a computer, and that can, for at least one browser application, clean at least one of one or more files or a registry associated with the at least one browser application is provided. The cleaning application can include a cleaning module. The cleaning module can monitor one or more browser applications that are executed on a computer. The cleaning module can further detect a closing of at least one browser application. The cleaning module can further perform a pre-defined action in response to the closing of the at least one browser application. The pre-defined action can include cleaning at least one of one or more files or a registry associated with the at least one browser application.
US09262458B2
Methods and systems for partitioning and dynamically merging a database index are described. A database index includes a single first-level index partition stored in a data cache. As the first-level index partition in the data cache reaches a predetermined size, it is copied to secondary storage and a new index partition is generated in the data cache. When the number of index partitions in secondary storage reaches some predetermined number, the index partitions are merged to create a single index partition of a higher level in a hierarchy of index partitions having an exponentially increasing size with each increase in level within the hierarchy.
US09262453B2
Information processing system including pluralities of first and second equipment items, and a third equipment item. Each first equipment item stores history data and returns a first response block about controls and changes in status of each first equipment item, responsive to a data request from the second equipment items. Each second equipment item stores the history data returned responsive to the data request; a second response block returns history data stored in the second history storage block responsive to a request from the third equipment item; first and second lists store first information identifying latest history data returned from the first equipment items regarding each first equipment item, and second information identifies history data last returned to the third equipment item regarding each first equipment item. Third equipment item's third history storage block stores history data returned responsive to the data request made to the second equipment items.
US09262451B1
Data is checked against data quality rules and a corresponding report is generated. The report is provided to an entity, which may be a subscriber. Data correction schema is used to correct stored data. The data quality rules or the data correction schema may be amended or modified according to user input, which may be a subscriber entity. The subscriber or another entity may be billed for data quality or correction services as performed. A budget value may limit the scope or intensity of the data quality services that are performed, as well.